The 10 heaviest yes songs

[Mr. Holland]

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/heaviest-yes-songs/

Do you agree? Do you have other suggestions?

[pianozach]

I have no complaints with the list. The first track I thought of was Machine Messiah and The Gates of Delirium, which were # 1 and # 2 on the list.

There's some others, I suppose. City of Love is pretty bombastic, as is The Ancient.

I suppose I'm most surprised at the inclusion of a track from Magnification on the list . . . Someone has to actually be somewhat familiar with the Yes catalog to include anything from that album

[Homemade Parachute]

Did… did Steve Howe write this article…?

[Ceasar’s Palace]

Maybe GFTO and Hold On?

[Chris2210]

Not a heavy rock band in that sense. It's like going to a farmer's market to buy fish. You might find some, but you'd be better off in Billingsgate.

[luna65]

I agree with some of the choice but not others. Like, I don't think of "Siberian Khatru" as a heavy song at all - it's wholly joyous and playful and funky.

[kkleinschmidt]

Did… did Steve Howe write this article…?

Sure does seem like it. I could easily pick ten songs off 90125/BG/Talk that are as heavy to way more heavy that most of this list (City of Love/Rhythm of Love/Real Love come to mind immediately). Rubbish...

[madbear]

I'd have put them in a different order, but the only one I'd disagree with is the Magnification track. Siberian Khatru is really heavy if you crank it up loud! I guess Würm doesn't count as a whole song, otherwise I'd put Starship Trooper on the list. And Going for the One can be pretty heavy, maybe live rather than the studio version.

[YesWill]

I mostly agree with the list. As for SoS, I am glad to see it there and agree that it is definitely heavy.

Other songs not mentioned:

Arriving UFO -- the solo is Yes' lesser-known battle scene, definitely dark and heavy
Parallels -- love the organ power chords
Be the One -- the closest Jon A has come to screaming in a song, and some dark guitar riffs

I agree that YiND belongs there. But the guitar solo in the live Yessongs version is much heavier. Blows my socks off every single time I hear it.

[Ash Armstrong]

Depends what you mean by 'heavy'...?

If by subject matter/lyrical content, then Harold Land qualifies alongside Gates of Delirium, and Birthright definitely does!

[Oldie on the Goldie]

What about You've crossed over the river? Real love?

[Chris2210]

Depends what you mean by 'heavy'...?

If by subject matter/lyrical content, then Harold Land qualifies alongside Gates of Delirium, and Birthright definitely does!

I think 'heavy' in this sense is a very reductive term, which is why I'd really steer clear of applying it to Yes. As in the ten heaviest songs that are all less heavy than anything by AC/DC. Whole Lotta Rosie is a great song when you're in the mood for that sort of thing, but I find it satisfying in a relatively narrow way.

It's a very minor ingredient in the Yes banquet. The horseradish sauce perhaps.

[Ash Armstrong]

I think 'heavy' in this sense is a very reductive term, which is why I'd really steer clear of applying it to Yes. As in the ten heaviest songs that are all less heavy than anything by AC/DC. Whole Lotta Rosie is a great song when you're in the mood for that sort of thing, but I find it satisfying in a relatively narrow way.

It's a very minor ingredient in the Yes banquet. The horseradish sauce perhaps.

Indeed. I don't think I've ever headbanged to any Yes. Nodded sagely often, but not headbanged. Whole Lotte Rosie, however... well, it's almost contractual.

[Chris2210]

Indeed. I don't think I've ever headbanged to any Yes. Nodded sagely often, but not headbanged. Whole Lotte Rosie, however... well, it's almost contractual.

'xactly. If you're after much of that sort of thing with Yes, I think you've got on the wrong bus.

Nothing at all wrong with a bit of head-banging - it's an enjoyable, visceral experience. But only life changing in the sense you eventually find yourself responding "quarter to seven", when someone asks "where did you put the lime?"

[Chris2210]

This is where I go when I want something melodic, progressive and VERY heavy. I saw them live a few years back now in the tiny Cockpit in Leeds. I could actually feel my sternum vibrating it was so loud and bass-heavy resonant.