Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 7/27/15.
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.
No interview this week, just a dedication to a special little girl…
ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)
DEMON HUNTER – “The Last One Alive”
Demon Hunter’s history dates back to the turn of the new millennium. While they have received accolades and awards inside the Christian Metal world, “The Last One Alive” is the first song that helped them cross over into Active Rock. Truth be told, this song probably achieved too much success to be included on Music Discovery Monday, but it was chosen for a very specific reason (beyond it being an outstanding song).
Last week, drummer Yogi Watts, and his then-expectant wife, Cara, returned home from a doctor’s visit to find that their building had burned down. They lost all of their belongings. Since then, baby Dessi has arrived. To help the couple and their newborn baby get back on their feet, a GoFundMe campaign has been created. Not that there was any doubt, but the metal community takes care of their own, and have already risen to the occasion during these bittersweet times for the couple. Even though the campaign has already exceeded its modest goal, donations are still being accepted.
CLICK HERE to contribute to Yogi, Cara and baby Dessi’s GoFundMe campaign.
SIXX: A.M. – “Relief”
When Motley Crue’s farewell tour finally comes to an end, Sixx: A.M. will finally become the primary project for all of the band members. The band already has lofty plans to follow-up their most recent album, Modern Vintage. In 2016, Sixx: A.M. plans to release two full-length studio albums. Until then, there is still a lot more meat to pick off of the Modern Vintage bones. The debut single from the album (“Gotta Get It Right”) was followed up by the mega-hit, “Stars.” With an album this deep, the only explanation for not releasing several singles is that Sixx has been focusing most of his attention on his final days with Crue.
Sixx: A.M. has the uncanny ability to create uplifting melodies with lyrics that touch upon the more difficult times in life. It is highly recommended that you listen to this underrated track while reading the powerful (at times cathartic) lyrics. Any difficulties that you’re facing will seem a lot less daunting as you immerse yourself in “Relief.” Who among us can’t use some “relief” in one way or another?
JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout
WILSON – “Right To Rise”
Attitude has long been a part of rock ‘n’ roll. Now and then, a band comes along and reminds everyone of that this is still true today. This five-piece band from Detroit fills that role nicely. There’s considerable talent here, an ability to write and definite signs of {gasp} maturity since their previous album. Hopefully that won’t inspire them to hunt me down or anything; I’m only telling the truth. Wilson is a band that is well-worth enjoying now, and also to keep an eye on for the future as well.
BRING ME THE HORIZON – “Happy Song”
In the coming weeks and months, it seems likely that a fair bit of discussion will be focused on the band’s move away from metalcore into, well, “poppier” territory. Some of that discussion won’t be “happy,” and having heard “Throne” (the likely first single), I can understand some of the slings and arrows that are likely to ensue from longtime fans. That said, the forthcoming album is definitely not without some worthwhile moments, like this track that really seems to almost mock the very direction they’ve admitted to be heading towards. It’s a good contemporary track that’s got some musical bite and is rather snarky (in my opinion).
ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout
THE MURDER OF MY SWEET – “Always The Fugitive”
Swedish symphonic metal band The Murder Of My Sweet returns on August 21st with Beth Out of Hell, a concept album where the daughter of Lucifer falls in love with the Archangel Michael. That’s a pretty lofty concept; but then this band is known for soaring vocals and cinematic orchestrations. Both are in strong supply on this, the album’s first single.
POLLACK –“Stand Up And Run”
Polish brothers Jacek (guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards) and Grzegorz Polak (drums) team up with bassist Bartlomiej Filip to form Mr. Pollack. From a country known lately for supplying acts on the heavier side of metal, these guys are (slightly) more laid back, treating us to a melodic brand of hard rock. This particular song is heavy and catchy, while boasting some extra groove.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout
ELVENKING – “Black Roses For The Wicked One”
Elvenking is a folk/power metal band from Sacile, Italy. “Black Roses” is a deep cut from their last album, Pagan Manifesto. It’s an energetic ride with a tight and talented band. Vocals, rhythm and lead guitars are all terrific on this track.
BRING ME THE HORIZON – “Throne”
Bring Me The Horizon has morphed away from their early metalcore sound, and solidly into alternative rock/metal. “Throne” is the second release from their September 2015 release, That’s the Spirit. It’s an intense, never-say-die track about being on the rebound.
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
My Hard Rock Music Time Machine selections were inspired by a little girl who has changed my life in ways that I never would have imagined…
10 YEARS – “Fix Me” (2010)
Not to sound like a confusing word problem, but five years ago, 10 Years featured a sound much different than today. From their 2010 release, Feeding The Wolves, “Fix Me” is alternative metal with the type of catchy chorus that lingers in your head long after the song ends.
As the founder of Hard Rock Daddy, I do my best to expose my children to as much hard rock as possible, a feat that grows more challenging as their own musical tastes evolve. Back when they didn’t drift off into their own musical world with headphones, they had no choice but to listen to SiriusXM’s Octane, which is often the station of choice in the car.
At the age of 5, that little girl mentioned above liked a lot of hard rock music, but no song ever elicited the same response as “Fix Me.” As soon as she heard the beginning of the chorus… “I’m fine in the fire…I feed on the friction…” – a huge smile would appear on her face as she clapped and shrieked with delight. In retrospect, I probably should have recorded it and sent it in to America’s Funniest Home Videos. No matter, the memory is etched in my mind as if it were recorded, and it comes rushing back every time that I hear this song.
DIO & YNGWIE MALMSTEEN – “Dream On” (1999)
Aerosmith’s original version of “Dream On” made a lasting impact on me that still remains to this day. For many years, I associated it with my high school year book quote, but that all changed when my daughter began to sing along as the song reached its peak, and Steven Tyler’s ungodly notes. Unable to make out the words, she called the song “Dream – Os,” which sounds like some sort of breakfast cereal.
Since including the original “Dream On” on Music Discovery Monday would be kind of absurd, given that it is one of the most popular rock songs of all-time, I decided to share an incredible cover version of it instead in this forum. Taking on a song of this magnitude is pretty much a fool’s errand, unless of course, you are the legendary Ronnie James Dio being accompanied by Yngwie Malmsteen. Then it makes total sense! While this version will never make you forget the original, it is one of the more inspired hard rock cover songs that I’ve ever heard.
JON LOVELESS
MAN MADE MACHINE – “Victim” (2011)
The recent announcement that members of this Arizona-based band would be moving on to other projects prompts another wistful trip into the time machine. Their debut album (produced by Hellyeah/Mudvayne veterans Chad Grey and Greg Tribbett) provided this solid lead single, but for whatever reason, the band never quite managed a complete breakthrough into regular rotations at radio with the rest of the album, nor the 2014 follow-up EP. A shame, really; their talent and output deserved more than it got.
ROB DELL’AQUILA
HEARTLAND – “City Of Lights” (2005)
This 2005 track opens with a blend of driving guitars, joined shortly afterwards by the drums, and then the commanding vocals of Chris Ousey. Exuberant backing vocals layer in later to build to a powerhouse chorus. This was one of many highlights from the album Move On, by British melodic hard rockers Heartland.
IRON MASK – “Universe” (2010)
Guitar virtuoso Dushan Petrossi delivers a neoclassical tour de force with Belgian power metal band Iron Mask, on this song from their 2010 album, Shadow of the Red Baron. Goetz “Valhalla Jr.” Mohr contributes some raspy, but powerful, vocals. Eric Stout’s drumming is rapid-fire and intense.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH
EDGUY – “All The Clowns” (2001)
German power metal band Edguy has been crushing it since 1992. “All the Clowns” was the lead-in song from the Mandrake album, whose success led to their first headlining tour. The summary for this track is best left to lead singer Tobi Sammet… “We are a Heavy Metal band. We play angry, powerful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek Metal.”
STEEL DRAGON – “We All Die Young” (2001)
The track is a cover by the fictional band Steel Dragon – from the 2001 film Rock Star. Originally recorded by Steelheart in 1996, it got some extra amperage from Zakk Wylde on guitar, Jeff Pilson on bass and Jason Bonham on drums. The amazing vocals of Steelheart’s Miljenko Matijevic, however, are unchanged. The original is excellent in its own right, and worth checking out as well.
Leave a Reply