Heavy Metal Songs that Rock
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Looking for some new heavy metal songs to add to your playlist? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best metal songs out there that are sure to get you pumped up.
Metallica- “Enter Sandman”
“Enter Sandman” is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica, released as the lead single from their self-titled fifth album, Metallica in 1991. The song was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and was produced by Bob Rock. “Enter Sandman” peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, number two on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart as well as top-ten positions on many other international charts.
The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Fear Factory, System of a Down, Sum 41, Crooked X, Alter Bridge, Avenged Sevenfold and Guns N’ Roses. In 2009 it was named the 39th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. It was also ranked number four on Guitar World’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time”, and in 2007 it was ranked number one out of a list of fifty songs chosen by readers as “The Greatest Guitar Riff Of All Time”.
Pantera- “Walk”
When most people think of Pantera, they think of one of the heaviest, most aggressive metal bands of all time. But they also have some pretty incredible songs that are more rock than metal. “Walk” is definitely one of those songs.
The song starts out with a simple, catchy guitar riff that gets your head nodding immediately. Then the rest of the band comes in and the song just takes off. The groove is undeniable and the chorus will stay stuck in your head for days.
If you’re a fan of heavy metal, or just want to rock out, “Walk” by Pantera is definitely a song you need in your life.
Slayer- “Raining Blood”
Every Halloween, “Raining Blood” by Slayer is played on the radio and in stores. It’s become synonymous with the holiday, and for good reason. The song is absolutely brutal, with fast, aggressive guitars and guttural vocals. It’s the perfect song to headbang to, and it never gets old.
Megadeth- “Symphony of Destruction”
“Symphony of Destruction” is a song by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on their fifth studio album Countdown to Extinction (1992). The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and remained on the chart for 20 weeks. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1993. The song’s lyrics were written by Dave Mustaine and deal with his feelings of powerlessness and disillusionment with American politics.
The song has been described as one of Megadeth’s most popular and well-known songs. It has been included in numerous best-of lists, including VH1’s “100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs” and Pitchfork Media’s “The 200 Greatest Songs of the 90s”. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Avenged Sevenfold, Bowling for Soup, Ugly Kid Joe, Disturbed, and Rise Against.
Anthrax- “Indians”
“Indians” is a song by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1987 as the third single from their third studio album, Among the Living. The song criticizes racism against Native Americans.
The music video for “Indians” was directed by Wayne Isham. It features the band performing in a field in front of a large American flag. The video received heavy rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.
“Indians” peaked at number 37 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Anthrax included the song in their setlist for their 1991 tour with Public Enemy, which they dubbed the “Clash of the Titans” tour.
In 2009, VH1 ranked “Indians” number 44 on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Songs of All Time. In 2017, Loudwire ranked it number 12 on their list of the 100 Best Metal Songs of the 1980s.
Iron Maiden- “Fear of the Dark”
“Fear of the Dark” is the ninth studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 4 May 1992 through EMI Records. It was their third consecutive album to top the UK albums chart, and the critical acclaim for Fear of the Dark helped return the band to commercial success. The title track was released as a single and is one of their most frequently played live tracks.
The artwork features a burning Steelworks in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, first seen on “Powerslave”. It was inspired by a visit to Motherwell by Dickinson, where he saw the steelworks for the first time.
Judas Priest- “Painkiller”
“Painkiller” is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, from their 1990 album Painkiller. It was released as a single on September 3, 1990 and peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has been described as one ofPriest’s most popular and well-known songs.
In 2009, VH1 ranked “Painkiller” at number 41 on their list of the “100 Greatest Metal Songs”. In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it number 328 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
The song’s title and lyrics are taken from the .44 Magnum revolver nicknamed the “painkiller”.
Motorhead- “Ace of Spades”
There are few songs in the history of metal that are as iconic as Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades.” The song, which was released in 1980, is a perfect example of the band’s signature sound: fast, loud, and aggressive. The song’s main riff is one of the most recognizable in all of metal, and the lyrics (which celebrate gambling and living life to the fullest) are perfectly suited to the band’s image. “Ace of Spades” is a true metal classic, and it remains one of Motorhead’s most popular songs to this day.
Ozzy Osbourne- “Crazy Train”
Released in 1980, “Crazy Train” was the first single from Osbourne’s solo debut album, Blizzard of Ozz. It remains one of Osbourne’s most popular songs, and helped propel the album to multi-platinum status. The song features a now-iconic guitar solo from Randy Rhoads, who would go on to become one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
Black Sabbath- “Paranoid”
One of the most influential bands of all time, Black Sabbath popularized the heavy metal genre with hits like “Paranoid.” This song is one of their most well-known, and for good reason. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and it’s just plain awesome.
