So many times I am asked what new bands I like. To be honest for a while there wasn’t much for my personal tastes. Lot’s of aggression but not much in the way of songs. For me if it’s hard rock or metal I MUST like the singer and the music must have some sense of melody to it. It’s one of the reasons I don’t care for death or extreme metal. I can appreciate the energy, but for me, I don’t hear songs and not a fan of “cookie monster” voices. I’ve NEVER faked liking a band because everyone said I should or they were the new hip thing. That trend for me goes all the way back to being a little kid. Which is why I was routinely made fun of for liking bands like Kiss and others when they were very much thought of as “uncool”. But I must say I am very encouraged by some of the new stuff coming down the pike. There is this trend of no nonsense straight up riff based hard rock by a whole new generation of young bands. Essentially bands with members in their 20’s that sound like they are from 1973! Anti Mortem. Scorpion Child, Kyng, Monster Truck, Rival Sons, Witchcraft, and many others have recently peaked my interest. I don’t know which if any will come out of the pack and it’s too soon to see which will develop into truly great bands that stand the test of time. But at a time when hard rock and metal needs a new Appetite For Destruction to kick everyone’s ass and shake things up and help bring back rock, there are some strong signs on the horizon. I am rooting for all these guys and you will hear many on my radio shows sprinkled among the classics. New and classic rock acts still very much needs your help to break through. So keep an eye out for this stuff and spread the word if you like it. Hopefully one of them really hits and puts a charge in a fairly stagnant world lately for new hard rock bands.
What have you heard new you like? As always comments welcomed and encouraged here!
PS: I no doubt forgot others that I like. Perhaps the biggest challenge we have with so much music so available so easily is navigating what’s out there and remembering it! Another reason I still love CDs. Much easier to keep in your line of site when it’s a physical item vs an easily lost download, file or link.
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1. The Savages – melodic singer, pounding drums and jaggy layered guitars. For you if you like Concrete Blonde and other hard\alt rock artists like My Bloody Valentine.
2. Monte Pittman “The Power of Three” – former Prong guitarist (who actually now tours with Madonna and I think would be an interesting interview for TMS or Trunk Nation show). For you if you like Exodus, Prong, and solid thrash.
3. Hardcore Superstar – retro glam metal. For you if you like Motley Crue or Faster Pussycat.
4. Ginger Wildheart’s new album Albion is great hard rock melodic album. Fo you if you like Alice Cooper or the NY Dolls.
5. Not new artists but:
a. People in America have forgotten about them but D.A.D. has been going strong since late 90’s and getting better with each album. New 30 year best of album is out now.
b. Leatherwolf reunited and put out a surprisingly great live album “Unchained Live” recently.
Eddie….MOONDOGS…Adrian Vandenbergs new band..they sound killer..!
IM sorry Eddie…they are called MOONKINGS…lol….Adran Vandenbergs new band….
If you love Judas Priest and don’t know about Primal Fear(not a new band) you are in for a huge treat. Please check them out, their lead singer just missed being Halford’s replacement and started this band when he didn’t get the job. They are very big outside of the U.S and are coming to America in April. I promise you won’t be disappointed. They have about a dozen albums and jam hard with big guitars and double-base. An Excellent band, I promise. Hoping Eddie mentions them on TMS. http://www.primalfear.de/
It’s really a shame that the majority of metal these days is crap. It’s either doom and gloom with cookie monster vocals, or left over numetal. Nothing really all that new and dangerous sounding and to be honest its all too negative. Say what you will about classic metal and thrash even but the lyrics were mostly about over coming obstacles and winning, or it was just fun. Slayer had evil lyrics back in the day but you had a sense that it was coming more from a place of shock value rather than today where they just sound annoyed by everything. The newer bands i like these days are The Sword, and though they offer nothing new (it’s just classic Sabbath) they do it well. And if you haven’t heard of Babymetal you should check it out, J pop meets speed metal, It’s crazy catchy (even in Japanese) I have to give them the metal band of the last 2 decades award, it’s completely original, image and sound, and I don’t care if some producer made up the band and put it together, they’re great.
Hey, Ed. There are some great new rock bands out there. Here are a few I’d suggest:
Hessler (NWOBHM with female vocals): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sVSV0yqaqY
Lipstick (Glam Rock with a classic hard rock edge. “Merle” sounds like a Meat Loaf song, though): http://lipstickgeneration.bandcamp.com/album/lipstick-the-billy-morris-sessions
Crashdiet (Aggressive, Skid Row style rock): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UymaV1xlhRs
Reckless Love (Essentially a modern day David Lee Roth): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6NpF2V2xg
Hope you like the suggestions!