My choice for “song of the week” is Judas Priest’s “New Beginnings” from their 2008 concept album “Nostradamus”. To be honest, I totally forgot about this record and it is definitely not something I actually listen to on a daily basis. However, my heavy metal playlist was on shuffle and suddenly this rock opera started playing and somehow entranced me…To be honest, it took me a few seconds to comprehend what was going on. I carefully listened to the lyrics which I believe are the essence of the track and even re-played it only to once again experience those words. The atmosphere of “New Beginnings” is definitely a bit melodramatic, overly emotional and Rob doesn’t really sound confident or fully committed, however among those lines, I could find something I was truly in need of – hope and anticipation for new beginnings. Those words are for all the people out there who want to hear it – guys, it is tough out there but someday someone will come to your life and change everything.
For a better experience, listen to the track together with “Hope”~
“New Beginnings” Lyrics
Now at last my dream is real I found peace True love can heal On the journey throughout time A new beginning has arrived At the crossroads of my life This new love keeps me alive
I never knew that this could happen to me So many lonely days and nights I never knew that you were waiting for me Hope was out of dight And suddenly I see the future clearly No longer living in the past As I let go
Living the dream Of my life I was alone no-one in sight This love – make me believe that you’re the one Never give up – our day has come
I never felt that this could happen to me So many lonely days and lonely nights I never knew that you were waiting for me Hope was out of sight And suddenly I see the future clearly Finally I know at last I can let go
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~
Released: November 18, 2016 Genre: Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal Producer(s): Greg Fidelman, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich Label: Blackened Recordings Length: 77:26
OVERVIEW
Metallica put an end to the long 8 years of waiting with their smashing new heavy metal storm, titled “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”. The mighty metal Gods survived through the long gap, after which the majority of rock acts would’ve been totally obliterated by the constantly changing music scene, and rose from the ashes with a comeback album worthy of being called a moment of unification of all metalheads around the world. The expectations were high – Metallica had to preserve their relevance with something that goes beyond any ordinary record; they had to dig deeper. The results are finally here and believe me, they are more than satisfying.
“Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is an epic double monster album, spitting 12 fiery tracks which run for almost 80 minutes! Let’s give a round of applause (or a scream of excitement) to singer-guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich who co-wrote almost the entire set of throat-grabbing, killer shocks on the record. With such explosive musicianship and furious songwriting dedication, Metallica can absolutely afford to go for an average song length of six-to-seven minutes. They are making their own rules without a single care in the world.
Disc one is more striking, up to the point, offering one heavy rocker after another. The finest moments of “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” could be found among those first six tracks – from the merciless riffs of the opening track “Hardwired”, to the rigorous pulse of “Now That We are Dead”, every track carries that trademark Metallica kick-ass sound formula, mixed with a couple of surprisingly good new tricks. “Halo on Fire” wraps things up in a similar dark, intensity-fueled manner, leaving us with high hopes for what’s coming on the next CD. Disc two is a less damaging, somewhat unfocused mixture of lengthy rockers. The momentum is slowly declining as we progress from one song to another but that’s not necessarily such a bad thing for the listeners who need to take a breath. “Murder One” is a surprisingly splendid tribute to Lemmy Kilmister, that definitely deserves a listen (or two).
“Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is a strong comeback album, despite its length and unnecessary fillers (especially on Disc Two). One thing that truly makes a quite obvious stand is James Hetfield’s explicit, much improved vocal delivery, which is the final touch to the electrifying concept of the album. Metallica build up quite the excitement among fans so it’s natural to completely lose your mind over this album. “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”, however, is far from being their best effort. It’s somewhat familiar but still innovative, proving that Metallica are still standing on the heavy metal pedestal! For that it deserves to be praised!
Tracklist:
Disc One:
“Hardwired” “Atlas, Rise!” “Now That We’re Dead” “Moth Into Flame” “Dream No More” “Halo on Fire”
Disc Two:
“Confusion” “ManUNkind” “Here Comes Revenge” “Am I Savage” “Murder One” “Spit Out the Bone”
Hardwired
Moth Into Flame
Atlas, Rise!
Murder One
Lords of Summer (from the Deluxe Edition of “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct”)
Spit Out the Bone
Dream No More
References:
“Hardwired… to Self-Destruct” Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwired…_to_Self-Destruct P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~ The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
“Moth Into Flame” from Metallica‘s upcoming album Hardwired … to Self-Destruct is here! We got the chance to listen to a little snippet of the song last month, when they released a teaser trailer for the new album but now we finally get to enjoy the whole experience. I must say, this track definitely has high odds of becoming a favorite of mine. As a matter of fact, I was more pleased with this one, than with “Hardwired”. What do you guys think?
My song of the day is “Hold Your Fire” by Firehouse! What a song! Coming out of their highly successful 1992 album of the same title, this is definitely one of the good rockers from the 90s. The whole album is a true masterpiece, actually. You can find awesome tunes such as “Reach for the Sky” and “Sleeping With You” but “Hold Your Fire” has to be my favorite one! I love the haunting intro, the crazy riffs and the tough rhythms. Also, C.J. Snare has such a magnificent voice! Check it out!
“Hold Your Fire” LYRICS
I’m like a loaded gun I got you in my sight And you’re the only one I want to shoot tonight Ready and able the trigger to fire Locked on target for my desire Got you covered and there’s nothing that you can do But say
(Chorus:) Hold your fire Hold your fire
I’m speeding like a bullet never miss my mark With infrared eyes that can see in the dark Actions semi-automatic Satisfaction the instant I hit I got you covered and there’s Nothing that you can do But say
Metallica released a new song from their long-awaited new album titled “Hardwired… To Self-Destruct”. After so many promises, endless teases and years of waiting, we finally have some new music to enjoy.
“Hardwired” is about the speed, technique and intensity of the riffs. It’s very aggressive, straightforward and definitely hits you hard. The lyrics “We’re so fucked, shit out of luck, hard-wired to self-destruct” are quite relevant, especially in nowadays world with everything happening all around the globe – wars, terrorism and of course the upcoming presidential elections.
The MV is black and white, filmed close up, leaving you with very uneasy and quite uncomfortable feelings when watching. Quite claustrophobic and tense atmosphere, definitely.
Released: April 14, 1986 Length: 40:58 Label: Columbia Singles: “Turbo Lover”, “Locked In”, “Parental Guidance” Certified: Platinum (RIAA)
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Tracklist:
“Turbo Lover” “Locked In” “Private Property” “Parental Guidance” “Rock You All Around the World” “Out in the Cold” “Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days” “Hot for Love” “Reckless”
OVERVIEW:
“Turbo” has always been one of the most unjustly criticized metal albums of all time. Judas Priest lost a significant number of fans after the release of this record due to the band’s shift to more commercial and synthesizer-driven sound. It was the mid-80s, after all, and the whole rock music industry was undergoing a change – the catchy tunes by all the numerous glam/pop metal and rock bands were ruling the charts and the airwaves, so to some extend it was pretty understandable for any rock band to try and cash in. However, as melodic, radio-friendly and much different as Turbo sounds, compared to Judas Priest’s previous albums, I do believe that there is so much more to this record – “Turbo” never was just about the money and it did rock pretty hard. Yes, it might have been a bit unusual to listen to Judas Priest singing cheesy lyrics about romance or hearing how much they rely so on the sleek synth-production and the electronic drums; however, they did manage to find a balance and in my opinion, released quite the classic.
The synthesizer-driven opening track – “Turbo Lover” can easily be pointed out as one of the most essential Judas Priest tracks and ultimately, the finest moment of the album. By finest, I don’t necessarily mean that it impresses with brilliant music craftsmanship, beautiful lyrics or any other significant value. I simply claim that it’s a song with a different purpose which we cannot just overlook. It has that special aura and uplifting spirit that immediately activates your imagination and empowers you. “Locked In” might be too commercial and the synthesizers are definitely a bit difficult to digest but we cannot deny how catchy and mood-charging it sounds. “Private Property” is a very rhythmic, familiar and yet another money-making track. As we go from one song to another, you could easily feel the loss of confidence and the good impression starts to fade away. The rest of the album is filled with mid-tempo and well-polished merchandized rockers. “Out in the Cold” might be Judas Priest’s most excellent attempt at power- ballads and it’s a definite must-listen.
Overall, as hated as it is, “Turbo” is a very important chapter of Judas Priest’s career, though quite misunderstood. I believe the reason why so many people were disappointed in this album was because the band lost a huge chunk of their identity by diving into the commercialized mid-80s glam metal music scene. Yes, they might have done that and indeed some of the tracks on “Turbo” do sound a bit awkward and with no clear focus. However, it’s Judas Priest we’re talking about – whatever they do they sure know how to rock hard. It took them a few years to get back on the metal radar, but to the average rock fan, “Turbo” can be quite enjoyable.
Turbo Lover
Locked In
Parental Guidance
Out in the Cold
References:
“Turbo” official Wikipedia webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo_(Judas_Priest_album)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~
Today we are going to talk about one of my favorite classic rock bands – Judas Priest. Actually I haven’t been a die-hard fan of Judas Priest for that long (in comparison with other bands, such as Ramones or Def Leppard, for instance), however, I got instantly captivated by the music of those metal Gods and now I can’t really stop listening to their classics or imagine a day without playing “Turbo Lover” or “Living After Midnight” (those two songs in particular are a instant mood changer for me)…
A couple of days ago, we actually got some great news – Judas Priest are back in the studio, ready to blow our minds away with new and awesome music. In the spirit of this incredible news and because I love and respect the band so much, I’ve decided to prepare a little informative publication for my readers and for myself, actually. I consider Judas Priest as one of the most essential and influential bands in the rock music scene, so regardless of whether you are a crazy JP’s fan or not, there are some things you have to know about the band – some essential band profile characteristics. Also, in case some of you guys have forgotten about their most appreciated albums and loved songs, this publication might refresh your memory! Now – let’s talk details!
~Judas Priest are a heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham, England, back in 1969.
~ The inspiration for the band name was Bob Dylan’s 1967 song “The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest”. Bruno Stapenhill was the one who came up with the name. The band was also regularly rehearsing at Dylan’s house in Stone Cross.
~ Judas Priest revolutionized heavy metal fashion. They were famous for their image of S&M leather, spikes and other rather taboo and provocative clothing which became very influential during the glam metal era of the 80s.
~ During the 70s, Judas Priest struggled by going through numerous lineup changes, unsupportive producers and basically had no major commercial success. However, during the 80s, things completely changed for them, as they adopted simpler and friendlier sound.
~ So far, Judas Priest have 17 studio albums, 6 live albums, 6 compilation albums, 10 video albums and 33 singles. The band have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, with 12 million copies in the United States.
~ Their 1980 album “British Steel” is the album responsible for their major success and public attention during the era. “Breaking the Law”, “United”, and “Living After Midnight” were the songs, released as singles. The Guardian also named “British Steel” as the record that defined heavy metal.
~ The album “British Steel” takes its name from Judas Priest guitarist Glen Tipton who was once an apprentice at British Steel – a metal manufacturing company.
“British Steel” Album Cover
~ In 1985, two teenagers shot themselves after listening to Judas Priest’s album “Stained Class”. They were unsuccessfully sued by the mother of the kid who survived. He claimed that subliminal messages on the song “Better By You, Better Than Me” had caused those suicide attempts.
(P.S. I don’t know about you guys, but the only thing that this song makes me do is turn the volume to the max…)
~ Judas Priest’s tenth studio album, titled “Turbo”, released in 1986, marked the band’s first use of guitar synthesizers.
“Turbo” Album Cover
~ Before becoming the lead singer of Judas Priest, Halford was a lighting engineer for stage productions. He transferred his love for theatrics and light effects to the band’s concerts, by using various smoke machines, spotlights and numerous other visual effects. A trademark of the band is his stage entrance on a motorcycle.
~ Singer Rob Halford had a temporal departure from the band in the early 1990s. Faced with an ever-growing demand for a reunion, Rob Halford returned triumphantly for the release of the CD box set “Metalogy”, which was followed by a European tour and new album – “Angel of Retribution” (2005).
Judas Priest – 2005
~ Tim “Ripper” Owens replaced Rob Halford as a lead singer in 1996. Owens turned from a die-hard fan of the band to their frontman in a night. He recorded 2 albums with his heroes. The 2001 movie “Rock Star” – telling a story about a tribute band singer who is asked to join the real band is loosely based on Owens’ life.
~ In 2010, Judas Priest won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance, for their song “Dissident Aggressor”.
~“Redeemer of Souls”, released in 2014, is Judas Priest’s highest charting position album so far – it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also marked their first top-10 debut album in the US.
~ On Season 25 of the Simpsons, Judas Priest were called “black metal”. In the following week’s episode, an apology was given – Bart Simpson wrote “Judas Priest is not death metal” on the black board.
![[Song of the Week] Judas Priest – New Beginnings](https://thatmixtapewillrock.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/judas-priest-nostradamus.jpg?w=825&h=510&crop=1)
![[’80s Rock Album Focus] Judas Priest – Turbo](https://thatmixtapewillrock.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/judas-priest-turbo.jpg?w=700&h=510&crop=1)
MY ROCK MIXTAPES 