Music Discovery Monday – 12/29/14

Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 12/29/14.

Each week, the HRD team shares 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 also features a segment called “Hard Rock Music Time Machine,” which showcases older songs (from the 70s to today) that hard rock music fans may have missed the first time around.

All of the songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be heard on the embedded YouTube playlists beneath each section.

This week, Music Discovery Monday features an interview with Revolve guitarist, Debbie Barlow.

 

 ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

REVOLVE – “Stranded”

Revolve is a hard rock outfit that had started gaining nice traction in the Baltimore area under a different name.  With a relatively new name and frontman at the helm, Revolve is poised to continue their ascension.  The band’s first single, “Stranded” (off of their upcoming debut EP), is tailor-made for active rock radio.  With Clint Lowery producing, you can hear the Sevendust influence, but “Stranded” will also appeal to fans of bands like Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown.

Artists often say that being in a band is like being in a marriage.  In the case of Revolve, this is a literal statement, as the guitar duo of Debbie Barlow and Dave Phelps are an actual married couple.

 

Hard Rock Daddy caught up with Debbie Barlow recently to discuss the story behind “Stranded”…

“We wrote that song about a year ago.  When we decided to work with Clint (Lowery), and do some producing work, we sent him the song, he gave us his ideas, and it kind of came together and blended really easily.  All of the music was totally finished when we walked into the studio, but we didn’t have any vocals done, and didn’t think that there would be enough time to add the song to the album. 

If not for the incredible writing and vocal ability of our singer, Thommy Michaels (who joined the band after the song was written), ‘Stranded’ never would have made it onto the album.  He heard the song once, and off-the-cuff, just started singing lyrics that he had written. 

As soon as he finished singing, Clint said…‘I can totally hear this on the radio!’  And to think, this song was almost left off of the record.  Clint told us that this has happened to him on more that one occasion with Sevendust, where the song that almost got left off of the record becomes the song that audiences gravitate to most in concert.”   

 

JACKYL – “Favorite Sin”

Hard rock bands that broke during the height of grunge were few and far between.  With a chainsaw-wielding frontman, and a song entitled “She Loves My Cock” on their debut album, no one could have guessed that Jackyl would be a band with staying power.  Frontman, Jesse James Dupree, grabs more headlines these days for his entrepreneurial pursuits (including Full Throttle Saloon), but the band is still putting out great music all these years later.  2013’s “Favorite Sin” is proof-positive that Jackyl’s music has stood the test of time, and is as good today as it was when they launched their improbable career in the early 90s.

 

 

JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout

LULLWATER – “Tug Of War”

When a band from Athens, GA heads to Seattle, WA to record, it could be a challenge to avoid dismissing their work as being simply “too grunge” to truly rock.  That’s the mistake I almost made with Lullwater (an error that was corrected with some open-minded listening to the first single from their debut album).  Their influences are impossible to avoid entirely, but there’s more nuances here than their geographical history would suggest.

 

TRAPT – “Living In The Eye Of The Storm” 

It’s unusual for a song to get a full theatrical video but not a great deal of push at radio.  This cut (from the band’s sixth studio album) deserves another look and listen.  It’s a bit more thoughtful than some of their other work, but that should not be mistaken for lacking plenty of punch.   The video for “Living In The Eye Of The Storm” is dedicated to the U.S. armed forces, but the song itself is much more general in nature and appeal.

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

TURBO – “The Fifth Element”
Poland has appreciated the metal offerings of Turbo since 1980, while too many of us have missed out on them in the U.S.! All these years later, they are still producing quality music. “The Fifth Element” (the title track from their 2014 release) opens with a laid back 70s vibe before the chugging guitars of Wojciech Hoffmann launch it into power metal with shades of Iron Maiden.

 

KELDIAN – “Never Existed”
Keldian will fill your ears with melody and madness with “Never Existed,” a jolting and epic anthem from their latest release, Outbound.  Give a listen to this blistering symphonic metal out of Norway.

 

THREE LIONS – “Winter Sun”
Lamenting guitars usher in “Winter Sun,” a melodic rock ballad from newcomers, Three Lions.  Two of the Lions (Vinny Burns – guitar/keyboards & Greg Morgan – drums) are veterans on the melodic scene, having shared time in the both Ten and Dare.  The third Lion is the talented Nigel Bailey on vocals and bass.

 

 

 CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout

ASTRAL DOORS – “Die Alone”
The Dio force is strong on this one.  Of course, there is no substitute, but Nils Patrik Johansson sounds like he could be related to Ronnie James Dio.  The vocal power is undeniable.  The title, the lyrics and the heavy, dramatic sound definitely pays homage to RJD, but it’s a great, kick-ass original!

 

HARDBONE – “Sound Of The City”

Hardbone is quite possibly the love child of AC/DC & Great White.  The sum of the parts on this tune one equals one great rock and roll song.  The motto of vocalist, Tim Dammann, and company says it best…“0% BULLSHIT – 110% ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.” I recommend giving the entire album a listen.

 

HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE

 ADAM WALDMAN

SURGEON – “The Chance Is Gone”

If ever there was a band that was an ideal fit for Music Discovery Monday, Surgeon would be it.  The German metal band released The Sign Of Ending Grace back in 1991.  Intrigued by a logo that looked like a hybrid between Iron Maiden and Van Halen, I was instantly motivated to check the band out, and was not disappointed.  Unfortunately, the band’s outstanding debut album was also their last.  In a prophetic twist of fate, the one song that really stood out was “The Chance Is Gone.”  Fans of dual guitar metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest should definitely check out Surgeon.

 

AGAINST ALL WILL – “Swept Away” (2011)

Formed by Jimmy Allen (Puddle Of Mudd), Against All Will has taken a somewhat unorthodox approach to releasing music, releasing one full length album (2009’s A Rhyme & Reason) in addition to seven singles.  At the outset of “Swept Away,” the band gives off an Alice In Chains vibe, and then throws you for a loop when hit you with huge hooks and an infectiously melodic chorus.

 

 

JON LOVELESS

TAKING DAWN – “The Chain” (2010)

Cover songs are tricky business, but this Las Vegas band succeeded in finding a way to incorporate elements of the Fleetwood Mac original while still making the song their own, producing a memorable introduction to the (then) newly signed band.  After a lineup change, the band re-branded themselves as Devils Run and released a new EP in 2014.

 

WHITESNAKE – “Steal Your Heart Away” (2011)

Arena rock era icons proved themselves more than capable of delivering the goods more than two decades after their heyday with their most recent studio album, Nevermore. While never chosen as a single, this up-tempo cut has been included in the set list of live performances at times, and is a solid (if underexposed) song.

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA

THEOCRACY – “I Am” (2011)
Theocracy crafted an epic masterpiece with their power metal ballad, “I Am.”  Monster hooks and layered harmonies will sweep you away with this Christian-themed tour de force.  Don’t hesitate, because you don’t have to be religious to get all choked up from the deep beauty and even deeper meaning here.

 

THE POODLES – “Wings of Destiny” (2009)

“Wings of Destiny,” from Swedish rockers – The Poodles – is a perfect song for the holiday season. Sandwiched in between excerpts from Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from “The Great Dictator” at the opening and closing of the song are hooks and harmonies that deliver a message of hope and humanity.

 

 

CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH

TROUBLE – “Misery Shows Part II” (1990)
A great epic from Trouble’s eponymous album – one of the greatest end-to-end albums out there. Awesome bass riffs, tempo changes, and a great resolution of dark into light – appropriate of the storyline.  Heavy rock into a classic metal sound – especially the bluesy interludes.  “Misery Shows Part II” showcases the talent and versatility of these “Doom Metal” pioneers.

 

KING’S X – “The World Around Me” (1992)
Funking it up a bit with Kings X’s “The World Around Me.”  Doug Pinnick’s booming, soulful vocals really stand out as he leads the rhythm line like a locomotive.  This is an unusually up-tempo song from these 34-year 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