Groove and Gamble: Top Rock-Inspired Slot Machines You Need to Hear

Hard rock and heavy metal have always dealt with subjects that the rest of society might consider taboo. The classic phrase associated with rock music in the 60s was “sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll” after all. Gambling has always been a fairly taboo topic, even with the immense success of the industry in the 20^th century. However, now that casinos have gone digital the sector is experiencing a renaissance in a sense.

Rock music is sadly not as prevalent as it once was. But the classic bands of the genre remain cultural touchstones for many. Many slot game developers have partnered with popular bands because of their connection to the gambling industry. The top rock-inspired slot machines might be ones that long-time gamblers have already seen and even played. But, there are newcomers to the industry every day.

That is why we would like to shine a light on some of the best slot machines that are keeping the spirit of rock’n’roll alive. These slots might especially excite players in an age when they can play all of them for free online. Let us take a look at the crossroads between groove and gambling and explore the best slots inspired by the best bands to come out of rock and heavy metal.

Motorhead’s Ace of Spades is an ode to casino culture:

Guns N’ Roses

The 1980s was an era of extravagance in rock music. Bands would dress up in provocative outfits and spark the ire of local activist groups. Their behavior ultimately came to be seen as a parody of rock music. Guns N’ Roses made it to the top in such an environment. The band came as a result of a merger between two other L.A. groups. Axl Rose certainly had the spirit of the glam metal frontmen. His provocative dancing and sleazy stage persona never failed to enrage local soccer moms and conservatives. Rose also had an incredible voice and a flair for drama. Fans of the band remember the high-spirited Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle. But the band is just as famous for the more contemplative rock anthems like November Rain or Civil War.

The band’s fiery talent is what made them such icons of the 80s and 90s. It is also why many remember them to this day. Their inclusion in video games like Guitar Hero speaks volumes regarding their legacy. Naturally, they are the perfect choice to be the mascots of one of the most successful slot games in history. The Guns N’ Roses slot was developed by NetEnt. It is only appropriate that one of the most respected game developers in iGaming is going to create a slot based around one of the most respected rock bands. The game features a killer soundtrack powered by Guns N’ Roses’ biggest hits. Sweet Child O’ Mine and Welcome to the Jungle are the two standouts here. What many might not be prepared for are the incredible graphics that give the slot game life and energy. Three rows and five reels make up a total of 20 paylines which are guaranteed to immerse the player in the high-octane world of Rose, McKeegan, and the man himself, Slash.

Megadeth

The glam metal genre dominated the early and mid-80s. Commercial bands like Poison and Motley Crue brought metal to the mainstream MTV crowd. Most rock fans were happy. But there were also those that did not appreciate what would be called the sanitization of heavy metal. A new genre of heavy metal emerged as a direct counter-force to the hair bands of the era. Thrash metal brought a punk attitude to heavy metal songwriting. These bands managed to capture a new sound capturing the hearts and minds of old fans and new ones. Metallica is the most successful and respected of the early thrash metal creators. The band is now synonymous with heavy metal. Though Metallica’s former guitarist Dave Mustaine may disagree. Mustaine started his own thrash metal band after a very hostile farewell with his former bandmates. Megadeth brought a degree of savagery and aggression to the thrash genre that not even Metallica possessed. Their first few albums were instant hits which earned them a spot in “The Big Four of Thrash Metal.” The band would often deal with topics like war, criminality, and of course gambling. This fact made Megadeth the perfect choice for being the poster boys of an incredibly popular slot game by Leander Games.

The Megadeth slot was developed by Leander Games in 2012. The first thing you will notice when firing up this hard rock slot is the 5×4 layout. The next thing that catches your eye will certainly be the band members posing in lieu of the typical symbols that one might associate with slot games. Other unique symbols include Mustaine’s iconic guitar as well as the band’s blind skeleton mascot that has been with them since their first album, Killing is My Business…and Business is Good! Leander’s slot has 40 paylines and even includes a bonus round that will help fans unlock free spins and multipliers. The biggest draw is of course the music that accompanies the player as they are absorbed in the realm of Megadeth. Classics like Symphony of Destruction or Holy Wars will blare in the background giving the epic feeling that one cannot help but get when listening to Megadeth’s music.

Ozzy Osbourne

Many attribute the birth of heavy metal to the boys from Birmingham. When Tony Iommi came together with fellow musicians Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, and united them with the incredible vocal stylings of Ozzy Osbourne heavy metal was officially born as Black Sabbath. Today, Sabbath is one of the most iconic bands in history. There is no denying that part of the reason for Black Sabbath’s iconic status the singer’s unique voice though the band has had success with and without Ozzy Osbourne. The four Birmingham residents attained global success by the late 70s. But, the inner politics of the band were anything but rosy. By the decade’s end Ozzy had grown tired of Sabbath’s musical evolution. The Prince of Darkness partnered with guitarist Randy Rhoads releasing the iconic Blizzard of Ozz. Instant classics like Suicide Solution and Mr. Crowley quickly proved that Ozzy had what it takes to be a star. Of course, in the decades that followed the founders of heavy metal would reunite several times. Their most recent reunion was a charity concert dedicated to Parkinson’s. The same disease that ultimately claimed Ozzy Osbourne’s life a mere week or so ago. His funeral procession is going to be passing through Birmingham to honor the rock legend’s roots.

Black Sabbath has never partnered with any slot developers though some fans have asked for a game. Lucky for them that Ozzy Osbourne did lend his likeness to NetEnt. The slot development studio published the Ozzy Osbourne slot in 2019. The 5×3 layout is pretty standard for games created by the company. Players will enjoy 20 paylines and an adjustable return to player rate which begins at 96,67%. Fans of the Prince of Darkness will also come across some of the following features:

• Coin Win: A chosen symbol results in a coin win.
• Symbol Multiplier: a multiplier to all winning combos.
• Wild: a chosen symbol will transform into a wild symbol.
• Upgrade: all of the symbols that match the chosen will get an upgrade in level.

The Ozzy Osbourne slot also features a lot of the Prince of Darkness’ classic tunes as with any music-themed slots. But what truly elevates this one is the way the music pairs with the creepy imagery that truly suits Black Sabbath’s most iconic front men. The gothic art style of the slot truly brings out that 20^th century horror vibe that Black Sabbath attempted to translate into music quite successfully.

Jimi Hendrix

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Hendrix the most influential guitarists of all time. Songs like Purple Haze and Hey Joe are staples of rock playlists even today. Hendrix truly encapsulated that “Devil may care” attitude that many rock fans relate to when it comes to the music that they enjoy. His guitar-work spoke for itself and his cryptic lyrics made him the talk of the town. A member of the grimly-named “27 Club,” Hendrix may have passed away at a young age. But he left a legacy that will outlast many of the musicians from his era. That legacy is being kept alive in music and literature. It is also being kept alive in the world of slots as of 2016.

The Jimi Hendrix slot is another one of NetEnt’s most beloved and respected music-themed games. It is a 5×3 layout slot like the rest of the company’s titles that have appeared on this list. Players can expect to find 20 different ways to win the prize. But it doesn’t end with the basics. The Jimi Hendrix slot has a few incredible features that every fan of slots will enjoy.

• Free Spins: players can unlock free spins during their gameplay.
• Red Guitar Re-Spins: a player has the ability to respin after failing to win a prize.
• RTP Ranges: the return to player rate on the Jimi Hendrix slot ranges depending on the player.
• Purple Haze: The Purple Haze feature transforms the classic slot symbols into wilds.

The one thing we have to point out is that many might not enjoy the aesthetic that NetEnt decided to go with when creating this slot. They certainly got the color scheme right. Blue and purple are the predominant color. Floral patterns also decorate the game calling to mind the hippie movement that Hendrix was so proud to represent. But the aesthetic fails to capture the rebellious nature of one of the greatest guitar legends. That might not sit well with some of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s more hardcore fans and followers.

Sabaton

We have looked at classic bands and artists whose legacy paved the way for rock’n’roll for years to come. But what about a modern band that keeps that spirit alive in the 21^st century? Sabaton are a Swedish power metal band whose interest in the fantastic and unnatural soon waned. They found that a lot more excitement can be found in real world human history. Primo Victoria is he band’s first album and deals with the heroic achievements of soldiers from various historic wars. The title track is an ode to those brave soldiers who stormed the beach in Normandy in the final days of World War II. The second world war is not the only inspiration for their songs. The band tackles topics from all historical periods and cultures. Some of the most iconic songs deal with the following themes:

• The Shiroyama Rebellion which brought about the end of Bushido
• Swedish history and their Monarchs’ achievements
• Heroes who defied all odds in history to now grace our books
• Modern history
• World War I

The band’s interest in different historical time periods has reignited a spark and a passion for military history among their fans. It also seems that their fans have a knack for online slots. After all, in 2019 Play’n’Go released a game based around Sabaton, which was incredibly successful.

Primo Victoria, the title track off of Sabaton’s first album:

The Sabaton slot has a ranging RTP starting at 94.5%. It goes well with the 5 reels and 3 rows which come together in 10 different pay lines. We must also praise Play’n’Go for their visual design of this slot. The grey and brown colors go amazingly with the band’s musical themes. It makes it all the more satisfying when the fans will hear the high-octane notes of some of the band’s most iconic songs. Playing the slot truly makes one feel like they are in a tank, participating in the many battles that the boys from Falun have immortalized in music.