MUSIC DISCOVERY MONDAY – 4/10/17

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.

This week, in a Hard Rock Daddy exclusive, Wicked Tongues frontman Mason Betsch shares the meaning and inspiration behind the band’s latest single, “Feral Gods.”

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/Editor, Hard Rock Daddy)

WICKED TONGUES – “Feral Gods”

A few years back, Wicked Tongues was featured on Hard Rock Daddy’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs of 2014.  In the review of “Electric,” the band was likened to Rival Sons – another modern band with a Led Zeppelin influence.  Frontman Mason Betsch was compared to a pair of legendary vocalists (Robert Plant and Ian Gillan).  Fast forward to 2017.  Wicked Tongues is back and better than ever with “Feral Gods” (the lead single of off their upcoming summer release – Color Of Attack).

Shades of Led Zeppelin still shine through at times, but the predominant comparison of “Feral Gods” would be to Alter Bridge.  For those keeping score at home, I’ve compared Betsch to Plant, Gillan, and now Myles Kennedy. Those comparisons alone should have your interest piqued.  Vocalists like Betsch are rare.  Of course, every great vocalist needs a talented band behind them to truly shine, and Betsch has one in the groove-oriented rhythm section of Ryan Shaw (bass) and Elias Berlinger (drums) and the nuanced guitar playing of Michael Conway.

As the saying goes…“anything worth having is worth waiting for.”  Like Alter Bridge, Wicked Tongues put some space between this release and the last, but one listen and you’ll know that it was well worth the wait.

 

In an exclusive interview with Hard Rock Daddy, Wicked Tongues frontman Mason Betsch shared the meaning and inspiration behind “Feral Gods”…

“‘Feral Gods’ is different for us in that it’s probably the most aggressive song we’ve ever written.  It’s extremely defiant and angry, not only in the lyrics, but the feeling being delivered in the song.  It was also the last song that I wrote leading into pre-production.  At that time in my life, I wasn’t really in an angry or defiant place, but this was right around the time that the U.S. election cycle was really starting to heat up.

I don’t get political in our songs, because (to me) that’s such a personal choice, but one thing that has always bothered me is how politics can divide friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, etc., and cause people to turn on others.  I saw way too much judgment being bandied about.

I think many people in general – especially during election cycles in the U.S. – look at life as a zero-sum game.  They believe that you have to be a certain kind of person, think a certain way or believe in certain things, and that one’s personality is solely defined by what they believe in one instance of time.  ‘Feral Gods’ was written in defiance of that, and to call that out.

I believe so strongly in each and every person’s uniqueness and individuality, and saw so many people that I love and care about (and even myself) be questioned because they did or didn’t believe a certain way, so I wrote the song in defiance of that.”
 

 
ALL7SAID – “The Fallen”

ALL7SAID in a one-man rock project featuring Xaq Dain from Corpus Christi, TX.  Dain wrote, recorded and produced all of the songs on The Fallen.  He described the title track on the album as “a tribute to people that have lost their lives to tragedies (violence, school shootings, terrorism, etc.).  The song also honors American heroes (military, fireman, policemen, etc.).”

The thought-provoking lyrics are only part of the appeal of “The Fallen.”  Being a one-man band is a risky proposition for a few reasons.  You don’t have other musicians providing contributions that have the potential to enhance a song.  And most importantly, you have to master every instrument so that there isn’t an obvious weakness in the sound.  As you listen to “The Fallen,” you’d never know that this wasn’t a full band (especially the vocal harmonies).  This song would make a nice addition to any Active Rock playlist.
 

 

 

ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout

PALLBEARER – “I Saw The End”

This relatively new doom metal band has recently released their third full-length studio album, Heartless.  Their brand of melodic, catchy doom metal is melancholic, dreamy, and full of ambience.  One of the better albums released this year by a relatively obscure band, Pallbearer channels the influences of their doom metal predecessors and infuses it with great songwriting and production (comparable to progressive metal).

 

ANTHRAX – “Carry On My Wayward Son”

Anthrax has had one hell of a year since the release of their latest studio album, For All Kings.  They embarked on a massive tour, and are still currently on the road with Killswitch Engage.  Recently, the band released a special extended vinyl edition of For All Kings, featuring a cover version of “Carry On Wayward Son.”  When it comes to covers, Anthrax performs them well.  Their version of “Carry On Wayward Son” is not much different than the original Kansas version.  It’s just a bit heavier with some flashier guitar solos, and Joey Belladonna’s impressive vocals.
 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

AXEL RUDI PELL (f. BONNIE TYLER) – “Love’s Holding On”

German power metal veterans Axel Rudi Pell team up with ‘80s legend Bonnie Tyler for an amazing sound on this new ballad. Axel, vocalist Johny Gioeli, and the boys have a fondness for romance mixed with power chords, and will be releasing this song as part of their fifth compilation in the sub-genre: The Ballads V (due out April 21^st).

 

BOBAFLEX – “Hey You”

Ohio / West Virginia rockers Bobaflex have been putting out quality music for almost 20 years now.  They have enjoyed great success already with their own material, but they hit it out of the park with this classic Pink Floyd cover, which should bring them a great deal more attention.  This heartfelt tribute was executed flawlessly.

 

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