Thursday, November 30, 2006

#61 - Dreams in the Dark - Badlands - Badlands

Jake E. Lee and Ray Gillen were great together. I remember seeing Badlands open for Great White and Tesla, and they were clearly the best band on the bill. I also had the pleasure of seeing Lee with Ozzy a couple of times. He is such a good player, especially compared to that hack that Ozzy now has playing guitar.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

#62 - New Horizons - Michael Kiske - Instant Clarity

Any song that has both Kai Hansen AND Adrian Smith on the guitar is bound to be great. Add Kiske's awesome vocals, and you have one kick ass number. The rest of the album is pretty good too, but this particular track featuring both Smith and Hansen is awesome.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

#63 - The Horn (Live) - Praying Mantis - Captured Alive in Tokyo City

OK - another fanboi alert, this time Clive Burr. I had to include at least one post Iron Maiden Clive Burr track, and this one absolutely deserves inclusion. It is a brilliant instrumental (this way you don't have to deal with any of the crappy Mantis singers of the era - yes Bernie Shaw BLOWS!).

Anyway, The Horn is a short, fast paced instrumental, with a great drum line. It was written during the Clive Burr's Escape era, and I guess since Clive was guesting in Mantis for this tour, they decided to do it live, and it was a great idea.

I still do not understand how some former members of Mantis slag Clive's drumming. I understand there were ego problems with him years ago, but please, there is no denying he is a superior drummer to Potts and Bisland, and for Dave Potts to imply that Rod Smallwood was willing to sack Clive to bring in Potts is ludicrous. If you do not believe me, ask Bernie Torme, Adrian Smith or Bruce Dickinson or any other RESPECTED musician that has played in a band with Clive. Or, you could just listen to The Horn.

Monday, November 27, 2006

#64 - Badlands - Metal Church - Blessing in Disguise

As a whole I liked the first album better than this one, but this particular song is awesome, and is the best Metal Church song by a wide margin.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

#65 - I Don't Know (Live) - Ozzy Osbourne - Over the Mountain (Single)

I Don't Know was the B-Side of the Over the Mountain single (Flying High Again single in the USA). This version is better than the studio version, as it is a bit faster and heavier, and Rhoads sounds great. I can't help but think that there is an entire concert of Ozzy's first UK tour available, but Sharon won't release it because she may be contractually obligated to share the royalties with Kerslake, Daisley and Rhoads' mother.

Friday, November 24, 2006

#66 - Reign of Fire - Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation

Great album, real cool song, not much else to say.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

#67 - Powerslave - Iron Maiden - Powerslave

What a song, what an album, and obviously, what a band. Not much to say other than this song has it all. Harmonies, solos, and the ever so awesome Dave Murray slow solo. I am looking forward to Maiden's next tour to see them bring this awesome song back.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

#68 - Absolution of the Soul - Into Eternity - Dead or Dreaming

Into Eternity, the Canadian kings of progressive death metal, have many cool songs. Their latest album just came out and I've heard it once, and I really like it. I will pick it up next time O hit the CD shop. Dead or Dreaming is their second album, and it is probably their best. So far.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

#69 - Modern Day Cowboy - Tesla - Mechanical Resonance

Some may say this is not metal. Perhaps. In any case it makes the list. This is one of those songs, that you may forget about. Tesla's career was a downward spiral, with each album getting more soft and commercial, but this gem from their debut is awesome.

In the early nineties, Spacebeagle and I tried to put a band together, and unfortunately, the results were disastrous, but one good thing that came out of it was that I found a new appreciation for this song, which I learned to play on guitar (of course I have forgotten it in the fifteen years since I learned it) .

Monday, November 20, 2006

Sunday, November 19, 2006

#71 - Fast as a Shark - Accept - Restless & Wild

The original thrash song. All others copied this. Heidi-heido - 'nuff said

Saturday, November 18, 2006

#72 - Pale Fire - Fates Warning - Inside Out

Many FW fans dismiss this record, but I think it is one of their best, if not their best.

Friday, November 17, 2006

#73 - Lit By The Light Of Morning - Sculptured - The Spear Of The Lily Is Aureoled

It looks like Sculptured may have been put on the back burner since many of the Sculptured guys are in Agalloch. Agalloch is a great band, but I would love to hear more Sculptured stuff as well. Both Sculptured albums are great, but I suppose Lit by the Light of Morning stands out slightly more that the great Washing My Hands Of It, which is on Apollo Ends.

Great band.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

#74 - Hand of Doom - Black Sabbath - Paranoid

The MOST overlooked song in metal history.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

#75 - Never Say Die - Iron Savior - Dark Assault

This was the last Iron Savior album to feature Kai Hansen, and it was a great album. I would have never predicted that the best was yet to come for Piet and the gang.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

#76 - Ace of Spades - Motörhead - Ace of Spades

Who would win a fight between Lemmy and God? Trick question, Lemmy is God.

Friday, November 10, 2006

#77 - False News Travels Fast - Sonata Arctica - Silence

I am not really a fan of Sonata Arctica, but this song is very cool.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

#78 - The Sentinel - Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

I like the constant changing of solos on this song. This always had a nice dark atmosphere, that set it apart from other Priest tunes. Really a great track on a great record.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

#79 - Princess of the Night - Saxon - Denim and Leather

Saxon - the kings of transportation metal.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

#80 - You Can't Kill Rock N Roll - Ozzy Osbourne - Diray of a Madman

If Ozzy were at all lucid today, he would wake up and dedicate this one to his wife. Amazing how prophetic he was with these lyrics, as she has turned a legend into a luaghing stock. She is the Yoko of metal.

Monday, November 06, 2006

#81 - Rock N Roll Preacher - Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams

This albums kills, it absolutely kills. It may be the album of the century so far.

Friday, November 03, 2006

#82 - Sanctuary - Iron Maiden - Beast Over Hammersmith

There are many good live versions of this song. The B-Side of Running Free single from the Live After Death sessions is good, as is the version on the Japanese import Live Plus One. However, this version is from The Beast on the Road tour and that featured what is in my mind, the best Iron Maiden line up of Dickinson, Murray, Smith, Harris, Burr. As such, this version gets the nod.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Wednesday, November 01, 2006