Hello! My name is James Power and I am a 17 year old student from Hutton currently doing work experience for Phoenix FM..
As part of my work experience I have been asked to write an article detailing my top ten favourite songs and why I like them. I hope you enjoy.
10. Evanescence – Going Under
This sleeper hit, included in the band’s debut album Fallen which was released in 2003, has sadly been overshadowed by their more popular songs such Bring Me To Life and My Immortal. However I managed to discover both this song and band due to a friend’s recommendation. I enjoy Going Under for its use of a slow tempo combined with its haunting lyrics to create a unique musical experience.
9. Disturbed – Indestructible
The title song from the band’s 2008 album has become one of the band’s most popular songs. It represents the band’s continued success and determination which is made even more impressive when you consider the many iconic songs that Disturbed have produced, such as Inside The Fire and Down With The Sickness.
8. Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
This iconic song from indie rock band Imagine Dragons’ 2012 debut album Night Visions was such a success that it managed to take a previously unknown band and quickly thrust them into the mainstream. By the time I had discovered this song it was being used as a theme song for everything from videogames to movies –
making Radioactive one of the most iconic and greatest indie songs of all time.
7. System Of A Down – Chop Suey
Chop Suey debuted as the first single of the alternative metal band System Of A Down’s second album Toxicity and has become easily the band’s most successful and iconic song. It was recently used as one of the theme songs for the tenth installment of the popular fighting game series Mortal Kombat. In fact Chop Suey has become so successful it has been named the Band’s signature song.
6. Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
During 2010 one of the world’s most popular heavy metal bands, Avenged Sevenfold, released their fifth studio album Nightmare. Its title song not only became one of my personal favorites due to its near perfect mixture of haunting and powerful music but it also proved to be one of the band’s most successful songs, becoming the number one rock song on iYunes in both the UK and the US.
5. Skillet – Salvation
This underated song debuted as part of Christian rock band Skillet’s ninth album Rise which was released in 2013. While it is one of the albums least known songs, being overshadowed by the album’s title song Rise, it was ultimately Salvation that became my personal favourite song of the album as I found it to be a powerful and moving song that is definitely worth a listen.
4. A Day to Remember – Paranoia
This sleeper hit of 2016 was one of the latest singles produced by the underrated rock band A Day To Remember and has become one of their most successful singles due to its intense vocals and music. It managed to reach the top of the UK Rock and Metal chants and was even used as one of the theme songs for one of WWE’s Pay Per Views – NXT the End – showcasing the pure energy this song creates.
3. Imagine Dragons – Monster
This excellent song debuted in Imagine Dragons’ second album Smoke and Mirrors which was released in 2014. While this song did not reach the levels of success of its iconic predecessor Radioactive, I personally preferred this song due its more powerful lyrics and superior acoustics, providing a worthy follow up to the band’s iconic song which in my opinion surpassed the original.
2. Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
The title song of the band’s 6th studio album Hail to the King, which released in 2013, has become my personal favourite song that the band has ever produced due to its powerful lyrics and excellent music. This has gained it many accolades such as reaching the number one spot on US Mainstream Rock billboard as well winning the best rock song of the year at the Livewire awards making it one of the band’s greatest songs.
1. Skillet – Hero
This great song made its debut in Skillet’s eighth album Awake which was released in 2009, and would go on to become the band’s most iconic album, releasing classics such as Monster along with Awake and Alive. However personally Hero stood out as my personal favourite song of not only the album but of all time due to its inspiring lyrics and powerful themes making it a recommended listen for any rock fan.