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Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of

2014
December 31, 2014 by AW — 217 Comments
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Because 2014 was such an incredible year for hard rock everything
music, we have nearly doubled the year-end list of top happening on
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Many of the songs on the list were heard throughout the
year on SiriusXM’s Octane and on Active Rock radio
stations throughout North America. However, in an Join Now,
effort to offer the most comprehensive list of hard rock It’s Free!
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music possible, a number of songs that don’t �t either 100% Secure
format were also included.
In addition to featuring established artists with careers

that span several decades, this list also includes a number
of “below-the-radar” artists who were featured on Hard
Rock Daddy’s Music Discovery Monday. Discover
New
The Top 100 Songs of 2014 featured on the playlists Music
below can also be found on the Hard Rock Daddy
Network (HRD’s YouTube channel).
The goal of Hard Rock Daddy is to expose our readers not

just to songs, but also to the artists who create the music,
which is why each song on the list features a short blurb.
MUSIC
DISCOV
This list covers all areas of hard rock (from acoustic and ERY
power ballads to active rock to heavier melodic and MONDA
power metal, and everything in between). Y–
6/19/17
Click on the hyper-linked song titles to read the full Hard
Rock Daddy reviews that were featured on the site
during the year. MUSIC
DISCOVER
Y
MONDAY -
#1 – 25 6/19/17
Music
The Top 3 songs of the year all had featured reviews on Discovery
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radio
attention
that they
Nonpoint - Breaking Skin (Official Music… deserve,
while also
showcasing
new
singles by
established
bands that
are likely to
get airplay
in the
future. In …
Click to Listen
1 – NONPOINT – “Breaking Skin” (Elias Soriano –

Nonpoint Vocalist)
Time
“Breaking Skin is a song about addiction that was inspired
by people around me. The addiction can refer to a variety
Machine
of things. For people battling an addiction, it is something
that they ‘scratch’ in private.
Even though you know that scratching at a rash is bad for

you, it still feels good, even if that feeling is only
temporary. Eventually, if you keep scratching, you break
through the skin, and at that point, you have to deal with HARD ROCK
it head-on, just like you would have to deal with an MUSIC TIME
addiction once it hits the point of ‘breaking skin.’” MACHINE –
6/22/17
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journey back in time to
“During our last few years of touring in the States, we feature a variety of
have been totally immersed in American culture – and songs that date back as
one thing we really fell in love with was the blues. We far as the '70s. In
have been lucky to spend so much time in both Chicago addition to appearing
and the South, where the blues was born! As musicians on the embedded
and songwriters, we were really drawn to the dark, heavy YouTube playlist below,
vibe of those old blues songs. all …
Read More
When we came up with the line “Wish You Hell,” we
thought it was the perfect good riddance to someone
who had screwed you over. We also thought it sounded
like the title of an old delta blues song, so that gave us the
idea to combine our style of hard rock music with our
new-found passion for delta blues – creating a hybrid
that we now call “Voodoo Metal.”
Lyrically, “Wish You Hell” is about someone who screwed HARD ROCK
you over getting what they deserve. It was inspired by MUSIC TIME
that feeling of saying goodbye and good riddance to a MACHINE –
person who has caused you so much pain – and knowing 6/15/17
that sooner or later, the tables will turn. To me, the lyrics
in the second verse really capture that vibe: Hard Rock Music Time
Machine - 6/15/17
“Take one minute of your time, Each Thursday, Hard
Rock Music Time
Look at the wreckage of the ones you’ve left behind. Machine takes a
journey back in time to
Face one lesson – a lesson never learned, feature a variety of
songs that date back as
You’re gonna get what you deserve” far as the '70s. In
addition to appearing
Musically, incorporating delta blues into our music gave on the embedded
us the freedom to try a lot of different things. And, since YouTube playlist below,
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blues guy singing in the intro is actually me, doing my best
impression of Samuel L Jackson.
“Wish You Hell” is de�nitely one of the most fun songs

that we’ve ever written and recorded, because it gave us
this crazy artistic challenge of combining two totally
different styles of music. I am so proud of how it all came
together, and to have it in the hands of our fans and on
the radio is just incredible!
3 – BOBAFLEX – “I’m Glad You’re Dead” (Marty McCoy

– Boba�ex Vocalist/Guitarist)
“We were in a bar, and I was within earshot. My brother

(Shaun) was talking to this guy, and he had explained that
his father had just passed away. My brother told him how
sorry he was to hear that. And the guy responded with
‘Don’t be, I’m glad he’s dead! He was a real son of a bitch!
My brother and I just looked at each other with a stunned
look on our faces.
The more we talked about writing a song about that

situation, we realized that a lot of people felt that way
about various people that they are glad to see gone,
whether it be someone like Saddam Hussein or someone
that they knew personally. Once the song hit radio, we
were �ooded with stories from fans who said that there
was someone in their lives that they were glad to see
gone.
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us that the song made them feel better about having
these kinds of feelings.”
4 – GODSMACK – “Something Different” –

Appropriately named, “Something Different” is unlike any
other track off of Godsmack’s latest release, 1000HP. In
fact, while the song is distinctly Godsmack, it is
“something different” than anything that they’ve ever
done before. Strong consideration was given to featuring
the title track off of the album on this list, which is more
of the classic Godsmack sound and unique in its own right
due to the autobiographical lyrics, but ultimately,
“Something Different” got the nod because of its ability
to connect on a deeper emotional level than we’ve come
to expect from the band. It is also appropriate to feature
“Something Different” on this list, because the list itself is
“something different” than other year-end song lists.
5 – SLASH featuring MYLES KENNEDY & THE

CONSPIRATORS – “World On Fire” – The title track
from the dynamic duo writing team of Slash and Myles
Kennedy gets the recognition on this list, but to fully
appreciate how good they are together, you MUST listen
to the album in its entirety. It is, quite simply, one of the
best hard rock albums to come out in the past few
decades, so it is almost an injustice to single out one track
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and Frank Sidoris comprise one of the best rhythm
sections in the genre today.
6 – SIXX: A.M. – “Stars” – A true testament to talent of

the members of Sixx: A.M., and the success that they have
achieved, is the fact that they never intended to be a
band. Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), DJ Ashba (GNR) and lead
singer, James Michael initially got together to record the
soundtrack to Sixx’s incredibly revealing autobiography,
The Heroin Diaries. Although his vocals are among the
best in the genre, Michael is actually known more for his
writing and producing than he is for singing and
performing. The band’s latest album, Modern Vintage, is
the �rst one that the band has recorded as a standalone
music project (not tied to one of Sixx’s books). Because of
their resumes, the band is not shackled by the constraints
of what active rock radio is “supposed” to be. The end
result is a unique, but incredible, track like “Stars.” If Sixx:
A.M. ever becomes a full-time band instead of a side
project, there is no telling how bright their “star” will
shine.
7 – WE ARE HARLOT – “Denial” – Three years in the

making, We Are Harlot �nally made their debut in 2014
with their �rst shows ever taking place at major hard rock
festivals (Rock On The Range and Rocklahoma). Of
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the Appetite For Destruction days. Drummer, Bruno Agra,
sets the pace with powerful, almost frenetic beats, laying
the foundation for beautifully melodic vocal harmonies
and a guitar riffs and leads that harken back to 80s heavy
metal. This incredible debut single is de�nitely one of the
most underrated tracks of the year.
8 – CHARM CITY DEVILS – “Shots” – It isn’t often that

your �rst time hearing a single is in concert, but that was
the case with “Shots,” a killer track by Baltimore rockers,
Charm City Devils. The room was electri�ed as the band
performed this song in front of a capacity club crowd
when they opened for The Winery Dogs over the
summer. Dirty, gritty and raw like Motley Crue, GNR and
Buckcherry, CCD represents everything that there is to
love about timeless hard rock music. At face value, the
song may seem like a party anthem, but a deeper look
into the lyrics shows that it is actually about the
downward spiral that often times goes hand-in-hand with
addiction. Serious meaning aside, “Shots” is the type of
song that triggers involuntary head banging and �sts
being thrown in the air!
9 – RATED X – “Fire And Ice” – Hard rock music may have

suffered a downturn with the arrival of grunge in the 90s,
but the truly talented musicians of the golden era that
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Karl Cochran (the longtime guitarist on JLT’s solo albums)
and the legendary rhythm section of Carmine Appice
(drums) and Tony Franklin (bass), Rated X is a force to be
reckoned with. “Fire And Ice” is just the tip of the iceberg
of what this band is about to unleash on the hard rock
world. With big melodic hooks, and a sound that is
tailor-made for an arena, Rated X is a reminder that the
heyday of hard rock is still very much upon us!
10 – ASKING ALEXANDRIA – “Moving On” – Asking

Alexandria is known for an aggressive, intense style that
straddles various genres, but they have stated that they
are heavily in�uenced by mainstream hard rock acts,
Aerosmith in particular. Without using any screaming or
growling that goes hand-in-hand with Metalcore, Asking
Alexandria has tapped into their inner Aerosmith with
“Moving On,” an emotional, moving, melodic track that
gives the listener an inside look at living life on the road.
Although not quite in the same vein as the power ballads
that de�ned 80s hard rock and heavy metal, this song is
as close as you can get to a power ballad in the current
hard rock music climate. It’s not surprising that the
band’s most mainstream single is also the one that has
garnered the most attention at radio.
11 – TRIVIUM – “Villainy Thrives” – More often than not
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Thrives” will hit close to home. The term “thinking man’s
metal” used to be reserved for acts like Queensryche and
Dream Theater, but if ever there was a modern hard rock
act that �ts the description, Trivium is it. While the big
hook is in the melodic chorus, there is something very
powerful about hearing the lyrics “meet the vessel of
your reprisal… retribution calls.” Thinking man’s metal for
sure!
12 – FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – “Wrong Side Of

Heaven” – FFDP proves time and time again that they
belong atop the hard rock music food chain. Is there
another band that could put out a two-part album less
than four months apart and have singles off of each
dominate Active Rock radio? The bands anthems of rage
are unrivaled in the genre, but “Wrong Side Of Heaven” is
less about rage, and more about their continued desire to
acknowledge the contributions of U.S. military veterans,
and assist those who suffer from PTSD and
homelessness. While “Wrong Side Of Heaven” is a
powerful song in its own right, to fully appreciate its
impact, the video is a must-watch! Those interested in
helping to further the band’s cause should visit
www.5fdp4Vets.com.
13 – LONGREEF – “Battle Plan” – In 2013, Aussie
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of the world. This song was the inspiration for Hard Rock
Daddy’s special National Bullying Prevention Month
campaign in October. What makes this song so powerful
is that is comes from a very personal place, as the band’s
frontman, Josh Barker, was bullied during his school
years. He revealed the details of his bullying experience
during an interview with Hard Rock Daddy to start the
month-long bullying prevention campaign. There will be
a lot more coverage on these rising stars in the coming
year on Hard Rock Daddy (details to be announced in the
near future).
14 – BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – “Angel Of Mercy” –

There is no disputing that Zakk Wylde is one of the
greatest hard rock guitarists of all-time. His signature
sound is as instantly recognizable as a distinct vocalist.
That being said, some of Wylde’s most memorable
moments occur on his slower, more melancholic,
southern-in�uenced songs like “Angel Of Mercy.” Fans of
Wylde’s guitar playing will be satiated by the shredding
solo which captures the emotion of the song, but it is his
raspy, soulful vocals that really bring “Angel Of Mercy” to
life. From the beautiful string arrangements to the
guitars that cry out in pain, this inspired track by BLS
offers a cathartic journey for those who have suffered
the loss of someone close to them.
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stands out as unique in today’s Active Rock landscape.
Tribal drumbeats lay the foundation for beautiful, poetic
melancholy to �ow through angst-ridden lyrics. For
many longtime hard rock music fans, “grunge” and
“alternative” are terms that are closely associated with
the demise of a nostalgic time period. “Words As
Weapons” is a perfect example of the band’s ability to
incorporate both into a sound that appeals to the masses.
16 – ROYAL BLISS – “Home” – While a band with a similar

sounding name gets a lot of attention, Royal Bliss
continues to �y under the radar to some degree, although
the band’s latest album, Chasing The Sun, has already
produced standout singles “Cry Sister” and “Turn Me On.”
This stellar track doesn’t really have a natural “home” on
active rock radio like the previous singles, but it deserves
to be recognized as one of the best songs of the year. In
a day and age when a lot of music is “enhanced” by
technology, “Home” pays homage to the golden days,
when music was written and performed by artists who let
the music �ow from their soul. True music fans will
appreciate the message as much as they do the song.
17 – NOTHING MORE – “This Is The Time (Ballast)” – Is

it possible for a song to enjoy too much radio success?
Usually not, but “This Is The Time (Ballast),” might be the
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hearing this track were rewarded with one of the best
albums of 2014. “This Is The Time (Ballast)” is merely the
tip of the iceberg of what Nothing More has to offer, as is
the follow-up single, “Mr. MTV.” If you are a music fan that
appreciates an album as a musical journey, make sure to
listen to Nothing More’s album in its entirety.
18 – JOE LYNN TURNER & GEORGE GAKIS – “Street Of

Broken Dreams” – Most hard rock music fans know Joe
Lynn Tuner as one of the greatest vocalists of all-time.
Very few are familiar with his close friend, George Gakis,
an outstanding singer in his own right, whose bluesy
delivery is reminiscent of David Coverdale. Gakis, who
considers JLT his mentor, wrote this song as the
antithesis of “Street Of Dreams,” one of JLT’s biggest hits
with Rainbow. “Street Of Dreams” has a fairytale ending;
“Street Of Broken Dreams” is about when things fell apart
in a relationship. A beautiful acoustic intro explodes into
an upbeat, infectious melodic rocker with huge hooks.
You may not have known who George Gakis was before
listening to this track, but you’ll never forget him after
you’ve hit the replay button over and over on the best
power ballad to come out in recent memory.
19 – HELLYEAH – “Moth” – When Hellyeah released

“Sangre Por Sangre (Blood For Blood)” earlier in the year, it
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that this has become the band’s most successful single to
date because it has a broad appeal, but you have to give
Hellyeah credit for staying true to the sound that fans
have come to expect.
20 – THE FAMILY RUIN – “Let’s Go” – Another in a long

line of British hard rock acts, The Family Ruin has a direct
connection to fellow Brits, Asking Alexandria (they were
one of the �rst bands signed to AA guitarist’s new label –
KBB Records). In spite of the “family” connection, “Let’s
Go” was only given limited exposure on SiriusXM’s
Octane, for reasons that are still unclear. The song is a
perfect �t for Octane, and it offers something that makes
it stand out among many other songs played regularly on
the station. Radio dropped the ball on this track, but they
will come around when this band inevitably takes off.
21 – WOVENWAR – “All Rise” – Every once in a while,

when a band changes singers, they “rise” to an entirely
new level. Fronted by ex-Oh Sleeper frontman, Shane
Blay – who replaced Tim Lambesis after he was convicted
in a murder-for-hire plot of his wife – the former
members of As I Lay Dying have created a sound with
Wovenwar that appeals to a much broader audience.
With Blay at the helm, the band’s intense, heavy style is
infused with a melodic sound. “All Rise” is one of many
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22 – SAHAJ TICOTIN – “The Mission” – Like his band

(Ra), vocalist extraordinaire, Sahaj Ticotin is vastly
underrated. There are few (if any) vocalists that could
bring to life a song from Queensryche’s epic Operation
Mindcrime concept album like Ticotin, using only acoustic
guitars and his voice. Aside from Geoff Tate’s incredible
vocal ability, what makes “The Mission” special is
Queensryche’s ability to create depth with layered
nuance. It takes a lot of self-assurance to even attempt to
cover a classic Queensryche song, much less doing it in
the most bare-bones way possible. With unrivaled power
and emotion, Ticotin made the song his own…a “mission”
that would have been impossible for most.
23 – DEMON HUNTER – “The Last One Alive” – A

mainstay on Christian Rock radio for over a decade,
Demon Hunter crossed over to Active Rock in a huge way
with “The Last One Alive.” Ryan Clark, the band’s founder,
frontman and sole remaining member of the original
lineup is a creative tour de force. In addition to his work
with Demon Hunter, he and his brother founded Invisible
Creature (a highly-regarded design and illustration
studio). Not surprisingly, imagery is a big part of the
band’s appeal. Driven by principles, but recognizing the
�aws of the human condition, the band delivers a
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24 – TESLA – “So Divine” – After a six-year hiatus

between studio releases, Tesla returns with a vengeance
on “So Divine,” a song that features Jeff Keith’s instantly-
recognizable raspy vocals. It’s hard to believe that this
band has been making classic hard rock music for over
three decades. “So Divine” is as good as the songs that
de�ned the band in the early years. From the cool
Megadeth-esque intro to the shredding leads at the end,
and everything in between, this song kicks ass!
25 – SWEET CYANIDE – “Better At Goodbyes” –

SiriusXM’s Octane got it right when they jumped on this
track, and then got it wrong when they inexplicably
jumped off just as quickly. With some modern touches
added, at its core, “Better At Goodbyes” is an homage to
Guns N’ Roses, Buckcherry and the like. The band who
dubs themselves “New York City’s favorite bastard sons”
have shared the stage with some top hard rock acts, so
hopefully they will get the attention that they deserve
sooner rather than later.
#26 – 50
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26 – HEARTIST – “Skeletons” – Sometimes it’s better to

be lucky than to be good, but in this case, Heartist is
fortunate to be blessed with both attributes. Leveraging
the power of an ingenious social media strategy to build
excitement around the band before they ever played a
single show, Heartist took to the stage for the �rst time in
their hometown with an existing fanbase. Little did they
know that the person booking the show also worked in
A&R at Roadrunner Records. Serendipitous
circumstances aside, the band’s recognition is
well-deserved. With a goal to bring honest emotion back
into heavy music, Heartist hit it out of the park with
“Skeletons,” a stirring anthem that blends haunting
lighter moments with Bryce Beckley’s powerfully
tortured vocals.
27 – BUCKCHERRY – “Say Fuck It” – What do you get

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edgy, ballsy vocals bring this song (from their EP entitled
Fuck) to life. You can’t help but crank it up and groove to
the music that would otherwise be considered a very
guilty pleasure if not for the fact that it was coming from
Buckcherry.
28 – JUDAS PRIEST – “Redeemer Of Souls” – While

trends come and go, the classic heavy metal sound that
Judas Priest has honed over the past four decades has
never gone out of style. Although legendary guitarist,
K.K. Downing, has retired, with Richie Faulkner taking
the reins, the band has not missed a step. “Redeemer Of
Souls,” the title track off of the band’s latest release, is
classic Priest at its best. Age is clearly just a number
when it comes to Rob Halford, whose vocal style and
range are superior to many vocalists that are half his age,
and he proved on the Redeemer Of Souls tour that he can
still “deliver the goods” in a live setting.
29 – BLACK VEIL BRIDES – “Heart Of Fire” – Back in the

heyday of heavy metal, Judas Priest mastered the art of
the dual guitar and de�ant lyrics. Fast forward to
today…Black Veil Brides have taken on that role for
modern hard rock acts. Though they are unfairly
criticized at times for inexplicable reasons, the fact of the
matter is that BVB continues to produce quality,
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30 – THREE DAYS GRACE – “I Am Machine” – The

transition from frontman Adam Gontier to his
replacement Matt Walst began with a tour and will
culminate in a new album in 2015. So far, the early
results with Walst at the helm have been very positive,
although it’s safe to say that fans of the band are
probably chomping at the bit to hear the full album, as
only two singles have been released during 2014. This
was a very close call, but “I Am Machine” gets a slight nod
over “Painkiller” (the debut single), because it’s got a little
edge to it, and really lets Walst put his stamp on the new
sound of the band.
31 – THE WINERY DOGS – “Time Machine” – To fully

appreciate just how incredible The Winery Dogs are, you
should listen to their eponymous debut album in its
entirety and go see them in concert whenever you can.
The band was named the top headliner of the year on
Hard Rock Daddy against some very tough competition.
Choosing a single to showcase everything that this power
trio supergroup – featuring Richie Kotzen
(vocals/guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums) and Billy Sheehan
(bass) – has to offer is virtually impossible. “Time
Machine” is not only a great introduction to the band, but
also �ts well in this block of “machine” themed songs.
With the mystique of Led Zeppelin, featuring vocals that
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32 – FLYING COLORS – “Mask Machine” – Finishing off

the “machine” block is “Mask Machine” by Flying Colors
(yet another Mike Portnoy supergroup). Clearly,
drumming is not the only energetic element to Portnoy’s
repertoire, as the tireless “machine” never seems to take
a moment to stop and smell the roses. “Mask Machine”
fuses some legendary in�uences together to create a
hard rock song that is unlike any other on this list. The
heavy bass intro, reminiscent of Rush’s “New World
Man,” seamlessly transitions into a guitar riff that is
reminiscent of Judas Priest’s “The Ripper,” before the cool
vocals kick in. Haunting and melodic, “Mask Machine”
showcases the band’s immense talent and unique sound,
while also paying homage to Rush at times (especially the
drum �lls). You don’t have to be a fan of prog rock to
appreciate what Flying Colors brings to the table.
33 – SEASONS AFTER – “So Long, Goodbye” – After a

three-year hiatus, this Kansas quintet is back with a
vengeance. From Seasons After’s latest release, Calamity,
Scars & Memoirs (a title that describes the band’s music
business horror stories), “So Long Goodbye” is a single
that has yet to get the recognition that it truly deserves.
There is no explanation as to why a song like this gets
limited exposure on stations like SiriusXM’s Octane,
while numerous songs of lesser quality get put into heavy
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34 – AMARANTHE – “Drop Dead Cynical” – Featuring

three vocalists, and a sound that straddles more than one
genre, this unique Swedish act has found the right
balance on “Drop Dead Cynical” to make it a good �t on
Active Rock radio. By combining Lzzy Hale-inspired
female vocals with a Rammstein-esque electronic
elements, Amaranthe stands out with their instantly-
recognizable sound on the extremely catchy “Drop Dead
Cynical.”
35 – FOO FIGHTERS – “Something From Nothing” – The

latest Foo Fighters single had Active Rock radio
programmers tripping over themselves to get the song
into heavy rotation. Though such unbridled enthusiasm
for other songs simply doesn’t exist, “Something From
Nothing” has proven to be more than just a �ash in the
pan, and with good reason. Though the song is not a
“typical” sounding Active Rock track, Dave Grohl and co.
have combined elements of funk, grunge and more to
come up with arguably their most memorable song to
date.
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albeit without the over-the-top stage wear. “I’m Not Your
Suicide” is about delivering a heartfelt message that
shows that we are all bigger than any bullying or belittling
that we may endure, and that we are all meant to shine in
our own way. This dynamic track goes back and forth
between emotive verses and larger-than-life, arena-style
choruses in signature Michael Sweet style.
37 – SWEET & LYNCH – “September” – It’s been 13

years since the 9/11 attacks that shook America to its
core. For many (especially those that experienced the
attacks from afar), the anniversary of 9/11 is, for all
intents and purposes, “business as usual.” However, for
those of us who experienced the attacks in a much more
personal way, the anniversary of 9/11 will always be a
somber day of re�ection. Falling into the latter category,
hearing “September” for the �rst time when it was
released this year on the anniversary of 9/11 was an
intense and moving experience. Lost in the emotions of
the song, and Michael Sweet’s incredibly passionate
vocals, is the fact that teaming up with George Lynch
(Dokken) is an inspired move that will undoubtedly be
very nostalgic and exciting for fans of 80s metal.
38 – SHAMAN’S HARVEST – “Dangerous” – Shaman’s

Harvest has had to overcome a fair share of adversity
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again making a radio impact with “Dangerous,” a gritty,
southern rock track that features Hunt’s soulful, distinct
delivery.
39 – CROBOT – “Nowhere To Hide” – It isn’t often that

you �nd modern hard rock bands citing legendary bands
of the 70s as their main in�uence, but Crobot is exception
to the rule. A few notes into “Nowhere To Hide,” it’s easy
to see that Crobot marches to the beat of a drummer that
is different from their fellow hard rock brethren on the
scene today. Funk, blues, meal, dirty, groove,
rock…Crobot is all of the above and then some. Backed
by a rock-solid rhythm section and blues guitar that
harkens back to a bygone era, Brandon Yeagley’s soaring
vocals help create a timeless sound that would have been
just as relevant 40 years ago as it is today.
40 – SEVENDUST – “Karma” (acoustic) – Originally

featured on the band’s 2010 release, Cold Day Memory,
“Karma” garnered radio attention again this year after
Sevendust released their acoustic album, Time Travelers &
Bon�res. With some bands, acoustic versions of songs fail
to capture the essence of the original, but Sevendust has
a way of bringing their stripped down songs to life, due in
no small part to Lajon Witherspoon’s incredibly soulful
voice.
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41 – PAPA ROACH – “Face Everything And Rise” – When
it comes to tapping into raw emotion and connecting with
lyrics, few are on the same level as Papa Roach frontman,
Jacoby Shaddix. With “Face Everything And Rise,” off of
the band’s upcoming release (F.E.A.R.), Shaddix once again
delivers his signature, tortured, angst-ridden sound.
Screams of rage complement anthemic, melodic choruses
that will undoubtedly have �sts �ying in the air when the
band performs this intense track in a live setting.
42 – TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION – “Monster In Me” –

Texas Hippie Coalition is not your ordinary hard rock act.
The band’s larger-than-life frontman, Big Dad Ritch,
describes the THC’s sound as “red dirt metal” (like Lynyrd
Skynyrd and ZZ Top had a child and Pantera ended up
raising it). The description alone should have you
intrigued enough to check out this underrated band.
“Monster In Me” is cool, gritty and seductive in a way that
makes it the ideal song for “dancers” to showcase their
skills on poles around the world.
43 – HINDER – “Hit The Ground” – Replacing a singer

like Austin Winkler is no easy task, especially when you
consider the contribution that his distinct style had to the
overall sound of Hinder. Many wondered if the band
would be able to continue on as one of the rising stars in
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band to “hit the ground” running as one of the top hard
rock acts today.
44 – GEMINI SYNDROME – “Mourning Star” – Last year,

Gemini Syndrome was a dominant force on SiriusXM’s
Octane Big ‘Uns Countdown with their debut single,
“Stardust.” Inexplicably, the follow-up single, “Mourning
Star” received very little attention at radio. With
cryptically poetic lyrics like “I found my way through
recapitulation, everything is still a haze,” the band
de�nitely �ts squarely into the “thinking man’s metal”
category. Gemini Syndrome should be commended for
their unique ability to weave thought-provoking, emotive
verses with grandiose, anthemic, theatrical moments that
would be the perfect accompaniment to a rebellious
march.
45 – 3 YEARS HOLLOW – “For Life” – What do you get

when you mix progressive rock, hair metal and pop punk
in�uences, a Sevendust connection and a desire to create
meaningful melodic hard rock? 3 Years Hollow – a Quad
Cities powerhouse quintet. With Sevendust’s Morgan
Rose as their A&R guy, and Clint Lowery as their
producer, you might think that 3YH arrived overnight,
but they are the product a years of hard work, and it
shows in their inspired music. “For Life” – a powerful
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46 – REVOLVE – “Stranded” – You probably haven’t

heard of Revolve yet, but it won’t be long before this band
makes a big impact on Active Rock radio with their debut
single, “Stranded.” After going through some lineup
changes and a name change, this Baltimore hard rock
out�t is poised to make their mark in the coming year.
Like 3 Years Hollow, Revolve was produced by
Sevendust’s Clint Lowery. The band de�nitely will appeal
to Sevendust fans, and fans of bands like Shinedown and
Breaking Benjamin (to name a few). “Stranded” features
the incredibly melodic vocals of Thommy Michaels, a
tight, driving rhythm section and the dynamic dual
guitars of the badass power couple that is Debbie Barlow
and Dave Phelps.
47 – RIVAL SONS – “Open My Eyes” – Sometimes, all it

takes to turn a vision into a reality is making the “right”
connection. Rival Sons is living proof that this is true.
According to guitarist, Scott Holiday…“a random �nd on
the Internet points me to (vocalist) Jay Buchanan. In 13
seconds, I realize I have just come across the singer I’ve
looked for over the last 10-12 years of my life.” This
serendipitous connection is something to be celebrated
by fans of legendary hard rock bands, Led Zeppelin in
particular. Many bands are in�uenced by Led Zeppelin,
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48 – AVATAR – “Bloody Angel” – Back in the early 90s,

Type O Negative made their mark on the world with their
highly-acclaimed Bloody Kisses album. Two decades later,
Avatar has shown that they have more in common with
Type O than their “bloody” titles. Like their Brooklyn
brethren, these Swedish rockers have a unique ability to
intertwine punishing moments of raw intensity with dark,
moody melodies. “Bloody Angel” is an exhilarating
musical roller coaster ride that you’ll want to ride again
and again.
49 – SEBASTIAN BACH – “All My Friends Are Dead” –

Many people probably don’t realize that Sebastian Bach
is still making kick-ass records because of limited radio
outlets for his style of music. His latest album, Give ‘Em
Hell, is arguably his best work since Slave To The Grind
with Skid Row. “All My Friends Are Dead” showcases a
lot of what the album has to offer, but Bach/Skid Row
fans should de�nitely make it a point to check out the
entire album. If you are a fan of classic Skid Row albums,
you will love Give ‘Em Hell.
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decades…until now! With “Get A Little,” Wayland has
perfectly crafted a song that caters to those whose life is
de�ned by the Monday – Friday, 9-5 grind. Wayland’s
feel-good style is a throwback to a time when music was
made to lift the spirits of the listener. Listening to “Get A
Little” makes you want to head straight to the bar for
happy hour to hoist a few with friends and leave the
troubles of the world behind.
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Steel Panther - The Burden of Being Wo…
51 – STEEL PANTHER – “The Burden Of Being

Wonderful” – If you are a fan of 80s hair bands, you
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humorous brand of hair metal. “The Burden Of Being
Wonderful” is a comedic, nostalgic journey back to the
days when power ballads were all the rage. This is quite
likely the only Panther song that could be reviewed
without requiring a parental permission slip, so be
warned that this is not a band for the morally uptight or
the religious right.
52 – URIAH HEEP – “One Minute” – In this day and age,

virtually every hard rock band that dates back to the 70s
is a household name, although Uriah Heep is not one of
them. The band formed in 1969, and with the exception
of a 10-yr gap around the turn of the century, they have
been releasing albums on a fairly regular basis. Heavily
laden with the Hammond organ, “One Minute” is a
soulful, upbeat track with a positive message.
53 – STARSET – “Carnivore” – Following up their

juggernaut single, “My Demons,” the release of
“Carnivore” was met with much less fanfare at radio,
although it is a great song in its own right. Of course, this
is not a singles-driven band anyway; they are more of an
artistic journey that is meant to be experienced. To begin
your Starset journey, it is strongly recommended that you
visit their website at www.StarsetOnline.com.
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musicianship beneath Kenneth Nixon’s rangy vocals.
From the smooth, subdued verses to the powerfully
catchy choruses, Nixon delivers in a memorable way. For
those old enough to remember the 80s, the background
vocals will take you on a journey back to the “Centerfold”
days of the J. Geils Band.
55 – POP EVIL – “Torn To Pieces” – When Pop Evil goes

back into the recording studio to record their next album,
they are going to be challenged to repeat the
astronomical success that they have had at radio with the
singles off of Onyx. “Torn To Pieces” made its mark earlier
this year. The song showcases a more subdued side and
emotional side of the band, at times reminiscent of
slower-tempo Red Hot Chili Peppers tunes.
56 – MESSAGE TO VENUS – “Hollow” – De�ning

themselves simply as “21st Century Rock,” Message To
Venus is a quartet from San Juan, Puerto Rico that
delivers a powerful, driving brand of hard rock. While
most artists strive for a record deal, Message To Venus is
a proud D.I.Y. band. It’s �tting that “Hollow” is about
living the life that you want by making choices for
yourself, not others.
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alternative and classic rock. The end result is a powerful
unit that blows you away with their intensity. “Use Me”
starts out hauntingly dark and melancholic before the
band kicks in and hits you like a punch to the gut. Many
modern hard rock bands that play with this kind of
intensity resort to screaming and growling, but Grey
takes the opposite approach, showcasing the immense
vocal talents of Croatian singer, Zoran Misic-Zox. It is
extremely rare for a relatively new act to have such
chemistry and cohesion. Grey is de�nitely a band that
will be a force to be reckoned with in the very near
future.
58 – OTHERWISE – “Darker Side Of The Moon” – The

�rst single off of the band’s latest release, Peace At All
Costs, is an energetic rocker that features tight
musicianship and breaks that are as important to the
song as the music itself. According to Otherwise
frontman, Adrian Patrick, the song “is just the beginning
of the journey that we plan to take with everyone. The
Moon is a heavenly body that we’ve come to cherish and
worship throughout our meager lives…but there is
another side to it that most of us know nothing about.”
59 – THE USED – “Revolution” – “All revolutions are

impossible until they happen…then they become
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60 – WICKED TONGUES – “Electric” – Rival Sons may be

the ones grabbing the attention for Led Zeppelin inspired
music, but it won’t be long before the world discovers the
equally-talented Wicked Tongues. Blues-based hard rock
at its �nest from this California quartet that features a
pounding rhythm section (Ryan Shaw & Elias Berlinger),
the outstanding classic rock guitar playing of Michael
Conway and the outrageously stellar vocals of Mason
Betsch (think Robert Plant meets Ian Gillan in their
respective primes). De�nitely a band to watch in the new
year!
61 – KYNG – “Electric Halo” – A few things come to mind

when listening to Kyng’s “Electric Halo.” The �rst is that
it’s hard to believe that this is a three-piece band that,
according to their bio, “�nds grandiosity in simplicity.”
And the other is that frontman Eddie Veliz was ready to
turn his attention towards other pursuits if Kyng didn’t
take off, calling this attempt “his last hurrah.” Although
the band is often categorized as “stoner metal,” their
sound transcends the genre, and will appeal to fans of
hard rock music in general.
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T.O.A.D. and Alice Cooper on “Savages” was too cool to
pass up. This unlikely pairing is one of the more inspired
of its kind in recent memory in the hard rock genre. Each
brings their own unique approach to the song, and
complements the other perfectly.
63 – ALLEN/LANDE – “Lady Of Winter” – The opening

moments of “Lady Of Winter” are reminiscent of
Savatage’s “Edge Of Thorns,” but the song quickly
transitions into an incredibly melodic, power metal
ballad. The joining of forces between extraordinary
vocalists Russell Allen (Symphony X) and Jorn Lande
(Masterplan) is a stroke of genius. With “Lady Of Winter,”
this dynamic duo has set the bar for collaboration
projects at a stratospheric level. You don’t need to be a
fan of power metal to appreciate this musical
masterpiece!
64 – NICKELBACK – “A Million Miles An Hour” – The

second single off of Nickelback’s latest release, No Fixed
Address, “edges” out the �rst single “Edge Of A
Revolution” on this list. It’s inexplicable why a band that
writes melodic songs (often with adult subject matter)
like “A Million Miles An Hour” is judged so harshly by
supposed hard rock music fans and critics. Aside from
the fact that they are a tremendously talented and
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65 – CRAZY LIXX – “Hell Raising Women” – 80s hard

rock and heavy metal may run its course at one point in
time, but the passion for the music never diminished,
particularly in Europe. Swedish rockers, Crazy Lixx, �red
up the DeLorean to take us “back to the future “with “Hell
Raising Women,” a throwback to the bygone days of the
80s. Unlike the hair bands that favored style over
substance, Crazy Lixx delivers quality hard rock in the
Skid Row, GNR, Aerosmith vein.
66 – SLIPKNOT – “The Devil In I” – For the most part,

Slipknot is generally too heavy for Active Rock radio, but
they found the perfect balance with “The Devil In I” to
satisfy their fans and appeal to the masses. This song has
been a juggernaut both on the SiriusXM Octane Big ‘Uns
Countdown and the MediaBase Active Rock charts.
Although still signi�cantly heavier than the work that
Corey Taylor does with Stone Sour, this track will appeal
to those who favor Stone Sour over Slipknot.
67 – GRAND DESIGN – “Rawk ‘N Roll Heart Attack” –
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“Cherry Pie” (Warrant) and “Pour Some Sugar On me”
(Def Leppard), and sprinkle in some “Hot Cherie”
(Hardline) for good measure.
68 – REVOLUTION SAINTS – “Turn Back Time” –

Journey meets Night Ranger meets Whitesnake as the
latest supergroup power trio joins forces to create music
that most de�nitely “turns back time.” Journey drummer,
Deen Castronovo, �nally gets his chance to shine as a
lead vocalist, and delivers with �ying colors. In fact, with
a vocal style that is eerily similar to Steve Perry, you have
to wonder why Journey didn’t give him the chance to pull
double duty before bringing on Arnel Pineda. Brilliant
vocal harmonies are to be expected with Jack Blades
(Night Ranger, Damn Yankees) in the band. And, of
course, Doug Aldrich’s guitar work is stellar as usual.
Revolution Saints probably won’t be anything more than
a side project, but if they chose to pursue the band on a
full time basis, they would have no shortage of fans ready
to embrace their brand of melodic hard rock.
69 – PISTOL DAY PARADE – “Rock Star’s Girlfriend” –

Good, fun, straight ahead rock and roll, heavy on melody
and hooks with just enough edge to appeal to Active Rock
radio listeners. With a feel-good quality, and a vocal
similarity to classic Sebastian Bach, “Rock Star’s
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70 – STONE GLORY – “Rise” – Featuring ex-Stereoside

frontman, Jeff Shields, Floridian rockers, Stone Glory,
�rst got together in 2013. The band recorded 14 tracks
for their eponymous debut album. “Rise” is the �rst song
that the band wrote together. Blending melodic hard
rock with a southern, bluesy sound, Stone Glory’s goal is
“to create a truly original rock & roll experience.” Shields’
soulful vocals are perfectly complemented by Stone
Glory’s energetic sound. With any luck, this band will
“rise” to even greater heights than Shields’ equally-
worthy former band, Stereoside.
71 – OF MICE & MEN – “Would You Still Be There” –

Having endured lineup changes and a struggle to be
heard, Of Mice & Men broke through in a big way with
their hit song “Would You Still Be There,” from the band’s
third album, Restoring Force, a title that is based on a
powerful concept. According to the band’s Facebook bio
“strength often comes from starting over. In the
aftermath of a disruption, calamity or tragedy, there’s a
process of restoration.”
72 – THE VIRGINMARYS – “Just A Ride” – Punk rock
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�t for Active Rock radio. You’d never know that this was
a trio by listening to this intense track.
73 – SEVENTH WONDER – “Inner Enemy” – Progressive

Swedish metalers, Seventh Wonder, have created a
familiar (yet unique) sound with the highly melodic and
energetic “Inner Enemy.” Imagine Kansas on steroids
with Zakk Wylde adding his signature riffs into the mix. If
you’re a fan of the vocal style of Tommy Shaw you will
absolutely be a fan of Tommy Karevik, whose voice bears
a resemblance to the legendary Styx vocalist.
74 – THE PRETTY RECKLESS – “Going To Hell” – The

title track off of the band’s latest release has gotten
considerably less attention at radio than the other singles
from the album, which is somewhat confusing because it
is arguably the strongest song of them all. Of course, it
you take radio out of the equation and look strictly at
YouTube numbers, you would think that this song was at
the top of the charts. Taylor Momsen delivers an
inspired, gritty vocal performance atop heavy riffs and a
driving rhythm highlighted by double-bass drum parts.
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WWE) and on television, Rev Theory has de�nitely
expanded their reach. “Born 2 Destroy” is another song
that is lyrically and musically poised to follow the same
path as their hit songs “Hell Yeah” and “Voices.”
#76 – 100
FOZZY - Lights Go Out (Lyric Video)
76 – FOZZY – “Lights Go Out” – With a professional

wrestler turned frontman (Chris Jericho) and an album
title like Do You Wanna Start A War, you’d think that Fozzy
would be all about �ghting, but “Lights Go Out” proves
that Jericho is as much a lover as he is a �ghter. In an
unexpected twist, the band incorporates elements of
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77 – SEVENTRAIN – “Carry The Cross” – Seventrain is a

blues metal band whose bittersweet formation came as
the result of playing together at a memorial show for a
close friend. Although the band is still in its infancy, the
members of the band are seasoned veterans (most
notably Joel Maitoza who played drums in 24/7 Spyz).
The strongest in�uence that can be heard on “Carry The
Cross” is King’s X, but the band draws from a number of
other in�uences as well. Seventrain tracked their entire
album in analog and a limited use of effects, which gives
them a sound that harkens back to the early days of hard
rock in the 70s.
78 – US AMONGST THE REST – “Fields Of Fray” – British

hard rockers, Us Amongst The Rest, were one of the
bands featured on Hard Rock Daddy’s Music Discovery
Monday. They were the �rst band to submit their music
after the launch of the weekly featured that has quickly
become the favorite of HRD readers. “Fields Of Fray”
features a guitar intro that is reminiscent of Iron Maiden
and then launches into a melodic brand of hard rock that
is similar to the music being created by fellow Brits,
Asking Alexandria and The Family Ruin. This is de�nitely
a band to watch in the coming year!
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Boston rockers, Crash Midnight, who clearly have an
admiration for fellow Bostonians, Aerosmith. Although
they do not mention any acts from the 80s as in�uences,
Crash Midnight will de�nitely appeal to fans of Def
Leppard’s raw debut album, On Through The Night. This is
the type of music that Def Leppard could have been
making if they didn’t choose to transition to an extremely
polished sound.
80 – SOTO – “The Fall” – Jeff Scott Soto’s resume reads

like a “who’s who of rock and roll,” and yet, he still seems
to �y somewhat under the radar with hard rock fans.
Soto shows another side of his vast range on “The Fall,”
the �rst single off of his latest release, Inside The Vertigo.
Shifting away from the higher register that he has used in
the past, Soto embraces his edgier side on “The Fall”
(both lyrically and musically). He even throws in a scream
towards the end of the song. This new direction should
have Active Rock radio programmers chomping at the bit
to add this kickass track into their rotations.
81 – KILLER BE KILLED – “Wings Of Feather And Wax” –

Formed in 2011, this heavy metal supergroup �nally
released their �rst album this year. One of the heaviest
tracks on this list, “Wings Of Feather And Wax” features
an incredibly catchy, melodic chorus amidst the band’s
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82 – BURNOS – “WarShip” – Burnos debuted on

SiriusXM’s Octane with a song called “Octane.” Strange
coincidence or genius marketing move? The latter seems
more likely, but that’s neither here nor there. While
“Octane” got the band noticed, “WarShip” is the track that
really grabbed the listeners’ attention, and allowed singer
Melissa Burnos to showcase her powerfully melodic
vocals. The band is currently working on their debut
album with Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge,
Tremonti). Based on the �rst few singles, this is a band to
keep on your radar in the new year.
83 – BROTHER GREY – “If It Kills” – Brother Grey’s bio

describes the band as “fresh, heavy, complex and
dynamic, yet easy to digest.” Bios have a tendency to be
hyperbolic at times, but in this case, the description is
100% accurate. From their latest EP, In Irons, “If It Kills” is
a hauntingly powerful track with thought-provoking
lyrics. Backed by a dynamic rhythm section (Ryan Butler
& Casey Dorriety), Chris Pierson shines with his
crunching guitars and impassioned vocals. Keep this
up-and-coming band on your radar!
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your attention initially, and is revisited throughout the
song, it is the heavy guitars, driving rhythm, emotional
vocal delivery and big melodic hooks that will feed your
“addiction” to this catchy rocker.
85 – RIGHTEOUS VENDETTA – “Take Over” – Hailing

from a small town in Wyoming, Christian Metal band,
Righteous Vendetta, has come a long way from their
humble beginnings. Like many up-and-coming hard rock
acts, Righteous Vendetta are road warriors, tirelessly
touring to spread their message and build their fanbase.
“Take Over” is a powerful, anthemic rocker that features
heavy guitars, an aggressive rhythm section and the
impassioned vocals of frontman, Ryan Hayes.
86 – THE BLOODLINE – “The Blackout” – The Bloodline

is another band that was featured on Hard Rock Daddy’s
Music Discovery Monday. Formed by ex-Soil guitarist,
Shaun Glass, The Bloodline is getting ready to release
their debut album in the coming year, and is a band to
keep an eye on. “The Blackout” features crunching,
power guitars, shredding solos and angst-ridden vocals.
Though their sound is in line with modern hard rock acts,
there is a notable Iron Maiden in�uence that adds
another layer of intrigue to their music.
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metaphor for those who resent being at the mercy of an
overbearing boss or signi�cant other. “Dog On A Leash”
is all about delivering an anthemic, straight forward, hard
rock song without resorting to special effects or
enhancements. Frontman, Rick DeJesus, de�nitely nailed
the stripped-down, back-to-basics approach that he was
going for with this track.
88 – NIGEL BAILEY – “In The Name Of The King” – From

Nigel Bailey’s debut solo album, Long Way Down, comes
“In The Name Of The King,” an melodic hard rock track
with huge riffs and beautiful vocal harmonies. The song,
in the vein of the John Elefante era of Kansas, features a
big sound that is ideally suited for arenas. If you are a fan
of incredible melodies and huge hooks, check out Nigel
Bailey’s solo album and also check out his work with
Three Lions.
89 – ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE – “Booze And Cigarettes”

– Supergroup side projects have become fairly
commonplace in the hard rock genre, however, Altitudes
& Attitude stands out for a few reasons. First of all, the
group was formed by two bassists (Frank Bello of
Anthrax & Dave Ellefson of Megadeth), who started
writing together as they traveled the world putting on
“Metal Masters” clinics. Although both Bello and Ellefson
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90 – THE AMITY AFFLICTION – “Pittsburgh” – Often

times, bands that feature screaming/growling all tend to
sound alike to casual listeners, but The Amity Af�iction
has put their own unique stamp on the technique. Not
only can the lyrics be understood, but in this case, the
tortured delivery enhances the meaning of the song.
“Pittsburgh” offers a dichotomy of sounds that doesn’t
exist in other songs. From the tortured screams to the
melodic verses to the angelic sound of children singing,
this song breaks all the rules, but still manages to �nd a
perfect balance.
91 – AC/DC – “Rock Or Bust” – The title track off of

AC/DC’s latest album features the classic AC/DC sound
that fans know and love. This is, by far, the most
bittersweet of all AC/DC releases (due to the health
issues of founding member, Malcolm Young), but one that
will be greatly appreciated by the fans because it almost
didn’t come to fruition. After all these years, and trends
that come and go, there is something comforting about
AC/DC’s ability to stick with the music that has de�ned
them for several decades and still be well-received by
fans, radio and media alike.
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and more are terms that all accurately describe
Periphery’s “The Parade Of Ashes.” The glue that holds
all of the chaotic moments together is an incredibly
catchy, rebellious chorus that states “fuck your theories,
we are the way we are” and some cool falsetto vocals. It
takes talent to be able to start and stop on a dime and
keep things �owing, and Periphery has it in spades.
93 – ACE FREHLEY – “Gimme A Feelin’” – If you long for

the classic sound that made KISS one of your favorite
bands back in the 70s, look no further! Gene Simmons
and Paul Stanley continue to record albums under the
KISS moniker that have little to no appeal to their
longtime fans. Meanwhile, Ace’s latest release, Space
Invader, sounds like a true KISS album. “Gimme A Feelin’”
is a nostalgic journey back to the days when KISS was
relevant for their music, not just the shameless
monetization of their iconic logo.
94 – WE AS HUMAN (featuring LACEY STURM) – “Take

The Bullets Away” – Christian rockers, We As Human, got
their big break after being discovered by Skillet singer,
John Cooper, but the band still had to pay their dues to
get to that point. In a true leap of faith, members of the
band quit their day jobs to hit the road without lining up a
single paying gig. According to vocalist, Justin Cordle, the
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95 – ISLANDER – “Coconut Dracula” – The �rst time that

I heard “Coconut Dracula,” I couldn’t decide if it was a
stroke of insanity or a stroke of genius. After all, it’s hard
to forget a song title that makes absolutely no sense, and
the song had a really cool vibe to it. Digging deeper into
the meaning of the song, I discovered that it came about
as a result of something that frontman, Mikey Carvajal,
thought he heard his Hispanic uncle say. As it turns out, it
wasn’t what his uncle said, but he liked the way that it
sounded, so he decided to write a song about it. Lyrical
content aside, the song de�nitely stood out as unique on
Active Rock radio, and has proven to have staying power.
96 – UNISONIC – “You Come Undone” – European heavy

metal supergroup featuring members of Helloween, Pink
Cream 69 and Krokus had a busy year together. “You
Come Undone” is a track off of the band’s For The
Kingdom EP (released in May). The band also released a
full-length studio album (Light Of Dawn) in August.
Former Helloween frontman, Michael Kiske, is as
impressive today as he was during the late 80s, hitting
every high note in a seemingly effortless manner.
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they are an “all-out concept and vision, with each
member of the band portraying their own character
within Arson City (The Mayor, The Doctor, The Barber,
The Con & The Enforcer). The band’s fans have even
gotten involved in the theater of it all, dubbing
themselves “Citizens,” and becoming a part of the overall
vision. With so much similarity between many bands,
Arson City is taking an interesting approach to creating
something truly unique. “City Of Fire” is best described
as a combination of The Sopranos theme song (“Woke Up
This Morning”) and classic Megadeth.
98 – DRAGONFORCE – “The Game” – Thunderous

drums, lighting-fast guitars (that sound like a classic video
game) and soaring, theatrical vocals from British
Power/Speed Metalers, Dragonforce, sends adrenaline
coursing through your veins as you take nearly the
5-minute ride that is “The Game.” A little bit of Active
Rock �avor is sprinkled in for good measure, as Trivium
frontman, Matt Heafy, makes a guest appearance on the
track.
99 – EVERGREY – “King Of Errors” – Whether you

classify Everygrey as Dark Melodic Metal, Power Metal
or Progressive Metal, one thing is for sure…these
Swedish rockers deliver inspired, theatrical works of
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100 – JUDAS PRIEST – “Never Forget” – If you’ve made

it this far, and looked at all of the songs on this list, you’ll
notice that a self-imposed rule has been broken, as this is
the second track off of Priest’s latest album, Redeemer Of
Souls (sort of). This song was only included on the Deluxe
Edition of the album, which features a second disc with
�ve bonus tracks. If a rule is going to be broken, it might
as well be for one of the most in�uential bands in the
history of hard rock and heavy metal.
If “Never Forget” is good enough for Priest to use as the

�nal song on an epic, 18-song deluxe album, it is good
enough for Hard Rock Daddy to use as the �nal song on
the musical journey that was this epic, year-end list.
When you listen to the song, pay close attention to the
lyrics that seem to hint that this may be Priest’s swan
song. Although my hope is that their legendary career
(which now spans 45 years) will continue, the possibility
remains that the band won’t record another album. If
that is the case, not including this incredibly moving
power ballad will always be looked upon with regret.
“We leave with no regrets…we will never forget. We’ll play

until the end…it’s not over, not over my friends. We are
together tonight…reunited, for all of our lives. And we thank
you for it all…we will NEVER FORGET!”
j s

RELATED POST:
TOP 135 HARD ROCK SONGS OF 2015
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Top 30 Octane Big Hard Rock Music Top 135 Hard

‘Uns Countdown Time Machine – Rock Songs of
Songs of 2014 1/12/17 2015
Filed Under: Hard Rock Song Lists

Tagged With: Active Rock Radio , Boba�ex , Godsmack ,
Hard Rock Daddy Network , Like A Storm ,
Music Discovery Monday , Nonpoint ,
Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators ,
Songs Played On Octane ,

Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014
Comments
Jacob says
December 31, 2014 at 8:02 pm
j s

Reply
Jacob says
Take out the gunman single. My personal

favorite Choking Game
Reply
Stabby Suzy (@Suzy_Laree) says

January 2, 2015 at 12:29 am
You beat me to it!! I was going to ask the same

thing.
Reply
August Sunrise says

January 2, 2015 at 7:06 pm
I �nally got tired of reading through the list and

did a Ctrl+F to �nd them which brought me to
your comment. What the hell? La Gargola was
the best album of the year.
Reply
rlcarterrn says
Great choices!
Reply
j s

And thanks for including Gemini Syndrome. Their
entire album is just gold to me. Great lyrics, great
music, great vocals. They are jus the whole
package.
Reply
rlcarterrn says
*just
Reply
John says
Nonpoint shouldn’t even be on this list. They are

one of the worst bands I’ve ever seen. I don’t even
know how they still play shows.
Reply
Daniel Caceiro (@kaiserlino) says

Great list.
I’ve compiled most of the songs on this spotify
playlist. Some of the songs I wasn’t able to �nd =/
http://open.spotify.com/user/caceiro/playlist
/4r5HEIzKnyzyMc6LQrHBw9
j s

Gaynor79 says
How can you exclude Babymetal from this list?

They had one of the biggest, most talked about
albums of the year. Surely they deserved to be on
this list more than the likes of Nickelback.
Reply
Scott Walker says

Great list. Great bands. Love seeing bands like

Texas Hippie Coalition �nally getting some
attention.
Reply
Brad R-D says

Stampede by ACCEPT would’ve been nice to see.

But Judas Priest works. I personally like Dragonaut.
Reply
j s

No Hellion in the list? Thats no list
Reply
Annick Eyecatcher says

Nice list !!!

I like this band to : Faith Healer – Turn up Sound
[youtube https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=EtVv3a2zL1A&w=560&h=315%5D
Reply
Bob says
Good list! No doubt any list like this will

include/exclude songs we all can’t agree on. I’m glad
to see Demon Hunter, We As Human, Michael
Sweet, George Lynch and Righteous Vendetta
made the cut. Rock that glori�es God is better than
ever and now rivals any music being cut. The list
could have included new songs from Thousand
Foot Krutch, Flyleaf and Chevelle.
Reply
Yngwie Swain says

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Mark Beckenhauer says
Just would like to say thank you from Arson City.

Being relatively unknown across the country, and
to even be considered being listed with some of the
greatest rock bands out is a great honor! Thanks
again!!! http://www.facebook.com/arsoncity
Reply
kjossaraSara says
What about In this Moment, “Sick Like Me,”……?

Great list though.
Reply
Theresa says
What about In this Moment?
Reply
Eric says
If I could break your rule it would be to add another

Five Finger Death Punch song. Lift Me Up featuring
Rob Halford from Judas Priest. That song deserves
j s
Personally, I didn’t care for that one. I like that

Rob Halford was on it. But that was the highlight
to me. I would’ve chose the bad ass cover of
House of the Rising Sun. I like what they did with
it. The solo after the �rst verse is deadly.
Reply
Stephanie says
Thank you for including The Amity Af�iction!

They’re an excellent band to watch live if you ever
have a chance. Joel, their lead singer, really writes
what he feels and feels what he write when he’s
preforming. Everyone should also listen to “don’t
lean on me” by them
Reply
Karl Reitenauer says

PINK CREAM 69 children of the dawn…or last

video single “SPECIAL”
Reply
Jenna says
j s
Maegan says
Where’s Chevelle? In this moment? Slipknot #65?

This list has it’s �aws
Reply
charlie_iwaki says
Reblogged this on Charlie.
Reply
Marco Ramirez says

What about Volbeat! best band ever!!
Reply
Heath Anderson says

Last album came out in 2013, this is a list of the

best songs of 2014
Reply
j s

Great comprehensive list – I would add somewhere
“Favourite Sin” by Cage the Gods. Great young
band from across the pond.
Reply
Christian says
January 11, 2015 at 12:29 pm
ÜBERKILL should be here… “Who says rock and

roll is dead? Whoever the culprit, they have
certainly not heard this EP yet.”
http://screamermagazine.com/reviews/done-
uberkill-sex-leash/ Here you go: http://youtu.be
/SA5W–_rvGE
Reply
Stacy says
Who sings lullaby it was played 12 .16 around 615

630
Reply
AW says
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes
Reply
j s

Octane Big ‘Uns Countdown – Week of 1-3-15 |
Hard Rock Daddy says:
[…] YouTube Twitter Facebook RSS Feed ←
Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014 […]
HOLLOW Chosen As One Of The Top 100 Hard

Rock Songs Of 2014 | Message To Venus says:
[…]
Recently HardRockDaddy.com announced
its Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014 and
HOLLOW made the list at #56! Here’s what
they had to say about our latest single: […]
Music Discovery Monday – 1/5/14 | Hard Rock

Daddy says:
[…] Some of this week’s songs appear on the
recently published Top 100 Hard Rock Songs
of 2014. […]

Daddy says:
of 2014. […]
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[…] 2015 has arrived, but radio is still 2014
mode (as you can see from the lack of chart
movement). New releases will be dropping in
the coming weeks, which is something to look
forward to for fans of Active Rock radio. One
release that you should de�nitely keep on
your radar is the upcoming debut EP from
Baltimore’s own, Revolve. “Stranded” is
tailor-made for Active Rock radio, and if
programmers are keeping their eye on the
ball, this song should be hitting the airwaves
sooner rather than later. Produced by Clint
Lowery, this track will de�nitely appeal to
Sevendust fans, and also to fans of bands like
Shinedown and Breaking Benjamin. To learn
more about the band and the song, check out
the interview with guitarist, Debbie Barlow,
that was featured on Music Discovery
Monday. “Stranded” was also featured on
Hard Rock Daddy’s TOP 100 HARD ROCK
SONGS OF 2014. […]
Top 30 Octane Big ‘Uns Countdown Songs of

2014 | Hard Rock Daddy says:
[…] Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014 […]
j s

[…] TOP 100 HARD ROCK SONGS OF 2014
[…]
Top 20 Modern Hard Rock Love Songs | Hard

Rock Daddy says:
Octane Big ‘Uns Countdown – Week of 1-10-15

| Hard Rock Daddy says:

Daddy says:
of 2014. […]
HRD Radio Report – Week Ending 1/11/15 |

[…] is being made in this case because of a
number of comments that were made on
Hard Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs
of 2014 about Nickelback’s […]
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Daddy says:
January 19, 2015 at 11:48 am
of 2014. […]
Billboard Top 15 Hard Rock Albums – 1/31/15 |


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Daddy says:
February 2, 2015 at 12:05 pm
of 2014. […]

February 5, 2015 at 9:11 am
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Daddy says:
of 2014. […]



Daddy says:
of 2014. […]
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Daddy says:
of 2014. […]


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March 5, 2015 at 9:20 am
Interview with Crash Midnight’s Shaun Soho |

March 7, 2015 at 10:19 am
[…] Monday, and a brief interview with
frontman, Shaun Soho. The song was also
featured on the Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of
2014. Buckle up your seat belts, and get
ready to take an entertaining ride with Soho
as we talk about […]

March 7, 2015 at 6:03 pm

Daddy says:
March 9, 2015 at 1:16 pm
of 2014. […]
j s


March 14, 2015 at 7:27 pm

Daddy says:
March 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm
of 2014. […]

March 19, 2015 at 8:56 am

March 21, 2015 at 4:26 pm
j s

March 28, 2015 at 4:21 pm

April 2, 2015 at 11:01 am

April 4, 2015 at 4:13 pm

Daddy says:
April 6, 2015 at 8:33 am
[…] was featured on Music Discovery
Monday. The song was also featured on Hard
Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of
2014. Tomorrow, the band will be releasing
“Over And Done” as the follow-up single to
[…]
j s

April 11, 2015 at 4:31 pm

April 16, 2015 at 8:55 am

April 18, 2015 at 7:54 pm

April 23, 2015 at 12:55 pm

April 25, 2015 at 4:43 pm

j s
Revolve – “The Road To Here” EP Review | Hard

Rock Daddy says:
May 1, 2015 at 6:04 pm
[…] they released their �rst single,
“Stranded.” The song was featured on Hard
Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of
2014, was the pick of the week on the �rst
HRD Radio Report of 2015, and was also
featured on Music […]

May 2, 2015 at 7:35 pm

May 7, 2015 at 9:12 am

May 9, 2015 at 4:42 pm
j s

May 16, 2015 at 5:12 pm

Daddy says:
May 18, 2015 at 11:10 am
[…] Burnos was �rst heard on SiriusXM’s
Octane with a song called “Octane.” Perhaps
it was a serendipitous coincidence; perhaps it
was a clever way to grab the attention of the
most powerful Active Rock station in the
country. Either way, it got her noticed. Her
follow-up single, “WarShip,” also received
attention from Octane, and was included in
Hard Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs
of 2014. […]

May 21, 2015 at 11:19 am

May 25, 2015 at 9:37 am
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May 30, 2015 at 3:59 pm

June 4, 2015 at 3:41 pm

June 7, 2015 at 7:59 am

June 11, 2015 at 1:13 pm
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June 18, 2015 at 3:22 pm

June 20, 2015 at 4:01 pm

June 25, 2015 at 11:32 am

June 29, 2015 at 3:38 am
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July 5, 2015 at 3:41 pm

July 9, 2015 at 6:34 pm

July 12, 2015 at 5:50 am

July 16, 2015 at 10:04 am
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July 23, 2015 at 9:50 pm

July 25, 2015 at 10:56 pm

July 30, 2015 at 6:10 pm

August 2, 2015 at 11:37 pm
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August 8, 2015 at 5:21 pm

August 13, 2015 at 4:46 pm

August 15, 2015 at 4:02 pm

August 19, 2015 at 11:42 am
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August 27, 2015 at 9:52 pm

August 29, 2015 at 4:00 pm

September 3, 2015 at 3:31 pm

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September 20, 2015 at 10:35 am

September 23, 2015 at 8:24 am
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October 4, 2015 at 3:52 pm

Octane Big ‘Uns Countdown – Week of

10-10-15 | Hard Rock Daddy says:
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October 28, 2015 at 8:11 am
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November 7, 2015 at 6:06 pm



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November 25, 2015 at 9:09 am


December 2, 2015 at 10:36 am
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Top 135 Hard Rock Songs of 2015 | Hard Rock

Daddy says:
[…] started with the Top 52 Hard Rock Songs
of 2013 in the year of our launch, and was
followed by the Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of
2014 last […]
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March 5, 2016 at 8:58 pm

March 12, 2016 at 4:24 pm

March 19, 2016 at 10:24 pm
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April 2, 2016 at 4:30 pm

April 10, 2016 at 4:36 pm

April 16, 2016 at 10:23 pm

April 24, 2016 at 1:16 pm
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May 7, 2016 at 11:14 pm

May 14, 2016 at 9:21 pm

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June 4, 2016 at 10:03 pm
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June 25, 2016 at 8:02 pm

July 2, 2016 at 9:31 pm

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July 16, 2016 at 10:01 pm
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July 31, 2016 at 5:25 pm

August 7, 2016 at 12:00 pm

August 13, 2016 at 10:07 pm

August 20, 2016 at 10:16 pm
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October 15, 2016 at 10:06 pm


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[…] Top Hard Rock Songs of 2014 […]


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[…] Top Hard Rock Songs of 2014 […]




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