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Albums: Muse - The Resistance Megadeth - Endgame Got them both already actually, HMV delivered early. Two good albums, but I prefer Megadeth's.

It's a decent album, a couple of superb tracks (namely 'Unnatural Selection' and 'Guiding Light'), but on the whole, it's one of their weakest albums. Behind everything barring Showbiz.

The difference is that once you're in a cult they try and ruin your life further. But like I said, Christianity often has a positive impact on peoples lives, especially those who are suffering. And I actually agree with you on your faith-based schooling point. I come from Northern Ireland where denominational schooling - both Catholic and Protestant - has simply helped to foster resentment and divisions between communities. I agree with the concept of religious education - ie. teaching children about various faiths and how they affect society - but in terms of encouraging faithful participation, I don't think that should be a matter for school authorities.

You're talking the Church "targeting" (and I'm still unhappy with that phrase) people who are vulnerable; yet they're doing it because they want to help them. That's my point. If turning to God helps someone out of their depression, gets them off the streets, turns them away from drugs or prostitution, gets them away from crime, etc. then I don't see why that is an issue. Christianity can help a lot of people cope with these problems. And just an FYI, there is no reason why Islamic summer camps shouldn't be allowed, and plenty of political parties DO have educational and recreational programmes for their younger members.

You seem to be throwing out a lot of sure thoughts here. I've been to Christian summer camps before - both as a young teenager and a young adult - and the ones I've been at have never suggested anything like "You're only having fun because of God". It was pretty much, go out and have fun with your friends, recreational activities etc. during the day, and then at night there was a worship service and sermon, neither of which put ANY pressure on you to convert. I also think a lot of people underestimate the ability of young teenagers to make independent decisions. I mean, I went to this summer camp with a group of about 7 others - 5 are atheists.

Iron Maiden with '2 Minutes To Midnight' at No. 11! Easily one of their best ever tunes.

*face-palm* I gathered that you had you missed the entire point of my post the second you said "PRETENDING to be my friend".

Why do atheists always insist that Christians are out to 'recruit' or 'groom' followers? It's completely unacceptable use of language. Christians, regardless of what YOU may believe, firmly believe in their faith. They're not trying to 'recruit' followers in order to fulfill some sort of monthly quota, nor for bragging rights - a true Christian tries to convert people because they genuinely care about them and their lives. Granted, there will always be some that take advantage of their position, but let's not tar everybody with the same brush here. If a believer wants to talk to you about God it's generally because they're actually excited about their own experiences, and want others to share them. The main thought running through their head should be "I want to help this person believe?", not - as I believe was implicit in your post, rob - "how can I MANIPULATE this person into believing?"

It's a pity they're releasing this the same week as Muse. I think they would have had a decent shout at a number 1 album if they released it on August 31st, the original release date. Not that it effects the quality of the record in the slightest whether it gets the top album spot or not, but I always think it's good for quality metal to get more exposure. It was great seeing people sitting through the chart show have to listen to Metallica at top of the albums chart two weeks in a row haha.

Megadeth are back this year with a record that is already being heralded as one of the best of 2009, and Megadeth's best work since 1990s thrash masterpiece Rust In Peace. The lead single is called 'Headcrusher' and is already available for download on iTunes and Amazon, whilst another track has been leaked from the Megadeth Fanclub on to YouTube, entitled '1,320'. What do they have in common? Fast and technical thrash with trademark Megadeth dual-guitar from beginning to end. BohJHfPlHnY SvwwiGjURHI Can't wait for this one - after the atrocious Risk (Megadeth's very own St. Anger), they've just gone from strength to strength. Every album has bettered the last one, and they seem to be back to their very best with this.

A legend of the music industry, and an uncelebrated hero. The Les Paul is the model of guitar I love most, and one of my aims in life is to own the Slash Custom Les Paul some day. My thoughts and prayers are with Les' family and friends. RIP a true musical icon.

What's wrong with making more money anyway? GNR was a full-time venture, it's perfectly acceptable for them to want to make as much money as possible, as long as it's not at a terrible cost to the consumer. IMO, the double-album idea was a fair and valid one. No different from when Metallica released Load and Reload.

'Party Hard' is fecking awesome, but I'm not familiar with his other material. Suggestions?

The fact is that Guns N' Roses didn't NEED to sell-out - Appetite alone made them the biggest band in the world. Use Your Illusions could have been Appetite Mk. II and sold just as well as it did in it's more popular form. And, again I'm referencing Slash's autobiography, the decision to put it out as two single albums at the same time was a record company decision. The only compromise the band got was that it be sold as two single albums instead of a double, as this way their poorer fans didn't need to spend extra money just to hear their favourite band; they could choose which album they wanted to buy.

You are indeed correct. Use Your Illusions was written with filler in mind - read Slash's autobiography. The band had a huge amount of material they'd amassed, and wanted to get it all recorded and out of the way so they could start afresh for the next album, which alas never arrived. And it wasn't an irrelevant point - you used 'November Rain' as an example of a song that showed the band GNR became after Appetite. I'm merely pointing out the fact that they'd written that song during Appetite, alongside other ballad songs like 'Don't Cry' and their cover of 'Knockin' On Heavens Door', shows that it was the band they always were. Just because Appetite was written as a pure hard-rock album doesn't mean that GNR sold-out or changed when Illusions offered different material.

You do realise that GNR had written 'November Rain' for Appetite, right? The only reason it didn't make the album was because they felt that they only needed one ballad, and that was SCOM. I just think November Rain is a beautiful song. The piano is superb, Slash's guitar work is some of his very best, and the lyrics are fantastic.

That's only because it's a shameless Rolling Stones rip-off. Izzy didn't try anything even remotely new on that album.

Rime Of The Ancient Mariner = Gold. That's gotta be Maiden's magnum-opus right there.

Yeah, the same excesses which gave all-time classic tracks like 'Sweet Child O'Mine', 'November Rain' and 'Estranged'. Yes, Axl may be a looney, but people forget - the rest of the band ALL WENT ALONG WITH HIS IDEAS! It was only after the release of the Illusions records that the rest of the band really became disillusioned with the musical direction. And it's not as if Slash, Izzy and co. have produced anything of GNR standard since they left the band. Velvet Revolver are good, but about 10% of the behemoth GNR were. However, I agree wholeheartedly that Axl should NOT be using the Guns N' Roses name. I think it's a mistake that he'll live to regret for the rest of his life.

I didn't think it was "$h!t hot" - I just thought it was a decent album that a lot of people slated without giving a chance. I could just as easily say it takes several listens to appreciate (which it does btw), but it's obvious you've just listened to it once - or at all? And yes, I've listened to ALL of Mastodon's albums - I'm a music fan, I had to hear this new metal band everyone has been raving about. For me, they don't live up to the hype in the least. I'm sorry, but the riffs just sound a jumbled mess, there's no coherent structure. The main thing I don't like though is the vocals - not the style itself, but the fact they don't compliment the music in the least. They seem to be to an entirely different tune. Don't get me wrong, Crack The Skye is not a terrible album, Mastodon are not a terrible band. I just think they've been hit by a hype train they don't live up to.

Mastodon's album was a self-indulgent mish-mash of cliched riffs with no melody or groove to hold anything together. The concept was entirely ridiculous as well. It's progressive metal at it's poorest. All these people calling Mastodon the next Metallica, I can't even begin to contemplate that until Mastodon write a truly defining metal anthem, which they've still miserably failed to do.

It just sounds like stereotypical thrash. No doubt some people will lap that up, but aside from a few songs of that nature, I've always thought Slayer were at their best when playing more structured, intelligent thrash, like on South Of Heaven and Seasons In The Abyss.

No. 20 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Machine_Head_album_cover.jpg Artist: Deep Purple Album: Machine Head Genre: Hard Rock Released: March 1972 UK Chart Position: 1 Description: Alongside Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple are frequently cited as one of the reasons that the 70s were the golden-age for rock music. And listening to Machine Head, it's hard to argue with that. From start to finish, the bands powerful and memorable riffs, intricate drumming and flawless vocals are a showcase for what makes rock music great - no matter how many times you hear the riff to 'Smoke On The Water', the band's best known track, it doesn't ever seem to get tired. Even more significantly, it's one of the first tracks any new guitarist aquaints themselves with - because despite being simple to play, it's one of those riffs that makes everyone around you sit up and take notice. But Machine Head is far from a one-trick pony - the whole album is teeming with rock classics. Album opener 'Highway Star' is an essential driving tune, it's chugging riff and blistering solo the perfect accompaniment to any car ride; and that's even overlooking the fact that the lyrics are about that! Despite Deep Purple's reputation as a rock band, it's also important to note the influence this record had on the developing heavy-metal movement. This album was louder, heavier and faster than a great deal of music in the early 70s, and was certainly a trend-setter for other bands to follow in their footsteps. Deep Purple's contribution to metal remains criminally overlooked against the influence of bands such as Black Sabbath, but one things for certain - this is their magnum-opus. 9jp3de50_d8 IFV-ENTf-kw -------------------------------------------------------------------- RECAP: 40. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Patience, Silence And Grace 39. Queen - Sheer Heart Attack 38. The Answer - Rise 37. Nirvana - Nevermind 36. Megadeth - Youthanasia 35. Muse - Origin Of Symmetry 34. Buckethead - Crime Slunk Scene 33. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory 32. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? 31. Motorhead - Ace Of Spades 30. Velvet Revolver - Contraband 29. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy 28. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? 27. Judas Priest - Painkiller 26. Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz 25. Opeth - Blackwater Park 24. Deliverance - Weapons Of Our Warfare 23. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik 22. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers 21. Gogol Bordello - Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike 20. Deep Purple - Machine Head Thoughts and comments welcome!

No. 21 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Gogol_Bordello_Gypsy_Punks_Album_Cover.jpg Artist: Gogol Bordello Album: Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike Genre: Punk (Gypsy) Released: August 2005 UK Chart Position: N/A Description: "I'm gathering new generation / That's gonna stand up to it / To this karaoke dictatorship / Where posers and models with guitars / Boogie to the $h!t for beats / I make a better rock revolution / Alone with my dick!" - this is just one of the many bizarre yet unforgettable lines in Gogol Bordello's third and best album. The band's music has been described, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, as 'gypsy punk rock', combining the attitude, tempo and delivery of punk-rock with traditional folk instruments such as violins and accordians. Sound strange? It is. But does it work? Undoubtedly. The band has gained a great name on the live circuit for their highly energetic performances, and if their unique brand of musicianship doesn't have you tapping your feet and wanting to get up and dance like a maniac, then nothing will. Ultimately, there's not much you can say to describe Gogol Bordello - suffice to say, they are a unique, one-of-a-kind form of punk-rock, and a shining beacon of light for a genre that has continually been watered down for mainstream acceptance. So stick on these videos, turn up the volume, and enjoy a slice of catchy musical mayhem from one of the most original bands in the world. PFL2SXGdrVA 7YElX4na_bg

Hi again everyone! Starting this back up again, now that I've finally got my computer sorted out. As an extra special treat, and to get this back up to speed, I'm gonna be doing numbers 22-20 now, getting ready for the big 20-0 countdown. Hope you enjoy, and please comment! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. 22 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/RSSF71.jpg Artist: The Rolling Stones Album: Sticky Fingers Genre: Rock Released: April 1971 UK Chart Position: 1 Description: With a catalogue of over 20 albums, spanning 5 decades, picking out the best Rolling Stones album is arguably as difficult as picking out a Grand National winner by blindfolding yourself, putting a pin in your hand, and randomly stabbing at the newspaper. However, as one of the most important rock bands of all-time, there is no doubt that whatever Stones album is your favourite, it has probably seen countless rotations in the record players of fans all over world, both old and new. For me, the Stones best work is this album, Sticky Fingers - there are 10 impeccably written tracks here, which showcase the bands talent at both uptempo, gritty rock, and also softer, sentimental bluesy numbers. The short and snappy 'Bitch' still packs a mean punch today, and could single-handedly kick the slow-tempo, soft-rock of bands like Snow Patrol firmly into touch. Blues-rock tracks such as the aethemic 'Wild Horses', or the understated yet hauntingly beautiful 'I Got The Blues' resonate just as powerfully as the more riff-driven tracks. The 7 minute long Can't You Hear Me Knockin', my particular album highlight, successfully transforms from a cutting, overdriven riff-focused track into an almost reggae-esque breakdown. Even if you've never heard this record directly before, you've almost certainly heard it indirectly - it's present in the hard-rock of AC/DC and early Aerosmith, it's present in the pop-hooks that dominate the Top-40, it's present in the blues artist playing at a little underground venue. In short, it's the sound of a band at their creative and popular peak, and an essential listen for any rock or blues fan. euOrnZZkzKg