Chris Krovatin is the author of three young adult novels,

With death metal and hardcore leading the mall-promoted face of metal (or whatever the fuck people under 20 care about these days, God, I need a drink), breakdowns have become a staple point within the genre. Every dude who likes swinging a ham-sized fist around for no reason spends much of any metal concert waiting for that moment when things slow down and he can stomp around like a violent turtle. There’s even an entire genre now, “deathcore” that seems to be composed entirely of breakdowns. Chug-chug, slam-slam, we all love a good breakdown.

What aren’t always given their due, however, are speed-up parts, the moment where a mid-paced song bursts into a thrash section and some dude in the pit is given the go-ahead to hold up his index finger and spin it around, signaling the much-loved circle pit. I’ve always adored these moments, when a normal song explodes into a barrage of speed and aggression, as I’m much more of an old-school mosher, the running and slamming and freewheeling type, than the modern karate-kicking dance majors who so often populate the pit during a breakdown. So, to honor both the quick and the deadly (and to piss off scene bros and kvltists alike), here is my list of the Six Best Breakdowns and Speed-Ups.

The Six Best Breakdowns:

1. Pantera, “Domination” Aw, man, the original. Dimebag’s guitar breaks off of that pained wail and rolls right into that steady chug, eventually topped with insane weedling unlike any heard before. Tough as nails, catchy as Hell—the breakdown all others aspire to.

2. Slayer, “Raining Blood” The end of this classic Slayer track is a perfect example of a breakdown that makes a song. With its melodic variation on the opening riff coupled by the neck-snapping rhythm it stomps into, this manages to be both brawny and deeply evil at once.

3. Hatebreed, “Before Dishonor” If there was ever a breakdown to beat on one’s chest to, it’s that of “Before Dishonor.” Jamey Jasta bellowing, “WHAT I HAVE IN MY HEART, I’LL TAKE TO MY GRAVE” helps. Easily the most macho of the breakdowns on this list.

4. Lamb of God, “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For” Just beating that of “Black Label,” the breakdown closing “Now You’ve Got…” is the bottom line for metal kids who want to absolutely lose their shit in the pit. Randy Blythe’s roar over its opening is truly breathtaking.

5. Sepultura, “Propaganda” To be a stand-out breakdown on a record this chuggy and mid-paced takes some stones, but Sepultura pull it off without issue. It’s especially notable given how well it closes one of the faster songs on the record, and does so in a solid swoop, not a fade-out.

6. Anthrax, “Indians” Two words: WAR DANCE!

Band of note: Dying Fetus I really wanted to include a Dying Fetus track on this list, but every attempt at finding the right song made me think, Is this an actual breakdown, or just a Dying Fetus part? Let me take this moment to say that Dying Fetus are kings of the death-metal breakdown, and much of the modern obsession with breakdowns is their doing.

The Six Best Speed-Ups:

1. Lamb of God, “Ruin” Ye-hess. The moment where this song breaks into an off-kilter thrash part is absolutely obliterating and totally satisfying. If you listen to this song and your fist doesn’t begin pumping at this speed-up moment, you’re not doing it right. The sound of someone’s breaking point.

2. Cannibal Corpse, “Stripped, Raped, and Strangled” This Cannibal classic begins with a plodding, heavy-handed riff, but then breaks into a panicked whirlwind of guitar leads and drums that perfectly expresses the insanity of its protagonist. This is how a speed-up can be used as a consistent part, and subsequently craft a song into something better than it once was.

3. Slayer, “Postmortem” Not only is the sudden change in tempo of this song impressive, but the sudden speed applied to the sudden barrage of wordy lyrics—“My sinful glare at nothing holds thoughts of death behind it”—showcases Tom Araya’s vocal versatility. Look, just tell me this: DO YOU WANT TO DIE?

4. Guns N’ Roses, “Paradise City” Oh yeah—even the glamor boys got in on the speed. The sudden supercharged ending of this track takes the main riff and throws it on its head with a big dose of Lemmy. Didn’t think you could mosh to GN’R? Think again.

5. The Crown, “Devil Gate Rider” This Swedish death-metal classic, guest starring Tomas Lindberg of At the Gates, is the best song about drag-racing in Hell that has ever existed. And when it speeds up, you can basically see a checkered flag dropping and smell rubber burning. BORN! TO! RACE!

6. Mercyful Fate, “A Dangerous Meeting” Though not as much a thrash part as the speed-ups above it, the acceleration of “A Dangerous Meeting” ups this chug-along Satanic metal song’s cred, and probably inspired every black-metal band, ever. 

“I wanted to do something that people would never recognize me as me,” he tells Revolver from his home in São Paulo, Brazil, where he’s working on a new Sepultura album. Then, with a laugh, he says, “I think I’ve succeeded.”

This new side of Green is that of the sunglasses-wearing, checker-suited sex-jam crooner of the electro R&B group Maximum Hedrum, which he cofounded with N.A.S.A. producer-DJ Sam Spiegel. On their just-released self-titled debut, the pair has crafted 13 freaky, funky sci-fi-influenced songs about sex, robots, and having sex with robots. The album features guest appearances by funk legend George Clinton, Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner, Beastie Boys producer Money Mark, and Beverly Hills Cop score composer Harold Faltermeyer. It’s about as far from Sepultura as Green could possibly get—”Ph.D” is a song about a woman with a Ph.D “in sexuality”—but as the music proves, and as he reveals with the excited way he talks about Maximum Hedrum, he’s had fun finding this new side of himself.

REVOLVER Maximum Hedrum started with Sam Spiegel asked you to sing on some demos. What attracted you to the project?
DERRICK GREEN The fact that I wouldn’t be screaming. If I’m going to do a project, I want it to be something completely different from what I do with Sepultura. It just makes it more interesting.

Were you worried about how Sepultura fans might accept your new group?
It wouldn’t have mattered because I was stoked on it. Now that it’s out, I’m impressed. I think there are a lot of people in the metal scene that have an open mind and a wide variety of music that they love. I’ve always loved other styles and forms of music, so I just wanted to show that side.

What does Sam think off Sepultura?
He doesn’t really know too much about the metal scene or even that world, but he thinks it’s interesting. Because there will be metal kids or Sepultura fans who are saying, “This is cool that you’re doing something totally different.”

So, diving in to Maximum Hedrum, what’s with all the robots?
Sam had an idea to write songs about the future and technology, people’s connection with technology, how they interact with music technology now. Are people more connected now than ever? Or are they really distant because they’re all using these things and they’re not physically really together? So we wanted to do something about the future and how people have been using technology for sex and other emotions.

How did you come up with your black-and-white checkered look?
Black and white just reminds me of yin and yang, and I think the band has this dynamic that’s like R&B slow jams and party songs. You just really can’t tell where it’s going. The suits reflect that. It’s contrast.

What about the outfits that look like venetian blinds?
That came from a dream that Sam had. I had never heard of anything like that. So we found somebody who could make that outfit. It’s really out there, but it worked out. It just looks so insane. I never imagined it would be so cool in the end. I thought might be really, really cheesy. But I’m really loving it now.

You’re a pretty tall guy.
Yeah, it’s a lot of venetian blinds.

George Clinton sings on “Keep in Touch.” Did you ever think you’d be duetting with him?
I never imagined that would happen in my entire life. I was just a huge fan. I discovered him as a producer of one of the first Red Hot Chili Peppers albums. I was really into punk and hardcore and I was like holy shit, George Clinton is P-Funk? And I just fell in love with him.

How did songs like “Robosexual” and “Ph.D” come together?
“Robosexual” is about a robot wanting to make love with a human, but she’s not gonna get with him because he’s a robot. And with “Ph.D,” we wanted to have a song about a girl who really knows what she wants and she’s sexy. So she just plays guys all the time but they still want to be with her. It’s like, she’s just really well taught in sex. It was like, My God. I would really want to be with her, because she knows everything. I can’t even remember who came up with that one.

All these oversexed songs. I’ve never written songs about girls or anything like that. it’s kind of funny saying that, but this is the first time writing with a different emotion, instead of anger or aggressiveness. It was cool to collaborate with Sam on the lyrics because it was my first time writing like this.

It sounds like a fun record to make. What was the best time you had in the studio?
We recorded in Prague with the Philharmonic Orchestra there. They’ve done all these incredible movies and soundtracks. Harold set it up. Hearing someone say, “‘Robosexual,’ take one,” and then seeing the whole orchestra playing was just so crazy. Everything had to be translated from Harold from German to Czech. It was one of the best experiences of being an artist, being able to record with this orchestra.

Plus, I’m sure you were able to hear lots of funny European pronunciations of “Rhobosessuál.”
Yeah. More like, “‘Robosex,’ take one, jah!”

So when can we expect one of Iggor Cavalera’s MixHell remixes of Maxmum Hedrum?
I’m going to meet up with Iggor when I’m here in Brazil, because MixHell are working on a new album. I definitely want to get with him. A remix would be great.

Finally, what’s up with Sepultura right now?
We’re writing the new album. We have a lot of riffs from last year, stuff we’ve been writing on the road. Now we’ve been able to slip into the studio and start working on the new album. It’s going pretty well. We’re writing for the first time with our new drummer, Eloy Casagrande. He’s 25 and he’s got a lot of energy. It’s great to be able to write with him. It’s exciting.

Spiegel said of the heavy-metal vocalist’s involvement, “Derrick has only ever screamed on metal and hardcore albums before, but on this album he’s crooning with his bass baritone voice like Isaac Hayes, and also signing crazy falsetto like Prince. It’s really a departure from anything that either of us has ever done in the past.”

Maximum Hedrum will release their debut self-titled album on March 5, 2013. It will include their single “Synthesize,” which you can check out below.

1. Slayer, “Raining Blood” “Last time I saw these guys, I was off my face drunk, which meant that there were no reservations. Violent neck abuse ensued for at least half of their set. The rest of the time was spent drinking. Slayer played ‘Raining Blood’ and I just went ape shit. A great show from what I could remember. I had whiplash for about a week or so after that effort.”

2. Hatebreed, “Destroy Everything” “Yes, this song destroyed every tendon and muscle in my neck when I first wrapped my ears around this little ripper live. Had some rib damage going on as well but I didn’t care. Hatebreed is a big set of hairy titanium gorilla testes and you don’t stop until the gorilla stops.”

3. Sepultura, “Arise” “I have never had the pleasure of seeing this song live, but as a teenager, frantic air guitaring and headbanging to ‘Arise’ with my Walkman jammed in my ears was the call most days. I had to buy the tape two or three times as I worn them out.”

4. Pantera, “Strength Beyond Strength” “Pantera have been a staple of my music-listening since hair started to grace my nether regions. Too many songs to choose from these guys but ‘Strength Beyond Strength’ from Far Beyond Driven is a great introduction to the album, and it’s balls to the wall from start to finish. Great whiplash causing properties.”

5. Lamb of God, “Blood of the Scribe” “Quite a recent band for me but a lot of the hooks that Lamb of God have are crushing. Extremely catchy indeed. I keep going back to this song when I’m partying to loosen my vertebrae, and suffer the consequences later.

Check out DJ HeavyGrinder’s remix of Pantera’s “Walk”:

Artists who will perform on the Damage Inc. stage include Suicidal Tendencies, Sepultura, Torche, Red Fang, Kyng, Landmine Marathon, Black Tusk, and Thy Will Be Done.

As previously announced, Metallica will perform two headlining sets. One night, they will play their landmark “Black Album” from start to finish, and the other night they will play Ride the Lightning in its entirety for the first time ever.

Not yet announced is the lifestyle portion of the fest, which will reflect the different members of Metallica’s interests.

Check out a video trailer for the show below, see the full lineup below, and click here for more info.

Full Orion Music + More Festival Lineup

• Metallica
• Arctic Monkeys
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Modest Mouse
• The Gaslight Anthem
• Eric Church
• Cage the Elephant
• Fucked Up
• The Jim Breuer Heavy Metal Comedy Tour
• Best Coast
• Hot Snakes
• Titus Andronicus
• Gary Clark Jr.
• Lucero
• Roky Erickson
• The Black Angels
• The Sword
• Wooden Shjips
• A Place to Bury Strangers
• Liturgy
• Soul Rebels

Damage Inc. Stage

• Suicidal Tendencies
• Sepultura
• Torche
• Red Fang
• Kyng
• Landmine Marathon
• Black Tusk
• Thy Will Be Done

Click here for more info about the Orion Music + More Festival.

The Big Four
Although Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax jammed together for the first time last year, it was in 2011 they made it their calling card. Beginning with their performance of Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?” in April to their jams in Europe (which also featured members of Diamond Head, Exodus, and Sepultura), to their U.S. final performance of Motörhead’s “Overkill” in New York City, these bands have made history at each performance.

The Metal Masters
The night before the Big Four concert in New York City, members of Megadeth and Anthrax along with drummer Mike Portnoy gathered to give instrument tips to fans and musicians a like. What the audience didn’t expect was the closing jam, which featured Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Frank Bello, and Charlie Benante, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, and special guests Kerry King of Slayer and…Phil Anselmo of Pantera and Down fame, who sang “Fucking Hostile” and “A New Level.”

Temple of the Dog
For Pearl Jam’s 20th Anniversary concert, Chris Cornell joined the band for a four-song set of the songs he recorded with the nascent band under the name Temple of the Dog in 2011.

The Revolver Golden Gods Awards
We may be tooting our own horns here, but even we were floored by the collaborations of Avenged Sevenfold with Vinnie Paul on Pantera’s “Mouth for War” and Duff McKagan on GN’R’s “It’s So Easy,” as well as Duff, Corey Taylor, and Steve Jones’ take on Judas Priest’s “Electric Eye,” Volbeat’s take on Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Wanna Be With You,” and Asking Alexandria and Sebastian Bach’s electrifying take on “Youth Gone Wild.”

Guns N’ Roses and Zakk Wylde’s “Whole Lotta Rosie”
At a recent Indiana gig, Guns N’ Roses invited Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde to join them on guitar for an electrifying rendition of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Love.”

Mötley Crüe with Cee-Lo
Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine, who had a massive hit last year with “Fuck You,” joined the Sunset Strip’s Kings of “Fuck You”—Mötley Crüe—at an L.A. gig in June for a rendition of his hit and the Crüe’s “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).”

Drop in the Bucket Charity Event
At the Drop in the Bucket Charity Event, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor played a set highlighted by all of his famous friends. Together they played some of hard rock and metal’s greatest hits. Two highlights were Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”—performed by Taylor, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, Rob Zombie guitarist John 5, and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo—and AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”—played by Taylor, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, John 5, and Rob Zombie bassist Piggy D and drummer Ginger Fish. For more from that night, click here.

Metallica 30th Anniversary
Nobody has ever thrown an anniversary party quite like Metallica’s 30th Anniversary shows, which wrapped up on December 10 in San Francisco. Over the course of four nights, they played with artists who influenced them, their peers, and past members of the band. These include everyone from Diamond Head to Mercyful Fate, Marianne Faithfull to Rob Halford, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell to Kid Rock, and, most impressive, original guitarists Dave Mustaine and Lloyd Grant alongside original bassist Ron McGovney for the first song the band ever recorded, “Hit the Lights.”

“Short of receiving an Emmy for my superb voice, the Honorary Headbanger Award is the next best thing. Praise be you won’t hear me sing.” – William Shatner

In other exciting news, CHERIE CURRIE of The Runaways will make a special guest appearance, performing with the Elvis Presley- and Johnny Cash-inspired metal group VOLBEAT, while MAX CAVALERA of Sepultura, Soulfly, and Cavalera Conspiracy will join Hatebreed’s JAMEY JASTA and DEVILDRIVER in their salute to the hardcore legends Black Flag.

Meanwhile, on the “Black Carpet”—Revolver’s version of the traditional Red Carpet—Sebastian Bach will host the pre-awards-show festivities for RevolverTV’s “Black Carpet Special.” Furthermore, Marcus Henderson–the man responsible for writing Guitar Hero’s epic riffs—will be hosting Epiphone’s Black Carpet coverage. In addition, Jamey Jasta will serve as celebrity DJ for evening.

Additional performances for the show include THE ALICE COOPER GROUP (in their first L.A. appearance in nearly 40 years), LOADED (featuring Duff McKagan of GUNS N’ ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER fame), award-show host CHRIS JERICHO’s band FOZZY and fast-rising metalcore outfit ASKING ALEXANDRIA, who will be joined by SEBASTIAN BACH on the Skid Row favorite “Youth Gone Wild.” The night will close out with a blistering set by AVENGED SEVENFOLD. The event will be televised on VH1 Classic on Saturday, May 28, but for those who want to witness this epic show in person, tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster here.

The 2011 REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS presented by Epiphone will include appearances from rock’s most iconic and influential artists, as well as rising stars, including: host Chris Jericho, Rob Zombie, Dave Navarro, Vinnie Paul, Taylor Momsen, Wayne Static, Mike Portnoy, and members of Alice in Chains, Five Finger Death Punch, Dethklok, Megadeth, Anthrax, Fear Factory, Machine Head and many more.

In addition to the Honorary Headbanger Award, other special honors for the night include the “Golden God Award”–given to one musician each year who personifies all that is hard rock and metal—which will go to shock-rock godfather Alice Cooper, who is celebrating the reunion of the original ALICE COOPER GROUP and his recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also, this year’s recipient of the first-ever “Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award”—renamed in honor of the late, great 2010 Best Vocalist Award winner—is none other than the Sunset Strip’s most iconic band, MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The winners in all the other award categories will be chosen by the people, but time is running out. Fans can vote now through Friday, April 1, when voting ends, right here. The full list of nominees is:

Epiphone^® Best Guitarist(s)
• John 5 (for his work with Rob Zombie)
• Dan Donegan (Disturbed)
• Gus G. (for his work with Ozzy Osbourne)
• Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold)
• Janick Gers, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
• Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)

Drum Workshop^® Best Drummer
• Tommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne)
• Abe Cunningham (Deftones)
• Joey Jordison (for his work with Rob Zombie)
• Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour)
• Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
• Mike Portnoy (for his work with Avenged Sevenfold)

Best Vocalist
• Glenn Danzig (Danzig)
• Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
• Chino Moreno (Deftones)
• Ozzy Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)
• M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold)
• Corey Taylor (for his work with Stone Sour)

Affliction^® Album of the Year
• Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare
• Black Label Society, Order of the Black
• Deftones, Diamond Eyes
• Ozzy Osbourne, Scream
• Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy
• Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven

Samson/Zoom^® Best Live Band
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Gwar
• Iron Maiden
• Megadeth
• Rammstein
• Sevendust

Most Metal Athlete
• Chris Cole (pro skateboarding)
• Dan Hardy (MMA fighting)
• Toni Lydman (NHL hockey)
• The Miz (WWE wrestling)
• Jeremy Shockey (NFL football)
• Mike Vallely (pro skateboarding)

Best New Band
• Asking Alexandria
• Black Veil Brides
• The Damned Things
• The Pretty Reckless
• Times of Grace
• We Are the Fallen

Eagle Rock^® Comeback of the Year
• Accept
• Faith No More
• Murderdolls
• A Perfect Circle
• Soundgarden
• System of a Down