Jeez, now that you mention it, what's with no Ocean Machine or Infinity on the 97 and 98 lists?

I just realized, the self-titled Strapping Young Lad album should totally be on 2003.

1. Sleep- Dopesmoker
2. Drudkh- Forgotten Legends
3. Enslaved- Below the Lights
4. Black Label Society- Blessed Hellride
5. Boris- Boris At Last
6. Strapping Young Lad- Strapping Young Lad
7. Arch Enemy- Anthems of Rebellion
8. Slough Feg- Traveller
9. Children of Bodom- Hate Crew Death Roll
10. Lamb of God- As The Palaces Burn

I don't think it needs to be. I also don't think Blessed Hellride needs to be that high.

Yea, maybe it could be a little lower, but I put it that high because that was the album that finally broke them through. Plus it's probably the best selling album out of all of those.

Enslaved - Below the Lights
Sleep - Dopesmoker
Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath
Septicflesh - Sumerian Daemons
Drudkh - Forgotten Legends
Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
Slough Feg - Traveller
Kamelot - Epica
Lamb of God - As the Palaces Burn
Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires

You forgot Feedbacker Joseph.

On purpose. I just can't really think of what it did for metal, and it's popularity is more drawn from the noise/hardcore crowd.

The only Machine Head album that should ever be in one of these lists is The Blackening.

It was fairly popular and had great reactions from both fans and critics alike (which is notable considering how poorly Supercharger was received). It revitalized their career and had a couple hit singles as well.

From the reactions I saw they were still shit central with that album.

Truth be told I was shocked how much people were won over by The Blackening. Flynn has always been a trendy asshole, and 06-08 was when thrash was cool again. It was the most blatantantly dishonest return to one's "roots" I've ever heard in my life (and that includes Death Magnetic). Could Flynn afford to hop on the metalcore train permeating the mainstrem? Fuck no. So he listened to as much old Vio-lence as he could and farted out The Blackening. and the idiot masses bought it hook, line and sinker.

And that has to do with...

Imo The Blacking is the best Machine Head album (which doesn't say a whole lot) cause it was the one album where I felt Flynn was actually minding his songwriting. I know way too much people who see it as a modern day Metal classic which is just dumb as hell.

Ahh yes, the ever important "Idiots Like It" criterion. How could we forget?

Nothing really. I just let a tangent slip out. Anyways, Empires may have been a slight comeback for MH, but it isn't good enough to replace any of the albums on the list I had made.

I hope you're not talking about the one with The Blessed Hellride...