As February comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the inherent bittersweetness that veils this month. Everywhere, people are pouring their hearts out, not knowing if they’ll be met with reciprocity or rejection. Beginnings, endings, memories, déjà-vu, suspense, excitement—what a beautiful juxtaposition instilled into every aspect of this phase. Of course, I have a dislike for the capitalist greed that monopolizes Valentine's Day; marked-up flowers, overpriced candy, and doubling the price of everything just because it’s painted pink, red or white. Nobody should have to spend an arm and a leg just to treat their significant other to something nice. I guess that corporate greed and commercialism can be expected of every holiday now, though. However, what I loathe most is seeing people treat their partners exceptionally special for one night only. Shouldn’t you want to get your lover roses all the time? Why is Valentine’s Day the incentive, and not your partner’s sheer existence? This isn’t to say that I am a bitter person, repulsed by romance and couples; I just simply question the motivation behind these widely accepted notions. It's okay to enjoy the presents that come on Valentine’s Day. I’ll admit, I love gifting a cute plushie or receiving a stunning pair of earrings myself. What matters is the intention and sentiment behind it.
What I always focus on during February is the influx of emotionally charged art that gets created. Letters of adoration, handmade gifts, Galentine’s parties, and my favorite of all, evocative music. In the spirit of this, I have compiled a list of metal/rock ballads that impacted me the most this month so that, hopefully, you can find them as soul touching and cathartic as I do.
From their debut EP Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, this song is starkly different from Avenged Sevenfold’s typical style. The lyrics are honest and the music is stripped down to vocals, piano and guitar. Synyster Gates’ melodic guitar solo is my favorite part of this piece.
Slipknot's lead singer, Corey Taylor, does not typically write the band's songs, but this one is “his masterpiece”, as drummer Joey Jordison said. The clean, isolated acoustic guitar coupled with Taylor's raw vocals and lyrics really shines.
I wholly associate Skillet with their song “Monster”, which was used for "Sonic Unleashed". When I discovered their album Comatose in high school, I was obsessed. This is truly a heartfelt, romantic listen.
This ballad has so many little personal touches throughout the song that make it so extra in the best way. From the layered harmonies to the vulnerable lyrics, it feels intimate rather than overproduced. Slash comes in with those smooth, bending fills that don’t overpower the emotion, but elevate it, adding that unmistakable heat only he can bring.
Released in 2005, “Isolation Years” is one of Opeth’s most underrated songs. Listening to it always puts me in reverie. If you have a few quiet minutes and a good pair of headphones, let it play all the way through. The stripped-down arrangement and Mikael Åkerfeldt’s haunting vocals create a kind of emotional stillness that lingers long after the final note.
As one of the most iconic hair metal bands of the '80s, Whitesnake has no shortage of ballads. This one is a passionate song about the regret and longing that follows a breakup. It's perfect for when you’ve got the blues.
This is one of my all-time favorite compositions. It is a magnum opus in the world of love songs. There is a reason why “Nothing Else Matters” is one of Metallica’s most famous songs. The reverberating acoustic guitar in synthesis with James Hetfield’s haunting vocals and lyricism always lingers with me. Every time Metallica plays this song, they make it an unforgettable live performance. “Nothing Else Matters” holds a special place in my heart because the killer guitar solo after the chorus was one of the first electric guitar solos I had ever learned.
Remember, love is not a holiday, and it is certainly not a price tag. It lives in the quiet gestures, in the songs you play on repeat at 2 a.m., in the solos that ache just enough to feel honest. Whether you are holding someone close, missing someone deeply or simply learning how to hold yourself, let the music meet you there. February may be fleeting, but the emotion behind it doesn’t have to be.
Bites and kisses,
DJ Dracula