February 2026 "The Guardians" Playlist - Heavy/Power Metal Hellfire
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3w8wz5HBOoks78mYzldAMq
Tracklisting:
1. Visions of Atlantis, Warkings - "Pirates & Kings" from Pirates & Kings (2025)
2. Trann - "Isugaku Never Say Goodbye" from Isugaku Never Say Goodbye (2025)
3. Nanowar of Steel, Ross the Boss - "Armpits of Immortals" from Armpits of Immortals (2023)
4. Quartz - "Mainline Riders" from Quartz (1977)
5. Scorpions - "Virgin Killer" from Virgin Killer (1976)
6. Judas Priest - "Tyrant" from Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
7. Venom - "In League with Satan" from Welcome to Hell (1981)
8. Witchfinder General - "Witchfinder General" from Death Penalty (1982)
9. Helloween - "Future World" from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
10. Armored Saint - "Can U Deliver" from March of the Saint (1984)
11. Avenged Sevenfold - "This Means War" from Hail to the King (2013)
12. Riot V - "Higher" from Mean Streets (2024)
13. Black Sabbath - "Dirty Women" from Technical Ecstasy (1976)
14. Iron Maiden - "Fear of the Dark" from Fear of the Dark (1992)
15. Warmen - "Trip to..." from Beyond Abilities (2001)
16. Galneryus - "Hunting for Your Dream" from Angel of Salvation (2012) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
17. Masterplan - "Masterplan" from MK II (2007) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
18. Beat Saber, Nekrogoblikon, DragonForce - "Dragon Smash Goblin" from Beat Saber (Original Game Soundtrack) (2025)
19. Turisas - "Rasputin" from Rasputin (2007) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
20. Metal Church - "Badlands" from Blessing in Disguise (1989)
21. Iron Savior - "Until We Meet Again" from Kill or Get Killed (2019) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]
22. Edenbridge - "The Grand Design" from The Grand Design (2006)
23. Battlelore - "Ride With the Dragons" from Where the Shadows Lie (2002)
Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:
Visions of Atlantis, Warkings - "Pirates & Kings" from Pirates & Kings (2025)
5/5. Visions of Atlantis and Warkings will embark on the Pirates & Kings tour, and to celebrate the occasion, they've made their own song together! The best part of this one for me is from the two-minute mark onwards, with the harsh vocal bridge by Morgana le Fay, the guitar soloing, and the final chorus reaches its climax. And this might also make the most powerful opening for one of my Guardians playlists since the Aquaria song from a couple months back. Not as long as that one though. Perhaps the greatest metal band crossover of this decade since Amon Amarth's "Saxons and Vikings"!
Trann - "Isugaku Never Say Goodbye" from Isugaku Never Say Goodbye (2025)
4.5/5. Stevie T's power metal AI experiment has become an accidental hit sensation. So much so that many people have tried to make their own full cover of that track. Really getting some X Japan/Galneryus/Stratovarius vibes from this one. Also, literally right before I started writing my track thoughts, I watched a video Stevie T has just uploaded in which he talks about the unexpected viral success of his AI song and then makes his own cover of it. In the end, he mentions a vocalist who wants to collaborate with him on the cover. Obviously I won't spoil who it is, but I'll give you a little hint; without the band this vocalist was in at the time, my interest in power metal and metal in general would have been impossible or entirely different. So grab your swords, popcorn, and headphones, this is gonna be truly EPIC!
Nanowar of Steel, Ross the Boss - "Armpits of Immortals" from Armpits of Immortals (2023)
4/5. As silly as this band can get with songs like this one, it's actually quite intriguing. But don't click off yet, there are more serious songs to come...
Quartz - "Mainline Riders" from Quartz (1977)
4.5/5. The 70s was filled with classic hard rock/metal from bands like Quartz, Scorpions, and Judas Priest, though the latter two are far more popular than this band. I think this might've been the spark for Black Sabbath in their song "Heaven and Hell", in both the bassline and overall structure, from mid-tempo to fast. Plus a little touch of their Seventh Star album. RIP Geoff Nicholls and Mike Taylor...
Scorpions - "Virgin Killer" from Virgin Killer (1976)
4/5. The title track of this controversial yet solid Scorpions album kicks up the metallic speed greatly. I can consider this song part of the proto-thrash trio, together with Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" and Black Sabbath's "Symptoms of the Universe". If you don't believe Scorpions has ever gone full-on metal, at least give that song a go.
Judas Priest - "Tyrant" from Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
4.5/5. I remember listening to this Judas Priest album over a couple years ago, before all this talk about using this song as the soundtrack for the 2024 US presidential election, and this is my favorite song of the album, an amazing underrated classic track! I love the verses here, especially the last one, "And as you perish each of you shall scream as you are sought". Some of the greatest lyrics to come from the 70s! Every man shall...FAAALLL!!!!!!
Venom - "In League with Satan" from Welcome to Hell (1981)
4/5. Venom already made an album before the one that would plant the seed for an entire metal genre, Black Metal. Welcome to Hell proved that the band was brave enough to prove their Satan-worshipping ways in the midst of the Satanic Panic. That marching drumbeat helps with the vibes this song has that would give it potential for a horror movie soundtrack. Probably not the Marvel Venom soundtrack, lol. There was also a demo recording of this track without the intro. And keep these lyrics in mind before actual black metal became a lot darker and more serious, "When the full moons high and bright, in every way, I’m there, every shadow in the night..."
Witchfinder General - "Witchfinder General" from Death Penalty (1982)
4.5/5. Some more hidden gems can be found from these earlier bands that blend heavy metal with the genres they would help pioneer. While Venom combined heavy metal with speed metal and planted the seed for black metal, Witchfinder General combined heavy metal with doom metal. Too bad they weren't as successful as, say, Nirvana. The name of this band and song came from the film Witchfinder General, which is considered one of the most brutal films from the 60s and came out 5 years before the more brutal The Exorcist that inspired a song by death metal pioneers Possessed. The most killer part here is the fast guitarwork at the two and a half minute mark before slowing down for the bridge. And you may know Witchfinder General actor Vincent Price from other films like The Masque of the Red Death (with dialogue from that movie heard in songs like "And When He Falleth" by Theatre of Tragedy) and his guest appearance in Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Also, C tuning wasn't common back in those days.
Helloween - "Future World" from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987)
5/5. I'm glad to finally get the appeal for power metal creators Helloween after somehow blowing them off for over a decade of me listening to metal. This may just be my new favorite power metal band! I even like the 10 seconds of random sound effects before the guitar soloing. So crank up the speed and explore Future World!
Armored Saint - "Can U Deliver" from March of the Saint (1984)
4.5/5. The album cover artwork hits as mighty hard as the riffing. This was around the time when Armored Saint were starting out and opening for bands like Metallica. The composition is so simplistic yet well-made, especially in the rising drums intro.
Avenged Sevenfold - "This Means War" from Hail to the King (2013)
4/5. The song title might've been Metallica's thought when their song "Sad But True" was supposedly copied by this one. Still it was popular to be featured in WWE 2K15.
Riot V - "Higher" from Mean Streets (2024)
4.5/5. Riot's talents are getting higher while not forgetting their late founder Mark Reale. RIP
Black Sabbath - "Dirty Women" from Technical Ecstasy (1976)
4/5. Perhaps one of the more mind-blowing songs by these heavy metal founding fathers! Particularly when they switch gears in the one and a half minute mark and the riffing/shredding greatness goes on for two minutes. Quite a f***ing banger! Ozzy Osbourne would take some of those composition techniques to his solo material. RIP
Iron Maiden - "Fear of the Dark" from Fear of the Dark (1992)
4.5/5. Can we have a song called "Fear of the Thunder"? Y'know, because of my own fear? For real though, I think more people know this song today because of Iron Maiden's collaboration with Dead by Daylight.
Warmen - "Trip to..." from Beyond Abilities (2001)
5/5. Trip to where? Trip to the godly keyboard playing of Janne Wirman, that's where! Especially throughout the second quarter of this track. Lots of magical talent from this man and his side-project-turned-band. Even those who find this kind of style too cheesy would be hunting for more. No matter how digital the production is, you might just be up to some medieval dragon slaying.
Galneryus - "Hunting for Your Dream" from Angel of Salvation (2012)
4.5/5. One of Galneryus' most popular songs, generally because it's one of the ending themes for the anime Hunter × Hunter.
Masterplan - "Masterplan" from MK II (2007)
5/5. This heavy track that I would consider the band's theme song is one of the most awesome songs by the band, pounding through the guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, including everyone chanting the band's name. Epic!
Beat Saber, Nekrogoblikon, DragonForce - "Dragon Smash Goblin" from Beat Saber (Original Game Soundtrack) (2025)
4.5/5. It's dragons vs. goblins in DragonForce's brand-new kick-A collab with Nekrogoblikon and Beat Saber. I just wish Dickie Allen's vocals were a little clearer though, particularly in the second verse.
Turisas - "Rasputin" from Rasputin (2007)
5/5. Turisas are the masters of battle metal, and can turn 70s disco-pop hits into battle hymns.
Metal Church - "Badlands" from Blessing in Disguise (1989)
4.5/5. RIP Mike Howe. Metal Church is another band that once opened for Metallica early on, but that doesn't mean they're as big as Metallica unfortunately. I'm glad we can listen to the full version of this song instead of the MTV video/radio edit that trimmed it down to a 5-minute song. Still we have to be grateful for MTV helping boost their popularity, including underrated songs like this one. Anyone can listen to this while driving through a desolated desert, whether or not you understand the lyrics. The riffing and soloing in the bridge might remind some of Slayer. Mike Howe was truly talented. Again, RIP...
Iron Savior - "Until We Meet Again" from Kill or Get Killed (2019)
5/5. Perhaps the best song of this Iron Savior album! It's like a collision between the classic hard rock/metal of Scorpions and modern power metal.
Edenbridge - "The Grand Design" from The Grand Design (2006)
4.5/5. Then we get to the amazing title epic of this Edenbridge album, soaring through the majestic cosmos for over 10 minutes, and summarizing all that album has. Also, expect some acoustic strumming by Martin Mayr and violin by Astrid Stockhammer, Lanvall's young sister.
Battlelore - "Ride With the Dragons" from Where the Shadows Lie (2002)
4/5. Now this is an interesting way to end this playlist. Here we have the deathly symphonic metal of Battlelore with their male vocalist at the time Patrik Mennander (also known as the vocalist for Ruoska). Then the hidden track, "Feast for the Wanderer", is an uplifting folk song as the warriors celebrate their victory at a tavern.
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!