metallica

New Music Monday White Wizzard The Devil’s Cut

In this Music Monday blog, we are going to get into the latest record from White Wizzard.  It is called “The Devil’s Cut.”  We are going to get into the history and then the music off this new record.  Let us get into the history.

History:

White Wizzard was founded in 2007 by bass player, Jon Leon.  He was looking to bring back the classic hard rock and metal sound to fans looking for it.  The band released their first EP, which was called “White Wizzard,” in 2008.  Even with some success at first, the band loss three of their orignal members.  They went on to start a new band called Holy Grail that has similar music style.  Jon Leon signed a contract with Earache Records and then started to search for members for the second line up.  After filling the second line up, the band released their second EP, which is called “High Speed GTO,” in 2009.  In 2010, the band released their first full length record, which was called “Over The Top.”  White Wizzard was nominated for Best New Artist at Metal Hammer Golden Gods.  In 2011, the band released their second record, which was called “Flying Tigers.”  The band in 2013 released their third record, which was called  “The Devil’s Cut.”  White Wizzard put out their new single, which was called “Marathon Of Dreams,” on their new label White Wizzard Records.  This is first time in history of the band that features Jon Leon on lead singer and Devin Lebsack.  This band has went through several line up changes after the release of “The Devil’s Cut.”  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Forging The Steel

There is a nice classic hard rock driving music at the beginning of the song.  I love the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  This music sounds like something out of the late 1970’s to early 1980’s.  This is a nice intro song to the record.

Strike The Iron

I love the blend from the first track to the second track.  The music pace has picked up.  The singer sounds like someone from Riot or Saxon.  I love the lyrics and singing.  This song has a sound like it came right from Riot.  I love the short guitar solo.  They wrote a nice opening track for this record.  There is a nice expanded guitar solo towards the back half of the song.  I love the music towards the end of the music.  It sounds like two different songs on the back half of the song.

Kings Of The Highway

I love the slower pace of this song.  I love singing and lyrics.  I love the theme of this song.  Jon put some thought on the lyrics.  He did a great job on it.   This is a great song but I feel it should be a little faster.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is a guitar solo to take the song out.  It has a nice fade out.

Lightening In My Hands

The beginning of the song remains me some old school Iron Maiden music.  There is some nice guitar and bass playing.  Even the singing remains me of Bruce.  I love the lyrics.  I love the guitar solo towards the end.  I also love the bass playing.  There is another nice well written guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the trade-off on the guitar solos.

Steal Your Mind

There is a nice slight dark tone guitar playing at the beginning of the song.  I love the slow down to bring the singer with some nice guitar work.  There is some nice singing and well written lyrics.  This is a great song but I just feel it is too slow for my taste.  I love the short guitar solos throughout the song.  It is becoming too much now.  This is too long but it is a great song.  I just wish it was a little faster.  I love how it the pace finally picks up towards the back half of the song.

The Devil’s Cut

I love the drumming and how the guitar playing is at the beginning.  The shinning light is the bass playing.  It is some awesome playing.  I am not too sure on how I feel about the singing from the singer.  I love the lyrics.  At the beginning, I just felt he was too low but as the song moves on it did get better.

Torpedo Of Truth

I love the pace and music at the beginning.  There is a some nice drumming on this track.  There is some nice guitar playing with some nice guitar solos.  I love the singing with the back up singing.  The lyrics are well written but I am not liking the title of the song that much along with the chorus.  I am really not liking this song so much.  I could do without it on this record.

Storm Chaser

I am loving the bass playing and drumming at the beginning.  I am not liking the guitar playing so far on this song.  The singing seems a little off and not really fitting with the song  The lyrics are really below average.  They could do so much better.  Some of these songs on this record are starting to sound the same.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  It seems every song on this record does not need a guitar solo.  This song could live without a guitar solo.

The Sun Also Rises

I am loving the acoustic guitar at the beginning.  It is about time.  I have been waiting for one song like this.  I love the bass playing in the background.  I love the singing and lyrics.  The main part of the song sounds just like an old Iron Maiden song.  The singing like some from White Lion.  I am really liking this song.  It has a nice driving song.   This song is way too long unless.  I love change of the music at the half way point.  Oh!  Once again another guitar solo.  I love how they ended this record.

Original Line Up:

Wyatt Anderson – Lead Vocals

Jon Leon – Bass And Guitar

Erik Kluiber – Guitar

Jesse Appelhans- Drums

Current Line Up:

Joseph Michael – Vocals

Jon Leon – Guitar And Bass

Jake Dreyer – Lead Guitar

Will Wallner – Guitar

Giovanni Durst – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.facebook.com/WhiteWizzard

Twitter:  @whitewizzard

Closing, I have enjoyed this band since their start and I will always buy their music.  I have to say this record has some great songs but overall it is pretty disappointing.  I know in the past hard rock and metal music had guitar solos in their songs.  I just felt they went over the top on the guitar solos.  No to plug one of their songs.  The singer is spot on to the original singer.  I am pretty worried about this band and their future.  They only have two members in this band at this time.  I know this band went through several line up changes but I hope they can get it together again.  There is some well written songs on this record and there are songs you will be skipping.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Music Monday Blog Evile Skull

In this Music Monday blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Evile.  The record is Skull. We are going to get into the history and then into the music.  Let us get into the history.

History:

Exile was formed in 2004 as a cover band but behind the scenes, they started to write some orignal songs.  In 2004, the band released their first EP, which is called “All Hallows Eve.”  In 2006, they released their second EP, which is called “Hell Demo.”  Both of these EPs were limited runs of like 200 to 350 units each.  The band went on tour with Excodus in parts of Europe.  The band signed a contract with Earache in 2006.  In that same year, they changed their name from Exile to Evile.  In 2007, the band started to record their first full length record called “Enter The Grave.”  It received some great ratings from the media.  They toured with several different bands throughout 2007 to 2009.  I am talking main acts like Megadeth to Machinehead.  In 2009, the band began work on their second record, which was called “Infected Nation.”  The band’s record had a pretty successful first week of sales.  Later part of 2009, Mike Alexander, who was the bass player, was rushed to the hospital and later passed away.  The band did two tribute shows for their falling band mate.  They did cover songs of Mike’s favorite bands or songs.  The band picked Joel Graham as their new bass player in December of 2009.  They announced US tour for 2010.  They supported acts like Kreator and Overkill.  The Overkill tour is where I saw them and I have been a fan since.  I just wished they played longer.  After, they finished their set.  I went down to their merch stand and brought one of each of their CDs in their music career.  I know it was only two but that is saying something about the band.  The band started to headline some fests or on the main stage.  In 2010, the band started to work on their third record, which was called “Five Serpent’s Teeth.”  The record was released in later part of 2011.  There is one song, which is “In Memoriam,” on this record that is a tribute to their first and fallen bass player.   In 2013, the band began working on “Skull” and it would be their fourth record.  After the record was done, Ol Drake, who is their orignal lead guitar player, left the band.  He was replaced by Piers Donno-Fuller  in 2014.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Underworld

There is some sound effects at the beginning of the song.  The drums and guitars roll in with fast and impact to your speakers.  It is fast just like the old school Evile.  This is thrash metal at its finest.  Matt’s singing has always remind of James from Metallica.  This is what Metallica is supposed to sound like today.  I love the lyrics and they are well written.  There is a nice thrash metal guitar solo towards the back half of this song.  It is well written.  There is a nice finish to this song and the opening track.  This is a solid start to this record.

Skull

There is some nice heavy music at the beginning.  I am loving the drums and bass playing at the beginning of this song.  Matt has some nice in face singing.  I love the lyrics and some nice melody.  The music change in the midpoint of the song.  The guitar playing is pretty goof at this point of the song.  This band is living up to the old school thrash metal.  There is a nice guitar solo with some nice time and rhythm changes to it in the back half of the song.  I have always love when they put a ton of reverb on back up singers to give that strong sound to their vocals.

The Naked Sun

I love the guitar playing at the beginning of the song.  The music is pretty solid.  There is some nice lyrics and some great singing at points.  I love the length of these songs.  They are just about right for this style of music.  I love the start to the guitar solo.  It goes into a full force towards the end of the song.  Ol out did himself on this guitar solo.  The drumming is hard hitting.  These guys can sing and they are just screamers.

Head Of The Demon

I love the music at the beginning of this song.  The guitar playing on this record has been awesome.  I am glad to see a band take their time writing some good tunes.  I love the slower pace of this song compare to the beginning of this record.  Matt took his time and put down some well thought lyrics.  I am loving the back up singing on this record so far.  Nice and well written guitar solo is towards the end of the song.  I love double bass on the drums but that was a little out-of-place.  The double bass is so out-of-place and it over took the guitar solo to a point.

Tomb

I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning.  The drumming is well place and I love the style of it.  I love the singing from Matt and he wrote some nice lyrics.  I love how the music is taking shape.  I love the build up to the heavier part of the song.  I love how they returned to the acoustic guitar music towards the end of the song.  It turns into a nice guitar solo.

Words Of The Dead

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  There is some nice drumming and guitar playing.  I love the singing with multiple singers.  I love the bass breaks and the speed of the music.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is some nice lyrics and singing.

Outsider

There is some nice new school thrash metal style of music at the beginning.  There is some nice well written lyrics.  I am not sure I feel about the back up singing on this song.  Matt’s singing is solid but I just feel he could sing a little be more than his singing talking style.  There is a talking part that not go well with the song.  I love the scream of “Outsider” and then the guitar solo comes into full focus.  I love the music on this song.

What You Become

I love the music at the beginning.  I am loving the drumming on this song.  Matt’s singing fit nicely on this song.  There is some well written lyrics.  I love how the lead singer blends with the back up singers and back to the lead.  It has a nice touch.  It is hard to describe.  There is an awesome guitar solo towards the end of the song.

New Truth Old Lies

I love the short acoustic guitar and hard-hitting of the heavy music that came in afterwards.  I love the rhythm and melody from the singer.  There is some nice lyrics.  I love the guitar solo towards the middle of the song.   This is part where double bass makes a little bit more sense.  This is a great song to finish this great record.  Evile did a great job on the music and lyrics.

Orignal Line Up:

Matt Drake – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

Ol Drake – Lead Guitar

Mike Alexander – Bass Guitar

Ben Carter – Drums

Current Line Up:

Matt Drake – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

Ol Drake – Lead Guitar

Joel Graham -Bass Guitar

Ben Carter – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.evile.co.uk

Twitter:  @evileuk

Closing, I love this band and I am glad they brought back the old thrash metal sound and music.  Of course, they put their twisted on it.  Overall, this is a great record.  I love how they kept true to themselves.  Matt has done a great job on the lyrics.  Some of the singing was ok but very good overall. I will be adding this record to my line up of records to play once in a while.  There is some solid drums and guitar playing.  I love the guitar solo but with Ol leaving the group.  How will the music and sound along with guitar solos change?  Will this band change too much?  I hope Evile stays as close to what they were on all their records.  They will change a bit because of the different and new players in the group.  I am looking forward to their new music in future.  This is a great band and album.  I highly recommend it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Music Monday The Black Dahlia Murder Everblack

In this Mondy Music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from The Black Dahlia Murder from Michigan.  The record is Everblack which is their sixth studio record in their music career.  We are going to get into the history and then the music.  Here is the history.

History

The Black Dahlia Murder was formed in late part of 2000 in Waterford, Michigan.  It was named after unsolved murders.  They were signed to Metal Blade Records in 2003.  Ryan Williams joined the band to replace David Lock just in time to record their first record, which is “Unhallowed.”  The band toured and then released their second record, which was “Miasma,” in 2005.  After the tour for Miasma, Zach Gibson, who was the drummer, and Pierre Langlois, who was drummer, left the band.  Pierre was on drums after Gibson.  The band replace Zach Gibson with Shannon Lucas.  In 2007, the band released their third record, which was “Nocturmal.”  The band went on a World Tour with Cannibal Corpse to support their new record and celebrate 25 years of Metal Blade Records.  In 2008, they joined tour with several different metal bands for Summer Slaughter Tour.  After the tour, John K guitarist left the band and was replaced with Ryan Knight in 2009.  In the later part of 2009, the band released their fourth record, which was “Deflorate.”  They tour to support the record.  In 2010, they kept on touring while writing their next record.  In 2011, they released their fifth record, which was “Ritual.”  In 2012, the band gets another line up changes.  Max Lavelle replaces Ryan Williams on bass.  Shannon Lucas steps down as the drummer and was replaced by Alan Cassidy.  In 2013, the band released their new record called “Everblack.”  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

In Hell is Where She Waits For Me

Heavy and hard-hitting music at the beginning from the drums, bass, and guitars.  There is some talking but I can not make it out because it is not loud enough. The lead singer comes in screaming.  The guitar playing on the main part is solid.  The singing is the type you can barely understand what he is saying.  The lyrics that I have picked are pretty solid.  There is some nice back up singing too.  I love time changes towards the middle part of the song.  There is some nice double bass from the drums about that time.  This is a pretty solid song.  I love slower guitar solo at the beginning of it and then it picks up towards the middle and end of the solo.

Goat Of Departure

I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  The drumming is good but it starting to sound the same from song to song.  I love the lyrics they wrote for this song.  I really not a fan of the back up singing on this song.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Into The Everblack

I love the guitar work and the drums fit perfectly even though it is the same beat. It changes a bit when the singer comes into the song. I hate the chopping guitar playing. I get it fits but it sounds very messing during the main part of the song. I love the keyboard part in this song. It gives a break to the same old in the song and the record. The guitar playing coming out of it. It is some pretty impressive playing. It leads into a short guitar solo.

Raped in hatred By Vines of Thorn

I love the guitar playing at the beginning and the slower drum beat. This song has a nice pace and I love it. It gives you a different feeling unlike the rest of the record. I love double bass but this is a bit overkill. I love the lyrics and the singing. The listeners can understand the singers a bit. I do not know how I feel about the lyrics but it is what it is. There is a pretty well written guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Phantom Limb Masturbation

The song starts with the vocals in your face. This song echos the songs at the beginning. The drumming slight different but about the same. I love the lyrics they placed on this song. I love the chorus music. There is a nice short guitar solo at the quarter point of this song. There is another guitar solo towards the middle part of the song that is a little longer than the last one. This one is a little well thought about it. I love the pace of the music and solo itself.

Control

Just like the last song, the vocals start it out but the music is right there after the start of the song. I cannot pick up the lyrics. There is some well written guitar riffs on this song. The drums are pretty complex and well written. He has been kicking some serious ass throughout this record. This song is short and to the point. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song and I love how the guitar solo keeps on going to the end of the song.

Blood Mine

I love the guitar playing and bass too. The drums can let off on the double bass at least one song please. Asides that, I have been loving the drums towards the end of this record. I cannot understand the vocals so I cannot pick up the lyrics. I love the title of the song. I am not sure on the duo singers at least on this song. There is a guitar solo towards the end of the song but it is short and sweet to the point.

Every Rope A Noose

Oh my God, I love the drumming at the beginning. It has pretty awesome beat. I love the guitar playing. I love the singing but I cannot understand the singers. This song has a nice fast pace and it is perfect towards the end of the record. The double bass makes so much sense at this point of the song. There is a well placed guitar solo towards the end of the song. There is a nice piano playing at the end that comes into full focus to end the song.

Their Beloved Absentee

I love the singing from the group of singers at the beginning but they were so far in the background and volume is to low. This is a straight driving song. It has a nice pace. This is a classic extreme metal song.  I love the pace. I love the music on this track. I love the guitar solo towards the end and it is well placed.

Map Of Scars

There is some nice well-written music from the drums and guitars. The bass playing is pretty simple but it is perfect. I cannot understand the singer so I cannot judge lyrics. I guess I could look up the lyrics on the net.  This is a perfect song to finish a great record from this Michigan band.   Great song and nice ending to this record.

Original Line Up:

Trevor Strnad – Vocals

Brian Eschbach – Guitar

John Kempainen – Guitar

David Lock – Bass

Cory Grady – Drums

Current Line Up:

Brian Eschbach – Guitars

Alan Cassidy – Drums

Max Lavelle – Bass

Ryan Knight – Guitars

Trevor Strnad – Vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.facebook.com/theblackdahliamurderofficial

Twitter:  @bdmmetal

Closing, overall, this is a great record and I really enjoyed this song.  I wish I could understand the singers a bit more but I understand because it is the singing style.  There is some nice music on this great. I kind of wish drums were a little bit different from song to sing but that is hardest job in this band.  I get what he is trying to do and it is pretty limited.  They place guitar solos in the right spots to break up the song. I love how some times the guitar solos keep going during main part of the song at the end. It gives a nice and different sound. Great Job! It is a nice touch for someone that does not like this singing type but love the music. It seems every song of this type of metal needs a guitar solo to break up song.  If they do not put the guitar solos in the songs, the songs will become white noise.  I love this band and I cannot wait to hear their next record.  I highly recommend this band and this record.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Music Monday Blog Shinedown Amaryllis

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest from Shinedown.  It is Amaryllis.  We will get into the history and then the music from this new record.  Let us get into the history.

History:

Shinedown was formed in 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida with members, who are Brent Smith (Lead Singer), Brad Stewart (Bass), Jason Todd (Guitars), and Barry Kerch (Drums).  Shinedown’s first record, which was “Leave A Whisper,” was released in 2004 under Atlantic Records.  Shinedown’s second record, which was “Us And Them, was released in 2005.  Their third record was “The Sound Of Madness.”  This was their most successful record to date.  This is also the frist record without Brad Stewart on bass.   Eric Bass, who is bass player, replaced Brad Steward.  and Zach Myers, who is a guitar player, joins the band.  Shinedown’s fourth record, which is Amaryllis, marked the first time band history Zach Myers as the only guitar player and the new one in this band.    Let us get into the music.

Song List:

Adrenaline

There is some nice drumming at the beginning.  I am loving the music and drumming in this song.  The singing is pretty strong.  I love the pace of this song.  There is some awesome lyrics.  This is a great opening track.  The drummer is playing out of his mind.  I love the focus on him on this song.  I love the short and to the point guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Bully

This was the first single of this record.  I love the guitar work at the beginning.  I love the bass playing during the main part of the song.  There is a nice pace on “Bully.”  I am not really a fan of the lyrics but it is still a pretty good song.  I love the melody and the singing on this song.  There is some strong back up vocals on “Bully.”  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Amaryllis

This is the title track of this record.  I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning.  I have always loved his singing voice.  I love the backbone of the band.  The bass and drum playing is solid.  This song kind of reminds me of something that Goo Goo Dolls would have written.  I love the lyrics.  This is a pretty solid song.  There is a nice guitar break towards the back half of “Amaryllis.”

Unity

I love the keyboard playing at the beginning with a nice solid playing from the guitar, bass, and drumming over the top of it.  I love the singing and some pretty good lyrics.  I love how the mix a disturbed and acoustic guitar.  There is a nice melody.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I just wished it was a little bit longer.   I love the ending of “Unity.”

Enemies

I love the effects on the guitar at the beginning of “Enemies.”  I love the music and melody.  This is my favorite song on this record so far.  I love the lyrics.  I love the ending of “Enemies.”

I’m Not Alright

I love the music.  I am not really a fan of the lyrics but the singing on “I’m Not Alright.”  There is some playing from the drummer and bass player.  This song seems like it needs a guitar solo to break up the singing a bit.  I just feel this song could be a little bit longer.

Nowhere Kids

There is some solid music.  I love the singing and lyrics are average.  I love the melody from the singer.  I just feel the same way about this song to the last one.  I just feel it could use a guitar solo about the mid-point of the song to break up the singing a bit.  There is nothing wrong with the singing.  I just hearing too much of it.

Miracle

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  There is some nice simple drum beat.  I love the singing over the top of it.  I love the music.  I love the lyrics.  They put some thought on this song.  This is a great rebound song from the last two songs.  I just wished there was a guitar solo.  It is still a solid song.

I’ll Follow You

I love the piano playing on this song.  There is some solid singing and well written lyrics.  I love the music on the main part of the song.  I love the pace of this song.  Here is a song that does not need a guitar solo.  The guitar solo that is on this song is pretty good and well placed.  It did what I wanted in the last few songs.

For My Sake

I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  I love what they did in the main part of the song.  There is some nice lyrics and melody.  I love the pace of “For My Sake.”  This is one of my favorite songs off this record.  I love the guitar playing on this song.

My Name (Wearing Me Out)

There is some nice music at the beginning of this song.  I love heavy drumming on this song.  I love the pace of this song.  The bass playing is solid.  There is some nice lyrics with some feeling and soul to it.  This is a nice driving song.  I could get some speeding tickets with this song playing.

Through The Ghost

I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning.  There is some nice music on “Through The Ghost.”  I love the singing and the lyrics.  This is a nice song to finish “Amaryllis.”  The only problem I have with this song is that it is a little too long.  I love the ending of it.

Line Up:

  • Brent Smith – Vocals
  • Zach Myers -Lead And Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals
  • Barry Kerch – Drums and Percussion
  • Eric Bass – Bass, Piano, and Backing Vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shinedown.com

Twitter:  @Shinedown

Closing, I love Shinedown.  I do not understand why I did not get into them right away.  It took me a little time but I have been a pretty big fan since.  There are some pretty good songs off this record.  It is not like their last record, which was “Sound Of Madness.”  I still enjoyed it, however, I just feel there were too many filler songs to get the record out.   These are songs they put on the record to get it out to the market.  I just wished there were more guitar solos towards the end of the record.  There are songs that need solos and there are songs that do not need them.  There were a few songs screaming for guitar solos.  This band has not put out a band record and this one is not one.  They are working on their next one but I recommend you picking up this one to get yourself through until it comes out.  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 The Ongoing Concept Saloon

In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are  going to get into an up and coming artist, which is The Ongoing Concept.  Saloon is their first record and only studio recording from this young band.  There is not much history on this band.  They are signed to one of the biggest record labels, which is Solid State, in metalcore.  Let us get into this record.

Song List:

Let’s Deal The Cards Again

There is some nice saloon sounds like back in the wild west times.  There are people talking in the bar.  It is a nice intro song for this record.

Saloon

The music is in your face and heavy.  The piano is like wild west time sound.  The singer is screaming and does get into some clear vocals.  I love the bend of different types of music.  This is a pretty good opening track for their first record.   Ongoing Concept has written some nice lyrics and music.  I love the ending of the song.

You Are The One

I love the singing and the beat at the beginning.  The singing is like old church singing.  I love the music and the singing.  There is some nice lyrics on this song.  This is a pretty good record so far into track number three.  I love the guitar playing on “You Are The One.”  I love the drumming towards the end of the song with some awesome singing.  They put some thought behind this song.

Cover Girl

I love the drumming and the singing.  It is just right into the main part of the song.  It is straight up in your face.  I love the guitar, drumming, and bass playing.  The singing is very good with some well written lyrics.  They wrote some nice music.  I love how they used the banjo on “Cover Girl” during the main part of the song.  It is not over the top and annoying but it is used just right.  I love the singing towards the end of the song.  It reminds me of the beginning of Van Halen’s “Ice Cream Man.”  I love how they put the focus on the banjo at the end.

Little Situation

I love the acoustic at the beginning with some nice clean vocals.  I love the beat of this song.  There is some well written lyrics on this song too.  This song is pretty heavy just like the first few songs.  It is a nice break and change pace on this record.  I love how they let the bass player loose on this song.  The guitar and drumming are spot on and well written.  There is some nice guitar work towards the middle of the song.  I love how they came back to the acoustic guitar towards the end of the song.  I love the build up in the last-minute of the song to end the song.

Sunday’s Revival

I love the classic hard rock sound on the guitar.  There is a nice drum beat with a nice simple bass playing.  I am not really a fan of the singing and the lyrics.  I love the music.  It reminds of something from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s.  This is not my favorite song on this record it is still pretty good.  It has a pretty good ending.

Sidelines

I love the singing and piano playing at the beginning of “Sidelines.”  This song sounds like something in the mainstream music today.  There is some well written lyrics and music.  I really enjoyed listening to this song.  He is pouring out his soul into this song.  The mid part is where the rest of the band comes into play.  I love drumming and bass playing.  I am not a fan of the ending.

Failures And Fakes

I love the touch on the organ at the beginning and throughout the song.  I love the music with some nice lyrics.  I love the singing on this song.  I love the melody on the singer.  I love how he goes from clean to distorted singing.  There is some nice guitar playing towards the end of this song.  I love the build up to an awesome ending to the song.

Like Autumn

I love the piano but do not like the main part of the music.  This song is pretty bad.  It just seems this singer is just screaming.  The bad 8-bit video game music during the main part of “Like Autumn.”  I can not make out the lyrics.  I do not like the back up singing.  This is the worse song on this record by far and I cannot finish this song.

Class Of Twenty-Ten

This song is just like the last song.  It just seems the deeper I get into this record.  It keeps getting worse and worse.  These last two songs are filler songs to complete this record.  I cannot finish this song like the last.

Goodbye, So Long My Love

Oh, I love the music at the beginning of this song.  I love the singing from the lead and the back up vocals.  There is some nice lyrics and they put some thought behind it.  At beginning, it seems like something you would hear in the mainstream music.  The song went off the deep end and just gone bad at the midpoint of the song.  This song had some much promise.  The screaming over that awesome music just kills me.  The middle part of the song there is some nice piano and singing.  She has a very beautiful voice.  This song has rebound.  It was a nice ending to the song and the record.

Band Line Up:

  • Dawson Scholz- Guitar, Vocals
  • Kyle Scholz- Vocals, Keyboards
  • Parker Scholz- Drums
  • TJ Nichols- Bass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theongoingconcept.com

Twitter:  @ongoingconcept

In the end, this is extremely talented band and I believe they could do better tan this record. This is a nice start. I came across this band and listen to samples of some of their songs.  I loved how they used different types of music.  I also love how they use different elements to give their sound a nice twisted.  The beginning of this record was pretty good.  I have to say the back half was a little rough.  The one thing that is a plus for this record is the lengths of all the song.  They are just right.  I love the pace and speed of the songs.  It has a nice balance.   I am not much into Christian rock but I love the metal on this record and this band.  I will check out their next record.  I recommend any metal head to give this record a listen.  I bet you will be shocked at how good it is.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Avenged Sevenfold Hail To The King

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest studio record from Avenged Sevenfold.  “Hail To The King” is their sixth studio record from this band.  We are going to get into the history of this band and then the music.  Let us get into the history.

History

The band was formed in 1999 at Huntington Beach, California.  The founding members of this band are M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, and Matt Wendt.  M. Shadows came up with the band name from the Bible’s story Cain And Adel.  Justin Sane replace Matt Wendt before they record their first record.  Dameon Ash replace Justin Sane around 2001.  Justin was checked into the hospital because of drinking too much cough syrup and try to commit suicide.  The band recorded their first record, which was “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet” in 2001.  Most of the members were around eighteen and still in high school.  Johnny Christ replaced Dameon Ash and release their second record, which was “Walking The Fallen.”  In 2004, the band after touring several times on the Vans Warped Tour signed with Warner Bros. Records.  In 2005, the band released their third studio record and their first under a major label.  The record was called “City Of Evil.”  They played on Ozzfest in 2006 and also won Best New Artist at the MTV Music Awards.  They returned to the Van’s Warped Tour.  “City Of Evil” gave them a few hits on the modern rock charts.  In 2007, the band released their fourth studio record, which was self-titled.  Two years later, their drummer “The Rev” was found dead.  At this time, band members in several interviews thought about disbanding and breaking up.  However, Mike Portnoy, who was with Dream Theater at time and now with Winery Dogs, stepped up to record the drum tracks for “Nightmare,” the band and the music community loved the fact the music sounded like The Rev was playing drums.  “Nightmare” was released in 2010 and it was their fifth record.  Mike was not the replacement of “The Rev” and the band found a new drummer, who was Arin Ilejay.   In 2013, the band release “Hail To The King,” which was the first record with Arin Ilejay on drums.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Shepherd Of Fire

There is some sound effects of rain and a bell to start the song.  The guitar comes in with the drums.  This is pretty good beginning to the record and this song.  The bass playing is pretty good.  M Shadows has a nice melody and lyrics.  I have to be honest.  I kept on hearing how this record is supposed to be different from the rest of their records.  To me, it sounds like all their old music.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  Their new drummer has about the same drumming style as their old drummer.  I love how they ended this song with a nice fade out.

Hail To The King

“Hail To The King” is the first single off this record and is the name of the record.  The guitar solo at the beginning is like something off this first few records.  The second guitar comes in but it is a little different.  I love that guitar riff.  The second guitar riff reminds me of something that Metallica would have written.  I do not like the fact that the other guitar player is playing a guitar solo throughout this song.  That is a little too much.  I love the lyrics on this song.  M Shadows has melody like something off Metallica’s Load and Re-Load.  There is a extended guitar solo towards the back half off the song.  I love the back up singing.

Doing Time

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  I am really not a fan of M Shadows singing.  Hello, you are not Axel Rose and please, stop thinking you are.  I love the lyrics.    I love the pace of this song.  There is a pretty good guitar solo in the last-minute of the song.

This Means War

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  I love how the drums and bass are playing at the beginning of the song.  I love the sound effect on the nuclear bomb blowing up.  The music is really good on this song.  M Shadows has pretty good singing and lyrics.  I just feel they are listening to way too much 1980’s and early 1990’s metal.  They are starting to sound like a cheap version of those bands.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  This is a really good song but I just feel this song is way too long.

Requiem

There is worship singing like church singing at the beginning.  The music is pretty solid.  I just feel lead singer’s singing is a little loss in the music.  I just feel they are running apart.  This is just a mess of music and white noise.  It kind of came together just before the guitar solo.  The guitar solo is pretty good in the mid-point of the song.

Crimson Day

There is some nice acoustic guitar work at the beginning of “Crimson Day.”  I love the singing from M Shadows.  I love the heavy guitar playing on the main part of the song.  The acoustic guitar stays in the background.  Mr. Shadows has put some thought behind these lyrics.  This is a pretty solid song and by far the best one so far on this record.  There is some nice guitar solos towards the end of the song.

Heretic

Here is some old school Avenged Sevenfold fade in guitar riffs at the beginning of the song.  I am not a fan of the main part of the song from a music stand point.  Mr. Shadows’ singing is not up to his standards.  I love how they are using the keyboard in the background.  I do not like how they shaped the music around his singing or how he is singing with the music.  It does bend good.  I love how they pushed the keyboard playing to the front in the back half of the song.  There is a well placed and written guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Coming Home

The start of this song reminds me of something from Iron Maiden.  The singing is something off Iron Maiden’s first two records with their original singer.  The main part of the song is like themselves.  The lyrics are good, however, I just feel they do not fit well on this song.  There is a pretty good guitar solo half way through the song.  I love how they build up the ending as it fades out.  I love the double bass action at the end from the drummer.

Planets

I love the build up to the start of this song.  The drumming and bass playing are insane.  The guitar playing I believe are step down to the rest of the record.  The singing is pretty solid with some below average lyrics.    This song has loss me over the half way point of the song.  I love the music but the singing and lyrics are making my mind wander in a bad way.  There is an average guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Acid Rain

I love how they started the song with the music.  Nice touch on the piano.  I love the guitar solo over the top of the music.  This is a pretty solid song to end this record.  M Shadows has some good singing and nice lyrics.  There is a pretty good guitar solo in the first quarter of the song.  I love the sound effects of rain falling at the end of the song.

Original Line Up:

  • M. Shadows – Lead Singer, Acoustic Guitar, and Keyboards
  • Zacky Vengeance – Guitars
  • The Rev – Drums, Back Up Vocals, and Piano
  • Dameon Ash – Bass

Current Line Up: 

  • M. Shadows – Lead Vocals
  • Zacky Vengeance – Guitars And Back Up Vocals
  • Synyster Gates – Guitars and Back Up Vocals
  • Johnny Christ – Bass Guitar and Back Up Vocals
  • Arin Ilejay – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avengedsevenfold.com

Twitter:  @TheOfficialA7X

Closing, I am happy for any band that gets back on the iron horse and makes new music after a death of band member or a key member leaving a band.  I give them a ton of credit and I know how hard it might be to do that again without a brother.  However, the member they loss in this band was a key song writer, they wanted to do something different but keep true their sound.  I just feel this band has loss too much and they are living on their past success right now.  I hope they find it soon because I do love their style.  It took me half way through my radio DJ career to really love what this band was doing in the past.  I am not saying this is a bad record because it is not.  It is a solid record but for Avenged Sevenfold this is not up to their standards.  The band came out before this release saying this record will be different from the rest of their music.  I do agree to some point but it still sounds like their old music.  I just feel the loss of their old drummer made them change their sound.  I still recommend checking out his record and let me know what you think of it.  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 The Winery Dogs Self Titled

In this Unknown Music Thursday blog, we are going to get into the latest super group that might be around a lot longer than most.  You might know the names but not the band name.  I am talking about The Winery Dogs and this is their first record, which is named after the record.  The band is Richie Kotzen, who is Lead Singer, Keyboards, Guitars, and Percussion, Billy Sheehan, who is Bass and Back Up Vocals, and Mike Portnoy, who is Drums, Percussion and Back Up Vocals.  Richie Kotzen was part of Poison for one record in the early 1990’s and put out several solo records.  Billy Sheehan has been part of several bands like Mr. Big and Dave Lee Roth solo band.  Mike Portnoy is best known for his time with his old band Dream Theater and was part of Avenged Sevenfold for one record.  There is not much history on this band.  They were formed in Brooklyn, New York in 2012.  They were looking to a more of a classic hard rock sound for their music.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Elevate

A classic hard rock start to the opening track.  Richie is rocking it on the guitar while the bass and drums are solid.  This is a solid song.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  I love Richie’s singing, which I have always loved it.  This band wrote some nice lyrics to go along with the music.  Mike is a mad man on the drums.  I love the bass break that they gave Billy on this song.  Mike is going nuts on the drums during the bass solo.

Desire

I love the guitar riff at the beginning of the song.  Billy is dancing all over the place on bass.  Richie’s singing is pretty strong with some really great lyrics.  I love how everyone in this band is singing.  It is a pretty rare situation.  I am loving the music on this song.  I love the bass break towards the middle of the song.  There is a nice guitar break right after the bass solo.

We Are one

I love the heaviest on the bass and drums at the beginning of the song.  The guitar riff is simple but bends nicely with bass, drums and the singing.  I love how Mike and Billy sing with Richie on this song.  I love the lyrics and he is singing is pretty strong.  I love Richie guitar breaks between the singing.  There is some pretty solid playing towards the end of this song.  I am enjoying the music middle point and at the end.

I’m No Angel

I love the guitar playing at the beginning with some solid drums and bass playing that comes in seconds after the guitar playing.  The slower is perfect at the point of this record.  There is some solid lyrics.  There  is some really nice music on “I’m No Angel.”  I really like the back up singing on this song.  The guitar playing is pretty good with those short guitar solos.

The Other Side

I love the drumming at the beginning and the bass player enters with a nice riff.  Richie comes in with a nice high-end guitar riff to float over the top.  Richie’s singing is solid on this song.  I love the lyrics.  The music is pretty solid on this song.  The guitar break brings on some nice fast pace drumming from Mike.  It turns into a nice guitar solo at the midway point of the song.  I love the trade-off from the drums and bass in the last two minutes of the song.  The guitar solo over the top is just right and perfect.

You Saved Me

I love the fast pace acoustic guitar with the echo from the bass in the background.  The drums are calm and fade which makes it just right.  I love the layers on the guitars.  I am not going to say this much but multiple guitars are just right for this song.  It sounds good and right.  I love Richie’s singing and there is some nice lyrics.  There is some well placed back up singing.  I am really loving the music on this song.  I love the ending of this song.

Not Hopeless

I love the solid start of this song on a music stand point.  Richie’s singing is solid with some nice back up singing.  Winery Dogs wrote some nice music on this song.  I love the trade-off on the solos from the guitar and bass player.  There is some solid lyrics and music on “Not Hopeless.”  I love the meaning and theme behind this song.  There  is a nice exiting guitar solo at the end.

One More Time

I love the guitar playing at the beginning of the song.  Billy comes in dancing all over the bass with some solid drumming from Mike.  I love Richie’s singing.  There is some well written lyrics on “One More Time.”  There is a solid ending.

Damaged

I love the music and the pace of this song.  I love the lyrics and how Richie’s singing is calm and relax.  This is a nice relaxing song.  He has a nice melody on “Damaged.”  I love drums and bass playing on this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Six Feet Deeper

I love the music at the beginning.  It has a nice pace to it.  Billy has some nice movement on the bass guitar.  There is some nice lyrics and the lead singer singing is solid.  I love the well placed back up singing.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle part of the song.  I love how they ended the song.

Time Machine

I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  It reminds me of something you would hear from Soundgarden or Alice In Chains.  This whole song sounds like something from the Grunge era of metal in the early to mid 1990’s.  They did a great job on the writing between the lyrics and music.  I believe this is my favorite song on this record.  I love bass break at the end of the song.  I love the ending of “Time Machine.”  There is a nice guitar solos towards the end.

The Dying

“The Dying” starts off slow with some nice guitar playing.  The singer has some solid singing.  There is some nice lyrics.  I love drumming from Mike.  I love distorted guitar effected.  It is not over the top but it is just right.  He has a nice overdrive pedal to make that nice powerful warm sound.  I love the how they are using the back up singing on this song.  There is a nice build up to a guitar solo towards the middle part of the song.  I love how they ended this song.

Regret

I love the drumming and the keyboard playing on “Regret.”  They twisted some piano and organ playing.  I love melody and lyrics from the singer.  I could see Bruno Mars singing on this song and writing it.  Richie and Bruno has some nice soulful singing voices.  I love the music on this song.  They put some thought behind this song.  There is some nice guitar and piano action towards the middle of the song.  It turns into a nice guitar solo.  This is a perfect ending to this song and this great first record for this band.

Line Up:

  • Richie Kotzen – Lead Vocals, Guitars, and Keyboards
  • Mike Portnoy – Drums and Backing Vocals
  • Billy Sheehan – Bass and Backing Vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.thewinerydogs.com

Twitter:  @TheWineryDogs

In closing, when I heard this band was happening, I was pretty excited to hear the music.  I have always been a huge fan of Richie Kotzen and Mike Portnoy.  This is pretty much what I thought the record would sound like.  It reminds of a Richie Kotzen solo record.  I mean that in a good way since I am a huge fan of this guitar playing and singing.    Richie writes some great tunes and put Mike behind some of the songs to help write them.  It is something else.  The lengths of these songs are just right.  They are not too long but not too short.  Some I do feel need to be a little bit longer.  The music on this record is off the charts good.  I hope they have success with this record and tour.  I would love to hear more tunes from this group.  I highly recommend this band and record if you are a fan of the classic hard rock sound.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Five Finger Death Punch The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1

In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into their fourth studio record, which his called “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1.”  There will be a volume 2 release in the later part of 2013 and that will their fifth studio record.  We are going to get into the history of this band and then the music.  Let us get into the history.

History:

Five Finger Death Punch was formed in 2005 by Zoltan Bathory, who is the guitar player, and Jeremy Spencer, who is the drummer.  Zoltan Bathory was a bassist in his old band which was called U.P.O.  Matt Snell joins the band in 2006.  The band recorded music and then send it to Ivan Moody in Denver.  The band named themselves after some classic martial arts movies.  Ivan later that year flew out to Los Angeles.  They began to record their first studio record, which was called “The Way Of The Fist.”  The band did not have a second guitar player, however, Stevo “Shotgun” Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan recorded parts on the record while being mixed by guitarist Logan Mader.  Caleb Andrew Bingham joined the band for a few shows as their second guitar player.  He was later replaced by Darrell Roberts.  During this time, the band signed with the record company, which was “The Firm.”  In 2007, the band released their first EP, which was called Pre-Emptive Strike through American Itunes.  “The Way Of The Fist” was released in 2007 and enter the Billboard Charts Top 200 at #199.  They went on several major tours to support their first record.  They were on the Maythm Festival and Korn’s Family Values Tour.  They supported Disturbed during this time too.  The band re-release “The Way Of The Fist” in 2008 with few bonus tracks.  “Never Enough” was added on to the record and became the band’s second single off the record.  Darrell Roberts was asked to leave and was replaced by Jason Hook in 2009.  The band stop touring and supporting their first record at this time too.  “War Is The Answer” which is their second studio record was release in 2009.  It entered the Billboard Charts at #7.  The record had several singles including the cover of Bad Company’s song, which was “Bad Company.”  This is one of my favorite cover songs from a hard rock and metal band.  The band went into the studio to work on their third record, which was called “American Capitalist.”  The record was released in the later part of 2011.  The band brought in bassist Chris Kael to replace Matt Snell, who departed from the band.  The band had some success with this record but like their first two studio records.  They had several singles off “American Capitalist.”  Early part of 2013, the band began to work on their fourth record.  By May of 2013, the band announced they will be putting out two records.  “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1,” which is their fourth record and the one that will be review on this posted, and later in the year Volume 2 will be released.  The band realize they were writing some good tunes and they did not want to stop writing.  They dropped some tunes for a double studio record.  The band brought in several special guests and one was Rob Halford from Judas Priest.  They performed this song with Rob at 5th Annual Golden God Awards.  The second volume will be released in November, however, they just release the first single off that record called “Battle Born.”  Let us get into Volume One.

Track List:

Lift Me Up (Featuring Rob Halford Of Judas Priest)

There is some nice heavy guitars with the drums and bass.  The drums have a nice beat to it.  Ivan has a nice melody to his singing.  I am loving the lyrics.  I love how they are using Rob Halford on this song.  Their voices match really well.  This is a great opening track to this song.  Metal God still sounds great when he is singing.  I love the pace of this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the ending of this opening track.

Watch You Bleed

I love the reverb on the singer’s voice and the nice acoustic guitar at the beginning.  I love the heavy guitars and the drums during the main part of the song.  Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on this song.  I love the fact that the drummer is using double bass during the main part of the song.  There is a nice guitar break that turns into a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  Nice touch on the ending of this song.

You

There is some nice music at the beginning.  I love the melody of this song.  Ivan wrote some nice lyrics on “You.”  I love the slower pace on this song.  It gives this record a different element.  This band reminds of Pantera back in the day.  I have to say they are today’s Pantera.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  It kind of feels forced into the song.  I am not a fan of the ending.

Wrong Side Of Heaven

I love the acoustic guitar with the second over the top of it in a semi guitar solo.  I love how they had the drums in the distance and it comes front.  I love Ivan’s clean vocals.  I love the lyrics.  They wrote some nice music on this title track.  There is a pretty good guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I love how Ivan sings over the top of the back half of the guitar solo.

Burn MF

I love the heavy guitars and the drums highlighting parts at the beginning.  There is some solid bass playing on this song.  I am not fan of Ivan’s singing, however, the lyrics are solid.  The drums are insane on this song.  This song is straight to the point.  I love the ending.

I.M.SIN

I love the music at the beginning of this song.  I love  singing and lyrics on this song.  It fits the song and the theme.  Ivan wrote a nice melody to this song.  They pull a page out of Pantera’s music book and did the spoken words before a nice guitar solo.  I love the ending of this song.

Anywhere But Here (Featuring Maria Brink)

I love the heavy guitars at the beginning with a nice backing from the drums and bass.  I love the acoustic guitar with the heavy guitar at the front.  I love the melody and lyrics from Ivan.  I love the guitar solo at the back half of the song.  I wish they would use Maria more on this song.  There is another version of this song towards the end of this record.  It is part of the bonus tracks.  Why even have her on this song if you are not going to use her.

Dot Your Eyes

I love the drums and the guitar playing is pretty good at the beginning.  There is a simple but to the point bass playing.  This song reminds of “When Worlds Collide” from Powerman 5000.  The rhythm and melody from the singer and how the music is playing.  You can see that this band was influenced from the bands from the 1990’s.  I love how they are using the back up singers.  There is a nice guitar break at the end of the song.

M.I.N.E (End This Way)

There is some nice acoustic guitar playing at the beginning of this song.  I wish they used it more and more.  Ivan’s singing is good with some good lyrics.  I love how the bass and drums calm to fit theme of this song.  This song has a nice pace to it.  There is another forced guitar solo towards the middle of this song.  Can this band go one song on this record without a guitar solo?  They are well written but some are just forced into the song.

Mama Said Knock You Out (Featuring Tech N9Ne)

I love the guitar and drums at the beginning of this song.  This is the first cover on this record.  It seems like they always has a cover on all their records.  This is really bad.  I wish they did not do this song.  Are you kidding?  Really?!?!?!?!  This is the worse cover I have heard in a very long time.  I am good.  I cannot finish this song.

Diary Of A Deadman

I love the music at the beginning.  I am really not a fan of the spoken words on this song.  I love the guitar break.  These last two songs at the end of this record have been really disappointing.  I feel this is a bad way to end this great record.

I.M.SIN (Featuring Max Cavalra)

This is the first of three bonus tracks with guest singers.  “I.M.SIN” has lead singer from Soulfly, who is Max Cavalra.  I love the music as I said above.  I want to see how they work Max into this song.  They did a great job working him into this song.  I love this version better than the regular record one.

Anywhere But Here (Duet With Maria Brink)

This song features Maria Brink, who is the lead singer of In This Moment.  I love how they are using her on this version.  This is a better version.  They should have used this version on the main record not the other one.  There voices work well together.

Dot Your Eyes (Featuring Jamey Jasta Of Hatebreed)

“Dot Your Eyes” features Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed.  I love this version like the rest of the bonus tracks.  The second lead singer gives another element to the songs and music from this band.  This is a great song to end this record with the bonus tracks.

Orinigal Line Up:

  • Ivan L. Moody – Lead Vocals
  • Zoltan Bathory – Guitars
  • Darrell Roberts – Guitars
  • Matt Snell – Bass and Backing Vocals
  • Jeremy Spencer – Drums

Current Line Up: 

  • Ivan Moody – Lead Vocals
  • Zoltan Bathory – Guitars
  • Jason Hook – Guitars
  • Jeremy Spencer – Drums
  • Chris Kael – Bass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com

Twitter:  @FFDP

Closing, this record is by far their best work to date.  I am pretty impressed because I thought their last two records were their best.  This band is at the top of metal world right now and I do not see them going away anytime soon.  They remind me of a modern-day Pantera.  Is this what Pantera would be doing today if they were still around?  It is a great question.  There were only two songs on this great that I would do without.  It was the last two songs before the bonus tracks.  This is a solid record and I can see them doing really well with it along with their Volume 2.  Volume 2 will be out later part of 2013.  I highly recommend you checking out this great record.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

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 First Reign As The Dead Lead The Dead

In this Unknown Music Thursday blog, we are going to get into a band that comes out of the northern part of Canada.  The band is called First Reign and the record is “As The Dead Lead The Dead.”  I have played their songs when I had a radio show on www.stfu.fm before the station shut down.  I have talked to these guys from their twitter feed and they are really nice and down to earth dudes.  I have been wanting to do a review on their record on my blog but I have been so far behind.  I now have a chance to do it and I am going to write it.  There is not much history on this death metal from Canada.  I know they are working on their second record.  Let us get into the first record.

Track List:

Inception

The opening track is “Inception.”  This track is intro to the real opening track.  I have to say I love the music from the guitars.  The drumming is pretty good.  I love how they are using the bass on this song.  It is a nice build up song.  I feel this song is great display of an opening song.  Most bands should take some notes from this song and band on how to write a good opening track.

This Ghost Of Ours

I love the insane and in your face drumming.  It is a nice step up for the fast pace music.  The guitar and bass playing is really good.  I really love the singing on this song.  They have written some nice lyrics.  There is a nice guitar solo in the first quarter of the song.  I love the lead singer’s death metal vocals.  It is pretty than most death metal singers.  There is another pretty good short guitar solo almost to the half way point of the song.  There is a nice groove to this song.  I love the music change in the back half of the song.  I love the singers screaming.  There is a nice long extended guitar solos towards the end.  I love the trade-off from the two players.

Where The Ocean Meets The Sky

I love the drumming and bass playing at the beginning.  I love the nice guitar riff with the guitar solo over the top.  This is some awesome music.  I love the singing from the singer.  I love the switch off from clean to death metal singing.  There is a nice guitar solo in the first quarter of the song.  The drumming so far on this record is off the charts.  I would put him in the same class as Richard Christy of Charred Walls Of The Damn and Iced Earth.  I love the music change in about the half way point.  Nice touch on the acoustic guitar with some nice singing over the top.  This music on this song is mind-blowing.  First Reign took the idea of Opeth to the next level.  I love the guitar works towards the end of the song.  There is some nice exiting guitar solos at the end.

Wretched Flesh

I love the drumming and guitar work at the beginning.  The bass playing is simple and there is nothing wrong with that writing.  I love the singing and the lyrics.  There is a nice pace on this song.  There is a nice guitar solo in the first quarter of the song.  I love the change in the music about the half way point of the song.  There is some awesome singing about this point of the song.  I love how they pick up the heaviest of the music after that point.  I love how they are ending this song.  It is a very good ending.

Thistle

Here is another intro song to the ending track of this great record.  I love the acoustic guitars.  The drumming is calming but still heavy enough to be a metal song.  I love the dancing bass line with an awesome acoustic guitar solo over the top of the music.

As The Dead Lead The Dead

I love how the acoustic guitar playing at the beginning of the song but yet echoes the intro song.  I love the heavy guitar and the screaming vocals in the main part of the song.  I love the melody and the singing on this song.  There is a some insane drumming on this song.  I love the music on this record.  I love the guitar solo towards the mid-point of the song.  The drumming in the last-minute of the song is off the charts.  I love the distance effects on the music at the end of the song.  This is a perfect ending to the song and the record.

Line Up:

  • Russ O’Shea – Bass
  • Sean Lang – Drums
  • Dallas Erickson – Lead Vocals
  • Chris Holtz – Guitar
  • Ryan Macdonald – Guitar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.firstreign.com

Twitter:  @firstreignband

In closing, I enjoyed the music on this record and I find myself going back and re-listening to this record at least every two weeks.  I love the length of these songs.  They are long and have a ton of thought behind them.  The drumming from Sean is off the charts.  This guy practiced a ton and he is extremely talented drummer.  I love the bass playing from Russ.  I am a bass player and I could not picture myself playing that fast.  I would have to work myself up to it.  This rhythm selection makes this band what it is as far as music side. The guitar playing is off the charts from Chris and Ryan.  The guitar solos are well written.  The singing from Dallas is really good.  I love his death metal vocals and his clean vocals.  First Reign taken the idea of Opeth and took it to the next level.  I really love this band and I cannot wait to see what their next record is going to be like.  I highly recommend you checking out this band.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser