Acoustic guitar songs that are "metal"

June 24, 2008 9:20 PM

What are some songs featuring acoustic guitars, rather than electric, that could still be considered "metal"?

In this case I'm using a definition of metal to mean dark and/or aggressive in tone, style, or intent. Doesn't necessarily have to mean the song comes from a metal band. Danzig's "Come to Silver" would be one example.

Suggestions for songs that include drums, bass, and vocals as backup to the acoustic guitar is ok. Bonus points for songs that qualify due to the songwriting, not the technical difficulty, as this list is for a beginning guitar player that has no interest in Mary Has A Little Lamb.

posted by TheManChild2000 to media & arts (20 comments total)

The one that springs to mind is "Dead Girl" by Acid Bath; there's an electric version on the Agents of Oblivion album if you don't believe it's a metal song. Do Monster Magnet count as metal? They have a bunch of acoustic songs. This is a really hard question.
posted by nowonmai at 9:35 PM on June 24

Aqualung by Jethro Tull should be on the list - they even won a Grammy for Best Metal Band in the 80's if you can believe it.
posted by any major dude at 9:36 PM on June 24

Zakk Wylde's Book of Shadows is pretty cool.
posted by and for no one at 9:36 PM on June 24

Not sure how "Metal" it is but I always thought She talks To Angels by the Black Crows was a heavy ballady sort of number with a strong acoustic guitar as the dominant melodic.
posted by Sk4n at 9:44 PM on June 24

Some Violent Femmes song sound like acoustic version of harder, if not metal, rock. Lots of power chords, fast strumming, etc.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:51 PM on June 24

How about Rodrigo y Gabriela covering "Orion" (originally by Metallica)?
posted by freshgroundpepper at 10:01 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]

If you're a metal head playing acoustic guitar, having The Mountain Goats' "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton" in you repertoire is probably a good idea.
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:12 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]

Metallica's acoustic version of Nothing Else Matters.
posted by amyms at 10:15 PM on June 24

The complete works of the mighty Tenacious D.
posted by omnidrew at 10:25 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]

Tenacious D has based their whole shtick on "Acoustic Metal". You will love/hate them.
posted by joelhunt at 10:25 PM on June 24

Some flamenco stuff strikes me as metal-ish. In fact there's an album which attempts to combine the two styles, called, obviously, "Flametal." Although it's not all acoustic, the acoustic is featured prominently.
posted by kindall at 10:40 PM on June 24

The "Damnation" album by Opeth.
posted by bradbane at 10:44 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]

Days of the New?

Not sure if this is more grungy than metally. They sound, to me, like an acoustic Alice in Chains.
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 3:02 AM on June 25 [1 favorite]

Zakk Wylde's Book of Shadows is pretty cool.

Or the sequel Hangover music Vol. VI. Mary Had A Little Lamb a la Buddy Guy/Stevie Ray Vaughan is cool btw.
posted by ersatz at 6:32 AM on June 25

Kaiowas by Sepultura
posted by jammy at 7:16 AM on June 25

Boston, "Peace of Mind" and "Long Time"
posted by kirkaracha at 7:24 AM on June 25

Check out the entire catalog of Agalloch.

The recommendation of Damnation by Opeth is solid. "Closure" is a total knockout, although if you can get a hold of the audio from their Lamentations live DVD I'd recommend that version as I love the extended jam in the middle (they always jam the middle of the song live). I would also recommend checking out some tracks from other Opeth albums such as "Face of Melinda" and "Benighted". MAKE SURE to check out "Patterns in the Ivy" as well.

A few others that come to mind would be "Part II" and "Pathos" by Darkest Hour.

*kicks self for leaving iPod at home today*

There's a lot of this stuff out there.
posted by baphomet at 7:53 AM on June 25

I'll thirding Opeth and add Kyuss - Space Cadet and Led Zeppelin - The Battle of Evermore which would be at home on an Iron Maiden album.
posted by euphorb at 9:04 AM on June 25

"Eat My Dust You Insensitive F*ck" by Catherine Wheel (Link goes to YouTube) might fit the bill.
posted by backwards guitar at 2:05 PM on June 25

A lot of good suggestions here... some directly answering the question, others suggesting material that might not be "metal" but is definitely "awesome".
posted by TheManChild2000 at 6:35 PM on July 3