As evidenced by our review of the album, we here at Invisible Oranges have a fondness for the high-octane, ’70s era spliffs and riffs displayed by Christian Mistress’ on their new release, Possession.
The resounding vocals of Christian Mistess frontwoman Christine Davis are not unlike those of Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson on the classic 1977 track, “Barracuda,” as Davis’ voice writhes through verses about the afterlife. The excellent guitar solos by Oscar Sparbel and Ryan McClain and delightfully chugging bass of Johnny Wulf aren’t too shabby, either.
With the album’s release date set for tomorrow, we encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself. Or better yet, enter to win one here! To be in the running, tell us in the comments below what song personifies “classic metal” for you. The contest will end at midnight on Monday, March 5. You must have a mailing address in the continental US or Canada to enter.
LISTEN TO POSSESSION
. . .
BUY POSSESSION
. . .
I loved Agony and Opium and I’ll end up buying this but what the hell, why not try for a free copy:
Iron Maiden, “Aces High”
JUDAS PRIEST – “electric eye”
The most classic metal song I can think of:
Dio – Holy Diver
Can’t beat that.
Priest – Victim of Changes
“The Number of the Beast” – Iron Maiden
I want to go with a better-known band, but I just have to keep coming back to Anvil – Metal On Metal!
Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath,” – Black Sabbath.
Judas Priest- “Exciter”
Salvation is his task.
Iron Maiden – Hallowed Be Thy Name
goosebumps supreme, it’s all there…. all of it.
Motorhead “Overkill”
Diamond Head – Am I Evil?
To me, this is just on the cusp between 70’s classic hard rock and 80’s classic heavy metal, thus personifying classic metal. Wooo!
“Lock Up the Wolves” by Dio.
R.I.P.
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll by Judas Priest
Accept “Fast as a Shark”
Mercyful Fate – “Evil”. Dual axe attack, histrionic vocals, Satan. THE one.
It’s gotta be Venom – “Black Metal”
LAY DOWN YOUR SOULS TO THE GODS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL / METAL TEN FOLD THROUGH THE DEADLY BLACK HOLE!!!
Metallica – For Whom The Bell Tolls
N.I.B. – Black Sabbath
Does anyone else think that might mean “new in box”?
Rainbow – “Stargazer”
Saxon – “Denim and Leather”
Jag Panzer-”Harder than Steel”
Judas Priest – Painkiller
Iron Maiden – “Prowler.”
Accept, “Balls to the Wall”.
Defiantly Black Sabbath – “Black Sabbath”
of course I mean Definitely, the chrome spell check is terrible.
Judas Priest- Metal Gods, of course.
Accept – Fast as a Shark. The most metal song ever written
Iron Maiden // “The Trooper”
Judas Priest: Saints in Hell !!!
Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Metallica – Seek And Destroy
Not only musically, but the attitude just screams classic metal at me.
Children – “Advanced Mind Control” (Kemado Records)
Much like Christian Mistress, this is a more recent band whose music shines with adoration for “classic metal”. You can tell without any doubt that these dudes spent hours after (and probably during) school in their bedrooms, garages, and basements smoking weed and practicing Metallica, Maiden, and Priest albums front to back. There is a punk influence heard with Children as well which reminds me of some “classic metal” releases.
Mercyful Fate-”Come to the Sabbath”. Good call on “Denim and Leather”!
Thin Lizzy’s “Massacre”
I know erstwhile IO editor Cosmo thought Thin Lizzy wasn’t metal, but if there’s a more classically metal song than “Massacre,” I haven’t heard it.
Christian Mistress’s own “Home in the Sun” isn’t too shabby either. Or the end part of “Omega Stone.” Or “Desert Rose.” Yep, I need to get the new album. There was an article on another metal blog a while back that suggested that CM are overhyped because they have a female singer. Wrong. They’re just a great fucking band with great fucking songs. And Christine Davis may not have the range of a Halford or Dickinson or King Diamond, but, like Phil Lynott’s, her voice just exudes real-ness.
Metal Church- Beyond the Black
Guns and Roses-Sweet Child of Mine
Classic metal: Judas Priest “Beyond the Realms of Death” just sets the template so many bands have built on!!
Judas Priest – Savage
My first inclination was to go with Victim of Changes but I think I’ll go with The Immigrant Song by Zepplin. Technically, yes, they weren’t a ‘metal’ band but that songs contains the gallop (well, not as gallopy as Maiden of course) courtesy of Jones and Bonham and lyrics about Vikings. Classic and metal.
When we first heard Agony & Opium, this incredible FUZZZZZZ let us know just what kind of trip we were in for. Spliffs were lit, heads nodded, goatheads were offered, and (my oldest school metalhead friend) Ducky couldn’t believe they were a new band. If I win, I’m giving this new one to him.
-WK
lol, what SONG personifies classic metal. I’ll learn to read one of these days.
I’m going with “Hallowed Be Thy Name” by Iron Maiden. True classic rock albums (especially metal) should have killer epic final tracks and this one beats them all! When the drums come in, just try not to get a goofy smile on your face. THAT’S classic metal!
Thanks!
-WK
Damn. That track “black to gold” is killer. I’ll go with Flotsam & Jotsam’s “Hammerhead”
“Hit the Lights,” by Metallica.
For one, it’s the first song on the first album by — like it or not — the most popular and (probably) most influential metal band of all time.
Additionally, it’s a quintessential example of “meta metal” (that is, metal *about* metal, as IO discussed here: http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2012/01/meta-metal-and-metal-cheerleading/).
Opening lyrics:
No life till leather
We’re gonna kick some ass tonight
We got the metal madness
When our fans start screaming
It’s right, well alright
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
Hit the lights!
Dammit — the parenthesis got included in the URL in my link. This one should work: http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2012/01/meta-metal-and-metal-cheerleading/
Disqualified, but Tank’s Filth Hounds Of Hades is a total rager! Can’t go wrong with one of the best intros in metal: WAKEY! WAKEY!
How is anything off the first four Tank albums disqualified?!
I’m disqualified from entering this contest, should’ve worded it correctly!
Metallica – Ride the Lightning
I was like six years old and me and my dad were coming home from somewhere, probably Dairy Queen, and this crazy devil voice came over the radio just as my dad was pulling into our driveway. He quickly turned the volume way up, locked the doors and lit a cigarette, told me I was getting out ’til the song was over. It was “Iron Man.”
Incidentally, I heard Slayer for the first time in a truck, too. That time it was cousin’s truck and I was like ten and he was taking me to the mall. I was gonna buy some G.I. Joes and shit, but after hearing Slayer the whole way in his truck, I bought RIB on cassette. Still have that tape, too.
Saxon- Strong Arm of The Law. Its everything that is classic metal and so much more.
‘Angel Witch’ by Angel Witch
Guitar coming at you from every direction. Chugging ‘you gotta sing along’ chorus. Love the (at least I like to sing along like I’m) drunk British gang vocals at the end.
Losing your mind for an evil woman. Love it. Totally rips.
Black Sabbath’s Embryo / Children of the Grave from Master of Reality!!!
Diamond Head, The Prince. Has one of the best guitar harmonies into solo’s ever, and lyrics about satan. What more do you need?
“Turn Your Head Around” by Tank
IRON MAN
Maybe not the song that personifies classic metal in general, but to me in particular, it’s gotta’ be “Number Of The Beast”, Iron Maiden.
Ultimately, I believe the most classic metal song would come down to a run-off between Sabbath and Maiden, Priest and Dio, however, I’m gonna get nerdy and go with “Born To Be Wild” – a song that captures the spirit of metal, as well as coined the term “heavy metal”.
Classic Metal = Motorhead “Ace of Spades”
It has more balls, more volume, and more Lemmy than any of the rest. It wins by default.
Exciter – “Heavy Metal Maniac”
The best “metal” song ever written, it’s custom-made for drinkin’, fightin’ and fuckin’.