10 Criminally Underrated Classic Rock Songs You Need To Hear
9. Atomic Punk - Van Halen
Van Halen's debut is probably the closest the hard rock world has to a perfect record. With all of the songs exuding the trademark Van Halen charisma, any of the songs could have been a single and would have done equally well. Even when hard rock fans bow with reverence to "You Really Got Me" or "Runnin With the Devil," the best song on the record also happens to be the strangest.
"Atomic Punk" starts out very ominously, with Eddie making dead scratches on his guitar in an almost-calculated rhythm before exploding into a heavy riff once the drums kick in. Van Halen may have been known for writing the rules of 80's rock, but this song is probably the closest thing to metal that these guys will ever touch. Combined with the chugging riff is David Lee Roth, whose description of an unstable street rat is dripping with attitude.
Aside from the lyrics, this song features some of the best screams that Roth would ever lay down, almost like he's doing his best impersonation of Rob Halford in some areas. The rest of the album may have more immediate hooks, but the maniacal energy of "Atomic Punk" has aged gracefully throughout the years.