Heavy Metal Blogs:
Do You Hate Music?
I have to ask: Do you hate music? Before you over react and send email saying how much you love it I must tell you this question isn't extended to fans. It's extended to the supposed media that helps promote the music.
We Love Metal is a site for fans, by fans. The We Love Metal Team are huge fans of music, many different genres and styles, but mainly metal and root bands of metal. By promoting our site as that we admit that we are just like the casual fan, but we happen to get to report about something we love and talk to some of our real life icons.
I have found lately that many of our brother/sister sites are taking that honor for granite. In our position as site owners and reporters we get to do things that the casual fan only dream of. We go to concerts constantly and interview musicians that some people might find untouchable. That's pretty damn cool, if anything, its just pretty damn cool.
For some reason though especially of late there has been a lot more criticism then love for music on the web. Sites have taken to getting fan reactions by bashing and hating on bands new, old, or upcoming. Why? I don't get it. Look at the good parts of music and think back to the fun you had when the first record peaked your interest. Think about why you started doing this. God knows this is hard, hard work. I know people don't have a clue how much goes into these sites and establishing contacts in a pretty closed industry, but its not our place to take it out on our fans.
We Love Metal is a very new site only being around for a year, but we have worked hard and made gains that many wonder how. There are sites out there that have been around for years and have contacts we can only dream of. These sites make a living reporting about music, which would be the ultimate dream of most in this industry. But you can go on those same sites and see nothing but bitching and complaining about musicians. Why not focus on the positive and sit back and enjoy everything music has given to you.
Sure sometimes is sucks and might not go well, but when you look at the broad view what we do is awesome. We have made strides on our mainly positive view of music and will continue to do so in the future, I encourage others to do the same.
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Show Me Your Horns!
Martell
JSS Jeff Scott Soto One Night in Madrid (Live)
We're going to step back and tone it down for this blog. This band is not as heavy as what we normally blog about, however JSS has been known to be heavy and I was impressed when I started searching info on him b/c I didn't know who he was (shame on me). He sang on 2 Yngwie Malmsteen albums, for Journey in 06-07, did tons of backup singing as well as solo CD's. Some of the backup singing includes Lita Ford, Steelheart, Fergie Frederiksen, Glass Tiger, House of Lords, Stryper, Saigon Kick, and many others. He has also done a lot of lead vocals (there's a whole list) with one being Biker Mice from Mars Sound Track and in a fictional band for the movie Rock Star.
Jeff has been busy busy! I don't know where he has found the time to do all that he has done. He put a CD out in Nov 09 called W.E.T which is Robert Sall from Work of Art, Erik Martenssen from Eclipse and Jeff from Talisman (=W.E.T). He makes a comment on their myspace page about this being the CD he would have put out if he had still been in Journey. *hehehe* And to add to everything he's done, the DVD One Night in Madrid. He's just all over the place never stopping! He does seem to have the talent and energy for it though. Way to go Jeff!
Wow, the sound that these guys produce is amazing. While watching the live DVD One Night in Madrid, I knew they were good from the first 10 seconds. The harmonizing was right on with all 4 singing. Some songs were heavier than others, which was good to hear the mixture and talking about mixture, check out the switch from one song to "Mountain".
There were a lot of good ones but to pick a few, I'd have to say:
"21st Century" - totally love this one. Good selection for a first song.
"Drowning" - Love it
"Testify" - well done
And one I wasn't too sure of was "Mountain". It was a little funky and different. Took me a few times to catch the vibe on that one but it was good.
There were times when he seemed a little out of breath and maybe not spot on being in tune a couple times, but my goodness it was live and he kept the crowd alive. It did not take anything away from my viewing & listening experience, I enjoyed watching the DVD each time. Great show, great music.
It was more intimate with the smaller venue not to say there weren't many people there b/c it was packed! Couldn't see the whole crowd but looked like wall-wall and standing room only. Speaking of the crowd, they enjoyed themselves very much with their reactions and singing along.
The band showed much passion & energy, which is awesome. However, I must say the man (JSS) sweats a lot and probably should have a towel handy. Takes a bit away from the hotness but still hott none the less.
All were talented especially BJ and Jeff both playing keyboard and Jeff playing guitar and BJ playing rhythm and acoustic not to mention everyone sings while playing too!
We watched this DVD a number of times, mostly just the live performance, and the last time we selected the videos and that was like finding an easter egg on a video game and it was right there in front of us! I thought they were just scenes broken down individually but they weren't! The videos are awesome…there's a lot of effects in each one but they are good. One I really liked was the tribute to Marcel Jacob, one of his band members and close friends. He passed on too soon; Jan 30/69 - Jul 21/09. They had been together for a long time over his years of life.
They seem like a great group of guys and regular people trying to make it in life while enjoying what they like to do, play and entertain others. Their "Goofballs" section on the DVD were almost like their own documentary to give you an inside view of how they act and what they were doing during this time.
All in all, we enjoyed watching and listening. It wasn't as heavy as what we normally listen to but it was nice to have a listen to JSS and all the guys. They all sound awesome. Great job guys!! It was a pleasure reviewing and having the opportunity to check out and promote your work!
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Play it Loud!
Heavy Metal Momma
Interview: Akbar Johnson - Special Ops
Please click the yellow bar at the top if the interview audio does not show up to enable the pop-up.
Thank you to Sam and John Asher for a great interview with a great Canadian Band. Check them out if there in your area.
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