February 23, 2012

Greg's Top Ten Favorite Metal Bands (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):

1. Metallica: Pretend that they never released another record past 1988's "And Justice For All..." and I doubt any metal fan would have a single complaint about their catalog of music. Those first four records are absolutely flawless in every way, with almost no tracks getting the skip treatment on my iPod. Even their later material really doesn't detract me from keeping them from the #1 spot on this list. Many will say they sold out when they released The Black Album in 1991, but as their former bassist Jason Newstead once said, "Yes, we sell out...every single show we have, every night we play." I can't really argue with that.

2. Iron Maiden: I liked them with former lead singer Paul Di'Anno. I absolutely love them with current and longtime frontman Bruce Dickenson. The theatrics, the heavy riffs, the incredible shows, the badass mascot...they absolutely rule. When they released 1982's "Number of the Beast" they reached a worldwide audience and helped foster a new era for a British style of heavy metal that would influence countless bands in their wake. They still tour today and have a larger core audience than almost any metal act.

3. Judas Priest: Speaking of British metal...I got into Priest far later in life than most of the bands on this list, but made up for the lost time in spades. I've never heard a vocalist quite like lead singer Rob Halford. I swear, even Mariah Carey can't hit some of the notes he elevates his voice to. The twin guitar sounds created by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing are unlike anything I've ever heard. Just listen to "You Got Another Thing Coming" and you might get the point.

4. Black Sabbath: Though their later works with Ozzy Osbourne aren't quite as powerful as the albums that preceded them, they absolutely have to be in the top five on this list. They literally are the first true metal band and have impacted the lives of virtually everyone in the metal genre. Even their post-Ozzy work with Ronnie James Dio is awesome. Seriously, they're so awesome that their lead guitarist accidentally cut his fingers off and glued melted bottle caps to his amputated fingers to keep playing. That's metal, right there.

5. Motley Crue: Metal is such a difficult genre to truly define. Some will say Crue are too glam to be metal, but it's all subjective. I think the four original members (Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx) are one of the most influential bands of their time and have a definitive place in metal history. They might be the first of the "Sunset Strip" bands to have a lasting presence in the metal community, largely due to their crazy antics and incredible stage shows. Still, if their music sucked, we wouldn't be talking about them here. Their greatest hits record is a treasure of incredible songs like "Too Fast For Love", "Looks That Kill", "Shout at the Devil" and "Home Sweet Home." The latter of those songs ended up being the first recognized power ballad and set the stage for glam metal's rise in the 1980s.