Ronnie James Dio—2nd Anniversary of Death 5/16/2012 2:12:08 PM by Frank H.
Ronnie James Dio, one of the greatest voices in the history of heavy metal, died two years ago this day.
"He was quite literally, an icon of heavy metal; loved or otherwise respected by all. His piercing voice will forever be committed to the halls of memory. He is credited with popularizing the 'devil horns' gesture--a family affection that went on to become the universal hand sign of heavy metal. For that alone, he's immortal. Dio always seemed to strike a deep, personal chord with his fans and always seemed to be a very down to Earth, gracious person regardless of his successes." --Ben McCraw
Mass Murder Agenda Coming... 5/11/2012 3:39:22 PM by EC
Swedish act combine industrial elements with a fast aggressive approach. The band formed
in 2009 and have played a number of successful shows and tours exposing the masses to
their hybrid sound. "Bring The Violence" is mastered at Masters of Audio by Erik
Broheden (Rammstein, Sabaton) and the album's first single, "Never Again", hit
radio last month. The band promises the debut record will appeal to fans of Slayer,
Killing Joke and Ministry. Read more about the band at http://www.massmurderagenda.se/.
EC's Top 5 Grave Digger Songs! 5/8/2012 3:00:48 PM by Frank H.
German's Grave Digger have been laying down thunderous Teutonic riffs for four
decades now. Has the band finally reached the proverbial crossroads? Most definitely.
However regardless of how complacent the band's current output is...these Germans have
recorded legendary albums and have etched their signature sound into the mantle of metal.
EC's Top 5 Grave Digger Songs:
5. "Demon's Day" - Off of the 1995 release "Heart Of Darkness",
I love Boltendahl's broken English on the chorus..."You're my WICTIM, You're my
prey!". This one is sort of German power thrash put to the beat of AC/DC. Its catchy!
4. "Back To The Roots" - Taken from the 1993 album "Symphony Of
Death", this one is a thrash groove with tons of up front drums and the perfect
production job. The gang vocals really bring it to life in the middle. This was the band's
comeback after the 80s breakup.
3. "Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)" - Lifted from 1996's "Tunes
Of War". "This one is a live staple of the band and has the most recognizable
chorus of any Grave Digger cut. Just an epic sing along.
2. "Lionheart" - Off the 1998 record "Knights Of The Cross",
the opening speed riff has actually been copied a few times by the band in later albums.
This is a crushing power romp!
1. "World Of Fools" - Taken from the 1994 EP "Symphony Of
Death", this is THE Grave Digger song I go to first. The drum recording is just out
of this world, think John Bonham meets Dave Lombardo...the toms are just bombastic. The
band's acoustic strings through the first few verses lead into a charging electric riff
that makes this one of the best metal songs of all time.
Jack Blades Gets 5-Star Review! 5/4/2012 3:41:54 PM by EC
One look at the album cover for the aptly titled "Rock 'N Roll Ride" is like looking at a scrap book of Jack Blades career, LPs and badges that have adorned Blades' past since the 70s. While most remember the bassist/singer/songwriter for his mainline gig with Night Ranger (mostly 80's anthem "Sister Christian"), the California native has achieved success across the board with a variety of musical outlets and projects. Blades teamed with Ted Nugent to form Damn Yankees, released a critically acclaimed joint venture with Styx frontman Tommy Shaw as well as producing big names ranging from Great White to Vince Neil, even appearing in dozens of writing credits with the likes of Aerosmith, Ringo and Cher.
"Rock 'N Roll Ride" is Blades' second solo album to date and the first for current Night Ranger label Frontiers. It is a great pairing as Frontiers continues to show they are the best in the industry when it comes to 80s talent. They continue to make bands like Dokken, Whitesnake and Winger just as relevant today as they were in the 80s...
In the Future...Could We See Ronnie James Dio Onstage Again? 4/17/2012 3:03:21 PM by Frank H.
People are buzzing online about a TuPac "holographic" performance at Coachella 2012 [link]. While watching the video below of a 3D dragon, I was taken back to the old days of Ronnie James Dio fighting his own inflatable dragons onstage in the 80s. Then I realized that with this technology, we could all very well see RJD in concert again. Assuming I have the correct idea, we could see anybody from any decently recorded concert era.
As technology gets cheaper and spreads to the general populace, we could all have holo-players with files of shows to project. Some day in future, long after the band has retired, Iron Maiden's "Live After Death" performance could be a virtual simulcast in theaters across the world. We may all have concerts on file and be able to click a remote to see Jimi Hendrix live or Led Zeppelin circa '72 performing in our own backyards. KISS could play your birthday party.
Dio, and us with him, could be killing dragons again soon enough.
"100 feet of Musion holographic foil assembled in the San Diego Convention Center allowed AV Concepts to create a life size dragon hologram to interact with live performers. The holographic projection system is a unique, dynamic approach to delivering 3-dimensional holographic effects to new media content."
Van Halen Release Review: "A Different Kind of Toupe" by Jonah Haze 4/13/2012 2:24:21 PM by Frank H.
"Dave saves the day personally. He gave them an "EPI" shot with a new phonograph needle. Rocking the cradle, getting unchained, (minding the women and children first); he was all the while maintaining the moving parts clean of this heavy machine. This is not Angelina "Jolie's" Diver Down, more like Ronnie Dio's "Holy" Diver Down.
You almost have to hold it with both hands its surprisingly heavy. Mind you this is Van Franklen but this is what will erupt the ears of the old. This is what will corrupt the years of the ears to come. Goddamn! If you didn't know me any wiser, this is fresh magic from the Van Halen Family Dutch oven.
Oh yeah, remember a guitar player named Eddie Van Halen?! Allow It! The magic man with the famous "fingertap" now holds nothing back with his reconstructed cyber hands. He sounds like the Terminator re-re-re-reprogramed to never ever stop until Sarah Conner is Dead. He searches high and low across the fretboard still so fluent in the hunger of youth. It's almost like some solos don't get to finish what Ed started. They scream at him to just let their final notes fly free from his instrument to live out their remaining resonance on their own terms.
Please welcome "Shreddie Eddie" from his long 5150 stay!"
New Interview with Tommy Victor of Prong! 4/6/2012 2:33:21 PM by Frank H.
Prong. The name is a trifecta of images. Groundbreaking metal. Huge success. And last but not least Tommy Victor, founding member and the human musical synonym for the band.
Blasting onto the scene in 1986, Prong quickly attracted the attention of Epic Records after the release of Primitive Origins and Force Fed. Signed to a major record deal just 3 years after forming, Prong disbanded just eleven years later after the Rude Awakening tour. Reforming in 2002, they have now released a new cd, "Carved Into Stone" and are set to tour the United States.
I had a chance to talk with the man that icons like Trent Reznor and Korn's Jonathan Davis cite as a major influence to their musical style and bands like Danzig and Ministry have tapped as a guitarist and bassist. Lead singer, bassist, guitarist, front man, lyricist and vocalist- Victor has been all over the melodic monopoly board, and managed to land back square center. Luckily we were there to bend his ear and learn that if "you want the good life, you break your back you snap your fingers, you snap your neck."
Prong
"I started out playing bass and I was always attracted to the simplicity of that. Four strings, and I knew how hard it was to actually keep things simple...
and I think that applies to Prong...eventually down the line- we try to keep it as basic as possible with interesting riffs and creating a little style within that, we try to keep away from a lot of the excesses you know?"
