Best of the Worst: Top 20 Albums of 2020

Most would agree 2020 was a terrible year.  Music-wise, the pandemic eliminated almost all in-person concerts across the world, and postponed albums from several artists.  I was extremely bummed to not get to finally see Rammstein in person.  Weezer, Foo Fighters, and Rob Zombie postponed album release dates until spring 2021.  One thing that made it bearable was several streaming concerts including those from Dropkick Murphys, Papa Roach, Seether, Nonpoint, Post Malone, and more.  Others like Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Stitched Up Heart, and HedPE made regular streaming events to connect more with fans on social media.  There's lots of things that I could talk bad about, including disappointing new releases from Smashing Pumpkins, ACDC, and Pearl Jam.  However, I'm choosing to focus on the positive, and to highlight some of my favorite releases of the year.  Unlike past years, I'm not going to rank them because the music is so diverse.  You're guaranteed to find a few things to like, and if you haven't heard of some of these, I recommend you check them out.  Don't miss the honorable mentions all the way past the album covers.

Top 20 Albums of 2020 (alphabetical order)

All Time Low - Wake Up, Sunshine  In their 8th studio album, All Time Low come hard with infectious grooves and catchy emo-pop-punk choruses.  At times they remind me of Panic at the Disco, Blink 182, and Alkaline Trio.  They can bring you up (Favorite Place; Monsters) or down (Pretty Venom; January Gloom) with equal brilliance.

Avatar - Hunter Gatherer I don't know if this album has as strong standout tracks as some of their previous, but this album slaps just as hard.  Colossus has a big chorus and, thanks to Octane, is a recurrent ear worm.

Bring Me the Horizon - Post Human: Survival Horror  BMTH continues to dominate Octane airwaves with their unique brand of hard rock.  This album has some angsty nu-metal vibes along with some crazy collaborations with everyone from Yungblud to Babymetal!

Four Year Strong - Brain Pain  Songs like Crazy Pills and Talking Myself in Circles blend melodic hardcore with pop-punk vocals in a style that is reminiscent of early 2000s, but with a splash of 1990 and a twist of modern 2020.  It is also an excellently produced album.

Goldfinger - Never Look Back  Contrary to the album title, this record harkens back to their earlier sound and also reminisces about "Golden Days" of skating, ska, punk, So-Cal, smoking cloves, Doc Marten's etc.  The is the second recording with bassist Mike Herrera (MXPX) and the first since 2008 with original guitarist Charlie Paulson back.

Intervals - Circadian  Intervals is primarily an instrumental band from Canada.  They cannot be explained.  They must be experienced.  If you like any kind of prog rock or djent, or just want to hear some rocking guitar without whiny singers, look these guys up.  I have three of their albums, and they are each ridiculously good.

Lamb of God - s/t  This album came out in June, and it was not a moment too soon.  I was already tired of the Covid lockdowns and our shitty president, and Randy sang my feelings.  "I wrote this record thinking about the mess that is modern day life," he says.  Who else can write songs you can mosh to about water pollution (Poison Dream) and the NODAPL movement (Routes)?

Less Than Jake - Silver Linings  After seven years without a studio album release, we were blessed with this comeback album of ska-rock glory.  Recorded in Gainsville, Florida and originally slated for an April release, it finally came out in December, and I for one am thankful that it did.  It's the best they've sounded in 20 years.

Local H - Lifers  This little alt-rock band out of Illinois is like what would result if Helmet and Queens of the Stone Age had a baby.  They aren't nearly famous enough, although they opened for Metallica in 2017.

Primal Fear - Metal Commando  If you like Dio and Iron Maiden, check out this German power metal (sung in English).  This whole album is fantastic.

Red - Declaration  I own play all seven studio albums from Red.  Their latest effort may be my favorite since their debut.  It definitely has its darker and heavier elements that I like, while still remaining true to what the band stands for.

Ritchie Kotzen - 50 for 50   Ritchie Kotzen is so prolific, he put out a three disc album of 50 songs before the "found time" in quarantine in honor of his 50th birthday!  I don't hear any singles as big as those from his band Winery Dogs, but they also have more musical range and emotion.

Ross the Boss - Born of Fire  Founding guitarist of Manowar, Ross Friedman, shreds on this heavy metal headbanger as singer Mike Cotoia shows off his six octave range in a style rivaled only by Rob Halford and King Diamond.

Seaway - Big Vibe  I own all four studio albums from this Canadian pop-punk band, and they are remarkably consistent.  When I need feel good music, I'll put these guys on.

Seether - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum This album (translation "if you seek peace, prepare for war") has some bangers and some of the slower somber songs that should please any Seether fan.  For me, I like the heavier ones like album opener Dead and Done, single Dangerous, and screamer Beg.  Wasteland is slower, but very groovy and catchy.  It prompted a millenial to ask, "What's a teenage wasteland?" To which I replied, "Ask The Who."  He didn't get it :'(

Silverstein - A Beautiful Place to Drown  This album has collaborations with Intervals, Caleb Shomo, Princess Nokia, and Simple Plan!  If that wasn't enough to pique some interest, it is just a typically good post-hardcore emo-rock album.

Static-X - Project Regeneration Vol. 1  I was very hesitant to support anything under the Static-X name without Wayne Static being the front man; however, they took Wayne's vocals from previously unreleased demos to provide the basis for most of the songs on this album.  Tony and the boys also did so after getting the blessing of Wayne's family.  It will have to do, and judging by the live performance I saw in June 2019 with Xer0, there may be a future here.

These Damn Crows - Point of No Return  I discovered this band out of Wales this year, and I am thankful I found them.  They have a pretty straight up rock sound in the vein of Shinedown and Breaking Point.  Both this album and its predecessor Murder and the Motive are really great.

Trivium - What the Dead Men Say  Trivium are simply one of the best metal bands out there today.  Their latest album mixes elements of metalcore with melodic death metal all with lyrics you can understand and sing along to.

Unleash the Archers - Abyss  Canadian Power Metal that totally kicks ass.

Honorable mentions - other albums of 2020 that don't suck:

Amaranthe - Manifest

August Burns Red - Guardians

Black Stone Cherry - Human Condition

Body Count - Carnivore

Clint Lowery - God Bless the Renegades

Corey Taylor - CMFT

Deftones - Ohms

Firewind - s/t

L.A. Guns - Renegade

Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man

Sepultura - Quadra

Sevendust - Blood & Stone

Stitched Up Heart - Darkness

Stryper - Even the Devil Believes

Testament - Titans of Creation

10 Years - Violent Allies

Rolling Stone pulls a 2020 with their new top 500 albums list

I don't have a problem with Rolling Stone wanting to update their top 500 albums list.  I don't mind if they thought it needed to diversify and be less rock-centric.  I don't even mind that they wanted some more 21st century representation, except here is where we start to have problems.  86 albums from the 21st century made the list.  I don't think that there has been that much good music in the last 20 years to be considered some of the greatest albums of all time.  This isn't a nu-metal best of list after all.  I do have a problem with the fact that I did not see one metal or classic rock artist listed as a voter, yet they included millennial pop stars such as Taylor Swift, H.E.R., and Billie Eilish.  Billie was still in diapers when the first list was published in 2003.  154 albums made their way onto the list for the first time.  That is a red flag, and an astonishing fact.  The only album to maintain its place in the top 10 was Pet Sounds at number 2.  What's Going On by Marvin Gaye moved from #6 to #1.  It's a great album, but really only has one single that everyone would know.  Besides the top 2, the other 8 top 10 spots were filled by albums that weren't even close in the original list.

What's more of a problem is that the first Billy Joel album (The Stranger) is listed at #169, dropping from #70!  The first Who album (Who's Next) is at #77, dropping from #28.  The first Led Zeppelin album (IV) is at #58.   There is no Bat Out of Hell to be found in the top 500!  These are abominations.  Pink Floyd's The Wall somehow goes from the top 50 to #129.  Similarly U2's Joshua tree falls like a rock from #27 to 135.  Inexplicably, the first Black Sabbath album (Paranoid) is at #139.  Surely this is a top 100 album of all time.  It is the granddaddy of heavy metal with monstrous singles War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man not to mention cult classics Rat Salad and Fairies Wear Boots, among others.

I know that no music list is perfect, and that taste is subjective, but I'm still not done shitting on this list.  Less egregious, but still surprising to me is the placement of Appetite for Destruction at #62, Jagged Little Pill at # 69, Back in Black at #84, Master of Puppets at #97, Weezer at #294, Aerosmith's Rocks at #366, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Pronounced" at #381.  These are cited by me and many critics as some of the best rock albums of all time.  The positions on the Rolling Stone top 500 are criminally undervaluing their excellence and influence.  Meanwhile, Bob Dylan and The Clash get pushed out of the top 10.  Dylan previously held two of the top 10 spots.  Sgt. Peppers somehow drops from #1 to #24. Rubber Soul from #5 to #35.  The White album from #10 to #29.   Yet, inexcusably Kanye West appears at 17.  Are you kidding me with this list!?  They lose all credibility with these numbers.

You want to give R&B some more dues?  Explain how Boys II Men II is at a paltry #495 when it sold over 12 million copies (Diamond status), had four hit singles plus an amazing cover of Yesterday by the Beatles, and won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1995.  This list is a joke.

Rammstein - album by album

A few friends said they'd be interested in a Rammstein history & exposé, so here we go.  Rammstein formed in Berlin, Germany in 1994.  Unlike many bands, their original lineup has remained intact.  It consists of lead vocalist Till Lindeman, lead guitarist Richard Kruspe, rhythm guitarist Paul Landers, bassist Oliver Riedel, drummer Christoph Schneider, and keyboardist Christian Lorenz.  As someone who studied German in high school and college, I understand more lyrics than most Americans, but I never got proficient so I still don't know a lot of what Rammstein is saying.  Still, I find the music pleasurable to listen to.  Nowadays you can translate lyrics pretty easily online, and also read about song meanings from interviews and other websites.  I do delve into this sometimes and other times just listen and bang my head.  Some people may be surprised at the sexual nature and horror themes of some of Rammstein's songs.  A lot of times these dark songs are about famous cases of murder, rape, cannibalism, etc.  Lindeman's solo stuff is even more out there in some ways.  However, they are true artists, and I think very important ones.  In the late 90s they had a non-English crossover hit in America; this happens rarely.  Their live shows are legendary, at times including flame throwers, fire breathing, and S&M reenactments.  Fast forward to today, and I think that Rammstein are at their creative peak in terms of pushing boundaries even further, especially with their videos.  They are scheduled to have their first American tour in about a decade.  I hope this doesn't get cancelled, because I have a ticket for August 23, and this would be my first time seeing them live.  Since I was inspired most to write about their latest album (self-titled), I'll start there and then go chronologically from the first release.

RAMMSTEIN (2019)
In May of last year, we were blessed with the band's first major release in a decade.  Lead single, "Deutchland," carries an electronic rhythm behind an industrial sounding, driving drum beat and guitars.  The lyrics discuss a love-hate relationship with the motherland.  It juxtaposes young and old, cold breath and flaming heart.  I believe this to be about the conflicting feelings of pride in some of the modern progression of German society with shame about their obviously heinous history.  There's also political dichotomy happening now, like in the US with push and pull between the left and right.  The video may be disturbing to some.  It is like a movie.  I think the imagery really makes one think, and it has to be seen to be believed and analyzed.  If you view now, promise you'll come back to read more.  The second track is another banger with a driving rhythm, classic Rammstein electronica, and an earworm of a chorus.  The lyrics are a poetic love song to the radio, an instrument that opened the imagination and expanded the mind of the young author.  The video this time also adds a celebration of the rise of feminism.  Honestly, the album could have ended there and it would be amazing.  The other songs go on with equal passion and energy.  Another controversial song, and one becoming a cult favorite already, is the song "Puppe."  This song is about a young girl violently playing with a doll while listening to her prostitute sister in the next room.  "Was Ist Liebe" is a much less controversial song about love.  However, it still has a dark twist as Till sings about what he loves is also ruined and love must die.  This is followed by a ballad that juxtaposes a somber tone with lyrics about someone as beautiful as a diamond.  Tattoo is a faster tempo song about, you guessed it, tattoos.  The album closes with a creepy song about a guy luring a young girl to the beach to take advantage of her.

Sonically, there is nothing groundbreaking from this album; however, it is enjoyable.  The music compliments and helps emote the lyrical themes, and there is not one bad song in the bunch.  This album is to be celebrated for Rammstein's return, and also for the artistic masterpiece it is lyrically, thematically, and so far, visually.  Again, I'm excited to see them perform and hope that the tour is not affected by the coronavirus. (edit: the tour was postponed to 2021 because of the virus and then again by the band to 2022 so they could have full attendance with fewer restrictions)


HERZELEID (1994)
This album title translates to "heartache" and these songs explore various aspects of relationships which don't always end up happy.  "Das alte Leid" translates to "the old sorrow" and is one of the heaviest songs on the album.  I also really like singles "Du reichst so gut" and "Seeman" as well as lead track "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flamen sehen?"  Some songs have some electronic elements, but I think this is just pretty straightforward hard rock leaning towards metal.  This album brought about the phrase Neue Deutsche Harte (New German Hardness) which is kind of like American new metal minus the rapping.  It combines alternative and groove metal with industrial and techno.  Another song of note is album closer Rammstein.  It consists of a heavy riff repeated through most of the song.  It's on the slower side so it doesn't really get me going, although it is cool to have a track about the band's name.  Legend says their name was inspired by the Ramstein air show disaster of 1988 where Italian air force planes collided during a demonstration.  There were 70 deaths and several more injured.  After gaining popularity, Rammstein have claimed to be named after a doorstop.  The second "m" in their name makes it translate to "ramming stone."  Pretty badass either way.

SEHNSUCHT (1997)
Rammstein burst onto the scene in America with their second single "Du Hast" that got significant play on MTV (including TRL).  It was different because it was in German.  It was different because it was rooted in industrial metal.  And yet a lot of the general public started to accept it and love it.  I think bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit paved the way for this kind of music in the mainstream.  Also, Rammstein played for an MTV sponsored gig called Hanging Out in London in 1996 which put them on their radar.  In 1997 Trent Reznor picked two Rammstein songs to use for the soundtrack to 1997's Lost Highway and the cat was out of the bag.  I don't think this album is as strong as their first, but it is still pretty solid.  Highlights are the singles "Engel" and "Du Hast" along with the title track "Sehnsucht" and "Buck Dich."

Much has been made about the translation of "Du Hast."  Some claim it is "you hate" while others claim it is "you have."  Here is where my German knowledge comes in handy.  "Hast" is the past tense of "haben," meaning "to have."  Hate is a homonym spelled "hasst" or "haßt."  My theory is that Till wrote it with a homonym on purpose to give it kind of a double meaning.  They are interchangeable and he is playing with the duality such as "Du Hasst Mich" meaning "You Hate Me' and then "Du hast mich gefragt, und ich hab nicht gesagt," meaning "You had asked me and I did not say."  The song goes on to talk about asking about marriage and the narrator not wanting to commit.  In the English translation you lose some of the double meaning and flippant attitude.  Adding to the confusion, in the English version of the song he sings "You Hate Me...You hate me to say and I did not obey."  Obey is nowhere in the German version, but does play off of traditional wedding vows.  Exclamation "Nein!" is sung as "Never" in the English version, but this would be "niemals" in German.  I find that a lot of Rammstein lyrics are tongue-in-cheek and several phrases are meant to have multiple meanings.  Translating them to English does not always work, especially when you try to do it word for word.

MUTTER (2001)
This album brought more awareness and critical acclaim to the band.  The album produced six singles, the last one being ten years after the fifth.  "Feuer Frei" was featured in the opening scene of XXX and as a part of the soundtrack.  It is one of the band's most famous songs and is performed at nearly every live performance, often with flamethrowers operated by the band members.  Sonically, this album was more experimental with orchestral string instruments on songs like Mein Herz Brent.  The album is also noted for its quality production.  Mutter isn't their boldest album, but it may be their most accessible to the masses, and it certainly is melodic and sonically impressive.

REISE, REISE (2004)
This album was certainly not promoted well in the U.S.  I heard about it after reading a preview in a metal magazine while browsing in a Barnes & Nobles one day.  I bought it as soon as I could and I became obsessed with it because of the combination of riffs, dark themes, and catchy choruses.  The opening title track is one of my favorites of theirs.  The chorus is an earworm.  The lyrics talk about men spearing either a fish or each other.  Some have interpreted this to mean one either gets engrossed in a hobby like fishing, or fighting and warring with others.  Another interpretation is that the spearing of man is a euphemism for homosexuality.  To me, the lyrics make me think of the navy.  "Mein Teil" is about a 2001 cannibalism case by Armin Meiwes.  Live performances often incorporate the band members acting out butchering and cooking a human for consumption!  Dalai Lama is an adaptation of Goethe's poem "Der Erlkonig" and inspired by the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash, the deadliest plane crash in history.  "Los" is a German suffix meaning "-less" (as in "meaningless"), but it is also an adjective meaning "off" or "loose", and when used as a command it means "go!" or "come on"  The repetition of the word los with a heavy acoustic riff is another one of my go-to Rammstein songs.  Then you have the political commentary of songs "Amerika" and "Moskau."  The former crticizes the blind capitalism exemplified by Disneyworld, Coca Cola, and more.  The incorporation of English lyrics saying "this is not a love song; I don't speak my mother's tongue" is further damming the imperialism of the U.S.  "Moskau" then follows, comparing Moscow to a prostitute: beautiful, but corrupt.  There are strings and choral parts on this album as well, but they are more in the background compared to Mutter.  In my opinion, this is Rammstein's most complete album.

ROSENROT (2005)
This album was put together starting with six songs that were written during the Reise Reise sessions that didn't make the track list.  It was originally going to be called Reise Reise II.  As such, I feel that this album starts off strong and then fades towards the latter half.  To the ear, I like "Benzin" and "Mann Gegen Mann."  The former is a song satirizing love of all things petrol.  The latter plays lyrically with the meanings of "man against man" in a song against gay-bashing.  Reportedly, all of the band members are heterosexual, but they have been allies of the LGBTQ+ community for way longer than it has been popular.  In 1998 band members were arrested in Massachusetts after simulating anal sex on stage.  More recently, two band members kissed on stage in Moscow in protest of Russia's "gay propaganda" law.

LEIBE IST FUR ALLE DA (2009)
The lead track "Rammlied" borrows heavily from the chorus of 1994's "Rammstein."  It is an improvement over the original song, modified to sound bigger and more ominous.  It is basically a self aggrandizing anthem.  "Ich Tu Dir Weh" flips a common expression "Ich tut mir weh" meaning "I'm sorry" into a song "It hurts you" about S&M.  It is kind of like Rammstein's version of Judas Priest's "Pleasure and Pain," but with more explicit lyrics.  Themes do not get any lighter as songs about losing virginity, sodomy, lust, and even the Fritzl case, where Austrian Josef Fritzl imprisoned, raped, and abused his daughter.  Rammstein make songs such as the Beatles' "Helter Skelter" seem like child's play.  This is a really solid album of eleven songs.  The bonus version offers four more along with an orchestral version of "Roter Sand."  I'm not as much of a fan of the slower bonus tracks, but overall this is a really strong representation of the band's range.

They are not for the feint of heart.  I started liking their music at the same time I was getting into heavier rock.  I became curious about the lyrics and found it an interesting way to put my German studies to use.  The deeper I got into the band, and the longer they have continued to put out their work, the more I really came to admire their artistry.  I hope you have been inspired to delve more into the world of Rammstein.  Rock on!

Hard Rock albums of the decade 2010-2019

For several years now I have made my own albums of the year list.  This being true, and adding to the fact that I disagreed with many of the albums of the decade lists that I was reading online, I thought it would be easy enough to come up with my own top albums of the past ten years.  It turned out to be much harder than I thought as I found it difficult to narrow down, and I argued with myself about who should be featured and it what order.  Bands of the decade are definitely Gojira and Ghost.  Gojira's popularity has soared and they have been featured on huge tours with Metallica and Slipknot, among others.  Ghost has brought back Swedish metal to the masses with their cross of old Sabbath-sounding metal with new catchy hooks, and their throwback campy costumes.  I think the former was best on Magma and the latter was best on Prequelle which each blended the bands' heavy and melodic elements perfectly.  However, these won't be found on my top 25 of the decade list!  You also won't find comeback albums from Korn, Metallica, Tool, or Slipknot, though each of those was a strong effort.  I'm giving preference to albums that have no skippable tracks.  I still like albums that I can play all the way through.  Standout singles are a plus, but it takes more than those to make a great album.  My list is seeking to highlight the best overall albums of the decade, and that means more than just two or three kick ass songs.  I like to headbang, but you may find that I also tend to like songs with strong melody, and songs with lyrics you can understand and attach to.  I also chose to not put more than one album from the same artist.  If you don't know one of the ones mentioned below, I encourage you to check them out.  If you feel like something was left off, I'm open to hearing opinions, but this is the list of my favorites.  I spent many hours compiling this list, and you can see from the honorable mentions list how many were considered.  Enjoy!  Keep rockin!

1. Volbeat - Beyond Hell/Heaven Above (2012) - Thirteen tracks of rockabilly metal madness!  This is my favorite of Volbeat's four albums of the decade and maybe their best of seven studio albums in their catalogue.  From start to finish this album delivers up tempo rockers with huge riffs and hooks.  Michael Paulsen's voice is deep, but smooth.  There are guest appearances from musicians from Mercyful Fate, Kreator, and Napalm Death; there's a bonus track written by Glenn Danzig.  Volbeat is from Denmark, and they sound like no one else.  I find something new to like with every listen.

2. Danko Jones - Rock and Roll is Black and Blue (2012): This band is from Canada, and although they have had some critical acclaim in North America, they mostly tour in Europe where there is more demand for their type of music.  This album is about love, sex, and heartbreak.  It has elements of punk, blues, and garage rock, but with anthemic songs.  I promise that you will find at least one song on this album that you absolutely love.  I like to listen to this album while walking, cooking, showering, or just chillin'.  Although I like every song, I think "I Don't Care," "You Wear Me Down," "Always Away," and "I Believed in God" are all epic!

3. Seether - Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Deluxe) (2011): No album has gotten more spins from front to back for me this decade than this one.  When I still had a cd player in my car, this disc was about the only thing I listened to for a couple of weeks straight, and it gets regular plays still.  At first I didn't even think it was the best Seether album.  It really grew on me though, and now I see it as a masterpiece.  There are grunge rockers like the ones they are known for, there are epic ballads, and there are genre-bending songs that show off the artistic songwriting ability that this band has.  I think Shaun Morgan is one of the best songwriters and vocalists of my generation.  His vocal range and artistry are on full display throughout this album.  The first single, Country Song, brought them new fans and critical acclaim.  Emo-ballads "Here and Now" and "Tonight" are among some of the bands' best.  The regular version has twelve killer songs and the deluxe has sixteen.

4. Crobot - Something Supernatural (2014): Finally an American band makes the list.  They're from Pottsville, PA to be exact.  The first time I heard Crobot was on Octane and I knew they were special.  Self-described "dirty groove rock," Crobot has a unique sound that is part throwback and part revolutionary.  There's bluesy guitar riffs like Black Crowes and powerful soaring vocals similar at times to Wolfmother.  I saw Crobot open for Chevelle shortly after their full length debut album was released, and I was blown away by how similar to the record they sounded!  Lead singer Brandon Yeagley has phenomenal range and power, and the rest of the band compliments him with a righteous rhythm section and well-timed leads.  Something Supernatural is a concept album with songs about subjects like chupacabra, succubus, and the devil.  They've since released two other great albums, but I think this one is the gold standard.  In my 2014 list this one was number 4 behind my next pick, but it moved up the list of favorites because of its originality and replay-ability.

5. Chevelle - La Gorgola (2014) - Chevelle followed up what was definitely their weakest effort, 2011's Hats Off To the Bull, with maybe their most consistent album.  This one has banging riffs throughout.  The main riff from "Under the Knife" was straight out of my brain circa 2002.  "Ouija Board," "An Island," and "Jawbreaker" are straight fire.  "Takeout the Gunman" was a breakout single.  If you've ever liked Chevelle's previous work, or are just a fan of riff-based alternative metal, you need to listen to this album.

6. Judas Priest - Firepower (2018): Quoting myself, "Firepower starts off with three kick ass songs, "Firepower," "Lightening Strike," and "Evil Never Dies."  In fact, these are the three they have been regularly incorporating into their new live show. It fits into the set great. I think the reason this new album has been viewed so favorably is that it has some of the classic Priest sound (Never the Heroes, Children of the Sun), some modern heavy rock sounds (Necromancer, Lightening Strike), and some sick lead guitar solos (Rising From Ruins, Traitors Gate). There is something for everyone. The songwriting is strong, the melodies are fresh and the riffs really rip.   There's not a bad song among the generous 14 tracks. If you like metal and you haven't checked this one out, do yourself a favor and give it a listen."

7. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence (2017): Lead singer and guitarist Matt Heafy is a monster of melodic metal, and this album is rock solid from start to finish.  The drumming is also phenomenal.  The band even got a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for the song "Betrayer."  I actually prefer the title track, "The Wretchedness Inside," and "Sever the Hand."

8. Alter Bridge - Last Hero (2016): See my full track-by-track review here.  In addition, Last Hero won the Loudwire Best Rock Album of the Year and "Show Me A Leader" won Best Rock Song in a year full of fantastic rock music.  Enough said.

9. Nonpoint - The Poison Red (2016): One of my favorite bands of all time released five awesome albums this decade.  The Poison Red is the best since their 2000 debut Statement, and I have it a little above 2018's X.  There is not a skippable track.  It is one of their most ambitious and diverse albums.  Opener "Generation Idiot" is a scathing commentary on the culture of text, eat, sleep, repeat.  Lead guitarist BC Kochmit shows his chops on tracks like "Foaming At the Mouth" and "Bottled Up Killer Bees".  "El Diablo" brings back the Spanish influences from the Puerto Rican roots of Robb and Elias, who seem to show no signs of slowing down.  Closer "My Last Dying Breath" has a heavy sludging rhythm in the chorus unlike anything the boys in Nonpoint have done before.

10. Monster Truck - Furiosity (2013): This can best be described as groovy grunge metal.  It is toe-tapping, head-banging riffage with soulful, raspy clean vocals.  When I saw this band open for Buckcherry in February of 2014 they blew me away.  I couldn't believe how talented they were, how hard they rocked, and how original their sound was.  They have since come out with two other great albums, but this one is perfection.  If you're new to these guys, start with "Sweet Mountain River."

11. Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream (2018): Wow, another concept album that actually works!  This band has been around since 2002 and had the breakout of their career with this album inspired by classic horror movies including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, It, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  I saw them at Starland in May and though I had heard some of their songs on Octane, I didn't expect a whole bunch.  Well, the stage show was very theatrical, the band sounded just like the record, and the singer really impressed me with his strong, smooth vocals.  If that wasn't cool enough, the album features guest vocals from members of Finch, Mest, Fenix TX, Less Than Jake, and Stanley Kubrick's grandson, Sam Kubrick of the band Shields.

12. Tremonti - A Dying Machine (2018): It was close between this one and 2016's Dust, but this album had more songs on it, and the standout track "From the Sky" which I think is one of Tremonti's best.  You'll find trademark chunky riffs alongside a soaring whoah-oh-oh sing along chorus.  I dare you to dislike it.

13. Megadeth - Dystopia (2016): Megadeth is one of my favorite bands, and as such I have high standards for them.  Dystopia is definitely their best album of the decade, and I think a worthy top 20 selection.  On this album Dave Mustaine shows that he can still shred, and he still has more to say about society.  The title track won the band its first Grammy (Best Metal Performance), after 11 previous nominations, beating out Baroness, Gojira, Korn, and Periphery.

14. Rammstein - Rammstein (2019): Rammstein had nothing to prove; no reason to put out a career bookmark, but that's exactly what they did with this album.  15 years after the country commentary on the United States and Russia heard on 2004's Reise Reise, Germany gets it's own satirical theme song, "Deutchland."  The main beat is like EDM MDMA, and yet it also has a driving drum beat that is rock gold.  Then add Till's creepy chanting vocals over top and you have a unique rock anthem.  Radio is also one of the best songs in their catalogue.  Puppe is one of the creepiest.  The videos are some of the most provocative of their career, and I think "Deutchland" is definitely worth everyone viewing.

15. Buried In Verona - Vultures Above, Lions Below (2015): BIV is an Australian band from Sydney, New South Wales.  I think I just found them by searching rock releases on iTunes.  This whole album is really solid aggressive rock.  From 2008-2014 they were more metalcore.  There isn't a ton of screaming on this album, and the rough edges are more polished.  There is good guitar licks and melody behind a mix of clean and unclean vocals.  None of the tracks really stand out as amazing, but there are also no duds in the entire album.  I just really enjoy this album.

16. Against Me - White Crosses (2010): This album is another in a string of my top 16 that I think is pretty much flawless.  Besides Holding Onto Strings, this one probably got the most complete plays, mostly on car rides.  The opening tracks "White Crosses" and "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" are full of punk angst.  The rest of the album leans emo in the lyrics and tone, covering subjects such as drug use, death, and heartbreak.  Though really dark times are discussed, the tempos remain upbeat and the songs have hopeful perspective.  This album also marks the last for the lead singer being known as Thomas James Gabel before transitioning to Laura Jane Grace.  You would definitely be right to consider 2014's Transgender Dysphoria Blues more socially important, but sonically this one takes the cake.

17. Staind - Staind (2011): I have been a fan of Staind since 1999, and think that Aaron Lewis is one of the most talented singers out there.  2008's Illusion of Progress was their slowest and weakest album, a big letdown.  Documentary footage from the recording sessions of the self-titled album show that the band was going through a tumultuous time trying to meet deadlines for Staind while Aaron was working on a blossoming solo career as a country artist.  Tensions boiled high and after recording was finished, the drummer, Jon Wysocki, was finished as well, and the future of the band was uncertain.  This is the last release we have gotten, and it is unique for the guitar parts Mike Mushok came up with.  There is more solos than on previous releases, and some intricate and challenging parts.  At the same time, the anger and aggression harkens back to the Dysfunction and Tormented days.  I think "Now" puts all these pieces together in the right way, and would be my favorite song off of the album, although "Not Again," "Paper Wings" and others are also worthy.

18. Boy Hits Car - Stealing Fire (2012): California's Boy Hits Car have been together since 1993 and spreading the Love Core far and wide since 1998.  Stealing Fire is their best since their self-titled album.  Lead singer Cregg can quickly change course from soothing crooning to screaming outbursts.  The music includes some Middle Eastern strings juxtaposed with nu-metal worthy down tuned guitar riffs.  Just when you think things couldn't be more unpredictable, they throw in a rock cover of a John Denver song, Eagle & the Hawk.

19. Of Mice & Men - Earthandsky (2019) - This band has been around since 2009, racking up over a million plays on Myspace of their cover of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."  They have had several lineup changes, but have built a respectable reputation in the metalcore and alternative metal scene.  2018's Defy was in consideration for this list, but I think Earthandsky is heavier, and is their best album to date. "Mushroom Cloud" and "The Mountain" particularly rip!

20. Architects - Holy Hell (2018): Architects are a British metalcore band that sadly don't get enough recognition in the United States.  They are 8 albums in, and a couple of them were among the best of the decade.  Holy Hell made my list for being the most consistent, in my opinion.  The band's founding guitarist and main songwriter, Tom Searle, passed away in 2016 after a battle with skin cancer.  Brother, Dan Searle, drew inspiration from Tom's written lyrics and also used the music on this album as a cathartic way to deal with the pain of loss, process it, and grow from it.

21. Palisades - Erase the Pain (2018): Out of Iselin, New Jersey, Palisades first made a name for themselves with a rock cover of Pharrell's "Happy" that appeared on Punk Goes Pop Vol. 6.  Since then they put out an EP and four studio albums this decade.  I wouldn't call them punk; they're more post-hardcore alternative metal with some electronica songs (especially on 2015's Mind Games).  Erase the Pain has 10 solid hard rock tracks out of 10.

22. Coldrain - Vena (2015): Coldrain is a Japanese post-hardcore band with lyrics all written in English.  I discovered them by accident browsing new releases on iTunes late one night.  They have a lot of talent and a different style than what we typically hear on American radio.

23. Avatar - Hail the Apocalypse (Deluxe) (2014): The opening title track is one of the best metal songs I have heard this decade.  It has a driving drum beat and an epic chorus that is more like a breakdown. A Swedish band, they play melodic death metal, often in evil carnival clown makeup/costumes.  They were awarded the 2017 Breakout Band Award by the Metal Hammer Golden Gods, but I don't think enough people know about them in the US.

24. Red Sun Rising - Polyester Zeal (2016): RSR released two independent albums and two under Razor & Tie records this decade.  Their popularity has been growing as more people get exposed to their awesomeness.  I have seen 2018's Thread on a few other decade lists, but I'm going with Polyester Zeal which has the tracks "Otherside" and "Emotionless" which both reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts, as well as "Amnesia" which reached #6.

25. I Prevail - Trauma (2019): If there is a new band that I haven't seen yet that I am dying to see, it would be I Prevail.  Their 2016 album Lifelines was really good, and they topped it this year with Trauma.  They have been in heavy rotation on Octane with songs like "Bow Down" (a song to the haters), "Breaking Down," and "Hurricane" with good reason.  "Bow Down" was nominated for the Best Metal Performance Grammy and Trauma was nominated for Best Rock Album.  Awards are announced on January 26.

Honorable Mentions (alphabetical; at least 4/5 star; and staying with one album per band rule):

A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy (2013)
A Skylit Drive - ASD (2015)
AFI - AFI (The Blood Album) (2017)
Alice Cooper - Paranormal (2017)
Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed (2018)
All That Remains - The Order of Things (2015)
Angels and Airwaves - The Dream Walker (2014)
Asking Alexandria - Lp5 DLX (2019)
Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage (2016)
Babymetal - Metal Resistance (2016)
Bad Religion - Age of Unreason (2019)
Badflower - Ok, I'm Sick (2019)
Badwolves - Disobey (2018)
Beartooth - Aggressive (2016)
Black Label Society - Grimmest Hits (2018)
Black Sabbath - 13 (2013)
Black Tide - Chasing Shadows (2015)
Blink 182 - California (2016)
Breaking Benjamin - Ember (2018)
Bring Me the Horizon - There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It.  There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret (2010)
Buckcherry - Warpaint (2019)
Bullet for My Valentine - Venom (Deluxe) (2015)
Burn Halo - Up From the Ashes (Deluxe) (2011)
Clutch - Psychic Warfare (2015)
Darkness - Pinewood Smile (Deluxe) (2017)
Dead Sara - Dead Sara (2012)
Deafheaven - Sunbather (2013)
DED - MisAnThrope (2017)
Deftones - Diamond Eyes (2010)
Devildriver - Winter Kills (2013)
Devour the Day - Signals (2018)
Disturbed - Immortalized (Deluxe) (2015)
Eighteen Visions -XVIII (2017)
Emperors and Elephants - Devil in the Lake (2014)
Escape the Fate - Ungrateful (Deluxe) (2013)
Eve to Adam - Locked and Loaded (2013)
Faded Line - Ours Is the Fury (2012) available for free download @ https://fadedline.bandcamp.com/
Failure Anthem - First World Problems (2016)
Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors (Deluxe) (2011)
Falling in Reverse - Just Like You (Deluxe) (2015)
Fear Factory - Genexus (2015)
Fight or Flight - A Life By Design? (Deluxe) (2013)
Filter - Crazy Eyes (2016)
Five Finger Death Punch - The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light (2011)
Gary Clark Jr. - This Land (2019)
Gemini Syndrome - Lux (2013)
Ghost - Prequelle (2018)
Godsmack - 1000HP (2014)
Gojira - Magma (2016)
Green Day - Revolution Radio (2016)
Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army (2018)
Halestorm - Into the Wild Life (Deluxe) (2015)
Hed(P.E.) - Truth Rising (2010)
Hellyeah - Welcome Home (2019)
High On Fire - Electric Messiah (2018)
ill Niño - Till Death La Familia - (2014)
Intervals - The Shape of Colour (2015)
Issues - Issues (2014)
John 5 - Careful With That Axe (2014)
Josh Todd & the Conflict - Year of the Tiger (2017)
Killswitch Engage - Incarnate (Deluxe) (2016)
Korn - The Nothing (2019)
Kyng - Breathe in the Water (2016)
Lacey Sturm - Life Screams (2016)
Linkin Park - Hunting Party (2014)
Local H - Hey, Killer (2015)
Machine Head - Blodstones & Diamonds (2014)
Madam Adam - Madam Adam (2011)
Mayday Parade - Monsters In the Closet (2013)
Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016)
Moose Blood - Blush (2016)
Murderdolls - Women and Children Last (Special Edition) (2010)
Nothing More - Nothing More (2014)
Ocean - Pelagial (2013)
Oleander - Something Beautiful (2013)
Otherwise - Peace at All Costs (2014)
Papa Roach - F.E.A.R. (2015)
Pistol Day Parade - Burn (2013)
Pop Evil - Onyx (2013)
Raintime - Psychochromatic (2010)
Rancid - TroubleMaker (Deluxe) (2017)
Red - Until We Have Faces (2011)
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Am I the Enemy (Deluxe) (2011)
Rise Against - Black Market (2014)
Rival Sons - Feral Roots (2019)
Rob Zombie - Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013)
Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? (2017)
Saint Asonia -Saint Asonia (2015)
Seaway - Vacation (2017)
Senses Fail - The Fire (2010)
Sick Puppies - Fury (2016)
Silverstein - Dead Reflection (2017)
Skillet - Unleashed (2016)
Slash - World on Fire (2014)
Slipknot - .5 The Gray Chapter (Special Edition) (2014)
Spineshank - Anger Denial Acceptance (2012)
Starset - Transmissions (2014)
Stitched Up Heart - Never Alone (2016)
Story of the Year - The Constant (Deluxe) (2010)
Strung Out - Songs of Amor and Devotion (2019)
Taddy Porter - Taddy Porter (2010)
Taproot - Plead the Fifth (2011)
Theory of a Deadman - Savages (2014)
Throw the Fight - Transmissions (2016)
Tool - Fear Inoculum (2019)
Turbowolf - Turbowolf (2012)
The Used - Vulnerable (Deluxe) (2012)
Wage War - Blueprints (2015)
Wednesday 13 - Condolences (2017)
Weezer - Weezer (White Album) (2016)
Winery Dogs - Hot Streak (2015)
Wovenwar - Honor Is Dead (2016)
Yellowcard - Southern Air (2012)
Zebrahead - Call Your Friends (2013)
ZZ Top - La Futura (2012)
3 Inches of Blood - Long Live Heavy Metal (2012)

Wratfest '19 featuring Breaking Benjamin et.al.

My latest concert event was promoted by 105.5 WDHA and 95.9 WRAT and dubbed Wratfest 2019. It featured Breaking Benjamin with support from Chevelle, Three Days Grace, Dorothy, and Diamante. I had seen the top three bands before, but Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin are two of my all-time favorites so I was excited to see them again. I had also heard about Dorothy and Diamante from songs on SiriusXM's Octane channel, and so I was curious to see how they would be in a live setting. All the performers were really solid. This concert did not stick out for me as one of the best musically, but it will stand out for the unique experience that it was. First, I scored great seats about 10 rows from the stage. Further, the performance of Breaking Benjamin was special because lead singer Ben is from New Jersey and he really went out of the way to connect with the fans.

After a sizeable walk from lot 8, I was pleased that although the first band had started, I hadn't missed the entire set. In fact, when I got to amphitheater, Diamante was performing "Hear Me Now" which is actually a Bad Wolves song that features her singing.  Bad Wolves opened for Breaking Benjamin last year and had one of my top 10 albums of 2018.  Diamante Azzura Bovelli has been a solo artist since 2014, but I wasn't familiar with her until this single was heavily featured on Octane.  She has a strong voice and her blue hair looked awesome on stage.   She finished with Haunted which is one of her hardest rocking songs, which I enjoyed.

Next up was another band named for it's female lead singer, Dorothy.  Dorothy Martin has a more soulful style of singing, however, she also has power. The band blends blues, country, and rock with elements of a throw-back style made new. I was most familiar with the song "Raise Hell" from hearing it on Octane. Other standouts are current single, "Who Do You Love," 'Down to the Bottom', and "Flawless" which reminds me of the chorus to Train's "Calling All Angels" with a rock-country twist. A couple of songs into the set, Dorothy asked the crowd to stand. Most people obliged and I think it helped increase the energy for the band and the audience. Before the show I had watched a couple of her videos on YouTube and noticed that her hairstyle and color changes, but it is usually dark and wavy. To my surprise this night, it was a lighter shade of brown, long, and very straight. Dorothy also wore a wide brimmed hat for the entire performance. This is not my typical go-to music, but I like the bluesy roots and new rock attitude. This is a band to watch.

Three Days Grace was third. I could have sworn that I saw Three Days Grace at a festival years ago, but according to my concert list of 145 concerts attended, I have not seen them before. Three Days Grace blew up in 2003-2004 with their self-titled debut album with the singles "I Hate Everything About You," "Just Like You," and "Home." The 2006 follow up One-X, featured four singles "Animal I Have Become," "Pain," "Never Too Late" and "Riot." They played all of these along with "Break" and "The Good Life from 2009's Life Starts Now and "Infra-Red" from 2018's Outsider. Since 2013, Matt Walst, has been the lead singer. He had great energy on stage and the entire band sounded great with a 45 minute set full of hits.

Chevelle was in the penultimate position. They played about a 45 minute set also with a good mix of tunes off of seven of their eight studio albums. They opened with "Young Wicked" off their latest album The North Corridor. It's a good song, but I don't love it as an opener. They followed that up with the Clincher, which is one of my favorites. Pete messed up the lyrics a little bit, maybe because they don't play this one as much anymore. He apologized and said they'd have to come back and play it correctly. Then came "Jars", "Send the Pain Below", and "An Island" which are all headbangers. Then came two more from Corridor, "Door to Door Cannibals" and Joyride" and I thought it slowed down the set momentum. "Face to the Floor", "the Red," "Comfortable Liar," and "I Get It" rounded things out pretty well. Pete made a couple humorous comments about the age of some of their songs. Before they played "the Red" he said that they "just came out with it" and "I hope this one climbs the charts." It is in fact from 2002 and got a ton of radio and MTV airplay when it came out. Having seen them for the 9th time, I've seen a few more sets that excited me more, but Chevelle are great. They thanked the fans and thanked all the other bands on the tour.

Finally, Breaking Benjamin came out and played for an hour and a half. After a couple of songs they took a pause to invite a bunch of kids and their parents to join the VIPs on a set of risers on either side of the stage. Later Ben would go up to each one and play guitar with them. The other guys gave away guitar picks. They played 16 songs drawing from each of their 6 studio albums. The middle of the set also featured a medley of the Imperial March from Star Wars, Pantera's Cowboys From Hell, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Metallica's Enter Sandman, and Rage Against the Machine's Bulls on Parade. Not only was this a fun interlude, but what struck me most was how well Ben easily transitioned vocally from grunge to Freddie Mercury to rap. His Zach DeLaRocha impression was pretty awesome. You can find video of this on my FB page, but my iPhone 6 isn't going to do it justice. On a few other songs, Ben has his guitarists sing. Both of the other guys are quite capable, but Ben has such an amazing vocal range and tone that I, personally, don't want anyone else singing lead. The other major takeaway from this show was that Ben really connected with the audience. He talked about being born in Atlantic City and raised in Ocean County until he was 15. Besides the aforementioned interaction with the children, he also covered all parts of the stage and came out into the crowd more than I have ever seen him do. In fact, he played the last three songs off stage completely. He started to come up my aisle at one point and I was excited because on was on the end of the row, but people jammed the walkway and he couldn't come up to my row. Later he entered the crowd from the opposite aisle and was able to penetrate further. Then he worked his way across the row in front of me. He stopped in the middle of the seats to sing "Rain." You could tell he was getting emotional and tearing up a bit. After that he again thanked the crowd for supporting him, BB, the tour, and rock music in general. He thanked all the bands again (he had done it from the stage too). Then he made his way right by me and I thanked him and gave him a fist bump! Then he started singing "Diary of Jane" right in front of me and walked further up my aisle to finish. I caught a pick from the stage and my awesome time had come to a conclusion. I dare say they sounded tighter the other times I saw them, including headlining PNC last year, however, this was a special show and cemented them as one of my all time favorites.

See video on my YouTube page and please comment and share my blog post.  

Wisconsin Death Trip 20th Anniversary; Wayne Static tribute tour

The first concert I attended was Static-X with Dope and Powerman 5000.  That show, and Static-X in particular, would spark my interest in heavier music and attending live concerts.  My first and only appearance on television was with Static-X as they walked through the parking lot alongside patrons on line to the Family Values 2001 concert at Continental Airlines Arena.  143 shows later I attended Wayne Static's tribute tour, also celebrating 20 years since the release of their platinum album, Wisconsin Death Trip.  Some have criticized this tour as a cash grab, but I think the evidence shows that the band members are honoring Wayne with this tour.  First of all, they asked for the blessing of Wayne's family to do this.  Next, all three original members (Tony Campos, bassist; Koichi Fukuda, lead guitar; Ken Jay, drums) have all been in successful bands since, most notably Tony being in Soulfly, Fear Factory, and Ministry.  The lead singer for the current tour hasn't been named a permanent replacement, and in fact, hasn't been named at all.  He goes by the name Xer0, and wears a mask and big hair in the style of Wayne.  At first I thought it might be Dez (Devildriver, Coal Chamber) because he could pull off the vocals and it would be easy, though a demanding job, if he was already on tour with them.  The prevailing public theory is that it is Edsel Dope behind the mask, however, he doesn't have the same vocal range and Xer0 looks taller than Edsel.  Finally, I don't think it is just a reunion for money because an album, Project Regeneration, was planning to be released at the beginning of 2019 featuring several guest singers, but when more studio recordings of Wayne Static were uncovered, the band pushed back the release to late summer and rewrote songs to incorporate Wayne's vocals.  It seems as if they are doing everything they can to honor Wayne.  The future of the band is unclear.  Here's my recap of a special evening.

First up was a local, unsigned, New Jersey band called Gathering After Ashes.  They have three guitarists along with the bassist, drummer, and singer.  The multiple guitars gives them a full sound.  However, I didn't hear a shredding soloist, nor a dual or triple guitar attack like that in some heavy metal bands.  This band was straightforward hard rock.  They have some elements of blues, grunge, and modern rock.  The singer is solid, although I think at times he puts on a style which at times reminded me of Scott Stapp or Scott Weiland.  Their set got the crowd banging their heads and pumping their fists.  I would definitely see these guys again.

Next up was Raven Black, a dark metal theatrical band out of California that has been around since 2012.  Lead singer Raven is said to be half-human and half doll; she can croon and growl with equal command.  A Voodoo "Doctor," demon "Muppet," and guitarist "Stitches" round out the group.  They all have painted faces and certainly have the ability to command a stage.  They are seasoned and well produced, working with Grammy nominated producer Ulrich Wild since 2014.  I don't think their songs are as strong as female-fronted bands like Stitched Up Heart, nor are they as theatrical as In This Moment.  However, I was still entertained and they could remain a fun opening act or even get bigger if they work on song construction.

Third was Wednesday 13, featuring the eponymous lead singer, formerly of Murderdolls.  I have wanted to see Wednesday's solo band since the Murderdolls broke up.  I have also read reviews that spoke very highly of his shows.  The band looked and sounded great.  Wednesday was covered in black body paint with flourescent glow-in-the-dark face paint.  The set only lasted 20 minutes, though.  Before they finished up Wednesday apologized for the delay getting started saying "We had some issues getting the sound right; shit happens."

After another set change came Dope.  They were officially the first band that I ever saw live, at Roseland Ballroom on February 28, 2000.  That honor should have gone to Chevelle, but due to extremely long lines outside the venue, and security that moved us to the other side of the building after people started filling the streets, we missed the opener that night.  My friend warned me that Dope was "dirty, like, scuzzy dirty."  He wasn't wrong, but tongue-in-cheek songs like "Everything Sux" and their industrialized cover versions of "F**k tha Police and You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) were pretty fun.  I think their 2005 and 2009 albums were their heaviest and strongest.  Fast forward to 2019, and after several lineup changes, Edsel's twin, Simon, has not returned since 2002, but guitarists Acey Slade and Virus have returned.  This night they played several of their better known songs including Blood Money, 6-6-Sick, Addiction, and You Spin Me Round.

I had previously seen the co-headliners, Devildriver, on Ozzfest 2004 and 2007, however, that was a long time ago and in a much different setting.  Being in a small concert hall instead of an open air festival was awesome.  The band's power punches you in the face.  I remember them being good, but on this night I felt that they were truly something special.  Dez had his long locks dyed blond and looked like a rock God on stage as they ripped through their set.  In addition to some heavy hitters of their own, during their hour long set they also played "Loco" and "Fiend" to delight of the crowd and me.

Headliners Static-X played for over an hour, and while Wisconsin Death Trip was heavily featured in the set, they also included hits "Get to the Gone, Black and White, This Is Not, and Start A War."  As previously stated, the singer's identity has not been confirmed.  He definitely looked taller than either Dez or Edsel and in an interview he said he knew Wayne for about 15 years while Edsel would have known him for 20.  He certainly did a good job and sounded like a good fit.  I have to say that his voice didn't quite match the rasp and grit of Wayne's, and I definitely missed Wayne's mannerisms like the way he would strum his guitar or the way he would subtly tilt his head with the song melody.  The rest of the band is not very charismatic, although Tony and Koichi were smiling and gesturing to the crowd, and looked to be having a lot of fun.  Ken does not draw much attention to himself behind the kit, but the playing was solid.  The LED screens on stage flashed the band's insignia, lyrics, and several pictures of Wayne and the other band members.  Before the last song, Tony expressed his thanks for the crowd showing up and supporting them over the years.  He said that he missed Wayne and believes that he was with us in spirit and having fun watching us celebrate his life and music.

Personally, I was grateful to be able to see this tour, especially having just come back into the country after a trip to the Azores.  It brought back a lot of fond memories of my past concert experiences as well as adding to them.  I don't think Static-X should continue under that name.  It could be done tastefully if they keep all three remaining original members and unmask the lead singer.

Shred Till You're Dead and Episode III Tours

My first post in a few months brings you a review of my last two concert experiences and highlights some lesser-known hard rock bands.  Last night I went to Starland Ballroom to see Falling in Reverse, Ice Nine Kills, and From Ashes to New.  I had heard each of these bands on SiriusXM's Octane channel, but I didn't think FIR was big enough to headline.  I may have been mistaken as the show was nearly sold out and the venue was more packed than I have seen for a rock show in quite some time.  On April 13, I saw another show with a headliner I was less familiar with; the lineup included Alesana, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Veer Union, Avoid, Alive in Barcelona, and Cinema 23 all for $20 at One Center Square in Easton, Pa.

May 3 @ Starland
Some online sources said 7PM start and my ticket said 6PM, but since Starland doesn't always start on time and I was exhausted from the week, I decided to take a little nap before the show and ended up getting there just after 7.  Even though the show had started, it still took a few minutes to go through the line.  Ever since they started having people empty pockets and go through metal detectors, the check in process is so slow.  Unfortunately, I entered the venue right when the screen was coming down signaling the end of the set for New Year's Day.  I would have liked to see a little from them.  It was then I discovered that the beer prices have gone up again.  One $8 Guinness is all that I would have.  I'm not off to a great start.

From Ashes to New started with just drums and a rapper.  The beat was pretty hard and the rap had a good flow.  Then they were joined by a guitarist and another vocalist and the music started to rock.  The other vocalist, a blonde guy, stuck to "clean" singing.  The dark haired singer stuck to rap-style singing.  In that way they reminded me of Mike and Chester from Linkin Park.  Unfortunately, that's where the comparison ends.  They lacked the dynamic songwriting and raw emotion of Linkin Park.  They had good energy and the stage lighting was like that of a veteran band.  However, they came off a little hokey using every gimmick in the book including hand waving, asking for phones to be lit up, and even asking the crowd to get low and then jump up.  Pretty much everyone on the floor obliged, but I didn't think that the songs warranted that level of crowd participation.  I wanted to like them, and although they have talent and the stage presence was good, the songs didn't rock hard enough for me.  The drummer sometimes used an electronic drum pad, and when he did, the sound fell flat.  It added nothing.  He sounded good on the kit so I don't understand what the drum pad was necessary.  If I were giving them advice, I'd say lose the drum pad and add a bass player and maybe another guitar player.

Ice Nine Kills was up next.  They are heavily inspired by horror movies, so when the stage crew wore masks, a mic stand got a red "It" balloon, and the lead singer came out in a Freddy Krueger outfit I was thinking, now we're gonna see some stuff!  The band did not disappoint.  They had even better energy and musicianship than the previous band.  In fact, I was especially impressed with the strength of the backup and lead vocals.  The lead singer, Spencer Charnas, has a polished singing voice and great growls and screams mixed in.  Each of the guitar players also contribute vocals which lend harmonies or provide additional dynamics to the melodies.  Crowd surfers were pretty constant, including some females and children.  At various points Spencer wielded a broad sword and an ax.  When he was held up by the crowd I got the picture below which reminded me of a similar shot I took of Davey Havok (AFI) nearly two years prior.  This band could get big.  I'll have to check out some of their previous releases.  I suggest you start with their current album, the Silver Scream.  Standout tracks for me were "American Nightmare" and "A Grave Mistake."

An interlude which included somebody passing out and multiple guys getting kicked out for fighting reminded me of my early days of concert going.  Most of the crowd seemed cool and I liked that the people in the pit would hold up lost shoes, phones, and keys to help them find their rightful owners.  It felt like the venue switched from heat to air conditioning which was necessary due to the heat being released from all the bodies and equipment.  Finally, the closers Falling In Reverse came out.  Though I didn't know them well, a bunch of people in the crowd were singing along to songs like "I'm Not a Vampire" and "Bad Girls Club," including a bunch of female fans.  Lead singer, Ronnie Radke, was formerly the singer of Escape the Fate who, incidentally, I didn't learn of until after Ronnie was fired and they released their 2010 self titled album.  Falling in Reverse is not as hardcore.  Their songs are diverse and cover genres of rock, pop-punk, screamo, post-hardcore, hip-hop and electronica.  In fact, their latest single "Drugs" has several of these elements in one song.  Corey Taylor also contributes guest vocals on the album track and appears in the video.  The numerous lineup changes are likely part of the reason for the range of sounds, but it also appears that the driving force is Ronnie not wanting to be nailed down by any genre and just letting his artistry come out in various ways.  Last night he said that it meant a lot to him that the crowd was responding to the new band, and admitted he is doing different music and is a different person than he was in the past.  I enjoyed Ice Nine Kills' set better and I don't think Falling in Reverse will ever be one of my favorite bands, however, I think they are entertaining and are a legit player in today's evolving rock scene.

April 13 @ One Center Square
This was an early birthday present for my sister and the second time we both went to this venue in Bethlehem, PA.  It is a nice intimate venue with general admission standing.  There's kind of a rectangle shape floor space in front of the stage, going back to a raised level with a bar in the back, and then a second floor with a balcony and chain-link fence area where you can look down on the stage.  The upstairs is also where they host merchandise tables.  It is nice because each band is able to be spread out and lines are never an issue.  The downsides are that both times we went to One Center Square the floor was sticky from the opening act, and this time the sound man had issues that would be a recurring problem this night.

The first band up called themselves Cinema 23.  I got the impression that they were a local opener, but I can't confirm this since I can't find anything about them online.  They were a pop-punk band with two singers and two guitarists.  It was not a bad way to start, but they weren't anything special.  A couple of microphones were feeding back, especially inbetween songs.  This would be the beginning of the sound issues.  The second band was Alive in Barcelona.  They're from Spokane, WA and are more straight up rock.  I thought they were good.  They're pretty polished and tight.  The drummer's talent stood out to me, especially on a track called "Back to Life."  Their current single "Zombies" is pretty cool, but I think what they are lacking is raw emotion.  I hope they continue to get bigger and work on the songwriting and connecting with the audience.

The crowd was filling up and it looked mostly like college aged kids.  There were pretty much representatives from every "scene."  There was the emo kids, the nerds, the frat boys, the grunge kids, the ones with excessive tattoos and piercings, and a girl in a wheelchair.  Everyone had come out to play.  The next band, Avoid, definitely had the emotion that the previous band lacked.  They were also more hardcore, with heavier bass & guitars and screaming vocals.  They weren't bad, but it became comical when lead singer, Benny Scholls, kept yelling "let's open this shit up" when there were literally only two people slam dancing.  Shout out to the Asian dude with the long, silky locks.

Next up was one of the main bands I wanted to see, Veer Union.  I had previously seen them at Stanhope House where they rocked hard.  They were also great guys that signed all my merch.  They were having some issues with the sound monitors that delayed the start of the set.  Lead singer, Crispin Earl, said that their day had not been going well.  Earlier, they were stopped at a rest stop when a tractor trailer backed into their parked RV.  Thankfully nobody got hurt.  After the first song, which sounded pretty good, the guitars lost power.  Crispin filled time by asking if it was anyone's birthday and then we sang Happy Birthday, to some guy.  That's being a pro onstage and making the best out of the situation.  Once sound was restored they were able to play a few more songs in an abbreviated set.  They closed with a medley of Linkin Park songs, in dedication to Chester.  The crowd was into it and singing along so it was a cool moment.  An acoustic version of "Numb" can be found on the band's 2018 Decade II: Rock & Acoustic album.  After the set I went upstairs to the merch booth to buy a shirt, which for $40 also came with two discs and a poster.  I also got pictures with Crispin and drummer Ricardo, which was something I neglected to do in my excitement the first time I saw them.

Fifth up was Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, another band that I made the trip to see.  This was my third time seeing RJA.  The first was at a festival where their sound was crap and speakers kept going out.  Last time was at Stanhope House where they played their entire Don't You Fake It album for the 10 year anniversary.  That was spectacular.  This time they were also great and I got to hear a varied set list with some old and newer songs.  I didn't think the singer, Ronnie Winter, was on his best game, but he wasn't bad either.  The band sounded tight and I was especially impressed with the lead guitar work of Josh Burke.  He doesn't have a lot of solo opportunities in the songs of RJA, but when he does have his chance, he really shreds.  It sounded like he was doing some ad-libbing too.

The headliners were Alesana.  I didn't know much about them going int except that they were kind of post-hardcore hard rock.  They had a pretty rocking sound and the crowd was into it.  The singer mostly screamed, and while I don't mind that sometimes, I don't like when you can't understand the lyrics.  Furthermore, after a while all the songs sounded the same.  Not a bad band, but my sister and I didn't make it to the last song.  All in all, it was a worthwhile trip and a fun time out.  I hope they can work on the sound system and keep bringing in national rock acts at that venue.