40 Greatest Metal Songs

[Cory Wolfe]

Okay... so I don't agree with the placement of every song and most of you guys could probably care less, but I'm bored and I feel like talking about music some more...

40. Judas Priest, "Breaking the Law"

39. Alice Cooper, "I'm Eighteen"

38. Accept, "Balls to the Wall"

37. Deep Purple, "Smoke on the Water"

36. Slip Knot, "Wait and Bleed"

35. Quiet Roit, "Mental Health"

34. Black Sabbath, "Paranoid"

33. Def Leppard, "High 'n' Dry"

32. White Zombie, "ThunderKiss '65"

31. Scorpions, "Rock You Like a Hurricane"

30. Faith No More, "Epic"

29. Anthrax, "Caught in a Mosh"

28. Marilyn Manson "The Beautiful People"

27. Iron Maiden, "Run to the Hills"

26. Sepultura, "Refuse/Resist"

25. Pantera, "Cowboys from Hell"

24. AC/DC, "Dirty Deeds (done dirt cheap)

23. Korn, "Freak on a Leash"

22. Metallica, "Enter Sandman"

21. Guns 'n' Roses, "Paridise City"

20. Twisted Sister, "I Wanna Rock"

19. Alice in Chains, "In the Box"

18. Skid Row, "Slave to the Grind"

17. Motley Crue, "Live Wire"

16. Pantera, "Walk"

15. Rage Against the Machine, "Bulls on Parade"

14. System of a Down, "Toxicity" Yay!

13. Dio, "Rainbow in the Dark"

12. Anthrax, "Bring the Noise"

11. Megadeth, "Peace Sells"

10. Motorhead, "Ace of Spades"

9. Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

8. Slayer, "Raining Blood"

7. Iron Maiden, "Number of the Beast"

6. Kiss, "Detroit Rock City"

5. Judas Priest, "You Got Another Thing Coming"

4. AC/DC, "Back in Black"

3. Metallica, "Master of Puppets"

2. Guns 'n' Roses, "Welcome to the Jungle"

1. Black Sabbath, "Iron Man"

[Hudson]

So many of those songs I can't stand. "Iron Man" hasn't aged well with me...and Guns and Roses has been getting old as well. I do like that "Epic" and "Rainbow in the Dark" are there...but where's "Last in Line" or "Flight of Icarus" or "Two Minutes to Midnight" or "You Shook Me All Night Long" or "Difficult to Cure?"

[loki]

i like vh1's effort to put out these lists, even though some of them "have to be there". they do try to put a good variety in there, keeping the list pretty good.

[daves87rs]

So many of those songs I can't stand. "Iron Man" hasn't aged well with me...and Guns and Roses has been getting old as well. I do like that "Epic" and "Rainbow in the Dark" are there...but where's "Last in Line" or "Flight of Icarus" or "Two Minutes to Midnight" or "You Shook Me All Night Long" or "Difficult to Cure?"

I guess so you would make your top 40 list too...everybody is going to be different..

I love "you shook me all night long". I sing along with it every time its on.

[Fijian]

is shall limewire them this weekend...

until then...trance on!

Edited May 5, 2006 by Fijian

[Guest YellowJacket894]

34. Black Sabbath, "Paranoid"

32. White Zombie, "ThunderKiss '65"

25. Pantera, "Cowboys from Hell"

22. Metallica, "Enter Sandman"

19. Alice in Chains, "Man In the Box" (f@#k yeah!)

16. Pantera, "Walk"

15. Rage Against the Machine, "Bulls on Parade"

14. System of a Down, "Toxicity"

11. Megadeth, "Peace Sells"

9. Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"

1. Black Sabbath, "Iron Man"

Those are the ones on the list I can listen to more than once. (Especially Alice's "MAN In The Box". And did VH1 get that wrong by the way?)

[mustang84]

On a related note, the top 100 Metal albums of all time.

http://www.metal-rules.com/polls/top100/top100.htm

I pretty much agree with these guys. There's a few that I personally would probably change around, but overall it seems like a well-rounded list. Slayer has always been a little too hardcore for me, so I wouldn't really know how it ranks, but Master of Puppets is easily the quintessential metal album. I do have a hard time considering AC/DC a metal band (they're hard rock to me), but they played a role in the development of metal music. I'm glad to see Operation: Mindcrime made it near the top (#11)...it's a highly underrated album.

Edited May 6, 2006 by mustang84

[Cory Wolfe]

Those are the ones on the list I can listen to more than once. (Especially Alice's "MAN In The Box". And did VH1 get that wrong by the way?)

Heh... no that was my mistake. Oops.

Anyways, good to see you kept SOAD on there. Otherwise, I'd have to kill ya.

[Guest YellowJacket894]

^ And things are cool.

Forgot this one...

Faith No More, "Epic"

[NOS2006]

ha, Some are those are so not metal by my terms. I thought metal was more hard, like harder than "Welcome to the Jungle."

Nevertheless, some damn good songs made the list.

Edited May 6, 2006 by NOS2006

[balthazar]

I agree: they are playing it a bit loose with the "metal" definition. I mean; you have SlipKnot & Sepultura on the same list with the Scorpians & Kiss?? C'mon.

Would've been a more interesting list had no multiples been allowed. Almost seems more like a popularity/ Hall fo Fame list than one based on quality. Of course, one man's quality....

Nice to see Megadeth & Pantera on there.

[Petra]

Pretty decent list from an objective standpoint, although many of those songs irritate me, personally.

P.S: Where's FOG when you need him? He's got the right idea... Listen to Lamb of God.

Edited May 7, 2006 by Petra

[Guest YellowJacket894]

...But my cup 'o tea personally is Tool. And Alice In Chains. (Which, actually, both bands have connections.) Enough said.

[C.H.U.D.]

I love how like half of this list isn't true metal. Som good stuff on there though.

[Charger4U]

ha, Some are those are so not metal by my terms. I thought metal was more hard, like harder than "Welcome to the Jungle."

Nevertheless, some damn good songs made the list.

I agree

[the_yellow_dart]

How is Deep Purple metal?

Good song but...

[Sixty8panther]

Are you kidding YD?

Deep Purple was playing metal before most of those

bands were out of Kindergarden. The best song from

G&R is still "Sweet Child of Mine", they hasd so much

potential untill Axle Rose got to be a little b!tch and

started writing the best rock album of all time... like

15 years ago. At this point I think his daily schedule

involves porn and doritos more than music.

It's all good, Velvet Revolver seems like they have

some good potential.

Nice to see Master of Puppets on there... still te best

song ever by Metallica and possibly the best song

form that era IMHO. Beautiful People by M.M. is a

great song but it's weird seeing it on this list.

[trinacriabob]

Does "The Immigrant Song" qualify? Who did that one anyway (it doesn't come to me)?

I love that refrain/bar where they wail....downright EVIL!

[NOS2006]

Wait, shouldn't Prince be on that list?

[the_yellow_dart]

Are you kidding YD?

Deep Purple was playing metal before most of those

bands were out of Kindergarden.

I just see them as a trippy rock band, kind of like Jefferson Airplane or Jimi Hendrix - I just don't see it as 'metal'.

I wouldn't consider Rage metal either - Zach was a rapper, how is that metal?

System kind of blurs the line, and could be considered metal.

The rest of the list is definately metal.

[mustang84]

Most of that list is metal, but it needs to be broken down into categories:

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, etc...Speed/Thrash metal

Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Skid Row, etc...Glam Metal

Def Leppard, Scorpions, Quiet Riot, etc...Pop Metal

Guns N' Roses...Sleaze Metal

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, etc....Classic Metal

I have a hard time calling SlipKnot, SOAD, Marilyn Manson, Korn, RATM, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, and Deep Purple "metal." SlipKnot, SOAD, and Korn fall under Nu Metal, which is far removed from metal's roots. Marilyn Manson is more industrial than anything. RATM is a rap/rock hybrid, and Alice in Chains is grunge. AC/DC and Deep Purple may have influenced metal, but neither of them really feel like a metal band to me.

Edited May 8, 2006 by mustang84

[Charger4U]

Most of that list is metal, but it needs to be broken down into categories:

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, etc...Speed/Thrash metal

Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Skid Row, etc...Glam Metal

Def Leppard, Scorpions, Quiet Riot, etc...Pop Metal

Guns N' Roses...Sleaze Metal

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, etc....Classic Metal

I have a hard time calling SlipKnot, SOAD, Marilyn Manson, Korn, RATM, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, and Deep Purple "metal." SlipKnot, SOAD, and Korn fall under Nu Metal, which is far removed from metal's roots.  Marilyn Manson is more industrial than anything.  RATM is a rap/rock hybrid, and Alice in Chains is grunge.  AC/DC and Deep Purple may have influenced metal, but neither of them really feel like a metal band to me.

I agree i call that classic rock or "rock and roll"...i already tried explaining this to BV in the chatroom...he didnt get it

[ZL-1]

3. Metallica, "Master of Puppets"

2. Guns 'n' Roses, "Welcome to the Jungle"

"Puppets" kills "Welcome to the jungle" any day of the week. Metallica's "Orion" should be included too.

And this seems apropriate ->

Edited May 8, 2006 by ZL-1

[z28luvr01]

Most of that list is metal, but it needs to be broken down into categories:

....

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, etc....Classic Metal

They're not really classic metal either. More like comic book characters with instruments.

[Charger4U]

[mustang84]

They're not really classic metal either. More like comic book characters with instruments.

LOL, true. I'd say they're probably more hard rock than anything...same with AC/DC.

[Cory Wolfe]

SlipKnot, SOAD, and Korn fall under Nu Metal, which is far removed from metal's roots.  Marilyn Manson is more industrial than anything.  RATM is a rap/rock hybrid, and Alice in Chains is grunge.

I disagree. It's an evolution of metal and while it may not be exactly like some of the original metal, it's still thoroughly metal. Modern metal. And by that means, it is included, as is all other forms of metal.

AC/DC and Deep Purple may have influenced metal, but neither of them really feel like a metal band to me.

Hard rock... metal, goes mostly hand in hand. More or less two different names for the same thing. That's basically what VH1 does. Remember that countdown they did a while ago featuring the 100 greatest hard rock bands? Most of artists of the songs on this countdown were there, as well.

I agree i call that classic rock or "rock and roll"...i already tried explaining this to BV in the chatroom...he didnt get it   

AC/DC is hard rock. "Hard rock" and "metal" are basically the same thing. Regardless, AC/DC along with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are bands that influenced alot of metal/hard rock and they basically created this entire genre through three unique styles. Like it or not... I was right and I wasn't the one that stormed out of the chatroom all pissy. Hah... yeah... you had it coming since you brought that up. Boy.

[FAPTurbo]

Guns N' Roses...Sleaze Metal

THANK YOU!

For once, someone else understands...

Sad thing is though, the way Axl Rose is going, we may get the real form of Chinese Democracy before the album makes it out...

And it's awesome to see Live Wire as 17th. One of my all time favorites.

Edited May 9, 2006 by Captainbooyah

[mustang84]

THANK YOU!

For once, someone else understands...

Sad thing is though, the way Axl Rose is going, we may get the real form of Chinese Democracy before the album makes it out...

And it's awesome to see Live Wire as 17th. One of my all time favorites.

Yeah, so many throw them under the hair metal category...Guns N' Roses was never a hair band. They may have had big hair early in their career, but their music is much more varied and different than your standard "booze, cars, and women" glam anthems...instead, it was gritty tales of life on the streets. The Guns were their own genre.

I hope Axl finishes Chinese Democracy before I'm in a nursing home so I can at least enjoy it without needing hearing aids.

[04monteintimidator]

Skid Row, etc...Glam Metal

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i HATE when people do that... hate hate hate it!!!!!!

Skid Row... is NOT, NEVER WAS, nor will it EVER BE Glam...

IF ANYTHING Skid Row was like Guns N Roses only a slightly harder sound... go listen to all 3 of their Sebastian Bach albums (Skid Row, Slave to the Grind, Subhuman Race), you will understand...

as far as Slave to the Grind at number 18... HELL YES!!!! thats by far my favorite Skid Row tune...

[Guest YellowJacket894]

...and Alice in Chains is grunge.

Grunge actually isn't a genre. It was a music scene that came out of Seattle in the late 80s. The term "grunge" was coined by Mudhoney member Mark Arm to describe the movement.

Alice is Metal, but then again, they are hard to classify. The self-titled album (a.k.a. "Tripod") seemed to feel more like Alternative Rock in places, but "Dirt" and "Facelift" were Metal, nonetheless. (The EPs, like "Sap" and "Jar of Flies" can be consider Alt Rock, too.)

[AmericanMuscle]

6. Kiss, "Detroit Rock City"

Thank you god that KISS finally made it below 10 on one of these lists, and especially with such a great song. Another one of their songs that could have made it somewhere in the list was firehouse, but it's all good. Most people hate hair metal, but the ones on that list I definitley think can be classified as metal and I personally love the stuff!

[AmericanMuscle]

Most of that list is metal, but it needs to be broken down into categories:

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, etc...Speed/Thrash metal

Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Skid Row, etc...Glam Metal

Def Leppard, Scorpions, Quiet Riot, etc...Pop Metal

Guns N' Roses...Sleaze Metal

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Dio, KISS, etc....Classic Metal

I have a hard time calling SlipKnot, SOAD, Marilyn Manson, Korn, RATM, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, and Deep Purple "metal."  SlipKnot, SOAD, and Korn fall under Nu Metal, which is far removed from metal's roots.  Marilyn Manson is more industrial than anything.  RATM is a rap/rock hybrid, and Alice in Chains is grunge.  AC/DC and Deep Purple may have influenced metal, but neither of them really feel like a metal band to me.

Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Quiet Riot, and Guns N' Roses can all be classified as hair metal, with secondary types being either glam or pop, but pop is kind of a stretch, I mean not everyone and their mother loved W.A.S.P. lol

[Sixty8panther]

I guess it's all relative. I'd say Deep Purple is

more "metal" than 65% of that list, but then

again I'm European by birth and so my

definition is a bit skewed.

And I agree... Orion is a sick song.