There is a massive collection of classic songs and superb new releases that go unnoticed by many audiences, and they fall under the genre, Metal. Metal is a genre of music with an unrelenting drive for inspired song writing and masterful instrumentation. While the more extreme end of the genre may be off-putting to some, there is a host of bands, sub-genres, and songs fit for any musical palette. Some are even surprised when informed that certain artists and songs are Metal such as Ozzy Osbourne and his hit song Crazy Train.

Metal is also an exceptionally diverse grouping of music. Metal has dozens of subgenres, so variety is never an issue. As they say, variety is the spice of life, and Metal will not leave your playlist wanting for flavor. From the slow dark riffing of Black Sabbath, to the soaring melodies of Iron Maiden, and the unrelenting speed of Megadeth there is something for everyone.

Another defining characteristic of the genre is the length of the songs. Metal songs are often longer than other genres like pop music. This allows the music more room to take a journey. A different type of songwriting is possible when the constraints of a radio-friendly runtime can be ignored. While not objectively superior to shorter form music, giving a long song a listen can provide a unique musical experience.

If my word isn’t enough, here is Fr. Gjengdahl’s take on metal, “So long as you avoid the satanic stuff, Metal music can be incredibly complex and even quite moving. It can give music to some of our real human emotions. It’s not chaos, but there are elements of our world that can be very powerful and intimidating; things like waves on the ocean we find very very interesting as humans. It will also make you 15% stronger.”

Below is a list of songs curated with the beginner metalhead in mind:

Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train

Black Sabbath – Iron Man

Dio – Rainbow in the Dark

Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast

Metallica – Fade to Black

Tool – Schism

Judas Priest – Breaking the Law

Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane

Danzig – Mother

Motorhead – Ace of Spades