Hidden Treasures - March Metal Madness (Headbangers Ball)

[Scott]

Headbangers Ball was one of the most popular music shows ever to air on MTV, on the air for nearly 8 years, and for a time, it was one of the network's flagship shows. For some time in 1988 and '89, the show was increased to 3 hours. One hour added, plus Hard 60, a daily version of the ball that aired for an hour every weekday afternoon.


The name "Headbangers Ball" was originally invented and used by DJ John Brent of Bury, Lancashire and was used on his rock and metal roadshows from 1980 onwards and toured throughout the UK with great success. John's Headbangers Ball Rock charts were also regularly featured in the pages of Rock publications Kerrang! and Sounds along with many features on the show in local periodicals.


However, with the mainstream rise of alternative rock, grunge and rap music in the 1990s, the relevance of Headbangers Ball came into question, and the show was ultimately canceled in 1995


Let's take a look at the music that was often showcased on this program...


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/avum4mf5

	Queensrÿche Empire 1990 1 - Empire After the breakthrough success and worldwide respect that Queensrÿche gained from their conceptual masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime, it was a fair assumption that they couldn't possibly outdo or perhaps even match themselves. Empire, released just two years after that watermark, reveals that Queensrÿche reinvented themselves (though certainly not for the last time). While many fans were clamoring for a conceptual sequel, the band offers a song-oriented approach that is more art rock and less metal (though Empire does rock hard in places).
	Megadeth Rust In Peace 1990 2 - Hangar 18 A sobered-up Mustaine returns with yet another lineup, this one featuring ex-Cacophony guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza, for what is easily Megadeth's strongest musical effort. As Metallica was then doing, Mustaine accentuates the progressive tendencies of his compositions, producing rhythmically complex, technically challenging thrash suites that he and Friedman burn through with impeccable execution and jaw-dropping skill. Thanks to Mustaine's focus on the music rather than his sometimes clumsy lyrics, Rust in Peace arguably holds up better than any other Megadeth release, even for listeners who think they've outgrown heavy metal. While the whole album is consistently impressive, the obvious highlight is the epic, Eastern-tinged "Hangar 18."
	Stone Temple Pilots Core 1992 3 - Sex Type Thing Core, as a debut album, displayed the band's attempt to revive the album-oriented music approach of the 1970s. Striving to create an intense and emotional sound, vocalist Weiland has said that the main theme of the album is that humanity is confused, with songs like "Sex Type Thing" and "Naked Sunday" dealing with social injustice. "Sex Type Thing", according to Weiland, deals with abuse of power, "macho" behavior, and humanity's attitude toward women, treating them as sex objects.
	White Zombie La Sexosrcisto - Devil Music Vol. 1 1992 4 - Thunder Kiss '65 Perhaps co-defining the future of heavy metal, White Zombie's major-label debut nearly equals fellow classics Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction, the Cult's Electric, and Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger in significance. With a funky rap-metal undercurrent, these metal monsters combine Black Sabbath's riff sludge and Metallica's rhythmic intensity, a combination that would again resurface in the late '90s. On La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1, Zombie and co. take listeners on a hokey carnival ride capable of inducing vomit yet provide an exhilarating, heart-throbbing metal experience. Tactless and continuously shocking, lyricist Rob Zombie reveals blatant tales of muscle cars, sleazy encounters, and Fangoria-mustered fantasy, clearly paying homage to vintage trash culture.

[Niels (Mod)]

And another thing: Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell are imo soooo much better vocalists than Weiland, and probably my favorite voices of the 90's (with maybe Thom Yorke on the 3rd spot)

These days, I still think, that Wedder is one of alltimes best vocalists, but I'm tired of listening to Cornell. I think he ruined it for me, releasing those awefull Audioslave-albums.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I would have to say that I really didn't watch Headbanger's Ball in the 90's.  I only watched it in the early days of the late 80's.  

Queensryche - I love Empire.  it's the album that got me in to Queensryche.  I think it's a perfect album. I dig the guitar solo here and the statistics they mention in the song.  And as far as the whole album goes, the bass work and tone is phenomenal.

Megadeth - Other than Countdown To Extinction, I was never much of a fan.  But like Scott, I am much more of a fan now.  And Jon might just be correct.  This song is amazing. 

STP - In unprecedented news, I agree with Jon for the second time in one post.  No. 4 is their best album.  This song in particular is killer.  And I think Weiland is a very good vocalist (not my favorite of the 90's, that would be Cornell).  Too bad he's bat-shit crazy.

Zombie - Not much to say here.  I'm not familiar with this band at all other than by name.  This song in particular dose sound like Metallica.

So, overall, good picks.  At least three of four anyway.  My song ranking here would be:

1. Hangar 18

2. Empire

3. Sex Type Thing

4. Thunder Kiss '65