Category Archives: Heavy Metal

Classic Rock, Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews, Thrash Metal

Metallica – Orion (Song Review)

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I have a notion to write about some instrumentals so let’s start with one that’s often rolled out as the best metal example of the form: Metallica’s Orion. I’m not inclined to rank such things but I wouldn’t argue with this song taking top spot on such a list. Orion is classy and classical metal and a great showcase for Metallica’s much-missed bassist Cliff Burton, who’s writing and musicianship dominates here. It’s extremely well-paced with not a minute wasted as the tune shifts from claustrophobic mega crunch to more open lead breaks and melodies. Burton excels throughout with a range of bass leads and harmonies that all cement his legendary reputation. I especially enjoy the organ-like churn that gets the song off to an ominous start and the tranquil melody mid-song is one of the band’s most moving moments and still takes me back to the feelings of wonder and discovery I felt as a teen getting into all this stuff in the first place.

Doom Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Warning – Footprints (Song Review)

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“Here I am wide open”

Warning: listening to Footprints may induce melancholia. Emotive performances always go well with the ponderous spaces and tempos of doom metal but UK’s Warning take it to an unusually sad and vulnerable level on this sublime track from 2006’s Watching From A Distance. In fact, Footprints is more in the Anathema/Marillion zone of hearfelt, emotional catharsis. I’m too much of a satanic viking to get on board with the wallowing, introspective lyrics but the staggering combination of lurching low end, beautiful ringing chords and Patrick Walker’s distinctive, wistful vocals doesn’t half hit me right in the feels.

Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Song Reviews

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged (Song Review)

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“I’ll never find anyone to replace you”

I’ve never been the biggest Guns N’ Roses fan but I really enjoyed watching their recent Glastonbury set on TV and I was especially pleased to be reacquainted with Estranged. Listening to the studio version now, I find I love it more than ever. Taken from the second of their two 1991 Use Your Illusion albums, it’s a wonderful ballad of epic introspection with a heartfelt, searching performance from Axl Rose and sensational melodic guitar lines from Slash, as well as two classy guitar solos. It has the kind of emotional crescendo that I think Axl Rose is particularly good at writing, and that feature in most of my favourite songs of his. If I was whittling the two sprawling Use Your Illusion albums down to a perfect single record, Estranged is one song that would always make the cut.

Death Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal

Morbid Angel – Rebel Lands (Song Review)

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“Rejoice as the blood flows”

I love how imperious and arrogant this song sounds. Like Morbid Angel circa 1991 are the death metal elite… and they know it. Check out Rebel Lands and you’ll know it too. The sandstorm riffs, demonic half-note stabs, squalling guitar solos and David Vincent’s domineering, emphatic vocals are all the stuff of extreme metal royalty. The band’s debut Altars Of Madness tore everyone a new arse in 1989 and, although Morbid Angel took a more refined, arty approach on their follow-up Blessed Are The Sick, chaotic death metal blasters like Rebel Lands prove the band were still capable of unleashing unholy war.

Doom Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Reverend Bizarre – Burn In Hell! (Song Review)

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“An apostle of all misery”

Gather and give praise at the Holy Parish of True Doom. Here’s Reverend Bizarre and Burn In Hell!, the opening track from their 2002 debut In The Rectory Of The Bizarre Reverend. This is doom at its most pious and humongous: pushing the style to its saturnine and elephantine limits while staying true to the traditional form and vibe of genre pioneers like Saint Vitus and Pentagram. The eight-minute song only has about three riffs but a shift in mood from minor to phrygian keeps things evil and interesting and Albert Witchfinder’s operatic, admonishing croon and the grim Conan-esque atmosphere imbue the song with all the atmosphere and emotion necessary in a timeless doom classic. Which Burn In Hell! absolutely is.

Black Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Venom – Seven Gates Of Hell: Live 1985 (Song Review)

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“And man and beast are one”

Chaotic, train wreck live shows are a big part of Venom’s notoriety and their live album Eine Kleine Nachtmusik lives up to that legend. That said, the Geordie trio do a pretty good job of holding it together on this live version of Seven Gates Of Hell. It’s one of my favourite Venom tracks and one of their more controlled, brooding efforts. And while this live outing adds a wallop of cavernous excitement and brute force, the song’s charm remains. The moody mid-section is especially captivating as Cronos’ bass bulldozes over Mantas’ enigmatic chords. Sadly, by the time Eine Kleine Nachtmusik hit the shelves in 1986, the band’s classic lineup was no more. But the Venom legions could console themselves by listening to their beloved black metallers knocking seven shades of shite out of Seven Gates Of Hell.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Europe – In The Future To Come (Song Review)

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“I’ll cover my pain, or I’ll go insane”

This kind of stately Euro metal should be right up my street but In The Future To Come, the track that kicked off Europe’s career in 1983, doesn’t quite cut it for me. The regal riffing and ripping solo are impressive and it’s very melodic and listenable. But for all its proficiency, it’s just a bit too naïve and mild-mannered for my liking. When I listen to this kind of stuff I want blood and thunder. FIRE! Yowww. In The Future To Come doesn’t rouse enough of that manly passion for me to rate it as anything other than mildly pleasing.

Black Metal, Death Metal, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Tribulation – Winds (Song Review)

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“Through the music’s violence I bare my soul”

Tribulation’s third album The Children Of The Night was a breath of fresh air when it was released in 2015, injecting some much-needed excitement into a fairly dull year for metal. Every song on the album is absolutely killer but Winds was an immediate favourite of mine. Like the rest of the album, it’s a veritable “Best of Sweden” with the anthemic horror of Ghost, Dissection’s cold kvltness, In Solitude’s gothic darkness and Watain’s blackened, gurgly vocal attack. But the main thing I want to single out is the song’s chorus riff. It’s one of those brilliant “why wasn’t this written before?” moments. It’s an absolute show-stopper and the main reason that Winds instantly blew me away.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Virgin Steele – Last Supper (Song Review)

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“The Law reveals itself, shining like the sun”

It’s Easter so I thought I’d listen to something a bit more Jesus-y for a change. Here’s Virgin Steele’s Last Supper from their superb album The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell – Part One. Virgin Steele most often concern themselves with outsider/rebel figures in religion and mythology so it’s great fun to hear frontman/songwriter David DeFeis portraying the big J.C. with his characteristic defiance and passion. And it’s an excellently crafted and mature metal song too with dark Phrygian riffs adding an appropriately middle-eastern feel and an intense, rousing performance from DeFeis. As the song comes to an end his Zep-esque oohs and woos will have you picturing Jesus as some kind of windswept, chest-beating Robert Plant type figure. Which is how I like to imagine him anyway. Praise the Lord.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Judas Priest – The Sentinel (Song Review)

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“The figure stands expressionless”

Over the years, Judas Priest have had a growing penchant for lyrics that basically just describe some sort of apocalyptic cartoon character. A lot of their album covers depict similar creations too – check out the Metalli-Tarkus or whatever it is on the cover of their 1984 album Defenders Of The Faith. And that same album also has one of the best songs of this particular type: The Sentinel. Just that title alone is metal as fuck. And so is the song. The guitar intro is imposing and dramatic, the pacey riffing builds to a typically phenomenal display of guitar jousting from the Tipton/Downing dream team and Boaby Halford totally delivers the goods: singing phrases like “sworn to avenge” with utter conviction. Recorded following the band’s big US breakthrough, The Sentinel brims with confidence while also retaining the cutting edge of their earlier material, closing a faultless side of vinyl on an epic sci-fi high.