Metallica: The Unforgiven (1991) - #Song #Review

An amazing song!

Yay! I finally get to review my favorite song of all time... Ok, so before I go in to why this song is brilliant, I should probably say this... 

Ok, so this wasn't my first heavy metal song that I had listened to... I enjoyed the music, sure.... But I wasn't really entirely feeling it... And then I was... And then I heard this song one day about 20 years ago... And this song became, (and still is my favorite song of all time!) 

Not only is this song amazing, but the music video is epic!

That song is Metallica's, 'The Unforgiven' from their  1991 self titled album, also known as, 'The Black Album'... By the way, I have to say that this entire album kicks fucking ass! 

Anyway, this song, which was created through Elektra, is a brilliant fucking song that was developed as a method for the band to try something new... And you know what? It fucking rules! 

A lot of what modern metal is, is speeding through the song, or heavy bass/drums, etc... That type of music is truly fun, but this is the type of music that I love, what with heavy, distorted verses, and a softer melodic chorus! In my opinion it gives it that toned yet under current of darker torrential music, that all the metal heads I knew then, and probably now, still love!

James Hetfield just killing it with, 'The Unforgiven' live! 

So if you get a chance to listen to it, check it out! You will be glad you did!

Lyrics from Metallica's, 'The Unforgiven'! 

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pain disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I labeled you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I labeled you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Five Reasons To Continue To Try New Music - #Music #Blog

Metallica's, 'Cunning Stunts' concert, a great album to really introduce you to this epic band! 

Ok, so first off, I have to say that I to say that until I started this site, I found myself being very set in the type of music that I was listening to... (I know I made it seem like I listened to a ton of different types of music back in the day... And periodically over the years I actually have!) 

But since starting this site I have come to realize that there is so much more music in the world to enjoy! 

And so I thought that I would give you guys my five reasons to continue to try new music... 

At number 5: Being a metal head is cool, but it is not all that is there! 

Being a metal head rocks, but that is not all she wrote!

Don't hate me, but it is true! Besides the obvious, (stuff like Rock 'N Roll,) there are various sub-genres of these types of music, as well as the ancestry of these two very similar genre's to enjoy! 

4: And speaking of historical ancestry... 

Believe it or not, Elvis Presley's music is a great example of the ancestry of both, 'Heavy Metal' and other forms of modern, 'Rock'! 

It is true that all music comes from some where, and rock music, as well as heavy metal music has a rich history of great rock 'n roll/jazz music to enjoy! Stuff like, 'Elvis Presley', etc... And if you close yourself to this bright and beautiful tapestry of music, you will lose out on some of the truly great music! 

At number 3: New stuff!

Deadmau5 may not have been around as long as say, 'Metallica', but there brand of techno rocks! 

Now I have to admit that I have been accused of this in this past, but there is a ton of great new music, some that is great head banging music, and some that will keep you excited... And where as those bands you love should stay like that. If you decide though to ignore the new stuff that comes out... You will miss some great stuff! 

At number 2: Some new and inventive stuff done by bands. 

Metallica's S&M concert was a brilliant, inventive concert!

In the late 1990s, Metallica did a concert with the San Francisco Symphony orchestra, this for the time was pretty inventive and different, and people (myself included,) found that the recorded album is truly awesome! Since then, there have been a ton of other great albums that have done this... Stuff that if you close yourself off to this type of stuff... Well you may end up screwing yourself out of some great music! 

At number 1: Closing yourself off is just stupid! 

Can he see you?

There, I said it, enjoy the bands that you enjoy, but keep yourself open to new music, you would be pretty stupid not to! There is just to much great music out there not to keep yourself open! 

For some great music to introduce yourself to, click here:

Here is 5 examples of some truly awesome music to listen to! 

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Song Of The Month: Metallica's 'Whiskey In The Jar'!

Jason Newsted maybe gone, but this song is a classic from his time with the band! 

Another first! My first, 'Song Of The Month' for my new blog... Dare I say it... YAY! 

Now more seriously, the song that I wanted to recommend is Metallica's, 'Whiskey In The Jar' from their 1998 album, 'Garage Inc.'

There are a lot of amazing songs on that album that are different from Metallica's norm that I do really like, but I decided to pick this song, because this song is probably in my opinion both representative of the amazing work that they have always brought to the table, and the brilliant and fun work that they brought to that album... but still plays well almost 20 years later, and happens to be one of those songs that rather you have been  following them for over 20 year (like I have,) or are just checking their music out for the first time, is a song you are going to love! 

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Metallica: Fade To Black (1984) - Song Review

The team that brought: 'Fade To Black' to life!

Growing up I have had a ton of musical interests, having grown up listening to almost everything... Including, 'Classical', 'Rock', 'Rap' & even, 'Country', but one of my favorite genre's that I have personally come to enjoy the most is probably, 'Heavy Metal'!

Besides the darker overtones (something that I have found the I have come to really enjoy in the books I read, and the movies I watch as well,) It also has an excitement to it, that I have to say that I really just have not felt with in the tempo of the music quite like I have with heavy metal!

Now you might be wondering why I mention this... Well the truth is, is, 'Metallica', helped get me interested in Heavy Metal, and the song, 'Fade to Black' from their album, 'Ride The Lightening' (1984) helped keep me in it!

From left: Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich & Kirk Hammett during their, 'Ride The Lightening' run!

What makes this song so great you ask? Well the truth is, is this song can be rather depressing if you let it... But it also has a sort of fiendish glee to it... What I mean... Is this song is sort of like watching a surrealist horror movie... Where everything is not quite right, and the world that you are watching it in is scary and stormy, but it is a total blast to watch, (or in this case of this album... Listen to!)

And with this being one of the albums that Cliff Burton (He is probably one of their most celebrated bassists,) worked on before he died, it makes this song one of the better ones to try out if you are planning on trying out there music!

And for the true fans, enjoy, lyrics to: Fade To Black, by: Metallica!

Life, it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else

I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel

Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now he's gone

No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye
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Four Great Quotes From Four Legendary Rock/Heavy Metal Singers From ThePast 50 Years

Hey music fans, so I was trying to think of something else kind of cool to give to you guys from the world of, 'Heavy Metal/Rock Music' and I thought that you guys would enjoy: Four Great Quotes From Five Legendary Rock/Heavy Metal Singers From The Past 50 Years!

A quote from Jim Morrison: lead singer of, 'The Doors'!

"There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors." - Jim Morrison

A quote from James Hetfield: lead singer of, 'Metallica'!

"Sleep my friend, and you will see that dream is my reality." - James Hetfield (A quote from the Metallica song: Enter The Sandman.)

A quote from Kurt Cobain: lead singer of, 'Nirvana'!

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

A quote from Chester Bennington: lead singer of, 'Linkin Park'!

"As an artist, I want a reaction." - Chester Bennington

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The Future Of Heavy Metal... One That Maybe Starting To Brighten Up

Hybrid Circle, a great example of modern metal that rocks... They are just one example this can give us metal heads hope!

 You know I will be honest and say that when dumb bass boy bands, Britney Spears and their ilk kind of became what is popular in music back in the late 90s, I got pretty depressed with the turn that music was taking...

What I mean by this is that I was not a fan of the reduction of such an awesome sound like what heavy metal had been offering for decades in to this lame boy band style non-sense that has been dominant in our culture now for so long... (And is still popular with such morons as, 'Justin Bieber' being a major player on the scene... I don't know if you can tell, but that type of music... To say the least, I am not a fan of!)

With all of that in mind I have recently come to a very important discovery... That the future of heavy metal may actually still be intact!

Battle Beast... A recent discovery for me, but still... An amazing band that just released a new album!

What I mean by this is the fact that there are still a lot of the old guard that are still kicking as much ass in there music today, as they did back when they first got started! Such bands as, 'Metallica', or even, 'Megathdeth'... And that is just to name a few!

And if that wasn't a major plus point in favor of the continuing success of heavy metal music... Well then try this, now before I go on, let me say this, I am well aware of the fact that the bands I am just about to mention aren't at this point, 'new', but I do have a point, so bare with me...

Anyway, with that said, I thought that I should give bands like, 'Linkin Park'... Now it is true that they are no longer the newest kids on the playground, but they are an examples of an amazing mega superpower band, that is more recent then those that I just mentioned, and as a matter of fact, I would venture to say that there are more coming out every year!

Linkin Park... Newerish... And still kicking ass!

And speaking of these newer indie bands, I recently was contacted by a band, 'Hybrid Circle'... Now these guys truly rock, they have a sound that is there own, but you can definitely tell also had it's inspiration with the heavy metal music of yesterday that made heavy metal the amazing music that it is to this day and has remained insanely popular!

For more information on what I am talking about, enjoy!

Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax And Megadeth In A Nintendo Game... To Cool

Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax & Slayer get an 8-bit revamp!

If you're a metal head like me... Well I think you will find this news to be not only exciting, but also being a fan of retro video games (like Nintendo games...) I have to say that not only did I love the video, but I suspect the game would have been amazing if it had been real!

That's right folks,  this 83 second 8 bit clip that we found courtesy of: Geeks Of Doom, it turns out was the bad-ass creation of Loudwire.com, in collaboration with Filthy Frackers... Here is what the folks at Loudwire had to say:

"If there was a NES video game made in the late ’80s about the Big Four of thrash metal, this is what we dreamed up the game intro would be. Since this game doesn’t really exist, we broke all rules and put in cameos of some of our favorite retro game characters in as well! Can you identify them all? Which 8-bit music video was your favorite: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer or Anthrax?"

- Loudwire.com (talking about the video they made for an 8-bit video game about 4 of the biggest names in Heavy Metal, (Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth & Slayer,) that doesn't actually exist...)

Now this video has to do with what the title screen would have looked like had it been made... But let's be honest here, how cool would it have been had it been made?

While you are checking it out,  don't forget to check out the classic video game characters in the background!

Four Heavy Metal Bands That Made An Impression In The 1990s

Rage Against The Machine... A classic heavy metal band that through there music helped influence fans of the 90s!

When I was younger I came to realize something that I found to be rather interesting, that being the fact that it seemed like every decade women's fashions seemed to change, and what was popular in fashion at that time, (something that everyone woman was fighting to get for themselves,) would go in the next decade to being in the pile that went in the garbage or even going so far as to become the most embarrassing piece of filth that the mere thought of looking at it in the next decade was something intolerable...

Well growing up in a house that was primarily women, I was curious about why this was, so I asked my sister about this, and she could never really give me a solid answer, and well as time went on, I have begun to notice that this seems to be a trend with a lot of things...

A great example of this being music! In the 80s an extremely popular style of music was stuff like: 'Synthpop', in the 90s it was, 'Heavy Metal', in the first decade of the new millennium it seemed to be, 'Rap/Hip Hop'... And with the 90s becoming more and more of a distant memory, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the Heavy Metal Bands that really made an impression on the 1990s!

And so at number 4: Rage Against The Machine.

Rage Against The Machine was definitely a band that left a lasting impression in the 90s!

Rage Against The Machine... Man if you grew up when they were still together, then you were lucky! What I mean by this, is that there type of music was not just intense, and fun, but the music that they played... Well you could say that this band essentially helped to define music in the 90s... And for some people when they talk about music in the 90s still mention, 'Rage' when talking about it!

At number 3: Metallica.

Metallica during their 1996 Cunning Stunts tour!

Now Metallica... Metallica started out in the 80s, but the truth is, is things really started to change in the 90s for this group, and being a fan, and having talked to to other fans (not those that are only in it for Metallica's music. type of fans,) a lot of them have mentioned Metallica as being at their height in the 90s!

At number 2: Nirvana.

Nirvana practically invented the, 'Grunge scene' back in the early 90s!

Nirvana... Sadly, with the death of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana disbanded, but let's be honest here guys, when you think of the 90s and when, 'grunge' was still popular, Nirvana has to be the group that comes to mind!

At number 1: White Zombie.

White Zombie... A classic Heavy Metal Band of the 90s!

Before Rob Zombie went solo, and before he started his film career he was part of a truly awesome horrific metal band, 'White Zombie', and for the type of music that they played... Well they definitely left a lasting impression in the 90s that has carried on through Rob Zombie's work in his solo career!

Elvis Presley... The King Of Rock N Roll Now And Forever

Elvis Presley... Now unto forever!

That's right folks, decades after the man passed away, Elvis Presley can be said to be one of the greatest musicians of all time, what with still producing albums long after his death, as well getting awards for the work that he did long after he past on!

Why is this guy so great? Well besides  the fact that his music will always be truly amazing music, that has not just adequately done well through out the decades, his music has found new audiences generation after generation, (including myself)... But the truth is, is that the reason why this guy is still considered to be one of the most famous musicians of all time, at least for me is the era in which he represents!

Now I can go in to the whole (It was a simpler time) routine... The truth is, is that Elvis Presley's era was the last gasp of a world that majorly intolerant, was a time in which there was a lot of strife in the country and the rest of the world (it was threatening to tear the world apart...)

The 1960s saw the need for great change, with the tensions in the social fabric of the United States beginning to unravel.

No, what I mean here is that Elvis Presley and his music, represented an era that had stuff like, 'The Rat Pack', 'The Mob' (I mention this, but the truth is, is I don't advocate the mob...) An era that in which our country was tearing itself apart between the traditional conformists, and the more out there, 'rebels'...

And speaking of that, another thing that Elvis and his music represent (in this case, 'the music') was almost representative of that sort of thing!

What I mean by this is the fact that when Elvis was just starting out as a musician, most of the time people were still in to Jazz, (and at this time, even, 'Jazz' had it's under ground quality.) But besides all of that, Rock 'N Roll really was in it's infancy, with Jazz and, 'Big  Band Music' as well as older types of music still being the mainstay for, 'pop music' back then!

Elvis doing his signature dance moves... These moves back when they first came out were considered (scandalous for their supposed racey intentions...)

As a matter of fact, I would say that Elvis and his music destroyed what could be the traditional, 'values' of music back the, and helped  to reconstruct them in such a way that has made it acceptable for bands like, 'AC/DC, Megadeth, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne' and the like to come to life!

And so I say folks, that with the continued popularity of Elvis Presley and his music, that Elvis from now unto forever, should and currently still is know as, 'The King Of Rock', and hopefully he always will be!

Aging Heavy Metal And Rock Bands... Still Have Value

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Metallica... Still kicking ass![/caption]

A few months ago I was working on a piece for the site and came across a relatively recent photo of Metallica... And I have to say that I was surprised by what I saw! What I mean by this, is that they looked older! Not senior citizen old... But like middle aged men!

There isn't anything wrong with this, I mean their first album came out roughly about a year after I was born, but I got to thinking of all of the other great musicians that have been kicking ass and taking names for literally decades and I realized something... Where are they?

What I mean by this, is I have noticed that a lot of the bands that have been hitting the popularity circuit are newer bands... And so I had to ask... Where are they?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Disturbed... A newerish band that is helping to keep heavy metal bad ass![/caption]

Now before I go on, I will say that it is true, that like everything, eventually there is a changing of the guard, when the old guard has to turn it over to the next generation... So I say to you guys... It is not that time and these aging bands are still good... As a matter of fact, with what is passing for, 'popular music' in this day and age... We need the monsters of metal and rock to come back and kick ass one more time!

Now I am sure that people like, 'Justin Bieber' and his nutso ilk are liked by a lot... But the music industry is now dominated by these people who have weekly breakdowns and scandals... We need the monsters of metal like, 'Metallica', 'Ozzy Osbourne', 'Marilyn Manson' to come out of obscurity and take down these obnoxious twits that have taken over and bring back some dignity to the world of music once more!

So again I say... Aging Heavy Metal & Rock Bands... Still Have Value!

http://youtu.be/yTM0UxeyTJU

http://youtu.be/NO2cHJmDkBg

http://youtu.be/zlLn0UicWrM

Metallica: Seek And Destroy (1983) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

You know I will be honest with you guys and say that, 'Metallica' is my favorite band... I mean the way the music is arranged... James Hettfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett (and later Robert Trujillo), are just freaking geniuses... The story in their music more often then not is fun... And well I will be honest and say that they work so well together that I have hardly seen it in any other band!

And one of their first albums, 'Metal Up Your Ass'... Later known as, 'Kill 'em All', is pretty spectacular album! I hate to say it, but this album is not in my opinion their best... But for me it definitely rates amongst the top... And I have to admit that the song, 'Seek And Destroy'... Although not my favorite on this album, is only seconded by the fact that I think, 'Metal Militia' may not be far off...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The cover for the album that has, 'Seek And Destroy On It'![/caption]

Regardless though, this song is fun... Written during the height of the, 'Cold War' era... I think there are probably some strong overtones about the cold war... (I found that in the 80s there was definitely more then a few songs that were inspired by the, 'Cold War'...)

Never the less, the other reason I like this song is the instrumentals... The beats in this song are an awful lot of fun...

Well the truth is, is this is not one of Metallica's better songs, it still is pretty good, and if you get a chance to give it a try, you might find that you like it!

http://youtu.be/6mdBw3SG5io

Metallica's Concert With The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra... Absolute Genius

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="610"] The Metallica that made, 'S&M' so great![/caption]

Let me preface what I am about to say with the fact that I am a huge fan of Metallica... As a matter of fact, I would say that Metallica is probably one of my favorite bands of all time!

One of the reasons being of course is the fact that these people are absolutely genius when it comes to the concerts that they have created... (I hate to admit that I haven't seen any of them in person, but I have seen more then a few of them on DVD.)

Regardless though, a great example of their genius is, 'Cunning Stunts'... This concert was freaking awesome, and that in my opinion really cemented themselves in the 1990s (By the way, 'Cunning Stunts' is a play on, 'Stunning Cunts'...)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] James Hettfield on stage at the, 'Cunning Stunts' concert![/caption]

But another great concert that they did was a concert that they did in San Francisco around the turn of the new millennium... This was, 'S&M'...

This concert was truly an original concept in that they did some truly awesome classics, including: 'The Call Of Ktulu', & 'Master Of Puppets', but they gave it a very interesting twist in that they did these awesome songs with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra! And the truth is, is this heavy metal music maybe some of the best that I have ever heard! Doing this music gave them a very gothic bent that was just truly a lot of fun!

Unfortunately or Fortunately... (Depending on how you feel about it), but I have not heard anything like that since then from anyone else, (including them).

The truth is, is this album is one of the most original albums that I have ever heard, and I found it to be pretty amazing, and if you get a chance to give it a try, then you might find the same thing as well!

http://youtu.be/WDaybu1_t8w

5 Awesome Bands That Still Rock And That If You Can, You Should See Live

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="552"] AC/DC... An amazing band that i do feel would be great on stage![/caption]

Believe it or not folks, I have been a metal head for all of my adult life, and for a decent sized portion of when I was a teenager... I have listened to a lot of truly spectacular music, have owned some awesome mementos from some amazing moments for some of whom I would consider to be some of the best bands head banging rock bands ever,  and have even owned more then a few concert DVD's for some of these groups... But the one thing that I have never done is see any of them live!

Believe it or not, I have only ever actually been to one concert in my life! (A situation where in the first chance I get, I absolutely intend to rectify it!)

So I was thinking recently, about who would be my top 5 bands... A real dream team that if I had the opportunity to see would be absolutely fantastic... So I thought that I would share with you guys, '5 Awesome Bands That Still Rock And That If You Could, You Should See Live'.

At number 5: Anthrax.

[caption id="attachment_2141" align="aligncenter" width="450"] A great band that would be absolutely incredible to see on stage![/caption]

The truth is, is more or less Anthrax is a relatively recent band that I have just gotten in to, and the truth is, is that they have some truly awesome songs, and I feel like they would be an absolute blast, but when it comes down to it... All of their good songs are really good, and all of their bad songs are absolutely atrocious... But they really do deserve one of the top 5 spots, because their good songs are freaking awesome!

At number 4: KISS.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="584"] The, 'KISS Army' doing what they do best![/caption]

Now I am aware that for what ever reason, that KISS has become a modern day joke to a lot of people, but they rocked back in the 70s when they first came to prominence, and they rock just as much now!

At number 3: Iron Butterfly.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474"] A prolific era defining band that still to this day kick ass![/caption]

Unfortunately due to their age, I hate to be morbid about this, but I can't imagine there will be to many more opportunities to see these guys in action due to the fact that they have been going on strong for literally decades... But the truth is, is their music, and especially one of the songs that they are most recognized for, 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'  does not just still kick major ass, but was  culturally defining for the 1960s in regards to it's type of music... So you know I had to put them in there!

At number 2: Alice Cooper.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Alice Cooper by himself still rules and is one that all fans should go see at some point![/caption]

He may not be exactly a band... But he is Alice freaking Cooper... You know I had to put him in there!

At number 1: Metallica.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="485"] Metallica kicking ass on stage... Definitely if you are a fan of their type of music then it is a must![/caption]

I will be honest with you guys and say that this choice maybe partly a personal preference (but that is because they are still my favorite band of all time.), also if you are a metal head like me, then it is well worth seeing them in person (I know I would love to!)

In the end, there are a lot of great bands, but for my money, I would say that these guys rock, and would be my dream team if I only had 5 bands that I could see!

http://youtu.be/zlLn0UicWrM

http://youtu.be/_PiVTOLFdBA

http://youtu.be/UIVe-rZBcm4

http://youtu.be/NO2cHJmDkBg

http://youtu.be/yTM0UxeyTJU