I really like Nevermore.  Politics and Dreaming Neon Black are my favs.  I saw them live in a club in Albuquerque, NM with Iced Earth.  My friends and I were right up front for the whole concert; one of the best shows I've ever seen, actually.  I met Jeff Loomis right before they played and actually hung out with him at the bar and bought him a shot and a beer, and I got to meet Iced Earth outside in the back parking lot afterwards.  That's what's great about bands playing the smaller clubs as opposed to big arenas; much more intimate settings.

I haven't heard too much from SYL but what I have heard is pretty cool.  Derek Townsend has a crazy voice.  They do a cover of Exicter on the Judas Priest tribute album (Nevermore does a cover of Love Bites), and Townsend sings on the Rush tribute album as well.

It's absolutely hilarious to see some of the responses on here. Evidently, EVERY BAND THAT HAS EVER ROCKED HARD apparently sucks now or they were better in the 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s. It's hilarious to see metal elitism, and music discussions in general are just hilariously predictable.

"They used to be awesome but they suck now."
"They were better in the 80s'"
"They sold out"

Hell, Metallica and Megadeth, even at their lowers points, are head and shoulders above the crowd, and Dream Theater still rocks hard.

Cool, too bad I only had one chance to see them live, the second time I got flu after I already bought the ticket -.- . My favourite albums were Dead Heart and Godless Endeavour. I wonder what will happen to th band now that Loomis and Van Williams have left. Yes, agree small clubs > arenas, I met Mike Terrana once when he was playing with Rage also the sound in small clubs is generally a bit better.

SYL were great, they played some very heavy and original stuff. Devin Townsend has done lot of cool stuff, like playing with Steve Vai at the age of 19 and producing Natural Born Chaos, the Soilwork album.

Thanks for the recommendation! I do know Porcupine Tree but if I didn't I'd own you a big deal!

I agree with you in regards to Iron Maiden.  I can't help but feel people are blinded by nostalgia when they claim tracks like Rainmaker, Paschendale, and For the Greater Good of God don't hold up well compared to their earlier works.  The early 90s was really the band's only low point.

Metallica, however... I can't say Load, Reload, or St. Anger are anywhere close to being "head and shoulders" above the works of other musicians, while I'd consider their 80s material to actually be better than both Iron Maiden and Megadeth.

Megadeth I'm kinda in the middle on.

I'll check it out. 

Among The Living is one of my all time favorite speed metal albums.

I suppose that you're right about the Priest influence.  I just happen to be one of those guys that associate Helloween with The Keeper of the Seven Keys albums and I consider those to be Maidenesque.  The only influence I hear from the Scorpions is the accents.  :p

About Derisoween>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kiskeoween I don't agree, but that doesn't mean that you don't know anything.  It just means that we have a different opinion and those are allowed. 

Has anyone mentioned Black Sabbath or Slayer yet? If not, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Queensrÿche and Amorphis are the kings of progressive metal.

But again, Queensrÿche started to suck with Promised Land (1994) and they've sucked ever since. Everything after Empire (1990) is absolute garbage.

Amorphis on the other hand are better than ever after they changed their vocalist.

Queensryche's Operation : Mindcrime is a masterpiece IMO.  To be honest, I lost my love for them when Empire came out.  :p