An oldie from my youth- Soilent Green’s Sewn Mouth Secrets. The riff that kicks in at 1:08/09 takes the number 6 spot. Mind meltingly heavy in a line setting.

Pentagram’s All Your Sins comes in at #7. I’ve seen this song performed live on two different occasions. First, with Pentagram, second, with Victor Griffin and Place of Skulls. Victor’s version undoubtedly was the better of the two- so loud, so menacing. 

Thin LIzzy’s “Massacre” for #8, specifically the intro and 1:41. This section is slaying me at the moment…

Celtic Frost’s Jewel Throne comes in at number 9. UGH!

So I figured that I would do a top ten heavy metal riff countdown. Manilla Road’s Riddle Master takes the number 10 spot.

A sober estimate of my 2nd edition AD&D stats (on a scale of 1-18, 18 being the highest):

Strength: 12

Dexterity: 9

Constitution: 13 (I rarely get sick)

Intelligence: 14

Wisdom: 12

Charisma: 9

Gates of Slumber- Descent Into Madness. Easily my favorite band going today (tied w/ Neurosis).

sums things up nicely.

Cirith Ungol might be my new favorite old metal band.