My Heavy Metal Journey

 I understand the necessity for categorizing metal into subgenres. There are distinct differences between "heavy metal', "thrash metal", "death metal", and "black metal". I'll even give you some additional qualifiers. Namely "progressive", "symphonic" and "folk". But beyond that there is very little the remainder of subgenres, specifically descriptive or otherwise, that carry any real value. Well save for splitting the metal community into sub communities battling it out for supremacy.  I am personally sick of hearing people say "that's not real metal" or "I don't listen to genre X".Especially when it's plainly evident they are basing their conclusion on one experience or worse, they are being elitists. What about Core?   Core has become a vile word in many corners of the metal community. It makes absolutely zero sense. The origin is hardcore, which is already just a...

Streaming is often discussed and frequently debated within the music community. Artist and record companies say it's costing them money. Most listeners love having everything in one place, easily accessible and at a cost they can afford. Some listeners feel like they are better supporting an artist because they don't use a streaming service. In fact they are elitists about it often times. The problem is they are wrong. Streaming isn't going anywhere and it's actually a really good thing.  We always see the arguments about how a band only makes $0.00686 cents per stream or whatever. But I think you first need to understand how they get paid. Unlike the popular belief they are not paid per stream. It works more like revenue sharing. You can learn more here . quit being cheap and pay for the service you prefer. If you are using the free version you are hurting the artists. It's easier for people to find your music and listen to your music.   This is by far th...

 I knew as soon as I thought "i should listen to Rolling Stones top ten albums of all time" that I had fucked myself over. I just didn't realize it would be this bad. Four Beatles albums and two Bob Dylan albums are in their top ten. So you're telling me sixty percent of the ten greatest albums of all time, ALL TIME, were created by two artists. This list considers every genre, artist, noise or static ever recorded and called music. Out of hundreds of millions of albums this is what you come up with? Get bent Rolling Stone. I always knew you were a joke. But this is unforgivable.  All of this is clearly just my opinion. You are free to, and should, feel however you want about the following albums and artists. 10. The Beatles - White Album  This is just The Beatles shoving as many different musical styles as they can think of into one album. It's an unnecessarily long 30 tracks yet runs just over an hour. I'm not going to say every song should be six ...

 Lets jump right in because HOLY SHIT am I excited! Delain - Apocalypse & Chill   I already love Delain. I think Charlotte is one of the best vocalists in metal. Not symphonic or epic metal, in metal period. I also love how catchy they are and how tight they are instrumentally. So it's no small thing when I say this is by far their best work, possibly one of my favorite albums ever written.  Musically this album is immaculate. They explore, I'm not joking, everything! Just the music alone takes you on a journey. If this were an instrumental album it would still be incredible. The synths are perfectly utilized which, along with the bass and drums, drives the album forward while allowing the guitars and vocals to reach out to every conceivable corner of possibility. It's dark, tragic, and emotional.  Timo lays down some heavy as fuck guitar riffs throughout this gem. He has some seriously sweet sounding solos on the album too.  Vocally it is of...

 So I had a big ol' post planned. Started writing it. But then I lost all of it. I seriously thought it would be my best work yet. Now that's not saying much, I'll admit. But it was going to be something every metal head, and likely others, needed to hear. I'll regroup and get back to it at some point. But tonight, I'm just going to ramble and tell my three readers what I have been up to.   Sorry... Lame! I know.  First of all I had given up on this week. I realized however, that it isn't fair to myself. To just give up for any reason. A minor inconvenience. No! A man, or woman, must keep plugging along.  I listen to primarily metal. A huge part of the metal scene is perseverance. The idea that you feel alone most days, that the world is working against you, but you're not going to quit. If that's who I am I can't just give up right?  Another huge factor in me writing this is that, for the first time in a long time, I have been given hope...

 According to  this article , Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler, are stating they were unhappy with the timing of Bad Wolves release of their cover version of Zombie. I want to weigh in on this a bit. I have thought about since I heard it some time yesterday evening via  this video  from rock feed.  First let me say there is no simple answer to this. I can see both sides of this argument.  According to the article Dolores O'Riordan was supposed to record her guest vocals spot the night of her passing. This is important because just 3 days later Bad Wolves released their cover.  So why then? Was it coincidental? Well there could have been plans to release the cover as a single absent O'Riordan's part already in place. But we are talking 2018. Well within the digital era, when a band, especially one on a small label, can drop new material at a moments notice. Speaking of labels it very well could have been ...

 First month of the year means first new music of the year. I love new music! So I'll get right into it. Here are my picks for best albums of January.   Haunt - Mind Freeze  Mind Freeze feels like an old school heavy metal album. Partially due to production, but mostly because that's exactly what it is. Dueling guitars, driving bass and drums, and perfectly timed synths along with the old school approach to vocals, all come together to make a great work of art.  There isn't any wasted space in the album. There are no weak tracks, it's a pleasure to listen to front to back. If anything the run time of 37 minutes leaves me wanting more. Which is probably why, as a write this, I am on my 3rd play through today.  Given their old school approach, I don't think drawing comparisons to NWoBHM is unfair. But I don't think that's doing them, or the album justice. The album has an oddly unique, yet familiar sound and feeling.  The album starts with Light ...

 It appears to me that music gets criticized much more unfairly than any other form of mainstream or publicly consumable media. Especially metal. I am sure hip hop fans can relate to a great degree as well. But even the most mundane and wholesome forms of music seem to come under increased scrutiny in comparison to movies, tv or visual art.  I know many of us have heard someone say music is evil, satanic, too sexual, condones murder, and an absurd number of other bullshit. It's constant and there are people out there who truly believe it will warp the minds of the youth. I am certain if someone sites anything, music, video game, tv, art, as the reason they commit a crime or act like a jackass, it's only because they are passing blame to avoid responsibility for their actions.  I won't pretend like the music we listen to doesn't have some kind of influence on us. But no more than the tv shows we watch, the poetry we read, or the preacher we listen to.  There hav...

 I found myself looking for a new podcast to listen to. Specifically a music podcast. So I hit Spotify and looked at the top music podcasts. I ran across a podcast called "Your Favorite Band Sucks". A little research led me to believe it was a comedy podcast hosted by some guys named Mark and Tyler. So I figured what the hell. I'll give it a shot.  Comedy is seriously becoming a term we use far too loosely. Nothing these guys say is funny. They do laugh at themselves often. I guess that's what makes it funny. Ok... I have laughed 3 or 4 times.  One of their big complaints is that bands mimic, steal or borrow from other artists. Well no shit Sherlock. That's how influence works. It's the most natural thing to hear something you like and want to create your own version. They often throw fits about how a band is credited with starting something when it isn't true. Ok. That's fair and in some cases a fun fact, but has exactly dick all to do with wheth...

 Well. I had planned to write about something completely different today. But life doesn't care what I had planned.  Today the world learned that Neil Peart, legendary drummer and lyracist of Rush had passed away on January 7th of brain cancer.  For me personally this is devastating. When I first expressed an interest in playing drums my father introduced me to Rush. Basically saying you don't get to be a drummer without looking up to this guy. He was absolutely correct. The Professor got his nickname for a reason. No drummer worth a damn doesn't count him amongst their influences. I imagine few musicians do.  I'm not usually all that shook up over celebrity deaths. Musicians are the only ones that ever get to me and even then it's not usually that bad. The Rev got to me. So did Chester Bennington. But otherwise I may feel a pinch of sadness and reflect a little on what these guys and gals mean to me. That's usually it.  It's different today ...

 Here we go! My best of that nobody asked for.  Before I get to my top albums I'm throwing in some bonus catagories that everyone needs to check out.  I will link to the first few. These are bands that deserve your attention. So I'll make it as easy as possible on you. The rest I am sure you know how to find. Single of the Year Dispositions - For You YouTube   This is a bruising track with tons of emotion. You just may cry while you're headbanging. I am looking forward to hearing what these guys have in store for the future. Local Album of the Year Mother Freud - Mother Freud Spotify YouTube  Go back and read my review of the Bayside tour at Gas Monkey Live. It'll tell you everything you need to know about the band.  I am trying to personally push them over 1000 listens on Spotify. But they deserve hundreds of thousands.  From what I have been able to gather they formed in January and wrote and...