Welcome to Metal Power Rankings: Our weekly rankings take a number of factors into account: newsworthiness, record sales, internet buzz, word of mouth and overall importance in the genre. Ultimately, it’s subjective, but if a band generates enough buzz, they’ll wind up on the list. This week, a few surprise album appearances are revealed, some old favorites are back in full swing, and one of the Slipknot dudes is getting a little more violent than usual.
1) Slayer (re-entry)
Slayer has been on our radar a lot lately, from tour rumor buzz to festival cruise announcements, but this week there’s exciting news about the upcoming Slayer release. Founding member Jeff Hanneman will be appearing on one track on the album that the band had nearly completed while he was still affiliated – and that’s pretty awesome. It’s enough to make you want a pie.
2) Megadeth
This week confirmed the floating suspicions that Chris Adler of Lamb of God will be drumming on the new Megadeth record. This album will be recorded as a three piece with existing Megadeth members Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson.
3) System of a Down (debut)
System of a Down is about to kick off their world tour to call attention to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. But the bigger news is that they’re working on new songs.
4) Tool (re-entry)
Tool have finally gotten to the end of their legal troubles and are now able to shift their focus over to putting out some new music at last.
5) Royal Thunder (from 13)
With Crooked Doors coming out in a little over the week, the band’s been pretty much everywhere these past few days, with basically the whole album premiering on different sites. It’s streaming on NPR as we speak!
6) Torche
After releasing an album and announcing a tour earlier this month, Torche has released a music video for “Annihilation Affair” that totally captures the apocalyptic feel the track conveys.
7) Metallica
Metallica has some work to do if they’re going to out-splash Megadeth with that Chris Adler announcement. Maybe they could get Dave Lombardo to take over for Lars? Get Tosin Abasi to fill in for Kirk? The possibilities are endless…
8) Faith No More (no change)
Roddy Bottum is diving into the musical theatre world – and we’re interested. “Sasquatch” debuts in Brooklyn this upcoming weekend.
9) The Dillinger Escape Plan
The band’s first show since last summer was the highlight of metal at SXSW, with the band destroying an outdoor crowd. When Greg Puciato shotputs the mic stand within the first 30 seconds of a show, you know that this one has to be a massive wake-up call. Makes you wonder what they’ll have up their sleeves in the near future.
10) Slipknot (from 2)
Mick Thomson has been having kind of a rough time this month, most recently facing charges of disorderly conduct after coming after his brother with a knife.
11) At the Gates
The Decibel Tour is off and running, and as everyone remembers just how perfect At War With Reality was, they have a good chance of reigniting in our rankings.
12) Byzantine
The new Byzantine album To Release Is To Resolve comes out on April 7th, but is streaming now through Revolver. We love it, so you should definitely give it a spin.
13) Nightwish
Endless Forms Most Beautiful was released last week overseas, but comes out over here tomorrow via Nuclear Blast.
14) Unlocking the Truth (from 12)
It looks like the band’s film might cast them in a sympathetic light, which might lead to them getting out of their contract. We still haven’t heard any music though.
15) Limp Bizkit (no change)
We really never thought that we’d be writing about Fred Durst in this space two weeks in a row, but that “Not Robert” hoodie is admittedly brilliant.
