HIDDEN TREASURES #38 - Death to all Butt Metal

[Scott]

DEATH TO ALL BUTT METAL

I have a confession.  I don't own lots of "Heavy Metal". There I said it!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good distorted guitar as much as anybody.  But, when it comes to the truly Heavy side of Metal, I am picky...

 

When I think Heavy, I think Zeppelin, Priest, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and even some of KISS' work could go here.  Times change and it seems that’s not heavy enough anymore.

 

The New Fusion of Metal contains terms like; "Thrash", "Death", "Doom", and “Gothic”, containing sounds generated by “The Drum Machine from Hell" and "Cookie Monster" vocalists. Images now require full body tattoos, make-up with outrageous accessories made to appear overly evil.  Shock may be more important than the music.  Even band names get the treatment; Metalcore is a very recent term and is comprised of bands with names such as "Suicidal Tendencies", "Dirty Rotten Imbeciles", and "Stormtroopers of Death".

 

Why such an image?  Is there a problem with the music?  If you go back and look at Zeppelin, Sabbath, KISS even with all their imagery, none hit it big until their music resonated with the people.  At their core they were bands on a stage just killing it with their instruments.

 

Lately there is a small movement called "Retro-Metal" containing bands who are recalling the days of the "Deep Purple keyboards", and "Jimmy Page-worthy chordal riffing".  Bands like WolfMother, Airbourne, and Eden’s Curse are some of the more encouraging bands leading this effort.

 

Let’s split this playlist into two equal parts... 

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HERES YOUR LINK...
http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/d15d21a3cc9e3d4ec4dd90a59a423928

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Songs 1-5 ...  Music Formerly Known as Heavy Metal...

TITLE: Rock Bottom
BAND: UFO
ALBUM: Phenomenon
YEAR: 1974
How many songs can you say that the Live version is the best of?  Not many, in fact I'd bet you can’t use all the fingers on one hand to make that list.  Sorry to disappoint but this isn’t the live version, but it still a great showcase of Schenker's masterful shredding.  In September 2008, when asked what had inspired the song lyrically, Phil Mogg said it was a horror film, but that he had forgotten its title. It is possible though that he was influenced subconsciously by the traditional song/poem "The Unquiet Grave", which contains the phrase "one kiss of your clay-cold lips". Mogg uses the same phrase "one sweet kiss on your clay-cold lips" although in a different context.  I'd say thats pretty Metal!

TITLE: Desert Plains
BAND: Judas Priest
ALBUM: Point of Entry
YEAR: 1981
Priest's twin guitar attack is normally the focal point of their well-known tracks.  This one features a driving beat from the drums and bass line that really knock you over as the song progresses.  Of course Halfords vocals and lyrics paint the picture very well, and the guitar solos are top notch as expected.  A live version of this track appears on the same disc as well as the Ram It Down remastered disc.  I don't own Ram It Down as it is not really very good...  oh well...

TITLE: Burn The City Down
BAND: Axe
ALBUM: Offering
YEAR: 1981
There’s not a ton of information about this band, and almost none about this song.  Bobby Barth still plays in several classic rock acts and by all accounts is quite successful.  I wish this band would have hung around longer.  This style of writing has just got all the right elements, a killer opening riff with a driving beat and a shredding solo in the middle.  The perfect 3 minute Metal anthem!

 

TITLE: War Machine
BAND: KISS
ALBUM: Creatures of the Night
YEAR: 1982
Every now and then I like to Pander to the Admin, besides how could anyone put together a Metal playlist and leave off a Bryan Adams written tune?  kidding...  Creatures of the Night was a genuine return to rock and roll for KISS, one that was very welcomed by hard core fans, but not well received until much later.  One of the heaviest and coolest riffs I can think of.  Though it doesn’t come up in discussion about great riffs, it should, but then again, it wouldn't be a hidden treasure.

TITLE: Straight Through The Heart
BAND: Dio
ALBUM: Holy Diver
YEAR: 1983
The opening track of one of Metals finest albums.  Holy Diver ranks #8 in IGN's top 25 Metal Albums list.  The album also features a young Vivian Campbell, WOW is he being under-used in Def Leppard!  I digress...  Dio is the quintessential Heavy Metal Master, he is owed many thanks for his contributions.

 

Songs 6-10 ... Music Now Known as Retro Metal

TITLE: Take Control
BAND: Weezer
ALBUM: Maladroit
YEAR: 2002
The opening guitar tone sounds exactly like the opening guitar tones on Larger than Life from Side 4 of KISS Alive II.  Quick RJ, check me on that, I think you'll find it quite interesting.  Even for the (at least) one person who will not like the Weezer inclusion, I think you'll find this song quite appropriate as a Retro-Metal opener.

TITLE: Fat City
BAND: Airbourne
ALBUM: Runnin' Wild
YEAR: 2007
We've seen this band featured in the Videos of the Week forum.  I think that was their new album though, this is from their 2007 debut.  Ya ya, ACDC knock offs, agreed!  But they do it really really well!  And I'm enjoying this album lots. Their new one?  eh, not as much.  The riffs in Fat City remind me of the Highway to Hell era.  Just lots of fun to crank up and listen to.

 

TITLE: Pilgrim
BAND: Wolfmother
ALBUM: Cosmic Egg
YEAR: 2009
Here’s an interesting band, their debut is just ok for me, but this one is on point!  Lots of Zeppelin influences to be heard, even some Deep Purple.  But the track I’ve posted here, I'll let you guess the influencing band.  For me it was obvious, but it will be fun to see who you all come up with.

 

TITLE: No Holy Man
BAND: Eden’s Curse
ALBUM: Trinity
YEAR: 2011
I bought this cause of this song and RJ's Second Coming post.  This is an impressive release!  I may have to include it in an NMC when I can post one.  The track gets a little help from Dream Theater's James Labrie on this track, so you know it’s heavy.  Still very classic sounding.  Smart track, written well, and executed perfectly.  "No Holy Man" deals with the theme of religious intolerance, and with Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church in particular.

 

TITLE: Pills, Demons, & Etc...
BAND: Velvet Revolver
ALBUM: Libertad
YEAR: 2007
(Warning: Song uses the "F" word in one spot)
Probably the most appropriate song to end such a list with.  Plus it has wocka-wocka-geetar*.  A band whose future is uncertain...

 

Well there you have it, my preferred view of what Heavy Metal is...  For what its worth, isn’t it great that we can agree to disagree on these types of topics and were all right?

* Copyright Hypo Luxa

 

 

 

[Niels (Mod)]

Oh, this looks very, very good. I'm looking forward to listen!!

[Niels (Mod)]

Now, THIS is what I'm talking about!!!

1. Not a big UFO-fan, but hey, it's ROCK!!!

2. Desert Plains is an AWESOME JP-track, from one of their best albums!! You're right. "Ram it down" is a lousy album. That's when it started to go wrong.

3. 1981 might be the perfect HM-year, but this song, is not among the best from that year. Good riff, though!

4. This is the best track from Creatures of the night. Maybe the last REALLY good GS-track.

5. An okay song from a good album. I only got it on vinyl. I prefer Dio in Black Sabbath. Never a fan of Vivian Cambell's playing.

6. I've (also) got this album. I would'nt call Weezer "Heavy". More like "Power-pop" or anything like that, but who cares?! There are some exellent "hidden tracks" on the following Weezer-album "Make Believe": "Perfect situation" and especially "This is such a pizzy"

7. This is an okay AC/DC-rip off.

8. I LIKE Wolfmother. I REALLY don't know, why I have'nt got an album by them?????!!!!! Good Black Sabbath-riff!!!! And he's got a good voice. I will DEFINETLY buy a new record from them.

9. Is it Queensrÿche???????? What a rip off!!!!! At the beginning anyway. No, I don't like this one. They try to hard, to sound like sombody else.

10. This is more like it. He said the f-word!!! Cooooool!!! Good guitar from Slash.

 

Good list, Scott.

 

[Scott]

Thanks Niels - I posted JP just for you!

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'll get to this later today, but please tell me, did you download the whole Eden's Curse album or just the single?  I'm assuming you downloaded, or did you buy the physical CD?  I'm asking because I really want the physical CD but it doesn't ship until March 29th. 

[Scott]

Yes, I downloaded this one because the deal from the marketplace was really really good!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Jerk...I just saw who you signed off as...

[Scott]

Did you read it right?  I'm assuming your talking about the footnote?

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yes, the footnote.  And I thought by copyrighting it you were confessing.

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, since english (or american) ain't my "prime" languege, as you often can see by my spelling, am I completly wrong, if this means that Hypo Luxa and Scott is one and same person?????!!!!!!! 

[Scott]

nope, just my way of giving credit to Jon for coining the phrase.  

[RJhog (Admin)]

Okay, what are you and Jon up to???  There's something rotten in Denmark...

[Scott]

my intent was to "embed" a jab at Jon by crediting his "wocka-wocka-geetar" comment to Hypo-Luxa whom I believe is really Jon.  I have nothing to do with the Hypo-Luxa dilemna.  Honest!