When you have a career as long as Judas Priest, you know there are going to be lots of favorites.

“You Got Another Thing Comin'” is a favorite, because it’s one of those songs I gravitate to when I need to refresh my attitude.

But as unconventional as it is, and probably no surprise to long-time readers, one of my favorite Judas Priest songs to listen to is the “Rising in the East” version of “Diamonds and Rust”

Given King Diamond’s stuff is more about concept albums than songs. I think it’s easier for me to pick out a favorite album than a song.

I mean, if I have to pick a song, maybe “Abigail”, just because of the song structure, the constant lyrical revisiting of “Abigail”.

But album? “Conspiracy”. The whole “Them” concept, chapter 2. “At the Graves” is such a strong start and of course sets everything up for the story and album. I actually like singing the opening part… so operatic.

This will sound weird, but while I think there are “better” songs by Holy Grail, I find “Call of Valhalla” to be a favorite of mine. It’s just this mid-tempo track, but I think it’s got a good groove, and yes I love the lyrics. All the Viking imagery is just fun, and the way James sings it is just powerful. Yes… you feel like you’re sailing in your longship to battle, and this is your battle hymn. 🙂

Saw an obscure posting to Lazarus A.D.’s Facebook page. Silent for so long, then a “2015!” posting (which is now gone….)… so maybe they aren’t dead yet, but who knows. Here’s hoping they will be back, because they were certainly one of the best of the “thrash revival” bands.

“Revolution” is a perfect example.

Always turn this up to 11.

I think what makes “Redneck” my favorite Lamb of God track isn’t the anthemic chorus, but the music video.

Hilarity.

Let’s keep it simple today, because it’s hard for me to choose.

The “Superjudge” album is probably my favorite Monster Magnet album — I could listen to it endlessly. “Cage Around the Sun” is such a cool song. But if there’s any song that I think sums up Dave Wyndorf’s drug-induced lyrical voyages, it’s “Face Down”

“I’m sucking up more karma than I need, so have a supernova on me” it just one of those cool lines that you’ll never top.

But the other Monster Magnet song I find myself always coming back to is “Bummer”

There are so many people that go to bed with Lucifer, then cry cry cry when they don’t greet the day with God.

Oh this one is easy for me.

Sure, “Institutionalized” is an institution.

“War Inside My Head” is such a great anthem (and who’s that young kid on bass in this video?)

“Don’t Give Me Your Nothin'” has such a great groove.

There really are so many favorites.

But without question, my #1 Suicidal track is “You Can’t Bring Me Down”

The whole song, but especially the rant at the end:

Just ’cause you don’t understand what’s going on don’t mean it don’t make no sense.
And just ’cause you don’t like it don’t mean it ain’t no good.
And let me tell you something… before you talking a walk in my world, you better take a look at the real world, ’cause this ain’t no Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
Can you say “feel like shit”?
Yeah, maybe sometimes I do feel like shit. I ain’t happy about it, but I’d rather feel like shit than be full of shit.
And if I offended you? Oh I’m sorry, but maybe you needed to be offended.
Well, here’s my apology, and one more thing: FUCK YOU!
‘Cause you can’t bring me down.

 

Of course any favorite Sepultura is Sepultura that still has Max and Igor in the band. Sorry guys, but they were Sepultura.

“Inner Self” is one of those songs that I prefer a live version over the album version. I had a copy of their “Live in Barcelona” VHS, and I cannot listen to the song without hearing in my head Max’s command to Barcelona to “destroy dis fucking place”.

Certainly “Arise” was a breakthrough album for them.

But the crazy thing is… while I don’t like the whole album, I love “Roots Bloody Roots”. The rhythm, the primal screaming, the groove. I mean, play this song live and watch the crowd go into a frenzy. It’s just that kind of song.

How many albums does Overkill have now?

I realized the other day that while some albums are stronger than others, every album is Overkill. It felt like AC/DC… you know when you buy an AC/DC album, you know what you’re going to get. No radical shifts in formula here, just balls-to-the-wall neck-wrecking thrash.

“Bring Me the Night” stands out because it just comes at such a break-neck pace. It’s the song that made me go back and rediscover Overkill.

“Necroshine” is so cool. It’s an Overkill song but has this different vibe to it. Another song I could listen to over and over and not get tired of it.

But for me, without question my favorite Overkill song is “I Hate”. A song whose lyrics were an anthem of my youth, and still ride with me today.

I still hate people who make you feel small. Still hate having my back against the wall. Still hate being talked down too.  But I don’t care what you say… FUCK YOU! 😉

Back in my teenage years, I loved the “Practice What You Preach” album, but as I got more familiar with Testment’s discography I find that it’s a good album but really not that great. Maybe it’s the production? Alex’s getting more progressive in his playing, I don’t know. “Practice” is still a great tune, but I guess I think they have stronger albums.

Their most recent, “Dark Roots of Earth” I think is a strong offering, with the first half of the album being so solid.

But if there’s any Testament album that gets more plays in my iTunes library, it’s “The Gathering”. And while there’s killer tracks like “D.N.R.”, “Eyes of Wrath”, “Riding the Snake”… the one track I have to crank to 11 every single time I listen to it is “Three Days in Darkness”