The Best Album Closers of All Time
Digest
This podcast episode delves into the art of album closers, exploring their significance in the overall listening experience. Two hosts share their individual lists of 15 favorite album closers, spanning various genres like hardcore punk, death metal, and melodic metal. They analyze the artistic choices behind each selection, discussing the songs' impact and how they contribute to the album's narrative. The episode culminates in a countdown of their individual top 5 album closers, with detailed explanations of their choices. Beyond the music, the hosts also share anecdotes from their recent European tour and look ahead to their upcoming Australian tour.
Outlines
Introduction & Album Closer Significance
The episode introduces the topic of album closers and establishes the hosts' selection criteria and genre focus.
Favorite Album Closers (Part 1-3)
The hosts reveal and discuss their 15 favorite album closers, analyzing the artistic choices and impact of each song within its respective album. Genres discussed include hardcore punk, death metal, and more.
Top 5 Album Closers (Part 1-4) & Honorable Mentions
The hosts unveil their individual top 5 album closers, providing detailed explanations for their rankings. The discussion includes a surprising Morrissey selection and concludes with honorable mentions.
Post-Episode Discussion & Tour Recap
The hosts discuss honorable mentions, recap their recent successful European tour (including Belgium), and preview their upcoming Australian tour.
Keywords
Album Closer
The final song on an album, chosen to leave a lasting impression and encapsulate the album's theme.
Album Structure
The arrangement of songs on an album, impacting the listener's overall experience.
Streaming Services
Digital platforms impacting album consumption and potentially diminishing the importance of album sequencing.
Hardcore Punk
Aggressive, fast-paced punk rock subgenre.
Death Metal
Extreme heavy metal subgenre with harsh vocals and violent lyrical themes.
Melodic Metal
Heavy metal incorporating melodic elements and clean vocals.
Closing Track
The final song on an album; chosen for its impact and ability to summarize or leave a lasting impression.
Slayer
Highly influential thrash metal band.
Morrissey
English singer-songwriter known for melancholic and introspective lyrics.
Q&A
What is the significance of an album closer?
The album closer serves as the artist's final statement, leaving a lasting impression and potentially encapsulating the album's theme.
How have streaming services impacted album listening?
Streaming allows individual song selection, potentially diminishing the importance of the album's intended sequence and the album closer's impact.
What makes a great album closer?
Great album closers offer a powerful emotional impact, memorable melody, or unique sonic departure, often culminating the album's themes or offering a surprising twist.
What criteria were used to select the top five closing tracks?
Selection was based on musical impact, emotional resonance, and personal significance.
Which closing track was the biggest surprise?
The Morrissey song was a surprise, deviating from the primarily metal and hardcore focus.
What made Slayer's "Raining Blood" the ultimate closing track?
Its iconic riff, powerful drumming, atmospheric elements, and overall impact.
What were highlights of the European tour?
Enthusiastic crowds and a memorable performance in Belgium.
What are future plans?
An upcoming Australian tour.
Show Notes
We are here today to celebrate this beautiful pastime by paying tribute to these epic sonic journeys that end some of our favorite records ever. Enjoy.
Official playlist:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Y551rL9C0aXCyTus9lvj3?si=a5bbcaf65d9e44ef
Apple - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hardlores-best-closing-tracks-of-all-time/pl.u-4JommaGtJ03DPrA
YouTube Music - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxwut3Z6TTiFHSCqTLoX_2RzLuVxDKPrU
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00:00:00 - Start
00:00:30 - Episode Preview
00:01:29 - Hello Welcome
00:04:51 - Type O Negative - The Dream Is Dead
00:07:15 - Angel Dust - Set Me Up
00:08:42 - Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness
00:10:23 - Misfits - Braineaters
00:11:59 - Obituary - Turned Inside Out
00:13:40 - Down - Bury Me In Smoke
00:15:16 - Bolt Thrower - When Cannons Fade
00:17:22 - Converge - Jane Doe
00:18:25 - Agnostic Front - In Time
00:20:45 - Alkaline Trio - Crawl
00:21:53 - Celtic Frost - Necromantical Screams
00:23:33 - Alice in Chains - Would?
00:25:18 - Cro-Mags - Age of Quarrel
00:26:59 - Terror - Lowest of the Low
00:28:11 - Mighty Mighty Bosstones - 1-2-8
00:29:47 - Nails - Suum Cuique
00:31:38 - Irate - Transcendence
00:32:44 - 100 Demons - His Fathers Son
00:34:16 - Primus - The Heckler
00:36:19 - Youth of Today - Youth of Today
00:37:59 - Integrity - March of the Damned
00:39:37 - Madball - The World is Mine
00:41:06 - AFI - This Time Imperfect
00:44:12 - Bo's Pick... Must wait
00:44:33 - Metallica - The Struggle Within
00:46:11 - Leeway - Unexpected
00:47:36 - No Warning - Ill Blood
00:48:52 - Into Another - The Other
00:50:28 - Pardon This Interruption
00:54:11 - Carry On - Rethinking
00:56:06 - Minor Threat - Minor Threat
00:57:24 - Top 5's...
00:58:06 - Judge - Where it Went
00:59:24 - Dying Breed - God's Hate
01:00:49 - Cro-Mags - Sign of the Times
01:02:43 - Faith No More - Just A Man
01:04:38 - Type O Negative - Gravitational Constant
01:06:13 - Carnivore - World Wars III & IV
01:07:40 - Bo Doesn't Understand the Assignment Again
01:09:52 - Candlemass - A Sorcerer's Pledge
01:11:53 - Only Living Witness - December
01:14:05 - Slayer - Raining Blood
01:17:35 - Honorable Mentions
01:18:24 - Belgium
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Edited by Steven Grise • Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf
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