Vocal God Jorn Lande releases new album in June. New single can be heard here…
Song is “Lonely Are The Brave”

Lineup:

Jorn “JORN” Lande - vocals

Jorn Viggo Lofstad - guitars

Tore Moren - guitars

Sid Ringsby - bass

Willy Bendiksen - drums

Last updated 04-08-2008

This actually took a while. This was supposed to be 100 best metal songs list (ha, and I thought I could get away with only 100), but I realized that I would not be including some of the true speaker melters and fist pumping hair raisers, so I up the list to 200. That didn’t do it either so I decided to name it Greatest Heavy Metal Songs - Ever and post what I have so far and then just keep adding good songs as I dig them up or as they being released (if new). Otherwise I would never finish this. It’s not easy to come up with definite list since metal is constantly evolving into more efficient beast. Besides, musical tastes change so I think adding tracks to the list as I see it fit would be the best way to tackle this problem. All of the songs are hand picked and research by me. If you for example visit this page few months from now, new songs might be added or order of the songs might be changed. Lets get right to it then…

These are in the mind of your obsessed author best Heavy Metal tracks ever to be put down on vinyl, cassette, CD or whatever medium was available at the time. And I mean ever! Includes everything from pure skin peelers and ear drainers, to mystic-goth and escapist ballads. From the European ancient battlefields, mystic dreams, goth imagery to the pure anger of society and blue collar dirt mentality, these tracks are just the tip of the iceberg of the beast that we call Heavy Metal. Everything that we love and worship about metal is included in the list.

Some of the tracks are well known, but some of them will make you question meaning of life. I really had neither time nor inclination to include overplayed, commercially butchered, no good anyway same ol’ tracks. How many times can we really hear Paranoid, Living after Midnight or Enter Sandman before we fall into coma? My goal here is not to list the most influential or commercial tracks, but to really try to capture reason why we like this kind of music. Commercialisms and influence need to step aside and let the sound and craftsmanship of the actual songs do the talking. This would actually be a good starting point of someone just getting into metal.

I have included some true gems and skin peelers you will not find in malls or bargain bins (those rare European imports just killed my wallet). On the other hand some of the commercially successful tracks are also included. Media is on occasion uhmm… right. Plus, those tracks really kick some serious metal ass. You will also see some bands showing up multiple times. Hey, it’s not my fault that those bands produced some truly ear terrorizing, face melting metal and deserved to be there on multiple occasions.

Drum roll please… Read the rest of this entry »

Another kick-ass metal band from 80’s. Totally non-commercial and quite ahead of their time Anvil is one of those underground metal bands that just won’t go away. Their 1983 “Forged In Fire” along with Jag Panzer’s 1984 “Ample Destruction” to me is one of the best metal albums of the 80’s. Their early 80’s music could be described as Judas Priest meets Manowar. Add some Maiden and even Kiss into the mix and you got perfect archetype metal band. I have seen over 200 metal concerts in my lifetime but never had a chance to see these guys.

Here’s one of my favorite tracks from Forged In Fire.

This should be really interesting to see and hear. Hopefully Yngwie will change direction from his stale caffeine induced Bach-ish song composing and come up with some really bombastic metal crunchers we haven’t heard since 1985 “Marching Out”. I really do think Yngwie is more talented than people are giving him credit for. He just needs to tap into gothic side of his mind little bit more and leave enough room for vocals and actual melody, instead of trying to fill every little hole in the song with blazing classical runs. Let the song breath little bit. Nonetheless this should be good. Watch out for the new album this July.

Here is the link for the story.

Beast which lay dormant underneath desolate and dreary Birmingham’s streets since mid 70’s awoken again to give us probably best metal creation ever to be put down on any type of recording medium. 1980 being the best year for metal (according to many metalheads and critics) has been given a crown. Crown being Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell” album. With one masterstroke Sabbath with Heaven and Hell sealed envelope containing best metal music in the year of 1980 and sat it on the highest metal throne.
New singer and new less doomy and more mystical sound is probably the first thing that attacks listener’s ear. Ozzy is out and ex-Rainbow elf-man was brought in to revitalize this metal monster. Ronnie James Dio on the vox fronting the biggest metal band on earth does more for this record then just sings his heart out. Aside from being an archetype metal vocalist, Dio is a master lyrics craftsman. Fresh of the Rainbow wagon Dio uses words as a weapon to further accentuate already celestially crafted songs. Read the rest of this entry »

I am going to attempt to name basic differences between Heavy Metal from two different continents. US and Europe. This will be strictly observation and not competition so if you get offended BITE ME! I am the one spending my precious hours writing and thinking about this shit so cut me some slack.

You might ask what qualifies me to even attempt this. Well, I lived in Europe for 20 years and I have seen and heard lot of metal bands there, plus I have had (and still do) many friends over there that keep me in check with happenings and Euro-metal scene.

I currently live in US (13 years already) and I’ve got exposed to many bands here as well. I have also witnessed direct face and verbal reactions of my American metal friends while listening Scorpions riff vs. when they hear Pantera or Korn riffs.

Despite the fact of me being an American citizen, I still have very strong European tendencies in great aspect of my life so I will try not to be biased.

Let’s dive into it then. Read the rest of this entry »

1977-1984 is definitely heavy metal’s best and most productive era as far as I’m concerned, and Heavy Load is one of the first and premier classic-heavy metal bands from that era to stomp the land of the vikings and beyond. Along with other Swedish classic acts such as Overdrive, Torch, Axewitch and 220volt, Heavy Load’s music really reflects the mood and pure energy that was around at the time. Hailed by critics and adored by hard core fans Heavy Load truly represents best years of metal in their own convincing, raw yet melodic classic heavy metal. Band’s like Europe (early works) and Hammerfall definitely learned thing or two from these guys. Hammerfall actually covered Heavy Load’s “Run With The Devil” later on.

Here is one of their gems from excellent 1982 “Death Or Glory”. Just listen that convincing vocal intonation.

“Little Lies”

Discography:

FULL SPEED AT HIGH LEVEL - NOVEMBER 1978
METAL CONQUEST - SEPTEMBER 1981
DEATH OR GLORY - OCTOBER 1982
STRONGER THAN EVIL - OCTOBER 1983

Band members:

* Styrbjörn Walhquist (Drums, Vocals & Percussion) (1976-1985)
* Ragne Walhquist (Guitars, Vocals & Keyboard) (1976-1985)
* Andreas Fritz (Bassguitar) (1979)
* Eddy Malm (Guitar & Vocals) (1979-1985)
* Torbjörn Ragnesjö (Bassguitar) (1979-1984)
* Leif Liljegren (Guitars) (1979)
* Eero Koivisto (Bassguitar) (1979)
* Dan Molén (Bassguitar) (1978-1979)
* Michael Backlund (Bassguitar) (1976-1977)

I always wanted to do review of Judas Priest’s 1990 Painkiller since I consider it to be a third metal catalyst (first being Black Sabbath’s debut and second being Metallica’s debut) that raised the bar for all future metal bands.
Heavy metal hits its plateau every decade or so and early ’90 is no exception. This album really pushed boundaries of ferocious and acrobatic playing to unprecedented level of sophistication. Angry, disappointed and just pissed off, coming straight out of the courtroom Judas Priest releases bombastic fury of a record. Painkiller is what would become foundation of all future kinetic, techno-metal and manic sonic assaults which every band will build their chops from that point on. I don’t just mean guitars, but drums and vocals as well. Just listen to Primal Fear, Gamma Ray, UDO, Silent Force, Marshall Law and countless others, and you’ll se direct influence of Painkiller. Read the rest of this entry »

Menacing darkness descends upon us from the gloomy corners of Scandinavia, is exactly what Swedish death metal act Arch Enemy created here.
“Rise of the Tyrant” does not take any prisoners. One head smasher after another make this record one of the heaviest in ’07. “Rise of the Tyrant” being total assault on your ears (I mean that in a good way) where track after track is coupled with crystal clear production with enough rawness in the mix to satisfy hungriest of hard core fans.
Dark but hopeful; heavy but melodic “Rise of the Tyrant” is my favorite Arch Enemy’s release so far. Passionate and almost nostalgic guitar melody lines are excellently countered by Angela’s brutal vocal delivery (believe it or not vocals are bit cleaner here then on their previous releases), creating truly original Nordic atmosphere. Read the rest of this entry »

Germany’s Brainstorm brings nothing new to the table on this one but still manages to sculpt the sound that’s only their own. Besides how can you not love those crushing riffs, monstrous hooks and majestic vocals. If nothing, it’s ten times better then some unimaginative and already too crowded power metal out there. Don’t get me wrong I love Power-Metal, but I haven’t heard anything new and refreshing from power metallers in a while now.
I place these guys in same realm of “somewhere between classic and power metal” category along with Swedish band Wolf. Brainstorm being more of a Priest-Accept school while Wolf is more of a Maiden recipe. Read the rest of this entry »

Long, long overdue Symphony X’s new album finally reaches music store shelves in June, 2007.
Don’t let the already exhausted theme on John Milton’s book “Paradise Lost” (and no it’s not a concept album) turns you off from this album. This is a truly fresh kick in the guts to already stale power-prog metal scene out there.
Textured with beautiful tapestry of multidimensional sonic madness Paradise Lost easily becomes one of my favorite metal releases of 2007. If I had to describe overall feel and sound of the album I would say that it’s a mixture between early Dream Theater meets Pantera’s “Far Beyond Driven”. Cross that with good Yngwie Malmsteen era and you’ll have some idea of what Paradise Lost sounds like.
A bit darker, more aggressive and less neo-classical then any of their previous releases, Paradise Lost immediately bombards listener with such a complex but tight face metlers like melodic “Set the World on Fire” and odd rhythmic speeder “Domination”. Read the rest of this entry »

Tobias Sammet’s new project “Scarecrow” has even bigger names then “Metal Opera I” and II.
Some of the guests include: Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Eric Singer (Kiss), Alice Cooper, Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions), Kai Hansen & Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray), Bob Catley (Magnum), Jorn Lande and many more.
This one deserves track by track analysis on account of multiple guests and just great arrangements.

Track 01: Twisted Mind
Tobias Sammet, Roy Khan (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitars)
One of the best tracks on the album. Intro just slams with concrete strength and German engineered precision. This one is real mid-tempo Accept groover. Read the rest of this entry »

Tireless German growler Udo Dirkschneider releases another solid metal fireball. Not lot of expectations on this one, and no surprises from Udo neither. After seeing a really wicked cover and title one would think the album is about something really horrifying, but according to Udo, Mastercutor is a short for “Master Executor” which is the host of a stupid talk/game show.

What lacks in originality is quickly replaced with musicianship and just cool fricking grooves. I mean UDO and Accept (and maybe Hammerfall) has to be best metal groove-makers on the planet, and along with Motorhead they are the most consistent metal band around. And that voice… One could swear that Udo was fed steel wool as a kid. Read the rest of this entry »

In 1981 New York based Riot released their best metal cruncher ever in my opinion. Here is little sample of what’s inside this metal beast. Think UFO meets early Anvil meets 70’s era Priest. Don’t even flinch or think for a second if you find this in bargain bins or in regular sections. Just snag the damn thing and give your ears majestic sonic ecstasy. I’m still clueless about their mascot though.

Don’t Hold Back

Lineups:

• Mark Reale - Guitars
• Mike Flyntz - Guitars
• Pete Perez - Bass
• Jimmy Ioime - Bass
• Frank Gilchrist - Drums
• Tony Moore - Vocals
• Rhett Forrester - Vocals
• Guy Speranza - Vocals

It is so hard to believe that this avalanche of crushing metal is debut of Colorado based Jag Panzer. Named after World War II German tank with good reason, because as soon as you hear this thing you will have feeling that tank just rolled over you.

Album opens up with “Licensed to Kill” and you’re immediately assaulted (I mean it in a good way) with such a vocal power and conviction, not seen in metal so far. Harry (the Tyrant) Conklin sounds just like he is ready to explode and burst out of skin on every damn song. He is type of metal vocalist that you just cannot ignore while listening. It’s right in your face, convincing yet melodic, commanding you to pay attention.

Album continues with onward marching “Symphony of Terror”, NWOBHM-like “Harder Then Steel” and thrasher “Reign of the Tyrants” (intro riff sound too close to Rammstein’s “Adios”) Read the rest of this entry »