There is much to love aboutmetalas an art form and what it brings to the world ofmusic. One of the most passionate and opinionated fandoms in all pop culture,metal is a deeply personal art formthat is as much about human kinship as it is about notes, beats, and words.
Most of the best heavy music comes from a place of authenticity, but much like horror movies, metal doesn’t always have to be a serious business. After living and breathing heavy music for over 30 years, these are the 10 metal songs I can’t live without.
10Power Trip - Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe)
Nightmare Logic (2015)
21st century thrash bands like Municipal Waste and Havok have great songs, butno thrash-friendly band has captured metal’s hearts like Power Trip. TheirNightmare Logicalbum is the definition of a modern classic, and no song landed with more impact than “Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe)”.
As is the case throughoutNightmare Logic,Power Trip attack every note on this song as if their lives depend on it.As the bands of the ’80s become less capable of playing their songs at the required pace (because that’s how the aging process works), “Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe)” shows that thrash still has plenty to offer the current metal landscape.
9Rammstein - Mein Herz Brennt
Mutter (2000)
Metal and classical music have much in common. Grandiose and built around sonic power and technical excellence, the parallels are self-explanatory with examples from Iron Maiden to Lorna Shore, but Rammstein’s combination ofthunderous metal and orchestral might combine devastatingly on “Mein Herz Brennt.”
Mein Herz Brennt features lyrics taken from the German children’s TV show, Sandmännchen (“Mr. Sandman”).
Much is made for Rammstein’s legendary live shows, but that sometimes detracts from how special the Germans are on record. The dramatic storytelling of vocalist Till Linderman is at the heart of the song’s magnificence, and the musical force that accompanies the song’s chorus is mesmerizing. “Mein Herz Brennt” ismetal and Rammstein at their most powerful.
8Gojira - The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe
From Mars To Sirius (2005)
Their country has given the arts much magnificence over the years, butGojira are among France’s greatest artistic exports. Merging technicality, brutality, and complexity into a delicious cocktail, Gojira’s relentless barrage of tribalistic rhythms, merciless shredding, and mature melodies have seen them justifiably become one of metal’s most loved bands.
“The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe” is one of Gojira’s classic songs, in a career that seems to add more to that collection with every passing album. Gojira’s technical wizardry and heaviness is immaculate here, on a song that would thrill Tool fans and Morbid Angel lovers alike.
7Danzig - Twist Of Cain
Danzig (1988)
So much of what makes great metal comes from the creator’s personality. Be it Hetfield or Vessel or Dimebag, the artist’s music feels like a gateway to that person’s soul via music.Glenn Danzig captured his essence on his debut albumin spectacular fashion.
Bluesy, dark, and dangerous,Danzig blasted into life after the singer left The Misfits. Signed by Rick Rubin to Def Jam and keeping only the attitude from his time in punk rock, “Twist Of Cain” announced Danzig’s solo career in stunning fashion. It’s an irresistible, sexy slice of biker metal from a pretty flawless debut album.
Heavy metal fans are a loyal bunch, and it feels great when that loyalty is rewarded. Trivium has had a career of immense creative highs and some noted lows. Their endurance is to be admired, asTrivium reached their creative peak (so far) on their ninth studio album.
After trying, failing, and eventually perfecting all manner of heavy metal subgenres,Trivium are now incredible at everything they attempt. Drummer Alex Bent has made them a much better band, Matt Heafy’s dedication to his craft has made him an exceptional leader, and “What The Dead Men Say” is the distillation of everything that makes Trivium the perfect modern metal band.
5Sepultura - Roots Bloody Roots
Roots (1996)
The Max Cavalera era of Sepultura is essentially perfect. The Brazillians were sensational successors to the throne, after the bands of the early ’80s defined thrash metal, and onChaos A.D., they also added a battle-hardened groove and even more power to their arsenal. But this pick is about more than just great music.
The video for “Roots Bloody Roots” included shots from inside a catacomb in Salvador, Brazil.
“Refuse/Resist” and “Territory” had already shown Sepultura could write arena-sized metal, buteverything about “Roots Bloody Roots” had an extra layer of cool. The hypnotic groove of the song’s main riff, the South American percussion, and a performance of a lifetime from Max in the song and its accompanying music video. It’s mid-’90s metal perfection.
4Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
No list would be worth its salt without the fathers of metal itself. With literally hundreds of perfect riffs,“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is Black Sabbath at the peak of their powers. Ozzy’s singing is majestic, Iommi’s lead riff is instantly recognizable, and Geezer and Bill sound like they could make the sky cave in with their booming force.
My favorite Sabbath riff is the opening to “Into The Void”, and my favorite Iommi lead moment comes as he lays waste to all before him during the climax of “War Pigs”, but"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" fires on ten from its first note to its last.
The solo feels desperate and evil, Ozzy’s cry of “you bastards!” is perfect, and the intricacy of the fretwork in the song’s chorus is creative and original. What a band.
3Disturbed - Down With The Sickness
The Sickness (2000)
It’s really worth pointing out from time to time, butheavy metal is a ridiculous art form. Disturbed are not considered credible, as they aren’t many people’s favorite band, but through monkey noises, thudding drums, and nu metal, for four minutes and thirty-nine seconds, Disturbed are pretty much perfect.
Whether it’s Cannibal Corpse singing about the macabre in cartoonish fashion or Iron Maiden singing about “the number of the beast” with one of the least threatening-sounding songs ever written, metal is inherently ridiculous. Sometimes,it’s okay to enjoy something that’s complete nonsense, and “Down With The Sickness” is enjoyable stupidity at its finest.Ooh ah-ah ah-ah.
2Slayer - South Of Heaven
South Of Heaven (1987)
For the longest time, Slayer were the benchmark for musical evil. Through songs about serial killers, fans carving their name into their arms for album artwork, and a live show that could terrify a murderer, their recent reunion might stain their credibility, butSlayer’s collective body of work remains one of the best in metal history.
Everything about"South Of Heaven" feels like a horror movie. The song has an eerie intro that is every bit as creepy as the rain, bells and demonic imagery conjured on “Black Sabbath”. Incapsulating everything about their sinister approach, “South Of Heaven” is Slayer’s definitive musical statement.
1Metallica - Harvester Of Sorrow
…And Justice For All (1988)
There is a really great quote that’s sure to anger some folks. It goes, “Black Sabbath invented heavy metal, but the first four Metallica albums perfected it.” Fecundity aside,Metallica was the perfect band for their first 15 years. Whatever your preference of track, the body of work during that time period is spotless.
“Sad But True” might be more popular,Master Of Puppetsmight be the critic choice, but"Harvester Of Sorrow" has the hardest riff of all time on its side. The vocals, drums, solo, lyrics and trademark attitude are all immaculate, but everything hinges around a riff with enough power to knock Godzilla on his ass.
