I obviously have not been on much lately. I am looking to return to more regular posting in the next few weeks.

We are now up to 1983 on this long-running series of picking five songs from a year. As is the case with all of the 1980’s posts, these are tough to nail down and this list should be taken as “five of my favorite songs from the year” as opposed to “my set in stone five favorites from the year.”

1983 is particularly challenging as there is a ton of stuff out there. In some respects it might have even been easier – I picked five songs in about that many seconds when I looked at the music released that year. I did a bit of looking around to make sure I was comfortable with my picks and I am, but wow there’s so much stuff that got released that year. Doing just five songs is like trying to fill an ocean by pissing in it, but five keeps things short and simple so I’ll stick with it. Let’s get into 1983.

Metallica – The Four Horsemen

Thrash was now on the scene and with it one of heavy metal’s most significant acts. This savage tale of the famed Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelations in the Holy Bible was right up my alley when I first played Metallica way back when. It’s a fun-filled romp through the end times, replete with horse galloping riffs and neck-snapping thrash aplenty.

Also – Dave Mustaine would very much like for you to know that he wrote this song originally, Metallica redid the lyrics and added some stuff after they shitcanned him from the band.

Mötley Crüe – Shout At The Devil

The Crüe were back with their second album and it would be both career- and genre-defining. The title track is an absolute ripper with its so simple yet effective sliding intro riff and lyrics about combating the influence of the Devil, though many in society would interpret the song differently. Still one of the greatest things ever recorded, hands down.

The Police – King Of Pain

The Police had a mega-hit album in ’83 with their swansong Synchronicity. This is an amazing piece, with Sting’s personal turmoil interspersed lyrically with the beautiful backdrop of Jamaica. It’s an absolute blast of mesmerizing synth rock that always captured my imagination.

Dio – Rainbow In The Dark

Ronnie James Dio was on his own after a dramatic exit from Black Sabbath. He wrote this song about his down feelings on leaving the band. It became an immortal metal anthem and one of Dio’s most heralded songs. He had a few more shots with Sabbath but he only needed one solo attempt to make this signature anthem count.

Iron Maiden – The Trooper

Maiden were on a roll by ’83 and they offered up one of their signature anthems on the Piece Of Mind album. The song is based on The Charge of the Light Brigade, an ill-fated British military maneuver in the 1800’s that saw a cavalry unit slaughtered based on bad military intelligence. But in the song Maiden capture the charge as the heroic last stand of ferocious soldiers fighting to the last. It quickly and easily became of of the top Maiden songs and has endured to this day toward the top of that list.

That does it for 1983. This is one hell of a slab of songs, tough to top this one. But the 1980’s abound with great music and I will press on to make it through.