Metal Thrashing Mad

You ever listen to Parkway Drive? That's the kind of metal I'm into. Yeah there's screaming, but the guitars and pounding breakdowns are just too awesome to ignore.

Before we get to the actual list we need to talk about some of the cuts. No that's not British slang. First were the trailblazers in the late 70s and early 80's that inspired the bands that came after them. Without Venom or Merciful Fate or Morbid Angel or Alice Cooper we may not have the Megadeth's and Anthrax' we know and love today.

The 80's brought us hair metal and we really aren't even going to bring that genre into this list. Other than Motely Crue I don't really think those bands are of the same calibur or had the longevity or importance of these other bands. I am sure a case for Poison and Def Leopard could be made - but I'm not listening to it. But even before the hair spray and makeup there were bands like Man'O'War who helped inspire the theatrics of it all. Barbarian metal gods bringing us the sounds from the mountain.

Once we got to the 90's it was an awful time for metal. Few bands rose to the challenge to keep it to the roots, or experiment in ways that weren't "rap and roll". I wish we could forget the Limp Bizkit and Staind and all the other crap that was served up as "metal" during my college years. Luckily Pantera was able to keep shining the light through those dark times. Outside of Pantera I can count on one hand how many other new bands really deserved to be called metal - White Zombie, Mushroomhead, Deftones, and the other two we will cover shortly.

Throughout the 2000s metal slowly came back to prominence, and within the last 5 years we have seen a huge resurgence in the genre with some great bands emerging along with the old warhorses releasing more great material.

Now before we go further I need to get your ears ready. This is from a goofy "super group" of metal formed back in the late 80's with members of Anthrax and The Psychos. Their theme was this amazing riff called The March of the SOD. If this doesn't get you pumped to go on this journey then you need to just turn around now. Looking at you Hawger.

Remember, metal is best listened to at LOUD volumes.  Fucking crank it.  And this video shows the insanity of 80s metal - that fucking stage dive is nuts. \m/

I have heard of them too!!!

Sorry but no.

I watched the first video and proceeded to beat up my cat. Is that a normal reaction to this stuff?

The stage dive was insane. He's also a pretty big boy for people to be catching. I would've let him fall. I did notice he beat up a few fans before he got back on the stage.

We'll see what I can handle. Maybe it'll grow on me. scorejr will love whatever that first thing was. I'll probably love a few depending on who's included.

FYI, the cat was not harmed while watching your angry music.

Hey Ref, don't be bringing me into this, I haven't commented yet on how much this music sucks.

I said stop reading Hawg!    At least hold your shitcanning until the end.  But who knows, if you listen you may actually enjoy something.  Open thy mind...

My cat does not look like a watermelon.

As much as I want to keep talking about watermelon peanut butter cats, we need to keep moving.

We aren't quite ready to get started on the list. We still have a few more things to cover. I don't want to lose some of you thinking its all sweaty dudes and half formed sentences as lyrics.  Its only about 95% that.  Here I want to show that there are women in metal and they are quite talented. None of these bands made the list but it doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. I know KS is going to be doing some extra google searching after this post.


Within Temptation is a melodic and gothic metal band with epic song structure and compostion. Its a niche in the genre but those that do it well do it really well. This band does and their frontwoman has a captivating voice.
Paradise


In This Moment is a newer band and very aggressive and their lead singer pushes the boundaries of sexuality and empowerment. I love it. This is probably their most tame video.
Adrenalize



Butcher Babies is fronted by two (TWOOOOOOO) women and they are gorgeous. But they can actually sing both with melody and with the "Cookie Monster" growl. Damn impressive. This is a live video and the safest for work but if you dig it you can find more polished videos of theirs which are well done and stylistic as well.
I Smell A Massacre

Those Butcher Babies girls are naughty!!!! I'm starting to like this thread.

Ok one more entry tonight - and no we haven't hit the top 25 yet.  It's not because I keep rearranging and changing my mind.  It's not I swear.

There are alot of new metal bands out there today and even a new genre - Screamo (although some will say Metalcore).  All the rage with the youth these days. Bands like Bullet for My Valentine, Escape the Fate, Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive (for ScoreJr).


Escape The Fate - Just a Memory




In addition to that new genre, there is a another emerging called sludge metal that is more bluesy and toned down guitars. Very approachable to new ears. I really like this direction personally and I would say it probably started with Helmet with some Pantera and Sabbath inspiration and then evolved with bands like Kyuss and now Baroness and Red Fang.



Baroness - Take My Bones Away




Red Fang - Crows in Swine

This guy gets it.




Great comparison of metalcore to hair bands - I thought about using that analogy.