Merry Metal Christmas - Jingle Bells and Silent Night

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's metal Santa songs. Today, we have 2 "traditional" songs metal-style.

Merry Metal Christmas - I Am Santa Claus and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

For those of you who celebrate Christmas (and those of you who don't) here are some lovely metal Christmas songs to get your Christmas Eve moving. Check out the Top "10" (there are actually 12) here with videos included. 

Happy Halloween!

Today is October 31st and you know what that means? It's my favorite day of the year! All of the freaks will be out and about and who can say no to free candy? Here are a few Halloween things for you to entertain yourselves with...

Check out "This Is Halloween" Light Show created by Edwards Landing Lights

Squidoo's Top Ten Heavy Metal Halloween Songs

(Go to the link above to see the YouTube Videos for the songs)

# 10: "Vampira" by The Devin Townsend Band
# 9: "Feed My Frankenstein" by Alice Cooper
# 8: "Trick Or Treat" by Halloween
# 7: "Dracula" by Iced Earth
# 6: "Dragula" by Rob Zombie
# 5: "Fear Of The Dark" by Iron Maiden
# 4: "Halloween" by King Diamond
# 3: "Bark At The Moon" by Ozzy Osbourne
# 2: "Night Crawler" by Judas Priest
#1: "Halloween" by Helloween

Want a different list of Halloween Metal Songs? Metal Underground has their own list here.

So... now that you have a little bit of a Halloween fix... what are you doing tonight? Trick or treating? Handing out candy? Why do that junk when you can head out to the High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI to see Ultrea, the amazing Seven Signs and Tribal Call for a Halloween show. The event information is available on Facebook. I will see everyone there (because we all know I almost never miss a Seven Signs show)! 

New Facebook Page for For the Love of Rock And Metal

Check out the Facebook page for the blog. I will be posting my articles plus any other links, photos, or anything that I think my readers may find interesting. So, like the page and while you're at it, become a follower of the blog.


https://www.facebook.com/ForTheLoveOfRockAndMetal

My Introduction to the Local Metal Scene by Jody Thomas

I mentioned before that I'm kind of disappointed in the local music scene recently - not the bands, but the lack of people showing up. I know the economy sucks and bars are expensive and some cover charges are getting out of control, but it still makes me sad. So, I asked my good friend Jody to write a little something about being introduced to the local metal scene. I drag her with me to a lot of shows (now she even comes willingly!) and we always have a great time. If you know someone who might enjoy a show, then bring them out next time. If everyone going to a show brings one friend, we could pack most of the local venues quickly. Anyway... on to Jody's column.

My Introduction to the Local Metal Scene

By Jody Thomas

Before my adventures with Nicki, my knowledge and exposure to local metal bands was almost non-existent.  In fact, I didn’t even know the different genres of metal music.  I basically thought there was only loud and louder.  Don’t get me wrong, loud is good.

Besides the music, one of my favorite things about going to local shows is seeing the bands appreciation of their fans.  In all of the shows that I’ve been to after a band finished a set they would stick around and listen to the other bands and interact with their fans.

One of my favorite shows was Taproot, Silence is Broken, Vintage Burning and 2211.
Although the venue wasn’t that friendly the music was great.
With the exception of 2211, who looked like they would rather be home in bed than playing music, the bands put their heart and soul into their music.

I must say it’s quite easy to get “star struck” at these shows.  Especially with the bands that really enjoy what they’re doing.

I’m very happy that Nicki has opened my eyes and ears into the local metal scene.  I am also happy to say that I haven’t suffered any hearing loss.

Abandon ship!

Yeah, that's what I did. I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I've been very busy. I have gone to a few shows, including the recent Soil reunion show (awesome, by the way). The main thing I've been busy with is writing a few articles for The Blacktooth and trying to come up with some more articles for them and for this blog. I've been neglecting this site and I promise I'll try to do better. For right now, enjoy today's featured video of Eye Empire's "Bull In A China Shop." Eye Empire was one of the band's gracing our presence at the Soil reunion show along with Beyond Threshold and Illusions Fate.



My Proudest Moment

I have two stepkids and I love them like my own. Strange thing to discuss on a rock and metal blog, right? Well, one of my proudest moments with them happened in the car. I have a guilty pleasure band. My friends and family know about it, so I guess since one of them will likely call me out on it, I'll share - I'm a sucker for Spice Girls. I know, I know. Its a horrible group with very little true talent and is the last thing a "true" metalhead should listen to. But shut up, you all know every single one of you has your own guilty pleasure in music. Anyone who says they don't is lying. Mind you, I would choose Slipknot or Megadeth over them any time.

Anyway... my stepkids both enjoy Spice Girls. I thought my stepdaughter would like it, so I let her listen to it and eventually they were both asking to listen to it every time we got in the car. In addition to that, they both love HURT, Queen, Johnny Cash and a ton of other great artists and bands (as well as some that I couldn't even begin to name). While I'm thrilled they have a diverse taste in music, the proudest day was when we were on this car ride and I hadn't "kid-proofed" my CDs in the changer. Normally I make sure nothing vulgar or inappropriate is in there, but this time I had left the Slayer album "God Hates Us All" in the changer. To my shock, amusement, and sheer joy, my stepson started singing along. He was singing Slayer! He knew a metal band and actually enjoyed it. He was probably 9 at the time, so still a little young to be bringing into the pit of a show (I'm sure both his dad and his mom would have had a problem with that), but I knew there was a future. There's a metalhead in the family and I couldn't be happier.

Happy New Years! (plus Featured Video)

Generally, I like the featured video to be a local or regional band, but since its New Year's Eve, I decided to go with the Rock and Roll anthem. Please be safe tonight so that you can make it into 2012! Drink all you want, party all you want, but make sure you take a cab, bus or have a designated driver!

So, here's to 2012 - the best thing about 2012 is going to be that it isn't 2011! See you next year, hopefully with a lot more content on this blog.

Day One

Hello everyone! I really missed writing and knew if I could combine two things I love - writing and music - I would be able to get over this chronic case of writer's block. Soon, I will be posting a few short articles about music - live music, CDs (if I get around to that), maybe some interviews if I can convince people to talk to me.

So, here's to the start of it. Later this week, preferably sooner rather than later, I will put up some short blurbs about the two most recent shows I attended - HURT and Jamison Parker and Aaron Fishel of Silence is Broken acoustic at the High Noon Saloon and Taproot, Silence is Broken, Vintage Burning and 2211 at the Back Bar.

If there is anything specific anyone wants to read about, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Want me to check out a band either live or in a video? Send it to me. I'll get to as much as I can and be as honest as possible. I truly want this to be an honest place for music, so what I say might not always be nice, but it will always be said with the utmost respect for musicians.