There are songs that you have heard a million times and you can’t take them anymore (Post about those songs another time), and those that remain eternally epic. This is my list of those songs I consider most epic.
10. “Tombs Ov Oblivion” – Crowned By Fire
9. “Back In The Saddle” – Aerosmith
8. “Breakin’ Down” – Skid Row
7. “More Than A Feeling” – Boston
6. “Now I’m Here” – Queen
5. “Dance The Night Away” – Van Halen
4. “River Of Deceit” – Mad Season
3. “No Quarter” – Led Zeppelin
2. “Love To Love” – UFO
1. “Spirits In The Night” – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
These are the ten top songs which I could listen to over and over without them wearing out on me. I guess of I were to make a Hellion Rocks greatest hits CD these would be the ten songs that would make the cut for me. Why these ten songs? They each represent to me musical craft at its best. I can listen to these and be carried away on musical adventures in faraway lands. I encourage your feedback and responses with your own definitive top ten list.
Las Vegas-based shock rockers I.D.S.F.A. – winners of the 2011 “Best Shock Rock” and 2013 “Best of Vegas” Vegas Rocks Magazine Awards – released their first full-length self-titled album in 2013, including tracks about revenge, death, mayhem, zombies and all things gruesome. Pairing the audio with a chaotic live show featuring drum beating zombies, an 8-foot anti-aircraft gun, washed up sea creatures from the Japan tsunami and other surprises, the group has amassed an assembly of fans who are rabid for what’s coming next!
The group aims to continue the carnage with their upcoming concept project Bodies In The Basement, which will include a new album, as well as short film and live, interactive performance aspects. In addition, the new music will feature an overhauled sound and demented new vocalist, Knuckletooth. In celebration of the upcoming release, the band is paying homage to their main musical and theatrical inspiration, GWAR, as well as late vocalist Dave Brockie, with a new track “The Genius That Was Oderus”.
The track can be streamed here via the band’s official YouTube page: https://youtu.be/pUWkKKzpoiU. Fans can also download the track viaAmazon now, or receive the track as a hard copy single (only 100 signed, numbered copies available) by donating to the IndieGoGo campaign below. Please note that this track is only available via single and will not be part of the Bodies In The Basement album.
Bassist Travesty comments, “We wrote “The Genius That Was Oderus” in memoriam of one of the most influential musicians to us. We have attended GWAR shows since we were teenagers. Oderus showed us that you can mix music, horror, gore and theatrics into one. He is the reason that I.D.S.F.A. is the band that is today. We wanted to show our appreciation to everything Oderus did in the Shock Rock scene and we figured what better way to do that than in song – the way he would appreciate the most. He Will Be Missed, So Raise Your Fist!”
As mentioned above, the Bodies In The Basement full musical and theatrical production is almost complete, but I.D.S.F.A. is reaching out to their fans to help finalize the process! The band is hosting an IndieGoGo campaign with the goal of funding the upcoming three-part production, which if reached, will include live performances that include interactive personifications of each track’s concept, in addition to live airings of an accompanying short film in segments between tracks.
As for the album portion of the project, I.D.S.F.A. plans to present the same short film broken up between tracks on their actual album (the concept is for fans to experience the album via multimedia player to hear tracks and view the short film in segments between each track, in sequence).
The short film concept will follow the story of one victim and their journey through the macabre world of I.D.S.F.A. This film, combined with the album and live aspect of Bodies In The Basement, will take the audience through the horrors one might experience if “Chosen” by I.D.S.F.A.Who are “The Chosen”, you ask? To understand that, one must understand who I.D.S.F.A. are at their core.
Drummer Dr. Skum tells the tale, “We’re a group of miscreants who met in hell many lifetimes ago, eventually becoming one of the most popular and influential bands in the underworld. After getting carried away at an after party one night, we happened to roofie Satan with a dose of our own concocted drug called “Demon Puss” and things got… X-rated. After that fateful night, we were banished to the Town Of EEV-Ville, a town located 66.6 miles south of hell. This is the place where the ones who are too evil for hell are sent. Once we arrived in the town of EEV-Ville, we got a bit of cabin fever and decided to get busy, forming what is now known as The Dept. Of Death. The Dept.’s mission is to tour the world and spread our infection to all! Once infected, those will then follow alongside the Dept. on their tirade of Death. Those infected are called “The Chosen” and they will not stop till death has reached every corner of the globe! *evil laugh*”
The Bodies In The Basement IndieGoGo campaign will feature some great incentives, such as two incredible custom I.D.S.F.A. guitars by Evolution Guitars. These guitars feature a new innovative guitar design with interchangeable face plates and are valued between $1400-1800 each. These will be available for a discounted price via the IndieGoGo campaign with a $1000 donation. You will be given the opportunity to work personally with the design team and customize your guitar with them – truly be one of a kind! Learn more about Evolution Guitars here:https://www.theevolutionguitar.com/
Other incentives include a limited-to-100-copies hard copy of the “The Genius That Was Oderus” single (mentioned above), drum sticks, custom skateboards, and more.
I.D.S.F.A. is endorsed/sponsored by Evolution Guitars, SIT strings, Zombie Apocalypse Vodka, and Clayton Picks, and have performed with groups such as Mushroomhead, D.R.I., Anvil, Spineshank, and more.
MICHAEL MONROE, Celebrated Rock ‘N’ Roller, To Release
Blackout States On October 16 Via Spinefarm Records
(New York, N.Y.): MICHAEL MONROE-hugely influential front man, force of nature, multi-instrumentalist and revered rock ‘n’ roll icon-will release a new studio album, Blackout States, on Friday, October 16 via Spinefarm Records.
This 13-track outing was produced by Chips Kiesbye (Hellacopters, Nomads) in Gothenburg, Sweden, and mixed by Petri Majuri in Helsinki, Finland.
It is the follow-up to Horns and Halos, a Finnish chart-topper in 2013.
With Blackout States, MONROE‘s current touring and recording outfit, comprised of bassist Sami Yaffa (ex-Hanoi Rocks/New York Dolls), guitarist Steve Conte (ex-New York Dolls/Company of Wolves), guitarist Rich Jones (ex-Black Halos/Amen), and drummer Karl Rockfist (ex-Chelsea Smiles/Danzig), provided strong creative support for a groundbreaking artist whose reputation continues to flourish. Many of rock’s most noted performers, including Dave Grohl and Slash, have cited MONROE‘s unwavering drive and three-decade-plus career as a genuine source of inspiration.
Indeed, when Slash headlines the Ice Hall in Helsinki on May 28, MONROE will be the invited “Special Guest,” opening the show in front of thousands of fans; after that, he heads across to London to play the Camden Rocks Festival on May 30.
This one-off UK appearance at Camden Proud will be filmed by celebrated videographer/photographer Ville Juurikkala as part of the video for the first single from Blackout States.
As with Horns and Halos, the new recordings see MONROE both toasting the future and honoring the past, occasionally giving the nod to glam punk pioneers, Hanoi Rocks, the group with which he forged his name in the early-to mid-’80s.
Says MONROE, “I’m extremely excited about our new album, Blackout States. It has all the ingredients of a perfect rock ‘n’ roll record: strong melodic songs with great meaningful lyrics that defy all clichés, delivered with a punky, ballsy attitude by a killer band. I highly recommend Blackout States to anyone who’s even a little bit interested in what real, authentic, high energy
rock ‘n’ roll at its best sounds like today.”
MONROE has a number of festival appearances locked into place for the spring and summer, with further international touring plans to be announced shortly.
Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks was very influential to the “Hair Metal” bands of the 80’s. I have always been a fan of the music and style of Hanoi Rocks. I am glad to see Michael still living the dream and making great music.
With all of the news of racial/social/political unrest as of late it has caused me to reflect on things, and I have come to the conclusion it is all because of you.
You have the choice to not hit your child or your spouse. Sure you might have grown up in a home where domestic violence was the norm (I myself witnessed my mother beaten by my stepfather and I was at the end of a few myself), and yet I choose to respect my wife and children. I choose to not follow that path.
You have the choice not to sexually abuse others. Again, I knew people who were abused by people they trusted and yet they grew up and made choices to help others that were being abused.
You have the choice to not abuse alcohol. Again I have firsthand experience with alcoholism in the home. This is a devastating problem int he country today. I have again made the choice to stay away from that lifestyle.
You have the choice to not abuse drugs. Once more, I have experienced this in my home as a child. This is another choice I am proud to have made in staying away.
You have the choice to obey the law and not run from the police. I am saddened to see all of the death and destruction in the news today regarding this issue. Think of how many would still be alive if they had just obeyed the law and the police. I say again, you have the ability to choose the right thing.
There is only one race, the human race. We are all brethren and should not be afraid to embrace each other publicly and claim our love for one another. We could achieve miracles then.
I used to enjoy listening to the radio. Now it’s just a jukebox with the selector buttons broken so we hear the same songs over and over. While I enjoy all forms of music, I predominantly listen to Rock N’ Roll. Recently one of my favorite long time radio stations, KZRR 94 Rock, was assimilated by the collective known as iHeartRadio. This assimilation has brought with it inane commercials for iHeartRadio advertising artists and events that have NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GENRE OF ROCK N’ ROLL!!! I also tried out their streaming of 94 Rock while I was out of state for three months. With their streaming they have something called “Fast Tracks” which turn out to be an abbreviated version of a song…wait, WHAT? PLAY THE WHOLE SONG!!!! Here’s another idea for iHeartRadio, how about playing some of the new artists trying to break through? I mean as much as I love the artists that do get play, there are many others out there.
I get the feeling that iHeartRadio is actually trying to kill off live radio and music as well. Just the other day another station that I listened to, 104.1 The Edge, dismissed its long running morning show personalities. This dismissal has led to an out-crying of support for said personalities. The reason was given as “restructuring” of the radio station…sigh.
I think we need REAL radio stations back with REAL DJ’s who played the music that they loved and had some control over it. I mean think about how many bands you were turned on to by a DJ.
I say now go home iHeartRadio you are not welcome anymore.
Andy The Kid Releases Pendulum Cover “The Island” Lyric Video Featuring Aaron Nordstrom Of Gemini Syndrome
Andy The Kid has released a lyric video for his cover of Pendulum’s track “The Island” which features Aaron Nordstrom from Gemini Syndrome on guest vocals. The track is from Andy The Kid’s new EP entitled “Linchpin” which is out now! The EP also features guest performances from Chris Hall (Stabbing Westward), Jimmy Trigger (We Are the Riot), and Toby Rand (Juke Kartel).
Watch Andy The Kid “The Island” (Official Lyric Video) below:
Writing and recording this EP has been a cathartic experience that has put a big fat exclamation mark on what has been a tumultuous journey since moving to the States…It was extremely important to put a cover on the record that showcased Australian music, and I’ve loved Pendulum for many years, just knowing they’re Australian makes me very proud and inspired…The video was an extremely fun experience. It was shot in one take, with two iphones, 2 Stage Ninja Scorpion phone holders and with $10 in my pocket. It took a fair bit of coordination, but I feel like it turned out great. Gone are the days where I feel thousands have to be spent on video production. The technology to achieve visual media is at our finger tips, and it just takes a little initiative to learn. – Andy The Kid
The FTW Premiere New Song “Who Crowned You King” via Metal Insider
New Album Vendetta Kind of Mood Out May 19th!
FTW – It’s an acronym that can be seen all across our great nation; it sits proudly next to 1% patches on filthy, greasy leather jackets and flies arrogantly on the backs of Harley Davidson motorcycles.
What does it mean? Fuck The World: A credo shared by bikers, punks and freak flag flyers worldwide.
With the band’s latest LP Vendetta Kind Of Mood, The FTW are currently crushing skulls in clubs all around New York City and the world is next. The FTW keeps the torch burning, and burning brightly, for straight ahead high-octane metal and balls-to-the-wall rock and roll. Today the first single from the album “Who Crowned You King” is being premiered exclusively on Metal Insider. Listen to it HERE and be sure to pre-order a copy of the record HERE.
The FTW is also the name of Michael Dolan’s new band. Dolan earned his own stripes touring the world with the surf punk outfit, The Turbo A.C.’s. But now he has his sights set on heavier horizons. He has joined forces with underground guitar legend, The Major Nelson, and percussion powerhouse J.J. Meraz.
The FTW play a brand of heavy NWOBHM rock and roll citing influences such as Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Motorhead. The Major’s thrashing, bluesy crank riffs meld brutally with Dolan’s Disciples of Lemmy Rickenbacker Bass and his Marshall stack cranked up to ‘Eleven!’
ALL HAIL THE NEW QUEEN OF ROCK
TAYLOR MOMSEN TAKES CENTER STAGE
The Pretty Reckless Lead Singer Featured In
People, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone And Billboard
First Female Artist To Top The Rock Charts With Three Consecutive #1 Singles
“Just broke a Billboard record, beating out Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders and Halestorm to become the first woman to land three consecutive No. 1s on the Mainstream Rock chart.” – People Magazine 5/6/15
“Rock Queen” – Entertainment Weekly 5/5/15
“Hard rock’s most recognizable and dynamic female voices, each breaking down barriers in the
male-dominated genre.” – Rolling Stone 4/22/15
“Female-fronted hard rock bands continue to make waves in the heavily male-dominated
rock genre.” – Billboard 4/24/15
THE PRETTY RECKLESS RULES ROCK!
#1 MAINSTREAM ROCK BAND OF 2014
#1 ACTIVE ROCK BAND OF 2014
#1 ROCK TRACK OF THE YEAR! “HEAVEN KNOWS”
RECORD BREAKING THREE #1 SONGS ON THE BILLBOARD MAINSTREAM ROCK SONGS CHART
MOST MAINSTREAM ROCK NUMBER ONES EVER ACHIEVED BY A FEMALE OR FEMALE-FRONTED ACT, SURPASSING STEVE NICKS, HALESTORM AND THE PRETENDERS
TOP 5 ALBUM DEBUT ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 CHART
OVER 175,000 ALBUMS SOLD!
TAYLOR MOMSEN / THE PRETTY RECKLESS OVER 5 MILLION FACEBOOK FANS AND
1.3 MILLION TWITTER FOLLOWERS
September Mourning Releases Cover Of “Stand By Me” Paying Tribute To The Late Great Ben E. King
The Dark Alternative, Hard Rock Transmedia Project September Mourning have released their cover of of the classic hit “Stand By Me“, paying tribute to the late great Ben E. King who recently passed away. The band is currently on a U.S. tour with stops at AC Boardwalk Con and Rock On The Range. The band will be making their UK debut later this year at Download Festival.
With dramatic dark lyrics that show glimpses of hope and redemption, I couldn’t resist a reinterpretation of this standard. It begged for a dynamic dramaticism that we couldn’t resist bringing to life. – September (September Mourning)
Check out September Mourning’s “Stand By Me” cover below:
September Mourning Tour Dates:
May 05 – Vintage Villains – Danville, Illinois
May 06 – Heating & Cooling Pub – Chicago, Illinois
May 07 – Frankie’s – Toledo, Ohio
May 08 – Diesel Concert Lounge – Detroit, Michigan
May 10 – Slake – New York, New York
May 15 – AC Boardwalk Con – Atlantic City, New Jersey
May 17 – Rock on the Range – Columbus, Ohio
May 21 – Hijynx – Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
June 14 – Download Festival – United Kingdom
September Mourning has just recorded her debut album. It tells a story in 12 songs, an epic tale of “heartbreak, loss, pain, joy, love, redemption, but most of all, courage…” Produced by Howard Benson (Chris Cornell, My Chemical Romance) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, September Mourning revives the concept of rock star meets superhero. If Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga had a kid, it would be September Mourning, who also cites influences as varied as David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, KISS, Evanescence and My Chemical Romance.
“For me, the project is a story, a theatrical art piece,” September explains. “Music is the backbone, but for this to work, it has to include the imagery and the narrative all symbiotically linked into the whole. Music taps into your innermost being. There’s something very intimate and personal about it.”
The character of September Mourning is a human-reaper hybrid, who feels the need to give some human souls a second chance, and thus toys with Fate. To expound on this narrative, September is working with iconic comic book artist Marc Silvestri, who started out on the original X-Men comics and went on to form Top Cow Productions (Witchblade, The Darkness). Together, they are putting together the story of September Mourning in graphic form, to accompany, and enhance the musical message.
September Mourning carries positive passions into its music, which is often operatic, but also completely rock ‘n’ roll in all its majestic glory. The album is full of themes that run the gamut, from “Skin and Bones,” which takes on people who would judge you on appearances, and “Chariot,” about those who allow themselves to be consumed by somebody else, to “Paper Dolls,” lambasting a guy “who rips people’s hearts out without regret” and “Before The Fall,” a song that accentuates our common humanity. “When we bleed/We bleed the same,” sings September. September describes “Children of Fate” as a “call to arms for her fans, our families,” which she turned into a 6/8 waltz, “but heavy, eerie and strange, to give it this weird feeling.
Having toured with Marilyn Manson, September Mourning has already built up an impressive fan base, which she calls her “Children of Fate,” constantly encouraging them to have “the courage to embrace their passion… to allow yourself to follow your heart and not be a slave to your fears. To know that the only boundaries that exist in our lives are the ones we allow.”
I was 13 years old and had that one older friend that my parents warned me about. He was also that friend who turned me on to some great music. He had long hair, wore a denim vest, engineer boots, drank beer, and smoked cigarettes. He also loved this band from Australia called AC/DC.
I grew to love this band as well and their “dangerous image”. They were raw, abrasive, and didn’t give a shot about niceties. They songs reached into your dirty side and made you feel cooler by just having listened to them. There was no pop, bubblegum, with these guys, just nasty Rock N’ Roll.
Bon Scott had a voice like no other, period. There was no smooth golden notes to slide easily into your ears. Bon himself exuded so much coolness, and it worked.
Then in 1980 on the heels of their greatest album to date, Highway To Hell, the world lost Bon. I was devastated to say the least. Myself and my Rock N’ Roll cronies paid our respect by trying to wear out our AC/DC records. And yes, I shed a few tears for Bon.
I don’t remember when it was but I soon read rumors that AC/DC was going to soldier on with a new vocalist. My circle was abuzz with speculation. And on July 25th 1980 we were waiting at the record store for the new release, Back In Black.
We listened to the record trying to be accepting of what we were hearing. It was a great record from start to finish. While the new singer, Brian Johnson, was no Bon Scott, he did the band justice. We had hope for AC/DC with Brian.
It is now 2015 and I now find myself reflecting back through the years of AC/DC music. Now, I am gonna piss a lot of you off. Back In Black was the last great album AC/DC made.
I had high hopes for the band but in my opinion they strayed into the pop world with all of the albums after Back In Black. While not becoming a shitty band, they just lost that dangerous raw edge that drew me in in the first place.
I do happen to own every AC/DC release from the beginning to Rock Or Bust, and will continue to support them, I just happen to not get the same rush from their newer music.
Bon, I miss you and wonder how far you could have taken the band, and Brian great effort in carrying on but sorry, it wasn’t the same.
the Hellion Rocks 