Video Killed The Radio Star
How I became passionate about Heavy Metal watching Videoclips.
In my youth MTV was already forgoing music for reality TV, but you could still watch decent VJ’s like Tommy Vance on his Friday Night Rock Show on VH1 (and MTV offshoot still focused on musical content).
At the time VH1 had some very interesting shows like Bands Reunited, Storytellers and also the previously mentioned Tommy Vance show.
I still remember watching Headbanger’s Ball with Vanessa Warwick hosting it, namely a special episode she did with Sepultura when they played Pavilhão de Cascais (a mythical concert spot in Portugal, like our Budokan or Hammersmith Odeon).
Portuguese television had sporadic shows hosted by VJ’s (That’s Video Jockeys for those unaware of the terminology).
Nowadays videos are, in most cases, just an innocuous animation, or a slide projection, with the song’s lyrics plastered on the screen.
In the old days, when bands signed a contract with a record label, they had a 2 video deal, which was standard.
And I’m not even referring to overblown spectacles, like the $4 million dollar extravaganza on Estranged by Guns ‘n’ Roses. A simple live rendition of the song would suffice.
With de advent of the streaming services, the commercial viability of the music video, or the album format for that matter, is severely hampered.
I am aware of the fact that not all bands can be at the level of Metallica and produce videos to all the songs, on a specific record. But if filmmakers can make movies on a Smartphone, I believe a similar principle can be applied to music videos.
For me personally videos were the best way to get you pumped about a forthcoming release, much more so than a CD single release. A well produced video had a lasting power on your mind.
I feel that videos directly influenced my personal tastes, specifically in regards to Heavy Metal.
The following is a list of videos had a lasting impact on my musical preferences:
Pantera – Walk
Everything about this video screams metal to me, from the insane fans, to the no frills attitude of the band.
Phil Anselmo’s militaristic pose and serious matter lyrics (no girls or booze here!), Dimebag’s virtuoso guitar work coupled with a rhythm section that could reduce a concrete wall to dust in a nanosecond.
Fear Factory – Scapegoat
The first time I saw this video I just thought “What the hell is going on?”. There were fans moshing, flying all around. It looked like the “The World would become hell”. Still the ultra mechanical riffs coupled with the dual vocal attack were anything but chaotic.
Naturally I was immediately hooked on the industrial metal these guys were churning.
Nowadays the band seems too far from their glorious, pulverizing heyday, which is very sad.
Fortunately we can always reminisce.
Metallica – One
For a band that for years refused to make a video, they certainly struck gold with their first one. The live performance interconnected with haunting dialogue, and movie excerpts would prove to be instrumental in transforming the band from an excellent thrash metal to the commercial juggernaut, they would eventually become with the release of the Black Album.
Gorefest – The Glorious Dead
The video features three songs from that concert. Enjoy!
I realize now that this is the second video from Dynamo Open Air I’m mentioning (The first is the Fear Factory one!).
The crowd was wild, always jumping, mooching, slam dancing. They even had a guy with a hose splashing them.
The larger than life vocals, the twin guitar attack and the precise / powerfull drumming of Ed Warby.
Sepultura – Dead Embrionic Cells
I could easily put Arise of even Territory here (wold also be ideal choices), but I decided to go with this fabulously titled song.
A death metal band recording a video in Death Valley – California, could be considered overkill. But who cares?
Lightning fast drumming, intricate riffs, explosive solos, you don’t need anything else.
Carcass – Corporal Jigsore Quandary
One of me all time favourite bands are portrayed as an explosive live wrecking ball. Dual vocal aggression, cortesy of Jeff Walker and Bill Steer. Surgically precise (pun intended) riffs and solos and the sadly missed percussion work on Ken Owen.
Obituary – The End Complete
Is there anything more primal and effective than recording a metal band playing live. I honestly don’t think so.
The deceptively slow guitar dirge, the intelligent growls of John Tardy, Allan West piercing guitar solos (before he went the Breaking Bad way). Donald Tardy’s double bass drum work
The “No Stage Diving” sign!!! Outstanding, even today I get goosebumps watching this.
Guns ‘n’ Roses – Don’t Cry
It would be virtually impossible for me not to mention Guns ‘n’ Roses, as I used to me a massive fan.
These days I still like their music very much, but have since moved to greener pastures.
This video was a sort of conceptual piece, following a script written by Axl. To see Slash driving a car of a cliff (or did he?) and the band performing at the top of a skyscraper. Pure nineties magic in my book.
Extreme – Get the Funk Out
Nuno Bettencourt is Portuguese, and he is also one of the best guitar players in Hard ‘n’ Heavy, bar none. You can even spot a Portuguese flag on the background, how cool is that??
After a derivative first release, these guys proved they were so much more, than your garden variety glam band.
Funky, heavy, melodic & joyous.
Samael – Baphomets Throne
Swiss Dark Metal maestros, present a dark (pun intended, because the video is in Black and White!) interpretation of a song from there transitional release Ceremony of Opposites.
Again you don’t need to have an elaborate production to produce a video that perfectly embodies the aesthetic and the sound of a band.
Danzig – Mother ‘93
At the time I was not a connoisseur of the career of the Dark Elvis, but I’ve since correct that fault.
It is a shame that this line-up didn’t stay together, still they were able to release 4 spectacular albums. Not everything is lost!
Danzig’s bravado and stamina keeps all eyes on him, but be aware that the other members of the band are no slouches.
Ugly Kid Joe – Everything About You
One of the things that always bugged me, was that some metal fans didn’t have a sense of humour.
Everything had to be serious. These guys came along with an FU attitude and did a record for the ages.
The music was heavy, still they didn’t sacrifice on the banter and crass humour.
Fortunately the band is still active, recording and gigging around the world. Good for them!
And don’t let yourself be fooled by the cheerfull attitude. These guys can shred when they want to.
Anthrax – Only
Papa Het AKA James Hetfield and gone on record saying this is one of his favourite songs. I happen to agree with him, you cannot disagree with Papa Het!!
Coming off the album The Sound of With Noise, the first release with John Bush on vocals. And what a release it was.
A dark brooding album filled with darkness, menacing vocals and turgid riffs. A departure from the more happy go lucky times with Joey Belladona for sure.
Megadeth – Wake up Dead
An Airplane Hangar, an improvised stage, a metal wire case for people to climb and do all sorts of crazy stuff, and rabid fans.
What more do you need?
A band at the peak of their powers, featuring the jazzy drumming and guitar playing from Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland respectively. Dave Mustaine’s sneer is at an all time high and David Elefson will always be THE bass player for Megadeth.
Cannibal Corpse – Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead
A song imbued with lyrical horror, images of someone being taken into an hospital room, for a surgical procedure, and apparently not to happy about it.
The last release to feature the vocal talents of Chris Barnes is undoubtedly one of their strongest releases.
An excellent send-off!
The last two on this list are not videos per se but still were instrumental for me, when I as starting to tread the waters of Heavy Metal.
Napalm Dead – Live Corruption
The last tour to feature the drumming of Mick “Human Tornado” Harris, before he became a dark industrial savant and fishing aficionado.
For a guy like me that was accustomed to see live performances from Pink Floyd and the Scorpions, you can image the shock.
Suffice to say I’ve been a Napalm Death fan ever since.
Metallica – Cliff ‘Em All
I don’t care if this release is official or not, IMHO this is one of the quintessential videos ever released by a metal band.
A tribute to the late Cliff Burton, featuring live performances, with interview segments (some of them featuring a very young and innocent Dave Mustaine).
If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour. This is essential viewing for anybody interested in heavy music.
Not to mention the fact this presents the pure unadultered, “Metal Up Your Ass” version of Metallica. This is not the pompous, “we’re too good to be true” version featured on the A Year and a Half in the life of Metallica release.
I’m sure I forgot some video I love, but you get the idea!
Listening to "Creeping Death" live in Las Vegas 2013 as I scrolled through to your entry on Cliff 'Em All. Hetfield will NOT shut the fuck up between stanzas, and lets fly with these stupid audience participation one-liners. "Then Vegas got LOUDER!" Yikes.
Metallica came up as the no-bullshit alternative. No stupid teased hair, no stupid glitter outfits, no makeup, no patronizing their audience, just four guys in jeans and a T-shirt who wrote and played the fuck out of their songs.
The only times I've seen Metallica were in the 80's, so can't say for certain, but this semi-recent thing from Vegas suggests that at least in concert they've forgotten the point of their band a little--even though I've continued to like their releases (since St Anger, anyway).
All of the stuff on Cliff 'Em All is worthy, as they bust their asses at arenas in support of bigger and lazier bands, but I do have a favorite--it's "Whiplash" recorded early on at a tiny club, with their logo spray-painted on a bedsheet behind them. The sound is, if you analyzed it, terrible, all top end, very little bass response at all. But it is raw as fuck and gritty and fucking ferocious. It reminds me of nothing so much as their own band and Einsturzende Neubauten in equal measure. A true noise metal. Nothing quite like it in their discography, or anyone else's.
TREMENDOUS.
I'll try some of these; never a heavy metal lover tho 😆