In all of my years of listening to Heavy Metal and all other METAL genres, from going to Arena size METAL concerts, to small club METAL gigs, I do not think I ever referred to any METAL music that I am aware of, as, well, a “METAL performance”. What in the world is a “METAL performance”? I know that a ballet, a comedian on stage, a high school play or a middle school band can give a performance. METAL and the word performance do not add up correctly. If I ever used the phrase, at any time in my METAL life, to anyone I know, “Hey, that was one terrific METAL performance by MOTORHEAD last night”, well, I probably would never be hearing the end of it.
It is obvious that the Grammy Awards love the word “performance”. In my METAL opinion, if it is a song that is nominated, well, this is pretty easy now, call it – “Best METAL song”. Now, just for example, if it is an album that is nominated, the Grammy Awards call it – “Best Rock album”. How come the Grammy Awards do not call it – “Best Rock Performances”? Gee, there are more than one song on an album and one song is considered a performance, so, several songs should be considered – performances? Basically my point is this: THE WORD “PERFORMANCE” IS NOT METAL – NOR IS IT HARD ROCK EITHER. This is my own Metal opinion.
Also, while I am on the Grammy Awards topic, I have learned, through the 2009 Grammy Awards, that METALLICA is considered a ROCK band. Yup, a Rock band. After all these years, what was I thinking?! How could I have ever felt that METALLICA was a THRASH METAL band? You see, METALLICA, with their 2008 release “DEATH MAGNETIC”, was nominated in the “Best Rock Album” category. Here is some sound METAL advice to any and all awards shows out there: IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO AN ALBUM BEFORE YOU “PLACE” IT INTO A WRONG MUSICAL CATEGORY. Let’s now set the record straight. ROCK GENRE LESSON 101 BEGINS HERE:
1. THE EAGLES, U2, HOOTIE and the BLOWFISH and JOHN MAYER are – ROCK.
2. BAD COMPANY, FOREIGNER, JOURNEY, CHEAP TRICK and THE ANSWER are – HARD ROCK.
(This is just my perception, I cannot help myself but feel that MOTLEY CRUE is NOT a HARD ROCK band, they are HEAVY METAL. If anyone wants to put MOTLEY CRUE into the same genre with JOURNEY and BAD COMPANY, well, have a ball! The Grammy Awards want to rewrite the history of HEAVY METAL, they want to “place” bands into whatever music genres they see fit.
Now, let’s skip over HEAVY METAL and METAL with all of their related sub-genres just to get to THRASH METAL more quickly.
3. Here we are, comfortably in the THRASH METAL category now. THRASH = METALLICA. I do not understand the confusion. It is not a difficult concept to ascertain. After seeing how I have broken down the Rock and METAL genres, (very simply I might add), you will notice that the Grammy Awards had decided to “place” METALLICA into a genre of music that is so far removed from what type of music they actually play, that, it is actually quite comedic. I am guessing that it is a very tedious, very time consuming task for the Grammy Awards to just add the category – “Best Metal Album”. Instead, the Grammy Awards next year will place, side to side, the likes of U2 with say, LAMB OF GOD and say – let the best “Rock album” win. None of us Metalheads need to be rocket scientists to figure out which “Best Rock Album” wins next year. Here is a hint, the band has one letter and one number in it’s name and they ARE NOT METAL.
This is rather silly at best, although there is much proof out there as to why older Metalheads are called “old school”. These 4 reasons for being an old school Metalhead came to my mind, I just had to jot them down for the whole world to read. I am guilty of all 4 too. 
“Here it is, the one song you will need to sing along to every time you listen to “Relix IV”…. “Old School”. This song just has to be the official anthem of Over Kill and all of us older, or should I say, veteran Metalheads. Man, is this song cool! It is, believe it or not, Punk driven musically, the vocals and backing vocals are proof of this. “Within Your Eyes”, “Bats In The Belfry”, “Pound of Flesh” and “Keeper” will definitely satisfy your Thrash appetite. “Keeper” is another great tune to shout along to, trust me. I definitely will say this is the most fun Over Kill album ever, being that “Old School” and “Keeper” exist on it. You still will receive, without question, the unrelenting Thrash, dark lyrics, dark mood throughout “Relix IV”. Not one bad tune to be found here. This is once again, another must own for all Over Kill and all Thrash Metal fans worldwide. Thank you Bobby Blitz and D.D. Verni for making “Relix IV”
Thunder and Lightning is a Thin Lizzy Hard Rockin’ and Heavy Hittin’ prize. Released in 1983, this is Old School Heavy Metal that is stupendous with every aspect of it’s music. John Sykes and Scott Gorham on guitars are both a sensational listen. The three songs of Cold Sweat, Someday She Is Going To Hit Back and Baby Please Don’t are abundantly impressive to my Rockin’ hungry ears. In my Metal opinion, the purchase of this album is worth it for these three songs alone. With that said, this entire album is vintage Heavy Metal that should be revisited and celebrated.
“Originally released in 1978, Judas Priest “Stained Class” is bursting out at the seams with what I regard as groundbreaking Heavy Metal that helped define what Metal is today. I, personally feel, that “Exciter” is a song that projects a Thrash Metal speed and vibe. “Better By You, Better Than Me” is a Heavy Metal song that has an opening riff so memorable, so catchy, with it’s repeated use throughout, single handedly electrifies this tune. “Better By You, Better Than Me” is loaded down with a heavy bass groove, the tapered down pace of this song makes it so hot and heavy. The bonus tracks are terrific, with the live version of “Better By You, Better Than Me” sounding great and a bit raw, which I feel enhances the song. “Fire Burns Below” is a slow, trudging, Heavy Metal treat to my ears! I really find this song to be a great example of the sound Judas Priest would eventually grasp onto with their albums of the 1980’s. “Fire Burns Below” is fused together with repetitive drum beats, layered over by electric guitar leads and very clean, very sharp acoustic guitar leads. “Stained Class” in my opinion, is a Heavy Metal album ahead of it’s time, a Judas Priest classic for me. Every song on this album, for me, is as great as Heavy Metal gets. I highly recommend “Stained Class”, a must own for those who love all things Metal!
Besides the METAL music itself, one really cool and important reason that drew me into buying so many albums/CD’s over the years, was the album artwork. To this day, It is still a METAL rush to see that the CD I want/need has great artwork on the front cover. In my opinion, it is a METAL bonus to have spooky, thrilling or cutting edge art to associate my favorite bands with. Again, I will attest that it is the METAL music that matters the most, I would still buy a new release from Amon Amarth even if the cover of the CD was a plain gray color. Here is a list of what I feel are some of the best METAL album/CD covers I have seen over the years. This list is in no particular order, plus there are hundreds, perhaps thousands more covers that are out there that are not on this list. Also, art appreciation is a matter of preference, what I feel is a cool or super spooky METAL album/CD cover may not appeal to you at all. Maybe this list will spark interest in having you look up some of these albums/CD’s if you have never seen some of them before. Here’s a sample:
I believe the year was 1986, the month was January and METALLICA was touring in support of their great Thrash achievement, “Master of Puppets”. I was enamored by METALLICA, no, absorbed is more like it. Nothing else in the world meant more to me back then than this band, my girlfriend at that time was even second fiddle to them. So, when I heard that METALLICA was going to be doing a gig at the West Hartford Ballroom, in good old West Hartford Connecticut, I was there like a fly on cow dung. Make no mistake about it, no Connecticut winter storm was going to prevent me and my buddy from getting to this show! With road conditions being black ice and temperatures hovering around 20 degrees F., we arrived early enough to party in the lot and make it inside, just in time for METAL CHURCH. (I believe METAL CHURCH was supporting their release “The Dark”). 
It is so refreshing, extremely comforting, to know that there are factually dozens of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock bands that MATTER, bashing out their new releases and touring, since the 1970’s and in some instances, the late 1960’s!! So much for critics who cite “shelf life” of Heavy Metal. There are so many legendary Heavy Metal bands out there that are in their 3rd or 4th decade of championing the flag of Metal for all of us Metalheads. I hereby SALUTE the following list of legendary and historical bands that were/still are instrumental in shaping and defining the world of METAL music – as we know it and enjoy it today. I say THANK YOU to these bands! It is my opinion, that these bands are still around today for they are masters of their musical craft. It is my METAL opinion, that each and every one of these bands belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (some bands on this list already are there). I may miss some bands that should be on this list, however feel free to comment on those bands who belong on this HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK list and they shall be added. The criteria I am using is: The band is Heavy Metal or Hard Rock * The band has been around since the late 1960’s or 1970’s and still are performing as a band or members are doing solo careers and/or recording new material – the band is current. Here is the list (in no particular order), enjoy:
“Music Choice” is a 24/7 selection of music channels, covering all genres of music. You get to hear one song after another, non stop. Now, the two “Music Choice” channels that matter the most are Arena Rock and METAL which is uncensored. Kudos to “Music Choice” for having the METAL uncensored! A million METAL high fives for that! The song selection is not controlled by the listener, yet it is cool, for the selection of METAL that is played is vast and varied. You get to see a few still photos of the band or artist that is currently being played. Plus at the bottom of the television screen are nifty facts and anecdotes about the respective band/artist currently playing. It does a Metalhead good to learn new facts and info about their favorite bands. “Music Choice” is so cool, for all I do is turn it on, (to METAL or Arena Rock of course), crank up the volume and go about my business. There are no commercials on “Music Choice” either!!! 
What makes this such a fun thought is this list can change by the day. I guess it always depends on your METAL mood, yet for now, this list of METAL CD’s would make my ears very comfy. Now, would it be fun to be abducted by a UFO, my answer is a solid no. I can easily be satisfied with this list of METAL CD’s while stranded on a remote tropical island. Now, some may ask – would you have the means to listen to these great METAL CD’s while being stranded? My answer is: Yes. I would have a lifetime supply of batteries waiting for me on the remote planet or tropical island where I am stranded. These batteries would power up my portable CD player, which also has headphones.
I revere Metal music, all genres of Metal music at that. I listen to: Power Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Old School Heavy Metal, Metal, Extreme Metal, Christian Metal, Hair Metal/Glam Metal, Black Metal, Metalcore and any other Metal genre that has not been mentioned in this statement. With that said, I do not buy into, or take part in any arguments of: Which Metal genre is better? Which Metal genre is cooler? My answer to these questions is short and simple: Who cares. I feel, that each Metal genre is unique, holds it’s own musical flavor and attitude, bestows it’s own Metal brilliance and sound. 
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.