Metal Reviews

no, but most metalheads i know start with the softer stuff..

I agree with the many of the classics mentioned, but I would also mix in a couple of newer songs in there. A few songs that captivated some of my non metal friends over the years:

Bridge to Cross - Black Label Society (Great response to this song)
Bleed - Angel Dust (The piano + guitar intro)
Silent Screams - Halford
The Journey - Pyramaze
The Riddler - Nightwish
Mystic Prophecy - Mystic Prophecy
Swamped - Lacuna Coil
A Touch of Blessing - Evergrey
The Coming Curse - Iced Earth

Songs every metal head should know? There are so many, but trying to give only a quintessential one per (established) subgenre:

heavy: Judas Priest - Painkiller
power: Helloween - Eagle Fly Free
thrash: Megadeth - Holy Wars
doom: Candlemass - Solitude
gothic: Paradise Lost - Embers Fire
death: Death - Crystal Mountain
black: Emperor - Into The Infinity Of Thoughts
melodeath: Dark Tranquillity - Dreamlore Degenerate
prog: Dream Theater - Pull Me Under
viking: Bathory - One Rode To Asa Bay
symphonic: Therion - To Mega Therion
folk: Skyclad - Civil War Dance

Apart from Painkiller, I'd go along with that list!

I'd add-

Refuse/Resist
Walk
Davidian
South of Heaven
Peace Sells
Seek and Destroy
Remember Tomorrow
Fear of the Dark

Crystal Mountain as the DM song everyone knows? I go with Hammer Smashed Face. Bear in mind this is someone who listens to practically no Death metal.

I ended up giving him this:

Megadeth--Holy Wars
DT--Pull Me Under
In Flames--Swim
Symphony X--Domination
Into Eternity--Nothing
Iron Maiden--The Trooper
Iced Earth--The Coming Curse
Dimmu Borgir--Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
Wintersun--Death and Healing
Rammstein--Sonne
Strapping Young Lad--You Suck
Metallica--Fade to Black
Cryptopsy--Phobophile
Nevermore--The River Dragon Has Come

He said he didn't really want any "hardcore growling" (naming Underoath as an example ) but I still snuck some in there with Cryptopsy, and he ended up liking the song. Not the greatest list ever, I know, but I just tried to give him a bunch of different styles so he can see what he likes. I gave him Progenies because I figured that's pretty much the most accessible black metal song ever.

Not a bad list at all. Sonne and Progenies were a nice touch. Did he like the Shagrath vocals?

I dunno, I haven't really talked to him about it, although he did tell me he likes Holy Wars, Swim, and Phobophile but didn't like Domination. He's heard Rammstein before so I put it on there just to give him something different from the band.

Fucking great. I knew he'd like Phobophile, everybody likes that song. Even if you never heard any dm you'd be wowed by the awesome piano into and one of the best bass lines ever. Then it hits you like a ton of bricks. That song never fails to impress. I've converted quite a few people with it.

i can see why he does not like domination...maybe its a bit to complicated...try the serpents kiss

This would be my mix CD for a newcomer to metal. These would be the songs that every metal fan should know.

Accept: Balls To The Wall
AC/DC: Back In Black
Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath
Dio: Rainbow In The Dark
Anthrax: Caught In A Mosh
Savatage: Hall Of The Mountain King
Scorpions: No One Like You
Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers
Iron Maiden: Hallowed Be Thy Name
Judas Priest: You've Got Another Thing Coming
Ozzy Osbourne: Crazy Train
Def Leppard: Bringing On The HeartBreak
Megadeth: Peace Sells
Motorhead: Ace Of Spades
Helloween: Halloween
Metal Church: Watch The Children Pray
Queensryche: Queen Of The Reich
Metallica: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Motley Crue: Shout At The Devil
Mercyful Fate: The Oath
Slayer: Raining Blood
Rainbow: Man On The Silver Mountain
King Diamond: Abigail
Venom: Black Metal
Pantera: Cemetary Gates