100 Greatest Songs of 2001: Staff Picks

The 10 Best Heavy Metal Songs About Godzilla (and Other Toho Monsters, Too)

The Japanese poster for Godzilla 1954.

If ever there were a movie genre suited to heavy metal, it has to be kaiju. Filled with gigantic monsters rampaging through major conurbations and leaving trails of destruction in their wake, it's virtually metal writ large in a wobbly creature suit. Japan's Toho studio created its own super-beast in the towering Godzilla, who, after drawing inspiration from 1933's King Kong, was soon joined by other impressive, imposing monsters.

In anticipation of Toho's latest Monsterverse offering, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, here are 10 killer metal songs about Godzilla and his colossal compatriots.

Metal Hammer line break

Motörhead – Godzilla Akimbo (Dirty Love, 1989)

Originally recorded as part of the sessions for Motörhead's iconic Ace Of Spades album, this instrumental rides a loping, lumbering groove that could level urban districts if played at full volume. It's definitely one of the band's hidden gems, having first surfaced on Dirty Love: a semi-official album based on recordings made by the band during Ace Of Spades' rehearsals.

Tenacious D – Kong (The Pick Of Destiny Japanese edition, 2006)

Jack Black has a strong monster movie pedigree, having starred in Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of King Kong. He also cut a killer operatic metal Kong song with Tenacious D, then hid it as a rarity that only surfaced on the B-side of the vinyl version of P.O.D. And a Japanese version of The Pick Of Destiny soundtrack.

Sepultura – Biotech Is Godzilla (Chaos A.D., 1993)

On their groundbreaking Chaos A.D. Album, Sepultura reached out to Dead Kennedys legend Jello Biafra to write them some lyrics. Given free rein, he came up with Biotech Is Godzilla: a suitably rampant track railing against the dangers of technology in the wrong hands. It was an apt switcheroo, considering Godzilla himself is commonly taken as an allegory for the immense power of nuclear technology.

Godflesh – Mothra (Pure, 1992)

Godflesh took the name of one of the more benevolent kaiju for this promo single and music video from 1992 album Pure. To be fair, it was one of the band's more accessible moments, but you'd still hardly call it kind-natured as it grinds and hollers with a wild-eyed mechanical intensity. It also takes a few cues from an instrumental of the same name by The Stranglers' Hugh Cornwell and drummer Robert Williams.

Anvil – Mothra (Metal On Metal, 1982)

With a completely different take than Godflesh's song of the same name, Canadian heavy metal stalwarts Anvil go in (as you might expect) with all guitars blazing. You could picture this slab of prime 80s metal soundtracking a monster-sized action sequence, even if the band do the heroic Mothra somewhat dirty in the lyrics.

Raven – Destroy All Monsters (Extermination, 2015)

NWOBHM veterans Raven liked the title Destroy All Monsters so much that they used it twice – first for a live album captured in Tokyo in the mid-90s, then again for the opening track of their 2015 album ExtermiNation. Said song is a suitably gonzo slab of atomic firepower and classic metal histrionics inspired by the equally OTT 1968 film.

Varga – Gamera (Enter The Metal, 2013)

It must be something in that northern water as fellow Canadian metal veterans Varga also venture into irradiated waters, opting for the fan-favourite if slightly less generally well-known flying turtle Gamera. When a song contains the line 'Tormenting turtle from hell' and stems from an album called Enter The Metal, you should pretty much know what to expect.

Evil Scarecrow – Godzilla's Lament (Sixty​-​Six Minutes Past Six, 2009)

Bloodstock favourites Evil Scarecrow have created their fair share of original monster, but the DIY cosplayers-cum-metal titans also delved deep into Godzilla lore on their second album, Sixty​-​Six Minutes Past Six. 'Beneath China's ocean sits ancient Godzilla! Alone with one friend whose name is despair,' they roar. Now all we need is that Godzilla/Crabulon crossover…

Kaiju Daisenso – Rodan (2021)

Green Gargantua. Atoms Breed Monsters. Reptilian Majesty. Dip anywhere into this New York band's catalogue and you'll find a bestial slab of monster-inspired madness. It's there in the name and they absolutely wear the influence on their sleeves, describing their music as kaiju-grind and monsterviolence. There are plenty of ragers, but we'll go with Rodan, because the pterrifying pterosaur doesn't always get as much love as some of his better-known contemporaries.

Oxygen Destroyer – Their Reign Has Begun (Sinister Monstrosities Spawned By The Unfathomable Ignorance Of Humankind, 2021)

Oxygen Destroyer are another kaiju-obsessed mob and, in the finest monster-battling tradition, they went head-to-head on a split EP with Kaiju Daisenso. Their name comes from a powerful anti-Godzilla weapon and their musical assault is just as explosive, with a wonderfully feral blackened death and thrash roar.

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5 Country Songs Banned In The 2000s-2020s That Were Still Hits

In 1952, Kitty Wells experienced one of the first bans in country music when her song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," was banned by the Grand Ole Opry and NBC for addressing the double standard between men and women and how female country artists were often ignored by the male-dominated country radio.

Whether it was Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man," deemed degrading to women by the women's liberation movement in the '60s, Loretta Lynn's 1970s anthem of female reproductive rights, "The Pill," the next decade over, or Garth Brooks' video for "The Thunder Rolls" in 1990, which depicted an abusive husband murdered by his wife, country music has never been a stranger to controversy—and bans.

[RELATED: 5 Artists Banned by the Grand Ole Opry]

From controversial lyrics to questionable imagery in music videos, bans within country music continued for decades and well into the 21st century. Here's a look at five songs banned in country music from the 2000s through the 2020s.

1. "Red Rag Top," Tom McGraw (2002)

Back in 1994, Tim McGraw faced some criticism for his hit "Indian Outlaw" and its Native American clichés. Nearly a decade later when Tim McGraw covered "Red Rag Top," originally written and recorded by Jason White, for his seventh album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors, some stations refused to play it since the song centers around a couple's decision to have an abortion: We decided not to have a child / So we did what we did and we tried to forget / And we swore up and down there would be no regrets in the morning light.

Regardless of some initial bans, McGraw's "Red Rag Top" peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and even broke onto the Hot 100 at No. 40.

2. "Smoke a Little Smoke," Eric Church (2009)

Even though Eric Church's 2009 single "Smoke a Little Smoke" wouldn't get played by some stations, the song still hit the Top 20 on the Country chart at No. 16. Co-written by Church, Jeff Hyde, and Driver Williams, "Smoke a Little Smoke" faced some controversy since it referenced drug use—specifically marijuana: Wanna little more right and a little less left / Little more right now, a little less what's next / Act like tomorrow's ten years away / And just kick back and let the feelin' flow / Drink a little drink, smoke a little smoke.

3. "Follow Your Arrow," Kacey Musgraves (2013)

Kiss lots of boys or kiss lots of girls / If that's something you're into Kacey Musgraves sings in "Follow Your Arrow." Co-written with openly gay songwriters Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark, "Follow Your Arrow" was criticized for its support of the LGBTQ+ community when the lyrics call out more that's judged within society—and beyond same-sex relationships—from rolling a joint to losing too much weight, and more.

The song peaked at No. 10 on the Country chart and picked up a CMA Award for Song of the Year in 2014.

4. "Girl Crush," Little Big Town (2014)

By 2015, Little Big Town's hit "Girl Crush" was getting pulled from country radio for its "gay agenda" by some same-sex sensitive stations. The lyrics I've got a girl crush / Hate to admit it but / I got a hard rush / It's slowin' down may have alluded to a jealous lesbian affair, the song was centered around a heterosexual relationship.

Written by the Love Junkies' Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, and Liz Rose, "Girl Crush" was still a success despite any radio play cuts and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Watch Lori McKenna discuss writing "Girl Crush" HERE.

5. "Try That in a Small Town," Jason Aldean (2023)

When released in May 2023, Jason Aldean's single "Try That in a Small Town" didn't spark many reactions. The song, written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Allison addressed crime, the deterioration within smaller towns, and how people can do something about it.

[RELATED: Exclusive: Jason Aldean and the Songwriters of "Try That in a Small Town" Share the True Story Behind the Song

Shortly after its release, the music video for "Try That in a Small Town" was pulled from rotation by CMT with some suggesting it depicts anti-protest imagery and lyrics alluding to violence. Directed by Shaun Silva, the video was filmed at the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, the site where 18-year-old Henry Choate was lynched in 1927. The video features Aldean playing with his band in front of the courthouse and is interspersed with imagery of anti-police brutality protests.

"When you grow up in a small town, it's that unspoken rule of 'We all have each other's backs and we look out for each other,'" said Aldean. "It feels like somewhere along the way, that sense of community and respect has gotten lost. Deep down we are all ready to get back to that."

Despite the video ban on some networks, the song still topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Country charts.

Read the meaning behind Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" HERE.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Hot R&B Songs

Songwriter(s):

C.M.Brown, C.Ward, T.Taylor, L.Youngblood, Jr., G.Roland, C.C.Dotson, L.Krol, S.Pharoah, E.Hayes, J.Gaines, B.Mitchell, J.R.L.Melian, E.Marango, L.Hunter

Producer(s):

HITMAKA, T.Taylor, Roccstar, G.Roland, Haze

Imprint/Promotion Label:

CBE/RCA

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