Welcome to the globalized underground music genre known as Heavy Metal. Here you will find reviews and discussions on Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music and it's bands. Prepare to be Metalized!
I keep thinking to myself, what is the difference between
Hark Rock and Heavy Metal? Hard Rock as we know it is obviously the harder
heavier version of rock, while Metal is more of that raised to the nth degree.
The question is, what distinguishes one form of heavy music from the other?
Differentiation in heavy music can be easily separated by extremes.
Such has Def Leppard vs. Slayer. Slayer can definitely be defined as Heavy Metal while Leppard as Hard Rock. What happens when
artist’s crossover? Or when artists have variations in their styles? What is
the fine line in the sand that would be drawn to distinguish what category a
band would fall into, Heavy Metal or Hard Rock?
Alice Cooper, if
you look at the original Alice Cooper
band, they are discerned as classic rock with hits like “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “I’m
Eighteen” and “Schools Out”. Those
songs compared to other music of that time can be defined as Hard Rock. As you
go to later in his career, such as the album Brutal Planet, that has a
much heavier heavy metal sound. So, does that make Alice Cooper Hard Rock, Classic Rock, or Metal?
When comparing bands from the same era, they can have total different
sounds from each other even if they come from a similar background. Bands are
affected by their influences and tastes in music which evolve over time. So
there really isn’t a fine line for determining which band is Hard Rock and which
one is Metal. The difference between Hark Rock and Heavy Metal bands, I think
it comes down to perception and attitude. It’s the impression left on the
audience as portrayed by the artists that make them Hard Rock or Metal. I
prefer not to label bands and their music. I believe a great song is a great
song no matter what genre. The band and their song(s) will stand the test of
time.
After four years, Testament
just released their 11th studio album Brotherhood of the Snake.
Since their studio album The Gathering in 1999, they have had
a string of great albums which were produced. Their album Dark Roots of the Earth released
in 2012is one of my personal favorites. After about 33 years of
playing Heavy Metal music, Testament
is still going as strong as ever.
During the week leading up to the release of their most
recent album, Testament made a short
video series which was released on social media where they talked about each
song. There were 5 videos featuring guitarist Eric Peterson and vocalist Chuck
Billy. Each of these videos included sound bits and discussions about two
their songs featured on this album.
The Music:
The album opens with the title track “Brotherhood of the Snake”. It starts off with a punch, that
includes a combination of a fast riff and percussive power. After the second
chorus, the riff slows down and becomes epic. This is a high-energy song that
grabs you when it starts. It’s a great opening to the album.
“The Pale King”
is significantly faster than the first track. The song really changes
throughout the song as it seems to never return to the same chord progression. The
lyrics “Anu have mercy on my soul” sounds like some deep voiced spoken word. The
song doesn’t have a certain style that defines it. It goes from Thrash to some
Black Metal sounding stuff; the song mixes a variety of different metal genres.
“Stronghold” continues
with a similar speed to the last track. This song is one of the more
politically charged pieces on the album. The chorus is very in your face, with
the last line having both lead and backing vocals shouting out. “Stronghold” is another percussive song
and I love drummer Gene Holgan’s
double bass.
“Seven Seals” has
a distinct intro which leads into a charging main riff. After the lyrics end,
the song opens up into a shred fest for guitarist Alex Skolnick, where he actually ad-libs some vocals. With the
different progressions in the song, I kept thinking that the song is going end and
then it picked up again and kept me hooked.
“Born in a Rut”
is a slower song that goes more towards the groove metal side of music. When
its main riff kicks in, your head wants to move along to the beat. From the
lyrics, I is see that this song has a sad but unapologetic theme. I believe
that the subject matter of this song will resonate with many people. As the end
of the song nears with the beating of the drums, I can imagine during a live
performance that the audience would be chanting to the beat.
“Centuries of
Suffering” starts with a short drum fill and then jump right into the riff.
It’s a very thrashy song that makes me want to start a mosh pit. The vocal
delivery is more monotone than the previous songs. “Centuries of Suffering” thematically is about the thousands of
years of bloodshed by the human race through war. That has progressed from the
use of sticks and stones to nuclear weapons. Near the end, the riff changes up
which adds a different flavor to the overall piece.
Track number seven, “Black
Jack”, has a catchy riff and a very good thrashy feel to it. In the
midsection, the song has a great shred fest with guitarist Eric Peterson. The song is more centralized on the instrumentals
then the words, but the lyrics have a good message about how life is a gamble.
Its a fast and hectic song that emulates the feeling of being in a Vegas
casino.
“Neptune’s Spear”
starts off with this really heavy chord progression. This is another song with
a riff that builds up, this progression makes the riff all the more intriguing.
The piece has a very steady beat throughout the song. Alex Skolnick has a great solo that add so much to this song; it’s
a definite highlight for this track. The song has a very military centric
theme, as the basis of the song is about the military operation “Neptune’s Spear” which was about SEAL Team Six taking out OsamaBin Laden. The song closes with the sound of helicopters which is a
great way to close this track.
“Canna-Business” starts
off with an old-school sound and then picks up the pace into a more modern
sounding chord progression in the riff. The song address a current topic of
legalization of marijuana and the business spawned from that. The song is short
and sweet, but you have listen to this song a few times in order to appreciate
the full experience of it.
“The Numbers Game”
has an opening riff that sounds very militant, almost like marching. The main
riff of this song is one of the heaviest on the album, with the drumming
sounding like gunshots. In the middle of the song, the instrumentals follow along
with the drums making for a very percussive section. The guitar solos wail as Skolnick and Peterson soar over the instrumentals. The theme starts off as if
being the executioner on death row, but progresses into that person being a
serial killer. The song closes the album, saving the heaviest for last.
Verdict:
Guitarists Alex
Skolnick and Eric Peterson have
some great solos on this album. The overall instrumentals are great, especially
the percussion. This album displays the capability of this band and their
staying power. The album covers themes from ancient societies to the current
political area. The band features the deep growling voice of Chuck Billy that has a rhythmic sync
with the percussion. This differentiates them from the sound from many other
bands.
Brotherhood of the Snake is a very heavy album. From the beginning
to the end of the album it bleeds Thrash Metal. While listening to many of the
songs, I envisioned a mosh pit going along to the music. If you love Thrash Metal,
with some serious intensity, then you will love this album. Go check it out!
Top 6 Songs:
1) “Neptune’s Spear” 2) “Brotherhood of the Snake”
3) “Stronghold”
4) “The Pale King”
5) “Born in a Rut”
6) “Black Jack”
From left to right: Eric Peterson, Alex Skolnick, Steve DiGiorgio, Chuck Billy & Gene Hoglan
You can follow Testament
on Facebook and Twitter. There official website is here.
While this past Monday was a day of spooky fun times, today I’d
just like to take some time and reflect on one of rock’s greatest tragedies.
That is, the tragedy of Jason Becker.
Becker had a promising carrier ahead
of him. He was in a band called Cacophony
with fellow guitarist Marty Freidman.
In that band, they shredded guitars at a million miles a minute. He had a
blooming solo carrier and then was invited to join David Lee Roth’s solo band at the young age of 19. When he joined
Roth’s band in 1990, he had to fill the big shoes of guitar hero Steve Vai. The tragedy starts there,
because after he recorded the album, A Little Ain't Enough in the David Lee Roth band, Becker was diagnosed with ALS (a.k.a. Lou
Gehrig's disease).
Many of his friends and fellow guitar heroes like Joe Satriani or the previously
mentioned Marty Freidman, speak of
his legendary prowess on the guitar, and it doesn’t take a genius to find that
out. Just listening to any of the material like his solo album, Perpetual
Burn, tells the tale of his virtuosity on the instrument. He is a true
guitar hero and had he not been afflicted with ALS he would be talked about
like the other guitar legends.
Before his diagnosis
After his diagnosis
Since his diagnosis, he has continued to record music even
though he can’t move his body. This is thanks to a machine his father built for
him in order to communicate. There is a documentary called Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet, which is a great documentary and if
you want to learn more about his story you should check it out.
Since his affliction, he has released 5 solo albums and has
guested on other albums like Marty
Friedman’s 2014 solo album Inferno. Recently, Jason Becker has announced that he wants
to make a new album. So, he is crowd funding for the new album. It will have
many guest guitarist, and if funded it should be released in 2017. If you love guitars
and heavy music, go check out the albums he has made during his career and
please help support his Indiegogo campaign for the new album.
There is a reason there are so many mentions of Marty Friedman, one is that he is best
friends with Jason Becker, two they
still are in regular contact and collaborate together on music. Finally, I am a
huge fan of Friedman because of his guitar
virtuosity when he was in Megadeth.
The Pretty Reckless
is a newer band that formed in 2009 and recently produced their third album
entitled Who You Selling For. I was introduced to this band through
their second album, Going to Hell, which impressed me with the high caliber of the
songs that were presented within that release. After listening to their second album,
I felt enthusiastic about their music and was looking forward to their next
album release. When The Pretty Reckless
announced their third album was coming out and released the first single from
it, I was anxiously anticipating listening to the new music.
The Music:
As the album begins, the first segment of the two-part song
is a piano piece that is called “The Walls Are Closing In” which is the first
part of the song “The Walls Are Closing
In/Hangman”. After the brief piano intro, the song switches to the second
part entitled “Hangmen” which has a very rhythmic riff which picks up the pace
and leads into the chorus. In the beginning of the song, the piano complements Taylor Momsen’s melodic voice, whereas during
the second part of the song, both the music and her voice are very monotonic
except during the chorus.
“Oh My God”
demonstrates Momsen’s rougher vocal
style, which has been one of the draws to The
Pretty Reckless band. Her style is unlike that of most female vocalists
that we are accustom to hearing who typically demonstrate their soprano
abilities. “Oh My God” is the
fastest song on the album and hits that hard rock cord.
“Take Me Down” is
the lead single and has a good opening riff which leads to a bold catchy
chorus. The song is rather euphoric sounding, but has a serious message. It’s
got a catchy melody and a chorus to boot and the singer makes you focus on the
lyrics. To me it seem that this song has a “Sympathy for the Devil” vibe to it. The tone of the song starts
slower and slowly builds up as the tune continues to the end. It’s a solid hard
rock tune.
“Prisoner” starts
with clapping to the beat of a march that continues throughout the song. The
sound reminds me of what you might hear when a chain gang is working. It also reminds
me of an old gospel or blues song. The guitar and bass enter giving a simple
slow riff making way for Momsen’s
vocals which form a melody above the rhythmic beat. Lyrically the line “You can
have my body, But you can’t have me” mirrors the theme of being a prisoner.
“Wild City”
reminds me of a 70’s Blaxploitation movie, especially the show Shaft.
“Back to the River”
is a song that reminds me of an Allman
Brothers esque southern rock jam song, and it also features a former member
of The Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, who was with The Allman Brothers Band from 1989–1997
and 2000–2014.
The title track “Who
You Selling For” has some references to the members of the Beatles and Pink
Floyd. Overall this song sounds like a ballad as it has a softer riff.
The acoustic song, “Bedroom
Window”, is a short and sweet piece of music. It’s a ballad like song with
a simple melody that goes up and down making a soothing track where the focus
is on the words.
“Living In The Storm”
picks up the pace with a faster beat that has me tapping my foot to the beat. It’s
one of the longer tracks on the album and showcases the instrumental abilities
of the band. The song also has a really nice guitar solo about halfway through
the song. The tune seems to touch on the subject of substance abuse and trying
to avoid being pulled into that way of life.
“Already Dead”
slows the album tempo down with a very bluesy riff which makes for a sadder
song. The music emotes strong feelings of sadness about a person who is dead, which
then amplifies with a guitar solo midway through the song.
“The Devil's Back”
is the longest song on the album, being a little over seven minutes long. The
song retains the somber mood that has been created on the latter half of the
album. After all the lyrics are sung, the guitar starts to wail mimicking the
vocal melody. This song is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s wailing guitars.
The album closes with the song, “Mad Love”. It starts off with a Beatles esque sound in the intro, then changes into a funky beat. Momsen’s vocals have a distortion to
them that creates an interesting dynamic in the song. I like the steady beat
but this song focuses on the melodic vocals more than the instrumentals, with
the vocal solos sounding like there are multiple people singing together.
Verdict:
Who You Selling For is another top-heavy album, where most of
the catchy hits are played on the first half. The Pretty Reckless
continues to mature musically with every album. There are songs that are
reminiscent of The Beatles, Allman Brothers and Pink Floyd, showing the bands
influences on their sleeve. This album is a great hard rock album and I
recommend you check it out especially if you love hard rock.
Top 5 Songs:
1) “Take Me Down”
2) “Oh My God”
3) “Prisoner”
4) “Living In The
Storm”
5) “Back to the River”
From left to right: Mark Damon, Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips and Jamie Perkins
You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and their
official website is here.
Following the big three early metal bands (Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep
Purple), Judas Priest is the
next most important metal band to come out of the U.K. They started in the
early to mid-1970’s and had a very blues oriented sound and style. Only a few
years later, they shed off the blues sound and became the first band to be
classified as metal. They inspired the leather and studs look and had songs
that represented that refined metal sound. If you listen to some of their
earlier songs, like from Sad Wings of Destiny, and then a
song from their album Painkiller, you would note a
distinct difference because their later works are heavier.
Judas Priest is
still one of the biggest bands in metal. In their US shows, they fill large
theaters. What keeps drawing fans to their shows during their tours is that they
still give a great live performance. Each of the musicians are still at the top
of their game, and Rob Halford still
screams gloriously. They also continue to record new music, which in this day
and age is something their peers are forgoing and resting on their past
laurels.
When talking about Judas
Priest, most people cite their duel guitar attack and Halford’s vocals. While these attributes certainly made them stand
out from the crowd back in the day, for me what really sets Judas Priest apart from other heavy
metal bands is that they have good songs which are true to the Heavy Metal
genre. Their epics like “Screaming for
Vengeance” to their anthems like “Living
After Midnight” made them stand out from other bands sonically. For me, it
was the character of the band that made them so likable. Because they are the
“Metal Gods”, they wave the flag of metal and they wear that label as a badge
of honor. That is something every metalhead can get behind.
Top 10 favorite
songs:
1) “Victim of Changes”
2) “Painkiller”
3) “Rapid Fire
4) “Beyond the Realms of Death”
5) “Metal Meltdown”
6) “Hell Bent for Leather”
7) “The Rage”
8) “Halls of Valhalla”
9) “Blood Red Skies”
10) “Screaming for Vengeance”
No, I’m not going to have “Breaking the law”, “You’ve Got
another thing Comin”, or “Living after Midnight” on my list because they are
over played and everybody knows those songs.
From left to right: Ian Hill, Scott Travis, Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton
You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and their
official website is here.
I’m not a fan of Alter
Bridge, or rather I haven’t had the chance to listen to any of their music
before this album was released. What I’m saying is that this is my entry into
the music of this band and it will foretell if I will go back to check out
their previous albums. From what I know of the members of Alter Bridge, is that the vocalist/guitarist Miles Kennedy is also the singer of Slash’s solo band and I know of Mark Tremonti’s guitar virtuosity. I think it’s funny to point out,
for those that don’t know, that three fourths of the band were in the band Creed.
I’ve heard of Alter
Bridge in podcasts and articles, so I knew that they at least had something
going for them, because a band that is talked about must be good. So for this
album my only real introduction was the video of the opening track “Show Me a Leader”. I liked it so I
decided to purchase it when it came out.
The Music:
“Show Me a Leader”
has a serene intro that sounds very majestic. When the bass and drums enter,
the riff takes off and the guitar soars over the rest of the instrumentals.
Then the main riff begins and propels the song forward. This song is very
relevant with the American presidential election looming over us. The song is
about the people who are tired and numb from their so called leaders leaving
them cold. They want a leader who is trustworthy, who won’t compromise and will
give them hope. They don’t need a person who is selling themselves as or being
sold as a savior. “Show Me a Leader” is a good opening track that makes you want to
hear more.
“The Writing On the
Wall” is a song that makes you think about how others can see the writing on
the wall but you can’t. I like how the vocals mimic the riff in the beginning
part of the song. It has a nice complex riff as the guitars, bass and drums
form a good harmony. Lyrically, it imposes the thought that there’s nobody else
to blame but you for whatever sins you commit or actions that you repeat over
and over again. Overall it’s another great song.
“The Other Side”
is distinctly heavier than the previous songs. It opens with a soft chant and
builds up and then the instrumentals to join in. One thing that I found that
was omitted in this song was that there was no big long guitar solo. The song
sound dark as the notes continually descend the scale. I find this song is
about people who are self-righteous or closeminded about faith and
spirituality. In that they are often not open to other people’s views. They
judge others and say they’ll go to hell while they claim that they have a
straight path to heaven. When in reality they are only setting themselves up
for damnation.
“My Champion” is
a much more upbeat song in both sound and lyrics. The song’s riff sonically
rises up the scale. In this song, we have the return of a big guitar solo which
is another showcase of the bands abilities. Thematically, I see parallels to Survivors famous song “Eye of the Tiger”. It’s about rising up
when your knocked down and never giving up. It has an encouraging theme which
leaves the listener with a good feeling.
“Poison In Your Veins”
jumps in with the drums and a fast riff. The chorus is really catchy and makes
the listener want to sing along to it. Again, there is another great guitar
solo. The song is very emphatic and hooks in the listener till the very end. Lyrically
the song is about how some people have aspirations, but beat themselves up and
don’t let themselves peruse their dreams. They have a poison in their blood, so
to speak, that continuously beats themselves down. These people never reach
their goals or potential in life because they self-destruct and this song is
encouraging people to cast aside their self-doubt to achieve their dreams.
“Cradle To the Grave”
has a very powerful and engaging opening riff that immediately hooks in the
listener. This song has two great solos placed in the later part of the song.
This is a somber song which makes you contemplate your relationships with your
parents and siblings and that you realize when they’re gone you won’t have
their arm around you to shelter you. This song deals with the loss of someone
close to you like a mother or father. It also touches on the fact of how inevitability
time passes by and how nothing lasts forever. All that we’re left with is our
memories to fall back on.
“Losing Patience”
is another song that makes you want to listen to the message which is strongly
enforced by a catchy chorus. It is a song about how instead of just waiting
around for something to happen that you should just go out and make it happen. Carpe diem.
“This Side of Fate”
has a more serene riff than most of the other songs on the album. The song
almost sounds like a ballad, but the riff picks up for the chorus and solos. This
song allows the vocalist Miles Kennedy to display his ability. This song is
about living with your decisions and the outcomes.
“You Will Be
Remembered” is a softer song, and has an almost country or gospel vibe to
it. It’s a very different song that adds a distinctive flavor to the album. The
song is very uplifting and is very easy to listen to. Lyrically, it’s about
people who sacrifice a lot, even themselves, for others. These heroes should be
appreciated for their accomplishments and be remembered.
“Crows On a Wire”
is one of the heavier songs on the album. The beginning of the song starts off
with a great guitar sound and drums that makes you want to move to the beat.
Then, the vocals are added to carry the melody throughout the entire track. It
is rather upbeat sounding. Throughout the entire song you hear the guitar, bass
and drums with one guitar solo. Lyrically, the song is about power and glory. For
anyone in the public eye, no secrets can be hidden. Being in the spotlight can
be a double edged sword. Some people can build you up while others want to take
you down. Our society likes to put people up on pedestals and then tear them
down. Overall, It’s a great tune to listen to.
“Twilight” is a
more upbeat song in comparison to the previous track. The chorus has an
interesting dynamic as it starts with backing vocals with the main vocals following
afterwards. The song stresses the need for tolerance. The world is in conflict
and if we as people don’t tolerate others we’re going to destroy the world we
live in, and we only have ourselves to blame. Hoping that things don’t get
worse, while we are looking and praying for changes for a better future.
“Island of Fools”
has a progressive sounding riff that make it sound epic. Later in the song, the
riff becomes much heavier right around the time when the guitar solo takes
place. The message of the song seems to be that we all have certain images of
what life should be, but our dreams are shattered through our experiences in
life. So we have to have courage and perseverance to pick up the pieces to save
ourselves. If we don’t work towards our destiny, we’ll just be fools waiting for
the future to unfold.
The title track, “The
Last Hero”, is the closing song on the album, not including bonus tracks. The
melody of the chorus is reminiscent of another song on the album, which creates
some continuity to the album. The riff progresses and becomes heavier, then
changes to a more serene sound which bridges right into the chorus. This song
has more great guitar soloing from the band. The question posed in this song is,
“Are there any more heroes left in this word?” Leaders try to bring change about,
but others tried to undermine them. Time will tell whether their decisions were
right or wrong, but it doesn’t help when they are being downtrodden. With the first
song “Show Me a Leader”, the eighth
song “This Side of Fate” and this
track, it almost feels like they are a continuation of a similar theme.
“Last of Our Kind”
is a bonus track that came with the digital and special edition versions of the
album. This song is on the heavier side which is reflected in the lyrics. The solo
by Mark Tremonti is phenomenal.
“The lyric was actually inspired by
when the exterminator came to our house because we had carpenter ants. And
after he sprayed the house and I went up and looked at all the ants writhing
around dying, I felt so bad and it broke my heart. So the song is written about
being exterminated from the ants’ perspective!” (Miles Kennedy, musicradar.com)
The song is from about human’s impact on other species which
in the mind of the masses is rarely contemplated.
“The title was actually supposed to
be Symphony Of Agony.” (Miles Kennedy, musicradar.com)
There is another bonus track, “Breathe”, on the exclusive CD version which can only be purchased
at Best Buy. Unfortunately, I don’t have this bonus track so I can’t review it.
Although, you can check out this little tidbit of the song below.
Verdict:
This band has some major talent, as both the lyrical content
and instrumentals are phenomenal. This album is on the longer side being 72
minutes, which includes the first bonus track. From another review I read, they
said that this album is top heavy. In a way, I agree. Most of the first half of
the album has very catchy songs that hook their riffs and melodies in you which
makes it more memorable. The latter half is no black sheep though there are
some great songs on there, some of which are growers and you have to listen to
them a few times to appreciate them. Overall, The Last Hero is a great
album that I recommend you take a listen to it and the other songs and albums
by Alter Bridge.
Top 6 Songs:
1) “My Champion”
2) “Show Me a Leader”
3) “Poison In Your
Veins”
4) “The Writing On
the Wall”
5) “The Other Side”
6) “Crows On a Wire”
From left to right: Scott Phillips, Myles Kennedy, Mark Tremonti and Brian Marshall
You can follow Alter Bridge on Facebook and Twitter.
Their official website is here.
Being “Too long at the party” is a term that is tossed
around in different contexts. The context of which I will be referring to is
when a band has been around so long that they are tarnishing their legacy. An
example of this situation would be when a band can’t perform as well as they
used to. In a band’s career, especially one that spans a long period of time, it
often incorporates a deep history that has evolved over several decades which
often includes lineup changes, musical directions, to break ups and
reformations. One might conclude that some bands may be staying “Too long at
the party.”
My intention is not to bash any artists, I’m here to be objective
and pose the question “Is [insert band name here] not as good as they used to
be?” Of course people are going to have their favorite eras of different bands,
what I’m asking is does that drummer hit as hard, can the singer still hit
those notes, etc.? I’ve looked at many different bands and in my opinion the
best artist that is older and still records and performs live to this day would
have to be Alice Cooper. In the case
of Alice Cooper, what it comes down to
is that his live performance is a show. Alice
himself was never known for his singing abilities, but rather as a performer, a
showman. So now that he is nearing his 70’s, he still gives a great live performance.
For him, he still performs as well as or better than he did in the past, but
now he just has to put on less makeup.
Being “Too long at the party” is a question that has to be answered on a case by case basis for each band, because the lifespan maybe 40, 50, or 60 years. It may not be a matter of making new music, although some bands seem to have creative burn out, but rather a contemplation of whether performing live is still appropriate. Some artists are hanging up the towel by going out with a bang. We call these farewell tours. Ozzy did it, although that really didn’t work out because he continued to record and tour years later. Lately, the two best examples of this are Twisted Sister and Mötley Crüe. Those two bands are retiring, although for different reasons while still at the top of their game.
A band may just stagnate and need some new blood to inject some energy into it. When people are deciding whether to go see a band’s live performance, they have to ask themselves if they are going just for the sake of nostalgia or whether they are going because they are expecting to see a great show. You have to ask yourself and the bands should ask themselves this question, Have they been around too long?
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