Music Discovery Monday – 6/8/15

Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 6/8/15.

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.

This week’s Music Discovery Monday features an exclusive interview with Crucified Barbara front woman / lead guitarist, Mia Coldheart, who shares the surprising inspiration behind the band’s latest single, “Lunatic #1.” 

 

 

 ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

CRUCIFIED BARBARA – “Lunatic #1”

For over a decade, this quartet of Swedish badass women has been delivering ballsy, punk-infused hard rock.  Although they have started to garner some attention as a supporting act in the United States, they are vastly underrated here, which is somewhat surprising given the rise of female-fronted bands being played on Active Rock radio.  The band’s latest single, “Lunatic #1,” showcases what Mia Coldheart (vocals/guitar), Klara Force (guitar), Ida Evileye (bass) and Nicki Wicked (drums) have to offer – unrelenting, kickass, anthemic hard rock.  A driving punk rhythm lays the foundation for Coldheart to shine with her haunting, defiant vocal style.  You would never know by listening to this song that she was ever reluctant about taking over the lead vocals for the band. The gang vocals are as good as it gets, and the guitar shredding and harmonies harken back to the glory days of metal.  Coldheart is a rare talent that makes you stand up and take notice for not only her vocals, but also her lead guitar play.

 

In a recent interview with Hard Rock Daddy, Mia Coldheart discussed the unexpected inspiration and meaning behind “Lunatic #1”…

“When we began writing the song, I had a feeling about what I wanted to say, but didn’t have anything to tie it all together. I got the final inspiration for the song when I was doing horse riding in Sweden. I had met one of the best riders in the country, and we had a really nice chat. He was telling me about how he had made it to the absolute top just by changing his mindset and the way that he practiced everyday, and how much effort that he put in. I was very touched by the meeting because I really look up to him. It left me very inspired when we went in to start recording the album. It also helped me to put more effort into the songwriting.

For this song, I finished the lyrics after returning home from this meeting. “Lunatic” is the name of his horse; he’s kind of like a rock star in the horse world. So, I thought that it was fun because it fit the lyrics quite well. I didn’t tell the band what the lyric was about because it’s not actually a song about a horse. It was a dedication to this rider because the meeting with him helped me to finish the song and the album with so much more inspiration.

The meaning behind the song is that when someone brings out the best in you, that you have no limits together. It ties back into my band. We are the best when we are together, but when I’m doing solo stuff or playing with other people, I feel quite alone because I don’t know exactly what I’m doing. When I’m with my band, I know exactly what I’m doing. For me it’s my band, but it could also mean a team player, a best friend or anything that brings out the best in you.”

 
The full interview with Mia will be posted in the near future on Hard Rock Daddy.  For a sneak peak at some of her influences, take a look at my picks in this week’s Hard Rock Time Machine segment below…

 
 

AMARANTHE – “Digital World”

Amaranthe made a huge splash with “Drop Dead Cynical” – the juggernaut debut single off of their latest album, Massive Addictive.  Proving that there is more to the band than just one mega-hit, this Swedish six-piece “dance-metal” act is back with their latest single, “Digital World.”   The pop synthesizer intro quickly collides head-on and blends with driving intensity and Henrik Englund’s “unclean vocals,” which provides a nice contrast to the beauty of Elize Ryd’s angelic vocals and Jake E’s melodic vocals.  A lot of bands incorporate aspects of other genres into their music, but few are able to take elements that don’t usually exist in hard rock and make it feel so natural.  Amaranthe is the exception to the rule, but that’s no surprise given that they make their own rules (see three lead singers).

 

 

 

 JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout

CITY OF THIEVES – “Incinerator”

New name, new members, new style for the former Four Wheel Drive.  The element that carries over is a heavy brand of rock that doesn’t seem bashful about kicking the listener in the gut, and I don’t expect that they’d be inclined to apologize to anyone for rockin’ this hard either.  A solid debut that should provide a solid foundation on which to build.

 

SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN – “If You Just Believe”

After interminable delays in the release of their album stalled the promising rise of Stellar Revival (“The Crazy Ones”), a new band featuring two members of that group has emerged.  The first sound of the new Florida-based trio is definitely different; a long way from the anthemic signature of their previous project, and to be honest, it may take a little getting used to.  That said, the debut is definitely worth a listen and suggests that the new project is one to keep an eye on.

 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

BONFIRE – “Can’t Break Away”

David Reece (Accept, Bangalore Choir, Tango Down) comes out firing as the new front man for German melodic rockers Bonfire, on their new album, Glorious. His powerful, distinctive vocals and some other notable lineup changes have revitalized the band.  The songs are full of energy and groove, with some big hooks and killer choruses.

 

AKASAVA – “The Deep”

French band Akasava produces 70’s style psychedelic rock with a modern touch and some doom metal influences.  “The Deep,” from their self-released debut album, captures that heavy, pulsing groove of the era and jams out from it towards madness.  There are some H. P. Lovecraft allusions in the lyrics.

 

 

 

   CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout

VOYAGER – “Breaking Down”

Prog metal from Down Under, “Breaking Down” is a riveting, energetic piece, which is rather opposite from its depressive theme.  Voyager plays with great power and rhythm, mixed with time shifts that you’d expect from prog.  Melodic vocals, intricate pic work on the guitars and well-timed keyboard interludes round out this terrific track.

 

JUDICATOR – “At The Expense Of Humanity”

John Yelland’s vocal power is the clear standout on the title track from Judicator’s latest release, At the Expense of Humanity.  Smooth and intense, this epic, power metal anthem is made in the USA.  Other notables are the rhythm line of Joseph Palomares on bass and Jordan Elcess on drums.

 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

 
 

HARD ROCK MUSIC TIME MACHINE

 ADAM WALDMAN

SISTER SIN – “Fight Song” (2012)

When asked who her vocal influences were during our interview, Crucified Barbara’s Mia Coldheart named just one – fellow Swede and Sister Sin front woman, Liv Jagrell.  Vocally, Coldheart is definitely in the same realm as Jagrell, but not quite as lyrically intense as her counterpart.  If you’re easily offended by salty language delivered with an ample amount of piss and vinegar, then Sister Sin probably isn’t for you.  If, however, you love listening to a singer that doesn’t adhere to gender expectations, crank “Fight Song” up to eleven!  I’m man enough to admit that I wouldn’t want to be the one to cross Jagrell and feel her wrath, but there is something very refreshing about her no-holds-barred approach.  You know that any song that begins – “Fuck you! Fuck them and fuck the world too!  Do I look like some bitch to you?” – is going to grab you by the throat and never let go until the final note.  “Fight Song” delivers just what you’d expect, as you throw your fist in the air and revel in an intensely powerful musical experience.  This is what metal rebellion is all about!

 

MEGADETH – “Tornado Of Souls” (1990)

If you read the rest of my picks this week, you were probably expecting another Swedish, female-fronted band.  Not so fast!  Remember, this week’s Hard Rock Music Time Machine artists were chosen because of their inspiration to our featured artist, Mia Coldheart.  When asked who her biggest guitar influence was, Crucified Barbara’s lead guitarist instantly replied – “Marty Friedman.”  Megadeth’s “Tornado Of Souls” is an underrated, hard-driving, aggressive, balls-to-the-wall metal song.   The riffs and rhythm hit you like a freight train, and Friedman’s solo is as good as it gets.  A quarter century has gone by since this song was released, and it is still every bit as relevant as it was when it came out in 1990.

 

 

 

JON LOVELESS

GIRLSCHOOL – “Play Dirty” (1984)

While the band remains active, and is among the most venerable of female rockers, the title track of their fourth album is still one of my favorites three decades after its release.  Although it may depart somewhat from the more raw sound of their previous work, I agree with a quote attributed to Girlschool drummer, Denise Dufort, that this represented a “more mature” outing for the band at the time.

 

SAVATAGE – “Gutter Ballet” (1989)

With an upcoming reunion appearance set for this summer at Wacken Open Air, it seems like a good time to revisit and remember the brilliance that dotted the too-short career of Savatage.  While subsequent work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra eclipsed the success of the forerunner, this turning point to a less metal/more progressive sound was striking in its own right.  There are better (and there may be more technical) Savatage songs, but there aren’t many that are more pivotal.

 

 

 

  ROB DELL’AQUILA

HARTMANN – “The Same Again” (2005)

When not fronting the German power metal band At Vance, or collaborating with the other symphonic metal superstars in Avantasia, Oliver Hartmann has been known to put out some amazing solo material.  Here his voice and guitar both stand out on a hard-hitting ode to a vicious cycle of misplaced trust.

 

PRAYING MANTIS – “Playing God” (2009)

Praying Mantis has been around since the 70s, hit their stride during the NWOBHM of the 80s, and has kept on producing amazing music since.  Yet they’ve never received the recognition that their talents and dedication deserve. Their 2009 album, Sanctuary, was yet another artistic triumph that should have brought them much more fame.  With great hooks and a gripping guitar solo, “Playing God” stands out on an excellent album.
 

 

 

 CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH

VOX TEMPUS – “What About” (2005)

One-and-done, was the album history of Vox Tempus, who morphed from the group Equinox back in 2002.  You’ll hear a heavy Dream Theater influence with terrific vocals from Dana Reed out in front on “What About.”  The solo work from Ray Mantor (guitar) and Eric Ragno (keyboards) is also notable. Jim Turba (bass) and Gregg Bissonette (drums) round out this short-lived (but talented) band.

 

BLACK SABBATH – “Over And Over” (1981)

This is one of the lesser known tracks that never saw much air time from Mob Rules.  It’s got top-notch Dio, a completely off the hook, two-part Iommi jam and the greatness of Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice (in his first album with Sabbath) keepin’ it all together.  Dark, moody and emotional – one of my all-time favorites!