Heavy Metal fans, do you agree with this statement that Scott Ian said?

That is complete bull. British Steel was not an especially influential LP in the Metal world. It was the pinicale of commercial Metal in the 80s but later Metal outfits, Hard Rock and especially the Grunge added Blues influences back in. Look at Zack Wylde, he has strong Blues influences and his work with Ozzy has influenced most modern Metal guitarists.

Anthax always was lots of noise and not much bang to that noise.

Well, I was thinking about this statement a while ago and personally, I don't agree with Scott. Like [S] said it was quite blues based. I would say that they had made a much purer metal album in the 70s, perhaps the purest of the 70s. I'm talking about Stained Class.

British Steel is kind of overrated and in favour of this album much of their 70s stuff is overlooked. It was an attempt to break into the American mainstream, not some masterpiece, imho.

Priest is probably my favourite band. They influenced virtually each and every metal band since the late 70s but that was because of their 70s albums, which many people don't know about.

Listen to Exciter, if you haven't already. It's probably the most extreme 70s song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf-RSd8T9L0

Well I am not too sure what he means by that. In my opinion that album still had a lot of Blues Based riffs. I am not talking about right out classic blues elements but some of those riffs still included a lot of Pentatonic based riffs and solos. In my opinion an album that was released the same year Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden even though heavily punk influenced was more defining for the heavy metal genre. I think the early Maiden Years had a lot to do with where Metal was going onward from that. Don't get me wrong JP was just as involved with that but with Maiden also being in the picture that same time it kind of goes against what Ian is stating

I kinda understand what he was saying.

Back in the 70s "Heavy Metal" was along the lines of the Led Zeppelin sound... Thick, blues based rock, with lot of 12 bars blues chord progressions.

Judas Preist definately trimed the fat off of their sound, for a more sharp, steely sound.

But technically, most of their main riffs were I, IV, V based chords, just like most pop and rock music is, even today.

So I don't really know if Scott is correct.

Never thought of it before, but I think he is incorrect. Listen to British Steel and you'll find that it is saturated with blues sounding licks. And furthermore, so is Kill 'Em All. Maybe ol' Scotty just doesn't get it. The first album I know of that did away with that "Rock" or "Blues" feel was Slayer's Show No Mercy.

i can see where he's coming from with that. at the time that album came out, metal was starting to find it's identity and priest was definately one of (if not THE) bands that pushed it in the right direction. i think it helped lead into the 80's metal explosion and was definately a defining album of the time. and for the band itself. that album is a classic thats gone down in history and will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Iron Maiden is excellent but Black Sabbath rules Old School metal. As for Opeth I love most of their albums but Orchid is my favorite.

I do agree that preists british steel was one of the best albums that defined metal

Heavy Metal isnt a sound its a feeling that is what Metal is about

sure why not.......I like Screamin for Vengeance better.

Kill em All did away with everything!

Cliff Burton RIP