Top 10 Tuesday: My Favourite Bands

Top 10 Tuesday: My Favourite Bands

As a lover of all things hard rock and heavy metal, I've yet to come across a genre of music I dont like, so making this list was difficult (except for #1). Just because a band is not on this list does NOT mean I don't love them, these are just the exclusive bands I can not fault and hence, have earned their spot on my Top 10 list, so here we go!

10. Megadeth 

Like most metalheads, I learnt about Megadeth through Metallica, and the huge pile of tension and rivallry between the two. Being a huge Metallica fan at the time of discovering Dave Mustaine's thrash metal Omega to the Alpha that is Hetfield and Co, I was extremely biased to begin with. I quickly got over the whole "Metallica vs Megadeth" debate, disregarding it as complete nonsense and began to really give Megadeth a chance, and boy was I in love! The first Megadeth album I ever listened to in it's entireity was "Rust in Peace", which is still (in my opinion) their greatest album to date. As a guitarist, I found the technical virtuosity of Mustaine, Friedman and Broderick to be something of superhuman proportions, and I loved every minute jamming out to their tracks with my mates in the studio! From their gritty, supersonic in-your-face-ness of "Killing is My Business" to their peak of perfection in "Rust in Peace" to their still-aggresive sounds of "Endgame", Megadeth still continues to garner my love and respect as thrash metal's titan.

Favourite Album: "Rust in Peace", 1990
Favourite Track: "This Day We Fight" (Endgame, 2009)

9. Blind Guardian

Now this is a band I regret not listening to sooner. I always regarded Power Metal as something that male virgins in their 20s jerk-off to whilst they play World of Warcraft, but once I got off my pedestal, I found that the genre is a beautiful amalgamation of epic fantasy, operatic vocals and instrumeral arrangements that only gods could conceive, and no other band did it better than Blind Guardian!
Certainly one of the godfathers of Power Metal, these glorious German metalheads pioneered a unique sound of their own with their 1988 debut "Battalions of Fear" and quickly gathered a massive following as Power Metal's cornerstone band. I first listened to Blind Guardian a few years ago, when the track "Valhalla" popped up on my Youtube feed, needless to say, I never looked back. What seperates Blind Guardian from the rest and puts them so high on my list is one name; Hansi Kursch, Blind Guardian's lead vocalist. If you need an explanation as to why I mentioned Mr. Kursch, I recommend you listen to "Nightfall in Middle Earth" in it's entirety, then come back to me.

Favourite Album: "Nightfall in Middle Earth", 1998
Favourite Track: "Nightfall" (Nightfall in Middle Earth, 1998)

8. Dream Theater

Much like Blind Guardian as previously mentioned, I never really gave Dream Theater a chance due to the critics labelling Dream Theater's music as "musical wankery". That was until I started getting into musicianship, and as I delved deeper into the world of music theory and proficiency, that band I once disregarded became my best friend in my pursuit of guitar mastery. In every band, there is always one member who is easily recongised as the "best one at their instrument", but with Dream Theater, they're all virtuosos, with every album they've ever done showcasing their technical brilliance as not only musicians, but as human beings with the ability to captivate an audience. Despite a few lineup changes, Dream Theater is still by far the most technically brilliant band to have ever graced our planet with their music, and to John Petrucci, James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, Mike Mangini and John Myung, I have only the utmost respect and love for everything you gentlemen produce.

Favourite Album: "Train of Thought", 2003
Favourite Track: "The Best of Times" (Black Clouds and Silver Linings, 2009)

7. Orpheus Omega

Okay, this is a new one, and definitely one that 90 percent of you will sit back and say "Who the fuck are these guys?", well let me explain. Orpheus Omega are a 5-piece Melodic Death Metal band healing from Melbourne, Australia, and their music is utter brilliance!
I first discovered Orpheus Omega when they opened for Children of Bodom in 2014, and from that day onwards, I was hooked. Orpheus Omega's debut album "Bleed the Way" still retains a spot in my heart as one of my favourite Melodeath albums of all time, with every release that followed maintaining and even exceeding my expectations of what this band can do! Since that day they opened for Bodom in 2014, I've been on a constant Orpheus binge, with their latest album "Partum Vita Mortem" being a strong contender for my Album of the Year! To the members of Orpheus Omega; Kes, Matt, Nathan, Joao and Chris, stay epic, stay metal and keep the killer albums coming!

Favourite Album: "Partum Vita Mortem", 2015
Favourite Track: "Sealed in Fate" (Bleed the Way, 2011)

6. Trivium

Metalcore, a genre that has gathered as much love as it has gathered hatred. Whether you enjoy enjoy the genre or not, there is no denying that one band has brought that genre to places that no other band has ever dared; Trivium
I began listening to Trivium in high school, when I was going through my "tough guy"phase, and being quite a loner in high school, I found solace in Trivium's music. What grabs my attention about Trivium is their bravery to venture into other genres, with their Thrash Metal side shining through in their 3rd album "The Crusade". No other band demands such intensity from their fans, and no other band delivers the way Trivium does. Under the wing of frontman Matt Heafy, Trivium has produced modern metal masterpeices in "Ascendancy" and "Shogun", two albums which still maintain their stances as two of metal's greatest albums!
If there is one thing I should leave you with about Trivium, is that get ready for heavy metal's next festival headliner!

Favourite Album: "Shogun", 2008
Favourite Track: "Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr" (Ascendancy, 2005)

5. Sabaton

When people think of power metal, the description of dragons, wizards and quests come to mind. Not this band, Sabaton's music is about one thing, modern war!
The concept of 5 dudes with loud guitars singing about how gruesome D-day was sounds cheesy as all hell, but these guys make it work! And in an incredible way! It's rare these days when a band is able to not only produce consecutive albums of amazing quality, but are also able to amplify the epicness of their music live. Sabaton's live shows are some of the best I've ever witnessed, pyrotechnics, explosions and even a drumkit mounted on top of a freaking tank! All while frontman Joakim Broden belts out the lyrics that only a field marshall with a bartitone opera voice could replicate! If you enjoy reading about wars, conflicts or just love tanks, then Sabaton is the band for you!

Favourite Album: "Heroes", 2014
Favourite Track: "Ghost Division" (The Art of War, 2008)

4. Children of Bodom

This band, this freaking band, is pretty much the band that got me into harsh vocals and blistering solos! Finland's Children of Bodom define Melodic Death Metal in a way that no other band can, and they're one the genre's biggest because of it! This band has pushed the boundaries of musicianship in metal to places that very few have ever reached, and still continue to improve themselves as not only a band, but as musicians themselves. If there's one thing that one will notice when watching a Bodom music video is the harmonies and melodies, this band is the manifestation of aggressive melody. Their sound can be summed up the most in the song "Kissing the Shadows", where lead guitarist (and vocalist) Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho and keyboardist Janne Wirman exchange and harmonise melodies with each other whilst bone-crushing riffs are played in the background. I implore everyone who enjoys a beautiful guitar solo to get into this band, you will not regret it!

Favourite Album: "Are You Dead Yet?", 2005
Favourite Track: "Living Dead Beat" (Are You Dead Yet?, 2005)

3. Metallica

I'm sure anyone who knows me saw this coming from a mile away. No matter what happens, Metallica will continue to be heavy metal's most recognisable force and still one of my favourite bands of all time! Like most metalheads, Metallica was my "gateway" band, the band that got me into heavy metal. I first encountered Metallica about 7 years ago when "Guitar Hero 3" was released, and I was determined to conquer every song on Expert mode. By the end of my Guitar Hero binge, only two songsstood in my way, Dragonforce's "Through the Fire and Flames" and Metallica's "One". It was the constant fail and repeating of "One" that eventually made me appreciate Metallica, and appreciation eventually led to love. After acquiring every album they've ever made, and memorising every lyrics they've ever written, I can safely say that only two bands can top the brilliance that was 1980s Metallica. With very few lineup changes, Metallica has not only gathered my respect and appreciation, but the respect and apprecation of millions of other people in the world as heavy metal's quintessential band. If you have been living under a rock and have never heard Metallica, I advise you get off your arse and get right into it!

Favourite Album: "Master of Puppets", 1986
Favourite Song: "Dyers Eve" (...And Justice for All, 1988)

2. Machine Head

It was a close call to see which band would take my number two spot on this list, but in the end I had to give it to Machine Head.
Machine Head is probably the most underrated heavy metal band of all time in my opinion. This band is responsible for some of the greatest tracks in the genre, and they continue to be one hell of a dominant force today. I first heard Machine Head a couple of years ago when the song "Davidian" fell into my lap with the help of a friend of mine. From a couple of listens of "Davidian", I knew I had to have more. Machine Head is the kind of band where every album sounds different, but no album is bad. Even though Machine Head holds the number two spot on my list, I have to award their 2008 release "The Blackening" as my favourite album of all time, every track on that album is a showcase of heavy metal brilliance and testament to how incredible the members of Machine Head are. To Robb Flynn, Phil Demmel, Jared MacEachern and Dave McClain...
You. Are. Gods.

Favourite Album: "The Blackening", 2008
Favourite Track: "Halo" (The Blackening, 2008)

1. In Flames

Here we are, number one! And to my close friends, this would come as no surprise! Words can not describe how much this band means to me, I will try to keep this as short as possible.
This band has saved my life, in more ways than one. I first heard In Flames the same way I heard Metallica, through Guitar Hero, with their bonus track "Take This Life" proving to be quite a challenge in the harder difficulties. Eventually I grew quite fond of this band, eventually putting effort into discovering their other material...and that's when things were never the same anymore. I spent days listening to the "Colony" and "Clayman" albums, I spent months learning their music on guitar, I even wanted this band to be in my life so much, that their track "Come Clarity" became the song of myself and my (now ex) fiance. In Flames will continue to be my standard in what is considered good heavy metal music, although many will disagree with their validity as a standard. I've never listened to a song by In Flames that I didn't love, and I doubt I ever will.
In Flames' muscianship is second to none. Powerful vocals, amazing riffage and beautiful melodies, this band in the pinnacle of heavy metal musicianship.
Whenever I'm going through a schizophrenic attack, an episode of depression, or if I'm just having a bad day, allI have to do is chuck on "Ropes" and everything that bothers me seems trivial, and I stand right back up and continue on with my life!
To Anders Friden, Daniel Svensson, Bjorn Gelotte, Niclas Engelin and Peter Iwers, I want you to know that you have not only saved my life, but your music continues to push me harder as a striving musician.

Favourite Album: "Clayman", 2000
Favourite Track(s): "Ropes" (Sounds of a Playground Fading, 2011)

                                   "Only for the Weak" (Clayman, 2000)