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TooBrute
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:45 pm
Posts: 85
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:29 pm 
 

So, what are some bands with self-titled songs?

Also, what's your opinion on bands with self-titled songs?
Do you think it's a cool concept or do you think it's too "cheesy" to have a song that's the same title as the band?

Some bands that come to mind with self-titled song titles are

Amon Amarth - Amon Amarth : Once Sent from the Golden Hall
Angel Witch - Angel Witch : Angel Witch
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath
Burzum - Burzum : Filosofem
Children of Bodom - Children of Bodom : Hatebreeder
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir : Abrahadabra
Exodus - Exodus : Bonded by Blood
In Flames - In Flames - Lunar Strain

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Hayisforhorses
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:47 am
Posts: 797
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:39 pm 
 

All I can say is if a band does this it better be a killer song

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jjohn
Metal newbie

Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:30 am
Posts: 145
Location: Greece/France
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:45 pm 
 

Extol has a song named Extol on an album called Extol. And it's awesome.
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idunnosomename
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:47 pm
Posts: 635
Location: England
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:46 pm 
 

Iron Maiden and Motörhead (although technically the latter is a carried-over Hawkwind song) are the biggest ones after Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Black Sabbath.
Iron Maiden seem to be part of a lot of NWOBHM bands who had them: Angel Witch, Blitzkreig. It's kind of an early "what we're about" song that inevitably ages a bit when (if) the band moves on, but makes a classic encore piece (but it can get a bit "oh gawd do they really need to do Iron Maiden")

An interesting variation is when a band comes out with a self-titled late in their career.

Blue Öyster Cult on their 1988 Imaginos (re-write of The Subhuman from Secret Treaties) and Grave Digger's The Grave Digger.

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idunnosomename
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:47 pm
Posts: 635
Location: England
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 1:53 pm 
 

Hayisforhorses wrote:
All I can say is if a band does this it better be a killer song


One could argue that Iron Maiden is pretty much just an ok song. Other than Charlotte the Harlot and Strange World I'd rather have any other song on that album played at every concert. A self-titled song can be an albatross in this way. However Motörhead didn't give a shit and stopped playing Motorhead in the '80s.

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into_the_pit
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Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:40 pm
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Location: Hedonist Occupation Government
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 2:29 pm 
 

enslaved have a s/t song too, which they put on the yggdrasil rereleases (i. e. the split with satyricon and the yggdrasill rereleases on peaceville). it's surely pretty good, definitely above average, but of course it's no second heimdallr:

https://youtu.be/JzH7nC3dr0E?t=58m6s

tormentor from hungary even have tormentor I and tormentor II on anno domini:

https://youtu.be/2QMhqJUe00s?t=56s (tormentor I, an amazing song to kick off the album after the intro; definitely "deserves" the s/t name)
https://youtu.be/2QMhqJUe00s?t=20m59s (tormentor II, also a great song, which is no surprise though considering the high overall quality on that demo (!))

I do agree with the poster above that any band's s/t song had better be exceptionally good, because it suggests it is some kind of band anthem or something. enslaved fall a bit short in the context of their other supreme demo/EP material.
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lordcatfish
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:44 pm
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Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 2:57 pm 
 

I quite like the concept of a self titled song.

Soulfly have a load of sequential, self titled instrumentals (one on every album iirc). Carnivore have their spectacular self titled song on their self titled debut. Avantasia's is decent and snuck it's way into many Edguy setlists, but I think they've many far better songs.
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Epicureo
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:57 pm
Posts: 167
Location: Italy
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 3:00 pm 
 

First track from Loudness' The Birthday Eve:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAI6GAsWlUw

We are the Loudness guy – Feel in the sky
We are the Loudness guy – We feel high
We are the Loudness guy – Feel in the sky
We are the Loudness guy – We feel high, high, high, try

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Hayisforhorses
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:47 am
Posts: 797
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 3:21 pm 
 

idunnosomename wrote:
It's kind of an early "what we're about" song that inevitably ages a bit when (if) the band moves on, but makes a classic encore piece


Agree with this I feel s/t songs work best either when they are used on a debut or a final release, the former being a kind of "this is us" and the latter aught to be a "so long this was us" in either context it better be the best of what a band is capable of.

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tahu157
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:22 pm
Posts: 1008
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 3:27 pm 
 

Witchfinder General is the only band that comes to mind that hasn't already been mentioned.

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~Guest 226319
President Satan

Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:41 am
Posts: 6570
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:32 pm 
 

Gorgoroth has a self titled song on the "Antichrist" album.
Nokturnal Mortum have a demo track "Tnematset Wen - Nocturnal Mortum" on the "Twilightfall" demo.
Blind Guardian almost has one, "Guardian of the Blind" from the first album.
Iron Savior has Iron Savior on... Iron Savior!
Jaldaboath has a self titled song on "Rise of the Heraldic Beasts"
Manowar has "Manowar" on "Battle Hymns".
Manilla Road have a self titled song on their 79 demo which was released on a comp last year.

Not a big fan of this practice. The band name should encompass the band's themes and 'tude as a whole, which would necessarily include all the work they do and thus can't be condensed into a single song.

Most of the ones mentioned thus far are pretty good songs, so it's not a death knell or anything.

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gabber
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:57 pm
Posts: 507
Location: Australia
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:02 pm 
 

Manowar - are born to fight forevermore.

Actually it's a decent track if you compare it to the Lord Of Steel debacle
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Twisted_Psychology
Metal freak

Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:22 pm
Posts: 6260
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:14 pm 
 

Iced Earth's self-titled song is one of the best out there. The weird Gene Adam-isms make it very of its own but that gallop at the end is fantastic.

Anthrax's self-titled song is one that rarely gets brought up. Understandably so as it isn't that spectacular and is one of the factors that makes Fistful of Metal feel so out of place in the context of the their other albums (I still enjoy it though).

Hallow's Eve had an epic self-titled track on Tales of Terror. The structure is rather sloppy but it has some really great parts and is pretty charming overall.

One example that I find particular strange is the Overkill saga. The songs are generally awesome but you're going to name a series of songs after yourselves...even though you named yourselves after a Motorhead song? It doesn't help that I can't tell what the story is supposed to be about.

My own band Spirit Division has a self-titled song that was on our self-titled debut. I still like it a lot but it's not one that we play a lot these days.
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idunnosomename
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2016 9:47 pm
Posts: 635
Location: England
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:43 pm 
 

Twisted_Psychology wrote:
One example that I find particular strange is the Overkill saga. The songs are generally awesome but you're going to name a series of songs after yourselves...even though you named yourselves after a Motorhead song? It doesn't help that I can't tell what the story is supposed to be about.

Oh that reminds me of Dream Evil who recently put out their own Dream Evil song, which was kind of a shitty thing to do, I thought.

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DoomMetalAlchemist
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 2860
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:45 pm 
 

Black Knight (Canada) have a self titled song on their Master of Disaster compilation re-release. Apparently it's a fan favorite, but not really one of my favorites.

As far as Manowar goes, Battle Hymns is a great album but the song Manowar is by far my least favorite from the album.

Witchcraft (doom metal/rock from Sweden) have a song Witchcraft on their self titled debut. One of the strongest tracks on the album, imo.

Count Raven have an intro track called Intro: Count Raven on their first album Storm Warning. It's not great, it's more ambient than musical, I guess.

Black Hole (doom metal from Italy) have like three different songs called Black Hole, depending on which demo/album you're listening to. I like the Beyond the Gravestone version, but it later got transformed into The Dark Theatre, which I think is better. The Living Mask version of Black Hole is great. The 1983 demo version I think is one of their weakest tracks.

Electric Wizard have a self titled song on their self titled debut. I think it could be better, as the pace it is at is kind of slow for the swing-eighths feel it has, but I like it anyway.

Pagan Altar's self titled song from Judgement of the Dead/Volume 1 is one of the best songs from its album.

Saint Vitus' self titled song from their self titled debut is pretty good, but not one of my favs from the album. I love the chorus though.

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ChildClownOutlet
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:52 pm
Posts: 1579
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:40 pm 
 

Twisted_Psychology wrote:
Iced Earth's self-titled song is one of the best out there. The weird Gene Adam-isms make it very of its own but that gallop at the end is fantastic.

Anthrax's self-titled song is one that rarely gets brought up. Understandably so as it isn't that spectacular and is one of the factors that makes Fistful of Metal feel so out of place in the context of the their other albums (I still enjoy it though).

Hallow's Eve had an epic self-titled track on Tales of Terror. The structure is rather sloppy but it has some really great parts and is pretty charming overall.

One example that I find particular strange is the Overkill saga. The songs are generally awesome but you're going to name a series of songs after yourselves...even though you named yourselves after a Motorhead song? It doesn't help that I can't tell what the story is supposed to be about.

My own band Spirit Division has a self-titled song that was on our self-titled debut. I still like it a lot but it's not one that we play a lot these days.

I think Im the only one who liked Gene Adams vocals.
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KinskiTemper
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:30 pm
Posts: 185
Location: SC
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:56 pm 
 

Immolation - "Immolation"
Malevolent Creation - "Malevolent Creation"

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Terri23
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Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:53 am
Posts: 3177
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:10 pm 
 

Twisted_Psychology wrote:
Anthrax's self-titled song is one that rarely gets brought up. Understandably so as it isn't that spectacular and is one of the factors that makes Fistful of Metal feel so out of place in the context of the their other albums (I still enjoy it though).


Nuclear Assault reworked the Anthrax track into something far better on their debut album.
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Cheapsteaks
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Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 8:02 pm
Posts: 266
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:48 pm 
 

Hellyeah has a song called Hellyeah on their album Hellyeah, AKA the ol' triple whammy.
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jimbies
Noose Springsteen

Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:52 pm
Posts: 4145
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:11 pm 
 

Hayisforhorses wrote:
All I can say is if a band does this it better be a killer song


Agreed. Most of them deliver. I also love when it's from a self-titled album as well. Satan's Hallow did this on their debut this year.

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Lane
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2002 11:54 am
Posts: 1098
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:41 am 
 

I guess Asphyx's 'Asphyx (Forgotten War)' counts. From their sophomore album 'Last One on Earth'.

PS. How you say this name? "Assfix"?!?
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willBburied
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2017 7:19 pm
Posts: 43
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:45 am 
 

Gamma Ray, Gamma Ray, Gamma, Gamma, Gamma Ray!!!

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DoomMetalAlchemist
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 2860
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:54 am 
 

willBburied wrote:
Gamma Ray, Gamma Ray, Gamma, Gamma, Gamma Ray!!!


Fuck yeah! I was disappointed to learn it was a cover, lol.

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Metal_Jaw
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:57 pm
Posts: 753
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:20 am 
 

Metal Church by Metal Church from the album Metal Church is one of my favorite things to say ever. It doesn't hurt that it's a great song on a great album.

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TheWaltzer
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:07 am
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Location: Slowfuck Republic
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:32 am 
 

Stratovarius have one - an instrumental. I also think that Sodom releasing a song called "S.O.D.O.M." on Epitome of Torture ought to count.

And it is usually cheesy, simply because it's usually self-referential and rather unnecessary. But if the song is good, I don't exactly care - this is Exodus' case, for example (though their 80s lyrics are pretty dumb most of the time, anyway).
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Crescent_Moon
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Joined: Fri May 27, 2016 2:47 pm
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:40 am 
 

Gorgoroth - Gorgoroth. Their most melodic song.

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MrMcThrasher II
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:01 pm
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Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:05 am 
 

Does Metal Storm/Face The Slayer count? It's a rad song regardless.
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hakarl
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm
Posts: 8816
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:48 am 
 

Illusions Dead :-P

Swallow the Sun's Swallow is probably quite self-referential, although, contrary to the band's name, this song says "swallow the dark".

Anathema also have a self-titled song, but it's not metal, of course.
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Velmu
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:59 pm
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Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:54 am 
 

Master has song called "Master" on their debut album called "Master".

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Hayisforhorses
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:47 am
Posts: 797
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:32 am 
 

Velmu wrote:
Master has song called "Master" on their debut album called "Master".


Couple more with the trifecta:
Decide, by Deicide on Deicide.
Origin, by Origin from Origin

Does Dismembered off Like an Ever Flowing Stream count close enough right?

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jimbies
Noose Springsteen

Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:52 pm
Posts: 4145
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:49 am 
 

Bat by Bat. Sometimes called "Beware Of The Bat", but on the actual vinyl, it's just listed as Bat.

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Warty_basaloid
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:32 am
Posts: 366
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:18 am 
 

Carnivore, I'm a meat eater. Good song and very informative. Iron Maiden always was one of my favourites. Witchfinder General is another great one that was mentioned already.
Voivod, announcing the start of an album properly.

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SkullFracturingNightmare
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:20 pm
Posts: 1188
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:47 pm 
 

I sure do love me that song Deicide, performed by Deicide, off their awesome debut album, Deicide.
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Xymosys
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:19 am
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Location: Croatia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:54 pm 
 

Paradise Lost have a s/t song and it sucks.
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ShreddedHuman
Metal newbie

Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:20 pm
Posts: 82
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:40 pm 
 

Sacrilegious Rite has a song called Sacrilegious Rite on their new album and that song is truly awesome:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u747tsg9kU

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Pitiless Wanderer
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:34 pm
Posts: 1710
Location: Ankara
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:55 pm 
 

Dodecahedron have one too and it's killer

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OceanOfViolence
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:25 am
Posts: 168
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:06 pm 
 

Fifth Angel is my personal favorite. One of the best guitar solos on that (self titled, go figure) album too.
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Opus
Metal freak

Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2002 11:06 am
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Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:06 pm 
 

Another Return to Church Hill
Above the Clouds

Does Spirit of the Chateaux count?
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ObservationSlave
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:27 pm
Posts: 1110
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:50 am 
 

I don't see a problem with doing it, especially when some bands use self-titled songs as a mission statement of sorts on their debut. I find self-titled songs seem to be better than average anyway. "Children of Bodom" may be the best song they ever wrote and "Black Sabbath" still holds up nearly 50 years later.

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MawBTS
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2014 2:16 am
Posts: 1046
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:53 am 
 

Quote:
I sure do love me that song Deicide, performed by Deicide, off their awesome debut album, Deicide.


The (un)holy trifecta. Song, band, and album all having the same title.

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