5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #75

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. How You Remind Me, by Nickelback

Who didn't hear this at least half a dozen times or more on the radio every day when it came out in the early 2000's? This was the song that got Nickelback the stardom and status they would achieve before becoming scorned by the masses for God knows what reason. Overplayed though it may be, it still has one of the most pulse pounding epic choruses of the post-grunge period. Taking the concept of introspective meaningful lyrics backed with darker music that builds up to a big chorus as done in the 80's it was one hell of a fusion that worked for countless bands during that point in music history.

2. Side of a Bullet, by Nickelback

This is definitely one of the most metal songs that Nickelback ever put out. It's got some deep grooving riffs that just tear right into you. The best part of the song however is that the solo was an old sample recorded by the late Dimebag Darrell, the guitarist from the legendary metal band Pantera. The lyrics themselves are about the tragic death of Darrell, who was gunned down on stage during a show for his band Damage Plan. It's kind of suiting that the solo is from the man himself.

3. This Afternoon, by Nickelback

I always thought this was one of Nickelback's most chill fun songs. It's not anything balls to the wall, but it still has a lot of heart and soul to it in that it talks about despite the fact you might not always have a whole lot of money you can still have some of the best times in life as long as you have good friends and a good attitude. It's all about doing what you can to scrape by and being happy with virtually nothing.

4. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, by Nickelback

I honestly NEVER would have expected Nickelback to cover Elton John, but it honestly works pretty well. Dimebag Darrell and Kid Rock even lend their talents to this one to make it even more fun. I guess it's hard to go wrong when you're doing a masterpiece of a song with that much musical talent on it. They take this cooking tune and turn up the heat to make it even more of a driving guitar based song and it really does manage to kick a lot of ass.

5. Rockstar, by Nickelback

Come on. You knew I had to put this one in when I'm doing an all Nickelback theme post for this week. This one got overplayed way more than How You Remind Me. Hell, it still gets played a lot on the radio even to this day. It's for good reason, though. The song is a humorous examination and mockery of the rock and roll lifestyle that has become so infamous over the decades. Plus, when you've got Billy Gibbons in there doing backing vocals and guitar it's kind of hard for the song not to be something rad.

Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson Has Hours of Possible Solo Material

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson seems to be a pretty productive guy. Despite the fact that his band isn't doing much in the way of anything right now, that hasn't kept him from staying busy to the point where he apparently has hours' worth of unused material to do stuff with.

In a recent interview with Guitar Connoisseur, Lifeson talks about this material a little bit, but does not seem to be gun-ho about the idea of actually committing to putting together and recording a new solo album. In addition, Lifeson expresses his feelings on what it was like the last time he recorded a solo album, 1996's Victor.

Lifeson says:

“What I enjoyed most about making that album was the variety of the material. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to explore and expand on certain genres of music that were not necessarily open to me within the context of Rush. The workload was relentless, and I seemed to be working on that album every day for a year, but it was enormously satisfying for me as a songwriter, producer, and musician. I don’t have the same drive to jump into a project like Victor at the moment, but I do have hours of material that does inspire me to at least consider such a thing.”

Right now all the members of Rush seem to be taking a break from doing anything serious musically, as they recently came off a huge tour and are taking the time they need to relax and reconnect with their family and friends. Kind of understandable, really. However, it would be cool to see Lifeson put out a solo album if at any point he works up the motivation and drive to do so. Would be cool to hear him do something entirely instrumental.

Throwback Thursday: Rust in Peace, by Megadeth

In late 1990, Big Four thrash metal legend Megadeth reached a pivotal point in its history with the release of its masterpiece album Rust in Peace and the formation of its first stable and iconic line-up consisting of Dave Mustaine on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Dave Ellefson on bass, Marty Friedman on lead guitar, and the late Nick Menza on drums. This was arguably the band's biggest album and it helped skyrocket them even further into the stratosphere in the world of metal. In fact, it would become Megadeth's highest charting album.

Rust in Peace definitely shows where Megadeth got more creative in terms of song writing. There were more complex song structures, unusual rhythms, creative guitar melodies, etc. The band became more than just thrash. With their brand of thrash becoming far less formulaic than it was at their inception, they became a metal power house. The lyrics are very much political and religious themed throughout most of the album, but that was nothing new for Mustaine. However, that made them nonetheless piercing and powerful.

Holy Wars...The Punishment Due is one of the single greatest things Megadeth has ever done. There are so many different parts to it that alter in so many ways that at some points it gets difficult to believe that it is all one cohesive song. The amount of amazing riffs packed into one song is astonishing. The lyrics are based entirely on the Northern Irish conflict that had been going on at the time. Personally, I think the best part of the entire song is the short segment that has Friedman playing a rather mystical sounding Arabian acoustic guitar solo before the plugged in guitars come back in and things speed up near the end.

Tornado of Souls has some of the best guitar work on the entire album on it. For one thing, it has nice use of natural harmonics in its intro riff. The solo by Friedman is also blistering and technical, yet at the same time melodic and enjoyable. Songs like this is where Friedman and Mustaine proved they really could work together well as a guitar duo. In terms of vocals, I can't get enough of Mustaine's cat wailing and the harmonies done in the chorus. It's dark and haunting, yet pleasing nonetheless.

Rust in Peace is hands down one of the greatest things to ever happen to heavy metal as a genre. It's big, loud, technical yet accessible, powerful in subject matter and delivery, and so much more. While it isn't where I would recommend starting with Megadeth, it is definitely an essential album to own if you want to get into them or hear where so many modern metal bands got a great deal of their influence from. I would say that Rust in Peace is the closest thing to perfection that Megadeth has ever and probably will ever do.

Rust in Peace, by Megadeth receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
2. Hangar 18
3. Take No Prisoners
4. Five Magics
5. Poison Was the Cure
6. Lucretia
7. Tornado of Souls
8. Dawn Patrol
9. Rust in Peace...Polaris

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Peace-Megadeth/dp/B0002EXH5O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464339887&sr=8-1&keywords=Rust+in+Peace

David Lee Roth Hopeful on His Future With Van Halen

Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth seems to be placing a lot of faith in his band as well as his own future within it, according to a recent video he posted to YouTube.

In the video Roth talks about how he is confident that the line-up of the band that recently toured last year and also recorded 2012's A Different Kind of Truth (the band's first album with Roth since 1984's 1984) will be back at it again soon enough - with himself in the fold of course.

“It’s not like my career path is gonna be altered. I sort of know what the next 10 summers are going to bring. Eddie Van Halen aside — those are ups and downs — I don’t know when we’re going to tour but I have a sense that we will. I don’t know that we’re going to record again — when that’ll happen — but I get the sense that it’s gonna happen.”

Of course there have also been rumours of the band reuniting with former vocalist Sammy Hagar, who took Roth's place when he quit in 1985. Such rumours started when a few months back Hagar tweeted a happy birthday message to Eddie Van Halen. However, nothing of the sort in terms of a reunion have been confirmed. It seems unlikely anyway, considering the last time they tried a reunion back in 2004 things didn't go so well.

Personally, I hope that Van Halen does another album with Roth. As much as I like the Hagar stuff, when I think Van Halen I think David Lee Roth. I'd like to see what kind of new direction they could go from A Different Kind of Truth. It's been far too long since they put out a new album. This time around I'd like to hear some all new material rather than have half of it being shelved material from the 70's that they didn't feel was good enough to make the cut the first time around.

Dave Mustaine Wants All Ex-Megadeth Members to Participate in Nick Menza Tribute Show

By now many of you who follow heavy metal news know that former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza from the band's iconic Rust in Peace line-up passed away this past weekend from a heart attack. Band founder and leader Dave Mustaine has decided he wants to not only do a tribute show for his fallen friend, but wants anyone who was ever in Megadeth to participate in it.

Mustaine says the show take place in California, but has yet to announce any further details on it. The vocalist/rhythm guitarist is hoping to do a rather nice thing for his passed on drummer by putting on this heartfelt tribute concert.

Mustaine in an interview with Albany Q103 says:

“The band has already agree to do a benefit in California. We’re working out the details. We’re hoping to leave an open stage for all the alumni of Megadeth to come and play with us, so we can help leave something for Nick’s children, which I think have been kind of left in a bad way. We want to get all that stuff set up, and right now the wheels are turning.”

It's nice to see how big of a heart Dave Mustaine can have, despite the fact that he has not always placed himself in a favorable light to the public over the years. Even though Menza and Mustaine never did manage to patch things up enough for Menza to rejoin Megadeth it's still always cool to see how they were able to stay close enough friends to where his passing affects Mustaine this much. Plus, the idea of every remaining Megadeth alumni on stage together seems like the most awesome thing to happen in metal in a long while. The idea of Mustaine and ex-lead guitarist Marty Friedman jamming together again is pretty exciting if it happens.

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #74

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, by Megadeth

Since former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza just passed away, I figured I'd remember him and his fantastic work by including my favorite song from his tenure in the band; which was what many people consider the iconic Megadeth line-up. Holy Wars is just fantastic. It's a multi-part thrash fest that features a lot of creativity from its melodic solos, to its punching riffs, to its middle eastern sounding acoustic interlude. If you thought that metal couldn't get that diverse and creative, this is just the track to prove you wrong.

2. Tied Up, by Rival Sons

Big ballsy British blues vibing band Rival Sons from California just put out a new single from their upcoming 5th studio album! This tune while sounding a bit different from the directions the band has gone before still has that distinct Rival Sons booming thunder in the rhythm, fuzzy grooves in the riffs, and moonlit howls in the vocals. It definitely differs from the Led Zeppelin meets British Invasion sound they have gone for. Listen for yourself and you'll hear what I mean.

3. Nobody's Fault But Mine, by Led Zeppelin

Speaking of Led Zeppelin, check out this Blind Willie McTell cover they did. Unfortunately they credit it as their own work, but I guess considering how different it sounds from the original song they may as well have called it their own song. They definitely took this blues classic and Led Zeppelin-ified it. In a way by the time they did this song it was a bit of a throwback to their earlier works from when they were still primarily a heavy blues band. Once again, they blasted the blues into outer space.

4. I'm a Believer, by The Monkees

How about a throwback from our childhoods, eh? I'm still kind of skeptical on the concept of love some times, but who can hate such a catchy tune? It's cheesy 60's pop rock at its absolute finest. It's upbeat, fun, and full of good vibes. It's a great song to dance to even if you don't have a special someone to groove along to it with. Plus, if you're starting out on guitar and want to woo over some girls this is an easy one and is sure to do the trick. Just saying, fellas.

5. Joy to the World, by Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night is one of the coolest bands that I never hear ANYONE talk about. I really don't understand why. They had such a slew of amazing songs - Joy to the World being my absolute favorite. You know when such a powerful soulful voice starts singing a song about a bullfrog named Jeremiah that it's going to be pretty rad. This is a tune that is guaranteed to get you dancing and lift your spirits the moment it starts blaring (because you should NEVER listen to it on low) through your speakers.

Gene Simmons Says the Only Cure for Pedophilia is Death

Kiss front man and bassist Gene Simmons has been known over the years to express some rather bold and usually controversial views. Simmons is at it once again, expressing a rather radical view on pedophiles.

Simmons gave this viewpoint in a recent issue of Classic Rock Magazine in a segment called The Gospel According To... The segment usually covers some rather heavy hitting topics like drugs, politics, pedophilia, and more. You know, stuff that people usually have a strong viewpoint one way or the other on.

Simmons was asked about how he felt about it and said:

"Paedophilia is an incurable condition – death is the only answer, apart from sending them to the gulags of Siberia. And priests who are pedophiles are the lowest of the low. If you put on a priest's collar and use your influence to command someone to suck your cock, there's a special place in hell for you."

I'm kind of wondering what the rest of the big names in rock are going to have to say in response to this, considering the fact almost everything Simmons says usually garners a noticeable amount of response from them. Maybe if we stopped all paying attention to him he might not keep running his mouth, though I guess this time around his feelings about pedophiles does have a certain amount of understandablility to them even if they are rather extreme.