Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn has some questions about Rolling Stone‘s latest list entitled The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time. Flynn expresses his thanks for the publication including Machine Head‘s “Davidian” on the list, but isn’t sure why the massively influential (and usual candidates to be added to The Big Four) Exodus and Testament were omitted.
“I’d like to personally thank Rolling Stone for the inclusion of ‘Davidian,’ from Machine Head‘s 1994 debut album Burn My Eyes in their Top 100 Greatest Heavy-Metal Songs of All Time. It was a rare and delightful compliment from a magazine that has largely paid us no mind for the last 29 years.
“Once the surprise of being mentioned subsided, I decided to go through all ‘100 Songs.’ Sure, there are many, many questionable choices on the list, but there are two glaring omissions I HAVE to mention. No Exodus? No Testament?
“Bay Area Thrash Metal is still an extremely vital and powerful force in music, and it wasn’t just Metallica that brought it to the World. Upon formation, Exodus were literally the most exciting band around. Crafting timeless songs like ‘Bonded By Blood,’ ‘A Lesson In Violence,’ or their own ‘pit anthem’ – ‘The Toxic Waltz’, all deserve similar honors on such a list. When I was a teenager growing up in the Bay Area, I cannot express how important and influential Exodus and guitarist Gary Holt were and remain. Without Gary, there is no Robb Flynn. Without Exodus, there is no Machine Head.
“And when it comes to Testament? The word that continues to flash before my eyes is ‘impact.’ I can assure you that every single Rock/Metal guitar player on the face of the planet’s collective jaws hit the floor when they heard Alex Skolnick play. His adding of classical arpeggio sweeps into songs like ‘Over The Wall,’ and ‘Disciples Of The Watch,’ was game changing. Soon everybody from Kirk Hammett of Metallica to Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest was doing it. The commanding bellow of singer Chuck Billy was an absolute precursor to the Death and Black Metal vocal that would soon follow and continue until this day. That’s undeniable impact.
“Again, we are humbled, honored, and grateful for our welcome into your ‘Top 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time’. Lastly, on behalf of the Heavy Metal community, thank you for representing our genre in your publication.”
If you’re curious what the top 20 were, they are (and you guessed it – they’re all old-school):
- Ratt – “Round And Round”
- Megadeth – “Peace Sells”
- Led Zeppelin – “Immigrant Song”
- AC/DC – “Back In Black”
- Iron Maiden – “Hallowed By Thy Name”
- Slayer – “Angel Of Death”
- Rainbow – “Stargazer”
- Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”
- Living Colour – “Cult Of Personality”
- Metallica – “One”
- Iron Maiden – “Run To The Hills”
- Dio – “Holy Diver”
- Slayer – “Raining Blood”
- Black Sabbath – “Iron Man”
- Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”
- Black Sabbath – “War Pigs”
- Judas Priest – “Breaking The Law”
- Motörhead – “Ace Of Spades”
- Metallica – “Master Of Puppets”
- Black Sabbath – “Black Sabbath”
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