It had been a minute since our last playlist, and since we usually build these around a theme, we went with some smoldering metal classics — akin to what we usually hear blasting through stadium speakers between commercial breaks. We also added a few contemporary jams that we felt slid perfectly into this mix’s bread basket. Don’t worry, we actually tried to make something unique with our mixes and since you guys subscribe to this newsletter you’re probably looking for something other than “Highway to Hell” or “Du hast”. And on the contrary, we’re not going full meltdown and pretending like anyone wants to hear Sunn O))) while finding your seat and waiting for the puck to drop. Which reminds me, have you ever been to a skate where someone plugs in their phone and plays music the whole time? I have and it objectively sucks. This isn’t a half pipe, we’re not taking turns hockey-ing buddy, I’m trying to pay attention here and not get yelled at by the best guy on our side for not burying his pass into an open cage. I’ve seen people from a certain generation wear earbuds too which is a whole different level of insanity I won’t comment on. That being said, please don’t play this over the P.A. if you run a skate.

Turn it up to 11 buddy. 

1. Judas Priest: “Some Heads are Gonna Roll”
   
   The power of the riff is on full display here, this one bounces up and down at a perfect pace and once the chorus hits — you’re in. Is this going to intimidate the other team? No, the 80’s production and titular anthem keeps it fairly family friendly, but it still rips.
   
   

2. Power Trip: “Ruination”
   
   In a rather rare-for-metal fashion, this song’s lyrics are purely a political stance, but it’s ok. The late Riley Gale was probably right when he screams “We have no mouths and we must scream”. If the Dallas Stars ever want to update their Pantera-penned goal song I vote for Power Trip. RIP Riley.
   

3. Killing Joke: “The Wait”
   
   Killing Joke are in a league of their own when it comes to crunchy guitars and brutalist drums. They never operated under a defined genre, and those are always some of the best bands. Were they metal? Industrial? Punk? Goth? Who cares they shred and this one hits like an illegal Trouba elbow to the head.
   
   

4. Windhand: “Two Urns”
   
   I just learned, about two weeks ago, that the singer for this band is a woman. I don’t know why but that makes me like them even more. Their albums consist of heavy, cloud-forming epics that usually blow past the five minute major mark so you definitely get your money’s worth here.
   
   

5. Motörhead: “Motörhead”
   
   So the “Ace of Spades” certainly plays in rinks across the continent, and rightfully so, but Lemmy and the boys have never written a shitty song — ANY of their tracks match up with the intensity of the game. This one sounds like all the others: amazing. And he’s obviously talking about hockey when he screeches out “I guess I'll see you all on the ice”.
   
   

6. Zig-Zags: “Magic”
   
   A throwback band to the golden years of classic thrash — think Anthrax meets late 80’s GBH. This power trio uses their single guitar to the max and blasts punk-inspired tunes that cut hard through any defense.
   
   

7. Black Sabbath: “Lord of This World”
   
   Coming in to settle your nerves is the grooviest goddamn riff of all time. I’m serious when I say all-time and guess what, when you’re talking about the almighty Sabbath, you have every right to make such definitive statements. This one is smoother than that one Kovalev blissful five-minute shift.
   
   

8. Melvins: “Revolve”
   
   I’ve yet to attend a Kraken game but if the event coordinators at Climate Pledge Arena aren’t blasting any Melvins during a TV timeout may god have mercy on them. Possibly the most metal “non-metal” band to exist.
   
   

9. Kyuss: “Gardenia”
   
   Closing us out is the California desert’s finest export, Kyuss, a little group who basically transformed into Queens of the Stone Age about five years after this came out. Their repetitive, responsible riffage plays like the most trustworthy penalty killer on your squad.