Welcome to the Top Five special! I discovered my favorite band when they were mentioned by another artist in an interview. It's natural to be want to check out the influences of your favorite artists and see what inspires them to make the music that you love. That's what this special is all about.  We send out requests to tons of bands and labels to have their artists share with us their Top Five Albums of All Time and we have quite a collection of artists from across the musical spectrum that have turned in their picks! In the coming weeks we will be unveiling a new Top Five list three times a week. Lists from big names as well as indie artists will be included, so we hope you enjoy this special and you discover some music in the process.  - Keavin (editor antiMusic.com)
 

Today we hear from Lamb of God's John Campbell and antiMusic's Travis Becker

Lamb of God bassist John Campbell's Top Five Albums of All Time!

RPG - "Full Time"
(out of print but you can get copies at Gemm.com)

All Night - self-titled
(samples / buy cd)

Black Flag - "Everything Went Black"
(samples / buy cd)

Willie Nelson - "Red Headed Stranger"
(samples / buy cd)

Denali - self-titled
(samples / buy cd)
 

About Lamb of God: The band just released their explosive live DVD KILLADELPHIA featuring their full October 2004 concert at Trocadero in Philadelphia (see review). That should get you in the mood as the band rips it up this summer leading the charge on the Sounds of the Underground Tour. Check out the links for a lot more on the band including one-off dates!

For more on Lamb of God 

Official Website for Lamb of God 
Preview and purchase Lamb of God music

On Friday's we are featuring staff lists.  This week we hear from Travis Becker.

Travis Becker's Top Five Albums of All Time!

Note:  In an effort to use some diverse choices, I'm excluding some sainted, canonical works. I.E. Ramones first 4, First five Sabbath, etc. So, without further ado... And in no particular order :)

Bob Dylan - Bringing it all Back Home: Probably not the most popular Dylan choice, but it's my favorite and it feels to me like the least self-consciously rock and roll album he did that still has heavy rock elements to it.
(samples / buy cd)

Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous: Redefined the live album again and brought guitar rock and twin guitar harmonies to the masses.  Plus, it contains the greatest bit of stage banter ever committed to tape.  And I quote:  "Anyone out there have a little Irish in them? {crowd cheers} Any of the ladies out there like a little more Irish in ya?" {Travis laughs hysterically every time}
(samples / buy cd)

Misfits - Walk Among Us: First punk band I really really got into.  All of the compilations and box sets can't equal the power of these thirteen songs put together like this.  Plus, it's the Misfits in their pure form before they tried to go all hardcore on Earth AD, but long after the electric piano experiments and heavy fifties schlock of Static Age.
(samples / buy cd)

Now for the controversial choice.

Rocket from the Crypt - Scream, Dracula, Scream: What can I say?  I love this band, they do heavy in ways that other bands only wish they could.  The horns work, the guitar could curl aluminum siding and the songs are exceptional.  Top five all time? Right now-yeah.
(samples / buy cd)

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme: Not much to say about this that hasn't already been said.  It's perfect.
(samples / buy cd)
 

About Travis Becker: Apart from his love of fine beer, Travis has a deep appreciation for quality music as his list shows. Not held down by genre constraints, if it's good, he'll spin it, whether it's metal, punk, jazz, classic rock, etc. Since he joined us in May of last year Travis has written about a wealth of music from across a wide spectrum of styles. His latest review is of Clutch's new CD Robot Hive / Exodus
 
 

Because antiMusic features more than our fair share of indie music, we're also including notable anti worthy indie bands in this special. Today's list comes from Domeshots's frontman Danner.

Danner's Top Five Albums of All Time!

5.  Soundgarden - "Superunknown": I know, I know. The break out record? But it was the BEST in my humble opinion. I was with this band from 89 to the end, and this piece of work blew me away. It still does today on every listen.
(samples / buy cd)

4.  Faith No More - "Angel Dust":  The most innovative hard rock album I've ever heard. Matt Wallace's production really makes this an entire piece of incredible work. It's a movement that is hard to get through, but once you can and enjoy it's twists and turns, you really appreciate what's going on.
(samples / buy cd)

3. Sepultura - "Roots":  I know it's PC to say that Chaos A.D. was better, but I never knew music could sound like this. This album completely blew me away in songwriting, production, performance. Incredible. I believed every word of oppression and despair that came from Max's mouth.
(samples / buy cd)

2.  Pantera - "Far Beyond Driven": This is such a brutal album, but it also communicates with the listener. This is the first "must have" heavy record I can think of.
(samples / buy cd)

1.  Guns and Roses - "Appetite for Destruction": This CD changed my fledgling life! I was strung out on gak in 2nd grade and this saved me from it. And it was an incredible album. Tasty.
(samples / buy cd)

About Domeshots: Domeshots just got off the road and are hard at work prepping new music for their sophomore album and playing assorted shows. Don't fear the band doesn't stay off the road long, as plans for a national tour are in the works. In her review of Domeshots' 2004 self-titled debut antiMusic's Joannie Foney wrote, " The busiest band in showbiz award belongs to hardcore industrialists Domeshots, with a whopping 180 shows since January (2004)…. But rather than sounding like something slapped together by a group too road weary to care about the important task of bottling their essence, this is a CD crafted with care and even attention to detail…. There is an energy displayed on every track that's palpable, and the walls of many musical genres are masterfully scaled." Check out the links to hear for yourself. 

For more on Domeshots

Official Website for Domeshots
Preview and purchase Domeshots

Check back tomorrow for another artist's top five list! 

Today we hear from  In Flames' Björn Gelotte (guitar). antiMusic contributing writer Morley Seaver caught up with Björn last week and got his Top 5 (actually Top 6) list for us. 

Björn Gelotte's Top Five Albums of All Time!

This is in no particular order.  I couldn’t do a 1-5 pick.  These are the ones that I play the most.

Handsome:  I think it’s Helmet and Quicksand members.  They only did one record.  Extremely well produced.  It sounds amazing.  Just listen to the guitar and drum sound on it and you will be really impressed, I’m pretty sure.  It’s fairly old, that’s why it’s even cooler.
(out of print but you can get copies at Gemm.com)

Rainbow: I’d say the first two records.  “Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow” and “Rainbow Rising”.  These are the favorite ones.
 (samples / buy cds)

Muse - Showbiz: They’re a British band.  They have a bunch of records but the one called "Showbiz”…that’s one of my favorites. 
(samples / buy cd)

System of a Down – Mezmerize:  Another thing that’s spinning a lot lately, and I’m playing it right now actually is the new System of a Down record.  It’s very, very good. 
(samples / buy cd)

Queensryche - Empire:  That’s the first Queensryche record I had heard.  Everybody else says “Operation Mindcrime” is the best but for me it’s “Empire”. 
 (samples / buy cd)

Dream Theater - Change of Seasons: Can I add one?  Something I’ve listened to since it came out and not every day anymore but at least one a week and it’s “Change of Seasons” with Dream Theater.  It’s amazing, still. 
(samples / buy cd)
 
 

About In Flames: The band just finished recording their 8th album, tentatively called "Come Clarity". You'll have a wait it longer to get your hands on that but fret not because next month the band is releasing a special limited edition of the "Used and Abused... In Live We Trust" (DVD - preorder) that will contain 2 DVDs, 2 CDs and a 48-page booklet.  And of course the band will be ripping it up all summer on Ozzfest. 

For more on In Flames 

Official Website for In Flames
Preview and purchase In Flames

Today's list comes from Clit 45 and in true punk rock fashion they break all the rules. We have no idea which member of the group sent the list, which wasn't numbered and actually included more that 5 albums. But that's cool, the band is staying true to form and we like that around here. So with out further bs from us, here is Clit 45's Top Album list. 

Clit 45's Top Albums of All Time!

You'd have to have The Clash, right, which one though.... I guess if I had to pick one, London Calling.
(samples / buy cd)

Have to have some mozzer as well, so The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow
(samples / buy cd)

Johnny Thunders - LAMF
(samples / buy cd)

Virus - Singles Collection.. just kidding as well
(samples / buy cd)

TSOL - Beneath the Shadows is a good one
(samples / buy cd)

Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness.
(samples / buy cd)

Beatles - The White Album, track one side one.
(samples / buy cd)

Velvet Underground & Nico
(samples / buy cd)
 
 

About Clit 45: Clit 45 are currently on tour with Lower Class Brats supporting their new album Self-Hate Crimes (on BYO Records), which our very own Travis Becker declared "delivers a taught set of Mohawked anthems, all in less time than it takes to watch a Simpsons rerun.  This is no concept album, no Punk Opera, just fourteen songs that get to the point like a spiked skull ring to the eye socket."

For more on Clit 45 

Official Label Website for Clit 45 (they're too punk for an official site)
Preview and purchase Clit 45 music
 

DevilDriver's Jon Miller's Top Five Albums of All Time!

5.  Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops: When these Boston boys threw down years ago, they were simply untouchable and this record explains why.  This album is perfection to me in a Pink Floyd-esque sort of way...... in close competition with Strapping Young Lad's City and Opeth's Still Life.
(samples / buy cd)

4.  Suffocation - Pierced From Within:  Death Metal at its finest. Classy and beautifully written to say the least.  This record just beats out the race against Cannibal Corpse's The Bleeding, Vader's Litany and Dying Fetus' Killing on Adrenaline for best death metal album.
(samples / buy cd)

3. Acid Bath - Paegan Terrorism Tactics:  Eat some mushrooms, and you will understand why this is one of the greatest albums of all time.
(samples / buy cd)

2.  Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son:  I know that many people will disagree with me about this being Maiden's best record, but I can listen to "Seventh Son...." over and over again and never tire of it.  It puts me in the best mood. Flawless.
(samples / buy cd)

1.  Metallica - Master of Puppets: Undisputedly the greatest heavy metal record of all time in my book.  Everything about it is flawless. If a single note on this record were changed the Earth would self-destruct.
(samples / buy cd)
 
 

About DevilDriver: DevilDriver looked at the sophomore curse and it kicked it right in the ass with their explosive new CD 'Fury Of Our Maker's Hand' which hits stores tomorrow via Roadrunner Records.  Jon will be laying down the monster bass all summer with the band on the Sounds Of The Underground tour. 

For more on DevilDriver 

Official Website for DevilDriver
Preview and purchase DevilDriver music
Read our review of DevilDriver's new CD Fury Of Our Maker's Hand (4 1/2 stars!)