Music Matters...

This post starts with an apology-due to Internet connection woes you may have noticed that I missed a day or two, and indeed this post is slightly later. But before Round the Rinks I must mention the comments I got from the last post on music, especially the one from Matt, who says that in Altrincham at least the whole hockey/rock marriage is still going along nicely-Metallica and Rammstein and Megadeth and Iron Maiden in sequence? Excellent...and yet another reason for me to make a visit up there to see the Phoenix's new rink (aside from the hockey, obviously) Sadly, I can't claim credit for his comments about the excellent Skydome music in 03/04-that was the year before I did my stint on the decks (September 04 until September 05, when Germany called...)

Another comment mentions that perhaps hip-hop would sound good-and after being a bit sceptical at first I thought...hang on a minute-if it works for American football and basketball, then why not hockey? Just so long as it's "proper" hip-hop and not the R-and-B lite love songs that currently pass for hip-hop...This got me to thinking of ten tracks that every rink in the UK should have on their playlist, and after some consideration, here's my first draft of "the list"

Lamb of God: Redneck
Ooooohhh, yes. This one rumbles along with an unholy scream for vocals and THE most aggressive challenge in the chorus...perfect for a fight-song. Although it may need a slight edit for the "this is a motherf-ing invitation!" line...

Fort Minor: Remember the Name
First hip-hop entry-this one just can't fail to get you up for it...and the chorus is mesmerising. Plus, it's a great song to play if you're leading...If it works for football, it works for hockey..
"This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill..."

Rammstein: Feuer Frei
The best wake-up call ever...and the title (Fire at Will, in English) is perfect for the powerplay.

Cypress Hill: Superstar
Just because.

Kanye West: Jesus Walks
All together now..."bom, bom, bom, ba-bom bom, bom, bom...". Makes no sense unless you download it...but if you want the odd bit of new school hip-hopiness, then put this on. Plus, if you're so inclined you can clap along with the bass. And the lyrics ain't bad either...

Metallica: Master of Puppets
Let's face it, you could stick pretty much any Metallica track in here and there's part of it that'll fit a hockey game. But this, in the warm-up, is eight-and-a-half-minutes of metal heaven. Just for the intro and guitar solo alone-the Trivium version isn't bad either if you want a more modern cover...

Megadeth: Crush 'Em
Yes, the lyrics may sound like a high school fight song, but come on-play this just as the lights go down and it sets the hostile mood beauifully. And not a swearword in sight...

M.O.P: Cold as Ice
See above. Unfortunately there's probably a bit too much swearing in this for it to be safely played at games. In which case, this is just the wild-card entry...

New Found Glory: Dressed to Kill
Just because it's happy...not all rock has to be screaming and crunching guitars. Although I like that sort of thing, this is the one for girls to bounce around to...

Dragonforce: Valley of the Damned
One I played at the Skydome and which still gets used to this day in the gap between the anthem and face-off, this is a hockey song par-excellence. And then you have the lyrics which could be made for the British hockey season...

"on a cold dark winter night, lit by the stormy light, battle rages for the right to what we'll become..."

LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out
When this starts, you know that a fight ain't far away...

And finally-my personal favourite...
Arch Enemy: We Will Rise
The scariest woman's voice on the planet. Angela Gossow's menacing growl fits the guitars perfectly. And then you have the lyrics themselves-which scream a challenge...

"...tear down the walls, wake up the world, ignorance is not....bliss...fed up with the second best. Our time....is here....NOW!"

Let's keep this running-I of course am aware that there are probably readers thumping the keyboard in frustration that I've missed out an obvious song-so leave a comment and we'll see just how many hockey songs we can get on here. And then hope to hear them thumping out of the speakers at your local rink some time soon...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...