Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 11/2/15.
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.
ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)
DOROTHY – “Raise Hell”
Earlier this year, Hard Rock Daddy featured a review of “After Midnight,” a Dorothy song that received some attention on SiriusXM’s Octane, but not nearly as much as it deserved. The unique sound of the band stands out amongst other Active Rock music, but that is not the only way that they march to the beat of their own drum (so to speak). Several months later, and their Facebook page still offers very little information about the band (although there is more available on their Wikipedia page, revealing last names and more). You don’t need to know a lot about the band to appreciate what they have to offer. Just like “After Midnight,” their latest single – “Raise Hell” – gives you a taste of their distinct sound. Dorothy’s soulful vocals are enhanced by a musical arrangement that is upbeat and will keep you unconsciously tapping your feet. Everything just works together. There is a real art to making less really feel like more, and this band does it like few others in rock today.
STITCHED UP HEART – “Finally Free”
Heavy, pulsating rhythms converge with beautiful, hauntingly melodic vocals on Stitched Up Heart’s latest single, “Finally Free.” Like this week’s featured artist, Dorothy, this female-fronted outfit offers little detail about the band on their Facebook page, but they are building a nice fanbase just the same. “Finally Free” has been getting played on SiriusXM’s Octane in recent weeks, and it should only be a matter of time before they crack the Active Rock Top 50. For now, Stitched Up Heart is still not widely known, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them enjoy success similar to other heavy, female-fronted bands as they progress.
JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout
MONSTER TRUCK – “Don’t Tell Me How To Live”
For the past several years, Active Rock radio in Canada has jumped on gems that U.S. radio seems to completely overlook for no good reason that I’ve been able to discern. I certainly hope that this new single isn’t the next one of those, because that will come close to crossing the line from disappointing to downright disgraceful. Hard rock with fuzzy ‘70s influence, the song punches like a super-heavyweight in a bad mood, propelled by some of the most effective work by a rhythm section in recent memory. This effort further cements the band as one of the very best in their niche today.
SHAKRA – “Hello”
With vocalist Mark Fox back for a second stint after six year absence, this Swiss band has just released one of the better hard rock songs that I’ve heard in quite a while. Multiple genre and era influences make it hard to pin down just one, but what they add up to is not just a good rock song, but a DAMNED good rock song! Tempo, delivery, there’s just not anything here that feels like they missed the mark at all, a great sign for the full album due out in early 2016. I’ve pointed out a lot of new songs on Music Discovery Monday over the past year; I’m not sure that there have been any that I would recommend more strongly than “Hello.”
ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout
THE JOKERS – “Lockdown”
This British quartet brings an undeniable ‘70s vibe, playing rock with smooth vocals and touches of blues and groove. Although they’re influenced most by bands like Led Zeppelin, Free and Bad Company, on this expressive tune they are channeling some AC/DC. “Lockdown” is from the band’s newly released third album, Hurricane.
KHYMERA – “A Night To Remember”
Famed producer and bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Sunstorm, Unisonic) takes up the vocals for melodic rockers Khymera, out of Italy. This upbeat number heralds the band’s forthcoming third album, The Grand Design, which is due out December 4th.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout
BLACKWELDER – “Spaceman”
That’s Primal Fear’s Ralf Scheppers you’ll hear leading vocals for this all-star band that’s been playing together since 2012. The rest of Blackwelder features: Andrew Szucs wailing on lead guitar and a rhythm section of Aquiles Priester on drums (DiAnno, Angra, Primal Fear) and Bjorn Englen on bass (Hellion, Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen). There’s a lot that’s familiar on this track and with the band, but this is brand new material from their debut album (released earlier this year).
EUROPE – “Days of Rock n Roll”
This is a great retrospective from Joey Tempest, John Norum and the rest of Europe, who’ve managed to keep rockin’ for most of the last 37 years (with the exception of a several year hiatus back in the early ‘90s). Tempest’s vocals and Norums lead guitar work are still terrific after all this time.
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
WARLOCK – “All We Are” (1987)
Is it possible to sell millions of records, garner numerous accolades, and still fly somewhat under the radar? For most, the answer to this question would be “no,” but in the case of German metal goddess, Dorothy “Doro” Pesch, the answer is “yes” (with an important caveat). Though she has resided in the U.S. for some time, her legend looms much larger around the world (particularly in Europe) than it does in her adopted land. Before she transitioned to fronting a band named after her (DORO), she was the face of Warlock. “All We Are,” arguably her most popular song to U.S. audiences, was featured on her final album with Warlock, 1987’s Triumph And Agony. Hard rock bands fronted by female rockers are en vogue these days, but you have to think that artists like Doro helped to pave the way by showing that you don’t have to be male to be “ballsy.”
PAT BENATAR – “Heartbreaker” (1979)
My personal appreciation for edgy female rockers began over 35 years ago with Pat Benatar. Back then, I didn’t have a forum to share my top songs of the year, but if I did, “Heartbreaker” likely would have been my #1 song (based on the documentation that exists in the profile section of my sixth grade autography book, which I still have to this day). For Hard Rock Daddy readers of Generation X, this song is more likely to be a trip down memory lane rather than a discovery. However, younger readers (especially those who appreciate today’s outstanding female vocalists) will probably think of this as an undiscovered gem.
JON LOVELESS
EUROPE – “Seventh Sign” (1991)
By the time that their fifth and final studio album (prior to reforming two decades later) was released, this Swedish band had seen their popularity wane in comparison their late-‘80s peak. The album failed to crack the U.S. album charts at all, even on the heels of back-to-back platinum releases. That’s why this song might be a bit of a hidden gem for a lot of fans of the era, with a bit crisper sound than a lot of their better known hits. Reminiscent of Dokken (at times), at least to my ear, it’s a song that I wish I’d heard more of at the time.
KYNG – “Pushing & Pulling” (2011)
From their debut album, Trampled Sun, this track is a frenetic rocker that approaches musical chaos, but never quite completely descends into total madness. It reminds me of Richie Kotzen’s “24 Hours” in tone and pace, despite being a completely different style.
ROB DELL’AQUILA
RAGE – “Lord Of The Flies” (2008)
A funereal organ and tiptoe bells yield to anguished, gritty vocals and powerhouse guitars in what’s become, for me, a Halloween mainstay. This is power metal out of Germany with a creative vision and a modern edge. Be sure to check out the appropriately disturbing video as well.
CAGE – “Black River Falls” (2009)
Heavy beyond all reason, this metal piece tells a twisted tale or horror and madness. Midway through, there is a beautiful, but haunting, interlude revealing a strong King Diamond influence. Otherwise, this San Diego metal band hammers hard all the way on this one.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH
REDEMPTION – “Walls” (2009)
“Walls” is one of my favorites from Redemption’s 2009 release, Snowfall on Judgement Day. Bright and driving, this is a hopeful track about breaking down barriers, executed brilliantly from all aspects. Hard to pick a standout track from the album because they’re all excellent, but I gave the nod to this one because of the percussion work from Chris Quirarte.
TWILIGHTNING – “Jester Realm” (2003)
Enter the mind of madness a bit with Twilighting’s “Jester Realm.” Highlighted by excellent dueling guitar work from Tommi Sartanen & Ville Wallenius, and the powerful vocals of Heikki Pöyhiä, this tune takes you all over the place, as you might expect. This Finnish band was together from 1998-2009.
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