Rating abuse

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342441

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586

Well, maybe this kind of abuse of ratings for albums on the overall charts happens from time to time, but because these albums are rated by a large number of people, the impact is not very big... Is this behavior not something that we need to pay too much attention to, and only need to conduct a comprehensive cleanup regularly?

This user allegedly listened to every studio album by Edguy, only to come to the exact same conclusion each time: that they had just willingly and fully consciously subjected themselves to the worst album of all time, eleven times in a row.
That’s either an almost admirable level of persistent self-mortification, or it’s rating abuse. I suspect it’s the latter.

Written by Starvynth on 13.04.2025 at 15:38

This user allegedly listened to every studio album by Edguy, only to come to the exact same conclusion each time: that they had just willingly and fully consciously subjected themselves to the worst album of all time, eleven times in a row.
That’s either an almost admirable level of persistent self-mortification, or it’s rating abuse. I suspect it’s the latter.

Well spotted. I have sent a warning and deleted the respective votes.

Written by Crawltipede on 13.04.2025 at 08:56

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342441

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586

Well, maybe this kind of abuse of ratings for albums on the overall charts happens from time to time, but because these albums are rated by a large number of people, the impact is not very big... Is this behavior not something that we need to pay too much attention to, and only need to conduct a comprehensive cleanup regularly?

Thanks for caring about that.
In the first case I've sent a warning for vote abuse and deleted the 1s ratings on Rust In Peace and Painkiller. These are just unrealistic ratings.
The second case is borderline rating abuse, I'd say. They have a 2 voting on Kill 'Em All and a 3 voting on Ride The Lightning. That could be considered similarly unrealistic as in the first case. You have to draw the line somewhere. In my eyes it is not plain obvious downvoting if they choose a 2 or 3 instead of a 1. Will keep the user on our radar though.

Written by Redel on 13.04.2025 at 16:31

Written by Crawltipede on 13.04.2025 at 08:56

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342441

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586

Well, maybe this kind of abuse of ratings for albums on the overall charts happens from time to time, but because these albums are rated by a large number of people, the impact is not very big... Is this behavior not something that we need to pay too much attention to, and only need to conduct a comprehensive cleanup regularly?

Thanks for caring about that.
In the first case I've sent a warning for vote abuse and deleted the 1s ratings on Rust In Peace and Painkiller. These are just unrealistic ratings.
The second case is borderline rating abuse, I'd say. They have a 2 voting on Kill 'Em All and a 3 voting on Ride The Lightning. That could be considered similarly unrealistic as in the first case. You have to draw the line somewhere. In my eyes it is not plain obvious downvoting if they choose a 2 or 3 instead of a 1. Will keep the user on our radar though.

Yes, it is indeed difficult to tell.

Written by Crawltipede on 14.04.2025 at 10:06


Yes, it is indeed difficult to tell.

In the meantime that first accout you found got banned permanently (and all votes deleted) because we found out it was a multiple account.

This album
https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=3648
was “knocked down” with four 1s from, apparently someone who creates several accounts in April
I barely like that album but give it a 1 is just unjustifiable

Written by DenOr on 20.04.2025 at 22:11

This album
https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=3648
was “knocked down” with four 1s from, apparently someone who creates several accounts in April
I barely like that album but give it a 1 is just unjustifiable

Almost the same with https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=26983

And
https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=2078

Written by DenOr on 20.04.2025 at 22:11

This album
https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=3648
was “knocked down” with four 1s from, apparently someone who creates several accounts in April
I barely like that album but give it a 1 is just unjustifiable

This is really obviously that guy Mc Stinkle with three alt accounts. Four accounts that are all giving 1s to Keeper of the Seven Keys, Court of The Crimson King, Rising, and many other classics and straight 10s to the band Converge that he’s always talking about. It should be pretty cut and dry that this is rating abuse.

Written by DenOr on 20.04.2025 at 22:11

apparently someone who creates several accounts in April
I barely like that album but give it a 1 is just unjustifiable

Thanks for pointing this out, we will look into it.

Written by Redel on 20.04.2025 at 23:29

Thanks for pointing this out, we will look into it.

Note that all the albums that are rating boosted (Jane Doe, Terrifyer, Jane Live, From Mars to Sirius) and all the ones that are being tanked (Crimson Idol, Black Sabbath, Crimson King, Rising, KOTSK) by the alt accounts are exactly the same on Mc Stinkles profile. All the alt accounts logged in April 18 and haven’t been back in since, so he logged in, rated a bunch of albums with them and hasn’t been back on. Even on his own account the ratings are strange with a few votes on 2-7 and then a bunch 1s, 8s, 9s, and 10s. Seems clear he is trying to manipulate the top 200 or individual year charts.

Written by DenOr on 20.04.2025 at 22:11

apparently someone who creates several accounts in April
I barely like that album but give it a 1 is just unjustifiable

This has been taken care of. Multiple accounts have been permanently banned from the site, all their album votes deleted. The main account received a final warning for using multiple accounts. There is no place in this community for such cheating behaviour, and it is really helpful that you guys keep your eyes open for incidents and report their occurrence here.

Here’s another that’s just giving 10s or 1s to whole discographies

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=177830

Written by Vellichor on 23.04.2025 at 12:58

Here’s another that’s just giving 10s or 1s to whole discographies

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=177830

Thanks, good catch; dealt with

Technically didn’t give Axxis and Sodom full 10s across their entire discographies, but...
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=158477

Written by Sir Yupp on 24.04.2025 at 17:02

Technically didn’t give Axxis and Sodom full 10s across their entire discographies, but...
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=158477

Yup, thanks, dealt with

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342439
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342783
And a suspected：
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342336

Written by Crawltipede on 25.04.2025 at 14:10

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342439
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342783
And a suspected：
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342336

Thanks. Warnings sent to the first three. The fourth one is borderline vote abuse. They are already on my radar.

Death and Sepultura downvoted with 1s and 2s. Rishloo and Soen have a perfect discography
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342833

Written by DenOr on 02.05.2025 at 04:43

Death and Sepultura downvoted with 1s and 2s. Rishloo and Soen have a perfect discography
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342833

Indeed, taken care of.

Ukrainian account just giving 1s to Russian artists

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=227534&r_order=year

Written by Vellichor on 05.05.2025 at 12:53

Ukrainian account just giving 1s to Russian artists

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=227534&r_order=year

Thanks, a warning has been sent.
Album ratings should indeed only take into account information that is relevant for the album's quality, country of origin of the band does not belong there. Moreover, there is no place for hate and discrimination in this community---that does also relate to album ratings.

Https://metalstorm.net/users/magnum+power/profile

This one isn't very active yet, but the trend seems to be the same.

Written by Shmelevod on 07.05.2025 at 15:58

Https://metalstorm.net/users/magnum+power/profile

This one isn't very active yet, but the trend seems to be the same.

Yes, we had seen this. That's why they also received a warning already. Let's see whether this behavior continues, then perms are definitely at stake here.

Https://metalstorm.net/users/Bird_Noise/profile

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342783

The top 200 sometimes makes easier to notice when something happened

Written by DenOr on 10.05.2025 at 01:15

Https://metalstorm.net/users/Bird_Noise/profile

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342783

The top 200 sometimes makes easier to notice when something happened

Yes, thanks. I've sent warnings and erased respective ratings. They have downvoted entire discographies and classic Metallica releases with 1s and 2s votes.
Generally, both are relatively new accounts, and we do see that people may need some time to adapt to our rating scale, and we want to give them some freedom here. But it's also true that it is never too early to learn to play by the rules I guess.

Https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=199280

4 accounts created in a 2 days span and giving 10 (and a 9 for one of them) only to one band. It could be a coincidence but I highly doubt it.

Written by Ch'ti on 22.05.2025 at 20:44

Https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=199280

4 accounts created in a 2 days span and giving 10 (and a 9 for one of them) only to one band. It could be a coincidence but I highly doubt it.

Yeah, I had seen that already. Not secured multiple accounts yet. But will keep them on my radar.

These 3 accounts all seem to be boosting the rating of Opia's debut album, while downvoting a lot of other albums in the top 20 of 2025:
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=343033
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342918
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=342623

9 1s, 9 Metallica albums

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339586&r_order=rating&page=2