I've learned
from my sons that heavy metal isn't just your ordinary heavy metal anymore. There are numerous varieties of heavy metal: death metal, doom metal, black metal, speed metal, power metal, glam metal, thrash metal and progressive metal...and these are only a slight listing. Apparently in heavy metal music, the electric guitar's sonic power is heavily amplified, giving it the "metal" sound that is craved. The vocals in this style of music is described as harsh screams and death growls which are supposed to be way more important than the lyrics.......
On page 172 through 174 of Recipe Records we discuss the different flavors of
"heavy metal": thrash, death, and black and we tossed out some examples of those band styles. I took my boys to see metal bands
Mastodon and Dethklok at the Pageant in St. Louis a few years ago and it was quite an eye
opener.... actually, there's NO WAY I could've CLOSED my eyes during the
explosive performances...
The mystery
surrounding this heavy metal business has really intrigued me, so much that I
was sucked into one of those website quizzes today that promised to "give me" my Heavy
Metal Nickname based upon my answers to some intricate questions .... Needless to
say, after wasting 10 minutes that I do not have, they required my CELL PHONE
NUMBER in order to give me a nickname. I refused to share my number and I left in sad
wonder of what my heavy metal nickname could possibly be.....
My hard rock days
began somewhere around 1976 with the emergence of KISS (I was instantly drawn in by their mainstream ballad "Beth" & the "Rock & Roll All Nite" anthem). I was a fairly big fan,
attending 7-8 concerts during my life and I will forever be loyal. KISS wasn't quite heavy metal and it took me some years before I really appreciated the genre. I'm not sure
if it's accurate or not, but my gut tells me that heavy metal began with Led
Zeppelin. I do remember seeing one of those VH-1 specials and they
considered John Kay & Steppenwolf's song "Born To Be Wild" as the first
heavy metal song. The lyric "heavy metal thunder" may have led to the serious metallic
vibe & undertone that would be respected and tweaked by many such as Led Zeppelin,
Black Sabbath and Motorhead.
I'd like to mention
that there are a couple of terrific recipes in the book for you metalheads--or non-metalheads. My
friend Marla gave me the recipe for Marla's Metal Trifle - which is a popular
recipe with my crowd. You can make it in a large trifle dish or individually in
ice cream glasses. I created a recipe for my son, Elliott, who is a chocolate
lover and major metalhead and it's titled Metalhead Bangers; they are delicious mini-brownies...
Marla has taken our
sons to the craziest of metal shows - Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Behemoth,
Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, The Black Dahlia, Megadeth,
Machinehead, All Share Perish..and many, many more ...... I've been struck by
the exquisite taste our sons have in music, recognizing that it might not be the
stuff I want to listen to often, but I remember the day when adults thought
KISS was devil music... and look how cool KISS is today ! So I'll give these guys
the benefit that their music is okay by me.
That being said, I'd like to mention an Evansville band named Exempt. I was asked to write an article a
couple of years ago for a local magazine on a band named Exesion. Exesion won a national contest sponsored by
Guitar Center, which gave them inclusion on a nationally distributed CD showcasing the
best bands of the year. The band isn't performing now, but Exesion member David Ford went
back to his original group, Exempt, and they are now turning heads in the national
music arena. The Exempt band contacted me recently to help with some publicity for their upcoming shows & I told them I'd try to help.
I've definitely
mellowed in my musical tastes, however, I can recognize when any genre of music
just plain sounds good. And Exempt is one of those bands that I consider worthy of a listen.
I can see great potential in these kids and my prediction is that they have terrific opportunities lying ahead of them. They are considered progressive metal and do not have vocals (no death rasps or growls that is). The band consists
of David Ford (bass), Drew Schneider (guitar) and Jason Rager (drums) and these guys are seriously
talented musicians. The band has played some major gigs in Louisville and St. Louis and are appearing in Evansville on Saturday, February 4th for a metalhead dream show. Two bands from St. Louis' Archfront Media will be appearing on the bill as well: Deliver Us from Evil and Quaere Verum. I hope that lots of folks head over to the Duck Inn to take in this intense instrumental explosion. Check them out at http://www.reverbnation.com/venue/341229#!/exemptrocks
and on Facebook.
David also told me about a couple of unique sponsors for their shows and these entrepreneurs are climbing up the ladder in the music world as well. Kick Ass Cables, is owned by Newburgh's Jack Hamaker, whose years of experience with guitars & cables drove him to produce a high quality product which is being noticed by today's hottest guitarists. For more info find at www.facebook.com/KickAssCables
Also sponsoring Exempt is rock show
photographer, Seth Phillips of Seth Phillips Photography, Newburgh,
IN. Phillips
specializes in photographing live shows and band portraits. Find Phillips at www.facebook.com/SethPhillipsPhotography
Don't miss Exempt, Deliver Us from Evil & Quaere
Verum
Saturday, February 4th
- 8:00 p.m.
The Duck Inn, 4100
Pollack AveEvansville, IN 47714
812-479-8050
Tickets will be on sale at the door - for more ticket info, call The Duck Inn 812-479-8050.
If you are a first
time reader to my blog - thanks for checking it out. Add the site address to
your favorites & "tune in" every week for another new & lively topic
that will pay homage to music and/or food. This platform allows me to talk
more about Recipe Records which was written by my best
friend, Maggie McHugh and myself. Maggie passed away in October and I know she
would LOVE these writings and she'd LOVE hearing from readers & music/food
lovers. Contact me with any questions or comments and hey, if you know what my
heavy metal nickname should be .... leave me a comment (Kath, you know you will)!
Peace & Rock
& Roll,
Lanea
Stagg
Recipe
RecordsEvansville, Indiana
www.reciperecords.webs.com
www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
reciperecordsml@aol.com
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