Help make me angry

January 22, 2008 8:25 PM

I need angry music to work out to.

The best work outs I seem to have are when I am listening to "angry" music. For example, Rage Against the Machine (Killing in the Name), or anything Metallica. I'm looking for suggestions that are most in the same vein as Killing in the Name, I think. It be nice if I could understand the lyrics, so Rammstein and their ilk, not so much.

I will most likely be running while listening, if that helps at all!

Suggestions?

posted by heavenstobetsy to media & arts (63 answers total)

Falling kinda in between, check out Ministy - esp. Land of Rape and Honey or The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste - very heavy, strong beats, a good bit of anger and frustration.
posted by pupdog at 8:30 PM on January 22, 2008

Your profile says you're a girl, so I have to recommend my favorite "angry grrrl" song: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette.
posted by amyms at 8:31 PM on January 22, 2008

I like Prodigy, Dropkick Murphys and Hole.

I especially like Prodigy for snowboarding. Something about the contrast between soft white snow, blue sky, and angry music.
posted by charlesv at 8:41 PM on January 22, 2008

While you may not be able to understand their lyrics, Dethklok is just about the angriest music I know. The album is called the Dethalbum and it's their only work so far. They're not actually a real band, per se, but a band from a tv show whose music in the show became so popular that 'they' released an album. Amazing.

So yeah, my list:
Dethklok
Trivium
In Flames
Disturbed
Cephalic Carnage


Plenty other metal bands out there with incredible stuff.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:51 PM on January 22, 2008

To clarify, Dethklok is in English but it's still very difficult to understand them.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:55 PM on January 22, 2008

I like running to Dropkick Murphys and Propagandhi.
posted by robcorr at 8:58 PM on January 22, 2008

System of a Down always gets me going.
posted by 913 at 8:59 PM on January 22, 2008

Speaking of angry grrl music: No Man's Woman (sinead o'connor)

I always liked running to Beastie Boys- in college a bunch of us would "sing" along with the lyrics as we ran, it was nicely rhythmic and kept our legs churning.

Not Ready to Make Nice (dixie chicks)

Come and Get it (Badfinger)

All on my GRUMPY itunes track that I like jogging to when I'm, well, grumpy.
posted by arnicae at 9:02 PM on January 22, 2008

Godsmack is good to work out to.
posted by C17H19NO3 at 9:06 PM on January 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

Rollins Band!
posted by Bookhouse at 9:09 PM on January 22, 2008

Good angry metal for working out that has non-death vocals:

Slayer (I find them quite inspiring, but they may be a little fast for some people's workout tastes.)
The Haunted
Pantera
Grip, Inc. (I can only vouch for the first album.)
Fear Factory
System of a Down (They're goofy and fun at times, but plenty of people think of them as angry overall.)
Testament (later albums, like The Gathering and Demonic)

There's a lot of very angry death metal like Sepultura, Suffocation, Krisiun, Napalm Death, and Deicide that you may want to check out some day, too.

Angry hardcore with easy(ish)-to-understand vocals:

Minor Threat
Black Flag
Cro-Mags
Ringworm
Agnostic Front

Since you like Rage Against the Machine, I'll throw in some angry rap:

Public Enemy
Ice Cube (first three albums)
Jedi Mind Tricks (Visions of Gandhi, Legacy of Blood)
posted by ignignokt at 9:11 PM on January 22, 2008

And Justice For All (Metallica)
London Calling (The Clash)
Rocket to Russia (The Ramones)
posted by Afroblanco at 9:22 PM on January 22, 2008

I like to work out listening to At the Drive-In. You might find it less angry than RATM but I think it does the job! Plus you still get to understand lyrics. Get In-Casino-Out or Relationship of Command.
posted by ddaavviidd at 9:26 PM on January 22, 2008

Kind of a weird variety here, but I think these could all fit the angry-workout-music bill:

Wumpscut
VNV Nation
Mastodon
Peaches
Billy Talent
Ministry
Marilyn Manson (some of the more rock-anthem stuff)
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 9:31 PM on January 22, 2008

I don't know if this angry enough, but I find Garbage can fairly angry and energetic (both youtube). The second link, "Only Happy when it Rains" is one of my favorite songs to be angsty to.
posted by jb at 9:32 PM on January 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

I also hate metal that has unintelligable lyrics. Sweden, I'm talking to you.

Lyric friendly metal:

Iron Maiden is my poison of choice ... Up the Maidens!!
Suicidal Tendencies ... if you think you might like thrash ... Join the Army!!

(is it obvious i was in high school during the 80s?)

more recent stuff:

Wolfmother
The Sword
Witchcraft
Dragonforce
posted by robotdog at 9:33 PM on January 22, 2008

Rage on, sister. I have great angry-music workouts too. YMMV, but here's my anger exercise playlist, weighted towards the 1990s. Some straddle the line between anger and just "charged up" but both are helpful to keep pushing on. (Also it helps to fantasize about beating up the president over and over and over and over and over and over. The workout just flies by):

Beastie Boys - Sabotage
Cypress Hill - Ain't goin out like that
Cypress Hill - Cock the hammer
The Darkness - Get Your Hands Off My Woman
Drowning Pool - Bodies
Electric Six - Dance Commander
Faith No More - Surprise! You're Dead!
Faith No More - We Care A Lot
Filter - Hey Man, Nice Shot
Helmet - Unsung
Jane's Addiction - Stop!
Kid Rock - Bawitdaba
Lo Fidelity Allstars - Battle Flag
Metallica - One
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Ministry - Jesus Built My Hot Rod
Motley Crüe - Looks That Kill
N.W.A. - 100 Miles And Runnin'
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like A Hole
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana - Territorial Pissings
Outkast - Bombs Over Baghdad (Zack de la Rocha remix)
Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
Prodigy - Firestarter
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Public Enemy - Show 'Em Whatcha Got
Public Enemy - She Watch Channel Zero
Rage Against The Machine - Guerrilla Radio
Rage Against The Machine - Down Rodeo
Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade
Rage Against The Machine - People Of The Sun
Rage Against The Machine - Testify
Run DMC - Beats To The Rhyme
Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The U.K.
Skid Row - Slave To The Grind
Third Eye Blind - Graduate
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Art Star
posted by kookoobirdz at 9:39 PM on January 22, 2008 [6 favorites]

Of course, I just remembered that the angriest music I can think of is Nine Inch Nails - but I don't know if that would be the right kind of energetic angry.

I used to like NIN when I was a teenager, but it's so angry that I have trouble these days. That said, I love Johnny Cash's "Hurt", and Devo's cover of "Head like a Hole" is pretty good.
posted by jb at 9:39 PM on January 22, 2008

Some of my favourites (with links to a video as a good example of each):

Killswitch Engage
In Flames
Soilwork
Strapping Young Lad

They might be a bit heavier than you're looking for, but I find the lyrics mostly comprehensible. Plus, each of those bands knows how to construct a good melodic chorus to balance out the intensity of the song (except maybe for Strapping Young Lad, who tend to have a constantly intense but surprisingly invigorating sound).
posted by astrochimp at 9:40 PM on January 22, 2008

Pixies! Gouge Away, Wave of Mutilation, Bone Machine, Broken Face.

What's nice is that the Pixies are not always a full-on sonic assault. Some of their songs have quiet(er) parts, so that when the screaming starts it's even more of a rush. Whenever I don't think I can possibly run another minute I hit Gouge Away and the pain vanishes.

Also on my workout playlist:
Motorhead: God Save the Queen
Foo Fighters: I'll Stick Around
Scratch Acid: Mary had a Little Drug Problem
Breeders: Cannonball

Also 2nding Black Flag -- the album "Damaged" is suitably angry; later stuff can be slow

But really, the Pixies will get you there.
posted by Camofrog at 9:44 PM on January 22, 2008

Killswitch Engage. I listen to this ONLY when I work out.
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 9:50 PM on January 22, 2008

L7's - Shitlist
posted by extrabox at 9:50 PM on January 22, 2008

3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up the Blades. Might set a dangerous pace.
posted by pilibeen at 10:00 PM on January 22, 2008

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, and Skinny Puppy are the only bands I can think of that haven't been mentioned yet. Tracy Bonham's "The Burden of Being Upright" isn't similar at all, musically, but does work for me as angry workout music.
posted by hades at 10:02 PM on January 22, 2008

PJ Harvey.
posted by thebrokedown at 10:06 PM on January 22, 2008

Atari Teenage Riot (and others on the Digital Hardcore label)
Bikini Kill
Billy Childish/Thee Headcoats
Huggy Bear
Sons and Daughters
posted by kitty teeth at 10:06 PM on January 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

My tastes tend towards alt/punk, so here's a list:

Fast, fairly Angry:
Bad Religion
Atreyu
Death By Stereo
Pennywise
Rise Against
Gravity Kills
Stabbing Westward
Tool (though you'll have to pick and choose)
Descendants

Not necessarily Angry, but driving and fast:
Bouncing Souls
Foo Fighters (some songs)
The Living End (specifically "Roll On")
Millencolin
Outkast (sp. Bombs Over Baghdad)
Toadies (I Come From the Water)
a few from AFI


If you like driving punk, you could pick up some of the Punk-O-Rama series, which is full of driving, fast, punk beats.


Damn, now I have to stick these into a playlist for my workout.
posted by chrisamiller at 10:08 PM on January 22, 2008

Nine Inch Nails With Teeth is always cathartic for me. And catchy too.
posted by The Deej at 10:09 PM on January 22, 2008

Brides of Destruction - Shut The Fuck Up
Twisted Sister - Under the Blade, SMF, or Burn in Hell
Krokus - Eat The Rich
Iron Maiden
Warrant (seriously) - Machine Gun
Wildhearts - Sucker Punch, Rooting For The Bad Guy, Destroy All Monsters(disgusting video NSFW or weak stomach)
Marilyn Manson - The Fight Song
Fastway - All Fired Up
Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
posted by philad at 10:14 PM on January 22, 2008

I've restricted my response to songs with a 'belligerent' quality like you asked, and not just loud music in general. Apologies in advance for the poor quality of the YouTube links.

Curve - Hell Above Water [lyrics] It's got that angry, take-shit-from-nobody, girl power thing going for it.

Daughtry - What I Want [lyrics] Featuring Slash, the guitarist from Guns N' Roses.

Daughtry - There and Back Again [lyrics] Just your average rock song.

Filter - Welcome to the Fold [lyrics] This song has the same sort of thing going for it musically that made RATM popular.

Foo Fighters - Low [lyrics] Great rock song about two people who love to fuck.

Foo Fighters - The Pretender [lyrics] It starts quiet, but gets angry, in a high school kind of way.

Fuel - Last Time [lyrics] Another song for a hard rocker.

Fuel - Gone [lyrics] Solid performance from Fuel's new lead singer.

Love Is All - Turn The Radio Off (Maps Remix) (direct mp3 link) Indie electronic remix. Can't beat anger in a song with lines like "Hey world, I've had enough!" Props to MetaFilter's own Mach3avelli for the link and recommendation on his blog. This is from left field though, it's very different from RATM.

Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism [lyrics] A lot of solid workout songs on the NIN album Year Zero, but I think this one wins out.

Serj Tankian - Empty Walls [lyrics] Politically minded music from System of a Down's lead singer. (Great music video, if you follow the link.)

Velvet Revolver - Superhuman [lyrics] Song about life in the fast lane.

That's about all I found in my library that fit your criteria.
posted by anifinder at 10:18 PM on January 22, 2008

...and you will know us by the trail of dead? "Source Tags and Codes" is not only a fantastic album, it looks like it fits the bill.
posted by heeeraldo at 11:01 PM on January 22, 2008

I feel like I should mention that the ellipse is actually part of the bands name.
posted by heeeraldo at 11:01 PM on January 22, 2008

Atari Teenage Riot
Chemlab
Slayer
posted by m3thod4 at 11:15 PM on January 22, 2008

Big Black, especially the album "Songs About Fucking". Gang of Four, especially "Entertainment". Mission of Burma. Misfits. Fugazi, especially "In on the Kill Taker". Thirding Black Flag's "Damaged".
posted by equalpants at 11:16 PM on January 22, 2008

many excellent suggestions, good question, the band "snot" (yeah stupid name) is my personal favorite for this kind of music.

If you like " Killing in the name" you'd probably feel the band Downset especially songs off DO we Speak a Dead Language (like this one )

You might like the rapper Ice Cube and Korn too. I know I can only listen to Korn when working out....
posted by oblio_one at 11:17 PM on January 22, 2008

Stink by The Replacements
posted by Good Brain at 11:34 PM on January 22, 2008

n'thing Black Flag
Husker Du - New Day Rising
Fugazi - In on the Killtaker, Repeater, Red Medicine. Actually, most anything Fugazi
The instrumental band Caspian does it for me. Try the You Are the Conductor EP. No lyrics, so any anger is inferred from the music itself, but it's great to work out to.
posted by tim_in_oz at 11:38 PM on January 22, 2008

Somewhat angry/indignant/aggressive music with a beat that works when I run:

Le Tigre - On The Verge, New Kicks, Deceptacon
Death From Above 1979 - almost anything off You're A Woman, I'm a Machine works
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Black Tongue, Rockers to Swallow, Bang
The Kills - No Wow (or anything else off that album. Not so much angry as... sexually aggressive?)
Joan Jett - Bad Reputation, Do You Wanna Touch Me
The Decemberists - The Tain (convenient if you're going for a ~20 minute run.)
Whale - Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe (I don't know. It makes me laugh.)
Sleater-Kinney - Let's Call It Love + Night Light (run together).
posted by strangecargo at 12:07 AM on January 23, 2008

Wow. How has this thread made it this far with out a

BAD BRAINS

rec?

AskMe is slippin
posted by Joseph Gurl at 1:09 AM on January 23, 2008

Senser - Eject
posted by gene_machine at 1:52 AM on January 23, 2008

My favoured workout music is also aggressive-sounding, with a definite repetitive beat ... hence my leanings toward industrial/EBM type stuff. Looks like Rammstein is out, but I'd second the recommendation for KMFDM, and also add Nitzer Ebb, Pigface, Front 242, and some Skinny Puppy (some is too slow/melodic). For more techno-minded (to very loosely categorise), Juno Reactor, Aphex Twin, Lords of Acid, Sheep on Drugs, the Prodigy. (Though if you're looking for specifically "angry lyrics" music, the techno might not be ideal, though it does have a heavy, driving beat that can certainly fuel an angry mood.)
posted by the luke parker fiasco at 3:46 AM on January 23, 2008

There's a self titled EP by Error (formed of Atticus Ross, NIN's engineer, and one of the members of Bad Religion), which I have to be in just the right mood for, but when I am, it's awesome.
posted by opsin at 4:23 AM on January 23, 2008

Against Me!

can't believe they haven't been mentioned yet.
posted by clearly at 4:43 AM on January 23, 2008

Here's my current exercise playlist, entitled "Anger/Exercise":

Angel of Death - Slayer
Ergot - Big Black
Pacifier - Circus Lupus
Hollywood Squares - Dillinger Escape Plan
Atom Jack - Drive Like Jehu
Love Letter to the CIA - Four Hundred Years
Break - Fugazi
Toyota Jump - The Fugue
The Static Cult - Mohinder
Watch Her Flow - Piebald
Blue Note - Swing Kids
Art Star - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
El Camino Car Crash - Swing Kids
Happiness In Slavery - Nine Inch Nails
Intolerance - Tool
Sifelaver - Maximillian Colby
Both Feet In The Grave - Crimson Curse
I Liner - Crimson Curse
Rock Candy - Sleepytime Trio
Deadly Rhythm - The Refused
Moral Eclipse - Cave-In
Distant - Hoover


A lot of fun energy in these songs. If you have a hard time finding any of them, I'll burn you a CD; email's in my profile.

Matt
posted by saladin at 5:10 AM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'd recommend "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed.
posted by kall at 5:35 AM on January 23, 2008

dope - die MF die
Damageplan- fuck you
posted by get off of my cloud at 6:35 AM on January 23, 2008

M.O.P.
posted by box at 6:46 AM on January 23, 2008

My wife likes to rock out when she's running - keeps her feet moving. One of her favorites is Rob Zombie / White Zombie. Seriously, nobody else mentioned this yet? Sure, it's trashy schlock rock, but she likes it and so do I. Her last half marathon playlist was a purely Zombie set. She also likes the Beastie Boys, of course, and has some other more punk stuff in the set, like Violent Femmes and The Clash and the Sex Pistols, but she's also a big fan of 80's music so your tastes might vary. She's also a fan of Scissor Sisters but I'm not sure how well it works when running; we both like it, but I don't have any of their stuff in rotation on my workout playlist.

I basically like the same stuff she does, but I also include a wider variety of stuff in my workout playlist; more rap than she likes (Jurassic 5, Brother Ali, Public Enemy, Wu Tang Clan, and Run DMC when I want some old-school stuff) and much more electronic (Aphex Twin, Fatboy Slim, whatever mix sets I may have downloaded recently, basically anything with a heavy beat to it to keep me moving).
posted by caution live frogs at 6:54 AM on January 23, 2008

Skunk Anansie - Selling Jesus
posted by meeshell at 7:26 AM on January 23, 2008

I used to like Rage Against the Machine, and I tried to listen to them again recently and while there was a bit of nostalgic fondness, it doesn't really have the kick for me that it used to. With them + Metallica in mind, here's a few I hope you'll like too.

Get yourself the 41min track called Ladybird by Shit and Shine (song sample of first bit, note that it builds from there). I think that'd make a great running song.

Todd may have the bass sound you like (either Comes to Your House, or Purity Pledge).

Try dälek (especially albums Absence and From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots)

Brainbombs, oh yes.

Last one, but maybe more of a stretch. Try Thee Hydrogen Terrors. I know they make me want to leap around.

(Oh, and Bikini Kill?)
posted by spandex at 7:44 AM on January 23, 2008

Disfear
Fugazi
Minor Threat
Helmet
Deicide
Mad Capsule Markets
Bloc Party
KMFDM
Mastodon
Clutch
Ministry/ 1000 Homo DJ's (Supernaut might be my favorite workout song ever)
posted by swizzlepants at 7:49 AM on January 23, 2008

Anything by Killing Joke, particularly their self-titled 2003 release.
posted by pdb at 8:20 AM on January 23, 2008

Someone mentioned a Refused song earlier, but really, just about all of Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent is super-tough, as well as certain selections from The Shape of Punk to Come, including "New Noise". They also have an album that's basically an ep compilation and includes some stuff not found on their albums, like "Poetry Written in Gasoline".

Someone else mentioned the Trail of Dead, and I'd have to second the recommendation of Source Tags and Codes, but their previous album, Madonna, is much better in my opinion, especially in terms of anger inducement. Especially "Mistakes and Regrets", "A Perfect Teenhood", and "Totally Natural". Also good is "Richter Scale Madness" off their first album, which they usually close their concerts with.

I'd also recommend certain Sonic Youth tracks, mostly from when they first went major label. Goo and Dirty have some good stuff.
posted by LionIndex at 8:33 AM on January 23, 2008

I like the Distillers for angry grrrl running music. Makes me want to pound the pavement like it's some dumb boy who screwed me over. LOL
posted by Ruby Doomsday at 8:58 AM on January 23, 2008

Seconding Husker Du's New Day Rising. What a great, cathartic record that is. If you can't work out to "Plans I Make" then you may not have a pulse to start with.

Rollins Band is practically required in the weight room, and it makes me sad how long it took before someone mentioned Bad Brains.

My favorite current cheeseball stoner metal mid-tempo exercise song is "Set the Speed" by Dixie Witch, available for download here. It's cheesy. Be warned. Very fuckin' cheesy.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:05 AM on January 23, 2008

!!! (verbally said chk-chk-chk) Louden Up Now (album) is fast paced and angryish
posted by estronaut at 10:16 AM on January 23, 2008

Husker Du - New Day Rising
Unwound - Future of What
Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart
Death From Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Milemarker - Frigid Forms Sell
posted by kaseijin at 11:08 AM on January 23, 2008

2nding the Distillers.

I really enjoy the Don't Turn Away album by Face to Face. I also work out to the last couple AFI studio albums, which I find to be sufficiently rockin' and angry.

What a great thread; as someone who needs aggressive music to work out as well (and has been working out to Metallica for nigh 2 decades), I'm sure I'll find more material here.
posted by dbolll at 11:17 AM on January 23, 2008

(Nthing some Foo Fighters stuff.)

But have you also looked into some oldies but goodies like Alice Cooper? You can click your way through some samples of Amazon's MP3s, but off the top of my head: Lost in America, Under My Wheels, School's Out, Yeah Yeah Yeah, You Drive Me Nervous, Public Animal #9, and Hey Stoopid might be worth a listen.
posted by The Deej at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2008

You might also look into Canadian band The Headstones (broken up now, but they put out a fair number of CDs first) - they have angry/driving stuff in a variety of tempos to suit different workout needs.
posted by oblique red at 12:25 PM on January 23, 2008

Steve Earle esp The Unrepentant and Gringo's Tale and Copperhead Road.

Also vintage Graham Parker because he was so PO'd then. He's mellowed a bit since but he may deny that.
posted by andreap at 2:56 PM on January 23, 2008

If it's not so much angry songs with angry lyrics that you necesarily need? But more a building malestrom of music. Or you can't go from zero to 100 just like that!
(Both of these are me).
Nobody's really (effectively) covered the pussy end of the scale. Please allow me to offer some.. and get laughed out of here. :)

Madder - Groove Armada
What you waiting for? - Gwen Steffani
Violet - Hole
Just like this - Limp Bizkit
Hanging Tree - Queens of the Stone Age
Think Harder - Sneaker Pimps
Ty Cobb - Soundgarden
RPM - Sugar Ray
Arny of Me - Bjork
Got the Life - Korn
Galvanise - The Chemical Brothers
Drama (Warren Clark Club Mix) - DJ Rythym presents Soul Theory
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 5:04 PM on January 23, 2008

You may like Silversun Pickups. I find their music pretty good for driving me on when I want to slack off. But also complex enough to distract me from the fact that I'm, you know, exercising. Ugh!
posted by indienial at 8:28 PM on January 23, 2008