Return to Form

[Bürggermeister]

You see the classic return to form used when an old band who lost their way is about to release a new album which, they promise, won't be as shit as the last one. Has there ever been a genuine return to form, a band who released some absolute shite but somehow found their way back with a genuine classic as good as their best material, or does return to form really just mean went shit, stayed shit but the PR guy got paid and must lie?

I used to think Stench of Redemption was one, but time has proven it was a total fluke.

[Trev]

I'd say Exodus and Tempo of the Damned, think its easily one of the best things they ever put out

[Pagan Saviour]

Do you mean put out another good run of albums or one genuinely good one?

Stench and Tempo fit the bill if it's a one off "Return to Form" but I'd say both of those are flukes, both bands releasing utter shit subsequently.

[Bürggermeister]

More a run of good stuff, where a band who went shit found a way back to being genuinely good.

[hellfire]

Blood On Ice must have been a huge relief to 90's Bathory fans after the twin terrors that were Requiem and Octagon. I didn't get into them until about ten years later.

[Carnage]

Probably one for the controversial opinions thread but Requiem is my favourite Bathory album.

[The Great Cull]

Alice In Chains with Black Gives Way To Blue comes to mind but it's also a bit of a fluke as everything else since has been a few good songs on otherwise lukewarm releases.

BGWTB though was an amazing comeback.

Generally though the "return to form" holds as much water as Dave Mustaine saying "it's our best album since Countdown " or "Hired Gun guitarist is the best player I've ever had in the band"

[Carnage]

Monotheist springs to mind, but as it turned out to be their final album would it qualify? Certainly an excellent album either way, but probably belongs in a comeback album conversation.

[ochoill]

Sorceress was a turn around for Opeth after a string of weak albums starting around Ghost Reveries - which in itself is fine but not a patch on anything earlier, then Watershed is completely forgettable and the next forays into prog they attempted were shockingly poor.  Sorceress is back to better than GR level quality, with In Cauda Venenum following it and being so good it makes their earlier attempts at this proggier/less metal style seem useless.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

What about Dante XXI Herr Meister?

[Cosmic_Equilibrium]

Painkiller is the obvious one here surely. I'd also argue that the Ripper years built on that comeback, Priest were a tremendous live band in that era.

BGWTB another candidate as no one thought AIC would ever play again prior to that, let alone make a career best album.

Maiden's career post 1999 and Smith/Dickinson returning has been nothing short of triumphant.

[Maggot Colony]

Macabre Eternal could be considered a return to form after some fairly shite albums. It's not in the same league as the first 2, but it's a big improvement. The Headless Ritual was a great album as well.

Overkill's Ironbound is another one that springs to mind, and their releases after have ranged from good to great.

[Trev]

Stratovarius maybe? The last few albums with Tolkki were fairly shit, but after he left everything since then has been much better

[open face surgery]

Sorceress was a turn around for Opeth after a string of weak albums starting around Ghost Reveries - which in itself is fine but not a patch on anything earlier, then Watershed is completely forgettable and the next forays into prog they attempted were shockingly poor.  Sorceress is back to better than GR level quality, with In Cauda Venenum following it and being so good it makes their earlier attempts at this proggier/less metal style seem useless.

Ah man, Watershed is amazing. Never bothered with Sorceress but love ICV.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Must revisit Watershed, didn't have any time for it when it first came out. Sorceress and Heritage I've only appreciated in light of going back to them on the strength of ICV.