10 Angriest Songs In Rock Music

Feature Photo: yakub88 / Shutterstock.com

Our list of the 10 angriest songs in rock music presents a wide variety of tunes that, for the most part, are not really happy songs. Of course, it would be very easy to fill this list with 10 songs fueled by metal bands. In the metal genre, there are some bands where everything they write and compose is angry. However, that would just be no fun. The challenge is to find angry songs in rock music that have found their way into the mainstream and others that may have just been boiling a little bit under the radar. There are all levels of anger and frustration. Ultimately, we just tried to pick 10 pretty interesting ones that are also great rock and roll songs.

# 10 – Born To Raise Hell – Motorhead

We open our list of the 10 angriest rock songs with, of course, a Motörhead song. There are many songs in Motörhead’s catalog that would have easily fit this list—it was actually tough to pick just one because there are so many great ones. I mean, you don’t even have to know what Lemmy is singing about; he sings angrily in everything. But with a title like this one, and of course the quintessential Motörhead attitude, this is just the perfect way to start off the list. Motörhead’s “Born to Raise Hell” was originally released on the album Bastards and also appeared on the Airheads original soundtrack. The song was written by Lemmy in 1994.

Read More: Top 10 Motorhead Songs

# 9 – War – System Of A Down

When Serj Tankian of System of a Down screams “We will fight the heathens,” you know he’s not messing around. System of a Down is another one of those bands that sounds angry in almost every song they produce. Comprising dudes that have created a body of work with some of the most original rock and roll metal music I have ever heard, it’s kind of like Zappa meets Black Sabbath at times—almost all over the place but so intense. “War” was released on the band’s debut album titled System of a Down. Released in 1998, it was produced by Rick Rubin. Their music is often categorized as nu metal.

Read More: Top 10 System Of A Down Songs

# 8 – Undertow – Tool

When grunge music was dominating the radio in the early 1990s, Tool came along and pretty much tried kicking it to the curb. Tool kept metal alive with a fresh new sound that was dark, unique, and original—and, at times, pretty angry, which is why we selected this band. This isn’t punching-in-the-face anger; it’s more subtle, except when it gets to the chorus and they start screaming, “Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Tool’s Undertow album was one of the most brilliant records released in the 1990s, and we’re still listening to it heavily today.

Read More: Top 10 Tool Songs

# 7 – You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette

We didn’t want this angry songs list to be filled with just metal songs. Like we said in the intro, that’s just too easy. So, we’re taking a turn here at number seven and presenting a song that is as angry as it can get. Because there’s nothing more angry than someone who’s been betrayed. In her song, Alanis Morissette lets him have it back in one of the most rage-filled, angry rock songs we have ever heard. And she pulls no punches on this one.

Read More: Top 10 Alanis Morissette Songs

# 6 – Mother Mother – Tracy Bonham

Tracy Bonham’s “Mother Mother” is one of the most genuine songs about anger that we have ever heard. While most angry rock and roll songs hit you in the face right from the opening line, Tracy’s does it in a way in which she’s trying to say everything is fine—not upsetting her parents, not upsetting her mom or her dad, making believe that life is going well ever since she left home. It’s a very common thing that people do because no one wants to be seen as a loser or not being able to handle it on their own, yet it’s not the truth, but it’s what we all do.

When it gets to the chorus where she opens up and lets it rip that it all becomes incredibly honest. Because, as we all know, starting out on our own is usually a nightmare and everything turns to shit. You could hear it not just in her lyrics but in her voice—the way she screams, it’s just perfect. It just makes sense, and it’s why this song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Rock charts when it was first released. People love honesty, and Tracy delivered big time with this one.

Read More: Top 10 Tracy Bonham Songs

# 5 – Hell Broke Luce – Tom Waits

Well, if you watch the video for this one, you can pretty much tell that Tom Waits is ticked off. This is an angry song about what I believe to be the horrors of war. I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s trying to convey, based on the lyrics and the incredible imagery in the video. The song was released in 2011 on his Bad as Me album.

Read More: Top 10 Tom Waits Songs 1980s

Read More: Top 10 Tom Waits Songs 1990’s

# 4 – Dyers Eve – Metallica

I guess we can’t compile a list of the angriest songs in rock music without including Metallica. Indeed, their catalog is replete with tracks that could easily fill this entire list. However, after revisiting a few of their albums, we’ve decided this particular song takes the gold medal for embodying Metallica’s signature style of anger. The track was released on Metallica’s …And Justice for All album. It explores the rage and disillusionment felt when one is finally independent and away from the protection of their parents, only to find that freedom isn’t as glorious as anticipated.

Read More: Top 10 Metallica Songs

# 3 – Barracuda – Heart

Heart’s “Barracuda” became such a famous song because of the incredible guitar riff at the song’s start and, of course, the phenomenal vocal performance by Ann Wilson. Many people simply didn’t know what the song was about. It was just so captivating that the lyrics went over a lot of people’s heads. However, this is an angry song, and the anger is directed towards the music industry for various reasons. Ann Wilson has said many times in interviews that she wrote this song in response to rumors that record companies were trying to spread about her and her sister, among other issues. Is this the angriest song in rock music? Well, it’s certainly one of the most famous, and we thought it was just the perfect for this list.

Read More: 10 Essential Heart Songs

# 2 -You’re Breakin’ My Heart – Harry Nilsson

If we could sum up the anger one feels at the end of a relationship in just two words, Harry Nilsson did it for us in his brilliant song titled “You’re Breakin’ My Heart.” The song was released on his Son of Schmilsson album. It was the opening track on the record, which was released in 1973. If you need a song to play for someone who just broke up with you, here you go, my friends. This one will actually take your anger away.

Read More: Top 10 Harry Nilsson Songs

# 1 – Tie Anarchy In The U.K. & God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols

We knew when we began this list that we were going to end up with the Sex Pistols at number one. There was never a more angry rock band in classic rock history than the Sex Pistols. These guys were pretty genuine, as history has made very clear. The biggest challenge was choosing between the songs “Anarchy in the UK” and “God Save the Queen.” They were both angry, rebellious anthems that turned the world upside down, especially on the eastern side of the Atlantic. We couldn’t pick, so we decided to end with a tie because they’re both really important songs in rock history. And the videos are so much fun to watch, too. The band’s one and only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, was released in 1977.

DMCA.com Protection Status