The official website for Gibson guitars has released what they perceive to be the top 50 metal songs of all time. Gibson.com’s writers and editors worked on compiling the list over several weeks, releasing 10 entries at a time, and recently released the top 10, which declared the number one metal song to be “Master of Puppets” by Metallica.
In some ways, the number one spot for Metallica is fitting, considering 2011 is the 25th anniversary of the release of their Master of Puppets album. Having said that though, metalheads are notorious for having fierce and strong opinions about what they consider to be their “top songs,” on top of their fierce and strong opinions about what bands are or are not even metal.
Here’s the full list from Gibson.com:
01. “Master of Puppets” – METALLICA
02. “Ace of Spades” – MOTÖRHEAD
03. “Crazy Train” – OZZY OSBOURNE
04. “Iron Man” – BLACK SABBATH
05. “The Number of the Beast” – IRON MAIDEN
06. “War Pigs” – BLACK SABBATH
07. “Paranoid” – BLACK SABBATH
08. “One” – METALLICA
09. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” – IRON MAIDEN
10. “Breaking the Law” – JUDAS PRIEST
11. “Children of the Grave” – BLACK SABBATH
12. “Welcome to the Jungle” – GUNS N’ ROSES
13. “Black Sabbath” – BLACK SABBATH
14. “Hells Bells” – AC/DC
15. “The Trooper” – IRON MAIDEN
16. “Painkiller” – JUDAS PRIEST
17. “Stargazer” – RAINBOW
18. “Enter Sandman” – METALLICA
19. “Back in Black” – AC/DC
20. “Runnin’ with the Devil” – VAN HALEN
21. “The Hellion/Electric Eye” – JUDAS PRIEST
22. “Run to the Hills” – IRON MAIDEN
23. “Let it Go” – DEF LEPPARD
24. “Epic” – FAITH NO MORE
25. “Hangar 18” – MEGADETH
26. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” – IRON MAIDEN
27. “You’ve Got another Thing Comin'” – JUDAS PRIEST
28. “Fear of the Dark” – IRON MAIDEN
29. “Raining Blood” – SLAYER
30. “Walk” – PANTERA
31. “Holy Diver” – DIO
32. “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
33. “Heaven and Hell” – BLACK SABBATH
34. “Bulls on Parade” – RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
35. “Fade to Black” – METALLICA
36. “Angel of Death” – SLAYER
37. “Peace Sells” – MEGADETH
38. “Freak on a Leash” – KORN
39. “Them Bones” – ALICE IN CHAINS
40. “Cemetery Gates” – PANTERA
41. “Detroit Rock City” – KISS
42. “Devil’s Child” – JUDAS PRIEST
43. “Run with the Wolf” – RAINBOW
44. “Would?” – ALICE IN CHAINS
45. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” – TWISTED SISTER
46. “Hell Bent for Leather” – JUDAS PRIEST
47. “Beyond the Realms of Death” – JUDAS PRIEST
48. “Bomber” – MOTÖRHEAD
49. “Unchained” – VAN HALEN
50. “10,000 Days (Wings, Part II)” – TOOL
The site also conducted a Reader’s Poll Top 25, which varied from the “official” Gibson list. The readers voted in Iron Maiden‘s “Hallowed Be Thy Name” into the number one spot, followed by “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath in the number 2 spot. “Master of Puppets” came in at number 3 for the readers.
The differing results from their reader’s poll made me wonder: What do the GeeksOfDoom.com readers think? Let us know what YOUR number one metal song is in the comments below!
@Joseph_Rose Sorry, mate, I have to agree with the others who have responded to you thus far. Epic came off FNM’s album “The Real Thing”, which in many ways was a transitional release for them as they were developing their own musical identity with Mike Patton. The album also has a cover of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs… they certainly came from a heritage of metal – just maybe not “your” metal :)
You are 100% right. Faith No More sucked it hard. The fact that they are on this list and not bands like Mercyful Fate, Venom, Accept etc. is a joke. Faith No More was a step up from crap like Poison but that’s about it. NOT METAL!!
Comment by Crimsonwinter — March 22, 2011 @ 4:57 am
I don’t understand how Slayer didn’t make the list until song 29…and only had 2 songs on the list at that. Korn…really…korn?
I can agree with the Faith No More album being ‘metal’, although FNM was a bit of a one hit wonder. With that said, Epic was a great album, and ‘Epic’ a very good song…. but it in no way deserves a Top 50 Spot. I’m a huge Alice In Chains fan, I think AIC Unplugged was arguably the greatest album of all time (arguably) but they are the one band on this list where I would also argue that doesn’t deserve to be called Metal. Hard Rock yes, Metal no.
To Geoff who claims AC/DC, Kiss, and Guns N Roses are not metal… I think you are beling quite a bit too harsh. That’s a bit like saying Marilyn Monroe doesn’t belong on a Top 50 Sexiest of All Time because she’s ‘outdated’ now. Kudos need to be given to those who paved the way.
Those things aside, I do agree that Master of Puppets is arguably number one. But after that, I only agree with maybe twenty percent of this list. I think (old) Godsmack could have gotten some representation on here (I’ll skip all the non mainstream bands like Savatage and Celtic Frost) and I am beyond shocked that A Perfect Circle is nowhere to be found, and there is only ONE Tool Song?
Here are my other concerns:
If Twisted SIster is there, then so should Quiet Riot be.
‘Breakin The Law’, ‘Painkiller’, ‘Hellion/Electric Eye’ are all on there ahead of ‘You Got Another Thing Comin’?
“Hangar 18” ahead of ‘Peace Sells’?
I’d venture to guess a little more time for thought should have been taken when compiling this list.
10,000 Days (Wings, Part II) should not be on the list. In no way its a metal song. The song is hard rock, that’s its. Also, the song is about Maynard’s mom who spent 27 years (10,000 days) bound to a wheelchair, which is a very emotional song. Believe me, I was there when Tool 1st played this song live (with “Wings for Marie” before it of course) in L.A. Maynard got so emotional during the performance of the song that he had to step off stage to take some breathing time because he was very emotional. I love Tool don’t get me wrong, but this song should NOT be considered metal and NOT be on the list.
Technically, Rainbow is not a metal band, but that’s splitting hairs. Stargazer is probably the best Dio-Era song they ever made- so I’m actually glad to see it fairly high on the list. In any case, my number one would have to be Black Sabbath, by Black Sabbath- why? It’s the song that kick-started heavy metal in the first place.
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Yeah, “Epic” is totally a heavy metal song. =P
So stupid.
Comment by Anonymous — March 21, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
You’re an idiot who clearly knows nothing about metal. Epic is a very heavy track and it defined metal in the 90’s
Comment by Steven Quarterman — March 21, 2011 @ 8:58 pm
Another mainstream poll with only a fleeting gasp of what is or isn’t Metal.
AC/DC, Korn, Guns N Roses, KISS etc are Rock not Metal.
…And where’s the Death, Doom, Black varieties?
Comment by Geoff J — March 21, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
I have to agree about Epic.
Comment by Steve — March 21, 2011 @ 11:01 pm
@Joseph_Rose Sorry, mate, I have to agree with the others who have responded to you thus far. Epic came off FNM’s album “The Real Thing”, which in many ways was a transitional release for them as they were developing their own musical identity with Mike Patton. The album also has a cover of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs… they certainly came from a heritage of metal – just maybe not “your” metal :)
Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — March 21, 2011 @ 11:23 pm
This list is terrible. First 19 songs are from bands sponsored by Gibson. just saying.
Comment by JC — March 21, 2011 @ 9:28 pm
You are 100% right. Faith No More sucked it hard. The fact that they are on this list and not bands like Mercyful Fate, Venom, Accept etc. is a joke. Faith No More was a step up from crap like Poison but that’s about it. NOT METAL!!
Comment by Crimsonwinter — March 22, 2011 @ 4:57 am
I don’t understand how Slayer didn’t make the list until song 29…and only had 2 songs on the list at that. Korn…really…korn?
Comment by Sk8man11 — March 22, 2011 @ 8:21 am
I can agree with the Faith No More album being ‘metal’, although FNM was a bit of a one hit wonder. With that said, Epic was a great album, and ‘Epic’ a very good song…. but it in no way deserves a Top 50 Spot. I’m a huge Alice In Chains fan, I think AIC Unplugged was arguably the greatest album of all time (arguably) but they are the one band on this list where I would also argue that doesn’t deserve to be called Metal. Hard Rock yes, Metal no.
To Geoff who claims AC/DC, Kiss, and Guns N Roses are not metal… I think you are beling quite a bit too harsh. That’s a bit like saying Marilyn Monroe doesn’t belong on a Top 50 Sexiest of All Time because she’s ‘outdated’ now. Kudos need to be given to those who paved the way.
Those things aside, I do agree that Master of Puppets is arguably number one. But after that, I only agree with maybe twenty percent of this list. I think (old) Godsmack could have gotten some representation on here (I’ll skip all the non mainstream bands like Savatage and Celtic Frost) and I am beyond shocked that A Perfect Circle is nowhere to be found, and there is only ONE Tool Song?
Here are my other concerns:
If Twisted SIster is there, then so should Quiet Riot be.
‘Breakin The Law’, ‘Painkiller’, ‘Hellion/Electric Eye’ are all on there ahead of ‘You Got Another Thing Comin’?
“Hangar 18” ahead of ‘Peace Sells’?
I’d venture to guess a little more time for thought should have been taken when compiling this list.
-Johnny V
Senior Editor
Smartasses.Net
Comment by Smarty — March 22, 2011 @ 12:44 pm
10,000 Days (Wings, Part II) should not be on the list. In no way its a metal song. The song is hard rock, that’s its. Also, the song is about Maynard’s mom who spent 27 years (10,000 days) bound to a wheelchair, which is a very emotional song. Believe me, I was there when Tool 1st played this song live (with “Wings for Marie” before it of course) in L.A. Maynard got so emotional during the performance of the song that he had to step off stage to take some breathing time because he was very emotional. I love Tool don’t get me wrong, but this song should NOT be considered metal and NOT be on the list.
Comment by Nacho — March 23, 2011 @ 2:47 am
Technically, Rainbow is not a metal band, but that’s splitting hairs. Stargazer is probably the best Dio-Era song they ever made- so I’m actually glad to see it fairly high on the list. In any case, my number one would have to be Black Sabbath, by Black Sabbath- why? It’s the song that kick-started heavy metal in the first place.
Comment by Vincent Esposito — May 25, 2011 @ 10:33 pm
Judas priest victim of changes should be on this list. Tis still a quality list tho.
Comment by kdyer — January 9, 2013 @ 4:47 am