If you clicked on this review expecting a mushy, cheesy pop compilation, sorry, but this is really a continuation of my earlier review on twenty best rock songs. If you like rock anyway, read on. Here it is: 1.Highway star - Deep Purple: It was really a toss-up between Smoke on the water and this. I like this song better, because it’s more up-tempo and it has a superb classical guitar solo. 2.Number of the beast - Iron Maiden: Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast For it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty six. These famous lines maligned metalrock as Satanic, evil music, an unfounded reputation that metal bands haven’t really bothered to correct. It makes them kinda cool anyway. As far as metal songs go, this is actually one of the easiest to get into. Very melodic with a scintillating guitar solo, beautiful structure and of course Bruce Dickinson’s unique operatic style. Should Dance of Death be here instead of NoTB? Well, even I am not sure about that. Try both! 3.Master of Puppets - Metallica: For anyone new to rock, this song takes a lot to get into, maybe you won’t at all. But it’s a superb composition if you overlook the heavy distortion, Hetfield’s growling vocals and the pounding drums. Just follow the several movements and beat changes within the song - it is a very complex and extremely interesting composition. Not to forget Kirk Hammett’s blistering solo, right after the slow, delicate one. Truly Metallica’s definitive masterpiece. 4.Come as you are - Nirvana: Nirvana has to be there. I chose this instead of Smells like teen spirit for a change. Kurt Cobain has to be experienced, not written about. 5.Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen: A surprisingly progressive song from the renowned classic rock act of the 70s and 80s. There’s a ballad, a symphonic passage and even a metal section in this song, all woven together by Freddie Mercury’s amazing voice. 6.Dogs - Pink Floyd: This is probably the most underrated Pink Floyd song. It’s a brilliant composition, with excellent contributions from all band members. Your journey through this 17 1/2 minute epic will be so smooth that you won’t even notice the several changes in tempo and patterns within the song. As such, the album Animals is hugely underrated, sandwiched as it is between Wish you were here and The Wall. 7.Close to the Edge - YES: YES, this is seriously progressive. I need to listen to more of YES, but this is an epic of epic proportions. At 18 1/2 minutes, it demands a good deal of patience and concentration, but it’s a rich experience to savour. 8.Back in black - AC DC: OK, I know you’re getting overloaded with all the prog epics. So here’s a really fun song to dance away to. No, this is not a dance song, just AC DC doing what they do best - singing, drumming and playing guitars. 9.Baba O Reilly - The Who:If you want to know why even the legendary John’Bonzie’ Bonham of Led Zeppelin revered Keith Moon’s abilities at the drums, listen to this song right till the end. 10.Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull: You wanna hear flute solos in a rocker? Try this one. The flute is one rockin’ instrument alright and Ian Anderson - can he play it! 11.21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson: OK, the recording quality leaves a lot to be desired, but those were the beginnings of prog-rock. The signature notes sound a lot like Mission Impossible. This is prog-rock in all its grand pomposity with the brass section in full cry. 12.Surrounded - Dream Theater: This is very feel-good prog-metal. Unless you’re really attentive, you won’t notice the shift to metal, the movements are that smooth. 13.Dazed and confused - Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin needs to be remembered for more than just Stairway to heaven and Kashmir. This is one of the early metal songs, so it’s quite bluesy. But the awesome foursome keep you hooked all the way. 14.Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix: Let Jimi take over for 2 1/2 minutes of the most spell-binding guitarwork you’ll ever hear. I’ve seen God play the guitar and the face of God was Jimi Hendrix. 15.Civil War - Guns N Roses: One has to say that G-N-R were a bit over-rated as their style is quite similar to that of Scorpions who had been around for much longer. Yet, what more can you ask for than AXL Rose growling and screaming in alternation and Slash slashing you away with the guitar? 16.Firth of the Fifth - Genesis: Prog rock returns with a vengeance. But at 8 minutes, you should find this less heavy-duty. 17.Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath: I guess this song doesn’t really need any introduction. Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi at their eeriest. 18.One - Metallica: This one has to be there. If you can play the drums, do try out Lars Ulrich’s 10000 miles per hour section in the 2nd half of the song. And when you lie in the hospital with your hands broken in the effort, rest assured yours truly will send you a Get Well Soon card! 19.Believe in love - Scorpions: Is this a surprising choice from the band’s repertoire? I think not. The influence of classical music on the chords is quite pronounced, if you listen carefully, especially in the chorus. To think the band turned it into a rip-roaring power ballad. 20.Norwegian Wood - Beatles: We tend to dismiss Beatles as pop these days, but really, what would rock be without the chubby teens from Liverpool? Rock fans know what this song is all about, as for the rest, you’ll find out, don’t worry! Comments welcome!