Note – As these rules are constantly ‘evolving’, some lists may contain contradictions.

 

Clause 1. A separate Top 10 must be written for Metal and Non-Metal. Items cannot be combined.

Clause 2. The following are deemed Suitable Categories.

• Category 1 – The Best
  (Albums you will slam down that 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 again)

Clause 2.1. Only category 1 has to be used. 2 and 3 are optional.

Clause 2. The Top 10 release must be released in the current year.

Clause 2.1. 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 scoring.

Clause 3. The Top 10 release must not be a live album.

Clause 3.1. The release can be a live album, if it is an album of at least 2/3 new material. This does not include ‘unplugged’ recordings.

Clause 3.2. Live albums can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in the The Best category.

Clause 4. The Top 10 release must not be a compilation.

Clause 4.1. The release can be a compilation album, if it is an album of at least 2/3 new material.

Clause 4.2. Compilations can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in the The Best category.

Clause 5. The Top 10 release must not be a ‘covers’ album.

Clause 5.1. Covers albums can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in the The Best category.

Clause 6. The Top 10 release must not be a re-recording of older songs.

Clause 6.1. Re-recordings can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in the The Best category.

Clause 7. The Top 10 release cannot be an E.P.

Clause 7.1. E.P.s can be mentioned as Honourable Mentions if necessary, but cannot be in the The Best category.

Clause 8. The Top 10 List must be ready for issue 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 sent out on the February 1 of the following year, or the next working day thereafter.

Clause 8.1. Release dates are subject to change upon agreement of management (as we are usually late to issue our own).

Clause 8.2. Late submissions can be accepted (by discretion of management) if the excuse for being late is deemed ‘metal’ enough.