I have had a life-long love of music, but from the first time I heard Kiss and Black Sabbath with my landlord's son in Nicholasville, KY in the mid 70's, I have been hooked on Hard Rock and Metal. While my tastes in music have done nothing but expand since then, Metal remains closest to my heart. In addition, I have played bass, still play guitar and have literally 1000's of CDs/MP3s, so my knowledge is long steeped and honest. I don't buy the whole splintered, sub-genres thing and choose to like bands and music based solely on individual merits. Obviously, this is always colored by my mood, what I need at any given point and time and what is generally pleasing to my ear. I also don't like to rip any music or band, instead having an open mind and ear for it all because I have a passion for it all. It is completely subjective and in a constant state of flux. Consider me a music "nerd" not a music "snob". As an extension of this love, I hope to share this passion with everyone here and learn from your passion as well! - Odyssey -
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Tennessee!
Last week for our StateoftheArt: Tennessee. Yet another state that has an extremely active Metal scene that hosts a plethora of talented artists in a countless number of killer bands. Big touring bands like Whitechapel, Skillet, Red, ToraTora, StraightLineStitch and Saliva all call Tennessee home as do hundreds, if not thousands bands that are kicking and screaming to promote themselves above the chaff. This is a huge reason that I love this series. Getting a deserving band in the spotlight helps assure that these artists continue playing what we like and continues to set the foundation for the next generation of rockers to pull themselves up with. This week I am proud to introduce you to WarWithin from Nashville, if you have not already heard of these Tennessee heavies before…
Comments Off on Show Review of Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” Tour
Trans–SiberianOrchestra 2016:
AlPitrelli – Guitar
AndrewRoss – Vocals
AngusClark – Guitar
AprilBerry – Guitar
AshaMevlana – Strings
AutumnGuzzardi – Vocals
AvaDavis – Vocals
BartSatto – Vocals
BryanHicks – Storyteller
ChloeLowery – Vocals
ChrisCaffery – Guitar
DaveZ – Bass
DerekWieland – Keyboards
DustinBrayley – Vocals
BabrielaGuncikova – Vocals
GeorgiaNapolitano – Vocals
JaneNangini – Keyboards
JeffPlate – Drums
JeffScottSoto – Vocals
JodiKatz – Vocals
JohnBrink – Vocals
JohnLeeMiddleton – Bass
JohnO. Reilly – Drums
KaylaReeves – Vocals
LisaLavie – Vocals
MeeEunKim – Keyboards
NatalyaRosePiette – Vocals
PaulO’Neill – founder/guitar
PhilipBrandon – Storyteller
RobEvan – Vocals
RobinBorneman – Vocals
RoddyChong – Strings
RussellAllen – Vocals
VitalijKuprij – Keyboards
Tran-Siberian Orchestra is the brainchild brought to fruition by the genius of writer/guitarist/producer/etc. extraordinaire Paul O’Neill. Growing up in New York City, O’Neill was exposed to everything ranging from Broadway musicals, to Motown to singer-songwriter greats like JimCroce and HarryChapin. As he got older, Paul began playing guitar in the touring band for JesusChristSuperstar and Hair before being brought on with the management company, Leber–Krebs in the later portion of the 1970’s. With clients such as Aerosmith, TedNugent, AC/CD, DefLeppard, TheScorpians, TheNewYorkDolls and a plethora of other A-List bands, O’Neill’s influences and influence gained a huge market share, putting him at the top of the promotional game. After a stint as a major concert promoter in Japan during the 1980’s, he returned to the States to write and produce full-time.
Comments Off on State of the Art: Tennessee – Noisecult
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Tennessee!
Nashville, Tennessee’sNoisecult came to fruition in 2004 by guitarist/vocalist DonCarr and vocalist BoHeyward who had been working together on many musical projects since 1993. Sharing a love for the 1970’s HardRock and underground Metal infused with Punk and “classic dark wall of sound pioneered by BlackSabbath”, Carr and Heyward started their dream project after a two year hiatus from working together. One short year later, their first full length album “EndofDays” was released and Noisecult played a relentless number of shows to get their creation to the public.
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Tennessee!
Week number two for our StateoftheArt: Tennessee brings something much more harsh than I usually choose. While still melodic, this band definitely falls on the more extreme end of Technical Death Metal in sound, theme and in attitude. Named appropriately after the collective gods of the underworld among ancient Romans, check out Inferi!
Comments Off on Review Of The “Winter Warriors Tour” With Battlecross, Allegaeon And Necromancing the Stone
Sunday, December 4th, 2016. JackRabbits, Jacksonville, FL. MetalBladeRecords’ artists NecromancingtheStone, Allegaeon and Battlecross take the stage for an evening hammering down some of the most engaging and hard hitting Metal around. This is the third such outing for headlining act, Battlecross, on their annual WinterWarriorsTour where veterans are allowed free admission to the shows and a portion of all proceeds land in the coffers of local veteran charities. The Metal community has no heart and is just a bunch of Satan loving hooligans wearing black t-shirts and leather jackets. Psh! No matter where I go, you people are the biggest hearted group, supporting our military vets, children charities and each other at every opportunity. Hell, there was a Metal show down the street from JackRabbits set up by local promoters and bands in support of a wonderful family that recently lost a child. I am truly honored to call each one of you brothers and sisters, even if we have never met! Thank you! In addition to the music, when it comes down to brass tacks, our solidarity is what grows the genre.
Comments Off on State Of The Art: Tennessee – Man Behind The Curtain
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured State*
This month’s State is Tennessee!
December takes us to the fine state of Tennessee for our StateoftheArtSeries here at MN. Bordered by Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri, Tennessee is the sixteenth state in the United States; admitted June 1, 1796. At 42,143 square miles, the Appalachian Mountains dominate the eastern side of the state while the Mississippi River runs down the western border. Tennessee has the 17th highest population at just over 6.5 million and boasts over 82,000 farms, production of textiles, cotton, and electrical power. Major corporations such as FedEx, Autozone, Pilot, RegalEntertainment and many others have located their headquarters there as well. If not for cold winters, I would live in Tennessee. It is the most beautiful state I have ever been to and holds many, many fond memories dating from high school to my honeymoon and my 25th wedding anniversary. I absolutely love the state! Beautiful, wonderful people and very close to where I grew up. When I learned of the recent wildfires in and around Gatlinburg, I was heart-broken. My thoughts and prayers remain focused on the fine folks affected by this tragedy. Just northeast of there lies the state capital of Nashville, where my spotlight band this week, ManBehindtheCurtain, calls home.
Comments Off on Review Of Flotsam And Jetsam, Helstar, And Hatchet Show At Jack Rabbits In Jacksonville, FL
Man! When we first got wind that FlotsamandJetsam, Helstar and Hatchet were hitting the road together, all of us here at MN (particularly Dragon and me) were praying this would stop somewhere within striking distance. Not just to see this collection of top shelf bands but also to get this match made in heaven available to our loyal readers. Who wouldn’t want to see this? Love Hatchet. Been listening to them for since around 2013 when DawnofEvil hit. Helstar. Hell, I have listened to them on and off for the better part of thirty years. Don’t even get me started on FlotsamandJetsam. They have ranked among my favorite bands consistently since DoomsdayfortheDeceiver way back in 1986. Saw them on their tours supporting NoPlaceforDisgrace and Cuatro at Bogarts in Cincinnnati and one other time in Indianapolis in the late nineties. I have relentlessly listened to them even with my long hiatus seeing them live. While I like some of their releases better than others, Flotz is one of those bands that apparently cannot put out a bad album. I can only think of a couple of other bands that I hold in equal regards. To say the least, this was a dream show for me and was elated to find that it was coming to JackRabbits in Jacksonville, FL; just minutes from my house! So, you ask: “How was the show?”…
Comments Off on Our Friends With Soften The Glare Release “Mission Possible” Video And Pledge Drive For Their New Album
After returning from their recent Mission Possible Tour, supergroup, Soften the Glare have just released their new single and associated video for “Mission Possible”, produced by Michael Hull! While checking out their musical wizardry, please consider giving them a hand funding their new album to be released in March of 2017 or at least sharing the video around to all of your friends. This is music of the highest caliber performed by some of the best in the business! The Soften The Glare Pledge Site includes pre-orders for all kinds of goodies, including signed CDs, vinyls, posters, cards, shirt packages, guitar lessons from the master himself Bon Lozaga via Skype (!), a custom Framus Panthera Supreme guitar (this thing in absolutely gorgeous!), signed cymbals and drumsticks from Mitch Hull, a Warwick 1124 bass signed by Ryan Martinie (Holy Cow!), and many other packages with various and sundry, highly desirable swag. So head over there and pick up what grabs you. Prices are really reasonable and would make great Christmas gifts for your favorite music fan! Heck, treat yourself too while you’re at it!
SoftentheGlare is an instrumental super-group comprised of Jazz/Blues guitar great BonLozaga of Gong and TinyBoxes fame who has been featured with Allan Holdsworth, Kai Eckhardt, David Torn, David Fiuczynski among many others; Rock/Metal bass wizard RyanMartinie from Mudvayne and Gongzilla/Staxx/Chemeleon/War4Peace drummer MitchHull. The result of seemingly unrelated specialties is some of the most fun, complex and genre-bending music available anywhere! Jazz, Funk, Metal, HeavyBlues and Rock “with a touch of chaos” as they say. With the depth of talent this trio bring to the table, rest assured that no one will find fault with SoftentheGlare’s inspirationally fun vibe.
Check Soften the Glare out on Facebook for more information!
Comments Off on Naga “Sophia” Review and Stream: Emotional Math
Naga is:
RichardPark – guitar
NickPopoawski – guitar
LukeRobinson – bass
JuanFranco – drums
Naga:
(From Indian mythology) A member of a semi-divine race, part human and part cobra in form, usually associated with water and sometimes with mystical initiation.
A member of a group of peoples living in or near the Naga Hills of Burma (Myanmar) and northeastern India who practiced head-hunting until the early 20th century.
Comments Off on New Song And Video For “Glacial Tranquility” From The Arbitrary
Remember my review of The Arbitrary from New Orleans, LA a few month’s back (The Arbitrary)? This brilliantly talented pair of young men, Jeffery Fisher and Adam Sauter, have just released a new single and associated video for “Glacial Tranquility“. These masters of progressive, instrumental Metal never cease to amaze! Unbelievably complex harmonies and melodies, woven together to create an intricate and uplifting sound that manages to be both beautiful and extremely heavy at the same time. Definitely shows a polish and maturity well beyond the years these two gentlemen have behind them! With the bar set this high, I cannot wait to hear what they will have in store for us next! Enjoy! Continue reading →
