Hard Rock Music Time Machine – 8/17/17

Each Thursday, Hard Rock Music Time Machine takes a journey back in time to feature a variety of songs that date back as far as the ’70s.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Hard Rock Music Time Machine can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.
 

 

 

ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – “Under It Over It” (2011)

Many songs take me back in time, but only a handful take me to a moment so specific, that I can see it in my mind’s eye as if it’s happening in real time.  “Under It Over It” is one of those songs…

It was a perfect day in NYC.  I took my kids in to the city to see my family.  My wife had to work that day, so she met us later on.  As I was approaching Port Authority in the car to pick her up, this monster anthem of rage came on the radio.  If you’re a fan of the movie Spinal Tap, you’ll get this reference…I turned the volume up to ELEVEN!

A lot has changed since that moment back in 2011, but one thing has remained constant.  Whenever I hear “Under It Over It,” I crank it up to ELEVEN!  I find it soothing and cathartic.  That’s the beauty of great metal anthems like this.  It can be loud and pissed off, but it’s real and taps into real, relatable emotions.

Ok, so when it comes to apples-to-apples relatable lyrics, this song doesn’t exactly apply to the masses.  For Ivan Moody, the song is about dealing with the frustrations of fame and criticism.  For the average listener, “Under It Over It” takes you to the thing in life that fills you with frustration and rage.

Most people don’t want to be hated, or even disliked for that matter, but there is something incredibly freeing about not giving a shit what others think of you.  A favorite quote that has been on my mind lately is…“A lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of the sheep.”  Moody captures this sentiment better than any other song that I’ve ever heard when he barrels over you like a freight train with the lyrics…

“Do I care if you hate me?  Do you want to know the truth?  C’est la vie…adios…good riddance…FUCK YOU!”
 

 
SEETHER – “Fake It” (2007)

Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces.  If you appreciate thought-provoking, poetic sentiments, the aforementioned title of Seether’s 2007 album is one for the ages.  Life is about the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the yin and the yang (if you will).  Try as we might to separate them, the reality is that this polar opposites are more closely aligned than we often realize.  So, what you do you do when you find yourself in a negative space?  You have two choices.  You can embrace the darkness, or you can “Fake It” and look for the beauty that lies within.

“Fake It” is the song that introduced me to Seether a decade ago, so it will always remain close to the heart.  Having been in a number of less-than-ideal situations over the years, I’ve found the advice of this song to be sage (even if I don’t always use it)…

“Fake it, if you’re out of direction…fake it, if you don’t belong.”
 

 

 

 ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout

STONE SOUR – “Made Of Scars” (2006)

Maybe it’s the release of their new album, but I found myself digging back into Stone Sour’s discography recently, and listened to their 2006 release, Come What(ever) May.  “Made Of Scars” is probably one of my favorite songs off the album.  It is semi-radio friendly, yet aggressive at the right moments.  Corey Taylor showcases Slipknot-style screams and growls one moment, while singing melodically in the next.  No stranger to lyrics about pain, Stone Sour pours their emotions out in this song and video.  I saw these guys at The Chance Theater years ago when they played this album in its entirety, and they delivered a great performance.

 

HATEBREED – “Destroy Everything” (2006)

Need something to get your adrenaline pumping?  Look no further than Hatebreed’s “Destroy Everything” from their album Supremacy.  Their aggressive style of hardcore and metal will make anyone lift a few more reps during a workout, break a few more blocks with a sledgehammer, or pretty much anything you need an extra jolt for.  I never knew guys from West Hartford, Connecticut had so much aggression.
 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

DAMN YANKEES – “High Enough” (1990)

In 1989, three great artists came together to form the supergroup Damn Yankees.  Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent hit upon a remarkable synergy, and their self-titled debut album the following year was received enthusiastically.  This power ballad was the album’s biggest hit, and a personal favorite.

 

DAMN YANKEES – “Where You Goin’ Now” (1992)

The band’s second album, Don’t Tread, did not meet with the same commercial success as the debut, despite featuring some strong songs like this one.  Ted Nugent would leave the band a couple years later, leaving Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades to put out their next album as Shaw Blades.  All three men continue to enjoy busy careers today, both with their original bands and in other collaborations. Despite talk from time to time of a third album (and a failed attempt in 1999), the most they’ve done is reunite on stage to perform some of their classic hits together.