Hi everyone, seems like November is back with everything it implies, meaning rain endlessly pouring down and the now classic MA Virgin Reviews Challenge. As most of you already know what it’s about I’ll keep it short, for the newcomers (I hope there will be some) the rules are posted at the end of this post, where they’ll be more accessible than lost in the middle of the thread.

Here’s the week I’m suggesting: from Monday the 16th to Sunday the 22nd, i.e. two weeks from now.

The magic number will be 610.

Please all take note of this new rule: every reviewer is allowed a maximum of FIVE SINGLES for the Challenge. Thus people willing to review a couple of singles they deem particularly important will still get the opportunity to do so, while it should prevent to have the site flooded with useless reviews for equally useless cash-grab singles from well-known bands. Of course 1)this limitation only applies to singles and 2)several reviewers can still review the same single provided it was initially a virgin.



The rules:

1. The primary aim of the Virgin Reviews Challenge, as set up by Byrgan in May 2006, is to improve the site’s quality by encouraging people to write reviews for albums with no reviews so far. During one week, MA reviewers submit as many reviews as they want/can for this kind of releases. Of course eveyrone can still write reviews for already reviewed releases, but they won’t be taken into account.

2. Every release listed on the main site is valid including singles, videos, boxed sets etc. However please note that 1) SPLIT ALBUMS will always count ONCE regardless of how many bands are playing and 2) there’s a cap at FIVE REVIEWS PER REVIEWER for SINGLES (no restrictions for other releases).

3. Eligible releases have to be virgins on the beginning of the Challenge. However several reviewers may review the same initial virgin. It will count only once, regardless of how many reviewers are involved, but each reviewer will get credited. There’s no bonus for the first one, so no need to hurry – focus on quality instead.

4. What brings me to the fourth point, VALUE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. It’s a collective challenge, not an individual one. Mods won’t be more lenient anyway. Everyone is welcomed even if it’s only to write one review.

5. BE VERY CAUTIOUS. Main site time is the one and only reference. The Challenge always begins on a Monday at 00:00:01 and ends up on the following Sunday 23:59:59. Time in your timezone is likely to be different from MA time, even if you’re living in the United States. So again, ensure you’re posting your precious review in the right time. Also keep in mind that Forum time might be slightly different from main site time (?)

6. The total number of reviews written will be tallied once a day (under normal circumstances). After the Challenge has ended up a big list of all the reviews written will be compiled, as a monument to MA reviewers. Another list will sum up how many reviews have been written by every reviewer. Again, being on the top of this latter list won’t make your dick bigger, so value quality over quantity (didn’t I hear an echo here?)

7. As long as I’ll co-organize this challenge there will be nothing to win in the end except the Board’s eternal consideration. Deal with it

Awe man its like Christmas!... Only in November!... And without presents!

But this is cool. The 16th - 22nd sounds good to me. I recall last year ran into conflicts with Thanksgiving over here in America, so its nice to see you took that into consideration this year

Also, I've got more than a few releases since last challenge that happen to be virgins. I knew there was a reason I was saving them.

I was hoping this would come towards the end of the month since I'm busy at the moment. Needless to say, I'm happy with those dates.

I doubt I'll review any singles. I don't have any to begin with. I've already started compiling a makeshift list of what I want to review, most of it being black metal. I suppose I had better start listening to those albums as soon as I can.

I'm aiming to beat my score last time. Maybe this time I'll win. I'll aim for 100 and see what I can do. I have loads of free time at that point anyway.

I'll let you know Perplexed that I'm not shooting for the top spot like last time. Too busy with school and I just don't have the motivation this time around. No, this isn't because I can't do more than 5 singles or anything. I just don't feel like writing too many reviews right now.

Hmm, maybe this will get me back into reviewing.

Not such a great week for me this time, but I have a few virgins I'd quite like to have a pop at. I should be able to do a handful, anyways. Every little, and all that.

Crap! Most of my reviews are of albums with no reviews!

EDIT: I found one! Do we mention it here, or keep it a surprise for the contest?

I'm in. Hopefully I can break my record of two reviews! I'm going to have to aim pretty high.

I think I'll have some exams. I'll probably still try if I have time. Hopefully I'll be back at reviewing. I'll have plenty of work, so far I have 41 releases and there's more than a dozen I forgot.

Of course... Hu, wait... I've actually no clue about Thanksgiving's day. Is it the same day every year?


Nice. I'll be able to claim back the rank you stole me in the Top 25 Reviewers List Though I'm sure your "not too many reviews" will still be around 30 - 40.


You're welcome even for one review


As far as I'm concerned I shouldn't run out of virgins this time. I've bought several full-lengths from not-so-well-known bands the last couple of months - that's always more interesting than randomly seeking for crappy demo acts on the Internet. Of course, time will be the biggest problem for me as usual, knowing these days I can barely keep my so amazing pace of one review a week.

No, it isn't.

Well I also happened to find several very interesting demo bands on the Internet of course. I was just talking from a pure reviewing point of view.

Of course I like your demo reviews

Sweet, been looking forward for this. Every time a challenge comes back around I get in the mood to start reviewing again, I did 2 a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so hopefully this will kick me back into gear.

Fortunately as well, I've been gaining a lot of new music that happened to be virgins. I'm ready to go this time

Although I'm not a very proficient writer, I think I might try writing my first review for this. Would I be allowed to start writing it now?

No, you are only allowed to write during the given week. There's a 2-hour leecher period before the actual contest starts, but that's about it.

As long as you don't submit it before the start date, you should be fine.

Perhaps I'll manage to review something unknown this time to beat my prestigious record of zero.

From the last competition:


Hopefully I can set aside some time that week to write a few reviews, I think I will at least beat my score from the previous one.

Unfortunately, i probably won't be able to do much of anything this time around. I'll try and get in a lone token review, just so i can pretend i participated, but i doubt much more than that...

Thanks for the clarification, I'll wait until then to start writing it.

Me Too!!!!!!

i've been wondering when this was going to happen again. haven't been writing many reviews at all for the past few months due to some lifestyle changes etc. i know i'll get nowhere my 80 something from last time round, but hopefully try to get at least 10 done. the new 5x singles rule is fine with me really, a lot of the reviews i done for singles last time were kinda longer than a single should usually warrant, so it doesn't really add to your total that much anyhow. not sure what ive got on on the week in question, but basically job hunting hard at the moment with school just finishing up for the summer, so could possibly have a job soon. that, and my ex-girlfriend is trying to win me back by buying me a 52" Plasma screen. if i get this TV i'd imnagine i'll be doing a bit more Call of Duty than album reviews.....

Bring this shit on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ Sean16, Thanksgiving is on the 26th of November, ever year. Just so's ya know.

Wish I'd known this was coming; I wouldn't have written my (first for m-a) four virgin reviews already. It's coincidental, but just a few days ago I went through my collection to see what I have that's not yet reviewed on the site, and came up with a couple dozen albums. Problem is, most of them are so painfully mediocre that writing about them is physically wearying. They're not even bad enough to rouse my passion for mockery.

Regardless, this challenge gives me an excuse to put off writing the reviews for a couple weeks.

I'll have finished school and all my exams by then and will finally be able to focus on reviewing, so I might give this a shot. However, my reviewing skills aren't that great and my old ones need to be re-written badly. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

I think I'll take part but with no expectation of winning. I'm not even sure I have very many virgin albums to review at the moment. I'll do what I can though and hopefully get a few reviews in. I wonder if hells_unicorn or Noktorn will take part.

Cool...I'm definitely going to participate in this. I've only written two reviews for this site so far but I think my experience listening to a hell of a lot more metal since then (only a few months, I realize) will really help me write reviews that are less clinical and hopefully more enjoyable to read. I don't know if I'll write dozens like some of the top reviewers tend to do, but I'll certainly try to do at least a few.

I was planning to devirginize a few Serbian metal albums, and I've already sent two reviews for approval. So, I guess I'll have to deal with these before the actual challenge starts, because I'll be busy otherwise during the challenge. But I may squeeze in few during the actual thing, as much as time allows.

I think I won't participate because I have no time...

Aw, that sucks. Your reviews turned me on to a lot of good music, especially old school death metal (double especially old school Swedish stuff).

So far I've compiled a list of at least 40 or so releases that I might be up for reviewing so hopefully this will go well!

Seems interesting but at the most I'll be able to do about....hmmm...3 reviews.

As long as the fourth Thursday of November is the 26th, anyway.

i'll be up for this one, should be good. I can't guarantee a massive output.. maybe 20 or so reviews from me at the most.

I'll probably spit out a few for this challenge. Anytime in November is fine for me. I'm looking at some NWOBHM and NWOSHM demos and albums.

I'm going to try a few doom albums of variant quality, because everyone knows this site doesn't get enough doom reviews!

I'm thinking some Paul Chain in particular. I might touch on some Onkel Tom stuff, too, for something different, too.

I'll try to do at least one.

I will be there to do what I usually do. You bastards.

Also, perhaps a few reviews...

Found 5 virgins, so might just as well try to get a grip and get some reviewing done. No promises, but I'll try my best to submit some. (Quality over quantity, of course).

I have three releases I am willing to send to you for free for this challenge. I can guarantee that it is really awful stuff! Anyone interested?

I got them for free myself, so I am just passing them on.

Important: You have to promise to complete the reviews for this challenge.

Which genre?

an attempt of one-man-black-metal-band.

I know exactly who you're talking about. I just don't know if I want to subject myself to it. I already made the top spot for ZBT reviews... I don't think I want to repeat it with this one. Just to be sure, initials to the band are "A" and "C," right?