Rock

Not Metal and Not Hard Rock

New Music Blog Candlebox Love Stories And Other Musings

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

Youth In Revolt

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

Sweet Summertime

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

Believe In It

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

She Come Over Me

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

Turn Your Heart Around

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

Lifelike Song

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

Come Home

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

Bady Loves Me

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

Them Eyes

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

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

Far Behind

You

Cover Me

Change

Simple Lesson

Here is the current line up of Candlebox:

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.candleboxrocks.com

Twitter:  @candlebox

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

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog The Worshyp Evil Abounds

In this Metal Monday blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite underground metal bands.  I am talking about the metal Canada band called The Worshyp.  This is their second record called Evil Abounds, which is the follow-up to their debut record called Kingdom Earth (2011).  The Worshyp was founded in 2009 by guitarist and lead singer Marc Nova.  The band has an influence from thrash metal, prog, metal and hard rock.

Current Line Up

Mig Diabio – Bass Guitar

Marz Nova – Lead Singer and Guitar

Thor Rune – Lead Guitar

On Evil Abounds, Jimmy DeGrasso is former Megadeth and Alice Copper drummer is playing drums on this record.  Original drummer KK Devina left the band after their tour for Kingdom Earth to return to his home of Peru.  No official replacement has not been picked but Jimmy DeGrasso is filling into that comes to head.  Let us get into this awesome record that I have already been listening to while writing the intro to this blog.

Diabolic

Diabolic has a nice strong guitar, bass, and drums to start out the song.  Of course Marc comes in strong like he has in many of Worshyp songs.  I have always loved the drum work from Jimmy since his days with Megadeth.  I was pretty excited to see him working with this band.  I really wanted to hear the music right away and I will tell you right now his drumming on this opening track is not disappointing.  I love the lyric writing and I love the in your face this song has.  The guitar work is really done up good.  This is a very strong start for this band and awesome starting track.  It has a nice guitar solo with a strong support from the bass and drums.  It has a nice very strong finish to Diabolic.

Thunderman

Nice strong guitar work at the beginning of Thunderman.  This has a flash to old Metallica on the singing.  It has a little Pantera and Anvil feel on the singer in the Chorus.  I love the guitar work and has dropped off from the opening song.  Bassist is doing a good job to fuel the guitar and drums in this song.  This is a well written song.  The lyrics and singing are very well done.  A simple and straight to the point guitar solo is just right for this song.  It is nothing over the top but it keeps the drive of the song going on to the end.  If song is not a single, it will be in the future.  Thunderman is my favorite song so far on this record.  The ending is just right.

Seven Deadly Sins

Seven Deadly Sins has a Megadeth feel to this song.  Marc kind of sounds like the lead singer from Megadeth.  This is a very well written song.  They did a good job throughout Seven Deadly Sins.

The Garveyard

I love the support from the bass and drums while the guitar work comes with this strong opening.  This song has a nice guitar work with awesome singing.  This song kind sounds like something the band Fight would have done.  Worshyp has taken the next step and level in their music career.  I love their first record but Evil Abounds is over the charts right now.  This record has to be close to the top for me for best record of 2012.  I love the guitar solo, lyrics, drums, bass.  Drums are let loose for a few parts on this song.  This is a great song.  Nice fade closing to the song.

WarTorn

WarTorn starts out with a nice bass line which you do not hear from most metal bands today.  Unless it comes the old school metal bands.  I love the slow down pace of this song.  Marc is proving to the world he can sing several different styles of metal on this record.  He has a great voice and it is very strong in this song.  I love how they let the drums and bass take the focus on the music side.  I hope to hear this more often from this band.  This is a very well done song with a beautiful finish.

Awaken Underworld And Destroyer of Men

Awaken Underworld starts with some sound effects and a nice drum beat off the tom.  There is very few drummers that can play just the tom in the metal world.  I love the strong guitar work.  I love how they are playing in different keys to give that nice punch from two guitar players.  This song goes right into Destroyer of Men.  I love long beginnings on metal songs.  This has a nice grooving beat to it.  I really love the movement of these songs.  Just like WarTorn, I love the slow pace of Destroyer of Men.  Damn, they did an awesome job on the guitar work along with the solos.  I will say the drums and bass are not lacking either.  This is a strong eight minute song that should be this length.  This band did not push it because they wanted an eight minute song. It just makes sense.  The time changes are just sick in the song of Destroyer of Men.  I love the ending.

Love To Death

It is nice to see metal bands pull out the acoustic guitar once in a while.  Marc showing a little softer side to his singing.  He has a little 1990’s feel to his low-end of his singing.  This is a powerful song with great singing and talented music writing.  I love the lyrics to it. Great song writing is all I have to say about this song.  I do not know what else to say about this song but it is just very good.  Love to Death has the perfect ending for an epic song.

One Crow Sorrow

One Crow Sorrow has one of the perfect drum beats that I heard so far on this record.  Nice place guitar playing and singing just floats just right over the music.  This song makes me feel like I am watching a cat fight.  I do not know why I feel this way.  I will say at least it is a good fight.  I could see fans live singing this back to the band.  It has a nice groove for a later part of a live show or the beginning.  I am starting to think this show be their opening song every time they play live.  It has a nice way to get you into the show before the violence and control chaos that this band will release to their fan.  We, as fans, love that.  Please do not take that the wrong way.  Nice ending to the song.

Villians

Villains has nice fade in guitar work at the beginning of it.  I love the drive of this song.  It is perfect for the close out of this strong record from The Worshyp.  This song has an Armored Saints feel to it.  I love the guitar solo in the later part.  The lyrics are not disappointing either.  The bass and drums are just right for the theme of the song and how it was written.  Villans has a very powerful for the song and the record.

*Bonus Track Destroyer Extended

It is Awaken Underworld and Destroyer of Men put together as one whole track.  Please re read that part of the post.  To be honest, I kind of wish they would have done that in the first place.  Most people buy the digital copy of records and  I know for a fact I am one of the few that buys the hard copy of music records.  Call me old school.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.theworshyp.com

Twitter:  @theworshyp

Here is a few spots to buy their records:

http://www.cdbaby.com

Zune and iTunes

http://www.amazon.com

In closing, I will say Evil Abounds has not disappoint at all.  This record was well worth the wait.  Evil Abounds has push the level and the band took the next step in their music career.  This record is so much better then their first record.  Their first record was not a bad record and I know it is not fair to judge both records against each other.  If you want to see a band grow up in front of you, go buy their records and watch them to rockstars.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Space Was Cool Full-Length Record

In this 100th  blog post, we are going to check out the full-length record from Space Was Cool in this metal blog.  I did a blog on their EP please go back and re-read it to get a little back history of this band and the memebers of it.  Space Was Cool is a local Chicago band that came from another local band called Left Setter.  Let us get into the music.

Band features the follows:
Nick Langis (lead singer)
Rick Lyons (guitar)
Kevin Rodgers (bass)
Miro Krivens (Drum)

They are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spacewascool).

Fader

Fader starts out with a weird space out music and then slowly comes to a focus point on the music.  The guitar and bass work is awesome.  I am loving the sound effects they are using in this song.  The drums are a nice backbone of support to the rest the band.  This is a nice thinking man’s music.  Nice back up singing from the rest of the band.  Few words from the singer but straight to the point at what this song is all about.  I am really enjoying the nice guitar and drums trade-off in later part of the song.  This song has a nice simple and to the point guitar solo.  It is very nicely written song.

Dude Lee

The beginning of the song has a nice drums and bass line kicking then a nice guitar that floats above it.  This song has a nice groove to it.  The singing from the back up is perfect along with the lead singer punching and kicking through the song.  The singer takes charge of this song.  I like the lyrics in it.  They just seem to flow with the song.  There is some nice guitar and bass work in this song.  I love the drums in the later part of the song just before the inter loop.  It has a nice ending.

Celozzi

Celozzi has a nice guitar riff.  This song reminds of something you would hear out of the 1980s.  It has a nice rythm to the song. I really like this song.  It is calm and easy but yet has it peaks of a rush.  Nick is singing his heart out in this song.  This is a nice driving song that you do not see from today’s artist.  This song is a blast from the past with a nice modern flare.

Run, Cops!

Here is a song I am digging the beginning, it has a very nice bass line that everything needs to focus around.  The bassist put the guitar player in his place in a very nice way.  The drums backing up with the punch from the bassist.  The singer comes in with drama form that makes you wish the music from the past was still around today.  The past meaning the well written songs of the 1970s, 1980s, and earlier 1990s.  This song reminds of something that the band Cold would have written in the 1990s.    This is a very written song.  I love how the song slows down at the end.

Orions Boogie

This song has nice beat and movement to it.  I really love the bass and drums after the first versus.  I wish the guitar would kick that annoying guitar effects.  It is just too much over the top.  He is a better player to pile effects on his guitar.  I really hate to say it but the guitar effects has killed this song for me but the bass, drums, and singing has saved him.  I am really loving that bass line with that normal guitar solo over it.  It is very nicely done.   I do not like the ending of this song.

Mary Poppins vs Natalie

Once again less effects on the guitar would be better but at least the guitar goes to normal during the song.  I love the guitar riff when the singer is singing along with the bass and drums.  This is a nice cruising song.  I love the belief slow down part of this song.  This song has a nice movement.

Da Beats

I love the guitar at the beginning and the support from the drums and bass.  Singer is loving everything about space.  I feel this song could be part of a kill scene in a movie.  It would be a slow bloodbath.   I love the punch of this song and the guitar work is not overly done.  I wish they would give him a nice long guitar solo.  The lyrics are very well written.  I really like all the songs so far asides that one with the over the top guitar effects.  Once again what I wrote on their EP, they put back up singing where it should be and not too much.   Back up singing needs to be perfect but you do not it if you have a very talented singer, which this band has a great front man. Nice ending.

(It’s a) Click

I love the begginning because everyone starts at one time with a nice smooth shot in the arm.  (It’s a) Click is a very well written song with a nice guitar riff.  This song has all the elements to be a hit.  I love the flow of the song and the direct point the band toolk on this song.  I would not be shocked if this song  is their first or second single off this record.

Space Was Cool

The beginning has a happy Black Sabbath Black Sabbath theme to it.  Nice guitar work with cool lay back bass line to it.  I do not like the flow of this song but still really good song.  I believe this song will grow on me over time.  I just feel that one part with the forcus on the drums should be a beginning of the song or use once in the middle.   This drum part is breaking up the flow of the song but that could have been what the band was looking to do with this song.  This is just thoughts from an idoit that has played bass for over ten years.  I am not sure about the middle of ths song.  This song has put me in dreamland.  I love prog but I feel this song could be shorter.  I just feel they wanted to make this song long but there is no point for this song being over eight minutes.  There is some good guitar, bass, drums, and singing in this song that is so true. Overall the song is not bad and comes with a nice ending.

Closing out, overall the record from Space Was Cool is very well done from some very talented artist.  I love all the songs but Space Was Cool and Orions Boogie.  I just feel that Space Was Cool the song could have been shorter.  There are songs that should be played out and there are songs that should be three minutes long.  There are songs that should have guitar solos and songs that should not have them.  This is just my thoughts and I would love to hear your thoughts on this artist’s songs.  Orions Boogie is good but the over the top guitar effects was too much for me and took away from the focus of the rest of the bandmates.  I have really enjoyed listening to this record and hope you are available to find a copy for yourself.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Rush Clockwork Angels

In this blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite bands, which is Rush.  I am going to review their new record, which is called Clockwork Angels.  Rush was founded in Canada back in 1968.  They put out their first LP in 1974 with the lineup of Alex Liefson, Geddy Lee, and John Rutsey, who was replace the same year with Neil Peart.  The history of Rush, Alex and Geddy write all the music while Neil writes the lyrics for all the songs.  Neil pulls all his influence for his lyrics writing from fantasy, science fiction and philosophy.  They have influence several bands from Metallica, Primus, Dream Theater, etc.  They were put into the Canada Music Hall of Fame in 1994 but yet they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame (I mean Fame) in Cleveland, Ohio.  Rush has 24 gold records, 14 platinum records, and 3 multi-platinum records.  With cds sales being down they are ranked 79th in the United States with 25 million units sold.  They have a total of twenty studio albums under their belt which does include the one I will be reviewing in this blog.  They have also put out nine live albums along with 11 greatest hits records.  They have put out several music videos, and several other things.  Their live show is not explainable in words but they do not have an opening act.  They have been known to play for three hours while taking some intermissions.  Let us get in into their 20th record called Clockwork Angels which is the follow-up to their Snakes And Arrow, which came out in 2007.

Tack List

Caravan

This song is very easy to listen to while having a nice guitar riff.  The drums like all Rush records is very solid and has a nice bass riff going over it.  Mr. Lee is solid as vocalist while doing half million things with his feet.  I have no idea how he does it.  This is a very solid opening track and was their first single that they put out last year to start warming up their fan base.  This is an awesome track featuring everything that made Rush a legend.

BU2B

This next song was my favorite on their single release from last year.  I love how there is no break between songs.  This is a different start to the song then the single release from the last year.  Then it snaps into what the song was last year with the new intro.  Just like Caravan, it has a nice drum, guitar, and bass line.  This song is not in your face but it kind has its moments.  They really out did themselves on this song.  Great music writing and I hope the rest of the record holds up rest of the way.

Clockwork Angels

Now onto the song that is named after this record.  The song starts off somewhere in a church or to me in a dessert.  That is the one thing for Rush, they will take you on a journey in all their records and music.  I really love the sound effects and the guitar is off the chart and the drums just echo what Alex is doing while Geddy is doing his thing in a room alone.  This is the slowest of the first three songs but brings you down from the rush you were experiencing at the beginning.  This is a very solid lyric song.  I love the effect they put on Lee’s voice and how everything comes to a meeting point.  It comes back to the nice smooth release of sound journey.

The Anarchist

The Anarchist starts out with a nice drum beat and the guitar that floats over it.  An echoing bass line comes and then the song goes into this space like music art.  The classic bass line that  comes in the later in the song has made Rush legends comes  in with the rest of the great music players in this band.  I really love the beginning of this song.  It has a solid lyric writing and has an awesome music to back it up to it. I really love the effects that they put on the singer voice and I hope they do not over do it.  They been around the block a few times and know they will not over use to the point where it will start to annoying like other bands do with lesser experience.  This song is just classic Rush song with a huge modern flare.  This song remains me of something that they did back in the late 1970s or earlier 1980s.

Carnies

Carnies starts out with space like music and then comes with a heavy guitar, drums, and bass,   It will just calm down a bit and then goes to this space like riffs.  This is the heaviest song on this record and it almost rivals any off their Vaper Trails record.  It comes with space like lyrics but they are solid.  I am really digging the grove of this song.  This is classic late 1990s Rush.  For being five-minute song, it is just perfect and to the point.  It has a very nice ending to the song.

Halo Effect

Hello Effect is only about three minutes long.  It starts out with an acoustic guitar and then kicks into with a little overdrive.  It has a nice smoothest to it.  I would love to listen to this song with a nice cigar in my hand and think about the future.  This song is very dreamy.  It has a nice guitar solo if you would call it that.  Being the sixth song on this record, Alex has not had too many guitar solos.  I am hoping for some in the later part of this record.  So far this record is living up to the great music Rush has put out in their career.  Rush has not loss a beat maybe a little bit in the mid 1980s but I believe those records were still really good and important to music.

Seven Cities of Gold

Nice bass line to start-up the beginning of the song with the drums echoing it.  It has a nice funky feel on the bass line.  The guitar is genius place to the side but still over the bass and drums.  I feel like I am in a wagon being pulled by horses through a towns of gold.  I really love the feeling of this song and the pick up from where the last song left of on this record.  All of these songs are produced very well for what the band was trying to put out there.  I really love the lyrics in this song.  To me, this song could have been three or four minutes long to get the point of the song.  I asked for a guitar solo and finally I got it.  Alex has a pretty awesome guitar solo in this song.  It is simple but yet complex to get to the point.

The Wreckers

The Wreckers is a straight up classic rock and roll Rush song.  This song kind of reminds me of something they did in the late 1970s to 1980s.  They wrote a masterpiece in this song.  I love how the guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums just come to the dinner table and had a great meal that would make the Greek Gods jealous.  This song should have been their first single.  I really hope this is a single in the future.  This is a hit song and one of the best songs they have written in a long time.  It is very nicely done.

Headlong Flight

This next song is their second single release and it is called Headlong Flight.  They love their sounds effects but Alex and Geddy puts a nice riff at the beginning of the song that just put me in Oh My God state of mind.  The guitar is taking over this song in a very good way.  I love the pace of this song.  It has a very nice drive to it.  The lyrics are very well written and bass playing is off the charts.  Drums have a nice impact to the song.  I am hearing singing I never thought I would heard from Mr. Lee.  I really love the guitar playing in this song.  Headlong Flight is something I could have seen off their last record.  Wow,  I can understand why this song is their second single.  I will  take back what I said in their last song The Wreckers.  Alex has a solo in this whole song.  Very well Guitar God!

Here is a statement from Geddy Lee from interview in the Rolling Stone:

‘Headlong Flight’ was one of those songs that was a joy to write and record from beginning to end. Alex [Lifeson] and I had blast jamming in my home studio one day before the second leg of the Time Machine tour, and I did not revisit that jam until a year later. Alex and I assembled the song to be an instrumental and its original title was ‘Take That Lampshade Off Yo Head!,” but once we saw the lyrics Neil [Peart] had written, I knew that the spirit of the lyrics matched the instrumental perfectly and it was just a matter of making them fit and writing the melodies.

BU2B

Yes this song resurfaces again.  This is an expand of the song earlier in this record but it is a minute and half, which makes it the shortest song on this record.  The second shortest song is Halo Effect.  This next part of this song gives us a different singing again from Mr Lee.  I wished they would have expanded on this idea.  Could we be seeing a newer Rush that pushing the limits of themselves?

Wish Them Well

Wish Them Well, to me, is kind of break up song.  The song starts out like some 1970s rock and roll song.  Wish Them Well is a little popping for Rush but it is still a good song.  Repeating the Wish Them Well a few times fits the point of the song.  It has a nice driving drum beat and nice support from the guitar and bass.  This is a very well balance song from Rush,which is what they are known to write throughout their career.  This song is the third shortest song on this record.  It is a very written song.

The Garden

The last and finally song off Rush’s Clockwork Angels is a song called The Garden.  It has a nice slow start with a nice keyboard riff.  It moves to an acoustic guitar with singing while the keyboard riff comes in several seconds later.  I love the switch on the guitar part.  It is very nicely done and smooth music movement.  When it hits the second versus, the drums and bass comes in with a soft touch.  This sound has a little Scorpions feel to it.  I really like this song.  It is very well done.  I love this guitar solo towards the end of this song.

Here is a few areas to get information on Rush:

Website:  www.rush.com

Twitter:  @rushtheband

In closing, this record did not disappoint me just like the rest of their records that they have put out in their career.  It is hard for me to say I like anything from this band since I am a huge fan.  With that said, I will bash a record if it was really band.  I really love this Rush record just like the rest of their records.  They have pushed the limits of themselves but yet keeping true to their sound that made them legends.  It is very nice to see an older band still making new music but awesome new music.  I cannot think which one is my favorite song.  If I had to pick, I would have to say B2UB, The Wreckers, and Clockwork Angels.  They are all good and I am honor to have this in my cd collection.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Couger Ace Music

In this blog, we are going to talk more in the music side of things. This is a different pace of music for me. When I was a DJ on STFU.FM, I use to cover the world of hard rock and metal. Just like most metal heads, we would only listen to that style of music. Before I started the Metal Warzone, I would listen to everything from Bosstones to The Doors. With all that said, if it was not for that show, I would not had a twitter account to have this band, who is Couger Ace, following me. I would not had the chance to write this blog or listen to their music. It is nice to follow them and have a chance to write this review on their music.

The first song we are going to listen to is called “Descent Into Hell Is Easy.”  For being a Rock Song, it has a drive to it.  Their sound is something out of the 1960s or 1970s.  The singer has singing rhythm of Jim Morrison from The Doors.  The recording has that nice raw sound to it.  I feel they are trying something different outside of their comfort zone but it works for them.

The second song is called “All My Fault.”  This song I can hear playing in some bars in the later part of the night.  To me, it is a perfect drinking song at the bar or sitting at home with friends.  I love the drums and the guitar. It is just right for this song.  The singing has a nice flow for it.  The length of the song is perfect because the lyrics get straight to the point.

The third song is called “I Wanna Holler.”  This song sounds like something out of The Doors collection of music without the organ player.  The singer in this song sounds like Jim Morrison between his singing and a little bit of the song writing style.  This song will take you on a journey for two minutes in the mind of these talented song writers.  Just like the first song, which is “Descent Into Hell Is Easy,” this song has that same drive and passion.

The fourth song we will be reviewing is called “FJ=BM.”  This song comes across as a folk rock song.  The singing has a little country theme to it.  I love how the drums bring out more of the guitar and vocals with a nice rhythm.  There is one point where the guitar stops and so I can so see the singer just getting in someone’s face.  This is a very fun song to listen to at night with a nice beer and cigar.  I love the pick up and slowing down towards the end and then in your face from the vocals again in this song.  I love how it ends the song with a great drum beat.

The fifth and finally song we will be reviewing in this blog is called “Just Like You.”  The singing sounds like something from a Johnny Cash record with a dirty guitar.  Then a nice slamming drums comes into the room.  I love how the drums echo guitar playing and the other way around.  I am starting to think this music from this band will be part of my relaxing time of day around my place.  This is a very well written song with a nice finish.

Here is a few ways to listen to their music and get information on them:

Websites:

www.myspace.com/cougaracetheband

cougarace.bandcamp.com/

Twitter:

@cougaraceband

In closing,  this is a very talented band and I hope they reach the success that they set out when forming this band.  Nice range of different kind of songs.  I love how a band does something different in every song.  It gives us listeners something to look forward to the next song.  Plus, a range of emotion is always a good thing for a healthly band and fan base.  To me, this band is the modern-day version of The Doors and Johnny Cash.  I will say more modern-day version of Cash, which is a very good thing.  I am not saying they are going to replace a legend.   They are clearly influenced by him.  I really enjoy their music and I cannot wait to hear what they are up to next.  Enjoy it!  Drink It! Metal (Rock) it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Confidence Prelude EP

In this blog, we are going to talk about hard rock and metal music.  This band we are going talk about is called Confidence.  This band is getting ready to release their EP called Prelude.  Thanks to Metal Revelation for sending out this email with a ton of information on this band.  They have a very nice descripation and history on the band from the email that will be feature below.

Here is a little history that came from the email that Metal Revelation:

CONFIDENCE was born from the remnants of ideas, songs and bands which never really got to spread their wings. When they started things off in a studio somewhere in Sweden, they didn’t know what would come out of it, but they had a vision of making something passionate, true and beautiful.
They had all seen the decay or the Rock and Metal scene, the repetition of well-tried concepts and song-writing. Endless repetition, one album after another with a plastic soul-less sound and the somewhat peculiar idea that if you sound exactly like the bands that actually made it, there would be a golden record deal and fame in return.
With this in mind, they started to create their music and sound, trying to capture the emotion and feelings of each concept that came to them. Lyrics and vocals were written with the sole intention to enhance the concept and emotion of the songs, and music was written to enhance the vocals and lyrics. When recording, takes were selected because they said something, not because they were perfectly performed.
It took them almost 3 years, members came and members left, but now they finally are ready for the world.
Let us talk about the music, this is why the band is here.  The first song we are going to talk about is “Never Meant To Be.”  I love how this band is doing something a little different.  It is nice to hear keyboard starting out a song and then keeps a focus for about quarter into the song before you hear any guitar.  I know I am going to get beat up for saying this but it is nice to hear the guitar being secondary then not the focus has it is in every hard rock and metal songs out there.  I love how the drums and bass comes in with a soft thunder that bends into the softness of the vocals.  The vocals and part of the song writing reminds me of a Seattle band  called Nevermore.  Lead singer has a Bach to Dokken sound to him.  He is a very good singer and knows when to push his voice in all the right ways.  Guitar work is something out of 1980s to 1990s metal bands.  This is a very nice mix on this song and the guitar solo  is just right for this song.  This song is not over powering like most metal music.
This next song is “War Torn Skies.”  I was only able to find a sample off their website, which is www.confidenceofficial.com.  I love the drums and bass action in this song.  Guitar and vocals are in your face in a very good way for what this song means to the band.  The more I listen to Confidence they are sounding like 1990’s Nevermind and throwback 1980’s Skid Row.  It is very nice to hear a young band take up the devil horns and pour their soul into their songs like “War Torn Skies.”
The next song just like “Poison Lies” I was only able to find a sample off their website, which is www.confidenceofficial.com, is called “Poison Lies.”  This songs almost like something off Skid Row’s first record.  I hate comparing this band to any band.  I can kind of hear some Sonata Arctica with the keyboards in the background and the slamming guitar riffs.  This lead singer can sing in whatever the song is being threw at him. All their songs are metal because I say it sounds like this. You cannot live on that. You will need to listen to their music and form your own thoughts.
The last song we are going to take a listen to is “Flesh And Skin.”  A very nice guitar riff that carries through out this song with a very talented drum and bass lines to bring out the feeling of the song.  There is very few back up singing in this band but when it is there it is just right and very impactful.  This is a very nice driving song with a little control on the speed limits.  This is a very well written song all the way around.
Here is a little information on the band itself:
Band Members:
Lead vocals: Emil Kyrk
Bass guitar: David Lecander
Guitar: Per-Owe “Ewo” Solvelius
Keyboards: Clas Sjöstrand
Drums: Janne Jaloma
Twitter: @ConfidenceSWE

In closing, I really enjoyed all the songs. I will be picking up a copy for myself to add to my collection of music. If you enjoy hard rock and metal, you need to check this band. This band brings a ton of rock from the past and put a modern twist to genre. This band gives a music lover myself breath of fresh air. I love metal and I do not want to hear the same thing being pumped out from one or multiple bands. I believe every record company and band management learn their lesson in the 1980s and 1990s. To finally close this out, this band is writing music for themselves, fans, and metal music with soul and passion that will blow you away and make you think of what is going on in the world. I cannot wait to see what the future for this talented band. Enjoy it! Drink it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Seven Day Sonnet Reprisal

Chicago base band Seven Day Sonnet (SDS) coming out a very good underground hard rock and metal scene with Reprisal (2009), which is their first record of attack.  They teamed with Brett Hestla (former touring bassist of Creed)  down at Orlando, FL.  Brett has produced such acts like Flaming Hanley, Transmit Now, and many more.    With all the pieces in place, Seven Day Sonnet and Brett put out a record that will just make hard rock and metal listeners happy and full of emotion while listening.

Packaging is important part of a successful record in theses days of declining compact discs sales dropping.  The art work and design of the compact discs is unique and shows a value to the band and their listeners.  The front cover is a picture of the two gangsters.  SDS showing the long rich history of Chicago’s mobsters.   The inside of the record has all the lyrics from all the songs.  SDS and the David Scotney (artwork designer) took the time to think of those individual that buy compact discs today.  The lyrics are in the inside cover of the compact disc case that folds out.  As the listeners reads through the lyrics it looks like it is printed on burn paper from the 1930’s.  This packaging will catch the attention of music lovers of all genres.  Retailers will be very happy on how it will look on retail’s end caps or floor displays.  The packaging gets to the point of what is on the disc.

Seven Day Sonnet’s Reprisal is the best music from an up and coming artist.  The band is Ben VanBurskirk (lead singer), Jordon Popp (guitar and back up vocals), Rick Tauber (guitar), Anthony Lojeski (bass and back up vocals), Dan Kashuck (drums).  This band has very strong bassist and drummer selection.  The band guitar players took something out of pages of some of the legendary dual guitar bands from the past such as Thin Lizzy (but heavier), Scorpions and current day Avenged Sevenfold.  Ben (lead singer) finish off this very talented band.  His vocals are perfect for what this Chicago band is going and what they have become.

Most bands feel they have to have some kind of intro but this record could have lived with out one.  However the nice little guitar solo from the opening track called “All Fall Down,” gives the listeners something from the best glory days of hard rock and metal.  The pounding of the drums and the thunder of the bass slaps the listeners through the song and the record.  The lead singer does something that most lead singers dream of doing.  If the listener has this song in the back ground, this slight singing differences will snap attention of the listener back to the music.  He does a slight guttural vocals that bends perfectly with the song and then goes back into very melodic singing.  It is almost like he took a  page out of Don Dokken (Dokken) or M. Shadow (Avenged Sevenfold) on the melodic side and then threw in something from a  extreme metal group like Mikael Akerfedt (Opeth).  Second song “The Butchor” comes in with a very pounding and driving guitar riff.  Through out the  record the listeners will find a very driving songs from the first song to the last.  There is one hidden gem on this record and that is “Saturdays.”  This song starts with a guitar riff that you would here from the 1970’s or 1990’s hard rock and metal groups.  It picks up and creepy keyboard puts chills up and down anyone’s spine.  This is one song to turn out the lights and just listen to over and over again.

In closing, this is a very great record from a very very talent hard rock and metal group from Chicagoland area.  They wrote about their everyday struggles and other issues that has come to light.  They took the soul and body set by their icons and heros before them and ran with it.  The world of hard rock and metal should be proud of their new sons.  This record was very fun to write and listen to and I give this record .

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Email djweiser16@gmail.com

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland is her comeback record in fifteen years. This record is very different then the rest of her music from the late 1970’s to mid 1990’s. It has a very heavy influence male vocals (her husband Jim Gillette) and it is heavier then her in the beginning of her career.

The packaging sets the mood and very well thought out. From Rob Zombie’s band bassist Piggy D came up with the playful artwork for the record. It is very dark, gothic but yet very sexy at the same time. He feed off the meaning of each song and then came up with a great art theme for each song. Artwork alone is worth buying this record.

The music is another animal. Lita Ford had her husband, who is Jim Gillette, doing back up vocals. He is not the same singer he was back in the his Nitro days. It sounds like age has really got to him, however, for what he is doing on this record with his wife. It is very perfect and it fits. There are many artist that has their husband or wife come in to help out on a record and just kills the feeling of the music. This is not the case. Welcome back Jim and keep on rocking.

The opening track of this record is her first single in fifteen years is “Crave.” Nice guitar riff with drum beats to start the song. Lita comes in singing with very well written sexy lyrics. This song will set the tune of the record. It has a very sex driven theme through out the record. Lita plays all the guitar and there is on one else. She has a very good guitar solo in this song. “Piece (Hell Yeah)” has a very dark guitar riff but her sing makes it feels calming. She drops cherry bomb line in this song that makes the listeners thing of her pass then get slap into the face with the hell yeah. “Patriotic SOB” takes on another out look at what our United States really is about. She has her two sons singing at the beginning making this song a family affair. This song talks about guns, porn etc, however, the song tells us how the United States really is all about. The title track is one of the best ones on the record along with “Betrayal”.

In closing, overall, this is a very driving record with a lot of sex and sex all over it. It is worth a few spins in the music box. The packaging and a few songs make this a great come back record for Lita Ford. This record gets 7 out of 10.

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Twitter @djweiser

Email djweiser16@gmail.com