I always liked “lighter” metal, but then one day in high school a friend of mine played a cassette tape for me that introduced me to the world of “true” metal.

Anthrax.

Of course, the song wasn’t much of a metal song, it was “I’m The Man” (sorry, YouTube won’t let me embed it). But it was funny enough that I kept listening to it. Even tho the EP was mostly mixes and edits of that one song, it also contained a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, which was well done. Enough that it made me seek out other Anthrax albums like “Among the Living”.

Anthrax was a different sort of thrash band. They weren’t all spikes and leather, well they used to be but later saw them wearing t-shirts and Jams. Lyrical content came from other places, like Stephen King and Judge Dredd comics. And of course, they were one of the first to blend rap and metal:

Anthrax has had their lineup changes, their career ups and downs, but they always made their unique brand of metal.

Is Metallica metal? I would (still) say so. 🙂

Without question, Metallica is the most successful metal band the world has ever known. They have been through a lot, they have changed, and some old school fans refuse to even acknowledge them these days… or if they do, won’t call them “metal” but maybe just a “rock” band. This I can understand. After the black album the band changed their look and their song style. The whole Napster fiasco. St. Anger. Lars and James getting in touch with their feelings (banana stickers!). I can agree with this. When you have millions of dollars, when a big emotional moment in your life is auctioning off your artwork collection for millions of dollars… well… not that I have any problem with them being rich and enjoying success (I do think that’s awesome), I think it has detracted from what makes Metallica Metallica. Where’s the anger? Wanting your anger to be healthy? What happened to Alcoholica? How healthy was that? 🙂  There’s no question the Metallica of today is not the Metallica of old, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

I’m still a fan of Metallica. I see nothing wrong with their evolution and change. Any musical artist that has endured has changed. They change their look, their sound, their direction. Nothing too majorly radical (I don’t think we’ll see Metallica go country), but still they change. If things are the same over and over, then what’s to care about? Even if you hate it, at least you’re still caring about it… apathy is worse than dislike.

I recently picked up their new album, Death Magnetic. It’s better than St. Anger. It is closer to old-school, but it’s still new school Metallica. The only album I don’t listen to is S&M.

Love them or hate them, they’ll never stop, they’ll never quit, because they’re Metallica.

How can I have Sunday Metal and not have an entry on Slayer?

There’s nothing for me to say. This is Slayer. ’nuff said.

I was working at WXJM as the Metal Director. An album comes in from the band “Monster Magnet” called “Spine of God”. The CD sleeve was rather sparse but had one standout line printed within: “It’s a Satanic drug thing, you wouldn’t understand.”  And thus describes Monster Magnet’s music and how they helped to bring the so-called genre of “stoner rock” to the masses.

Monster Magnet takes a nostalgic drug-fueled journey back to the 70’s. Overdriven fuzz-box guitars, psychedelia, and lyrical content that I guess would make a lot more sense if you took drugs by the truckload but yet still had an amazing poeticness even to the sober. Dave Wyndorf is the mainman and visionary force behind Monster Magnet, and over the years of his drug consumption, sexual overindulgence, and music writing, you can see how his life experiences become reflected in the trippy space rock outlet that is Monster Magnet.

Lyrical gems include: “Life is good, a rocket-sled utopia, a self-imposed myopia, you gotta love this pace. Life is fast, a million winners everyday; you tell me is this work or play? I’m never really sure.”.  “Some people go to bed with Lucifer, then cry when they don’t great the day with God.”.  “You’ll never find your pleasure if you worry about your pain.”  and my favorite: “I’m suckin’ up more karma than I need, so have a supernova on me.” That last line comes from the song “Facedown” from the album “Superjudge”, which is my favorite album from Monster Magnet.

When the record company was pushing “Spine of God” they offered me a chance to do a phone interview with Dave. I took up the offer and they gave me his home phone number and said to call him at this time on this date. I grabbed the nearest piece of scrap paper and scribbled down his phone number and the information. When it came time to do the interview, I called Dave and we spoke on the air for about 5 minutes. I spun some tracks off the album, and proceeded to continue to speak with Dave off-air… for about an hour. It was years ago and I don’t recall all that we spoke of, but I just remember at the time he was very cool and down to earth… he was talking with a complete stranger for an hour, so there had to be some level of friendly there. The other weekend when was I was overhauling my closet, I came across some of my mementos from my radio daze… one of which was that scrap of paper with Dave’s number on it. While lots of things got thrown out, I kept that scrap of paper.

Growing up in the Washington D.C. area, Wrathchild America was a local band. I admit I didn’t follow the band back in their early Wrathchild days, but while writing this blog entry I came upon this excellent documentary piece on the band:

Nothing screams ’80’s metal like getting your hair done, eh? It’s rather amusing to watch the guys getting their hair highlighted, primping… how… manly. 🙂  Of course, the drummer, Shannon Larkin is still going today, playing in Godsmack. And it seems guitarist Terry Carter has gone country. Oh, how things have changed. 🙂

Again, during my radio days I got to see the band a great deal. In fact, they were the first band I interviewed at the start of my radio career, in support of their 3-D album. I think Terry and Brad were a little annoyed with me, but I was young and new and had no clue. Still, I saw Wrathchild America many times during their career and always enjoyed their musicianship, their stage banter (they were constantly joking), and their live shows were always a fun party.

The mighty Pantera. Just when metal was dying from the rise of “the Seattle scene,” along comes Pantera to kick the world in the ass. 

I remember the first time I saw Pantera live. The Bayou, Washington D.C.. They were opening for Wrathchild America, supporting their Cowboys from Hell album. Since I worked in radio at the time, I was backstage talking with the band. I spoke with Phil about the (then) new Peter Steele project. I spoke with Dime, who then was “Diamond Darrell”… he signed my Pantera hat with “Dime” and explained to me his “name change”. Dime was so nice, so friendly.

Their music is like no other. Power. Groove. Emotion. Soul. Strength. 

Walk on home, boy.

I’ve seen Tesla live a couple times, and while they used to be a band I liked and enjoyed, since their 2004 album “Into the Now” they’ve grown to become one of my favorite bands. 

What I like about Tesla is that they’re just a rock band. They just make good music. There’s no trend to follow, there’s no real concern of press or image or whatever. They just make music. I also have a great deal of respect for how their now run their business: embracing the Internet; using techniques and strategies to connect with fans; and doing so much of things themselves and showing you can be successful at this. As example, check out their latest video for their new single “Fallin’ Apart”. The band posted this video to their YouTube channel, they allow embedding (many of your big record companies won’t do this for whatever reason… I guess they don’t like free press). Of the video they write:

“Fallin’ Apart” which we wrote, directed and produced ourselves! This is the first time that we took one of our ideas for a concept video and found actors, locations, props, and put it all together making a concept music video. Our friend Ken Nicholson who has helped us produce videos in the past found an amazing camera crew, and we found Daniel Espinoza and Scheilah Magnolias to play the roles. The 1956 Ford Tbird was found by Robbie Furiosi at one of his friend’s auto shops called Check Engine Automotive, and he and Larry drove the car down in the freezing cold for 2 days..thanks guys!

They did a great job with it. Check it out:

What really strikes me about Tesla is their songwriting, especially how positive so much of their music is. Check out this article from Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles. Guitarist Frank Hannon breaks down each song on their new album “Forever More” and you’ll see how many songs have positive and uplifting messages. Nothing is cheesy or preachy either. And this goes back to songs like “Caught In A Dream” and “What You Give”, which I find to have a truly beautiful message.

It’s hard for me to pick out a single Tesla song that I like. So many good songs, so many strike a chord. But off their new album, there’s a song called “Just In Case” which really does hit home with me. Here are the lyrics:

Outside the sky is blue;
Always try to do my part
But now it’s raining in my heart.
There’s just so much I can do.
It’s really got a hold of me,
It’s why I feel so incomplete.
If life’s a broken band,
Only I would understand,
I’ll be more than glad to join right in.
If only I could pray,
I know what I would say:
“To whom it may concern”

Just in case I don’t make it to Heaven,
I’d like to personally thank you for givin’
Somethin’ so beautiful
Makes life worth livin’, yeah.
Thank you just in case I….

I’m trying once again,
But everytime I try to talk to You
It’s like I never seem to get through.
I never had the strength to ever put my faith in You.
Maybe I should just realize
I don’t deserve you in my life.
They say it’s in Your hands,
That everything’s just like You planned.
It’s good enough for them, so why not me?
If only I could pray,
I know what I would say…
(I’d say) “Dear God, I’m talking to ya”

Just in case I don’t make it to Heaven,
I’d like to personally thank you for givin’
Somethin’ so beautiful
Makes life worth livin’, yeah.
Thank you just in case I….

Soon enough the time will come.
The hour’s getting late,
The sun is settin’ fast and
You’ll be standing by the gate.
I’m sure You’re gonna say to me,
“Somewhere, couldn’t you just relate?”
I’ll say, “To tell You the truth, You know I already do
In so many other ways.”

Just in case I don’t make it to Heaven,
I’d like to personally thank you for givin’
Somethin’ so beautiful
Makes life worth livin’, yeah.
Thank you just in case I….
Just in case I don’t make it to Heaven,
I’d like to personally thank you for givin’
Somethin’ so beautiful
Makes life worth livin’, yeah.
Thank you just in case I….
I don’t make it

Good stuff. Tesla is certainly a band that, in my book, ranks pretty high.