July 2026 "The Guardians" Playlist - Heavy/Power Metal Hellfire

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

Tracklisting:

1. Twilight Force - "Dawn of the Dragonstar" from Dawn of the Dragonstar (2019)

2. Heavy Load - "Stronger than Evil" from Stronger than Evil (1983)

3. Warkings - "Live is Life" from Live is Life (2026) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

4. Century - "Fallen Hero" from Sign of the Storm (2025) [Suggested by Sonny]

5. Black Sabbath - "Born Again" from Born Again (1983)

6. TOWER - "And I Cry" from Let There Be Dark (2025)

7. Accept - "Starlight" from Breaker (1981)

8. Anvil - "School Love" from Hard 'n' Heavy (1981)

9. Dokken - "In My Dreams" from Under Lock and Key (1985)

10. Judas Priest - "Heading Out to the Highway" from Point of Entry (1981)

11. Riot - "Hard Lovin' Man" from Restless Breed (1982)

12. LOUDNESS - "HARD WORKIN'" from DEVIL SOLDIER (1982)

13. Motorhead - "Bomber" from Bomber (1979)

14. Plasmatics - "The Damned" from Coup D'Etat (1982)

15. DOMINUM - "Dark Melodies" from Dark Melodies (2026)

16. Within Temptation - "Ice Queen" from Mother Earth (2000)

17. Kamelot - "Insomnia" from Haven (2015)

18. DragonForce - "Burning Heart (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)" from Burning Heart (2025)

19. Avantasia - "Neverland" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)

20. Epica - "Feint" from The Phantom Agony (2003)

21. Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" from Score to a New Beginning (2009) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

22. Nightwish - "Slaying the Dreamer" from Century Child (2002)

23. Xandria - "The Shannon's Home" from The Shannon's Home (2026)

24. Seven Spires - "Serenity" from Solveig (2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

25. Tyr - "Valkyrja" from Valkyrja (2013) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

26. Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" from Awakening from Abyss (2017) [Suggested by Shadowdoom9 (Andi)]

Here are my thoughts on all the selected tracks:

Twilight Force - "Dawn of the Dragonstar" from Dawn of the Dragonstar (2019)

4/5. Great song to kick off this playlist, though a little too cheesy from the uplifting symphonics.

Heavy Load - "Stronger than Evil" from Stronger than Evil (1983)

4.5/5. An older and slightly stronger track, having the kind of energy bands like Europe had around that year.

Warkings - "Live is Life" from Live is Life (2026)

5/5. Before we continue diving into some 80s heavy metal, how about this awesome modern heavy metal cover of an 80s hit! This proves how well a metal band can add a unique diverse twist to a pop rock single. and that's the kind of covers I love, just enhancing the song with their own sound. You may also know the 1989 performance done by Diego Maradona in sync with the original Opus song. RIP...

Century - "Fallen Hero" from Sign of the Storm (2025)

4.5/5. And how about this splendid revival of classic heavy metal for this century!

Black Sabbath - "Born Again" from Born Again (1983)

4/5. If a classic Black Sabbath fan hears this and says "This is a f***ing Black Sabbath song!?!", I say it is, but a different era. This is from their only album with vocalist Ian Gillan (Deep Purple). The song sounds pretty deep, particularly throughout the second half which includes melancholic guitar solo by Tony Iommi at the 5-minute mark.

TOWER - "And I Cry" from Let There Be Dark (2025)

4.5/5. This excellent highlight begins sounding like a ballad, then they become more energetic in the second half and keep you hooked in no time.

Accept - "Starlight" from Breaker (1981)

4/5. I wasn't around when many of these classic heavy metal albums came out, but I understand the appeal earlier metalheads have of this era of metal that they've heard in their youth. Although Accept was starting to rise with this album, they would have their breakthrough in their next album Restless and Wild.

Anvil - "School Love" from Hard 'n' Heavy (1981)

3.5/5. Anvil has really gone as big as the more popular classic heavy metal bands out there, though they have planted the seed for notable bands like the thrash metal Big 4. The guitarwork by Dave Allison (RIP) is so good. Apparently, this song was in the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. We've gotten Anvil in a GTA game before GTA6! Anyway, I think this band would appeal more to fans of the old-school heavy metal league led by Judas Priest. Or maybe it's just the vocals sounding repetitive to me, I don't know. But hey, there's something for anyone to love.

Dokken - "In My Dreams" from Under Lock and Key (1985)

3/5. A little too glam but still metal. A decent song all and all.

Judas Priest - "Heading Out to the Highway" from Point of Entry (1981)

3.5/5. This one has more positive motivation. Those parents who thought metal was satanic have been proven wrong. Songs like this encourage you to head out to the highway and make the best of your life. It's supposed to help you get over, never into, addiction and depression. You can also listen while playing Need for Speed.

Riot - "Hard Lovin' Man" from Restless Breed (1982)

4/5. Riot is more underrated compared to the more popular classic heavy metal bands, honestly. RIP Mark Reale and Rhett Forrester

LOUDNESS - "HARD WORKIN'" from DEVIL SOLDIER (1982)

3.5/5. Hard lovin', hard workin'... How hard can these bands get!? A little harder than this should've been, but still good.

Motorhead - "Bomber" from Bomber (1979)

3/5. This Motorhead hit is about a World War II bomber and is based on a Len Deighton book. As OK as this sounds, it sounds a little, well, bombed. Still, RIP Lemmy

Plasmatics - "The Damned" from Coup D'Etat (1982)

3/5. Wendy O. Williams sounds more theatrical than all those famous popstars from the 80s and the present day. With that said, I'm too fond of her vocal style here, but I still respect what she could do. RIP

DOMINUM - "Dark Melodies" from Dark Melodies (2026)

3.5/5. With this catchy song filled with dark melodies, it's possible for Dominum to enter Eurovision. Sabaton, Warkings, Powerwolf, and Beast in Black would all give this band their seal of approval.

Within Temptation - "Ice Queen" from Mother Earth (2000)

4/5. This popular single is quite catchy, though the original album's title track has a little more magic.

Kamelot - "Insomnia" from Haven (2015)

4.5/5. I've heard of Kamelot for over a decade, and they were one of the first ever power metal (and metal in general) bands I was a fan of besides DragonForce. I'm glad to revisit this song after so many years, because it was one of my favorites back then and might still be now. Nice lyrics too!

DragonForce - "Burning Heart (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)" from Burning Heart (2025)

5/5. Then we hit earth-shattering speed and blazing hammering fury, apart from a retro synthwave bridge. One of the most killer highlights here! And made even more killer with the vocals Alissa White-Gluz, who has just left Arch Enemy and joined DragonForce full-time! She has definitely reached her height in the final transposed chorus.

Avantasia - "Neverland" from The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 (2002)

4.5/5. An amazing song from this metal opera project, with great lyrics!

Epica - "Feint" from The Phantom Agony (2003)

4/5. A beautiful song like this one can sound sad while giving you happiness.

Fairyland - "A Soldier's Letter" from Score to a New Beginning (2009)

4.5/5. RIP Philippe Giordana... Fairyland is another one of those bands I wish I could've discovered 12 years before this comment when my interest in symphonic power metal was at its early peak. This wonderful song has similar vibes to both Sonata Arctica and Two Steps From Hell.

Nightwish - "Slaying the Dreamer" from Century Child (2002)

4/5. For a melodic symphonic metal band, this one is quite heavy. Maybe that's why it was one of my favorite Nightwish songs when I was young.

Xandria - "The Shannon's Home" from The Shannon's Home (2026)

4.5/5. Ever since vocalist Ambre Vourvahis joined Xandria, they're slowly becoming Nightwish 2.0. Still they have different vibes from other bands like the majesty of Vision of Atlantis and the occasional heaviness of Seven Spires. Plus some of their power metal side is still around that I've once heard in Dragonland and Avantasia. That heavy midsection breakdown gets me every time and tempts me every time. Amazing song to make me look forward to their upcoming album Eclipse!

Seven Spires - "Serenity" from Solveig (2017)

5/5. An absolute grand example of extreme folk-ish symphonic metal! The lyrics sound so poetic and original. You gotta appreciate the massive vocal range of Adrienne Cowan. I can just feel the power that has kept me engaged.

Tyr - "Valkyrja" from Valkyrja (2013)

4.5/5. A beautiful epic to close its original album, but not yet this playlist...

Lovebites - "Bravehearted (Awakened Version)" from Awakening from Abyss (2017)

5/5. I still can't believe I haven't discovered Lovebites until just earlier this year. Probably because by the time this band started to rise shortly after this album came out, I was moving away from power metal in favor of the heavier modern metal genres. This fantastic track has more power in this version than in the EP, along with English lyrics.

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!