Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 11/17/14.
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 Longreef frontman, Josh Barker, discussing the inspiration for their standout track, “Dirty Motel” (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)
MADLIFE – “To Live And Die In Hollywood”
Dealing with isolation and inner demons, “To Live And Die In Hollywood” is an industrial, melodic rocker that is as cinematic as the song title would suggest. In fact, all of the tracks from Madlife’s 21st Century Megalomaniac (EP) work together to form the makings of a concept album that would make for a very interesting indie film. With a frontman named “Angry Phil,” you know that this is a band with an edge.
THE BLOODLINE – “The Blackout”
Featuring ex-Soil guitarist, Shaun Glass, The Bloodline is currently working on their debut album (to be released on Another Century). “The Blackout” takes the classic sound of Iron Maiden and infuses it with modern-day elements of hard rock and metal. From the melodic vocals to screams, to shredding guitars and a heavy rhythm section, this song shows that The Bloodline is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the not-too-distant future.
JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout
CRASHDIET – “Circus”
Solid album sales in their native Sweden haven’t really translated into widespread success thus far for Crashdiet. Despite having three vocalists in four albums, the third single from their most recent album is an effort that expands them a bit beyond the glam/sleaze niche that they’re often associated with, bringing a bit of punk influence to produce a solid rock song.
ALMOST KINGS – “Hold On Me”
Coming in hot from the “party rock” segment is an Atlanta band that has already racked up appearances at high-profile events, including the 2012 Grammy Awards and the 2014 X-Games. Rapped main vocals, but backed with a hard-edged sound and judiciously produced harmonies. In the grand scheme of all that is encompassed under “Active Rock” these days, this band not only fits in, but also deserves more recognition.
VOODOO CIRCLE – “Graveyard City”
German guitarist, Alex Beyrodt, is a busy man. He is currently connected to four different bands, but luckily, he found the time to explore classic hard rock in the Whitesnake / Rainbow vein with Pink Cream 69 vocalist, David Readman, at the mic. The first full album from this collaboration produced several noteworthy songs, including “Graveyard City,” which fully displays their Whitesnake influences.
ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout
REDRUM – “You Can’t Buy No Hero”
The great Martin Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart) provides the vocals for melodic hard rockers Redrum, (who hail from Greece). “You Can’t Buy No Hero,” from Redrum’s sophomore album, Victims Of Our Circumstances (2013), launches from a killer metal riff into a stunning melodic chorus. In this mid-tempo, but driving track, you’ll hear influences from Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and Bad Company.
N.O.W. – “Bohemian Kingdom”
Bassist, Alec Mendonca, and vocalist, Philip Bardowell, team up a second time on N.O.W.’s second album, Bohemian Kingdom (2013). With so many catchy songs reminiscent of Foreigner and Rainbow (albeit with a modern twist), it’s hard to pick just one song, but for me, the title track stands out amongst the rest. Filled with hooks and great riffs, it tells the story of the last years of a once-proud kingdom led astray.
HEAVEN’S BASEMENT – “Nothing Left To Lose”
British hard rockers, Heaven’s Basement (having already opened for Bon Jovi and Buckcherry), came out pounding on their debut album Filthy Empire (2013). The album is loaded with great tracks, and no filler, but the standout track for me is “Nothing Left To Lose.” Aggressive, but catchy, and utterly infectious, it will have you singing along defiantly with the chorus.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout
BURNING RAIN – “Till You Die”
Take some Whitesnake, some Dokken, some Ace Frehley and a bit of Montrose, and you’ll get Burning Rain. Doug Aldrich, Keith St. John & Co. lay some heavy tracks together. “Til You Die” is one powerful ride from the band’s 2013 release, Epic Obsession.
DARK NEW DAY – “Give Me The Word”
Brett Hestla’s powerful vocals, and Will Hunt’s precision drumming shine through the most on “Give Me The Word,” off of Dark New Day’s 2013 release, Hail Mary. Edgy and dynamic from the first note to the last, you’ll be rearin’ to go after listening to this one.
HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE
ADAM WALDMAN
LONGREEF – “Dirty Motel” (2012)
These Aussie rockers received some radio exposure with their clever and unique 2013 track, “She Likes The Ladies.” With a great groove, cool riffs and infectious vocals, “Dirty Motel” deserved at least as much attention as “She Likes The Ladies,” but radio somehow let this one slip through the cracks. Once again, the band cleverly weaves a story with their outstanding lyrical ability. When asked about the inspiration for “Dirty Motel” while speaking with frontman, Josh Barker, he replied…
“The inspiration behind the song started with our firsthand experiences. Before we got our tour bus, we traveled the country in a 90s model, Ford Econovan, and stayed in a different motel in a different location nearly every night for two years straight. Now, I’m not saying that all of the motels that we stayed in were dirty, but when we started touring in the U.S., we had to find the cheapest alternatives for everything. I’m sure that you could imagine the kind of luxury (or lack thereof) you get for $35 per night!
Before we even started writing the song, we had the idea of incorporating a typical, Hollywood scenario with the different kinds of motels that we had visited.
We’ve all seen movies where the small-town girl leaves her perfect little life to pursue her Hollywood dream, only to fail, and come running back home to daddy. In “Dirty Motel,” we were writing about this scenario, not any girl in particular. We wanted to bring light to the fact that moving to Hollywood doesn’t automatically make you a star. The fictitious girl in the song was a big deal in her small hometown, but was quickly humbled at the realization that Hollywood is filled with girls just like her. Instead of working hard and pursuing her dream like a true artist, she completely sells out, and lowers her self-worth by attaching her lips and body to anyone who says that they can make her into an overnight success.”
STELLAR REVIVAL – “The Crazy Ones” (2012)
In one of the more puzzling stories in hard rock music in recent memory, Stellar Revival was garnering some attention with this melodic track that was tailor-made for Active Rock radio, but for reasons still unknown, Capitol Records never released the album. With a sound that bears resemblance to fellow Floridian rockers, Shinedown, this song should have been the launching pad to the start of something big, instead of what unfortunately appears to be their swan song (for the moment anyway).
JON LOVELESS
SIVA ADDICTION – “One Night Rodeo” (2011)
Another band serving up great hard rock out of the U.S. Midwest (Oklahoma City), Siva Addiction won critical praise for their video, and seemed to be a candidate to establish themselves as a band to watch, despite fairly limited airplay. Instead, they would go on “permanent hiatus” in 2012. Bringing energy & attitude with a talented and appealing female vocalist fronting the band, it’s a shame that fans are left to wonder what might have been.
DOKKEN – “Maddest Hatter” (1999)
Featuring the band’s signature harmony on the opening line, this song is a standout from Erase The Slate, one of the more polarizing albums in the Dokken catalog. Longtime fans were not only trying to digest the departure of George Lynch, and the addition of Reb Beach (Winger) as his replacement, but also trying to forgive the much-maligned 1997 release, Shadowlife, an effort that saw the 80s icons skew in a very alternative direction. Take a step back from all the history, consider the song on its own merits, and you’ll find a track that holds up well, fifteen years after its release.
ROB DELL’AQUILA
BEYOND THE BRIDGE – “Where The Earth And Sky Meet” (2012)
Beyond The Bridge, a progressive metal band hailing from Germany, released the concept album, The Old Man And The Spirit in 2012. They crafted a masterpiece within a masterpiece with “Where The Earth And Sky Meet,” a powerful balled filled with yearning and hope.
ECLIPSE – “Bleed And Scream” (2012)
Eclipse will blow you away with “Bleed and Scream,” the title track off of their 2012 release. From the soaring vocals to the pounding guitars, to the layered chorus that you’re never going to forget, these Swedish hard rockers have got it all right with “Bleed And Scream!”
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH
ECLIPSE – “S.O.S.” (2012)
A great bit of Swedish metal from Eclipse off of their album, Bleed And Scream. Tremendous, powerful vocals, hard-driving rhythm, infectious and melodic. If you aren’t familiar with Eclipse yet, you’ll be wondering why that is. If you are, you’ll be wondering why everyone else isn’t yet.
HAMMERFALL – “Hallowed Be Thy Name” (2009)
A song bearing this title has a lot to live up to, and it does. Hammerfall’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name” is what I always hoped for from Udo and Accept (no disrespect intended). The similarities exist throughout this hard and steady track, featuring group vocals behind a really good lead. There’s a little bit of George Lynch influence in the rhythm and solo in this outstanding track from these metal veterans.
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
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