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TOP TEN
"Gym Jams"
These are my "Top Ten" songs for you to add your workout playlist. My only criteria for this list was to not have any repeat bands. Note: My preference for crushing the gym usually consists of swampy D-tuned guitar riffs, ear piercing screams, and fast punk rock snare beats with double bass kick drums.
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So without further ado...
#10
STRUNG OUT
"Velvet Alley"
Exercise: Cardio
Description: This is the one punk song that should be on everyone's workout playlist. It's super fast, has very catchy anthem-style vocals, and the drums kick your ass from beginning to end.
Favorite Part: Besides the whole song? I guess I'd have to pick the rad little instrumental section at 1:06 and 2:03 and 2:55.
#9
AUGUST BURNS RED
"Empire"
Exericse: Cardio and/or Weight Training
Description: Doesn't matter if I'm running or weight training, this song is straight power. Super heavy riffs, demonic screams, aggressive drum fills, crisp production, and a huge breakdown in the middle of the song.
Favorite Part: From the guitar solo on. Starts at 2:20.
#8
ATTACK ATTACK!
"Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3"
Exercise: Cardio and/or Weight Training
Description: I might get shit for this one because of the techno electronics and auto-tuned vocals, but this song is hardcore. The reason it gets me so pumped is because it's acutally a love song. One lyric explains (if you can understand them), "I cannot live without you near. I can't go on without you here. You're the reason why. Simply, because you're everything I want and more". This reminds me of the love and passion I have for my wife and if I were to ever lose her, the pain I'd feel would be so much worse than any pain I endure during a workout. Just extra motivation to get through one more set or that last mile.
Favorite Part: 0:08. At first, you think this song might be some funky fast techno jam for your jazzercise class, but then the death screams kick in and slap you in the face like a bitch.
#7
PROPAGANDHI
"Status Update"
Exercise: 1-minute rep of anykind
Description: If you need to get through just one more rep, this is your jam. Whether it's burpies, bench press or beer bongs, this is 58 seconds of pure shredding.
Favorite Part: I love when the guitars open up on the 4th bar of the chorus. It goes from palm muting to open strumming at 0:19 and 0:40. Sick. But, my absolute favorite is the last 15 seconds. So insane, starting at 0:44.
#6
UNDEROATH
"A Boy Brushed Red....Living In Black And White"
Exercise: Cardio and/or Weight Training
Description: This is screamo at its finest. Two vocalists trading off screams for high notes, and then coming together for harmonies. So good.
Favorite Part: During the pre-chorus, the singer screams "so take a breath and close your... eyes". For the longest time, I thought he was saying "Rise", which would've been cooler, but then wouldn't make any sense. Nevertheless, when he screams "EYES" at 1:37 and 2:45, I am truly horrified (in a good way). I couldn't scream like that if I was dying. It just makes me want to workout even harder.
#5
OF MICE & MEN
"YDG"
Exercise: Weight Training
Description: This song is an explosion of sound with screams that melt your face off. Seriously, you may blow your speakers and/or your eardrums to this song. Prepare to achieve your personal best weight lifting.
Favorite Part: This song kicks your ass from beginning to end, but it really steps up at the 2:00 minute mark. Then it finishes super strong with the riff at 2:48, followed up with one epic final scream at 3:11.
#4
STORY OF THE YEAR
"Is This My Fate, He Asked Them"
Exercise: Cardio or Weight Training
Description: Story Of The Year is easily one of my favorite bands of all time. In fact, I can make an entire Gym Jams playlist featuring only SOTY songs. They are the perfect blend of everything I grew up listening to; from hardcore Pantera-esque metal riffs and screams, to anthem-style chorus chants, to fast Pennywise punk rock beats. And this song is the pinnacle. It's probably one of the best songs ever written in my opinion.
Favorite Part: The section starting at 2:43 is so sick. I'm no musician, but that seems like some sort of tricky timing, right? If not, I really suck at the air drums. Anyway, my absolute favorite part starts at 3:14. SO HARDCORE!! The screams this dude belts out is on an echelon above any other. Listen to the 2nd scream at 3:28. If you don't crush the gym after hearing that, you're weak.
#3
PANTERA
"Suicide Note, Pt. 2"
Exercise: Weight Training
Description: Holy shit. Where do I begin with this one? Verses that shoot out of a cannon. Galloping choruses that swallow you whole. Monstrous bridge. Feirce guitar solo. Vicious drums. Savage screams. Merciless break down and fade out. This song has it all.
Favorite Part: During the chorus, at 2:11, Phil screams out "DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!". It's like having your own personal strength coach motivating you to push even harder. And if anyone has even seen Pantera live, you know just how motivating their frontman can be. But my absolute favorite is when the vocals unleash the most evil and ferocious "WHOA" at 2:48. I'm pretty sure Satan was in the studio that day to lay down that part.
#2
ALEXISONFIRE
"Dog's Blood"
Exercise: Cardio
Description: I love running to this song because it starts off hardcore, but then continues to gradually build up throughout the song and explodes at the end for the grand finale.
Favorite Part: The breakdown, starting at 2:23, is legendary. It slows way down, but then gains momentum again, only to be stopped in it's tracks by the angelic voice of Dallas Green. Then at 3:47, the song erupts with energy. I literally get chills everytime I hear the fury unleashed at 4:15. So intense!
#1
IRON MAIDEN
"Hallowed Be Thy Name"
Exercise: Cardio
Description: If you've never ran a 7-minute mile, well today's the day. Simply put, this song is "Eye Of The Tiger" on steroids. In fact, if Ivan Drago was training to this song, there wouldn't have been a Rocky V, VI & VII. So start off your run at a medium pace and gradually increase your speed as the song progresses. By the end, you should be sweating bullets and quite possibly neck 'n' neck with Usain Bolt.
Favorite Part: The dueling guitar solos, starting at 4:33, are mammoth. But once the guitars meet up again at 5:50 and play the songs trademark riff, that's the signature moment for me. All accompanied by the crisp crashing of cymbals and finally finishing off with Bruce Dickinson nailing the high notes of "HALLOWED BE THY NAME".
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