ok heard Filosofem

Emperor

Symphonic black metal seems to be having a bad rep round these parts. What may sound like cacophony at first listen reveals a lot of interesting things going underneath.

Burzum

There's no way I can identify with Varg. Okay, granted when he's trying to be evil, it's cool. But when he goes for ambience and atmosphere, wtf?, he ain't no Eno. Heck, he ain't even a Richard D. James.....

so:-

Burzum - 3
Emperor - 3

I think the guy from Sadus does a fair Mille. He certainly doesn't do much of a Tom Araya.

Ok have a had a black metal day so far and this is my take. I`d never heard a Burzum song before and despite strongly disliking Varg for his right-wing idealogies, I was determined to base my opinions just on the music and not on him. I had no idea of what to expect with Burzum`s music but what I heard wasn`t what I expected. Emperor on the other hand I`d heard some stuff before and despite not being a fan of symphonic anything really, except liking some of the Symphony X prog metal inspired symphonic albums I was keeping an open mind on them.

First off I put Burzum on and after 3 songs realized I was listening to the wrong album:) as I`d put on Hviss Lysat Tar Oss by mistake......but as I was enjoying it so much I continued with it and what a great album it was as well. I then put on Filosofem and again another great album, leaving me hugely impressed with both albums, not for their intensity but much more for their dark ambience of which the album covers set off the whole mood on both albums. I then put on the Emperor album after having read what an important album it was for the symphonic black metal genre. After just a couple of songs I found it couldn`t match the ambience of Burzum`s material despite the Emperor album being a good album, thus leaving Burzum the winner here.

Burzum 4
Emperor 3

This battle will stay open for another day, so if you haven`t already placed your vote do so.

Also, if you have any album suggestions PM me as there are no new battles lined up. If nobody Pm`s me then I`ll pick a battle.

i feel almost hopeless trying. Most people dont wanna take the time to actually listen to the choices unless they are already known to the person, seems like most dont wanna take the time to at least give it a fair listen and write it off anyways. Would be better if people at least took the time to try instead of sitting out the majority of choices so far.

Thats the nature of forums. A successful battle imo gets at least 8 votes in total, but only the well known albums are going to get that volume of votes. A few of us though on here listen to everything (myself included). Point being that even if just one person benefits then its worth it, as its helped to widen their musical knowledge. For example, by the time I`ve finished going through all the death and black metal albums I`ve got lined up, along with some really modern metal releases of the last couple of years that I still need to listen to. I`d say my knowledge of all the metal genres (some 20 or so in total) from the 1970s to modern day is going to be pretty impressive.

BTW those last three albums by Batlord (the thrash albums) were three of the best so far, those that didn`t listen to them, really missed out.

Yeah, but I guarantee you if the choices were between Korn and Slipknot we would see 10x the amount of votes come in.

I own the Emperor album but have never heard the Burzum one. I'll try to check it out tonight so there's at least one more vote. :)

Without a doubt, the mainstream is always the bread and butter of anything really.

Just don`t be awkward and vote for Emperor, because we`ll have a 4-4 draw unless soembody else has voted in the meantime.

Rock n Roll !

I just like that albums that are more unknown show up, because I think it is good to at least throw away some misconceptions on a certain style of music and dive into it. Even if somebody doesnt look the choices, at least bullshit your way through it, listen to a few songs on youtube or something.

I mean I know that extreme metal styles are not something a lot will find something of value in for the most part, but still think it is better to give it a fair chance instead of just playing the 6 year old with her fingers in her ears saying dont wanna hear it.

The best solution is always a mixture of mainstream stuff and lesser known stuff as you encompass nearly everybody at some stage. As for mainstream stuff, there is always quality as well with bands like Lamb of God etc and some really bad stuff like Static X etc. You just take the good with the bad.

Never got into LoG. But I remember a bunch of drunken fans once getting me wasted and giving me a lot of free drugs cause they said I looked like Mark Morton, so I can't complain about them.

hahaha well I love Lamb of God but given that I was pretty obsessed with Pantera its no surprise really. I mean Lamb of God hit those grooves as good as Pantera did.

Burzum- 5
Emperor- 3

Never cared for Emperor

i have to say i only gave that Burzum a cursory listen so it may not be that reflective of my views

I have to go with Emperor, never really enjoyed Burzum much. Save a few songs.

Burzum - 5
Emperor - 4

somehow i don't find black metal "extreme" at all

as opposed to something like grindcore

Okay, I gave a listen to the Burzum album this morning. I have to confess I was fully expecting to hate it, but aside from the 25 minute snoozefest 5th track, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed how raw, noisy, and almost punkish it was, something I found fairly different from other black metal I've listened to. The Emperor album I've always found to be just okay, serviceable loud music but nothing to write home about. So much to my surprise I'm voting Burzum this round.

Burzum - 6
Emperor - 4

I really like the symphonic elements of Emperor, so they get my vote.

Burzum - 6
Emperor - 5

I've skipped out on a few votes because I wasn't familiar with the bands. Not so much because I didn't want to listen to them, I was just on some black metal or thrash metal or whatever kick and I just wouldn't have been able to appreciate them at the time cause I was obsessed with something entirely different. And laziness I guess. :bonkhead:,

i only skipped your thrash metal, cos the names are off-putting, not to mention the cover art, also from what I've from some youtubes of them, not really my kind of scene

i did download the Fear Factory and Strapping Young Lad but voting was closed then

But neither of these are thrash metal.

Anyway the voting on the current battle has been high with 11 votes so far!!!

Burzum - 7
Emperor - 5

ironically mainly for the 25 minute snooze fest :)

for the most part i disagree with Vargs "ideology" but i do love how his music and esp. this album reflects the concept of leaving the modern world and returning to the forest....and i actually love the horrible recording style

i've never really been a huge fan of Emperor....

i meant on another battle

not gonna download those thrash metal - yucks

Ok Burzum wins that battle 7-5 and as nobody has sent me any suggestions here are two of my own. These are two albums I love from middle of the road metal acts (that means deriving directly from Iron Maiden and other traditional metal acts but incorportaing plenty of thrash, power and prog metal influences) Warrel Dane`s voice may not be to everybodys liking but I think its one of the best in metal.

has to d/l them first

definitely interested in them

Touche. :laughing:

In Kansas City, but will download these as soon as I get back home. Looks like a good battle.

Although I have to say, I have heard by a looooot of people that Something Wicked This Way Comes is NOT Iced Earth's best album, so that was an interesting choice.

I've listened to parts of both, but I'll have to refamiliarize myself with them before I vote. I love that Iced Earth album though.

Nevermore for me, I didn't really get into Iced Earth until Tim 'Ripper' Owens joined the band with their 2004 album The Glorious Burden. As for Nevermore, besides their debut, I don't think they've put out a weak album (although their last one was a little generic). There's just something about their sound that is so very distinct, even before Warrel Dane starts to sing. Dreaming Neon Black isn't in my top 3 Nevermore albums, but it's still an awesome example of modern thrash mixed with progressive and power metal elements.

Nevermore - 1
Iced Earth - 0

you guys all make me feel so un metal :(

LoathsomePete pretty much hit the nail on the head in his review, but I'll put my two cents in anyway. I know the criteria for this doesn't necessarily mean that each band's best albums are battling, just two albums. But when I saw Nevermore, I couldn't help but think of The Politics of Ecstasy or Enemies of Reality. Furthermore, my mind also jumped to Ripper's voice at the mention of Iced Earth. However, since the match-up is a relatively weak Nevermore album (despite Jeff Loomis' sick guitar leads) and a solid Ripperless Iced Earth album, I'll have to go with Something Wicked.

Iced Earth - 1
Nevermore - 1

downloading both. will comment upon listening to both.

Whaaaaaaaaaat!!!This is Nevermores best album with Politics of Ecstasy and The Godless Endeavour close behind. The concept and story behind the album is also very special as well. Also Enemies of Reality was severely let down by its production on its initial release.

Matt Barlow`s performance on SWTWC is also outstanding as was his performance on the Iced Earth live album Alive in Athens. The Ripper Owens releases imo were not as good as the mid period releases of Iced Earth with Matt Barlow.

I picked these two albums as both bands were at the peak of their powers on both releases.

Different strokes I suppose.

Nevermore for me. I actually like Dane's vocals, and I just enjoy the album better than Iced Earth's. I don't think this is near their best album, though. I personally prefer This Godless Endeavor myself.

Nevermore - 2
Iced Earth -1

have d/led both but only heard the Iced Earth

will vote tomorrow, if the voting's not closed

Will keep it open for another day just for you and for any other slackers out there. BTW I still haven`t voted yet either.

cheers

i totally forgot i d/led that Nevermore and spend the rest of the day listening to Huun Huur Tu

the Nevermore album's on my ofis PC server so I can't listen to it now

Gotta go with Iced Earth. 90s Iced Earth is just awesome. And I don't get the Ripper love. I never listen to his music with Iced Earth. It's just boring and his voice has no personality. Matt Barlow on the other hand is a beast. Love him. Love. Him. I got to see Iced Earth on their first tour with Matt Barlow back in the band, and it ****ing ruled!

Iced Earth - 2
Nevermore - 2