By album opener we want to mention songs (but not instrumental tracks) that have a small intro attached to the main track, or/and a separate music theme or riff, or effects, or starting with a solo, even if all of those elements can continue or included again within the track. Something that works as a way that leads you to the album, but is (in) a completed song. The kind of album opener that is not a separate intro or just a regular song. Not all albums have this kind of an "opener" and we are picking the ones we consider as favorite, greatest and iconic. The TOP ones according to Crystal Logic.
You can't easily beat Judas Priest's "The Hellion" but this is an intro. Iron Maiden's "The Ides of March" is instrumental and "Princess of the Night" a song that could be placed anywhere in Saxon's "Denim and Leather", even if we are used to it as the opening track of the album. These examples are not what we're talking about.
So let's lay down our favorite album openers.
The band with intros that really matter! Tracks like "Chamber of Lies" and "The Curse" are the best intros someone could ask for, but the German pirate ship has also a legacy of great openers. "Riding the Storm" is one of the most iconic album openers and one of the best Running Wild songs. And when we are talking for "one of the best Running WIld songs", that means it is one of the best metal songs ever. European Heavy Metal, Power Metal, even Speed Metal, everything is here, and depending the period, Running Wild fit in any of those genres, standing on the very top. Read more.
The line: Face in the wind, we're riding the storm, we'll stay our course whatever will come.
Opener to the album Death or Glory (1989)
Check also: Accept "Metal Heart", Gamma Ray "Rebellion in Dreamland", Running Wild "Blazon Stone".
This is not just our favorite Iron Maiden opener, but also the greatest opener of our favorite Iron Maiden record. Read more.
The line: Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing you try to hide your deepest sins - Of all the things that you’ve done wrong and I know where you belong.
Opener to the album Somewhere in Time (1986)
Check also: Iron Maiden "Aces High", Iron Maiden "Moonchild", Spitfire "Street Fighter".
Rainstorm. Church bells. THE riff. A desperate voice. A figure in black that points at you. A sinister aura that guided Tony, Geezer, Bill and Ozzy to write and perform this song. One of the most disturbing tunes someone could hear until 1970. The beginning. The Big Bang of Heavy Metal. It has to be here. It is here. Forever and ever.
The line: Oh no, no, please God help me!
Opener to the album Black Sabbath (1970)
Check also: Black Sabbath "Anno Mundi", Candlemass "Mirror Mirror", Solitude Aeturnus "Seeds of the Desolate", While Heaven Wept "The Drowning Years".
Destroyer and Thunder Child formed the best alliance. It is amazing how Bill Tsamis and Mark Zonder managed to complete each other and even if Tsamis is the sole composer, I can't imagine Warlord with another drummer. And "Deliver Us From Evil" is the song that will justify this statement.
The line: Deliver us from all the sin and we who believe will eternally sing these words in which we call the battle hymn.
Opener to the mini album Deliver Us (1983)
Check also: Crimson Glory "Valhalla", Lordian Guard "War in Heaven", Yngwie J. Malmsteen "Rising Force", Psychotic Waltz "Ashes".
Funny how few bands fall in certain genres or categories only because of a few albums or their image. W.A.S.P. is a heavy metal band and The Headless Children one of the best US metal albums ever. And this album has one of the most impressive openers anyone could ask for.
The line: The seeds of all evil are sown in their minds and harvest the sad fields of woe.
Opener to the album The Headless Children (1989)
Check also: Armored Saint "March of the Saint", Leatherwolf "Rise or Fall", Savatage "Power of the Night".
One of the most important US metal bands. Highly influential for the metal scene of Seattle and mid '80s thrash metal bands, since Metal Church balanced between power metal and thrash metal. However, in my record collection, I don't place their albums in the "thrash metal section". "Beyond the Black" is one of those few songs that sum up everything USPM stands for, and even more. You can just ask bands like Sanctuary and the answer is there. By the way, Metal Church! Isn't it one of the coolest band names ever?
The line: We unite as one, no more weapons, no more guns.
Opener to the album Metal Church (1984)
Check also: Iced Earth "Angels Holocaust", Sanctuary "Future Tense".
You can't complete any list related to heavy metal without having Manowar therein. Even if they don't fit, you need to find a way to add them. You're not a false one, are you?
The line: The ride of the wicked, the first sin was trust.
Opener to the album Hail to England (1984)
Check also: Bathory "Shores in Flames", Virgin Steele "Kingdom of the Fearless".
The circle is broken but you can't break the Oath. It bounds you forever. At least if you listen to heavy metal. If you don't like Mercyful Fate and King Diamond, you just listen to a few selected heavy metal bands "among many other things". One of the best openers, from one of the best albums, with one of the most iconic covers, from one of the best metal bands ever. Read more.
The line: They should have known not to play with the powers of Hell.
Opener to the album Don't Break the Oath (1984)
Check also: Exorcist "Black Mass", King Diamond "The Candle".
A strong candidate for the best thrash metal opener ever. Or is it the best thrash metal opener? The drumming, the demons, the riffs, everything smells fire, damnation and rotten flesh.
The line: What you seek for can't be found, in sea or sky or underground.
Opener to the album Hell Awaits (1985)
Check also: Metallica "Blackened", Slayer "South of Heaven", Venom "Prime Evil".
Not to be crossed! A modern classic. The ultimate epic metal opener of our times and for the years to come. Only Eternal Champion could come with a better epic metal opener in the future. The drums of doom, the marching tempo, the Oliva-like scream, the riders of Tarsul, the guards of Lourn, the Pyre Forge, the HAMMER.
The line: I warned them once I am the Hammer.
Opener to the album The Armor of Ire (2016)
Check also: Battleroar "The Wrathforge", Dawnbringer "I", Wrathblade "God-Defying Typhoeus".
Bonus: Top-5 metal EP openers:
1. Medieval Steel "Medieval Steel"
2. Ostrogoth "Full Moon's Eyes"
3. Heathen's Rage "Knights of Steel"
4. Black Knight "Warlord's Wrath"
5. Defender "City Ad Mortis"
Bonus: Top-5 metal album - drum intro - openers:
1. Ozzy Osbourne "Over the Mountain"
2. Iron Maiden "Where Eagles Dare"
3. Judas Priest "Painkiller"
4. Matakopas "Strangers"
5. Megadeth "Trust"
So let's lay down our favorite album openers.
written by Andreas Andreou
1. Running Wild "Riding the Storm"
The band with intros that really matter! Tracks like "Chamber of Lies" and "The Curse" are the best intros someone could ask for, but the German pirate ship has also a legacy of great openers. "Riding the Storm" is one of the most iconic album openers and one of the best Running Wild songs. And when we are talking for "one of the best Running WIld songs", that means it is one of the best metal songs ever. European Heavy Metal, Power Metal, even Speed Metal, everything is here, and depending the period, Running Wild fit in any of those genres, standing on the very top. Read more.
The line: Face in the wind, we're riding the storm, we'll stay our course whatever will come.
Opener to the album Death or Glory (1989)
Check also: Accept "Metal Heart", Gamma Ray "Rebellion in Dreamland", Running Wild "Blazon Stone".
2. Iron Maiden "Caught Somewhere in Time"
This is not just our favorite Iron Maiden opener, but also the greatest opener of our favorite Iron Maiden record. Read more.
The line: Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing you try to hide your deepest sins - Of all the things that you’ve done wrong and I know where you belong.
Opener to the album Somewhere in Time (1986)
Check also: Iron Maiden "Aces High", Iron Maiden "Moonchild", Spitfire "Street Fighter".
3. Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath"
Rainstorm. Church bells. THE riff. A desperate voice. A figure in black that points at you. A sinister aura that guided Tony, Geezer, Bill and Ozzy to write and perform this song. One of the most disturbing tunes someone could hear until 1970. The beginning. The Big Bang of Heavy Metal. It has to be here. It is here. Forever and ever.
The line: Oh no, no, please God help me!
Opener to the album Black Sabbath (1970)
Check also: Black Sabbath "Anno Mundi", Candlemass "Mirror Mirror", Solitude Aeturnus "Seeds of the Desolate", While Heaven Wept "The Drowning Years".
4. Warlord "Deliver Us From Evil"
Destroyer and Thunder Child formed the best alliance. It is amazing how Bill Tsamis and Mark Zonder managed to complete each other and even if Tsamis is the sole composer, I can't imagine Warlord with another drummer. And "Deliver Us From Evil" is the song that will justify this statement.
The line: Deliver us from all the sin and we who believe will eternally sing these words in which we call the battle hymn.
Opener to the mini album Deliver Us (1983)
Check also: Crimson Glory "Valhalla", Lordian Guard "War in Heaven", Yngwie J. Malmsteen "Rising Force", Psychotic Waltz "Ashes".
5. W.A.S.P. "The Heretic (The Lost Child)"
Funny how few bands fall in certain genres or categories only because of a few albums or their image. W.A.S.P. is a heavy metal band and The Headless Children one of the best US metal albums ever. And this album has one of the most impressive openers anyone could ask for.
The line: The seeds of all evil are sown in their minds and harvest the sad fields of woe.
Opener to the album The Headless Children (1989)
Check also: Armored Saint "March of the Saint", Leatherwolf "Rise or Fall", Savatage "Power of the Night".
6. Metal Church "Beyond the Black"
One of the most important US metal bands. Highly influential for the metal scene of Seattle and mid '80s thrash metal bands, since Metal Church balanced between power metal and thrash metal. However, in my record collection, I don't place their albums in the "thrash metal section". "Beyond the Black" is one of those few songs that sum up everything USPM stands for, and even more. You can just ask bands like Sanctuary and the answer is there. By the way, Metal Church! Isn't it one of the coolest band names ever?
The line: We unite as one, no more weapons, no more guns.
Opener to the album Metal Church (1984)
Check also: Iced Earth "Angels Holocaust", Sanctuary "Future Tense".
7. Manowar "Blood of My Enemies"
You can't complete any list related to heavy metal without having Manowar therein. Even if they don't fit, you need to find a way to add them. You're not a false one, are you?
The line: The ride of the wicked, the first sin was trust.
Opener to the album Hail to England (1984)
Check also: Bathory "Shores in Flames", Virgin Steele "Kingdom of the Fearless".
8. Mercyful Fate "A Dangerous Meeting"
The circle is broken but you can't break the Oath. It bounds you forever. At least if you listen to heavy metal. If you don't like Mercyful Fate and King Diamond, you just listen to a few selected heavy metal bands "among many other things". One of the best openers, from one of the best albums, with one of the most iconic covers, from one of the best metal bands ever. Read more.
The line: They should have known not to play with the powers of Hell.
Opener to the album Don't Break the Oath (1984)
Check also: Exorcist "Black Mass", King Diamond "The Candle".
9. Slayer "Hell Awaits"
A strong candidate for the best thrash metal opener ever. Or is it the best thrash metal opener? The drumming, the demons, the riffs, everything smells fire, damnation and rotten flesh.
The line: What you seek for can't be found, in sea or sky or underground.
Opener to the album Hell Awaits (1985)
Check also: Metallica "Blackened", Slayer "South of Heaven", Venom "Prime Evil".
10. Eternal Champion "I Am the Hammer"
Not to be crossed! A modern classic. The ultimate epic metal opener of our times and for the years to come. Only Eternal Champion could come with a better epic metal opener in the future. The drums of doom, the marching tempo, the Oliva-like scream, the riders of Tarsul, the guards of Lourn, the Pyre Forge, the HAMMER.
The line: I warned them once I am the Hammer.
Opener to the album The Armor of Ire (2016)
Check also: Battleroar "The Wrathforge", Dawnbringer "I", Wrathblade "God-Defying Typhoeus".
Bonus: Top-5 metal EP openers:
1. Medieval Steel "Medieval Steel"
2. Ostrogoth "Full Moon's Eyes"
3. Heathen's Rage "Knights of Steel"
4. Black Knight "Warlord's Wrath"
5. Defender "City Ad Mortis"
Bonus: Top-5 metal album - drum intro - openers:
1. Ozzy Osbourne "Over the Mountain"
2. Iron Maiden "Where Eagles Dare"
3. Judas Priest "Painkiller"
4. Matakopas "Strangers"
5. Megadeth "Trust"
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