So, if the Mayans are to be believed, tomorrow is the end of the world. We here at Ultimate-Guitar towers are all kitted out for it. We're holed up into our survival bunker, stocked up with 48 cans of Heineken, about 400 packs of ramen noodles and an original 1980s Game Boy complete with Tetris and the video game adaptation of Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Unfortunately, we've forgotten to bring any batteries, or a kettle, rendering anything but the cans of beer absolutely useless...
Anyway, after unanimously voting to eat Clyde the Janitor first in the event that we resort to cannibalism, we decided we could wile away our last hours by coming up with... ULTIMATE-GUITAR’S ULTIMATE APOCALYPSE PLAYLIST!!! Check it out, and get ready to party like it's 2012!
Muse - "Apocalypse Please"
Muse's 2003 album Absolution was a record obsessed with the end of the world, something that was crystalized in the disc's opener "Apocalypse Please". The track paints a suitability Biblical armageddon, replete with epic drums, synths and a choir of overdubbed Matt Bellamys. Who said that the apocalypse couldn’t have any pomp?
The Clash - London Calling
The instant that Paul Simonon's bass drops in "London Calling", you know that you're in for a small slice of doom. The sense of imminent death in the track is enforced by Joe Strummer's buzz-saw rhythm guitar and perhaps crystalized in the nihilistic chorus line of "London is drowning and I live by the river."
Led Zeppelin - Dazed And Confused
(live version)
While not directly about the apocalypse, Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" always felt like a song that you could soundtrack the end of the world to. The live version from recent DVD release "Celebration Day" is a tuned down slab of stomping death, with John Paul Jones's bass line rumbling with all the intensity of a nuclear warhead. Jimmy's mid section bowed guitar solo is pure chaos.
Megadeth - Rust In Peace... Polaris
Megadeth have written more songs about the apocalypse than most people have had hot dinners. While Countdown to Extinction was a strong contender for this list, that track that ultimately won out for us was the title track of 1990's "Rust In Peace" album. It closed out the record, and, as those epic tom hits thunder in at the beginning, you realize that it would be a quite apt song to end the world to.
Prince - 1999
Who says that the end of the world has to be all doom and gloom? Prince's breakthrough single is a funky recount of apocalyptic destruction that you just can't help but get up and dance to. But don't take our word for it, as the Purple one himself puts it:
"2000 - 00, party over, oops, out of time. So now now I'm gonna party like it's 1999!"
We had initially intended to make this list a lot longer, but five songs in, an argument broke out about the best way to marinade Janitor Clyde's shoulders...
But maybe you, the Ultimate-Guitar faithful can give us a helping hand. Suggest your ultimate apocalypse soundtrack in the comments below and help us make the best armageddon playlist ever! But do it quickly, because of the Mayans were right, then we've probably got less than a day to live before all hell (literally) breaks loose!
The Hives' "Tick Tick Boom" would also be a kickass song to listen to tomorrow. Kudos for suggesting R.E.M., that one was the first song that came into my mind!
and 1 upvote for you, for listing Incubus(my favorite ****in band ever), for Certain Shade Of Green(awesome) and also for actually knowing about Incubus and that there are cd's that came out before Make Yourself. S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is classic, I love Fungus Amongus(that might be my fav).
And also, in the "Warning" video, at 3:25 in the song, the watch stops at 10:24AM and everyone disappears. I noticed that as soon as that video came out. And as I stated, Incubus is by far my favorite band, but their latest cd (If Not Now, When?) does not excite me at all. The only decent song is Adolescents, imo.
the whole ocean rain album by echo and the bunnymen, or of course rust in peace, more specifically Polaris ( iwas hoping that would be on the list before i clicked)
Fail. and I'm not talking about Slayer, I'm talking about you tabbing "Seasons In The Abyss" like that. I actually learned SITA, and what you tabbed isn't that. What you tabbed is more of War Ensemble.
The Sixth Extinction by Ayreon
The End Complete by Coheed and Cambria
No World for Tomorrow works well too.
A Smart Kid by Porcupine Tree
Destroyer of the Universe by Amon Amarth
And all their other songs.
Yeah I think Amon Amarth's discography takes the cake. I feel like Gojira has to fit in here somewhere too. And after the world ends we can chill out post-apocalyptic style with Isis.
...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth. How could I forget Agalloch?
The earlist song I can think of is "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire in 1965...seems like not a whole lot has changed in the past 45 years...here's the lyrics:
The eastern world it is explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin',
you're old enough to kill but not for votin',
you don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin',
and even the Jordan river has bodies floatin',
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fears that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away,
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave,
take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,
and you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin',
I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin',
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation,
handful of Senators don't pass legislation,
and marches alone can't bring integration,
when human respect is disintegratin',
this whole crazy world is just too frustratin',
and you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space,
but when you return, it's the same old place,
the poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace,
you can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace,
hate your next-door-neighbour, but don't forget to say grace,
and you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,
you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
no no you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
My d day playlist : sweet dreams mm cover , funeralopolis by electric wizard
Living dead beat by c.o.b in your face by c.o.b and warpigs and black sabbath by black sabbath I am the night pantera,peace sells,bark at the moon and crazy train Z.W version and revolution is my name
Oh c'mon Mayans did not predict anything. I want to read those stories though what stupid thing people have done. I'll listen to My Apocalypse by Metallica when I'm shopping tomorrow
Are we going by when it would be the 21st in the southern Americas? If so. seeing as though I'm from New Zealand, I have about another 10-12 hours to live. Haha, shame on you c*nts who don't get to experience the full worth of the 21st of December, muahahahahah...haha...ha...heh...hmm..
rust in peace polaris is about nuclear was and the apocalypse. countdown to extinction is about canned hunts and animals going extinct. it may be your opinion, but you made yourself sound douchingly arrogant, and you probably didnt even know what both songs were about. good job.
Allright, I also had some metal suggestions, but I must admit that when thinking of the apocalypse, I can only think of listning to the entire of Radioheads "Kid A" album - the whole album is drenched in a urgent, unsetteling, apocalyptic atmosphere, with probably the most fitting final line to the entire hysteria:
I know they are great and all, but how is that Led Zeppelin get on EVERY musical "Best of" and "Tops" list? It could be "Best Punk Songs" and somehow Led Zeppelin would make their way on there.
In all seriousness, I'd say
Coheed & Cambria - The End Complete III
Black Sabbath- Into The Void
Iron Maiden- Hollowed Be Thy Name
Marilyn Manson- The Last Day On Earth
Marilyn Manson- Great Big White World
Marilyn Manson- Arma-GodDamn-MotherFuckin'-Geddon
Mastodon- Oblivion
Metallica- Orion
Pantera- Shattered
Pantera- Floods
Slipknot- All Hope Is Gone
Tenacious D- Deth Starr
- Tool : Aenema
- Naked City : Bonehead
- Meshuggah : War
- Einstürzende Neubauten : Total Eclipse of the Sun
- Nine Inch Nails : The Day The World Went Away
- Kyuss : Molten Universe
- The Doors : The End
- Ministry : No W
- Melvins : Evil New War God
- Faith No More : Everything's Ruined
- Creedence Clearwater Revival : Bad Moon Rising
- Superjoint Ritual : Oblivious Maximus
- Obituary : The End Complete
- Crowbar : High Rate Extinction
- Paradise Lost : As I Die
- Black Sabbath : After Forever
- Morbid Angel : Desolate Ways
- Electric Wizard : Funerapolis
- Fear Factory : Demanufacture
- A Perfect Circle : The Hollow
Lamb of God - Reclamation
Tool - Aenema
White Zombie - Welcome to Planet Mother****er/Psychoholic Slag
White Zombie - More Human than Human
Slayer - Raining Blood
Sepultura - Beneath the Remains
Alice in Chains - We Die Young
Megadeth - Black Friday (12/21/12 is a Friday after all)
Static X - Start A War
Slayer - Live Undead
Slipknot - People=Shit
Primus - Tragedy's a'Comin
Powerman 5000 - Supernova Goes Pop
Pantera - Death Rattle
Black Sabbath - Hole in the Sky
Metallica - Orion
But seriously, UG, it wasn't originally the Mayans who interpreted 21/12/2012 as the date of apocalypse, it just represents a transition of era and possible ascension/enlightenment of consciousness.
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