Albums you used to bother with

[aquarius]

If art can function as communication, then one might receive it, use it and move on. If it can convey infinite perfection of the universe, then one might embody it. The best of metal has a bit of the latter, but is mostly the former, meaning it doesn’t take preference over the great composers in a desert island type scenario.  Understanding this, I then set off for the local CD recyclers to sell everything I used to bother with.

[Parasite]

So what albums did you get rid of?

I have thought about getting rid of a couple of my Inquisition albums but their newer album seems to be good material for when I have females over. I guess from a production stand point its quite good and the riffs are really memorable and it's easy listening.

Other than that, a couple of albums i don't "bother" with are the Blaspherian and Averse Sefira titles.  I just do not gather any special from their music, I guess it is a good thing I never purchased anything from them.

[Walt]

I used to adore the pants off of Beyond Sanctorum by Therion. However I keep getting hung up on all the block head chugga chugga filler riffs. Half of this album is solid gold, the rest is aggravatingly pedestrian

[Humanicide]

I have thought about getting rid of a couple of my Inquisition albums but their newer album seems to be good material for when I have females over. I guess from a production stand point its quite good and the riffs are really memorable and it's easy listening.

All the women's pantaloons get moist for that frog-voice.

Y'know, I haven't been to a CD shop in ages, mostly because they're a dying breed where I am. Where are you located aquarius, that you can freely head to one whenever? I wish there was one near me.

Also, one must be wary about re-buyers. I once tried to return a copy of Nile's "Ithyphallic" to one; the CD was in great shape, no scratches or dents, the case was in pristine condition (I had only listened to the album for like 3-4 months), but they still wouldn't take it because the woman at the counter had never heard of them (meanwhile I had bought a copy of "Beneath The Remains" during the same visit, which was also unfamiliar to her).

In terms of albums notable here that I don't bother with - Samael's catalog, Gutted, Baphomet's "The Dead Shall Inherit" (am I alone in thinking this album sounds like proto-Devourment mixed with tuff guy hardcore?), Gorgoroth, Bahimiron (this band is basically a worse version of Gorgoroth), many more. In terms of albums I SHOULD start bothering with....I've been meaning to give Kong a listen for a while.

[Parasite]

I downloaded that Baphomet album and also Samael's Blood Ritual the other day actually.  Both very boring and I think im going to delete those pretty damn quick here before I waste more of my time on them.

I rarely walk into a record store and buy something, it would be nice, but they are definently a thing of the past.  I also cant stand seeing how overpriced some of the local shops think they can price their vinyls at.

[Umbrage]

Samael seemed boring to me at first too but the more I've listened to Worship Him and Blood Ritual the more I grew to appreciate them. I'm gonna sound like an elitist for this but if you don't like Worship Him and Blood Ritual you're probably some mallcore kid who expects every BM band to sound like Dark Funeral (because that was generally my attitude until I learned to appreciate the slower Hellhammer inspired riffs, hurrr) Needless to say I ignore the industrial output by Samael.

DLA bands I don't really bother with anymore: Antaeus, Behemoth, Niden Div 187, Sorcier des Glaces.

DLA bands I could never really get into anyway: Absu.

[Parasite]

I love Worship Him, i just figured that that was their opus and didnt bother with any else in their catalog. Im gonna give BLOOD RITUAL a couple more tries before leaving it behind.

DLA bands I don't really bother with anymore: Antaeus, Behemoth, Niden Div 187, Sorcier des Glaces.

DLA bands I could never really get into anyway: Absu.

Why the frig is Behemoth even in the archives anyways??

[Humanicide]

I'm gonna sound like an elitist for this but if you don't like Worship Him and Blood Ritual you're probably some mallcore kid who expects every BM band to sound like Dark Funeral (because that was generally my attitude until I learned to appreciate the slower Hellhammer inspired riffs, hurrr) Needless to say I ignore the industrial output by Samael.

Nah, they're just boring. Has nothing to do with being mallcore. Shit is just dull. I'm a big Hellhammer fan, loved 'em from the moment I heard 'em. If I want doom-ish black metal I listen to Root or Megiddo or even Bethlehem's early stuff.

Behemoth's in the archives because "...From the Pagan Vastlands" fucking rules. I think "Grom" and "Sventevith" deserve a review too. Their material from 2000 and before varies between utterly fantastic to good. They definitely took a huge nosedive in quality. Moreso than even At The Gates.

[Ksatria/Gang_Rapist]

I used to adore the pants off of Beyond Sanctorum by Therion. However I keep getting hung up on all the block head chugga chugga filler riffs. Half of this album is solid gold, the rest is aggravatingly pedestrian

Not much filler on this classic, Beyond Sanctorum is natural selection itself, building from simple elements an architectural narrative of imagery that transcends genre.

It's not stylistically novel by today's standards but then, when choosing a riff, the best metal would rather eschew the most attention grabbing for one that fits the greater purpose of composition and, that word again, narrative.

I'd give it another bash or seven before dumping it.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R31SCFU7UNRMPL

[fallot]

I used to not pay too much attention to Worship Him (never heard any other Samael except bits and pieces of newer stuff... yuck), but I started listening to it again fairly recently. Nothing else really matches its aura of evil. A Blaze in the Northern Sky is close, but not as alienated and obscure as that album. It may seem to be boring power-chord theatre but it absolutely is not. There are usually some ultra-simple (elegant) ideas holding each song and the album together. They play it completely straight, it is entirely unpretentious; one of the greats not to be missed!

Most of the metal reviewed on ANUS has that immortal appeal, that everlasting quality to it. Sure it may not be as accomplished as say, western classical, but that essence exists within it and it exists in forms that are unique to metal. Some of it goes further than the great composers, works of true genius in clumsy power chords and occult imagery.

DLA bands I could never really get into: Absu, Averse Sefira, Zyklon B, Niden Div 187, Inquisition, Blaspherian (some stuff I really like, most is landfill tier), Behemoth.

DLA bands I can no longer appreciate: Antaeus, Disma, Infernum, Molested (patchy like Blaspherian), God Macabre.

I found I was keeping the former group for very poor reasons so I swiftly got rid of them. The latter I have not yet washed my hands of, but it is rare that I approach them. God Macabre especially is just sickening in its predictability now. The Winterlong has absolutely no long term value.

[aquarius]

So what albums did you get rid of?

Basically anything that wouldn’t qualify as classic/near-classic status after a certain point. I simply don’t have time for anything less these days. Of particular note would be the first two by Napalm Death, post-Legion Deicide, Summoning (minus their 3 best works), post-In the Nightside Eclipse Emperor, Krieg and any French LLN bands etc. One might add that some of these are ok but when I only listen to 1-2 albums every couple of days it’s naturally not going to be sub-par stuff (if metal at all). Other stuff like early Napalm Death was enjoyed at the time but now seems thoroughly transient (Oddly enough I still get a lot out of Ildjarn).

So why do I torture myself with a trip into the city, knowing I’ll have to endure interaction with the most appalling examples of hipsters and other neurotics, in the end getting maybe $30 total for these little treasures I collected in my teens (obviously before internet eliminated the risk of chance-buying). Well, perhaps I’m lazy and impatient, not being bothered to list them on discogs.com, getting rid of one at a time over the span of several months (or years more likely). But I also need space in my CD rack to put something better.

I also hope these albums might serve as a stepping stone to the person that buys them, or that by chance they would trace it back to better works if they find something in it.

[aquarius]

I used to adore the pants off of Beyond Sanctorum by Therion. However I keep getting hung up on all the block head chugga chugga filler riffs. Half of this album is solid gold, the rest is aggravatingly pedestrian

Not much filler on this classic, Beyond Sanctorum is natural selection itself, building from simple elements an architectural narrative of imagery that transcends genre.

It's not stylistically novel by today's standards but then, when choosing a riff, the best metal would rather eschew the most attention grabbing for one that fits the greater purpose of composition and, that word again, narrative.

I'd give it another bash or seven before dumping it.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R31SCFU7UNRMPL

When I first heard this album I considered it "good but rock-based"
now I say it's "rock-based but good" 

[jcpcc14]

So what albums did you get rid of?

Basically anything that wouldn’t qualify as classic/near-classic status after a certain point. I simply don’t have time for anything less these days. Of particular note would be the first two by Napalm Death, post-Legion Deicide, Summoning (minus their 3 best works), post-In the Nightside Eclipse Emperor, Krieg and any French LLN bands etc. One might add that some of these are ok but when I only listen to 1-2 albums every couple of days it’s naturally not going to be sub-par stuff (if metal at all). Other stuff like early Napalm Death was enjoyed at the time but now seems thoroughly transient (Oddly enough I still get a lot out of Ildjarn).

So why do I torture myself with a trip into the city, knowing I’ll have to endure interaction with the most appalling examples of hipsters and other neurotics, in the end getting maybe $30 total for these little treasures I collected in my teens (obviously before internet eliminated the risk of chance-buying). Well, perhaps I’m lazy and impatient, not being bothered to list them on discogs.com, getting rid of one at a time over the span of several months (or years more likely). But I also need space in my CD rack to put something better.

I also hope these albums might serve as a stepping stone to the person that buys them, or that by chance they would trace it back to better works if they find something in it.

Which 3 Summoning's would you consider the worthy ones? I assume Nightshade Forests for sure but feel the other two could go anyway between Dol Guldur, Stronghold, Minas Morgul, or Oath Bound.

[fallot]

Which 3 Summoning's would you consider the worthy ones? I assume Nightshade Forests for sure but feel the other two could go anyway between Dol Guldur, Stronghold, Minas Morgul, or Oath Bound.

I would guess Minas Morgul, Dol Guldur and Oath Bound. No Nightshade Forests.

[aquarius]

Which 3 Summoning's would you consider the worthy ones? I assume Nightshade Forests for sure but feel the other two could go anyway between Dol Guldur, Stronghold, Minas Morgul, or Oath Bound.

I would guess Minas Morgul, Dol Guldur and Oath Bound. No Nightshade Forests.

This is correct as the other two don’t constitute fully formed works; Nightshade Forests being an experimental EP and Stronghold being a somewhat shaky start to a new direction. I like Nightshade Forests and the first couple of tracks from Stronghold have some magic as well but to listen to the album as a whole is just painful.

Perhaps such works could be kept as a study much like later Emperor (technical skill vs death of artistic cohesion) but at the same time, why bother?

I also believe the initial impetus and success of great works is not some balancing act of getting it right by including all the right elements, but is more of a subconscious offering that flows as naturally and spontaneously as breath; the simple result of environment and necessity.

To that end, one could listen to something like In the Nightside Eclipse time and time again only to find it endlessly enduring, as they become like a child again, exploring in a great, vast forest. There aren’t too many albums like this, but the quality of the few improves the background of my mind and is more than enough to keep me occupied (thus not having to justify time spent on lesser works).