Thanks for stopping by the latest issue of The Necrofile. My name is Johnny Pardon and I ain't censored by the FCC...heh.

Contents
=========
--ROCK IS BACK?
--THE DARKNES & DROWNING POOL
--ST. ANGER -WORDS FROM LARS
--OPEN LETTER TO MTV HEADBANGER'S BALL
--RANDOM THOUGHTS
--COLUMN QUESTION

Long Live Rock and Roll
--------------------------
In a new article from USA TODAY "Kids are listening to their parents their parents' music, that is" (link: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-03-29-classic-rock-kids_x.htm) it's commented that:

"...the trend of youngsters craving oldies seems to be gaining momentum. Kids are snatching up Beatles and Led Zeppelin discs, flocking to ZZ Top and Steve Miller concerts researching the troubled histories of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Sabbath and scouring their parents' record collections for Jimi Hendrix licks and Allman Brothers Band jams." One person was quoted that "favors the "big music" of seminal rock because "the guitars wailed and lyrics had more meaning. Queen went overboard on everything. You don't hear singers like Freddie Mercury anymore."

Certainly true in todays U.S. radio/commercial market, but Germany and Japan have been putting out great hard rock sounds, while newer scenes in Switzerland, Denmark continue to grow and expand. We just got a hold of a band called Mother Misery from Sweden that sounds like they came straight out of the American Midwest.

It's simply time for rock bands to be charismatic again as we noted in a column called "The Death of Hard Rock".

"I'm reminded of the tale of King Arthur who is supposed to come back from Avalon whenever his land and peoples need him. He is the perpetual savior-figure of myth...When we most need it, rock will see the return of the charismatic figure to the fountainhead and musical bliss will spring forth from their attitude, finese and bravado. Roger Daltry, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, David Lee Roth and Axl Rose showed us all what a good frontman could do. They replaced angst and complacency with aggression and raw energy." --Nailer

The hair bands had it in the 80's, Grunge killed it in the 90's, Nu Metal was too angry in the early '00s and now after about 15 years it's time to for it to cycle back again. We've been seeing this in some new bands and the return of some older bands through the end of 2003 and the start of 2004--Judas Priest, Aerosmith, Tesla, The Darkness, Velvet Revolver Brides of Destruction, Drowning Pool and others. You may even note the Papa Roach changed their style on their last CD to a more classic hard rock sound, but the timing was off just a bit.

"Metal will see a big hard rock resurgence in the U.S. similar to the '78-'82-era and the pre-thrash days of '84-'86." --Nailer

"Hard Rock is the answer. Hard Rock holds the key. Hard Rock....could be the future." --EC

Long live rock and roll.


The Darkness and Drowning Pool--Pioneering the Scene?
------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of the love/hate relationship people have with The Darkness, I have to give them credit for leading the pack back into stadium rock with the larger-than-life persona they are putting out. I can't count how many places I've heard their annoyingly catchy "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" on TV or at sports events. I'm no sprinkle genie, but it's about time some rock stars started sticking their chests out with attitude and bravado.

I just hope that some of the glitz of the iconic personalities is counter balanced by an increase in truely skillful playing and some sonwriting that is far above "Keep Your Hands Off My Woman".

With a new vocalist, Drowning Pool has gone from a Nu Metal image-styled band to almost an LA-styled band. I think the new Drowing Pool video for "Step Up" will pave the way back to some fun, charismatic videos for hard rock. Instead of just a live shoot, you've got the band and especially the new lead vocalist hanging out in an expensive mansion lounging around a swimming pool and a jacuzzi, tattoos, jewlery and the expression of wealth. Most importantly--it's got chicks in bikinis! Once again we may start seeing hot women in rock videos again, hallaleuh! Who will be the next Bobbie Brown or Tawny Kitaen?

All the metal purists will hate it, but hopefully, it will get people's attention which will increase the viewing audience which will bring in more money to the companies who will spend more money and increace the overall metal/hard rock scene. If you're too young to recall the 1986-1990 music scene, there were a lot of chick-chasing, hair bands like Bon Jovi, Poison, Cinderella and Warrant, but there was also the rise of the thrash and death metal scenes. The whole metal pie gets bigger.


"St. Anger"--Ahead Of Its Time?
--------------------------------
Ever the positive spin artist, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says that some people think "St. Anger" is ahead of it's time.

<Church Lady>How convieeeeenient.</Church Lady>

Maybe in 10 years we'll all look back and say "WOW! What the fuck was I thinking back then? This CD rules the planet and all things below the sky!" It's one thing to have a positive view on life and to make lemonade from lemons, but you should also think realisticly and know when to throw out a rotten, sour mess.

In 1986, they were ahead of their time making innovative music that caught on in the underground and influenced a lot of bands. Some loved it; some hated it, but the sales slowly increased and word of the band spread. In 2003, they were taking a fresh look at how they made music. Some loved it; most hated it and other than the initial sales burst it has so far tanked on the charts and found it's place in the used section at the local CD trader shop. I think it's half good/half bad and even James Hetfield has come out and said that it could've used some improvement.

In 2013, will "St. Anger" be the album of the decade or will Lars be forced to eat crow?

He also said that compared to was their "Dark Side of the Moon". Idiots out there misread it and thought he was directly comparing it to that album. You fucking dolts, what he meant was that by comparison to the other Metallica works "St. Anger" was artistically and musically more complex. Think before you spout off...like Lars does.


An Open Letter To MTV
----------------------
Dear MTV Programmer:

I am glad you decided to bring back "Headbanger's Ball". Noting that you have said that you won't play a bunch of sissy, hair metal type stuff, you have stuck to your word. I only have one small complaint about the programming and that is the over abundance of hardcore and metalcore bands. Almost every video I see is bands with harsh vocals and scroungy guitar riffs; their member bouncing around stage in small clubs.

There are plenty of new bands out there and a large archive of older videos that are more of the metal genre. I'd like to see more Euro-power, progressive, black and old-school death metal bands. Mix it up a little more, please.

In Metal,

JP


Random Thoughts
-----------------
Nothing new from Stratovarius' main man lately, but Easter is coming so I have hope.

Edguy is to film a video for 'Lavatory Love Machine'. What the hell is that besides the gayest title EVER!?


Column Question
-----------------
If a band has a female member, does it detract from how you feel about the band overall?

Send your suggestions to me here at Maximum Metal .


Support your Indy Metal!!!


"Looking Minnesota and feeling Minnesota"
John Pardon
03.31.2004


SITE PICK: Great Daily Howard Stern news!