Metal Riot

Quality live albums have somewhat, frankly, become a rare breed. Sure you have Iced Earth’s Alive In Athens which was made in 1999 (not THAT long ago) but these days it’s far more common to have a golden live moment caught on Youtube, be it a funny blooper, a raging Black Label Society set or Florence & The Machine filling in for Foo Fighters (no pressure) yet still easing into Glastonbury this year like she (Welch) was reclaiming a mystical throne whilst blowing away the uneven Kanye set. Dax Riggs bootlegs are always reliable for bluesy psych/glam rock from the ex-Acid Bath singer. Tearist released a live debut for a full length and it really shook up the noise/art rock scene and created amazing possibilities anew. There’s standbys like Nirvana or Alice In Chains Unplugged. The new Rotting Christ 2x live bad boy is streaming HERE.

Maybe I’m showing my age here but I’d argue though that I have yet to be knocked on my ass by a live release
from many newer bands (here’s a DVD exception). Most of the ones on this list of mine are still more
established than not. Maybe I’m wrong but it seems to be a hurting art form. Cuz bands fuckin’ fake shit in the studio, hahaha.

Here are twelve true bangers, IMO. Some of these even have accompanying footage! Cuz, y’know…we can do that stuff now!

See which twelve artists made the list BELOW.

Arch Enemy – Tyrants Of The Rising Sun

While I love the new Arch Enemy line up and think they are killing it non stop, fuck…I still miss Angela. Sometimes you just want to hear her massive roar and imagine her putting you in a headlock, lightly squeezing and popping your head off like a daisy. I would love to die that way. Alissa White Gluz has kept the band alive and is awesome, but today we’re celebrating this fucking epic as fuck Japan live show release from Arch Enemy. I think it’s one of the best metal concerts ever. Gossow could not possibly dominate the crowd more. Lucky fuckin’ fuckers.

The whole band are on fire and the songs cut with melodeath might as Angela leads the band with unshakeable force. The energy they put out on this is fucking unbelievable.

Gojira – Les Enfants Sauvages 

Gojira live are intense and moody, in command and unfuckwithable. Often the best band in metal. Often.

Krokus – Long Stick Goes Boom: Live From The House of Rust

Marc Storace from Krokus was a pleasure to interview when their recent live
triumph came out .This should be in any hard rock fan’s collection despite hitting stores in 2014.

Pantera – live 101 proof

Dumb ass haters, listen to this and shut up. This could not possibly NOT be on this list. RIP Brother Dime.

Zodiac – Road tapes vol 1

The drum roll intro to “Holding On” reminds me of “Where Eagles Dare” by Maiden. And this band kill it hard on this set. Maybe the most underground band on the list and a huge hope for hard rock’s future.

Incubus – Incubus HQ Live pretty much slays in my opinion. But they are

sensitive and alternative and wussy! And they had funk basslines and a man boy
singer! So freakin’ what. The 3 disc set is pretty much all killer and comes
with a live DVD to boot. Watch “Megalomaniac” below and let’s dedicate it to
the entire farm of current GOP fucknuts.

Devin Townsend – The Retinal Circus

Dude is a fuckin’ genius. ‘Nuff said. Class all his own. Thank you for being the mad, over achieving ringleader this modern metal circus needs Mr. Townsend.

Clutch. Live In Flint, Michigan.

My favorite band for a loooooong time. Most consistent bastards out there. And Psychic Warfare is upon us! While Clutch live albums are never as satisfying as their colossal, Kraken killing live show…live in Flint Michigan is pretty fuckin awesome. It’s the most bang for your buck, if you can find a copy. The solution is so clear.

Iron Maiden – Flight 666 soundtrack

Bruce flies the band around the world and they remind everyone why everything else sucks, the soundtrack.

The Melvins. Your Choice Live.

With Buzz and Melvins – a lot of people like the live Ipecac-era stuff, especially when
Patton cameos, but for me the quintessential live Melvins release is Your
Choice Live Vol 12. Easily the coolest Melvins CD i own. 1991. Shows how
ahead of their time and so fucking heavy the weirdos of Grunge were and why
they still hold the crown.

Van Halen – Right Here, Right Now

So the New Van Halen live album some people aren’t so into so I asked my fellow Van
Halen nut (though he is way more of one than me and can play any VH song on
guitar, for real) Robert Kelly  “The Van Halen Kid” of That 80s Cover Band what he thought. This kid is not even twenty years old and is a true talent in the making.

“My favorite live album of the 90s. The band was in its prime, and the setlist could not be beat for Sammy Hagar Era Van Halen. Many of my favorite VH tunes like Poundcake, Judgement Day, Pleasure Dome, Right Now and Dreams were performed on this album. Eddies tone was better than ever and his playing was flawless. Right Here Right Now is Pure magic caught on tape!” – Robert

Moonspell – Lusitanian Metal

I see Moonspell as often as possible and get everything they release. The dark princes of gothic tinged, black dreams. They are the most romantic band in metal with poetic souls wrestling with mortality at all times yet striving to create immortal moments of sorrow reborn as realized dreams. Also often the best band in metal, whether they ever get the credit. Elegant and ritual bittersweet hellfire leaving behind a scorched Earth where life begins fresh, green and daring.

Honorable Mention: Rollins Band – The Only Way To Know For Sure

Great record title for a live album and true words. Awesome era of the band.

and extra credit (better than Yeezy singing Queen). This is not a live album but I just want to paste it in here. Her hair is amazing:

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