January 2026 "The Guardians" Playlist - Heavy/Power Metal Hellfire
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3w8wz5HBOoks78mYzldAMq
Tracklisting:
1. Avantasia - "The Seven Angels" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)
2. Visions of Atlantis - "Pirates Will Return" from Pirates (2022) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
3. Galneryus - "There's No Escape" from Vetelgyus (2014) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
4. Judas Priest - "Winter" from Rocka Rolla (1974)
5. Motorhead - "Iron Horse / Born to Lose" from Motorhead (1977)
6. King Diamond - "Welcome Home" from Them (1988)
7. Y&T - "Mean Streak" from Mean Streak (1983)
8. Riot - "Warrior" from Rock City (1977)
9. Al Atkins - "Victim of Changes" from Reloaded (2017)
10. Saxon - "Madame Guillotine" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)
11. Avenged Sevenfold - "Bat Country" from City of Evil (2005)
12. Metallica - "If Darkness Had a Son" from 72 Seasons (2023)
13. Black Sabbath - "Spiral Architect" from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
14. Almah - "Living and Drifting" from Motion (2011) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
15. Warmen - "Into the Oblivion" from Unknown Soldier (2000)
16. Idol Throne - "Harbinger of Light" from Harbinger of Light (2025)
17. Powerwolf - "Out in the Fields" from Metallum Nostrum (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
18. Iron Savior - "After the War" from Dark Assault (2001) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
19. Rhapsody - "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness" from Power of the Dragonflame (2002)
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Avantasia - "The Seven Angels" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)
4.5/5. To start off this year, we have this amazing 14-minute composition by power metal genius Tobias Sammet's side-project and later main band Avantasia. He and 7 other vocalists sing with all their might. I think one of them sounds like Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan), particularly in the chorus, but he doesn't actually appear until The Wicked Trilogy. After the second chorus and some guitar melody, it all fades into epic orchestration starting at around the 5 and a half minute mark. 4 minutes later, after the heaviness returns along with a bit of drama, things actually get fun, with some moments reminding some of Bon Jovi's more upbeat songs, particularly in Tobias' vocals. Two minutes later, we finally reach the uplifting ending with vocals by Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and ex-Angra vocalist Andre Matos (RIP), soon fading out with the melody similar to the end of DragonForce's title track. Well done, Avantasia!
Visions of Atlantis - "Pirates Will Return" from Pirates (2022)
5/5. Pirate metal has made its return after Alestorm's brand of that subgenre has gotten stale, when Visions of Atlantis decided to go that route. With that, the band has gotten much better known than they were previously. This should really end up in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie soundtrack. Love it!
Galneryus - "There's No Escape" from Vetelgyus (2014)
5/5. The neoclassical intro for this song is just insane as h*ll. And so is the buildup to the final chorus. Incredible!
Judas Priest - "Winter" from Rocka Rolla (1974)
2.5/5. Revisiting this track as I was making this playlist, I've realized it does sound similar to early Black Sabbath. Still too bluesy for its own good, I don't know why I chose it.
Motorhead - "Iron Horse / Born to Lose" from Motorhead (1977)
3/5. Another blues-ish early metal track, though I would give it some points for the fierce soloing. On iron horse Lemmy flies and gladly dies. RIP this legend...
King Diamond - "Welcome Home" from Them (1988)
3.5/5. Slightly better than the previous two tracks in the playlist, coming from a decade later when classic heavy metal became more b*llsy. The production is pretty solid here. I'm not sure what my neighbors would think if I play this song out loud, particularly the lyrics directed to the main character's grandma.
Y&T - "Mean Streak" from Mean Streak (1983)
4/5. It is interesting digging into a time when the heavy/glam metal of this band and Twisted Sister was still at its peak.
Riot - "Warrior" from Rock City (1977)
4.5/5. This one has glowing energy in the chorus, and the guitar solo stands out yet again.
Al Atkins - "Victim of Changes" from Reloaded (2017)
4/5. Another Judas Priest classic, this time covered by Al Atkins who was the original lead vocalist for Judas Priest before Rob Halford, having written some songs included this one and the aforementioned "Winter". As legendary as Rob Halford, you sometimes gotta imagine what the band would sound like if they still had Al Atkins.
Saxon - "Madame Guillotine" from Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)
4.5/5. More classic heavy metal greatness, now in the modern present era. Long live the classic revolution, and please don't lose your head! Classic heavy metal can still shine in the modern decade without ever having to go as progressive as Evergrey. The production and lyrics are quite excellent. I especially like the rhythm here. Saxon is one of only a few bands around practically as early as Judas Priest and still not losing stream.
Avenged Sevenfold - "Bat Country" from City of Evil (2005)
5/5. A fun standout that many fans know. Awesome Maiden-style verses and singalong chorus there!
Metallica - "If Darkness Had a Son" from 72 Seasons (2023)
4.5/5. Once you get used to the beat throughout the intro, you can be able to enjoy the kick-A verses. Some might say the soloing in this song is the worst by Metallica, but I say it's the best. This alternation between heavy metal and thrash songs the band in this album they also have in Hardwired. I might like it more than Pantera!
Black Sabbath - "Spiral Architect" from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
4/5. A magical song that might just be the earliest one from a metal band to use symphonic orchestra. It's pretty much the big bang of the symphonic metal genre that wouldn't come to fruition until two decades later. And this is the kind of experimentation that they never really dived into in their previous album Vol. 4. Great composition from the true inventors of heavy metal. RIP Ozzy Osbourne...
Almah - "Living and Drifting" from Motion (2011)
4.5/5. One of my favorite tracks by Almah! Edu Falaschi can really channel his inner Bruce Dickinson.
Warmen - "Into the Oblivion" from Unknown Soldier (2000)
5/5. Perhaps Warmen's best song! It's crazy how this is from over 25 years ago. The music sounds so epic, even having a nice progressive touch. So basically it's kinda like Rhapsody of Fire, a band with one of their epics reaching the end of this playlist. In the meantime, here are a few more songs coming up...
Idol Throne - "Harbinger of Light" from Harbinger of Light (2025)
4.5/5. US power metal cranked up to the max! This should pick up some vibes from 3 Inches of Blood and Kiuas.
Powerwolf - "Out in the Fields" from Metallum Nostrum (2019)
4/5. A great track for crusaders to battle against werewolves! A few other bands have also covered this Gary Moore track including Primal Fear, Riot, and Sonata Arctica.
Iron Savior - "After the War" from Dark Assault (2001)
4.5/5. I would recommend this extraordinary track to my fellow Guardians members. That and Masterplan's remake.
Rhapsody - "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness" from Power of the Dragonflame (2002)
5/5. The greatest conclusion to Rhapsody (of Fire)'s first 5-album saga is this 19-minute epic. It's one of the best songs ever by the band and the epic to end all epics! The complex variation is perfect all the way. It starts with an acoustic intro that's almost like Opeth's softer moments then blasts off into some of the most emotional vocals, most cinematic keys and choir, and the most searing soloing. Then it all ends with a reprise of the album's intro that then literally explodes and collapses into windy ambience. The perfect ending for the saga and this playlist!
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!