There's tons of reasons why I do it too. Firstly and obviously for the simple health reasons involved. Somewhere within my twisted psyche I've got an image in mind of what I want to look like, and although I've come close I'm still not where I want to be. This is largely because of my usual alcohol consumption, but also because my diet isn't exactly perfect.
Why you ask? Seriously, sometimes I don't even know myself. I'm hardly a social person and working the nocturnal shift at my job means I rarely get out that much, but maybe it just has something to do with making a good impression on people or some sort of silly desire to look more manly. However, I don't want to throw that word around because that's really not a word I toss around often. Mind you now, I'm by no means trying to look like some sort of body builder or physical phenomenon, but just simply a healthy decent looking dude. I think.
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| A winning combination |
This is something I've been thinking about writing about for a long time as both visiting the gym and heavy metal have been a huge part of my life. Although I've been doing both since my early teens, the former didn't become a more serious activity until five years ago when I suddenly felt the inspiration to bulk up from my skeletal frame. In the time since, I've managed to put muscle on my body and increase my weight, though I still don't feel I've reached my true goals. Over the years of doing this certain songs have been regulars while doing my thing and that's the point of this article - To share songs that get me energized and pumped. Corny? Maybe, but the next time you catch a mirror reflection of your beer gut and triangular bologna tits do write to me and tell me how you enjoy them and the way they look on you.
I'm sure writing suck things may also make me sound like a totally cocky bastard, but that's really not the case. In fact, for me its been a constant struggle for clarity and meaning within my life and generally just a good reason not to end it all when the shit hits the fan. I think through my vigorous routines and everything that comes out of it after a while is one of those results that keeps me going.
Below I've picked out a selection of favorites, said what needed to be said and even posted a youtube video for you to check the songs out.
So, gather 'round all you fire-starters, whirlwind reapers and comet riders, as I give you my songs for the gym!
Absu - Pillars of Mercy:
Back sometime in 2001 I was introduced to the blackened thrashers of Absu through their now landmark and utterly devastating fourth album, 'Tara.' The second song on the album, 'Pillars of Mercy' is by far one of most energizing and crushing songs ever composed and with all honesty a regular song I've started most work outs with over the years. In my case, I don't immediately go to the lifting, but rather start out with some sort of cardio warm up and this is the one to kick things off with. Opening with a Proscriptor drum roll, the song instantly blasts onwards with a catchy and heavy lead riff before turning into an all-out killfest of immense riffing, technical drumming, violent raspy screaming and a furious onslaught of endurance like nothing before it. This is one of those songs that picks me up under almost any mood and instantly charges me up and prepares for some sword slashing maiming action (well, I can imagine at least)!
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Cobalt - Ulcerism:
Its unfucking real how pumped I get listening to this song. Goddamn spectaculor song. See, I love it so much I can't even spell my words correctly. Fuck! 'Ulcerism' from Cobalt's second album, 'Eater of Birds' is all that and some more. Opening with a charging riff, galloping drums and growled vocals within a few seconds the song absolutely explodes with insanely driving riffs and beastly screams for the next few minutes before cooling off, but that's not to say the song dies, oh no. It slowly hikes along, slowly building in power to eventually unleash one final pulverizing volley near the ending. Truly, one of my top songs since its release a few years ago.
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The Crown - Rebel Angel:
The Crown was (and still is) all about in your face, fucking pissed off, Satanic hailing, Jesus bashing thrashy death metal and on this particular song they pulled it off flawlessly. Maybe its the balls of fire whirl that it brings with it, the angry vocals or just the brilliant lyrics, which I can personally adhere to quite well. Either way, 'Rebel Angel' is one of the best ever and the only true way to live life. "Call of the devil, follow the devil, fall like an angel, rise like the devil!"
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Down - Lifer:
By now you're most likely warmed up, heck you've got Hell running through your veins, and let's keep things right on rolling! Slowing down the tempo a bit and completely switching sub-genres at this point the southern metal grove of Down just never fails to deliver. Between the catchy lead riffs, Phil's always passionate singing and enough bulldozing force to knock anyone and anything in your path out, 'Lifer' is simply fantastic and one of Down's best.
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Amorphis - Against Widows:
Let's be fair here for a second. I could probably pick about fifty different Amorphis songs to list here and I can openly admit to having many work outs based purely around their music, but amongst my many favs 'Against Widows' from their masterpiece 'Elegy' just sticks out the most. Oh man, those driving folky lead riffs filled with so much life and character never fail to deliver, and the buildup and eventual scream right before the solo always, always seems to get me pumping my fists. This is one of those songs where you'll look across the gym and see some tall long haired, heavily tattooed rocker dude taping his feet like mad while delivering some of the best air drumming and guitar this side of hell. That'd be me and I do it without regret or any embarrassments whatsoever. Hail Amorphis!
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Black Breath - Fallen:
What was I saying about air drumming and such...? Oh yeah, this is another one of those fist pumping "scene" makers for me, which has hopefully scared one too many jock bro dickbags away from me while I do my thing at the gym. Naturally, I couldn't be happier with such results either and with the full throttle mad fury that Black Breath brings with this one I'm surprised I haven't yet started a mosh pit amongst my fellow lifters. What can I say though, for almost four minutes these guys bring unchecked vigorous violence through classic extreme metal riffury with relentless underlining breakneck hardcore punkiness like I've never felt before. Likewise, I could list several other songs from their monster debut, 'Heavy Breathing' and the impressive follow-up, 'Sentenced to Life,' but this is the one to really fuck shit up with!
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Celtic Frost - Jewel Throne:
Few things are any better than Celtic Frost's 'Morbid Tales,' except for the band's own follow-up, the legendary 'To Mega Therion.' Picking a song from this beast is a bit of a challenge, but I suppose you can't go wrong with a song like, 'Jewel Throne.' I love the way this song starts out mid-paced, catchy and undeniable awesome with some of the most colossal riffs ever created, but just unleashes into pure metal craziness by the middle and eventually returns to its calmer beginnings by the end. A true headbanger right here, which I haven't done just yet at the gym, but you can blame that on the fact that I keep my hair tied back and usually wear a bandana too. Someday.
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1349 - Sculptor of Flesh:
"Do you hear them calling... FROM BEYONDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!" And with those words, the Devil's bastard sons of pummeling black metal wickedness switch gears to blackened thrash and for just a little over three minutes, 1349 bombard with memorable demolishing lead riffs, fiendish screams and trouncing drum work like you wouldn't even believe. Raw, brutal and absolutely one that's likely to send a psyclonic blast through the jiggly fat man's guts next to you, 'Sculptor of Flesh' just kills!
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Dissection - Unhallowed:
Much like Amorphis, its hard to pick a favorite from Dissection, but ultimately the malevolent blackened chaos that is 'Unhallowed' rules amongst the rest. This however is the sort of song I pick when a mood of intense anger finds its way into my system and as I've already explained above I'm often lifting with hatred in my heart. The turbulent flow of this song is simply brilliant, from the early lambasting malice to the songs more melodic qualities its simply a song filled with so much spirit, drive and wickedness that it tramples like a roly-poly fatty gorging themselves on left over birthday cake. Those riffs, fucking breathtaking and the drumming is just immense and Jon's lyrics and vocal delivery are brought with so much creativity and passion that few songs can convey a similarly dark yet still energizing and evil presence.
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Deströyer 666 - The Calling:
I could, and probably should, just say listen to D666's 'Cold Steel... For an Iron Age' while working out, because the whole album is a sonic pounding of metal perfection, one that I've included in many a workouts, one that I want to represent through tattooed form on my arm, YES, come and heed the call, this is fucking it! Starting out innocently and calmly enough, 'The Calling' seems tame at first, but it gathers in pace and explodes around the minute mark with a squealing solo and then chugs along as undoubtedly one of the most empowering, memorable and utterly kick ass songs ever created. Not a moment is wasted, not a single lyric is lame, this is absolutely music at its best right here!
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We've come to end, and yet there's literally tons more I could post, thus consider this just a beginning. Its my hope though that some readers use these songs for their work outs, be that in the form of lifting, running, hiking, boxing or really anything physical involving that you can think of. If nothing else, they are indeed great songs to at least start the day with on a charged up high note!
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