Flashback - Fight!

It's that time again, kids: FLASHBACK!  Ok, so if you have been paying attention, you know that I am a huge Rob Halford fan.  As I have mentioned before, Judas Priest of course craps better bands than Iron Maiden, but even the man by himself is a force of nature.  After his initial departure from Priest, Mr. Halford formed the impossibly-awesome band Fight, which produced two full-length albums before disbanding so that Rob could pursue projects like Two, with Trent Reznor, and Halford, which still operates when Judas Priest is not touring.  I can tell you from personal experience that Fight destroyed live, but I submit that you really can experience the raw feeling of the band from its studio recordings (in addition to various live stuff that Rob's label, Metal God, has released over the years.)  As usual, I urge you to explore the records, as they are loaded with great music, but to get you started, it's "Nailed to the Gun" - CRANK IT!

Fireball Ministry

Ok kids, so if Lemmy and Ozzy had a kid, what would it sound like?  It would sound like Fireball Ministry (excellent name), and apparently it would have a badass Amazon rhythm guitarist called Emily Burton.  My only regret is that it does not still have the legendary Janice Tanaka on bass.  Also, it would completely kick ass live, but don't take my word for it - go see 'em, and be sure to wear your special hat that keeps your head from blowing up.  It's "Flatline" today - get your leather jackets on and CRANK IT!

Samael

So, Switzerland.  I can't say I spend much more time thinking that metal bands come out of Switzerland than I do thinking they come out of France; nevertheless, some of the best and most interesting metal bands come from that very place.  Legendary proto-death metal band Celtic Frost is from Switzerland, as is easily one of the best metal bands ever, Sybreed, whom I have posted before - definitely check THOSE guys out.  Today's offering from the land of neutrality, mountains, clocks, and chocolate is the ever-reinventing juggernaut that is Samael.  I thought just for perspective I would post something from Samael's early black metal days and something from the very-different later album Reign of Light (that's right: you get not one, but TWO tracks today - I'm just magnanimous like that); each is excellent, but I hope you will also be able to appreciate the kind of talent it takes to actually change the sound of your band this radically while maintaining its level of quality, thus remaining relevant over the course of more than twenty years.  Here are "Baphomet's Throne" and "In'ch Allah" - CRANK 'EM!

Austrian Death Machine

Ok kids, today just for fun, it's Austrian Death Machine.  All of ADM's lyrics are about bits of Schwarzenegger films - get it?  Austrian Death Machine?  Regardless, it rawks - it's "Get To The Choppa" - CRANK IT!