So, basically, im doing a history assignment, where i have to 'examine how a media text represents an historical individual, event or issue'

so i have chosen to do a slection of metal songs that have to do with wars, or things related to wars

so it would be good to get a list of songs of this type

my list so far:

metallica-disposable heroes
black sabbath-war pigs
Kalmah-heroes to us
machine head-farewell to arms
arch enemy-silent wars

so any more would be appreciated

most manowar songs, judas priest-one shot at glory, megadeth-rust in peace, take no prisoners, metallica-one, and most ensiferum songs, especially battle song

edit: i forgot iron maiden-the trooper, paschendale, aces high, judas priest-better by you better than me, and iced earth's gettysburg trilogy, motorhead-1916.

Also i would add Megadeth Holy War and ManOwaR Shellshock

Slayer - War Ensemble, Ghosts of War
Definitely some Maiden. The Trooper, Paschendale and The Longest Day are the most representative, probably.
Try Megadeth's Architecture of Aggression, as well (and, of course, the ubiquitous 'Peace Sells' and 'Rust in Peace...Polaris')

Don't know if this will be any help to you, but Tristania's Hatred Grows is about crusade wars.

Slayer - angel of death...pretty obvious one

Other ones i know of have been said already.

Written by BurbotsRevenge on 24.11.2007 at 11:35

metallica-disposable heroes

Wouldn't 'One' be more appropriate?

The concept album "Warnaments" by Torchbearer is about (naval) battles and war in general.

Written by Lucas on 24.11.2007 at 16:53

Written by BurbotsRevenge on 24.11.2007 at 11:35

metallica-disposable heroes

Wouldn't 'One' be more appropriate?

"One" is based upon a book called Johnny Got His Gun and the music video for the song includes clips from the movie based upon the book of the same title. While "Disposable Heroes" is a very good song, and does deal with issues of war and combat, "One" is more specific, looking at the First World War.

For other Metal songs about war, if you are going for straight up Anti-War songs, I would recommend:
"In The Name of God" and "Prophets of War" - Dream Theater
"2 Minutes to Midnight" Iron Maiden
"Civil War" - Guns N' Roses
"Rooster" - Alice in Chains
"Refuse/Resist" - Sepultura
"Wind of Change" - Scorpions
"War?", "B.Y.O.B." and "Boom!" - System of a Down

Well there is slayer's "eye of the insane"

@nervel amd dantrain

yeh, i was thinking of onr as well, but disposable heroes is still a good song, and it talks about war and the soldiers and how theyre 'disposable' - but one is a good one as well

Try just about anything with Sabaton, almost all their songs are about war (not so sure about the latest album though). Actually so many that they seem to have the habit of saying things like "guess what, the next song is about war" in an ironic tone inbetween song at their concerts.

I am listening to "six degrees of inner turbulence" and I remembered "war inside my head" fits the thread. Dont know if it was mentioned here before.

I was gonna try thinking of some songs that would suit, hell, I did make an attempt, but the best advice I can give is that your assignment will probably score better if you avoid songs that are just "generally" about war ("wars" plural as in your first post being especially dangerous). Go for specific things about for example World War 1 or 2, so Iron Maiden - Paschendale and Iced Earth Gettysburg may be the best suggestions here atm. I would have liked to suggest songs about certain people but anything I can think of such as Anthrax - The Enemy seems just too vague to be a good basis for your writing.

Unfortunately I have the feeling even Paschendale may be too unspecific - I'm only slightly familiar with its lyrics. To Tame a Land or The Clansman might be better.

Maybe it would be 2 type of "war metal song": anti-war, and not anti-war.

Avalon - This Is War

Hmm... well, a lot of Iron Maiden songs... and then we of course have the classics War and War by Bathory and Burzum: War, war, waaaar, waaaaaar... awesomness at its best!

Blind Guardians "Nightfall In Middle Earth" is basically bout the War of Wrath.....so...lol...

Many warthemed songs from Iron Maiden like Aces High or The Trooper really rules

Written by Dane Train on 24.11.2007 at 18:47


"War?", "B.Y.O.B." and "Boom!" - System of a Down

Serj Tankian's "Empty Walls" as well. Plus his interpretation of "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition".

Also look towards Rage Against the Machine with songs like "Killing in the Name of" and "Bulls on Parade"

Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" is very specific, about the indian wars.



P.S. Or do you mean songs that are about a specific event/person? Then a lot of the songs in this topic would not do as they're too general.

Wouldn't hurt to use songs from the Vietnam era as an example, shitloads of stuff to work with!


P.P.S. This is a really cool assignment by the way, wish we had had stuff like that back when I was in school...

Written by destroyah on 25.11.2007 at 22:07

Written by Dane Train on 24.11.2007 at 18:47


"War?", "B.Y.O.B." and "Boom!" - System of a Down

Serj Tankian's "Empty Walls" as well. Plus his interpretation of "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition".

Also look towards Rage Against the Machine with songs like "Killing in the Name of" and "Bulls on Parade"

Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" is very specific, about the indian wars.



P.S. Or do you mean songs that are about a specific event/person? Then a lot of the songs in this topic would not do as they're too general.

Wouldn't hurt to use songs from the Vietnam era as an example, shitloads of stuff to work with!


P.P.S. This is a really cool assignment by the way, wish we had had stuff like that back when I was in school...

yeh, its a pretty cool assignment

and yes, some songs containing specific references to events, individuals etc.

Definitly check out Hail Of Bullets first promo, all four songs are on there myspace, songs like 'Ordered Eastward' 'Red Wolves Of Stalin' 'Advancing Once More' and 'General Winter' are obviously war songs, unfortunately I cant understand the lyrics, such intense growls

Complicated tread

Ok BM and NSBM almoust all BM songs are about war, war against judeo-cristianity, war againhst other cultures , also epic historical battles and viking war(Bathory) and so on . BM and its agresion make sit like war but also BM lyric contesct are open wide

Heavy Metal also write songs about war specely Iron Maiden ,
#run To The Hills
#Trooper(Crimea War)
#Aces Hight
#Real of the Ancient mariner
#Alexander The Great
#Tailgunner
#Mother Rusia
#Fortunes Of War
#Paschendale(Please dont ask what hepen there)

Alos other heavy metal bands write songs about war like Iced Earth, Grave Digger, and so

Those 2 genres BM and HM moustly wrote songs ok if hunting a dragon are war then power too

Here's a couple more, from my favourite band of all time:

Sacred Reich - Sacred Reich

Sacred Reich - Surf Nicaragua

Hope this helps.

EDIT: Another one of my fave bands: God Dethroned - Arch Enemy Spain

It might help if we had someone to help with determining what other tracks were based around wars, by this band (Marcel, I'm looking at you)

I'm not a history buff, so this is a slightly difficult task

many of the songs of Iron Maiden on " A matter of life and death" is about war
These colors don't run
brighter than a thousand suns
the longest day
the legacy

and the rest of their war like songs have already been mentioned here.

Manowar - Achilles, Agony And Ecstasy In Eight Parts bout Achilles and the War of Troy, then Battle Hymn and Courage as well has much to do with war (or saying farewell before leaving for a war) imo...and maybe even Sons Of Odin, especially in the end, about some viking warriors i some old dark age battle...

and many other songs by Manowar can be found with some war theme...

sorry if some of mine are repeated ...i tried to read all the post but it looks like that i'll finish next year
Of Rage And War - Savatage
Iced Earth's Album "The Glorious Burden"
Most of Dark Lunacy's Songs (Mostly about WWII ) especially their album "The Diarist"
Many of System of A Down songs (especially those mentioned before)
Blinded In Chains - Avenged Sevenfold
War Of One - Winterhorde

Amon Amarth's album " With Oden On Our Side" especially the songs "With Oden On Our Side" and "Gods Of War Arise?

"Infinity" - Stratovarius is about how certain religions and the people who follow them cause war and poison the spirit ov gaia (it seems very particular about The Middle-East I think). I fucking love that song, it really makes me aware ov the world and everything around me.

Written by [user id=160] on 27.11.2007 at 01:52

"Infinity" - Stratovarius is about how certain religions and the people who follow them cause war and poison the spirit ov gaia (it seems very particular about The Middle-East I think). I fucking love that song, it really makes me aware ov the world and everything around me.

yes about alian war whit other galaxy and dimension space ships and urgologoloplolo planat inhabitants
Stratovarius and war, ok fighing in firts 3 albums but now war,