i'll go totally out on a limb here and say the best Slayer is Show No Mercy

About GG's Octopus as being genre defining, I may be incorrect in writing this, but I thought MB was a bit special in hyping that record. When I look at progarchives, both In A Glass House and Free Hand are more highly rated. I don't think it's particularly genre defining as it features GG experimentations similar to what they'd put out before and it was released in 1972 when prog had had time to mature a bit.

In regards to your review, I get Jans' point about judging RIB by the criterias that it should be melodical and harmonious to be good a little unfair. However, I can't say I fully disagree with you as I too quite like melodies and harmonies. ;)

I've never even heard of that Infest album before. I'll have to check that one out!

Tore, when I mentioned "Octopus" as genre defining, I was alluding to many of the commenters here-- primarily from when I posted my "Octopus" review. I used to live on progarchives, and you are correct that some other GG albums are rated higher. For me, and I mentioned this in the comments after my "Octopus review, I like "In a Glass House" better.

And, per your recommendations from that thread, I am going to give GG another shot and give "Free Hand" and "The Power and the Glory" a listen.

melody is not a very good yardstick for metal, unless if it's power metal

it's got to make your hormones burn

yes, RiB is fast and brutal, but it's a huge massive blur, because the song structures and arrangements just aren't very good, and a lot of the songs sound like each other

Agreed 100%... my original point in my review

I'd agree with you, but I think you're wrong. ;)

Well, the album really isn't meant to be listened to song for song. The fact that the songs sound alike can be seen as a strength depending on your point of view. It's an album that's supposed to be the epitome of thrash, and as such it's supposed to deliver the most pure, visceral, thrash experience possible. Different sounding songs would make you think, "Hey that song sounds different" which will only take you out of myopic, head banging mode by making you think, even if only for a second. RIB is supposed to induce a frenzied bout of brain dead head banging and nothing else, and that's exactly what it does.

i use Metallica's Kill 'Em All for that, even if it is just basically speeded-up Diamond Head

^Now that's a thrash album I think is overrated.