I know Back in Black is the usual choice of the AC/DC connoisseur, and that album is so good it makes my nips pop out, but for me Highway to Hell is the quintessential Bon Scott album. So much swagger even an MP3 drips with sweat. Angus Young at his "Yes, I am just that good, so just rock out or go fuck yourself" prime. "Shot Down in Flames" could make Stephen Hawking head bang. I'm a horror writer, and as such early on I adopted "If You Want Blood (You Got It)" as my theme song; I want my books to be fun, to rock, and to take the readers out of their world, as does the music kicked out by the greatest rock band of all time.

2: Spend the Night by Donnas -

If you are male, heterosexual, love rawk guitar and are known to throw the horns from time to time, it's pretty hard not to give The Donnas a standing ovation (in your pants). They could have called this album "Marhsalls, Gibsons, Sex & Sneers." It's a soundtrack to a summer of girls drinking, smoking, fist-fighting, partying and taking what they want while telling anyone who objects to kiss their collective asses. This album vibrates with pure attitude, from "Take It Off" to my favorite track, "Too Bad About Your Girl." Allison Robertson's flat-out-rock guitar screams throughout, while singer Brett Anderson voice had so much sneer on it her upper lip must be somewhere above her left eyebrow. Maya Ford and Tori Castellano anchor the ripped-jean rock. "Spend the Night" is flat-out party rock fun.

3: Spend the Night by Ludacris -

Sweet Jesus is this guy a wordsmith. As a writer, the skills of some authors just make my head spin, and Luda's got something to say. From the menage a trois tribute song "Teamwork" to the summer soundtrack cut "Stand Up," these songs radiate the confidence of a man that knows he's crazy-smart. "Southern Fried Intro" requires multiple listens to appreciate the word-working talents. Plus, it has one of my favorite un-PC songs of all time, "Hoes In My Room."

4: Kings of Metal by Manowar -

Epic, operatic, over-the-top metal songs telling epic tales of epic fucking awesomeness. This album combines my love for storytelling, a childhood spent in my parents' basement playing D&D, and the genetic resonance to whole-note power chords and epic shredding fucking awesome epic guitar solos. Every time I listen to this album, I look around for my mace and my helm so I can go out and smash in the skulls of the pretenders. "Heart of Steel" is the ultimate "rebel with a sword" power ballad; the track is so epic it makes lighters materialize out of thin air. Nothing says "I wish my Harley was a warhorse and that murder was legal" like "Wheels of Fire." "Hail and Kill" and "The Crown & The Ring" are the secret soundtrack to CONAN: THE BARBARIAN (the original, thank you very much). I listen to these tracks and get nervous that a cloaked James Earl Jones is standing behind me, staring with that evil-ass smirk. And as far as "excuse me while I whips dis out" attitude goes, Manowar comes right out and claims the throne to the word "epic" itself with the title track. Fire, blood, pain and glory.

5: Kings of Metal by Coral Fang -

This record recently snuck up on me. I'd heard of the Distillers, but had never heard them until Pandora Radio served up a few tracks. I'm a punk fan but not an aficionado and know little of the genre's finer points. I don't know much about it, but what I do know is when songs resonate with my soul. To me, "Hall of Mirrors" captures the essence of burning bright, of dealing with life's everyday pain and trying to take everything you can, all the while carrying the weight that no matter what you do, your days are numbered. Brody Dalle's voice combines the pointlessness of everything with the importance of fighting against all of it for no other reason than fighting is what makes life worth living. I can't explain it, but this album nails me right in the heart.

I’m a New York Times best-selling author living in San Francisco. I write modern-day hard-science horror-thrillers for Crown/Random House, and YA far-future scifi for Dark Øverlord Media. All of the books are in the same timeline, a lovely place we call “The Siglerverse.” My book NOCTURNAL comes out April 3, 2012. More information about me & links to buy my books or get the free podcasts are at scottsigler.com

Editor’s Note: I love Scott’s work. You will too. Go read it.