Last updated 02-22-2010

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 from my collection of well over 1,000 metal albums. 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. Commercialism 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.

Note: Keep in mind that all of the songs are based on my personal opinion, so you’ll probably find some songs in order you don’t agree with, or some song missing from the list. By all means comment on it and make suggestions if you like.

I also own all of the tracks below in one form or another as any true metal academic would

And here they are in the order in which they’re presented:

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Ten of the greatest hard vocalists working today in my opinion. Vocals being the only organic instrument in metal (unless you count drum skins) is probably the most important factor (along with a good riff) in making a bone-crushing or if you like heart-tearing metal song. Choices are endless, but I had to come up with just a ten. I took everything in account. Vocal range, body of work, impact on metal, passion, color of the voice, how vocals fit into the band and originality. You might not agree with the list, but hey, if you did where is fun in that?

Ok, here is the list: Read the rest of this entry »

I know it is going to be hard to name top ten axe attackers, but it doesn’t hurt to try. Not only guitarists have to be really good technically, but they had to be influential and had to make their mark on metal in general. Originality counts more then anything.

Remember: This is not just about solos (sorry Yngwie). We are talking a complete guitarist. Riffs, solos, influence on the genre itself and originality. Basically they have to be Guitar Gods. No more. No less. Here we go. Read the rest of this entry »