Mastodon are masterful musicians and they picked the right song to cover of Metallica’s. Their version of “Orion” really fits on with how the band has evoled over the years.
Mastodon- Orion:
Metallica- Orion
Against The Grain: Solstafir
Solstafir are different breed of metal. Their unique blend of metal with beautiful melodies, psychedelic moments and a strong undercurrent of classic / hard rock strikes rough, rugged and cinematic as the climate of their native Iceland can be. The band has been around since 1995 and have released 5 full length albums, and assorted EP’s, and singles. The band started out as more of a black metal band and over the years have really evolved into more of a progressive post metal force. Their album “Masterpiece of Bitterness” released in 2005, got exceptionally good reviews almost everywhere and the band kept on making a good name for themselves with powerful live performances. Their followup “Köld” was released in early 2009 and like “Masterpiece…” it not only got exceptionally good reviews, but most critics also had a hard time putting Sólstafir’s music into a specific genre. Descriptions like“Sigur Rós goes metal!” were becoming really common as did band comparisons such as “Imagine if Nachtmystium, Alice In Chains, and Neurosis got hammered while listening to Entombed.” Their fifth full-length “Otta” released in 2014, is the next step in their evolution this four-piece adopted over the years. If anything their new album is a concept album that needs to be heard over and over to really grasp all that it has to offer. Solstafir are one of those bands that if you take the time to really listen to, you will come away with a greater appreciation for heavy music. It’s not your run of the mill garbage that is out there. These guys have real depth and truth to their music and it shows in each release they put out.
Otta:
Kold:
Live:
By: Brian Lacy
Photo by: Levan TK (instagram.com/levan_t_k) and (soundbysight.com)
Album Debate: Deftones- Around The Fur vs White Pony
I’ve been a huge Deftones fan since I first remember seeing the video for “Bored.” I thought Adrenaline was a cool album when it came out, then I heard Around The Fur and my excitement level went through the roof. Around The Fur was so powerful. There was a striking difference between this album and their debut. As The story goes, when Deftones went into the studio to make Around The Fur they really didn’t have a set idea of what they wanted to come out with. This time around the guys spent more time in the studio with producer Terry Date. If you listen closely to Abe Cunningham’s drums, you can tell there is a difference on the drum sounds especially the snare, as he began to experiment using different snares on each song. There is also something really intriguing about the quiet to loud dynamics on the album as well. When you have songs like “My Own Summer (Shove It),” “Lhabia,” Around The Fur,” “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” it really shows the bands growth and ability to write songs that can be heavy yet have a sense of melody without compromising their artistic integrity.
After a break from touring Around The Fur, the band spent a few months locked away in the studio writing and recording what would become White Pony. The majority of this time was spent trying to write songs, and that the writing of a particular song “Change (In The House Of Flies)” was the turning point for the group as they began working as a “band.” There was also pressure from their label to release the album sooner, but, the band decided to take their time making the album that they wanted to make. The band essentially picked up where they left off with Around The Fur by really delving more into melancholia and melody. The album is explosive and beautiful, thus making it one of the bands most mature releases. The inclusion of songs like “Digital Bath” “RX Queen,” (which features guest vocals by Scott Weiland), and “Knife Party,” join in with the vibe that “Change” had in its spaciousness and use of experimentation. The guesting of Maynard from Tool was a great use of a guest vocalist on “Passenger.” Even with all the experimentation and evolution, Deftones still had their heavy touch on a lot of the songs like “Elite,” “Feiticeira,” and “Street Carp.”
Granted these are two very different albums but they are similar in showing a bands evolution. Personally I’ve always been more partial to Around The Fur, for it’s raw prowess, and unforgiving nature. White Pony is a close second though. To me though Around The Fur just really gets me going in such a fashion that I can’t turn it off, or even turn the volume down. Where do you fall on this issue?
Around The Fur:
White Pony:
By: Brian Lacy
Band Of The Week: A Light Within
A Light Within is a Kansas City, Missouri based shoegaze/alternative rock band known for songs that tap into the darker side of being, all the while creating a sound that is epic and flush with beauty. With influences like Pink Floyd, Palms, Porcupine Tree, Isis, Mogwai, and Deftones, you can really get a sense of where they are coming from. Their debut EP, “Preface”, was released in the spring of 2013. According
to the band, the EP is a concept based upon a reflection of one’s life after dealing with significant love and loss. A Light Within is currently recording a follow up EP and hope to release it in early 2015.
https://www.facebook.com/ALWaudio
http://alightwithin.bandcamp.com/
By: Brian Lacy
Cover Thursday: Living Colour with Lajon of Sevendust- Cult Of Personality
This isn’t necessarily a cover but it’s awesome. So many people for years have been trying to get Sevendust to cover this song, and recently while on the Shiprocked cruise, Sevendust and Living Color happened to be booked on it and it finally happened! Here it is!
Living Colour w/Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust- Cult Of Personality:
List: Best Vocalist
I’ve done lists about the greatest bassists, guitarists, and drummers but have yet to conquer the vocalist list. So here we go. In NO PARTICULAR ORDER, here is the list of the best vocalists. Again if I missed any add them in the comments, and I’ll add them to the list!
1. Jim Morrison- The Doors
2. Robert Plant- Led Zeppelin
3. Roger Daltry- The Who
4. Trent Reznor- Nine Inch Nails
5. Jon Bon Jovi- Bon Jovi
6. Philip Anselmo- Pantera/Down
7. Ken Andrews- Failure/Year Of The Rabbit/On
8. Chino Moreno- Deftones/Crosses/Palms
9. James Hetfield- Metallica
10. Layne Staley- Alice In Chains
11. Eddie Vedder- Pearl Jam
12. Chris Cornell- Soundgarden
13. Mark Lanegan- Screaming Trees
14. Thom Yorke- Radiohead
15. Jerry Cantrell- Alice In Chains
16. William Duvall- Alice In Chains
17. Jasan Radford- One Side Zero/Abloom
18. Jimmy Gnecco- Ours
19. Gavin Rossdale- Bush
20. Maynard James Keenan- Tool/A Perfect Circle
21. Kurt Cobain- Nirvana
22. Dave Grohl-Foo Fighters
23. Corey Taylor- Slipknot/Stone Sour
24. Johnny Rivers
25. Lajon Witherspoon- Sevendust
26. Clint Lowery- Sevendust/Call Me No One
27. Scott Kelly- Neurosis/The Road Home/Corrections House
28. Josh Homme- Queens Of The Stone Age
29. Scott Weiland
30. Mike Patton- Faith No More/Fantomas/Mr. Bungle/etc
31. David Bowie
32. Roger Waters- Pink Floyd
33. David Gilmour- Pink Floyd
34. Robert Smith- The Cure
35. Dave Gahan- Depeche Mode
36. Morrissey- The Smiths
37. Jonny Rotten- Sex Pistols
38. Joey Ramone- Ramones
39. Lou Reed- The Velvet Underground
40. Bob Dylan
41. Jack Bruce- Cream
42. Ian Curtis- Joy Division
43. Bruce Dickinson- Iron Maiden
44. Rob Halford- Judas Priest
45. Neil Young
46. Richard Patrick- Filter
47. Jimi Hendrix
48. Ozzy Osbourne
49. Ronnie James Dio
50. Grace Slick- Jefferson Airplane
51. Peter Steele- Type O Negative
52. Jesse Leach- Killswitch Engage/Times Of Grace
53. Brent Smith- Shinedown
54. Iggy Pop
55. Daniel Johns- Silverchair
56. Jim Ward- Sparta
57. Cedric Bixler- At The Drive In/The Mars Volta
58. Stephen Brodsky- Cave In/Mutoid Man
59. Bob Mould
60. Pete Loeffler- Chevelle
61. Aaron Lewis- Staind
63. Axl Rose- Guns N Roses
64. Perry Farrell- Jane’s Addiction/Porno For Pyros
65. Chuck Ragan- Hot Water Music
66. Ian Astbury- The Cult
67. Jeremy Enigk- Sunny Day Real Estate/The Fire Theft
68. Beth Gibbons- Portishead
69. Brian Molko- Placebo
70. Hope Sandoval- Mazzy Star
71. Ben Flanagan- The Trophy Fire/Black Map
72. Gavin Hayes- Dredg
73. Henry Rollins
74. Marilyn Manson
75. Jesse Hasek- 10 Years
76. Jonny Hawkins- Nothing More
77. Freddie Mercury- Queen
78. Don Henley- Eagles
79. Lindsey Buckingham- Fleetwood Mac
80. Stevie Nicks- Fleetwood Mac
81. Matt Berninger- The National
82. Matt Talbot- Hum
83. Walter Schreifels- Quicksand/Rival Schools
84. John Bush- Armored Saint/Anthrax
85. David Coverdale- Whitesnake
86. Sebastian Bach
87. Jeff Angell- Walking Papers
88. Scooter Ward- Cold
89. Billy Idol
90. Billy Corgan- Smashing Pumpkins
91. Jesse Lacey- Brand New
92. Jonathan Davis- Korn
93. Brandon Boyd- Incubus
94. Pepper Keenan- Corrosion Of Conformity
95. Shirley Manson- Garbage
96. Janis Joplin
97. Ann Wilson- Heart
98. Fiona Apple
99. Joe Elliot- Def Leppard
100. John Fogerty- Creedence Clearwater Revival
You Might Have Missed: Nothing More
There are some bands out there that get lumped into a genre and are seen just as “one of those” bands. When that happens people miss out on something that can be really good. Hailing from San Antonio, Nothing More is a band that has broken through the mainstream with their single “This Is The Time (Ballast).” Their self titled album which was released in June 2014 is one of the more underrated albums to come out last year. Sure the production is more on the “produced” side but the songs are what you should be paying attention to. The band has been around since the early 2000’s and have waited for this moment. Nothing More emits raw aggression with its vocals and riffs, thunderous bass and at times tribal percussion not to mention an energy level that rivals most headlining acts. Nothing More’s mission for their music is to create honest, passionate art with real intent, and they have done just that.
Nothing More Album Stream:
http://www.nothingmore.net/
https://www.facebook.com/nothingmore
By: Brian Lacy
Album Rank: Led Zeppelin
Since Jimmy Page is overseeing the new remasters of all their albums, I thought now is a good time to rank all the Zeppelin albums. So here it is in order of not the best to the best. This list is also just my opinion.
Coda:
In Through The Out Door:
Presence:
Houses Of The Holy:
Led Zeppelin III:
Physical Graffiti:
Led Zeppelin I:
Led Zeppelin IV:
Led Zeppelin II:
Band Of The Week: Haster
Haster of Orange County, California was formed in late 2010. With influences such as Chevelle, Deftones, Tool, and Korn, their sound plays off those influences into a solid alternative metal foundation. I’d even compare them to a newer band like Nothing More. Their main goal is to incorporate ambient feel, heavy foundation, and a performance intent on telling a story, evoking a rich experience that creates an insatiable desire for more. In addition to releasing their full length album Let It Go in 2014, Haster has amassed some acclaim with Best Metal Band Nominee at the Orange County Music Awards in 2014, Best Metal Band of Artists In Music Awards in 2013 and Artist of the Year & Best Metal Band Nominee at the Artists In Music Awards in 2012.
Within These Walls:
Medicine:
https://www.facebook.com/Hasterband
Cover Thursday: Queens Of The Stone Age (Billy Idol)- White Wedding
When Queens Of The Stone Age released their very great album Era Vulgaris, they also recorded a cover of the Billy Idol classic “White Wedding.” In true Queens fashion they added a bit of a stripped down flair to it. It’s definitely an interesting take on Billy’s version (which is the better version).
Queens Of The Stone Age- White Wedding
Billy Idol- White Wedding
