Generic bands that have had one quality composition.

[Reek]

Could you list some bands that are worthless garbage but have managed to produce one or a few killer tracks.
My gut tells me there should be a couple of generic 80's speedmetal and 90's death metal bands that have had 'some one hit wonders'.

Post: Band/song

If you could motivate why the song draws your attention that would also be nice.

[jcpcc14]

Does Entombed count even if their other stuff on their first two albums isn't totally garbage? (just boring)

[ChapelOfTorment]

Not if you're thinking of the title track from Left Hand Path, they don't. The slower part that everyone loves so much is just the theme from Phantasm with a little bit of clichéd '80s metal soloing over the top of it.

Seriously, Entombed (and most of Swedish death metal outside of Dismember, Grotesque/At the Gates, and Dissection) kind of sucks. I'm not surprised that the Swedish style is the one facet of the Old School Death Metal™ sound that has caught on with the kids these days; it's very simple, instant gratification stuff. Plug in the right combination of distortion pedals, play some of the more atonal KISS riffs, and you're good to go!

I would recommend bands like this one, this one, or this one in place of the majority of Swedish bands for those who want to delve deeper in '90s death metal.

[ChapelOfTorment]

As far as the topic of the thread goes, I'm at a bit of a loss as far as one-hit wonder bands go. I'm definitely a "whole album" type of listener, so pretty much every band I listen to on a regular basis managed to put out at least one overall "good" album.

The closest thing to what the OP is asking for that I can think of is Exumer. Their first album is definitely solid second-tier German speed metal that distinguishes itself from its countrymen by importing influences from Exodus, Slayer, and other American bands, as well as a lot of "crossover" thrash mixed into longer epic song structures, but their second album is pretty generic and boring, apart from some admittedly decent S.O.D.-esque segments.

My favorite of their discography, however, is the demo they did right before breaking up at the end of the '80s. Every review I've read of it has been negative, mostly because the majority of listeners seem to go into the demo with a Municipal Waste Retro Thrash Pizza Ninja Turtles mentality and are then confronted with an exciting slab of progressive (as in progressive rock; there's definitely some King Crimson shit going on) technical speed metal with a more-than-adequate vocal performance from an early '80s NWOBHM band that never made it past the demo stage. If you like Voivod, Coroner, Deathrow, or even the first Meshuggah album (pre-AIDS), you owe it to yourself to check this demo out. It's one of the few examples of speed metal legitimately leaving rock behind and approaching narrative song structures. It actually reminds me a lot of the "story-telling" approach of bands like Absu and Sabbat (the UK one), in execution rather than aesthetics (aesthetically, it's closest to Nothingface).

I guess this is the band's "three-hit wonder," even though their first album is also worth a listen. I would recommend picking up the new digipack reissues of both albums, since the the reissue of the second contains the demo in the most pristine sound you're going to get.

[we hope you die]

Definitely Marduk. Whilst Opus Nocturne is an above average album the rest of their discography is simply terrible. A one off fluke for sure.

[WAAAAAAGH!]

I'm sure Behemoth put out at least one solid album. I just don't know what it is.

[ChapelOfTorment]

Definitely Marduk. Whilst Opus Nocturne is an above average album the rest of their discography is simply terrible. A one off fluke for sure.

I think Those of the Unlight is about as good as Opus Nocturne; it's just slower and less Gothenburgy with more old Bathory mixed in. Even their best stuff feels like they never really "got" black metal, though. It's more like black metal as made by death metal people. According to Ekeroth's Swedish Death Metal book, they originally started out as a Master tribute band of all things.

I'm sure Behemoth put out at least one solid album. I just don't know what it is.

I would say they were pretty solid '93-'94. That would be their two famous demos and the And the Forests Dream Eternally EP. Their first two albums are pretty decent as well, but certainly not on the same level as Graveland or Veles. After that, they got in trouble with the cops and had to start making populist "death metal."

It's easier to think of "one album wonders," I think, especially with European death metal. Think of all the bands like Disgrace, Dominus, and Belial that put out good early shit but then succumbed to the death'n'roll plague which stems from Entombed and Xysma's stylistic make-overs. Pyogenesis put some solid doom/death on Ignis Creatio before turning goth, death'n'roll, and pop punk in that order. Demigod released a couple of legendary demos and one seriously awesome full-length before collapsing into carnival music of the latter-day Absu type with their reunion albums.

From a more heavy metal standpoint, the early Twisted Tower Dire stuff is pretty great. It's a lot like Arghoslent: power-metally ingredients prepared by death metal chefs that tend towards complex songwriting instead of verse/chorus/bridge stuff. A more modern example of this style would be the Cromlech tracks on the new Into Oblivion split. I would say their first two demos and their first full-length are worth a listen for fans of Manilla Road and The Chasm, but after that, they got a bit too "normal."

[WAAAAAAGH!]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll check out that material.

[username]

Satanic Warmaster made the nice track Chant of the Barbarian Wolves. Of course, the band is not "garbage"as you asked for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdtotZa1UE

[aquarius]

As far as the topic of the thread goes, I'm at a bit of a loss as far as one-hit wonder bands go. I'm definitely a "whole album" type of listener, so pretty much every band I listen to on a regular basis managed to put out at least one overall "good" album.

Agreed, otherwise it can be likened to the pop-music approach of randomly hitting on success as opposed to creating a coherent artisitic statement from one's inner vision. It amounts to nothing. Even a single moment of brilliance is meaningless when it fails to connect with the greater whole.

Consider even the failure of a once great band like Burzum. Unless one is appalled by the idea of distinction, it can't be helped that even the validity of his best works comes into question as an otherwise immortal, untainted legasy is ruined.

[Tralfamadorian]

Novelty threads like this rarely lead to fruitful discussion. But I'll bite anyway.

Seriously, (and most of Swedish death metal outside of Dismember, Grotesque/At the Gates, and Dissection) kind of sucks. I'm not surprised that the Swedish style is the one facet of the Old School Death Metal™ sound that has caught on with the kids these days; it's very simple, instant gratification stuff. Plug in the right combination of distortion pedals, play some of the more atonal KISS riffs, and you're good to go!

Dissection and Entombed are forgettable, sure, but ATG and Dismember? Do you by chance listen to Like an Everflowing Stream and The Red in the Sky is Ours with cocks in your ears? They aren't pandering or pedestrian in the slightest. In Dismember's case, they're actually quite melodic and the longer songs on that album are thoroughly well composed with epic climaxes and crushing riffs. And as for TRitSiO, it rivals the complexity of their American peers, riffs and counter-riffs abound --  a tough nut to crack, but well worth it.


As per OP's request, I've always had a soft spot for Lord Belial - Lamia. C-tier band, pretty straightforward Dissection worship, but the way they weave that beautiful synth line really makes the song. It's still blackened pop dreck, but it's sweet.

[Umbrage]

Not if you're thinking of the title track from Left Hand Path, they don't. The slower part that everyone loves so much is just the theme from Phantasm with a little bit of clichéd '80s metal soloing over the top of it.

Compare the riff after 2:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT4zBdSI7Bg

to the hook in this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePtoxDhJSw

Still cracks me up.

[hoodwink]

to the hook in this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePtoxDhJSw

Still cracks me up.

It's really novel to hear a guy talk about how much stuff he's got and how much money he's making.  It also makes those of us who strive for artistic integrity and vitality feel foolish, doesn't it?  We could just save a lot of effort and set our bank statements to music.  No need to bother with trying to do something of value when you can just tell people how much stuff you've got. 

[fallot]

The Abyss have one or two quality songs which they repeat throughout The Other Side.

[ChapelOfTorment]

Dissection and Entombed are forgettable, sure, but ATG and Dismember? Do you by chance listen to Like an Everflowing Stream and The Red in the Sky is Ours with cocks in your ears?

Guess they didn't teach you reading comprehension at public school, huh? I clearly said "most of Swedish death metal outside of Dismember, At the Gates, and Dissection kind of sucks," meaning that Swedish death metal falling outside the scope of those categories (i.e., everything that isn't Dismember, At the Gates, or Dissection) is terrible. Physician, remove the cock from thine own ass.