2016 – Page 3 – Green and Black Music

10 Punk Rock Cover Songs

May 8, 2016May 27, 2020 Green and Black Music0 comment

Punk bands have a long tradition of transforming well-known songs into punk rock bliss. Covering a famous hit is the perfect way to pay homage to influence. It can also be an ironic embrace of an unlikely song. As the following list demonstrates, punk versions of classic hits are pure fun! THE RAMONES – LET’S DANCE Amid songs of sniffing glue and fear of basements, The Ramones self-titled debut includes a cover of the 1962 hit, “Let’s Dance.” Although lyrically out of place, the song is easily absorbed into the…

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ROCKET TO RUSSIA: THE PUNK ROCK ART OF THE RAMONES

May 1, 2016November 2, 2018 Green and Black Music0 comment

The Ramones had high expectations for Rocket To Russia. Songs like “Rockaway Beach,” “Locket Love” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” were pure pop. When the album peaked at 49 on the billboard charts the band was bitterly disappointed. Many blamed the stalled momentum on a rival band from the U.K. The Sex Pistols had dirtied up the punk aesthetic with their nihilistic self-destruction. For better or worse, the genre was now viewed as confrontational and dangerous. Radio shunned all things punk. Any chance of Rocket to Russia yielding…

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THE BEST/WORST ALBUM COVERS IN HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK

April 24, 2016May 3, 2019 Green and Black Musichelloween future world, judas priest rocka rolla0 comment

HELLOWEEN – FUTURE WORLD Based on Judge Dredd, to me, this was just a badass pumpkin with a Mohawk strumming an electric guitar. After all, it’s HELLOWEEN. Of course there’s gonna be some chill pumpkin dude killing it on guitar. He’s kind of spacey and futuristic too. Well, that’s cause it’s the “Future World” single. The music is upbeat and happy. Seriously. It makes me want to dance a happy jig and hug people. OF COURSE the album cover is gonna have a lighthearted take on the band’s ongoing connection…

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MEGADETH – DYSTOPIA ALBUM REVIEW

April 9, 2016August 19, 2016 Green and Black Musicalbum review, Chris Adler, Dave Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, Dystopia, Kiko Loureiro, Megadeth, Vic Rattlehead0 comment

Dystopia is the product of perseverance. When Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick abruptly quit the band after the disappointing Super Collider, Megadeth fell into disarray. Rampant rumors of a Rust in Peace reunion failed to materialize. A complete transformation was necessary to get the band back on track. Enter Kiko Loureiro and Chris Adler. These two giants were exactly what was needed to re-energize Mustaine. With the familiar presence of Ellefson holding the band together, this latest incarnation has created the best Megadeth album in decades. There was never…

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TARKUS: VISIONS OF DOOM FROM EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

March 16, 2016August 30, 2016 Green and Black MusicEmerson Lake & Palmer, Progressive rock, Tarkus2 Comments

It’s hard to be afraid of an armadillo. Yet, this is no ordinary creature. Rather, it is a mysterious, mechanical hybrid of doom. An armored tank of destruction, this unholy entity is designed to spread terror. It even has a name. Behold TARKUS! Behind Tarkus is an infinite trail of death. The carnage extends well beyond the line of vision. No sign of exhaustion is visible in his glaring red eyes. Tarkus pushes onward in his murderous rampage. Strange worlds come alive within the gatefold of this classic ELP record.…

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DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH: THE METAL MONSTERS OF JUDAS PRIEST

March 6, 2016March 5, 2018 Green and Black MusicHellion, judas priest painkiller, Metallian3 Comments

In 1982, Judas Priest found themselves at a crossroads. Point of Entry had brought criticism from fans who thought the record suffered from commercial leanings. For their next record, the band could either continue to court radio or proudly return to their characteristic heavy sound. With Screaming for Vengeance, Judas Priest chose the latter path and created one of the strongest statements of their career. To reassure fans that the new album was a return to form, the cover needed to make a bold visual statement. The result was The…

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TOP 10 THRASH METAL ALBUMS

February 13, 2016January 30, 2017 Green and Black MusicD.R.I. Thrash Zone, Exodus Bonded by Blood, Flotsam and Jetsam No Place for Disgrace, Forbidden Twisted Into Form, Metal Church Blessing in Disguise, Nuclear Assault Survive, Overkill The Years of Decay, Sacred Reich Surf Nicaragua, Testament The New Order, Thrash Metal, Wrathchild America - Climbing the Walls6 Comments

Compiling a list of the greatest thrash albums is no easy task. With so many worthy contenders, it’s quite a challenge to narrow the options down to ten. After much contemplation, the task is complete. The following records represent the finest thrash metal has to offer. EXODUS – BONDED BY BLOOD The music of Exodus was groundbreaking. Their mission was simple. Play fast, heavy and embrace an inner love for pure metal. In the process, Exodus helped create a new genre. The excitement of these early years are forever immortalized…

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A Light in the Black: A Tribute to Jimmy Bain

January 26, 2016November 10, 2017 Green and Black Music1 Comment

Jimmy Bain passed away on January 24th, 2016. He enjoyed a lengthy career working beside some of rock’s greatest talents. Bain leaves behind an impressive discography, but is best remembered as the bass player of choice for Ronnie James Dio. The two first crossed paths in Rainbow. After quitting Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore was determined to make Rainbow a spectacle of sight and sound. Only the very best musicians would be capable of meeting the demands of this mad architect. Jimmy Bain was chosen to round out a rhythm section…

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SAINT VITUS – V ALBUM REVIEW

January 22, 2016August 19, 2016 Green and Black MusicBlack Flag, Black Sabbath, Chandler, doom, Hankenstein Records, Metal, Saint Vitus, SST, The Obsessed, V, Wino0 comment

Saint Vitus fans have been spoiled. Most of the classic Vitus albums have been reissued. The band’s 5th album, V, had long been the exception. Thanks to Hankenstein records, this lost classic is available on vinyl once again. Remastered and limited to 1000 copies, this pressing will soon become a rarity. Originally released in 1990, V is a pivotal album in the Saint Vitus discography. After nearly a decade with SST Records, the band found themselves signed to a new upstart label. In addition to V, Hell Hound Records decided…

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Rush vs. Rainbow: The Great Rock and Roll Swindle

January 9, 2016September 16, 2019 Green and Black Music7 Comments

In 1978, Rainbow was a veritable super group carefully assembled by Ritchie Blackmore. The gatefold photo inside Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll perfectly captures the excitement of seeing these giants perform live. A festive crowd eagerly waits for the curtain to drop. A few fans even hold a banner to greet Blackmore and company as they hit the stage. This sign has always struck me as problematic. Who makes a banner to hold up at a rock concert and decides NOT to include the name of the band? One…