Sepultura - Beneath The Remains (1989)

[Thrash Metal]

Although the term didn't really exist at the time, the first handful of Sepultura albums were deeply rooted in death metal, and were hugely influential to later bands in the genre. But 1989's 'Beneath The Remains' the band were largely ensconced in a genre that had been named - thrash. Much like the rest of the Brazilian metal scene at the time the band still made their metal with intensity, rather than melody, and straight out the gate (after a short acoustic interlude to introduce the album) the track 'Beneath The Remains' bulldozers its way through the listener's eardrums. 'Inner Self', with its great double time chorus, has slowly become a no-holds barred 80s metal classic, and it is followed by another strong track in 'Stronger Than Hate' straight after. Although thrash by nature the album is still extreme, and at times the pummelling riffwork and drums are unrelenting on tracks like 'Slave Of Pain'. The band's follow up album 'Arise' is arguably a better album, but 'Beneath The Remains' keeps just enough of the primitive early sound of the band in place against the backdrop of better production to make this a truly unique and satisfying album that will be known as a classic of the genre.

Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (1991)

[Grunge Rock]

Back in the day, living country South Australia, anything outside Top 40 didn't hit the local record shop. Thank God for ABC RAGE, that did make local TV - and you know where I am heading here - 'Jesus Christ Pose'. It was played every week as I was finishing Year 12. Blew me away. I can safely say, outside of thrash metal music, this was the first record I purchased (via a trip to Adelaide), loved, and turned into a huge fan. There are two simple but valuable elements to this record - the gritty, nasty, and in parts ear piercing, guitar sound form Thayil and Cornell, and then of course the brilliance of Cornell's vox. Incredible! He is rated with his peers at the time, with Eddie Vedder being a worthy comparison. Different sounds but equally brilliant. I'd put Cornell at the top. He had amazing range - listen to 'Slaves & Bulldozers' as an example. Oh, the other thing to mention is the lyrics - he wrote or had a hand in most of the tracks on the record. Shout out to Matt Cameron on his drum work. His timing to cover the different tempos in this is amazing. Just realised in re-reading I used past tense for Cornell - continue to R.I.P., my friend.