With all the different Special Achiever threads on the go, why not one more? When a band reaches the end of the road, for whatever reason, and signs off with a genuine banger, it should be recognised.
Assuming they have the good taste not to hire a faceless goon to replace Geordie, Killing Joke - Pylon, as excellent and relevant as anything they released in the 40 years beforehand, I put it to you.
Any other candidates?
Behold The Sound of Perseverance and the power it holds! :abbath: :abbath:
Jesus no, shit album. One for the With A Whimper, Not A Bang thread.
The obvious one for me is Celtic Frost and Monotheist, easily up there with their best material. A Dying God... in particular is fantastic.
Sepultura - Quadra
Quote from: Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:02:41 PMJesus no, shit album. One for the With A Whimper, Not A Bang thread.
The obvious one for me is Celtic Frost and Monotheist, easily up there with their best material. A Dying God... in particular is fantastic.
You beat me to it! Monotheist is a stunning final release and almost makes up for Cold Lake.
Bad Magic by Motorhead was a great final album.
Harvey Milk - "A Small Turn of Human Kindness"
Relentless album, some way to leave it off. I assume they are done I never looked it up but they didn't release anything else.
Dillinger Escape Plan - "Dissociation"
Every bit as good as the albums before it, no let up in quality whatsoever here.
There's definitely more I will think of them later
Saw the title and thought this was another David Ellefson thread
Emperor - Prometheus.
Quote from: Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:02:41 PMJesus no, shit album. One for the With A Whimper, Not A Bang thread.
Tis rated very highly overall by fans of the band (ranks 3rd in their discography on allmusic user ratings, for ex) so fits perfectly here. A "whimper" would be an album that's panned by the majority of fans and is quickly forgotten.
Monotheist is a great choice too though! And Prometheus.
Quote from: Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:02:41 PMOne for the With A Whimper, Not A Bang thread.
Please dont make this thread.
Dead Again by Type O Negative. Not their best release but still a very strong album to finish on.
Quote from: Maggot Colony on September 03, 2025, 04:29:15 PMDead Again by Type O Negative. Not their best release but still a very strong album to finish on.
I've always failed to see anything good in that album. Steele was a dying mess by the time they recorded this and it lacks everything that made them great in the first place.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:24:22 PMQuote from: Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:02:41 PMJesus no, shit album. One for the With A Whimper, Not A Bang thread.
Tis rated very highly overall by fans of the band (ranks 3rd in their discography on allmusic user ratings, for ex) so fits perfectly here. A "whimper" would be an album that's panned by the majority of fans and is quickly forgotten.
It baffles me that it's highly thought of at all, I find it unlistenable.
(I had a long reply typed out but we've done this and it's not what the thread is about so fuck it.)
I know it's a covers album but Rage Against The Machine closing out with Renegades is a pretty good way to go!
Also Vallenfyre finishing up with Fear Those Who Fear Him
Bolt Thrower immediately sprung to mind and I'm surprised they didn't get a shout yet.
Rush - Clockwork Angels.
Particularly impressive when you consider it's 38 years removed from the debut
Not metal at all, but since it's his darkest album, and since he made it pretty much as his own requiem, Bowie's Blackstar has to be up there as one of the greatest finishes of all time.
Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
Quote from: Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:02:41 PMThe obvious one for me is Celtic Frost and Monotheist, easily up there with their best material. A Dying God... in particular is fantastic.
Ah yeah, great call. Phenomenal album.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 03, 2025, 03:58:58 PMBehold The Sound of Perseverance and the power it holds! :abbath: :abbath:
Certified banger :abbath:
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 03, 2025, 04:53:55 PMNot metal at all, but since it's his darkest album, and since he made it pretty much as his own requiem, Bowie's Blackstar has to be up there as one of the greatest finishes of all time.
First one I thought of. Is there a greater finish? The album alone is one of the greatest last albums for sure, but when you add in all the mythology steeped around it, it's hard to beat!
If we're going non-metal (although technically kinda sorta proto metal here and there) then I'm also throwing in Electric Ladyland.
Quote from: Ducky on September 03, 2025, 04:53:23 PMRush - Clockwork Angels.
Particularly impressive when you consider it's 38 years removed from the debut
Played the hell out of this when it was released, it is an incredible album.
Bolt Thrower would also get my vote, as would the The Sound of Perseverance.
An lesser known pick would be Doomsword. I think The Eternal Battle is a really strong album though a small step down from the rest of their output... not sure.
Now (perhaps) for a controversial one... Black Sabbath - 13 (the EP that came afterwards doesn't count). I liked it a lot when it was released, and recently played it again following Ozzy's demise. It is certainly better than the previous two albums Sabbath did with Ozzy and actually not a bad album to have as your final one.
I think 13 is pretty damn good too, a more than respectable final album for a band that long at it. On the tour, the tracks they played from it sounded huge and fit perfectly in the setlist.
I think aside from the production, and the attempts to plagiarise themselves, 13 is grand enough. Always thought the three bonus tracks were better than most of the album and can't understand why they were left off
Don't think it's anywhere near as good as The Devil You Know though which would have been a brilliant album to go out on
Dissection -Reinkaos.
Gorefest -Rise to Ruin.
Windir -Likferd.
Bathory -Nordland II.
Blackstar would certainly be the best end of career album ever, in my book. Prometheus is a banger as well.
Quote from: Smythsonian on September 03, 2025, 04:57:05 PMThin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
Fuck yeah. Absolutely deadly.
That'd be a lot of people's (including me) favourite Lizzy too. Potential whole other thread! :laugh: :abbath: :abbath:
Monotheist never clicked with me. Great production on it and brilliant artwork, but the songs seemed to plod endlessly. Dying God is grand but I can't recall anything else off it and I revisited it relatively recently. I don't think I even made it half the way through it in fairness.
Dead Again on the other hand. Phenomena. I think I'll throw it in the car for the drive to work this morning :)
Quote from: The Great Cull on September 03, 2025, 04:31:03 PMQuote from: Maggot Colony on September 03, 2025, 04:29:15 PMDead Again by Type O Negative. Not their best release but still a very strong album to finish on.
I've always failed to see anything good in that album. Steele was a dying mess by the time they recorded this and it lacks everything that made them great in the first place.
I felt the same about that album for years, I bought it on the day it came out and was disappointed and didn't bother with it until a few years ago, then for whatever reason it clicked, I would have it in a 3rd place with WCD after BK and OR
In the Bowie vein, I liked You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen a lot too.
Sanctuary - The Year The Sun Died
Sentenced - The Funeral Album
And possibly not quite in the spirit of things as their career only lasted two albums, but Holy Terror - Mind Wars.
13 is utter shite, lads, seek counselling, seriously
Huge
Saw them do the last 15 minutes of this and then of course they break up
Not their last release, but their last album. It's all class anyway.
Quote from: Squigs on September 03, 2025, 08:31:51 PMIn the Bowie vein, I liked You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen a lot too.
Sometimes I think You Want it Darker got overshadowed by Blackstar a little bit. It really is a great album.
Quote from: Bürggermeister on September 03, 2025, 08:44:22 PM13 is utter shite, lads, seek counselling, seriously
Indeed. Not a Sabbath album either.
Nevermore-The Obsidian Conspiracy
Cathedral - "The Last Spire"
Death - "The Sound Of Perseverance"
If "Torn Arteries" is the last Carcass album, then that is a ripper to go out on.
Not metal but...
Fugazi - "The Argument"
Beastie Boys - "Hot Sauce Committee"
Husker Dü - "Warehouse Songs & Stories"
Fatima Mansions - "Lost In The Former West"
Edited to add; forgot The Doors - "LA Woman"
What is the criteria? Does a band have to have, say - 3 albums or more? If not;
Big Black - "Songs About Fucking"
Joy Division - "Closer"
Another one for that "if not" clause:
Altar of Plagues - Teethed Glory and Injury
The Doors released 2 more studio albums after LA Woman (3 if you count An American Prayer) but I get what you mean, and it's a cracker.
If not three. I never listen to Other Voices... and it's possible I've actually never heard Full Circle at all, certainly not all of it.
I got about halfway through Other Voices and left it at that, the magic just wasn't there without Morrison.
They only did the two, but both the Hell albums are fantastic. Still hoping they might get back together for a tour
Quote from: Carnage on September 04, 2025, 10:22:03 AMI got about halfway through Other Voices and left it at that, the magic just wasn't there without Morrison.
I do like An American Prayer though, which is the definitive last, last album I suppose. In my late teens, the parents of my then girlfriend played it often enough in their gaff for it to get into my head, and I still enjoy it whenever I put it on or hear bits of it, like what's used in the soundtrack to the movie.
Quote from: Trev on September 04, 2025, 10:27:14 AMThey only did the two, but both the Hell albums are fantastic. Still hoping they might get back together for a tour
I didn't realise they'd split again. The first album was decent, never got to the second one.
Quote from: Carnage on September 04, 2025, 10:04:51 AMThe Doors released 2 more studio albums after LA Woman (3 if you count An American Prayer) but I get what you mean, and it's a cracker.
Fairly blotted the copybook there, didn't I? I doubt I've ever listened to "Other Voices" or "Full Circle" more than once. I don't own either of them.
I have two different copies of "An American Prayer" though so no excuses. :eyeroll:
In my initial post, I also had Led Zeppelin's "Presence" on my list and then belatedly remembered the next two albums... :laugh:
Ah, Coda isn't really a proper album. Which is a pity, cos it would make a much better finish than In Through the Out Door :laugh:
Quote from: Trev on September 04, 2025, 10:27:14 AMThey only did the two, but both the Hell albums are fantastic. Still hoping they might get back together for a tour
Hell as in Matt Williams/MSW?
If yes;
https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2025/07/09/hell-submersus/
The NWOBHM Hell. Very different affair.
Actually Closer is a good shout for an album shrouded in the same kind of mystique as Blackstar (and even better than Blackstar)
Quote from: Smythsonian on September 03, 2025, 04:57:05 PMThin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
First example I thought of.
Also in non metal examples, Abbey Road.
Is Let It Be not the Beatles last album? It's decent, albeit nowhere remotely near the genius of Abbey Road.
That newest Teitanblood was a fine way to go out.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 04, 2025, 07:25:56 PMIs Let It Be not the Beatles last album? It's decent, albeit nowhere remotely near the genius of Abbey Road.
I think Let It Be was recorded before Abbey Road but released after, due to arguments about the style/sound of it. I might be getting that wrong, both mighty albums either way.
Ya, that's it. Let It Be doesn't hold a candle to Abbey Road.
Possibly more suited to the controversial opinions thread but Dissection - Reinkaos. Yes it's a very different affair to the previous albums but fuckin hell those melodies are addictive.
Quote from: StoutAndAle on September 04, 2025, 09:24:47 AMCathedral - "The Last Spire"
But wait there's more
https://riseaboverecords.com/product/societys-pact-with-satan/
??? Bloody hell, never knew about this!
The Last Spire was fairly poor, I can't say I'm too excited about a cast-off from it.
Love that record, they dont have a bad album
Yeah I don't think they put out anything I was ever disappointed with. I'm in for the cast offs!
The only one I can listen to after The Carnival Bizarre is Endtyme. A brief return to form, nice and doomy and pleasingly heavy.
Quote from: Thorn on September 09, 2025, 07:44:11 PM??? Bloody hell, never knew about this!
Only announced today.
Nice one ,thanx for the heads up. Oh and Endtyme is a monster alright Carnage, you'd blow the shit out of your speakers with the heaviness of it.
I like everything Cathedral has ever released. Gaz is a great musician.
Quote from: Smythsonian on September 03, 2025, 04:57:05 PMThin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
Had this on today for the first time in ages and yeah it's fucking brilliant