"We're Not Gonna Take It" is one of Twisted Sister's two good songs, and it's become an all-timer for good reason. It's got a nice warm midtempo groove, great vocal lines, and pretty timeless lyrics. The pre-chorus mixes things up nicely, and the melodic lead in the middle is simple but effective. Bonus point for the vocal + drum chorus breakdown, of course. Great song. "Rediscovery, Pt. II" has great proggy music throughout, though some of the vocal melodies and phrasing early on aren't the best. I kind of like the Broadway bit near the middle, and the queasy bit later on after the synth solo is also really cool. There's obviously a lot more going on musically in the Symphony X track, but the Twisted Sister track is more focused and consistent. I'd be fine with either one winning this match, but sorry
@Stardust, I think the list nominee edges this one out overall.
Winner: Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"
"Eyes Of A Stranger" really has it all, from its ominous intro to its atmospheric verses, its soaring pre-chorus and chorus, that piercing melodic riff, those absolutely stellar bridges, a great harmonized solo, and that very clearly signaled beginning of the outro that pulls in all the different sonic callbacks to the rest of the album, wrapping up the story of the record and ultimately leaving things exactly where they began. I'm always left breathless after listening to this one, especially if I've listened to the album all the way through. An absolutely stunning track -- no wonder I nominated it! Meanwhile, "The Real Thing" lives up to its name with some dope-ass atmospherics, great vocal lines, and sweet build-up though the heavier parts of the song. I'm not a fan of the whinier voice Patton often used on this album, but he sounds great on the softer parts, and on the heavier bits where he stays in the baritone range. While this is a great song, congratusorrylations
@MindRuler, it can't really withstand the assault from DJ Jerkloondcarter's monster of a nominee.
Winner: Queensrÿche - "Eyes Of A Stranger"
"Rock You Like A Hurricane" has a classic anthemic riff, sweet soaring guitar fills, and a great atmospheric verse that builds nicely through the pre-chorus into a giant chorus. Great solo, too. The lyrics are a bit dopey, but they don't really get in the way. Bonus point for the vocal + drum verse breakdown (this sort of thing was overdone a bit in the 80s, but I always liked it). Honestly, this song just barely missed my own nomination list, but I figured it would get multiple nominations anyway, and I was right. Great song. "The Drapery Falls" managed to tease me with wonderful music and great clean vocals for 5 full minutes before pulling the rug out from under me and falling back on bad habits. Thankfully, I was granted another reprieve on the vocals with about two and a half minutes remaining, but the damage was already done. Bonus point for saying something that sounded like "wikitards" in the middle, but sorry
@JudasMyGuide,
@The Sentient's nominee is a song I can fully enjoy from start to finish, and that outweighs any other considerations.
Winner: Scorpions - "Rock You Like A Hurricane"
"Gutter Ballet" is an exercise in self-indulgence. The intro and initial groove are pretty good, but the chorus is flaccid, and I don’t care for Jon Oliva’s vocals — he’s way too raspy on the high end for me. Too much Broadway, and the little guitar interludes aren't anything special. The solo's great, though. A very mixed bag, though I guess it's OK overall. "Duality" starts off like a bad Nine Inch Nails tribute, then gets into odd-rhythm masturbation that thinks it's much more clever than it actually is. The chorus has about half a hook in it. Yeah, no thanks. Congratulations, PintRooter, a weak opponent means your nominee takes this one.
Winner: Savatage - "Gutter Ballet"
"Battery" has a beautiful acoustic opening (actually the first thing I ever learned to play on the guitar) that bursts into that huge, epic harmonized sound that typified peak Burton-era Metallica. Great thrashy riffage with nice rhythmic change-ups between the verse and chorus, great guitar fills, and a great interlude. The vocal lines are all strong. The solo starts off a little unfocused, but pulls itself together pretty well in its second half. Great rhythmic outro, too. Excellent stuff. "Jump" is a stone cold classic summer song with a killer synth hook, great vocal melodies, a short and pointed solo, and a sparse chorus that lets the synth do the talking. Gotta love that atmospheric synth interlude, too. Also an excellent song. This is actually a pretty tough call, and I would be fine with either track winning (though the anti-VH crowd here already makes the outcome obvious), but the Metallica track is more musically complex and certainly more metal, and that's enough to take this match.
Winner: Metallica - "Battery"
"Painkiller" is an absolutely iconic metal song, brutal and relentless throughout, with searing vocal lines, piercing leads, and an extended solo section that is alternately feely and face-melting without ever letting up on the gas. Those accelerating drum fills throughout the song are a big part of its impact, too. This song was obviously destined for the top tier of this competition, and it's not surprising that I nominated it. "Been Here Forever" has complex exotic riffage, catchy vocal lines, great solos, and wonderfully creepy occult lyrics. I love the song, and I love the excellent album it comes from (
Dreamers And The Dead, my
#2 album of 2021, do yourself a favor and check it out!), but congratusorrylations me, meet the real me, cos Doctor Smoke got a brutal draw for this match, and Sparkjogkoose___Barnon8's nominee has to take this one. Thankfully we're no longer in the single-elimination rounds.
Winner: Judas Priest - "Painkiller"
