…as played on Mostly Metal, 103.1FM, Valparaiso, IN the week of Wed June 24, 2020.

10. This Train I’m On , off Brotherhood (1991).

9. South City Midnight Lady , off The Captain and Me (1973).

8. Rockin’ Down the Highway , off Toulouse Street (1972).

7. Daughters of the Sea , off What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974).

6. South of the Border , off Cycles (1989).

5. Take Me In Your Arms , off Stampede (1975).

4. Black Water , off What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974).

3. Clear as the Driven Snow , off The Captain and Me (1973).

2. China Grove , off The Captain and Me (1973).

1. Neal’s Fandango , off Stampede (1975).

Discussion Video:

… as played on Mostly Metal the week of Wed July 01, 2020 on WVLP 103.1FM, Valparaiso, IN.

10. The Bleeding Baroness , off Death Magic Doom (2009).

9. Witches , off Candlemass (2005).

8. Emperor of the Void , off King of the Grey Islands (2007).

7. Dancing in the Temple , off Psalm of the Dead (2012).

6. Lidocain God , off Dactylis Glomerata (1998).

5. The Bells of Acheron , off Ancient Dreams (1988).

4. The Edge of Heaven , off Tales of Creation (1989).

3. Samarithan , off Nightfall (1987).

2. Solitude , off Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986).

1. At the Gallows End , off Nightfall (1987).

Discussion video:

… as played on Mostly Metal the week of Wed July 08, 2020 on WVLP 103.1FM Valparaiso, IN.

10. You Need Love, off Styx II (1973).

9. AD 1928 / Rockin the Paradise, off Paradise Theater (1981).

8. Mother Dear, off Equinox (1975).

7. The Grove of Eglantine, off The Serpent is Rising (1973).

6. Boat on the River, off Cornerstone (1979).

5. Blue Collar Man, off Pieces of Eight (1978).

4. Come Sail Away, off The Grand Illusion (1977).

3. Renegade, off Pieces of Eight (1978).

2. Crystal Ball, off Crystal Ball (1976).

1. Fooling Yourself, off The Grand Illusion (1977).

Discussion Video:

… as aired on Mostly Metal Wed July 15 2020 (WVLP 103.1 FM Valparaiso, IN)

10. Moonlight, off The Black Halo (2005).

9. My Confession, off Silverthorn (2012).

8. Under Grey Skies, off Haven (2014).

7. A Sailorman’s Hymn, off The Fourth Legacy (1999).

6. Soul Society, off The Black Halo (2005).

5. Lost & Damned, off Epica (2003).

4. Vespertine (My Crimson Bride), off The Shadow Theory (2018).

3. Love You To Death, off Ghost Opera (2007).

2. Forever, off Karma (2001).

1. Center of the Universe, off Epica (2003).

Discussion Video:

… as aired on Mostly Metal, 01 Mar 2020.

10. The Hours, off March of Progress (2012).

09. Surface to Air, off Wounded Land (1993).

08. Innocent, off Psychedelicatessen (1997).

07. The Mystery Show, off For the Journey (2014).

06. Oceanbound, off Hypothetical (2001).

05. Stars and Satellites, off Legends of the Shires (2017).

04. Choices, off Critical Mass.

03. Small Dark Lines, Legends of the Shires (2017).

02. Light and Space, off Hypothetical (2001).

01. Pilot in the Sky of Dreams, off Dead Reckoning (2007).

(There is an official video for Pilot in the Sky of Dreams, but it’s cut down to less than half of the true running length. Ugh.)

Discussion Video:

10. Waiting for a Girl Like You, off 4 (1981).

09. Head Games, off Head Games (1979).

08. Spellbinder, off Double Vision (1978).

07. Feels Like the First Time, off Foreigner (1977).

06. Love on the Telephone, off Head Games (1979).

05. Tooth and Nail, off Agent Provacateur (1984).

04. That Was Yesterday, off Agent Provacateur (1984).

03. Blue Morning, Blue Day, off Double Vision (1977).

02. The Damage Is Done, off Foreigner (1978).

01. Rev On the Red Line, off Head Games (1979).

Discussion Video:

10. Stairway to the Stars, off Blue Oyster Cult (1972).

09. The Golden Age of Leather, off Spectres (1977).

08. Shooting Shark, off The Revolution by Night (1983).

07. Harvester of Eyes, off Secret Treaties (1974).

06. The Great Sun Jester, off Mirrors (1979).

05. Damaged, off Heaven Forbid (1998).

04. Then Came the Last Days of May, off Blue Oyster Cult (1972).

03. Perfect Water, off Club Ninja (1985).

02. Veteran of the Psychic Wars, off Fire of Unknown Origin (1981).

01. Astronomy, off Secret Treaties (1974).

Discussion Video:

So earlier this week, I was browsing YouTube and came across a video channel for the web site Sea of Tranquility (a hub for fans of rock & metal), where the owner of SoT, Pete Pardo, gives a discussion of his favorite 10 tracks of this band, or ranking the albums of that band from worst to best. And it turns out that Mr. Pardo is is apparently my long lost musical twin brother – he’s one year older than me, owns way more CDs than me, and is apparently a compulsive list maker like me! And his tastes are extremely similar, he discusses lots of my favorite bands. Plus, he’s also a comic fan and horror movie fan … if I sent out Christmas cards anymore, this dude would be on the top of the list. So I decided to blatantly copy him and start doing my own rankings, both here on this site and also on my radio show Mostly Metal (link to left). As my first list, here are my Top 10 Favorite Songs by Triumph.

10. Say Goodbye, off Allied Forces (1981).

09. Fight the Good Fight, off Allied Forces (1981).

08. Blinding Light Show / Moonchild, off Triumph (1976).

07. Never Surrender, off Never Surrender (1982).

06. Lay It On the Line, off Just A Game (1979).

05. Headed for Nowhere, off Surveillance (1987).

04. All the Way, off Never Surrender (1982).

03. Magic Power, off Allied Forces (1981).

02. Somebody’s Out There, off The Sport of Kings (1986).

01. Hold On, off Just A Game (1979).

Having already posted my Top 10 CDs of 2019, here are my Top 11 Songs of 2019. Why 11? Well, these songs made up the playlist of the final Mostly Metal broadcast of the year, and I had time for these 11 songs!

11. The Blade of Immortal Steel, by Twilight Force, off Dawn of the Dragonstar.

10. Journey to Remember, by Visions of Atlantis, off Wanderers.

9. DNA (Demons and Angels), by Rhapsody – Turilli / Lione, off Zero Gravity: Reborth and Evolution.

8. No More Hollywood Endings, by Battle Beast, off No More Hollywood Endings.

7. The Ruler of the World, by A.C.T., off Rebirth (EP).

6. A Ghost in the Trenches, by Sabaton, off The Great War.

5. Weightless, by Evergrey, off The Atlantic.

4. No Holding Back, by Myrath, off Shehili.

3. From Savior to Assassin, by Teramaze, off Are We Soldiers.

2. Barstool Warrior, by Dream Theater, off Distance Over Time.

1. Ghost in the Moon, by Avantasia, off Moonglow.

… with links to sample songs.

10. The Seal of a New World, by Signum Regis.

Sample song: A Memory.

9. Dawn of the Dragonstar, by Twilight Force.

Sample song: Winds of Wisdom.

8. Signs of Wings, by Sascha Paeth’s Masters of Ceremony.

Sample song, which is not representative of the whole album – but damn, Adrienne Cowan can sing: The Path.

7. No Halos in Hell, by Cyhra.

Sample song: Out of My Life.

6. Wanderers, by Visions of Atlantis.

Sample song: Heroes of the Dawn.

5. Human, by Darkwater.

Sample song: Alive II.

4. Distance Over Time, by Dream Theater.

Sample song: Pale Blue Dot.

3. The Atlantic, by Evergrey.

Sample song: End of Silence.

2. Shehili, by Myrath.

Sample song: Born to Survive.

1. Moonglow, by Avantasia.

Sample songs: Lavender & Invincible.