“The Lost Machine” Voivod The Outer Limits

Voivod was always one of those bands that stretched the boundaries of metal, throwing in a lot of progressive elements on top of their heaviness and staying far, far away from anything commercial.  “The Lost Machine” is a great mid-period track from early ’90s release The Outer Limits, mixing in some cool effects laden layered guitar (RIP Piggy) with tricky percussive work.  Production is industrial tinged and punchy allowing lead singer Snake to bounce between sinister vocalizing (“Re main silent”) and more traditional singing through the verse.  Good stuff for fans that like a more alternative metal blast.

“Ten Foot Pole” ZZ Top Six Pack

As stated in an earlier Shuffle post, early ZZ Top is where it’s at.  “Ten Foot Pole” is quite funkified in the riff department plus Billy Gibbons offers up one of his “character” vocals, sounding a bit like P-Funk’s George Clinton in the process.  But alas!  The good Rev Willie laces this cut with extremely tasty and fuzzy leadwork a la Hendrix.  Originally on El Loco, one of the first albums where ZZ stretched out and became a little bit more experimental before hitting big time commercial success two years hence (something to do with cars and girls and videos, I think).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auTu8_Q9WIM

“I Wanna Be Somebody” W.A.S.P. Double Live Assassins

In high school my musical tastes were becoming decidedly heavier and W.A.S.P. played a small part in that.  I think I read every Hit Parader and Circus mag at the time and these guys were occasionally in both, looking like an even more demented Motley Crue/KISS/Alice Cooper and definitely ramping up the shock value.  “I Wanna Be Somebody” is one of their better cuts with a great sing along chorus and dirty riff, although track down the studio version on the self titled disc for the best version.  Speaking of KISS, we saw W.A.S.P open for them and it was a great show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DX8iDEhqH4

“Hello Cosmo” Animal Bag Animal Bag

In an earlier blog I talked a bit about Animal Bag as a band that got lost in the shuffle during the late hair metal/early grunge metal years.  “Hello Cosmo” is just so damn cool, acoustic and electric guitars mixed with a solid rhythm section and great vocals throughout.  These guys could fit in well with the jam band scene of the times (Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Widespread Panic, etc) and should have been a hit, but being that they leaned heavy they didn’t quite fit into the jam band scene and were a little too funky and trippy for the hair crowd.  Highly recommended.

“I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” ZZ Top Live From Texas

A double shot of ZZ!  I’ll say it again, early ZZ was the best and this is definitely one of my favorite cuts from them too.  Live In Texas came out just a few years ago and the slog has put a little bit of wear and tear on these guys, but the nastiness is still here.  Billy G is rough of voice, the tempo drags a little, but who am I to complain? These guys have been around since 1970, fer cryin’ out loud!  We should just be happy that the “little ol’ band from Texas” and their badassery is still out there.  As for the song, it’s baaad, it’s nationwiiiide, and has some of my favorite ZZ Top lyrics.

“Spy In The House Of Love” Blue Oyster Cult Club Ninja

BOC is one of my all time favorite bands but I must be honest, Club Ninja ranks near the bottom of their recorded output. That said, there are some redeeming qualities to the disc (“Perfect Water” is a winner) and as for this particular song it comes down to the killer lead guitar of Buck Dharma.  The song itself is not bad, but the circus keyboards are a bit odd (I can hear some great Hammond organ work buried in the mix though) and the background vocals just don’t cut it.  However, Buck’s smooth vocal and rippin’ six string work redeems it somewhat.

“Time” Wrathchild America Climbin’ The Walls

Yes, you heard that right:  a metalized cover of the Pink Floyd classic from these Virginia thrashers who were pretty popular in the clubs before releasing their debut disc on Atlantic.  This version is actually not bad, playing it pretty close to the vest and not changing much at all other than missing the intro, sweet female background vocals,and keyboards that are prevalent on the original.  If you think Metallica as far as crunch level but with much better drumwork, you’re in the ballpark (speaking of drumwork, Shannon Larkin is now with Godsmack!).

“Untouched” Susperia Unlimited

Scandinavian countries have always been a source of various metal types, with Norway’s Susperia leaning towards a heavy melodic thrash model akin to Testament.  “Untouched” certainly hits that nail but with a hint of black metal via the vocal bark from lead vocalist Athera.  For those generally turned off by “cookie monster” vocals but like the heavy stuff and are somewhat intrigued by the concept, this song and band might unlock those doors for you.  You like Metallica but want more heavy?  Don’t be afraid, dip that toe in the water!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt6SaBeBrjY

“Cheap Motels” Southern Culture On The Skids Liquored Up And Lacquered Down

Take a pot…  mix in blues, country, surf rock, and rockabilly and you’ve got Southern Culture On The Skids. Throw in some hilarious lyrics, a whole lotta fun, and a KISS mentality (that’s “keep it simple stupid”) and you’ve got a great little song here, one of those cuts that should show up on Silly Songs compilations along with “The Streak” and “Ahab The Arab”.  Rick Miller has a great mix of guitar styles and Mary Huff holds down the bass and contributes lead and background vocals (and the occasional cool wig and go go boots), so check out the warped goodness of SCOTS!  DIg the live version below.

“Dogs On Leads” Accept Metal Heart

Like with W.A.S.P., my tastes were changing in the early 80’s as I was looking for even more hard rock and metal bands to get into.  One of the heavier ones at the time was Accept, these Teutonic Terrors capturing my attention with songs like “Balls To The Wall” and “Restless and Wild”.  “Dogs On Leads” is a bit of a sister cut to “Balls” as far as depth and mood is concerned, although this even has a touch of Bon-era AC/DC.  Lead singer Udo Dirkschneider is not for the faint of heart with this unique vocal shriek but he provides the menace needed for this cut, mixing perfectly with the blistering guitar work of the one and only Wolf Hoffman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XocdRaD45p8

Song of the week goes to “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”, although I’m going to cheat here and throw in “Hello Cosmo” as a tie since “Bad” is the live version.  “Cheap Motels” comes in third.