Category Archives: A to Z of Making It

A to Z of Making It, Music, My Stories

Four For Friday

RESIDUALS

Actors and Writers are striking.

The actors have joined the writers in taking industrial action, because they want streaming giants to agree to a fairer split of profits and better working conditions.

And a recent Black Mirror episode has made em all worried about digital replicas, so they want further protection in this area.

The BBC article has this to say about it;

Mark Ruffalo went on to say that while actors and screenwriters have “made great content”, the business brains behind them had “created an empire of billionaires”, who are “laughing like fat cats” and “believe we are no longer of value”.

You see, actors are paid residuals. Residuals are a form of royalty paid to actors when movies and TV shows air on television after their initial run.

Residuals came into practice in the 60s and were updated to include Cable TV. But it doesn’t work for streaming because streaming shows aren’t scheduled.

To show how valuable residuals are, the article over at “The Conversation” states;

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of “Squid Game,” forfeited all residuals when he cut a deal with Netflix.

It earned Netflix nearly US$1 billion, but Hwang got none of that bounty.

You see, Hwang would get a large upfront fee to create “Squid Game”. It would be large enough to tempt him to forfeit all residuals. Netflix and Hwang both gambled and Netflix won.

And while some actors are paid well because they had the “old gatekeeper power” to get residuals higher, the rest struggle, while the streaming services and studios along with their CEO’s earn billions and multi-millions.

WHAT MAKES IT

Because no one knows what will make it big. Here is a snippet from a newsletter that Billy Oppenheimer writes;

When Tom Hanks was filming Forrest Gump, he asked director Bob Zemeckis, “if anybody will care enough to watch the movie?”

Zemeckis replied with “It’s a minefield, Tom. You never know what’s good…It’s a minefield! It’s a goddam minefield! We may be sowing the seeds of our own destruction.”

There is no safety net or guarantee that things will become popular.

After Bon Jovi finished recording “Slippery When Wet”, producer Bruce Fairbairn was hoping it would get a Gold Certification, which is 500,000 sales in the U.S. Currently the album is at 13,364,000 units sold.

David Coverdale just recovered from surgery after a bad sinus infection. He had fired everyone. He was over $3 million in debt to Geffen. The music to the songs which would make up the 1987 album were recorded. All he had to do was sing.

And he hoped there was a place for Whitesnake in the market dominated by Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Scorpions and Europe. It’s at 8 million and counting in U.S sales.

“Welcome to the Jungle” from Guns N’ Roses performed poorly in both the United States and the United Kingdom when first released in September 1987.

As the band’s popularity grew steadily in 1988, on the back of “Sweet Child O Mine” and their ferocious live performances, it became a sleeper hit in the US and reached the top 10 of the Billboard charts. It was then re-released in the UK, charting within the top 40 there.

In June 2005, it was certified Gold in the U.S.

By 2017, it surpassed 3 million in sales however it’s never been re-certified.

Nirvana’s second album “Nevermind” was released in September 1991 with low expectations, hoping to sell 500,000 copies.

The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 144.

It entered the top 40 in November.

When December rolled around, the album was selling 300,000 copies a week.

By January 1992, it replaced Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” at number 1 on the Billboard charts.

The album has gone on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.

When Def Leppard released “Hysteria” in 1987, they were expecting the same sales as “Pyromania”. In addition, due to the lengthy recording process, in order to break even they had to sell a minimum of 5 million albums.

After 8 months, the album had sold 3 million in the U.S and the band was preparing to wrap up their tour, take a short break and go back into the studio.

Then “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Love Bites” hit the airwaves. The popularity of the singles led to renewed interest in the album and the band was back on the road.

The “Hysteria” tour ended on 27th October 1988. By then the album had moved 7 million units in the U.S. It was basically moving a million units a month in the U.S from June.

By May 1990, the album was at 10 million units in the U.S. and it’s still selling today.

DO THE WORK YOU LOVE

It’s a strong mindset to work on a project and knowing that no one will possibly care about it once it’s released.

But the ones that do it, do it because it’s a need to create and they live to create. If it’s successful, the money and fame is a byproduct of their need to create.

THE JOURNEY

When Bruce Springsteen dropped “Born to Run” in 1975 he was 11 years into his journey. During those years he was in and out of numerous bands and his first two albums as a solo artist bombed.

When “Appetite For Destruction” came out in 1987, Guns N Roses were an 7 year over night success. And the album was a slow burner. It took over a year to get traction and once it did, it was outselling everyone.

During these periods, “talented” and “schooled” musicians were in their thousands. But the biggest artists didn’t come from Julliard or Berklee.

If your are not committed to the journey talent doesn’t matter.

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A to Z of Making It, Classic Songs to Be Discovered, Copyright, Influenced, Music, My Stories

Four For Friday

It’s all about Copyright, that little piece of legislation meant to give creators a monopoly on their works, so they could create new works, however the creators now sell or license their rights to a corporation, who then seem to hold onto the rights forever and by doing so, the Corporations keep lobbying hard to change laws so copyright lasts forever.

THE VALUE IN COPYRIGHTS KEEPS GETTING BIGGER

It’s 2008 and the Global Finacial Crisis decimated assets across the world. In these wastelands, the Investment Houses turned to Copyrights to balance portfolios.

The arrival of streaming services took off the cloak and funny math on royalties by the labels. While artists complained about the pay per stream rate, one thing they couldn’t complain about was the amount of money paid to the organizations that held the rights.

15 years later, these portfolios keep making money for the Investment Houses as the majority of music consumers transitioned to streaming.

In 2022, Germany generated 1.656 Billion in streaming revenue. The total income for the country was 2.07 Billion so streaming equated to 80 percent of it.

Globally in 2022, streaming revenues reached 17.5 billion U.S. dollars. 70 percent of total recorded music revenue.

If you are not getting a cut of it, someone else definitely is.

COPYRIGHT AFTER DEATH

It’s been five years since Aretha Franklin died and her heirs are still fighting over who handles her Estate, which has her Royalties paid to.

The unusual trial will determine which of the two handwritten wills, including one found in couch cushions, will come in force.

The interesting part is how Aretha valued her earnings from Copyright, which she listed as $1. Meanwhile, the Estate earned $4 million in one year after her death.

SPOTIFY PAYMENTS TO SWEDISH ARTISTS

Since 2008, Sabaton has amassed 2.5 billion streams on Spotify. Check out the research.

It is estimated that Spotify has paid the rights holder of Sabaton’s catalogue between $9.6 million and $15.9 million during this time.

If Sabaton owned their Masters 100%, then they would have received between $7.6 and $12.6 million dollars from Spotify. It equates to $507K and $840K per year. There are five members in the band, so taking the lower amount, each member would get $100K each. This takes into account that they have no manager percentage, accountant percentage and so forth.

If they had a 50% Royalty agreement with their label, they would have received between $3.7 and $6.3 million dollars. It equates to $247K and $420K.

If they had a 20% Royalty agreement with their label, they would have received between $1.5 and $2.5 million dollars as the label would get the other 80%. It equates to $100K and $167K. Taking the lower value, each member would receive $20K for the year, which comes to $1,666 per month. This takes into account that they have no manager percentage, accountant percentage and so forth.

RE-RECORDINGS

The Law states that artists can get back their rights after so many years. But the labels are fighting each case tooth and nail.

So if the artists have the means, they are creating new masters and are making those new masters as canon. This in turn gives them control over their music and they can then license these recordings to TV Shows and Movies and Games on their own terms.

SONG I AM LISTENING TO

Chokehold from Sleep Token.

It came up on a Release Radar many months ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. Hooked enough to buy the Vinyl album when it came out a few weeks ago.

From the U.K, they combine Pop, R&B, World, New Age, Church, Classical, Folk and Djent like tech metal. And I’m a fan.

To show how much cross over appeal they have, you can watch Daughtry do a live acoustic cover of the song.

Metal music is always resilient to changes in genres however it’s also easily adaptable to other genres or it can be used as a fusion element.

And fusion is happening everywhere.

Taylor Sheridan is good at mashing unrelated and different story ideas into one cohesive story.
Yellowstone is a mash up of Classic Westerns, Medieval dramas with a lot of back story and political thrillers. Tulsa King is “The Godfather” in a Western setting.

And then I did some research on em, and they have a gimmick, wearing face covering like ninjas from an anime.

Check em out.

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A to Z of Making It, Music, My Stories

Four For Friday

Without artists and their connections to their fans, no one else can make money.

Artist Power

Movies are struggling at the box office, but Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” is tipped to bring in over $1B.

The sorry state of ticket prices, dynamic algorithms and artists scalping their own tickets to increase demand, all play their part to increase these revenues.

Artists deserve to be compensated well because it is their connection with the fans which brings in the dollars, however it sure look like everyone else is getting a larger cut of the pie than the artist.

And the government investigation into the monopoly that Ticketmaster and Live Nation have, ended up like all other government investigations against monopolistic corporations.

Business as usual for the corporations.

When monopolies exist, prices go up, so it’s no surprise that the previous highest tour revenues have came from 2017 to now.

Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour is still going I think and it’s almost to $900M for shows played between 2018 and 2023.

Ed Sheeran’s “Divide Tour” grossed $776M between 2017 and 2019.

Hans Zimmer

If he comes to Australia again with his 38-piece orchestra and band, I’ll be in the audience.

Truth is, his music was and still is performed by Orchestras around the world to sell out crowds.

While they pay a licence fee to perform his material, the bulk of the money is in the show.

So Zimmer has seized the day and over the last 5 or so years, he’s hit the road himself.

And he’s selling out arenas at the moment. Because he knows he has fans. He’s seen his streaming stats and he knows there is money to be made.

An 80’s Doc

“I Wanna Rock: The ’80s Metal Dream,” is coming to Paramount+.

Dee Snider from Twisted Sister appears.

But.

Then you get Kip Winger from Winger, Janet Gardner from Vixen, Dave ‘The Snake’ Sabo from Skid Row and John Corabi from The Scream along with former Guns N’ Roses manager Vicky Hamilton.

Most of these are smaller players.

Apart from Twisted Sister, the other artists had their big breaks from 1988. The Scream didn’t even release an album in the 80’s as their first and only album came out in the early 90s. However two of their members were in Racer X who released three albums in the 80s.

But we will hear stories of rejection and resilience.

Because, regardless of what happened in the 90s and the wastelands of the early 2000’s, all of these artists survived the chaos and are still making music and creating in 2023.

I’ll still watch it. It’s only three episodes.

Discography

One album or one song can make an artists career. But no one knows which song or album it’s going to be.

The problem after that, is artists fall in love with the one album or the one song that breaks them and suddenly all the albums and songs sound the same like the hit album. Suddenly their discography is that one album over and over again.

The best Discography’s have some albums or songs that are out there or ahead of their time or just bad. They often end up as the ones most talked about. Variation is good for the career.

However there are some artists who are the exception to the rule. Like AC/DC.

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Mask

When Twisted Sister disbanded in 87, Dee wasn’t in the news a lot, except for a few little paragraphs here and there in a magazine about his upcoming “Desperado” project.

Then that project got killed by record label bosses at Neglektra.

And the biggest voice in my life was missing during the “golden commercial years” of metal and rock music.

Then Widowmaker got up and running, however Grunge came and after a two albums, the band was done.

A solo album called “Never Let The Bastards Wear You Down” revived hope that more would come. But it didn’t eventuate.

However Dee is a lifer when it comes to music. He battled tooth and nail to make it, so there was no way he was going to lay dormant for long.

And like it was written in some holy book, Dee came back, more diverse than ever. He became a movie maker, a radio show host, a solo artist, an author and when TS reformed, he led them up front all the way to the last show.

“For The Love Of Metal” came out in 2018 and it is basically metal music the way I know it.

His solo music doesn’t have the same public acceptance as the Twisted music, but it doesn’t mean it’s not important or influential. As I’ve said before, a million sales of an album doesn’t mean you have 1 million fans. You just have a million people who purchased the album.

The question any artist should be asking is, how many people actually listened to the album from start to finish?

In a one to one commercial sale, it will never be known how many people listened to the album at least once and how many people listened to the album over a hundred or a thousand times.

“Mask” is a great song.

Depending on how you experience the album, it’s either hidden deep in the album at track 8 or it’s at the start of the B side of the vinyl.

That intro riff hooks me in right away. It’s thrash power Metal like.

With torn and bleeding smiles we move on
And mouth all different kinds of broken promises
Why should our days be spent in denial
While counting our faults and ripping our hearts out

These lines express the struggle of carrying on with a facade of happiness despite inner turmoil.

The smiles we wear is depicted as torn and bleeding, indicating the pain and suffering we endure internally.

We continue to make promises we cannot keep, adding to the brokenness within. The questioning of why one should spend their days in denial is a desire for honesty and authenticity, rather than pretending everything is fine.

The act of counting faults and ripping hearts out shows a self-destructive pattern of dwelling on personal flaws and causing emotional harm.

These lines highlight the complexity of navigating through life’s challenges while grappling with inner turmoil and the longing for genuine connection and self-acceptance.

The face you see is not our own
It hides our tears and shades our eyes
The heart you touched has since grown cold
We wear the mask that grins and lies

We live in a world of suppression.

The idea of each one of us presenting a false image to the world, concealing our true emotions and vulnerabilities behind a mask is real.

The face that others perceive is not a genuine reflection of our inner feelings. Instead, it serves as a shield to protect ourselves from judgment, pain, or further emotional exposure.

The heart that was once open and receptive has now become distant and detached.

The mask we wear may project a smiling and seemingly content facade, but it conceals the truth and hides the pain beneath the surface.

Behind our doors the time cannot be whisked away
Crashing and burning, leaving hints of darkness
Deep within their withered faces, lines are sunken in
We say we’re fine behind the mask
We say we’re fine, why do you ask

The passage of time and the struggles that accompany it. Behind closed doors, the weight of time cannot be escaped or avoided.

The phrase “crashing and burning” conveys a sense of chaos and turmoil that leaves traces of darkness in its wake. The imagery of withered faces with sunken lines reflects the toll that time and life’s challenges have taken on us.

Despite the weariness and pain hidden within, we still maintain the facade of being fine. We wear a mask of contentment and happiness, even when asked about our well-being.

The repetition of “we say we’re fine” emphasizes the disconnect between our true emotions and the image we project to the outside world. Its easier to maintain appearances and avoid delving into the depths of our inner struggles.

The subject matter is serious and the music is thunderous.

Crank it.

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A to Z of Making It, Classic Songs to Be Discovered, Influenced, Music, Unsung Heroes

Revolution Saints – Eagle Flight

Deen Castronovo is a talent.

A little Frontiers Records project known as “Revolution Saints” is now four albums deep. The self-titled debut came out in 2015. Songs like “Back On My Trail”, “Locked Out Of Paradise” and “Way To The Sun” with Neal Schon led the way. I was also a fan of the excellent Eclipse cover, “How To Mend A Broken Heart”.

The sophomore album “Light In The Dark” hit the streets in 2017 with the excellent “Freedom” as the standout track.

Third album, “Rise” came out in 2020 and with the song “When The Heartache Has Gone”, they broke the million streams on Spotify. The trilogy of albums also saw the end of the first iteration of the band with the departure of Doug Aldrich and Jack Blades.

And then “Eagle Flight” landed in 2023.

Once I heard it, I had to write about it.

Joining Castronovo is Joel Hoekstra and Jeff Pilson. Two excellent musicians and songwriters with resumes to match.

But the main songwriter is Alessandro Del Vecchio again, the Max Martin, Jim Vallance and Desmond Child of Italy. according to my math, Del Vecchio’s song writing credits for Frontiers album releases would be a thousand plus. If it wasn’t for Del Vecchio, Revolution Saints wouldn’t exist.

With each song I will highlight the songwriters, to showcase the casting net that Frontiers President Serafino Perugino casts to get quality songs for his projects.

Eagle Flight

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio, Francesco Savino and Rossella Moscatello. Savino and Moscatello are from the metal band False Memories, another Frontiers act, who released an album, “The Last Night Of Fall” in 2021.

This song is pure melodic rock with Castronovo’s tobacco stained Steve Perry like vocals.

Del Vecchio plays on this as well, delivering a stellar performance on the keys/piano.

Under the sky we will fly like eagles

Eagles are known for their strength, grace and ability to fly at great heights. Eagles are used to symbols of freedom, courage and vision. The phrase conveys a sense of freedom, power and soaring above our limitations. You can overcome obstacles, rise about your circumstances and experience a sense of exhilaration and triumph.

Our dreams are mirrored from our thoughts, grounded by a thousand hopes

Our dreams are a reflection of our thoughts and aspirations. Our minds project our desires and wishes into the world, creating a mental image or a “mirror” of what we hope to achieve. Each hope serves as a foundation, providing us with the strength and resilience to persevere through challenges and obstacles.

Talking Like Strangers

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and Joel Hoekstra and it’s a Hoekstra riff that kicks it off.

It’s got that major key vibe, and man that Intro solo from Hoekstra had me playing air guitar. Musically it sounds like a Firehouse song and I like it, as I think the first two Firehouse albums are excellent.

But the Chorus has that Euro Pop vibe. Almost ABBA like. And man, Castronovo hits some highs here.

Need Each Other

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and Italian pop songwriter Francesco Boccia.

The Chorus.

Press play on it it.

And then stick around for the guitar solo from Hoekstra.

Kids Will Be Kids

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and Kristian Fyhr.

Fyhr is the vocalist in several Frontiers acts like Seventh Crystal and House Of Lords.

An almost funky like groove starts it off, but once the intro guitar lead kicks in, its melodic rock heaven.

Castronovo is again nailing the vocal melody.

We were too young to know, that grown ups never lie, kids will be kids no matter what

It expresses the idea that when we were children, we were naive and unaware of the fact that adults sometimes deceive or lie.

As children, we tended to trust adults completely and believed that they always spoke the truth. However, as we grow older, we come to realize that adults are fallible and capable of dishonesty.

And regardless of what children may experience or learn about the world, they will still behave like children. Children have their own unique perspectives, innocence, and tendencies to be playful, curious, and impulsive.

The nature of childhood remains constant despite any revelations or disillusionment that may occur as children become more aware of the complexities of the adult world.

In an interview with Goldmine Magazine, this is what Castronovo had to say about it:

“It still has the pop sensibility of Journey but with Joel and Jeff in the band I feel it is a bit heavier.

I grew up with heavy metal and I love playing songs with that kind of power.

Johnny Gioeli, the singer from Hardline, who Neal and I had been with in the early 1990s, produced my vocals for me. I have always admired Johnny’s vocals. He coached me on Zoom.”

I’ll Cry For You Tonight

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and Francesco Boccia.

It’s like a ballad, but it’s still got enough weight to rock. Blues rock that is.

Crime Of The Century

One of my favourite tracks on the album and it’s written by Anders Wikstrom who is/was the guitarist and songwriter in the Swedish hard rock band Treat for the band’s first three records. Since the late 80’s he has amassed a portfolio of close to 300 credits on Discogs.

That Chorus hook remains with me long after the song is finished. Castronovo is channeling his love of Paul Stanley.

Gotta break thru the walls
Just to find that my heart is still beating

The idea of perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges or difficult situations.

Are you determined to overcome obstacles in order to discover that you are still alive and capable of experiencing life?

Set Yourself Free

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and it feels like it came from Night Ranger aka “Why Does Love Have To Change?”

Just press play and enjoy.

Sacred

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio, Kristian Fyhr, Nikos Sofis and Saal Richmond. Sofis is a Greek songwriter/lyricist and Richmond is created the band IN-SIDE. If you like acts like Alan Parsons Project, Toto, Work Of Art and Europe then you will like IN-SIDE.

Jeff Pilson’s bass rumbles here perfectly locked in with Castronovo’s drums. It’s almost galloping.

Another favorite, just behind “Crime Of The Century”.

Once More

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio and Francesco Boccia.

Castronovo is the highlight here, especially in the Chorus.

And Hoekstra nails the solo section.

Save It All

Written by Alessandro Del Vecchio, Kristian Fyhr and Stefano Mainini who also wrote songs for Sunstorm’s “Brother In Arms” album before this.

Hoekstra puts his stamp on this song. The guitars are phenomenal.

In most of the interviews I’ve read, Castronovo has said he doesn’t write lyrics and if it wasn’t for Del Vecchio, this project wouldn’t exist.

As a fan of Dokken and the song writing of Jeff Pilson, I would have loved to see some Pilson co-writes. Then again, the writers used here, have done a stellar job.

Crank it.

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A to Z of Making It, Music, My Stories

Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen making it is a miracle.

Have a read of his autobiography.

He couldn’t play guitar, and when he took lessons, he felt he got worse, so he quit.

Based on how “singing talent” was defined in the late 60s and early 70s, Springsteen had none.

The groups he was in kept looking for a lead singer, and it wasn’t him.

People ignored him or avoided him. His agent deserted him and audiences walked out on him.

The bands he was in left him.

He would write lyrics of driving/cruising around town but he didn’t know how to drive a car.

He would write lyrics of relationships, good times and bad times and he wasn’t even dating.

But he showed up everyday. Whatever talent people told him he lacked he acquired in skill.

A skill about telling stories and making people believe those stories are his.

The first two albums bombed. But he didn’t walk away. He was consistent and he kept on creating and releasing, even though the critics blasted him.

And then he dropped “Born to Run” in 1975.

All of our favorite artists have taken multiple albums to find their audience.

And if by chance a debut album comes out firing like “Appetite For Destruction” did, you need to look into how Guns N Roses were a 7 year over night success, like The Beatles.

Izzy Stradlin hit LA in 1980 and after doing time with unknown bands formed Hollywood Rose in 1983 with his childhood friend Axl Rose, who also moved to LA in 1982.

Duff McKagan played guitar, bass and drums in various bands from 1979 before moving to LA in 1983.

Slash, Steven Adler and Duff ended up in a band called Roadcrew, and due to not being able to find a suitable singer, Slash disbanded the band.

Adler then joined Guns N Roses and got his Roadcrew band mates to join as well when the other members left.

After some member changes and a band merger between LA Guns and Hollywood Rose and further member changes, the Guns N Roses version that blew us away with “Appetite” formed sometime in 1985.

Community is important.

Springsteen built a community around himself with the E Street Band. The people you surround yourself with, can raise the bar and push you on. In the case of “GnR”, the community can party even harder than you are used to and push you on in other ways.

None of it matters if your are not committed to the journey.

Springsteen was committed and at certain points in the last 40 years, he won by converting people to fans one at a time.

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Shattered

From Trading Yesterday.

A band project from David Hodges.

He walked away from Evanescence before “Fallen” exploded and after it he become a new Jim Vallance or Desmond Child or Max Martin in the song writing world of modern/pop rock.

But a musician needs to create and sometimes their creative output outweighs what the big labels require. So Hodges started to form some projects.

Let’s go back to 2003. Hodges and Mark Colbert began to collaborate and formed Trading Yesterday, recording music from an apartment setup.

A demo album listening party attracted the attention of Epic Records.

They finally got the green light to record an album and it was finished during the first half of 2005.

But.

The label deal with Epic fell apart which meant the “More Than This” album was shelved.

Sound familiar.

Welcome to label purgatory.

After returning to independent status, the band had their first demo album “The Beauty and the Tragedy” reprinted for sale on February 25, 2006.

Due to leaving Epic, “More Than This” was unable to be released due to licensing. However, the entire album leaked to the internet in December 2006. Thank you, Mr Internet.

“Shattered” is from that album, which finally got an official release in 2011 on an independent label created by David Hodges.

It is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that explores the pain and heartbreak of a failed relationship. But in this case, the failed relationship is between David Hodges and his faith.

The song starts off with a gentle piano melody that sets the tone for the emotional journey to unfold.

Yesterday I died, tomorrow’s bleeding, I fall into your sunlight

With “yesterday I died”, the phrase represents a significant loss or change that feels like a death. This could be a literal death of someone close, or a metaphorical death of a relationship or a part of oneself.

“Tomorrow’s bleeding” could suggest that further pain or difficulty is anticipated in the future. The use of the word “bleeding” creates an image of something raw or exposed.

“I fall into your sunlight” is seeking comfort or refuge in someone or something that brings light or positivity into our lives. The phrase “fall into” suggests a surrender or a letting go, allowing ourselves to be embraced by this source of warmth and hope.

And the song really comes to life at the 2.13 mark. There is a quiet piano. It’s melodic, haunting and yet hopeful.

Then the acoustic guitars come in and vocals.

There’s a light, there’s the sun
Taking all the shattered ones
To the place we belong, and his love will conquer

“There’s a light, there’s the sun” is interpreted as a metaphor for hope and positivity. The light and the sun represent brightness, warmth, and clarity, which can help dispel darkness and confusion.

“Taking all the shattered ones” are the people who are broken or wounded in some way. The phrase “shattered ones” could be a metaphor for people who have experienced trauma, heartbreak, or disappointment.

“To the place we belong” could be interpreted as a metaphorical destination, a place where the “shattered ones” can find a sense of belonging and acceptance. This could be a literal place, such as a community or a home, or a more abstract concept, such as a state of mind or a spiritual dimension.

“And his love will conquer” could be interpreted as a reference to a higher power or a divine force that can help heal and transform the “shattered ones”. The phrase “his love” could refer to the love of God or some other spiritual figure, or it could be a more general reference to the power of love and compassion.

Overall, this phrase conveys a sense of hope and optimism, that even those who are broken and wounded can find a sense of belonging and healing. It suggests that there is a higher power or a force of love that can help overcome adversity and bring people together.

The band announced in 2007 that they would change their name from “Trading Yesterday” to “The Age of Information”, with an EP, “Everything is Broken”, released on September, 2007.

But this whole project is forgotten. It shouldn’t be.

Press play on “Shattered”.

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A to Z of Making It, Classic Songs to Be Discovered, Derivative Works, Influenced, Music, My Stories

Metallica – 72 Seasons

It bored me on the first couple of listens.

Then my vinyl came in and I listened to it the old way, cranking the stereo with the lyric sheet in front of me.

And I kept thinking.

Stryper would like to have their yellow and black colors back. The colors of caution. If you grew up in the 80’s you would know that Stryper had the “Yellow And Black”. And as much as those colors are associated with Stryper, as part of the Stryper reunion in the early 2000’s, one of the stipulations from Michael Sweet was that he wouldn’t wear the Yellow and Black anymore.

So Metallica took it 20 years later.

In the “So What” interviews conducted by Stefan Chirazi and available on the Metallica website, Chirazi asked James Hetfield what the colour yellow means. James, responded with the following;

“Yellow, for me, is light. It’s a source of goodness. So against the black, it really pops.

My vision was I wanted this album [to be] called “Lux Aeterna” because that summed up all the songs for me, kind of an eternal light that was always inside of us that maybe is just now coming out.

And I was out-voted, which is great. “72 Seasons” is definitely more chewable. But that colour came out of “Lux Aeterna.”

“72 Seasons” is released on their own “Blackened Records”.

They are free to do what they want, and it all happened because they control their masters and the highly lucrative back catalogue. Not another label or some investment fund. It is them.

They print so much vinyl they purchased their own vinyl press. Because they can.

As part of the press releases, Hetfield stated “the first 18 years of our lives, that form our true or false selves. Much of our adult experience is re-enactment or reaction to those childhood experiences”.

So here we go.

72 Seasons

As told to Stefan Chirazi, in the “So What” interview, this is what James had to say about it; “It was the “72 seasons of sorrow,” and I dropped the “sorrow” part because the first 18 years of life aren’t all sorrow”.

One thing about the songwriting team of Hetfield and Ulrich is that they sure know how to start off a song.

When that fast riff comes in at 50 seconds it’s mosh pit time. And at 65 seconds it’s the same riff but played with a hard rock feel.

“Shot down, traumatic, time haunted by the past”

What an opening line.

It’s easy to read the situation as someone who has experienced significant emotional trauma, and this trauma continues to affect them in the present.

The opening phrase “shot down” is interesting to me. It generally implies a sudden, unexpected loss or defeat. This could be a reference to a specific event that caused the trauma, such as the loss of a loved one or a significant failure.

And with the phrase “time haunted by the past”, it suggests that it is difficult to focus on the present, as the events of the past are a constant reminder.

Shadows Follow

I gotta say, I like the way this song starts. Actually all of the riffs in this song are headbanging.

I also like the whole “Seething, breathing, nightmares grow”. It’s a different vocal style for Hetfield. It’s simple and very melodic.

“Facing my demons, now I run, still my shadows follow”

It’s menacing and it goes to show the mind state of Hetfield as he tries to confront his inner demons or personal issues, but despite his efforts to escape or avoid them, the problems continue to affect him.

And then there is the word “shadows”.

It could be interpreted as a metaphor for the negative aspects of Hetfield’s personality or past experiences that continue to linger and affect him.

Screaming Suicide

This track is classic Metallica.

Rob Trujilo thinks this song would be a killer in the live arena because there is a groove element to it.

Via the “So What” interviews, Trujilo has stated that; “the verse in that song is different from anything Metallica’s ever done, and it’s surrounded by this groove that is just so infectious, it captures you, kicks you in the ass, and, well, you’ve got to move.”

Lyrically it’s dark.

In the first verse, Hetfield is telling us about a voice inside and how it is questioning if he’s good enough and how he should just give up.

In the second verse, the lyrics state;

“Then a voice appears, whisper in your ears, “you are good enough”, throwing down a rope, a lifeline of hope, never give you up”.

Does it suggests a moment of encouragement and support as the rope is pulling Hetfield out of the dark hole or is the rope a noose.

The phrase “you are good enough” could be a powerful statement of validation and acceptance.

How can it be that the Metal God known as Hetfield is struggling with feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt?

But is the voice offering a message of self-worth and confidence as a way to trick the person into listening to it.

How good is the section from 3.50?

Sleepwalk My Life Away

The Intro.

It builds perfectly. The bass is dominant while the guitars decorate like “Enter Sandman”.

And the bluesy riffing is back.

Maybe it’s back too much but i don’t care.

“Stagger on through the fog in the midnight sun”.

Its metaphorical.

It could represent a challenging and confusing situation that the person is facing, where they must navigate through unclear circumstances (the fog) while enduring a continuous period of brightness and clarity (the midnight sun).

Additionally, the word “stagger”, a lack of balance, due to alcohol or some other addiction, shows that the person is unable to maintain their composure in the face of difficulty.

You Must Burn

Hearing this, I can hear those groove metal tracks like “Harvester Of Sorrow” and “Sad But True”. And I like it.

Via “So What”, this is what Trujilo had to say about the twisting middle section;

With this particular middle section that came to be, that was really centered around a jam and was very moody, and there’s a danger to it; I like how the bass is walking. It’s got a feel to it where it’s “walking through a forest,” like a scene from a Tim Burton movie or something. That’s the feel I get. And James and I just started kind of grooving on it. It was just the two of us.”

How good is the riff at 4.26?

“Smile as it burns to the ground, the perfect don’t want you around, question yourself you may learn who’s the next witch you must burn”

Smile people as you watch that something you disliked or have been rejected from burn to the ground.

The latter part of the line, “question yourself you may learn who’s the next witch you must burn,” is more metaphorical. Its asking is to reflect on our own actions and judgments, perhaps in relation to the exclusion we also might have experienced.

Overall, this line seems to be expressing a somewhat dark and cynical perspective on social dynamics and human behavior otherwise known as social media.

Lux Aeterna

I had to look up what “Lux Aeterna” meant. I knew that “Lux” meant “Light” but wanted to know more. Well “Eternal Light” is the answer.

While acts like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard became commcercially successful, the biggest Metal band in the world right now, wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Diamond Head.

A tribute to “Diamond Head”, their “Kill Em All” album and their fans.

“Amplification, lighting the nation” Hetfield sings.

Crank it.

Crown Of Barbed Wire

“So tight this crown of barbed wire”

The Metaphorical Crown of Thorns.

The “crown of thorns” is often used to refer to the painful burden that someone is forced to bear.

The “crown of barbed wire” suggests the heavy burden Hetfield is carrying, that is causing him pain and distress.

Barbed wire is also used to create boundaries or to keep people in or out of certain areas. The “crown” of barbed wire could represent the sense of being hemmed in or limited in some way.

I like the “Harvester Of Sorrow“ feel in the Interlude and Solo Section.

Chasing Light

“Harvester Of Sorrow” is back again. I love the groove from the original song and I like it here.

Then it morphs into a speed Metal track.

How good is that Chorus?

I’m screaming at the top of my lungs, “chase the light, lean on me”.

If Darkness Had A Son

The military style drumming hooks me in. And the way Hetfield builds the guitars reminds me of “Now That We’re Dead” which is my favorite song from the “Hardwired” album.

Let’s go back to 2019.

I remember it well. Metallica were about to arrive in Australia to play a lot of sold out shows, but the tour was cancelled a week before the shows as Hetfield entered rehab again.

Are we surprised when Hetfield chants “temptation”?

“If darkness had a son, here I am”

What an iconic and powerful line.

It suggests a willingness to confront the darkness and embrace one’s own inner struggles, but it also carries a sense of danger and potential for evil.

Too Far Gone

It’s classic Metallica.

And I’m a big fan of the fast punk vibe in the Chorus.

Finally Kirk Hammett breaks out some decent licks. Especially the fast picking bit between the Chorus and Verse. Very “Master Of Puppets” like.

And that “all away” section is perfect.

The song ends with “make it through the day, just for today”.

Room Of Mirrors

It’s a punk song.

“In a mirrored room, all alone I stand, strip away the phantom fame”.

It shows a desire for self-reflection, authenticity, and honesty. Hetfield wants to show us who he truly is, without the illusions of fame and celebrity getting in the way.

And I like that Thin Lizzy like harmony after the solo, which they use a few more times throughout the song.

Inamorata

I had to look up what it meant.

“Inamorata” means “the woman that a man loves”.

The woman here is called Misery and when Hetfield sings “She’s not why I’m living” and “She’s not what I’m living for”, you feel every word.

Via “So What”, this is how Hetfield sums it up; “Misery as my mistress, and I’m trying to hide her. I enjoy her at certain times, but I don’t want the world to know about her.

I don’t want to introduce her to the world because it’s not okay. So misery as a mistress, it does serve a purpose in my life, but I don’t want it to be my life, and I’m tired of it running my life.”

Via the “So What” interviews, Trujilo stated they “hit a grand slam with “Inamorata”. It’s a cross between a beautiful old film with a really cool painting or something… it resonates “California.”

5.11.

It’s the breakdown. The hi-hat shimmering in the background. The bass playing a groove. Swing like. The guitars decorate.

It’s got a Bill Ward Sabbath groove and swing.

And Hetfield, The anguish.

Then the harmonies begin, like “My Friend Of Misery” and a section from “Orion”.

Its why I press play.

Press play and band that head. \::/

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Darker Still

“Darker Still” is a song by the Australian band Parkway Drive. It is also the title track of their 2022 album.

It is one of the best Metal tracks released in the 2020’s decade.

When it comes to Metal, there is always a discussion as to “what is Metal?”

Growing up in the 80s, there was a period up to about 1985 when any album with distortion guitar was classed as Metal.

This meant that you would find AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Kiss, Metallica, Venom, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Twisted Sister, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Scorpions and Quiet Riot (just to name a few) in the Metal section. Even Punk bands ended up in the Metal section.

But the scene fragmented. Blame the labels and MTV.

The massive sales of albums from Def Leppard, Scorpions, Judas Priest and Van Halen in 84 and 85, paved the way for the massive sales to come from Bon Jovi, Europe, Guns N Roses, Whitesnake and Def Leppard again between 1986 and 1989.

The labels needed new names and suddenly Glam/Hair Metal was a thing, Hard Rock was a thing, Melodic Rock was a thing, Thrash Metal was a thing, Death Metal became a thing, Melodic Metal became a thing and then Melodic Death Metal became a thing.

And somehow a thing called Black Metal and Extreme Metal became a genre.

On the other side you had Speed Metal, which morphed to Power Metal and then elements of that style became known as Symphonic Metal and another element became known as Pirate Metal.

And we all know that Grunge came and created a wasteland of rock acts. Industrial Metal and Industrial Rock started to rule the wastelands, and then Alternative Rock and Alternative Metal came briefly just to give way to Nu Metal.

And before Nu Metal, there was Grindcore, Hardcore, Doom Metal and everything else that didn’t fit in.

Parkway Drive started off in the 2000s with a Metalcore label. Metalcore is described as a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. Its known for its use of breakdowns, slow, intense passages conducive to moshing.

These days Parkway Drive is basically a Metal act (and a pretty big one) that has so many different styles in their repertoire.

Like Metallica.

Metallica in the 90s, had became a very different version to the speed Metal band that started off. While their 80s output focused on speed, they did push some boundaries in the progressive Metal world before scaling it back to end up with the biggest selling groove Metal album ever.

Then they incorporated Blues Rock and Southern Rock into their sound for the “Load” and “Reload” album cycles. And when Nu Metal became a thing with no guitar solos becoming the norm they did this as well with the “St Anger” album. But since the fans became madly in anger with them, they never returned to the “No guitar solos”.

Metal to me is an “anything goes” attitude. And that’s what Parkway Drive brings to the table.

“Darker Still” has a lot of solos. Melodic solos. Emotive and sad by Jeff Ling who is the lead guitarist and man, he plays the sections wonderfully. But the recording sessions for this album along with some personal issues broke him and he lashed out badly at vocalist Winston McCall.

Just the way it begins with the whistling and the acoustic guitar is enough to hook me in.

But it’s the whistling melody which comes in at the 28 second mark that forms the foundations of the song. Because the same melody appears later as a solo, and with a choir and with violins and it’s massive.

Especially from 4.08. You hear it all, the guitar lead, the voices and the violins. Just close your eyes and let the music take you away.

And Ling breaks free again, for one of his best solos.

The song’s lyrics to me are about a person struggling with depression and the darkness that comes with it. It describes the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior, unable to break free despite the toll it takes on their life and relationships.

The chorus of the song is powerful, with the lyrics “And the night grows darker still”

This line speaks to the idea that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still hope and the possibility for redemption and recovery.

After they finished doing the tracking for the “Darker Still” album, the band members started the process of breaking up. No one wanted to be in the band anymore.

More volatile meetings were held and the guys realized they needed help.

Rhythm guitarist and manager, Luke Kilpatrick, saved the band. He suggested that they get counseling. Like Metallica.

The April 2022 tour they cancelled of the U.S for undisclosed reasons was due to the weekly counseling sessions they started to have.

And they made it.

Until I die, until I die and the night grows darker still.

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Dust And Gold

A shimmering clean tone guitar sets the song but it’s the vocals from Dave Hodges which makes me a fan.

Yes it’s the same David Hodges who was a studio contributor to Evanescence between 1999–2002 which accumulated in the “Fallen” album.

He has since had success co-writing and co-producing for various pop, pop rock and country artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Daughtry, Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, David Archuleta, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Jessie James, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Tim McGraw. His career is basically an “A to Z in Making It”.

“Dust and Gold” is a song by Arrows To Athens, a David Hodges band project. It was released as a single in 2011 and later included on the band’s debut album, “Kings & Thieves” released in the same year.

It’s sitting at 5.4 million streams on Spotify. Forgotten. It’s a tragedy.

It’s down to you and me
On these cold and empty streets
Forgotten what we’re living for

The “you “ in this case is the persons belief.

The lyrics describe a struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. Their is reflection on the challenges and hardships faced, and wonders if there is any deeper significance to the experiences.

All I see are kings and thieves
When all I own is just dust and gold

The album title in the Chorus of another song.

The phrase could be interpreted in a few different ways, but generally, it speaks to the idea that people in power and those who steal or exploit others, who are normally the ones in power, seem to be the most visible and influential figures in society, while the second part of the phrase, “when all I own is just dust and gold,” could mean that the person has come to the realization that material possessions, hold little value in the grand scheme of things. This may contrast with the wealth and power of the kings and thieves mentioned in the first part of the phrase.

It can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the idea that while we may be insignificant in the grand scheme of things, we still have value and worth.

The mood and feel of the song has made it a popular choice for use in film and television, and it has been featured in trailers for movies like “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” and TV shows like “The Vampire Diaries.”

Musically, “Dust and Gold” features a driving beat and soaring vocals, with a sound that is reminiscent of bands like Thirty Seconds to Mars and Imagine Dragons.

Overall, “Dust and Gold” is a powerful and inspiring song that speaks to the universal human desire to find meaning and purpose in life, and to recognize the value of our own experiences and struggles.

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