Saturday Shuffle: Testament, Crue, Danzig, Pantera, Anthrax

This week's shuffle is a pretty hard-hitting lineup ...


Testament, “Electric Crown.” From the album The Ritual (1992). Testament never got the press of the Big Four of thrash, but they can stand with the best of them. This album was a bit of a shock at the time with a couple of ballads and, at times, a more accessible direction. Over time, I’ve come to have a greater appreciation for it. This is just a great heavy metal tune, not as thrashing as perhaps what we expected from them, but with a great hook.


Motley Crue, “Smokin’ in the Boys Room.” From the album Theatre of Pain (1985). This is one of those songs that a lot of people don’t realize is a cover. Crue’s version is fairly faithful to the Brownsville Station original, but with a little more glam. It’s one of the better songs off an album that’s largely underrated.


Danzig, “Bodies.” From the album How the Gods Kill (1992). Danzig was at his best, in my opinion, in this blues rock mode. Part heavy metal, part horror soundtrack, part dark Delta blues. I wish he’d do more stuff in this vein.


Pantera, “Suicide Note, Pt. 2.” From the album The Great Southern Trendkill (1996). This record has aged well. At the time it was released, it was my least favorite Pantera album, but I like it more as time passes. “Suicide Note, Pt. 2” is one of the most aggressive songs from the record, a bashing, high intensity screamer.


Anthrax, “The Giant.” From the album Worship Music (2011). I so did not want to like this album. I was fully in the John Bush camp and hated the idea of Joey Belladonna returning. I was proven wrong, and catchy thrash tunes like this one were part of the reason.