Against The Grain: Mass Worship

Sweden is one of the worlds best exporters of heavy music. There is absolutely no denying the impact that Sweden has had on metal, hard rock and even pop music (ABBA). One band that has recently been brought to my attention that has really taken the Swedish sound by storm is Mass Worship. Taking cues from the likes of At The Gates and Meshuggah with bits of Mastodon and Discharge, Mass Worship is making one hell of a name for themselves. Their punishing and crushing riffs and rhythms mixed with bits of Swedish death metal and dbeat crust punk, it’s no wonder I’m digging this band. Their second album Portal Tombs is out February 4, 2022. The first song released from the album is “Revel In Fear” and features Napalm Death’s Mark “Barney” Greenway on guest vocals. Personally, I can’t wait to hear more from Mass Worship.

Mass Worship- Revel In Fear feat. Barney of Napalm Death:

Those 80’s Songs: Iggy Pop- Real Wild Child (Wild One)

Back in 1986, Iggy Pop was on a roll with his solo career. His most recent album at the time (his 7th solo album) Blah, Blah, Blah would go on to be one of his most successful in his discography. This album also saw Iggy and David Bowie work together again after a 4 year hiatus. This would be their final collaboration but the end result is tremendous. Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols also co-wrote three songs on the album. On this album, Iggy did a cover of Johnny O’Keefe’s “Wild One.” The track would go on to appear in Crocodile Dundee II, Pretty Woman, the Problem Child movies and more. Iggy’s version is easily the most recognizable of all the versions out there.

Iggy Pop- Real Wild Child (Wild One):

Memorable TV Performances: Adam Sandler- The Thanksgiving Song

The date is November 21, 1992 and during the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live, anchor Kevin Nealon brings out Adam Sandler to perform a song. This was originally intended to be a recurring Thanksgiving tradition with other cast members debuting their own original songs, but the next year, it was again Sandler, doing another version of the same song in the style of Bruce Springsteen. Adam’s “Thanksgiving Song” was written by Adam Sandler along with SNL writers Robert Smigel and Ian Maxtone-Graham. Interestingly (as always there is something interesting about these performances/songs), this song was the predecessor to “The Chanukkah Song.” When that song became a hit, “The Thanksgiving Song” was then released as a follow-up the next year; it too became a hit, charting at #40 on the Adult Top 40 chart and #29 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1997. The song continues to receive extensive radio airplay around Thanksgiving. So, now that we know all that, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Adam Sandler- The Thanksgiving Song:

The Thanksgiving Song (Live):

Live Review: Centershift, Kiss The Scientist & Hoobastank at The Whisky A Go Go

It’s always interesting to go see a band you haven’t seen in many many years. The other night I found myself at The Whisky A Go Go to see my good friends in Centershift play on the same night as Hoobastank. I’ll get to all the good stuff in a moment but, before I get too deep into the night, let me just say that this was one hell of a fun night. There was a familiar sense to what was going on this evening. Seeing Hoobastank for the first time in over 20 years was a trip all on its own and then you add the awesome Centershift and the up and coming Kiss The Scientist and you’ve got a recipe for a stellar night.

First up was Centershift. If you haven’t checked them out yet, get on it! Led by former Onesidezero/Abloom frontman Jasan Radford, Centershift not only set the tone for the night but the bar for how each band would have to perform. Playing songs from their upcoming debut album, Centershift hit a nerve with the sold out and packed crowd. Looking around the room you are watching people enthralled by the emotion and magnitude of the songs. The couple songs they’ve released so far “9” and “My Own World” sounded so damn good with the latter being a huge standout. Centershift is one hell of a band and they are super tight too. The combination of Jasan Radford’s vocals along with Ryan Stuber on guitar, Ted Wenri on bass and Michael Tarabotto on drums is a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait for more from this band!

Following Centershift wasn’t an easy task but thankfully up and comers Kiss The Scientist were up for the challenge. These youngsters tapped into the energy that Centershift left the crowd with and delivered the goods. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these guys before and they absolutely rock. They’ve got a sound that harks back to the mid 90’s mixed with a bit of indie rock. Not only do they have the charisma but the talent and ability to make people take notice. Take notice of these kids too!

Now the headliner, Hoobastank. This was a special night as they were celebrating 20 years of their debut album and playing said album in full along with some other fan favorites. I’ll admit, it’s been a while like I mentioned above, that I’ve listened to them but, the moment “Crawling In The Dark” started I was transported back 20 years. It was quite fun to hear these songs and see how excited the SOLD OUT crowd was. Watching the band on stage having a blast made the whole thing so much fun. The sing alongs the crowd had going were infectious and you could tell that the band was feeding off it as they played harder and a bit more loose. Ending their set with their song “The Reason” they had almost the entire venue singing along and just when you thought it was over, BOOM… one of the largest amounts of confetti I’ve ever seen in a small venue exploded and made it all festive. Hoobastank recently wrapped up a tour with Everclear and Living Colour and those shows made them quite prepared for this show as they were on fire all night long.

All three bands made this night something special. It mixed the old school with the new and the perfect place for this all to happen. Shows like this one especially in the times we are living in are much needed. Kiss The Scientist is going to go places. Centershift is without a doubt going to resonate with fans and will be a name you’ll know quite soon. Hoobastank for over 20 years now have been going strong and based on this performance, they seem to have the fire reignited! Do yourself a favor and check out these bands. You’ll thank me later!

Review By: Brian Lacy

Track One: The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat

The Velvet Underground is one of my Top 10 all time favorite bands. My mom got me into them when I was still a toddler. There’s something majestic about this band and what they create. Just when you think they are writing a “pop song” they flip the script and out comes something otherworldly. Lou Reed had one hell of a way of telling stories through songs. He was a profound writer and often doesn’t get the credit and respect he deserves. This song “White Light/White Heat” is also the title track of the same name. This song was released in January of 1968. Interestingly the song is about the sensations produced by intravenous injection of methamphetamines. “White Light/White Heat” was also a staple of the Velvet Underground’s live performances from 1967 on. The tune appears on numerous live bootleg albums, and the nearly nine-minute version included on the group’s posthumous 1969 Live double LP is one of the album’s centerpieces. This song holds such a candle with many artists, so much so that David Bowie even recorded a version of it. This track every time I hear it, I have to turn it up super loud and sing along! What a tremendous way to kickstart an album!

The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat:

David Bowie- White Light/White Heat:

Memorable TV Performances: The Replacements on SNL 1986

Back in 1986, The Replacements performed on Saturday Night Live and it didn’t go well at all! There’s a really intersting story behind it all and I’ll tell you part of it. It all started when the bands label was trying to get The Replacements to shoot a music video. The band though had a hard stance of NO about making videos. So, the powers that be came up with a solution, one that would be beneficial for the band as well as fans. The idea was to get them to perform on live TV. So a letter was then sent to Saturday Night Live music booker Michele Galfas touting the group. Then the ‘Mats’ product manager, Steven Baker, and Warner A&R head Lenny Waronker pressed label chairman Mo Ostin to put in a call to the show’s creator/producer, Lorne Michaels. Based on Warner Bros.’s faith, Galfas put The Replacements on a shortlist of acts for the show — without having seen the band play live. See where this is going… Fast forward a few months and out of the blue, the bands gets the call that they will be appearing on SNL. Originally The Pointer Sisters were to perform on this night. Actor Harry Dean Stanton would be the host for the show on the now infamous January 18th airing. The episode would also feature controversial stand-up comic Sam Kinison as a special guest. The rest of the story is just as crazy as you think it is. From being drunk on stage, spouting “FUCK” on live TV, out of control antics and more. To say the people running SNL were pissed is an understatement. I highly recommend you taking some time and reading more about it this story.

The Replacements- Bastards Of Young:

Same Name Songs: Nine Inch Nails & Stone Temple Pilots- Sin

It’s always fun to take songs of the same name and put them on back to back and contemplate about which one is better. There are so many of them out there and some are definitely better than some. One that I did recently were the songs “Sin” by Nine Inch Nails from Pretty Hate Machine and by Stone Temple Pilots on their album Core. Now these are both totally different but are quite good songs. The NIN one will always take the top prize for me. “Sin” the NIN version is in my top 10 all time favorite NIN songs.

What One Is Your Favorite?

Nine Inch Nails- Sin (on Pretty Hate Machine):

Stone Temple Pilots- Sin(on Core):

Those 90’s Songs: Goldfinger- Here In Your Bedroom

The other day I was driving with a friend of mine and a 311 song came on. The bass line I heard reminded me of another song but I couldn’t remember at who at that moment. Later that night it came to me in one of those “oh there it is” kind of things. The song I was thinking of was “Here In Your Bedroom” by Goldfinger. This song is from the bands 1996 self titled debut album. The song was inspired by a girl frontman/songwriter John Feldman was seeing. According to the story, Feldman was working at a store selling shoes, and he had a crush on a woman working in the dress department for over eight months. “‘Here in Your Bedroom’ is all about those wacky emotions that a sensitive guy like me gets at a time like that. When we were in her room, there was nothing else going on in the world but me and her,” he told Billboard when the song achieved success. Upon the song’s twentieth anniversary in 2016, Feldmann called it his favorite song on the band’s self-titled debut album, Goldfinger. This song is beyond catchy and it will be stuck in your head the moment the hook hits. Sorry not sorry hahahaha!

Goldfinger- Here In Your Bedroom:

Anticipated Albums: Failure- Wild Type Droid

Anytime there is an announcement about the band Failure, I can’t help but get excited. Failure is one of the best bands I’ve ever heard. Their landmark 1997 album, Fantastic Planet should be in the Smithsonian. That’s how perfect it is. Now though, Failure are back again with a new album entitled Wild Type Droid which will be out December 3rd (via Failure Music). The 10-song album features the first single “Headstand” which as Greg Edwards describes as “The lyrics come from my earliest memory of spacing-out in my room when I was seven, trying to conceive of infinity and watching the dust falling through the bars of sunlight pouring through my blinds,” explains Edwards. “I had heard that a lot of that dust was made up of skin cells and that really stuck with me. It’s kind of a love song to those bizarre innocent moments of solitude.” This new album is classic Failure with some new experiments along the way. Speaking on that, Ken Andrews said “We’ve been together long enough to know that some of our best ideas come directly from these experimental sessions. For this album, we simply cultivated that methodology for a much longer time than we have in the past. It brought out the trio aspect of the band. There was a feeling we could really push the individual parts further away from each other and let the more interesting and challenging combinations take center stage.” Now with all that in mind, how can you not be excited about a new Failure album! Pre-Orders Available HERE!

Failure- Headstand:

New Release: Korn- Start The Healing

Korn have unveiled their brand new track “Start The Healing” along with an official music video for it directed by Tim Saccenti. It’s the first single to be launched from the band’s fourteenth studio album “Requiem“, which will receive a February 04th release date through a new partnership the band have struck with Loma Vista Recordings. The band recorded the new album during the height of the pandemic. Created without pressure of due dates or anything, a new creative process energized the band. The additional time allowed the band to experiment together and diligently recording to analog tape — processes which unearthed newfound sonic dimension and texture in their music. The new album was produced by Chris Collier and Korn.

“Requiem“ track listing:

01. Forgotten
02. Let The Dark Do The Rest
03. Start The Healing
04. Lost In The Grandeur
05. Disconnect
06. Hopeless And Beaten
07. Penance To Sorrow
08. My Confession
09. Worst Is On Its Way

Korn- Start The Healing: