Curious Musings: My top 40 songs of all time!

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#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.
 
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