#18. "Before I Forget"
'Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)' (2004), Slipknot
I was introduced to this song and the band through a Facebook game called 'Guitar Flash'. I was just getting into Metal and have had a taste of Iron Maiden and Metallica. But the moment I got to heard the vocals, it was something else! I must say this is the song that opened the gates of the more extreme sub-genres for me. The lyrics are really heartfelt and to the point, instead of creating an imagery or anything. While the band's first two albums are much heavier musically, Vol. 3 has got a perfect balance between melody and heaviness, along with introducing guitar bridges and occassional solos. This is perfectly captured in this song. The rather unconventional instruments like turntables, keyboards and bongos (of which, one is at times played by a baseball bat!) are incorporated very well by the band and adds a dynamic to the music.
#17. "The Hunter"
'Under Lock And Key' (1985), Dokken
Dokken was one of the very first bands that got me into Glam metal. Their entire 80s run is just solid and they got even more better with each album. While there is heaviness with a sense of mischief in 'Tooth And Nail' and musical prowess in 'Back For The Attack', this album has the best of both sides, where each song is a hit in its own right. But for me, it is best demonstrated in their song "The Hunter". The opening sharp riff really sets the vibe. George Lynch's guitar tone is just too good and that's what sets him apart as a musician. Not to mention, his solo in the song is, in my opinion, the best solo of the decade. Don Dokken's voice is soothing while still maintaining a hard rocking energy.
#16. "Albatross"
'Deliverance' (1994), Corrosion Of Conformity
Deliverance was the first album which has Pepper Keenan on vocals and the band switching their sound from Hardcore punk to more sludgier side of Metal. "Albatross" was the very first song written for the album. The heavy riff is a clear indication of some Sabbath influences. Keenan's gritty voice really fits the music. The first solo (played by Woody Weatherman) has a bluesy tinge with a stylish feel to it. The outro is memorable with the verses now sounding powered upto 11, concluding with the second solo (played by Keenan) which rather sounds like an answer to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird", albeit heavier. "Fly off" indeed!
#15. "Mr. Speed"
'Rock And Roll Over' (1976), KISS
The KISS albums from the 70s have a sense of innocence in the music with a small bit of mischief hidden. The band though relasing some absolute bangers during the decade (and continued doing so) left an underrated gem to be included in their firey live shows and albums, which caught my attention the most. The intro riff just sets the mood with its tone. Paul Stanley (wrote the song) sounds phenomenal handling the vocal duties. Ace Frehley's solo, though being brief doesn't back at all in spreading its magic. A wonderful track!
#14. "What Drives The Weak"
'The War Within' (2004), Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall has been among the flagbearers of modern Metal, especially during the 2000s alongside Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, Soilwork and others. They released solid records back-to-back during the decade, of which my favourite being 'The War Within'. The song has all the band's elements in it. Though the song being primarily Metalcore, there are some undeniable Thrash influences as well. No wonder, guitarist Jon Donais went on to play with Anthrax along with drummer Jason Bittner (a complete beast behind the skins!) joining Flotsam & Jetsam and Overkill later on. The songs just jumps into it wasting no time, with a solid rhythm, the clean tuned guitars during the post-chorus with Matt Bachand's clean vocals creates a nice contrasting atmosphere. The mid-section has a cool breakdown followed by a sleazy guitar solo by Donais. These guys definitely deserve more recognition. Not to mention this song was even nominated for the Grammy award for 'Best Metal Performance'.
#13. "Of Sins And Shadows"
'The Divine Wings Of Tragedy' (1997), Symphony X
Symphony X have a nice blend of classical music with their delicate sense of playing. While many of their longer compositions are widely recognised, my favourite by the band has to be "Of Sins And Shadows". The song perfectly captures all the qualities of the band's music in a comparatively brief duration. The intro riff starts with a Pantera-like attitude. The part which I like the most is the chorus (one of the best, if not THE best chorus I have heard). Russell Allen sounds majestic and is definitely among the top vocalists in the genre. The solo section has a nice interplay between guitar and keyboard. Michael Romeo is a guitar wizard and is one of my favourites. Incredible musicians, incredible song!
Great SX song, I feel like I come back to “Inferno” more when it comes to their openers. Great heavy, complex intro and Russell dominates the fuck out of that chorus.
The very first band I got into and what kept me hooked with them was "Waiting". The song is peak power pop Green Day. The opening vocal lines with the guitar lick makes it instantly memorable. The verses giving a nod to "Downtown" by Petula Clark, while still maintaining its own personality, are soulfully delivered by Billie Joe. A brief tense moment right before driving straight to the catchy chorus creates a cool contrast followed by a solo then again a short pause, having an acapella-like part before concluding the track in a bombastic style. Its surreal energy has always kept me coming back for more.
#11. "Shoot To Thrill"
'Back In Black' (1980), AC/DC
I was actually introduced to this song via the Iron Man 2 soundtrack and that's how I discovered AC/DC! Ofcourse I'm including the original album version here. The track is just absolutely wild! Hard to believe, the band having lost their biggest element (vocalist Bon Scott) just an year ago, made such a badass comeback with Brian Johnson breathing a new life in the music. AC/DC has a knack for making straightforward, no-nonsense, in your face songs which stays in your mind rent-free and all this is amplified to the maximum on this song. The beginning has a solid attitude, followed by Johnson's commanding vocals, the chorus is just awesome. The guitar break right before the bluesy solo and when the song slows down for a while, is my favourite part. Killer track!
#10. "You Could Be Mine"
'Use Your Illusion II' (1991), Guns N' Roses
Best GN'R song in my opinion! The build-up during the intro (originally written by former drummer Steven Adler, but Matt Sorum comes with an awesome rendition of it) is intense and when the guitar parts kicks in, it drives into another level. The old school, dirty, hard-rocking riff accompanied by Axl's vocals screams peak Guns N' Roses and not to mention, it is one of the heaviest songs by the band. Slash's solo just smokes, which is soon followed by some aggressive rapping vocals, though being lengthy, still mantains its brashness. The song was featured in the movie Terminator 2 and is accompanied by a cool related music video which notably features Arnold Schwarzenegger and has Slash playing his ultra-rare B.C. Rich guitar rather than a Les Paul.
#9. "Spirit Crusher"
'The Sound Of Perseverance' (1998), Death
If you ask me my favourite Death album, its certainly 'Symbolic' but my favourite song by the band has to be "Spirit Crusher". The dynamic tempo changes throughout the song is insane! Richard Christy is a great addition on drums, offers his octopus like rattling through the kit during the intro, followed by brutal riff-based assaults. Chuck's voice is more high pitched on the song and the album, compared to his previous works. The power chords based chorus briefly gives the listener some time to breathe, before and after venturing through around seven riff changes. The musicianship is just tight with the entire band being at its musical best, contributing towards the chaos!
#8. "Native Blood"
"Dark Roots Of Earth' (2012), Testament
Testament is one of my favourite bands and has many songs that were strong contenders to be on the list but that one song that introduced me to these guys was "Native Blood". The song is an ode to vocalist Chuck Billy's native American heritage. I was simply blown away when I first heard it. The rhythm has a modern Metalcore-like appeal to it, drummer Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan happens to be clicking on all cylinders. My favourite part is definitely the solo section. Alex Skolnick uses a variety of techniques during the solo, which makes it feel like a song in itself, especially when spoken parts can be heard, it just gets awesome. It has a cool music video to it as well. Both Skolnick and Hoglan are among my favourite musicians ever and no wonder Testament came up with such a strong effort, so long into their career!
#7. "Mouth For War"
'Vulgar Display Of Power' (1992), Pantera
This song oozes an indefinite energy. Pantera was like a battering ram during it's entire 90s run and their raw, masculine heat can be felt in the song the moment Phil Anselmo declares "Revenge". Dimebag's tone and immense riffage is at its fullest with the heaviness and a smooth feel to it, not to mention the rhythm which is actually buried beneath the stylish solo is just solid and I feel it doesn't get much appreciation as it should! The lyrics are a total adrenaline-fest and the way Phil delivers them is what makes them awesome. The later half of the song turns into a total thrash assault and concludes in a robust fashion. The production is really good, an actual improvement compared to 'Cowboys From Hell' (which is actually my favourite!).
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
