MacabreEternal

Bolt Thrower - Earache Peel Sessions (1988)

Anathema - The Silent Enigma (1995)

Killing Joke - Hosannas from the Basements of Hell (2006)

Today we commemorate the final passing of Iron Maiden, some thirty years on from them being so cruelly taken from us by whatever it was they morphed into thereafter. I know that quality was waning on the previous release, but the fact is that No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark where both important albums for me as a youth, being the first two new albums from a band I had discovered via someone else's vinyl collection to date back in 1989 that I could go out and buy and discover at the same time as everyone else. 1992's opus was patchy to say the least. Opening track Be Quick or Be Dead set the bar low in all honesty and the anthemic From Here to Eternity lacked the same deftness to become a real Maiden banger as a Run to the Hills or Can I Play With Madness had achieved over the years. Things sounded a bit boring and upon reflection it is clear to see that this was the death knell for Dickinson and his first tenure with the band. He was critical of the studio (which Harris built in his own barn) and admitted that he felt the studio had limitations even though the overall sound was better than on the previous outing. As the album draws on, the filler starts to become glaringly obvious and the end result was an album that sounded like a band just going through the motions. Despite there being glimmers of the trademark sound and style lavished sparingly throughout the twelve tracks, I only find the title track and the opening two tracks to be of note. Although memorable (probably because 16 year old me would play the album to death), the rest of the album falls far short of Maiden at their best.

Grave - Necropsy (The Complete Demo Recordings 1986-1991) - (2011)

Nihilist - Drowned (1989)

Agreed, just mentions thrash quite fleetingly, acknowledging bands like Slayer and Metallica in passing almost. Most of it is not news to me but interesting to hear the detail from those present back in the day.

Grave - As Rapture Comes (2006) Autopsy - The Headless Ritual (2013)

Mare Cognitum - Luminiferous Aether (2016)

I think we have a pet thread somewhere in the Off-topic section actually. I need to update with my additions (lost 2 and gained 2).

Literally the only thing I needed to hear to welcome you.

Thorns - s/t (2011)

chortle

Vermis - Ulcerate

Tiamat

Deicide - Once Upon the Cross

Think This - Toxik

I managed it once on a 4am flight out of Istanbul one year, stepkids were knackered for once so that was a big help. Hoping the business class ticket that I manage to wangle today gives me more leg room (I am over 6 feet in height) as the flight to New York a few years back was painful.

Funny

Nastrond

Slayer - Altar of Sacrifice

Resurgence - Massacre

Napalm Death - Scum (1987)

Invited out to Florida in mid-June by the new owners of the company I work for (loads of us going - not just a special invite for me). 9-hour flight from the UK but get there mid-afternoon on a Saturday and no "work" related stuff until the Monday. Unexpected trip and given the company now has US owners could become a regular thing. Going to have to learn to sleep on planes for a 9 hour flight home that touches down 9am UK time. Hate flying but getting better as I get older. A colleague has refused the trip as he is proper "bang on the doors and let me off" scared of flying.

This should have been requested via PM as we would consider provision of these links outside of the promo section as spam.