Jer
A window to the west, a blazing star above
The music in “The Leper Affinity” is outstanding. The steady layering of new and different guitar parts creating complex harmonies is fucking great, and the song has a really coherent progression from start to finish. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the vocals here are extreme rather than clean, which is a real punch in the gut. "Metal Gods" has a bouncy beat and a pretty good solo, but nearly everything else about the song is unremarkable, including that flaccid-as-fuck chorus. Congratulations, ShmoodikiMyGod, I guess you'll have to tell me how to get to Sesame Street, because not even those godawful Cookie Monster vocals can turn the tide on this match. Winner: Opeth - "The Leper Affinity"
"(We Are) The Roadcrew" sounds like pretty much every other Motörhead song -- peppy beat, simple bluesy solos, very limited vocals, dopey lyrics, very simplistic songwriting. Wouldn't ever seek it out, but I wouldn't turn it off if it were already on. In one ear and out the other. "Going Home" starts with ringing clean notes and a persistent bass line that breaks into a great bright riff with a driving rhythm. Strong vocal lines drive the verse and chorus as clean guitar accents duck in and out of the music. Great guitar solos with a sweet harmonized section give way to more atmospheric clean guitar and a great bridge. A riffy interlude gains some clean accompaniment before rolling back into the chorus to close things out. Great stuff. A very easy call for @Wogmidget's nominee here. Winner: Blood Star - "Going Home"
"Heading Out To The Highway" has appealing vocal lines, a strong chorus, and a pretty good bridge. The main riff is nice, and the harmonized bits are pretty good. A couple of nice drum fills, too. Good stuff. "Easy Livin'" has a peppy groove and pretty good vocal lines. Not as keen on the falsetto vocal sections, and the song structure is very basic. Pretty good overall, I guess -- but sorry @Diesel 11, I think the list nominee has the edge here. Winner: Judas Priest - "Heading Out To The Highway"
"Ride The Lightning" comes in with a stomping beat and crushing chords. Hetfield's voice is overly raw in spots during the verses and sometimes doesn't quite hit the intended note, but he generally sounds strong during the pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge. The extended instrumental section with the epic solos is excellent, and really what sells the song as a whole. Great song overall, verging on excellence. "Shoot To Thrill" is an utterly classic AC/DC track with absolutely killer vocal lines that takes off like a rocket through the pre-chorus and chorus, and simmers wonderfully through the more laid back interlude before slowly building to a huge crescendo. There was a point in time when AC/DC was one of the biggest bands on the planet, and this song immediately makes it clear why that was. I almost nominated this song myself, but figured it would find its way here anyway, and I was right. Some might view this as blasphemy, but I think the AC/DC track hits stellar highs without having any of the admittedly few blemishes on the Metallica track, so I'm going to toss this one their way. Winner: AC/DC - "Shoot To Thrill"
"Du Hast" has a simple, stomping industrial rhythm with basic overly-distorted guitars. The verses are non-melodic, but the chorus(?) gains a little air, and the thin little keyboard ditty is pleasant enough. Still, there isn't really much of a song here. "Tarot Woman" has some nice spacey keyboards and a pleasant galloping rhythm. Dio sounds strong as usual, but the vocal lines aren't very memorable here. The first part of the solo is pretty mediocre, but the next couple of parts are much better. Not bad overall, but that's still more than enough to take out a weak competitor. Winner: Rainbow - "Tarot Woman"
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" has an iconic gentle groove with plenty of clean guitar and tasteful cowbell. The vocal lines go down like a fine wine, as do the sweet harmonies. The interlude and solo are also great. Excellent song. "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" appears to be a parody of hair metal, but it's neither funny nor catchy, so it fails on all fronts. The singer is technically talented, but that intentionally over-the-top falsetto is incredibly grating. The solos are solid, at least. The easiest of calls for BÖC here. Winner: Blue Öyster Cult - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
"(We Are) The Roadcrew" sounds like pretty much every other Motörhead song -- peppy beat, simple bluesy solos, very limited vocals, dopey lyrics, very simplistic songwriting. Wouldn't ever seek it out, but I wouldn't turn it off if it were already on. In one ear and out the other. "Going Home" starts with ringing clean notes and a persistent bass line that breaks into a great bright riff with a driving rhythm. Strong vocal lines drive the verse and chorus as clean guitar accents duck in and out of the music. Great guitar solos with a sweet harmonized section give way to more atmospheric clean guitar and a great bridge. A riffy interlude gains some clean accompaniment before rolling back into the chorus to close things out. Great stuff. A very easy call for @Wogmidget's nominee here. Winner: Blood Star - "Going Home"
"Heading Out To The Highway" has appealing vocal lines, a strong chorus, and a pretty good bridge. The main riff is nice, and the harmonized bits are pretty good. A couple of nice drum fills, too. Good stuff. "Easy Livin'" has a peppy groove and pretty good vocal lines. Not as keen on the falsetto vocal sections, and the song structure is very basic. Pretty good overall, I guess -- but sorry @Diesel 11, I think the list nominee has the edge here. Winner: Judas Priest - "Heading Out To The Highway"
"Ride The Lightning" comes in with a stomping beat and crushing chords. Hetfield's voice is overly raw in spots during the verses and sometimes doesn't quite hit the intended note, but he generally sounds strong during the pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge. The extended instrumental section with the epic solos is excellent, and really what sells the song as a whole. Great song overall, verging on excellence. "Shoot To Thrill" is an utterly classic AC/DC track with absolutely killer vocal lines that takes off like a rocket through the pre-chorus and chorus, and simmers wonderfully through the more laid back interlude before slowly building to a huge crescendo. There was a point in time when AC/DC was one of the biggest bands on the planet, and this song immediately makes it clear why that was. I almost nominated this song myself, but figured it would find its way here anyway, and I was right. Some might view this as blasphemy, but I think the AC/DC track hits stellar highs without having any of the admittedly few blemishes on the Metallica track, so I'm going to toss this one their way. Winner: AC/DC - "Shoot To Thrill"
"Du Hast" has a simple, stomping industrial rhythm with basic overly-distorted guitars. The verses are non-melodic, but the chorus(?) gains a little air, and the thin little keyboard ditty is pleasant enough. Still, there isn't really much of a song here. "Tarot Woman" has some nice spacey keyboards and a pleasant galloping rhythm. Dio sounds strong as usual, but the vocal lines aren't very memorable here. The first part of the solo is pretty mediocre, but the next couple of parts are much better. Not bad overall, but that's still more than enough to take out a weak competitor. Winner: Rainbow - "Tarot Woman"
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" has an iconic gentle groove with plenty of clean guitar and tasteful cowbell. The vocal lines go down like a fine wine, as do the sweet harmonies. The interlude and solo are also great. Excellent song. "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" appears to be a parody of hair metal, but it's neither funny nor catchy, so it fails on all fronts. The singer is technically talented, but that intentionally over-the-top falsetto is incredibly grating. The solos are solid, at least. The easiest of calls for BÖC here. Winner: Blue Öyster Cult - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
