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This is just a small reminder to people that we are introducing a competition this month. For all lists submitted this month, we will pick five of the best and randomly select one to win $150.00 US. The guidelines for the competition can be found here – and you can submit your lists from the very same page. Good luck!
 Listverse Update For May 2009 |  Updates and Statistics |  Content Advisory Advice |
 The Ultimate Book of Top 10 Lists |  Brief Update |  Happy Birthday Listverse! |
1 ianiiii
March 8th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
excited to submit one.. =)
2 shadowbane
March 8th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
oooh- seems fun!
3 Kreachure
March 8th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I’m so there… I’m not lucky though
4 billyrules!
March 8th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
would give me a good reason to finally write one
5 oouchan
March 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I think I might try it…but I know it will suck…but it will be fun to try!
6 Teddy
March 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Wow I’m probably going to submit a list…probably not gonna win though.
7 danthepaly
March 8th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
can you submit your view?
8 jfrater
March 8th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
No “your view”s
9 General Tits Von Chodehoffen
March 8th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
YO JFRATS! If I find some time you just might find yourself a top death metal bands list. I know you just cant wait
10 danmoo
March 8th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
cool i might actually make one
11 gabi319
March 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
9. General Tits Von Chodehoffen
Some days, it’s worthy of an lol.
You know, I’ve come to look forward to seeing how you twist your topical comment on any particular list and then segue into the top death metal bands suggestion everyday.
12 Mark
March 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
11. gabi319 : You don’t have a problem with death metal thoug, do you? Venom ftw…
13 gabi319
March 8th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
12. Mark
It’s not my favorite genre but I’ve no problems with it. I listen occasionally but I’ve really gotta have a craving for it to listen for prolonged periods of time.
…much like my views on pop music
14 Mark
March 8th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
13. gabi319 : I’ll give everything a go, Doom is more my thing. But pop music, even I will admit a (slightly?) dogmatic view of some music
15 k1w1taxi
March 8th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
jfrater
What about previously sent but not yet published submissions? I sent in a list sub around Christmas which hasn’t shown yet. If it is not going to show can you contact me and let me know what I did wrong and if it can be corrected or what different approach I need to take in future.
Cheers
Lee
16 ClassyKoehler
March 8th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Funny story, I was going to ask the same question as k1w1taxi.
17 jfrater
March 9th, 2009 at 2:40 am
If anyone has sent in lists previously which have not shown up yet – send them again and make sure you follow the guidelines put forward on the submissions page. If there are problems I will let you know
18 Mark
March 9th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Just to clarify, do they HAVE to be unusual and unique? Because my area of expertise is music which isn’t the most unique thing you can right about…
19 cheesedrummer
March 9th, 2009 at 4:49 am
i hope you like the one i sent in
20 cheesedrummer
March 9th, 2009 at 4:50 am
PS. Mark my area is also in music and you can be surprised about what interesting and unique things that can involve!
21 Mark
March 9th, 2009 at 5:16 am
21. cheesedrummer : I probably wouldn’t be suprised, I’ve been playing guitar for almost 3 years now. I learnt pretty quickly and I know a lot of theory as well. But I know that there are plenty of interesting things, but interestin is subjective. What’s interesting to me (Top 10 Deep Purple Songs) probably wouldn’t be interesting to you
22 cheesedrummer
March 9th, 2009 at 5:21 am
That’s true about how ‘interesting’ can be subjective… although i’m sure you can be creative within any area. Why not try Top 10 Deep Purple performances… surely there’s bound to be a few crackers in there.
I find all music interesting.. Liking all music is a different question however
23 Mark
March 9th, 2009 at 5:31 am
23. cheesedrummer : There probably is some beauties in Purple’s collection. (Here comes the) But, I don’t have access to the means to watch any of them here – school internet = censored, therefore me = pissed – good idea though.
I was also thinking Top 10 Metal Genres….
1) Death
2) Thrash
3) Nu?
etc.
24 cheesedrummer
March 9th, 2009 at 5:39 am
That’s a shame… one of the first drumming videos I ever saw was Ian Paice.. who is a psycho.. So i’m sure there would be plenty there.
well there are lots.. if you count the more random genres.
Speed, Progressive, Viking Metal (it does really exist), Gothic, Doom….
the list goes on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_subgenres
25 Mark
March 9th, 2009 at 5:44 am
25. cheesedrummer : Hey bro, I’m an absolute metal head. I have a list of ten roughly in my mind. But I’m not sure if it will be worth it, for two very good reasons :
1) LV readers may not be metal enough to appreciate
2) If they are, I will most likely get a lot of abuse – “Why’d you put Nu Metal that high? It’s not even real metal” OR “SlipknoT PWNS, YoU ArE A NooB, whY diDN’T yOu PuT NU METAL 1ST!!!!
Can you imagine it…
26 Mark
March 9th, 2009 at 5:55 am
25. cheesedrummer : While my other – very eloquent – post awaits moderation I’ll just chuck into the conversation. PAICE IS INSANE!!! I’m not even a drummer and he has respect coming from me.
*drools*
If only I had a drummer like that…
27 Paro
March 9th, 2009 at 9:53 am
I’m ON IT.
28 Lifeschool
March 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Still waiting to hear about my Celebrity Look-alikes list – hope you will use it?
29 bucslim
March 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I can’t understand why jfrater hasn’t posted my “Sticky things that got lost under my car seat but found a year later when I was cleaning my car.”
Where’s the love man?
30 jfrater
March 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
hehe interesting comments
As for bizarre – the submitted lists can be about anything – they don’t have to be bizarre – I was just stating my own favorite category
31 Handrejka
March 9th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I’m a Newbie here, but I’ll give it a go.
32 Mortivore
March 9th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
That’s why you’re one of my favorite posters, bucslim.
33 Hemza3000
March 10th, 2009 at 3:19 am
I actually already submitted two lists over the past couple of months but they never saw the light of day, so I’m kinda not even gonna try anymore.
34 m
March 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
23. Mark
10) Thrash
Post
9) Gothic
7) Doom
6) Death
5) Heavy
4) Black
3) Technical
2) Progressive
1) Avant-Garde
done!
35 m
March 10th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
i forgot Gothenburg, so replace Thrash
36 Christiane
March 11th, 2009 at 12:54 am
25. Mark
Everyone who puts up a list gets comments which are nice and some that are not so nice. That’s what the comment section is for. Sure, many of us may not be into metal as much as you are, but so what.
The purpose of these lists is to entertain and hopefully to learn something new, no matter what the topic.
So go ahead and submit a list, what’s the harm?. Good luck if you do.
37 Mark
March 11th, 2009 at 1:40 am
36. Christiane : Thanks for the encouragment, but you’re not a metal fan are you? That wasn’t meant in an offensive way, it’s just that if you new metal fans you would know how much of a pain a lot of Nu Metal “fans” can be. They “like” Slipknot – and that’s about all – but then they go around knocking all other “old” metal relentlessly. Probably for good reason seeing as most older metal fans HATE Nu Metal. But it still wouldn’t turn out too well for me, because I like it all. Who do I argue for, the old stuff was more influential, but I love the ‘knot and Disturbed. Dilemnas…
34. m : Avant-Garde at #1, you want me to get my head ripped off? Not to mention you put Black above Death… And no Thrash you say? You a Faith No More fan? The Fantomas by any chance? That list would go down like a lead balloon. By the way, Heavy isn’t a genre in itself, just letting you know.
I think I will put together a list in the next few days, if my Purple one actually shows up sometime. Metal genres and a Death Metal list, one that actually includes Death Metal bands. I could get cracking on a Black Metal list after that…
38 Mark
March 11th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Hey, we don’t have any good guitarists around here do we? Because I’m just listening to Swallowing Everything by Helmet for the umpteenth time and I reall, really want to get that solo. But that bit after the change – I couldn’t tell if the time signature changed or just the rhythm/bass guitar – it’s trippin’ me out o.O Way to much wah to work it out. No-one would be able to help me would they? Maybe we have a tablature writer in our midst, a god amongst men…
39 Mark
March 11th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Oh and seeing as I’ve taken this completely off topic – I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to post it
– check out this :
http://www.melodicrock.com/CS100%20-%20The%20List.pdf
Page at #1 w00t. But how the hell did Hetfield get all the way up there. It’s good to see some Nu Metal rep in there, Disturbed. But if they’re going to include some pairs of guitarists why not Jim and Mick from Slipknot. Any guitarist that hasn’t already – and is open to new things if you’re not a metalhead yet – should seriously have a listen. Those two do some pretty amazing stuff – try Vermillion for a start – so I don’t understand why they weren’t considered. But still, this would make a pretty decent list. I’ll think about writing it up, if Jamie will publish my DEEP PURPLE LIST!!! Please
40 Christiane
March 11th, 2009 at 2:40 am
37.Mark I’m not a die hard fan but I grew up with the music from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, etc., so I’m familiar with the stuff and like it. I don’t know anything about Nu Metal,- that’s probably an age thing.
All I’m saying is,- Music lists (any music) are as valid as any other lists. And why should there be a dilemma. Just submit different lists for different types of metal.
Check out the literature, movie, sci fi lists – you’ll see what I mean.
41 Mark
March 11th, 2009 at 3:20 am
40. Christiane : Yeah, just check the Beatles list, that’s encouraging or the Pink Floyd list, lol, that was me bagging him out too. The dilemna was which metal to put up top, the people at either end of the scale are probably going to dislike almost anything I submit. And you haven’t argued until you’ve argued about music – not to mention that, on average, metal fans are very serious about their music – so I’m thinking I’ll be wasting a lot of time trying to justify my choices.
Anyway I’ve submitted my Deep Purple list, IF that gets published I’ll write some more metal slanted ones.
And yeah, Nu Metal is a very new occurence, mid-late 90′s. Great stuff though
42 m
March 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
37. Mark
That’s right, Avant-Garde at no. 1. I don’t care what the conservatives say, that field is filled to the brim with innovation, brilliance and talent. I judge creativity the most, and those guys win. However if you listen to metal just to bang your head and drink beer to it, then yeah you can leave it out.
I left out Thrash because frankly, it’s rubbish. It’s only good for headbanging. I don’t care how much people will defend bands like Megadeth or Kreator, they are stagnant bands with little to no artistic value.
I prefer Black over Death because it is something truly unique, and not only due to it’s traditions, principles and history, it is probably the most atmosphere-based of metal subcategories.
By Heavy I meant traditional by the way.. I don’t like the term NWOBHM to be honest. And while I’m not really a fan of the genre, it’s up there because it never gets old. It has aged so well that it doesn’t even bore people today, even as they have heard so many things with uber production and better technicalities.
I also forgot another genre: Pagan/Folk, which I’d put as 9th. Though half the genre is a joke (Turisas, Korpiklaani, Ensiferum), while some bands are possibly the most inspiring I’ve ever known (Primordial, Falkenbach, Agalloch)
Anyway, I suppose one could make two lists in this case.. Top 10 metal genres by metal standards, or Top 10 metal genres by musical standards (which I did)
Oh and, I haven’t listened to anything other from Mike Patton than Faith No More (which I find overrated) yet.. but I’ll get around to it sooner or later.
43 Mark
March 11th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
42. m : I think you’re being a bit pretentious, you do notice that metal is music and most metal musicians – suprising though it may be to the ignorant – hold the same standards as other musicians. So I don’t know how you expect anyone – even me, being the tome of metal knowledge that I am
– to distinguish between the two O.O
You really do come across as just a bit pretentious and ignorant, if you want talent look no further than Mathcore – or if you don’t count crossover/fusion genres, Speed Metal – some of these people are playing 300bpm with two (2!) guitar/bass notes per beat. That is just insane, I can’t fathom it, even Jazz or the Blues doesn’t compare to that. By the way, I’ve been making assumptions and judging you a bit – so correct me if I’m wrong – but in case you were wondering I’ve been trying to focus on bringing more improv to my personal favourite metal genres. So I’m not someone who only listens to metal while I’m drunk and only likes Metallica or anything like that
By the way, how can you say that Black Metal is more atmosphere-based than Doom, or even your personal favourite? Black doesn’t compare to Prog, Avant-Garde or Doom in terms of ambience – in any universe. By the way, having Prog, Technical and Avant-Garde even on the same list – let alone in the top 3 spots – is just asking for trouble. The differences are tiny anyway, why put them all in the top 3?
A fair list would have to include : Thrash, Death, Black, Doom, Classic (Heavy), Nu, Power? and some others of course. Your list was – just a bit – too left-field to be considered partial.
By the way, if you like Avant-Garde you should have already listened to Mike Patton. To tell you the truth it’s like me saying, “Death Metal owns, but I’ve never listened to Venom”. Get your hands on some Patton and DEFINITELY some Faith No More, they are insanely good. It’s all worth a listen
44 k1w1taxi
March 12th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Mark
As someone whose idea of metal pretty much consists of Zep, Purple, AC?DC and everything else consigned to noise could I suggest that before you make a list rating individual fans you try one describing the different categories of Metal. May be something like that is more likely to find an audience among the great unwashed such as me, then once they know a little more about the genre itself they may be more interested in checking out the band ranking list.
Cheers
Lee
45 Mark
March 12th, 2009 at 1:35 am
44. k1w1taxi : Isn’t that what “Top 10 Metal Genres” was going to be? I was thinking then that myself and some others could do individual “Top 10 “X” Metal Bands” and wham, lots more music lists…
It’s a good thought, that my lists could convert some of the non-metal listening heathens to my ways
46 m
March 12th, 2009 at 7:48 am
43. Mark
I love arguing, but let’s not call eachother ignorant and pretentious. But still, yeah, I can be very pretentious, but I don’t think I’m doing it for the wrong reasons. Firstly, what I meant by the difference in Metal by metal and Metal by music, was accordingly about how much it adheres to the conservative metal values (instruments, heaviness, solos, lyrics) and how much it contributes to music in itself (innovation, originality).
“You really do come across as just a bit pretentious and ignorant, if you want talent look no further than Mathcore – or if you don’t count crossover/fusion genres, Speed Metal – some of these people are playing 300bpm with two (2!) guitar/bass notes per beat.” – That’s what I refer to as Technical Metal. But as I said, creativity is a higher priority for me.
As for the differences between Progressive, Technical and Avant-Garde.. tiny? No. Progressive and Technical I admit have several overlaps, but I wouldn’t consider them any more similar than say, Heavy and Doom. As for why I put those three in my top 3, it’s because to me they simply are the best, and I’m being as objective in this as I possibly can.
Speaking of Doom though, that’s where you got me. Indeed I was mistaken about Black being the main atmospheric, but your claim that it does not compare to Prog, Avant-Garde or Doom is false. For Prog and Doom bands, roughly a third ignore atmosphere, and Avant-Garde is entirely unpredictable, whereas Black, with the exception of those bands that have very polished and clean sound production and no keyboards, all of them have at least a minimal aura in their sound.
Speaking of my list being partial, metal experts everywhere agree that Nu-Metal is a guilty pleasure, and only good for attracting people who are new to the genre.
Oh and that bit about ‘you’re-not-an-Avant-Garde-fan-unless-you’ve-listened-to-Mike-Patton’ thing is bullshit peer pressure. There’s so much music to listen to and I try out whatever gets in my way. I’ll get around to Patton sooner or later though, even if I did find Angel Dust quite lacking at the first spin. Oh and yes you can call yourself a death metal fan if you haven’t listened to Venom. I call myself a fan of Black Metal, but I’ve never listened to Mercyful Fate, just bits of everything else.
47 Mark
March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
46. m : I didn’t call you ignorant or pretentious, I just wanted to impress that to someone who really knows metal that’s the way you’re coming across. I don’t like the way you estrange metal and other music, what is other music? Every genre has different “values”, but there are very few – if any – that encompass ALL musical genres – before you say technical ability at an instrument, Punk could care less, so does that give you an idea of how pointless it is giving all music “values”?
When did Speed become Technical? Sorry, I don’t mean that in a rude way, it’s just that to me Technical was always an extension of Progressive. Woah, Heavy and Doom more similar than Prog and Tech, I really don’t think so. Sabbath doesn’t come close in heaviness to most Doom, whereas Technical is just a tag given to “well-played or complicated” Progressive Metal.
Good point about the Black/Doom/Prog argument, but there really is no such thing as a cleanly produced Black Metal band with no keyboards. Those two things really are the staple of the genres, it’s akin to looking for Doom without down-tuned guitars and slow beats, it’s really not going to happened.
You speak far too musically sometimes, sure Nu isn’t up the top – on average – in musical abilities. But it is what’s drawing young people to the genre, it’s where I gained my entrance – I’m only 16. Nu Metal is by far the most commercially successful metal sub-genre of the past decade, that deserves some credit.
I’d prefer you to not call my opinions bullshit, especially as you WERE right with what you said, but so was I. Mike Patton really defined the Avant-Garde Metal genre with his post-Faith No More releases. Much like Venom really embodies Death Metal.
48 Maggot
March 13th, 2009 at 10:41 am
m, Mark:
You guys are shooting your wads here. When the actual list(s) come out, there will be nothing left to talk about. So I might as well chime in here. lol Well really, I just want to pick on one statement by m that I thought was sort of absurd:
I left out Thrash because frankly, it’s rubbish. It’s only good for headbanging.
That’s like saying Blues is only good for drowning your sorrows, or that Opera is only good for pretentious twits to get together in evening gowns and tuxes to compare their jewelry. Music is to be enjoyed. If headbanging is the chosen expression of enjoyment, what of it? But really my point is – Thrash is certainly a genre worthy of mention in the “metal” pantheon. Heck, for that matter so is the so-called “hair metal” (aka hair bands) movement, which you guys have completely ignored. But that’s a whole other subject.
I don’t care how much people will defend bands like Megadeth or Kreator, they are stagnant bands with little to no artistic value.
“Artistic value” is a subjective term, but come on. Slayer, Exodus, Testament, Anthrax. Metallica stagnant? (Aside from my mention of Anthrax, I tend to favor the San Francisco bands because that’s where I’m from, and was exposed to this scene during the formative years of these bands). You may trot out the cliché that Metallica have become commercial sellouts, but they are certainly not stagnant. Not to mention how important they were prior to their more recent commercial successes.
Of course, in the various rock genres, once one becomes popular, the floodgates open to so many “new” acts that yes the level of talent becomes diluted and originality stagnates. Or, an initially creative/artistic band becomes stagnant once they’ve run their course but try to keep hanging on. Metallica is in direct contrast to this IMO, which is why I’d “defend” them. But heck, even Kreator is defendable (though not a fave of mine), as far as they being an important part of the Thrash genre and yes, showing some level of “artistry”.
49 Kase
March 14th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Somebody…
Do a list called
“Top 10 lies the government is telling you.”
Make sure drugs is on there too…
What with the marijuana prohibition and all.