Welcome back to the KCAL Mosh Pit, going to continue on with the themed "Top 10" lists with it being March and "St Patty's Day" going to do the "Top 10 Metal "Drinking songs". Metal and drinking go together like Peanut and Jelly. So many of our favorite metal tunes and albums were fueled by drinking as well as some of our most memorable concerts. So lets have some fun and get it on with the Top 10 Metal "Drinking songs" CLICK below to hear Vinnie Paul tell you how to make a "Black Tooth Grin", the late great Oderus Urungus of GWAR's cure for a hangover and Rob from Psychostick;s favorite beer.
(10) Altitudes & Attitude "Booze & Cigarettes"
"So get your booze and cigarettes, do what you want, forget the rest, do whatever helps you take the night"
Altitudes and Attitude (A&A) the only band in the world with two bassists and some legendary ones: Frankie Bello of Anthrax and David "Junior" Ellefson of Megadeth. Definitely the least metal tune on the playlist, this is more of a rock band then a metal band but a kick ass one at that. I was really stoked when I first heard about this band because I have always loved Frankie Bello's back up vocals in Anthrax. No matter if it was Joey Belladonna or John Bush fronting the band, Frankie's back up vocals always cut through for me, very similar to Michael Anthony who we all know and love from Van Halen. Same thing, those high backing vocals always completed the songs for me. And Megadeth probably my favorite metal band of all time, so with Ellefson in this band as well I knew I would love it. This band kind of formed due to the bass clinics that Bello and Ellefson were doing and wanted some original music to play. They put out a three song EP which opens with "Booze & Cigarettes" Frankie said the song is a tribute to his grandmother who passed in 2012, she never smoked or a drank a day in her life, but when he would take her to chemo treatment he would say to her "come on Gram, get your "Booze and Cigarettes" for the ride and that would make her smile. Frankie Bello did tell me via twitter that they are working on a full length album which I for one can't wait for.
(9) Butcher Babies "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" (ZZ Top Cover)
"The crowd gets loud when the band gets right, steel guitar cryin throughout the night, yeah try'in to cover up the corner fight, but everythings cool cause theys just tight"
the only cover tune in the Top 10 by the Butcher Babies and their version of ZZ Top's "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" from their "Uncovered" covers EP which came out in September of last year. Heavily influenced by the late great Wendy O Williams of the Plasmatics who had a song called "Butcher Baby" which is why they are named the Butcher Babies. TWO smokin hot front women Carla Harvey and Heidi Sheppard, these chicks are pornstar hot. Carla used to host a show on the Playboy channel and Heidi used to work in radio in Denver. And for their first couple of years used to perform with just black electrical tape over their chest (like Wendy O Williams) but like the Transformers (or the Testament tune) there is "More Than Meets The Eye" kind of like Slipknot their look is what grabs you but these are some talented ladies with Jason, Henry and Chris rounding out the band. They will have a brand new full length album out this year spring/summer
(8) Municipal Waste "The Art Of Partying"
"We don't need their laws together we destroy And I won't let them ruin the one thing I enjoy Tonight's the night we finally get to rip this place apart And this is how we turn your boring party into art"
If Suicidal Tendencies and DRI had a metal baby band it would be Municipal Waste. That's exactly what they sound like a cross of those two bands. Bringing the punk rock attitude back into metal as well as not taking themselves too seriously and having a ton of fun in the process..The band formed in Richmond, Virginia back in 2000. And coming in at #8 on the KCAL Mosh Pit Metal "Drinking Songs" the title track to their 2007 album "The Art of Partying" which is my favorite from them and the album I discovered them on. They did release "The Fatal Feast" in 2012. I'm really dying to see this band live, but unfortunately, most of their touring like the last run of dates they did in January were all along the East Coast. They are still very much a DYI punk band with that metal influence. AND like most musicians these days, everyone is in multiple bands. Their guitarist Ryan Waste just put out an album with other band called BAT "Primative Age" and their singer Tony Foresta has a new band Iron Reagan (like Ronald Reagan) "The Tyranny of Will" which is kind of a political satire side of Municipal Waste. Similar sounding bands. Their Drummer Dave Witte is in multiple bands: Birds of Prey and King Generator. Unfortunately that’s the sign of the times these days. Everyone is in multiple bands and touring as much as possible since album says are pretty much dead these days. I'm hoping this show will inspire you to check out these bands and hopefully buy these albums. Now more than ever bands need fans to buy records.
(7) hed PE "Bartender"
"Hey bartender hit me with a double And introduce me to that girl with the bubble I'm looking for trouble tonight No momma don't trust me tonight"
Probably the best Nu Metal/Rap-Rock record ever! Hed PE's "Broke" I love every song on that album, especially Crazy Legs where at the end of the tune there is that crank call where the chick gets mad and hangs up. I'm one of the whitest guys on the planet and only like old rap, so I'm definitely not an expert, but I love Jared (their singer and original member) and how he flows. I would never and could never rap but if I did it would be his voice I would hear in my head and would try to drop a line just like Jared. They aren't just pigeon holed to that category though, they do a little bit of everything, rock/metal, rap, regaee, punk. Still pounding away, they released their 9th studio album "Evolution" last July and even though they are originally from Huntington Beach/Orange County, they FEEL like an IE band with all the shows and love and being signed to Suburban Noize records. Speaking of IE, they are hitting the road with Riverside's very own Alien Ant Farm, don't see any IE or So Cal dates yet for that one but hopefully it happens.
(666) Children of Bodom "Blooddrunk"
They say drinking is a way to die, But at the end... dying is a way to drink, that's why...
I love Alexi's sense of humor and shreadding that always come through and is the staple of the Children of Bodom sound. The title track to the Finnish band's 2008 release "Blooddrunk". I really think there seminole album is "Hate Crew Deathroll" from 2003, but if you wanna get your feet wet with the band their "Skeleton's In The Closet" covers album is a lot of fun with stuff like "Talk Dirty To Me" "Hell is for children" and "Oops I Did It Again" yes, the Britney Spears song They were set to tour last fall with Machine Head, but Machine Head backed out at the last minute to record a last song for their new album. After the cancellation of the tour, Alexi took to twitter to let fans know “Life goes on and at least now we have an extra month and a half to write new CoB s–t instead of focusing on the negative, I’m gonna start to write music this very second and it will be some angry s—t.”
To hold you over till their new album, you can check The "Immortal Randy Rhodes: ultimate tribute album which features Alexi shreadding "Mr Crowley" with Chuck Billy of Testament on vocals which just came out at the beginning on March
(5) Hellyeah "Drink, Drank, Drunk"
"Let's get f*cked up, till we fall down So everybody get drink drank drunk, right now Let's get tore up, till we're face down Because the HELLYEAH drink, drank, drunks are back in town Right now"
Hellyeah just wrapped up their 1st ever headlining tour "Blood for Blood" (the same name as their latest album) at the beginning of the month, unfortunately no So Cal shows (since they played Knotfest in October). They did a really cool promotion with the American Red Cross where if you donated blood and sent the band proof you could win autographed merch, concert tickets and a chance to meet the band. As much as Pantera and Hellyeah have been the drinking/party band for most of their carreers, Hellyeah guitarist Tom Maxwell recently said that with the line changes (Greg Tribbet and Bobzilla were dismissed from the band) that he personally wanted to get away from that persona a little bit because it paints the band into a corner and kind of makes them one dimensional. As much as it kind of bums me out, because that’s what we kind of expect from them, I can understand why. Can't party like a rockstar forever. I definitely don't drink as much as I used to. Like I said at the beginning of the show, like everything in life, all in moderation. The latest Hellyeah album Sangre por Sangre (Blood for Blood) is their best since their debut album large in part that it wasn't so dimensional, their song "Moth" which is kind of a power ballad and they also bring the heavy with tunes like the title track and my favorite "Say When"
(4) Shadows Fall "Destroyer of Senses"
"The sweet taste of self destruction Insecurity wash away the memories"
No doubt about it that drinking is the Destroyer of Senses. Still bummed about the news that Shadows Fall is going on hiatus. I saw it coming, but damn it still hurts, one of my favorite metal bands of the 2000's one of the bands that got me excited about the future of metal music. It's funny I remember when the news broke that Rob Cagiano (who we will discuss more on #3) left Anthrax, I tweeted Scotty Ian that Jon Donias would be a great replacement and he replied "Jon shreads" and Jon got the gig in Anthrax which automatically put Shadows Fall on the back burner. Along with Brian Fair (singer) and Paul Romanko (bassist) having kids and wanting to stay home. And Matt Banchard (rhythm guitar) just got a new gig playing bass in the new band: ACT OF DEFIANCE featuring Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover(ex-Megadeth) and Henry Derek (Scar The Martyr-Joey Jordison of Slipknot fame's band). I just hope they keep their promise and do one more tour (through So Cal) to properly say farewell. And at least they leave behind a legacy of great thrash metal albums "The War Within" and "The Art of Balance" and their last two albums "Retribution" and "Fire From the Sky" were solid. And yes, this was just an excuse to talk about Shadows Fall who I absolutely love.
(3) Volbeat "Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza"
"With a fistful of courage And a heart full of rage Cry my wicked soul That I would never change Well that's okay fine with me"
The band in my opinion which is going to bring hard rock/heavy metal back to the forefront of peoples minds: Volbeat from their debut release "The Strength, The Sound, The Songs (2005) who just continue to get better and better with each albums, which most bands can't do. Certainly the addition of Rob Caggiano who left Anthrax to produce their latest album "Outlaw Gentleman and Shady Ladies" (2013) and then was asked to play lead guitar in the band during the recording process. . That's how it was reported, but I think he knew all along he was going to be their lead shreadder. He defintiely took the band to that next level with his production and playing skills. They showed everyone how great they were at Knotfest, so many people told me after the show how blown away they were by their show. The bitter sweetness of Knotfest is that all the bands that played that touring this spring and skipping Southern California because of Knotfest like Hellyeah and Volbeat who are touring this spring (April till June) with Anthrax (glad there are no bad feels between bands with Rob changing bands). Whenever this band gets off the road, I'm sure they will head back into the studio and probably have a new album out in 2016 which is going break them into the mainstream. No one does what they do combining Metal, Rockabilly, Punk, even a little bit of Country and it's just about them mixing up the music and how and when and where they do it, just as soon as you settle into their groove the switch it up and take a left turn. And Michael Poulsen's vocals are clean, similar to Danzig although he says he's never been a Danzig fan and prefers Misfits post Danzig. Either way the clean vocals is what seperates them from most and will help them crossover. I've been into this band since 2007 and can see where they are headed and its straight to the top. Mark my words like Metallica brought heavy music to the mainstream, so will Volbeat.
(2) Gwar "Jaegermonsta"
"Memories of braincells lost Promoting drunken holocaust Try - to tame the fury of the Jagermonsta"
Still can't believe Oderus Urungus (aka Dave Brockie) is gone (OD'd 3/23/14) but GWAR continues on. It takes two people to replace the almighty Oderus with Blothar (aka Michael Bishop) and Vulvatron (Kim Dylla) now handling vocal duties and the has also opened up the GWARbar in Richmond Virginia (217 W. Clay Street in the Jackson Ward arts district) with the mission statement" to bring intergalatic junk food to the good people of Richmond and visiting GWAR fans. All reports say the food is really damn good and they have signature drinks that are served in a specially designed GWAR tiki mug. Gotta add that to my bucket list of places to visit or figure out if I have any relatives in Virginia so I have an excuse to talk the wife into going out there. The band has said many times that it will out live all of it's current members and continue on for another thousand years as it should since GWAR is eternal!
(1) Psychostick "Beer"
"Beer is Good, Beer is Good, Beer is Good and Stuff"
From 2003's "We Couldn't Think of a Title" out of Tempe, Arizona the band which calls their music "Humorcore" the one and only Psychostick. They just released their crowd funded 4th album "Revenge of the Vengence" in November of 2014. They will be on the road supporting their new album starting in April through mid-May, unfortunately no So Cal dates, San Francisco and San Diego, but no So Cal at this point. As much as I love serious technical metal and the skill and talent that most metal bands bring to the table, I also like a band like Psychostick who don't forget to have a sense of humor about life. I also love to laugh and that’s what they are great at. And decent players. If you get a chance, check out their website: www.psychostick.com very cool, funny website with videos and comic strips, along with all of the regular stuff: music, tour dates, merch, etc.