I've gotten away from music a little too much this month, so to make it up to my readers, its time for the baddest and the loudest list you'll ever see, and you'll be cranking it, I promise. Grab a beer, and get ready to rock!
Now, I have a criteria. This is strictly metal anthems. There will be no death metal, and no nu metal or grunge. There will only be glam if the song or band is considered metal. For example, Slayer used to be glam, but they were always metal. There will also be no classic rock bands like Foreigner or Led Zeppelin. Its just METAL! Also, only one entry per band. Makes it more difficult, and more entertaining to list.
So, here we go with the top 11 (HAD to be 11, and you know why!) songs that make us want to break out the air guitar, and rip out some air solos, while throwing the horns, and just all out jamming!
So, crank it to 11, sit back, and get ready to head bang! Ready? Too bad! We're starting!!!
Number 11: Death to All but Metal by Steel Panther Sure, I've mentioned them before, but this song HAS to be included. You can't get much more metal than calling for the death of lame acts in a song with a brutally tough guitar lick, blistering solo and piercing screams. Say what you want, but Steel Panther is partially responsible for the resurgence that metal is seeing right now.
Number 10: Bang Your Head (Metal Health) by Quiet Riot You can't have a metal countdown without this song somewhere. The press hated this band, but they didn't care, and the fans loved them. Plus, it spawned 2 legends on guitar and bass. Of course, I'm talking about Randy Rhoads, and Rudy Sarzo.
Number 9: Caught in a Mosh by Anthrax This one brought the mosh pit into the spotlight, and made parents from coast to coast consider insuring their kids before they went to an Anthrax concert.
Number 8: Soldiers Under Command by Stryper
Some of you guys are going to give me grief on this one, I know it. But this song has it all. Twin axe attack, blistering high notes, powerful rhythm section, huge chorus, and one of the most legendary opening riffs there is. Funny...I never knew they made a video for this song.
Number 7: Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth I know Megadeth has lots of better songs than this, but this one fits with the anthem format, since that's what we are going with here. Hangar 18 just doesn't have the chorus that you would want to sing along with. Sure, Peace Sells could be on here too, but I can only pick one, and everybody picks Peace Sells. We like to be different and not cliche. Wait..Wrong band. Anyway, CRANK IT UP!!!
Number 6: Master of Puppets by Metallica How could we not include this one? If this is #6, what could possibly be #1??? Be patient, my friends. This song defined a genre. This was the song that put thrash metal on the map, and blew everyone's doors off. I still remember being afraid of this album when I first heard it. Master of Puppets was my first thrash album.
Number 5: Mister Crowley by Ozzy Some of the finest guitar work ever done, and it is unmatched to this day. If I were to do an air guitar list, this song would likely be #1. I think this song also has some of Ozzy's best vocals too.
Number 4: Holy Diver by Dio Never before has there been a bigger voice from such a little guy. He is one of the 4 singers that when you hear their name, you think METAL. The other 3 are also on this list too. This song put Ronnie James Dio on the map as a solo artist. And by the way...He didn't die. He was killed by a dragon. I am convinced of this.
Number 3 Hallowed be thy Name by Iron Maiden So many to choose from Iron Maiden. I chose this one because of the guitar work, however its vocals are raw power, especially when the song kicks into full speed. Out of Iron Maiden's many masterpieces, I would rank this one definitely top 5. You can't go wrong here, and if my memory serves, this was the song that got me into Iron Maiden.
Number 2: Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath I had a very hard time choosing this one. It was between 4 songs. This, Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and NIB. I finally went with this because it would have required choosing between 3 Ozzy songs, and I couldn't do it. Plus, Heaven and Hell has that anthem sing along feel to it on top of the dark overtones. Plus, what would it hurt to have a second tribute to RJD?
Number 1: Painkiller by Judas Priest And, now here we are at number one. This song is so badass that it KNOWS it is #1 It even has its own drumroll to intro the song to the number one slot. Sure, Priest has lots of songs that are more anthem like than Painkiller like Metal Gods, Breaking The Law, Another Think Coming, Electric Eye, and the list goes on and on. But, this song is their most heavy hitting, and is the epitome of what a metal anthem should be. Plus, the number one song shouldn't be in my opinion a radio hit. So, get ready to blast it, and get the air guitars blazing because Painkiller is bad. Think there's a better song than Painkiller to be number one? Well, you got another think coming!
So, there you have it. The top 11 Metal Anthems of all time. I hope you enjoyed it. I sure as hell did. As always, I welcome comments. And as always, if its not METAL, TURN IT OFF!!!
First, a history of my Queensryche fanhood...It is necessary to get this out in the open because I feel I speak for MANY Queensryche fans. Then, a history of the band, and what went wrong.
I was exposed to them after 'Rage for Order' came out, and was blown away by it. I was even more blown away when 'Operation: Mindcrime' came out. I missed them in concert for those 2 tours. However, when Empire came out, I was ecstatic. But, in my opinion, Empire was good, but did not stand up to 'The Warning,' 'Rage,' and 'Mindcrime.' It was good, and I loved listening to it, but it was not their best album by far. I first saw Queensryche in concert on the 'Empire' tour, when they performed 'Mindcrime' in its entirety. I saw them at the Orlando Arena. It was amazing. When 'Operation: Livecrime' was released, I HAD to have that box set. The county fair was in town, and I worked all night as a local walk in to tear down a Flyin' Bobs ride to get the extra money to go the next day to get the box set. I wore out both the cassette and video tape over the years. Then, 'Promised Land' came out. It took some getting used to, but I eventually welcomed it. It was the next step in an evolution of the band. I saw Queensryche in concert on that tour as well, in Tampa. They were great, once again.
But then, 'Hear in the Now Frontier' came out. I did not like that album at all. I found myself thinking 'Will someone please let me know how we spun out of control....' about the whole direction of the album. It was good music, but it was NOT Queensryche. To add insult to injury, Chris DeGarmo, the driving force at the time behind the music left. The next album, Q2K was released. No DeGarmo. This was the first Queensryche album that I did not buy. However, I did go to see them in concert on that tour. I saw them at the House of Blues in Orlando. The music was NOT the same without DeGarmo there. To add insult to injury, Geoff Tate after the two opening songs said something along the lines of "I hope you guys like OLD Queensryche because we are going to be doing alot of that tonight!" I was pumped, and quickly let down. The oldest songs they played were off of 'Mindcrime.' After the show, as the crowd left, I overheard many people talking about how disgusted they were after Tate said that they were going to play "Old Queensryche." but no 'Take Hold of the Flame," etc. I was venting the same sentiment.
Then, 'Tribe' came out, featuring the return of Chris DeGarmo. I was PUMPED! But, a friend bought the album and played me a few songs. It was as lackluster as 'Hear in the Now.' And, DeGarmo left the band once again because of differences with Geoff Tate. I didn't buy this album either. Had Tate seized control of the band?
Yes.
The next album to be released was 'Operation: Mindcrime 2.' I bought it, and was VERY disappointed. I listened to it twice, and the songs actually seemed forced and rushed. Every song on the original 'Operation: Mindcrime' could have been a hit. They were amazing, but this seemed like a blatant attempt to cash in. The first track of the album is a continuation of the prison scene in 'OM.' A prison guard says "Ok convict, you're a free man!" and Nikki walks. Hello? He killed a priest! How does he just walk? The best song of the album is the duet with the late, great Ronnie James Dio, called 'The Chase.' Tate plays Nikki, Dio plays Dr. X. The problem? Tate and Dio both sing in the same key, making it difficult to distinguish who is who. I could not believe that they released this album as a sequel to the masterpiece that is 'Operation: Mindcrime.'
The next 3 albums released, I didn't even bother with. I heard one song off of 'American Soldier' and 'Dedicated to Chaos,' and they sounded like more weird stuff, on the musical scale of 'Mindcrime 2.' Funny thing is that I didn't even know they had released an album called 'Take Cover' until writing this blog and looking up the discography for continuity's sake. "Take Cover!" That could have been a warning to Queensryche fans about what else was coming.
I really hate to bash one of my favorite bands like this, but I am being real.
Now, fast forward...Everyone knows the story...The band no longer liked Tate's family running everything, so they fired them, and Geoff Tate right before a show. Tate, in retaliation spits in drummer, Scott Rockenfield's face, on stage. Could they have shown a little more respect when firing him, as in maybe waiting until after the show? Sure. But, spitting in someone's face is unforgivable.
So, Geoff Tate and the original members of Queensryche went to court for the band name. Its still in litigation as to who gets the rights to the name. Tate quickly put together a new lineup with Rudy Sarzo on bass, his brother, Robert on guitar, along with long time buddy, Kelly Gray who replaced Chris DeGarmo in Queensryche, and Bobby Blotzer (RATT) on drums. The original lineup, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield brought on guitar wizard, Parker Lundgren, and singer, Todd LaTorre, formerly a singer for Crimson Glory, a legendary metal band from Florida.
I honestly think Geoff Tate will have to relinquish the Queensryche name. He after all is NOT an original member of Queensryche. He JOINED the already existing band! I heard an interview with Don Dokken about this, and Dokken said that Tate should have just called his band 'Geoff Tate.' He also said that he has a hard time picturing Queensryche with Bobby Blotzer as a member. I agree with both points.
Tate's band is releasing an album later this month called 'Frequency Unknown' with this album cover:
Notice the FU on the fist. I wonder what they were thinking when they designed that album cover!!! Sour grapes, anyone?
Now, back to the original lineup with a new guitarist and singer...They have been touring and recording. Their album will be released in June. For those of you who haven't heard it, they have released a song from THEIR new album. The song is called 'Redemption' and it is AMAZING! It sounds like the next evolutionary step from 'Promised Land.'
Now, I have yet to see this band, but I am excited, and will when they tour for the new album. If you go to YouTube, you will find many live recordings of this lineup. Todd LaTorre NAILS it. They OPEN with Queen of the Ryche. When was the last time Queensryche did that? Hell, when was the last time Tate did that song, and it sounded good? One common theme I see in all the live clips of their shows is happiness. These guys are the real deal, and according to the original band members, they are having fun for the first time in years.
I am a singer, and Geoff Tate will always be an influence to me, but he lost his way at some point. I've never understood why certain band members think they will be more successful without the band members who got them there in the first place.
I stand in support of the original lineup of Queensryche. They have a new singer and guitarist, but they are picking up at the fork in the road where the band lost their way, and are now going down the right path, and are kicking the crap out of the unbelievers while making the real Queensryche fans proud.
I only dream in infrared, but from a haze came a rage of thunder, and QUEENSRYCHE IS BACK!!!!
I've gotten away from music a little too much this month, so to make it up to my readers, its time for the baddest and the loudest list you'll ever see, and you'll be cranking it, I promise. Grab a beer, and get ready to rock!
