"Hi-Fi" Metal (meaning it's metal AND the recording is good enough to warrant cranking on fancy pants gear and it's not so obscure that you won't be able to find it) off the top of my head:
The Fucking Champs - III, IV, V
This may be the most audiophile metal ever. Not only are they phenomenal guitar players but you get real analog sound and a complete list of the recording chain. How hifi nerdy can ya get!? Get a Champs disc now, do not hesitate for a moment!
You can get it on Amazon fer cripes sakes!
Metallica - Garage Days Re-Revisted $5.98 EP.
They recorded this one themselves and it's as good or much better than any of the formal studio recordings. In my opinion this is
one of the fattest bass guitar tones ever recorded.
Sepultura - Chaos A.D.
Recorded by Andy Wallace, some bigshot or something. He did a good job. Not exactly warm and cozy, but very clear and distinct tones.
Cianide - A Descent Into Hell
Okay, screw what I said about non-obscure. This is the thickest, heaviest metal recording around. If you can play this album and still think your system is bass-shy you've got some serious issues to attend to!
Look for a copy on eBay perhaps.
Nunslaughter - One Night In Hell
Play this record and the band is IN your living room. Raw feed right off the sound board I'd imagine, but aside from some minor level mismatches this is what a live gig sounds\feels like. Funny banter too. You won't be able to find a copy though.
Kyuss - any album
Kyuss' albums have always sounded a cut above the rest. Very heavy, visceral, warm, analoggy...
Queens Of The Stone Age would also go along in this vein.
Melvins - any album
No typewriter kick drums here!
Megadeth - Rust In Peace
Compare this gem to the digitally-recorded and edited followup "Symphony Of Destruction" and you may find as I do that analog tape is the way metal was meant to be recorded.
Non-Fiction - "Preface" or "In The Know"
If you can track these down you'll be rewarded with some very clear and heavy tuneage.
Skyclad - the early albums before they started sucking
Let me put it this way; if a guy with a gazillion-dollar setup who only listens to jazz and movie soundtracks can find this stuff to be cool then you might too!
I wouldn't say the recordings are ideal, but they're good. The important thing is the music and the exceptional lyrics. I can't help it, I am a Skyclad evangelist. (there's violins in it too, if that helps...)
Atheist - Piece Of Time, Unquestionable Presence
The claim here is that they mix jazz and death metal, but personally I am not hearing the "jazz" part. But hey, whatever - it's really technical death metal which, although rather thin in the sonics is nevertheless some of the most unique and technically advanced stuff at the time.
SkepticismWhat was I saying about non-obscure? Forget that...
This is really slow funeral doom with drums and church organ that'll rip yer woofer surrounds right off their adhesive. Their music is boring and awesome at the same time - the very definition of the paradoxical music audiophiles listen to!
