The 8TH Annual Monster Entertainment Awards: Vote Now On The Music Side

It is that time of the year where we begin celebrating all the best of the previous year and as usual, we here at Moshpits and Movies are once again handling the music and movie side of the awards. We are unfortunately not working together with 365 Movies Challenge blog any longer, but we have reacquired Mr. X’s Punch Out who will handle the wrestling side of things. For right now though, we are looking at the music side of the awards which is now in it’s eighth year and we are pretty excited. Besides the usual awards for Album of the Year, Metal Album of the Year, etc., we have added a couple of new categories to the awards which are Cover of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Every year, there are plenty of bands that record covers of famous songs they love from bands and we want to celebrate by voting for the best one. Much like cover of the year, there are always new bands that pop onto our radar and we want to celebrate them as well. We tried our best to not include supergroups, but rather if it’s their current and only focus then they are allowed. So, now we just want to hear from YOU guys and see who you pick to win each award. You have until March 13TH to decide so choose wisely and just have some fun.

The 8TH Annual Monster Entertainment Awards: The Music Side Nominees

It is that time of the year where we begin celebrating all the best of the previous year and as usual, we here at Moshpits and Movies are once again handling the music and movie side of the awards. We are unfortunately not working together with 365 Movies Challenge blog any longer, but we have reacquired Mr. X’s Punch Out who will handle the wrestling side of things. For right now though, we are looking at the music side of the awards which is now in it’s eighth year and we are pretty excited. Besides the usual awards for Album of the Year, Metal Album of the Year, etc., we have added a couple of new categories to the awards which are Cover of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Every year, there are plenty of bands that record covers of famous songs they love from bands and we want to celebrate by voting for the best one. Much like cover of the year, there are always new bands that pop onto our radar and we want to celebrate them as well. We tried our best to not include supergroups, but rather if it’s their current and only focus then they are allowed. For right now, check out the awards below and be on the look out as always for the next post that will allow YOU the fans to vote for what you loved from 2018.

Album Of The Year

1. Rainier Fog by Alice In Chains

2. Year Of The Tiger by Myles Kennedy

3. Prequelle by Ghost

4. I Loved You At Your Darkest by Behemoth

5. Eat The Elephant by A Perfect Circle

6. Vicious by Halestorm

Rock Album Of The Year

1. Rainier Fog by Alice In Chains

2. Evolution by Disturbed

3. When Legends Rise by Godsmack

4. Vicious by Halestorm

5. Thread by Red Sun Rising

6. Year Of The Tiger by Myles Kennedy

Metal Album Of The Year

1. Conqueror’s Death by Visigoth

2. Electric Messiah by High On Fire

3. Our Raw Heart by YOB

4. Firepower by Judas Priest

5. The Sciences by Sleep

6. Prequelle by Ghost

Extreme Metal Album Of The Year

1. I Loved You At Your Darkest by Behemoth

2. Golden Serpent God by Akhenaten

3. Down Below by Tribulation

4. Stranger Fruit by Zeal & Ardor

5. Trident Wolf Eclipse by Watain

6. Upon Desolate Sands by Hate Eternal

Rock Single Of The Year

1. Uncomfortable by Halestorm

2. When Bad Does Good by Chris Cornell

3. Dance Macabre by Ghost

4. Never Fade by Alice In Chains

5. Bulletproof by Godsmack

6. Disillusioned by A Perfect Circle

Metal Single Of The Year

1. All Out Life by Slipknot

2. My Own Grave by As I Lay Dying

3. Devonian: Nascent by The Ocean

4. Bartzabel by Behemoth

5. Giza Butler by The Sleep

6. Lightning Strike by Judas Priest

Metal Video Of The Year

1. Rats by Ghost

2. Black Wedding by In This Moment

3. All Out Life by Slipknot

4. God=Dog by Behemoth

5. Interdimensional Summit by Dimmu Borgir

6. Lying In State by Megadeth

Rock Video Of The Year

1. Mindf**ker by Monster Magnet

2. Dirty by Sevendust

3. Actual Pain by Good Charlotte

4. Crossing A Line by Mike Shinoda

5. Down In Flames by Deadland Ritual

6. It’s So Easy by Guns N Roses

Rookie Of The Year

1. Jord by Mol

2. Legend of the Seagullmen by Legend of the Seagullmen

3. Errorzone by Vein

4. Made an America by The Fever 333

5. The Judge by Scott Sellers

6. Disobey by Bad Wolves

Cover Of The Year

1. Zombie by Bad Wolves

2. Cry Little Sister by Marilyn Manson

3. I Don’t Wanna Be Me by Trivium

4. Helter Skelter by Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson

5. It’s A Sin by Ghost

6. Shout by Arch Enemy

7TH Annual Monster Entertainment Awards- Voting is now open

So, it has taken us a little while to get this out and we apologize for the wait. Some things have changed and we have decided that we are not going to run the Pedal To The Metal Tournament this year for lack of participation and scheduling conflicts. That is also why we have extended the voting process for this because we have been so far behind that we are starting to catch up now. You now have until April 1st to cast your vote for your favorite wrestlers, albums, and movies. We have a lot of great categories and some categories have already seen the voting process begin on Twitter. Nevertheless, we hope that you guys take the time to vote and to enjoy it because it is up to you to decide who wins and you can vote once an hour on every category. So, have some fun and spread the word.

 

7TH Annual Monster Entertainment Awards- The Nominees

I want to take the time to apologize to everyone for the wait, but we have been hard at work at some things for you guys which includes our March Madness style tournament. It’s hard to believe that we have been doing this awards thing known as The Monster Entertainment Awards for seven years now as 2018 marks the seventh annual presentation. A couple of things have changed however and you’ll notice that below, but each category will be handled by a different blog as we are working with the 365 Movies in 365 Days Challenge blog and Mr. X’s Punch Out blog. We here at Moshpits and movies will be handling the music side of things while 365 handles the films and Mr. X handles the wrestling side. As always, you are going to have a certain amount of time to vote for what album you loved more, what movie you thought was film of the year, and what wrestler you thought kicked ass. When all the votes are tallied up, we will present to you all of the winners that YOU chose because it’s all about the people. This award post has always been about you getting involved and deciding who is the best of the year and that is the way we intend to keep it. You will have until March 13Th at 10PM Eastern time to decide what is best so get involved and voice your opinion.

Album Of The Year

1. Emperor Of Sand by Mastodon

2. Concrete And Gold by Foo Fighters

3. One More Light by Linkin Park

4. Carry Fire by Robert Plant

5. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

6.Villains by Queens Of The Stone Age

Best Side Project/Supergroup Album

1. Echolocation by Gone Is Gone

2. Dead Cross by Dead Cross

3. Hydrograd by Stone Sour

4. Psychosis by Cavalera Conspiracy

5. Where Is Duke Lion? He’s Dead… by Big Dumb Face

Best Metal Album

1. Gods Of Violence by Kreator

2. The Grinding Wheel by Overkill

3. Forever by Code Orange

4. Conformicide by Havok

5. Emperor Of Sand by Mastodon

6. Incorruptible by Iced Earth

Best Rock Album

1. Villains by Queens Of The Stone Age

2. Heaven Upside Down by Marilyn Manson

3. The Desaturating Seven by Primus

4. Concrete And Gold by Foo Fighters

5. One More Light by Linkin Park

6. The Stories We Tell Ourselves by Nothing More

Best Extreme Metal Album

1. Codex Omega by Septicflesh

2. Red Before Black by Cannibal Corpse

3. Evil Sound Screamers by Acid Witch

4. Kingdoms Disdained by Morbid Angel

5. Totenritual by Belphegor

6. Of the Dark Light by Suffocation

Rock Music Video Of The Year

1. Already Dead by I Prevail

2. Ain’t Much Loving by Me And That Man

3. Run by Foo Fighters

4. The Way You Used To Do by Queens Of The Stone Age

5. Spray Paint Love by Frank Carter

6. We Know Where You F**king Live by Marilyn Manson

Metal Music Video Of The Year

1. Nuclear Alchemy by Watain

2. Intention To Deceive by Havok

3. Doris by Suicide Silence

4. To Your Brethren In The Dark by Satyricon

5. The King Wants You by Avatar

6. Show Yourself by Mastodon

Rock Single Of The Year 

1. Go To War by Nothing More

2. Monster by Starset

3. Alone by I Prevail

4. Talking To Myself by Linkin Park

5. The Promise by Chris Cornell

6. KILL4ME by Marilyn Manson

Metal Single Of The Year

1. Forever by Code Orange

2. Sultan’s Curse by Mastodon

3. No Lives Matter by Body Count

4. Remain Violent by Warbringer

5. Kiss Of Death by Mutoid Man

6. I’ll Be Your Monster by GWAR

Album Of The Week: Audioslave Eponymous Debut

Last week on May 17, the world lost yet another legend as Chris Cornell died at the age of 52 in Detroit, MI. Chris Cornell left behind a legacy that is full of amazing music ranging from his time in Soundgarden to his solo career and his time in Audioslave. Chris had one of the most amazing voices in all of rock and metal music that will never be matched no matter how hard the music industry tries. For this week’s album of the week, I wanted to pay tribute to Chris by covering one of his albums and after already covering a Soundgarden I decided to cover the debut album from one of the best supergroups ever in Audioslave. The band featured Chris on vocals with the members of Rage Against The Machine in Brad Wilk (Drums), Tom Morello (Guitars), and Tim Commerford (Bass). After the album was almost sabotaged by someone close to the studio, it was finally released on November 19, 2002 (ten years after Rages debut album). The album would shoot to the top of the charts peaking at number seven on the Billboard Top 200 charts with four top five hits on the Modern Rock charts as well as landing at number 100 on the year end charts for the US Billboard top 200. The album would be certified triple platinum meaning 3 million in sales.

1.Cochise– A song that was named after Cochise, an Apache Indian starts off with a cool build up with Morello and Wilk before it explodes right into the track that is just an in your face rock anthem in the vein of what Rage sounded like. The lyrics have nothing to do with the actual Cochise, it has a lot of religious themes in it. 5/5

2. Show How Me To Live– The song keeps that Rage funk like guitar and bass riff going with Cornell’s amazing vocals. Towards the end of the song, Cornell hits his throat with the side of his hand to have an effect while he changes the pitch of his vocals. Most people think the song is religious, but I believe the song is referencing Frankenstein and his monster. 5/5

3. Gasoline– The song kind of mixes that grunge sound at first with the Rage sound before it gets a little cool with the effect on Morello’s guitar during the verses. The song seems to be about escaping whatever or where ever your are in your life. 5/5

4. What You Are– The tempo is turned down a little compared to previous tracks and it’s a track that is pretty deep about being in control of someone or something’s power. Chris was always a deep person lyrically. 5/5

5. Like A Stone– One of my favorite tracks on the album and from the band in general. The song has a very cool tempo with a sick bass line from Commerford. Cornell has described the meaning of the song’s lyrics saying, “It’s a song about concentrating on the afterlife you would hope for, rather than the normal monotheistic approach: You work really hard all your life to be a good person and a moral persona and fair and generous, and then you go to hell anyway.” 5/5

6. Set It Off– a return to the bombastic in your face Rage sound that we all love with lyrics that could be stemmed in religion or MLK. 4.5/5

7. Shadow on the Sun– Another favorite of mine from Audioslave period. The tempo is slowed down and Chris’s vocals really shine through on this track. The song’s lyrics are definitely about a relationship, heartache, and maybe even reconciliation (or maybe not). 5/5

8. I Am The Highway– A very cool track that also has a mellow melancholic tone to it in a track that seems to be about someone who is just fed up with life and the way that its’ going. 5/5

9. Exploder– A col funky bass line helps drive this track about a man who is going through some sort of psychosis where he is freeing himself of everything. The choruses are cool because Morello comes in with those huge power chords that are bombastic and in your face. 5/5

10. Hypnotize– A very different kind of track for Audioslave that almost has a English dub sound to it, but it features that signature solo from Morello. The song is all about sharing the wealth. 4.5/5

11. Bring Em Back Alive– The track starts with a driving metal like riff with Cornell having some cool effects on his vocals the reminds me of something Ozzy did on a Black Sabbath track. 4/5

12. Light My Way– A cool funky track that has Morello throwing some cool effects with his guitar as Cornell sings about a man who had strayed from God asking for forgiveness. The chorus has that sound you all love from Morello and co. 4.5/5

13. Getaway Car– Another slow tempo track from the band which is all about having to learn to love yourself before you can learn to love others. The track features a very bluesy solo from Morello which is cool. 4/5

14. The Last Remaining Light– The last track on the album from the band and its kind of an eerie track just from Morello’s guitar playing and Cornell’s delivery. 4/5

My Final Thoughts– I honestly feel like the first nine tracks are drastically different than the last five and I don’t know if that was done on purpose, but very noticeable. Nonetheless, this was an amazing album from start to finish. It’s just very sad to know that Chris won’t be back to perform these songs or even write new material ever again. I am giving the album 4.7 stars out of five for a final grade.

Soundtrack Saturday: Til the Sun Comes Back Around by Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell is one of my favorite singers from that 90’s era grunge who has released amazing albums not only with Soundgarden, but solo as well as with Audioslave. I was excited to hear that Chris had a brand new track that he unleashed to the world that was specifically penned for a film. Chris has unveiled the track Til the Sun Comes Back Around which is featured on the Michael Bay film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi. 13 Hours is the film that tells the story of exactly what happened in Benghazi with the ambassador and the men who risked their lives trying to protect him. The song in my opinion is very soulful as far as the lyrics are concerned. Cornell has such a soulful voice and he utilizes it on this track. The tempo of the music is slow and very melancholic. It sounds like a mix of Cornell solo and Audioslave a little and I have to say that I love the track. Check out the song below and check out the film because I have heard nothing but great things about it.

Soundtrack Saturday: Breath by Pearl Jam

For this week’s soundtrack Saturday track, we are jumping from the 80’s and heading into the 1990’s which was a musical blender. In the early 1990’s, Grunge had taken over and bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Pearl Jam were the new kids on the block. Hollywood of course jumped on the chance to capitalize on the scene so they made the film Singles which starred Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, and it was written and directed by Cameron Crowe. While the film is described mainly as a film that focuses on the trials and tribulations of some 20-somethings and love, the film definitely had a kick ass soundtrack that featured the likes of Chris Cornell, Alice In Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins, Screaming Trees, The Lovemongers (Nancy & Ann Wilson of Heart), and our featured band today Pearl Jam. The song Breath was originally written during the time of Ten, but was left out and eventually re-recorded for the Singles Soundtrack. Mike McCready talked about the track saying, “That was a really old song of Stone’s from his days in Mother Love Bone. It was just another chance for me to do a lot of leads. The song was kind of cool at the time because it reminded me of performing. For me, it was about playing live.” Check out the track below: