Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding the Orchid

The deep cut is something that I feel has become a lost element of music today. Everything is so focused on singles and the “hit” that so much of the time, there are songs that get left out and bypassed. As you’ve noticed the past couple years that my level of postings about The Smashing Pumpkins has gone up over that time and that’s because I’ve really delved deep in their catalog. One of the albums that I’ve truly come to love is 2007’s, Zeitgeist. Not only does this album foreshadow a lot of what our society has become but, it’s also one hell of a great album start to finish. There is a particular song on Zeitgeist that I keep going back to and that is track 3, “Bleeding The Orchid.” This song is quite interesting and profound. The song is indirectly inspired by the death of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and it also features a bit of an homage to the band with the harmonies you hear in the song. Also the guitar solo on this track by Billy Corgan further proves my point that he is truly an underrated guitarist. This song is one that I really wish would make it’s way into upcoming set lists as it’s an absolutely great and touching song.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding The Orchid (Live at The Viper Room, 2010):

On The Rise: Loss Becomes

Heavy music has always been my go to. The list is endless of what draws me into this type of music. One of the things that I look and listen for in bands these days is authenticity. It’s one thing to “rip off” a band or style but, it’s another to use all that as inspiration to forge something that is real and honest. Enter New York’s Loss Becomes. Packed with an aggressive style that harks back to the days of NY Hardcore in the 80’s and a bit of early Metalcore (a la Vision Of Disorder) and you’ve got quite the recipe for heavy. Speaking of recipes, one of the other things that drew me into Loss Becomes was the guitarist, Chef Brian Tsao. I’ve been a fan of his in the cooking world for some time and when I heard he had a band I was quite intrigued to check it out and I’m glad I did. Loss Becomes is a band that not only delivers the goods but keeps evolving within the heavy music realms. The songs released so far are unrelenting in heaviness but there’s also a line of melody throughout that keeps the listener engaged.


Loss Becomes- Demons:

Loss Becomes- Healing:

Anticipated Albums: The Halo Effect- Days Of The Lost

This is exciting. The Halo Effect is a new band featuring 4 former members of In Flames and 1 member of Dark Tranquility. This is quite the collection of members. Having 4 members of In Flames alone makes this very intriguing. Ever since these members left In Flames that band has gone downhill. So it’s very refreshing to have them come back together and form a new band. Their debut album, Days Of The Lost will arrive on August 12, 2022 via Nuclear Blast Records and their first tour is opening for Machine Head and Amon Amarth across Europe. Already a few songs have been released and so far it’s everything a fan of In Flames have been waiting for. I can’t wait for this album. It’s one of the most anticipated albums of 2022 for me.

Shadowminds:

Feel What I Believe:

Days Of The Lost:

Track One: Killswitch Engage- Numbered Days

Killswitch Engage’s album Alive Or Just Breathing is more than a game changing album, it’s a metal masterpiece. I had heard the songs “Fixation On The Darkness” and “My Last Serenade” before I heard the whole album but, when I started with track one, I knew a shift was coming in heavy music. “Numbered Days” is one hell of an opening track. Musically it’s heavy and melodic in all the right spots. Lyrically and vocally it’s powerful and gritty along with a generous helping of positivity. It’s one of those perfect album starters. The sing alongs over the years when they play this song live is so much fun to watch and listen to. It’s also interesting to hear Jesse Leach sing this song as well as Howard Jones. Both have such a commanding presence and voice that the message echoes quite loudly!


Killswitch Engage- Numbered Days (with Jesse):

Killswitch Engage- Numbered Days (with Howard):

New Release: Machine Head- Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate

The mighty Machine Head have released the details for their long awaited new album. Of Kingdom And Crown will be unleashed on August 26. This is the bands 10th studio album! The new album is a 13 song concept record based around a decimated futuristic wasteland where the sky is stained crimson red. Robb further explains the concept of the album “Thanks to my 2 teenage boys my family has become obsessed with this awesome Japanese anime series called ‘Attack On Titan‘. The album’s concept was loosely inspired by the series in the senses that in the storyline, there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ guy, both characters believe they’re doing the right thing as it applies to their being, but make no mistake, both are committing acts of pure atrocity and evil. The opening track ‘Slaughter The Martyr‘ is basically our character #1’s origin story.”

In addition to founder and longtime member Robb Flynn and bassist/vocalist Jared MacEachern, current Machine Head guitarist Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka (of Decapitated) was involved in the studio sessions for this outing. While Matt Alston holds the drumming position in the band’s touring lineup, Entheos/ex-Animals As Leaders drummer Navene Koperweis took on the percussion duties for the record in the studio.


Machine Head- Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate:

Same Name Songs: Jawbreaker VS Tool- Parabola

For a multitude of reasons, same name songs always have a way of intriguing me. Ever since I started this topic, I try to find same name songs that are on opposite sides of the spectrum to compare. There is never truly a right answer which makes it all the more fun. The preference part is what I’m most interested in. With that in mind, I present to you the song name “Parabola” by Jawbreaker and by Tool. Which one do you prefer?


Jawbreaker- Parabola:

Tool- Parabola:

New Music Friday: April 8, 2022

Lots of killer tunes and albums came out this past week. We’ve got new music from Centershift, Vexes, Loather, Rammstein, Decapitated (feat Tatiana from Jinjer), Helms Alee, and Dalek (feat Adam Jones of Tool). Check out these jams and let me

Centershift- And So (Featuring Tallulah of Grumpy Plum):


Vexes- Low Choices:


Loather- Snake Oil:

Rammstein- Zick Zack:

Decapitated- Hello Death (featuring Tatiana of Jinjer):

Helms Alee- Tripping Up The Stairs:

Dalek- A Heretic’s Inheritance (featuring Adam Jones of Tool):

Band Of The Week: Tangients

I love it when I hear a band and while listening to their songs I get to that moment of “ahhhh.” A while back I came across a post punk band that realy intrigued me. The other elements they had in their music like shoegaze, dream pop, and even the bit of a pop sensibility really peaked my interest and the rest was history. Allow me to introduce you to Tangients. This post-punk-gaze duo is absolutely awesome. Vocalist Chelsea Ray has this intensity to the way she sings that you must hear to believe. The sonic textures of guitars, bass, noise, melody and ambience by Be Hussey adds to the incredible intensity of the vocals. I’ve tried to come up with a good comparison of what I’d describe Tangients as and I think I’ve come up with quite a good one. Think Siouxie and The Banshees mixed with a bit of Bjork, The Cure and a tinge of Portishead. I also am thrilled to announce that TANGIENTS will be a part of Audioeclectica’s Birthday Bash, Friday May 6, 2022 at The Federal in North Hollywood! Get your tickets HERE!!!!

Tangients- White Foam:


Tangients- Hazel:

New Release: Rammstein- Zick Zack

Rammstein have a new album coming out on April 29 called Zeit. They’ve released a new single and video ahead of the release for their song Zick Zack. Rammstein’s videos have always bee interesting and depending on the subject matter rather playful. The lyrics for the track and the video deal with what is nowadays often a compulsive tendency on the part of the individual towards self-optimization, sometimes through radical alteration of the visual appearance by use of the scalpel. And it’s all done in a way that only Rammstein can do it!

Rammstein- Zick Zack:

Cover Song: Covert Stations (The Psychedelic Furs) Love My Way

There are certain people and voices that when I think of particular songs I can hear that person’s voice singing it. A couple weeks back I got a message from a favorite vocalist of mine that I’ve written about quite a few times. Craig Cirinelli (Damn, This Desert Air, Depsite The Raven, Hidden Cabins) told me about this new project he’s working on called Covert Stations, that explores different songs from the 70’s and 80’s and puts his and a collaborative spin on them. The first song released is “Love My Way” by The Psychedelic Furs. And funny enough, when I got to what song it was and clicked the link, I knew instantly that the vocals on this were gonna rock. Interestingly on this song, the drums were provided by Larry Suglio of the band Digicide, who were one of the early bands of the week featured on Audioeclectica. The Quality Of Mercury guitarist Jeremiah Rouse rounds out the collaborative band on this one. The cover itself is a good one. It’s got this cool atmospheric moodiness in a fun 80’s playful way, especially with the keyboards. The guitars add a cool accent to it, layering the synths and giving it more texture.


Covert Stations- Love My Way (The Psychedelic Furs):