Let’s take a look at the top 32 Hair Metal Bands in history and see how they survive in the Metal Brackets.
A lot of these choices merit an explanation.
First off, let’s direct ourselves to the bottom quadrant. While to a lot of people the Mr. Big Vs. Guns N Roses is a no brainer, I had a really tough time with it. Overall I might like Mr. Big as a personal preference. G N R’s debut album remains one of the most overrated albums ever. It’s a good album with solid riffs, but it’s not as revolutionary is it get credit for. They saved their brilliance for the Use Your Illusion albums. Those albums have such high quality song writing on them that it pretty much instantly puts G N R in the final four.
The top quadrant was also quite challenging. There are a lot of very strong bands: FireHouse, Skid Row, Dokken, Tesla and Bang Tango. All are excellent but Bang Tango is the most overlooked out of them. Unfortunately they meet Tesla and get knocked out because Tesla is just really amazing. Tesla and Skid Row took a while to settle on a decision. They’re both equally epic in different ways. At the end of the day though, it’s the twin guitar skills of Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeotch that seal the deal and secure a final four slot.
In the second quad XYZ makes it to the elite eight. They’re probably the most overlooked group in the elite eight. Doubters, listen to their 2003 release, Letters to God. It is quite excellent song writing. However, Motley Crue is Motley Crue and they’re in the final four. It’s tough battle for both bands. I still have no idea who will get to the finals here. Both groups are different yet similar.
A lot of terrific bands in the third quadrant: Cinderella, Slaughter, Ratt, Poison and Winger. Bon Jovi is super overrated and Ratt knocks them out quick. They justifiably move on to the elite eight as they are an amazing band. However, after much inner debate and thinking Winger beats them for a final four slot. The group to watch is Winger; they just might go all the way. A perfect blend of unreal musicianship, riffs riffs riffs, groove up the ass, melody and hooks. All with a substantial extra amount of heaviness that many of their peers lacked. However they’re up against Guns N Roses and those Use Your Illusions records stand strong.
I’ll make up my mind soon, but in the meantime, please chime in on the final four and choose yourself.
