10 Great High Energy Songs

This list is going to be quick and to the point, just like the songs within. Need to get energized before the big game? Or for some reason or another are in a mercurial mood and want a great soundtrack to go with it? Here are 10 songs that seem to be jacked from the beginning and don't let up the whole way through.

1. Hot Snakes - "If Credit's What Matters I'll Take The Credit"

I First heard of these guys at the Orion Music Festival last spring in Atlantic City, NJ. They are a California group with pasts in various other post-hardcore groups such as Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork and the mythical Rocket From The Crypt. This song starts, continues and ends on a high note with vocalist Rick Froberg rarely taking a breath.

2. Funeral For A Friend - "Streetcar"

England's Funeral For A Friend have had a long successful journey on the punk scene in their native land. Success that even gained them a huge fanbase in North America...in fact when the band first toured in the United States they were pleasantly surprised that not only the venues were packed, but that the audience knew their songs word for word. "Streetcar" is a relentless track taken from their 2005 album Hours.

3. Red Fang - "Wires"

Red Fang play the type of music they want to play. Whether it's the most popular thing or the most hated. They give no fucks. Thankfully for us the majority of it is awesome. "Wires" may not be the fastest song on the list but it's attitude and constant chugging has the momentum of a runaway train. It will make the first time listener say "I need to hear that again"

4.  Misfits - "Bruiser"

Some songs on this list are rock or metal, this one is most definitely a punk song. Also known as "If Looks Could Kill" "Bruiser" was never included on a Misfits album....from either incarnation of the band. It was added to the Cuts From The Crypt record in 2001, a collection of b-sides. 1 2 3 4....

5. The Walkmen - "The Rat"

One of the greatest songs from the 2000's is by The Walkmen. A New York indie group known for the affinity towards classic sounding instruments and analog style recording. Yes "The Rat" does have a slow interlude in the middle of the song, but that's only because were the song to maintain it's energy all the way through the listener's head would explode due to the excessive amount of awesome delivered to their audio cavity.

6. 400 Blows - "Root Of Our Nature"

Not much is known about this Los Angeles based hardcore group. At least I don't know much about them. "Root of our Nature" has a killer bass line, seemingly channeled through a rusty old distortion pedal for a spinal cord. Hopefully their live shows are just as furious and unforgiving as their recorded material

7. At The Drive-In - "Enfilade"

I really could have put any At The Drive-In song on here. Especially from the album Relationship Of Command, they went into another gear when that album dropped. It might have been a little too over zealous, because thy disbanded shortly afterwards.

8. Stanford Prison Experiment - "You're The Vulgarian"

Named after a series psychological tests on the effects of becoming a prison guard that took place at Stanford University, the Stanford Prison Experiment were a little known group from the 90's. "You're The Vulgarian" maintains a steady stream of energy almost at the pace of a well focused march.

9.  Rocket From The Crypt - "On A Rope"

I typically don't like included 2 groups that feature the same members on a list, but after I mentioned them earlier I couldn't justify skipping past Rocket From The Crypt.

10. Ween - "It's Going To Be A Long Night"

Dean and Gene Ween! Ween are one of those odd bands that transcend genres. They have songs in their catalog from almost every style of music available. This one is skater punk. "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" finishes off my high energy list.

Now for some peaceful sleep

Thanks again

JZ