The Question of the Day for June 1st 2012 on this Friday is this…. Is Friday your favorite day of the week? TGIF to everyone! :)
Everyone loves when Friday rolls around. Looking forward to the weekend, and to unwinding after a long week’s of work, school, study or what-have-you, Friday is always an exciting time. Even if, in reality, you don’t have plans or actually have to work on Saturday or during Friday itself… Even then Friday just feels SPECIAL. Doesn’t it?
So that begs the question… Is Friday your FAVORITE day of the week? Yes or No? VOTE NOW!
WOW. My text above sounds a lot funnier in retrospect after posting the Rebecca Black Friday Friday music video…. *shudders*
From the head windmill to the hole in the….. door ;) This video rocks!
One of my favorite metal videos of all time is, without a doubt, Through Struggle by As I Lay Dying.
There is just such a raw power in the music, and yet the pacing of the video is perfect and perfectly fits to the tune of the vocals and the sound of the music. Not only that, but this music video tells a story… and while it is lost on you at first, by the end you’ll understand what was going on.
The story of the video also fits in perfectly with the lyrics from Through Struggle…. as you can read below. Through Struggle was the 8th track on As I Lay Dying’s third major-label full-length album, called “Shadows Are Security” (I love that album!) on Metal Blade Records.
Enjoy. :)
Keep in mind, if you’ve never heard Tim Lambesis’ vocals before from As I Lay Dying, you may have a really hard time keeping up with the lyrics and understanding what he is saying. Watch the video first, then go back to the lyrics. Tim does not clearly speak some of the words, and he says them in a quick fashion at points. So the word “assembled” is barely spoken and sounds like “smbo thoughts”, that’s because he is saying it very fast and not speaking the whole word, which is common in songs and bands, and a lot of times songs and bands will leave out introductory words like “It” or “The” in a line or barely utter the word; making it virtually impossible to hear. I think the lyrics in this song are fantastic though. In my typical style, I have tried to accentuate certain words and to write it out to match the vocals of the actual song as you are listening to it.
Through Struggle As I Lay Dying Lyrics:
Only through struggle
Have I found rest
With a piece of me … TAKEN
AWAY!
I BEGIN
To UNDERSTAND!
HOLLOW… OUT
This machine like CHEST
With its gears….
That turn to make me feel
And assembled thoughts
That fade away
Only through struggle
Have I found rest
Only through struggle
Have I found rest
Remove from me!
This DE-ception
That I call love
That I call love
With its gears….
That turn to make me feel
And assembled thoughts
That fade away
Remove from me!
This DE-ception
That I call love
That I call love
Only through struggle
Have I found rest
With a piece of me … TAKEN
AWAY!
I BEGIN
To UNDERSTAND!
You know the sh*t’s about to get real when Angelic Kittens arrive on the scene!
School of Hard Knocks by P.O.D. is an interesting beast of a song with a really awesome, insanely unique music video. This is one of my favorite music videos by Payable On Death, a decision that is extremely though to make considering how many absolutely fantastic music videos these long-running Christian rockers have made.
P.O.D. is one of those bands, like Flyleaf, who are continuously pumping out Singles, songs that are not on any of their main albums, and come from movie soundtracks, compilations, holidays albums and all other sorts of non-typical album releases; meaning that there are tons of people who have never heard some of P.O.D.’s best material…
Songs like “School of Hard Knocks” from the Little Nicky Soundtrack, “Going In Blind” from the P.O.D. Greatest Hits – The Atlantic Years compilation, “Sleeping Awake” from The Matrix Reloaded soundtrack, or “If It Wasn’t for You” from The Warriors EP II… And there are many, many more that you’ve likely never heard, like P.O.D.’s The Chargers Anthem which was recorded live on-stage during a San Diego Chargers football game!
This music video for “School of Hard Knocks” is amazing, you get the band rocking out in the pouring rain, an epic Heavenly battle between Angelic Kittens and Demonic Dogs (no that is not a typo), and all kids of balls-to-the-wall crazy scenes interspersed with moments of Adam Sandler from the develish Little Nicky comedy. It all makes for one HELL of a unique music video, enjoy!
Wuv, Marcos, Sonny and Traa return with a new album called Murdered Love on June 10th, 2012!
Payable On Death has released the “Lost In Forever” music video, their first new song in four years, off their upcoming all-new album “Murdered Love”, which releases July 10th, 2012 on Razor & Tie Records.
The first music video from the album is for this Lost In Forever single, and man is it a doozey! Quite frankly, this new music video returns P.O.D. to a more classic sound that old-school fans will love… although I wouldn’t put it up there with some of P.O.D.’s best early material, like “Youth of the Nation”, “Change the World”, “Satellite”, or “Boom”, but it gets very, VERY close. The music video was produced by Spence Nicholson.
Murdered Love wallpaper of an astronaut walking on an unknown planet in space, looking for his love.
In particular the amazing visuals offered in this piece, coupled with the awesome shots of the band rocking out, and the absolutely AMAZING storyline and theme of the music video puts Lost In Forever up there with the best that music videos have to offer (from any band). Of course, P.O.D. is well-known for doing insanely awesome and amazing music videos, from “School of Hard Knocks” off the Little Nicky (starring a demonic Adam Sandler) soundtrack, to the emotional and moving “Going In Blind” off their Greatest Hits (The Atlantic Years) album, to the absolutely epic “Sleeping Awake” music video off the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack, P.O.D. has always put out amazing music videos and “Lost In Forever” gives them one more notch to add to the belt. This music video is absolutely FAULTLESS. I absolutely love it.
The absolutely awesome cover artwork for P.O.D.’s new album Murdered Love.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with “Lost In Forever” and I CAN’T WAIT for the upcoming album Murdered Love! (Very badass name!). I’m a HUGE P.O.D. fan and have loved the band ever since I first heard “Snuff the Punk” and “The Fundamental Elements of Southtown”, and I am a diehard fan who has purchased every one of their records since. My favorite two albums are actually their self-titled album “Payable on Death (Sanctus)” from 2003 (“I and Identify” is one of my favorite songs of all time, alongside “Asthma”) and “Testify” from 2006. Unfortunately, I pre-ordered their last album, 2008′s “When Angels & Serpents Dance”, and found it to be a pretty major disappointment. On individual listen it has some great songs, but the album didn’t stick with me and I entirely forgot about it for quite a while. I have since returned to it and enjoy it, but it doesn’t touch Testify IMHO or their previous material. And I found Marcos screams to be extremely weak and detractive. They return on “Lost In Forever”, but sound fine.
War of Ages rocking out in the Silent Night Music Video
War of Ages have released their Silent Night official music video to the masses and its a doozy!
I always love it when bands try to tell an interesting story in their songs. This one starts off kinda corny or so it seems, but it gets better and better as the music video plays. In the end I thought this music video was quite awesome, and I think they did an excellent job.
The Silent Night music video offers a powerful message about the difference between someone who has faith in God, and someone who loses their faith in God. And where it would lead that person if they had only believed. As someone who knows many people who’ve attempted suicide, this music video rings very true and very close to what I know others have experienced. It is important that we remain true to our faith and allow others to be impacted by it, so that they don’t lose their own and find themselves in a much darker place because of it.
The music video was directed by DJ Cosgrove of RSM Creative.
Here are the current War of Ages tour dates for the month of May 2012!
May 18 - Girard, PA @ The Element @ Bethel
May 19 – Terre Haute, IN @ Terre haute Music Venue
May 20 – Joplin, MO @ Solace Music Venue
May 21 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
May 23 – Crofton, MD @ MACC
May 24 – Manchester, NH @ Rockos
LeCrae lookin’ hot in this artwork for his new single Church Clothes off the Mixtape album dropping May 10, 2012!
LeCrae has dropped “Church Clothes”, his first new song from his upcoming album “Mixtape”, which hits stores on May 10th, 2010!
Be sure to head out and purchase the new album or buy Church Clothes upon release and support LeCrae! He is one of the most blessed Christian artists in the hiphop business and he continues to make waves and turn heads of the secular crowd as his recognition and respect grows and grows.
This is a gritty rap track that has a lot of double-meaning in the words that he says, essentially it is talking about meeting the lost where they are, and wearing your “Church Clothes” even though you are not inside your church. I.e., human beings are the church. Fresh indeed.
Okay guys and gals, time for something completely different: Guilty Pleasure Song of the Day.
If you’ve kept track of my Song of the Day articles, you’ve probably noticed by now that my main affinity lies with Christian metal, as well as a sprinkling of Rap & Hip-Hop. In actuality I am a HUGE metal fan and that’s almost all I listen to. I am a true headbanger. But I also love rap music and I listen to a lot of Christian rap as well.
What else do I listen to? My guilty pleasure is actually the bubbliest kind of pop known to man. I’m talking about stuff like Hillary Duff, The Spice Girls and yes, Aly & AJ. Maybe it’s because of my younger sister who used to have all of these bubbly preteen pop albums, and one day I decided to pop one in and listen to it and I enjoyed it. From then on I’ve found it kinda easy to like a lot of the preteen girl pop out there. In addition to a few more “normal” pop albums like Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Stacie Orico.
So my guilty pleasure is definitely, without a doubt. Pop music. I still stay away from certain heavily secular songs, so a lot of modern-day pop like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, doesn’t appeal to me. I think one of things that I enjoy about the preteen pop is the innocence of it. Stuff like Britney Spears literally makes me wanna gag. Or Christina Aguillera and her uber-sexual song like Dirrty. Ugh. Really? REALLY. Grown ups actually listen to that, eh? Of course they don’t, I’m sure it’s all teenage boys, but that song was NOMINATED for “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” at the 45th Grammy Awards. And yes that’s why I don’t listen to much secular music. Case closed.
Sooooo, that leads me to… Aly & AJ. Who are now known as “78violet” (and are both Christians I might ad, like the Jonas Brothers). I must confess that most of my Guilty Pleasure stuff are more individual songs than albums and I usually haven’t followed the artist after the album. With a few exceptions. But its not like Demon Hunter, Becoming the Archetype or The Showdown where I own each and every album and know every single song and the accompanying lyrics and listen to them all the time. Having said that, I have nothing against picking up more of the stuff from these artists, its just that I haven’t.
Guilty Pleasure Song #1 – Rush By Aly & AJ
Rush is the first track and title song of the album “Into the Rush” (Released on August 16, 2005) by Aly & AJ (now known as 78Violet). The song was the first huge hit for sisters Alyson and Amanda Michalka and helped propel the Disney-backed album and the duo into stardom. This album was followed by a Christmas album entitled “Acoustic Hearts of Winter (2006)” and their Sophomore record called “Insomniatic” (July 10, 2007).
A third album was recorded for their Disney label (Hollywood Records) and was to be self-titled 78violet, after their official new name-change. However the album was infinitely delayed, and after parting ways with the label the release of the record was in jeopardy, and still has not surfaced to this day. As such, they had to record a completely new album, which is still on track for release this year. It will be “more mellow and more soulful” and has no less than 18 songs recorded for the album, including titles Suspended, 8 Hours and 53rd Floor.
Christian metal band Miseration rocking out in the Dreamdecipher music video.
Get ready to have your face headbanged off! This song is called “Dreamdecipher” by Swedish Christian deathmetal band “Miseration” and it’s as heavy as they come. Heavy enough to swallow secular bands whole. This song hails off their “Mirroring Shadow” album. Their second full-length from 2009.
I recommend watching the video first and just rocking out without even bothering with trying to understand the lyrics… as the vocals are very hard to decipher (pun not intended) if you are not used to the vocal style of lead singer Christian Älvestam (the only Atheist/Agnostic in the group). And/or well-versed in death metal growls in general. Keep in mind that the words are spoken with blazing-fast speed, so with each sounding grunt you must read a whole word or you’ll get lost fast. ENJOY!
The Love & Death Band Members with Brian "Head" Welch.
Love and Death’s Chemicals from the self-titled Chemicals EP is an awesome song created by Brian “Head” Welch fronted “Love & Death”, Brian’s new Christian metal band that seeks to continue what he’s done since leaving Korn in a new, more positive way. Be sure to buy the Chemicals EP from Love & Death On iTunes and support this band!
Now of course, that doesn’t mean that the music or the lyrics of the band are any less dark and gritty, they are as metal as ever and will rock your freakin’ socks off. The themes and lyrics are extremely powerful, dark, esoteric and obviously written by a man who lived the hell on earth life that drugs bring into the fold.
Jesus is engraved in Head's body and soul, as demonstrated by his tattoo.
Brian was a meth addict for most of his life, thankfully he found Christ and left the influences that drove him there, including his former band Korn, where he served as the guitarist and strong backbone of the band. If you haven’t read his book, do so, you can buy Save Me From Myself by Brian Head Welch on Amazon. It’ll change your life.
Thankfully, that crunching evil sound that Korn was well-known for is alive and well here, thanks to Head’s contribution. Right now only the “Chemicals EP” exists, but the band is gearing up for a full album later this year.
Check out “Chemicals” by Love & Death.
Chemicals Song Lyrics By Love & Death From Brian “Head” Welch:
LIES
That
You. Sell.
They OFFEND.
ME.
You’re the KILLER
And the KISSER
TRY
To not tell…
All my SEC-RETS…
Stop the pressure.
Hear the whisper.
Watching myself fade away….
How long will I live SO broken?
A fallen friend, no FAM-ILY…
How long will I….
k-k-k-k-KEEP FAILING?
Can you tell that I hurt?
IT’S CRITICAL
All I can smell is the burn
Of CHEMICALS
And slowly losing to temptation…
Let me go, let me fight
Chemicals in my MIND….
REGRET
As I fall….
For that sweet BURN
You’re the KILLER
And the KISSER
Inject… as I crawl
To my MAS-TER
Stop the pressure.
Hear the whisper.
Watching myself fade away….
How long will I live SO broken?
A fallen friend, no FAM-ILY…
How long will I….
k-k-k-k-KEEP FAILING?
Can you tell that I hurt?
IT’S CRITICAL
All I can smell is the burn
Of CHEMICALS
And slowly losing to temptation…
Let me go, let me fight
Chemicals in my MIND….
TIME
MISSED.
I guess I never contemplated… all the time that I have missed….
TIME
STRESS.
I guess I never contemplated all the time wasted in stress.
TIME!
MISSED!
I GUESS I NEVER CONTEMPLATED ALL OF IT
TIME!
STRESS!
I GUESS I NEVER CONTEMPLATED all of it….
Can you tell that I hurt?
IT’S CRITICAL
All I can smell is the burn
Of CHEMICALS
And slowly losing to temptation…
Let me go, let me fight
Chemicals in my MIND….
I’m not a criminal.
I hate the chemicals.
I’m not a criminal.
I hate the chemicals.
I’M NOT A !
CRIMINAL!
I HATE THE !
CHEMICALS!
I’M NOT A !
CRIMINAL!
I HATE THE CHEMICALS!
——————
Now that you’ve taken your jaw up off the floor, check out this “teaser” of the Chemicals music video! The whole Chemicals music video will be released on May 7th!
LeCrae rapping his part in KJ-52's They Like Me music video from the Dangerous Album.
They Like Me by KJ-52 featuring LeCrae (live and in-person) is the first music video from KJ-52′s Dangerous album, his latest and 7th full-length that was just recently released on April 6th. If you haven’t yet, be sure to buy Dangerous by KJ-52 and support this awesome Christian rapper and his incredible work ethic. Personally I gave the album 9 out of 10 and love it!
They Like Me was a natural fit for the first music video from Dangerous, as it takes advantage of the fact that LeCrae (of the 116 Clique) has blown up in popularity following his performance on the BET Cipher and his securing a spot on a popular upcoming rapper’s album that also features big-time artists of the Snoop Dog, Eminem, 50 Cent, Jay-Z caliber. A HUGE deal for any Christian rapper.
And the They Like Me music video is a really cool one. The story of the song is about racism, from both the white end and the black end! Which is something that is rarely seen. So you have LeCrae rapping about what it was like to grow up as a black kid and a black rapper embraced by whites, and KJ-52 growing up as a white rapper in a black neighborhood and black-dominated industry. The music video cuts to rapid shots of average, everyday people of both skin tones, and has outstanding production quality.
