Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 90-86

Hello everyone,

Here is the latest installment of the top 100 metal bands/artists of all-time.

90. Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil is Gothic Metal band from Milan, Italy that formed in 1994. The band combines Gothic imagery with a male/female vocal presentation to create a sense of detachment and a focus of heavy guitar riffs. While their more recent material has clearly departed from the emphasis on intricate guitar riffs for a more tuned down sound based on a heavy bass line. Christina Scabbia is one of the best female vocalists on the planet . . . plus she's not hard to look at either. This is a very solid metal band for sure.
Here is "Trip the Darkness."

89. Saxon

Saxon is a British heavy metal band that was one of the leading bands during the New Wave of British Metal (NWBM). While their success in the United States was fairly limited, they have had a long and prolific career in Europe. Like most bands that were part of the (NWBM), they play a more melodic style of metal than most American bands. They were also huge influences on Metallica and Megadeth.
Here is "Power and the Glory."

88. Gwar

Gwar is a metal band that formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984. They are well-known for their elaborate outfits, vulgar lyrics and obscene live shows (sometimes featuring spraying the audience with "fluids"). While Gwar is clearly not the most talented band in the world, they make up for their lack of musical talent with outlandish behavior. The main reason they are on this list is because their imagery has influenced bands like Slipknot, Mushroomhead, Mudvayne, etc. One thing for sure, this band can never be considered boring.
Here is "The Road Behind."

87. Skid Row

Skid Row is an American heavy metal band from New Jersey that formed in 1986. While many people consider them to be in the mold of a "hair metal" band, this is simply not a fair accusation. Skid Row had some super heavy songs even though they did perform the occasional power ballad. The classic lineup of the band which featured Sebastian Bach on vocals and Dave "the Snake" Sabo on guitar was one of the best bands of the 1980s. Bach left the band in 1996, and the band currently tours with Johnny Solinger on vocals (not as good as Bach). In addition, Bach has been pursuing a successful solo career releasing five pretty decent albums . . . my favorite being Angel Down.
Here is "Youth Gone Wild."

86. Týr

Týr is a folk metal band from the Faroe Islands that formed in 1998. I enjoy this band because they make no pretense of discussing social issues or anything substantial. They sing songs about Norse mythology, history, traditional Faroese music and drinking. This is the kind of band that excites me as a metal fan because, quite frankly, this band is epic.
Here is "Hold the Heathen Hammer High."

Let me know what you think of the list so far.
Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin

Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 95-91

Hello everyone,

Here are numbers 95-91.

95. Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead is an American Nu-metal band from Cleveland, Ohio that is known for dark imagery and eccentric live shows. They are famous for wearing masks with the "X-Face" logo. Over the years, Mushroomhead were part of a rivalry with fellow masked metal band Slipknot over similarities in style and image. Mushroomhead accused Slipknot of copying them; however, the bands have since made amends.
Here is "Kill Tomorrow."

94. Exodus

Exodus is an American thrash band from Richmond, California that formed in 1980 which puts them right at the inception of the thrash movement right along with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. Despite being early trailblazers for the sub-genre, they are, in my opinion, fairly ordinary and mediocre. That said, they continue to have a large following and the fact that they have been around for 32 years says something about the band.
Here is "Bonded by Blood."

93. Mudvayne

Mudvayne is am American metal band from Peoria, Illinois that is known for wearing masks, face paint, and uniforms. While the band is visually similar to bands like Slipknot and Mushroomhead, there musical style is much more complex as the band was heavily influenced by King Diamond and Emperor. Mudvayne has incorporated aspects of death metal, Nu-metal, jazz fusion, and progressive rock. They are one of the most unique and wonderful bands in metal history.
Here is "Not Falling."

92. Linkin Park

Linkin Park is one of those bands that I wanted to hate, but their music is so damn catchy that I can't help myself. I love this band! I would have ranked them higher, but they aren't 100% metal. They are a Nu-Metal band from California that blends aspects of metal, progressive rock, hip hop, ect. Their album Hybrid Theory is unbelievable from beginning to the end. One thing I admire about this band is their willingness to experiment with their sound. Many people did not like their fourth album, A Thousand Suns, but I really loved their attempt at explaining the relationship between humans and technology. Many longtime fans were discouraged by the change in direction, but to me, it shows that the band was willing to evolve.  I can't stress how much I enjoy this band.
Here is "One Step Closer."

91. Static X

Static X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1994. My first exposure to Static X was on the second stage at Ozzfest' 99, and they were freaking amazing! This prompted me to immediately purchase Wisconsin Death Trip. There lead singer, Wayne Static, is known for his unusual hairstyle where he has it straight up, but this is an amazing metal band. I have enjoyed all six of their albums, and Wayne Static's solo album is pretty solid.
Here is "Push It."

Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!
Marty Sabin

Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, 100-96

Hello everyone,

Today is the first part of Metal Mayhem's top 100 metal bands/artists of all-time. This begs the question, what makes a great heavy metal band? There are 4 key components.

1. Must have a dynamic lead vocalist.
2. Must have a kick-ass lead guitarist.
3. The band must have swagger, for example, the know they are awesome!
4. They have to rock

How was the list compiled? There are two main factors that contributed to the construction of this list. First, I considered the historical significance and popularity of each band. Historical significance is perhaps the main contributor of where each band ranks. Second, My personal preferences played a huge role in the creation of the list as well. For example, I rank bands that play a more melodic style with clean vocals over, let's say . . . death metal. It's my opinion that power metal bands are better than death metal. That's all.

Without further delay, here is the first installment of the Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time: 100-96.

100. Slipknot

Slipknot is a nu-metal band from Des Moines, Iowa that formed in 1995. I'm going to start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of Slipknot, but they have a huge fan following and must be considered one of the best bands in the Nu-Metal sub-genre. The band is known for their over-the-top imagery and their intense live performances. While not an enormous fan, I appreciate Slipknot for their incredible imagery and controversial antics. These controversies usually centered on lyrical content where the band was blamed for violent crimes. There was also a rivalry between Slipknot and Mushroomhead where Slipknot was accused of stealing Mushroomhead's image and musical style. While never truly resolved, both bands have moved on . . . I do personally prefer Mushroomhead though.

I have attached Slipknot's song "Duality."

99. Five Finger Death Punch

I wasn't originally going to include Five Finger Death Punch in the top 100, but a friend of mine convinced me to give them another listen. To be honest, I was turned off by the band for it's horrible cover of the classic Bad Company song "Bad Company." I listened to American Capitalist, and I am sold. So, as of now, I will place FFDP at number 99.

Here is their song "Under and Over It."

98. The Deftones

The Deftones are an alternative-metal band out of Sacramento, California who have released three stellar albums (Adrenaline, White Pony, and Around the Fur), and three mediocre (Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist, and Diamond Eyes) albums. While not possessing the greatest voice in metal, Chino Moreno makes up for this with a nice blend of soft vocals with really cool screams. However, like most bands with alternative roots, they sometimes sound uninspired and boring. If they were more consistent with the quality of their albums, they could have been higher on the list, but ranking #98 for an alt-metal band is a pretty solid ranking.
Here is "Change (In the House of Flies)."

97. Sodom

Sodom is a German thrash metal trio who are part of the "big three of Teutonic thrash metal along with Kreator and Destruction. Their album Agent Orange is one of the best thrash metal albums that I have ever heard. In addition to being one of the best German thrash bands, they have been very influential in the black metal released in the early 90s.
Here is the title track from Agent Orange.

96. Beyond Fear

Beyond Fear is an American heavy metal band that was started by Tim "Ripper" Owens after he left Judas Priest when Rob Halford rejoined the group. Beyond Fear was initially intended to be a side-project for Owens while he was the lead singer of Iced Earth, but only lasted for two albums, so Beyond Fear became his main focus. He used this band as an outlet to write his own songs which was an opportunity that Priest and Iced Earth never afforded him. While they only released one album (Beyond Fear, 2006), that album was epic with such great songs as "Scream Machine," "And . . . You Will Die," and "The Human Race." Ripper's voice is one of the best in metal, and guitarist John Comprix is exceptional in his own right. If you are unaware of this band, I highly recommend them.
Here is "And . . . You Will Die."

Let me know what you think of the list so far!
Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin

Steve Harris, British Lion (2012)

Hello everyone,

Today I am going to examine the first solo album by Steve Harris. If you're not familiar with Harris, he is the longtime bassist and principle songwriter of the legendary Iron Maiden. Apparently Harris had been working with a young band called British Lion in the early 1990's, but they ended up breaking up and going nowhere, but he remained in contact with vocalist Richard Taylor and guitarist Grahame Leslie. They wrote songs together, but since Harris' work with Iron Maiden consumed most of his time (as it should), it took years to complete this album.

If you are looking for Iron Maiden-lite with this release, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a talented musician trying his hand at something different, then you may be pleased. Harris departs from the power/progressive metal of Maiden to a more alt-metal hybrid . . . which is rather cool.

While Richard Taylor will never be confused with Bruce Dickinson, he does a pretty solid job here. It is no surprise that the songwriting and musicianship are incredible, but again, the vocals may be the weak point on the album.

The standout tracks on this album are Karma Killer, A World Without Heaven, and The Lesson. I would give this album a solid B, but since Steve Harris is one of my heroes, I will bump him to a B+.

For your listening pleasure, here is Judas. I wanted to use Karma Killer, but since the album doesn't come out until September 25, 2012, I will take what I can get. Enjoy!

As always, thank you for reading!
Marty Sabin

Judas Priest, Screaming For Vengeance 30th Anniversary Edition (2012)

Hello everyone,

Today I am looking at Judas Priest's classic release Screaming For Vengeance except this is the newly released 30th Anniversary Edition.

If one was new to metal music, and wanted to know where to begin to learn about the great bands and albums, most people would typically tell them to start with Black Sabbath. I would begin with Judas Priest, and their first exposure should be Screaming For Vengeance. While this album is thirty years old, it has held up surprisingly well considering  that throughout the years, bands get heavier and louder all the time. This album is just as loud and heavy as any current release.

I have personally listened to Screaming For Vengeance many times over the years, but I haven't heard it in a long time. After listening to this new edition, I was feeling the raw energy right from the beginning of a finely tuned metal machine. This was Judas Priest at the peak of their prestigious career.

Could there be a more powerful way to begin an album than with roaring twin guitars of K. K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on the opening track, "The Hellion," blending into "Electric Eye." You get their metal classics like "Bloodstone" and "Devil's Child." The title track is the heaviest track on the album, and has been attributed as a major influence in the thrash sub-genre. The most famous song on the album is the Priest standard, "You've Got Another Thing Coming" which is a certified classic.

There are many cool features with this re-release such as a digital remastering of the sound, six bonus live tracks (which are freaking awesome!), but the best special feature is the bonus live DVD.

The concert is Priest's performance at the U. S. Festival at San Bernardino, California filmed May 29, 1983. This show was remastered from the original footage that was thought lost for years. This DVD displays the raw power and energy of Judas Priest in their prime, clicking on all cylinders. This addition, makes this a must-buy for any fans of not just Judas Priest, but metal fans of all ages will appreciate this album.

For your listening pleasure, I have attached two tracks from the album.

Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin

My Favorite Metal Covers

Hello everyone,

Today I am going to list my favorite cover songs by metal bands. Normally, I do not enjoy cover songs, but sometimes there is the occasional cover that grabs my attention. In my opinion, what makes a great cover is for the new artist to keep the spirit of general spirit of what the original musician intended, but add something that differentiates their version from the original.

For this post, I have attached the cover versions followed by the original songs. Anyway, here is my five favorite metal covers.

1. Dream Theater, Stargazer (Rainbow)

2. Metallica, Am I Evil (Diamond Head)

3. Tool, No Quarter (Led Zeppelin)

4. Marilyn Manson, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (The Eurythmics)

5. Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream On (Aerosmith)

What are your favorite covers? Let me know either in the comments section or on Facebook.

As always, thank you for reading!
Marty Sabin

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: What Ten Metal Bands Should Be In?

Hello everyone,

Last year when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) announced the 2012 class of inductees, I was disappointed . . . . as always. Of course, Guns N' Roses, Donovan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, and others were all worthy, but I was hoping for a true blue metal band. Some would say that GNR qualifies as metal . . . perhaps, and I can live with that classification. However, I am more comfortable labeling GNR as hard rock. This year's induction motivated me to research the RRHOF and its metal inductees.

Here they are: Black Sabbath (2006) and Metallica (2009).

There are only two real heavy metal bands in the Hall? No freaking way! To make matters worse, they very little hard rock acts.

Here they are: Alice Cooper (2011), AC/DC (2003), Aerosmith (2001), Led Zeppelin (1995), Guns N' Roses (2012), and Van Halen (2007).

Each of these bands deserve to be inducted, but there seems to be a huge gap in the history of metal. For starters, How is Metallica in the RRHOF while the other three bands from the "Big Four" of thrash metal (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer) not in? When Van Halen was inducted in 2007, they enshrined both the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras of the band which seems appropriate. However, when Black Sabbath was inducted, they only included the original lineup, but not Ronnie James Dio. What?! So many inconsistencies.

This begs the question: What is the criteria for a band/artist to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? This is from their own website:

To be eligible for induction as an artist (as a performer, composer, or musician) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the artist must have released a record, in the generally accepted sense of that phrase, at least 25 years prior to the year of induction; and have demonstrated unquestionable musical excellence.
We shall consider factors such as an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique, but musical excellence shall be the essential qualification of induction.

I understand the part where a band must have released their debut album twenty-five years before they are eligible. That makes some sense. The other part regarding "musical excellence" and "innovation and "superiority" makes me wonder who decides what bands reflect these virtues.

According to the RRHOF:

The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 500 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes - and more than 50 percent of the vote - are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year.

Based on this information, it seems that the selection of bands/artists is based not necessarily on merit, but on  the personal tastes of those who decide. From the previous years choices, it seems that singer/songwriter types get the preferential treatment along with obscure blues and soul singers.

I wouldn't have an issue with the RRHOF not inducting metal bands if they hadn't enshrined the following non-rock artists over the last few years: Abba, Run DMC, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, Madonna, Isaac Hayes, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams.

Heavy metal has been an important genre of rock and roll since Black Sabbath released their first album in 1970 . . . 42 years ago! It has been divided into many sub-genres such as progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal, industrial metal, glam metal, black metal, symphonic metal, etc. Metal isn't going away. At some point, some of the great metal bands should get in.

Anyway, here are ten bands (in no particular order) that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame right now!

1. Judas Priest

Judas Priest released their first album Rocka Rolla in 1974 which means that they have been around for nearly forty years. Often cited as one of the most influential metal bands of all-time from acts like Metallica (HOFer) and Slayer, the "Metal Gods" were the first band to eliminate the blues aspects from their style, and truly embrace metal. That alone should make them sure hall of fame worthy. On a separate note, I would include Tim "Ripper" Owens . . . he was with then band, he should be in too.




2. Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden released their self-titled debut in 1980, and have been consistently releasing great albums and putting on epic tours ever since. Without question, Maiden was the best band from the New Wave of British Metal era, and that certainly makes them worthy of inductions. Their style has often been cited by bands as diverse as Iced Earth, Slayer, Metallica, Slipnot, and In Flames as major influences on their careers. Former vocalists Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley should both be included with the rest of the band when they are inducted.







3. Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio was one of the most dynamic vocalist in the history of metal. His possible induction has a few problems. How will he be inducted. With Rainbow? Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell lineup? Elf? His solo career? All of the above? I would probably begin by inducting him as a solo artist. He began his solo career with the release of the incredibly important album Holy Diver in 1982. He has been an influential vocalist in both the power metal and progressive metal sub-genres. In fact, a statue in Bulgaria was erected in 2010 in his likeness. However, his most notable influence in the introduction of the "metal horns" while a member of Black Sabbath.






4. Deep Purple

Deep Purple released their debut album Shades of Deep Purple in 1968. While not technically metal, they were one of the most important early influences of the genre. Deep Purple's song "Smoke On The Water" was one of the greatest hard rock riffs of all-time. In addition, they were major influences on Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. The fact that they haven't been inducted is an ginormous omission that the RRHOF needs to resolve.



5. Slayer

Slayer released their first album Show No Mercy in 1983, and have been one of the leading bands in the thrash metal scene ever since. They are the only band of the "Big Four" that have remained fully committed to the thrash scene. In my humble opinion, Slayer should be inducted based solely on the awesomeness of Reign In Blood.




6. Scorpions

The Scorpions released their debut album Lonesome Crow in 1972; however, they did not gain international fame until Blackout, their 1981 breakout album. After 45 years of performing together, Scorpions has become Germany's greatest metal band. They are also one of the most important power metal outfits in music history. They should be the first German band inducted into the Hall.



7. Megadeth

Megadeth released their first album Killing Is My Business . . . and Business Is Good in 1985, and have been releasing quality music ever since. The albums Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction are classics in the genre. I'm not sure if Dave Mustaine was inducted as part of Metallica (if not, that was a huge mistake), but his band is just as good as Metallica, if not better.



8. Pantera

What most metal fans don't know about Pantera is that they began their career as a glam metal band in 1981. Their first album, Metal Magic, was released in 1983. However, they didn't gain notoriety until they embraced thrash/groove metal when they released their classic Cowboys From Hell in 1990. You always knew that you would get a kick-ass, heavy album with every Pantera release after Cowboys. Sadly, the band's great guitarist Dimebag Darrell was gunned down by a lunatic during a show in Columbus, OH. It would be a fitting tribute to enshrine one of the greatest guitarists of all-time into the hall.

9. Anthrax

Anthrax released their first album, Fistful of Metal, in 1984. With frontman Joey Belladonna, they released arguably their best work with great albums like Spreading the Disease, Among the Living, State of Euphoria, and Persistence of Time. Their latest effort, Worship Music, was one of the best metal albums of 2011 and a return to their thrash roots. In addition, Anthrax's collaboration with rap group Public Enemy with the song "Bring the Noise" in 1991.



10. Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche debuted in 1984 with their classic prog-metal album The Warning, and have been one of the innovators of the genre ever since. Their two classic albums, Operation Mindcrime (1988) and Empire (1990), should be enough to get them into the hall, but their entire body of work should make them a sure thing. Plus, Geoff Tate has possibly the best voice in the history of metal.

My 5 Favorite Metal Bands

Hello everybody,

Today's post is gonna be quick and dirty. Inspired by my friend and co-music enthusiast Brad's latest post on his blog at Think Muzik, I decided to copy his formula and share my favorite bands and my favorite song from said band. I encourage everyone to share their top five as well.

Without further ado, my favorite five bands.

1. Iron Maiden, Hallowed Be Thy Name

2. Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell

3. Queensrÿche, Eyes of a Stranger

4. Metallica, For Whom the Bell Tolls

5. Judas Priest, Painkiller

Again, I encourage everybody to share their top five or three.
Also, check out Think Muzik.

Thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin

Epica, Requiem for the Indifferent (2012)

Hello everyone,

Today I am listening to the new Epica album, Requiem for the Indifferent. If you are unaware of Epica, the are a Dutch symphonic metal band whose vocals are a combination of clean vocals by Simone Simons and growls by guitarist Mark Jansen. That said, the emphasis is on the vocals of Simons . . . as it should because she is amazing! As with most European symphoic, progressive, power metal bands, there is an emphasis on melody while American metal is more focused on thrash elements.

In short, I find Epica to be a refreshing brand of metal.

This is their fifth studio album, and one of their best. It works on two levels. The individual songs are good enough to stand on their own; however, the complete album works as a unified concept. Based on all of the world's problems from economic disaster, religious conflict, and natural disasters; the band posits that we all need to come together before its too late. While the album is titled Requiem for the Indifferent, the band argues that there is possibility for a new beginning. All in all, this is a very intelligently written and ably performed album that I highly recommend. I give this album an A+++.

For your listening pleasure I have attached two wonderful clips.

As always, thank you for reading!

Marty Sabin

Testament, Dark Roots of Earth (2012)

Hello everyone,

Today I am looking at the Dark Roots of Earth, the new album by the legendary thrash metal band Testament. While Testament is not included in the same breath as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, they most definitely are just as important in terms of their influence in the genre. Unfortunately, their sales are quite on par with those other bands, so they likely will never achieve the same recognition. This is too bad because Testament is amazing!

Dark Roots of Earth is Testament's tenth studio album, and one of their best efforts in years. This album combines intricate musical arrangements, wonderfully evil lyrics, and lots of thrashy goodness. This is vintage thrash metal at its best! Quite frankly, it kicks ass from the beginning track until the end. I simply loved the songs True American Hate and Dark Roots of Earth. I give this album a solid A+.

For your listening pleasure, I have included the two tracks that I enjoyed the most.

As always, thank you for reading!

Marty Sabin 

Heart, Red Velvet Car (2010)

Hello everybody,

Today I am looking at the most recent Heart album Red Velvet Car. I know what you're saying . . . Heart isn't metal. Perhaps, but if it wasn't for Heart, you wouldn't have Halestorm, In This Moment, Evanescence, etc. In other words, my justification for including Heart in my metal blog is simple: They are the greatest and most significant female-led hard rock band in music history and deserve our respect. Plus, I don't think that there has ever been a singer, male or female, who can compete with Ann Wilson's voice . . . it is simply incredible.

Also, I know that this album has been out for two years, but I haven't been as up to date on new releases while I was attending graduate school. Now that I am finished, I can concentrate on listening to new-ish materiel. Hell, if I haven't heard it, its new to me. Right?

Anyway,

After giving this album a quick first listen, I have to say that this album is pretty damn good. It has something for everyone. If you like the classic hard rock Heart, then  WTF is the song for you. If you prefer their poppy 1980s-early 1990s stuff, then the title track may be for you. In addition, there are several acoustic tracks that make this album one of the most diverse and rich works that I have heard in a while. I was not expecting that from Heart. The one thing that I got out of this album that was expected was the wonderful vocals of Ann Wilson. Even in her early-60s, she continues to amaze.

The notable tracks on this album are WTF, Wheels, Death Valley, and Closer to the Sun; however, I did not enjoy the title track or the opening track, There You Go. Despite the interesting mix in styles, the album is rather uneven for my personal tastes.

If I were to give Red Velvet Car a grade, it would receive a solid B.

For your listening pleasure, I have included a clip of WTF.

As always, thank you for reading.

Marty Sabin

Ronnie James Dio, Ten Best Performances

Hello everybody,

For today's post, I will examine the ten best performances by metal icon Ronnie James Dio.

Dio's career spanned five decades working with such acts as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell, and he had a successful solo career. He was known as having one of the most powerful voices in music history. In addition, he was equally famous for the introduction of "metal horns" into the metal culture while he was the vocalist for Black Sabbath. On a personal note, Ronnie James Dio was one of my favorite performers and I regret never having seen him in concert.

While Dio had a wonderful solo career, and his work with Rainbow was epic, it was his time with Black Sabbath . . . later Heaven & Hell that was momentous. Due to issues with drugs and alcohol, Black Sabbath fired their longtime vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. That said, the last few albums that Sabbath released with Ozzy were terrible. Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! were simply horrible and uninspiring. Late in 1979, Sabbath hired Ronnie James Dio to replace the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. When Ronnie James Dio took the over on vocals, he essentially helped reinvented the stagnant Sabbath. Despite the drastic different vocal style, the combination of Dio's powerful voice with the gritty heaviness of Sabbath created a perfect power quartet. Longtime drummer Bill Ward, who could not get over Ozzy not being in the band, quit the band, and was subsequently replaced by Vinny Appice.

This set the stage for Sabbath's second classic lineup: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice. This lineup would release four classic albums: Heaven and Hell (1980), Mob Rules (1981), Dehumanizer (1992), and, as Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (2009).

In addition to being a tremendous vocalist, Ronnie James Dio was a wonderful human being. With the success of Band Aid's Do They Know Its Christmas? and USA for Africa's We Are the World, and noticing the lack of participation of hard rock and metal stars, Dio co-wrote the song Stars for a one-time project called Hear' n Aid. Uniting many stars of metal, this project was able to raise over one million dollars to aid in famine relief in Africa.

The Last album release by Ronnie James Dio was The Devil You Know with Heaven & Hell, and was one of his best efforts of his long and prestigious career. On one of his last public appearances, Dio accepted the Best Metal Singer award at Revolver's Golden Gods Awards in 2010. At 67 years old, he was the oldest recipient to have won the award. The last song that he recorded was a wonderful rock anthem simply titled, Metal Will Never Die which was made available late in 2010.

Sadly, Ronnie James Dio passed away on May 16, 2010 as a result of complications of stomach cancer.

As a way to honor the great legacy of this metal icon, here are the top ten performances (in no particular order) by Ronnie James Dio.

10. Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell

9. Rainbow, Stargazer

8. Black Sabbath, Falling Off The Edge Of The World

7. Black Sabbath, The Mob Rules

6. Dio, Holy Diver

5. Dio, Don't Talk To Strangers

4. Black Sabbath, I

3. Black Sabbath, After All (The Dead)

2. Heaven & Hell, Fear

1. Dio, Rainbow in the Dark

Extra Track: Dio, Metal Will Never Die (2010)

I hope everybody enjoyed the clips, and as always,
thank you for reading,
Marty Sabin

In This Moment, Blood (2012)

Hello everybody,

Last week, a friend at work recommended the band In This Moment. I decided to start with their latest album Blood. It took me a while to get to it, but I finally found the time to listen to the album this afternoon, and it was pretty cool.

If you are not familiar with In This Moment, they are a metalcore band out of Los Angeles, California. They are fronted by the wonderful Maria Brink. She has one of the best screams in metal that I have ever heard, and quite frankly, she is very attractive.

Anyway, Blood is In This Moment's fourth album, and it is notable because the band has dropped some of its usual metalcore elements in favor of keyboards and synthesizers. This is a normal progression for many metal bands, and in this case it works very well. In addition, these new elements seem to highlight the wonderful voice and screams of Brink. I enjoyed the full album, but the tracks that stand out to me are Rise With Me, Blood, and From the Ashes. This is one of the best metal albums of 2012.

For your listening pleasure, I have attached three clips.

As always, thanks for reading,
Marty Sabin

Five Cheesy and Five Cool Metal Videos

Hello everybody,

Just for fun, I thought that I'd share five of the silliest heavy metal videos ever made. I am sure that there are more ridiculous videos out there, but for now, here are five that come to mind. Then, I will share five videos that I actually like. To clarify, there is a thin line between cheesy and good videos. In my opinion, cheesy videos are just as fun to watch as cool videos. This is mainly because many great songs have terrible videos, but also because it must be difficult to make a music video that makes sense anyway. On the flip side, even the best metal videos are still a tad on the silly side.

Anyway, here are some cheesy and cool videos.

Enjoy!

                              The Cheesy

1. Ozzy Osbourne, Bark at the Moon

2. Dio, Holy Diver

3. Helloween, Halloween

4. Queensrÿche, Queen of the Reich

5. Alestorm, Keelhauled

                          The Good

1. Bruce Dickinson, Accident of Birth

2. Megadeth, Symphony of Destruction

3. White Zombie, Thunderkiss '65

4. Pantera, Cemetery Gates

5. Nine Inch Nails, Into the Void