The Ultimate Heavy Metal Playlist
Black Sabbath
BLACK SABBATH 1970
It began with the dank drubbing of rain and the distant toll of a church bell. Then, with the mood established, the Sabs opened their studio account, Tony Iommi’s funeral-pace riff humming with sin and Ozzy Osbourne’s spooky observations of a ‘figure in black which points at me’ still making you check over your shoulder. Metal was born, right here.
Master Heartache
SIR LORD BALTIMORE 1970
Drummer/vocalist John Garner wasn’t messing around; he sounds like a man seriously damaged by affairs of the heart on this rip-roaring, guitar-freaking killer.
Guts
BUDGIE 1971
The bludgeoning low-end bass of Burke Shelley combined with the slow, Sabbathy groove of Guts makes this song a must-inclusion in the collection of any heavy hairy freak.
The Ripper
JUDAS PRIEST 1976
The future of metal was changing, and this band were going to be at the forefront of it. They may not have realised it at the time, but Rob Halford’s vocals would go on to influence a future generation of screamers. A heavy metal shock of the very best kind.
Ace Of Spades
MOTÖRHEAD 1980
Steppenwolf might have sung about ‘heavy metal thunder’ first, but the song that illustrates it best has got to be Lemmy’s relentless ode to cards, dice and dancing with the Devil. Gambling may be for fools, but with a soundtrack like this, it’s the way we like it, baby…
Back In Black
AC/DC 1980
With a riff that launched a thousand identi-riffs, the title track of AC/DC’s first record with Brian Johnson at the mic was a terrifying statement of intent. The chord stabs can’t be argued with, and Angus wows us with
