My heart raced and a sense of immortality overcame me as I prepared for one of my high school football games back in my younger years. This adrenaline rush was shared by me and my teammates, yet it couldn't occur without the likes of our own personal soundtracks.
Those that know me well understand that there are two things that I crave the most in life: sports and music. So it is no surprise that when I have the opportunity to synthesize the two together, I never take it for granted. Thus when it comes to finding the right beats for getting me in the right state before the big game it becomes a very industrious and deliberate task for myself.
So what songs are the ones that get me going? Here's a small sample of the ones that get my blood rushing and also a sneak peek into my own iPod. As The Spectrum's resident metal head, let me warn you that that if you don't like metal stop reading... now.
Marilyn Manson "The Beautiful People"
This was the official song of my junior varsity football team. Someone on the team would throw this in the CD player before every game and it would blare throughout our locker room. "The Beautiful People" has a nice gradual buildup that lasts just over a minute, just enough to keep you hooked until the heavy riffs kick in. This Manson classic is one of my very first pump-up jams.
Mastodon "March Of The Fire Ants"
I was hooked into this song, and this band, when I first heard them open up for Slayer at the Dome Theater in Niagara Falls a few years ago. The first few riffs in the song are so damn catchy. It then builds up and let's you go to a fury of stark vocals seemingly from a possessed caveman.
I'm surprised that stadiums don't use a clip of it during sporting events. It would fit in like a glove along side favorites like AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" and Gary Glitter's "Rock Anthem."
Nile "Ramses Bringer Of War"
It wasn't until college that I first heard this piece. I can only imagine the things I would have said, the foam I would have produced from my mouth and the black eyes I would have given myself if I had heard this song back in the day.
Premonitions of battle enter your mind thanks to an introduction accented with the sound of marching drums and trumpets. Nile slowly elevates you note by note for roughly a minute and a half. For the average guy, this building up may cause him to push the skip button on the CD player. But those with patience are rewarded with a sinister growl that sounds like it hails directly from the Valley of the Kings and double bass drumming that'll knock out your eyes.
Dr. Dre (featuring Ice Cube) "Natural Born Killaz"
I've never been one to really get into rap music, but this collaboration between two of the biggest names in the hip-hop industry deserves to be mentioned.
Like a good amount of the music I listen to, I must give credit out to Extreme Championship Wrestling for introducing me to this beat. "Natural Born Killaz" is unlike the others on here in that it hits you quickly. As soon you here the rocket launch noise in the introduction, you just knew New Jack was coming out and very bad things were going to happen. Although outside my normal realm of screeching guitars and pounding drums, it's found a way into my warm-up mix and has fit in extremely well.
Slayer "Angel Of Death"
One of the most controversial songs from one of the most controversial bands is also the cornerstone, the crown jewel of my motivational music. It is also responsible for causing me to punch and head butt lockers and just pace around like a tormented soul.
You want a pump up song that has it all? This is the one for you. Not only do you get kicked in the teeth right away be Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King's guitar licks, but the first voice you hear is a blood curdling scream by Tom Araya that will send you into a frenzy. Slayer holds your feet to the fire and eventually lets you go to a fret board thrashing guitar solo that is one of its kind.
No other tune is superior to "Angel Of Death" in terms of pumping you up. So I always tried my hardest to make sure this was the last piece of music I heard before it was time to get down to business. So now that you have your beats, listen up and then go raise some hell.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
