Songs That Take Me Back 3

Songs That Take Me Back Vol. 3

It's time to dip into some 2000s jams. While the 90s was almost my entire childhood, the 2000s was my entire teenagehood. Unfortunately, one event casted shade over the last couple years of my teenagehood. Before that, it was almost as much of a blast as my childhood. With it came some songs that also take me back to innocent times. By this time, I was already a full-fledged rocker. I was already annoying my parents with those loud guitars, drum, bass, and screeching vocals during this time. Hahaha.

Mudvayne - Not Falling

I was super close to selecting "Death Blooms" because that is my favorite Mudvayne Song. I ultimately selected "Not Falling" because this song takes me back the most. I got into this band because a very close friend introduced us to them while we where in middle school. We where all hooked and where psyched about the upcoming album The End of All Things to Come. Not only that, we spent time together watching the crappy movie Ghost Ship which featured this song. Middle school was a great time rocking out with friends. We're still rocking together to this day.

3 Doors Down - Kryptonite

This song was a smash hit in the early 2000s. It was on constant rotation in the radio to the point where everyone recognized the intro and knew the chorus by heart. Every time I got in mom or dad's car, I would seize the radio knobs and tune into the rock channel. This song played on constant rotation. We would talk about this song in class and how cool it was. Rest in Peace, Brad Arnolds.

Alient Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal

Get ready to laugh: I did not know this was a Michael Jackson when I first heard this cover. I was so ignorant that my close friend informed me of that truth and I immediately reacted with "what? No way!". Yes, way. Nothing beats the original of course. However, there's no denying that this cover is a good rocking tune on its own. Apart from drawing laughter from my friend at my ignorance, it also reminds me of the times I spent with, not just him, but all my other friends. This band specifically recalls another friend that moved in across the street just before sixth grade. We both dug this band and many other similar bands for the time that we knew each other. It's a shame we also drifted apart, but he moved to a new house like every year. Eventually, he moved too far to visit. No names, but if you're reading this, I do think about you from time to time.

Killswitch Engage - Life to Lifeless

This is another band that I was introduced to by my beloved middle school friend (we actually go back further than that, but this is where he introduced me to KsE). I can't remember what was the first song I heard from this band, but Life to Lifeless was my favorite from the band. Much like Not Falling, this simply reminds me of days spent with my awesome friends listening to metal and having fun.

Lamb of God - Laid to Rest

This is another song that I am selecting not because it's my favorite from the band, but because it takes me back the most. My favorite from LOG is 11th Hour. Laid to Rest, however, takes me back to sophomore year of high school when my dad bought me my first guitar. It was love at first touch. I practiced for hours every day until I was able to play this song and shred like crazy. I was proud of my self and even showed off to my classmates. I still play guitar to this day and even released a pair of albums; one with Vorzug and the other with Cranial Abduction. Check us out!

Arsis - The Face of My Innocence

Where do I even begin? They where one of the first bands that introduced me death metal. A Celebration of Guilt has to be one of the most spectacular debut albums of all time. I remember surfing the web while sitting in front of the computer in the living room of the old house and listening to this song. I was blown away. I had to let my friend know about this band. We both attended an Arsis show just before they released United in Regret. I actually purchased my copy of A Diamond for Disease from the band that night and had it signed. I still have it. I would later catch them live again in time for the ten year anniversary of A Celebration of Guilt; they played the entire album and then some. Definitely one of the best concerts I've attended. Arsis rules!

Guitar Vader - Magical Girl

This song actually made its debut in 1999, so technically, I ought to exclude it. However, it was also featured in the Jet Set Radio soundtrack, which came out in 2000. I actually didn't play this game until late 2001 or 2002. I can't remember when I first played JSR. This is the very first song you hear when you first enter the main story mode and play through the tutorial while being introduced to Gum. I've gushed about how Jet Set Radio is my favorite game on the Sega Dreamcast and one of my all-time favorite games. So every time I listen to Magical Girl, it takes me to the living room at the old house where the Dreamcast was plugged into the tv and sitting on a chair with controller in hand trying to trick, grind, spray, and tag my way to glory.

A Look Back

The early 2000s where absolutely a blast for me; particularly the year 2004. It was a huge year for metal with many prominent albums being released that year from well reputed bands: Lamb of God, Mastodon, God Forbid, Unearth, Fear Factory, The Chasm, Necrophagist, Capharnaum, Illogicist, Killswitch Engage, and so much more. Looking back, I can definitely say I had a hell of a time that year. Hell, it was a phenominal year for gaming, too. I was an Xbox kid during this time and we where well hyped for Halo 2, especially the ability to dual wield. We also played Fable that year. It was also the year of Dead or Alive Ultimate, which really was the ultimate version of DOA. I got to play Half-Life 2 the following year on Xbox, though, it was released for PC in 2004. If you ask me, that's the best first person shooter ever. It was also the year of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, my favorite MGS game. Ah, how I wish I could return to those times.