Rock Docs: Who the F*** is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago

It has been quite some time since since I had watched or even reviewed a Rock Doc so I figured there was no better time than now to start. Normally when I am trying to decide what documentary to watch, I usually do not pick one unless I know the subject matter. That was definitely not the case with today’s choice for Rock Docs entitled Who The Fuck Is That Guy’? The Fabulous Journey Of Michael Alago. To put it in simple terms, the reason I chose to watch this documentary was for the simple fact that it had the word Metallica in the description. The documentary follows the life of a gay Puerto Rican New Yorker who would end up being one of the most important people in the metal industry simply for the fact that he signed Metallica. Watch the documentary as you get testimony straight from the source himself Michael Alago as well as James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Cyndi Lauper, Mina Caputo, Cherry Vanilla, Cheetah Chrome, Rob Zombie, John Lydon, Eric Bogosian, Mike Gitter, Phil Caivano, Phil Anselmo, Sean Yseult, John Joseph, Joe Sib, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, and so many more in this amazing doc.

You may still be wondering just who in the hell Michael Alago is, but he truly is such an important figure for heavy metal because he signed so many acts from Metallica, Metal Church, White Zombie, and so many more. You find out that he was a guy that truly loved music back in the 70’s and 80’s as he describes the night life in New York City and all the legendary clubs that hosted shows back in the day from the L’amour, The Ritz, CBGBs, and so many more. You figure out that all of the names I mentioned above have a huge amount of respect for Michael Alago. He’s a guy who broke down a lot of barriers in the business being a gay man tackling an over-testosteroned genre and he made people understand that it was all about the music. The documentary features interviews, some animation for certain stories he or someone else tells, and a lot of great photos that Michael has had in his collection. You also learn about the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 80’s firsthand from someone who survived it in Michael Alago. Check it out on Netflix right now as we speak and I am going to give it an A- for a final grade.

Album Of The Week: The Dark by Metal Church

This week we are once again giving you two albums of the week instead of just one because we feel nice. I am trying to cover as many classic metal albums as I can because I realized after 300 plus records that I may have left some out (I know I did). One of those bands is the very underrated Washington state metal band Metal Church who over the years has had it’s issues with keeping a steady lineup. One of my favorite albums the band ever made was their 1986 sophomore release The Dark. The Dark was released on October 6, 1986 and it was the last album to feature the classic lineup of David Wayne (Vocals), Kurdt Vanderhoof (Guitar), Craig Wells (Guitar), Duke Erickson (Bass), and Kirk Arrington (Drums). The album was a huge success for the band as it entered and peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Charts, but it remained on the charts for 23 weeks and it helped that the band was on tour with Metallica (who also urged Elektra to sign the band). It was ranked 389 on Rock Hard Magazine’s The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time list.

1.Ton Of Bricks– Arrington kicks off the album before the band kicks in for a sonic assault on your ear drums in this track in a track about a guy who is an ass kicking machine. 4.5/5

2. Start The Fire– an interesting track from the band that I think is one of those nuclear nightmare paranoia tracks. This is more of a heavy metal track than thrash where the tempo isn’t too fast. 4/5

3. Method to Your Madness– an interesting track that looks at a guy who is a veteran as he observes all the young bucks who are eager to go to war and die for their country and he’s more of I need to get out of here because I have fought enough. 4.5/5

4. Watch The Children Pray– One of my favorite tracks on the album that I believe is about people that live in a land that is constantly under distress and war so things there seem hopeless. I love how the tempo starts off slow before it launches into an awesome metal riff for the chorus. 5/5

5. Over My Dead Body– a metal scorcher that I believe the singer is addressing drug addiction in the track and how if you don’t kick it you might as well kiss your ass goodbye. 4/5

6. The Dark– The title track which is a great horror like track about a guy who is trapped inside a house as he is being chased by a demonic force that is trying to swallow him into hell. 5/5

7. Psycho-an in your face sonic assault about you guessed it, a psycho! 4/5

8. Line Of Death-An in your face thrash classic that tackles the current events (at the time) about the Libyan hostilities in the Gulf of Sidra which was a hostile situation. 4.5/5

9. Burial At Sea– I love the build up for this track in the intro with that classic 80’s like metal scream as the track opens up. The track I believe is talking about a ship’s captain who is leading his men to death. 4/5

10. Western Alliance– The last track on the album is a hellraiser of a track that I believe is touching on the subject of war once again as it deals with the west which is the US and every other ally we have. 4/5

My Final Thoughts– If you want to hear some cool ass metal from the 80’s, then is definitely an album to check out. I think this line up could have done so much even though it did unite once with the exception of the drummer, but line up problems plagued the band. This is definitely an important record in my opinion in the history of metal, so cheeck it out. I am going to give it 4.35 stars out of five for a final grade.

Single Of The Week: Clap Like Ozzy by Suicidal Tendencies

I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s favorite crossover thrash metal band Suicidal Tendencies is back and in full effect. The band had a monstrous tour back int he spring of this year with Megadeth which featured founding Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo playing skins for them which ended up making him a full time member. Now, the band has unleashed some details on their brand new album which is the band’s 11Th album and it is being called World Gone Mad. The album hits the stores on September 30TH via the band’s own Suicidal Records, but to keep us occupied the band has unleashed a single off the new album. The title of the song is Clap Like Ozzy and for all of us metal heads that know the prince of darkness, know that he claps on stage a lot and we do it long with him. The song begins with a punk like drum intro before the bass comes in and before you know it the band explodes into their all out chaotic mayhem style that we all know and love from them. Check out the track below and look out for the band on tour in the fall with Megadeth, Amon Amarth, Havok, and Metal Church.

Single Of The Week: Reset by Metal Church

For this week, we are going to give you two singles of the week considering that we have been slacking. For this week’s Single Of The Week, we chose today’s band because we heard some really big news that has us excited. It was announced that Megadeth, Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Havok, and today’s featured band Metal Church will be heading out on the road in the fall. The tour kicks off September 20TH in Wyoming and ends on October 16 in Camden, NJ.  2016 has truly been a huge year for Metal Church as the year brought back the return of vocalist Mike Howe to the lineup and it also saw the release of the album XI which was Howe’s first recording with the band since 1993’s Hanging In The Balance. This week’s single of the week is the band’s third single off the album Reset and the track is absolutely killer. The track reminds you of all that was great with the 80’s Heavy Metal/Thrash scene. The twin guitar assault of Kurt Vanderhoof and Rick Van Zandt is absolutely on point as well. Check out the band’s album and check out the track Reset below and check out all the tour dates below as well.

9/20/2016 Casper Events – Center Casper, WY
9/22/2016 The Joint @ Hard Rock Hotel And Casino – Las Vegas, NV
9/25/2016 Knotfest – Devore, CA * AMON AMARTH only
9/27/2016 WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA
9/28/2016 Matthew Knight Arena – Eugene, OR
9/29/2016 City National Civic – San Jose, CA
10/01/2016 1st Bank Center – Broomfield, CO
10/03/2016 Mid America Recreation & Conv. Complex – Council Bluffs, IA
10/04/2016 Roy Wilkins Auditorium – St. Paul, MN
10/05/2016 Sears Centre – Hoffman Estates, IL
10/07/2016 iWireless Center – Moline, IL
10/08/2016 UWM Panther Arena – Milwaukee, WI
10/09/2016 Joe Louis Arena – Detroit, MI
10/11/2016 Sands Bethlehem Event Center – Bethlehem, PA
10/12/2016 DCU Center – Worcester, MA
10/13/2016 Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
10/14/2016 Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
10/16/2016 BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ

Soundtrack Saturday: The Dark by Stone Sour

A lot of people are probably wondering what the film Fear Clinic is? It’s a film that originally started as a web series before it was turned into a feature film about a doctor (played by Robert Englund) at a mental hospital that uses extreme measures to try and cure patients of their phobias hence the name Fear Clinic. The film also stars Thomas Dekker, Fiona Dourif, Brandon Beemer, and even Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour. Speaking of Corey Taylor, there is an obvious reason that I am talking about Fear Clinic and that is because it features a bad ass cover of a Metal Church song called The Dark that was covered by Stone Sour. Leave it to Corey Taylor and co. who must be just as much a fan of 80’s metal as I am and they do an amazing job of covering this song. It’s intense and in your face and they do exactly what you would expect them to do when it comes to covering a track. The band was already in the studio recording a Covers EP called Meanwhile In Burbank and they contributed this track to the film. The song is probably just as intense as the film promises to be and I like that. Josh Rand talks about the track saying, “The song originally appeared on Metal Church’s second album as the title track released in 1986. It was chosen for the movie ‘Fear Clinic’ by director Rob Hall and Corey as they felt that the lyrics fit well with the story. The song was recorded live in about a half day at Room 237 in Burbank, Calif., in March 2014.” Check out the kick ass cover and video for The Dark below:

2014 Pedal To The Metal Tournament Round Of 16 Results

The round of 16 held little surprises, but their were a couple of upsets that took place that have surely shook the foundations (no pun intended). Judas Priest was able to take care of Tesla as they won their match by five votes. Motorhead was able to fend off Queensryche who put up a valiant effort while AC/DC Blanked Jackyl. Quiet Riot was also able to fend off Pedal To The Metal tournament vets Warrant to move on to the quarterfinals. The other bracket proved one thing, the sure fire bet isn’t always the sure bet and don’t always listen to Vegas. This competition was created for fans to take enjoyment in voting for their favorite bands and Cinderella has some amazing fans as the band just about took 70% of the votes to defeat Van Halen. The Scorpions also have some amazing fans because the band was losing to Metallica yesterday only to pull the come from behind victory to win by two votes. Metal Church put in a valiant effort against Def Leppard, but it just wasn’t enough to move on while Motley Crue fended off Twisted Sister to move on to the next round. I just want to remind everyone that from here on out the competition gets harder to choose from. Judas priest and Motley Crue were in the final four last year and they are looking to get in this year as Motley Crue takes on the Scorpions and Judas Priest faces Motorhead in the next round. AC/DC look to make it to the final four for the first time as they take on Quiet Riot while the question remains will Cinderella’s fans pull them through another match as they take on Def Leppard? It remains to be seen. The matches will be up tomorrow, so stay tuned!

2014 Pedal To The Metal Tournament Round Of 16 Matches 5 through 8

Here are matches 5 through 8 which represent the second bracket in the Pedal To The Metal Tournament

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Pedal To The Metal Tournament First Round Results

The results are in as the first round has officially closed and there were some real surprises thrown in the mix. Half of last years final four were eliminated and as usual the first round voter turnout was poor like last years first round. Judas Priest, Motorhead, Twisted Sister, Cinderella, Def Leppard, AC/DC, and Tesla all earned shut outs in the first round with the biggest upset being Metal Church shutting out Megadeth. The other upset in the first round was Jackyl defeating what Vegas called the heavy favorites in Y&T, Quiet Riot defeated Iron Maiden, and Van Halen defeated last years runner up in Dio. Queensryche, Motley Crue, Scorpions, Metallica, and Warrant all earned first round wins. The matches for the round of 16 are set and are ready to be revealed down below. Show your support for your favorite band and vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Pedal To The Metal Tournament Matches 9 Through 12

Here are the matches that take us to the second bracket and this post features matches 9 through 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2014 Pedal To The Metal Tournament

The annual march madness style tournament is back and in my opinion it’s bigger and better than the last year. Our defending champion Judas Priest is back to defend their crown as well as the rest of the final four which included the champion of the first tournament Motley Crue as well as Dio and Ozzy Osbourne. There are some familiar faces from last years tourney as well as some newcomers like D-A-D (Disneyland After Dark), Metal Church, The Cult, Van Halen, etc. As usual there are 32 bands that are competing for the crown of champion and there are some things I need to explain before we get into the actual brackets. The one thing that I don’t want you to pay too much attention to is the ranking, it’s just there because in order to create the bracket I need those. What I did do was divide the final four into different sides of the brackets. I made sure that there was no chance last years final four would meet unless it was the finals. So, if Motley Crue had Judas Priest in last years semifinal, then they can’t meet until the final and so on. All the oppenents for each band were randomly selected by placing names into a hat and one by one they were picked. The flip of a coin decided which side of the bracket they ended up on except for the final four (there placement was pre-determined). The matches will begin tomorrow March 10TH with fans having three days to vote as to who wins in each round. When it comes to the finals, everyone will have a week to decide who wins as the winner will be decided by March 31ST. Here are the brackets: