Music sets the tone for many things in our lives. Some songs remind us of the first time we met our true love, others remind us of the first time we got arrested. The songs listed below all have one thing common: they all make you want to blast some heavy metal down the highway.
10. Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy‘s best selling album released in 1981 is in part because of this song that may be his best ever. The song never received much mass appeal but to true metal enthusiasts it has few equals. The Prince of Darkness is the pioneer to all things metal and his trademark song is eternal and will never get turned down. If you need heavy metal to get your mind off of work, look no further.
9. Dragula, Rob Zombie
In 1998 Rob Zombie released his first solo album Hellbilly Deluxe and never looked back. With the hit song about the drag car from Munsters TV show, Zombie showed his true depth as an artist. This song is as heavy as it is unique, as proven by the video that accompanied the song. While Rob is currently trying to revisit the great horrors of the 80’s this song is straight from the devil’s playground and might be Zombie’s greatest hit ever.
8. Break Stuff, Limp Bizkit
The second single from the album Significant Other in 1999, Break Stuff was an instant hit; and with a video that had several stars and fans alike singing along, it was guaranteed to be a success. But the song has had some backlash too, most notably the rioting and alleged sexual assaults when the song was played at Woodstock ’99. The song has also been described as what lead singer Fred Durst did to the band in the years after its release. But no matter what, this song is pure anger and absolutely rocks and is sure to keep you alert as you speed down the highway.
7. Kick Start Your Heart, Motley Crue
A hit song off their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood, this song was inspired by the legal death and revival of bassist Nikki Sixx in 1987 when he had a drug overdose. The song and album would have tremendous success and received nominations for best hard rock performance. This is the only song from an 80’s hair band on this list and you need only listen once to know why. Crank this song up while heading down the highway and you won’t be able to stop yourself from singing along.
6. Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N Roses
In 1987 the album Appetite for Destruction was released and so was Guns N Roses. Widely considered one of the greatest metal songs of all time, it was actually overshadowed by Sweet Child O’ Mine, which won awards for best rock song. Appetite for Destruction is the perfect description for the band and it’s journey, with its up and down success after it’s release. Whether you’re heading to the gym or leaving work, this song is the perfect way to start the ride.
5. Here To Stay, Korn
In 2002 Korn released their 5th album Untouchables, led by this pounding song. The song would be one of the band’s best ever despite some overall criticism of the album as a whole. The true fans loved the song, however, and it won a Grammy for best metal performance in 2003. While the band has fallen off recently, this song is easily Korn’s angriest song and one that is great to get the blood flowing if you’ve been behind the wheel for hours.
4. Cowboys From Hell, Pantera
Their first album to have worldwide success with the same name was released in 1990 and became an instant hit. With the addition of a no holds barred video that truly showed the anger and power of Pantera, this is a perfect song to bang your head to, while driving away from work or whatever else irritates you.
3. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
The legendary song from their second album Nevermind propelled Nirvana into the elite as musicians. Released in 1991, the band officially brought “grunge” music to the world and led the way for all alternative music to follow. Recognized as the premier song for Generation X- no matter how often you hear it you won’t change the station.
2. Enter Sandman, Metallica
The opening track off Metallica’s Black album in 1991, and the band’s most recognized song worldwide. Throw in a video that is sure to haunt your dreams and you have the near perfect song. It has been considered one of the greatest metal songs of all time and, love them or hate them, this song requires you to turn it up and is the perfect song if you are driving at night.
1. Bodies, Drowning Pool
The hit song from their first studio album Sinner (2001) and the most successful album the band has produced. The song has been used for just about everything, highlighted by being the lead song for the soundtrack of Vin Diesel’s Triple X (xXx) movie in 2002. The song is complimented by a perfect video that screams at a catatonic world. It has a perfect subtle intro and demands to be turned up as loud as possible. This song is without a doubt the best song to help you forget everything and just put the pedal to the metal.
By Kenneth Frink
48 Comments
This is the worst lidt I’ve ever read.
If you want to incite road rage you need FAST music, most of this just isn’t.
Try Metal thrashing mad by Anthrax
“Tommy gets his tonsils out” The Replacements
“Stigmata” Ministry (this song has cost me money. Twice)
I can’t listen to AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ without driving aggressively and it was what I was listening to the first time I drove over 130mph on a public road.
Nothing will make you drive like an @$$hole more completely than Ride Of The Valkyries.
How about Hatebreed? “Destroy Everything”?
“Bassline” by Quarashi.
How in the world is HIGHWAY TO HELL missing ?!?!?!
Who the hell listens to that crap. The only feelin i get from these songs is to throw the cd out the car window and crank up some really, non mainstream media, safe for my ears because im too closed minded to explore other bands of heavy metal other than what the damn radio tells me “whats metal” bull crap!
There is nothing like an La grange appetizer and breathe by prodigy to raise speeed….. hehehe
seriously? Ok, I’ll give you the Ozzy, Nirvana and Drowning Pool. The rest of those songs IMHO have little chance of causing road rage. I’d have to go with, in no particular order, Agent Orange “Bloodstains’, Bad Brains ‘Pay To Cum’, Black Flag ‘Nervous Breakdown’ ,The MC5 ‘Kick out the Jams’, Minor Threat ‘I Don’t Wanna Hear It’, Rage Against The Machine ‘Bulls on Parade’, the Toadies ‘Happy Face’, Hank Williams III ‘No Values’, Ween ‘Stroker Ace’ and Nirvana ‘Son of a Gun’. Now that my friend is a road rage soundtrack. Hell, that is what you put on if you want to leave the entire I-35 corridor a smoking trail of rubble.
dude, No.1 is definitely “Bad Habit” by The Offspring….give it a shot
Rage against the Machine–Killing in the Name of
!Anarchy in the UK” or “God save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols should really be on here. Everytime I hear those songs I want to start a riot haha
I know that the song Killing in the Name by Rage against the machine gets me all wired up when I hear it. But seriously, Crazy Train and Enter Sandman are not road rage songs, there is nothing about them that would make you angry. How about:
Prong – Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
System Of A Down – B.Y.O.B.
Atreyu – Someone’s standing on my chest
Stricken – Disturbed
Sleepwalker – Megadeth
Wipe The Tears – Machine Head
I won’t give all ten as I am just taking songs of the top of my head but I am sure that these are far more filled with rage and should not be listened to while driving.
Am I the only one that noticed it is actually Kickstart My Heart and not Kick Start Your Heart?
#1 rulls :-bd
they way people drive these days, especially women and teenagers, one doesnt need music to induce road rage…the music can just make the road rage alot worse…..
Um how about "move bitch" by Ludacris??
This list is totally biased towards rock music.
How could you not include, "Move Bitch" by Ludacris?
That one is totally obvious.
Whoever wrote this list appears to have a fairly limited knowledge of rock music.
I can think of any number of Metallica songs which would be more road rage inducing
than "Enter Sandman" ..and yes most of them would be from the mid to late 80's
time period when Metallica was a marginalized thrash metal band.
I vote "Bad Habit' by The Offspring. It's about road rage.
how is that song not #1???
The list a bit wrong or too personal. Where is Pretty Maids "Future World" Or Metal Church – " Badlands" ?
Non of the songs on the list is good for driving, speeding or any car activity…lame post
Yeh the old school Pantera will get you going.
Offspring has a good road rage song.
bad habit. it should be number 1 or detroit rock city by kiss
OK, I just want to point out that any list of drivingsongs without Ministry – Jesus built my hotrod is incomplete.
Love the list, btw. I think I'm making that into a cd tonight.. (with the addition of methods of mayhem, of course 🙂 )
I'm thinking Methods of Mayhem, Crash. Anyone else? That makes me want to run people over!
Have to be honest, when I came up with the idea for this list I went through a lot of CD's and such and I missed that song. An oversight for sure, a great song for road rage.
C'mon man! You have to have something besides metal, rock, and grundge for driving. What about Tom Petty's "Time to Move On"? Or Slightly Stoopid's "Open Road"? I guess you are listing good road rage songs, but still!
I agree, I actually tend to listen to 80's hair band music in my car, no one can make fun of me for it. Great songs by the way, always like them.
Okay, this misunderstanding is my fault. I don't like the idea of promoting road rage so the title was edited to make it less inciting. Obviously that has not worked and caused the author to have to explain himself, which is not fair to him or the readers. I have changed the title, against my better judgment, to the original.
We do not encourage or support road rage in anyway, but we hope the spirit of the list is better understood now.
Apologies, Kenneth.
My thank Top Tenz , I didn't think much about the possible implications of encouraging road rage, and I too don't encourage it, and I thank you for the change. Always happy to stir the pot though. Nothing better than contraversy.
Thanks to all for the comments, again I intended the list to be about the best road rage inducing songs. Given the slight title change I understand the you comments and ask that you take another look after you read this.
Shame nickelbacks 'animals' isn't in there, good list though
Go with the flow from Queens of the Stone Age is the best driving song man
hear this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM4AJ3jhiKI
What?! No Radar Love??
I been drivin' all night
my hands are wet on the wheel
There's a voice in my head that drives my heel
It's my baby calling sayin' "I need you here"
and it's a half past four and I'm shifting gear . . .
what do you want?? (besides something from the last few decades, that is)
I agree with Rick, "I Can't Drive 55" should be on there; it forces you to speed.
Please read the above replies and take another look at the list.
Runnin' Down a Dream, Tom Petty. Doesn't get much better than that as far as driving songs. Break Stuff? You got to be kidding me. Whoever wrote this list has the musical maturity of a high schooler.
Again, I'm feeling like a broken record, but the list wasn't about driving songs or about speed, it was about road rage, at least thats what it was supposed to be about. So I'll let the high schooler remark go.
The title change definitely makes this list make a whole lot more sense now. Didn't mean to be confrontational but for some reason music gets me all riled up. Keep up the good work.
It's alright, I'm always pleased to see any comments even the slightly hostile ones. Glad you liked it.
I Can’t Drive 55, Sammy Hagar. I thought for sure that would have been #1.
I absolutely agree that song would have been on the list had my original title been about songs that were about speed. My list was about songs that caused road rage, so looking at the comments I can see why some aren't thrilled with the list. If you can take another look at the list like I intended it may be more favorable.
Seriously? Obviously this list was compiled by someone born in the eighties. Any list of "driving songs" that doesn't include "Radar Love" by Golden Earring is complete horse-hockey. Quickly followed by Steve Millers' "Take the money and run". And *certainly* Sammy should have a place too. I'll give ya Dragula and Crazy Train from this list but that's it.
Well first I was born in the 70's, and if you read my reply to the first comment it should clear up why the songs you suggested aren't on the list. I don't see Radar Love causing road rage, but agree that it's a good song about speeding.