‘Enter Sandman’ Vs. ‘There’s Only One Way to Rock’ – March Riff Madness

Songs from two Bay Area rock legends -- Sammy Hagar's 'There's Only One Way to Rock' and Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' -- battle for the chance to advance in the Ultimate Classic Rock March Riff Madness competition.

After hours of family counseling and phone calls to the police from a few concerned neighbors, we managed to agree on 32 of classic rock’s most iconic riffs, then paired them off in 16 first-round duels. Over the next five weeks the field will be repeatedly cut in half by your votes, until we theoretically arrive at the most awesome riff in all of rock history.

Although 'I Can't Drive 55' is clearly Hagar's biggest solo hit, 'There's Only One Way to Rock' has proven almost as durable over the years, and if you're measuring the two songs strictly on the awesome-guitar-riff-o-meter, we're giving this track from 1981's 'Standing Hampton' the nod. Ask the Beastie Boys if you don't believe us.

The Red Rocker's got some heavy competition in the first single and lead-off track from Metallica's 1991 self-titled "Black Album." Or more specifically, the song and riff that helped them graduate from kings of the metal world to multi-platinum rulers of the entire musical universe.

So who will win this Northern California battle? It's up to you! You can vote once per hour until round one of our March Riff Madness voting closes on Sunday, March 9 at 11:59PM ET. The ultimate winner will be revealed on April 7.

Hear Sammy Hagar Perform 'There's Only One Way to Rock'

Watch Metallica Perform 'Enter Sandman'