My Top Ten Favorite Bands Part One

Hey, what's up?

I've decided to mix things up a little. Instead of just posting my journal from this morning, I'm going to see if a little bit of classic blogging will spice things up on this site. Without further adieu, here are my ten favorite bands -

10. Serpentine Dominion

This was an easy pick because this band only has one album. That's why they're at the lowest spot. I love them but they don't have enough material for them to compare to everyone else on this list.

This is a supergroup consisting of Adam Dutkiewicz from Killswitch Engage on guitar and backup vocals, Shannon Lucas from the Black Dahlia Murder as the drummer, and Corpsegrinder as the lead vocalist. And my boy Jesse David Leach, also of Killswitch Engage, wrote the lyrics for the album. (He will definitely be showing up again on this list.)

My favorite thing about this band is how unique their sound is. They've got Corpsegrinder screaming about prosperity and changing the world (Which is what you get with the Jesse Leach lyrical package) Adam D's soft singing voice provides a sweet contrast to Corpsegrinder's demonic screaming. And Adam D shreds. All the time. The best thing about this band / album is the chugging and shredding that leads up to their choruses. 

This band prompted me to check out the Black Dahlia Murder. I can't say I regret that at all. Because Trevor Strnad's vocal range inspired me to learn how to start death growling myself. I still have no clue how he can alternate between highs and lows so quickly.

My Favorite Songs -

1. This Endless War
2. Sovereign Hate
3. Divide, Conquer, Burn, Destroy

9. Times of Grace

My next favorite band also only has one album under their belt (With one in production.) This is what I call an uber-super-group (Like Audioslave just being Rage Against the Machine with Chris Cornell instead of Zach De La Rocha.) In the studio, Adam D and Jesse Leach (Told you he'd show back up) of Killswitch Engage recorded everything with Adam's wife on backup for some tracks. So this is basically just two members of Killswitch Engage.

This band is very spiritual.  Adam D wrote these lyrics when he was in the hospital with the status of his music career up in the air. So the lyrics talk about hope and connection with the world and an (unnamed) higher power. It's just enough religion to not be on the nose or pretentious. And it also helps that Adam D shreds. All the time.

My Favorite Songs -

1. Live in Love
2. Worlds Apart
3. Willing

8. Rainbow

I love Ronnie James Dio and everything he's done. But I'd argue that Rainbow got better after he left.

Rainbow has been through at least four singers since Dio left and every single one of them brought their own unique sound and ushered in a new era for the band. With Dio, the band was a fantastical heavy metal act. With Graham Bonnet, they were spectacular glam rockers. Joe Lynn Turner solidified them as the swooning pop-balladers they became. Doogie White didn't really change much for the group but he tore it up on Stranger in Us All. Nowadays with Ronnie Romero, they've combined all of their previous sounds into one big nostalgic genre-monster.

Rainbow has been around since the 70s and they're still touring and putting out potential hits. I love how they've basically reinvented themselves with every era. 

My Favorite Songs -

1. Still I'm Sad (Stranger In Us All)
2. Lost In Hollywood
3. Stone Cold

7. Nickelback

Yes, Nickelback is one of my favorite bands.

My first CD was All the Right Reasons. Before that I was listening to Avril Lavigne, the All American Rejects and whatever the hell was on the radio. Nickelback gave me a taste for something different. I most certainly wouldn't be here writing this, if it weren't for them.

Also, they're fucking catchy. I don't care how bad Nickelback gets, at their worse they're still able to craft a nice-sounding song. The lyrics may not make any sense at all, and Chad Kroeger may sound like he's singing with a burrito in his mouth, but the song will damn sure get stuck in your head.

At their best, we get "Feed the Machine" and "When We Stand Together". 

If anything Nickelback is just really lazy and inconsistent. But at least they enjoy themselves and don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about them.

If these guys respect themselves enough to headline next to Judas fucking Priestt then I have nothing but respect for them too...

My Favorite Songs -

1. Savin' Me
2. How You Remind Me
3. Rockstar

6. Mercyful Fate

Oh, boy Mercyful Fate. I've spent many nights singing along to King Diamond in my dorm. Having to pick just three favorote songs by this band is insanely difficult. Their songs can sound so different I forget they're all by the same group. I just know that I love them. They can go from crooning, soft and creepy to loud, shredding and in your face. "Devil Eyes" and "Doomed by the Living Dead" wouldn't even sound like they were by the same band if it weren't for King's distinctive vocals. And then throw songs like "Since Forever" and "Curse of the Pharoahs" in the mix and you've got a diverse catalogue. I also love that King Diamond can somehow always find a way to get a Satanic message across and that he always does it in his signature falsetto. That's the Mercyful Fate brand. Whether the song is doom metal or disco you'll know who it is.

1. The Oath
2. Doomed by the Living Dead
3. Welcome Princes of Hell

Tune back in tomorrow when I finish talking about my top ten favorite bands.

© Metal Blade Records

Merry Christmas!