MOTD - Blind Guardian: And The Story of 2010 Ends

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Blind Guardian
Song: And the Story Ends
Album: Imaginations from the Other Side
Style: Speed/Power Metal
country/location: Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
release: 1995

Today is the last day of 2010. The last day of the first decade of the second millennium of the twelve trillionellium! There is no band worthy enough to herald this special occasion then the mighty Blind Guardian! The legendary band that creates some of the most epic music ever. Blind Guardian is respected and enjoyed throughout the metal world and beyond. (Even non-metalheads have thrown the horns up for this incredible band)

For this momentous day, the final track off their 5th studio album Imaginations From The Other Side is a perfect song to lead 2010 out. This album, my personal favorite, you could almost say is a transition album, from their raw & thrashy speed metal early albums to their more progressive and symphonic epic later material. It retains the crisp and edgy production of the late 80s while having the irresistible and multi-layered choruses that define Blind Guardian. The guitar tone is unmistakably Blind Guardian and Hansi's voice is in true form; every word and every melody performed with the serenity of a crooner and the sharpness of a razorblade. I can think of no better music to bring closure to an incredible year. As 2011 approaches, the story of 2010 ends.

Blind Guardian - And The Story Ends

MOTD - Halford Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Halford
Song: What Child Is This
Album: Winter Songs
Style: Heavy Metal
country/location: Birmingham, England, UK
release: 2009

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, blah blah blah something something something mouse.

Well this weekend was Christmas. That holy day of holy days. That special day where kids wake up at ungodly hours to run to a highly decorated evergreen coniferous tree to unwrapped divine presents. While I can't say I celebrate this holiday in any traditional sense, I do kinda understand the specialness of it, and thus would like to pass on some holiday well wishes to my readers. Who else to wish you a Merry Christmas than the legendary voice of Judas Priest!

This is Halford's contribution to the world of holiday/Christmas music, a collection of metal/rock versions of Christmas carols and original seasonal themed songs. Unlike the powerful heavy metal anthems of Judas Priest, a lot of this music takes on a lighter, sincere and almost personal approach, particularly in this calm but epic metal tinged rendition of "What Child Is This." The metal crunch provides the power to this lullaby while pop/rock elements provide a glorious and infectious feeling. Halford sounds just as strong as he would on a Judas Priest record, however he is more relaxed, just letting his natural voice triumph (no falsettos here). It's really a beautiful and epic piece that does the original composition justice. "What Child Is This" is one of my favorite Christmas carols.

Well, I hope your holiday season was a joyous one (whether you believe in the religious aspects or not)! Merry Christmas to all, Happy Hanukah to all, Happy Kwanzaa to all, Happy Boxing Day to all!

Halford - What Child Is This

MOTD - Twisted Sister: Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the metal is so delightful!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Twisted Sister
Song: Let It Snow
Album: A Twisted Christmas
Style: Heavy fuckin Metal
country/location: Long Island, New York, US
release: 2006

Last night it was blissfully snowing in Boston and all I could think was "it's a beautiful night for holiday music!" Nothing says happy holidays than holiday music. Those cheerful and infectious tunes that are blared throughout malls and corporate America. Unfortunately, most of it is watered down and overproduced. However there is hope for the season, Twisted Sister's A Twisted Christmas. All of your favorite Christmas songs twisted into heavy metal anthems that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and cause your head to bang harder then a hammer on your neighbor's face. Twisted Sister has put their signature crunchy, rumbling hard rockin' stamp on these tunes. Just pure & simple, punchy & fun Christmas songs, with the mighty Dee Snider providing an arena worthy delivery. Ok okay, it's true, this is totally over the top and lacking in anything groundbreaking, gosh darn it's too much fun and oh so awesome! So in short:

"Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the metal is so delightful. Since there's no place to go BLAST TWISTED SISTER TIL YOUR FUCKIN' EARS BLEED!"

Twisted Sister - Let It Snow

MOTD - Crowbar: An Aggressive and Violent Muddy Swamp

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Crowbar
Song: All I Had (I Gave)
Album: Crowbar
Style: Sludge Metal
country/location: New Orleans, Louisiana, US
release: 1993

Last week I was introduced to the mighty Crowbar, tearing it up at the Middle East. It was an all star night of sludge with two of Boston's best locals (who will most definitely be featured soon) plus Georgia's bearded sludge kings Black Tusk. I understood why Crowbar was one of the big influences/founders of the style known as sludge metal. The riffs were super heavy and thick with a slightly bluesy tough, Kirk's voice was the most gruff and rough I have ever heard (dare I say like an angry grandfather haha), the pace of the songs ranged from prodding doom to almost speedy thrash. The term sludge made sense for them, it was literally the musical equivalent of walking through a muddy swamp. An aggressive and violent walk at that, appealing to hardcore kids and metalheads alike. The show kinda reflected this feeling for it was a completely packed and squished show, impossible to move around, especially when the moshpit happened. Anyways, here's a track from Crowbar's 1993 self titled album. Hopefully this makes up for the fact I haven't posted any true sludge yet!

Crowbar - All I Had (I Gave)

MOTD - Gevolt: On Hanukah, Find a Partner & Dance!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Gevolt
Song: Tum Balalaika
Album: Yiddish Project
Style: Industrial/Folk Metal
country/location: Israel
release: 2008

We're in the middle of the 8 day celebration known as Hanukah. In honor of that latke eating, candle lighting holiday, I'm posting a couple Jewish themed tracks for you!

What do you get when you take Rammstein, make the members Israeli, add a folk violin, and make the lyrics in Hebrew or Yiddish? You get this fantastically charming and fun band, Gevolt! The lead singer sounds uncannily like Till Lindemann and the music has that crunchy distortion plus the mechanical industrial qualities you find in Rammstein. However the music is based upon traditional Jewish folk songs. This track being a Russian/Polish folk love song sung in Yiddish which gained popularity at the beginning of Israel's formation. The lyrics talk about finding a clever wife for marriage, who knows answers to all questions. Gevolt's arrangement still captures the loving dance like feel of the song, the violin adding that nice folky tough. I particularly love this song, I often get this strange urge to dance with some lovely lass whenever it comes on! At the very least, I attempt to sing along with the chorus despite my lack of Yiddish hehe. Hope you enjoy! and Happy Hanukah to all!

Gevolt - Tum Balalaika

MOTD - Rotting Christ: Originally a Grind Band? Cool!

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Rotting Christ
Song: Asthmatic Apoplexy
Album: The Other Side of Life (split with Sound Pollution)
Style: Grindcore/Death Metal
country/location: Athens, Attica, Greece
release: 1989

A little interesting post for you all! Don't worry, I'll be going back to New England series in a bit!

So I discovered that everyone's favorite Greek black metal band, Rotting Christ, started out as a grindcore-ish death metal band. Given my love of all things grind, I was curious how this sounded. Figured I'd share one of these old tracks. Well, it sounds like late 90s death/grind, just as I had hoped! This quick song has it all, unrelenting blast beats/punk rhythms, early death metal tremolo guitar leads/riffs, raw & gruff vocals, and poor production (though not as bad as I was expecting). It's good old school death/grind (or least I think you could call it that)! Anyways, enjoy!

Rotting Christ - Asthmatic Apoplexy

MOTD - Scaphism: New England Is Death Metal

Mp3 Of The Day

Band/Artist: Scaphism
Song: Pathogenic Bacteria
Album: Rib tickling Brutality And Hilarious Atrocities demo
Style: Death Metal
country/location: Boston/Worcester, MA
release: 2010

(ok trying this again again hehe)

Well, it's about time that I posted some stuff from my scene! New England has an incredible metal/hardcore scene that is unparalleled. To quote thrash band Hatchet, "Boston, you put the bay area to shame!" So many incredible bands and dedicated people make this scene diverse, exciting and just, well, awesome! I attend on average 3 or 4 shows a week, most of them being all local shows. The metal and hardcore has flowed in this area for ages, with there being stellar bands (national and obscure) since the 1980s if not earlier. Let me introduce you to some bands and projects from New England.

With super chunky riffs that cause unrelenting headbanging, a precise & rawly moshable rhythm section, and a death metal spokesperson whose disgusting and offensive words come out as clear as if they were yelled directly into your ear, Scaphism is one of the staples of the New England metal scene. Their music is truly death metal, no core influences, no progressive elements, no overly technical breakdowns, just good ol' fashioned asskicking death metal. Live they are a tight machine of brutality, playing at least 3 or 4 shows a month and each set is being as exciting as the last (I've seen them at least 20 times and I'm always looking forward to seeing them again). This song is a prime example of their unique but true sound. If they ever tour the country, you do not want to miss them! Tell em I sent yah!

Scaphism - Pathogenic Bacteria