Several years before the NOLA all stars of southern metal, DOWN came out with their debut, Pepper Keenan was busy making a name for himself in Corrosion of Conformity. In 1991, COC released their LP "Blind" featuring a new line up, and a young Keenan on rhythm guitar. The change in line up and musical direction paved the road to mainstream audiences intrigued by the combination of southern doom and metal. The band's first music video for "Vote with a Bullet" features vocalist Karl Agell before Keenan took over the front-man role on 1993's "Deliverance" LP.
Back in 1993, the land of Sweden had spawned yet another influential metal band by the name of Dissection. Although not the band's first recording, Dissection's 1993 LP "The Somberlain" was the first official release from these black / death metal pioneers. A year before it's release date, the band originally from Stromstad Sweden, picked up and relocated to Gothenburg where they shared a rehearsal space with other Swedish legends At The Gates. This may, or may not be the influence they needed to create what is known to be the first "Black-Death Metal" LP recorded.
While Dissection's 1990 demo "The Grief Prophecy" was re-released in memory of Dead, the former vocalist for the notorious Norwegian black metal group Mayhem, "The Somberlain" was dedicated to Euronymous, guitarist of Mayhem who was murdered the same year of it's release.
This live video of "The Somberlain" is off Dissection's only DVD release "Rebirth of Dissection" filmed in 2004. This was in fact the first show the band played after vocalist Jon Nodtveidt was release from prison, where he spent 7 years doing time for murdering a homosexual male. 2 Years after this live DVD taping that featured no original Dissection members but himself, Nodtveidt was forbidden to enter the United States because of his incarceration and was unable to finish the band's final tour. 2 weeks after Dissection's farewell concert in Stockholm, Jon Nodtveidt was found dead from self inflicted gun shot wounds.
In the early 90's you couldn't possibly attend a show without seeing several Overkill T's in the crowd. Rightfully so, because the New Jersey legends have been churning out horn waving thrash tunes since '85, and doing a damn fine job ever since.
The 1991 release "Horoscope " LP saw the band in their heaviest fitting up to that point, complete with fame producer Terry Date . This was the first record following the loss of long-time guitarist and song writer Bobby Gustafson , despite fans' worries concerning the "new" Overkill, the band managed to pump out what some consider their finest and darkest work ever. This early Overkill DVD clip montage for the track "Coma " isnt an official release, but it kicks ass anyway.
Back in the late 80's early 90's Arizona based Flotsam and Jetsam were losing bassists like it was the cool thing to do. Chances are you have heard of this band at least once in your life, more than likely surrounding a news clipping featuring the names Jason Newsted (who left to join Metallica) or Troy Gregory ( who left to join Prong), but how many of us really got into this band? This video for "Swatting at Flies" features the band in the only after-Newsted CD I'll admit to owning. The band's 1992 LP "Cuatro" was released during an era where Grunge-Alternative was getting hipper by the minute, and America saw several metal bands attempting their shot at reclaiming themselves. An interesting, but surprisingly well written effort in my opinion.
Back in 1994, I apparently listened to more European metal than anything else (judging by my posts thus far). For good reason too, it was a time Earache and Century Media could do no wrong, releasing LP after LP of influential European music that would later shape the sound of American sub-cultures. However, in order to own such a collection of bestial hits, you better have at least one grim disc from the swiss black metal cross over band Samael. 1994 marked their debut on Century Media with an LP so satanic, I was sent to the dean's office 5 times in a single year for sporting the band's T-shirt (shown below). The music video "Baphomets Throne" off said LP "Ceremony of Opposites" features the band in full satanic throttle, before packing in the Jesus hateraid and exchanging it for several Roland keyboards and drum machine.
Back in 1995, Finnish band Sentenced was unaware they completed the best LP of their career. The band's 3rd full length record "Amok", considered the best of their albums by most fans and critics, featured their first ever music video for the single "Nepenthe." Despite Amok serving as the band's break through LP (and their first of many releases on Century Media), the effort would be the last with Bassist/ Vocalist Taneli Jarva. Jarva is said to have left the band simply because they were no longer heavy enough for him, and didn't like the slow melodic approach that led the band to fame (now thats pretty fuckin metal!). Despite a major change in the line up, Sentenced continued to produce many more popular European singles until their disbandment in 2005.
 Back in 1994, Finland's Amorphis was the best new sound since distortion to this youngin. Even still I cant help but find my hand clenching into a claw as the song continues in the background. After abandoning their initial death metal approach shown in debut LP "The Karelian Isthmus", the band wasted no time exploring themselves further as song writers both musically and lyrically. "Black Winter Day" can be found on the 1994 release "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" a concept disc surrounding the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The EP for "Black Winter Day" would prove to be the launch pad for Amorphis' change in musical direction once again, this time donning a full time clean vocalist. Despite the bands many changes in sound, this video features Amorphis in what I believe is their finest era. I'd even nominate this epic single for a spot on Metal Sucks' Saturday Song To Get Stoned To… except my calendar is marked Saturday, everyday.
Back in 1985, Germany's Accept was already well known amongst head bangers world wide. Their fifth studio release in 1983 "Balls To The Wall" had become something of a calling card, complete with gold certification in the United States. Despite the popularity of "Balls To The Wall", it was their next full length and single "Metal Heart" that would captivate me as a young fan. It was the first Accept LP to be recorded digitally along side Scorpians' own Dieter Dierks, and the last record made while the band still got along. The "Metal Heart" video was probably best known for borrowing 2 well known classical themes; Tchaikovsky's Slavonic March, and and Beethoven's Für Elise. I've still never heard Beethoven sound this shredtastic since Metal Heart's release.
Back in 1995, Stuck Mojo solidified the Rap Metal sub-genre with their debut on Century Media. Despite the rap-metal genre being one of the smallest of music classifications, it's hard to ignore all the rocking collaborations between the 2 worlds we've been listening to for years. Faith No More, Suicidial Tendencies, Public Enemy/Anthrax are a few examples of rap meets metal gone right, however I have to hand it to Stuck Mojo for being one of the heaviest of it's kind. "Not Promised Tomorrow" is a track off the band's 1995 release "Snappin' Necks."
Back in 1987 listening to King Diamond was the fastest way to piss off your parents! Following the break up of Mercyful Fate, vocalist and primary song writer, King Diamond had formed a solo project that released a series of concept albums in the vein of Rock Operas. Known for his satanic imagery, stage shows and conceptual records, King Diamond (the band) has proven to out sell every other project the corpse painted vocalist had formed. "The Family Ghost" video is a selection off the 1987 release "Abigail", a story set in 1845 about an inherited mansion haunted by the spirits of it's bloody past. The video also features drummer power house Mickey Dee, whom has spent the last 16 years playing for the legendary Motorhead. Dee was asked several times by Lemmy to join Motorhead while playing for Diamond in the 80's, it took 7 years and an ego-fall out with Diamond to finally accept.
Back in 1993 England's Paradise Lost already had 3 full length records under their belt, along with a noble title as co-creator's of the sub-genre we call "Death/Doom Metal." Despite the bands unique goth-like previous releases, it wasn't until their 1993 "Icon" LP that Paradise Lost had gained widespread international acclaim. The band, regarded as mainstream rock stars in parts of Europe, have gone through more changes in sound, than line up changes total (a near-original line up for 21 years). In a most daring move, the band chose to go "electronic" at the height of their popularity and reinvent the wheel yet again introducing themselves as an Electronic-Doom band. I promise to never play videos from their electronic era, but I highly recommend a dose of inspiring records "Shades of God", "Icon" and "Draconian Times."
Back in 1990 Seattle based Sanctuary released their 2nd and final full length record, before Nirvana would soon become the biggest band to hail from the rainy state. Sanctuary's video "Future Tense" features Nevermore front man Warrel Dane at a very young age, who would acquire guitarist Jeff Loomis on the band's last tour and later form Nevermore in 1991.
Sanctuary's albums are hard to come by these days, but I recommend the quest for any big Nevermore fan. Not only do you get to hear the early stages of a great front man like Dane, but the band's 1987 debut release "Refuge Denieo" was produced by none other than Dave Mustaine. Refuge Denieo still remains to be the only non-Megadeth album ever produced by Mustaine.
Back in 1990 Arizona based Sacred Reich released this politically rocking tune "The American Way". Although considered their second full length record, "The American Way" LP is often known as the bands debut full fledged thrash record. If you scan your memory banks hard enough you may remember this music video from the 1992 Pauly Shore film "Encino Man." You know, the only part of the movie where Brendan Faser attempts to head bang, after accidentally switching the TV on with his foot?
Back in 1994, Swedish metal band Grave put out this happy little jam titled "Soulless"
If you're anything like me, then you probably began your daily dose of head-banging and horn-giving before your fifth grade classroom assembly. It was a completely different era in metal and the terms "Bit-Torrent", "YouTube" or even "Downloading" was unheard of.
How the times have changed! None more apparent than by watching the slew of metal music videos left behind during the years Headbangers Ball was off the air, or simply not ballsy enough to air crucial bands that later shaped the sound of today's metal music. With the sudden resurgence of bands getting back together for their even grander finale (ie: ATG, Carcass, Carnivore) I figured it's time to dust off some of these old school gems and share some videos you may never knew existed, hell you may even find the next big reunite in this collection!
0 horns up
God Forbid *NEW SONG*
Cephalic Carnage - Observer To The Obliteration... Live
Cephalic Carnage - Counting the Days Live
MESHUGGAH - Bleed Official Video
ALL SHALL PERISH Pre Production 2008
