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.
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.
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.
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.
Will people talk about Michael Schenker in 20 years time?
We all knew who Michael Schenker was from his time in UFO and Scorpions, but none of us could name his MSG tunes correctly.
He wasn’t on MTV and back in the 80s, there was no Spotify, no YouTube, no BitTorrent and no internet where we could go and look up his MSG output.
Radio in Australia never played MSG.
Basically if you didn’t own his albums or know someone who did, it’s like he didn’t exist.
But he was all over the guitar magazines. It’s how I came across him.
The first MSG album came out in 1980 and it stiffs in the major U.S market. Japan however loved Schenker where his popularity remained high on the back of his Scorpions and UFO contributions.
The second MSG album came out in 1981 and it did nothing as well. Something had to change. Original singer Gary Barden was fired in 1982 and Graham Bonnet fresh from his stint in Rainbow was hired. Album number 3 came out the same year (along with the “Live at The Budokan” album) and again, it did nothing. Bonnet was fired and Barden was back in for the tour.
And here we are at album number 4 released in 1983.
Commercially, it stiffed again in the major North American market. It’s forgotten from the conversation.
But it’s a favorite.
I could have picked alot of different songs from “Built To Destroy” as it’s that good. But this time around I wanted to write about “The Dogs Of War”.
It’s written by Gary Barden and Michael Schenker.
Drums and bass start it all off. A simple groove yet so catchy with Schenker decorating the Intro with feedback, chords and leads.
It builds until the verses kick in.
Nothing worth taking, all was forsaken
A sense of loss as there was nothing of value left to hold onto or protect.
Hit on the blind side, caught in the spotlights
Exposed and vulnerable, as if suddenly thrust into the spotlight without any preparation, leaving you exposed and defenseless.
Warning came late, no chance of alluding
It conveys a sense of helplessness and a lack of options.
Shadows were long as they forged through the night
I like the way this is delivered vocally. It’s almost classical and yet it feels new wave.
The line tells me it’s about perseverance and determination amidst challenging circumstances.
Looking for signs of the day, Deep in their minds as they walked out of sight
A sense of introspection and anticipation as we search for signs of hope or a brighter future. A mindset of seeking out positive change or opportunities in the midst of uncertainty or darkness.
The line “deep in their minds as they walked out of sight” suggests that despite being physically present, our minds are occupied with thoughts, hopes, and aspirations.
Mission completed all were defeated Branded with fire, now filled with desire
“Mission completed all were defeated” suggests that a goal or objective was successfully achieved, but it came at a cost. The mention of being “branded with fire” tells me that the experience was intense and left a lasting mark. However, instead of being discouraged or weakened, there is a newfound sense of determination and passion, as they are now “filled with desire” for more.
Message came through on the wings of a prayer Feelings were high for a time
The line “Message came through on the wings of a prayer” suggests that guidance or inspiration arrived unexpectedly, perhaps in a moment of spiritual connection or hope.
“Feelings were high for a time” indicates a period of excitement and enthusiasm following the completion of the mission. Emotions are intense and elevated during this phase, reflecting the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Slap on the backs for the ones who had dared To run with the wolves of our time
These lines honor those who have dared to defy conventional norms and expectations, applauding their willingness to take risks and venture into uncharted territories.
They embody the spirit of running alongside the metaphorical “wolves” of their time, showcasing their courage and tenacity in the face of adversity.
Michael Schenker embodies this spirit. At 15 he left Germany to join UFO in the U.K. Imagine that, in 2023.
The dogs of war, will bite the hand for a price, and then hear them roar
The destructive nature of conflict and the willingness of certain individuals or entities to engage in acts of aggression or violence for personal gain. The phrase “dogs of war” symbolizes those who are eager to participate in warfare or engage in hostile actions. They are portrayed as fierce and relentless, driven by their own motives and desires.
The line “will bite the hand for a price” suggests that these individuals are willing to turn against their own benefactors or allies if offered a sufficient incentive.
It implies that loyalty can be easily swayed by material or monetary rewards, and they will not hesitate to betray those who once supported them.
Their mission completed, the innocents bleeding
Overall, this phrase captures the bittersweet nature of achieving a goal or objective while acknowledging the devastating impact on the innocent individuals caught in the crossfire.
To buy someone’s freedom’ who pays?
The question challenges the notion of freedom as something that can be easily obtained through financial means. It prompts us to consider whether true freedom can be bought and whether the act of purchasing it merely shifts the power dynamics or perpetuates a system of inequality.
A lot of the lyrics in the 80s got blasted and they still get blasted by music writers as being immature.
That is the case for some songs and some acts still make a living on writing simple immature lyrics with simple rhymes, laced with sexual innuendos.
Then you get other lyricists who write with some depth and double meanings. Gary Barden is one such lyricist. He’s also pushed out the “tease/please/knees” kind of lyrics as it was a symptom of the era he was in but overall his output is a lot more mature.
And Michael Schenker. He’s a lifer and what a rollercoaster lifestyle he’s had. He didn’t top the charts as a solo artist but his impact is as large as his UFO and Scorpions career.
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.
Discogs seems to think so in their newsletters. They have over 20 million CDs listed for sale and 1 in 5 items purchased from the site is a CD.
It makes sense.
CDs can be produced a lot quicker and cheaper than vinyl and the current prices are dirt cheap. So it makes them very attractive to music consumers.
The thing is, I don’t have a CD player anymore however I am looking for one similar to the stand alone vinyl turntables with their own speakers.
If you know of any brands let me know as I have a lot of CDs I would like to play
And I saw a post on the Top 25 most expensive items sold on the site. Black Metal at its core is or was opposed to Christianity however it was also a movement against political correctness, consumerism and globalization.
Well the commercialism aspect didn’t bother a Black Metal fan who parted with $5200 for two Mayhem albums; the original vinyl pressings of “Deathcrush” and “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”. Regardless of ideology and ethos, anything to do with music is a business.
And a 7 inch single from 1981 by a hard rock metal band called “Fallout” sold for $2400. I saw that it was a limited 500 pressing.
But.
I had never heard of the band and that surprised me however a fan of theirs was parting with some serious money.
And who said punk fans are a bunch of anarchists because they sure like collecting rare punk records.
One thing I don’t understand on the site are the delivery fees for a item.
They are so damn high especially when a lot of eBay items I buy from the US, the UK and Europe come with free postage.
I am looking for a few albums on vinyl and while I am happy with the vinyl price, the delivery feea are ridiculous.
Back in 2007, the issue surrounding that album was getting paid. Remember “pay what you want”. It was meant to bring the money back into music. It didn’t.
But it gave artists a hard truth, that they have fans who are willing to pay zero dollars for their recorded music.
Today the main issue is getting peoples attention and holding it. Anyone remember what was trending last week. Me neither.
“Amnesiac” is the fifth studio album by Radiohead, released on 30 May 2001.
Although the album came out in 2001, it was recorded with producer Nigel Godrich in the same sessions as Radiohead’s previous album “Kid A” released in 2000.
Radiohead considered releasing the work as a double album, but decided against it.
Based on the buzz created from the earlier albums, “Amnesiac” debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200.
Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
It’s an electronic song with synthesisers and industrial percussion. Actually the tone of the synth riff feels like it became the design for the TonePad or SoundPrism apps.
Auto-Tune was also used to process Yorke’s vocals which sound hypnotic and other worldly.
After years of waiting nothing came, as your life flashed before your eyes you realize
A realization that the thing you have been eagerly anticipating for a long time, didn’t come to be.
After years of waiting nothing came, and you realize you’re looking in the wrong place
After the passage of time you come to the realization that your search or focus has been misguided.
Your strategy was ineffective and it led you astray. But there is time to reassess your approach, redirect your efforts, or reconsider your expectations in order to find the desired outcome or solution.
I’m a reasonable man, get off my case
Pyramid Song
The piano chords drive the song, which is a trippy 60s experimental acid rock track. Wikipedia tells me the musical part of song was inspired by the Charles Mingus song “Freedom” and its lyrics were inspired by an exhibition of ancient Egyptian underworld art Yorke attended while the band was recording in Copenhagen and ideas of cyclical time discussed by Stephen Hawking and Buddhism.
I jumped in the river and what did I see, black eyed angels swam with me
A symbolic leap into the unknown.
And while angels normally represent the light, the mention of black-eyed angels is seen as mysterious. The color black is also associated with darkness.
And we all went to heaven in a little row boat, there was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt
The mention of a row boat, which requires teamwork and coordinated effort to navigate, suggests a collective experience or shared journey.
“Pyramid Song” was named one of the best tracks of the decade by Rolling Stone, NME and Pitchfork
Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors
Wikipedia tells me it began as an attempt to record another song, “True Love Waits”.
It features keyboard loops recorded during the “OK Computer” sessions. Deciding that the arrangement did not fit “True Love Waits”, Radiohead used it to create a new track.
Yorke added a spoken vocal and used Auto-Tune to process it into melody.
Unfortunately the story of the songs creation is better than the song. It’s a skip for me.
You and Whose Army?
Wikipedia tells me that the song is about someone who is elected into power by people and who then blatantly betrays them.
At the time Yorke was protesting against the British PM, Tony Blair. However it seems that every democratic country has this problem.
Its like lounge music with a drunken vocal melody for the first 1.50 as the song builds and I was going to skip it.
But it changes and the last minute is dreamy rock and I like it.
We ride tonight ghost horses
A journey into the unknown. It seems to be a recurring theme on the album.
I Might Be Wrong
I like the Bluesy riff but don’t like the industrial sounding drum beat.
You go down the waterfall, think about the good times and never look back
Another phrase about a challenging or transformative experience.
As you draw strength, inspiration, or comfort from the good times during times of adversity. You know the whole wellness business model is built on selling the “power of positive thinking”.
Knives Out
It sounds like they just got in the room and jammed this one out.
Lyrically I think it’s about cannibalism.
Morning Bell/Amnesiac
I’ll give them points for trying to do something different and out of their comfort zones, but as a title track it’s terrible.
A skip for me.
Dollars and Cents
Another skip for me.
Hunting Bears
Its a two minute instrumental on electric guitar and synthesizer and backwards effects. It’s cinematic and I like it.
Like Spinning Plates
It’s a skip for me.
Life in a Glasshouse
It’s jazz noir and jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and his band performed on this in the style of a New Orleans jazz funeral.
Wikipedia tells me that the lyrics were inspired by a news story Yorke read of a celebrity’s wife so harassed by paparazzi that she papered her windows with their photographs.
But it’s a skip for me.
Back in 2001, two years after Napster, sales were still a big thing and man of albums were good, sales would go through the roof. Linkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora” come to mind here.
“Amnesiac” was certified Gold in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Japan and the United States.
It was certified Platinum in Canada, United Kingdom and Europe.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Iron Maiden, is one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time.
In September 2015, they released, “The Book of Souls”. The press release had something like this, “the album features eleven epic tracks, including the 18-minute-long “Empire of the Clouds.”
“The Book of Souls” takes its inspiration from several sources, including the Mayan civilization and the ancient Aztec mythology. Talking about the inspiration behind the album, Iron Maiden’s bassist, Steve Harris, said, “We all love exploring the myths and legends of different cultures around the world, and I think fans will really enjoy seeing how we’ve taken these ideas and turned them into something new and exciting.”
The album is also known for its successful chart performance, reaching number one in several countries worldwide.
The album’s tracks are not typical radio-friendly tracks; instead, they are epic journeys that take the listeners on a ride.
If Eternity Should Fail
Written by Bruce Dickinson. The song is played in drop D tuning and it originally had been written for one of Dickinson’s solo albums.
As Dickinson explains in a Kerrang interview;
The demo was done and the band just copied what Roy [Z, along time Bruce collaborator] and I did in his bedroom. In fact, the little keyboard bit in the beginning is me in Roy’s bedroom.
In a Rolling Stone interview, Dickinson described the song being about a machine designed by the evil Dr. Necropolis that steals the souls of men.
After the effects laden Intro, it really kicks into gear at the 1.32 mark.
Dickinson is at his best here, with each word and syllable clearly pronounced.
What the hell does “reefing a sail” mean?
I had to look it up.
Waiting in line at the ending of time if eternity should fail
It is open to interpretation.
The idea of a final judgment or reckoning, where all souls must wait in line to be judged, even if eternity itself were to come to an end.
Or it could be the idea of waiting for something that may never come, even in the face of eternal time. This interpretation could speak to the human experience of waiting for something unattainable or out of reach, despite the seemingly infinite amount of time available.
At the 5 minute mark it kicks into overdrive, classic Maiden. At 5.45 we get the harmonies.
I could have done without the demonic voice at the end.
Speed Of Light
Written by Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson.
Nothing super original about this musically as it is a track with alot of Deep Purple swagger mashed up with “From Here To Eternity” from the “Fear Of The Dark” album.
Shadows in the stars, we will not return, humanity won’t save us, at the speed of light.
It’s not just words to fit the music. There is a lot to unpack here.
“Shadows in the stars” could be interpreted as a metaphor for the human condition of feeling small and insignificant in the face of the vastness of the cosmos.
“We will not return” suggests a finality, perhaps implying that humanity is on a one-way journey towards some unknown destiny or fate.
“Humanity won’t save us” suggests a lack of hope or faith in the ability of human society to solve the problems facing us. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the current state of the world, where many pressing issues such as climate change, political instability, and inequality remain unresolved.
And the phrase “at the speed of light” suggests a sense of urgency and the idea that time is running out. This could be interpreted as a warning that we need to act quickly and decisively if we want to avoid a catastrophic future.
It conveys a sense of resignation and a lack of hope for the future. It suggests that we may be on a collision course with some form of disaster, and that there may be little we can do to avoid it.
The Great Unknown
Written by Adrian Smith and Steve Harris.
The Intro.
It reminds me of “Aerials” from System Of A Down. And I like it.
But it doesn’t lift off after the Intro and Dickinson is hard to decipher vocally.
But make sure you stick around for the harmony solo which kicks in at 4.11, before the main solo.
Overall if the great John Kalodner was sequencing the album, this song would be left off or it would be heavily edited to a 4 minute song.
The Red And The Black
Written by Steve Harris.
This song confuses me. It’s sort of a classic but it’s not. But depending on mood it is. Hear me out.
After the bass doodling, the whole Intro is classic Maiden.
We hear the vocal melody played on the guitar before the first verse kicks in. And it’s excellent. But the singing that comes next is way too busy and indecipherable. Even Harris has said in various interviews that Dickinson freaked out at singing this because there are so many words.
Lyrically it’s based on a 1830 French book called “Le Rouge et le Noir”.
The story is about a man trying to rise up the social ladder via working hard and then abandoning his ambitions as he spirals down with mental illness.
See myself in the hall of mirrors A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line But in the end they are all mine
The idea of self-reflection and the complexity of one’s identity.
The “hall of mirrors” is a metaphor for the mind or the self, as we look inward and see different versions of ourselves reflected back.
Our perception of ourselves is constantly changing.
At 2.26, they start the woh-oh part.
At 2.58, the song moves into another section. The lead guitar plays the vocal melody and it works this time around.
And they move back to the woh-oh part.
Chance your luck a four leafed one
Success is uncertain and one must take a chance or a risk in order to achieve it. The “four-leafed one” emphasizes the idea that success or good luck is rare, like finding a four-leaf clover in a field of three-leaf clovers.
When the chorus kicks in it’s in major key territory.
At 6.34, a harmony section kicks in and then an excellent lead. I think it’s from Janick Gers. And there still another 6 minutes to go.
Another excellent lead kicks in at 8.38.
And the piece d resistance is the lead break that starts at 9.40. You need to stick around for that. It continues to the 11.53 mark.
It’s only fitting that it ends with the woh-oh part.
When The River Runs Deep
Written by Adrian Smith and Steve Harris.
How good is the riff that kicks in at the 35 second mark?
But the vocal melodies don’t do it justice.
The Book Of Souls
Written by Janick Gers and Steve Harris.
A baroque like intro from Janick Gers gets things started.
At the 58 second mark it goes into an Arabic feel, more “Powerslave” Ancient Egypt like than Aztec/Inca.
Prophecy of sky gods
The foretelling made by deities associated with the sky. In many cultures, the sky is seen as a domain of the gods, and so predictions made by them would be considered especially significant.
The sun and moon Passing of old ways will come true soon
A prophecy of change and transformation. The sun and moon are often seen as powerful symbols of change and cycles of renewal.
But the song could have done with some editing.
Death Or Glory
Written by Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson who bring pack the power of the first three Maiden albums.
Lyrically it continues Dickinson’s love affair with aerial combat, which he covered in “Aces High” and “Tailgunner”.
Musically, the whole solo section is definitely worth pressing play for.
Shadows Of The Valley
Written by Janick Gers and Steve Harris.
An intro reminiscent of “Wasted Years” and “Paschendale”. And I’m hooked.
And musically the song is great. Melodically it is great. Lyrically it’s not so great.
Tears Of A Clown
I love the groove on this, written by Adrian Smith and Steve Harris, the song is praised by Dickinson as his favourite track and it is based on comedian Robin Williams’ depression and suicide in 2014.
Tomorrow comes, tomorrow goes But the cloud remains the same Wonder why he’s feeling down Tears of a clown
A façade of happiness, even though the person is struggling with inner turmoil or sadness. Hiding their true emotions, just as a clown hides their true face behind a mask or makeup.
The Man Of Sorrows
Written by Dave Murray and Steve Harris. An arpeggiated Intro with a lead. Perfect.
Then the vocal melodies come in and Dickinson is crystal clear.
And when the Chorus kicks in, it brings back memories of “Wasting Love” from the “Fear Of The Dark” album.
Looking through a mist of truth That we believe an elusive cloud
We perceive reality as hazy or unclear, and we struggle to discern what is true and what is not. Truth may be difficult to perceive clearly, perhaps because of personal biases or limited information. We see truth as something that is difficult to grasp or pin down.
The things we find are hard to say now That we live through day to day
Do you struggle to articulate your thoughts and experiences. You may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the world around you, or you may be grappling with difficult emotions or circumstances.
Find it hard to force the reasons Why we find it hard to die
A feeling of hopelessness, reflecting on the mystery of human mortality and the meaning of life.
As we look to see the man of sorrows Passing knowledge to those who don’t know
Is the “man of sorrows” a reference to Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as a figure of suffering and compassion in Christian theology?
The line suggests that this figure is offering guidance or insight to those who are open to receiving it.
As we watch all our friends passing over As they pass through the edges of time
The passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Steve Harris had to deal with a loss of a family member and a close friend during the writing and recording of this album.
The passing of friends and loved ones, has led Harris to contemplate the meaning of life and mortality.
From the Thin Lizzy like harmonies to the lead breaks the whole solo section is excellent.
Empire Of The Clouds
It’s long. 18 minutes in length but this song will be seen as a masterpiece if it isn’t seen that way already.
Written by Bruce Dickinson.
The track tells the story of the “British R101” airship, which crashed in northern France on 5 October 1930 during its maiden voyage.
Over the course of various interviews during the album’s release, we found out that the song was written entirely by Bruce Dickinson, who initially intended it to be about “World War I fighter aeroplanes.”
Dickinson abandoned the idea after using the same theme for the song “Death or Glory,” also from The Book of Souls.
At the time of recording, Dickinson was reading “a big, sort of encyclopedic crash report” of the R101, entitled “To Ride the Storm”.
It took Dickinson about a month to compose the song during the recording sessions.
The track features Dickinson’s debut on piano and the rest of the band had to play along to this piano track while following instructions from Dickinson and producer Kevin Shirley.
And how good is that piano riff and melody. It sounds like it’s out of sync with the metronome but that’s what makes it sound even better.
And when Dickinson starts singing with the catch cry “to ride the storm”, you stop and pay attention.
To ride the storm, to an empire of the clouds To ride the storm, they climbed aboard their silver ghost To ride the storm, to a kingdom that will come To ride the storm, and damn the rest, oblivion
At 6.35, the guitars play the Intro piano melody and at 7.00 the song changes tact. The Instrumental section starts with all playing SOS Morse Code.
Then the best part of the song. A melodic lead in a Major Key kicks in at about 7.10 and I’m stopped in my tracks.
These harmonies continue to 10.04, when the first of the individual leads kicks in.
At 10.35, the song changes feel and tempo. And the riff.
Wow. It gets the foot tapping and the head banging.
At 11.00 it goes back to one of those harmony riffs.
And like Chekov’s Gun, they bring back that riff from 10.35 with a vocal melody at 12.31.
Anton Chekhov is a Russian playwright and he famously said that “if a gun is introduced in the first act of a play, it should be fired by the third.”
This riff is like the gun.
And at 13.00 it changes tact again, more operatic and cinematic. And progressive.
But at 13.40, that riff is fired again.
The empire of the clouds, just ashes in our past
On 11 March 2016, the band announced that the song would be released as a 12″ picture disc single for Record Store Day limited to 5,500 copies, using the front cover of the Daily Mirror from 6 October 1930 as the cover artwork. The single’s B-side features an interview with Dickinson and McBrain, entitled “Maiden Voyage”, in which they recount the song’s creation.
In conclusion, “The Book of Souls” is an album that showcases Iron Maiden’s musical brilliance, passion, and maturity.
The songs are not to formula as they don’t have the weight of MTV or label pressures to do that. What you get is an album that allows the musicians to follow their creative muses.
I wouldn’t walk out of a concert if any of these songs came up in the setlist and for that, this album has aged well.
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.
destroyerofharmony 