traditional heavy metal; a sample selection

Thinking of doing a series of these, different genres with specific songs I love a lot and think exemplify what the shit's all about. I dunno if anyone cares, but I've probably devoted more of my life to digging for music than most other things, so I like to share my discoveries. Also, these will reflect my own tastes, so they won't be comprehensive or anything like that.

This one's heavy metal. That is, the stuff that kicked off in the '70s and is still being made, but not what a lot of people call heavy metal. It's Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, that sort of stuff. It's cheesy and over-the-top to a lot of people, but I prefer to think of it as completely unabashed and unapologetic, no holding back. And when it isn't serious, it's still serious.

ON TO IT!


Attacker - Zero Hour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZzYB50IKho

Speedy riffs all over the place, and gotta love those crazy vocals.

Ballistic - Call Me Evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_300ShPYMg

Really fun band, not too serious but I love the guitarwork and the overall attitude.

Brocas Helm - Drink the Blood of the Priest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YO8qwKVuik

They're an '80s band, but they released this in 2004. It's a classic even though it's under a decade old.

Bruce Dickinson - King in Crimson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtgAynh-b3U

This is the Iron Maiden singer's solo band. Modern and really heavy but still great heavy metal.

Crimson Glory - Queen of the Masquerade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaBcKfc3cH8

One of very few interesting heavy metal bands to flirt with glam "metal." They do it SO well though.

Dark Quarterer - Colossus of Argil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8rmYH5Q8B0

Progressive, epic, sprawling and utterly insane Italian heavy metal.

Isen Torr - Mighty & Superior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlNmID78QUw

AMAZING material, it's a huge shame the singer died and they didn't record more than this 2-song EP. Bracers and leather armor and axes and stuff.

Liege Lord - Kill the King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiGVp-f-9uU

This is actually a Dio cover, but they do it complete justice. Great guitar riffs and vocals, pure metal.

Manilla Road - Necropolis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxVK6yJxnk8

Long been one of my favorite bands of any genre. They're very quirky and strange, but also entirely unique and they've been releasing quality music for over three decades.

Manowar - Blood of My Enemies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwlN1-0QJnk

Manowar are a massive joke to a lot of people, and I mean, the imagery is definitely ridiculous, but early on in their career they released some great heavy metal. This is one of my favorite songs from them.

Omen - Be My Wench
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cl2UVScMEQ

OMEN ARE SO MUCH FUN. This is basically a soundtrack to the Conan the Barbarian stories by Robert E. Howard.

Rainbow - Stargazer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJeBvNuYPMM

This is Dio's band before his solo career and stint in Black Sabbath. It's also his best material.

Riot - Sign of the Crimson Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mlm8fkVZIE

Anthemic and catchy as hell.

Running Wild - Under Jolly Roger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZUN6-JwwMA

No, Alestorm didn't invent pirate metal. Running Wild did, and they ruled at it.

Slough Feg - Heavy Metal Monk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGoAlPvTmmE

The lead singer/songwriter is a philosophy professor. That's impressive, right? No but Slough Feg are great, a sound all their own (with some nods to Brocas Helm and other classic bands).