I saw body surfing up close at this Motorhead show, almost became an unwilling member in a mosh pit, and escaped unscathed. Who could ask for more?

It was, honestly, a pretty lousy year for music. This list of Best Metal, Country and Hard Rock of 2017 highlights five exceptions, and some key honorable mentions.

Is ‘Shade’ the best ever Living Colour album? Maybe, but that’s such a tall order.

Frankly, not a lot of music has excited me through the first half of this year. That is, until Alestorm’s ‘No Grave But the Sea’ arrived.

‘Fight for the Rock’ almost put Savatage’s career in a coffin before we got their best work.

A failed attempt to make Motley Crue relevant again, ‘Generation Swine’ is just a bad all-around record.

As you go through my Best Hard Rock and Metal of 2016 list, you’ll see why I’m calling it the year of the classic thrash band.

Celtic Frost was one of the pioneering bands of what would become death and black metal. Then came 1988’s ‘Cold Lake.’

With everything working against it, why do I actually like Metallica’s ‘St. Anger’?

In recent years, I’ve said some pretty negative things about Anthrax frontman Joey Belladonna. I’d like to use this opportunity to take all of those things back.