I've always felt metal is a young person's game, but damn if the old guys are not kicking the crap out of everyone these days. I don't just mean Lemmy, that's a given. Anthrax have just managed to get me excited about their band for the first time since Scott Ian had hair on the TOP of his head. But look at the recent pattern of monster albums.

2008:
Metallica: Death Magnetic
Testament: Formation of Damnation

2009:
Slayer: WPB
Megadeth: Endgame

2010:
Overkill: Ironbound (a masterpiece)
Accept: Blood of nations

2011:
Anthrax: Worship Music

Megadeth has a new one coming and it can only be good with the band solidifying around a stable lineup. Ok, there's the Metallica/Lou Reed album...

But man it's nice to see the near-50 crowd showing the kids how it's done. So you see, In Flames? It's not too late to stop sucking like a Dyson vacuum.

Would Lamb of God count (most of those guys are almost 40, and Randy is 40), and thats as stable as a lineup as you can get.

I don't think they were ever written off. Just late bloomers. Metallica and Anthrax, a lot of people washed their hands of them. Overkill had been forgotten. Slayer I think had been taken for granted, and no one, I mean no one, predicted Accept would come back like they have with Tornillo.

A Matter of Life and Death by Iron Maiden is their best album since Bruce Dickinson rejoined the band.

Don't forget Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell! Those guys were all in their 60's (except for Vinnie).

And, while not as full on Metal in the new sense, Uriah Heep is led by a guy who is now 64 years old (guitarist Mick Box, and the band currently features two 61 year olds, a 55 year old singer, and the kid of the band is a 47 year old drummer). And, you know what? Their last two albums, Into The Wild and Wake The Sleeper, are two of their all time best! (And probably their heaviest, too.)

Looks like Jethro Tull was wrong.

I think Death Magnetic is good. Not quite as great as pre-1991 Metallica, but the best thing they've done in years.

I'm liking Anthrax's Worship Music too. Haven't really listened to the rest, with the exception of Accept's song "Teutonic Terror".

My friend directed that music video and I worked on the set of it. I have to say, I was really loving the song.

I whole heartedly disagree, but it is a decent album.

Anthrax's Worship Music is doing very little for me. I was of course a huge John Bush fanboy though and greatly prefer We've Come For You All over this one.

I agree with this.

The old-school pioneers are reminding everyone why they're so revered. I'm glad to see classic metal taking the limelight away from today's mostly-shit metal acts.

Second.

Right on here. Always been an Accept fan but their last cd was killer. I think they're working on another new cd for the new year or so. That's going to be interesting.

Hmm. Never heard anything from Uriah Heep except Wizards and Sweet Freedom. If they're last couple of cd's are their heaviest I may have to check them out.

You've never heard Gypsy? Definately check out the rest of the original classic line up albums.

Many of the 80s metal bands have never stopped putting out quality metal. Sodom, Kreator, Onslaught, Artillery, Destruction, tons more.

I agree with the OP. Some of the classic acts have put out some amazing discs over the last few years. The albums have been classics and they have managed not to sound dated. I can't wait for the Anthrax show in Nov.