The Heavy Metal Album Club

Trollheart · 04-21-2014, 04:36 PM

I can't believe nobody has started this. So I am. Surely one of the most popular and discussed genres on this board, it seems only right that it should have its own club. So anyone who wants to join post here and you're in. Now I have to bring you down with some rules. Yeah I know...

1. Like the membership of my other club, the Prog Rock Album Club, this will offer a three-tier system:

A. Core Membership. A Core Member is someone who may or may not be a founder (though the founders are definitely Core Members) but who is asked to put a lot into this club. They are expected to review all albums, no excuses (dispensation will of course be given for illness, holidays, family emergencies etc), have their reviews in on time and generally do what they can to help the club, either by bringing in new members or just policing the thread.

B. Standard Membership. This is the level most people will enter at, where you like to take part but may have time or other constraints. You are still asked to review all albums (unless you can provide a compelling reason why you should not --- and Eddie ate my baby is not an acceptable excuse!) but may be granted a time extension if you want it.

C. Associate Membership. This is for those people who say "count me in!" and then never do any reviews. Or for those who want to participate but find they don't have the time, or that something else stops them. Or those who think it's a good idea at first but quickly lose interest. And also for those who flit in and out, checking back every so often and maybe reviewing the odd album.

Here's how it works currently in the PRAC, and how I intend it to work here, assuming anyone's interested:

1. I choose an album from a list as yet to be decided

2. Everyone listens to the album

3. You have a week (starting off, we'll see how that goes) to listen and form your opinion on it. Generally recommended you listen to the album at least three times, though of course if you know it then that's not necessary. You don't have to listen to it three times obviously: I just find that often my opinion can change radically after a few listens.

4. Everyone posts their reviews into a matrix which I have prepared. There is a comments section there, where you can write as much or as little about the album as you like. It's entirely up to you.

5. Every album is given a rating by each member, chosen from a list I will provide

6. After all reviews are in, I total up the scores and give each album an overall rating. The difference in membership comes into play here. Ratings from Core and Standard Members will be taken into account, ratings from Associate Members will not. After we have reviewed a few albums I will begin a chart or table, shoeing the most and least popular albums.

Albums will be posted every Monday with reviews due the following Sunday latest, after which a new one will be chosen.

There will be no death, speed, thrash, grind or black metal.

Just kidding!

Any album from the list we use is eligible and I will determine the choice through a random number generator. Please allow everyone their opinion and don't put that of anyone else down. Be friendly. Debate and discussion is welcomed of course but not fights or flaming, and this is primarily a reviewing thread so please don't derail it too much with off-topic subjects. Posture and rant on some other thread, not here. Well, not much.

Whether you love, live and breathe metal or only know it in passing, or even if you're unsure about it but would like to try it, this could be a good place to start. I'm assuming there will be people much more knowledgeable than me on the subject and I'm sure they'll give you their opinion on any album or band you want. Newbs will not be hazed and lack of knowledge of metal will not be laughed at. Much.

Anyone can apply to go up or down in membership, eg from Core to Standard or Associate to Standard etc.

If you want to join post here. Please do NOT send me PMs as my inbox is almost full. It's now Monday so depending on the response we could start tomorrow but it really will depend on how many people are interested, so if you are, post here and let me know.

Also post any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer them.

Trollheart

Unknown Soldier · 04-21-2014, 05:00 PM

I suggest you keep the 'review matrix' short and sweet, as that is what really takes up the time for a lot of people who have limited time to write these things.

Personally I think that the reviews should be real short and greater emphasis on the post-listen discussion between the members of the club.

Trollheart · 04-21-2014, 05:56 PM

It pretty much is short already: just the basics.
By the way, you need to clear out your PM inbox. Can't send you any PMs as you've reached your limit apparently.

Moss · 04-21-2014, 07:45 PM

I would definitely be in. I love how the prog rock club is forcing me to listen to new things.

The Batlord · 04-22-2014, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Please allow everyone their opinion and don't put that of anyone else down.

You're seriously pushing it.

Isbjørn · 04-22-2014, 10:14 AM

Count me in, but don't be surprised if I skip an album or something.

negativecreep · 04-22-2014, 12:50 PM

Yeah, im in!

Trollheart · 04-22-2014, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You're seriously pushing it.

Sorry, I don't value your opinion and must put it down.

FRED HALE SR. · 04-22-2014, 04:44 PM

I'll be in on this. I'm notoriously exempt on weekends and slow to do anything but we'll see if I can keep up.

Trollheart · 04-22-2014, 06:27 PM

OK well response has been a little underwhelming --- where are all you True Metalheads, huh?

--- but here's the first album picked from the list.

Sound of white noise --- Anthrax (1993)

Now don't bitch that this is "the worst Anthrax album I could pick" or "why this crap?" or whatever: it's all arbitrary, and think yourselves lucky: we just missed Yngwie by a few places!

So anyway, that's the one. This is Tuesday --- Wednesday now --- so let's say anyone who wants to do a review needs it in by next Saturday --- that's May 3, not this Saturday --- and then I'll kick off with choices every Monday. Or just say fuck y'all and leave it if nobody's interested. But hopefully the former.

I'll post the matrix, such as it is, tomorrow probably.

If anyone for any reason can't get access to the album let me know.

04-21-2014, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	The Heavy Metal Album Club I can't believe nobody has started this. So I am. Surely one of the most popular and discussed genres on this board, it seems only right that it should have its own club. So anyone who wants to join post here and you're in. Now I have to bring you down with some rules. Yeah I know... 1. Like the membership of my other club, the Prog Rock Album Club, this will offer a three-tier system: A. Core Membership. A Core Member is someone who may or may not be a founder (though the founders are definitely Core Members) but who is asked to put a lot into this club. They are expected to review all albums, no excuses (dispensation will of course be given for illness, holidays, family emergencies etc), have their reviews in on time and generally do what they can to help the club, either by bringing in new members or just policing the thread. B. Standard Membership. This is the level most people will enter at, where you like to take part but may have time or other constraints. You are still asked to review all albums (unless you can provide a compelling reason why you should not --- and Eddie ate my baby is not an acceptable excuse!) but may be granted a time extension if you want it. C. Associate Membership. This is for those people who say "count me in!" and then never do any reviews. Or for those who want to participate but find they don't have the time, or that something else stops them. Or those who think it's a good idea at first but quickly lose interest. And also for those who flit in and out, checking back every so often and maybe reviewing the odd album. Here's how it works currently in the PRAC, and how I intend it to work here, assuming anyone's interested: 1. I choose an album from a list as yet to be decided 2. Everyone listens to the album 3. You have a week (starting off, we'll see how that goes) to listen and form your opinion on it. Generally recommended you listen to the album at least three times, though of course if you know it then that's not necessary. You don't have to listen to it three times obviously: I just find that often my opinion can change radically after a few listens. 4. Everyone posts their reviews into a matrix which I have prepared. There is a comments section there, where you can write as much or as little about the album as you like. It's entirely up to you. 5. Every album is given a rating by each member, chosen from a list I will provide 6. After all reviews are in, I total up the scores and give each album an overall rating. The difference in membership comes into play here. Ratings from Core and Standard Members will be taken into account, ratings from Associate Members will not. After we have reviewed a few albums I will begin a chart or table, shoeing the most and least popular albums. Albums will be posted every Monday with reviews due the following Sunday latest, after which a new one will be chosen. There will be no death, speed, thrash, grind or black metal. Just kidding! Any album from the list we use is eligible and I will determine the choice through a random number generator. Please allow everyone their opinion and don't put that of anyone else down. Be friendly. Debate and discussion is welcomed of course but not fights or flaming, and this is primarily a reviewing thread so please don't derail it too much with off-topic subjects. Posture and rant on some other thread, not here. Well, not much. Whether you love, live and breathe metal or only know it in passing, or even if you're unsure about it but would like to try it, this could be a good place to start. I'm assuming there will be people much more knowledgeable than me on the subject and I'm sure they'll give you their opinion on any album or band you want. Newbs will not be hazed and lack of knowledge of metal will not be laughed at. Much. Anyone can apply to go up or down in membership, eg from Core to Standard or Associate to Standard etc. If you want to join post here. Please do NOT send me PMs as my inbox is almost full. It's now Monday so depending on the response we could start tomorrow but it really will depend on how many people are interested, so if you are, post here and let me know. Also post any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer them. Trollheart __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-21-2014, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	It pretty much is short already: just the basics. By the way, you need to clear out your PM inbox. Can't send you any PMs as you've reached your limit apparently. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-22-2014, 10:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Count me in, but don't be surprised if I skip an album or something. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

04-22-2014, 04:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
FRED HALE SR. Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 3,752	I'll be in on this. I'm notoriously exempt on weekends and slow to do anything but we'll see if I can keep up. __________________ " I slashed and burned thru my 15 minutes of fame."

04-22-2014, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	OK well response has been a little underwhelming --- where are all you True Metalheads, huh? --- but here's the first album picked from the list. Sound of white noise --- Anthrax (1993) Now don't bitch that this is "the worst Anthrax album I could pick" or "why this crap?" or whatever: it's all arbitrary, and think yourselves lucky: we just missed Yngwie by a few places! So anyway, that's the one. This is Tuesday --- Wednesday now --- so let's say anyone who wants to do a review needs it in by next Saturday --- that's May 3, not this Saturday --- and then I'll kick off with choices every Monday. Or just say fuck y'all and leave it if nobody's interested. But hopefully the former. I'll post the matrix, such as it is, tomorrow probably. If anyone for any reason can't get access to the album let me know. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-21-2014, 07:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Moss Scuttle Buttin' Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boulder Colorado Posts: 972	I would definitely be in. I love how the prog rock club is forcing me to listen to new things.

04-22-2014, 12:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
negativecreep Groupie Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 9	Yeah, im in!