https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnGaEk0rZdU Recorded: 1974 Queen, a band synonymous with epic flights of fancy and Prog Rock pomp are hardly the first band that spring to mind when Heavy Metal is on the table but "Stone Cold Crazy" stands as a true anomaly in their back catalogue; heavy, fast and technically the first Thrash Metal song ever written. After all, Metallica saw fit to cover it. "Stone Cold Crazy", taken from the album Sheer Heart Attack (1974), is a short, sharp shock to the senses, punchy, heavy and as machine-gun rattling as the Gangster cliches detailed in Freddie Mercury's colourful lyrics. The undeniable star of the show is not Freddie though, Brian May's riffs take that crown. His playing on "Stone Cold Crazy" is exactly that; unhinged and threatening to veer out of control at any moment. Over before it's even begun, "Stone Cold Crazy" can still blindside you with its sheer speed and virtuosity and as a precursor to Thrash it practically rewrote the Rock rulebook. The band were arguably never heavier as they sped, heads-down and teeth-bared to the frantic conclusion; for 2 mins and 14 secs Queen were a Heavy Metal band, no question. It's worth noting that Brian May was obviously on to something in 1974 as another Proto-Thrash riff appears on the track "Brighton Rock", also from their Sheer Heart Attack album. Check out Brian Mays blistering fretwork at the 3 min & 20 secs mark; that's Thrash, that is.
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!