December 2025 "The Guardians" Playlist - Heavy/Power Metal Hellfire

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3w8wz5HBOoks78mYzldAMq

Tracklisting:

1. Sabaton - "Bismarck" from Bismarck (2019)

2. Aquaria - "And Let the Show Begin" from Luxaeterna (2005)

3. Iron Maiden - "Blood Brothers" from Brave New World (2000)

4. Black Sabbath - "Devil & Daughter" from Headless Cross (1989)

5. Battle Beast - "Twilight Cabaret" from Steelbound (2025)

6. Nickelback - "San Quentin" from San Quentin EP (2022)

7. Metallica - "Too Far Gone?" from 72 Seasons (2023)

8. Quiet Riot - "Bad Boy" from Condition Critical (1984)

9. X Japan - "Easy Fight Rambling" from Blue Blood (1989)

10. W.A.S.P. - "Come Back to Black" from The Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise (2004)

11. Ozzy Osbourne - "Shot in the Dark" from The Ultimate Sin (1986)

12. Within Temptation - "Shot in the Dark" from The Unforgiving (2011)

13. Visions of Atlantis - "Lost" from Cast Away (2004) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

14. Xandria - "Universal" from Universal Tales (2024)

15. Reptilian - "Skeleton Scales" from Castle of Yesterday (2001)

16. Galneryus - "Let Us Shine" from Between Dread and Valor (2023) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

17. Yngwie Malmsteen - "Eclipse" from Eclipse (1990)

18. Masterplan - "Kind Hearted Light" from Masterplan (2003) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

19. Thunderstone - "Virus" from Thunderstone (2002)

20. Serenity - "Forever" from Words Untold & Dreams Unlived (2007) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

21. Savatage - "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" from Dead Winter Dead (1995)

22. Nightwish - "FantasMic" from Wishmaster (2000)

23. Iron Fire - "Riding Free" from Thunderstorm (2000) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

24. Blazon Rite - "The Coming Tide of Yule" from Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Sabaton - "Bismarck" from Bismarck (2019)

4/5. Let's begin with this song from one of heavy/power metal's biggest bands of the new millennium, Sabaton. As you can guess, this one is based on Bismarck, a World War battleship named after Otto von Bismarck.

Aquaria - "And Let the Show Begin" from Luxaeterna (2005)

4.5/5. The show is already beginning with another power metal band, this one being part of the Brazilian power metal scene along with Almah and Angra. An amazing uplifting anthem! See this is the kind of music I would've loved to bits 10 years before this comment I was into this happy melodic sound. Even that album cover is beautiful! The band has a lot of talent here, essential for power metal. And there's more of that genre to come later on in the playlist...

Iron Maiden - "Blood Brothers" from Brave New World (2000)

4/5. Now we're getting to some of the masters of heavy metal. A great funeral song for any metalhead, to say farewell to a brother of the metal brotherhood.

Black Sabbath - "Devil & Daughter" from Headless Cross (1989)

3.5/5. The Tony Martin era may not be the Black Sabbath era, but it's certainly underrated. His vocals are quite cool here. Still, no disrespect to the late legend Ozzy Osbourne, RIP. However, the music sounds a little too glam-ish, so it's understandable why this era doesn't get all the fame and glory.

Battle Beast - "Twilight Cabaret" from Steelbound (2025)

4/5. Also a bit pop-ish, though I don't ever regret listening. Seems like the 80s-fueled catchy melody they've had since Bringer of Pain is still going.

Nickelback - "San Quentin" from San Quentin EP (2022)

3.5/5. Well this is gonna p*ss some metalheads off, a Nickelback song appearing in a Metal Academy playlist. But hear me out, this is, to my ears, Nickelback's most metallic song, and their heaviest since "This Means War". It sounds a lot like an Avenged Sevenfold single, and Chad Kroeger's vocals have a bit of a Rob Zombie-esque grit.

Metallica - "Too Far Gone?" from 72 Seasons (2023)

3/5. And now we have a song from Metallica's new album. The music is quite decent, yet the lyrics don't work well for me.

Quiet Riot - "Bad Boy" from Condition Critical (1984)

3.5/5. RIP Kevin DuBrow. His great vocals could really get you pumping. He was one of Quiet Riot's most essential members. The intro riff and bass are pretty good too. Quiet Riot's first two albums (not including their Japan-only 70s albums) are the only two in their classic era metal enough for this site.

X Japan - "Easy Fight Rambling" from Blue Blood (1989)

4/5. One of my favorite songs from this band when I was still listening to them a few years. They're like the Japanese bridge between heavy/glam metal and power metal.

W.A.S.P. - "Come Back to Black" from The Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise (2004)

3.5/5. I don't listen to much of W.A.S.P., but this is quite a good song. Whether or not the lyrics hit or miss, they are as catchy as the music.

Ozzy Osbourne - "Shot in the Dark" from The Ultimate Sin (1986)

4/5. Another great song by the Prince of Darkness. Once again, RIP Ozzy Osbourne...

Within Temptation - "Shot in the Dark" from The Unforgiving (2011)

4.5/5. Already heading into a different direction is this similarly titled Within Temptation song, including a new aspect that had barely done before by the band; guitar soloing.

Visions of Atlantis - "Lost" from Cast Away (2004)

5/5. RIP Nicole Bogner. G****mn it, the best vocalists just had to be the ones that are gone from this world. And her vocals are a beautiful gift. The song's original album Cast Away has some of my favorite tracks here, including this one. I also enjoy the vocals by Mario Plank which are closer to my own vocal range. In all honesty, I just wish I could have listened to this band 10 years before this comment when my symphonic/power metal interest was at an all-time high. But yeah, fantastic song!

Xandria - "Universal" from Universal Tales (2024)

5/5. Another symphonic metal song to love. Enough said!

Reptilian - "Skeleton Scales" from Castle of Yesterday (2001)

4.5/5. Also quite amazing and enjoyable, if you're up for neoclassical piano metal.

Galneryus - "Let Us Shine" from Between Dread and Valor (2023)

5/5. Yes, let Galneryus shine! F***ing majestic guitarwork by Syu.

Yngwie Malmsteen - "Eclipse" from Eclipse (1990)

4.5/5. As any metalhead would know, Yngwie Malmsteen is a master of neoclassical metal with his guitar-shredding compositions.

Masterplan - "Kind Hearted Light" from Masterplan (2003)

5/5. A true anthem of power metal, showing Grapow and Kusch taking notes on what made Helloween big.

Thunderstone - "Virus" from Thunderstone (2002)

4.5/5. Similarly to Masterplan and other bands like the Brazilian Almah, Thunderstone has power metal gems with strong vocals. Even when a band is underground, they can still sound excellent. Keep rocking, guys!

Serenity - "Forever" from Words Untold & Dreams Unlived (2007)

5/5. An absolutely underrated song with killer lyrics! I've slept on this band for too long, and I'm glad to get on board for more of their material.

Savatage - "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" from Dead Winter Dead (1995)

4.5/5. Since this is the December Guardians playlist, I knew I couldn't miss out on including a couple Christmas metal songs. The first of which you would recognize as that Savatage instrumental popularized by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It has also been in a couple Christmas specials for The Office and Regular Show. And yeah, both bands' versions are the same recording.

Nightwish - "FantasMic" from Wishmaster (2000)

4.5/5. A fantastic epic paying tribute to the animated works of Disney. It really packs a powerful punch, especially in the final 3 minutes. Absolutely spectacular!

Iron Fire - "Riding Free" from Thunderstorm (2000)

5/5. Some of the great riffs I've heard in heavy/power metal!

Blazon Rite - "The Coming Tide of Yule" from Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)

4.5/5. And finally, there's the epic wonder of this closing track of its original album and this playlist. It's probably the most Christmas-like melodic metal song since that Trans-Siberian Orchestra song. I'm glad this playlist can provide a couple songs worth listening to in the holiday season.

Pretty good playlist I've made, huh? I recommend this to any heavy/power/symphonic/neoclassical metal fan and anyone who isn't into those genres but is up to getting into a great start for the genre. Thanks to anyone who have contributed with their own submissions, and I hope the rest of you enjoy it like I've had!