Cover Song: Spotlights (The Cure)- Faith

Ever since I heard the album Seismic by Spotlights, I just can’t get enough of them. They are one of the bright spots in today’s music scene. They have an EP called Hanging By Faith which is out in a couple weeks (June 15 to be exact) which features a really great cover of The Cure’s song “Faith.” Spotlights really knocked it out of the park with their version. It harks back to that era of The Cure but also shows the dynamic range of what Spotlights are more than capable of.

 

Spotlights- Faith:

 

Spotlights- Seismic:

Album Review: Baptists- Beacon Of Faith

It’s been four years since Baptists have released a new album. Now in 2018, they have put out one of the best heavy albums of the year. The sheer intensity that is emitted from the 13 songs on Beacon Of Faith is astonishing. Chock full of gritty riffs and pummeling rhythms, Baptists have indeed developed their signature sound and left a permanent mark in hardcore/metal music.

The album doesn’t stray far from the bands metallic hardcore roots. What it does have though is more space and vibes as the songs go on. There is a real sense of warmth to this album even with the aggressive and uncompromising nature of the material. Songs like “Worse Than Hate,” “Beacon Of Faith,” “Gift Taker,” “Vicarious Trauma,” and “Bevel Down” showcase the grit and prowess that Baptists do oh so well. Then there are songs like “Indigo Child” and “Eulogy Template” that take what they do and expand it to almost epic proportions.

Beacon of Faith is an album that will cement Baptists as a force to be reckoned with. This album has the feel of a steel toed boot to the throat that won’t let go.

 

Baptists- Beacon Of Faith:

Bands That Should Return: Skid Row

If there is one band besides Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd that really need to get back together it’s Skid Row. There was something really great about them. One thing I will always remember is seeing Skid Row on Bon Jovi’s New Jersey tour in 1989. It was my first concert ever and one of the best shows of my life. Technically speaking, Skid Row was the first band I ever saw live. Skid Row was impactful and full of attitude that the hard rock/metal world needed at the time.

Cover Song: White Zombie (Kiss)- God Of Thunder

I’m still hoping that one day White Zombie will get back together for at least one show. But at least there is still the music. One of my favorite Kiss songs “God Of Thunder was covered by White Zombie way back when. It’s definitely an interesting cover. Enjoy it!

 

White Zombie- God Of Thunder:

 

Kiss- God Of Thunder:

 

Rob Zombie, Slash, Scott Ian, Tommy Lee, Ace Frehley, Gilby Clarke (from VH1 Rock Honors)- God of Thunder:

Songs In Film: Pixies- Where Is My Mind in Fight Club

I woke up this morning with the Pixies song “Where Is My Mind” in my head. While I was singing the song to myself it made me want to watch Fight Club. To this day, the ending scene of Fight Club when “Where Is My Mind” plays is one of my all time favorite scenes and endings to a film. The placement of the song is absolutely perfect.

 

End Scene of Fight Club with Where Is My Mind:

Album Rank: Depeche Mode

As a band since 1980, Depeche Mode have cemented their legacy as an influential and inspirational group. They have released albums that will forever be the soundtracks to many lives. Through the years and 14 albums now, Depeche Mode have always followed the beat of their own drummer and their catalog shows that. Some albums are better than others and then there are those albums that are quite underrated. Anyways, below is a ranking of Depeche Mode’s albums from not their best to their best.

Best and Worst Albums of 2018 (So Far)

2018 has been quite a year so far for new albums. There are some that are really great, some that are good and some that just plain suck. This list (which is in no particular order) shows all the albums that you should be listening to and buying.

Best Albums of 2018…So Far:

The Atlas Moth- Coma Noir (Album Of The Year so far)
Corrosion of Conformity- No Cross No Crown
Bad Wolves- Disobey
Sevendust- All I See Is War
Will Haven- Muerte
At The Gates- To Drink From The Night Itself
Dead Empires- Designed To Disappear
Judas Priest- Firepower
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Wrong Creatures
Vexes- Ancient Geometry
Minus Knives- Minus Knives
The Sword- Used Future
Cane Hill- Too Far Gone
Fucked and Bound- Suffrage
A Light Within- Epilogue EP
The Armed- Only Love
All Souls- All Souls
Ritualz- Doom
Actors- It Will Come To You
Failure- In The Future EP Part 1 & 2
Stone Temple Pilots- STP (Version 3.0)
Ghost- Prequelle
Jonathan Davis- Black Labrynth

Worst Albums of 2018 (So Far):

A Perfect Circle- Eat The Elephant
Godsmack- When Legends Rise
Myles Kennedy- Year Of The Tiger
Jack White- Boarding House Reach
Shinedown- Attention Attention
Five Finger Death Punch- And Justice For None

Band Of The Week: Repentance

Heavy music comes in all shapes and styles. There are the bands that have bits of melody to go along with the rifftastic jams. Then there are the bands that just go for the complete brutality approach to heaviness. And then in between you have so many different styles and subgenres that it starts to become a bit overwhelming yet at the same time quite fun to check out.

I’d like to introduce you to Repentance. This Chicago based metal band hits all the right notes with their unrelenting onslaught of heavy riffs, crushing rhythms and subtlety brutal vocals. The first song released so far called “Collide” is quite a statement for the gents in the group but also as a brand new band. Led by Shaun Glass (formerly of Broken Hope, Soil, Dirge Within) his riff based mentality is the perfect push this band needs coming out of the gate. The addition of vocalist Robby Fonts (of Stuck Mojo), lead guitarist Markus Johansson, drummer Anthony Lien and bassist Mike Sylvester has made this a well balanced metal band.

Repentance is due to make their live debut opening for Trivium in Chicago. That’s a great way to introduce the band to the masses.

 

Repentance- Collide:

New Release: Nine Inch Nails- God Break The Door Down

Nine Inch Nails are getting ready to release a new EP on June 22 called Bad Witch. The first song released from that release is this very David Bowie inspired song “God Break The Door Down.”

 

Nine Inch Nails- God Break The Door Down:

Cover Song: Korn (Cheech and Chong)- Earache My Ear

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Korn’s album Follow The Leader. They just announced 3 shows to celebrate the album. This morning I felt the urge to go back and listen to the album and I totally forgot about the hidden track at the end of the album of the cover they did of Cheech and Chong’s “Earache My Ear” with Cheech on vocals.

 

Korn w/ Cheech Marin- Earache My Ear: