The Best Metal Songs About War

What are the best metal songs about war? The theme of war permeates the world of metal music, and is the topic of classic songs by the likes of Metallica, Motorhead, and Black Sabbath. Metal war songs are powerful testaments to how deeply affected artists are by conflict. Music entertains, but it can also educate, and move us. That’s certainly the case with these songs.

Truth: You could fill an entire list (or two, or five) with all of Iron Maiden’s classic metal songs about wars. The band has a long history of, well, history, in its music. Iron Maiden isn’t the only band writing and performing hard rock war songs. Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton’s music focuses almost entirely on historic battles and war. The topic appears throughout Slayer's work. And then there's Amon Amarth, a Viking death metal band. Lucky for you, this list narrows down the catalog a bit, but feel free to add any songs that are missing.

Some of these hard rock songs about war deal with specific battles, while others focus on the effects of the aftermath of a war, and the struggles soldiers and families face when the war is over. Read on, and don't forget to vote up your favorites.