Editor’s note: This week’s playlist is a collection of excellent heavy metal songs put together by Noorhanaz Khatoon—ranging from all-time classics to some fantastic local talent. Turn up the volume and get ready to pump up the volume.
Written by: Noorhanaz Khatoon is a filmmaker and visual storyteller based in Bangalore. She finds peace in writing and contentment in music. You can check out her work here.
Shred that solo, baby!
While the world danced to the disco hooks of ABBA and Bees Gees in the golden 70’s, a growing collective of underdog artists began a movement that would soon make an indelible mark on music. Characterised by distorted guitar riffs, extended solos, a powerful vocal presence, and heart wrenching drum beats—heavy metal gained its momentum in the late 70’s as the wild child of rock. Motivated by crazy blues licks and the kickass rhythm of psychedelic rock (with a healthy dose of borrowed aggression from acid rock) this defining genre is believed to have derived its name from the mention of ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ in Steppenwolf’s ‘Born to be Wild’.
Though Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were credited as the pioneers of heavy metal music, bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, and Lamb of God are some of the torch bearers who inspired generations of musicians till date. Often misunderstood to be symbolic of violence and aggression, heavy metal songs have touched topics ranging from mythology, fantasy, socialism, philosophy, and the human condition.
This is a collection of my favourite songs from the genre. At the end of this playlist, if you feel the bass matching your heartbeat, your neck aching from head banging to some epic hooks, then I’ll consider my job done. On to the list:
‘Blood Brothers’ by Iron Maiden: To underline the point that heavy metal bands do more than scream and shred guitar, check out this beautiful piece written by Iron Maiden founder/bassist Steve Harris about the demise of his father. The song tells a surreal tale of loss and grief and is an ode to the life we leave behind after death. This song from the album ‘Brave New World’ has become an anthem for many faced with strife and suffering like disasters and civil wars. In an iconic performance in Bergen, Norway, in 2010, the band dedicated this song to their mentor and icon Ronnie James Dio. The lyrics, the iconic baseline that graces the song, the skin-crawling guitar solo, and the powerful vocal of Bruce Dickinson on his return to the band make it a worthy listen.
‘Spellcraft’ by Kryptos: This Bangalore-based band that gave us a landmark release in Indian metal history with their debut album ‘Spiral Ascent’, graces this list with one of their internationally acclaimed releases. An aggregated hook accompanied by Nolan Lewis’s raspy vocal presence and hints of death growl make this number an iconic one. The breakdowns of this song will surely remind you of the new wave of British heavy metal.
‘Ride to Hell’ by Girish and the Chronicles: Another power-packed number by Bangalore-based band Girish and the Chronicles, ‘Ride to Hell’ is one of the iconic releases from their debut album ‘Back on Earth’. Vocalist Girish Pradhan welcomes you to this song with his iconic fry scream and the beats slowly pick up in this powerhouse of a song. Suraz Sun’s 40 second guitar solo transports the arrangement to another level and reminds you of the classic glam metal era. The tempo picks up right after the bridge and takes you back to the groovy baseline to pump up your adrenaline.
‘Holy Diver’ by Dio: This song has its name etched in metal’s hall of fame. ‘Holy Diver’ is filled with mysticism and the eerie keyboard intro opens the doors to its theatrical arrangement. The song comes from the debut album of the pioneers of heavy metal Dio, and tells the story of a sage on an escape from another realm to save his people. Ronnie James Dio’s vocals accompanied by the steely bass and distorted guitar riff are sure to hook you in with their magic.
‘Pisces’ by Jinjer: Jinjer’s ‘Pisces’ alludes to what the song has in store with its clean fingerpicking. Tatiana Shmayluk’s vocals accompanied with the soft guitar melody are soothing to begin with, then the drum heavy hook intensifies into the bridge that transforms this song into an epic metal core experience.
‘Aces High’ by Iron Maiden: Another classic from Iron Maiden’s classic album ‘Power Slave’ talks about the story of a fighter pilot. With Bruce Dickinson’s narrative vocals, the story just gets more intense. The songwriting is bound to fill you with energy, so you just join in with the harmony.
‘Runner in the Night’ by Blacklace: This is an 80’s classic from New York’s own Blacklace. Lead vocalist Maryann Scandiffio is known for lending her powerful vocal chords to songs like ‘On the Attack’ and ‘Cake of the Wild’, and her exorbitant presence in this killer track was a breath of fresh air in the male dominated 80’s heavy metal scene.
‘Painkiller’ by Judas Priest: Painkiller comes at you with full force and promises an epic headbanging session that could stir up a mosh pit. Unapologetically heavy drum beats and distorted djent hooks pierce your heart. This is what makes Painkiller one of heavy metal’s all time great anthems.
‘Forgotten Martyrs’ by The Down Troddence: As the name suggests, this song is an ode to the bravehearts who died fighting for what they believed in. Kerala-based The Down Troddence is known for their unique sound that blends thrash metal elements with hints of Kerala folk to give us gems like ‘Shiva’ and ‘Death Vanity’. This banger of a song from their debut album is special as it features the legendary Baiju Dharmajan on guitars, which elevates the composition to lofty heights.
‘Jambi’ by Tool: With its jaw dropping polyrhythmic beat structure, Jambi is ironically a tale of love. Known for their strong imagination and roots in fantasy storytelling, Tool brings to us a masterpiece in off time signature songwriting. The iconic talk box guitar solo packaged with exceptional vocal range makes ‘Jambi’ one of Tool’s finest compositions.
‘Immigrant song’ by Led Zeppelin: This list would be incomplete without Led Zeppelin. Although some would question my classification of this song, ‘Immigrant Song’s hardy head vocals, heavy distorted guitar riff and groovy baseline makes up for a beautiful heavy metal piece that inspired many acts that followed suit. This song from their album ‘Led Zeppelin III’ remains one of the first endeavours in the history of heavy metal and that alone makes it a timeless piece.
‘Hunter Hunted’ by Firstborne: Ending this list is an exceptional arrangement by the power group ‘Firstborne’ which is made up by some of the finest artists from the metal scene—Girish Pradhan on vocals, Chris Adler on drums, Myrone on guitars and James LoMenzo on the bass. This combination makes their sound truly one of a kind. Their heavy ballads transport you to the best of metal and the promising sound is a reflection of the constantly evolving metal scene.
We've compiled the above into a handy playlist for your convenience on Spotify. Don’t forget to check out our previous playlists—including rock songs through the ages, a capella music, best club remixes, some tunes to feel your zen, awesome movie soundtracks, and fun songs for road trips.
