Never let it be said that I am not the helpful sort. With the year slightly more than halfway done, school back in session, and the holiday season not far down the road, it is a good time to look back at some of the year's best hard rock and heavy metal releases so far. This playlist features new music from classic bands such as Mother's Finest, Iron Maiden and Motörhead while also re-visiting some of their older tunes. So grab a pen and start jotting down the CDs you will be wanting in your stocking this year! Watch for Part 2 of this list which will feature bands that may have fewer years under their belt but plenty of riffs in their groove.

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