Everyone has their own taste in music and I would never criticize what someone else likes. Music is mainly a large math equation and the numbers key into everyone's brains differently.
Mentioning high school sound tracks: My brain locks and stomach churns when I hear 98% of any Music that was popular in high school. I absolutely think, with very few exceptions, that most music from my youth sucks. I often feel abnormal because I find very few people in my age group will even tolerate what I love. I thought I would get older and my tastes would mellow but I think it's actually refining and focusing on even harder, edgier, maybe not quite metal but it sure ain't going softer. In my personal opinion air play R&R was at its best during the 90's.
Of course mood plays into it. I'm a huge Blues fan during reflective times. My Sundays are usually enjoyed with a jazz background but when I'm working, moving around or out for a good time I love dance music (not the new Taylor Swift or whatever stuff). I love beat, trance type stuff where you can just lose yourself or stuff that gets me motivated. The reason I had real good luck with the fairer sex in my single days was because I went somewhere and never sat down. If I was in a bar and dance music came on some honey was going to dance with me. My wife and I rocked together, she loved to dance and was an amazing dancer so we just frankly always had a great time. That song from my last post was one of many we would groove to and it brought back memories. She doesn't move so well anymore due to various issues but I could crank it up at home and we tore up carpet.
I'll post more as I remember them. Some guys will agree, I suspect a lot in my age group will think I'm weird. I know I probably am but I likes what I likes.
in no particular order, these can get the ol' heart beat elevated....
Metallica - anything off the Black album
Skindred - No Body Gets Out Alive
Non Point - Rabia
Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest For The Wicked
The Flys - Got You Where I Want You
White Stripes - Icky Thump
Toadies - Possum Kingdom
White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
Slipknot - anything off the Iowa album
Black Eyed Peas - Pump It
Skrillex - Bangarang
These are just a few on random on my phone. There's different folders for various genre's of course. Classic rock has a bazillion songs on it, 80's music is chock full of new wave and old school rap, got some mellow crap with Dave Matthews and Oasis, etc. But the ones I listed above will get my toes tapping
Not the hardest rock in the world, but I just bought tickets to see them at Soul Kitchen in Mobile. I was pissed when Bayfest shut down, but now I'm kinda glad since I get to see a whole concert of theirs. https://youtu.be/MLeIyy2ipps