Music Discovery Monday – 3/16/15

Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 3/16/15.

Each week, the HRD team shares songs that fly below radio’s radar, ranging from lesser-known artists to deeper cuts from both 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 at the time of release.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlists beneath each section, all songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be listened to by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles.

Some of this week’s songs appear on the recently published Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014.

This week’s featured artist is The Glorious Sons. Check out the story that frontman, Brett Emmons, shared behind the meaning of the band’s latest single, “Heavy.”
 

 

 ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

THE GLORIOUS SONS – “Heavy”

In the early 90s, the Black Crowes (featuring the Robinson brothers) rose to fame with their brand of Rolling Stones-inspired rock.  Fast forward two decades, and it looks as though history is about to repeat itself with Canadian rockers, The Glorious Sons (featuring the Emmons brothers).  Although they are more edgy than either of the aforementioned bands, The Glorious Sons have built their sound upon the same rock and roll foundation.  “Heavy” is not only the title of the song, but also an accurate description of the direction that the band is taking with their sound, due in large part to Brett Emmons’ vocals.  Emmons takes a little bit of Mick Jagger and mixes it with an Ian Astbury vibe to create a vocal style that stands out as unique in the current hard rock landscape.

Brett Emmons shared the meaning behind “Heavy” with Hard Rock Daddy…

“I was going through a time in my life when I’d felt betrayed by a couple of people who were close to me. At the time, I didn’t know how to deal with the way they made me feel. I was watching The Sopranos one day, and Junior said to Tony, ‘Next time you come in, you come heavy or not at all.’ I instantly picked up my guitar and started strumming and singing to the line. The song became a little more violent than I’d expected, but ultimately, it’s about cutting the negative influences out of your life.”

 

RIVAL SONS – “Open My Eyes”

Unlike The Glorious Sons, Rival Sons do not hail from Canada, although they have inexplicably achieved greater chart success in the Great White North than they have in their native United States.  In the fall of 2014, “Open My Eyes” briefly cracked the Active Rock Top 50 with around 100 total spins, whereas the same song went all the way to the top of the Canadian Active Rock charts.  Although they do it with their own modern flair, this California quartet delivers a timeless, classic rock sound with “Open My Eyes” that is very much in Led Zeppelin’s wheelhouse.

 

 

JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout

I PREVAIL – “Love, Lust, And Liars”

The music business is a funny thing.  There’s plenty of buzz lately about this post-hardcore band from Michigan, courtesy of their cover of a pop song.   The funny part is that their debut album contains several songs that are simply better than the one that’s generated the attention.  The contrast between their clean/rough vocals is considerable, but that may be what makes it work as well as it does on this tale of a relationship that’s in worse shape than the ruined buildings that provide the backdrop for their video.

 

FURYON – “These Four Walls”

The sophomore release from this U.K. outfit will likely increase comparisons to a band that’s obviously an influence.  Still, there are certainly worse things to say about a band than “they kind of bring Alter Bridge to mind.”   Certainly not a clone by any means, vocalist Matt Mitchell is a genuine talent, and Rick Beato (Shinedown, Fozzy) helps highlight that with his production.

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

ARCANE – “Unturning”

A tapping guitar riff introduces this piece, followed by powerful bass riffs and compelling vocals.  The drive slows in the middle, only to return full force in an ending that gradually builds until it finally explodes.  Out of Australia, this is progressive metal with shades of Tool, from Known/Learned, a double disc concept album with breathtaking depth.

 

INLEGEND – “Threatened”

There is a pop and techno quality to the metal of German band InLegend, with touches of industrial metal, that work wonderfully together.  There are no guitar solos, and unlike most metal, the music is written more around piano than guitar riffs.  This song in particular opens with gorgeous piano and a galloping beat.  The band was formed by the drummer from Van Canto, a metal band with no instruments (except drums), but voices that amazingly mimic the instruments.  Rewarding stuff for those listeners open to something a little different in their metal.

 

 

   CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout

EUROPE – “The Second Day”

Joey Tempest and John Norum are back, leading Europe to another solid album, War of Kings.  Tempest shows he’s still got that great, bluesy voice amid Norum’s great guitar work and the band’s trademark sound.

 

BEYOND THE BLACK – “Running To The Edge”

German metal band Beyond The Black debuts with Songs of Love and Death.  Jennifer Haben shows us yet another outstanding female lead in metal with a great tone (as opposed to sheer power).  She’s supported by a thick, heavy rhythm line, dueling guitars and a slight symphonic touch.  “Running to the Edge” will echo in your head for a bit after it’s finished.
 

 

 

HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE

 ADAM WALDMAN

VOLBEAT – “Fallen” (2010)

“Fallen” is a fairly recent track that did receive radio play, but it is included in this week’s Music Discovery Monday because of the lyrical content.  With arguably the most distinct voice in hard rock today, Michael Poulsen brings the song to life with his passionate delivery.  Although “Fallen” has an uplifting vibe due to its catchy melody and hook, it becomes somewhat bittersweet when you realize that the lyrics offer a poignant message to a father who has passed away.  During this time of year, this song has special meaning to me, as another birthday passes for my father without us being able to celebrate together.

 

DEEP PURPLE – “Child In Time” (1970)

Keeping with the theme of my selections this week, we travel all the way back to 1970 in the Hard Rock Music Time Machine to an epic Deep Purple track.  “Child In Time” is around 10 minutes long, but because it is so powerful and intense, you barely even notice.  They simply do not make music like this anymore.  The song opens with the signature sound of Jon Lord’s Hammond organ before Ian Gillan’s soulful vocals kick in, highlighted by ungodly high falsetto notes drenched with anguish.  Ritchie Blackmore shows why he is one of the greatest guitarists of all-time during the extended jamming in the middle of the song. Gillan was only 25 years old when he hit the high notes in this live video.  Amazingly, he was still able to hit those same notes when I saw the band play just days before his 43^rd birthday in 1988.  In a lifetime of rock and roll memories, that one still stands out to this day!

 

 

   JON LOVELESS

RED LINE CHEMISTRY – “Dumb Luck” (2010)

Sandwiched between their 2013 album, Tug Of War, and the soon to be re-released 2006 album, Chemical High & a Hand Grenade, was a 2011 album entitled Dying For A Living, which provided the first taste of this Missouri band for many listeners.  This track lands somewhere in the still grunge-influenced segment of the post-grunge era.  It’s interesting to look back just a few years and see where the band was at that moment and wonder if it provides clues as to where they may head in the future.

 

 

ARANADA – “Break Away” (2013)

With the release of a new album now just weeks away (due May 2015), it seems like a good time to look back at the breakthrough of this Oklahoma four-piece.  While Stop The World produced three solid radio hits, the number could have easily grown to four if this up-tempo rocker had been chosen for a push.  The potential for a strong follow-up release makes their upcoming project one of the more interesting releases on the calendar this year.

 

 

 ROB DELL’AQUILA

VAN CANTO – “Lost Forever” (2010)

Van Canto somehow delivers brilliant metal with no instruments (except drums).  While this is a cappella, the voices do not merely harmonize with each other, but actually mimic the instruments that are missing (but which you’ll swear at times are there!).  With big hooks and an addictive chorus, “Lost Forever” is a wonderful introduction to Van Canto.  Also, check out their covers of classic metal songs such as Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”, as well as some lesser known (but no less brilliant) metal songs. 

 

 

FIREWIND – “Edge Of A Dream” (2012)

The most hauntingly beautiful song of 2012, “Edge of a Dream” gave Greek power metal band Firewind a chance to show their softer side.  The writing is sublime, the execution perfect. They brought in Apocalyptica to provide a cello accompaniment, but it is a tribute to the genius of guitarist Gus G that his guitar solo somehow manages to surpass that haunting addition in emotion and depth.

 

 

 

 CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH

DRAGONFORCE – “Through The Fire And Flames” (2006)

DragonForce’s “Through the Fire and Flames” is one of the fastest, most synchronous metal tracks I have ever heard.  The speed on both lead guitars is amazing (Sam Totman & Herman Li), remarkably kept in time by the unbelievable speed of Gee Anzalone’s machine gun drums.  Great British power & glory metal.

 

BUCKETHEAD – “Nottingham Lace” (2005)

No lyrics here, just fantastic, all-around guitar talent in a strange wrapper of Halloween’s Mike Meyers and Kentucky Fried Chicken (the bucket).  Buckethead (a.k.a. Brian Patrick Carroll) is as prolific as he is talented (Enter the Chicken is one of over 150 albums to his credit).  Check out the live version of this track to complete the picture and witness his prodigious skill.
 

 

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