Fear, Emptiness, Decibel: Which Albums Almost Made the Hall of Fame?
Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…
It may be a little out-of-date, but our Hall of Fame FAQ does a pretty thorough job of explaining our parameters for selecting albums. The most important being that we have to interview every participating member. That way, the story is authoritative, authentic, unfuckwithable. Everybody has a voice, even the junkie drummer who hates everyone and didn’t actually write any of the songs.
The problem is sometimes the drummer’s still shooting up. Or he’s found God. Or he’s moved on to life as an international DJ. Or he got screwed on royalties. Or he hasn’t forgiven the guitarist for boinking his fiancée 20 years ago. Either way, there’s no shot in hell he’s taking an hour out of his life to talk about this stupid album. And then we don’t have a one-of-a-kind document to share with you guys.
Well, after putting out this magazine for 10 years, we’re ready to share our horror stories so you won’t have to ask why the hell album X or Y isn’t in there and album Z, of all things, is. Our “From Enslavement to Obliteration” feature in the March issue covers 20 of our most-asked-about Hall of Fails, and explains not only why they haven’t happened yet, but whether or not they ever will. (Obviously, Death, Pantera, classic Metallica and the like are not applicable due to legendary musicians no longer being with us.) We’re talking Deicide, Bolt Thrower, Faith No More, Godflesh—no-doubters that we just haven’t been able to finagle.
The good news is, specifically due to this piece, we’ve already gotten feedback from some of you amateur sleuths out there, and no less than three of these 20 are now in various stages of reanimation. So, please do us a favor: read the piece and let us know if you have an in. Let’s empty out the bucket list while we’re (kind of) young.
The March 2015 issue of Decibel also features Carcass, Venom, and Living Colour, and can be purchased here. But anyone who doesn’t just get a full subscription will never make the Hall of Fame.
