Rock

Not Metal and Not Hard Rock

New Music Monday Blog Hard Rock And Metal Dream Line Up

In this Monday music blog, we are going to talk about my fantasy line up for a Hard Rock and Metal band.  Some of these artists might or might not be part of a metal or hard rock group.  It is kind of marriage of music.  They can be alive or dead.  With the growth of these “Super Groups” this could be a fun topic and I am looking at these artists to be together pass their prime of their career.  Let us get into the line up.

Drummer

I have three drummers in mind just in case if you can not get one.

  1. Jason  Bonham (Led Zeppelin) – I believe his hard and soft hitting would bend in to the thought pattern of this band.
  2. Neil Peart (Rush) – Just like Jason Bonham, Neil does the same thing in Rush and could be a better drummer.  It has been a debate for years with friends.
  3. Robb Reiner (Anvil) – Robb is a really good drummer.  He can keep up with Jason and Neil but the problem he plays too hard at times.  I was going to throw Keith Moon (The Who) but he has the same problem.  I love Robb’s drumming in Anvil and he brings the item of thrash metal and speed that Jason and Neil do not.

Bassist

I have three bassists in mind that could support the drummer and build a solid backbone to this fantasy band.

  1. Joey Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) – Joey coming from Ska band with some punk background would give an item that might work or not work in this fantasy band.  This band needs a bassist that will dance but sit in the pocket and Joey is one of the best in the Ska Scene.
  2. Cliff Burton (Metallica) – I believe we did not get to see the true Cliff Burton because he died too soon.  The short body of work shown me enough to put Cliff at the top of the list  Cliff could sit in the pocket with the drummer but go off and dance around any guitar player.
  3. Pete Way (UFO) – Pete’s style could help seal up the drums to the guitar players while still run around like Cliff did in Metallica.  The problem I would have Pete is lack of pushing the limits.

Keyboard

This player needs to be special and another support item to this band. I have three idea players. There are some rich players that play this instrument.

  1. Paul Raymond (UFO) – He will be a great fit. He is use to play with a great guitar player and bassist. Plus, he will play guitar when it make sense in the song over the keyboard and the other way around. Let us face it, not all songs needs two guitar players or keyboards in it.
  2. Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) – He plays both the support as back up and yet can go to the lead over the guitar or bass. He is not a very good singer even though he did sing on the first two records of Nightwish. He could help with the song writing and lyrics.
  3. Billy Joel – I know what you are thinking when I am suggesting Billy Joel. He is a talented player on the piano. The only problem is playing more of a keyboard and not be the lead singer. He can sing a few songs but could be a great back up singer for the lead. Just like (Nightwish), he can help with the sing writing.

Rhythm Guitar Player

This band might not be need two guitar players but if we are going to fill it.  Here is the idea three players.

  1. Paul Raymond (UFO) – see above.
  2. John Sykes (Whitesnakes, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy) – John  can do everything between lead vocals, lead, and rhythm guitar.  There could be a nice balance between two lead guitar players.  John has done a few of that in Thin Lizzy or Whitesnake.  He could be a good fit in this band.
  3. Chris Garza (Sucide Silence) – This band being a newer band.  There is a short body of work.  This band is an extreme metal group with some speed.  It might give something different than all the classic rock members that I have been naming.

Lead Guitar Player

The lead guitar player needs to be someone special that will not take over the group and make it all about him or her.  He will need to know his role a super group.  You can take out like Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendix, etc.

  1. Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) – This guy was it as far as great metal lead guitar players back in the back in the 1980’s.  He was very underrated.  Everyone had their man crush on Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammit, etc.  Chris just like John Sykes can sit in the pocket but when it comes to the solo.  Your mouth will drop to the floor.
  2. John Sykes (Whitesnakes, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy) – see above.  John could go back and forth, which could be a good thing.
  3. Robby Krieger (The Doors) – Robby like Chris DeGarmo is underrated guitar of his era.  He could fit what the song is doing and the theme of it.  He is a very good player and could support the drums, bass, keyboard, and singer.

Lead Singer

I had a lead singer in mind through out this whole process and I wish  I could head this music from this band.  Here are my three lead singer.

  1. Jim Morrison (The Doors) – Jim could bend his style into in any music and I believe the band could fit this music around his lyrics and poetry.  He was the start of the hard rock and metal music.  His dark themes in his lyrics will go with all the music from all these great artists.
  2. Kevin Martin (Candlebox) – Kevin is an awesome singer.  Kevin’s singing style has an attitude in all songs even in love songs.  Kevin would bend his style to this band. Kevin is a great lyric writer.
  3. Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Rainbow, Black Sabbath) – Why not Ronnie?  Dio is one of the best lead singer in the history of hard rock and metal.  Dio could sing in all styles.  He loved the fantasy so some of these artists could get along with him and write some great music.

Line Up:

  • Jim Morrison (The Doors) – Lead Vocals, Spoke Words
  • Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) – Lead Guitar, Back Vocals
  • Paul Raymond (UFO) – Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard, Back Vocals
  • Joey Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) – Bass Player, Back Vocals
  • Jason  Bonham (Led Zeppelin) – Drums

In the end, this was tough.  I thought this would be easy.  I realize these band members might not get along.  Jim with his drug and drinking problems would cause a ton of issues in the band alone.  Jim and Jason would be out all night with Joey but Joey would head home after a while.  Chris does not want to be a star nor touring artist that’s why he is not in Queensryche.   Paul would be the leader to keep everyone in line.  The music that this band would put out would be something else.  I would love to hear this music but there are a ton of different styles and I do not know how they would get along.  If you take Joey out on bass and put Cliff, would Cliff put more harmony in this group? Would Kevin or Dio as the lead singer make more sense?  Asides, Jason on drums put Neil on drums.  There are several questions.  How would Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, etc on guitar.  What about Geoff Tate. Tim Ripper Owens, and Rob Halford on vocals?  There are several more questions.  What about extreme metal singer at vocals?  Like Chris Burns?  I like this line up being a fan of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Soundgarden King Animal

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to look at the reunion record of Soundgarden.  King Animal was released in the later part of 2012.  Soundgarden was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil.  Soundgarden was the first of the Seattle Grunge bands to sign with a major label in 1988.  They found their success in the 1990’s like the rest of their friends like Alice In Chains, Nirvana, etc.  The band broke up in 1996 because of create direction issues.  They reunion in 2010 and King Animal followed shortly after that.  Soundgarden has six studio records including this record.   They also have one live record, four greatest hits records, and six EP’s.  Let us get into the music.

Songs

Been Away Too Long

This song is the first single off of King Animal.    Nice overdrive guitar riff at the beginning and then the drums come in with the bass.  Chris still has his voice and kept it healthy.    This song is something you would hear off their record called “Down On The Upside.”  It has a nice pace to the song.  This is a great comeback song for this great metal group.  There is some great music on this song.  Great finish to the song.

Non-State Actor

I am loving the guitar effect and the opening riff with a strong backbone from the drums and bass.  I am loving the music and great placement from the singer for his singing lines.  I am loving the lyrics on the last two songs.  There is a nice pace to the song.  I love the short guitar solo from Kim.  This band was never afraid to put guitar solos in their songs.  Nice finish to this song.

By Crooked Steps

I love the drums and guitar work set in the background at the beginning of the song.  It sounds like it comes slowly to the front and then snaps right into your face.  I am loving this song so far.  This reminds me of old school Soundgarden.  It has that deep dark theme in the music and lyrics.  The guitar riff is simple but it fits for what the band is trying to do in this song.  Nice guitar break and solo from Kim in the later part of the song.  This song is my favorite song so far on King Animal.  I am loving the well placed back up vocals with Chris singing over the top of it.  I am loving the building up for the ending of the song.  It has a great finish.

A Thousand Days Before

A Thousand Days Before starts out with some nice guitar work.  I am loving the drumming on this song and Chris comes in with the bass player.  I am loving the timing of the bass when it enters the song.  He does not starts with the drums when most bass players starts playing with the drums.  There is some great guitar work on this song.  It is a little slower pace to the rest of the songs from the beginning of the record.  Chris puts some thought in singing on this song.  I love the lyrics.

Blood On The Valley Floor

This song has that old school Soundgarden guitar playing, which is what made them famous.  It has that Classic Black Sabbath dark evil guitar riff.  I am not saying this is a Black Sabbath guitar work.  It has the sounds of it.  This is something I could hear off their first few records.  I am loving Chris’s singing on Blood On The Valley Floor.  This is one of my favorite songs.  Great drumming towards the end.

Bones Of Birds

There is some great guitar work at the beginning of Bones Of Birds.  This song is slower than the rest of the songs.  It is perfect timing for a slower song.  There is some solid drumming and bass work on this song.  Chris has a nice melody and lyrics in this song.  There is some well placed simple keyboard work on this song.  This is a very well written song.  The music echoes the feeling of the lyrics that Chris wrote for Bones Of Birds.  This is a great song.  I love it.  Nice touch on the end of the song with a simple bass line too.

Taree

Taree starts out with drums and guitar work that echos something off Superunknown.  This sounds like something between Black Hole Sun to Fell On Black Days.  Taree sounds like a loss track off Superunknown.  This is a great song.  I am loving it.  It is one of my favorite song on this record so far.  I love the guitar break in the middle of the song.  This is a great comeback record so far.  All the songs do not sound like fillers.  Soundgarden has put their soul into all of these songs so far.

Attrition

Attrition starts out with some nice guitar work at the beginning of the song.  I am loving the melody in this song.  There is some great double vocal singing.  One is high and the other is low.  Nice touch and well placed.  There is some great drumming and lyrics also on this song.  This song was straight to the point.  I love the ending of this song too.

Black Saturday

Black Saturday has nice acoustic guitar work with congas in place of the drums.  I love the dancing bass playing with some great singing from Chris.  The drums come in but they play the background.  I love the build of in this song.  The distorted guitar comes in but does not over power the rest of the music.  This is extremely well written song.  This song has some nice rhythm and pace to the music.

Halfway There

Chris with an acoustic guitar playing while singing.  The drums just like the last song comes in but it is more of backup with the bass playing.  I love main and chorus riff.  There is a ton going on in this song.  Yet another well written song from Soundgarden.  Chris has written some great lyrics.  I love the meaning and theme behind them.  Kim has a great guitar break to semi guitar solo.  This is the new Soundgarden.  This song defines the new Soundgarden sound in their music.  This band has a turn a corner unlike their other peers.

Worse Dreams

Worse Dreams has some great guitar work at the beginning of it.  I love the drums and bass line at the beginning.  This is one sick bass line.  It is well placed with the drums.  The guitar echos the bass playing.  The music is pretty powerful.  This band is pushing the limits of music on this song.  This song sounds like something off The Doors hey day.  It is like Soundgarden took their sound and mixed it with the The Doors sound in this song.  I am loving this song.

Eyelid’s Mouth

Eyelid’s Mouth has some drums and bass work with guitar work in the background.  The main riff is something else and powerful.  Chris has some good singing.  There is one part of this song that sounds like deeper Alice In Chains singing.  There is a nice pace to this song.  I am loving the back up vocals on this song.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This touch on the fade out for the end of the song.

Rowing

Rowing starts out with a nice bass line and drums.  I am loving the singing.  I am loving that double vocals.  This song has a folk feel to it.  I love the touch on the guitar playing.  The lyrics I could live without but they fit perfectly for this song.  Chris is baring his soul on this song.  Rowing has a nice build up to it.  Kim has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is nice finish to this comeback record from Soundgarden.

Current Line Up

  • Chris Cornell – Lead Vocals and Rhthm Guitar
  • Kim Thyil – Lead Guitar
  • Matt Cameron – Drums and Backup Vocals
  • Ben Shepherd – Bass Guitar and Backup Vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.soundgardenworld.com

Twitter:  @soundgarden

In closing, I have been a fan of Soundgarden growing up.  I did not like them at first and they grew on me over time.  Once I understood what they were doing and they were one of the few bands that I liked back in the 1990’s along with Alice In Chains, Candlebox, Cold, and Stone Temple Pilots.  I and everyone else was excited to hear they were getting back together.  I was hoping they would put out some new music and here is some new music since their last record called Down On The Upside in 1996.  King Animal gives the hardcore fan everything that they expect from Soundgarden.  Soundgarden gives the fans and music listeners more  and I am talking about a new sound we have not heard from this band.  I am talking about the songs like Halfway There and Rowing.  King Animal is a great comeback record and I love the direction of this great band.  I am hoping they stay together and keep putting out new music.  I am looking forward to seeing them live this summer.  I recommend this record and let me know what you think of this new music.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog State Of Tours And Music Industry

In this music blog, we are going to talk about the state of the music industry and what bands have to do to make their money.  We love our music throughout human life.  It was pasted down from Generation to Generation.  We went from Bach to Flo-rida.  I realize how that sounds.  Being a metal head, I enjoy all music.

Bands in the past would put out record and tour to support that record.  They would get their income from record sales.  As many of you know that is not the case.  With the birth of the internet, we as listeners found ways to get music at a cheap price or free.  Napster took a ton of heat back in the day.  It was the Facebook for college student for music.  One person would buy the music and then “share” it with other people for education purpose. Transferring files from computer to computer.  How is  this different with cassette taping when a radio station played the music.  It is really is not.  The question is downloading the digital files is the cause of the lack of CD sales.  This pie graph shows us from 1980 to 2010 of the percentage of way people buy their music.

The Credit to voluntaryXchange

As you can see the growth of the CD in the late 1980s to 2003.  In 2010, CD is about 50% of the sales of how music listeners get their music.  People are still buying music so why do we always say the Music Industry is dying.  Here is my thought.  We look to Wallstreet and seeing the big Record Companies saying their bottom line is just bad.  They have the big acts like the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, etc.  There are ton of Independent Record Companies, Bands make their own record label, and or they are selling their music on their own website.  This article has some great information (Why We Shouldn’t Worry About The Decline Of The Music Industry?)  Here is some data from this article from Frobes.  Music groups in 2003 put out 38,000 new albums but in 2008 music acts put out 75,000 new albums.  With the state of economics, bands keep putting out music in 2010 at 75,000 new albums.  Bands are still putting out more music in 2010 then 2003 when CDs were at its peak as far percentage of sales from the pie graph above.  Here is the stat that proves from this same article (www.forbes.com).

From 1999 to 2009, concert ticket sales in the US tripled from $1.5 billion to $4.6 billion, vastly exceeding the growth of inflation and population growth.

I wonder how much of percentage is coming from the big acts with their high ticket prices.  People want to be entertained and they want to forget about their bills or lack of jobs.  I wonder how much effects physical or digital copy with the lack of money.  The lack of funds is the money going more to the live music then the studio music.  I was talking to friends and others about this issue.  I am finding people are picking live music by how good the new studio records.  It is the opposite from what was going on before the 1990s.

Let us take a look at pretty successful hard rock band.  The band is going to be Bon Jovi.  At the height of their power, Bon Jovi was a huge group back in the 1980’s.  We are going to look at their most successful record in their prime and their latest record.

Here is the stats:

Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet sold 28,000,000 in the world and went in the United States 12x Platinum.

Bon Jovi – The Cicle sold 3,000,000 in the world and went in the United States Gold

What does this say about the band or the music industry?  I do not think it is a negative look at Bon Jovi.  I believe it shows that people are not buying records as much as they use to in the past.  These stats do include downloads.  I believe what is happening on record sales.  People are buying one or two songs that they like from the album asides buying the whole like they did in the past.  Let us look at another artist but current.

Here is the stats:

Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time sold 30,000,000 in the world and sold only 12,144,000 in the United States.

Britney Spears – Femme Fatale sold 3,000,000 in  the world and sold 769,000 in the United States.

Britney Spears came into the scene 10 years after Bon Jovi as far as a recording artist.  I believe we are seeing a trend from these numbers.  Numbers do not lie.  As far as big record companies and well known artists their sales are down.  If we go beyond the well known artist and big record companies, there are new bands coming up and doing very well.  I realize some are doing it for the love for the music and that is why most bands get into this career.

In closing, let us face it and it is true.  People are downloading singles and not buying the whole records.  I am old school on getting and listening to my music.  I love getting the hard copy but over the last few years.  I have been downloading my music.  Here is why I am doing it.  I have not time to sit down and order or go to a record store.  Two it is to storage files in a computer then having CDs and racks all over my place.  I believe this is happening in the book industry too.  People are buying less and less paper backs or hard covers and downloading their books into their Nook, Kindle, or Tablets.  We are getting into the computer age and this is the change that most people do not like it.  Music being an art will live on and people will spend their money on this product.  Live music will live on and bands and artists will make their money their. As music fans we need to support the bands. If you have pick, it is fine. Just make sure you are buying your music in any form.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Testament Dark Roots Of Earth

In this music blog, we are going to get into one of the godfathers of thrash metal.  The band and record is called Testament Dark Roots Of Earth.  Testament was founded in 1983 under the band name Lagacy but later had to their change the name to Testament because of another band using that name. Testament has put out ten studio albums, three live records, and two EPs in their thirty year career.  Their latest record has them the highest on the US music charts in their career, which is twelve.  This band has went through so many lineup changes but they still found success.  Let us get into the music.

Rise Up

Nice start to the record is right in your face and classic thrash metal guitar playing.  Drumming is holding up its end.  This is a great start to the record.  Billy Chuck is stronger than ever with his singing.  I am loving the lyrics.  This song sounds like something you would hear in their 1980’s heyday.  I love the guitar solo in this song.  This is what thrash metal is and always will be in its lifetime.  This is a great opening track.  Perfect ending.

Native Blood

Native Blood starts out with some killer guitar playing and nice back up from the backbone of the band, which is the bass and drums.  I love the pace of this song.  It is not as fast as the opening track but has a great pace to the song.  I love the rhythm of the singing and drums.  The drummer is the most under rated drummer in the world of music.  This is a well written song.  This is a strong start to Dark Of Earth.  There is a simple and straight to the point guitar solo that gets a little complex towards the end of its run.  Nice touch of having singer sing on top of it for a bit.  The lyrics are little average but the music brings it to above average.  I am loving the build up for the ending to the song.  Classic thrash metal ending.

Dark Roots Of Earth

I am loving the acoustic guitar with distorted guitar at the beginning of the title track of the record.  I am loving the lyrics and the pace of the singing.  The drums and bass are pretty solid in the song.  The guitar work is over the top but in good way.  Nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  This song has a nice pace.  This is my favorite song so far on the record.  I love the pick up of speed towards the back half of the song and the guitar solo.  Then the moving back to the opening the riff and enters back to the main riff.  The opening riff is the closing riff which is perfect for this track.

True American Hate

I love how everyone starts at the same time on the True American Hate.  I love the guitar solo at the beginning.  This is a strong in your face main guitar riff.  Billy Chuck is in your face on his singing.  I am love the theme of the lyrics.  There is some great drumming and bass playing on this song.  I am loving the double bass action from the drums.  To be honest, True American Hate could live without a guitar solo but that is just me.  If it was going to have one, it should be simple and straight to the point like the lyrics and the rest of the song.  It is still a good guitar solo but it drags the song too long.  This is one song that needs to get to the point and end it.

A Day In The Death

I am loving the opening bass line and the drums with guitar coming in over it.  Nice start to A Day In The Death!  This song is not too fast but not too slow.  I am loving the lyrics and theme.  There is some pretty solid guitar work on the song.  There is some well placed back up vocals.  I am loving the build up to the guitar solo.  There is a well place guitar solo and an extremely well written one.  I love how the band is putting a little focus on the bass player.  Most bands do not do that too much.

Cold Embrace

Cold Embrace starts out with some acoustic guitar with another guitar dancing in the background.  The drums come in with the bass with a simple and smooth beat.  The singer comes with a nice calming singing.  Cold Embrace is showing the talent in this classic metal band.  This is a great thinking song and a very well written song.  Testament did a great job on this track.  Here is another track that is in my favorite column.

Man Kills Mankind

Man Kills Mankind gets back to the old school thrash metal.  This song has a great pace and solid playing all the way around.  Nice pace on the singing.  I am loving the lyrics.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  Man Kills Mankind has a solid finish. This is another song I could hear back in the day.

Throne Of Thorns

Throne of Thorns has a nice acoustic guitar riff with a heavy guitar over the top of it.  The drums and bass are pretty solid in the song.  The main guitar riff is pretty something else.  This band has always found some great guitar riffs.  I am loving the theme of the lyrics.  It is has fantasy feeling to it.  There was a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This a pretty good song but I know for a fact I could not sit through the extended version of this song.  Nice ending to the song!

Last Stand For Independence

Here is a nice in your face metal song.  I am love the drum break at the beginning of the song and throughout it.  There is solid playing from the drums, bass and the guitar players.  I love the lyrics and the singing.  This song has a nice pace.  There is a pretty good guitar break and solo towards the back half of the song.  I love the ending to Last Stand For Independence.

Dragon Attack

This is a Queen cover song.  The music is solid.  I am a fan of bands doing covers but I could do without this one.  If I still had my radio show, I would throw this into the my cover show.

Animal Magentism

This is a Scorpions cover song.  I could do without this song.  Not a fan!

Powerslave

This is an Iron Maiden cover song.  Just like Animal Magentism, I pass on this song too.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.testamentlegions.com

Twitter:  @testamentband

Closing out, I have been a huge fan of this band for a while.  I believe they are the most under rated band coming out of the thrash metal scene.  I did not see them topping their last record, which was The Formation Of Damnation.  Dark Roots Of Earth is an awesome follow-up to their last one.  I hope they put out another record sooner than later.  I could do without the covers but the original songs are pretty solid.  I really enjoyed the title track, Cold Embrace, and Rise Up.  If you are a fan of thrash metal, you need to get into the pit and check out Testament new one. If you are a fan of this band back in the day and have been gone, go get this record.  It is a solid great and gives you everything that your thrash metal heart seeks.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Fozzy Sin And Bones

In this music blog, we are going to listen to the latest album from Fozzy and it is called Sin And Bones.  Fozzy was founded in 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The band started out as a cover band, which their first two records were covers of classic hard rock and metal sings.  Fozzy has five studio albums out with one live record to their short career.  Lead singer and one founding member of this band is Chris Jericho, who is former WWE Superstar.  He grew up in Canada listening to the classic hard rock and metal music and wanted to do a career in music.  However, he had a love for wrestling, now he is doing both and is extremely successful.  The other founding member of Fozzy is Rich Ward which is best known to be in the band from the late 1980’s called Stuck Mojo.  Let us get into the music.

Spider In My Mouth

The song starts out with sound effects and samples.  There is a little keyboard action to build up the start of the song and this record.  A little kid starts singing.  This song has a nice solid in your face music from the guitar and drums.  Chris is singing really well which he has been growing into a really good singer.  He is improving throughout his recording career.  I love the lyrics.  I love the chorus in this song.  Nice touch from the drums towards the end of the song to put on the double bass.  Great ending and great opening track to this record.

Sandpaper

Sandpaper is the first single from Sin And Bones.  This song starts out like an old Jackyl song.  It kind of has a feeling of a Jackyl song.  I could see Jackyl doing a cover of this song or even write it.  Lead singer M Shadows from Average Sevenfold is being featured in this song.  I love the music.  It fits the lyrics and solid bass playing on this song.  Nice finish to the song.

Here is the video from YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Blood Happens

Blood Happens has some nice drumming and solid guitar playing.  Chris comes in with extremely great singing with great lyrics.  There is a whole lot going on in this song.  Rich plays a nice short guitar solo.  There is some strong playing from the guitar, drums, and bass throughout this song.  This is a great song and it is one of my favorite songs so far on this record.  There is some great back up vocals on the song.  Great finish to the song.

Inside My Head

I am loving the drums and the guitar work at the beginning of  Inside My Head.  Chris is pushing his singing to the next level.  If I was classic hard rock or metal band looking for a lead singer, I would give Chris a call.  I am also loving the lyrics.  Chris has grown into a pretty good lyric writer.  This is a pretty solid song.  Here is another song I am loving off this record.  Nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  Great ending to the song.

Sin And Bones

I love the fast pace on the title track of this record.  It has great singing, drums, bass and guitar work.  This is a nice driving song.  Chris has written some nice lyrics once again.  So far this is a great follow-up from their last great record.  I am loving the guitar break towards the middle of the song.  This song was quick and to the point.  Sin and Bones lives up to being the title for the record.  It also has a great ending.

A Passed Life

I am loving how they have put more focus on the drummer.  The drums and the guitar are having a nice love affair at the beginning of this song.  I am also loving how they are not just making fast songs.  Fozzy is putting a nice mix between fast and slow pace songs.  I am loving how Chris is singing on this song.  There are some great lyrics here.  There is also some great music writing throughout this song.  I love the pick up in the pace towards the middle of the song.  There is a sick guitar riff at that point.  I am really enjoying this song.  This is a what metal music is all about in this song.  This brings all the elements that made me love hard rock and metal.  There is also a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  Great finish to this song.

She’s My Addiction

I am loving the guitar work from the guitar players.  I am loving the simple and to the point bass.  There is a nice drum work and great pace to the song.   I am loving the music and lyrics that Fozzy has put forth.  This song gets to the point to the point.  This is a great tune.  There is a great guitar solo.  Just like Sandpaper, I could see this song in Jackyl’s song list.  Great ending to this song and nice touch on the outro guitar solo.

Shine Forever

Shine Forever has some nice heavy as hell guitar riffs.  I am loving the drumming with the bass filling over the top.  There is some great lyrics with a powerful meaning.  Chris once again is singing his heart out on this song.  Fozzy did a great job on this song.  I can see this song being an underground hit.  I am loving the ending of this song.

Dark Passenger

Dark Passenger starts out with a nice keyboard playing.  Chris is hitting it on vocals with nice well place drums.  I love the guitar riff on the main part of the song.  I love how they keep using the keyboards which gives this band another element.  It changes their sound that they have developed.  I am loving the building up to the guitar solo. It is a very well written guitar solo.  There is a great ending to this song.

Storm The Beaches

Storm The Beaches is the longest song on the record.  There is spoken works with more keyboards.  There is some powerful guitar riff and drums with bass backing up.  I am loving the meaning and theme of the song but the lyrics are little weak at this point.  It is powerful talking about D-Day and honoring the troops.  I cannot complain about this one song.  Fozzy has written an awesome set of songs for Sin And Bones.  There is a great guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  Fozzy has put forth an epic song to close out this great record.  I am also loving the gun firing samples in the song.  The lyrics are better towards the midpoint and the end of the song.  I love the end of this song.

Here is current line up of Fozzy:

  • Chris Jericho – Lead Vocals
  • Rich Ward – Guitar, Back Up Vocals
  • Paul Di Leo – Bass
  • Frank Fontsere – Drums
  • Billy Grey – Guitar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fozzyrock.com

Twitter:  @fozzyrock

In the end, I really enjoyed this record.  If you know me personally, you know I have been a huge fan of Chris Jericho in the ring and his music career.  I know most of you know I am a huge metal fan.  I feel this band is pushing their career forward.  It is hard to believe the music that this band is putting out since this band was set up as a joke when they first came out.  Fozzy is a band you need to keep an eye on from here on.  Their last record, which was called Chasing The Grail, was a solid record from start to finish but the follow-up Sin and Bones is taking this band to the next level.  I am hoping this band keeps on the pace they are going on right now.  I highly recommend this band if you are a hard rock and metal fan.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Kiss Monster

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Kiss.  This is their 20th record in their career and it is called Monster.  This record is the follow-up record to Sonic Boom.  Here is a little history of this legendary band.  Kiss was founded in January 1973 in New York City.  This band has went through several line up changes but still found some success.  They have twenty studio records and ten live records, which they are best known for them.  They were one of the first bands in 1970’s to push the live records as a trend.  They have about thirteen greatest hits records.  Kiss also has five box sets in the market.  They had thirteen of their records from live and studio that went Gold in the United States.  Kiss has also had thirteen of their records from live and studio that went Platinum in the United States.  Kiss is pretty well-known for their live performance.  They are also known for their make up and their character that they dress up for their stage act.  Kiss was the first band to sell lunch boxes, action figures, etc.  Kiss was their marketing machine to drive their fame.  Kiss like most great bands are not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Let us get into the music.

Hell Or Hallelujah

The opening track has a solid guitar work at the beginning of this song.  This is a classic Kiss song.  This song is a little be slower than the normal Kiss songs.  The lyrics are really bad but the music is great.  This is their first single from this record.  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song from Tommy.  This song finish pretty strong.

Wall Of Sound

I love the start of this song.  There is solid playing from all the members in the band.  Paul’s vocal has aged very well.  Most lead singers in the later part of their career cannot sing their old songs and some of their newer ones.  The lyrics are a little better on this song.  This is so far my favorite song from “Monster.”  The pace of this song is just right for Kiss.  The ending is about average for the song.

Freak

I love the music on “Freak.”  This is a great all around song but the lyrics are bad.  I could hear this song on their first few records.  There is a great guitar solo from Tommy.   It has a pretty solid ending.

Back To The Stone Age

There is a nice bass and drum work at the beginning of the song.  This is a nice driving music.  I love the music.  The lyrics once again is really bad.  It has a classic Kiss sound.  It is kind of sounds like “Love Gun” or “I Love It Loud.”  Back To The Stone Age has a solid finish.

Shout Mercy

There is a nice guitar riff with a good backbone from the bass and drums.  The lyrics are like classic Kiss lyrics.  I love the music.  Nice fitting guitar solo is well placed in the song.  Shout Mercy has a great finish.

Long Way Down

This song, which is Long Way Down, is the second single released from Monster.  It has a solid music with some good lyrics.  There is more singing from Paul on this record then Gene.  It just seems like it. There is a nice simple guitar solo and it is spot on in this song.  There is also a nice ending to the song.

Eat Your Heart Out

There is a different pace of the song with just singing at the beginning of it.  There is some great music.  I love the guitar work.  This song sounds like Poison, who is a band from the glam rock days in 1980’s.  There has some thoughts that Poison has stolen music from Kiss.  I am not saying that Kiss is stealing music from Poison but it sounds like it.  Everything has been done in music.  There is only a few notes in music so there will be songs and music that might sound like another song or music.  In most cases, it might have one more note or one less that the general music ear might not pick up on it.  Anyways, the lyrics on this song are just bad but the song has a great finish.

The Devil Is Me

This song has a nice guitar, bass, and drums.  This is a nice in your face Kiss music.  The lyrics are bad.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  The song went from good to boring.  This song should be shorter.  It is a Kiss ending.

Outta This World

There is a solid start to the song.  It also has a nice pace to the song.  It is a simple and to the point to the music.  I am not a fan of the lyrics and this song is pretty boring.  The guitar work and solo is perfect.  This song just like some other songs towards the end of this record could be shorter.  There is some nice drumming on this song.  I could heard this song on one of their first few records.

All For The Love Of Rock And Roll

This song seems like it is too slow for Kiss.  However, I am really enjoying the lyrics,  I am also loving the theme of the lyrics.  I hear a little country music influence in this song.  It has a perfect ending and the song reached the point.  The length of the song is perfect.  It also has a perfect ending.

Take Me Down Below

I am loving the beginning of this song.  Gene has the thunder bass kicking in this song.  Take Me Down Below has great music.  It is a classic Kiss song from the music and lyrics.  I love the guitar solo.  It kind stays in the low-end but hits the mid notes with some high-end.  It is a party song from the music and the lyrics.  It has a nice ending.

Last Chance

There is a nice bass line at the beginning of the song.  This song has a nice fast pace to it.  It reminds me of old Kiss.  This is a classic Kiss song from the music and lyrics.  There is some good back up vocals.  I love the music.  This song comes into your house to have breakfast and then just leaves you without food.  It is gets to the point.  There is a nice guitar solo in the middle of the song.  Nice build up for the ending of the song.  It is just right for the end of the record.  Kiss leaves this record on a high note.

Here is the current line up for Kiss:

  • Gene Simmons – Bass guitar, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, vocals
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.kissonline.com

Twitter:  @kissonline

In closing, I am not a huge Kiss fan but I do enjoy listening to their music.  I am fan but not part of the Kiss Army.  I was stun that they came out with a follow-up to Sonic Boom.  I was also stun that they came out with Sonic Boom.  Most older bands do not like to put out new music because their fan base do not care about the new music.  I believe the only fans that care about the music is the hardcore ones or person that loves new music.  I feel that Monster from Kiss was rush to be pull out  for a reason to do a tour.  The music on this record is classic Kiss and is really solid.  They did a great job.  I do not know if they took old riffs that they wrote back in the day.  The lyrics I feel this band has run out of ideas.  There are some gems on this record.  I believe around those gems there are too many filler songs.  What I mean by that, it is a song that is there to fill up the record to get it out to the market.  There is nothing wrong doing that because some of those filler songs might become hits or just underground hit with hardcore fans.  There are three songs that I do really love from this record and they are “Wall Of Sound,” Take Me Down Below,” and “Last Chance.”  I just feel this record is a let down from Sonic Boom. I really enjoyed listening to Sonic Boom. If you are a hardcore fan of Kiss, check this record out and add it to your collection.  If you are a general fan of Kiss or just a hard rock or metal fan, I would see if you can find a place to preview it before buying it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Accept Stalingrad

https://i0.wp.com/www.metalunderground.com/images/covers/Accept_-_Stalingrad_cover.jpg

In this music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Accept which is called Stalingrad.  Accept started back in the late 1960’s in Germany.  They started picking up speed in 1976 as a professional band.  Accept has went through several line up changes throughout the years.  They have also split up a few times in their career.  However, they have a wealth of music, Accept has put out thirteen studio albums including the one we will talk about here, which is Stalingrad.  They have three live records and four greatest hits records.  They also put out two EP’s.  This band is best known for helping the speed metal era.  The song that everyone knows from Accept is “Balls To The Wall.”  The band reunion in 2009 with new lead singer, who is Mark Tornillo,  from T.T. Quick.  They put the “Blood Of The Nations” in 2010.  This band is climbing up the charts here in the states.  Let us get into the latest record, which is Stalingrad.

Hung, Drawn and Quartered

This opening song on this record has the nice classic Accept intro to Hung, Drawn and Quartered.  This is some great speed metal music.  Mark did not leave the last recording session from “Blood Of The Nations.”  Mark has written some awesome lyrics.  The guitar, drums, and bass work is hell of a job on this song.   The production is nicely done from the producer.  There is a nice guitar break and solo with a good ending.  This is a great opening track.

Stalingrad

The second song has a strong driving intro to start of it.  It also has a nice guitar and drum work.  There is also a great guitar solo break in it.  This song has powerful lyrics and singing from Mark.  There is also nice well placed back up vocals.  Mark has written some great lyrics.  Nice touch on the snare drums and great guitar work towards the end of this song.  Stalingrad has a strong ending.

Hellfire

I love the effect on the bass and nice touch on the drums and guitar working around the bass.  There is a great break and then well written guitar riff.  Mark has strong singing and great lyrics, which I love.  This is a pretty nice driving song which is classic Accept.  This is a great song all the way around.  Accept is stronger than they have ever been.  Wolf has an awesome guitar solo along with nice trade-off with the other guitarist.  Hellfire has a nice strong finish.  This is my favorite song on the record so far.

Flash To Bang Time

This song has heavy guitar and driving drums with well placed vocals from the lead singer.  Mark is singing great with some well written lyrics.  I love the guitar work on Flash To Bang Time.  I wish you can hear the bass a little bit more throughout this record.  I love the guitar solo and the ending of the song.

Shadow Soldiers

The beginning of Shadow Soldiers has a nice effect on one of the guitars along with nice acoustic guitar.  It then snaps into a nice heavy guitar riff with a short guitar solo over the top of it.  I love the pace of this song.  Mark is singing great with a well placed melody.  I love the theme of this song and nice touch on the back vocals.  I believe this song is too long but still good.  This song has a nice fitting ending.

Revolution

I love the drum work at the beginning of the song.  Great touch on the fade in with the guitars and well written lyrics and singing from Mark.  Revolution is a simple music and it hits the point of the song with perfect back up vocals in the song.  The guitar work on this records is something else and I love the nice dueling guitar solo in this song.  The ending is a complex ending to Revolution.

Against The World

Great beginning for the music.  I love the lyrics on Against The World.  Mark has always wrote some great lyrics.  This is a nice driving song like most on this record.  Nice guitar solo and I love the build up to the solo.  Against The World has a great finish to the song.

Twist Of Fate

I love the guitar work in the beginning of the song.  Mark is singing great in this song with some powerful lyrics.  The guitarist wrote a nice main guitar riff.  Twist of Fate has a nice slow to medium pace to the song, which gives the listener a different mood than the rest of the record.  I love it and it is perfect.  I love the build up to the end of the song and the guitar solo at the end.  This is in your face ending.  Nice touch on the fading out of the song.

The Quick And The Dead

I love the guitar work and drums at the beginning of the song.  It has a nice pace to it.  Mark is singing strong with some great lyrics.  He has written a nice melody.  The chorus is a little weak but the main part of the song is pretty strong.  This is still pretty strong song.  I am loving the dueling back and forth between the guitar players and bass player.  I am hearing more bass in this song than the rest of the record which is great.  The Quick And The Dead has a strong finish to it.

The Galley

There is an awesome spooky guitar riff with the drums.  I love the main guitar riff.  It is well written and perfect for the theme of the song.  The Galley has a nice touch to bring the bass forward than pushing it to the back of the music.  Mark is singing great and wrote some great lyrics.  This song is too long and could be shorter.  I love the acoustic and the slowing down of the song towards the end it.  This song has a great finish and perfect way to end the record.

Current Line Up of Accept:

  • Mark Tornillo – Lead vocals
  • Wolf Hoffmann – Guitar
  • Herman Frank – Guitar
  • Peter Baltes – Bass guitar
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.acceptworldwide.com

Twitter:  @accepttheband

In closing, I really enjoyed this record.  Accept has a great record and I believe they are getting stronger with age.  Stalingrad brings back the good old days of speed metal in the 1980’s.  Stalingrad is a classic Accept record.  Any of these songs could have been on Breaker, Balls To The Walls, or Metal Heart.  I really enjoyed the following songs Hellfire, Twist Of Fate, and Shadow Soldiers.  If you were a fan of Accept back in the day, you will not be disappointed with this new line up and the music they are putting out now.  You as a listener will be stun by Mark’s singing and lyric writing with the legendary guitar player.  Congrats to Accept to have the balls to put out new music and writing great new music.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Jackyl Best In Show

In this music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Jackyl.  Jackyl was founded in 1990.  Jackyl has seven studio record which is including the record in this post called Best In Show.  They have two live records in their career and two greatest hits records.  The band is best known for their song called “Lumberjack” that uses a chainsaw in the song.  Let us get into the music.

Best In Show

Best In Show starts with a classic guitar riff and Jesse singing over the top.  Solid drums and bass is backing up the rest of the band.   This is classic Jackyl from the music and the lyrics.  This is a nice driving song and great opening track.  There is a nice slow point in the song which is perfect for the pace before in the song and then picks back up.

Encore (It Makes Bic Dig Her)

I love the drums and then Jesse singing with the drums and then a nice simple bass line that comes in to the scene.  The guitar is a classic Jackyl sound that made them famous.  This song is the rest why I love this band and grew to love them.  I love had they put the focus on the back bone of the band, which is bass and drums.  This band knows what they are doing in their songs.  This song has some well written lyrics.  Great false ending and then they come back in for a great finish.

Screw Driver

Screw Driver starts out with a nice driving drum beat and a nice smooth and simple guitar.  The bass is dancing in the back ground while singer’s singing with the moves of the music.  The lyrics are something else that makes dream of some girl in the strip club.  This song is rock and roll because it is all about sex in a rock and roll style.

Horns Up

Once again Horns Up starts up with drums, which there is nothing wrong with that.  I love the beat that the drummer has set forth in the song and has an awesome bass line.  This song makes me want to pick up my bass guitar again and start a band.  This song sounds like something off their Push Comes To Shove record back in the 1990’s.  Horns Up has everything going on which is nice singing, bass, drums, and solid guitar play.  I am loving the music and the lyrics.  I also love the trade-off on the guitar solos.

Golden Spookytooth

Golden Spookytooth starts out with a nice guitar riff and a simple bass with the drum beats.  This is a calming song compare to the rest of the songs on the record.  Jesse has a smooth and silk melody over the music.  I love the short guitar solo before Jesse comes back in to the singing.  I am not sure on how I feel on the lyrics but I love the music on this song.

Cover Of The Rolling Stones

This is a classic song from Bob Dylan.  I have heard a ton of hard rock and metal bands doing a covers of this song.  I have to say this has to be the best one with an honor to Queen in the back ground. Can you say We Are Champions?  Yes, I can but it fits.  They also move into the classic Queen and then back to Bob Dylan. Of course, it is not Jackyl without the chainsaw.  They had the chainsaw doing melody from We are Champions.  I love it!

Walk My Mile

The guitar has a slight overdrive but it is not over the top.  I love how the guitar sounds at the beginning of the song.  Jesse has a nice blues sound on his vocals and drums are simple but very powerful.  Wow!  This song has a ton of feeling going on in it.  There is a ton of going on in this song.  I love the lyrics.  They have emotion, feeling, and a powerful meaning in them.  Jesse is showing his soul in this song along with the rest of the band.  This is my favorite song so far on this record.  I love where they place the guitar solo and it is perfect for this powerful song.

Better Than Chicken

Better Than Chicken has a nice beginning and classic Jackyl lyrics.  It has nice music and great singing from Jesse.  This song is simple and to the point.  Great party song!  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Don’t Lay Down On Me

Don’t Lay Down On Me has a nice acoustic guitar riff and singing over top of it from the singer.  This is another song I could see on their Push Comes To Shove record.  This is a nice thinking song on a cold winter day with a nice craft beer and a cigar.  There is a nice guitar break that is awesome work.  Nice touch on the finish of this song.

Eleven

I love the guitar riff at the beginning of this song.  It follows with Jesse’s singing and then drums and bass does the same movement.  This is a nice in your face song that will wake you up in the morning.  I love bass movement behind the scenes.  Thank god they got a producer that respects the low-end of the bands.  They seem to ignore the bass player in most bands’ record.  I am not talking about Jackyl.  I am talking about other bands.  This is a great song.

What I DO

What I DO starts with nice singing from Jesse and acoustic guitar.  This song seems lower in volume to the rest of the record.  It is like an unplugged song.  I love the bass playing and simple drums.  At first I thought the guitar solos were over the top but they fit towards the end of the solo.  I just feel this song is lower in volume to  the rest of the record.

Open Invitation

I love the beginning of the song.  Talk about being in your face.  This song shows the proud of Patriotic and proud to be part of the USA.  I love talk samples throughout the song.  I love the lyrics and meaning behind it.  God Bless the United States of American!

It’s Tricky

It’s Tricky is a cover of a classic Run DMC with one of the members.  It was one of their hits back in the day.  It fits the hard rock and metal sound that Jackyl did to the song.  I love it.  Great cover guys.

Here is the current line up of Jackyl:

  • Jesse James Dupree – Lead vocals / Guitar / Chainsaw
  • Jeff Worley – Guitar
  • Roman Glick – Bass guitar
  • Chris Worley – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.jackyl.com

Twitter:  @jackyljesse

Closing, I really enjoyed this record just like all their records.  This band has not put out a bad record.  There are very few bands from the 1990’s that I enjoyed to listen to throughout their era and now.  My favorite track is “Walk My Mile” and “Best In Show.”   There is not more to say about this great record that it is a very great record.  I highly recommend this record if you are a fan of this band or just love straight in your face rock and roll.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Roit Immortal Soul

In this music blog, we are going to check out one of my favorite underground metal band called Riot.  The last record from this great band out of Brooklyn, New York is called Immortal Soul, which is their fourteen studio album.  Riot was formed in 1975 by the late great guitarist Mark Reale.  They reach their peak a little bit in the early 1980’s but had a long successful career.  The band went through so many line up changes but yet had a different sound in each of the eras which makes this band unique.  Riot had fourteen studio albums, three live albums, one greatest hits, and one ep album that was only released in Japan.  Let us get into the music.

Riot

Mark wrote a nice in your face guitar riff in this song.  It is a pretty fast pace song.  It has the classic sound from Thundersteel along with great singing.  Mark also wrote a nice guitar solo, which he has been known for throughout the years.  It is a well written song and great song opening song for this record.

Still Your Man

Still Your Man has a nice guitar and bass riffs throughout the song.  There are hard-hitting and in your face drums.  The singing is nice and fits the music along with great lyrics.  This song finishes nicely.   Nice job on this song!

Crawling

Crawling has a nice start to the song and I love how they did it.  There is a nice heavy guitars with a great short solo at the beginning of the song.  The singer has a nice vocal melody and great lyrics.  I love the feeling and the sound of this song.  There is a nice simple guitar solo towards the end of the song along with a great finish to it.

Wings Are For Angels

This song has a nice fast pace drums with a simple guitar riff to fill into the song.  I believe his singing and voice does not fit with the music.  I love the music.  They did an excite job on it.  The drummer is playing his ass off on this song.  There is an awesome guitar solo and it has to be one of the best ones on this record.  Wings Are For Angels has a nice ending with drums and guitar.

Fall Before Me

Fall Before Me has nice guitar and drum work along with a nice touch with the acoustic guitar.  The music in this song is a great fit for this singer.   He wrote some great lyrics.  This song sounds like a rock anthems form the late 1970’s.  I love it.

Sins Of The Father

Sins of the Father has a nice guitar at the beginning with drums.  Tony Moore is singing very nice here with some great lyrics.  So far this song is my favorite song on this record.  I love the fact with all the line up changes they stayed true to their sound that they have created throughout the years.

Majestica

This is an intro song for the next song.  It has great guitar riff that fits in the old 1980’s metal pop sound.

Immoral Soul

Majestica runs into a nice drums with guitar work in Immoral Soul.  There is also a great bassline.  Tony has written some great lyrics and is singing his ass off in this song.  Mark of course wrote a great guitar solo.  The band did a great job on the ending of this song.

Insanity

Insanity starts out with the singer and then the guitars enter with the drums and bass.  In this song, everything is floating around the singer, which is change of pace from the rest of the songs on this record.  This is a great song.  This song is showing the finest work from Mark’s guitar work.  Nice touch on the fading ending it fits the mood of the song.

Whiskey Man

Whiskey Man has a nice guitar intro.  I love the lyrics but some parts of this song his vocals really does not fit with the music.  The lyrics are sneak up in your face along with the singing.  This is not greatest guitar solo but it fits in the song and music.  Most bands get it.  Not all songs need guitar solos or drum fills.  Sometimes the most simple thing is the right thing.

Believe

Believe starts out with a nice angry guitar intro with the drums and bass.  This is a well written song all the way around.  Riot did a great job on this song.  I love the time changes and the great finish to the song.

Echoes

Echoes has great guitar work from high to low.  There is a nice flow with the lead vocals and nice touch on the back up vocals.  This is my favorite song on this record along with Sins Of The  Father.  This song was a the perfect song to finish up a record and a great career.  It is so sad because this band should have been bigger then what they were in the world of music.

Roit line up on this record:

  • Tony Moore – Lead Vocals
  • Mark Reale – Guitar
  • Mike Flyntz – Guitar
  • Don Van Stavern – Bass
  • Bobby Jarzombek – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.riotsweb.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

In closing, I really enjoyed this record and all their records throughout their career.  When I discovered this great band, I had to pick up all their records.  It is sad to see this be their last record but at least I have this great music to listen to rest of my days on this earth.  I love how they stayed true to their 1970’s sound but yet pulled off their slight thrash metal days in the 1980’s.  My two favorite songs on this record is Sins Of The Father and Echoes.  I wish I would have seen this band play live along with several other bands. I did not get a chance to see them live.  Go check this record out and let me know what you think.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Candlebox Love Stories And Other Musings

In this music blog, we are going to check out the latest record from Candlebox.  The record is called Love Stories And Other Musings.  Candlebox was founded in 1990 in Seattle, Washington.  They have put out five studio records.  This is their second release since reforming.  They are touring under this record.  Let us get into the music.

Youth In Revolt

This song has a nice guitar riff with a nice flow on the drums.  The orignal singer still has a strong singing voice for these sets of songs.  This is a great opening song for this record.  This song has very well written lyrics.

Sweet Summertime

This song has a nice calming and a great rhythm to the song.  It has a nice guitar work.  The lyrics are average and he has written better lyrics in the past.

Believe In It

This song has a nice guitar and drum riffs.  I am loving the bass line on this track.  It comes back to the focus on the singer, which there is nothing wrong with that.  Kevin has written some uplifting lyrics on this song.  There is also an awesome guitar solo, which is very nice to heard it coming from a band from grunge era of the 1990’s.  Candlebox was always different then the rest of their peeps of their era.

She Come Over Me

There is a slow start to the song with a calming drums.  Kevin sings over the drums with a nice soft melody.  It has a nice guitar work and great drum beats in the later part of this track.  I love the lyrics.  He has been one of my favorite lyricist in the 1990’s.  I love the pick up towards the end of the song.

Turn Your Heart Around

The start of this song has a nice drum intro with a smooth guitar riff over it.  Turn Your Heart Around has a nice rhythm on melody from the singer.  The song picks up in the middle of the it with more awesome guitar work.  Kevin has written some great lyrics again.

Lifelike Song

I love this heavy guitar riff with some great drums and great melody from Kevin on vocals.  Kevin has written lyrics that are in your face but keeping it true to the classic Candlebox sound.  Most great singers really do not need back up vocals but this song has some well placed back up vocals.

Come Home

At the beginning of this song, there are nice drums and guitar work in the song “Come Home.”  Kevin once again singing very nicely on this song.  Overall, this is a very well written track.  I am really love the drums on this song.  It has a very nice ending to it.

Bady Loves Me

Baby Loves Me has a nice guitar riff at the beginning.  Once again, Kevin has written some well lyrics.  There is some great drums on this track.  This is an extremely well written song.

Them Eyes

Them Eyes has the classic Candlebox song with great drums to guitar work.  Kevin has been really strong throughout this record.  This great tune is perfect to finish off the new original songs before they re-record their big hits from the past.

Here are the rest of the tracks that are re-record hits.

Far Behind

You

Cover Me

Change

Simple Lesson

Here is the current line up of Candlebox:

  1. Kevin Martin – Vocals, Guitar
  2. Peter Klett – Lead Guitar
  3. Scott Mercado – Drums
  4. Sean Hennsey – Rhythm Guitar
  5. Adam Kury – Bass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.candleboxrocks.com

Twitter:  @candlebox

In closing, I am glad to see Candlebox back but I was really not a fan of this one.  I love their last one, which was called “Into The Sun.”  It just seems like Candlebox rushed this record out but I could be wrong.  However, I am just happy to have this band back together, I want to see what their next set of songs will sound like.  There are some gems on this record.  Overall, I know this band really well and I know they can put out a solid record like they have done in the past.  If you are a fan back in the day of Candlebox, you need to come out and check this band out today.  If you are just getting into them, go back and check out there earlier records.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser