1970s

New Unknown Music Thursday Hell’s Addiction Raise Your Glass

In this Unknown Music Thursday blog, we are going to get into and upcoming band called Hell’s Addiction.  They just released their first record this year which is called “Raise Your Glass.”  There is not too much history or information from this young band.  Here is some information I found off their website.

Here is their bio from their website (www.hellsaddiction.com):

Hell’s Addiction deliver classic no-bullshit Rock and Roll in a style that draws comparison with the likes of AC/DC, Guns ‘n Roses, Skid Row and Mötley Crüe.

The band came together in 2010 in Leicester, born of a mutual passion for the hard-hitting rock of the great 70s and 80s bands. Before long they were supporting bands such as Heaven’s Basement, Voodoo Six, Fury UK, The Heavy Metal Kids and Zodiac Mindwarp around the country.

Over the following months the band wrote and recorded their debut album Raise Your Glass. With crowd-pleasers like Let The Good Times Roll, Feels like Rock ‘n Roll and the debut single Alcohol you’re left under no illusion as to where the band’s passions lie.

Now in 2013, the band have unleashed the album and will be bringing the rock to a venue near you soon.

I wrote a review on their single, which is “Alochol” in one of my earlier blog posts.  We will review that song and the rest of their songs in this post.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Feel The Fire

I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  The drumming and bass playing are simple but solid for the backbone for this band.  The singing is really solid with some really good lyrics.  His singing brings back the metal singers of late 1970’s and 1980’s.  There is a nice guitar break that turns into a pretty good guitar solo towards the end of the song.  The music on this song reminds me of something that Ratt or early Saxon would have written.  This is a great beginning to their frist record.

Brand New Story

I love the beginning of this song.  There is a nice short guitar solo.  There is some great playing from drummer and bass player.  I love his clean vocals at this point of the song.  I love his melody he wrote for his vocals.  There is solid lyrics.  The music kind of reminds me little bit of early Whitesnake at least during the main part of the music.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the mid-point of the song.  There is an extended guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is a nice ending to this song.

Feels Like Rock And Roll

There is a nice classic hard rock guitar sound and playing at the beginning.  The simple music from the bass and drums gives you a little feel like this could have been a Kiss song.  It is not but it is pretty solid.  The singing and the lyrics are solid.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  You can feel the guitar solo coming and it just fit perfectly where they placed it.  I love the ending with the screaming vocals over the top of the music.

Breaking Free

I love the start of “Breaking Free.”  There is some awesome music.  I am loving the lyrics.  This song reminds me a little bit like Motorhead.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  This song is solid and short to the point.  I love the guitar solo exiting the song.

Big Bitch

I love classic sound on the guitars.  I love the bass playing on this song.  I love how the bass is equal to the rest of the band.  I love the lyrics.  This band has some punk influence.  This song has elements from the New Jersey rockers known as Skid Row.  I am talking off their first record.  There is a nice and solid guitar break towards the middle of the song.  It turns into to a short guitar solo.  They put some thought behind the writing of the music on “Big Bitch.”

Heaven Sent Me

I love the drumming and the guitar solo at the beginning of “Heaven Sent Me.”  I love the music and the guitar riff that is over the top good.  There is some nice vocal singing with some great lyrics.  I love the guitar solo at the mid-point of the song.  I love how the singer hits the some of the notes during the solo.  I love the ending to it.

Raise Your Glass

This is the title track off this record.  The beginning is something you would heard from 1980’s metal band.  I love the music.  The lyrics and singing are pretty solid.  This  band has written a nice anthem for today’s rocking youth.  I love the stops in the music and the start back up.  There is a pretty solid and well placed guitar solo towards the end.  I love the stops from the bass and drumming.  It gives the music another element.  The guitar work on this song reminds of fast Whitesnake.

Let The Good Times Roll

I love the music at the beginning of this song.  This singer sounds like younger Lemmy but not as deep as him.  There is some pretty solid lyrics and music on “Let The Good Times Roll.”  I love the guitar break and solo towards the end of the song.  There is a solid ending to “Let The Good Times Roll.”

Wings Of An Angel

The start of “Wings Of An Angel” has the classic 1980’s metal pop sound.  I am talking like Ratt and WASP.  The singing and lyrics remind me of something from those bands.  Even the back up singing is solid.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  It fills the music up.  There is no holes in this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I feel at the end the singer needs some back up vocals.

Alochol

The first single of this record is “Alochol.”  I love the pace of this song.  It is fast and in your face metal music.  There is some great singing and lyrics.  This is one of my favorite songs off “Raise Your Glass.”  I love the music break that enters into a well written guitar solo.  The drumming towards the end is awesome.  This is a perfect ending to this song and the record.

Line Up:

  • Ben Sargent – Lead Vocals And Guitar
  • Liam Sargent – Lead Guitar And Backing Vocals
  • Jason Green – Bass And Vocals
  • Headache – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.hellsaddiction.com

Twitter:  @Hells_Addiction

Closing, Hell’s Addiction has put together a pretty solid first record.  This is a band that is on the raise in the hard rock and metal world.  This band has taken elements of the classic rockers of the past.  I am talking like Whitesnake, Ratt, and WASP.  The more and more I listen to this band’s music.  It reminds me of Motorhead.  The lyrics, song titles, and how the singer sings.  There is more from the sound of the bass and the guitar playing.  It reminds me a little Fast Eddie’s sound.  I am not saying they sound totally like Motorhead.  They brought back classic hard rock and metal sound from the late 1970’s and 1980’s.  The singer has a little punk influence to today’s Lemmy, who is the lead singer and bass player of Motorhead.  He has brought back this singing style and put his own twist on it.  Along with the lead singer, Hell’s Addiction has some punk influence and mixed it with some hard rock and metal.  They put their own twist on their music.  They took a page out of American rockers Skid Row and many of those bands from 1980’s.  If you are classic hard rock and metal fan, you will love this band.  I believe any metal fan will fall in love with Hell’s Addiction.  If you do not, please, tell me why.  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.  Go get some “Alochol” and “Let The Good Times Row.”  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Unknown Music Thursday Blog Black Wizard Black Wizard

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In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are going to get into another newer and upcoming band.  The band is called Black Wizard and the record is their self titled.  There is not much on the history of this band.  They were formed before 2009 or 2010 because of their Facebook joining date.  I do not know about you but I am looking forward to get into this music.  I love how they label themselves.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Spacer

There is a nice acoustic guitar at the beginning of the opening track.  There is some nice drumming and bass playing.  It is pretty calming at first.  I love how they worked the second guitar playing over the top of everything.  I love the effects on the guitar.  The music is pretty strong so far on this song.  The singing is pretty good and it fits the music.  The effects on his vocals are perfect mix and haunting.  I love the back up vocals.  There is some pretty good lyrics on “Spacer.”  I love the guitar break and time changes about the mid-point of the song.  It sounds like time changes.  There is a pretty solid guitar solo but short towards the end of the song.  I love the ending.

Young Wisdom

I love the music at the beginning.  The singer is singing pretty good.  There is some pretty good lyrics too.  I love the drumming on this song.  The bass playing has been pretty solid so far on this record.  I love the guitar playing on this song.  I love music change half way through with the acoustic guitar and then enters a short guitar solo.  It enters a slower part of the song.  This is a pretty dark song.  There is a nice guitar break towards the end of the song that turns into a pretty good guitar solo.

Midnight

I love the drumming and guitar playing.   The singer is singing like all the rest of the tracks and it is pretty good.  I love how they used the back up vocals on this song.  This song has a nice pace to it and a little different from the rest of the songs thus far.  There is some nice music on this song.  I have to say this is one of my favorite songs so far on this record.

H.U.G.H

This song might come off being heavy but it has some weird influence in it that I cannot figure out.  I love the singing and the music is pretty good.   I love faster pace towards the back half of the song.  The drumming and bass playing is solid for being the backbone of this band.  They have a really good rhythm selection.  I love the guitar solo that is short and to the point.  I love how they are using the back up vocals on this song.  I love the ending to this song.

Danger Dances

I love the acoustic guitar and the slightly distorted guitar at the beginning.  I can hear some Radiohead influence on this song.  This might be the shortest song on the record, however, it is one of the best songs as far as it comes to the music side.  They wrote some great music on “Danger Dances.”

Somethin’ Sweet

I love the classic hard rock sounding guitar at the beginning.  The drumming and bass playing are pretty solid.  I love the bass playing in the main part of the song.  I really not a fan of bass players playing with a pick.  The drumming is pretty crazy on this song.  The lead singer is singing is solid with some great lyrics.  The lead singer’s screaming singing is well placed and not over the top.  I love the guitar players trading off on the guitar break.

Appetite

I love the guitar playing along with the bass and drumming.  I love the singing on this song.  I am not a fan of all the effects on his vocals in some parts.  I love the guitar playing at the mid-point of the song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Wicked Wanderer

The last song on this record is “Wicked Wanderer.”  The guitars remind me of something that Megadeth would do on their songs.  The drumming and bass playing is solid.  I love the bass playing before the singer starts to sing.  I love the build up to the main part of the song.  This is a pretty solid ending track to this record.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love how the guitar players are playing the same riff to give that double-sided sound.  I love the ending to this song.

Line Up:

  • Kyle Fee – Bass
  • Eugene Parkomenko – Drums
  • Adam Grant – Vocals And Guitars
  • Johnny de Courcy – Vocals And Guitars

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blackwizard.bandcamp.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Wizard/97722554850

Twitter:  no address

Closing, this is a pretty good band with a heavier side that you do not want to mess with anytime.  I love the music and the singing.  There are some parts of the singing that I just feel the band needs to get away from with the effects on the vocals.  Overall, the music is pretty solid and lyrics are pretty good.  They wrote a nice first record and I highly recommend you to check this band out.  You will not be disappointed.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djwieser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Anvil Hope In Hell

In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into a band I wish I had a chance to see them way back in the day.  I am talking about the band called Anvil.  This is their new record that is called “Hope In Hell.”  This record is their fifteenth studio record.  This band has went through several line up changes but Lips and Robb are the only original members.  Anvil has been known to influence several big names in the Metal, Speed Metal, and Thrash Metal world.  They never made it until their movie hit the air a few years back.  We are going to get into the history and then the music.  Let us get into the history.

History:

Anvil started in Toronto, Canada back in 1973.  A few high school friends who are Steve “Lips” Kudlow, who is the lead singer and guitar player, and Robb Reiner, who is the drummer.  Marty Hoffman, who is a guitarist and neighbor, was in the band for one show but left shortly after it.  In 1978, Dave “Squirrely” Allison, who was the second guitar player and Ian “Dix” Dickson, who was the bassist joined and the band called themselves Lips.  The band released their first record which was independent release called “Hard N’ Heavy.”  The band was signed to Attic Records and they changed their name to Anvil.  David Krebs and Paul O’Neil signed Anvil as their management team.  They had Attic Records to release them from their contract because they could get them on a major label.  David stop returning phone calls and did not get the band a major label contract.  His management team release the band from their contract.  In 1987, the band signed with Metal Blade Records by William Howell.  Metal Blade Records re-release their first three records and their fourth record, which is called “Strength Of Steel” in the United States.  “Strength Of Steel” was the most commercially success in the United States.  It reached 191 on the Billboard 200.  The band was picked up by Maximum Records and then from 1996 on the band was signed to Hypnotic Records and Massacre Records, which is from Germany.  Anvil will say to this day if it was not for Germany for buying their records.  There would not an Anvil today.  In 2001, the band put out “Plenty Of Power.”  They toured and toured and there would be gigs where no one was there to watch them play.  In 2006, the band decided to record a record called “This Is Thirteen” with  Chris Tsangarides, who is the producer from “Metal On Metal” record.  It was released in 2007.  The band was filmed in a movie called “Anvil! The Story Of Anvil”  This movie put the band back in the public mind.  They released a book on the band author by Lips and Robb.  They appear on “The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” which was the first time the band was on TV.  They supported AC/DC, which was in the United States, and Saxon, which was in United Kingdom, on their tours.  The band went on headline tour of Europe in 2010 and sell out each place they played.  In 2011, the band release their fourteen studio record, which is called Juggernaut of Justice.  Also in 2011, the band release their second greatest hits record and all their old records under their new record label.  Glenn Gyorffy in 2012 quit the band and was replaced by Sal Italiano.  In 2013, Anivl put out their fifteen studio record, which is “Hope In Hell.”  They are out on tour supporting this record.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Hope In Hell

The opening and title track of the record is “Hope In Hell.”    The beginning has some sound effects and the guitar, bass, and drums jump into the song.  The drums and bass has a nice groove and pace to them.  I love the guitar playing from Lips.  Lips’ singing is pretty solid.  I love the lyrics he has written on this song.   There is a nice guitar solo from Lips about the half way point of the song.  I have always love his guitar playing through all their records.  This song has elements from the first few records.  I love the ending to the song with the sound effects.

Eat Your Words

I love the fast pace and the drumming is insane on this song.  The bass playing is simple but it fits the song and it is perfect.  I love the guitar riff on this song.  I love the lyrics.  It is classic Anvil lyrics.  Robb is playing out of his mind on this song.  Lips is killing it with the a guitar solo half way through “Eat Your Words.”  This is a classic Anvil song.  I love the exiting guitar solo at the end of the song.

Through With You

I love  the distortion on Lips guitar .  I love the drums and bass.  “Through WIth You” has a nice driving feeling.  Lips wrote some great lyrics and he is singing is pretty average.  I love it.    I love the melody.  I also love the guitar playing during the chorus.  This record so far has a nice pace to it.  This song is not as fast as the last few songs but it has a nice pace and groove.  I love the guitar break half way through the song.  It turns into a nice guitar solo.  I love the build up guitar solo towards the end that ended the song.

The Fight Is Never Won

I love the guitar, bass, and drum action at the beginning of the song.  The drumming is pretty insane on this song.  I love Lips’ singing and lyrics.   He has a nice melody on this song.  The drums are something else on this song.    There is awesome guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  The bass playing has been pretty solid throughout this record so far.  The last few songs has had some nice guitar solos ending the song.  This is yet another pretty solid ending.

Pay The Toll

I love the groove and pace so far on this song.  The guitar, bass, and drums are awesome.  I love the music on “Pay The Toll.”  I am not a fan of the lyrics but it is classic Anvil.  Lips’ singing is pretty good.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I have to say this guitar solo just seemed a little forced into the song.  This is a quick and to the point song.  I love some of Anvil’s short songs.

Flying

I love the drumming at the beginning and the guitar and bass enters the song.  There is a nice guitar solo before singer starts to sing.  I love the lyrics and singing on this song.  This song has some meaning for the band that is one thing I love about this band.  They put some feelings and emotion behind their lyrics.  There is a nice guitar break and guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the build up to end the song.  Nice guitar solo to end the song with the drums and bass going nuts too.

Call Of Duty

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  I love the lyrics.  I love the pace and rhythm of the music.  I will have to look it up.  It seems Anvil wrote a song for the Video Game franchise.  It just seems like they wrote a song for the video game.  It is not the case.  There is a killer guitar solo towards the middle to the back half of the song.  Anvil wrote some awesome music and lyrics on “Call Of Duty.”  The ending on this song is one of the best ending for a song so far on this record.

Badass Rock N Roll

I love the start to this song.  It has that old school classic hard rock meets speed metal to metal.  I love the drumming on this song.  I love how Lips is singing on this song.  This song sounds like a song that Kiss of Gene Simmons would have been singing if he wrote it.  Hey Kiss, here is your next cover song.  There is a nice and well placed guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I really love how the guitar and the rest of the band re-enter the back into the main part of the song.   I love the lyrics and the ending to this song.

Time Shows No Mercy

I love the drumming at the beginning with some well place highlighting from the guitar and bass player.  I love the short guitar solo before they enter the main part of the song.  I love the lyrics and the singing is pretty solid.  The music is pretty song.  There is an awesome guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  The drumming is crazy during the guitar solo.  Most drummers would sit in the pocket because they do not want the song sound thin.  I will have to say this song does not sound thin.  I love the build up to end the song.

Mankind Machine

The song starts with some sound effects.  The guitar and drums come in to start the music part.  The bass is shortly after that with the singer coming in strong.  I love the singing and the lyrics on this song.  The music sounds like a bunch of robots or machines.  There is a nice guitar break to a solo towards the back half of the song.  There is a nice drumming break just after the guitar solo.

Shut The Fuck Up

The last song of the record before the bonus tracks.  It starts how as a fast pace to the music.  I love the lyrics and the singing.  This is a pretty solid record so far.  This is classic Anvil.  The music is so good on this song.  This is a perfect song to finish this great and soon to be classic Anvil record.

Hard Wired

I love the drumming, bass, and guitar playing at the beginning of the song.  There is a nice short guitar solo at the beginning just before Lips starts to singing.  I love the melody he wrote for his singing.  There is some nice lyrics.  The guitar solo towards the middle of this song is good but it just feels a little forced into the song.  I love the ending to the song.

Fire At Will

The song starts out with some strong music with everyone playing at the same time.  Lips singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics.  I love singing before the chorus and then in the chorus.  I love how they set up the guitar solo and the well placed solo in this song.  This guitar solo feels right in the song.  This is a perfect ending with the bonus tracks for “Hope In Hell” record.  I love how the song ends.

Current Line Up:

  • Steve “Lips” Kudlow – Lad Vocals And Lead Guitar
  • Robb “Geza” Reiner – Drums
  • Sal Italiano – Bass Guitar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anvilmetal.com

Twitter:  @AnvilMetal666

Fuel the fire, Anvil keeps on going and they are still writing some great music and records.  Anvil puts out yet another classic record.  I know I was not their at the beginning but I wish was to see Anvil at the beginning of their career.  I discover them before their movie came out.  I heard some of their tunes.  I had a hard time finding their records.  I overpaid for their first greatest hits because I wanted to play it on my radio show, which is www.stfu.fm.  I wanted to support this great band.  I had a chance to meet the whole band outside of their Chicago show.  I was able to get all their records from www.ebay.com and some release.  I have to say this record “Hope In Hell” as lived up to the rest of their records.  This record is solid from start to finish.  I highly recommend you checking out this record and this band.  I would go see the movie if you have not.  If you are not a metal fan, I would go see it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit source: history part of this blog came from Wikipedia.

New Unknown Music Thursday Blog La Chinga La Chinga

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In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are going to get into a band from Vancouver, Canada.  La Chinga released their debut self-titled record.  The sound of the band is a throw back to the 1970’s classic hard rock.  They mixed some blues, folk, and rock.  They have elements from the pioneers of that era like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and MC5 to name a few bands.  There is not much information on this new band.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Early Grave

“Early Grave” starts out with a driving classic hard rock guitar riff.  I love the singing.  It reminds me of Deep Purple like Mark III to IV area with David Coverdale fronting the band with Glen Hughs.  La Chinga has brought the 1970’s back through their music and lyrics.  There is some nice lyrics and music.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle part of the song.  I love the drumming and bass work on this song.  There is a strong backbone in this music and band.  This is a great opening track.

Snake Eyes

The second song pretty much has the same start and sound like the opening track.  I love the grove of this song and the feeling from the singing.  Drummer is pound the hell out of his kit and gives a nice strong sound to the song.  I love the lyrics and the music so far on this song.  There is some nice guitar work towards the middle of the song that turns into a nice guitar solo.  I love the build up to the end of the song.

The Wheel

I love the grove of the start of this song.  There is some nice bass work on the song at the beginning.  I love the pace and in the packet of this song.  “The Wheel” sounds like something that early Whitesnake, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, or Deep Purple would have written.  The singer fits what this band is doing.  His voice is perfect for this music and the lyrics that he has written for it.

Catty!

I love the drumming at the beginning.  It sound very Led Zeppelin sounding.  The guitar sounds like a bright Black Sabbath sounding.  There is some nice lyrics on this song.  The drummer is so far making this record along with his partner in crime the bassist.  I will say the rhythm selection of this band makes this band a solid one.  This makes the guitar player and singer sound better without even trying and their job easier.  There is a nice solid guitar solo towards the middle.

Loose My Mind

“Loose My Mind” has some nice trip out music at the beginning.  The guitar playing is off the charts along with some solid drumming and bass playing.  I love the lyrics but I do not like the singing on this song at the beginning of the song.  In the later part of the song, it kind of gets a little better.  I love the ending of this song.

Boogie Children

The beginning of this song sounds like a 1970’s porn music.  I am sorry.  I can not really take this song that serious.  There is some solid bass playing and drumming in the background.  It has a nice build up.  After the 1970’s porn music, there is some great music.  I love the bass playing on this song.  I am not really a fan of the lyrics.

Country Mile

I love the beginning of “Country Mile.”  It has a southern rock music sound to it.  I really love the singer singing and the lyrics.  I love the pace and grove to the song.  There is a nice well placed guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I love the pick up on the song after the guitar solo.  It just feel right to the theme of the song and goes right back to the main the riff.  Nice touch!

La Chinga

The name of the band the title of this record has a nice pace to it.  I love the bass and drum playing on this song.  This is a straight ahead in your face song.  I love the guitar solo towards the middle of this song.  I just feel like it should be a little faster but it is still a pretty good solo.  It is one of his longest one on this record so far.  I love the ending with the music and the lead singer screaming.

Freedom

“Freedom” has a nice pace to it.  I love the lyrics and the guitar work on this song.  I just feel like the drumming is a little too strong and hard for this song.  There is a nice driving pace to this song.  La Chinga did a great job on the music.  This is one of their best songs off this record.  I love the ending to the song.

Universe

I love the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  The drums and bass echo a nice guitar riff for the main part of the song.  This band has found the fountain of all the driving songs.  There is some nice lyrics and singer sounds great.    I love the guitar work towards the end of the song.  This is great end to a great record from a good up and coming band.

Line Up:

Carl Spackler: Bass and Vocals

Ben Yardley: Guitars and Vocals

Jason Solyom: Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.lachinga.bandcamp.com and www.facebook.com/pages/La-Chinga

Twitter:  @chinga_la

In closing, this band has brought everything that was good about the 1970’s hard rock all in their first record to the public.  They did not do a lazy job on it.  They pulled elements from the classic 1970’s bands from Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, MC5, etc.  The drummer and bass player are the story on this record.  They made this record from good to great.  This band has a solid backbone with a very talented guitar player.  There is no holes in their games or swing.  This band reminds me of ZZ Top and Rush.  I am not saying they sound like either band but all their players are solid and talented.  There is not weak link on this band.  This band gives fans of the classic rock a nice wrap of some great 1970’s music.  I highly recommend this band’s music if you love 1970’s hard rock or some great rock music.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Unknown Music Thursday Blog Earthen Grave Self Title

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In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are going to get into the music of Earthen Grave.  This is their self title and first release from this band. Earthen Grave is a Chicago base doom to the classic old school metal band.  Ron Holzner, who is the bassist, was with the band Trouble.  It was founded in 2008 by Jason Muxlow, who is one of the guitar players.  There is an unique twisted on this band.  They have Rachel Barton Pine.  She plays the electric violin.  The band has released their EP and now this first full length record.  There is not much more on the history of this young band.  Let us get into the music.

Track List

Earthen Grave

The opening track has sound effects or sampling of church bells with a little guitar feedback.  I love the creepy guitar riff like a Black Sabbath style along with the drums and bass playing.  I love the bass line during the singing part.  Mark is a perfect fit for this music.  I love the lyrics.  I did not know how the violin would fit into the music but it is perfect it.  There is some awesome music.  I love the pick up towards the end of the song with a short guitar solo.  This is a great opening track for this record.

Life Carries On

I love the play back and forth on the guitar side of things.  The drums and bass are solid.  There is a nice guitar solo at the beginning of the song.  Mark comes in singing shortly after that solo.  He has a different tone of singing than the opening track.  I love the pace of this song.   I love how they are using the violin in this song.  It almost echoes the singing and guitar.  I love how they put the violin at the front towards the end as a solo and guitar solo shortly after that.  I love how both guitars sound a little different.  I loving the trade-off solos towards the end of the song.

Burning A Sinner

There is a classic 1970’s guitar riff with the music having the same feeling.  Mark’s singing is honorary those legend in the 1970’s.  I love the back up vocals.  It was a perfectly place and fits the song.  It is not focused.  There is some good lyrics on this song.  This song sounds like something that would be from Deep Purple or Black Sabbath record.  Nice touch on the guitar break and solo towards the middle of the song.

Blood Drunk

I love the acoustic guitar and the violin playing over the top of it.  I love the calming drums and bass.  Mark and Rachel’s singing are spot on to the song.  This is a pretty calming song.  This should be their first single off this record.  I love how they pick up the pace to heaviest part of the song.  I love the music.  Earthen Grave looped back to the slower part after the heavy part.  I love the time changes on this song.  There is a pretty nice guitar solos at the end of the song.  Both guitars are hitting it together hard.  There is a nice short violin solo.  Nice ending to the song.

Dismal Times

I love the drums and guitar action at the beginning.  There is a nice acoustic guitar with the drums and bass.  The violin plays over the top of the music.  The heavy guitars roar in with Mark screaming over it.  I love his melody on this song.  I love the lyrics and music on this song.  This is a pretty good record so far.  Mark is showing off as a singer on this song.  I really love how they used the violin on this song.  There is a nice time changes to the song.  There is some nice violin action at the end of the song.  Rachel is playing is awesome and great work.  “Dismal Times” has a great ending.

Tilted World

I love the trade-off from the guitar player and bassist.  There is some awesome riffs at the beginning.  I have always love the wah wah pedal on the bass.  I know I over use it when I play my bass.  I love the music on this song.  There is some great lyrics and singing from Mark.  The back up singing is good but I just feel this song and how Mark sings.  The band can do without back up vocals.  This is my thought not the bands.  I love the acoustic guitar with violin playing over the top.  I love the mood changes in all their songs.  I love the ending to this song.

Beneath A Shovel Load

I love the feedback guitar that turns into a guitar solo with the acoustic guitar in the background.  The drums and  bass are solid back up and support to the acoustic guitar.  I love the snap into the main riff.  Mark’s singing and melody are awesome.  He wrote some nice lyrics.  I love the pace of the song.  This is a nice driving song.  This is my favorite song so far off this record.  I could see this song being a single off this great record.  I love the double bass at the end of the song from the drums.  We need more double bass.  I love the guitar and violin solos at the end of “Beneath A Shovel Load.”

Fall In

I love the drumming at the beginning with nice touch simple bass line.  The guitar playing is awesome.  I love the main riff for the versus.  Mark kind sounds like Glen Danzing on this song.  This is the first time I kind of say he sounds like someone.  He has his unique way of singing that is a good thing.  This is a very good song and I enjoyed it.  I just feel this song is a little too long.  I love the effects on the guitars and the hard-hitting drums towards the end of the song.  Nice touch on the drums and bass towards the back half of the song to set up the trade up guitar solos.  I love the fading out guitar playing end.

Relentless

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  This is a nice driving song.  The drums and bass are solid.  He does sound like Ozzy of Black Sabbath but he has the same melody and rhythm on his vocals.  He has a kind of Glen Danzing sound again.  The more I think about his singing.  It kind of reminds of Riot “Thundersteel” singing.   I love music changes and the ending to this song.

Death On The High Seas

Here is the longest song off this record.  I love the violin playing at the beginning.  I love how she put some distorted on it that has a really nice effect.  I love the pace and the music on this song so far.  The music does kind of sound like the seas or the water hitting a ship.  Mark has some nice singing on “Death On The High Seas.”  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I love the violin playing at the mid-point of the song.  I love the fast pace of the song just past the mid-point of the song.  It is almost like they are in storm on the high seas.  Earthen Grave has done a great job on the music.  I love the ending.

Death Is Another Word

“Death Is Another Word” is their first single off this record.  I love the guitar playing that fades into the song.  I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  The drums and bass are solid.  I love the main riff with Mark singing over the top of it.  I love the pace of this song.  Mark is singing great with some good lyrics.  Mark sounds like Ozzy during the chorus part.  Earthen Grave has put some thought behind this song.  I love the fade out for the end of the song and the record before the live bonus track.

Stargazer (Live)

This is a classic Rainbow song.  I love how they use the violin on this song.  It is well placed.  The music is right on.  Mark is singing awesome of this classic Rainbow song.  Mark has a little Dio in him.  I believe Dio would approve Mark’s singing  on this song.  Earthen Grave has nailed this song.  I love how the violin is playing the classic Blackmore guitar solo along with one of the guitar players.   For being a live recording, the production team did a great job of recording this song.

Current Line Up

  • Mark Weiner – Vocals
  • Tony Spillman – Guitar
  • Jason Muxlow – Guitar
  • Ron Holzmer – Bass
  • Rachel Barton Pine – Eletric Violin
  • Chris Wozniak – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.earthengrave.com

Twitter:  @earthengrave

In closing, this is my first post under “Unknown Music Thursday” on my blog.  I am honor to have put this band’s music as my first post.  I received an email from Bandcamp to check out this band’s music.  This is how I discovered this band.  There is many bands in the past that use a violin player in the classic rock.  There is not too many hard rock and metal bands use violin player.  I am pretty impressed with the music and how they used the violin in their music.  Rachel is awesome player.  I have always love Ron’s bass playing in Trouble and he did not disappoint on this record.  Chris is a great drummer and Earthen Grave has picked a great one.  Tony and Jason are some guitar players and they know how to write their solos.  Earthen Grave should be proud of the music they put on this record.  They are upcoming band and I wish them the best of luck in the future.  I will be picking up this record and see them live.  I highly recommend you checking out this band, if you are hard rock and metal fans.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Black Sabbath 13

In this special Music Monday blog, we are going to take a look at a record many of us have been waiting for in years.  We are talking about the new music from Black Sabbath.  This is the first new studio record from Black Sabbath with Ozzy as the lead singer in about 35 years.  I have to say this record has went over really well with everyone in the world.  This record went #1 in the first week in 50 countries.  Let us get into the history of this great pioneer metal band and then the music.

History

Black Sabbath was founded in 1968 under the name of Earth.  As they have learned later on they found there was another band under the same band name of Earth in England.  Earth changed their name to Black Sabbath in 1969 from 1963 horror movie Black Sabbath.  They wrote their most haunting and evil song after their band name.  Black Sabbath was signed to Warner Bros in the states.  They release their debut record of Black Sabbath in 1970.  The record companies push Sabbath back into the studio in June of 1970 to record their second record.  It was supposed to be called “War Pigs.”  Warner Bros changed the name to “Paranoid” and lead with the title track as their first single.    “Paranoid” was released in early part of 1971 and went to #2 on the music charts.  In the early part of 1971, the band enter the studio to record “Master Of Reality.”  Following the World Tour of “Master Of Reality,” the band took break from touring and recording.  However, in June 1972, the band was back in the studio recording “Vol. 4”, it would be released in later part of 1972.  In the summer of 1973, they enter the studio, which was a house outside of Los Angeles, to record “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.”  The record was released in the later parts of 1973 after a long and beat up time to come up with music and ideas for “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.’  Sabbath went on a World Tour for the year of 1974.  In the early part of 1975, the band started working on “Sabotage.”  It would be released in July 1975.   Also in 1975, the record company put out the band’s first greatest hit, which was called “We Sold Our Souls For Rock And Roll.”  In 1976, Black Sabbath added a keyboard player, who was Gerry Woodruffe, to their next record, which was “Technical Ecstasy.”    It was released on September 1976.  In 1977, Ozzy quits the band just before Sabbath was supposed to be entering the studio.  Dave Walker was brought in to replace Ozzy on vocals.  They performed live with their new song “Junior’s Eyes.”  Ozzy had a change of mind on leaving the band and wanted to rejoin the band in January 1978.  Ozzy was welcome back but all the new songs they wrote with Dave Walker had to be tossed because Ozzy could not sing those songs.  “Never Say Die!” was released later part of 1978 and it marked the last studio recording for Ozzy in Sabbath for a while.  The band return to LA area to start working on new songs but the band was doing too much drugs and drinking way too much.  Ozzy had no ideas and did not want to practice. Ozzy was busy getting drunk and doing drugs. Tony fired Ozzy and had Bill Ward his buddy and lead singer he was not the singer of Black Sabbath anymore.  The band went through several line up changes in the 1980’s.  Ronnie James Dio replace Ozzy on vocals and this was the most success the band had in the 1980’s.  They also had Ian Gillin, who was from Deep Purple fame, on “Born Again” record as the lead singer, which to this day it is cult classic.  Then the band had Tony Martin and Ray Gillan, who replaced Glenn Hughes.  Glenn Hughes was on the record “The Seventh Star.”  Glenn to this day still does not remember recording that record with Tony.  At this time in Sabbath, Tony was the only original member of the band.  This record was supposed to be Tony’s first solo record but the record company said no to the idea.  Finally, in 1997 Black Sabbath with all four original reunited for a tour on the Ozzfest.  They would play along the side of Ozzy’s solo band.  The band did several recordings in Europe for their live record called “Reunion” that was released 1998.  It also mark the first time in years that the band recorded new music in a studio with Ozzy.  They recorded three songs but only two made the live record.  In the spring of 2001, the band went into the studio with Rick Rubin to start working on new record with Ozzy on vocals but Ozzy was called away to finish up his solo record “Down To Earth.”  Black Sabbath reunited with the Heaven And Hell line up and toured with Dio.  The band later started to work on new songs for the new Black Sabbath.  The band released the new record, which was “The Devil You Know,” under the band name of Heaven And Hell.  The band toured the world until Dio received some bad new about his health.  Ronnie James Dio pasted away on May 2010 from stomach cancer.  The Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is still active to this day and please support.  Rest In Peace Dio!  In November 2011, Black Sabbath reunites with Ozzy on vocals in the studio with producer Rick Rubin.  Bill Ward could not play the drums because of other things going on in his life.  There are several different stories out there about this situation.  Brad Wilk of Rage Against Machine was called in to play drums on the record.  “13” was released last week in the United States.  It has mark the first studio record from Black Sabbath in 18 years and the first with Ozzy in 35 years.  Let us get into the music!

Track List

End Of The Beginning

The classic dark dooming guitar riff from Tony at the beginning.  It is supported by some great drumming and bass playing.  This song reminds of something off the early Black Sabbath.  This is really creepy.  I love how Ozzy is singing over the guitar playing.  This song is extremely haunting and awesome.  I love the lyrics.  This is a great opening track to this great record.  I love the pick up towards the middle of the song.  I also love the fact that Ozzy has no effects on his vocals.  He also sounds really good on his singing.  Tony has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love how they let the drums and bass fill the spaces during the guitar solo.  I mean there is a rhythm guitar but it is not over the top like most rhythm guitars with the solo.

God Is Dead?

God Is Dead? is  the first single off this record.  Just like the opening track, this song is pretty creepy.  They have found the fountain of youth on this record so far.  I love the guitar work.  The drums and bass is pretty solid.  They have out did themselves on the music.  Once again, Ozzy has no effects on his vocals.  He sounds like old school Ozzy.  I love the pick up for the chorus and then the music pulls back to the background during the versus while Ozzy’s vocals are pushed forward over the music.  The band has written some great lyrics and music.  This is a great song for a single.  This record seems like it could be forty years old.  Tony has a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the time changes on this song.

Loner

I love the start to Loner with the solid guitar, drums, and bass.  This song seems like it would have been part of “Master of Reality” or “Vol. 4.”  This is classic Ozzy singing and lyrics.  I am really loving the fact there is no effects on his vocals.  I am really enjoying this guitar solo and I love the effects that are put on the Tony’s guitar.  Brad has done an awesome job on the drums.  Tony did a pretty good job on the ending guitar solo to finish up the song.

Zeitgeist

Tony has the Planet Cavern acoustic guitar sound going.  Bard playing the congas is a very nice touch.  This is the only time that Ozzy has effects on his vocals and it is perfect.  The bass is just right from one of the best in the business.  I love the lyrics on Zeitgeist.  Tony has some great guitar work towards the end of the song.  It is a nice touch for the song.

Age Of Reason

Brad has some awesome drumming and the bass and guitars are solid.  Ozzy is singing is solid and lyrics are really good.  I am loving the pace of this song.  I love how this song developed with the some keyboard action in the middle of the song.  I love the music on this song.  There is awesome guitar riffs throughout this song.  Tony puts together a pretty good guitar solo in the later parts of this song.  It has a perfect ending.

Live Forever

The guitar riff is pretty solid with the drums and bass at the beginning of  “Live Forever.”  The main riff is classic Black Sabbath.  Ozzy has his classic singing with some great lyrics.  Once again, it seems like this song could have been off one of their earlier records.  This is one of my favorite songs so far off this record.  Tony has a solid guitar  solo towards the back half of the song.

Damaged Soul

I love the sample or sound effects they use at the beginning of the song.  I love how the drums, guitar, and bass comes into the song.  The music is pretty solid.  Ozzy has some reverb on his vocals but it fits where they are taking this song.  Classic Tony’s guitar riff bleeds throughout this song.  I love the double vocals from Ozzy.  It gives you the crazy feeling that the song is trying to get out.  Tony has some pretty awesome guitar breaks and solos throughout this song.  The music is awesome on this song.  I am loving the ending guitar solo.

Dear Father

“Dear Father” is the final song off the record before we get into the bonus tracks from special edition from www.bestbuy.com.  There is classic Black Sabbath music and Ozzy singing and lyrics are solid.  I am loving the pace and the feeling on this song.  It is a perfect song to finish this comeback record.  Brad is killing it on the drums.  He is not Bill Ward but if someone told me Bill Ward played on this record, I would have believe them.  I love Ozzy’s melody on this song.  The rain storm is perfect and echoes the time in the past and the record that put them on the map.

Methademic

I love the start of this song.  Tony has a nice acoustic guitar riff.  It is a thinking music.  It then slams right into your face with the distorted and evil guitar riff.  The bass and drums are solid.  Ozzy is solid on his vocals and lyrics.  This song has a good pace to it.  Tony has an awesome guitar solo in the later part of the song.    It has a nice ending to the song.

Peace Of Mind

“Peace Of Mind” has an awesome guitar riff.  It is deep, dark, and thick.  Ozzy has some awesome singing and lyrics also on this song.  Brad drum beat is simple but it is to the point.  I love how the guitar and drums echo off each other.  I love how this song ends.  It is perfect.

Pariah

I love the beginning of Pariah.  There is an awesome main riff.  Bulter is all over that bass along with Tony’s guitar work.  Dear lord, this has to be the best song of the bonus tracks and maybe the record itself.  This has to be a song they never used back in the day.  This is a great song.  I love how they moved the guitar down to an acoustic in the later part of the song.  It goes back to distorted and Tony has guitar solo that fits this song.

Naivete In Black

“Naivete In Black” is the finally song from the bonus tracks and the record.  I love the fast pace of the song.  Ozzy has been pretty solid throughout this record.  The lyrics are done up really well.  I love the movements of the riffs.  Tony has a nice guitar break in the middle of the song.  I love the ending to this song and the riff going out.

Current Line Up

  • Ozzy Osbourne – Lead Vocals
  • Tonny Iommi – Guitars
  • Geezer Bulter – Bass

Special Guest Drummer

  • Brad Wilk – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blacksabbath.com

Twitter:  @OfficialSabbath

In closing, I am glad Sabbath reunited and put out mind-blowing new record.  It seems like they never broke up and all the music between did not happen.  Geezer Bulter did a great job on the lyrics and bass playing.  Ozzy did a great job helping write the music and the singing.  Tonny Iommi was off the charts good on the guitars.  Brad Wilk from Rage Against The Machine was as close as you are going to get on drums to Bill Ward.  I was pretty sad to see Bill Ward was not playing drums on this record.  I do not understand why but I saw the reports and stories.  It is funny to think that Ozzy was picked on by Geezer and Tony in school would end up fronting one of the pioneers of metal music.  “13” was a solid record from start to finish that is including all the bonus tracks.  I do not know which one is my favorite or favorites.  I enjoyed listening to all the songs.  I am looking forward and hoping to hear more new music from this line up of Black Sabbath.   I highly recommend this record from the old school metal guys or the new to the music of metal.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia and some from stories I heard throughout the years.  Most came from Talking Metal and Eddie Trunk.)

New Music Monday Blog Aerosmith Music from Another Dimension!

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest and overdue record from Boston Legends known as Aerosmith.  Aerosmith’s last record was Honkin’ On Bobo which was released in 2004.  It has been twelve years for original music and that record was Just Push Play in 2001.  Aerosmith was founded in 1970 in Boston.  Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records in 1971 and in 1973 Aerosmith debut record hit the shelves.  Aerosmith is a really successful band in American history.  They have sold over 150 million records worldwide and 65.5 million in the United States.  Aerosmith was put in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2001 and listed in Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Artist Of All Time.  Aerosmith has put out 15 studio records, 5 live records, 11 greatest records, 68 singles, and 7 video records.  We are going to do the latest from this band and it is 15th record, which is called Music From Another Dimension!  Let us get into the music.

LUV XXX

There is a voice in the opening track.  It gives you an outer space type of feel and sets theme of this record from Aerosmith.  I am loving the drums, bass, and guitar work at the beginning of the song.  I am not liking the singing and effects on Tyler’s vocals.  I am not a fan of lyrics either.  The music is old school Aerosmith but the singing is something you would hear from Moroon 5.  The music kind sounds like Love In Elevator and melody.  I am love the guitar break from Joe Perry.  Joey Kramer still has it on the drums.  Great music but just bad lyrics on this song.  I hope this not a theme throughout this record.

Oh Yeah

Great drumming at the beginning of Oh Yeah, the guitar has a late 1970’s feel to it.  I am not too sure on the lyrics just like the opening track.  The music is pretty solid with a nice guitar break and then a little guitar solo from Joe.  I am not a fan of singing and lyrics.  This record is missing something and it feels like it was rushed even though they took forever to out this record.  I did like that ending to Oh Yeah.

Beautiful

What is up with the beginning of this song?  Come on stop reliving the rap days of Aerosmtih and Run DMC.  Steve you can not rap and same thing with the rest of your band members.  This song is really bad.  They should have put a rapper on this song.  It would have been a little better because the music is pretty solid.  I love the guitar solo from Joe.  I am glad there was a good solo at least.  So far this is the worse song out there and on this record.

Tell Me

I am love the beginning of this song.  It has nice singing from Steve and acoustic.  Please cut off the reverb on Steve’s vocals.  You are not the greatest singer in the world but you do hold your own.  I did not like how the drums came into Tell Me.  I am kind of liking the lyrics on Tell me.  This is a pretty solid song.  So far this is beyond the best song on the record.  This is what I am looking from this legendary band.

Out Go The Lights

Out Go The Lights has a some solid guitar and drumming that echoes some from their earlier work.  Joey has some solid drumming and bass playing from Brad.  The lyrics are pretty good too.  Steve is singing like he did in the past.   Is this record turning period in the right direction after the first three bad songs? Joe has a solid guitar break in the first quarter part of the song.  This is a pretty solid song.  It has well written in every part of this band.  I am loving the back up singing too.  There was a great stop and the start-up from the drums.  Joey then rides the cow bell into sunset.  The back half of the song has some nice trade-off from all the guys in the band while Steve just chills in the background.  There is a nice touch on the fade out of the music for the ending.

Legendardy Child

This song sounds like something off Get A Grip or Just Push Play.  There is a solid start to the song.  I am enjoying the lyrics and guitar work.  The drums and bass are right there up to Aerosmith standards.  So far, Aerosmith has turn the corner on this record.  This is another good song.  Joe has a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I like the ending of Legendary Child.

What Could Have Been Love

This is the first Ballard on this record.  I like Steve’s singing and Joey and Joe’s playing on this song.  The lyrics are well written.  I do enjoy their ballads in the past so this one lives up to those songs.  Joey has some great drumming on this song.  There is some great melody.  I just feel this song does not need back up singing.  This is a great song.  I love the ending to the song.

Street Jesus

Street Jesus start out with a sample from the street and the guitar comes in.  It is an average to below average guitar riff.  Steve’s singing is average.  I have heard better from this band.  The main part of the song is Ok.  I really not liking this song.  The title is a little cheesey.  I like the drum beat and the bass playing on Street Jesus.  I could do without the rest of the members on this song.  I really do not like what they did at the end of the song.  At least Joe has a great guitar break and solo in the middle of the song and it sounds like the two guitar players are trading off solos.   I could not finish listening to this song that how bad it was for me.

Can’t Stop Loving You (feature with Carrie Underwood)

Here is another Ballard song on this record.  Steve and Carrie are a good fit on this song.  Their voices and vocals fit perfectly together.  This song has a nice pace to it.  I love how they bend together.  I am also liking the music.  It has a little country touch to it and it is not because Carrie is singing on this song.  Please, cut the reverb off Steve’s voice.  This is a well written song and it is one of my favorites so far on this record.  I love the fade out of the song at the end.

Love Alot

I love the drum action at the beginning.  There is some great music but the lyrics are a little weak again.  I am enjoying the melody that Tyler has on Love Alot.  I just feel there could be better lyrics than the ones that are on this song.  I just feel he is singing the same thing over and over.  I know there are different words but it echoes too much.  I really did not like the ending of the song.

We All Fall Down

The start of We All Fall Down has some singing with piano work which is well written.  Steve has a nice melody and is singing great.  Here is another slow song and the lyrics are average.  They are livable to what I have heard on this record.  To be honest, drums and bass are great on the song but Aerosmith could live without them on this song.  I am loving the guitar riff on this song but really do not need them.  It might make more sense towards the end of the song for the guitar, bass, and drums.  I really not a fan of the ending.

Freedom Fighter

Freedom Fighter has a great bass, guitar, and drum working.   I am not a fan of the singing and the lyrics.  This is pretty bad song.  I really love the music on this song but I could do without the lyrics and singing.  I do not know where they came up with this song.  To me, this is not Aerosmith.  Is this a Joe Perry solo song that he brought over to Aerosmith? I know he has done that in the past and had some success with it.  This song does fall short but I love the ending of the song.

Closer

I love the effects on the guitar at the beginning and a well written riff.  I love the blues singing from Steve.  It fits the feeling of the song and the theme.  The music is pretty good and nice blues guitar solo between versus.  I am also enjoying the lyrics.  It has a pretty solid ending to the song.

Something

The beginning sounds like something from a hockey game and video game.  I am enjoying the guitar playing.  Joe sounds like Gene Simmons after a bender.  He did get better as the song went on but please Joe play the guitar and do back up vocals.  You are not a lead singer.  I do not know how I feel towards this song.  It has a pretty good ending.

Another Last Goodbye

I am enjoying the piano and flute playing at the beginning.  Steve singing is pretty good also and with some really good lyrics.  Steve is singing his heart out on this song.  This is a great song to end this bad record.  Please, do not get me wrong there are some gems on this record.  Damn!  Steve really hit it on this song.  His singing is the best I have heard from him in a long time.  I have to be honest this song could be shorter.  The lyrics getting pretty boring as the song goes on with the singing at the very end of the song.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.aerosmith.com

Twitter:  @aerosmith

Closing out, I will be really honest on this record.  Is there are some good songs and gems on this record?  Yes, there is but they are not great song or up to Aerosmith’s standards.  I feel they cut them short on many of these songs.  I just feel this record is missing something.  Is the band getting along and are they talking about their music?  I just feel they are not talking to one another.  Two summer ago, Aerosmith almost replace Steve Tyler as lead singer.  I do not know how much of that put into this release.  I just know they have been working on this record for a while.  I am glad they are still together.  I am glad they are touring and I might have to see them this upcoming summer.  I saw them at Tiger Stadium with Kiss and Slavia.  It was one of the best shows I saw that year.  I believe that is the last time I was in Tiger Stadium.  Well to wrap this up, I have to say just because I did not like this record and dogged on it.  It does not mean you will not like it.  We as music fans have a ton of chances to listen to the record before we buy it.  Just what I said there are some good songs.  I just feel there are too many filler songs to get this record out to the people.  Let me know your thoughts.  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 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