Top Albums of 2016

2016 was a crap year for celebrity deaths and politics.  It was a weird year for rock, but overall I think a pretty good one.  My album purchases included a lot of new releases as well as building up my catalogue of classic artists such as Meat Loaf and Jimmy Hendrix.  There were comebacks by Blink-182, Dope, Disturbed, Good Charlotte, Lacey Sturm, Metallica, Sum-41, and many others.  Some were definitely more successful than others.  Some bands like Babymetal, Crobot, and Monster Truck proved that they are more than just a one-off.  And still others like Megadeth and Rob Zombie added to their already rich catalogues.  With so many albums of 2016 to pick from, a top 10 list was difficult to put together, but here are my picks.

Top Albums of 2016
Mark Tremonti is a guitar god and singer Myles Kennedy is a beast!  With bands like Shinedown and 3 Doors Down getting softer as singers age and members change, I think Alter Bridge is the best American hard rock band going right now.  The lead track "Show Me A Leader" is up for rock song of the year in Loudwire's fan poll and that is only the beginning of this amazing album.  See my full track-by-track review here.

Babymetal was written off by many as too pop, too eccentric, too young, or just "not metal enough."  However, their fan base has only grown with live performances in the United States lighting up the stage and now their second album which is even heavier, and maybe deeper, than the first.  It still combines J-pop Japanese vocals with Dragonforce-style riffing, but the beefy bass lines and ecclectic mix of genres is dynamic and exciting.  "Karate" is up for Loudwire poll's metal song of the year and it is rivaled by numerous other songs on the album (i.e. Amore or Awadama Fever) as more metal or most favorite.

I have been a fan of Nonpoint since I first heard them from the car speakers of a fellow Metrostars tailgater in Giants stadium parking lot in 2000.  This album is probably their most complete of a masterpiece since their debut Statement.  Lead single Generation Idiot is a spectacular commentary on the technology zombies of today's youth.  Bottled Up Killer Bees delivers a refreshing dose of guitar riffs from BC Kochmit. El Diablo brings Nonpoint's classic Spanish influences in a hell of a song.  Album closer My Last Dying Breath has become a fan favorite already with a cult following.
Cryptic Rock reviews this album about as good as I could here

I have been singing the praises of this band for a while.  Their sophomore album Memento Mori follows their debut, Lux, perfectly.  There are some heavier songs, some emotional songs, and some real deep themes on this record.  I love the unique rasp of singer Aaron Nordstrom's voice and the band sounds amazing behind him through home speakers or live on stage.  Memento Mori means "Remember We Die" and the single by that name is a face-ripper with a positive message about living for the moment.
Here I review their stage show and album in more detail.

Dave Mustaine has had his doubters who have said his best days are behind him, but I disagree.  On "Look Who's Talking" Dave addresses some of the critics and shit-talkers.  The title track is also driven.  I was skeptical of this album before I bought it, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Dystopia really delivers some good songs and some amazing guitar work.  There are chugging riffs and ripping solos.  It is mixed and mastered perfectly.  Honestly, I like it more every time I listen to it and I haven't found a Megadeth album yet that I don't like.  Sorry, Metallica, this is what real metal sounds like.

Throw the Fight - Transmissions almost didn't make this list simply because I had never heard of them before they started touring with the likes of Bullet for My Valentine and Nonpoint.  Formed in the early 2000's out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Throw the Fight is a mix of alternative and heavy that is right up my alley.  There is also a mix of singing and screaming.  They have a few slow songs and then some headbangers.  Transmissions is going to get a lot of play on my devices in 2017.

Another band I learned about from opening for Nonpoint, Kyng keeps cranking out the stoner rock riffs and melodic grooves with their latest Breathe in the Water.  They at times sound like Soundgarden, Toadies, and/or Clutch.  This is the kind of album you can have on in the background or that you can hang on every note and it is an enjoyable listen both ways.  If you don't know this band do yourself a favor and check them out.

While not my favorite album of Weezer's, the white album is a good mix of their old and new styles.  It has some of the deepest lyrical themes since Pinkerton and some of the catchiest hooks since the green album.  The album is sort of like a continuous story as indicated by the beach noises that begin and close the album.  Sometimes I think Weezer try too hard to appeal to the younger audiences and revert to cheesy-pop styles.  When I want to cherry pick the best, my go-to songs off of this album are are "King of the World" and "Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori."

See my 8-10 album reviews of Weezer, Issues, and Tremonti in a previous post here.

Other 2016 albums worth a listen:

Anthrax - For All Kings
Beach Slang - A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
Beartooth - Aggressive
Blink 182 - California
Chevelle - The North Corridor
Crobot - Welcome to Fat City
David Bowie - Blackstar
Deftones - Gore

Devildriver - Trust No One
Disturbed - Immortalized
Dope - Blood Money
Filter - Crazy Eyes
Gojira - Magma
(Hed)P.E. - Forever!
I Prevail - Lifelines
Kings of Leon - Walls
Lacey Sturm - Life Screams
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self Destruct

Monster Truck - Sittin' Heavy
Moose Blood - Blush
Red Sun Rising - Polyester Zeal
Rival Sons - Hollow Bones
Rob Zombie - The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser
Sick Puppies - Fury
Skillet - Unleashed
Slothrust - Everyone Else
Sum 41 - 13 Voices
Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake
Trivium - Ab Initio

Volbeat - Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie
Wolfmother - Victorious
Wovenwar - Honor is Dead

Most disappointing albums of 2016:

Good Charlotte - Youth Authority

Green Day - Revolution Radio

Highly Suspect - The Boy Who Died Wolf

They get a lump of coal for Christmas - for making terrible music

I usually stick to positive reviews, but a couple of things is going to make this post different.  First, I thought about composing a worst singers list while watching some live footage of KISS in concert.  Second, I was scrolling through some new music on iTunes and was disappointed in some recent releases.  So here I will do a bit of trash talk, but I'm not going to go into a tremendous amount of detail, I just had to get it off my chest.  Look them up if you dare - but I warned you.  Feel free to comment if you disagree or, even better, if you have someone to add to the list.

Top 10 Worst singers:
1. Yoko Ono - sounds like a dying cat in every performance I've seen her do.

2. Lil Wayne - I can't stand his voice and honestly don't know how he's sold so many records.

3. Ashlee Simpson - Forget the SNL lip sync debacle.  Watch what happens when she tries to sing at the Orange Bowl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2cN3BgPsU

4. Bjork - I'm willing to look past the experimental music, but she can't even carry a tune. 

5. Fred Durst - Limp Bizkit has a few good songs, but Durst cannot sing.

6. Kanye West - all his stuff needs to be autotuned and it still doesn't help make him listenable.

7. Paul Stanley - he doesn't have great pitch, great range, or great emotion in his voice.  Some moments are definitely cringeworthy.

8. will.i.am - very talented producer, but his singing voice is not great.

9. Chris Martin - his voice just isn't interesting and most of their music is boring as well.

10. Vince Neil - similar lack of skill to Paul Stanley.  I saw Mötley Crüe live and Vince is by far the least talented in the band.

11. Anthony Kedis - can be good at times and other times it is so off key, misprounounced, mumbling or just irritating.

New music that is NOT worth your time:
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic - More like, let me try to rip off everyone from James Brown to Bobby Brown and sound like crap with lame lyrics and way too much synthesizer.

Killers - Don't Waste Your Wishes - More like, Don't Waste Your Dollars on this lame Christmas album where there is no holiday spirit to be found.

Highly Suspect - The Boy Who Died Wolf - Sounds like it might be good and then nope.

Sixx AM - Prayers for the Blessed - I pray they go away.

From Ashes to New - Day One - I think they named this album after how long they spent on it.  Maybe if they slept on it they would wake up in the morning and realize that it sucks.

Metallica - Hardwired... to Self-Destruct - Really?  Eight years in the making and you put out what sounds like the Black Album part II.  Some people are calling this a return to their thrash roots, but from the samples I've heard that couldn't be farther from the truth.  It sounds like nothing we haven't heard before.  I wouldn't spend my money on it.

I Prevail - Lifelines

If you like post-hardcore, post nu-metal hard rock I recommend you check out I Prevail out of Southfield, Michigan.  I just picked up their brand new album Lifelines and I am lovin' it.  Now, I don't claim that they are as original as Nonpoint or as creative as Issues or Linkin Park, but they are a really solid band with dynamic songs.  Great lead singing by Brian Burkheiser is backed by a strong rhythm section and filled out with some electronic effects and multiple backing vocalists including guitarist Dylan Bowman and unclean vocals by Eric Vanlerberghe.

The disc has a good mix of styles and themes at times reminding me of everything from Three Days Grace to FFDP to Hawthorne Heights.  There's fun, upbeat songs (Stuck in Your Head, One More Time) and angrier, more aggressive songs (Come and Get It, Already Dead).  The latter has the brilliant lyric, "If I could bring you back to life, I'd kill you again."

This band gained popularity after covering Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" in December 2014 to help promote their EP Heart vs. Mind.  It has some good songs including the title track and "Crossroads."  In my opinion, their debut full length, Lifelines, establishes I Prevail as a legitimate player in today's hard rock scene and hopefully as a band that will do as their name implies.

Make America Rock Again

Despite radio playing it less and despite poor album sales and despite country and acoustic music gaining attention, the rock will not die.  Old bands like Ratt, Saxon, and ZZ Top are still rocking.  New bands like Crobot, Coldrain, and I Prevail are flying the flag for new rock.  This post will review the latest album by Alter Bridge entitled The Last Hero which just came out yesterday. 

First of all, I am a huge fan of guitarist Mark Tremonti's three solo albums.  Singer Myles Kennedy has been sharpening his chops with Slash since 2010 and he is a damn good guitarist in his own right.  Both of these guys are incredibly talented and prolific.  No, that's not saying it with enough emphasis.  Tremonti is a guitar god and Myles is a beast!  With bands like Shinedown and 3 Doors Down getting softer as singers age and members change, I think Alter Bridge is the best American hard rock band going right now.  In case you've been living under a rock (no pun intended), Alter Bridge formed in 2004 and their debut album One Day Remains was certified gold mainly due to the single "Open Your Eyes."  Second album Blackbird saw single "Rise Today" reach third on the US Main and US Rock charts.  Albums AB III and Fortress were darker and harder rocking which made me really take notice and become a much bigger fan.  When I saw them open for Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed on July 31, 2016 they only played for about half an hour and I wished they had gotten more time because they sounded amazing.

The Last Hero builds off of their previous works and also showcases a variety of styles.  Tremonti "think[s] it’s a good mixture between Fortress and Blackbird; it covers all bases."
1. Show Me a Leader - The title says it all as the boys in AB beg for some real leaders to step up with this rockin' single.
2. The Writing on the Wall - This song is even faster and harder rocking and the style that I love from this band.  There is no let up in this one as it drives for three minutes until a ripping solo and one more chorus brings it home.
3. The Other Side - A darker song about a man with a selfish pride that takes him to hell.  This must be about Trump.
4. My Champion - This song teases with a guitar effect that sounds more like REO Speedwagon or Bon Jovi and then gives way to a modern rock masterpiece as anthemic as I've heard from the dynamic duo of Myles and Tremonti.
5. Poison in Your Veins - Some fretboard gymnastics that comes off way too easy.
6. Cradle to the Grave - One of the slowest songs on the album, but it has some fast moments too.  This song is about the brevity of life and the constant nature of time.  These are the kinds of songs that make you reevaluate your life and want to make the most of it.
7. Losing Patience - A straight up rock song about feeling frustrated.
8. This Side of Fate - A dynamic song that starts mellow and then builds.  It seems to be a call for inner strength and making the tough decisions in life.
9. You Will Be Remembered - It's a mellow song with impassioned lyrics and a huge sing-a-long chorus.  If you think about a mentor or military hero who has passed while listening, you could easily shed a tear.
10. Crows on a Wire - This one jolts you back into a headbanging mood with some grunge-metal riffs.  Then Myles' voice soars and Scott Phillips pounds the skins.
11. Twilight - straight up rock
12. Island of Fools - Heavy drumming and up-tempo.
13. The Last Hero - This song deals with the disillusionment with current leaders and the desire of not wanting to be let down.  "Don't let us fall again," the band implores.  "Tell me where are the heroes?"
14. (Bonus Track) Last of Our Kind - A great culmination to this album as there are some melodic moments and some chugging riffs and bass lines.

Welcome to Fat City

Their debut album Something Supernatural in 2014 ranked in the top 5 albums of the year for me.  Their sophomore effort Fat City may not make my top 10 of the year, but it is far from a sophomore slump.  Crobot describes their music as "dirty groove rock" and they have opened for Chevelle, Clutch, and Black Label Society.  The title track opens the album and definitely has those dirrty grooves.  Lead singer Brandon Yeagley has an incredible range and can really wail.  He's got a voice that can both compliment and juxtapose the bluesy grooves of the rhythm section.

Not For Sale is a rockin' track that obviously is about not compromising your integrity.  "My soul is not for sale," Brandon croons.  Hold on For Dear Life is haunting and foreboding.  Right Between the Eyes has a chugging rhythm and great intensity, making it one of the best songs on the album.  Crobot still has a unique throwback kind of sound, however, they don't quite match the dyanmic range and interesting theme on the first record so it likely will be a record that I don't listen to start to finish every time I play it.  There isn't that mystique and flair that the debut had.  Of course, they set the bar so high with Something Supernatural that I knew it would be hard to duplicate.  An awesome aspect to this record is that it builds in song quality.  Closing track Plague of the Mammoths encompasses what is special about this band.  They sound old and new at the same time.  They rock and groove.  They embrace the supernatural and emote the spiritual.  They draw you in with their riffs and enchant you with their soaring vocals.  Do yourself a favor and check them out in concert or on record.  They are one of the best rock bands out today.

PowerPop attempts a comeback

So a few pop-punk bands that were life for a lot of people 16 years ago are trying to make a comeback.  Here's my take.  First, times have changed, the band members are older and NO, they're not gonna sound exactly the same.  If you complain that they don't, you're probably just sour that you can't relive your teen years with the same soundtrack.  Second, I don't think they're doing it "for the money." These guys are artists and they are expressing their creativity.  With so many ways for music to be pirated, they might be releasing new music to sell some tickets to concerts and some new t-shirts, but they certainly aren't going to make a killing like they used to.  I believe they are genuinely into their new material.

Blink 182 is missing Tom DeLonge who apparently is half out of his mind with his UFO-chasing self.  He is replaced in the band by guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba, formerly of Alkaline Trio.  Matt is certainly a talented guy and a great fit for Blink 182.  He has a great voice and is a better musician.  People that are saying the new Blink is like +44 aren't doing the new tunes justice.  +44 was by far the worst of the Blink side projects.  The problem becomes the fact that Matt's voice is too similar to Mark Hoppus that you don't get the variety that you used to, and you certainly don't get the nasally California style whine that Tom sang with.  The album California came out on July 11 and contains 16 tracks, although two are clips of under 30 seconds and two are songs less than two minutes long.  The middle of the disc I think is where the new version of Blink is best exemplified.

No Future has a good blend of the two vocalists, an upbeat tempo and a "na na na" sing along chorus. A slower song, Home is Such A Lonely Place, follows.  It has a beautiful melody and acoustic guitar. The drums pick up mid-way through to add some diversity of sound and intensity of emotion.  It's not the crybaby emo type of song that they may have done in the past, but a more mature sad song if that makes sense.  Kings of the Weekend is a rocker, but it ironically says "Thank God for punk rock bands" when this album is definitely devoid of their older punk sound.  Rabbit Hole and The Only Thing That Matters are the closest they get to punk, and while fun songs, they aren't punk rock either. Some would say that California is over-produced, but I think its a fantastic mixing job that highlights each of the players.  What is lost is the rawness that their earlier works had.  Overall, there is a pretty interesting diversity of sounds here that will give it great repeatability.

The new Good Charlotte album is called Youth Authority.  While they may have been that once, I think they are grasping a little too hard at times long since past with that album title.  The good news is the tunes are more authentic than they produced on their last two albums.  Lead track Life Changes is reminiscent of early 2000s GC.  40 oz. Dream is kind of a lame pop song, but the lyrics are a trip down memory lane of the 80s and 90s days when MTV played music and Dre & Snoop were the kings of gangsta rap.  Life Can't Get Much Better seems better suited to the youth of today than the youth of their heyday.  It's a mix of bubblegum and emo.  Songs featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens and Simon Neil of Scottish band Biffy Clyro do nothing to either further the modern appeal of Good Charlotte, nor the establishment of them as a timeless pop-punk-rock band.  I loved the debut album by Good Charlotte and saw them three times in 2001 alone.  Unfortunately, they haven't been true to their original punk ethos since and this album is not a bad attempt at a comeback, but leaves a lot to be desired to come close to what this band once was.

Sum 41 is scheduled to release their new album 13 Voices on October 7.  I was a fan of their debut full length, All Killer No Filler, circa 2001 and some of their other stuff as well, but I felt that they sometimes suffered from identity crisis.  They didn't know if they wanted to be punk, metal, pop or all three.  I got left with a bad taste in my mouth after seeing them on Warped Tour in 2001 when Deryck Whibley was trying to sell the crowd on the idea that they were metalheads, even though they barely played metal and were at a punk festival when he is making these statements.  The new single Fake My Own Death is pretty hard rock and I like it a lot.  It will be interesting to hear what the rest of the album sounds like.  I'll be seeing them at Starland in October, so look for more on whether this is a successful comeback or a flop.

Gemini Syndrome - Memento Mori and more

I don't even remember where I first learned of Gemini Syndrome.  Usually I remember the first time that I hear a song and where I stumbled upon it whether it was on the internet, on the radio, from an opening band in concert or from a video game.  I think I might have seen ads for their debut album Lux in a magazine like Revolver.  Maybe they came up on suggested artists on iTunes.  All I know is that when I first heard them I loved them.  When I recently saw them at a small club in Stanhope, NJ they cemented themselves as one of my favorite bands right now.

Gemini Syndrome @ Stanhope House 8/3/16

Lux has a lot of strong tracks such as Pleasure and Pain, Stardust, and Mourning Star.  I think that lead singer Aaron Nordstrom has a unique voice and especially a unique growl.  If you've never heard them, the first album has similarities to Disturbed and Red.  They are a Christian band with a positive message, but their music is heavy and has some rawness to it.

Memento Mori is an interesting album title.  It was previously used as an album title by fellow Christian band Flyleaf and also by a lesser known metal band from the 90s.  Memento Mori is a Latin expression which translates to "remember (we) die."  It refers to the fact that we are all mortals, but also in ancient Roman times warned those coming back from battle not to get too prideful in themselves.  In a religious context, it also deals with the concepts of heaven versus hell and the salvation of the soul in the afterlife.

Lead track to the album Memento Mori called "Anonymous" preaches that we are all important, yet we are all the same because we all live and die the same way.  It is one of the most aggressive songs about treating everyone with love and respect that I have ever heard; and that is exactly what I love about Gemini Syndrome as a band.  Second track "Remember We Die" is even more literal in discussing the fact that we all live for a limited time on this Earth.  "Remember we die, but you're still alive, so don't let go..." Aaron sings.  Embedded in the track are the messages that each of us has an obligation to and a power to contribute something to society.  It also alludes to the idea that suicide is not a viable option because "there's plenty of time to see the other side" and "until we arrive [to heaven] don't let go, just let the light shine from your soul."  If you listen to this song and it doesn't inspire you, I feel sorry for you.

Setlist 8/3/16 Gemini Syndrome @ Stanhope House

In my opinion, the tempo, lyrics, and energy of the tracks at the beginning of this album are the best parts of it.  As the album continues so does the message and the rock, but it isn't as hard rocking as Lux.  There is less grit and growl and more melody and clean singing on their sophomore effort.  Some songs have kind of an older metal sound to them.  I'm not one to normally bash things for being overproduced, but I think this album might suffer a little from sounding a little too "studio perfect" and it is missing the raw elements of their debut.  Still, I am liking it even more with each listen.  I think people need to hear this band and share with friends.  We could all benefit.

Check out the Remember We Die official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHsY6gPCys

The Used 15th Anniversary

My first impression of Bert McCracken was seeing him on The Osbournes circa 2002 when he was dating Kelly Osbourne.  I thought it weird that he would be seeing a 14 year old, but I also thought that he could be trying to get on Ozzfest and I didn't blame him for that.  He came across as a nice guy, but looked like a dirt bag who hadn't showered in a week.  If memory serves, he even talked about the lack of hygiene touring on the road.  My opinion of the band permanently changed for the better in 2003 while watching the video for "Buried Myself Alive."  I loved the imagery of Bert being trapped in a coffin trying to find a way out with a lighter.  I loved the song.  A couple years later I saw them on the Taste of Chaos tour with My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, and Killswitch Engage.  Each band had an amazing performance that night.  Bert stood out for appearing unstable, but also being very emotionally into his music and what he was doing on stage to connect to the audience.  He was an electric front man!

Fast forward to 2016 and I was fortunate enough to see the 15th Anniversary tour of the self titled album on April 29th and 30th.  Two nights with the same band!  I've never done that before.  The first night was the self-titled album in its entirety and the second night was their sophomore album In Love and Death in its entirety!

The self-titled came out in 2002 and is highlighted by the Taste of Ink, Buried Myself Alive, and A Box Full of Sharp Objects.  The whole album is great though and songs like Bulimic and Blue and Yellow are great sing-along songs live in concert.  The crowd wasn't quite at capacity for Starland, but they were obviously fans and were very lively and sang quite a bit.  In fact, Bert said that we were the best audience on the tour even though I'm aware he probably has said that before.  The video below might substantiate the claim as you can see everyone is plugged in.

By the finale with Pieces Mended (complete with hidden tracks Polly and Choke Me), the roof nearly came off.

The second night was probably even better.  It was a Saturday night and it was packed. 
I had heard that openers The New Regime were keeping the same set list from night to night, but they switched it up a bit.  They seemed to me to be more comfortable in front of the fuller room and they sounded tighter too.  They were also very appreciative that the Used could have picked from "dozens of bands that sound just like them" and chose to take them on tour.  They thanked the Used and the audience often.

I heard a bunch of people in the crowd saying that In Love and Death is their favorite Used album, although for me it is not so easy to declare.  From Take it Away to Fake It, the place was completely nuts and Bert and the boys put everything they had into the show.  Unfortunately, I don't have personal pics or video from night two because I left my phone in the car.  I did meet a couple of cute girls that were into ill Nino as well as the Used and it was fun singing and dancing next to them.  In addition to the opening and closing tracks, I Caught Fire (In Your Eyes) and All That I've Got were definitely highlights.  They are already emotional songs, but even more so with a room full of people singing along.  I think this album has more highs and lows and varied song structures and tempos.  For example, you have Listening in the middle of the album that is really fast and angry followed by Yesterday's Feelings that is a slow and melancholy song.  Mood brightens with Lights With A Sharpened Edge and then Bert goes off the rails with Sound Effects and Overdramatics where it feels like all hell is breaking loose and it sounds like he is going to sing his lungs out.

The two night double headliner with complete albums back to back was definitely one of the most unique concert experiences and one of my favorites.

(Hed)P.E. Forever!

(Hed)P.E. formed in 1994, but I first became aware of them when a friend shared their album Broke with me in 2000.  I fell in love with the lyrics, the in-your-face attitude, and the style which was mostly rap-rock done better than I had ever heard it.  Subsequent albums ran the gamut from punk to reggae and founding lead singer, Jahred Gomes, has quite a range of singing styles from clean to rap to harsh screams.  Hed refuses to be pigeonholed, but one thing that remains constant is social commentary and a punk ethos with the desire to rally humans together for the greater good of all.  After having recently met the latest lineup (Jahred - vocals, Trauma - drums, KB - bass, Gregzilla - guitar) after a small club show at Stanhope House (NJ) I'm even more a fan of these guys than ever before - and I already own all of their records.

Forever! is, in my opinion, their most complete album in years.  It has the hard rockers that I like with smatterings of punk, reggae, and world music blended in.  Hurt, It's You, and Jah Know are stand out tracks for sure.  Hurt harkens back to their nu-metal beginnings, but instead of scratching from DJ Product, there is some staccato guitar work.  It's You is about a lost love.  The lyrics about someone who made life beautiful is juxtaposed with screaming that conveys the pain of having messed up a good thing.   Jah Know is like an anthem for the band and is about meeting Zion.  Pay Me is also an interesting song about how corporate greed is taking over the U.S. and its working citizens are being taken advantage of.  Many of (Hed)P.E.'s albums have tracks with sexual themes.  Some would consider past songs as crass, but often they are really creatively done and passionate.  Jahred got away from writing these types of songs and he cited having a daughter and wanting to be more respectful to females as the reason.  This album brings back a sexually charged song in Shadowridge, however, he sings about being faithful to and creating a family with the object of his affection.
Bonus track "Ganja" is an ode to the cannabis plant as the "healer of the nation."  While I don't smoke myself, listening to this track is like being transported to Jamaica or some other tropical island.

Do yourself a favor and check out their music.  If you like it, support them and buy merchandise.  These guys really are a Do-It-Yourself band and they are good to their fans.  I'll do my part to help make sure they stick around Forever.

Jah and me!

Pics from May 2016

That's not "metal" . . . or is it?

While 2016 has taken its share of legends from us, it continues to produce some great new rock.  The metal community is at times very welcoming and open-minded, but on the other hand, some metal heads are very specific with sub-genres they are willing to tolerate and poo-poo anything that doesn't sound like what their definition of "real metal" is.  The following are some bands that are certainly bridging genres and crossover into metal territory, but they may be more palatable to the mainstream crowd also.

Volbeat - Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie
If you haven't heard of them yet, shame on you.  This is their 6th
album and they've opened for the likes of Motorhead, Cold, Nightwish, and the Big 4.  Their style is unique.  They're Danish.  They play a mix of rockabilly and metal which means it is bluesy and melodic, but still rocks!  The singing is clean with a southern/rockabilly twang.  The riffs and phrases tend to be short and easy to sing along to.  It's the kind of thing you will love or hate and you'll know pretty soon.  I love it and think their whole catalogue is pretty amazing.  You could argue that a lot of it sounds the same, but it's a style all their own.  Furthermore, this album adds some surprises like some shredding guitar work on "Seal the Deal" courtesy of ex-Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, a couple of obscure cover songs, bagpipes on "The Loa's Crossroad" and a guest vocal appearance by Danko Jones on the song "Black Rose."

Issues - Headspace
I was blown away by this band's self-titled album in 2014 and I am equally pleased with their latest effort.  They have a mix of pop, R&B, hip-hop and metalcore that is pretty crazy!  There is some DJ sampling and scratching.  They have two vocalists that mix clean singing, rapping, and some screaming.  Some might try to label them nu-metal, but to me they bear little resemblance to the turn of the century bands that carried that moniker.
Some standout tracks include:  Catchy chorus containing "The Realest," harder hitting "Lost-n-Found" and on the more emotional front, "Slow Me Down."

Sick Puppies - Fury
This is the first album without founding singer Shimon Moore who exited in somewhat controversial fashion.  Considering the previous album was the most pop-oriented, I'm glad to see that with new singer Bryan Scott there seems to be a return to the more edgier side.  First single "Stick to Your Guns" should resonate with fans of the band as it could have easily been on one of the first two albums.  We do hear some more singing from bassist Emma on this album though.  She sings backup on a few tracks and lead on "Walls."  She has a great voice.  For me it is unfortunate that this one is one of the most poppy and it sounds a bit like a watered down Evanescence song.  I'm more fond of songs like "Earth to You" and "Let Me Live"

My Crazy Eyes see Dust on the White Album and the Electric Warlock Gores Metal Resistance with a Satanic Orgy

New Rock Release Reviews - May 2016

Weezer - Weezer ("white album")
There have been a lot of varied opinions about Weezer's last several albums.  I for one have always been a fan and have been able to enjoy every album from start to finish except their previous Everything Will Be Alright in the End.  The white album I think has a little bit of old and new Weezer style.  It has an overall pop feel, but there are some deeper themes and lyrics than a typical pop rock record.  Each listen reveals another favorite line or hidden nugget.
Highlights include: King of the World, Wind in Our Sail, Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori

Babymetal - Metal Resistance
This is another band that has had its critics, but the debut album set fire to the metal community and this sophomore effort has established that Babymetal are for real.  The musicianship is superb and, as an album, it rocks even harder than the self-titled.  We still have J-pop style lead and background vocals, but there is some more melodic singing on songs such as Karate.  Awadama Fever sounds like it could be a Slipknot song except for the teen girl voice of "Su-metal" singing over it.  It is unconventional, but this juxtaposition works for me.  Give it a shot.

Deftones - Gore
Deftones refuse to conform to anybody's idea of what they should sound like except their own.  Their experimentation has cost them fans along the way and certainly more notoriety.  Gore sounds like a return to form, IMO, in the best possible way.  Without repeating their nu-metal or ambient sounds on previous works, they seem to blend them together nicely while still being hard rock enough for me to listen to this album all the way through. They're back!

Highlights include: Doomed User, Pittur Infamante, Prayers/Triangles, Gore

Rob Zombie - The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser
On one hand, it's got what you'd expect from Rob.  There's lots of sound samples and interludes.  There's the industrial heaviness.  There's the offbeat, unconventional song titles and subject areas.  On the other hand, I think this album builds off of what Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor did in terms of having a unique identity and coming together as a complete album.
Highlights include: Medication for the Melancholy (Fast, driving beat and metal riffs), Well, Everybody's Fucking in a U.F.O. (a headbanger with a party vibe)

Tremonti - Dust
Following up All I Was and Cauterize, Tremonti continues to impress with his ability to sing as well has crank out the rock riffs.  This guy is establishing himself as one of the most talented and maybe most important guitarists of our time.  While writing and touring extensively for his solo work and then reportedly creating a new album with Alter Bridge, I wonder how Tremonti has enough time to kick as much ass as he does.
Highlights include: The Cage, Betray Me, Catching Fire

Filter - Crazy Eyes
Filter is one of the most underrated rock bands, hands down.  If the last song of theirs you remember is Take a Picture, I encourage you to delve into their catalogue.  This album is a concerted effort to return to Richard Patrick's industrial roots from his NIN days. Album opener, Mother E, takes you on a journey through the mind of a tortured soul with scream-along lyrics and a beat that if you don't bang your head to when you hear it, we probably can't be friends.  Pride Flag is a faster paced anthem with rocking guitar work.  The bass lines and the solo work here are impressive and heart-pumping.  Your Bullets is a fun one to bounce and sing to.  These songs will be great additions to the live set!

Top 10 Favorite Songs by Artist

Usually I post about new music and concert reviews in my favorite genre of hard rock.  This post will be a list of favorite songs by some classic rock artists and early alternative bands.  I was inspired by watching The Beach Boys: An American Family during a snowy Saturday and reminiscing about listening to my dad's vinyl collection which was the initial spark in my interest in rock and music in general.

No list is perfect and it is extremely hard for me to rank favorites.  I know not everyone will agree and will have different opinions. That's fine. These are my top 10 favorite original tunes by a few classic artists.  I'll continue to add to this on occasion.  Listed alphabetically by artist first name:

AC/DC
You Shook Me All Night Long
Back in Black
Hells Bells
Highway to Hell
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
TNT
Thunderstruck
Whole Lotta Rosie
Who Made Who
It's A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock N' Roll)

AEROSMITH
Sweet Emotion
Back in the Saddle
Train Kept A Rollin'
Toys in the Attic
Rats in the Cellar
Walk This Way
Cryin
Dream On
Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Rag Doll

ALICE COOPER
I'm Eighteen
School's Out
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Under My Wheels
Poison
Feed My Frankenstein
Billion Dollar Babies
Long Way To Go
Muscle of Love
Is It My Body

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Whipping Post
Melissa
Ramblin Man
Jessica
Southbound
Midnight Rider
Dreams
Black Hearted Woman
Revival
Soulshine


BEACH BOYS
Good Vibrations
I Get Around
Kokomo
Surfin Safari
Surfin USA
Fun Fun Fun
Little Deuce Coup
In My Room
Surfer Girl
California Girls
Help Me Rhonda

BEATLES
Yesterday
I Saw Her Standing There
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Here Comes The Sun
Revolution
Come Together
Please Please Me
Ticket To Ride
Blackbird


BILLY JOEL
She's Always A Woman To Me
Everybody Loves You Now
For the Longest Time
This Night
Piano Man
Innocent Man
Captain Jack
Miami 2017 (The Lights Go Out on Broadway)
Still Rock and Roll to Me
My Life

BLACK SABBATH

War Pigs

Paranoid

Iron Man 

NIB

Black Sabbath

Sweet Leaf

Supernaut

Heaven and Hell (w/Dio)

Fairies Wear Boots
The Wizard

BLUES TRAVELER
Most Precarious
Yours
Hook
Run Around
Canadian Rose
Felicia
Crash & Burn
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Brother John
Last Night I Dreamed

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Born to Run
Thunder Road
Rosalita
My Hometown
The Ghost of Tom Joad
My City of Ruins
Hungry Heart
Blinded By The Light
Born in the U.S.A.
The Rising

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Ants Marching

Satellite

Shake Me Like a Monkey

Why I Am

Crash Into Me

What Would You Say

Tripping Billies

Crush

Too Much

Typical Situation

DAVID BOWIE
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragate City
Moonage Daydream
Changes
Space Oddity
Heroes
Width of A Circle
Black Country Rock
The Man Who Sold the World
Life on Mars?

DIO
Holy Diver
Rainbow in the Dark
Last in Line
Stand Up and Shout 
Straight Through the Heart
Don't Talk to Strangers
We Rock
I Speed At Night
Sacred Heart
Born on the Sun

DOOBIE BROTHERS
China Grove
Jesus is Just Alright
Long Train Runnin'
Black Water
Listen to the Music
Takin' It To the Streets
Nobody
Greenwood Creek
Without You
Minute By Minute

DOORS
Roadhouse Blues
Break on Through
Touch Me
Light My Fire
Love Me Two Times
People Are Strange
L.A. Woman
Riders on the Storm
Gloria
My Eyes Have Seen You

EAGLES
Hotel California
Already Gone
Take It Easy
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Heartache Tonight
Life In the Fast Lane
Take It to the Limit
Desperado
Lyin Eyes
Witchy Woman

ELTON JOHN
Bennie and the Jets
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Rocket Man
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Crocodile Rock
Your Song
Circle of Life
Your Sister Can't Twist (but she can rock 'n roll)
Tiny Dancer
Candle in the Wind

GUNS N' ROSES (orig. only)
Sweet Child O'Mine
Welcome to the Jungle
Paradise City
November Rain
Nightrain
My Michelle
Mr. Brownstone
Used to Love Her
Don't Cry
Patience

IRON MAIDEN
Run to the Hills
Number of the Beast
The Trooper
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Invaders
Phantom of the Opera
Aces High
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Fear of the Dark
Wasted Years

JETHRO TULL

Locomotive Breath
Aqualung
Too Old To Rock and Roll
Bungle in the Jungle
The Whistler
Hymn 43
Living in the Past
Sweet Dream
Skating Away (On the Ice of a New Day)
Dr. Bogenbroom


JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
Purple Haze
Voodoo Child
All Along the Watchtower (Dylan)
Foxey Lady
Fire
The Wind Cries Mary
Manic Depression
Bold As Love
Crosstown Traffic
If 6 Was 9

JUDAS PRIEST 
Screaming for Vengeance
Metal God
Judas is Rising
Breaking the Law
You've Got Another Thing Coming
Painkiller
Living After Midnight
Hellrider
Halls of Valhalla
Electric Eye

LED ZEPPELIN

Rock and Roll

Black Dog

Immigrant Song

Whole Lotta Love

Dazed and Confused

Stairway to Heaven

Communication Breakdown

Good Times Bad Times

Ramble On

Heartbreaker

LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Free Bird
Simple Man 
Sweet Home Alabama
Gimme Three Steps
What's Your Name
I Know a Little
Workin' For MCA
Tuesday's Gone
Saturday Night Special
You Got That Right

MEAT LOAF
Paradise By the Dashboard Light
Bat Out of Hell
You Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth
All Revved Up and No Place to Go
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
Everything Louder Than Everything Else
Objects in the Rearview Mirror
I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Amnesty Is Granted

MEGADETH

Holy Wars...The Punishment Due

Symphony of Destruction

Peace Sells

Rattlehead

Angry Again

Hangar 18

Trust

Tornado of Souls

Lucretia

Dialectic Chaos

METALLICA

Enter Sandman

Hit the Lights

Master of Puppets

Metal Militia

No Remorse

Creeping Death

Seek and Destroy

Fuel

Sad But True
Battery

MOTORHEAD

Ace of Spades
Iron Fist
Overkill
Damage Case
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Born to Raise Hell
Speedfreak
Live to Win
Go to Hell
Loser

NIRVANA 

Smells Like Teen Spirit
All Apologies
Come As You Are
Aneurysm
Breed
Heart Shaped Box
Rape Me
Lithium
Dumb
Pennyroyal Tea

OZZY OSBOURNE

Crazy Train

Mr. Crowley

No More Tears

Over the Mountain

Flying High Again

Bark at the Moon

I Don't Know

Diary of a Madman

Mama I'm Comin' Home
Perry Mason

QUEEN
Bohemian Rhapsody
Somebody to Love
We Are the Champions
We Will Rock You
Another One Bites the Dust
Don't Stop Me Now
Tie Your Mother Down
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Killer Queen
Fat Bottomed Girls

REO SPEEDWAGON
Roll With the Changes
Take It On the Run
Time For Me To Fly
Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight
Ridin' the Storm Out
Keep On Lovin' You
Can't Fight This Feeling
Runnin' Blind
Let Me Ride
Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight

ROLLING STONES
I Can't Get No Satisfaction
Honkey Tonk Women
Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It)
Gimme Shelter
Wild Horses
Start Me Up
Paint It Black
Brown Sugar
Sympathy For the Devil

TED NUGENT

Stranglehold

Cat Scratch Fever

Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

Free For All

Great White Buffalo

Wango Tango

Motor City Madhouse

Hey Baby

Heads Will Roll
Turn It Up

THIN LIZZY

Boys Are Back In Town

Cowboy Song

Jailbreak

Whiskey In the Jar

Cold Sweat
Emerald

Soldier of Fortune

Waiting For An Alibi

The Rocker

Angel From the Coast

TOM PETTY & The HEARTBREAKERS
Runnin' Down A Dream
Free Fallin
American Girl
Mary Jane's Last Dance
You Don't Know How It Feels
I Won't Back Down
Don't Come Around Here No More
You Wreck Me
Refugee
I Need To Know


TWISTED SISTER
We're Not Gonna Take It
I Wanna Rock
Under the Blade
Tear It Loose
I Am (I'm Me)
S.M.F.
Burn in Hell
You Can't Stop Rock and Roll
What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
The Kids Are Back

VAN HALEN
Eruption

Panama

Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love

Why Can’t This Be Love

I’m The One

On Fire

Runnin’ With the Devil

Unchained

Mean Street
Hot For Teacher

 
THE WHO
(no definitive order because they are all 10/10)
Baba O'Riley
I Can See For Miles
My Generation
Pinball Wizard
Squeezebox
Who Are You
You Better You Bet
Won't Get Fooled Again
Behind Blue Eyes
I Can't Explain

WEEZER (THIS HAS CAUSED ME MUCH ANXIETY AND HAS NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED BEFORE EVER AND I PROBABLY WILL DISAGREE WITH MYSELF AD INFINITUM)
Say It Ain't So
My Name Is Jonas
Put Me Back Together
Tired of Sex
Jamie
Don't Let Go
Perfect Situation
Across the Sea
Dope Nose
Mykel and Carli
 
ZZ TOP

Sharp Dressed Man
Tush
La Grange
Gimme All Your Lovin'
Got Me Under Pressure 
Legs
I Thank You
Cheap Sunglasses
Brown Sugar
Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers