Heavy Resistance: A Playlist of 50 Years of Heavy Protest Songs

Despite cave-dwellers who argue otherwise, heavy metal has always been political. Metal and hardcore have a long history of taking inspiration from political strife, going back to the genre’s very inventors, Black Sabbath, and their seminal track, “War Pigs.”

While many musicians prefer to stay on the sidelines, it’s those who have boldly proclaimed their political beliefs that have been able to affect real change with their powerful messages. From Sabbath to Machine Head to Sepultura to Queensryche to Rage Against the Machine to System of a Down to newer acts like Lamb of God and Fever 333, rallying against the man in protest remains a crucial component of heavy music’s DNA.

MetalSucks has teamed up with Heavy Consequence, Metal Injection, and streaming service TIDAL to create the “Heavy Resistance” playlist, offering an assortment of hard-hitting protest songs from the past 50 years. The tracks can be streamed below. A free 60-day trial subscription to TIDAL’s HiFi service is available here.

Hit the streets and blast these songs as loud as possible.

Black Sabbath, “War Pigs”
The Clash, “White Riot”
Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”
Bad Brains, “I Against I”
Black Flag, “Rise Above”
Dead Kennedys “Stars and Stripes of Corruption”
Rage Against the Machine, “Killing in the Name”
System of a Down, “Prison Song”
Suicidal Tendencies, “You Can’t Bring Me Down”
Megadeth, “Holy Wars”
Green Day “American Idiot” 
Living Colour, “Open Letter to a Landlord”
Queensryche, “Revolution Calling”
Ministry, “N.W.O.”
Sepultura, “Refuse / Resist”
Anti-Flag, “”You’ve Gotta Die for the Government”
Napalm Death, “Siege of Power”
Bad Religion, “American Jesus”
All Shall Perish, “Wage Slaves”
Jesus Piece, “Oppressor”
Machine Head, “Clenching the Fists of Dissent”
Cattle Decapitation, “Death Atlas”
Body Count, “No Lives Matter”
Fever 333, “Supremacy”
Lamb of God, “New Colossal Hate”