Rating abuse

Written by LeKiwi on 20.09.2025 at 00:22

Absurd Romanticism is the gift that keeps giving. Also one of the most controversial albums in recent years...the range on those - now all but one deleted - votes is incredulous.

Thanks for reporting this. I have sent a warning to the user who placed the remaining vote before official release of the album.

I found this interesting thing under Overkill's album "Horrorscope." https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=733 These accounts seem to be owned by the same person. Interestingly, I don't think this person is intentionally misusing the ratings; they just have a bad memory and often forget their accounts.
https://metalstorm.net/users/alejandreti/profile
https://metalstorm.net/users/Alexito/profile
https://metalstorm.net/users/AlexanderMartinezz/profile

Written by Crawltipede on 02.10.2025 at 07:14

I found this interesting thing under Overkill's album "Horrorscope." https://metalstorm.net/bands/rating.php?album_id=733 These accounts seem to be owned by the same person. Interestingly, I don't think this person is intentionally misusing the ratings; they just have a bad memory and often forget their accounts.
https://metalstorm.net/users/alejandreti/profile
https://metalstorm.net/users/Alexito/profile
https://metalstorm.net/users/AlexanderMartinezz/profile

Yes, these are obviously three mutiple accounts that belong to the same person. I've banned the two ones that came first in the chronological order of account activity, and erased their votes. Good catch!

This seems like possible vote abuse, with more 10/10 votes than all other scores combined. But the sample size is small and maybe they only check out and vote on albums they already know they like.
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339179

Written by RoyBoy432 on 03.10.2025 at 21:26

This seems like possible vote abuse, with more 10/10 votes than all other scores combined. But the sample size is small and maybe they only check out and vote on albums they already know they like.
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=339179

Well, you are absolutely right, it is everything else but optimal if users put more 10s ratings than all other numbers combined. It will typically result in an above 9.0 average user rating score, which usually indicates potential vote abuse to me. At least I would see a reason to look into the ratings in more detail in these cases.
When I do look into the rating distribution here, I see a total of below 40 votes, 20 of them 10s, and there are no discographies where 10s are prominently accumulating. On the way to borderline vote abuse with every other 10 vote they are going to doll out, and I would wish for them to make more use of the rest of the scale. Just not a case for a warning yet, I'd say.

Written by Redel on 03.10.2025 at 23:10

Well, you are absolutely right, it is everything else but optimal if users put more 10s ratings than all other numbers combined. It will typically result in an above 9.0 average user rating score, which usually indicates potential vote abuse to me. At least I would see a reason to look into the ratings in more detail in these cases.
When I do look into the rating distribution here, I see a total of below 40 votes, 20 of them 10s, and there are no discographies where 10s are prominently accumulating. On the way to borderline vote abuse with every other 10 vote they are going to doll out, and I would wish for them to make more use of the rest of the scale. Just not a case for a warning yet, I'd say.

Thank you for explaining the thought process!

Spamming of 10 and 9 votes to one single discography. Based on the date of creation of the account and the last connexion, it seems that the account was created just for this. I thought it might be voting abuse.
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=343719

Written by Cldrc on 17.10.2025 at 21:45

Spamming of 10 and 9 votes to one single discography. Based on the date of creation of the account and the last connexion, it seems that the account was created just for this. I thought it might be voting abuse.
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=343719

No vote abuse here. There are hundreds of similar cases in the database. As long as there is some variation in the votes, and the average rating is well below say 9.5 that is fine. Here we have a hand or two full of votes on the Paradise Lost discography, some of them 7s, some 8s, a bit more 9s as well as 10s, overall averaging at 9.1. That is not something I would wish to see more of, but it is tolerated. Were they all 10s votes on the contrary I would erase them all without even hesitating.

Written by Redel on 18.10.2025 at 00:08

Written by Cldrc on 17.10.2025 at 21:45

Spamming of 10 and 9 votes to one single discography. Based on the date of creation of the account and the last connexion, it seems that the account was created just for this. I thought it might be voting abuse.
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=343719

No vote abuse here. There are hundreds of similar cases in the database. As long as there is some variation in the votes, and the average rating is well below say 9.5 that is fine. Here we have a hand or two full of votes on the Paradise Lost discography, some of them 7s, some 8s, a bit more 9s as well as 10s, overall averaging at 9.1. That is not something I would wish to see more of, but it is tolerated. Were they all 10s votes on the contrary I would erase them all without even hesitating.

Noted.

Https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=326844&rating=1

I have no idea who that Redemptor band are, but it seems extremely unlikely that they actually hold a Guinness record for the biggest number of 'worst ever' albums in history. Sounds much more like someone is just systematically shitting on one specific band they don’t like.

Written by Shmelevod on 14.11.2025 at 14:31

Https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=326844&rating=1

I have no idea who that Redemptor band are, but it seems extremely unlikely that they actually hold a Guinness record for the biggest number of 'worst ever' albums in history. Sounds much more like someone is just systematically shitting on one specific band they don’t like.

Thanks, taken care of

Https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=151561&rating=1

Here’s another guy who got annoyed by Redemptor. I should probably give them a listen after all. Honestly, I think it’s the same dude using multiple accounts:

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=326844
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=344078
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=151561

Written by Shmelevod on 17.11.2025 at 18:11

Https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=151561&rating=1

Good find, votes have been erased and a warning sent.

Written by Shmelevod on 17.11.2025 at 18:11

Here’s another guy who got annoyed by Redemptor. I should probably give them a listen after all. Honestly, I think it’s the same dude using multiple accounts:

https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=326844
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=344078
https://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=151561

This case is already under our investigation, you are probably right with that guess.

Looks like voting abuse to me, regarding 2026 anyway.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 22.02.2026 at 15:00

Looks like voting abuse to me, regarding 2026 anyway.

Yes, at least the 2026 ratings were subject to vote abuse. I've sent them a warning. Good catch.