Tag: Metal

My Sunday Song – ‘Soulcrusher” by Operator

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For My Sunday Song #422, we are going a little metal this week with Operator’s “Soulcrusher”. The song is off their debut album called ‘Soulcrusher’ which was released on August 21, 2007. The single went to #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks. It was the debut single from the album and it was released prior to the album on May 22, 2007. The band consists of Johnny Strong on vocals, Paul Phillips on guitar, Ricki Lixx on lead guitar, Wade Carpenter on bass and Dorman Pantfoeder on drums.

The song was written by Johnny Strong and it can mean whatever you want it to mean. I was looking at it two ways. First, it is about that person in your life that weighs you down. They suck all the life out of you and yet you let them. You need to man up, say no and get out of that relationship as it is crushing your soul. This can be a significant other, a family member or even a friend.

The second take on it is that I see it as he is talking about himself. This is the only life you have so don’t mess it up. Stop caring about what everybody else is doing or thinking about you. Get out there and make it the best life you can live because you only get one. Stopping doing things that are crushing your soul. Live like this is the only life you have…because it is!

Musically, there is only one way to take it and that is brutally hard & heavy and a slap across the face. The song is relentless. That heavy, hard driving guitar riff is the high point of the song. Vocally Johnny Strong owes a lot to Chris Cornell as I can hear him in those vocals. And they could be mistaken for a Soundgarden clone, but I’d be okay with that. I love how the song midway through, slows it down, the vocals get softer, but the guitars come in and it builds and builds and brings back the barrage of music that will blow your head off. It simply will kick your ass!! It was one of those songs when I first heard it, I was sold from the first note and the album was bought as fast as I could get it.

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My Sunday Song – “Run Like the Devil” by Tony Martin

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For My Sunday Song #404, Harrison has chosen “Run Like the Devil” by singer Tony Martin. The song is off Tony’s 2022 solo album, ‘Thorns’, which was his first solo album since 2005’s ‘Scream’. The song was written by Tony Martin and Scott McLellan who plays guitar on the song (and the album). The former Black Sabbath singer really brings the metal on this song and the album. 

The song’s lyrics are dark and foreboding, while the music is heavy, and fast and little brighter. I am not sure the actual meaning behind it, but for me the song speaks of the evil that is always lurking and poking at you. You have to rise up, fly away and get away from it as fast as you can. Stay ahead of all the evil out there and do great things. If you make the wrong choices, it will hold you back and you will die, withering on the vine.

Musically, the song is really close to speed metal and it will crush your soul with the heaviness of it. Tony’s vocals soar at times as he races through the lyrics to keep up with that tempo. And he can still hit those crazy high notes. The drums are fast and frenzied and fabulous. Their bombastic strength is the driving force behind the song. Scott’s guitar work is lightning quick and he definitely shines on here as well, I mean just listen to that solo. The song is a super-heavy blistering track that shows how Tony is so good at what he does.

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My Sunday Song – “The Age of Darkness” by The Darkness

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For My Sunday Song #400, we end Mike’s Choices with The Darkness’ “The Age of Darkness”. The song is from the 2021 album ‘Motorheart’ and the song is a Japanese Edition Only track as all of Mike’s picks have been. And a great run of tracks they were. This one is different. I will leave it at that and explain more as we go.

The song is not the typical Darkness song. The themes of the lyrics is a cross between Assassin’s Creed, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and King Arthur and any other song about Knights, dragons, castles and the like. The lyrics are full of humor and it is all done in good fun and for a good laugh, but at the same time, it is really great in it’s own sweet way.

The vocals are not Justin as you’d expect…nope. This is Dan Hawkins, his brother and rhythm guitarist. His vocals aren’t falsetto like his brother, he has a much deeper, grittier tone. He almost speaks the lyrics…okay, he does speak the vocals. And yet, he does them perfectly. The music is dark, ominous and pure metal with a Tenacious D vibe as well as Sabbath so it is to be taken seriously and not at the same time. If you like Medieval Times, then this song will be right up your alley.

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Have Yourself a Metal Memes Christmas!!

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I wanted to take a second and wish everyone a very Happy and Merry Christmas! And Happy Holidays to those that don’t celebrate Christmas. Thanks for all your support over this past year and I appreciate all the comments as I enjoy what everyone thinks of the albums and songs we talk about here on 2 Loud 2 Old Music. I don’t have any long speech, but instead I will leave you with some Memes to hopefully bring a smile to your face. Thanks again!!

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Dee Snider – ‘For the Love of Metal’ – Album Review

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Dee Snider’s follow-up to his last solo album, ‘We Are the Ones’, was completely unexpected as Dee was done with making albums.  That was until he was challenged to do a contemporary Metal record by Jamey Jasta, leader singer of the metal band Hatebreed.

And there were some serious metal musicians on board with this album, just look at the contributors…

  • Jamey Jasta – Hatebreed
  • Howard Jones – Killswitch Engage
  • Mark Morton – Lamb of God
  • Alissa White-Gluz – Arch Enemy
  • Joel Grind – Toxic Holocaust
  • Nick Bellmore – Toxic Holocaust
  • Charlie Bellmore – Kingdom of Sorrow

I like some metal music, but I am not really familiar with any of these bands, so I was a little apprehensive at first.  These are all modern metal artists and I am stuck in the past.  Plus, Dee only contributed vocals.  He did not write any of the songs.  That alone made me nervous, but it is Dee Snider so I gave it a shot.

The first single off the album was “Become the Storm”.  It is a heavy song, but it was a little lame in my opinion.  It was too contrived and sounded like they were trying too hard to sound and be metal.  Thankfully, this might be the worst song on the album.  The rest of the album is pretty fucking great.

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