Hard Rock Daddy presents Music Discovery Monday – 5/16/16.
Music Discovery Monday shines a light on artists that are not getting the radio attention that they deserve, while also showcasing new singles by established bands that are likely to get airplay in the future.
In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.
ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)
ARMORED SAINT – “An Exercise In Debauchery”
Generations of heavy metal fans are all familiar with “The Big Four” (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer), and of course, the legends of the genre, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest (amongst others). Despite the fact that Armored Saint has connections to some of the aforementioned bands, and has a history that dates back to 1982, there is no arguing that they have not gotten nearly the attention of these other household names.
After a decade together, and some lineup changes (both voluntary and due to tragedy), the band went on a hiatus that lasted nearly as long as they had been in existence. Their first reunion was relatively short-lived. When the band when on another hiatus, frontman John Bush and Joey Vera both played with Anthrax. Since 2008, the band has been re-formed (although they have only released two studio albums in that time). Their latest album – 2015’s Win Hands Down – has proven that this underrated band is still as relevant today as they were during their heyday, and also that they still don’t get the recognition that they deserve.
Given the state of heavy metal when they started, you might expect a song called “An Exercise In Debauchery” to wax nostalgic about the glory days of the ‘80s. Musically, the song has the classic heavy metal sound that has stood strong for over three decades. Lyrically, the song is not about glamorizing debauchery. If anything, it provides a sobering look at some of the seedier elements of society today. If you’re a fan of heavy metal, and have not yet discovered Armored Saint, their current album is an excellent place to start your journey with the band.
COUNTER VOID – “Pucker Up”
Finding bands to feature in this forum happens in a variety of ways. I discovered Counter Void on Twitter after they followed Hard Rock Daddy, and their music made an instant impact on me. Still, there is very little information provided on their social media pages to learn more about the band. Listening to “Pucker Up” left a few immediate impressions. The band sounds incredibly professional, and their chemistry is undeniable. Upon doing further research, I learned that their chemistry was probably easier to develop than typical bands, given that there are only two members (Ben Hafeman and Brad Miller). It would be an exercise in futility to tell you what instruments they each play because they both seem to play everything (although Hafeman is listed as lead vocals and Miller as lead guitar). What I can tell you is that they get the most out of every instrument, defying the old adage…“jack-of-all trades, master of none.” If you’re a fan of timeless, classic rock, make sure to be one of the early adopters of this intriguing duo. Expect to see more from this band on Hard Rock Daddy in the coming months!
ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout
AGNOSTIC FRONT – “Never Walk Alone”
New York hardcore giants Agnostic Front is back with their eleventh studio album, The American Dream Died. “Never Walk Alone” has all of the quintessential elements of old-school New York hardcore, with some heavy elements of more modern metal. Gang shouts, sing-a-longs, politically charged lyrics and a street-tough attitude are all found in this great release. With guest vocals by Sick of it All’s Lou Koller, Madball’s Freddy Cricien and H2O’s Toby Morse, this album does not disappoint. Long live Agnostic Front and the New York hardcore scene!
LACUNA COIL – “The House Of Shame”
Milan, Italy’s Lacuna Coil is back with Delirium (their eighth studio album). “The House Of Shame” – the first single from the album – is not typical Lacuna Coil (which isn’t a bad thing at all). The sheer heaviness of this song weighs on you from the second that the full band kicks in, which is quite a departure from their earlier works. Andrea Ferro’s almost death-metalish growls are only accentuated by Cristina Scabbia’s ghostly melodic vocals. We all like to see bands – especially those with a long history – add new elements to their existing styles. Lacuna Coil has done just that with “The House of Shame.”
ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS – “Dark Light Child”
This hard rock/stoner metal band out of Cleveland packs in the groove on this driving number from their newest album. Raw vocals and wailing guitars billow around a psychotic but precise rhythm section. Founder Michael Amott (guitar) is also a founding member of the very successful Swedish death metal band Arch Enemy. The vocals here are less harsh, though no less potent.
VEGA – “Explode”
British melodic rockers Vega are back with a brand new album, Who We Are. They come out firing on the album opener, “Explode,” a hard-hitting modern rock anthem. Nick Workman’s powerful vocals are backed by layers of supporting vocals, playful keyboards, and hard-driving guitars.
CHRIS HERZEGOVITCH – HRD Music Scout
MARUADER – “Spread Your Wings”
Hard-driving Marauder is a metal band from Greece that has been around since 1991. “Spread Your Wings” is a glory anthem, akin to most of their catalog. Their tight and technically-skilled guitar work stands out the most on this track from their recently-released album, Bullethead.
THE SCREAMING JETS – “Automatic Cowboy”
Australia’s The Screaming Jets were formed in 1989 by three former members of a high school band who became infamous for a series of raucous, sometimes violent, live shows. While they became one of the top-drawing live bands of the ‘90s in Australia, they have only achieved moderate success elsewhere. “Automatic Cowboy” – from The Screaming Jets’ eighth album, Chrome – showcases the band’s hard-n-heavy rock sound, with a powerful strutting rhythm, topped off with wailing guitar licks.
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
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