From: njhand@vax1.tcd.ie
Subject: Be nice to newbies week.
Organization: Trinity College Dublin
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:05:34 GMT

Who wants newbies to always be newbies? Hey, come on give them a
break, we were all that way once ya'know. How about actually 
answering some of their (admittedly dumb) questions? Or making
useful suggestions as to how they could shake off their
(temporary) affliction. One of the reasons I got into metal
was because a lot of people recommended a lot of good albums
when I first showed an interest (OK, they were passionate about
different bands/albums, but nobody every made me feel stupid for
not knowing much about metal).

Anyway, here's my contribution to the evolution/education of 
newbiedom.

Must haves (teething metal);

Metallica : KEA (absolute must), RTL (the best), MOP (I don't like it much,
but you won't be able to flame me for that unless you've heard it),
AJFA (even if you only like "One" and "Harvester of Sorrow").
NOT the new album (because you already have it, you asshole, otherwise
you wouldn't be a newbie.

Iron Maiden : Only joking, hah! Fished you right in, sign of the net,
Nick the bassmaster. These people are good for t-shirts, not music.

Def Leppard, Europe, Bon Jovi : See "Iron Maiden"

Spinal Tap : Soundtrack, videocasette, and "Breaks like the Wind", so
you'll understand what I mean about Iron Maiden.

Megadeth : Not really the one to ask, because I haven't heard the last
two albums, but I like "So far, so good, so what?", "Peace Sells" is OK,
too, if only for the title track (great live too).

Slayer : These guys kick bottom, oh I mean ass, which seems to be very 
important to all you people who think MOP is heavy. Fast, loud, aggresive, 
offensive, what more could you ask for? "Reign in Blood" is my fave,
"Seasons in the Abyss" is pretty cool too (especially "Dead Skin Mask").
"Chemical Warfare" is worth having for "Mandatory Suicide". Or you
could just spring for (/bootleg shhhh!) "Decade of Aggression" the double
live CD, which is pretty good and has basically all of their best stuff.

OK, so now you have the basics of most of the popular modern metal bands
(Led Zeppelin/Black Sabbath/Deep Purple are classics and taken as read).
What next? Well, its up to you, do you want;
Faster ? Accept, Kreator, Sepultura, Napalm Death, Death, Danzig, 
Testament. (there isn't exactly a shortage of thrash bands)
Heavier ? As above (BTW if you want fastier/heavier then consider yourself
a graduate (ex-)newbie.  
Holier ? Stryper, Whitecross. (I wouldn't bother)
More mainstream ? G'n'f'n'R, Aerosmith (is it metal or is it hard rock ?
what is the sound of one hand clapping ?)
More extreme ? Crumbsuckers, Pantera, come on you're ears are bleeding,
this is a gradual process, listen to that soothing Slayer album again.
Funkier ? Faith No More, Red Hot Chilli Peppers (metal?), Living Color
Seattlier ? Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog (yes, I know), Queensryche
(OK so Seattlier isn't a word, but I had to mention Soundgarden)

This a isn't a canonical list or anything BTW, just some stuff I like, 
so don't bother flaming me for any omissions that you think I've made 
(especially if think I should have recommended some AC/DC). Go make your 
own list and stop complaining about mine.

See ya,

Nick.
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll.metal.metallica