METALGUITARIST'S
MUSIC
BANDS I LISTEN TO:
Machine Head, Slayer, Old Metallica, Anthrax, Korn, old Megadeth, Pantera,
Biohazard, Prong, King's X, Carcass, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Buffett,
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Testament, Suicidal Tendencies,
Limp Bizkit, Scatterbrain, Bush, Sepultura, Queensryche, Death
Angel/The Organization/Swarm, Kittie, Foreigner, Led Zeppelin,
and my former band I was in with my buddy Mike. I have recently
been getting into Shadow's Fall and Killswitch Engage. Look out
for these bands, I believe they're here to stay.
RIP: Dimebag. You rocked!
Machine Head is my new favorite band. I knew nothing of these guys until about 2002. Since
then they have steadily been rising up the charts. They have continued on the Bay Area metal. Simply awesome!
Atomic Blonde - a new band out of Nashville I've been listening to.
Atomic Blonde
MY TOP 40 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME:
These are my top 40 albums of all time and songs on
those tapes you should check out if you like this style of music.
Don't send me e-mail about this or that band should be on this
list, this is my list. Everybody has an opinion and opinions are
a dime a dozen. Spread that out over 12 people and that's about
$.008/person. If you want a list on a website, make it then send
me a link. With that said, onto the list.
40 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - ALIVE OR JUST BREATHING
I absolutely love the song My Last Serenade. It is
very reminiscent of a past experience. Anyway, this album isn't tremendous, but it does have
a few good songs on it. I expect this band to really come around
with their new singer on their next album.
39 BURN MY EYES - MACHINE HEAD
"Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast!!!"
You have no idea how many times I've wanted to do that. Free your
mind and the rest will follow. Bullshit! Free your gun and your
enemies will fall.
38 SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - LIGHTS, CAMERA, REVOLUTION/THE
ART OF REBELLION/PRIME CUTS
Hey, these are all good albums by Mike Muir and the
gang. Prime Cuts is a collection of their greatest songs. I'm
not crazy, In-sti-tu-tion!
37 SEPULTURA - CHAOS A.D.
The Brazilian Boys with one of their best. It would
have been higher on the list, if it weren't for a better effort
and blending of riffs on every song. Some songs are awesome though.
36 DEATH ANGEL - ACT III
This was their last album before they changed their
name to The Organization and just about disappeared off the face
of the planet. I bought this tape at the same time I bought the
Suidical Tendencies album listed below. Both of them helped me
deal with my situation at the time. Vive Death Angel!
35 ANTHRAX - STATE OF EUPHORIA
First album I remember buying of Anthrax. Good album
if you get the chance to buy.
34 KING'S X - DOGMAN
This is a great album that I usually listen to at work.
Thanks to Mike for getting me into these guys. Give it a listen
if you have the opportunity.
33 SHADOW'S FALL - THE ART OF BALANCE
This album has been a fast riser. Just picked this
up a few weeks back and it is really good. I expect this to rise
a little farther. I love Stepping Outside the Circle.
32 EXODUS - FABULOUS DISASTER
Probably one of the greatest metal bands that never
lived up to their potential. This was Kirk Hammett's band that
he actually started. This is by far their greatest album ever.
Toxic Waltz is an anthem for moshing if there ever was one. That
and Caught in a Mosh by Anthrax. Their music was brutal, and from
the looks of it so was the mosh pits at their concerts. I think
everyone that probably went to an Exodus concert probably died
from internal injuries after the concert, because these guys never
made it and it wasn't from a lack of effort. Check out Toxic Waltz,
Fabulous Disaster, Open Season, and Verbal Razors. UPDATE: Caught
these guys at Thrash of the Titans in San Fran and yes it was
brutal. However, they didn't play anything off of this album.
Guys, what was your problem?!!
31 SLAYER - SEASONS IN THE ABYSS
When I worked at a mexican restaurant, this was my onion
and beef cutting music. Cutting the beef with a dull knife really
sucked. But, we cut more onions than just about anything else.
What do you expect, it was a Mexican restaurant. Oh well, guess
I'm lucky I didn't chop off a finger in the day while listening
to this album. It's a classic.
30 TESTAMENT - SOULS OF BLACK
Look at the lost souls... they seem so black. Chuck
Billy and the gang on their 4th effort, probably right at their
pinacle. Some good songs and good playing. Check it out if you
ever have the chance.
29 MEGADETH - RUST IN PEACE
A good album, but not their best. Great sounds on the
amps though. Holy Wars... the Punishment Due is tremendous. I
remember learning how to play this for my guitar teacher in college.
Up until then I'd struggled along with everything b/c I really
didn't care to learn it. However, when he got me a copy of this.
At every possible waking moment, I'd be trying to learn this song.
When I came in there and he said start playing, I think his eyes
about popped out of his head. After I finished, he was like, are
you supposed to play it that fast. I said, "Yea." He
checked it out and said, "Yea, I guess so." Hehe.
28 HEARTWORK - CARCASS
What can I say about Carcass? If I played music like
this, I'd have carpal tunnel in every finger, both wrists, elbows,
and shoulders. Bad ass guitars, angry vocals, it's all there.
Death metal at it's very best. Check out the title track Heartwork,
Blind Bleeding the Blind, and Buried Dreams.
27 SCATTERBRAIN - SCAMBOOGERY
The best band you've never heard of. I caught these
guys back in the day on Headbanger's Ball, but of course in the
small town that I grew up in, not a single music store had their
cds. Well, found one a couple of years ago and it's awesome. Not
really a band to listen to when you're angry, unless you want
to get happy. But anyway, check out Bartender, Grandma's House
of Babes, Tastes Just Like Chicken(especially anyone who likes
boy bands and people like Britney Spears), and Scamboogery.
26 SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - HOW WILL I LAUGH TOMORROW,
WHEN I CAN'T EVEN SMILE TODAY
What can I say about Suicidal? Well, when I first saw
this band in a magazine, I was almost too scared to buy their
album. Check out title track, Trip at the
Brain, Hearing Voices, Sorry?!, and One Too Many Times.
25 TESTAMENT - THE NEW ORDER
The band that had probably the greatest lead guitarist
of all bands, Alex Skolnick. That guy could rock. This is probably
my favorite album by them. However, it's real close with Souls
of Black. Definitely check out Trial by Fire, New Order, Eerie
Inhabitants, and Discipiles of the Watch.
24 BIOHAZARD - STATE OF THE WORLD ADDRESS
Five Blocks to the Subway. Not much else to say. Back
in the day when we'd stay out to 5 in the morning, only places
open to eat were Waffle House and Subway. So, I'd start singing
that song and about 85% of the time we'd wind up there even with
all the fights, drunk rednecks, and police.
23 METALLICA - BLACK ALBUM
Back in the day, this was supposed to be the be all
end all album that finally broke metal to the masses and finally
would give notoriety to metal. Then, all the other bands could
break through and the radio airwaves would play this music that
I'm listing here. Well, that didn't happen, but everyone on campus
seemed to have this album blaring which was really cool. It's
still a really good album, but just a little too commercial to
get any higher than this. Check out Wherever I May Roam, Through
the Never, The Stuggle Within, Enter Sandman, and Nothing Else
Matters.
22 SEPULTURA - ARISE
I first heard of this band in a metal magazine back
in probably about '89, '90. I actually found their album, where...
I don't remember. But anyway, I couldn't believe how good they
were. All the hype was actually true. My one Sepultura moment
is where I went to see them with Prong and Pantera and the lead
singer messed up his knee and they didn't get to play. Oh well,
check out Arise, Dead Embryonic Cells, and Desperate Cry.
21 ANTHRAX - AMONG THE LIVING
One of the most talented bands you'll ever hear that
doesn't get 1/10th of the credit or merit they deserve. Get yer
asses to Tennessee so we can "MOSH IT UP!" Check out
Caught in a Mosh, Indians, I am the Law, Efilnikufesin(N.F.L.),
and Imitation of Life.
20 SLAYER - REIGN IN BLOOD
The first time I heard this album, I thought my stereo
had been possessed by Satan. That statement may have not been
too far from the truth. Check out Angel of Death, Piece by Piece,
Jesus Saves, and Raining Blood.
19 ANTHRAX - VOLUME 8: THE THREAT IS REAL
Here are my boys Anthrax again. An album you probably
don't know that's even out there. Shame, shame, shame. Give a
listen to Born Again Idiot, Killing Box, Hog Tied, Crush, Alpha
Male, and Stealing from a Thief.
18 MEGADETH - PEACE SELLS... BUT WHO'S BUYING?
Gotta love Megadeth, just for the titles of their albums
if nothing else. I remember buying this album down in Alabama
when I went to the music store with the brother of this girl that
I liked. That was a memorable experience. Anyway, we went to this
music store in Birmingham and I saw all these great albums for
the first time. I bought this and two other albums which I can't
remember at the moment. Check out the entire album.
17 KORN - FIRST ALBUM
Heh! What can I say about Korn. Well, when I first
tried to get into them, a friend of mine was like, "Korn,
please!" So, I didn't give them much of a serious listen.
Well, a few years later that same friend came back with you gotta
hear this. Give the entire album a listen b/c I haven't committed
myself to memorizing all the tracks on the album. It's all good.
16 KORN - LIFE IS PEACHY
Another Korn album. Yea, I know, they're back to back.
When I bought these I bought them at the same time and just listened
to them over and over while playing Lords of the Realm 2. Wow!
Those were some good days. Check out the entire album for the
same reason as listed above.
15 SLAYER - DIABOLUS IN MUSICA
Talk about a fast riser. This one is it. I have listened
to this album more than any other this year(2001). Since this
year has been such a tumultuous year already, it's definitely
a good album to listen to. Listen to the record! Or else!
14 PANTERA - FAR BEYOND DRIVEN
Pan-fucking-Terror!!! hehe. If you haven't heard of
Pantera, all I gotta say is where the fuck have you been?!? I
remember reading an article in a guitar magazine about how bad
this album was and about how this one part of a riff sounded like
Butt-Head goosing Beavis. God, what a fucking moron! I bet he's
committed suicide since then, or at least he should have. Listen
to this over and over until you loose your hearing and then go
buy yourself a hearing aid!
13 DEATH ANGEL - FROLIC THROUGH THE PARK
I got my only ever copy of this through BMG back in
the day when everyone had a membership with them it seemed like.
This is an absolutely great album. I wore out my only copy of
this, and to this day I have not been able to find it anywhere.
I guess I'm going to have to break down and buy it from someone
on like E-Bay or something. If you have this for sale, let me
know. I'll take it off your hands. UPDATE: Got this CD off Ebay
and it's as awesome as ever. I was able to catch these guys at
Thrash of the Titans in San Fran. They were awesome!!! I hope
they do a headlining tour like Osegueda promised. UPDATE #2: These
guys are back together except Gus Pepa. Their album is coming
out in April 2004 and I can't wait. I seriously hope they pick
up where they left off!!!
12 PINK FLOYD - DELICATE SOUND OF THUNDER
Hey! What can I say? I like various kinds of music.
The savage beast needs calm music every now and then. Check this
out because it's classic... and it's mellow.
11 METALLICA - AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
At one point in time I could play like nearly every
song off this album. This is definitely one of those albums I
grew up learning guitar on. Check out the entire album, it's pretty
much all good.
10 MEGADETH - COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION
Here's Megadeth again. I remember when I first saw
the video for Symphony of Destruction. I was at my former friend's
house, Greg, and we were drinking heavily and had just learned
how to funnel beer. Hehe. And the only thing we had was a scuba
mask. Oh well, it served it's purpose well. This entire album
is just about awesome. I never get tired of hearing Symphony.
Love that song. Check out everything else as well.
9 BEASTIE BOYS - LICENSE TO ILL
Sorry, before my metal days I listened to other things
and this just stuck because for like 1 1/2 years this is about
all I listened to. Every friend of mine at the time had it. I
wore out two recorded tapes of this. It's something different
to the ordinary, and hey, even Kerry King from Slayer plays a
solo on No Sleep 'til Brooklyn. Can't be all that bad.
8 METALLICA - RIDE THE LIGHTNING
I remember when I first got this album. I went directly
over my friend Jeff's house and popped this in his headphones.
It started playing and I was like, what's this crap. Then, it
kicked in. Great album, a masterpiece. Check out Metallica in
their prime.
7 SUPERCHARGER - MACHINE HEAD
I was really surprised when I heard this band for the
first time. I knew there were some more bands I should have been
listening to. Well, I found another one. Definitely worth picking
this up. I know it wasn't a big seller, but that was due to Sept.
11 and let me tell you ... this album is highly, highly underrated.
6 ANTHRAX - STOMP 442
AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!! This album got me through
a lot of shit I was going through during grad school. I was head
over heals for this girl. If it's one thing I can't stand is a
girl who leads you on and on and then acts like she has no interest
in you when you ask her out. *shakes head* Therefore, Perpetual
Motion became my war cry. Listen to the entire tape and especially
Perpetual Motion if you ever get knocked around by life. It can
keep you going.
5 MEGADETH - SO FAR, SO GOOD... SO WHAT!
Just look at that title! I can't tell you how many
times I've felt like that. When I first got this album, I thought
it sucked. Well, any time you think that, I've learned by now,
you've got to pick it up at some point and listen to it again.
Good stuff. I remember listening to this album on the way to work
when I worked in BFE, Tennessee a few years ago. The lines "If I know I'm going crazy,
then I must not be insane" just hit a chord down inside me.
By the time I'd get to work, it was a 45 minute drive, I'd be
in such a rage that no one would mess with me. And what about
In My Darkest Hour? That song is so moving it's scary. I love
this album!
4 SLAYER - SOUTH OF HEAVEN
Back in high school when I was just listening to Metallica,
Megadeth, and Anthrax, a couple of guys were talking in class
about how awesome this album and band were. And how they just
blew everybody else away. Of course, I was like, I doubt that.
So, I had to give it a listen. After I got over being freaked
out, I found out those guys were not far from the truth. This
album is classic now. Everything on the tape is awesome! I seriously
recommend checking this out if you haven't already.
3 VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER - PANTERA
Any album that has a guy getting his face punched on
the cover better be awesome! And let me tell you, this is!!! I
remember jamming to this album constantly at Ricardo's. I first
heard these guys on Headbanger's Ball and had taped the Cowboys
from Hell video. But, as mentioned above, the town I grew up in
didn't have all the good albums on their shelves. If you saw something,
you sure had better grab it and hope you had enough money in your
wallet. But anyway, this album is great and Pantera's best album,
IMO.
2 MASTER OF PUPPETS - METALLICA
Well, this is the album that started it all. My buddy Scot and I had gotten into an argument
about who was the best band. Well, I was arguing, and he was saying,
just give them a listen. So, he let me borrow it, and I listened
to it constantly on my headphones whenever on the bus, in class,
etc. He was right! Pure brilliance! At first, I listened to Battery
and Master of Puppets, but after months of listen, rewind, listen,
etc. I finally listened to the rest of the tape. Buy it, listen
to it, go deaf, buy a hearing aid, burn up millions of batteries.
Just do it! Nothing else can be said.
1 GOD HATES US ALL - SLAYER
Well, this has been a long time coming. I never thought
Master of Puppets would ever be replaced. Well, lets just say
this album got me through the roughest time in my life... period!
I listened to this album for two straight years. I rarely put
another tape in. I did listen to different stuff on the computer,
but if I was in the car or in my apartment real late at night
with thoughts on my mind... this album helped me get everything
out. This album has
the rawest, purest, hardest aggression I've ever felt and experienced
in my life. To put it simply, this album covers the largest majority
of what is wrong with this fucked up world. If you hate life and
the crazy ass bullshit you have to put up with on a daily basis,
I urge you to give this a listen.
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