The fight or flight instinct is one of our basest human tendencies. Though modern society has pretty much made sure that our lives are very rarely put in actual danger, evolution has yet to get that memo. Because of this glitch we go through life feeling like running or fighting when we should actually be dealing with things calmly and logically.

Personally, this often manifests itself in nervousness and anxiety during high pressure situations. I’ve fucked up job interviews and oral exams thanks to those feelings of unease. I’ve also noticed that I tend to do the flight part more than the fight. My first instinct is to run from difficult deadlines and I’ve talked about feeling like running away from girls in a previous contribution. Running away from things that matter is never really an option however and more often than not we need to stand up to those things that make us want to run away.

The songs in this playlist have helped me at one point in my life or another to stand up and fight. Though I don’t think I’ve had to prepare myself for any actual life-threatening situations, these songs have actually saved my life in the sense that it would have been much shittier if I hadn’t had these songs to help me hold my ground and fight for certain important things.

1. 1. Iron Maiden – Aces High
   Though I doubt I’ll ever be in the situation described in the song (the song’s about an actual World War II dogfight), few things can pump me up as effectively as the galloping rhythms, dueling guitar harmonies, and soaring vocals of this Iron Maiden classic.
   
   
2. 2. Tomahawk – God Hates a Coward
   I don’t actually know what the hell Mike Patton’s singing about on this one but I hear him saying, “God hates a coward, sonny,” every time I feel like running away from something.
   
   
3. 3. Violent Femmes – Add It Up
   Remember that part in Reality Bites where Ethan Hawke sings a song that makes Winona Rider storm out of the club? This is it. Awesome way to start a fight.
   
   
4. 4. Hella – Biblical Violence
   While this song doesn’t have any actual lyrics, it sure sounds like title and goddamn this song is awesome.
   
   
5. 5. Melt-Banana – Shield Your Eyes, a Beast in The Well of Your Hand
   Though I’ve never really tried to figure out what the hell Yasuko Onuki screams about in any od Melt-Banana’s songs, they always makes me feel like fighting. If you don’t feel like fighting after this, your neighbors sure will.
   
   
6. 6. Beastie Boys – Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun
   The Beasties when they were still belligerent New York borough brats. For those times when you’re looking for a fist to put someone’s face in.
   
   
7. 7. Ice Cube – No Vaseline
   Before he was a bad comedian and even worse actor, Ice Cube was the sickest emcee in the West Coast. He gives fighting words a new definition and tears out new assholes for all of his former NWA peers on this classic dis track.
   
   
8. 8. James Brown – The Payback
   We’re used to hearing James Brown talking about getting up like a sex machine. This is what he sounds like when he’s angry. He don’t know karate but he know ca-ray-zeh. Whatever the hell that means.
   
   
9. 9. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Rebel Yell (Peel Sessions)
   The ultimate 80’s faux-punk anthem about youth and rebellion sang by one of the most awesome bands on the planet. I don’t need to say anything else.
   
   
10. 10. Rancid – Avenues & Alleyways
    You can’t really speak of rousing punk anthems without including this Rancid classic. This song riled me up so much back in high school that I just had to form a band to cover it.
    
    
11. 11. The Replacements – I will Dare
    Though the most understated of the songs on this mixtape, I don’t think there are more powerful lyrics than, “if you will dare, I will dare.”
    
    
12. 12. Neko Case – The Next Time You Say Forever
    My favorite lyric from last year: “The next time you say forever, I will punch you in your face.”

Download: God Hates a Coward


________________________________________

Yagi Olaguera is the lead singer of the testosterone laden heavy metal act, Cog, one of the few bands that can simply walk into Mordor.

When he is not moonlighting as a contributor for New Slang (click here and here) or as a ghost writer for women’s fashion magazines, he is guiding foreign students through the many nuances and intricacies of English as a second language. He tumbls here.