MUSIC DISCOVERY MONDAY – 4/2/18
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/Editor, Hard Rock Daddy)
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – “Bring The House Down”
It took me 20 years and 11 studio albums to discover Sweden’s Hardcore Superstar, but as the saying goes…better late than never. For the most part, Thrash Metal and Sleaze Rock live in separate worlds, but these Swedish rockers are built on a foundation of the unlikely combination of the two genres. The band’s bio refers to their hard, aggressive, ugly, catchy, melodic, decadent sound as “Street Metal.” Call it what you want, but their label is much less important than the quality of the music.
Although the sound has much more of an edge, the bones of “Bring The House Down” are reminiscent of Slade’s 1983 hit, “Run Runaway.” There is an underlying frenetic rhythm to the song that makes it feel aggressive, but the melody and hook is so catchy that you end up feeling uplifted after listening to it. Think Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” meets early Motley Crue with a touch of industrial angst.
It’s not easy to pigeonhole Hardcore Superstar’s “Street Metal” sound, but that’s part of what makes them interesting. There are no rules being followed, no trends being chased, no obsession with finding a “fit” for radio formats…just pure, energetic, fun, anthemic rock and roll.
ANIMAL DRIVE – “Had Enough”
There isn’t much information that can be gleaned from Animal Drive’s bio on their website or from social media. No matter. These Croatian rockers let the music do the talking with their brand of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal with progressive influences.
“Had Enough” features the aggressive sensibility of Skid Row’s early releases, the in-your-face, larger-than-life melodies of Dio, the ferocious guitar shredding of Zakk Wylde, the mystique of Iron Maiden, and a touch of David Coverdale’s soul. It’s no wonder that Dino Jelusic (the frontman and driving force behind the band) was tapped to tour with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Jelusic is everything that you love about heavy metal vocalists.
Like one of the band’s influences – Guns N’ Roses – their guitarist simply goes by one name…Keller. Keller is a throwback to a time when guitar gods where all the rage. Hopefully, Animal Drive gets the attention that they deserve as an up-and-comer with a ton of potential. If not (because of the climate of the industry), you have to imagine that an established band will scoop him up as a hired gun at some point. He’s the kind of guitarist that Ozzy Osbourne used to turn into a household name.
Buoyed by a rock solid rhythm section, Animal Drive is one of the more memorable heavy metal acts to emerge in recent times. That’s saying a lot, considering that they are on a label that has almost singlehandedly saved the genre.
KURT ARFT – HRD Music Scout
JIZZY PEARL – “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”
Anyone who fell in love with the band Love/Hate back in the late ‘80s knows the voice, name, and face of Jizzy Pearl. In addition to fronting Love/Hate, Pearl did some stints with a few other Sunset Strip favorites: L.A. Guns, Ratt, and Quiet Riot. He has just released “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” a quick-hitting, raucous, straight-to-the-point, rock n’ roll song from his upcoming solo effort.
There’s nothing like hearing new music from someone that already has done so much in their career. Pearl has always had a great energy and showmanship about him, and a unique voice that’s instantly recognizable. On this single, he sounds better than ever!
The music for “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” was the other thing that really got me hooked. The hard-hitting intro, the manic pace of the verses, and the descending run in the chorus really makes for a great background and accompaniment to Pearl’s voice. It’s got a bit of a punk element to it, but make no mistake, it’s rock n’ roll.
Pearl has still got the goods. His album All You Need Is Soul comes out May 11th. If “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” is any indication of what we’re in store for, then this will be another contender for my Best Albums of 2018 category.
I have to say something about Pearl’s label, Frontiers Music Srl. This label has really created an amazing platform for the artists from the ‘80s and ‘90s that we all grew up on and loved, while also giving newer bands/artists in that genre a platform as well. I have discovered a lot of new talent from this label. They also have quite the knack for putting together artists for collaborative efforts.
GIN ANNIE – “Fallin”
Gin Annie (out of the UK) is another band that just kind of fell into my lap while scrolling through Facebook. I was instantly blown away when I heard their song “Fallin’.” If you’re into guitar-driven, riff-heavy, melodic rock music, then this is a band you want to check out.
The band was formed in 2013 by cousins David Foster (lead vocalist) and Byron Garbett (guitar). Rounding out the lineup is guitarist Brian Green, bassist Phill “Hammer” Burrows, and drummer Jack Ryland-Smith. They have built quite a following for their live performances all over the UK and Europe. Their EP New Bad Habit is currently available on most digital music platforms.
When I first heard “Fallin’,” I just about fell out of my chair. The opening riff is mesmerizing and hypnotic. I’ve always been a sucker for that transitory type intro. It makes an even bigger impact when the music fully kicks in. When it does, it’s like getting hit with a ton of bricks! The beautiful thing is I can’t even tell you who they sound like, but you can hear the influences of bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.
One listen to this tune, and you can understand why their live show brings them so much attention. They have really captured that energy from a live performance on this recording.
The resurgence of great music coming from the UK is refreshing. The sky is the limit for Gin Annie as they have really only scratched the surface of their music capabilities.
If you’re as big of a music fan as I am, you will realize the importance and excitement of discovering bands like Gin Annie. When you discover new music, share it! New bands like this really depend on that organic development and support from music lovers.
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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