The Stories and Novels By Derek Ward
Obviously not having learned from the pushback on #Gamergate, the Social Justice Warriors are marching on the Gates of Metal.
Picked this up from Larry Corriea’s blog:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=9oZCZicsuHc
Really? You want to attack a subset of the population that, in the enjoyment of their music, ritually do violence to each other? Are you sure you’ve thought this through?
Personally, I’d love for them to be forced to sit through a full Manowar set. Their heads would pop like unwanted acne.
Alien Ant Farm is one of those groups that fall between metal and hard rock, but I find myself singing along anyways. For your approval:
Lyrics in the YouTube video.
Amaranthe came through here a couple of months ago, and this song kicked off their set. Where it has resided in my mind like that nasty creature from Wrath of Khan. So, I’m hoping to spread the disease.
Lyrics:
We spin the world like a pinball machine
We have thoughts of a life in abundance
Day and night we wish movies were real
And what is behind the screen is our entrance
I’m like a satellite
Transmitting different eras
I am the voice of the next generation
Completely digital
Create synthetic auras
Start a revolution now
You will never have to cry
Cause the future is sold
You can never die
And you’ll never grow old
But everything
Surrounding you is digital
Never break the mold
You do as you’re told
Freedom is for sale
If you give them control
Erase return
In a digital world
I know it feels like you are part of a dream
You can fly and fight wars without judgement
You respawn and mistakes will repeal
But you will always be searching for an answer
I’m like a satellite
Transmitting different eras
I am the voice of the next generation
Completely digital
Create synthetic auras
Start a revolution now
Oh my friends… my dear, dear friends. I have left two of the best for last.
First, let me apologize for not sharing Opeth with you sooner. Second, let me apologize for sharing Opeth with you in this manner. The Grand Conjuration is a track of off 2005’s Ghost Reveries.
This video has two glaring errors:
There is one redeeming feature though: the song, even cut down, rules.
Back in 2010 or so I heard of a technical death metal band called Allegaeon. Even their first EP was strong-like-bull and each album they’ve done has gotten stronger.
One of my favorite things about the band is their use of scientific concepts in their songs. I especially adore Accelerated Evolution, but that song doesn’t have an awesome video.
But 1.618 does. I really don’t want to say more – you really should watch the video.
Yeah, that has nothing to do with the Golden Ratio, but its still great.
Anyways, I am off for another year my friends. But remember:
I’m a bit rushed this week my friends, so you don’t get my normal, extensive ramblings on the songs I’m sharing with you.
Know my reference last week to the three general kinds of videos? This is solidly in the “safe zone” of #2: Live/Roadshow. Despite the song being freaking amazing the video is basic, simple and overall, well, boring.
But seriously, despite being a pain to remember how to spell and pronounce, Eluveitie is an awesome band and Song of the Mountain is a phenominal song.
Y’know how I said that I just don’t get “Art Piece” videos. That’s not really true. I realize that they are trying to use the visuals so underscore or highlight the theme of the song and to heighten the atmosphere and feelings the song is trying to produce.
Usually, its a dismal failure. Sometimes though, you have the success of a video like Tool’s Sober.
But I wanna share this – Meshuggah‘s I Am Colossus.
Maybe it’s the stop-motion animation?
We’re back again my friends for another pair of “good video”/”shit video”. I like to start off with the crap video so the good one washes it out of your eyes.
So, there are three general kinds of videos:
The first of today’s videos is an old one from Samael. Samael started off as a black/death metal band and eventually mutated into an electronica/metal band. Today’s song comes from the album Passage, which was their first major change from the death metal band they were and into the band they’d eventually become.
Passage however, Passage was special. Pretty much an entire album of epic, symphonic, and most importantly really good songs.
And for a video they do this:
A blue art piece for one of the weakest songs on the album (though still a damn good song). But why the hell didn’t they do a video for Rain or The Ones Who Came Before?
The world will never know…
Here is an example of a “Storytime” video gone completely off the rails. Hilarious in concept and excellent in execution I present Lamb of God‘s Redneck.
As a final note, OMFSM that riff… that riff says “Someone is about to get fucked up“. The closest I’ve ever heard to that riff for screaming “there’s about to be a fight” is ZZ Top’s La Grange.
Well, I’m back again with a round of metal that my dear brother wouldn’t normally touch, much less share with you wonderful individuals. And as always, I cheat.
I noticed while going through videos that there aren’t a lot of good metal videos. A lot of great songs, but the videos are complete shit. But I found some good ones, so I figured I’d do a series of good vs. bad videos.
Both the songs are good, it just the videos with varying (subjective) quality.
First on the docket for this year is the most radio friendly pair of songs starting with Apocalyptica‘s I’m Not Jesus.
Apocalyptica started out doing covers of Metallica songs on cellos but have grown past that to writing wonderful songs that sometimes they get really good singers to join them.
Here’s I’m Not Jesus starring Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour fame.
Why the hell is a kid in swim goggles spitting water at me? I… what?
How the hell has my brother never shared the glory that is Clutch?
Anyways, here’s a fan-made video that is so awesome that the band made it the official video.
I present The Wolfman Kindly Requests.
Ah, November! The month where I sit back and let The Brother pick the music for the month. His taste in metal is similar, but different. He also likes loading the month up, so you get two songs every week for the same money.
Enjoy! See you in December!
It’s been a while since we had some Viking metal, so for this week, let’s do Rebellion’s “Blood Rains.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=e1chDjBQ4X0
Lyrics:
On the blackened eve of destruction
A king arises with the
Promise of light
But the Jarls who held him high
Were soon to see that they followed a lie
Wise magicians and healing women
Put to the stake by royal hands
Baptized they would not be
And so in flames their life did end
Odin thy face
It fades in the blood
The heathen oaks burned
It’s the end of a god
Blood rains from the sky
Love is just a Christian lullaby
I can’t believe I’d rather die
Blood rains from the sky
Preaching love while tortured victims cry
I won’t believe I’d rather die
Bondes who would not dip in the water
At the Althing he had put them dead
A royal smile a lie on the lips
Believe in Christ or drink burning lead
Raud a mighty Jarl on the isle
He was taken at night
And tried to a stake
His house on flames
Yet he would not fold his hands
Condemned to death
He had to swallow a snake
Odin thy face
It fades in the blood
The heathen oaks burned
It’s the end of a god
Blood rains from the sky
Love is just a Christian lullaby
I can’t believe I’d rather die
Blood rains from the sky
Preaching love while tortured victims cry
I won’t believe I’d rather die
Drowning Pool is not one of those bands that are usually in my rotation. Unfortunately, this song is stuck in my head because I recently acquired the eARC of “Strands of Sorrow,” the most recent Black Tides Rising book by John Ringo. Without giving anything away, the song is featured prominently.
Lyrics in the YouTube post.