Hellinspace: Song Reviews

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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

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

Rob Zombie/Ozzy Osbourne: Iron Head (2001) - #Song #Review

Two legends of heavy metal collaborating on an amazing song!

I haven't heard many collaborations between bands or genre's, but so far I have to say that I really like it! I mean I don't have many examples of this except for when, 'Metallica' played with the San Francisco Orchestra in a show that to this date is still completely awesome!

Now I am not talking about something lame like, 'Donny & Mary' type of thing... To those who like this type of music... It may have been great in the 1970s, but the truth is, is it is pretty out of date by today's standards.

But there is another great song that I listened to with another group of absolutely amazing legends of heavy metal... That is a song that Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie did together for the album, 'The Sinister Urge' in 2001... Iron Head!

A great song from a great album!

Besides the fact that this song has two of the greatest legends of heavy metal over the last 30 years. It has a great beat, and some great lyrics... Finally the other thing that I really like about this song is that the arrangement of how much time these legends had between them is just brilliant!

In the end, I can't say that this is my favorite song, but the truth is, is I can't see anything wrong with this one!

Children Of Bodom: I Hurt (2015) - #Song #Review

A great song from a great album!

Alright metal heads, so, so far I am going to say that 2015 has been a great year for some hard core headbanging heavy metal music... Don't you?

I know that I haven't done much in the way of doing music from 2015 so far this year, but I will be doing more as time goes on, along, with all of the other great heavy metal, rock 'n roll and other similar type of great music you have come to expect me to review on this site!

Now the reason that I say this is because I just listened to a new track from Children Of Bodom's new album, 'I Hurt' that freaking rocks!

Children Of Bodom doing, 'I Hurt' liv!

Recorded at Danger Johnny Studios for Nuclear Blast Records, this bad ass album has some truly awesome instrumentals that I am going to say are on par with some of Rammstein's better heavier metal music, as well as some lyrics that just kept me interested in keeping the song going!

Now as far was what I am not a fan of for this song... Where as it is true that this song kept me interested... I felt like this album was more background music, then headbanging, and as for the song itself, I like having long background songs, and this one just was not long enough...

But it is one worth checking out, and a good introduction in to their new album, 'I Worship Chaos', so please enjoy this sample of the song.

Lyrics from Children Of Bodom's song, 'I Hurt' from their new album, 'I Worship Chaos':

'You run but I'm always a step ahead

I'm a stalker you embrace while dread

I'm not your lover
You're not my only one
I'm not your child but you made me
Your creation, your enemy
That one thing you'll regret forevermore

You can't destroy what I have become
Too little too late
Damage's done

From here on outs its torture while I laugh I laugh
And you will die

Cause and effect and then you die
There's more to pain than meets in eye
I'm deep inside you and you're mine
So take this to your mind

[chorus:]
I am dominant
Vile too malevolent
The more you suffer I hurt
I'll get under your skin
When you scream I hurt
Motherfucker I'm pain

I give you life then you take mine?
Don't forget you were the partner in crime
I might be your slave but you're not my God

You're neither inside my head nor fiction
My malady, my affliction

The cross I carry on my knees
Until you laugh and I will cry

Cause and effect and then you die
There's more to pain than meets in eye
I'm deep inside and you're mine
So take this to your twisted little mind

I surrender
Got no fight left in me to render
I wanna forget, you remember?
I gave you a go
The light's now green all you gotta do is kill me
But you keep me alive to reap what you sew
Just let me go
Let me go

Cause and effect and then you die
There's more to pain than meets in eye
I'm deep inside you and you're mine
So take this to your mind

[chorus:]
I am dominant
Vile too malevolent
The more you suffer I hurt
I'll get under your skin
When you scream I hurt
Motherfucker I'm the end

I am dominant
Vile too malevolent
The more you suffer I hurt
I'll get under your skin
When you scream I hurt
Motherfucker I'm pain

Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls Of Fire (1957) - Song Review

Jerry Lee Lewis doing, 'Great Balls Of Fire Live'!

Now I have to admit that I was the exception to the rule in the group of metal heads that I hung out with in High School... What I mean by this, is I started with a lot more easy listening music... Let's just put it this way, while I was listening to songs like Seal's, 'Kiss From A Rose', most of my friends were listening to music like, Anthrax's, 'Bordello Of Blood'...

Well believe it or not, what changed my interest, and what made me begin to get interested more in rock 'n roll and eventually got me interested in heavy metal, and all of that was when my step-dad at the time basically lent me most (I don't remember if it was all, or if it was most,) of his classic rock collection!

I got introduced to a lot of the greats then... My favorite from that selection being the Beatles, but it got me interested in most other classic rock songs, and so I started on a path to getting in to a ton of really great music... And you know what, Jerry Lee Lewis's, 'Great Balls Of Fire' (1957) is one of those amazing songs!

A fantastic song!

Written by: Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer, and recorded at Sun Studios (The same studio that gave Elvis Presley his start!) Back in 1957, this song, which was original also apart of the movie, Jamboree (1957), has gone on to become an icon of American pop culture... This song has been heard on TV, in other movies, (including the name of the song being the title of the biopic of Jerry Lee Lewis's life, starring Denis Quaid (Jaws 3-D)!)

And that is just to mention a few!

As a matter of fact, the only thing I am gonna say that I didn't like about this song is the fact that it was to short! And well... The other thing I am going to say is that due to the prevailing interest by the most recent modern generation to forget about all of the amazing music that came before the most recent year, that this song probably won't translate with most of the younger generation, unless they are in to more variations of music.

But if you haven't heard this song yet, then check it out, you might find you really like it!

Season After: Cry Little Sister (2010) - Song Review

The original song for this movie is amazing, and the remake also pays homage to the original song quite well!

You know I will be honest and say that I do rather enjoy remixes, or re-done songs... Don't get me wrong, the originals are almost always the best, but some times, just some times you find one that is so good, that it actually comes close to the original... It's rare, but true...

Now the reason that I mention this is that there is a song that was done by Gerard McMann that was done for the classic horror movie, The Lost Boys (1987) called, 'Cry Little Sister'!

Now don't get me wrong, this song is freaking awesome! I mean it was truly a great addition to the movie, and in my opinion has actually helped make the movie the masterpiece that we all know and love today... But as a stand alone it is still just as good!

I mean it is one of the heavy metal songs that is not just people screaming, but it is a heavy metal song with a sort of a dark story to it that is just a lot of fun! And you know what? The original song was truly awesome, and the 2010 remake of the song by, 'Seasons After' did a great job as well!

Season After remaking the 1987 classic, 'Cry Little Sister'!

Now I stand by the fact that what Gerard McMann did when he made the original song was a pure masterpiece (as a matter of I would say that it is probably in my top 10 favorite songs of all time!)

But there are two things about this song that I have to say that I am truly impressed with... They are the fact that this song seems literally to be an homage to the original song, but while making it an updated version of the classic song, so that they didn't end up doing like what happened with the remake to the movie Psycho (1998)... That being the fact that in the remake to Psycho, they basically made a disjointed version of Alfred Hitchcock's movie, but sort of set in the modern age... That form of remaking Cry Little Sister, Season After did not do!

So if you haven't had a chance to listen to this song yet, check it out, I think you're gonna really like it... I know I do!

The Beatles: Helter Skelter (1968) - Song Review

The Beatles... A truly amazing band that was defining of it;s generation!

In life there are some songs that just scream some element in history... I mean you could almost say that these songs are an authority for a certain time, or situation that has made it's mark in history!

A great example of this is: Steppenwolf's, 'Magic Carpet Ride' (1968)... This song... When you see movies or what not, a lot of the time this song is playing in those movies, and could be said to be almost like, 'the theme song' to the Vietnam War (considering how often this song is associated with that war!)

Another example is: The Eurythmics, 'Sweet Dreams' (1983)... Now I doubt that a lot of people would tend to put two and two together about this one, but think about it... The look and feel of this song almost certainly encompasses the more corporate hard nose lifestyle with a lot of hidden decadence... Along with a sort of (Science Fictionish) feel that would encompass the 80s (and if you switch out the Science Fictionish and replace it with a more darker, 'horrorish', you could say that about the, '90s' as well!)

Annie Lennox as seen in the music video: 'Sweet Dreams'... A song I would say by and large captured alot of the aspects of the 80s and some in the 90s as well!

Now you might be wondering why I am mentioning this... Because this song is one of the, 'Beatles' more infamous songs... And well unfortunately, it was made infamous for completely wrong reasons... But still became one of the more famous songs that they made... This song being: 'Helter Skelter' from their 1968 album, 'The White Album'!

A great album, with some fantastic music on it!

Now before I go in to the reason why this song has become one of the more infamous songs out there... Let me say this... This song fucking rocks!

This song rocks for it's different nature... It rocks because this song is not like there usually more subtler (or in some cases, more, 'psychedelic') music... And what I mean by this, is that this song is hard rock (boarding on, 'metal' music!) After listening to this song, I could definitely see where people like, 'Metallica' and a lot of other future metal heads would get there inspiration from the work that the Beatles did!

I mean this song is just brilliant;y well made... George, Ringo Paul & John... These guys were an amazing and talented group of guys who truly were able to show their versatility... And it really showed in this album!

The Beatles doing, 'Helter Skelter' live!

Now on to the reason why this song was made more infamous then it would have been on it's own... Well to be honest with you, I hate to say it... But back in the late 60s, Charles Manson used this song as a pre-text to have his cult kill about 6 pretty famous/wealthy people... Including: Roman Polanski's wife, 'Sharon Tate' (The Fearless Vampire Killers)...

Well despite the darker aspects... This song is pretty awesome, and if you haven't checked it out yet, then do so... I think that you are going to really like it... I did, and I think you might as well!

Steppenwolf: Ride With Me (1971) - Song Review

Steppenwolf...

Steppenwolf... Well a lot of the modern day music fans probably have not really heard of them... It is a shame to! I mean in a lot of ways they helped shape some great music soundtracks!

Also in a lot of respects you could say that Steppenwolf created the soundtrack for the Vietnam war, what with their song: 'Magic Carpet Ride' (1968) being one of those songs that seems to go side by side in almost every none overly dramatic moment about the Vietnam War... Also their song, 'born to be wild' (1968) is a song (that regained a large amount of popularity in the 1980s,) has been connected with a lot of biker movies as well!

I know I have used a lot of movie references in this review about the songs I mentioned above, but take a listen to them and you will see what I mean!

Steppenwolf Album Cover

Anyway, the song that I wanted to mention here though is the song: Ride With Me (1971)...

Now I will give you that it is probably fairly hard to make the adaption from one decade to another, and this song I suspect maybe has that particular problem! What I mean by this is that where as the song is good... Tonally it is not much different then some of the music that they produced in the 60s... And was to me just not much really new or terribly exciting...

I guess what I am basically saying is this... If you are looking for a song to listen to while you work, this is a good one for that, but if you are looking for a good Steppenwolf song to introduce yourself to, then this song probably is not it!

Song Of The Week: Nat King Cole's 'Straighten Up And Fly Right'

Nat King Cole... It could be said that his brand of music is a distant ancestor to the modern heavy metal song!

So metal heads, as important as it is to record the greats and their music for posterity here, groups and musicians like: 'Disturbed', 'Metallica', 'Ozzy Osbourne', 'Led Zepplin', and the countless other greats that have come and gone, as well as those that have stayed around, there is also a side that I would be remiss if I didn't properly acknowledge... The ancestry of where all of the modern greats come from!

Now you might be saying to yourself... 'Well who cares about moldy oldies from the 40s, 50s or 60s?'

Well the fact is, is that some of these, 'moldy oldies' are pretty bad-ass and deserve attention as well! And so I thought that I would recommend for this fresh new week's, 'Song Of The Week': Nat King Cole's, 'Straighten Up And Fly Right' (1943)!

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

Nirvana: Heart Shaped Box (1993) - Song Review

Kurt Cobain doing, 'Hearts Shaped Box' live!

Nirvana... These guys really turned the world upside, and made the alternative rock/grunge rock scene what it was then, and I would say that there are a lot of strong elements that are still brought to these genres today! That is why it is so sad that Kurt Cobain passed away!

But he did (along with his band,) leave a truly prolific body of work that I would say is pretty safe to say that it is by far, maybe some of the more important pieces of music to come out of the last 40 years of music!

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of other great music out there, but a truly great band, with truly amazing music that has permanent staying power, is the band whose music remains hugely popular decades after the break up or death/deaths that ended the band! And Nirvana is definitely one of those bands that continues to entertain audiences all over the world despite the end of the band decades ago! And, 'Heart Shaped Box' (1993) is a great example of why they continue to rock!

Nirvana doing: Heart Shaped Box Live!

Why is this song so good? That is this wrong question to ask? Why isn't it good? I can't answer that, the truth is, is the Kurt Cobain did the amazing job that he always did, and the instrumentals... Forget about it! The only thing that I am going to say negative about this (Don't crucify me for saying this guys,) but for the younger generation, they might start to find this particular song slightly dated...

But either way, no matter what age you are, try it, you might like it!

Linkin Park: Papercut (2000) - Song Review

Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils

Linkin Park... Now I have to admit that the first time I heard these guys, I heard there song, 'In The End', when I was working at a mall during the Christmas season when I was just out of High School... Now at the time I had no idea who they were, except that I really liked their sound, and was bound and determined to get one of their CDs asap!

Well as luck would have it, I was able to pick up the CD, 'Hybrid Theory' (2000), and their song, 'Papercut' hooked me!

Linkin Park doing: Papercut live!

I will say this, the reason that I like this song is because it is lively, and energetic, and heavily reminds me of a mix between the beat and energy of, 'Rap', with the heavy tones of heavy metal... (And trust me when I say that I am not the biggest fan of rap by any stretch, but this song rules!)

So if you haven't tried this song yet... Get the album... Listen to the song... You won't regret it!

And as a special gift for the fans, the lyrics to: Papercut, by: Linkin Park

Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here is not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that I watch every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall (And watches everything)
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is here in me
Right underneath my skin

It's like I'm paranoid, looking over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right
Beneath my skin

I know I've got a face in me
Points out all my mistakes to me
You've got a face on the inside too
Your paranoia's probably worse
I don't know what set me off first
But I know what I can't stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is I can't add up to what you can
But everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches every time they lie
A face that laughs every time they fall (And watches everything)
So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too
Right inside your skin

It's like I'm paranoid, looking over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath the skin
It's like I'm paranoid looking over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right
Beneath my skin

The face inside is right beneath your skin
The face inside is right beneath your skin
The face inside is right beneath your skin

The sun goes down...
I feel the light betray me
The sun goes down...
I feel the light betray me

(The sun)
It's like I'm paranoid, looking over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like (I feel the light betray me) the face inside is right beneath my skin
(The sun)
It's like I'm paranoid, looking over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like I (I feel the light betray me) can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like I (Ahh) can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin

Disturbed: This Moment (2011) - Song Review

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils

I will be honest and say that I really like Disturbed... They are a great heavy metal band that actually gave me a lot of hope in a world that has been awash in popular music that includes teeny bopper singers that are meant to get 14 year old girls excited, (take that anyway you want... And trust me when I say that you are probably right... Sad!)

But for headbangers like myself from way back, seeing the downfall of great music in the late 90s through the early part of the new millennium was not only sad, but it was maddening, and thus I was glad to find bands like, 'Disturbed'... Now I will be honest and say that I was pretty sad to see that they have kind of gone on to other projects... Still they do rock!

I must say that, 'The Moment', from their album, 'The Lost Children' (2011), may not be the best, but it is not bad!

'This Moment' may not be the best song they have done, but it certainly is not the worst!

Don't get me wrong, this song is fun, and it is cool that it was used in the soundtrack to, Transformers (2007), but it didn't have that pulse pounding element that most of the rest of their songs have... Most of their songs are like a watching a good horror movie or reading a good horror novel in and of itself, but this song is sort of like, 'listening to the end credits...' Definitely worth listening to if you like to wait for everyone else to leave the theater first... But otherwise kind of useless...

For the fans, the lyrics to: The Moment, by: Disturbed!

You will remember this moment as you dig into me
And from your smile now it seems as if you liked it
You'd better cherish this moment as you dig into me
You'll never get another chance at this

I won't stand another minute of your questioning me
You hear me, bitch, stop the interrogations over
I can't handle the feeling of your pestering me
How would you like to make my favorite list

No, you can't reneg
I love to see you beg

Dream this moment as you run away
You will only separate me from all I believe
This moment in brutality
You're the one who kept on pushing till I made you bleed

It seems your pride has been stolen since you stood up to me
I'll tell you now you know I think I really like it
So, learn a lesson from someone
Who will never repeat the many tragic mistakes of his past

I hope you savor this moment as you're still on your feet
So keep it quiet now, I think you're gonna like it
Words have their consequences when they're spoken to me
Better be careful when you're writing checks

Don't you question how
I stand above you now

Dream this moment as you run away
You will only separate me from all I believe
This moment in brutality
You're the one who kept on pushing till I made you bleed

Now, you know the answer, save yourself from danger
I cannot forget how all of this began
I know you know the answers, save yourself from danger
Beaten by a stranger, blood still on his hands

Dream this moment as you run away
You will only separate me from all I believe
This moment in brutality
You're the one who kept on pushing till I made you bleed

Battle Beast: Madness (2015) - Song Review

Official Score = 3 Devils

One of the things that I really like about doing this site is that I enjoy finding a new movie, or writer, or even band to bring to prominence on the site... Some one that is a recent discovery... And especially some one, or something that turns out to really be awesome.

And that is at least part of the reason why I was glad to discover, Battle Beasts song, 'Madness' (2015), from their 2015 album, 'Unholy Savior'!

A scene from the official music video for Battle Beasts, 'Madness'!

Now like I said above, I don't really know much about these people, but I will say this, I truly enjoyed the song, 'Madness'... Part of the reason why I like this song is the fact that it was kind of done in what I imagine, 'No Doubt' would have done it, if they had been more heavy metal... And I have to say that I do like it!

The next thing that I wanted to say, is that I have not heard to much in the way of heavy metal music from a female vocalist... (Not intentional, I just haven't really known to many that have been involved in heavy metal...) And I have to say that I do like it... Ultimately though, everyone in the band itself just arranged an absolutely brilliant song!

Noora and the rest of Battle Beast doing, 'Madness'!

The last thing that I did want to say about this song is this, if this song is any indication of what the rest of the band is capable of, then I will say that they are almost certainly going to be a true blast to review!

Anyway, check it out, I think you might find that you like it... And for the fans, the lyrics to: Madness by: Battle Beast.

My name is Madness
And I will hunt you down in darkness
You can't escape from me
'Cause i'm Madness
The demon slayer in your head
I'm always there
(Solo)
No one can hear you scream
No one will find you
There's no way out of here alive
My name is Madness
And I'm the light you need in darkness
You can't escape from me
'Cause i'm Madness
And I will tear your soul apart
We die as one
My name is Madness
And I will hunt you down in darkness
You can't escape from me
'Cause i'm Madness
The demon slayer in your head
I'm always there
Until the end