Re-upload: Strapping Young Lad - City [1997]

The insane genius Devin Townsend has created in his lifetime some of the world's craziest, and best music, but this is his best - that's certainly saying a lot. A piece of industrial metal that is avant-garde despite largely holding popular structure, it should not be missed in any metal fan's collection.

Re-upload notes: This contains a few demo versions of tracks as bonuses. I've got to admit I'm not much of a fan of Townsend's post-SYL work but most of the SYL stuff is great.

160 kbps

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Profecium - Socialismo Satánico [1997]

Arguably the first RABM (Red and Anarchist black metal) album, this is as much a piece of history as a piece of music. Also one of the first Argentinian extreme metal bands, Profecium were innovators in every sense of the word. It's all in Spanish, but there isn't much ambiguity to 'Proletarios Uníos' and the like.

N.B. Sound quality sucks, but it's probably a third or fourth generation tape rip, and it's really difficult to find a better version.

Re-upload notes: Haven't listened to this one in a while, but I remember it being pretty good. Go for it. Don't let the politics put you off.

128 kbps

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Mumia Abu-Jamal With Music By Man Is The Bastard - Spoken Word [1997]

Mumia Abu-Jamal is a prisoner of racist attitudes and interracial politics. Convicted of the murder of a white policeman and sentenced to death, his previous political activism probably more than made up for the apparent lack of evidence against him. This is a collection of broadcasts made by him whilst on death row, and some of his opponents (which further suggest his innocence, as none of them give arguments even close to coherent).

N.B. Man Is The Bastard's contribution to this is minimal; if spoken word on these themes doesn't interest you, don't expect a powerviolence album.

Bitrate is irrelevant, but it's 128 kbps.

Link taken down at request.

Mortuary Drape - Secret Sudaria [1997]

Perhaps aided by Watain's vehement admiration of their music, it seems that Mortuary Drape's music is a lot more popular today than it was back when they were releasing this mini-gem. More death and less melody than Watain, this is great.

192 kbps

Megaupload

Enslaved - Eld [1997]

Now isn't this just a treat. Although I'm soon hoping to announce some new contributors, as soon as they've created accounts, this is a masterpiece of black metal, with plenty of folky and the beginnings of the progressive elements that would dominate Enslaved's later career.

192 kbps

Megaupload

Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk [1997]

Once again, apologies for the incorrect year on the .zip and the mp3s for this one - the year on the post is the correct one. This takes Emperor's previous complexity to a new extreme. Unfortunately suffers from incredibly quiet bass.

~220 kbps VBR

Megaupload

Ulver - Nattens Madrigal: Aatte Hymne Til Ulven I Manden [1997]

Although not quite as good as 'Bergtatt', Ulver on this still created a late masterpiece of the second wave of Norwegian black metal. Those of you who know the odd word of Norwegian should notice that this is as close to an eponymous album as Ulver have ever come.

~175 kbps VBR

Megaupload

Deströyer 666 - Unchain The Wolves [1997]

If there was one country to compete with Japan in terms of outstanding black/thrash, it would have to be Australia. Whilst the grim and frostbitten BM ethic may not seem too 'down-under' like, add a sprinkling of thrash to it and you've got a killer Australian combo.

320 kbps

Megaupload

Hammerfall - Glory To The Brave [1997]

Like many of you, I'm sure, I used to think that enjoying a HammerFall album instantly made one gay. Now, this was some of the best fun I've had in a long time, and I don't appear to be developing any lusts for the camp or the butch, so I can attest that this is safe. Includes a Warlord cover (to the ill-educated, that's Doro Pesch).

128 kbps (sorry again)

Link was taken down. Comment on this if you would like to see a reupload.