LION, TRANSFORMERS THEME SONG
The movie’s not even three minutes old, and kids have been introduced to – and had their tiny minds blown by – the greatest villain the Transformers series will ever see, and the most kick-ass version of its classic theme tune to ever be recorded. The full version of Lion’s track runs over the end credits, and features what is, unequivocally, the greatest guitar solo of a soundtrack that’s not exactly short on them.
Lion broke up in 1989, but weren’t ashamed in the slightest of their Transformers association, including the movie’s theme song on their 1987 album, Dangerous Attraction. Guitarist Doug Aldrich – he of most excellent solo prowess – would go on to record with Dio, Hurricane and Whitesnake.
The death, and the metal, continues. Just seven minutes into proceedings, and Megatron and his troops hijack an Autobot shuttle headed to Earth (from the Transformers’ home planet, Cybertron; or, rather, one of its moons, but let’s not get pedantic here). The evil ‘bots wipe out the crew – three fan-favourites, and Prowl – and announce their plans to slip past their enemies’ early warning systems in the captured craft. All the while, NRG’s Instruments of Destruction writhes and grinds away, frontman Les Brown adopting a distinctly James Hetfield-like, lip-definitely-curled growl as the (pretty graphic, tbh) cartoon slaughter plays out.