Online since 1995, this website is one of the best Internet resources for researching Heavy Metal. All genres are represented and all bands have full discographies. Add a band summary, link to the website (if available), album art, tracklists, and lineups and you’ve got a comprehensive look at over 1400+ bands.
What I like most is the criteria that each band must fit to be included in this Metal encyclopedia. From the BNR Metal FAQ:
Assuming the band in question is sufficiently metal enough, there are two requirements of new bands:
- They must have released at least one album or EP (demos don’t count)
- I must have listened to at least one full album or EP (not just a single song or two)
The reason for the first requirement is not because I don’t care about up-and-coming bands or long-lost garage bands, it’s simply a matter of time and resources. As it is, I cannot keep up with all the established bands out there, much less write pages for bands that are still on the way up. I wish I could support these bands more, but I simply can’t.
Number 2 sounds like a cheap ploy to get free stuff, but that’s not the point, and certainly not why I’ve done this site in the first place. I just feel more comfortable and qualified writing about a band that I’ve heard first-hand rather than just relying on reports. It’s as simple as that.
Obviously run by a fan. A Metal salute to anyone that has listened to that many bands!
