Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock

Back to video game posts again!

In 2010, Activision released Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock, probably my favourite GH game due to improved gameplay features, challenges & the soundtrack. There were problems with the game's "innovations" and a lot of casual gamers and fans found the whole transformation aspect kind of silly, not to mention the Quest Mode making the game's more challenging setlist so much easier to play with unnecessary power-ups.
However, if you love Hard Rock and guitar based songs, the game's soundtrack is one of the best in the entire series in my opinion. There are a few duff choices here and there that were likely picked due to cheap licensing or to appease American 12-year olds that probably made up a large percentage of people who bought the game but the majority of songs are great.
Just like my posts about Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock and Rock Band 4, I'm going to briefly discuss each track in the game's main setlist (93 in total, if you separate each part of "2112" - Rush) along with a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down depending on my personal verdict of the track. Be warned though, I'm going to be extra harsh in my verdicts this time. Time to revisit one of my favourite game soundtracks!

"Again" - Flyleaf
Alright, once again we're starting off weak. These kind of shitty modern Rock songs do absolutely nothing for me. The vocalist usually sounds so affected and whiny that they might as well be singing about how unfair high school is, the guitarist lacks any kind of flair (resulting in a mediocre chart) and the other band members don't even deserve an insult in this sentence. I give Paramore shit for writing songs that may as well be called "OMG Like, It's SOOO Hard Being Hot" but Flyleaf are even crappier. THUMBS DOWN.

"Aqualung" - Jethro Tull
I remember growing to love this song after playing it on Rock Band: Unplugged. It's also pretty fun on Rock Band 2 but I definitely prefer playing it on this game. Even though the first and last thirds of the song are relatively uneventful, that second section more than makes up for it. Once the tempo is kicked up a notch, the song becomes even better and the final cherry on top is a fantastic guitar solo. It may not be as technically impressive as the average Metal solo but it's still fun to play, especially if you're still learning the ropes (although the faster chord progression is probably more of a challenge for you). I suppose Harmonix should get a big thank you, as I doubt it would've made it into GHWOR if not for being fun in RB2 first. THUMBS UP.

"Bat Country" - Avenged Sevenfold
One of about four songs that were CONSTANTLY being picked online because ZOMG A7X!!!11!! Yes, the song is fun on guitar and yes, it's good to listen to as well but it can get tiresome if you keep listening to it. I would say the chart is better than the Rock Band DLC version and the solo involves less rapid strumming, making it a lot more fun when it comes to going for an FC run, even if it also has the obligatory softer section that every Avenged Sensitivefold track is plagued with. THUMBS UP.

"Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction
A logical choice for the game, as it has a pretty fun chart and it's one of the band's bigger hits. I'm not a big Jane's Addiction fan but I liked playing this one, especially when it comes to the solo. There may be a few moments that easy to choke but at least the rest of the song is fun enough to make me want to keep playing through to the end. However, if you couldn't tell already, the bass is easily the highlight of this song. Worth including just for that bass chart alone. THUMBS UP.

"Black Rain" - Soundgarden
When this game was being developed, it was announced that Soundgarden were going to release a new compilation album and include one of their old unreleased tracks on this game. Unfortunately, the song is terrible and the guitar chart is pretty cruddy to say the least. When it comes to Soundgarden, they've either got really great Hard Rock tracks or really shite Grunge ones. "Spoonman" is so much fucking better than "Black Hole Sun" and the first half of "Rusty Cage" will always be better than the slower second half which sounds like a piss poor tribute to Black Sabbath. This lame choice falls into the latter category and was probably only picked to promote the Telephantasm album and Soundgarden DLC being released after the game's launch. THUMBS DOWN.

"Black Widow Of La Porte" - John 5
Brace yourself, buckos! This song may not be the game's Final Boss but it definitely has one of the hardest guitar charts in GHWOR. Every technique, every difficult skill, everything that makes a song challenging is used here in this 7 minute instrumental. Just when you think the song's passed the "hard bit", it slaps you in the face with a tapping section or mental solo. This is the kind of song that classic GH fans would've killed for after GH3 and thankfully, Activision delivered. THUMBS UP.

"Bleed It Out" - Linkin Park
Fuck Linkin Park. Their music is about as welcome here as a transsexual joke literally anywhere on the Internet now and there's nothing remotely fun about any of their songs on guitar. This is one of the tracks that edgy American tweens would've been wet dreaming themselves over after it was announced, even if it is just the same chords over and over again. If I HAD to pick a Linkin Park song that should've been put in GHWOR instead of this, I'd probably say "Faint" but honestly, I think I would've rather had a game with 92 songs than be forced into listening to these fucking scrubs in order to get the most out of the game. THUMBS DOWN.

"Bloodlines" - Dethklok
Meh, I can take or leave this song. The chart is pretty fun and the solo is great if you can nail every note, I suppose. I can't say I know any other tracks by this band except the ones that are used in those animated BatMetal videos but I reckon this song is a good enough pick. THUMBS UP, just.

"Bodies" - Drowning Pool
Yeah, THAT song. Makes sense that it'd be in this game instead of GH:WT or GH5 but it's still not the greatest choice of on-disc song. It was probably included because a) the guitar chart isn't dull and b) MAXIMUM EDGINESS!!! I don't dislike playing this track but I wouldn't pick it out of choice. I suppose that means it's a THUMBS DOWN.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
I talked about this song in my last blog post so let's look at the guitar chart. It's mostly piano aside from the occasional awesome bit of guitar but one of the highlights for this song is the motion capture for the bandmates that happens in the background. Pretty amusing but I wouldn't say it's worth a place on the game. There are a load of other great Queen songs that would've been far more appropriate on GHWOR and more fun on guitar. THUMBS DOWN, even if you all fucking love it.

"Burn" - Deep Purple
I've talked about this one too so if you've read my posts, you'll know it's obviously a THUMBS UP. Awesome guitar chart (even without the keys charted), fun bass, great drums and some epic vocals too. It's a challenging track for each instrument and one of the best choices from the band, although "Highway Star" would've been acceptable too since Neversoft would've charted Jon Lord's organ solo.

"Burnin' For You" - Blue Oyster Cult
One of the band's big commercial hits and it has a couple of tasty solos to boot. A good song to practice if you're not very good at a certain difficulty, I'd imagine. I'm not sure if the rerecord was chosen because the original master recording was unavailable or because Activision wanted to save a bit of cash with licensing (my money's on the latter) but luckily the song is practically identical note for note. Whilst I personally would've preferred a BOC song with more Buck Dharma riffing like "7 Screaming Diz-Busters", this track gets a THUMBS UP for being fun and tidy.

"Call Me The Breeze (Live)" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
I've given it much thought and this song is probably my favourite in the entire game. I know I've said "Burn" and "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" were my favourites in the past but I've made my mind up and this is the one. I fucking loved it when I first played it and I haven't stopped loving it five or so years later. Thankfully, they chose the live version from One More From The Road (see my write-up of it here) and the guitar chart never stops being awesome, even during the piano solo. THUMBS UP all the way!

"Calling" - Strung Out
I'm having a bit of a dilemma here, as I personally find this song insanely fun but I can understand how less experienced players will find this track a complete fucker due to the erratic strumming patterns. Thankfully, it has a cool tapping solo that isn't too tricky and it's a decent modern Rock song too, one that's more appropriate than some of the tweenage-demographic bait that was picked/shoehorned into the Guitar Hero series. THUMBS UP.

"Chemical Warfare" - Slayer
From one wrist-buggering track to another! I definitely have more respect for "War Ensemble" in Guitar Hero: Metallica and even "Raining Blood" in GH3/GH:SH after playing this, even if this song's solo is pretty great. Unfortunately, the majority of the guitar throughout the rest of the song is horrible unless you love beating the shit out of your strum bar. If it was included literally just to be a nightmare for Expert guitar players, it does its job. If it was picked to be fun, it fails miserably. For that reason, I'm gonna say THUMBS DOWN as there are almost certainly more fun Slayer tracks like "Spirit In Black".

"Cherry Bomb" - The Runaways
Fuck no, fuck no, fuck no. Boring chord progression, tiresome strumming and a shit solo. Oh, and it's Female Punk so every "CHIRRY BAHM!!" in the chorus is the auditory equivalent of a screeching baby on a plane. Nothing redeemable about this song and I have no fucking idea why Activision picked a rerecording of this track when something by Blondie or Heart with some actual fucking balls would've been a lot better. THUMBS DOWN.

"Children Of The Grave" - Black Sabbath
It's probably not the Black Sabbath song that most Metal fans would've picked but it's a damn good one all the same. There's some kind of issue with Black Sabbath master recordings so I think only Master Of Reality was available to use. Guitar is great and the bass is fucking incredible but it would've been kinda cool to have some Dio era Black Sabbath in GH, if the masters were available. Still, THUMBS UP.

"Cryin'" - Aerosmith
After Aerosmith got their own game full of guitar-centric songs, people were unsure about whether or not they'd turn up in GH again. They may have had a few repeat songs released across different games but their first new song turned up in GHWOR and it was fucking shite! It sounds like the kind of toss that plays in cheesy clubs and acts as a handy reminder that Aerosmith are probably Hard Rock's biggest pussies. The one saving grace is that the guitar is kind of fun if you can stomach the actual song but since there are a bunch of songs that deserved a spot on-disc over this one, it's easily a THUMBS DOWN.

"Dance, Dance" - Fall Out Boy
"OMG, I LOVE FALL OUT BOY!!!" said someone I probably hate after this song was announced. Guitar is dull and since "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" was released as GH5 DLC, there isn't another song I would substitute for this one by these drips. At least the song is short so you don't have to spend long listening to it but that's not enough to stop the THUMBS DOWN I'm giving it.

"Dancing Through Sunday" - AFI
Somebody at Activision must love these guys, since I haven't heard anything about them outside of GH/RB. Thankfully, the songs they pick tend to be fun on guitar and this is no exception. It's also pretty short but there's a lot of great guitar packed into it including a fairly tricky solo if you're going for an FC; just try not to laugh as you imagine the vocalist singing "I'm an asshole" during the chorus. THUMBS UP.

"Deadfall" - Snot
OK, on the surface it's a dumb song. However, if you keep playing it, it can kind of grow on you. It has a manic guitar chart and some intense bass but does it belong on this game? Ohhh yes! It's silly, challenging and heavy, exactly the kind of song that'd be a bonus track on GH2. THUMBS UP.

"Fascination Street" - The Cure
When I first learned that The Cure were heading to GH, I was intrigued...so why the shit did they pick this bloody song?! It's pretty much all sustains and strumming on guitar and The Cure have actually produced popular tracks that would be fun to play like "Lovesong" or "Boys Don't Cry". At least Harmonix picked a popular song by The Cure for Rock Band 4, even if it isn't that fun to play. Obviously a THUMBS DOWN.

"Feel Good Drag" - Anberlin
If you like a steady stream of hammer-on riffing, this song was made for you! It's a great song to practice if you're getting to grips with Expert and want to work on your fretting a bit more. It's just a shame the chorus is dull, something that could've been remedied if they mixed rhythm and lead guitar charts, but at least the solo is pretty fun too. This is a pretty good warm-up song if you haven't played in a while or want to test the game's calibration, as there are some strumming sections too, kind of like the "My Name Is Jonas" of the game. THUMBS UP.

"Feels Like The First Time" - Foreigner
Yeah, I can back this track. It's not the most exciting chart (until you get to the extended tapping solo) but for a rerecord, it's alright. A good Classic Rock pick that isn't too obscure, definitely a song that belongs on-disc. THUMBS UP.

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
One of the easiest songs on-disc but a sensible pick, since it has a pretty fun chart and it's a very well known Classic/Southern Rock hit. CCR aren't known for challenging guitar-based songs so it makes sense that an easy but well-loved track would make it into the game. I'll admit that I got a bit tired of playing it over and over online but at least I enjoyed listening to it. THUMBS UP.

"Free Ride" - The Edgar Winter Group
Another rerecord except this one is definitely unnecessary as Rock Band used the original as DLC and the guitar chart appears less fun. It may be a decent tune but it's not exactly a staple of the Classic Rock genre and it feels more like something that only ended up in the game because someone at Activision heard it in a film once and sort of liked it, since they know fuck all about Classic Rock. THUMBS DOWN I'm afraid.

"Fury Of The Storm" - DragonForce
If Activision didn't include a DragonForce song in a Guitar Hero game designed to include more challenging guitar songs, they probably would've been lynched. Luckily, they picked one with insane tapping sections and rapid strumming to challenge even the most seasoned pro. "Through The Fire And Flames" will always be the people's champion but this track pulls its weight and fits into the game's soundtrack perfectly. THUMBS UP.

"Get Free" - The Vines
Hmmm...not entirely sure about this. The Vines are pretty one dimensional when it comes to their music, it's mostly just chords and yelling. Probably one of the songs that was picked last for the soundtrack and even though it's not horrible to listen to (unless you hate aggressive vocals), I'd argue that a song this short has no place on-disc. Maybe it would've worked on a second Aussie DLC pack but it gets a THUMBS DOWN here.

"Ghost" - Slash
Another song with a steady stream of hammer-on riffing and probably in my Top 5 for the most fun songs in the entire game. I'm not entirely sure why they cut part of the solo, as it would've made the song that little bit better, but from start to finish it's a treat to play. FCing it can be quite challenging, due to one particular chord change in the verses, but even if you choke it's still entertaining to play. I'm also glad they picked this song for the on-disc soundtrack instead of one of the others from Slash's debut solo album. Even though the album's good, none of them feel like main soundtrack material when compared to this. THUMBS UP.

"Graduate" - Third Eye Blind
On the plus side, this song sounds quite good and has a pretty fun guitar chart for an average difficulty song. Also, it's a faithful rerecord and probably sat well with the average player. On the negative side, it's not "Jumper", a much better song that wasn't released in the Third Eye Blind DLC pack for some reason. However, that's not a good enough reason to rate it poorly so it gets a THUMBS UP.

"Hard To See" - Five Finger Death Punch
I'd never heard of these guys until GH and I think I understand why. They're essentially the same as those heavier bands with "joke" songs in early GH soundtracks except whereas those bands knew they weren't supposed to be taken seriously, these guys fucking don't. The guitar chart is kinda fun but the song is just too ridiculously "edgy" to enjoy listening to. I don't know any other songs by these guys that deserved a spot over "Hard To See" but there are a ton of modern Metal tracks that should've made it in so this track gets a THUMBS DOWN.

"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" - Megadeth
The first of three Megadeth songs on-disc and definitely the best. I can go on about how Rust In Peace is one of the greatest albums ever recorded and whilst I'm peeved that Rock Band got the album DLC instead of Guitar Hero, I'm stoked that GH at least got this dynamite album opener with a furious guitar chart fit for any player who fancied proving their worth. THUMBS UP.

"How You Remind Me" - Nickelback
You could argue that Activision deserve at least some commendation for sticking with their guns and picking a band almost universally despised online for the on-disc soundtrack because they wanted to help create a game their way. However, what I cannot abide is picking a song that's SO FUCKING BORING. It's just chords and strumming, that's it! No fun riffs, no challenging solo, just generic sound aimed at dipshit college students. "Oh man, this song's so deep, bro", fuck off! Activision could've turned their risky decision into a great one by picking "Burn It To The Ground", a song with a killer riff and pretty tough solo, but for their utter failure, a THUMBS DOWN is all this song gets from me.

"I Know What I Am" - Band Of Skulls
I saw these guys warm up for Muse and when they played this song, they included a pretty neat solo. For that reason, I was looking forward to this track when it was first announced...then I played it. What the fuck were Activision thinking? There's no fun guitar at all! It's a song that belongs on Guitar Hero 5 with the rest of the Indie crap GHWOR tried to purge from the series. Fuck whoever fought for this track on-disc. THUMBS DOWN.

"I'm Broken" - Pantera
This is what most people probably imagined when the game was first announced. Heavy Metal and songs with fun guitar charts, and this song delivers! Whilst I can't say I care for Pantera, I can understand their appeal and applaud Activision for getting the original master recording for this song. If the master recording for "Cemetery Gates" was available, I'd probably argue that that song could've also worked on-disc but I reckon this track would've been more fun to play in Quickplay+ after searching for a quick tune to play/practice. On top of that, fun riffs and a belting solo result in a THUMBS UP.

"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" - My Chemical Romance
Did you read what I said about Fall Out Boy? If so, you can probably guess my reaction to this Emo shite. It bugs me that this band have actually released a song I quite like ("Party Poison", although the screaming Japanese woman can fuck right off) as I'd be able to rant about wiping their music and tattoo-sleeved, scene-kid fanbase off the face of the planet but I'll settle for giving "I'm Nerrrrt Okay" a THUMBS DOWN.

"If You Want Peace... Prepare For War" - Children Of Bodom
I'm not usually a fan of Death Metal but I have a soft spot for Children Of Bodom. Their melodic riffs are more up my street than your average screamy bands from the genre and their songs are always fun on GH/RB, this one being no exception. It's a track that inexperienced players will despise but once you get that intro hammer-on sequence locked down, you're in for a hell of a ride. THUMBS UP is a given and even though a lot of their songs will have played exactly the same in GH, it's a shame they didn't get featured in the series until 2009.

"Indians" - Anthrax
If you liked "Caught In A Mosh", you'll probably like this song too. The riff is a lot better and the solo is still easy to play but the rapid strumming bits will likely cause problems for you if you can't get that rhythm. If I could've chosen any Anthrax song to be GHWOR, I probably would've gone with something from Spreading The Disease like "A.I.R." but this song is still good. Plus, any 80's Metal is good in GH. THUMBS UP.

"Interstate Love Song" - Stone Temple Pilots
Not entirely sure why this song was picked, as the guitar isn't anything special. Again, it's the kind of song that would've fit in well on the GH5 soundtrack but it just feels forced here. At least the bass chart is fun so there's some joy to be had from it but it's a relatively weak choice overall. I'm not sure which STP song would've been a better choice for GHWOR but there's plenty of other 90's Alternative/Grunge songs that would've been awesome. "Animal" - Pearl Jam, "Heavy" - Collective Soul, I could go on but I've got over 50 other songs to talk about. THUMBS DOWN.

"It's Only Another Parsec..." - RX Bandits
I know nothing of this band and have no desire to learn anything about them either. All I know is the song has a lot of strumming but if you can master that, you'll probably enjoy it. It's not a chart for rookie players but if your skill is above average, you'll probably enjoy certain sections. I'm just thankful they didn't include the long ambient part at the end of the song, as it sounds a lot better when it ends on the final guitar note. THUMBS UP.

"Jet City Woman" - Queensryche
It's pretty cool that Activision managed to finally get Queensryche in one of these games and I suppose "Jet City Woman" was a good choice for the first song of theirs in a GH game. Personally, I would've preferred something like "Queen Of The Reich" or something off Operation: Mindcrime but at least this song is a decent Hard Rock track that's also fun to play. It's just a shame these guys didn't get more material in either GH/RB (apart from "Silent Lucidity" as RB DLC). THUMBS UP.

"Lasso" - Phoenix
OK, not entirely sure why this song is in the game as there's nothing especially fun about it on guitar. If a Phoenix song had to be in GHWOR, they probably should've put "Lisztomania" on-disc instead of releasing it as DLC. Still, it's a nice little tune that isn't unpleasant to play like other easy songs in the game. I'm unsure about whether it deserves a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down as I don't dislike playing it but I feel like it's not the best choice they could've gone with...you know what? I'm giving it a THUMBS DOWN but only because it feels like it should've been DLC instead of an on-disc track.

"Listen To Her Heart" - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
I'm happy for Tom Petty songs to be in GH ("Running Down A Dream" and "American Girl" were great to play!) but why this one? Why not one with some decent guitar work like "Refugee" that's probably a bit more well known? There's nothing really that fun about the chart and it feels like complete filler. THUMBS DOWN.

"Losing My Religion" - R.E.M.
R.E.M. definitely aren't known for being Guitar Heroes so it's unlikely that any song they picked would've been more suitable. It's got a solid chart if you're slowly learning one of the difficulties and it's probably one of the band's most well known songs so it has its place in the game, even if perhaps R.E.M. don't. If I had to choose an R.E.M. song for GHWOR, I'd probably go with something not as iconic but with some more guitar work like "Stand" or "Pop Song 89". THUMBS DOWN.

"Love Gun" - KISS
KISS haven't got the best reputation when it comes to songs on GH but this song definitely deserves a place on the game. It may not be full of challenging riffs but it's got some fun guitar parts towards the end and easily redeems songs from past titles like "Shout It Out Loud". I probably would've picked this song for the game too but there are a couple of other KISS tracks like "Uh! All Night" that would've been fun in GH too. THUMBS UP.

"Lunatic Fringe" - Red Rider
A great song with a surprisingly fun guitar chart, even if it is pretty simple. This song is probably better for players who play on Expert but aren't very good, as it's got some fun hammer-on sections and a piss-easy solo full of sustain notes. I don't know if this song is well known as a Classic Rock hit in America but I can't say I've heard anything about the band outside of this track. Despite this, it works as a fun warm-up song in the lower band of difficulty tiers so THUMBS UP.

"Machinehead" - Bush
I could probably repeat everything I said in the "Interstate Love Song" write-up about 90's Alternative/Grunge and boring charts here, as this song doesn't really have anything going for it apart from some catchy vocals. I'm not a fan of NickelBush so I can't tell you a song of theirs that would've been better either, although as I said earlier there are plenty of Grunge songs that could've and should've made the cut. THUMBS DOWN.

"Modern Day Cowboy" - Tesla
One of the first songs confirmed for the game and one with a great guitar chart too. It's a tough FC due to the repeated triplet riffs and the solo has some mildly challenging sections too but overall, it's just a damn fun song if you don't mind missing notes. As far as on-disc songs go, this one is probably the best choice but if I could've picked any Tesla song for the game? Well, it has to be "Cumin Atcha Live" but that doesn't stop this song from getting a THUMBS UP.

"Money For Nothing" - Dire Straits
Classic song with a killer riff and probably the weakest introduction of drums after the main riff in Rock history. Quite a few chord hammer-ons in this chart which make it pretty fun but sadly the length and repetitive nature of the guitar melody make it an average track to play more than a few times. However, playing it every now and then is fun and even though tracks like "Lady Writer" would almost certainly be more fun on guitar, "Money For Nothing" still gets a THUMBS UP.

"Motivation" - Sum 41
Most people would probably argue that you only need one or two Sum 41 songs in the entire GH series, if that. However, the three-pack of songs released as DLC and this track are all fantastic on guitar. I'll admit that it seems like an odd choice for the on-disc track, as "Still Waiting" probably would've been more appropriate (although it does have a similar chart to the "Burn" riff, if I remember it properly), but I'm glad they put this song on the game. THUMBS UP.

"Move It On Over (Live)" - George Thorogood And The Destroyers
Even if there wasn't some kind of problem with master recordings, I'm glad they chose the live version of this song. Faster tempo and better guitar solos make it much more of a fun choice, which actually goes against my policy of studio versions always being better than rerecords/live versions. Whilst there are other George Thorogood songs that I prefer listening to with equally fun if not superior guitar ("Gear Jammer", "One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer" and "You Talk Too Much" spring to mind), this track deserves a THUMBS UP just for not being "Bad To The Bone".

"Nemesis" - Arch Enemy
More Metal? Awesome! Death Metal? Not so much but this song's OK. I guess it works as a top tier song, as the song is quite popular among fans of Arch Enemy AND Metal in general. I also find it quite fun to play every now and then, although the chorus is pretty dull. Luckily, I think the song's alright so it's getting a THUMBS UP, even if I would've preferred modern Heavy Metal or maybe even some Prog Metal.

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" - Alice Cooper
Really? You decide you want an Alice Cooper song on-disc and pick this track instead of something with awesome guitar, like "Feed My Frankenstein" or literally anything else? The guitar is so fucking dull that it wouldn't even be worth buying as DLC, not to mention the fact that it's a rerecord. In fact, that's probably why it was picked, as Alice Cooper master recordings seem to be quite rare...or maybe they're just quite expensive, seeing as how Rock Band have managed to acquire some for DLC but Activision seems to think it's worth saving money for inferior tracks. I mean, who cares about old music anyway, right? Not Bobby Kotick, unless it's Led Zeppelin or The Rolling Stones. Anyway, THUMBS DOWN.

"No Way Back" - Foo Fighters
Congratulations Activision, you picked a Foo Fighters track that a) wasn't already in Rock Band and b) has fun guitar. It might be chord heavy but if those aren't an issue for you, the guitar chart is great. It's actually a pretty sweet song that I would rate higher than some of their better known hits like "Everlong" and "Rope". If this game came out after 2011, I'd say "Bridge Burning" would've been a better choice but for a game released in 2010, this song fits in perfectly and deserves a THUMBS UP without a doubt.

"The Outsider" - A Perfect Circle
I definitely prefer this song to the one in GH5 and even though I'm not a huge fan of the song or band, I enjoy playing it every now and then. It's also got a fair bit of variety in the chart, even if there isn't a flashy solo or epic riff. There's a tricky chord progression partway through which might cause some problems if you're not quick with your fingers but outside of that, it's a decent choice. THUMBS UP.

"Paranoid (Live)" - Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne
I can't be the first person to ask why this song was picked for the game. I like the song and the chart is more fun than the GH3 cover but were there really a shortage of Ozzy or Metallica songs that could've been picked? "Flying High Again"? "Ride The Lightning"? Even ones that aren't already in RB like "Hellraiser" or "The Four Horsemen" would've been better. Clearly this was picked because someone on the development team had a soft spot for this particular performance of this song, something that would normally make me give it a Thumbs Down...BUT as I said, the chart is fun and the song quality's pretty good (even if Ozzy's vocals aren't) so it gets a THUMBS UP.

"Pour Some Sugar On Me (Live)" - Def Leppard
Alright, THIS is a great choice. Probably the band's signature song and a very faithful live version with the intro solo included, something that the shitty radio edit often omits in place of the godawful "Step inside, walk this way" line. The chart is definitely more fun than I'd expect the studio version to be too so that's an added bonus. It's a shame Def Leppard have only just decided to endorse Guitar Hero now after it became a terrible vehicle for modern Indie/Alternative music videos, as they've got a bunch of fun tracks that would've translated well into GH, but this choice is perfect and the song gets a THUMBS UP.

"Psychosocial" - Slipknot
A very solid Slipknot song, although I couldn't tell you much about these guys. I know quite a few of their tracks but wouldn't be able to tell you if this was the most fun song they could've picked. However, what I can tell you is that it's very fun on guitar if you like a challenge (especially when it comes to furious solos) and it's one of the band's better known tracks. I doubt I'd have bought this song if it were part of a Slipknot DLC pack but I like playing it on-disc so I'm glad they chose it. I reckon that earns it a THUMBS UP, don't you?

"Ravenous" - Atreyu
I remember the song "Falling Down" from one of the handheld GH games and I easily prefer that track to this one. However, the chart is quite fun if you're OK with short bursts of rapid strumming rhythms and a few tapping/HOPO solos. On a technical level, I'm not sure why the Star Power drains so damn quickly on this song but that hardly affects my decision to give it a THUMBS UP due to the relatively short length and fun chart.

"Re-Ignition (Live)" - Bad Brains
I know nothing of this band but based entirely on this live version of the song, I'm guessing they suck. Repetitive riff, shitty vocals and other than a mildly fun solo nothing really going for it. It also goes on too long which doesn't help if you're going for an FC run. I wasn't expecting much from a Punk song, especially one that's live, but I rarely play this track even for the solo. Time to end this Thumbs Up streak with a clear THUMBS DOWN.

"Renegade" - Styx
Before this song was announced for the game, I'd only just started getting into the track. I listened to it a lot and contemplated getting it as Rock Band DLC but held off, due to a feeling that it was heading to GH. I swear to God, I can't explain why but part of me felt like this song would turn up in GHWOR...and it did! Not only that but it turned out to be one of the most fun guitar charts in the game, even with a long vocal intro. It may be a rerecording but thankfully the guitarwork sounds more challenging than the original. Verdict? Come on, there's no way in Hell this was getting anything but an unequivocal THUMBS UP.

"Rockin' In The Free World" - Neil Young
A solid Classic Rock song with an OK chart and a surprisingly fun outro solo that you can't find in the original studio recording. Personal opinions about Neil Young aside, I quite like this track's inclusion in the game. It may not be as fun or well known as other Classic Rock tunes but out of all the Neil Young songs that could've made it onto GHWOR, I'm glad it was this instead of "Heart Of Gold" or the fuckawful "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)". "Cinnamon Girl" could've been cool though. Anyway, THUMBS UP.

"Savior" - Rise Against
This and "Bat Country" were probably picked more than any other song online. I have no idea why as Rise Against don't seem like the kind of band GH players want as much as, say, Dream Theater but the song has a kinda fun chart, I suppose. It's very chord-heavy but it's alright to play every now and then, not every fucking time you go online. There are a couple of Rise Against songs that are fun on GH and I like "Help Is On The Way" but this seems like a decent pick for a modern Rock song. Eh, why not? THUMBS UP.

"Scumbag Blues" - Them Crooked Vultures
I didn't expect this band to make it into the game but after playing this song, I'm pretty glad they did. It's got an awesome bass riff and plenty of hammer-on/tap sections for the novice player. I will admit that the repeated organ refrain towards the end of the song and at one part during the middle gets boring but the rest of the track is great. THUMBS UP.

"Self Esteem" - The Offspring
It annoys the shit out of me that I always think of that Lady Gaga song when this song starts playing. Luckily, the rest of the track is awesome. Definitely one of the band's signature songs but is it the best choice for the game? I would've bought this track if it were part of a hypothetical Offspring 01 DLC pack that they should've released but there are easily more fun songs that should've made the game. "Come Out And Play", "The Kids Aren't Alright", "I Choose", the list goes on. At least the track is a good choice for easy warm-up tunes you play early on in Quest Mode. THUMBS UP.

"Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants" - The Dillinger Escape Plan
This song reminds me of that scene in Anchorman where Steve Carrell shouts "LOUD NOISES!!!!" as that's pretty much all the song is. Sure, there are quiet sections but they're all in favour of shouting and loud guitar. The guitar chart is challenging if you're not good at constant strumming and fretting and the chord progression can be quite awkward for the inexperienced guitarist but there's a particular section where the guitarist just goes apeshit, which can ruin any run. As for the song itself, I'm not saying I hate it but it's getting a fucking THUMBS DOWN.

"Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes
I could buy The White Stripes being in the last GH or even getting a DLC pack...but why the fuck were they in GHWOR? Not only that but why pick this song with a dull chart. Surely "Icky Thump" would've been better or "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground"? This may be their signature song but it has no place in this game. They should've gone with one of Jack White's other vanity projects/bands. THUMBS DOWN.

"Sharp Dressed Man (Live)" - ZZ Top
There must be an issue with ZZ Top master recordings as this is the only ZZ Top song that isn't a cover in all of GH. It's also the second song in this game that's been in a previous GH title, which shows just how much Activision know about pre-90's Rock music. Luckily, it's quite a good song and probably one of the only live versions of a well known ZZ Top song that isn't rubbish. Sure, it would've been good to get "Cheap Sunglasses" or "La Grange" again but I'm afraid this gets a THUMBS DOWN. It could've been saved if it didn't have a middle of the road guitar chart.

"Slow Hands" - Interpol
Another GH:WT/GH5 song that somehow made it into this game. At least it's more fun than the previous Interpol song but there are easily better Alternative songs that could've been chosen for the game. There are Rock tracks in Band Hero that would've been better choices than this one so here's a THUMBS DOWN.

"Speeding (Vault Version)" - Steve Vai
Well this was obviously picked to be awkward, wasn't it? A random rerecord with a shitload of unnecessary strumming just to ramp up the average difficulty of the game. It's good that the game got more than one virtuoso guitarist and Steve Vai's probably one of the best picks they could've gone with (although I would've preferred Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani or maybe even Michael Angelo Batio just to torture expert guitarists) but I'm not sure about the song. "Erotic Nightmares" would've been preferable to me so I'm going with a THUMBS DOWN.

"Stray Cat Blues" - The Rolling Stones
Like Muse, The Rolling Stones seem to be a staple of Activision GH games. After "Paint It, Black", they probably should've stopped there but I suppose Activision wanted a big name band to help sell the games, even if the songs don't belong. This track has a moderately fun guitar chart but if any song could've made it into the game, I would've gone with "Jumping Jack Flash" or "It's All Over Now". THUMBS DOWN.

"Sudden Death" - Megadeth
The second Megadeth song that was actually written especially for this game. Technically, it's the third Megadeth song in Quest Mode but it's the second alphabetically speaking...it's also the second in terms of fun value. It was written to contain insanely difficult guitar sections and provide gamers with a "final boss", so to speak. I think this is the second time they've got a band to record a challenging song ("The Martyr", a DLC track, was the first) and the second time the chart is nowhere near as fun or tough as other tracks. It's probably the easiest 10/10 tier song of the four on disc but at least it's a great track that's fun to play if you can get past the opening solo. THUMBS UP.

"Suffocated" - Orianthi
If someone asks me to provide them with a song played by someone who is technically proficient at the guitar but completely lacking in musical creativity that isn't just mindless shredding, it'll be this one hands down. Generic chord based chorus with moaning vocals, soulless guitarwork shoehorned in that's over before it even begins and a riff that sounds like it's straight out of an Avril Lavigne single. Fuck this song. THUMBS DOWN.

"Theme From Spider-Man" - Ramones
Come on, you all know this well known Ramones song! No? Well it's going in GHWOR anyway and I'm sure it has nothing to do with Activision owning the rights to the Spider-Man games. Why anyone thought this game needed the Ramones is beyond me but if one of their songs had to be picked, I'd probably go with "Pet Sematary" or "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down" or, better yet, not a Ramones song! They really should've gone with something by The Damned if they wanted a proper Punk song but what's done is done. THUMBS DOWN, even if the guitar chart isn't as bad as it could've been.

"There's No Secrets This Year" - Silversun Pickups
Poor grammar aside, this song has a decent guitar chart. There's a nice little hammer-on section at one part and even though the main riff is a little awkward to play, the whole song works in the game even if they are the kind of band you'd associate with other GH games or Rock Band. Just watch out for that false ending, as that can fuck your FC run up. THUMBS UP.

"This Day We Fight!" - Megadeth
The final/second Megadeth song and probably the hardest guitar chart in the game. Rapid strumming, blistering solos, difficult chord changes and an outro that'll devastate your already bruised and bleeding fingers. If this song was longer, this could've been the "Sudden Death" of the game but instead, you play it before the "Final Boss". I'd normally talk about which Megadeth songs should've been in the game but I reckon they made solid choices with all three tracks, even if "Devils Island" or "Tornado Of Souls" would've been fun and incredibly challenging too. THUMBS UP.

"Tick Tick Boom" - The Hives
Even if it is a little overcharted, it makes a fun difference provided you don't mind easy tracks but challenging FCs. This song was in Lego Rock Band and the guitar chart was quite dull, if I'm honest. I'm not sure if this song would be more or less fun than "Hate To Say I Told You So" but it's a solid choice, even if it's not the most fun track on the game. THUMBS UP.

"Ties That Bind" - Alter Bridge
Oh fuck, that rapid strumming section is brutal. The rest of the song features some great riffing and a neat solo at the end but the middle eight involving what can only be described as pure punishment make this song stand out. I know a few tracks by these guys but I can't imagine one that'd have the same impact as this one so they deserve a THUMBS UP. I wouldn't call this one of my favourites on-disc but if I had to pick an honourable mention, it'd probably go to this one.

"Tones Of Home" - Blind Melon
I recall mentioning this track in my Rock Band 4 write-up, comparing it to "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" - Spin Doctors. A funky Alternative track with surprisingly awesome guitar and a really fun solo too. Definitely one of my favourites on-disc even if the song itself isn't one I'd listen to that often outside of GHWOR. I don't know many other Blind Melon tracks apart from this and "No Rain" and that one was already released as DLC. A brilliant choice, THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 1 - Overture" - Rush
The first of seven Rush songs, even if strictly speaking they're all parts of the same Rush song. This is my favourite part of "2112" to play AND listen to both due to the galloping rhythm and multiple melodies throughout the track. Obviously this track's getting a THUMBS UP and even though the following six parts are all from the same song, I'm still giving them individual Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down, even though there's no way they would've included some of the parts without others.

"2112, Pt 2 - The Temples Of Syrinx" - Rush
I'll admit, it's got quite a good sound but I liked listening to it more than I liked playing it. The riffs are powerful but not hugely fun to play unless you're in love with them. Still, a solid follow up to the first part, just a bit too short and uneventful to be fun. THUMBS DOWN.

"2112, Pt 3 - Discovery" - Rush
The first part of this song is just random plucking but eventually a tune emerges and picks up speed. It's not the most fun song of the seven parts but it's a great track to listen to whilst you play it. Not much else to say other than it's just a neat little tune. THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 4 - Presentation" - Rush
Definitely the second best Rush song on-disc and you can thank a bitchin' sweet solo for that. This and Part 1 are probably the only two parts of "2112" you could release as individual singles that sound like proper Rush songs and the charts reflect that too. Good riffs, fun solo, plenty for all the band to enjoy. THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 5 - Oracle: The Dream" - Rush
Very dull track here. Apart from a few pleasant riffs to listen to, this is literally only included because it's part of "2112". It makes sense to include in the song but has no place in the game as an individual track. THUMBS DOWN.

"2112, Pt 6 - Soliloquy" - Rush
I love the intro riff in this part. It reminds me a little of Led Zeppelin and I wish the riff would be played more throughout this part. Luckily, there's a pretty cool solo at the end that makes up for the short number of awesome riffs. I imagine the song probably wouldn't be as fun if you don't love the tune (and that could be said for all of these, I suppose) but I'm still giving it the THUMBS UP for being more than just a couple of chords like some of the other parts.

"2112, Pt 7 - Grand Finale" - Rush
The final part and they just go bonkers. Frenzied solos and riffs, essentially a more manic version of the first part but quite a bit harder to play. Musically speaking, it's not the best part to enjoy listening to but as far as playing them goes, it's probably in the top three. As for whether I'd choose these seven parts over another Rush song, I would've enjoyed "Working Man", "Fly By Night", "Bastille Day" or "Freewill" but considering "2112" gives you seven different songs as opposed to the one you'd get from any of the ones I mentioned, they made the right choice. THUMBS UP.

"Unskinny Bop" - Poison
I was pretty stoked when this was confirmed for the game too, as I loved this song ever since I heard it. The riff is always awesome to play and the solo has its moments too, although it isn't as difficult to play as "Nothing But A Good Time". Mind you, there's a certain phrase in the chorus that always gives me trouble for some reason but that doesn't affect my verdict. There isn't a Poison song I'd swap for this one as it's my favourite by the band to listen to and play on GH. THUMBS UP.

"Uprising" - Muse
Obligatory Muse song #3. At least this one is more fun than "Assassin" and "Plug In Baby", although it doesn't even touch "Knights Of Cydonia". It goes without saying that the synth is charted every now and then but fortunately, there's actually a decent amount of guitar in this track. I would say it's a good choice, especially as it was a big hit at the time of the game's release, but I probably would've rated "Hysteria" or "New Born" higher if they charted the keys on guitar. If only "Reapers" was out before 2010, ah well. THUMBS UP for not giving me another reason to dislike Muse!

"Waidmanns Heil" - Rammstein
Jesus, why are these guys popular? They sound more ridiculous than Spinal Tap, Steel Panther and Tenacious D combined; at least those bands have songs that are great to listen to outside of the amusing lyrics. I guess this song has a great riff too, even if the silly vocals and uninteresting chart spoil it. Also, are Rammstein not talented enough to break into guitar solos or do they feel their heavy riffs are enough to carry their songs? You're not The White Stripes boys and even if you were, you'd still get a THUMBS DOWN.

"We're Not Gonna Take It" - Twisted Sister
A rerecord of one of the band's most famous songs. I'll admit, I like listening to the Animal House lines at the end but the "O Come All Ye Faithful" vocals and shitty guitar solo make this a dull song overall. It may be a well known track but I doubt anyone who knows the song was desperate for it to be in the game. "Under The Blade" or "You Can't Stop Rock And Roll" probably would've been more fun although I'm not sure if Twisted Sister have rerecorded those tracks. Either way, THUMBS DOWN.

"What Do I Get?" - Buzzcocks
Ah, finally a Punk track that isn't rubbish. That being said, it's not amazing either. It has some great bass and the guitar isn't your typical Punk chord/strumfest but I probably would've gone for the uninspired choice and put "Ever Fallen In Love" on-disc instead of this. I don't know many other Buzzcocks songs but part of me wants to award them the win for not going for the obvious choice, as the song is still kind of fun...so I will! THUMBS UP!

"Wish" - Nine Inch Nails
Not a Nine Inch Nails fan by any means and this chart has nothing going for it except a fun chord hammer-on riff that is played to death and a wacky motion capture on stage. I'm not sure if there's a NIN song that would've been more fun and I doubt "Hurt" would've been much more fun on guitar, so this probably was the best choice. However, if I could've chosen any Industrial song to be in the game, I definitely would've gone with some Rob Zombie. THUMBS DOWN.

"(You Can Still) Rock In America" - Night Ranger
The last track on-disc is a goodie, provided you like rerecorded Hair Metal. Awesome riff and a devilish solo that still gives me grief. I'd probably choose this song over "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" too, although they're both very fun on guitar. If you can stand the 80's cheese and love challenging charts, this is an on-disc highlight so I'm ending this brief discussion on a THUMBS UP.


If I've counted correctly, that's 57 Thumbs Up against 36 Thumbs Down. That's roughly a 61% success rate, which is less than I was expecting but still good. How did you rate the game? Did you agree with my points or do you think I'm being too harsh/generous? Also, if there's a rhythm music game you'd like me to discuss in another post at least a month from now, let me know on Twitter or in the comments.
Thanks for reading, if you made it this far! I wish I had something to reward you with...yup, that would've been good. Oh well.