Music Discovery Monday – 12/14/15

Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 12/14/15.

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.

In a Hard Rock Daddy exclusive, Radio Exile frontman Chandler Mogel discusses the band’s debut single, “No Pity On The Highway.”

 

 

 ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

RADIO EXILE – “No Pity On The Highway”

As the bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s age along with their fans from back in the day, you have to wonder what will become of classic rock in the future.  What if there was a next generation of classic rock that featured all of the elements of this beloved genre without having the decades of experience as a band to go along with it?  Enter Radio Exile to prove that it doesn’t have to be old to be classic.  And though the members of the band – (Charlie Calv, Jimmy Leahey, Kenny Aronson and Dave Anthony) – are rooted in classic rock, what makes Radio Exile so unique is the infusion of youthful energy that frontman Chandler Mogel brings to the table.  That energy is in full-force on the band’s first single, “No Pity On The Highway,” an upbeat, blues rock track where Mogel captures the essence of legendary vocalists like Ray Gillen (Badlands) and Dennis DeYoung (Styx) and soars.  Formed in 2015, the bio describes Radio Exile as a “hard rock project,” but the chemistry is so good between these five rockers, that you have to believe that this will be a band with staying power, not a one-off project that tantalizes fans and then leaves them wanting more.

 

In a Hard Rock Daddy exclusive interview, frontman Chandler Mogel shared the meaning and inspiration behind “No Pity On The Highway”…

“The inspiration for ‘No Pity On The Highway’ came from the music that Charlie (Calv) had come up with and sent to me.  It just had this feeling as if you were rolling down the highway, so the lyrics kind of developed out of that, but kind of taking on life as being the highway that you are travelling down.  It’s about going from down-in-the-dumps and dealing with addiction, to the ‘high road’ and the journey in between.  The only person who will get you there is you!  Sometimes it’s a long hard road to get to where we need to be in life, and you can’t expect pity from anyone else for the choices that you’ve made. You just have to take responsibility for anything that may have happened in the past and move forward.”

 
STRIKEFORCE – “All About The Money”

Strikeforce’s career spans over three decades.  Through the years, they’ve shared the stage with some big names in hard rock, but have still remained under the radar by and large.  Founding member and guitarist Duke Jackson cites legendary guitarists Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore as his influences.  Jackson’s gritty, in-your-face riffs and shredding on “All About The Money” show that he is a force to be reckoned with (even if he doesn’t have the name recognition to match his talent).  “All About The Money” is an anthem of the working man that will (lyrically) appeal to those who live their lives stretching a dollar from paycheck-to-paycheck.  “All About The Money” is in the same wheelhouse as another song with similar subject matter – “For The Love Of Money” by Bulletboys, albeit with an edgier, raw sound in the vein of classic Skid Row.

 

 

 

 JON LOVELESS – HRD Music Scout

SAVING ABEL – “Fifteen Minutes Of Fame”

The third single from their late-2014 album hasn’t quite gotten the traction that the previous tracks did, but it’s a solid piece of work from one of the more reliable bands in the business today.  Definitely on the list of groups that I recommend seeing live if the opportunity arises.

 

SAXON – “Battering Ram”

Title track from the 21^st studio album by British heavy metal icons, Saxon.  The classic sound remains intact, and that’s a plus, since few have done it better in the past or the present.

 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

NORDIC UNION – “When Death Is Calling”

Denmark’s Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), teams with Sweden’s Erik Martensson (W.E.T., Eclipse) to form Nordic Union, a new melodic hard rock band.  This is the first release from their upcoming eponymous album.  Atkins provides the vocals, and Martensson provides the guitar, bass, keyboards and songwriting.  Add in Magnus Ulfstedt on the drums, and a few other guest Norwegians, and you have layers of rich sound and compelling music.

 

STATION – “Are You Sleeping Alone?”

This New York band will time warp you back to the ‘80s with this moving rock ballad.  The lead singer’s impressive range, matched with strong backing vocals and a yearnful guitar solo, sets up a nostalgic piece that will stay in your head long after the last note fades away.

 

 

 

   CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout

INGLORIOUS – “Until I Die”

Inglorious will be dropping their debut album in 2016.  Ahead of their debut, the band has released “Until I Die,” a gritty, sultry hard rock tune complimented by the fantastic power vocals of Nathan James (Chris Cornell fans take note).  The band members are talented, yet relatively unknown. James has had some exposure touring with TSO over the past three years, and performing alongside Jeff Scott Soto and Steve Vai (among others).  This track looks like a sign of very good things to come from these newcomers.

 

IMPELLITTERI – “Face The Enemy”

“Face the Enemy” is another great track from this year’s album, Venom.  Chris Impellitteri’s signature wailing, lighting-fast riffs and Rob Rock’s effortless power on vocals lead the way. James Pulli (Bass) and Jon Dette (Drums) provide the driving force of the rhythm line.

 

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

EVERY MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE – “Love Can Make You Blind” (1990)

The history of Every Mother’s Nightmare dates back to 1987, a time when power ballads were as much a part of the hard rock music landscape as big hair, leather pants and larger-than-life rock stars.  For some, power ballads helped to launch a career.  Others, like Nashville’s Every Mother’s Nightmare were never able to ride a wave of momentum from songs like “Love Will Make You Blind” into rock stardom.  Though frontman Rick Ruhl is the last remaining original member, the band is still around today.  They’ve stayed true to themselves and never chased the latest trend.  Perhaps if this classic power ballad had been released a few years earlier, the band would have had enough time to rise into the upper echelon of the genre before being cast aside by the grunge movement.  Though they are far from a household name, they have managed to remain relevant, even bridging the gap between yesterday and today with their latest EP (which features guest appearances by Zach Myers of Shinedown and Wayne Swinny of Saliva).

 

DANGEROUS TOYS – “Scared” (1989)

From the band’s eponymous 1989 album, “Scared” brings you back to when the world was a much simpler place and hard rock was all about feeling good.  Unfortunately for Dangerous Toys, their career never really took off, which may be partially due to the series of lineup changes that plagued the band early on (starting before their album was even released).  This song has one of the most catchy choruses of the late-’80s/early ’90s era.  If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself involuntarily singing in it in your head for hours after you hear it.  Most people don’t like to be scared, but this song is sung from the viewpoint of those who do like it.  Similarly, most people don’t like a song being stuck in their head all day long, but for some reason, this ear-worm is the exception to the rule.

 

 

 

JON LOVELESS

LANSDOWNE – “One Shot” (2011)

Some bands just have “it” – the combination of musicianship, songwriting, delivery and personality – that makes everything that they do enjoyable.  For me, this Boston band fits the description to a tee.  New music is expected in 2016, but in the meantime, this a chance to revisit a song from their 2011 album, Blue Collar Revolver.

 

EMPHATIC – “Do I” (2011)

Another band with new music coming in 2016, however, in this case, it will be with a new name. Last week, these Nebraska rockers took to social media to formally announce a name change to Through The Fire, citing member changes and various ups and downs as Emphatic as the impetus for the switch.  Whatever the name, there’s enough talent on board for the new work to be among the more promising releases of the coming year.  For now, check out “I Do,” a track that I think could have easily been a fourth single from their 2011 album, Damage.

 

 

 

  ROB DELL’AQUILA

ENDEVERAFTER – “From The Ashes Of Sin” (2007)

In 2004, singer/guitarist Michael Grant founded Endeverafter.  In 2007, they released their first full-length album, Kiss Or Kill.  With plenty of bluster, and a full, melodic sound that drifts at times towards thrash, they put out some compelling tunes.  Grant has since gone on to play guitar and contribute backing vocals for L.A. Guns.

 

DREAMSTEEL – “The Flight Of A Butterfly” (2008)

Combining power metal with progressive rock, and incorporating some symphonic touches, Italian band DreamSteel crafted a powerful piece with this 2008 tune.  The shifting tempos and climbing vocals create a sense of motion, as they contrast tranquility with frantic need.

 

 

 

 CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH

FIRES OF BABYLON – “Castles Are Burning” (2008)

Fires Of Babylon is yet another Rob Rock project, one of the many bands that he’s fronted.  “Castles Are Burning” takes off from the first note with well-structured power-metal progressions and a thunderous rhythm.  Notable guitar work from Lou St. Paul and Carl-Johan Grimmark.

 

TESSERACT – “Nocturne” (2012)

Tesseract is a British prog metal band formed back in 2003.  “Nocturne” was the first single released off of Altered State, the second of their three studio albums to date.  The rhythm section is very impressive, percussion in particular (Jay Postones) and the vocals of Ashe O’Hara are first-rate.