Pantera are masters at conveying anger and aggression. This video captures their intensity perfectly, with close-up shots of vocalist Phil Anselmo’s eyes rendering anyone red with anger.
Satanic and occult imagery are common features in metal music videos, with numerous altars and candles that might cause fire to break out. Not all videos approach this appropriated religious imagery in the same manner.
1. Slayer’s “Seasons in the Abyss”
After Reign in Blood and South of Heaven rocketed Slayer to stardom, they needed a record that could match or surpass it. Seasons in the Abyss is undoubtedly one of the essential thrash albums ever released – fast, violent, memorable riffs galore while at the same time providing atmospheric touches that elevate their sound lyrically – proving Slayer was truly one band capable of everything! It is truly proof of their versatility as musicians and proves why Slayer remains popular today.
Slayer’s debut record should be an essential listen for any metal fan and serves as an ideal introduction to their music for newcomers. The songs are well-crafted and led by Tom Araya and Jeff Hanneman’s powerful vocals; Araya still sings about Satan but had grown more socially conscious by this point, not simply screaming about demons all the time; this can be heard in songs such as “War Ensemble”, which features macabre guitar riffs to complement its dark lyrics, or in “Dead Skin Mask,” an homage to serial killer Ed Gein.
“Skeletons of Society,” with its great groove and more anthemic song, and “Hallowed Point,” an infectious fast and furious banger like any Slayer track, are two stellar tracks on this record. Even “Temptation,” one of Slayer’s more melancholic tunes, offers up something unexpected – two identical guitar riffs playing simultaneously while Araya talks aloud about how miserable his life has become. Production-wise, however, was top notch – showing they knew exactly what was needed when creating it!
2. Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law”
Judas Priest’s 1980 anthem “Breaking the Law” may appear outdated today, but its metal punch remains strong. From singer Rob Halford riding onto stage on a Harley Davidson motorcycle and dismounting to whip up an audience frenzy; to Glenn Tipton and KK Downing unleashing their twin lead guitar assault – Judas Priest expert showmanship can still be felt within its lyrics and music. “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest remains relevant today despite its age – while being iconic by metal fans today compared with earlier classic metal acts such as Judas Priest.
This video holds the distinction of being one of the first to depict thrash metal’s intense energy and its driving rage. Specifically, during one chorus vocalist Halford shows his strength by dislodging from a bank safe their gold record award from British Steel album (released prior to this music video).
Metalheads can be wild creatures, and this 1987 video from Limp Bizkit serves as evidence. Filmed at an indoor skate park and packed with cameos (such as Fred Durst), Limp Bizkit’s fans show just as much enthusiasm in person – evidenced by an all-out riot that ensues in the house where they play – Roadrunner Records was forced to pay damages totalling $50k due to this event.
If you want a real sense of what the band sounds like live, watch its 1976 classic Live at Hammersmith on DVD release with live version featuring “Breaking the Law,” among many other performances. Also be sure to pick up copies of its reissued catalog including 1980’s near perfect British Steel album as well as its lesser counterparts Point of Entry, Screaming for Vengeance and Defenders of Faith albums from their catalog reissue series.
3. Metallica’s “..And Justice For All”
Metallica’s 1988 thrash metal masterpiece And Justice for All remains the most influential album ever created by any band. Released after bassist Cliff Burton died and just before their transition into massive rock superstardom,…And Justice For All stands as an indictment of our world ranging from unnecessary war violence to corrupt government power structures – its lyrics remain as relevant today as they did then.
While its production could have been better and some tracks felt repetitive, that doesn’t diminish its classic status. “One” in particular serves as an embodiment of its power: lyrics so emotionally charged they make an indelible mark that will resonate for generations to come.
The video for this song stands out among all their releases as one of the most innovative from this band. Not only did its members demonstrate their musical prowess when making this video; they also displayed considerable filmmaking knowledge through stop-motion animation similar to works from David Cronenberg or Adam Jones and added another layer of intrigue into it.
A deluxe box set of this album was recently released with plenty of additional material in addition to its two CDs and DVD recording. Included is a bonus disc containing riffs, jams, demos and live recordings by the band during this period as well as laminated tour passes from their Damaged Justice world tour, stickers, three patches, lyric sheets and a hardcover book that explores its creation process.
4. Ghost’s “Square Hammer”
Swedish band Ghost have been making music for more than a decade and have had great success with it. In January 2017 Ghost’s song, “Square Hammer”, was the first Swedish song ever to top Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. This track stands out from their other work as it contains more of a pop sound as well as less keyboards than usual for metal tracks, yet still managed to achieve such greatness on Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Still it remains a memorable tune.
The video for this song provides a vivid illustration of its message; lyrics propose swearing instead to Satan rather than God and this theme was explored further on their third album, Meliora. While their first two albums focussed on depicting an Antichrist coming to Earth, Meliora focused on consolidating his rule over humanity.
Ghost (also known as Papa Emeritus III and his Nameless Ghouls) appears in a red-carpet screening of their movie Square Hammer, which bears striking resemblances to Nosferatu but with an invisible vampire instead of Dracula. As things begin playing out in theater, things begin going awry as one man with a torch discovers a stone sarcophagus filled with an unusual square-faced hammer inside it.
The band members react melodramatically to what’s unfolding on-screen and perform their impressive stage show, too. The song serves to excite an arena show crowd by pumping them up – and it does just that successfully!
5. Orgy’s “Stitches”
Orgy’s heavy metal debut album and accompanying documentary showcase an abundance of home video footage with concert shots, concert shots and even some Jackass-esque stunts. Social Enemies opens like the opening scene from an alien flick with heavy guitar distortion and Gordon’s haunting vocals enveloping you before moving seamlessly onto Stitches as the album’s signature track.
The documentary itself is fascinating as it offers a detailed dissection of music video production process. Items used during production (such as a hydraulic glass box marked “video set”) are clearly identified with their use; certain portions are even documented on boards with text explaining them (one has written “Transcribed telephone conversations” on it, for instance).
Orgy is undeniably a space-age band and their music reflects this. Dissention on Orgy’s second album sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie with its spacey synthesizers and Gordon’s vocals bursting through your speakers; their futuristic theme continues into Fiend with mind reading technology used on one track and singing into an instrument which seems futuristic technology on another song (Fiend).
Fetisha, Orgy’s third and final video, is an odd, sensual piece filled with images both disturbing and beautiful – an interesting contrast that brings their song to life. Although its production may be less than ideal – as songs often merge together into one big blur of fuzz and white noise – but nonetheless serves to showcase Orgy’s music beautifully.