Metal Hammer released their “100 Best Metal Songs of the 90s” two days ago. Look, there are some good songs on that list, no doubt. But as someone who was a fan of metal during the glorious 1980’s, the 1990’s still sting as the decade when metal almost died and the world was introduced to the horror known as nu-metal. Certainly grunge had paved the path for extreme metal’s exit as soon as Nirvana hit the scene with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” but grunge was tolerable, and, at times, quite enjoyable. It wasn’t, however, really metal. Nu-metal, on the other hand, was a complete disaster and caused a mass migration of metal fans over to other genres. With the exception of what has happening in the Scandinavian scene, the 1990’s were rather desperate times for those of us who rejoiced in the previous decade from beginning to end.
With that in mind, this list contains no grunge, no nu-metal, no post-“Justice” Metallica song, no Machine Head. Nothing with a DJ. It does reflect the tail end of the more important work from some of the best thrash bands that emerged in the 80’s and the early songs from Norway’s greatest artists who were largely still developing their sound (and their ability to record).
Now one always takes on a massive amount of risk when composing these types of lists, but let’s face it, taking on risks in the world of metal journalism is basically what I do. So, log on to your facebooks and your twitters, get your keypads ready and start searching for your memes to post now, because here we go….
- “Heartwork” Carcass
- “Seasons in the Abyss” Slayer
- “I am the Black Wizards” Emperor
- “Mother North” Satyricon
- “Christian Woman” Type O Negative
- “Egypt” Mercyful Fate
- “Walk” Pantera
- “This Love” Pantera
- “Unsung” Helmet
- “The Philosopher” Death
- “Lack of Comprehension” Death
- “How the Gods Kill” Danzig
- “Rapture” Morbid Angel
- “Arise” Sepultura
- “Holy Wars” Megadeth
- “Hanger 18” Megadeth
- “War Ensemble” Slayer
- “Lost at 22” Life of Agony
- “I’m Broken” Pantera
- “Solarfall” Immortal
- “Nattestid Ser Porten Vid I” Taake
- “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend” Type O Negative
- “Dirty Black Summer” Danzig
- “God of Emptiness” Morbid Angel
- “The Sun No Longer Rises” Immortal
- “A Moment of Clarity” Death
- “The Somberlain” Dissection
- “Pyretta Blaze” Type O Negative
- “Freezing Moon” Mayhem
- “Kathaarian Life Code” Darkthrone
- “Tailgunner” Iron Maiden
- “Dead by Dawn” Deicide
- “Stone the Crow” Down
- “Refuse/Resist” Sepultura
- “Painkiller” Judas Priest
- “Mourning Palace” Dimmu Borgir
- “Gorgoroth” Gorgoroth
- “Beg To Differ” Prong
- “Auslander” Living Colour
- “One Rode to Asa Bay” Bathory
- “Ride” Cathedral
- “Unchain the Wolves” Destroyer 666
- “Loke” Enslaved
- “Eye of the Witch” King Diamond
- “Black Lodge” Anthrax
- “Brand New God” Danzig
- “Electric Crown” Testament
- “River Runs Red” Life of Agony
- “Got the Time” Anthrax
- “Cold” At the Gates
Songs that were “borderline” but didn’t make the cut because they were slightly too grunge, too rap-infused or too punk:
“Goddess” Mind Funk
“Punishment” Biohazard
“Dogman” King’s X
“Low Self Opinion” Rollins Band
“Running Into Walls” Into Another
So while the 1990’s were pretty lousy for metal they did give rise to the True Norwegian black metal scene, so we can be thankful for that. Unfortunately the greater black metal scene that many of these artists paved the way for has now been co-opted by the dull and lifeless black gaze and shoegaze that now dominates gentrified urban areas across the land that raises rents and clogs city sewers with incessant waxed beard clippings and far-too-expensive coffee grounds. But like objectivity in the media, that scene will die as well. I guess that’s something to look forward to.
Commence complaints…. Now.
