Had a great conversation with Frankie Banali about the new Quiet Riot release Road Rage!
Check it out here:
http://www.frontiers.shop/search?sSearch=Quiet+Riot
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Rage-Quiet-Riot/dp/B071FKGKFC/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1501808705&sr=8-1&keywords=Quiet+Riot
it’s LOUD, it’s DIRTY, it’s QUIET RIOT (so bang your head)
-the Hellion
Frontiers Music s.r.l. out on 08/04/17
1.Can’t Get Enough
2. Getaway
3. Roll This Joint
4. Freak Flag
5. Wasted
6. Still Wild
7. Make A Way
8. Renegades
9. The Road
10. Shame
11. Knock Em Down
Having been a Quiet Riot fan since forever I have to say I was quite intrigued when I heard they had hired James Durbin as their new vocalist. I had been paying attention and waiting for the new record to drop when, to my surprise, I received a preview copy of Road Rage in my inbox.
Not sure what to expect from 2017 lineup of Frankie Banali (drums), Chuck Wright (bass), Alex Grossi (guitars), and James Durbin (vocals) I quickly found myself picking my ass up off the floor upon listening to it.
The songs on Road Rage take me back to the days when groove laden rock was the norm, and yet these tracks have a freshness to them. There are homages to 70’s and 80’s bands throughout this record that make it a comfortable, yet head banging listen.
There are those who have proclaimed the death of Rock and Roll as we know and love it. I would say to them, “Listen to the new Quiet Riot record Road Rage and get back with me on that.”
Stand out tracks for me include: “Can’t Get Enough”, “Getaway”, “Still Wild”, and “Knock Em Down”.
As expected Frankie lays down a solid bed for the rest of the band to build upon. Chuck rounds out Frankie’s drumming with a heavy bottom end. Alex walks his guitar all over the map and if you listen you will hear the talent that this man has. James had his work cut out for him by laying vocals over such amazingly crafted music, and he pulled it off, and then some.
The record officially drops on 08/04/17 on Frontiers Music s.r.l. and I will for sure be ordering a copy to support hard working musicians to keep doing what they do and what we love.
I would give this a solid 8 out of 10 stars.
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s QUIET RIOT
(so BANG YOUR HEAD)
-the Hellion
Sometimes people cross your paths and leave a positive impact on you. I found one of those people in Marty Casey.
From first seeing him on Rockstar INXS, then meeting him when he was singing for LA Guns, and now a conversation with him, Marty has had that positive impact on me.
Please take a moment and listen to our conversation and understand who Marty is and the message he brings right here:
After listening do yourself a favor and click the link below the album cover and order the new record.
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/martycasey
Here’s a couple of videos from the new record, enjoy:
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s ROCK N’ ROLL!!!
-the Hellion
I had the chance to talk with Robert about the new WARRANT album LOUDER HARDER FASTER. check it out here:
it’s LOUDER, HARDER, FASTER
the Hellion
I have been asked by several people what my thoughts on the Metallica/Lady GaGa performance last night on the Grammys.
I haven’t watched any of the so called “award” shows in a very long time. My reasoning is that I do not feel it adequately represents reality. I think that if they want a REAL version they should put it to vote to the people who are listening to that particular genre of music. Now, on to the Metallica/GaGa performance.
Because I was asked I looked online and saw the performance. In my opinion it was a train wreck from the get go. I think that it was someone’s grand idea to try and cross pollinate fans of Lady GaGa and Metallica. While I feel, both are great performers on their own, they added nothing to each other. I was also bothered by the “mosh pit” dancers on stage. It seemed too contrived, any one of you who has been “caught in a mosh” know what I mean. As for the technical glitches, hey it’s Rock N’ Roll and we have ALL lived through them.
All in all, it was painful for me to watch. I said it and I’ll stand by it.
-the Hellion
In the beginning, Rock N’ Roll was underground. It was not mainstream at all. Eventually it became widely accepted and part of our culture.
Rock radio helped to expose us to bands and music in ways like no other. There was a time when that was how we discovered new bands and songs. Record stores popped up everywhere and one could hang out and explore and find new music as well. We then had the arrival of music video channels which gave us another source to discover new bands and music.
Then radio became less user friendly and more commercial, only playing what they were told. The record stores began closing their doors. Music video channels stopped playing music videos. What happened?
The internet had come along and was added into the thick of things. Some people put the blame on that.
What happened to the music world? Is there still great new music being made? How does one find new music these days? I mean with all the music being flooded onto the web how does one find that jewel that reaches out to you?
Do you think that some of the bands we all know and love would have made it if they had just started out in today’s world?
I often wonder if the next Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, etc. etc. is out there lost in the shuffle.
Just some thoughts I was pondering… what are yours?
-the Hellion
Well, It’s a new year and I’ve taken some time off to try and gather my wits about me in this turbulent world. What better way to jump back into it than to chat with Stephen Pearcy about his new record SMASH! Enjoy!!!
Grab a cold one, crank up the volume, and enjoy my conversation with the one, the only, Appalachian Apostle: ADAM JOAD from Scattered Hamlet.
After listening go to www.scatteredhamlet.com and preorder Swamp Rebel Machine!!!
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it Scattered Hamlet!!!
-the Hellion
Had the chance to chat with Justin Manning about some stuff…so check it out:
-the Hellion
I recently received the new Monte Pittman record Inverted Grasp Of Balance for review. Little did I know that it would cause me to have a profound revelation to a question I have been seeking an answer to. Over the years of recorded music people have been trying to answer the question: What makes a record good? There has been a myriad of answers that run the gamut of the music industry. The problem is most of the answers that have been provided are subjective to the answerer and biased to their own opinions. For me, at least, I feel that I have finally answered said question. A good record is one that when you put it on you find yourself turning it up, tapping your foot or nodding your head to the beat, and when it’s over you find yourself feeling as if you just got back from…somewhere.
I was excited to review this record as I have spoken with Monte before and have enjoyed his previous work. I didn’t realize that I would spend the rest of the day and the next listening to it on repeat and still humming the songs long after. There is a level of craftsmanship to this record that is hard to find these days (one other is the work of Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza). There is no doubt that music flows through the soul of Monte Pittman and I hear nods to so many musicians in his playing and writing. When a record is made for the purpose of sharing what one feels in their minds ear, it is profound and beautiful.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance features Monte on guitars and vocals, Richard Christy (Charred Walls Of The Damned, Iced Earth, Death) on drums, and…..wait for it….Billy Sheehan, yes I said Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, just to name a few) on bass. Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) handled the production duties and the record sounds clean and crisp. I read somewhere that Monte recorded his guitar parts while on the road, but this record feels so organic to me and it feels like someone turned on a mic in a jam room and captured some live magic.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance gives us twelve tracks which flow together beautifully and I guarantee you will NOT find yourself reaching for the skip button, in fact you WILL find yourself reaching for the repeat button.
If you have to pin me down for stand out tracks I would have to say “Skeleton Key” just reaches out to me the most. This track, in my opinion should be on every radio station across the planet, period. It’s just good rock n’ roll that gets in your head.I find myself just humming throughout the day. “California” opens with bass that just drips with cool and is pure Billy Sheehan and then paints a picture in your mind of being on a cool road trip with the radio blasting, the wind in your hair, and your best friends at your side. “New Blood Keeps Us Alive” is an epic track that, again, I feel should be blasting out of every speaker across the world. It begins with some wonderfully beautiful acoustic work that grows to some powerful rock n’ roll worthy of note. This song opens up the mind and makes you reflect on life.
Monte’s guitar work is across the map on Inverted Grasp Of Balance, taking from gentle acoustic to balls out shredding, and it all works in connection with each other. Not only is there stellar guitar work here Monte’s vocal work is strong and epic as well. The songwriting on Inverted Grasp Of Balance is something else. Monte has reached deep within and written some deep compositions that I believe were truly from the point of artistry. Combine all of that with great drumming and legendary bass playing this is a music lovers wet-dream.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance drops on Sept 23 on Metal Blade Records make sure you do NOT miss out on this record.
Inverted Grasp Of Balance track-listing
1. Panic Attack
2. Arisen in Broad Daylight
3. Guilty Pleasure
4. The Times Are Changing
5. Double Edged Sword
6. Cadabra
7. Pride Comes Before the Fall
8. California
9. Be Very Afraid
10. Obliterated
11. Skeleton Key
12. New Blood Keeps Us Alive
Pre-order “Inverted Grasp of Balance” at metalblade.com/montepittman/
Monte Pittman online:
http://www.montepittman.com
https://www.facebook.com/MontePittman
http://www.youtube.com/MontePittmanMusic
https://soundcloud.com/montepittman
http://twitter.com/montepittman
http://www.instagram.com/montepittman
https://montepittman.bandpage.com
https://myspace.com/montepittman
it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Monte Pittman
-the Hellion
the Hellion Rocks 