Have a 'Ball' with new metal compilation

Based on MTV2's Saturday night heavy metal show, Roadrunner Records' two-disc, 40-song compilation Headbanger's Ball lives up to its name. This is a blast to listen to for any real metalhead. \nDon't get this confused with the cover band that you saw last Friday at Alumni Hall or at the Bluebird -- this is real, pure and brutal heavy metal. All good heavy metal bands have a softer, prettier, melancholy and melodic side, but that stuff isn't represented well in this double album. It's a Headbanger's Ball after all.\nDisc One features more mainstream acts like Marilyn Manson and Godsmack. However, there is plenty of hardcore music here with traditional thrash metal like Shadow's Fall, Killswitch Engage and Hatebreed. There are also dancy industrial sounds from Marilyn Manson and Static X. \nDisc Two has more up-and-coming underground stars like Cradle of Filth and Motograter, both of whom played Ozzfest. This disc has a stronger taste of death metal and hardcore punk, and is generally more hard than the first in the set\nOverall, this is a great album providing more than 150 minutes of madness. It has a huge cast of talented musicians, including solid stars and rising newcomers, while showcasing multiple subgenres of heavy metal.