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New Blog State Of Miami Dolphins

In this sport blog, we are going to talk about my favorite team in the NFL and it is the Miami Dolphins.  As many of you know I am a huge Fins fan so I am going to give my thought on the future of the Dolphins.  You might disagree or agree with these thoughts. Here is my thought.

Offensive

I believe Fins have found their quarterback for the future.  They have a great set of wide receivers (they will need a deep threat at WR) and tight end.  We have some great running backs.  The one thing we need is a deep threat at the wide receiver position and we need some guards.  I believe the Fins will keep Jake Long since the Left Tackle is hard to find.  If they let Jake go, I would say buyer beware. Not too many Left Tackles make it to free agents market. Even though, I believe I am starting to see a decline in him.

Special Teams

Every team needs special teams help.  I believe we are found at our kick and punt returns.  Our kicker Dan Carpenter has come back around from a rough season but maybe a back up plan.  I love our punter.

Defensive

I believe we need little help on the line just like all the team in the NFL.  I believe we need help in our secondary.  I hope we draft in our corner back position and maybe a linebackers in the later rounds of the draft.  Asides that, I love our defensive.

Why do I think they will win and make the playoffs next year?

I believe the Dolphins will be a threat next year to make the playoffs.  Our quarterback will have year under his belt and we give him a good deep threat down the field and improve the offensive line.  Ryan will have time in the pocket.  It will also improve our running game since we have two under rated running backs.  Jets and Bills will take several steps back because of coaching and upper management changes.  New England, I believe will start to take steps back.  Tom is not getting younger and there is no back up plans.  There defensive started out bad this season but improved I can not see their defense being good in New England.  Do they have a great offensive?  Of course, I just believe that offensive will have to take some steps backwards.

In closing, I might be a little meatballish here but this is my thought pattern.  I loved how Dolphins played this year and they were with most of the elite teams in the league when they were playing them. This is why I believe they are a few players away to start making some noise.  Did they get blow out in some games?  Yes, but they are a young team that is learning.  I love our head coach and he has this team going forward and in the right direction.  I am looking forward to seeing my Dolphins in the playoffs next year.  I am not saying Super Bowl but you get in you do not know what will happen.  Drink it! Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Testament Dark Roots Of Earth

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

Rise Up

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

Native Blood

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

Dark Roots Of Earth

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

True American Hate

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

A Day In The Death

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

Cold Embrace

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

Man Kills Mankind

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

Throne Of Thorns

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

Last Stand For Independence

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

Dragon Attack

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

Animal Magentism

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

Powerslave

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.testamentlegions.com

Twitter:  @testamentband

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

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2012

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out this years Christmas Ale from Goose Island Brewery.  If you read my earlier blog on one their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read  the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

Goose Island Christmas Ale has a nice amber color without a head on it. The smell is a caramel to malty to it.  The taste of this ale is a hazel to almond with a slight dash of caramel for the aftertaste.  It is not that drinkable but the beer drinker could have a few of these beers.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate

Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

Closing, this is the first of Goose Island Christmas Ale where the beer will not change over the years or can not be aged like Christmas Ales from the past.  It is pretty disappointing because a ton of us craft beer drinkers love to age beer to see what is like next year.  I was pretty disappointing with this beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  I just feel this beer is missing something like other years.  I do not know what it is and I am not a brewer to make to explain my thought pattern.  I can see most people liking this beer and I want you to try it.  This beer does pair really well with food.   I just do not like this year’s Christmas Ale from Goose Island and that does not mean you will not like this beer.  Let me hear your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011

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In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island.  It is their Christmas Ale 2011.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery.  If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers.  If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer.   The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.

Recipe Information:

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 7.3

International Bitterness Units: Change year to year

Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year

Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Nonic

Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb

Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack

Cellaring Notes: 5 years

Availability:

Seasonal (November – December)

Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks

Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years.  Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good.  This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012.  When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well.  It is complex with a ton of flavor.  It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year.  If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Fozzy Sin And Bones

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

Spider In My Mouth

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

Sandpaper

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

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

Blood Happens

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

Inside My Head

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

Sin And Bones

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

A Passed Life

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

She’s My Addiction

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

Shine Forever

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

Dark Passenger

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

Storm The Beaches

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

Here is current line up of Fozzy:

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.fozzyrock.com

Twitter:  @fozzyrock

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

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Kona Pipeline Porter

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at the Kona Brewing Company and the beer is their winter seasonal called Pipeline Porter.  Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 on the Big Island of Hawaii by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa.  They are brewing beer to fit the lifestyle of people who live on the island and the tourist that visit Hawaii.  Their Longboard Lager is their flagship beer and is the top-selling craft beer in the state.  Kona Brewing is being sold in twenty-eight states in the United States.  They brew several brews like a pale ale, brown ale, golden ale, etc.  Let us get into the beer.

This winter seasonal from Kona Brewing, which is called Pipeline Porter,  has a black color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a heavy coffee bean to the beer.  The taste is a heavy coffee to a slight chocolate notes with a dry coffee bean aftertaste. The aftertaste is like eating whole coffee bean. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Since 1994, Kona Brewing CO. has been committed to making handcrafted ales and lagers of uncompromised quality.  We invite you to visit our Brewery and pubs whenever you visit Hawaii.  Mahala!  Pipeline Porter is full-bodied with a rich, smooth dark-roasted malt flavor.  A selection of premium hops and 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee complete this limited brew.

Here is a description from their website (www.konabrewingco.com):

Rich & Roasty

Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew.

Available Fall/Winter

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.konabrewingco.com

Twitter:  @konabrewingco

Aloha, this is a great beer.  I was excited to hear that they are finally coming to Chicago and this is the first beer to land a shore.  When I went to Hawaii on vacation, I was drinking a ton of Big Wave Golden Ale.  This porter is smooth and taste is coffee and beer drinker can smelling it.  It is not a drinkable beer but it is a beer that will last in your glass and frig for a while.  I recommend this beer and get ready for rest of there beers being review here on this blog.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it! Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Brewing Brrr Seasonal Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Brrr Seasonal Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into brew.

Widmer Brothers Brrr seasonal ale has a light brown color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a citrus to it.  The taste is a sweet carbonation little malty with a citrus touch to the beer.  The aftertaste is a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable hoppy beer for the winter seasonal.

Here is a description from their website (www.widmerbrothers.com):

Warm Up with a Cold One. Or Two. Our winter red ale is the perfect treat, naughty or nice. The deep red body fills your glass and a citrusy hop aroma fills your nose. Then caramel and chocolate malts reward you with a perfectly balanced, malty sweet flavor and velvety finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter:  @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome beer from the Widmer Brothers.  I really like what this brewery is doing.  They are going back to roots and pushing the limits of craft beer brewing.  This winter seasonal gives the craft beer drinker something you do not get from the other winter seasonal and it is hops and hops and more hops.  It has the malty and warming but gives it a hoppy finish.  It is like malty winter seasonal India Pale Ale.  Plus, it is extremely drinkable and it will get you in trouble so be careful.  This is a beer is part a sampler pack with Redhook Winter Hook and Kona Pipeline Porter.  It is hard to get so if you see it, you better grab it.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Redhook Winter Hook

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from the Redhook Brewery and the beer is their winter seasonal called Winter Hook.  If you read my earlier beer blog on one of their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into beer.

Redhook Winter Hook has a nice amber color with a semi white head on the beer.  It has a sweet caramel. The taste is sweet carbonation caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter seasonal.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Redhook likes a little nip in the air.

Here is a description from their website (www.redhook.com):

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder,  or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 28th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

Style………………….Winter Ale

Abv…………………….6%

IBUs…………………..45 IBU

Original Gravity..15 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1985

Time Frame………..Winter Seasonal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.redhook.com

Twitter:  @redhook_brewery

Closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery and winter seasonals in this season.  I love the malty taste this beer gives you in every sip.  Redhook Winter Hook is part of that awesome sampler pack with Kona Pipeline Porter and Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale.  This gives you a nice malty and drinkable beer.  This beer is perfect for the coldest winter day but yet with a mild winter we are having in the Midwest, it is still perfect.  This is a great beer and I am glad to see it back in six packs in the Chicago market.  I recommend you trying this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Kiss Monster

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

Hell Or Hallelujah

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

Wall Of Sound

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

Freak

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

Back To The Stone Age

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

Shout Mercy

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

Long Way Down

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

Eat Your Heart Out

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

The Devil Is Me

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

Outta This World

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

All For The Love Of Rock And Roll

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

Take Me Down Below

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

Last Chance

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

Here is the current line up for Kiss:

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

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.kissonline.com

Twitter:  @kissonline

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

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Revolution Brewing and the beer is called Mad Cow Milk Stout.  If you read my earlier blog on their Anti-Hero IPA, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout has a jet black color without a head on it. The smell is chocolate to toffee to the beer.  The taste is a creamy chocolate beer without an aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.revbrew.com):

Mad Cow

Smooth, charcoal black stout made with lactose for a lingering sweetness.

Milk Stout

ABV  7.7%IBU  30

Profile: Smooth, charcoal black stout made with lactose

Availability: 1/6 & 22oz

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing,  I really enjoyed this beer and this is my favorite brew from Revolution Brewing.  I love their Anti-Hero IPA also from this brewery.  It is smooth and silky beer.  It is extremely drinkable and that could get some people in trouble.  I highly recommend this beer, however, this is not my favorite milk stout I have ever had.  Mad Cow is my top five for Milk Stout.

Here is my top five Milk Stouts:

  1. Lancaster Brewing Milk Stout
  2. Milwaukee Brewing Polish Moon Milk Stout
  3. Revolution Brewing Mad Cow Milk Stout
  4. Maui Brewing Milk Stout (Brewpub only)
  5. Left Hand Milk Stout

These are all really good milk stouts and just because I put it third does not make it a bad beer.   I really enjoyed drinking them all.  Now some of these beers, I can not get in my market like Maui Brewing and Lancaster Brewing.  Left Hand is a great brew.  I just feel the rest of the breweries took their recipe and made it better.  Left Hand Milk Stout is still the same old brew and they did not change it.  I recommend you trying all these beers.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser