Welcome to the debut of Hard Rock Daddy’s Music Discovery Monday.
Each week, the HRD team will be sharing songs that fly below radio’s radar, ranging from lesser-known artists to deeper cuts from up-and-coming and established artists.
In addition to exposing the Hard Rock Daddy audience to new music that isn’t getting the attention that it deserves from radio, Music Discovery Monday will also feature a segment called “Hard Rock Music Time Machine” for older songs (from the 70s to today) that flew under the radar and never got their just due.
All of the songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be heard on the embedded YouTube playlists beneath each section.
As often as possible, we will share thoughts from the artists themselves about the songs being featured. This week features a great back story from TNT frontman, Tony Harnell, about a song featured in the “Hard Rock Music Time Machine” segment.
**Click on any hyperlinked song titles to read extended Hard Rock Daddy reviews.**
ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)
We Are Harlot – “Denial”
We Are Harlot, a side project that Asking Alexandria frontman, Danny Worsnop, has been working on since 2011, also features Jeff George (Sebastian Bach) and Brian Weaver (Silvertide). “Denial” is an energetic rocker that came out earlier this year. The song is a throwback to GNR’s heyday. It received some airplay on SiriusXM’s Octane, but not nearly the amount that it deserved!
The Family Ruin – “Let’s Go”
The Family Ruin is another band with an Asking Alexandria connection. The band is the second artist signed by guitarist, Ben Bruce, to his label (KBB Records). “Let’s Go” is a heavy, melodic, high-energy track with intense drumming and dynamic vocals. Like “Denial,” the song received some limited exposure on Octane, but it is still one of the most underrated songs of the year.
JON LOVELESS – (HRD Music Scout)
BROTHER GREY – “If It Kills”
Considerably heavier than their self-described “alternative/hard rock” genre label would suggest, their new EP, In Irons, does not disappoint. Recent tour dates with Saving Abel have expanded their audience, but they’re not only deserving of more recognition, they seem ready to embrace it as they round into a solid outfit for the current era. If you like Seether, check out Brother Grey.
TEMPLE AGENTS – “Find The Place”
The first album from these future South American stars (Chile) was produced by Elvis Baskette (Alter Bridge, Slash). The band garnered limited attention on Octane with their debut single “Free.” Their decision to focus their initial touring efforts on Australia is no reason for American audiences to not be fully familiar with them when they arrive stateside. Check out Temple Agents if you like Alter Bridge and Active Rock.
SHALLOW SIDE – “My Addiction”
This is a relatively young band among the many road warriors on the scene today, perpetually touring across the U.S., most recently as a co-headliner with Acidic. What sets Shallow Side apart from most, is a distinctly “radio-ready” sound that has professional polish without sacrificing anything. Their second EP, Stand Up, is quality work that shows no sign of the dreaded sophomore slump. Check out Shallow Side if you are a fan of Shinedown or Active Rock.
ROB DELL’AQUILA – (HRD Music Scout)
ALLEN-LANDE – “Lady of Winter”
“Lady of Winter” tiptoes in with piano keys before hitting you with solid drums and heavy riffs en route to the vocal explosion that one might expect from two of the greatest vocalists on the metal scene today. From Russell Allen and Jorn Lande’s fourth collaboration, The Great Divide (2014), the song is a powerful, melodic track that will not disappoint fans of power metal!
X-DRIVE – “Baby Bye Bye”
“Baby Bye Bye” is a gritty, but melodic, ballad by new band, X-Drive, from their debut album, Get Your Rock On (2014). The driving guitar of founder, Jeremy Brunner, works perfectly with the soulful vocals of Keith St. John. It’s melodic hard rock with just a hint of blues.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – (HRD Music Scout)
RIOT V – “Immortal”
“Immortal” is the latest from Riot (now referred to as Riot V) from their recent release, Unleash the Fire. The first album released since the passing of Marc Reale in 2012 would make him proud. The song and album are both a blast from the past. Featuring melodic riffs, strong clear vocals and a powerful rhythm, “Immortal” offers straight-forward, thick and dirty power with no gimmicks.
STRATOVARIUS – “Unbreakable”
Amp up the power with “Unbreakable” from the Finnish rockers’ 2013 release, Nemesis. In contrast to the thick sound of Riot V, Stratovarius’ sound is crisp, clear and precise – yet still heavy and driving. It’ll get your motor running!
HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE
ADAM WALDMAN
TNT – “No Such Thing” – (1999)
While TNT is a known entity; they are definitely underrated, as is this standout track from their 1999 underappreciated release – Transistor. Everything that you love about classic TNT tracks like “10,000 Lovers In One” and “Everyone’s A Star” is on display in this passionate, melodic rocker that somehow managed to elude the masses.
Tony Harnell, the extraordinary voice of TNT, shared his thoughts on “No Such Thing” and Transistor with Hard Rock Daddy for the debut of Music Discovery Monday…
“I haven’t listened to ‘No Such Thing’ in a long time, so had to pull it up on YouTube and listen to it a couple times to refresh my memory…
This was my Alanis Morissette obsession period. I was totally enthralled with her second album, and started to write much more stream of consciousness lyrics and play with phrasing more. You can hear that on this song.
As for the meaning of the song, I was going through a lot of changes, and basically I think this is about change, finding yourself, giving yourself permission to change your life, your mind or whatever…not just accepting that you can’t change the way that you think or feel about things.
The refrain – ‘there is no such thing as forever son…mama said’ – was just a way of praising my mother for helping me to move on at the time (I think). We had just reconciled, and were talking a lot and had a lot of long, philosophical conversations.
As far as the album (Transistor), it was one of the most creative writing periods for Ronni (Le Tekrø) and me. We were really digging deep, and it flowed very easily. We seemed to be on the same page, and writing almost as one person. We always had a good writing rapport, but those sessions, and the recording that followed, was something very special to both of us, so I am quite fond of that album and like a lot of songs.
I regret that we didn’t build on that direction more, and expand on it due to the pressure we were getting from business people wanting us to return to the classic 80s sound and the return of Diesel. That combo definitely put wherever we were going with this album to rest. Maybe someday Ronni and I will return to this and expand on it with a side project.”
ZEBRA – “Take Your Fingers From My Hair” – (1983)
Formed in the mid 70s in Louisiana, the band was adopted by Long Islanders as their own in the early 80s. If you ask hard rock fans from their two “home” areas, they will tell you that the band is legendary. Beyond those areas, they are virtual unknowns. “Take Your Fingers From My Hair” showcases everything that the band has to offer in one song, in particular, the vocal range of the vastly underrated, Randy Jackson.
ROB DELL’AQUILA
TANGO DOWN – “Enlighten Me” – (2012)
From the band’s 2012 release, Idenity Crisis, “Enlighten Me” builds from riff-driven 80’s rock, as powerful frontman, David Reece, delivers his unique vocals. It’s a match made in heaven for the listener, if not for the band itself, who parted ways just a few weeks ago. Still, if you enjoy this track, you will enjoy the whole album, and also their 2014 release Charming Devil.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH
SAVING ABEL – “New Tattoo” – (2008)
Saving Abel has gotten some attention at radio with other tracks, most notably, “Addicted.” “New Tattoo” is a deeper cut from the band that follows a familiar, simple formula – hard drivin’ rock and surly, good-times lyrics at a rousing pace that doesn’t quit. Overall, an enjoyable, high-energy track.
The playlists featured on Music Discovery Monday are permanently archived on Hard Rock Daddy Network (HRD’s YouTube channel). Hard Rock Daddy Network will exclusively feature playlists broken down by genre on a monthly basis, so be sure and subscribe to the channel to receive notifications when new playlists are posted.
SUBMISSIONS
To be considered for Music Discovery Monday, please e-mail a link to the song being submitted on YouTube and an artist bio to…
submissions@MusicDiscoveryMonday.com
Fantastic.Great.Brightens up monday.