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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 13:56:16 GMT -5
The 200 Greatest Metal Songs of All Time From the dawn of the genre in 1970, with Black Sabbathโs debut, metal has consistently been a boundary pusher in terms of heavy music and how one can continue to add a new layer to an existing framework. Millions of bands have shattered eardrums and howled into microphones in an attempt to make a statement, with the sole thread linking them being distorted guitar played louder than hell itself. Fifty-plus years after the artform began, these are the 200 greatest metal songs of all time. The purpose of this list is to give an overview of the best of metal as a whole, from the progenitors in the โ70s, to NWOBHM and thrash scenes of the โ80s, from the extreme subgenres and mainstream nu metal of the โ90s, and all the waves consistently rising anew in the 2000s, these are the songs that have represented and reinvented the genre. These songs have been chosen based on the following criteria: โ Impact: how big it was at the time of release. โ Innovation: how it added to the genre. โ Influence: how it inspired future artists. โ Legacy: its status today among fans of the band and the genre as a whole. In all this, I have tried to be as unbiased and objective as possible, but will readily admit that some bias will always creep into these lists. But my goal is to make a list that represents the breadth of metal in its entirety, and I think I have succeeded at doing just that. Hope you enjoy and letโs kick off this countdown!
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:04:52 GMT -5
200. Evanescence - โBring Me to Lifeโ
A mixture of gothic and nu metal, โBring Me to Lifeโ was a world-wide hit for Evanescence, taking over mainstream radio like a storm. Though they were pressured to use a male backing vocalist by their label, it was Amy Leeโs soaring vocals that made the song resonate with listeners and has continued to propel it as time has gone on.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:09:39 GMT -5
199. Warlock - โAll We Areโ
German metal of the โ80s was undeniably cheesy, but when bands like Warlock were writing earworm choruses like this, that could be easily forgiven. Doro Pesch is a hell of a frontwoman, and MTV picked up on this songโs marketability pretty fast, keeping it in heavy rotation on Headbangerโs Ball.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:13:30 GMT -5
198. Venom - โBlack Metalโ
Venom were uninterested in professionalism, preferring to keep their art raw at every turn. In doing so they unintentionally sparked a new subgenre of metal, and by their second album even came up with the perfect name for it: black metal. Lay down your souls to the gods rockโnโroll!
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:19:25 GMT -5
197. Gamma Ray - โRebellion in Dreamlandโ
When Kai Hansen left Helloween in the late โ80s, he wasted no time in continuing to make his mark on the power metal genre with a new force to be reckoned with: Gamma Ray. This epic track comes from their concept album *Land of the Free* and remains a fan favorite.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:29:12 GMT -5
196. W.A.S.P. - โAnimal (Fuck Like a Beast)โ
Hyper-charged and overtly sexual, W.A.S.P. werenโt going to hold back on their debut single. Their record label did pull it off the album itself though, but that didnโt keep it from the attention of their ravenous fans.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:36:54 GMT -5
195. Cradle of Filth - โNymphetamine (Overdose)โ
An erotic brand of gothic extreme metal is the trademark style of Dani Filthโs Cradle of Filth, switching between symphonic elements and ragged guitars. This, the title track to their sixth album, is a multi-faceted epic that switches between male and female vocals to throw in shades of beauty and darkness.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:42:59 GMT -5
194. Sabaton - โPrimo Victoriaโ
Like conquerors of old, Sabaton have slowly but surely taken over the world with their brand of military power metal. Their future success could be glimpsed already in their first song, a heroic opener chronicling the D-Day landings.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:47:30 GMT -5
193. Possessed - โDeath Metalโ
Beating out Death by two years, Possessed took the thrash blueprint and made it even fucking darker. Their Seven Churches debut ushered in the dawning of a new genre, and the recordโs final song was a mic drop in what they had created: death metal.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:51:48 GMT -5
192. Metallica - โBatteryโ
1986 was the year they dropped the bomb. They being Metallica, the bomb being Master of Puppets. The ultimate game changer in heavy metal music was heralded in by acoustics before the ultimate storm erupted in โBatteryโ. Metal has never truly recovered from it since.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 14:58:58 GMT -5
191. Grim Reaper - โSee You in Hellโ
One of the many New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands vying for a seat at the roundtable, Grim Reaper slashed their way forward with Steve Grimmettโs piercing wails and devilish riffing. This title track became their most popular song.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:02:39 GMT -5
190. Megadeth - โTornado of Soulsโ
Dave Mustaine had already crafted a monster song with blistering riffage by the time he passed it over to Marty Friedman. Marty proceeded to lay down a guitar solo so good it remains the gold standard in heavy metal to this day.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:07:29 GMT -5
189. Tool - โSoberโ
Before they fully embraced their progressive leanings, Tool were already crafting great songs, like this monster from their debut album. The music was groovy, the playing was tight, and of course that music video wasnโt unhelpful either.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:15:23 GMT -5
188. Between the Buried and Me - โMordecaiโ
A progressive blend of harsh vocals and shifting music underscores this track from one of the early 2000s metallic innovators. It starts heavily before mellowing out into more melodic territories, cementing it as a unique cut of metal.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:27:20 GMT -5
187. Queensrรฟche - โTake Hold of the Flameโ
An international hit from Queensrรฟcheโs debut album, this powerful classic helped breach the band into the mainstream, particular since Geoff Tateโs high notes on it were just so unbelievably out there it had to be heard to be believed.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:33:31 GMT -5
186. Avenged Sevenfold - โA Little Piece of Heavenโ
A twisted idea spawned from the bandโs drummer The Rev, it ended up acting as a final testament to his creativity before his untimely death. An eight minute quasi-symphonic epic sounding straight out of Tim Burtonโs worst nightmare, it remains one of the bandโs most beloved songs.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:39:33 GMT -5
185. Alice in Chains - โMan in the Boxโ
A sludgy dose of grunge and Layne Staleyโs glorious, shrieking vocals โ thatโs all it took to propel Alice in Chains, and this monster cut from the bandโs debut, into our hearts.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:47:03 GMT -5
184. Iron Maiden - โPhantom of the Operaโ
It took Iron Maiden five years before they dropped their first album, and they were not wasting any time with making a statement. Right from the get-go, you could hear the talent and passion resonating from the speakers, especially on this prototype epic that would lead the way to their future monsters. Blistering guitars and punky vocals galore, rooted by Steve Harrisโs classic bassline, it remains one of the bandโs most beloved songs.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 16:53:57 GMT -5
183. Behemoth - โO Father O Satan O Sun!โ
Behemothโs The Satanist was a heavy dose of blackened death metal that won over legions of fans and quickly became one of the 2010sโ definitive metal album. And how could it not, when it held songs like this within its sleeves?
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 19, 2022 17:04:00 GMT -5
182. Judas Priest - โThe Sentinelโ
The standout cut from Priestโs seminal Defenders of the Faith is this five minute classic. Bolstered by the twin axe attack of KK Downing and Glenn Tipton and featuring a spine-tingling performance from Rob Halford, it recounts a terrifying battle between good and evil and is one of their most iconic tracks.
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