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Ahhh the 4th of July. A touchstone, summer holiday full of the wonderous freedoms that we enjoy. Such as: Beer, meat, various styles of chips, rocket pops, fellowship and colored bombs that explode in the sky. It’s also a great day to jam out on your favorite hard rock and metal tracks. Even though metal was invented in England, it’s still a patriotic beacon in the music world for the United States. And it covers all sides of our countries political spectrum. While also being a fun, hard partying style of music. Depending on what band you’re listening to of course. Yes, hard rock and metal are the perfect genres for the 4th of July. Well, besides country of course. So here’s a look at the top ten hard rock/metal songs that are perfect for the 4th.

American Metalhead – Sebastian Bach

Starting this list off with a little heavy metal camp. Sebastian Bach’s 2007 debut ‘Angel Down’ is through and through a pretty damn good album. Certainly better than what Skid Row have been up to since his departure. The album covers various sides of metal. From heavier, more modern sounds like the title track and ‘Negative Light.’ To traditional classic metal such as ‘(Love Is) A Bitchslap’ and the fun ‘American Metalhead.’ The latter being a perfect, campy 4th of July track. It’s just pure, Harley Davidson revving hard rock. You can just picture a gang of bikers with American flags on the back of their jackets and motorcycles. There’s certainly a self parodying side to the song. Yet there’s a nice picture of unity painted in the lyrics. So crank this 4th classic and chug a beer! HORNS UP!!

Unafraid – Queensryche

What’s really great about Queensryche’s ‘American Soldier’ album is that the band used real soldier accounts of serving. And the album unbiasedly explores the consequences of war. Not to mention the superior song writing. In fact, it would be the last great Queensryche album. The track that represents the album best is perhaps the second, ‘Unafraid.’ With a heavy groove and samples of soldier interviews, it’s a great way to commemorate those who have sacrificed so much for this country. And it also makes the listener think about what goes through the minds of returning soldiers.

Politicalamity – Extreme

It wouldn’t be America without crazy ass politics. And after the essential shit show that was the first Democratic debates, I can’t think of a more perfect track for the 4th. It’s classic, mega funky Extreme. And on their third album ‘III Sides to Every Story,’ the band took a leap forward in maturity. Instead of writing about the perils of elementary school (Mutha Don’t Wanna Go to School Today) or porn (Pornograffiti), Extreme chose to write about heavier subjects such as the crap that happens in D.C., warfare and modern prophet martyring. The former, a song entitled ‘Politicalamity’ seems more prominent that ever with it’s subject material.

Which Way To America – Living Colour

Another funky ass political charger. This time though it comes from the point of view of experiencing racism in a country that supposedly the ‘Land of the Free.’ Living Colour are a black heavy rock band. And they use the genre, combined with funk, to make an aggressive, valid point. There were actually a few songs that would have worked on this list in one way or another. But I decided to go with ‘Which Way To America’ While it’s not the heaviest track, it’s the most well rounded. It explores a couple different points of view. One being that America is doing really well. The other that the country isn’t in as good of shape as our leaders would have us think.

Let Freedom Rock – Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Here’s a fun one. This song is probably the most ‘Spinal Tap’ of the bunch. After all, it is a product of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Although this song is a tad silly, it still kicks ass. Opening with a Bill & Ted sounding rendition of the national anthem. Then moving into a killer, driving riff. Mark Slaughter’s vocals wail. And Vinnie’s playing is in top form. An excellent, late 80’s, hot summer night rocker. A perfect track to accompany fireworks.

4th Of July – Soundgarden

Ummmm, I actually don’t really know what this song has to actually do with the 4th of July besides the title. But it’s Soundgarden and it kicks ass either way. Instead of painting a patriotic or political picture, Soundgarden use their dark intrigue to create a morbid version of the holiday. The riff is insanely sludgy, low and heavy. The mid tempo groove is infectious. And the song displays some of Chris Cornell’s greatest vocal acrobatics. The Black Sabbath influenced song displays the metal side to the grunge movement. And in my opinion, it’s one of Soundgarden’s best.

Pvt. Ledbetter – Tesla

Going back to the patriotic side of rock. This track is essentially a thank you letter to the dedicated members of the armed forces. A genuine, heartfelt ballad with a country twist. It’s a literal track that clearly lays out what the band is trying to say. Which is ‘thanks for serving, hope you’re home soon, we’re glad to call this the land of the free.’ And the music fits the lyrics really well. Tesla always had a knack of writing complete songs. With lyrics that match the mood of the music. Pvt. Ledbetter is no exception to the rule.

Generica – Winger

Winger is without question one of the most underrated and misunderstood bands in hard rock. They combine 80’s hard rock with 70’s prog brilliantly. And while the song ‘Generica’ from their 2006 reunion album ‘IV’ has a simple chord progression; there’s still an intrigue that’s possessed in the song. It’s somewhat of a haunting groove that calls out the hypocrisies of the United States. It’s also got a killer funk rock jam. What’s also cool about this song is that it displays that Winger can write about other subjects than sex and romance. Not that it’s the only track to do so. The song is an underrated call out to Americas double standard issues. This live version displayed below showcases just kick ass the band can be on their improv jams. Amazing guitar work, drumming and all around musicianship.

Mississippi Moon – King’s X

This song does such a great job of creating a mental picture of what the beautiful American South can be. This Ty Tabor led track paints a beautiful picture of how reflective states like Mississippi can be. Sometimes the lack of population can lead to tranquil self reflection. But the song doesn’t just cover that. It showcases a vision of the beauty of the region. Something that gets overlooked I think. The sunsets are apparently beautiful. And the weather is amazing during about 8 months of the year. Seeing blue and gold.

Shout It Out Loud – KISS

While there’s no direct patriotic message in the song, KISS’ ‘Shout It Out Loud’ gives off an American vibe like no other. You can just picture a midwest, middle class neighborhood. Full of lonely kids who don’t know what to do on the weekend. Then all of a sudden they all contact each other to ‘get the party started’ and the rest is history. It’s that imagery that made the song one of KISS’ biggest hits. And it’s still a concert staple to this day. Clearly for a reason. Because it showcases the potential of the party that can ensure during the summers of middle America. And not just that but the coasts as well. A quintessential American classic rocker. So ‘shout it out loud’ and ‘get the party started.’ Rock on and horns up!!

In a recent statement talking to Classic Rock Magazine/Website, Sammy Hagar made it clear that he has no interest in a reunion with Van Halen. In fact, the singer seems to be going out of his way to not contact Eddie or Alex Van Halen. Hagar has stated, ‘I don’t want a Van Halen reunion. I’m afraid that if I reached out and really tried to contact Ed and Al, they would think I was trying to get back in the band or I was trying to do a reunion and I’m not. I’m so content with my current band The Circle – we play the Van Halen songs I wrote with Ed as good as anybody, but I’m happy to have just five or six Van Halen songs in my set. It’s almost like I don’t want to be asked to do it because I’d feel like I have to do it, but I don’t really want to. I’m sorry I don’t.’

Well there it is. The statement that I personally always feared. It sounds like a Sammy Hagar Van Halen reunion will never happen. I understand Hagar’s point of view though. He does have a very talented band that kicks major ass. The Circle, consisting of: Vic Johnson (Guitar), Jason Bonham (Drums), Michael Anthony (Bass) and of course Sammy Hagar on vocals, is certainly a welcome addition to come into the fold of supergroups. But despite how well they play the Van Halen songs it’s still not the same. It just doesn’t have the same energy. Don’t get me wrong, they sound great. Their live debut ‘At Your Service’ is really an excellent live album. Particularly their rendition of ‘Poundcake.’ Their new album, ‘Space Between,’ is also pretty decent. ‘Devil Came to Philly’ is a great, old school, shuffle opener. ‘Can’t Hang’ is a slick, hard rock ballad with a country vibe that can’t be beat. ‘Trust Fun Baby’ is a classic sounding Van Halen track. ‘Affirmation’ just oozes road trip rocker. And ‘Hey Hey (Without Greed)’ closes the album with soul and hard rocking grace.

What’s really amazing though is how well Hagar’s voice has held up over the years. And with all the drama in Van Halen with DLR and then the Michael Anthony reunion going bust you just have to wonder; what the hell are the Van Halen brothers thinking? Sammy Hagar is 72 years old and he still sounds like he’s in his 40’s or even younger. The proof is in The Circle’s first album, the live ‘At Your Service.’ Granted that was four years ago, but still. Here’s a guy who can still sing all the parts. With the original bass player for Van Halen, Micheal Anthony, who still has all his chops and then some. You don’t want to think about the reunion (like Eddie Trunk said on his show), because you know it won’t happen, but you can’t help but think about it. And it really hard not to think ‘How the hell are Eddie and Alex not taking advantage of this?!’ Are they not hearing this? Are they not hearing all the complaints that David Lee Roth can’t sing anymore? It’s almost presented on a plate. And the tour would be so massive that the universe might explode. It’s not even about the money. Why would any of the members of Van Halen need any? It’s about honoring the amazing songs that were created with Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen. Four number one albums in a row Countless top ten singles. And tours beyond nearly every one of their peers.

But the likely chance of a Van Halen reunion with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony seems nearly non existent now. No worries however, The Circle certainly kick enough ass to fill the void. And they deserve way more recognition than they’re getting.

On Friday several rock and other popular artists filed suit against Universal Music (the worlds largest distributer of records); for a fire that occurred in a warehouse in 2008. Not only for neglect of such a mass amount of archives, but for hiding the actual damage from the artists. And it wasn’t just 20 or so years that got destroyed in the fire. Decades and decades of music perished in the flames. From the beginning of copy written records in the 20’s all the way through the 2000’s. Pretty much all the way up to the fire.

An insane amount of archival material from deceased and current artists was lost. Which can really hurt the estate side of the business. Many bands, such as Soundgarden, are dependent on releasing live and unreleased material to keep their legacy’s going. If they can’t replace the deceased member, the next best thing is releasing live and unreleased tracks. It’s awesome for fans to get unreleased live and studio work. I for one, can’t wait for ‘Live At The Artists Den’ from Soundgarden in a few weeks. Entire box sets have been made out of unreleased material. Bon Jovi’s ‘100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong’ comes to mind. And most of all the work of that ilk was destroyed in 2008 from the fire. Many artists have paid the price.

And now many musicians and estates from deceased , musicians are taking action. As well they should. Soundgarden, Hole, the Estates of Tupac Shakur and Tom Petty have all filed suit. And they are pursuing class action status according to an NPR report. The main claim is that Universal failed to secure archives in an adequate venue. In it’s place storing the material in ‘an inadequate, substandard storage house located on the back lot of Universal Studios that was a known fire trap.’ Not only that, but the company disclosed the actual loss of archival recordings. The direct quote is, ‘UMG concealed the loss with false public statements.’ Making statements such as ‘We only lost a small amount of tapes and other material by obscure artists from the 40’s and 50’s.’

This is major! How can an entire record company, much less the biggest in the world, be so negligent? At least they could have been honest about the loss of tapes from the inception of the fire. It’s a huge blow to the rock, punk, metal, pop, disco, hip hop, jazz and any other modern music community. Legacies that were once thought redeemable in an archival sense are now gone. And not just ‘obscure artists from the 40’s and 50’s,’ but many many decades of popular trends. But the worst part of all of it is what the fans are going to miss out on. And it’s a damn shame. Who knows what could have been unearthed from some of the greatest rock and pop acts of all time. All the suits are just in my opinion. Hopefully some justice will come out of this.

June 22, a somber day for the heavy metal and hard rock community. Vinnie Paul Abbot, co founder and innovative drummer for the legendary Pantera, was found dead in Las Vegas. His death due to an enlarged heart and coronary artery disease. Yet another unexpected death in a series of rock community deaths that started with Scott Weiland in December of 2015. The trend has slowed down a little bit in 2019, but for about three years it seemed like some sort of apocalypse for aging rockers. And it was just heartbreaking learning about Vinnie Paul. One of my biggest drumming influences.

One of the elements I liked about Abbot’s drumming was how he held his sticks; at the heads instead of the ends. Which is part of what made his sound so big. That combined with sheer power and superior production skills put Vinne Paul’s drums in the top tiers of drumming. His sound was so crisp and clean. Yet heavy and phat. Which gave even the most manic of Pantera’s songs structure. His ability to thrash and sit in the pocket simultaneously has yet to be matched. And while there were drummers using double bass pedal that proceeded him, Paul took it to the next level. Accuracy and speed unlike anything people had heard before. Yes, there were fast drummer before him. But songs like ‘Strength Beyond Strength’ and the live version of ‘Becoming’ display a cleanliness that’s rarely achieved. Even by the greats.

But what’s missed most is his larger than life personality. Always welcoming, always friendly. Legendary with the fans. He and his brother Dime truly cared about forming a community. And they were constantly smiling. Except for album booklet photos and all that of course. But the sheer joy they got out of playing what they loved together is forever inspiring. Vinnie’s heart was truly too big for this world. We’ll miss your talents and your much needed sense of community.

I know I’ve been doing a lot of these anniversary posts lately, but with this album I just couldn’t help it. It’s one of the most brilliant, crazy, wacky, deep, insane and any other adjectives in that realm of an album. It’s truly in every sense not like anything else that’s ever been released. And as time goes on the album ages better and better. Who knew if the members of Mr. Bungle knew that they were creating genius or not. But one thing is clear, the album is truly lightning in a bottle.

From ‘Sweet Charity’ to ‘Goodbye Sober Day.’ I dare anyone to find an alternative rock album so insanely diverse. And I don’t even know if ‘alternative rock’ is the right term. Actually, I’m not sure if there’s any term for what comes out of the speakers when the album is played. The Hawaiian influences on the album make it an instantly recognizable record. The third song, ‘Retrovertigo’ is such a goosebump raiser in it’s five minutes of beauty. I suppose it could count as an alt rock ballad. But it’s got the classic Mike Patton take on the genre mixed with Trevor Dunn’s sensitive songwriting. Not to mention Patton’s unreal vocals. ‘The Air-Conditioned Nightmare’ is a piece that combines many of the elements of Mr. Bungle. Inventive transitions, heavy/punk influenced moments. Mike Pattons vocal harmonies are brilliantly layered on top of one another. With the classic, Spanish overlay that’s sprinkled throughout the album.

‘Ars Moriendi’ is a centerpiece of the album. It’s hard to define exactly what the peak of the album is, which is why I used ‘a’ instead of ‘the.’ But this is one of the defining tracks on the record. Its middle eastern tropes are apparent throughout. But it’s the combination of that and alternative, progressive rock that makes the the track truly unique. Every note is chaotically and meticulously placed for maximum effect for each moment of the track. Similar to how classical music geniuses operated. ‘Pink Cigarette’ has a fun, crooning vibe. It’s clear once you get to this track that the album is appropriately titled ‘California.’ But then in true Mr. Bungle fashion, they throw a major curveball. ‘Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy’ actually has a very classic Mr. Bungle vibe. Probably because it’s written by Trey Spruance (guitars and engineering). What many people call ‘circus rock/metal’ is upfront and center on this bizarre, alt rock track. But it’s as catchy as it is bizarre. It’s hard not to nod your head in a spacey, goofy fashion. Similar to the mood of the piece. And that’s one of the great effects of the album.

‘The Holy Filament,’ next to ‘Goodbye Sober Day,’ may be the most ambitious song on the whole album. Even though it’s such a different track from ‘Goodby Sober Day.’ It’s a Trevor Dunn track so there’s a similar vibe to ‘Retrovertigo,’ the other Dunn written track. Dunn also contributes music to the next song ‘Vanity Fair.’ An old school doo-wap sounding track with slight industrial offbeat rhythms. But all the songs pale in comparison to the absolutely, other worldly brilliant ‘Goodbye Sober Day.’ The Clinton McKinnon (Saxaphone, horns and keys) and Mike Patton collaboration on the music is unmatchable. Taking a bong rip and turning it on while you go up is an experience like no other. There’s about six to seven different genres of world music happening in this song. All leading to this nu metal breakdown that crushes your head into the wall. And the middle eastern vocal harmonies that come before open the mind into what modern music really can be.

Overall it’s a hell of an album. A truly different kind of masterpiece. Of course, what do you expect from these high school buddies from the bay area? Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn, Trey Spruance, Danny Heifetz and Clinton McKinnon created something that is so out of the ordinary, yet accessible and enjoyable that it will forever gain traction. To this day more and more fans discover the album and it’s brilliance. And that deserves a celebration. What are some of your favorite tracks on the album?

One of the greatest sophomore albums in all of hard rock and heavy metal. Ratt’s ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’ was a step up from their strong and successful debut album ‘Out of the Cellar.’ Which sprung the band from the Los Angeles Sunset Strip into megastardom. They avoided the all too common second album slump. A trend that has happened since the dawn of popular music. Their second album shattered through the glass of the trend, solidifying a talented, killer band.

It lasted for about seven years. The peak of Ratt’s success. During the time of the hard rock and metal reign of popular music. And perhaps no band was more of the time than Ratt. The songs, the skills, the live shows, the outfits and images. All complete with an unlimited supply of drugs and women. But what made Ratt stand out from the rest of the pack was simply excellent song structure, a timelessness in how they constructed rock songs. And also not conforming to the all too popular synthesizer. No matter what they always stuck to their twin guitars, heavy bass, big drums and raspy vocals.

And their mega sophomore album ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’ may just be the best example of Ratt’s power. Riff after riff. Groove after groove. Guitar solos blending technical prowess and feel. Also, a monster Beau Hill production to boot. The first four tracks are a wham, bam, slam boom!! One of the strongest starts to any album of the genre. ‘You’re In Love’ starts off as a perfectly placed opener. The opening solo riff with the band drops make for excellent firework opportunities live. Then the huge boom of ‘Never Use Love’ blows the speakers out of the walls. Followed by thick, effective riffs; layered like a delicious cake. The smash hit ‘Lay It Down’ follows with it’s dark, mysterious groove. It’s sexy and gloomy at the same time. Which a rare find in 80’s hard rock. Actually, now that I think of it, a lot the album is that way. The next track ‘Give It All’ is certainly in that vain. It’s highlight is one of the most underrated guitar solos in all of rock. It’s just a slamming solo. Blending technicality and passion beautifully. ‘Closer To My Heart’ is a super gritty ballad with classic, crisp 80’s tropes. It’s the low point on the album in my opinion. But the heavy groove of the song keeps the album in the strong areas of the ballad craze of the 80’s.

The back end of the album is just as good the front. It maintains the darker edge with songs like ‘Between The Eyes’ and ‘What You Give Is What You Get.’ They’re great back to back tracks. Similar in flavor but not exact copies of each other. The albums track organization is undoubtably nearly perfect. The album quickly heads into party mode with the last three songs. ‘Got Me On The Line’ starts in perfect phone ring fashion. An awesome 80’s sample. The riff is so catchy. You can just listen to it over and over again. A prime example of how Ratt wrote superior songs than their peers. They were a big band. And if they had a proper reunion with what they have left’ they’re one of the only bands from the era that can do amphitheater tours. But I still feel like they really never got as massive as they could and should have been. Because there is a timelessness to their songs that a lot of 80’s acts do not possess. The next song ‘You Should know By Now’ holds the high standard of the album. With an earworm of a chorus and yet another explosively catchy riff. Not to mention the epicness of the cowbell/chorus breakdown three fourths of the way through. The record closes with ‘Dangerous But Worth The Risk.’ A song that really has bad ass, driving groove. Juan Crucier’s bass digs into the skin. Such excellent touch and feel. And Bobby Blotzer’s drumming is right with him. Yet another killer guitar solo fills the middle. Coupled with Pearcy’s fierce vocal attack and you’ve got an explosive song.

From top to bottom ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’ is a perfect album. And it’s worthy of recognition in the echelons of hard rock. Let’s celebrate a terrific album from top to bottom. A timeless classic released in an era of time capsule music. What are some of your favorite tracks on the the album?

It’s one of greatest albums of an entire decade. From top to bottom, the diverse selection of groove heavy melody and heart wrenching ballads is hard to match. Not only that but it solidified a band that was labeled a copy cat group from the ‘grunge’ era. But with their second album ‘Purple,’ Stone Temple Pilots embedded themselves as their own alternative hard rock band. The album varies from groove metal junctions to psychedelic hard rock excellence to epic ballads. The band knew that they had to differentiate themselves from the rest of their peers; being late to the party. And they did just that with 1994’s ‘Purple.’

‘Meatplow’ serves as a strong opener. The heavy, down tuned riff mixed with the heavy bass and drums says that this band isn’t going soft anytime soon. ‘Vasoline’ has become a legendary staple of the era. The syncopated groove is instantly recognizable. It’s a quintessential 90’s track that has set itself as one of the greats. But the album doesn’t really start to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack until the third song ‘Lounge Fly’ comes in. It’s one of the songs where STP took their own take on alternative hard rock to the next level. Eric Kretz’ thom beats fill the verses unconventionally. The chorus is a catchy vocal melody that’s infectious. Scott Weiland’s voice shines through and differentiates itself from the rest of the early 90’s rock singers. Much more than just a ‘yarler.’ The signature ‘Interstate Love Song’ is next on the album list. I mean, what can you say about it? It’s not only one of the most iconic songs of it’s era, but of all rock. And it made the band megastars. I honestly haven’t met someone who doesn’t like the song. It’s still a radio staple. But it’s not until ‘Still Remains’ that the record establishes itself as a consistent masterpiece. The passion the band exudes in the chorus is breathtaking. Yet another ear worm of a melody that burrows itself.

‘Pretty Penny’ gives an MTV Unplugged vibe. Which makes sense seeing as how the album was released in 1994; the peak of MTV Unplugged. It’s somewhat of a filler track, but a strong acoustic/vocal ballad none the less. The heavy metal comes back with ‘Silvergun Superman.’ It might be the song that resembles the previous album, ‘Core,’ the most. The riff digs itself under the skin, provoking slow tempo headbanging. The albums next gift is truly that, a gift. One of the greatest ballads ever written entitled ‘Big Empty.’ It’s an instant cigarette lighter tune that the entire audience will end up singing with. The MTV Unplugged version of the song is particularly legendary. Rivaling moments of Alice In Chains’ MTV Unplugged for greatest ever. The heavy, punk influenced ‘Unglued’ is a prime example of how early 90’s hard rock combined classic heavy rock and punk. A welcome addition to the album and something that could fit on many ‘grunge’ era records. ‘Army Ants’ follows the same vein. There’s more of a psychedelic hard rock groove to it though. A major head nodder. The album closes with ‘Kitchenware & Candybars.’ It has a vibe to it that’s comparable to ‘Where the River Goes.’ Which is the closing track for the first album ‘Core.’ There’s definitely a closing track pattern that the band is trying to establish. It’s also got an excellent melancholy overlay that permeates the song.

All in all ‘Purple’ is one hell of a record. A perfect album from top to bottom. Not only did it cement a bands career, it differentiated them from the rest of their peers. Which is what has made Stone Temple Pilots a timeless band. Without ‘Purple’ STP wouldn’t have been able to continue into the next decade and beyond. Even though Weiland has left us. May he rest in peace. A 25th anniversary box set will be available on Sept 13. It includes the full album remastered, a second disc with rarities, b-sides and remixes. And a third disc with a live concert recorded in New Haven, CT. So crank it, jam it and celebrate the 25th anniversary of a terrific album for the rockers, broken hearted and partiers out there. What are some of your favorite tracks on the album?

So this is honestly one of the funniest stories in rock in the past few years. The other day in Las Vegas, David Lee Roth was attending an electric dance festival, specifically EDC. He loves EDM music and all his other dance oriented genres. And he’s been popping up at these EDM festivals that are playing remixes of ‘Jump’ and other hits. He gets up on stage during the songs and does his thing. Of course, probably about 15% of the audience knows who he actually is. And there’s now a little slice of evidence that might prove prove that notion.

During his stop at EDC in Vegas, Roth, who obviously has a crew around him because he’s DLR, approaches a neighboring hotel door with a brimming smile on his face. You know, that David Lee Roth ear to ear smile. ‘Is this the place with the Van Halen?’ he asks. And the crew approaches the door.

One of his crew members rings the door bell and it’s a bachelor party of some mid twenty somethings. The door opens and he just standing there in his glory, ‘HEY GUYS!! We heard there was some Van Halen playing across the hallway.’ And the guys are so confused and dumfounded. They have no idea who this guy is. They have an apologetic demeanor about them. The rest of the bachelor crew comes to the door an apologizes for the noise they’re making. ‘NO MAN! It’s no problem I’m David Lee Roth!’ It goes right over everyones head and they apologize quickly. The real capper is that DLR and crew leave realizing that the party doesn’t recognize greatness. And when they get to the elevator, a shirtless dude, supposedly the dude throwing the party, chases them down and apologizes again. Pure gold.

Now, in their defense if they do know who DLR is they probably would have recognized him had he looked like used to. Which is of course impossible. But DLR has radically changed his image in the past 15 years or so and then some. Honestly even longer than that. He’s at the door in some sort of plaid zuit suit and a tam o’shanter. He looks just like some Vegas high roller who gambles professionally and is looking to get some sleep soon. Also, the probability, whether you’re in Vegas or not, of DLR showing up at your door seems pretty improbable. So maybe they just didn’t believe it. Or maybe they just thought he was some loud, crazy, aging guy. Roth also handles it really well when it’s all said and done. He just does his smile and wave and walks off while the party is apologizing. It’s just so damn funny.

When a band loses it’s definitive force, whether it’s a front man or not, to the reaper, there’s few things that it can do. However, one of the golden gems that comes from a posthumous band existence can be excellent, previously unreleased live material. And the upcoming Soundgarden ‘Live From the Artists Den’ is destined to become one of the great live documents, posthumous front man or not. Soundgarden were always excellent live, and when they reunited and released the monstrous ‘King Animal’ in 2012, it was a major statement that they were back. On the tour they recorded the three sold out nights at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Located at Wilshire and Western. The set list is unreal in it’s length. And the bands passion is captured throughout the entire show.

I’m always going to welcome new live Soundgarden material. The ‘Live on I-5’ release from 2011 was an amazing treat. The shows from the ‘Down on the Upside’ tour proved to ask the question, ‘why did this band ever break up?’ And the ‘Live At the Paramount’ from the ‘Badmotorfinger’ tour is a gargantuan show. It’s one of the great live documents of all time. So naturally we should all be stoked about the new ‘Live from the Artists Den.’

The set list is inanely long. Almost a thirty song show, 28 to be precise. And the tracks aren’t two minute punk songs. For the most part, they’re four plus minute rockers. It is an insane concert, so huge that’s its garnered theatrical releases in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. The show promises to be a complete, immersive experience. But what I’m personally excited about is the nearly two and half hour, double disc live CD that’s going to accompany the theatrical releases. Plus there’s the blu-ray and DVD videos of the show. And some crazy ass mega-box set versions of the release. Complete with insane vinyl options.

But what I’m really looking forward to is hearing live, heavier versions of tracks from the ‘King Animal’ album. ‘Been Away Too Long,’ ‘Blood on the Valley Floor,’ ‘Worse Dreams,’ ‘By Crooked Steps’ and ‘Non-State Actor’ are all included in the set list. And then some. Plus the classics that are being advertised, no matter how short the advertisement is, sound sick as hell. The short trailer that displays ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ portrays the shows as some of the greatest in heavy music. The crowd sounds rabid and the band sounds tight and aggressive. It looks like Soundgarden’s ‘Live from the Artists Den’ is destined to be a juggernaut live document. And I can’t wait to review the full show.

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal can be very therapeutic when you’re feeling lonely or down and out. It’s one of the genre’s most primary functions. Well, it’s really the primary function of all art at the end of the day. Because when you cant rely on people you can always rely on your art. And the music or whatever your artistic avenue is can always be your relying, guiding light. Here are the top five hard rock/heavy metal albums that are perfect for when you’re feeling lonely.

Alice In Chains – 1995 Self Titled

Obviously Alice In Chains is going to be on this list. The question is which album is the best choice for this list? After careful deliberation, I’ve decided that the 1995 self-titled album is the perfect representation out of all the albums. It’s still the darkest album they’ve ever done, even if it’s not their all around heaviest. The lyrics can be devastatingly sad. Not that there aren’t other albums with the same. Featuring a late Layne Staley, digging deep into his most depressing moods. This would be his last studio album with the band. Tracks like ‘Nothin’ Song’, ‘God Am,’ ‘Again,’ Head Creeps,’ and ‘Brush Away’ provide a heavy, dark groove that’s fun to jam to while also providing bleak, lonesome lyrics. ‘Sludge Factory’ brings in a lonesome, drug induced vibe that defines the sound of the band. Not to mention the Jerry Cantrell lead tracks ‘Over Now’ and ‘Heaven Beside You.’ The former being a perfect break up song. ‘Shame In You’ is the ultimate self-loathing ballad. All elements combined, the self-titled Alice In Chains album is a near perfect, heavy and melodic record for when you’re feeling down and out.

King’s X – Dogman

The brooding nature, yet reflective aspects of King’s X’s ‘Dogman’ absolutely put the album on this list. Jamming when you’re feeling lonely is mega important and this album jams hard. Twelve ton heavy, groovy and cynical tracks such ‘Don’t Care,’ ‘Pretend, ‘Pillow,’ accompany straight up funk rockers like ‘Black the Sky’ and ‘Shoes.’ All of which dig under the skin, getting the listener up and rocking. But there’s also brilliant, deep, strong and reflective ballads like ‘Flies and Blue Skies’ and ‘Sunshine Rain.’ And of course the signature ‘Cigarettes’ is an eponymous, King’s X song. A melancholy track asking for comfort. Overall the album is a complete journey of jamming. It’s got the fun, funky and heavy tracks. But they’re also accompanied by cynical and lonely lyrics. And the ballads complete the album for a perfect combination of fun and dark reflection.

Soundgarden – Superunknown

Ok, obviously there’s a 90’s hard rock theme going on here. After all it is the peak of bleak, dark rock music. This is the second album on the list to be released in 1994. But there’s a reason for all the bleakness that permeated rock at the time. Mostly a reaction from the Reagan administration and the weather in Seattle. Which is home to the ‘grunge’ revolution. It created a dark and cynical point of view in the bands. Which always seems to accommodate loneliness well. And Soundgarden’s 1994 super smash ‘Superunknown’ is no exception. The many angles of the song writing make it an essential moody, heavy and kick ass album. With plenty of ‘dark cloud’ moments that define the sounds of Seattle. But Soundgarden took a very raw and brutally bad ass approach the sub-genre. The albums opener ‘Let Me Drown’ sets the standard for the record in stride. There also the other heavy, killer tracks: ‘4th of July,’ ‘Mailman,’ the title track and the funk heavy ‘Fresh Tendrills.’ All of which define the dark, cloud heavy atmosphere of grunge. The other side of the coin has some of the most iconic ballads of the entire decade: ‘Fell on Black Days,’ ‘Head Down,’ and ‘Black Hole Sun’ hit the lonely feels right in the jugular. It’s a tremendous album to simply lose yourself in all of it’s many facets.

Dream Theater – Falling Into Infinity

Keeping on the 90’s hard rock track, ‘Falling Into Infinity’ is a consummate lonely album. Actually, a lot of Dream Theater’s material is ideal for lonesome listening. Whether it’s lyrical themes, the mood of the music or adventurous prog jams; Dream Theater’s catalog is essential for those that feel lonely. So naturally it was difficult to choose an album from their vast discography. Many of their albums could be on this list for various reasons: ‘Awake,’ ‘Octavarium,’ ‘Train of Thought, ‘Black Clouds and Silver Linings,’ and the new ‘Distance Over Time.’ But ‘Falling Into Infinity’ has a Northwest cloudy and depressing mood that’s hard to find on the other albums. The music and lyrics compliment each other perfectly throughout the record. ‘New Millennium’ is a terrific loner classic. And it’s also one of the best ways to open an album. Terrific opener. And the other heavy tracks on the album are second to none. ‘You Not Me,’ ‘Just Let Me Breathe’ and ‘Burning My Soul’ are satisfying heavy tracks that dig on the back beat. ‘Lines in the Sand’ is one of the best riffs and grooves ever. Complete with crazy ass Derick Sherinian keyboard shredding and texture. He really kicked ass on the ‘Falling Into Infinity’ tour and album. The Pink Floyd cover ‘Peruvian Skies’ fits the profile with it’s depressing atmosphere. Which then moves into a killer impromptu metal jam. The ballads: ‘Hollow Years,’ ‘Take Away My Pain,’ and ‘Anna Lee’ create a strong, yearning feeling for companionship. And the emotional instrumental ‘Hells Kitchen’ caps the feeling of loneliness in it’s feeling. One of the great sit alone albums.

Mastodon – Crack the Skye

Mastodon’s ‘Crack the Skye’ is a perfect album for hanging out alone. It’s a progressive, concept metal album that also has it’s own individual songs. Like the other albums on this list, it’s a complete album to listen to while feeling lonely. ‘Oblivion’ is an epic album opener. The instrumentals mixed with the lyrics and harmonies set the standard for what the album has to offer. ‘Divinations’ and the title track set a major headbanging standard. And ‘The Czar’ is quintessential heavy listening whilst hanging out alone. Lyrics like ‘It’s your own fault’ make the listener reflect on ones own consequences. While still keeping a fun, heavy side to the song. The middle movement of ‘The Czar’ is a classic, hard rock piece that gives hope to the future of heavy music. Even if it is eleven years old now. ‘Quintessence’ is a progressive highlight of the album. It’s not a particularly long song, but the arrangement keeps hard rock and metal moving forward. ‘The Last Baron’ is one of the tastiest progressive metal pieces overall. An epic thirteen minute that builds and builds. And finally ends in an explosion. Overall ‘Crack the Skye’ is a lonesome album that hits all the heavy feels. Crank it and jam hard.

So there it is, my top five metal albums for when you’re feeling lonely. What are your top albums for when you’re feeling alone?