My writing blog.

I was bored, and it’s been a little while since I’ve posted anything on here, so I decided I’d write a little bit about my favourite bands. So I’m going to list my five favourite bands and talk a little bit about why I like them and why you should listen to them.

5. Stone Sour – What can I say about this band? They fucking rock. Definitely more alternative metal/hard rock than my usual thrash/heavy metal, but no less awesome. Corey Taylor is a talented singer and lyricist, which he never gets enough credit for in regards to his more well-known band. I’ve yet to hear a Stone Sour song I dislike; even the slower ones are great. Audio Secrecy was one of the best albums of 2010, by far. Very relatable lyrics, which is a big thing for me. But I could say that about all three of their albums. Come What(ever) May was a solid album, with a lot of quality tunes on it (not just ‘Through Glass’), and their self-titled album will always be a favourite of mine.

Favourite Songs: Orchids, Inhale, Bother, Tumult, Omega, The Wicked, Kill Everybody, Come What(ever) May, Hell & Consequences, Reborn, Socio, Suffer, Say You’ll Haunt Me, Dying, Unfinished, Hate Not Gone, Anna.

4. Megadeth – Despite being one of the Big 4 of thrash metal, Megadeth gets a lot of flak. There are too many metalheads who just dismiss them because of Risk and Cryptic Writings. I’ll agree that those albums were less than satisfying, from a thrash metal perspective. But that doesn’t take away from what they’ve done and some of the fucking great music they’ve given us. Killing Is My Business, Peace Sells, and Rust In Peace are three quintessential thrash albums. Not to mention their last four albums. The System Has Failed, United Abominations, and Endgame were all solid efforts, with a lot of kick-ass tunes on them. And then there’s 13. Top three, maybe top two among 2011 releases, in my opinion. If you’re one of the people who didn’t like it, I suggest listening to it again. And again. And again. Until the all the stupid is blasted out of you.

Aside from all that, the major kick a lot of people seem to have against Megadeth comes down to Dave Mustaine. People complain about his voice, his political and religious views, and his generally asshole-ish personality. To the people who talk about the politics and the douchiness, I say screw that. It’s the music, man. Fuck that other shit. I don’t care how much of a dick an artist is; if the music’s good, that’s all that matters. As for his voice, that’s all down to personal preference. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. I’m not forcing anybody to listen to Mustaine. In my opinion, however, his voice is perfect for metal. For me, metal, especially thrash metal, has always been about chaos. I want it to be rough-edged and guttural, not polished and melodic. There are other genres that provide that sound.

Favourite Songs: Rattlehead, These Boots, Wake Up Dead, Peace Sells, In My Darkest Hour, Five Magics, Poison Was the Cure, Symphony of Destruction, This Was My Life, A Tout le Monde, Blood of Heroes, Family Tree, I Thought I Knew It All, Victory, Trust, Almost Honest, I’ll Get Even, 1000 Times Goodbye, Dread and the Fugitive Mind, Die Dead Enough, The Scorpion, Something That I’m Not, Truth Be Told, Of Mice and Men, Washington Is Next!, Never Walk Alone… A Call to Arms, Play For Blood, 44 Minutes, Bodies, The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Seal With A Kiss, Head Crusher, How the Story Ends, The Right to Go Insane, Sudden Death, Public Enemy No. 1, We the People, Black Swan, Wrecker, Deadly Nightshade, 13.

3. Slayer – I don’t think I have to say much about Slayer. They’ve been one of the most consistently brutal bands over the last 30 years. They are thrash metal. Simple as that. Lyrically, musically, and everything else. Tom Araya is a brilliant singer, and Kerry King is possibly the most metal person who has ever existed. That’s it.

Favourite Songs: Die By the Sword, Show No Mercy, Hell Awaits, At Dawn They Sleep, Angel of Death, Criminally Insane, Raining Blood, South of Heaven, Behind the Crooked Cross, Mandatory Suicide, Spill the Blood, War Ensemble, Spirit In Black, Born of Fire, Seasons In the Abyss, Overt Enemy, Perversions of Pain, Scrum, Disciple, God Send Death, Exile, Here Comes the Pain, Addict, Payback, Eyes of the Insane, Jihad, World Painted Blood, Hate Worldwide, Playing With Dolls.

2. Pantera – And yes, I never thought I’d say that. Pantera has been my favourite band for the better part of a decade now. But they’ve recently been bumped down to number two. It’s only by a hair; more like one a and one b. But still.

Now, many of the reasons I stated with the previous bands ring true for why Pantera is near the top of my list. Lyrically, musically, and in the general attitude department, Pantera is metal. Phil Anselmo is the number one metal singer in my books. That will never change. Dimebag was one of the best guitarists of all time; the solo on Floods is damn near perfect. Rex Brown is one of the best bassists I’ve ever heard. And Vinnie Paul is a monster on the drums. I’m Broken is possibly my favourite song of all time (it’s in a fight with Cemetery Gates and Motorhead’s Ace of Spades).

Favourite Songs: Cowboys From Hell, Cemetery Gates, Domination, The Sleep, Mouth For War, Walk, Fucking Hostile, This Love, Regular People (Conceit), Hollow, Strength Beyond Strength, 5 Minutes Alone, I’m Broken, Good Friends and A Bottle of Pills, 25 Years, Shedding Skin, Drag the Waters, 10’s, 13 Steps to Nowhere, Suicide Note Pt. 1, Floods, Goddamn Electric, Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit, Revolution Is My Name, Death Rattle, I’ll Cast A Shadow.

1. Black Label Society – Great band. I don’t really have much else to say. Zakk Wylde’s credentials as a guitarist speak for themselves. There isn’t a BLS song I don’t like, and every album is better than the last. And considering how fucking awesome the first one was, that’s really saying something. This is a band I recommend everybody listen to. I don’t care what you listen to; Black Label Society should have a spot on your playlist.

Favourite Songs: Bored to Tears, Hey You (Batch of Lies), World of Trouble, All For You, 13 Years of Grief, Rust, Counterfeit God, Ain’t Life Grand, Just Killing Time, Stronger Than Death, Bleed For Me, Bridge to Cross, Graveyard Disciples, Lost Heaven, Stillborn, Funeral Bell, Destruction Overdrive, Blackened Waters, We Live No More, Dead Meadow, Crazy or High, Queen of Sorrow, Steppin’ Stone, Won’t Find It Here, Damage Is Done, Layne, No Other, Once More, Fear, What’s In You, In This River, Say What You Will, Been A Long Time, Dirt On the Grave, Blacked Out World, The Last Goodbye, Hell Is High, Sick of It All, Blood Is Thicker Than Water, Parade of the Dead, Godspeed Hellbound, Time Waits For No One.

So that’s it. My top five favourite bands. There are a shitton of other bands I think kick serious ass, but for this list, there could only be five. Check them out.

Later.