Now, I can get back to more lighthearted posts, and today’s is definitely that. I think even among the minds of some casual music fans can understandably believe that Heavy Metal is gruff, rough, and dark (Or at the very least serious). However, what many don’t realize is that the realm of metal is sometimes inhabited by some of the most upbeat, positive, cleansing, and dare I say......happy songs. For every track that can be doom & gloom, there’s another one that tugs on the heartstrings & can bring in some genuine warmth and happiness. Today I wanted to show off 10 metal songs that a friend of mine would call.....Soul Metal. The kind of metal that make you feel good after listening to them, and the songs you might share with some of your non-metal friends to lift up their spirits. So, grab a comfy blanket, have your favorite drink next to you, and take a look what I consider to be the top 10 Soul Metal songs that are out there. Enjoy!
10) Type-O Negative - September Sun (Song) & Ministry - Believe Me (Song)
On the initial surface, both of these song aren’t all that warm & fuzzy. If anything, these two seems rather serious & not at all fun. However, what these two songs definitely are is cleansing. Both of these tracks certainly purge the soul of the dark, but in different ways. September Sun is Pete Steel singing about finally letting go of the things that hurt us, and how it’s never too late to let go of said things if we want to. The Green Man knew to let go of what caused him so much grief, and while it took years to do so, eventually this Brooklyn juggernaut conquered what caused him such grief.
And then we’ve got a track from one of my top albums of last year, Believe Me. I’ve already talked about it twice over the past 2 months, so I won’t repeat that much here. Again, this song definitely embodies the thoughts of those that once followed former president Donald J. Trump, and now know the truth behind him after they left the MAGA cult. Even if they themselves could not come up with these thoughts, Al Jourgenson was able to help them come to this conclusion. Again, these songs aren’t happy in any way, but they can definitely help shed some skin off.....if that makes sense.
9) Eskimo Callboy - Hypa Hypa (Song) ***
Now we get to the real feel good songs!
Sometimes, all one needs to feel good is a big dose of laughter, and these German fellows easily succeed in that regard! Eskimo Callboy were one of just a handful of things that made the plague-ridden year of 2020 bearable, and their patented brand of heavy riffage mixed with absolutely ridiculous humor is highly obvious on that highly successful track Hypa Hypa. In the first few moments it comes across as if the track with be just a cheesy pop track tribute to the 1980s, but then you’re hit from practically out of nowhere by some of the heaviest instrumentation & vocal work that Europe has ever produced. What further adds to the humor is the lyrics, which are completely mismatched with the rest of the song, as you’d swear that they’d come from a cheese 80s pop song. Much like their compatriots We Butter The Bread With Butter (Yes, that is an actual band name), Eskimo Callboy have both the metal & the humor balanced perfectly, with one side not overwhelming the other in any way. It really is baffling at first, but the band really know how to use the elements from both worlds, and make something never really leaves your brain. Good on you Eskimo Callboy!
8) Stryper - Together Forever (Song/Live)
It’s been a little bit since I took a look at Christian oddity that is Stryper. Not since 2020 when I reviewed their lone release in the 90s, but that’s not what I’m placing on this list. Some Metal elitists may scoff at the band’s religious take on the genre, and I can easily understand why, but that would be doing the group a giant disservice! Together Forever is one of the most ultimate examples of Soul Metal: even taking the Christian message out of the picture, this track is highly energetic & happy. Michael Sweet’s vocal work is loud but clear, and when he does sing about God & Jesus Christ, he doesn’t come across as condescending or preachy. The rest of the band have instrumentation to match the vocals & overall atmosphere of the track, with Robert Sweet letting out some righteous fury on the drums, Oz Fox & Tim Gaines sounding divine on lead guitar & bass guitar respectfully, and Michael Sweet providing some sick guitar work in his own right. Again, I can easily understand why some would pick up a Stryper record, look at the album cover & laugh, but if you put the judgements aside, you will find one of the most surprisingly badass & upbeat metal bands out there. Definitely worth your time if you’re curious!
7) Loudness - Crazy Nights (Song)
The land of the rising sun has given us a lot of things. Anime, Pocky, Ramen, etc. In addition to those things, Japan is also one of the most surprising sources of Heavy Metal in all of the world, and Loudness is one of the best exports in that regard. I’ve already talked about this guys in the summer last year, but it bears a little bit of repeating: these guys are one of the best on this planet, and for a brief period of time they actually had a bit of a presence within the United States before record company mismanagement practically made sure they would never be popular in this country again. Perhaps the most significant record to help them stay popular in this country would be their (Technically) first all-English sung release Thunder In The East, and the opening track practically spearheads the whole album.
Now, let me get this out of the way and say that while Minoru Niihara can sing in English surprisingly well, you can also tell that it’s not his first language. The lyrics do have a bit of an Engrish feel to them, but at the same time they’re happy lyrics, and Minoru really does have some force behind his voice when he sings. The rest of the band add to the intense yet upbeat energy of the song in question, with Munetaka Higuchi pounding away on the drums, Akira Takasaki is a guitar warlord, and Masayoshi Yamashita takes the bass to town. Crazy Nights is a prime cut of 1980s Heavy Metal (Complete with a nice slice of the finest cheese), and acts as an easy gateway for anyone looking to get into a band from outside America & Europe.
6) Devin Townsend - Spirits Will Collide (Song)
I think people who aren’t into Heavy Metal will at the very least have heard of the Prog master Devin Townsend. When he’s not making music about an alien coming to our planet in search of the ultimate cup of coffee or silly country tunes, he’s created some of the most thought-provoking & soul-touching songs out there, and his 2019 release Empath is chock full of tracks like this. Made with the intent of “Don’t kill yourself. It’s going to be okay”, you could pick practically any track off of the main CD or the “Demo” disk, and it will soothe the soul. However, it’s the 3rd song, Spirits Will Collide, that really shows off this heartwarming mentality. Simultaneously lowkey & epic, the song’s message is simple but important: You are loved. There are people in the world that care for you, and are always there for you when you need them. It might be a tiny bit on the cheesy side, but it’s surprising at just how moving Spirits Will Collide is, and it’s obvious that HevyDevy takes this tune very seriously. If you feel that life is shit, give this song a go!
5) Everfrost - Actraiser (Song)
Hey, it’s been a while since I talked about this guys! A new world record!
Everfrost’s second album, Winterider, was a big step up from their previous out. In addition to better vocals & instrumentation, there’s improved recording & production, an actual record deal, more obvious anime & manga inspiration, and finally a more upbeat nature. While there are moments of seriousness and even tragedy throughout the record, songs like Actraiser really make the happier parts shine through. Though there is a touch of melancholy, it serves to make the happy aspect shine through so strongly. The instrumentation & keyboard seem to conjure up the power of hope itself, and Mikael Salo kills it when it comes to the vocals. The song may be a bit too weeby for some, but trust me when I say that Actraiser can genuinely soothe a wide variety of ills. Speaking of Power Metal.....
4) Sabaton - Christmas Truce (Song)
If you were to ask me what my favorite moment in the history of Christmas is, I would immediately say the Christmas Truce of World War 1. For one time in our world’s history, Humanity saw the futility of war. For one time ever, cannons didn’t roar, and machines guns didn’t cut soldiers down. For one time ever, Men saw each other as brothers & equals, and decided not to spill the blood of one another. Despite what happened afterward, it was a time of true peace the likes of which will likely never be seen again, and one of the most important bands in my life captured this feeling incredibly well off the first single of their incoming album. Joakim and the gang captured this moment in time perfectly, with instrumentation that reflected the joy of peace & the sadness of what was to come, and vocals that were simultaneously joyous and melancholy. Despite 2021 having been a better year when compared to the plague-ridden badland that was 2020, we all needed a reminder that miracles do indeed exist, and they can happen. I won’t say any more, other than to listen to this song.
3) Van Halen - Dreams (Song)
There are plenty of metal bands that practically rule the 1980s, but if I was asked as to who defined that decade, I would give it almost immediately to the Hard Rock/Hair Metal legends Van Halen. No band from that time was so energetic, so upbeat, so wild, and so cheesy (By today’s standards) as these guys. The funny thing about this song was that I had first listened to it at the end of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, and marked the 1st time that I can recall ever hearing the band. Even today, the first few keyboard notes conjure up memories of my childhood in the 1990s, and really tug at my heartstrings & nostalgia for that time. There’s the energetic guitar & bass playing from Eddie Van Halen and Michael Anthony respectfully, Alex Van Halen’s triumphant drum playing, the keyboarding I talked about a moment ago, and it’s all topped off by Sammy Hagar’s powerful vocal work. Even if you weren’t a child of the 90s, this embodiment of hope & light will wash away your pain & doubts......if just for a few minutes.
2) Queensryche - Best I Can (Song)
It is by a hair that my number 2 missed the no. 1 spot, and it is by a hair that my no. 1 got the spot. Make no mistake: Best I Can is a song that genuinely surprised me, made my jaw drop, and pulled at heartstrings I didn’t even know I had. Much like Spirits Will Collide at my no. 6 spot, this song deals with something pretty real. In this case it’s the story of a young boy who found his Father’s hidden gun, and an accident with it causes him to be permanently crippled from the waist down. Now that he’s older, he’s still in a wheelchair, but through sheer willpower & drive, he continues to live his life. In fact, he continues to pursue his dream of being a magazine writer, and doesn’t let the tragedy that befell him in his childhood have control. The instrumentation carries this power & hope, and Geoff Tate’s singing is some of the best of his entire career. I know that description doesn’t sound like much, but trust me when I say that this is one of the most powerful songs on this list.....and it was barely surpassed.....by a couple guys from India.
1) Bloodywood - Jee Veerey (Song)
Mental Illness. Depression. Suicide. These are perhaps the three biggest monsters that make victims out of everyone they catch, and if they don’t slay them, they will give said victims some of the most horrific scars they’ll ever receive in their lives. Here in the United States, these monsters aren’t talked about all that much, and on the few times that they are, not much is done to solve these issues (Or at the very least, lessen how often they occur)......and that is where the band known as Bloodywood comes in.
Even those who aren’t into Heavy Metal at all, they might at the very least have heard of Bloodywood. Originally, the group was conceived to make metal covers of classic Indian Pop songs and other Pop songs in general, it wasn’t until 2018 where they began to create their own original tracks. Mixing Indian Folk instruments on top of standard metal instrumentation, the band was a pretty big hit even before their own tunes. The funny thing is that Jee Veerey is the band’s 3rd original track, not their first. Regardless of when it came out, Bloodywood’s message on Jee Veerey is as clear as crystal: you can get through this. The monster known as Depression has balls, so grip them as hard as you can, twist, and rip them right off. Then, let the filthy beast crawl away, where it can bleed away in the shadows where it belongs. The message is backed up with heavy yet spiritual instrumentation, and both Jayant Bhadula’s & Raoul Kerr’s gruff but forceful vocals just drive home the point that it will all be okay. All of these things mixed together is why Jee Veerey is the number one Soul Metal song on this list.
So these were what I considered to be the top 10 Soul Metal songs. Make no mistake, I absolutely love the more brutal nature that’s somewhat standard for the genre, but every once in a while I enjoy when Heavy Metal goes in a more positive & uplifting direction. Hell, with how things were in 2020 & 2021, it’s refreshing that this style of music can genuinely soothe the soul & heal the heart. So, with this out of the way, it’s time to have another Overview come out, and this one will be a doozy. See you soon!
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If you’re in the mood for perhaps an even funnier version, then click on the link below:
WBTBWB vs. Eskimo Callboy - Hypa Hypa (Official Video)
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