Where do your top 20 artists rank on the rock and metal hardness scale?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness

Just using my most played 20 on last.fm (not really all that accurate for a few reasons but easiest) and all ranged due to obvious variety in songs. The parentheses number being a rough average:

The Appleseed Cast: 1-4 (2.5)
Mineral: 1-4 (3)
Superchunk: 2-6 (4.4)
Small Towns Burn a Little Slower: 2-5 (3.5)
Lifetime: 3-6 (5)
The Hated: 1-7 (so diverse an average is kind of pointless, though most of their stuff hung around 4-5)
Saves the Day: 2-5 (3.5)
The Jealous Sound: 2-5 (4)
Braid: 2-5 (3.5)
Rainer Maria: 1-3 (2)
Cap'n Jazz: 1-4 (3.2)
Brand New: 2-6 (4.5)
Ampere: 8-10 (8.8)
Knapsack: 2-5 (3.8)
Graf Orlock: 10-11 (10.5)
mewithoutYou: 4-8 (6)
Boys Night Out: 2-6 (4.3)
Alkaline Trio: 2-4 (3.5)
Discount: 2-4 (3)
Jawbreaker: 2-5 (3.8)

[Dr. Cynic]

Everything I listen to is between about 1-6... Once I hit number 7 I recognized fewer songs.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Pretty difficult for me since not all of my top 20 artists are rock or metal & therefore classifying them according to this scheme is rather arbitrary, but here's my attempt at it:

Slayer: 8-10
CCR: 2-4
Megadeth: 6-9
Judas Priest: 4-8
Queen: 1-7
Khanate: 10-11
Marduk: 9-11
John Coltrane: 1-3
Ludwig van Beethoven: 1-7
Johnny Cash: 2-4
Testament: 5-9
The Rolling Stones: 3-5
Sunn O))): 10-11
Herbie Hancock: 1-2
The Beatles: 2-4
Dimmu Borgir: 8-10
Boris: 4-10
Amon Amarth: 7-9
Kris Kristofferson: 1-4
Lamb Of God: 7-8
Lucinda Williams: 1-5

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

    Pretty difficult for me since not all of my top 20 artists are rock or metal & therefore classifying them according to this scheme is rather arbitrary, but here's my attempt at it:

Slayer: 8-10
CCR: 2-4
Megadeth: 7-9
Judas Priest: 4-8
Queen: 1-7
Khanate: 10-11
Marduk: 10-11
John Coltrane: 1-3
Ludwig van Beethoven: 1-7
Johnny Cash: 2-4
Testament: 5-9
The Rolling Stones: 3-5
Sunn O))): 10-11
Herbie Hancock: 1-2
The Beatles: 2-4
Dimmu Borgir: 9-11
Boris: 4-10
Amon Amarth: 8-9
Kris Kristofferson: 1-4
Lamb Of God: 7-8
Lucinda Williams: 1-5

Would you classify this type of stuff more as a 9 or 10?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrW81uQK4WM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPeuGdHt8bA

[dead0man]

The names of the bands and the songs in Level 11 are effing hilarious.  Corpse Penis Eaten By Rectum?  Aborted Hitler Cock?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Pretty difficult for me since not all of my top 20 artists are rock or metal & therefore classifying them according to this scheme is rather arbitrary, but here's my attempt at it:

Slayer: 8-10
CCR: 2-4
Megadeth: 7-9
Judas Priest: 4-8
Queen: 1-7
Khanate: 10-11
Marduk: 10-11
John Coltrane: 1-3
Ludwig van Beethoven: 1-7
Johnny Cash: 2-4
Testament: 5-9
The Rolling Stones: 3-5
Sunn O))): 10-11
Herbie Hancock: 1-2
The Beatles: 2-4
Dimmu Borgir: 9-11
Boris: 4-10
Amon Amarth: 8-9
Kris Kristofferson: 1-4
Lamb Of God: 7-8
Lucinda Williams: 1-5

Would you classify this type of stuff more as a 9 or 10?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrW81uQK4WM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPeuGdHt8bA

     Out Of Balance/ Feeding is probably a 9 in balance, though it ranges from 8 to 10 over the course of the song. Big Smile is more definitely a 10.

[tpfkaw]

I suppose my listening preferences generally come between 3 and 6 (normal).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Here is another tough one to classify. Maybe a 7? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGms9TtKcSs

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Holy f**k. How can anyone listen to this crap and like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSMecrFaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqlHvps1Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUjrk1WNUW4

People who call bands like the ones that play at Dudefest mindless noise and the worst thing ever need to listen to that garbage. Yeah metal blows.

[SvenssonRS]

Damn, now I have to think of twenty artists, because this one I just can't pass up. I can guarantee this isn't going to be in order, but...

Queen: 1-7
AC/DC: 3-6
Led Zeppelin: 1-6
Rhapsody of Fire: 3-8
Edguy: 2-8
Blind Guardian: 1-9
Avantasia: 2-8
Metallica: 3-8
Gamma Ray: 1-7
Alestorm: 8-9
Helloween: 4-7
Ensiferum: 8-10
Mago de Oz: 1-5
Muse: 2-6
Audioslave: 2-7
Rainbow: 1-7
Dio: 3-7
Apocalyptica: 2-8
Tool: 3-7

And since I've run out of room, might as well throw in a band from which I like about four and 1/5 songs(yeah, four slow songs and one intro)...

Dragonforce: 3-8

[SvenssonRS]

Holy f**k. How can anyone listen to this crap and like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSMecrFaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqlHvps1Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUjrk1WNUW4

People who call bands like the ones that play at Dudefest mindless noise and the worst thing ever need to listen to that garbage. Yeah metal blows.

That's hardly all of metal, Red. What that is is mindless s#!t that makes me worry for the band members' sanity, and whether it actually exists.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Holy f**k. How can anyone listen to this crap and like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSMecrFaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqlHvps1Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUjrk1WNUW4

People who call bands like the ones that play at Dudefest mindless noise and the worst thing ever need to listen to that garbage. Yeah metal blows.

     I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

[SvenssonRS]

Holy f**k. How can anyone listen to this crap and like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSMecrFaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqlHvps1Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUjrk1WNUW4

People who call bands like the ones that play at Dudefest mindless noise and the worst thing ever need to listen to that garbage. Yeah metal blows.

     I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

Yep, exactly the same. I only listen to Ensiferum, but still prefer their sadly-few thrashy songs, and the occasional AA, like you. I hate black metal, too.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Holy f**k. How can anyone listen to this crap and like it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSMecrFaNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VqlHvps1Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUjrk1WNUW4

People who call bands like the ones that play at Dudefest mindless noise and the worst thing ever need to listen to that garbage. Yeah metal blows.

     I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

Yep, exactly the same. I only listen to Ensiferum, but still prefer their sadly-few thrashy songs, and the occasional AA, like you. I hate black metal, too.

     I love extreme black metal, like Marduk & Dark Funeral. I can also handle some symphonic black metal, like Dimmu Borgir. Cradle Of Filth is trash, though, & doesn't even count as metal in my book.

[k-onmmunist]

I listen to a lot of jazz, hip-hop, world, folk, blues, country and other stuff that doesnt fall under this scale, but oh well:

Modest Mouse: 1-6
R.E.M.: 1-4
Sonic Youth: 3-6
Miles Davis: 1-3
Pixies: 2-6
Nine Inch Nails: 2-8
Skinny Puppy: 3-6
Radiohead: 1-4
Charles Mingus: 1-3
Melvins: 6-11
Alice in Chains: 2-8
Pearl Jam: 3-5
Neutral Milk Hotel: 2-3
Godspeed You! Black Emperor: 1-2
Mercury Rev: 4-6
John Coltrane: 1-3
The Smashing Pumpkins: 2-7
The Smiths: 1-3
Al Namrood: 10
Merzbow: 10-11

[Earth]

     I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

It pains me to read this, PIT. There's plenty of good death metal out there. I can't stand the Gothenburg stuff.

Merzbow: 10-11

You're into Merzbow?

[k-onmmunist]

Merzbow: 10-11

You're into Merzbow?

Yup. Industrial, noise, drone... all good stuff. Some of the harsh noise stuff can be trying though.

[Associate Justice PiT]

    I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

It pains me to read this, PIT. There's plenty of good death metal out there. I can't stand the Gothenburg stuff.

     What would you suggest? I've listened to one song by Gorguts & found it to be pretty good, but haven't had the chance to listen to more. Legion by Deicide was pretty good, but I listened to the title track of Scars Of The Crucifix & it was terrible. I found Death to be decent enough, though not nearly worth the praise they garner.

Merzbow: 10-11

You're into Merzbow?

     I am personally surprised by the Melvins being on there, seeing as how they are *gasp* metal.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Here is the rest of my top 50:

Thursday: 3-6 (5)
Neil Perry: 7-11 (9)
Jimmy Eat World 1-5 (3)
blink-182: 3-5 (3.5)
Bear vs. Shark: 3-6 (5)
The Bled: 6-9 (7.5)
The Sharktopus: 5-7 (6.3)
The Lemonheads: 2-7 (4.8)
Combatwoundedveteran: 9-11 (10.5)
The Smashing Pumpkins: 2-8 (5.5)
Moving Mountains: 1-4 (2.5)
The Lawrence Arms: 2-5 (3.5)
Fall Out Boy: 2-5 (3.5)
Cross My Heart: 2-5 (3.2)
Christie Front Drive: 1-5 (2.8)
The Get Up Kids: 1-5 (3)
Taking Back Sunday: 2-6 (3.3)
Cadillac Blindside: 2-4 (3.5)
Empire State Games: 2-5 (3.1)
Hey Mercedes: 2-5 (3.2)
Modest Mouse: 1-5 (3.4)
As Friends Rust: 4-7 (5.2)
American Football: 1-3 (2)
Dave Melillo: 2-3 (2.5)
Evergreen: 2-3 (2.7)
Portraits of Past: 3-8 (5.8)
Benton Falls: 2-5 (3.1)
Moss Icon: 3-6 (4.5)
Rites of Spring: 4-6 (5)
Raein: 3-7 (5.8)

[Earth]

    I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

It pains me to read this, PIT. There's plenty of good death metal out there. I can't stand the Gothenburg stuff.

     What would you suggest? I've listened to one song by Gorguts & found it to be pretty good, but haven't had the chance to listen to more. Legion by Deicide was pretty good, but I listened to the title track of Scars Of The Crucifix & it was terrible. I found Death to be decent enough, though not nearly worth the praise they garner.

I really like Gorguts, but aside from their first two albums, they're not the best place to start with. I'd start at the beginning. For all of Death Metal's faults, it's not given nearly enough credit for being able to change every decade or so.

I don't know; if anyone could do commercial death metal it's Deicide, but it's too much like pop music for me.

Mid to late 80s:

Possessed, Death (a wider variety than 90% of death metal), Morbid Angel, Massacre, Atheist (Death Metal Fusion), Pestilence (also fusion-y later on)

early 90s to later 90s:

Bolt Thrower, Carcass, (first albums were in 88, but whatever), Suffocation, Nile, Cryptopsy ("None So Vile"), Origin.

Also, check out funeral doom. A lot of good stuff came out of that genre, and not My Dying Bride fluffiness.

Skepticism, Corrupted (sludge), Thergothon, Disembowelment, Winter.

I think these are good bands to try out. But then again, you may end up hating them or liking the newer gore influenced gurgling stuff, and my post becomes useless.

[bgwah]

Hmm, I dunno, I'm too embarrassed and lazy to post my top 20 bands.

[k-onmmunist]

Well, I like sludge metal, and some doom metal. I like all genres really, apart from commercial crap and crunkcore

[k-onmmunist]

I got bored, so here's some more of my favourite bands + scale for you to laugh at

Butthole Surfers: 1-7
Slint: 7
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: 1-4
Broken Social Scene: 1-2
Wu-Tang Clan: 1-3
Public Enemy: 1-8 (yeah, the Slayer riff qualifies )
Nas: 1-3

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I didn't take the time to listen to those songs since my computer is pretty slow, but I've always found death metal to be rather overrated & easily the worst extreme metal sub-genre. I don't listen to much of it beyond Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, & Immolation.

It pains me to read this, PIT. There's plenty of good death metal out there. I can't stand the Gothenburg stuff.

     What would you suggest? I've listened to one song by Gorguts & found it to be pretty good, but haven't had the chance to listen to more. Legion by Deicide was pretty good, but I listened to the title track of Scars Of The Crucifix & it was terrible. I found Death to be decent enough, though not nearly worth the praise they garner.

I really like Gorguts, but aside from their first two albums, they're not the best place to start with. I'd start at the beginning. For all of Death Metal's faults, it's not given nearly enough credit for being able to change every decade or so.

I don't know; if anyone could do commercial death metal it's Deicide, but it's too much like pop music for me.

Mid to late 80s:

Possessed, Death (a wider variety than 90% of death metal), Morbid Angel, Massacre, Atheist (Death Metal Fusion), Pestilence (also fusion-y later on)

early 90s to later 90s:

Bolt Thrower, Carcass, (first albums were in 88, but whatever), Suffocation, Nile, Cryptopsy ("None So Vile"), Origin.

Also, check out funeral doom. A lot of good stuff came out of that genre, and not My Dying Bride fluffiness.

Skepticism, Corrupted (sludge), Thergothon, Disembowelment, Winter.

I think these are good bands to try out. But then again, you may end up hating them or liking the newer gore influenced gurgling stuff, and my post becomes useless.

     Looking at your list, I've also listened to Cryptopsy. They were pretty good, I must say. I'll be sure to check out the rest.

Well, I like sludge metal, and some doom metal. I like all genres really, apart from commercial crap and crunkcore

     I'm the same way, actually. Do you prefer regular or extreme doom metal?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I got bored, so here's some more of my favourite bands + scale for you to laugh at

Butthole Surfers: 1-7
Slint: 7
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: 1-4
Broken Social Scene: 1-2
Wu-Tang Clan: 1-3
Public Enemy: 1-8 (yeah, the Slayer riff qualifies )
Nas: 1-3

Slint is very very far from 7. They are a 5 tops and that's stretching it.