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RIP Les Binks. Least we forget, co-wrote Beyond the Realms of Death.

Rust in Peace

1. The Number Of The Beast
2. Gangland
3. The Prisoner
4. Children Of The Damned
5. Invaders
6. Run To The Hills
7. 22 Acacia Avenue
8. Hallowed Be My Name

I was thinking about tracklisting lately and this album in particular. I've never liked the album and felt it might be the tracklisting. Your list feels better on paper and will test it out. I'd agree that the Eclipse song adds nothing and prefer Gangland. It's not great but it's distinctive.

As a stand-alone track Anesthesia is shit, but it is the most different track on the album and gives a little breather. It sets up Whiplash well, but the album probably would've been better without it.

On Metallica, I always felt there was a better sequencing on the Black Album available, it always felt very front heavy, and Nothing Else Matters into Of Wolf sounds awkward.     

I always felt Sad Wings of Destiny is better in its original tracklisting, whereby the current side two starts the album, i.e. from Prelude to Dreamer Deceiver, and end on a better high.

   

You can't call a fucking heavy metal song The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Poxy shite. This encapsulates my problem with Maiden/Dickenson. Scattergun approach to lyrics. Themes all over the shop. For every cool as fuck Aces High or The Trooper there's the Distance Runner or Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter. Did he write the lyrics in the back of the taxi on the way to the studio? Also Dickinson is a performer and has no heavy metal heart.

Scattered thoughts: Dickinson didn't write anything for SIT, which made it better and more consistent and focused in my view. I always thought SIT was a concept album on time (?), including being hinted at with the title of the Loneliness song. I suspect Harris writes the music first and if he needs lyrical influence to looks through his film collection. Loneliness was a 60s film – really good if I remember – but most of their shittest lyrics are based on films: The Assassin; Quest for Fire (where dinosaurs and people roamed the earth); The Fugitive; and so on. I do find the lyrical contrasts jarring, between poetic, e.g. Revelations, and naff: Quest for Fire. If English was their second language it would be more forgiveable. I always felt Dickinson the most metal in the band, but I know what you mean about him being a performer.   

Not about a band but probably my favourite metal doc is Full Metal Village about Wacken – more from the town's point of view

Great album too

The list varies but definitely Devin Townsend - regardless how I feel about his newer material the man is a fantastic player and a great mix of technicality and feel.

Indeed. His solo in Failure is Godly but it's frustrating he does so few of them.

I had assumed we were never gonna hear from Neurosis (under that name, anyway) ever again. It all seemed fairly definitive to me - there's no Neurosis without Scott, but we can't and won't work with Scott, so this is the end.

Edit: This was never outright stated, obviously - it was just how I perceived all of that dialogue at the time.

That was the initial impression I got of it too, and they did seem to be a band in that proper sense. However, a year or so later Steve gave an interview and when asked about Neurosis he was so non-committal either way that it implied to me they might very well release something after enough time passes. With Jason gone, I'm not so sure now. (I've just looked into it and Scott's exit was only in 2022. For some reason my mind thinks it was 8+ years ago.) Great band all the same.

Don't know much about Sleep, but was hoping for new Neurosis music to drop any day now and that doesn't look at all imminent.

It's a sad state of affairs regarding Jason, seems like financial concerns have forced his hand. 

Lyrics are awfully edge-lordy. Adam must me over 50. There are a few good riffs in the track but other parts are meh. 

I think the top dog would have to be Tony Iommi for his genius and versatility. Glenn Tipton and Adrian Smith would also be up there, notably for their sense of melody. 

British Lion by British Lion. If you try ignoring the horrendous production where each track sounds like a demo recorded in a different studio and some of the Bono-esque lyrics, the majority of the songs are really good. Surprisingly so. There's some tasty 80s vibes going on in a few. Going to check out the follow-up now. 

Chilean

Ah, thanks for the clarify!! I was likely confused with Lombardo.

Divine Revolución
Fidel Awaits

Yeah, I believe Tom is more right-wing than King. In fairness, he's Cuban so anything mildly centre-left is full command-communism. 

Shit news about David Lynch. Truly one of a kind and left a solid body of work including paintings and albums. I do hope his death is unconnected with the LA fires. Haven't spotted any commentary about that.