The Rules Of The Top 10

CLAUSE 1

A separate Top 10 must be written for Metal and Non-Metal. Items cannot be combined or duplicated.

CLAUSE 1.1

Metal is defined as

CLAUSE 1.2

Non-Metal is defined as

CLAUSE 2

The following are deemed Suitable Categories.

• Category 1 - The Best (Commonly referred to as ‘The Top 10’)
  (Albums you would slam down your hard-earned cash for, no questions asked)
• Category 2 - Honourable Mentions
  (Albums you think are worthy of a mention for some reason, but not something you would necessarily buy)
• Category 3 - Dis-Honourable Mentions
  (The absolute bottom of the barrel - The crap no one should ever have to hear ever again)

CLAUSE 2.1

Only Category 1 has to be used. Category 2 and Category 3 are optional.

CLAUSE 3

The Top 10 release must be released in the year the list is compiled for. It cannot be an older release form a previous year.

CLAUSE 3.1

For a release that is released at a later date in some countries, the original release date is the only one that can be accepted. The original release date is counted as the date the release was 'received' for rating.

CLAUSE 4

The Top 10 release (Category 1) must not be a live album.

CLAUSE 4.1

The Top 10 release (Category 1) can be a live album, if it is an album of at least 2/3 new material that has not appeared on a studio album. This does not include ‘unplugged’ recordings.

CLAUSE 4.2

Live albums can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Ccategory 1.

CLAUSE 5

The Top 10 release (Category 1) must not be a compilation.

CLAUSE 5.1

The Top 10 release (Category 1) can be a compilation album, if it is an album of at least 2/3 new material.

CLAUSE 5.2

Compilations can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Category 1.

CLAUSE 6

The Top 10 release (Category 1) must not be a 'covers' album.

CLAUSE 6.1

Covers albums can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Category 1.

Clause 7

The Top 10 release (Category 1) must not be a re-recording of older songs.

Clause 7.1

Re-recordings can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Category 1.

Clause 8

The Top 10 release (Category 1) cannot be an E.P.

Clause 8.1

E.P.s can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Category 1.

Clause 9

The Top 10 release (Category 1) cannot be a reissue or deluxe edition.

Clause 9.1

Reissue or deluxe editions can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in Category 1.

Clause 10

The Top 10 List must be ready for publishing by C.O.B. on the next working day after the last day in January of the following year. The Top 10 list will be published on the February 1 of the following year, or the next working day thereafter.

Clause 10.1

Issue dates are subject to change upon agreement of TheBigBlackMachine HQ (as we are usually late to issue our own).

Clause 10.2

Late submissions can be accepted (at the discretion of TheBigBlackMachine HQ) if the excuse for being late is deemed 'metal' enough.

CLAUSE 11

‘The 3 Listen Policy’