Battle Hymns Classics: Paranoid

Regarded by many as the band's magnum opus, Paranoid is a true metal gem. Many of Sabbath's biggest hits are on this album. There is, of course, the title track, Paranoid which was actually added at the last minute because they didn't have enough material to flesh out the album. The story is that Iommi started playing the riff, and about thirty minutes later, they had the whole damn song written.

War Pigs is another of the big hits from the album, and is a great anit-war song, as well as a metal classic. Then, of course, is the Black Sabbath song everyone knows, Iron Man. Don't get me wrong, I do like this song, but I never feel the need or desire to listen to it. The reason is that it is just so popular and I hear it so often in other places, that I've reached the Iron Man saturation point. Plus there are far better songs on the album.

I actually prefer the lesser known "B" side tracks to the hit heavy "A" side. Eletric Funeral has a trudgey funeral dirge riff that hits you in your gut, and still sounds as heavy forty years later.

Hand of Doom is filled with musical changes and time signatures, which makes it a bit awkward at first, but Ozzy's wail is in full swing on this song, and Ozzy on top of his game is always a joy to hear.

Paranoid is an outstanding album. Most metal bands can only dream of creating an album as amazing from start to finish. What is crazy is that this is Sabbath's second album, and they had a bunch more great albums on the way after this. Paranoid is forty years old, yes, forty, and it is still amazing. Talk about standing up to the test of time. Metal bands are still very heavily influenced and inspired by Black Sabbath, and this album is one big reason why.

It is pretty much a given that every metal fan owns this album, but it is also one of those rare albums that has appeal to a larger fan base. There is so much good music to be had on this album, and is arguably one of the most influential albums of all time, that everyone should own a copy.



I love this live footage of Paranoid. Ozzy looks to be high as a bird and he's really fired up! The purple frills are hilarious! Not to mention the rainbow in the background. Very surreal.

Battle Hymns Classics: Black Sabbath (the album)

Arguably the first true METAL album ever, Black Sabbath released their first, self titled album in 1970. The first song on the album is also titled Black Sabbath, which may lead one to think the band lacks creativity, but all you really need to do is listen to the song and you'll find that Black Sabbath lacks nothing in the creativity department...they created METAL!!

You can learn a lot about Black Sabbath by listening to the song Black Sabbath. First off, all it takes is a one song sample to tell if you'll like them or not. If you like the song Black Sabbath, chances are you'll like most of their other music too, if you don't like the song, then you probably aren't gonna like Sabbath's other music either...maybe you'll like the song Changes.

Another thing you can learn is one of Sabbath's favorite subject matter: Satan. (The other favorite is drugs).

Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling people their desire
Satan's sitting there, he's smiling
Watches those flames get higher and higher
Oh no, no, please God help me

Man the Christians must have loved these guys in the 70's.

The rest of the album kicks ass as well. You've got Sabbath classics in Wizard, (all the musicians were reading Lord of the Rings back in the day). Not to mention N.I.B. a song written from Lucifer's point of view. The American and European editions differ from each other, (I own the European edition), placing some songs in different orders, or having different tracks on the separate editions. The core of the album is there on each edition though, so having one album over the other doesn't matter much. Either way you get galloping riffs, insane solos, and classic Ozzy wail. Sabbath tore down the gates of hell, set up shop in Satan's front yard, and began to build their metal destiny with this album.

This is an absolute essential album for any metal fan. If you don't own, buy it, and hail Sabbath!

Battle Hymns Classics: Opiate

My Brother and I have long had the belief that Tool's first album, considered an EP, is the ultimate work-out album. Coming in at just about thirty minutes, it truly is an exceptional work-out companion. Not only does it start out somewhat slow - the warm up, then build in intensity, but it also mellows out a bit at the end for the cool down portion of your work out. Maybe Tool isn't the work out companion for everyone, but before you queue up Coldplay or some shit for your next work-out take this into consideration: This shit will fire you up. This is by far Tool's most intense, pulse pounding album. How intense? I'm talking John McClane versus Hans Gruber in the Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve INTENSE! If this album does not get you fired up for a work out, then you probably don't listen to enough metal.

Even though Tool has a bunch of other great albums Opiate is by far my favorite. Early Tool holds a special place in my heart. I've never really been able to put my finger on why this album is a favorite...their later stuff is certainly more technically skillful, and their song writing has only gotten better through the years, but Opiate has a compact heaviness that sets it apart. All the songs are fairly brief, aside from the title track which is over eight minutes, but each song packs a solid punch. Even though this wasn't the first Tool album I heard, I wasn't a Tool fan until I heard this album.

While every song is essential and awesome, Cold and Ugly and Jerk-Off are my favorites...I've always wondered: who is that "Bob Marley-wannabe-mother-fucker"? I've heard contrary, yet believable tales that it is Zac De La Rocha from Rage Against the Machine, and also that it is King Buzzo from The Melvins...perhaps the world will never know. Either way these two songs are great. The fact that they are played live, in the band's second ever live performance, show's how skilled Tool is. They sound fantastic on these live tracks, and while many singers sound less than great outside of the studio, Maynard James Keenan's voice sounds absolutely fantastic.

Opiate is a must-own for all metal fans. And non-metal fans as well...(I know a few Tool fans who aren't into metal). If you haven't heard this album yet, I suggest you set aside thirty minutes, or dedicate your next work-out to this album. It is sure to rock you.

Enjoy the Cold and Ugly video...the camera work is less than stellar, but the sound quality is pretty good.

Battle Hymns Classics: Countdown to Extinction

-In order to keep a somewhat steady stream of new posts here at Battle Hymns, I will occasionally post "classic" reviews. These will be based on books or music that have had a lasting impression on me over the course of multiple years.

It was a "no brainer" to decide to use Countdown to Extinction as my first "classic" review, literally... it was suggested to me by my brother Brad. When I told him of my "classics" idea, he instantly said that it should be Megadeth's fifth album, Countdown to Extinction, so here goes...


In the twenty-three years or so that I have consciously been listening to music, (by that I mean, aware that I was actually listening to music), there is no other album that I have listened to more than Countdown to Extinction. In the year of 1992, my brother and I received our first three CDs from our Aunt Sally. The three CDs were: Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Metallica's "black album" and Countdown to Extinction. As a pre-teen I listened to these three albums steadily, singing along with the lyrics, head banging and playing air-guitar. As a teen I did the same, but with less regularity, and more self-consciousness. And as an adult I more or less completely stopped listening to the Metallica and Chili Peppers albums. Metallica, because I can no longer stand the black album, or the songs on it, Chili Peppers, because I simply no longer like their music. But Megadeth is still one of my favorite bands, and while Countdown to Extinction isn't my favorite album, or even my favorite Megadeth album, I still love it.

I love this album so much that I actually own two copies of it...for fear that the album received in 1992 ever becomes unplayable. The need for two copies became necessary a few years ago when Megadeth re-released this album as "remastered". The remastered version features re-sung lyrics, and different solos, which make for a different listening experience, and one that is decidedly not the listening experience I am akin to. So when I found the non-remastered version used, I scooped it up and filed it away for future enjoyment.

I also love every song on this album. Well, almost every song, I've never been able to like "High Speed Dirt". As I have grown and aged, particular tracks have fallen in and out of favor with me. Most notable of these is "Ashes in Your Mouth" a song I initially disliked but now think quite highly of. While on the flip side, "Sweating Bullets" has been in steady decline for a few years. I guess the quintessential song on the album is "Symphony of Destruction", (this may be my most listened to song of all time). Plus, it is the one song that could be considered a "hit".

If I were to pinpoint my absolute favorite thing about this album, it would be the downright amazing riff-age. Nearly every song includes a riff that is solid gold. While other bands and songs from this era feel dated to me, or have just fallen off to the wayside as my musical tastes expand and contrast, Countdown to Extinction remains a solid go-to album when I'm in need of some metal. This is Megadeth's "classic" line-up at their collective finest and most polished. With Mustaine, and Friedman on guitars, the riffs really roll along, giving the album a quality that has helped sustain it for all these years.

No Countdown to Extinction post would be complete however without mentioning the many amazing solos. This is one of the album's most endearing traits; every single song has at least one blistering solo. As a kid I would air guitar these solos with great skill, my fingers moving up and down the invisible fret board. As an adult, I hear the solos and all I can do is shake my head in admiration as each solo astounds me with its intricacy and technicality. The amazing thing about Megadeth is that they had two great soloists in Mustaine and Friedman, so there is a bounty of sweet solos on this album.

Since this album, Megadeth has released seven more albums, (one is good, one is ok, the rest I either dont like or haven't bothered to listen to), but Countdown to Extinction stands out as their most accessible and successful. I consider this metal gem to be a must have for any metal or hard rock fan out there. So if you don't already own this album, buy the non-remastered version and enjoy.



This live video from Argentina gives me chills...I love how the crowd sings along with the riff.