Christopher Lee, "The Bloody Verdict of Verden"

Years before Nicolas Cage turned The Wicker Man into a punchline, Christopher Lee created one of the most chilling and original villains in cinema history. That alone would seal his place as a badass, but thankfully he lived on to lend his talents to The Man with the Golden Gun, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and more. He also released two symphonic metal albums, and at age 90, was the oldest man (and surely the only knight) to ever perform on a metal album.



"The Bloody Verdict of Verden" is campy, albeit no more so than any number of popular symphonic or power metal bands (Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire, both of whom Lee collaborated with, included). It's no novelty, either. Even without his cinematic cred, Lee has the vocal chops for metal, delivering the song with the power and conviction that most mortals can only dream of. Keep shedding the blood of the Saxon men, Sir Christopher.