SnakeNet Top 25 of 2003

The majority opinion written by Rev: My album of the year, I first heard it on the 137/Blatant Disarray tour and bought it the day I got home. Very solid album...
Added by Bear: Look up the word evolution in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Katatonia. This band has never released the same album twice and just can't get boring.

The opposing opinion written by Dismembered Carcass: Isn't Grunge supposed to be dead? I hope the facial tic I developed from listening to this will go away sometime soon. If you like your "Metal" served with plenty of syrup on top this is the disc for you.
Metal Priestess: I didn't even like this album, I thought the lyrics were terrible, the vocal patterns were annoying, and for some reason it irritated me to death. Viva every album other than this one.

The majority opinion written by Jewel Throne: I have to say this is the best release since Into Cold Darkness. Vital have found their fire again, and it showed on this album.
Words From Dismembered Carcass: What amazes me most about this album is how there is no lull in intensity on any track. It is a ferocious onslaught from beginning to end.
Supporting...sorta Bear: Though I would never put it this high, there is some great music. The production on this album kills it, no consistency and the lows drop out for solos and many vocal stanzas. Production makes this album have no balls. .

The majority opinion written by Bear: Great release, as with their last album they are thoroughly set in death metal again with a bit of blackened flair. By far their best sounding album and could be their best.

Added by Snake: On the way to Milwaukee Metalfest, I listened to this album so loud that it liquefied the wax in my ears. These guys are seriously underrated. Cool album cover too! You can't go wrong with fire and a pentagram on black background. heh heh

Jewel Throne Adds: It's a great black metal release and became a favorite of mine in 2003.

...and Xena adds her insight on the band: I've toured with Summon and partied with them and they helped make me the alcoholic I am today!

The majority opinion written by Bear: This album drops the more Pink Floydish influences of Monumension and goes back towards the progressive black metal style of "Eld." Another band that can do no wrong, black metal that wears its 70's prog influences on its sleeve. Just plain impressive.
Added by Dismembered Carcass: If I can hear a flute intro and still be interested in hearing what is next, that should tell you something about the musical genius of a band.

The opposing opinion written by Snake: I have heard a lot of wonderful things about this album, but it seems over-hyped to me. I listened to it a few times and thought quite a bit of it sucked...SERIOUSLY sucked....and there aren't a lot of metal albums I would say that about. I did give it a chance, but after the third listening I put it on the shelf next to Enemies of Reality.

The opposing opinion written by Jewel Throne: I think this band blows goat nuts. I've never seen the big deal about this band. I find them very lame.

The opposing opinion written by Jewel Throne: The songs were good, but the production was piss poor. The guitars override everything and it comes out sounding like a horror show.
Brack: Never cared to listen to anything after Seventh Son...

The opposing opinion written by Snake: Listening to this album left me with that "not so fresh" feeling and a stale scent in my nostrils. If you are into King Diamond, I am sure it's great. For the average fan, I'd say it's an average album.
Added by Stark: When I listen to this album I imagine him phoning it in from poolside in Maui.

The opposing opinion: No one dares speak ill of Marduk. :D

The majority opinion written by Bear: Very brutal Florida sounding death metal... from Europe. Tchort and company deliver sheer brutality with this release, definitely their best material thus far.
Added by Dismembered Carcass: The first time I heard this I was immediately transported back to the glory days of Morrisound. BRT have now emerged as leaders in the DM genre and I look for them to stay that way for a long time.

The opposing opinion written by Jewel Throne: Perfect name for this album, because once you hear it, you start suffering from the agonizing boredom. They sound like a death metal band from Florida. Why would I want to hear a band like this? I have plenty of albums by death metal bands from Florida, and they are better than this garbage.

The majority opinion written by IronMaiden: My pick for album of the year. Impressive debut album from a band. I like the way they're mixing doomy sound and growling vocals.
Added by Crimson: Absolutely fabulous debut album!

The opposing opinion written by Xena: Swallow your son?! Isn't that what Michael Jackson usually says to his house guest parent's?
Added by Snake: Fine album, but not a top 25 in my opinion.
From Crimson: Damn, just listen to the album.
Added by Snake: I did, man! It just didn't rise above the white noise level of all the stuff I hear. I might look back on this album and see all the greatness you and the others do, but to me, it didn't stand out..

The opposing opinion written by Bear: Now this is my biggest disappointment of the year. Sure it has its moments and it is pretty original sounding, being that it sounds like death metal with clean vocals, but its just not top 20 worthy in my book.

Metal Priestess added: Enemies of Reality sucked my girl balls...

The majority opinion written by Metal Priestess: My album of the year. It's been a long time since a band grabbed me by the grill and tossed me on my ass. The vocals and lyrics are both definitive and moving and you cant help but bang your head along to their almost frighteningly catching riffs. All Hail Evergrey!
Says Brack....: Of the stuff I solely checked for this poll, Evergrey was the most appealing.

The opposing opinion written by Jewel Throne: I'm surprised people still care about this band. Their best days are well behind them. I guess they don't realize that yet. Oh well, they'll learn soon enough.
Dismembered Carcass adds: The Karelian Isthmus is an outstanding album. Whatever happened to that band anyway?
Snake replies: They died and went to be with Jesus.
Another opposing opinion written by Stark : They lost me on this one. I couldn't find one interesting or redeeming thing about it. Maybe I could if this was 1975 and I smoked a lot of weed.
Quipped Snake: Nah. Trust me on this, Denise....I smoked a lot of weed and in 1975, and you would have much preferred Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

The majority opinion written by Jewel Throne: It took me a couple of listens until I really appreciated this album. It is a good album with all kinds of killer riffs.
Dismembered Carcass agrees saying: Their best album since The Years Of Decay

The majority opinion written by Bear: Sure its not the 2-3 riffs per song of their early work, but they just don't want to get stagnant as they continue to show that minimalism can evolve.

The majority opinion written by Dismembered Carcass: After being disappointed with Mark of the Legion I was blown away by this album. This is their most thorough and balanced album they have ever written and should be a staple in a DM collection.
Added by Xena: This is another brutaly sick album. Vocals from the depths of hell and great guitar riffs. It's definately one of their best to date. Although I wouldn't say it is as brutal as Vital remains and Summon, it's still a sick and brutal CD.

The opposing opinion written by Jewel Throne: I've never once liked this band. They are quite boring. The song writing is total drivel. I get more entertainment by watching dust fly around a room than listening to this. People call them brutal. I think seeing two old people kiss is more brutal than this band.
Snake retorts: What could possibly be more brutal then watching two old people kissing? You're confusing me here, JT!
Added by Metal Priestess: "BRRROOOOTAL GUY, THESE GUYS ARE BROOOOOOTAL"....Brutally awful. I've seen better writing on the walls of a bathroom stall in downtown Boston.
Snake retorts again...: Yeah...that is probably because all those BloSox fans have so much free time on their hands. Every off season they have nothing to do except work on perfecting their shithouse poetry. I guess if the Deeds of Flesh guys have trouble selling albums now, they can blame it on "The Curse of the PAMbino"! AH HA HA HA HA!