SONGS IN FILM: BERLIN- TAKE MY BREATH AWAY IN TOP GUN & GOING THE DISTANCE

I’m sure by now most people have seen the Tom Cruise movie, Top Gun. Or if you haven’t seen the movie, I’m sure you are familiar with a good chunk of the soundtrack. I mean we got Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone” out of it! But that’s not what this article is about. Of course there is “the scene” in Top Gun where the Berlin song “Take My Breath Away” plays and it’s so perfectly good. It’s one of those songs in film that is cemented forever. Now, the main reason for this article today wasn’t to share the Top Gun scene. Instead let’s go back to 2010 and the Drew Barrymore movie, Going The Distance. I’m a sucker for Drew Barrymore. Who isn’t? This movie is quite fun and charming. It stars Drew Barrymore and Justin Long as well as Christina Applegate, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis. There’s a part in the movie when Drew and Justin are about to make out and she notices a Top Gun poster in the room, and just as they start to make out… well you have to watch below. It’s utterly perfect and hilarious! Great use of the song and homage! Go watch the movie too!

Going The Distance- “Take My Breath Away” Top Gun Scene:

The Top Gun Scene:

NEW RELEASE: EXODUS- 3111

Heavy Metal/Thrash Titans, Exodus have announced their twelfth studio album, Goliath, which will be out on March 20, 2026!! This is quite exciting as the band has welcomed back vocalist Rob Dukes and are really back to firing on all cylinders. The new album was produced by the band and mixed by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Cannibal Corpse, etc). “3111” the first single from this offering, is a ripper for sure. It’s classic Exodus but, with even more attitude and gusto. Interestingly, the song was inspired by the narco killings in Juarez, Mexico. The number 3,111 is the estimated number of murders that occurred in 2010 alone. The band band a video for the song but, it was banned by YouTube for it’s rather violent content. Exodus are going to be out on the road this year with a slew of great tours like Sepultura’s Final US Tour, Megadeth, and more! Be sure you get out to a show, they are legends for a reason!!

Exodus- 3111:

NEW RELEASE: THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA- BOMB TO A KNIFE FIGHT

For a little bit now, I’ve been really getting into The Barbarians Of California. There is a fun and urgency to what they are doing and I’m all for it. Made up of longtime friends, Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed, The Barbarians Of California is a return to form of sorts for both. Aaron and Eric both got started in the hardcore world and though they both went in different directions for a point, this is where the roots are. Their new song “Bomb To A Knife Fight” has a very 90’s hardcore vibe with a a sort of hip-hop undercurrent throughout. And that breakdown! Oh yeah!! Looking forward to what’s to come from The Barbarians. And you can catch them on the West Coast leg of the Poison The Well/Converge tour!!

Bomb To A Knife Fight:

ALBUM RANK UPDATED: DEFTONES

For well over thirty years now, Deftones have cemented themselves as one of rock and alternative music’s most influential and inspiring bands. Throughout their career, they’ve always pushed the boundaries of genres and constantly found new elements to add into their ten studio albums. When you listen to a band like Deftones, it can be a bit polarizing in that you expect one thing and get something else. Not every album in a band’s catalog is going to be amazing. Some right away will be “That One,” while others might take a bit to grow on the listener. And sometimes, you just have a dud. It all happens. Even a dud, albeit as a whole might not be good, there are still some moments or songs that give it a glimmer of a bright spot. RAnking albums is never easy especially when you tackle a catalog such as Deftones. And with that here’s the Audioeclectica Updated Album Rank.

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GUEST GUITARIST: DINO CAZARES

Dino Cazares is a riff machine and master. There is no denying the impact he’s had on heavy music since 1990 when Fear Factory released their first album Soul Of A New Machine till now. From that time he’s written countless memorable songs and riffs that I’m sure are still replaying in your head as you read this. Over the years besides Fear Factory, Divine Heresy, Asesino and Brujeria, Dino has lent his skills and riffs to other groups and projects that are pretty stellar as well. The songs he wrote with the other gents on the Roadrunner United album are some of my favorites! Take a few moments and check these Dino guest appearances.

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NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: 01/16/26

I keep saying this because it’s true, 2026 is off to the races in terms of new album announcements, new music, new tours and who knows what else is to come in the next eleven months! That being said, this past week has seen a barrage of new singles from some of your favorites as well as some you might not know yet! In this batch for New Music Friday, I present new music from Lamb Of God, Filth Is Eternal, Nothing, Fotocrime, Gaerea, Metal Allegiance, clubdrugs . Give these a spin and let me know what you are into! Listening eclectically is much more fun than you’ve ever thought!

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HARDCORNER: XCOMM- FAKE ID

Who says you can’t have fun in Hardcore? Have you heard XCOMM?! I’ve been stoked on XCOMM for a bit now. As part of The Cobalt Presents we have had the pleasure of booking them a couple times and each time they have absolutely rocked the venue! Seriously, this band is no joke! The ferociousness is real and the venom being spit via the auditory assault will cause you to turn the volume as loud as you can. Their new single “Fake ID” is a righteous slab of straight forward hardcore punk. Produced by Ross Robinson, he has really been able to capture the raw intensity of Michael, Jay, Revel, Adan and Hunter. This new song is beyond fun as vocalist Michael Gatto said “‘Fake ID‘ rips! It’s about getting rejected from shows for being under 21 when all you want to do is check out a band. The video shoot was amazing — it was so funny to walk around town dressed as grandmas for a day. I thought we looked great and I love how the video concludes with us walking into the ocean…” I’m sure we can all relate to not being able to get into shows because of being under 21. This is the bands second single joining “Reasons” from their upcoming debut album, Time To Burn which is due out mid 2026 on Blowed Out Records — the label founded by legendary producer Ross Robin­son, rapper Ghostemane and industry vet Bill Armstrong. So with that in mind, fire this song up loudly!

By: Brian Lacy

Fake ID:

XCOMM ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/xcommpunx

https://www.facebook.com/XCOMMPUNX

https://xcomm.bandcamp.com

NEW MUSIC SPOTLIGHT: FINAL GASP- THE APPARITION

Remember the days of hearing a band name or seeing an album title and knowing you really want to check it out? I miss that too. Though, I’ve never stopped and a while back I heard a name that struck my fancy and somehow I just knew I’d enjoy it and what it might sound like. To my non shock it was what I thought. Think Type O Negative with Killing Joke, Christian Death, Samhain and a dash of Joy Division. All that combined and you have Final Gasp. While their 2023 debut album, Mourning Moon, cemented their “death rock” status, their upcoming new album, New Day Symptoms, takes that sound to the next step with added cinematic value and ambience that creeps in like a shadow. Final Gasp’s first single off the new album “The Apparition” really brings that ambience and cinematic vibe to life. New Day Symptoms will be out February 27 via Relapse Records.

The Apparition:

ANTICIPATED ALBUMS: PUSCIFER- NORMAL ISN’T

Over the course of the last few years Puscifer has become more than a side project. In fact, I’m actually glad that it has evolved further past that aspect and into it’s own entity. While it started as a sort of tongue in cheek project, the lyrical urgency of the last album and into the latest, Normal Isn’t, shows Puscifer is more than what the surface shows. The new album, Normal Isn’t, already is emitting sweet post-punk, alternative rock and electro energy. The first single “Self Evident” strikes quite the topical nerve lyrically. Then the second “Pendulum” really ignites the post-punk fire. And the latest “ImpetuoUs” has a way about it that sways into the Nine Inch Nails realm. Which is fine by me. It does have me wondering if there is any subconscious Tapeworm memories that crept in. Just a theory. I’m quite looking forward to this new album and where else it goes. Normal Isn’t sure hits the world and officially arrives on February 06, 2026 via Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings with a full North American tour to follow!

Self Evident:

Pendulum:

ImpetuoUs:

B-SIDES: SILVERCHAIR

Silverchair are one of the bands on my short list that need to get back together. Every time I go to put them on, I always seem to gravitate to watching live footage of them. Thankully I did get to see them many years ago during the Young Modern era but, I’ll always kick myself for not seeing them sooner. Their 1999 album, Neon Ballroom is an absolute modern unsung masterpiece. Silverchair were also one of those bands from the 90’s that had great B-Sides to their singles and albums. Often times I wonder why these songs didn’t make the album cut because they are that good! So with that in mind, take a listen to these Silverchair B-Sides and lets put it out in the universe that we need Silverchair back!

SILVERCHAIR B-SIDES:

“Untitled” (Found on the Anthem For The Year 2000 Single & Godzilla Soundtrack):

New Race (Found on the Freak single):

Trash (Found on Ana’s Song Single):

Madman- Vocal Version (Found On 20th Anniversary of Frogstomp):

Blind (Found on the Tomorrow Single- Rerecorded for The Cable Guy Soundtrack):

Punk Song 2 (Found on the Freak single):