Music
The 15 best metal songs of the '90s
We count down the hardest hitting metal cuts from the genre's most controversial decade.
From archetypal bands like White Zombie and Sepultura, through to Metallica and Ice T's Body Count crew, the '90s spawned many classic metal acts. Below, we run down 15 stand-out metal songs of the 1990s.
15. Strapping Young Lad - Detox (1997)
A manic, furious and infectious beast of a track, Strapping Young Lad exploded onto the metal scene mid ‘90s with Detox as its call to arms. A project masterminded by Canadian multi-instrumentalist, vocal prodigy, producer and bi-polar genius Devin Townsend, as an outlet to vent his disdain for the music industry at large. Seemingly cacophonic but fiercely focused, ‘Detox’ sets SYL's signature virtuosic skill, black humour and icy cold industrial elements to frenetic pace, offers no respite and slams the door closed when it's done.
14. White Zombie - Super-Charger Heaven (1995)
While the shock rock concept was nothing new, White Zombie's redneck horror schtick totally was. They sounded exactly as they looked, and vice versa; the marriage of sound and aesthetic captured brilliantly. Super-Charger Heaven is prefaced by some odd quotes from classic horror theatre, a feature not only littered throughout the duration of the song but the entire album. This cinematic element offers a new dimension to the whole experience, like an escape. This song charges hard with hypnotic forward motion and chainsaw slide guitar. Zombie's got only one vocal tone but you can't fault his commitment!
13. Judas Priest - Painkiller (1990)
This is a classic metal act out to prove they can not only keep up with, but outgun the new breed. The old dogs have learnt how to shred! Opening with a 'fully metal' drum solo, flying into a flurry of razor licks and joined by the Metal God himself, Rob Halford, on screeching vox. Still five or six years off officially coming out of the closet, we may not know the Metal God is gay yet but we can gather he has more than just a mild penchant for bondage. There are more whips and chains in this film clip than your average music video, but there ain't nothing average about this song.
12. Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark (1992) (Released live version 1993)
An epic piece of storytelling from some of the genre’s finest. With a full catalogue of classic tracks in the rearview mirror, Fear Of The Dark is kind of like a bonus – a late classic. Live and on home turf at Castle Donington, this song sees its true potential. We are talking purely distilled Maiden; galloping bass, rolling drums and as animated, skilled and powerful a vocal performance as you ever will hear.
11. Body Count - Cop Killer (1992)
A fun, outrageous and super relevant tune as far as ‘90s metal goes. This was an important time. Heavy metal has always been an underdog - a force which offends but doesn't go out looking to do so. Heavy metal will be blamed for conjuring devilish acts, inciting violence (or some such nonsense), every decade or so, but that sort of attention had never been actively sought out until now.
Ice T's Body Count arrived on the scene fully armed with eighteen lo-fi metal tracks detailing all sorts of murderous shit, but most notably, murdering cops. Not just murdering cops though, encouraging anyone listening to get involved in the war on police. It's a passionate and well written album; funny in its absurdity but still pretty shocking in that the band don't appear to be joking. The song set to a kickass tempo, loaded with machine gun samples, sick riffs, a blood-boiling breakdown and a fist pumpin' chorus. Oh, the song was quickly banned and Ice T thrown on America's Most Wanted list too. Metal!
10. Ozzy Ozbourne - No More Tears (1991)
An Ozzy Osbourne epic. This one trades grit for cocaine pomp. Crystal clear production and some significant heft courtesy of the (relatively) newly recruited Zakk Wylde's muscular guitar tone n' technique. The structure is intelligent, Ozzy's not nearly as unhinged as usual, and it sounds like a band in top form. Special mention to one of the most triumphant guitar solos of its time.
9. Faith No More - Midlife Crisis (1992)
Like the ramblings of a madman… a first person insight into the thought process of a tormented “thirty something”. So the premise lyrically is pretty cool, but the whole picture is just amazing. Defiantly refusing to serve up any hits after the success of Epic two years earlier, an already very eclectic act, Faith No More had become even more unpredictable. All cuts off this Angel Dust album, however, do share a common nastiness. Midlife Crisis has miles of vibe, eerie and mechanical with soaring keys over percussive samples, heavy footed drumming and of course the heavy metal funk thing that they're famous for. This is a mean song from a band of misfits who will not pander. Patton spits each syllable and you know he means it.
8. Skid Row - Monkey Business (1992)
Pulled from their 1991 coming of age album, Slave To The Grind, 'Monkey Business' showcases everything that is so cool about Skid Row. All the hair and ego of their glam metal past still proudly in place, Skids got about a tonne heavier, upped the attitude and most importantly showcased a sense of groove superior to almost anyone in their genre. We don't really know what Sebastian Bach is carrying on about as he references the "Kangaroo Lady" or the "Part Time Pooch" but the phrasing is killer and delivery nothing short of awe inspiring.
7. Guns N’ Roses - You Could Be Mine (1991)
With a video clip every part as important as the song itself, it's hard to hear You Could Be Mine without picturing Arnold Schwarzenegger's bare ass, Eddie Furlong on a dirtbike, or Axl Rose' split kick in THOSE American flag bike shorts. Daringly opening with a (now iconic) two bar drum-fill, the robotic intro became instantly recognisable to any self-respecting metalhead, rock’n’roller or culturally aware citizen of the 1990s. You Could Be Mine explodes with confidence and despite its speed and pissed off temperament, maintains its swagger all the way.
6. Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy (1991)
Many moons ago, propped up against the TV and waiting patiently for Warrant's Cherry Pie clip to play again, Killing In The Name came on the tube. And I honestly thought it was a piss take. "Is it a song? A nursery rhyme? I hate it."
Well, before too long I'd changed my mind, bought the album and discovered Know Your Enemy. In fairness I could pick any song off this hugely important self-titled release, but this one seems to carry a little more poison. From the inventive opening guitar motif to the tone and choppy phrasing of the main riff, it's just so immediately engaging. Emitting so much anger with so much certainty, it's my pick of the poison from RATM's '92 debut.
5. Sepultura - Refuse/Resist (1993)
It's tribal and wayward, exotic and powerful, thrashy, punky, pissed off....it's all there. Earlier albums from the Seps display some fine thrash metal moments, but the new sound heard here on Chaos AD is entirely unique, and Refuse/Resist is the warning bell at the head of the charge. Still flogging the scuzzy tones but incorporating a whole heap of native groove! Shrill and shrieking guitar lines, old world Brazilian percussion and some extraordinarily exciting push and pull from brothers Max and Igor Cavalera push this puppy into the top 5.
4. Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
For a band renowned for Blitzkrieg speed aggression, they sure do know how to slow it down...and still maintain the evil! Its sinister vibes through and through with eerie harmonised guitar melodies slithering like a serpent atop Kerrie King's arpeggiated chord pattern, an ancient gong chiming far off in the distance, and Dave Lombardo impatiently injecting lightning drum trills into the half time lurk. It ain't long until they remember they're Slayer and go berserk, but there is a semblance of melody, control, and (the magic word when discussing ‘90s metal again) groove throughout.
3. Alice In Chains - Them Bones (1992)
It strikes with venomous immediacy, pulls you down into its dark world, offers a moments respite in the form of a bitchin' guitar solo, then pulls you back again. Them Bones is the most badass song on this list. It's grim as fuck but tough as an ox. AIC's prodigiously gifted frontman, looking deathly as hell, crooning about mortality and the futility of our physical selves. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell's trademark haunting harmonies ever present just a few steps below the lead. Equally uplifting as it is dire, the concomitance of power and pain, much like the band itself. Brilliantly tragic.
2. Metallica - Wherever I May Roam (1991)
After years of working through the pubs, clubs, highways, and autobahns of the world, Metallica had finally become a household name. This is their love song - a warts-and-all ode to their longterm lady: The road. While adopting many pop sensibilities here - certainly in contrast to the bands previous works - this song, along with the album to which it belongs, is disastrously powerful. Almost to a detriment. it hurts so good that even norms started to jump onboard. Just because Metallica are popular now, does it mean they are 'pop'? Many meatheads thought exactly that, but the fact is, if it rocks, it rocks. And this song f*cking rocks!
1. Pantera - Domination (1990)
The turning of a decade, from the '80s into the '90s marked something enormous for heavy metal; the arrival of Pantera. A band taking all the most potent elements of the genre to its ultimate point and distilling it down further. The heaviest riffs, the fastest licks, the tightest drums…and then adding their own unique flavour. One which would influence the best part of the entire heavy metal community, and even see the band take out the top spot - #1 on the popular music Billboard Charts. ‘Domination’ is off their first major label debut, ‘Cowboys From Hell,’ an album that dropped just as the ’90s were kicking off and marked a significant change in the game.
