Music Discovery Monday – 1/16/17

Music Discovery Monday – 1/16/17

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)

AS LIONS – “Bury My Dead”

Children of highly accomplished people in any field take a risk when they follow in the same footsteps of parents that have achieved great success (especially those that are household names).  I must admit that had I known that Bruce Dickinson’s son Austin was the frontman of As Lions, it would have inspired me to check out the band.  However, I only discovered the familial connection after being instantly drawn to “Bury My Dead” as soon as it came on the Octane, and then doing follow-up research about the band.

While Austin followed in his father’s larger-than-life footsteps, he is to be commended for doing his own thing, with his own sound, in a band that doesn’t even remotely resemble Iron Maiden.  As Lions more than stand on their own as a band that blends a variety of influences to develop a sound that is an ideal fit for today’s active rock scene.

Many younger bands strive to just become relevant, but the one thing that may have been passed down from one rock generation to another is the desire to be much more than relevant.  From the beginning, the band has had high aspirations.  According to their bio…“We had a mission statement to each other and to the music.  And that was to create the biggest, baddest, hard rock we could, and on an almost cinematic scale.”

If “Bury My Dead” is an indication of what’s to come from As Lions, their goal certainly seems attainable.
 

 
NIGHT RANGER – “Somehow Someway”
The opening notes of Night Ranger’s latest single, “Somehow Someway,” have a classic Motley Crue vibe before transitioning back into the more melodic, AOR sound that they have become known for since they began 35 years ago.  Nicely blended into the song is a Journey influence on some of the vocal runs and the harmonies.  It’s fitting that L.A. is mentioned in the song, as it was once the hub for melodic hard rock.  Some people may classify this incredible, feel-good song as “nostalgic,” but I’d prefer to call it timeless.  If you have an appreciation for musicianship, melody and harmonies, you’re going to love this track as much as you did the early work that turned you on to Night Ranger in the first place.
 

 

 

ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout

SOEN – “Sectarian”

Being a fan of original Opeth drummer Martin Lopez, I was thrilled to hear a new Soen single from their upcoming new album, Lykaia.  Much like Opeth, Soen is progressive metal at its finest.  It combines the drumming chops of Lopez with the style of metal he excels at; progressive, heavy, and intricate.  Borrowing his influential playing from Opeth (with a Tool-esque sound), Soen soars to new heights with a great first single.  I am excited to hear the rest of the album when it is released.

 

WHITECHAPEL – “Mark of the Blade”

Deathcore titans Whitechapel returned in 2016 with a new album, Mark of the Blade.  Fans of the deathcore genre will find this album a pleasing saga of the continuation of the Whitechapel sound.  Typically, the band screams and growls through every song with a frenzy, but this album boasts some clean vocals by lead singer Phil Bozeman.  The band also features three guitar players to add to the chaos of heavy, fast riffing.  You want chaos with death metal vocals?  Whitechapel is your band.
 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

HEVIDENCE – “Dig in the Night”

Hevidence produces melodic metal with virtuoso guitar work that shifts effortlessly between neoclassical speed and classic rock.  Guitarist Diego Reali and his brother Stef founded the band Evidence in 2010 and released their debut album the following year.  They’ve since changed the name slightly and switched out some band members, returning with their second album, Nobody’s Fault.

 

NITERAIN – “Don’t Fade Away”

This Norwegian glam metal band’s debut album, Crossfire, was a hit with critics and fans in 2013.  They returned in late 2016 with their sophomore effort, Vendetta, and have crafted another fun melodic album with heavy Motley Crue influences.  This catchy number is one of the more laid back tracks (and the lone ballad on the album), with a chorus that really stays in your head long after the last note is played.

 

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