I am an old-school metal-head from way back. When I was a young lad, I would sing-a-long and play air guitar to the likes of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" and Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel the Noize". I suffered through the dark days of the mid-eighties and begrudgingly listened to Bon Jovi, Poison and White Lion, although I do tend to enjoy these bands presently for nostalgic reasons. Hey, it's fun to rock the gay stuff sometimes.

Then the savior of hard rock came along. That band would be Guns N Roses, and they rocked the fucking world! GNR freed us from the bubblegum hair-band shit that was so prevalent at that time. Grunge then entered the scene and gave rock another shot in the arm. Well, to make a long story short (this hub is not about the evolution of hard rock), I am currently in the Alternative Metal phase and I now must make a list.

For the reason of simplicity, I will lump many metal sub-genres (Nu Metal, Industrial, Goth, Progressive...etc) into the category of Alternative Metal. I made this list by picking some of my favorite bands of the genre and (with torturous self-debate) picked one song from each band that I believe rocks me the hardest.

So, here is my list in no particular order. Comments and thumb ups are surely appreciated (you get what you give).

This is one of my favorite songs. It just jams! Listen to the amazing drumming technique by Danny Carey.

Deep lyrics also. The song is about mankind's tendency to make war. It is told from the point of view of angels.

"Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground. Silly monkeys...give them thumbs, they make a club and beat their brother down."

Album: 10,000 Days

Song Lyrics

Clutch is a great groove-metal band with a lot of blues influence. Their lyrics tell stories (often humorously) of history, mythology and aliens. This song is about a fisherman that hooks the body of John Wilkes Booth and then tries to profit from it.

Album: Clutch

Song Lyrics

This is such an angry song! It's for all the people out there that has had their heart ripped out of their chest. I love the change in vocals, from melodic to a ripping roar.

Album: Lost and Found

Song Lyrics

The "Youth Gone Wild" of Industrial Metal. This is some hardcore shit! If the movie A Clockwork Orange were made today, this would be the main song on the soundtrack.

Album: The Mind is a Terrible Thing To Taste

Song Lyrics

"'It's On' is my shit peer pressure song. Me being so stressed out going out and partying. Everybody is just going, 'Come on, dude, it's on.' That's partying. It's alcohol, cocaine, women. All that wrapped into one. I wrote a song about it. And the chorus talked about, 'Why am I really doing this?' It's all my fault I'm doing this because all the alcohol, the booze, and the chicks do is just make it worse. They just rearrange all the problems in a different order that I can deal with at the moment." -Jonathan Davis, KoRn

Album: Follow the Leader

Song Lyrics

Hardcore to the bone! This song will pump you up and get you ready to mosh.

Album: Coal Chamber

Song Lyrics

This is my favorite song by Marilyn Manson. Listen for the great bridge and chorus.

Album: Antichrist Superstar

Song Lyrics

I was getting sick of Linkin Park until I heard this song. Now I am a fan again.

Album: Minutes To Midnight

Song Lyrics

Great combination of Apocalyptica and Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace.

Album: Worlds Collide

Song Lyrics

I've seen this band several times when I used to live in Fort Worth, TX. That is where they got their start. I wanna share this band with you cuz they rocked me back when they were just another local band.

"Mean People Rule!!!" 

Album: Weightless