Monday, March 30, 2009

Question: Quintessential metal song

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Here's something to think about, but only if you have some interest in heavy metal music.

What is the quintessential metal song?

I realize there are many different kinds of metal music -- death metal, progressive metal, speed and thrash metal, etc. -- but what if a friend of yours came up to you and said, "You know, I have never heard any heavy metal music. What does it sound like? I don't have a lot of time right now, so just give me one song as a starting point and I will explore the genre from there."

What song would you suggest he listen to first?

I'll share my choice later.

6 comments:

AlanDP said...

Bach's Toccata in D minor by Cirith Ungol.

But seriously, I think the earlier Metallica would be a good place to start, like "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Albatross said...

Early Metallica is good, and I might suggest "Whiplash" from Kill 'Em All as an introduction to thrash metal. But I have something a bit older in mind.

Albatross said...

P.S.: I just bought Cirith Ungol's version of Toccata in d (thanks iTunes!). I'm listening to it right now. Too bad they didn't do a version of the fugue that follows.

Keith Alan K said...

Something by Judas Priest--Electric Eye comes to mind, as does Running Wild.
Early Black Sabbath like War Pigs.
But really, the first Led Zeppelin album pretty much wrote the rules for all that followed.

Albatross said...

You're on the money with early Black Sabbath.

Anonymous said...

I can't argue with Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath as they are the progenitors of Metal as we know it, but if I had to lay out the simplest form of Classic Heavy Metal I would have to go with Highway to Hell, every single element that Heavy Metal contains is incorporated into it from guitar solo, bellowing voice, powerhouse drumming and rebellious lyrics but also worth noting the song is not complex or flashy, just some good ol' raw heavy metal.