Primus - Tales from the Punchbowl (1995)

This was the fourth Primus release and it's another really weird one in the sense of subject of the songs and style of the Primus sound. Slapping the bass like a madman Les Claypool should be consider the funk rock king. There one of those bands that appear silly but have a seriousness to them if that makes sense. The variety of randomness and trippyness of the lyrics are pretty entertaining as usual. I think this album features more of a focus on the other two bandmates than just Les Claypool making it probably there most musical performance they did. The song "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" is there most successful single I think still to this day. Last time I was talking about Primus someone mentioned to me that he saw them open up for U2. I thought he was fucking with me or something but they did open up for U2 when they were doing stadium shows back in 1992. I don't know what genre to classify Primus correctly. Does anyone? Songs to check out "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver", "Southbound Pachyderm" and "Year of the Parrot".

1. "Professor Nutbutter's House of Treats" 7:12
2. "Mrs. Blaileen" 3:19
3. "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" 4:24
4. "Southbound Pachyderm" 6:21
5. "Space Farm" 1:45
6. "Year of the Parrot" 5:45
7. "Hellbound 17½ (Theme from)" 2:59
8. "Glass Sandwich" 4:05
9. "Del Davis Tree Farm" 3:23
10. "De Anza Jig" 2:26
11. "On the Tweek Again" 4:41
12. "Over the Electric Grapevine" 6:24
13. "Captain Shiner" 1:15

Nirvana - In Utero (1993)

The third and final studio album by Nirvana is significantly different than Nevermind intentionally. It easily debuted at number one and sold millions of records and in my opinion it sounds more raw than Nevermind and maybe not as raw as Bleach. It's obviously there most complex and cynical release they would ever do. The lyrics are phenomenal for instance there's a line in the very first song that sticks out to me "I tried hard to have a father, but instead I had a dad" which if you may or may not know Cobain's father abandoned him when he was just a child. Some people believe that In Utero is a forty minute suicide note and it definitely foreshadows the outcome a couple months after the release of In Utero where Kurt Cobain would shoot himself with a shotgun. It's been sixteen years ago since that major story in rock history happened. It makes you think what would've happened if he did overcome all the factors that were troubling him. What would the music world of been like if he hadn't committed suicide? Would grunge music still ride the waves of the super popular Nirvana dragging Seattle and other grunge bands into greater stages than they were achieving in 1993? All in all, things happen for a reason and maybe it was just fate. A harsh and brutal fate. Songs to check out "Heart Shaped Box", "All Apologies" and "Rape Me".

1. "Serve the Servants" – 3:36
2. "Scentless Apprentice" (Cobain, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic) – 3:48
3. "Heart-Shaped Box" – 4:41
4. "Rape Me" – 2:50
5. "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" – 4:09
6. "Dumb" – 2:32
7. "Very Ape" – 1:56
8. "Milk It" – 3:55
9. "Pennyroyal Tea" – 3:37
10. "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" – 4:51
11. "tourette's" – 1:35
12. "All Apologies" – 3:51

Life of Agony - 1989 - 1999 (2000)

This is a compilation of unreleased material and remastered demos along with some live performances. Some of these songs didn't make the records but, are still very awesome and will be loved if you're into Life of Agony. There's demos from the three albums they did before reuniting River Runs Red, Ugly and Soul Searching Sun. There one of the few bands that I like that have that hardcore influence. For some reason all the intros go long before Keith Caputo says anything. This was pretty much there going away record until they reunited and did the horrible Broken Valley which I'll review later on but, I've still yet to hear most of singer Keith Caputo's solo records which is what he's been keeping himself busy in the next decade. I think he did five solo albums in ten years. Hopefully one can inform me which one to get. Songs to check out "Plexiglass Gate", "Drowning" and "March of the S.O.D/Sgt "d" and the S.O.D".

1. "Here I Am, Here I Stay" (demo)
2. "Depression" (demo)
3. "Plexiglass Gate"
4. "3 Companions" (demo)
5. "Drowning" (demo)
6. "Dancing With the Devil" (demo)
7. "Step Aside" (demo)
8. "Colorblind" (demo)
9. "March of the S.O.D. / Sgt. "D" and the S.O.D" (S.O.D.)
10. "Coffee Break"
11. "Redemption Song" (Bob Marley)
12. "How It Would Be '97"
13. "Tangerine (re-zep)" (With Charlie Benante from anthrax on Guitars)
14. "Lost at 22" (live)
15. "I Regret" (live)

Kiss - Revenge (1992)

This is probably one of the best Kiss records they've done in thirty years and I think Creatures of the Night was as substantially as good as this one as there best. It seems ever since they stopped wearing the paint the interest in Kiss went down regardless if they had hits during the eighties and the nineties. Vinnie Vincent had influence on this album which made it better cause the three they did with him (Creatures of the Night, Lick it Up, Revenge) were the best ones or the last good ones. They were better with him because everyone knows "Unholy" was there last best single. I liked how they played a little heavier, they got into the eighties arena rock scene which totally screwed up some of there fan base but, they made choices that were beneficial to them financially. I think they were good at making anthems despite some of there albums are fillers galore. Unfortunately this is there last album in there prime. Songs to check out "Unholy","God Gave Rock n Roll To You II" and "Domino".

1. "Unholy" 3:40
2. "Take It Off" 4:50
3. "Tough Love" 3:44
4. "Spit" 3:32
5. "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II" 5:18
6. "Domino" 4:01
7. "Heart of Chrome" 4:02
8. "Thou Shalt Not" 3:59
9. "Every Time I Look at You" 4:38
10. "Paralyzed" 4:14
11. "I Just Wanna" 4:07
12. "Carr Jam 1981" (instrumental) 2:46

Green Jelly - Cereal Killer Soundtrack (1993)

The comedy rock group Green Jelly is probably on a similar level as the band Gwar looks and weirdness but, with a more preferable sound. I think they were trying to achieve being the stupidest or worst band ever. Maybe they're really smart to include laughs in there song because certainly the metal community always seems to be serious in a manner and anything different always seems to be cool. It's definitely an album of parodies such as Motorhead and The Sex Pistols. Green Jello meant only to be a video band in the first place. They were pretty gutsy to use the riff from Metallica's Enter Sandman which they got sued for which is hard to understand because ellegedly James Hetfield sang backup on Green Jelly's hit "Three Little Pigs" on the same record. Another interesting mention is that Danny Carey and Maynard Keenan played in Green Jello before Tool was even formed. Songs to check out "Three Little Pigs", "Electric Harley House (of Love)" and "House Me Teenage Rave".

1. "Obey the Cowgod" 3:10
2. "Three Little Pigs" 5:54
3. "Cereal Killer" (Edit) 3:30
4. "Rock-N-Roll Pumpkihn" 2:43
5. "Anarchy in Bedrock" 3:29
6. "Electric Harley House (of Love)" 4:37
7. "Trippin' on XTC" 3:42
8. "Misadventures of Shitman" 3:08
9. "House Me Teenage Rave" 4:30
10. "Flight of the Skajaquada" 4:00
11. "Green Jellÿ Theme Song" 2:15

Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake (2004)

The power and rage of Lamb of God's fourth release was a major upgrade in sound when they finally managed to get on a major label for Ashes of the Wake. The vocals sounded tremendously better in this than the previous. Revolver Magazine rated this album as the second best of 2004 just behind Mastodon. The intensity is always there for Lamb of God's records and gigs. Drummer Chris Adler is a beast on the kit and is shaping up into being one of the most respected and best newer recent drummers. They've shown that they're one of the best bands to come out of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal by touring constantly while getting recognition by opening for bands such as Metallica,Slayer,Megadeth and more recently Korn and Rob Zombie on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival 2010. On the titled track features Chris Poland ex Megadeth guitarist and Alex Skolnick guitarist for Testament doing solos. If you can get past the angry vocals of Randy Blythe you'll probably love this and I know some do and some don't. Songs to check out "Laid to Rest", "Now You've Got Something to Die For" and "Ashes of the Wake".

1. "Laid to Rest" 3:50
2. "Hourglass" 4:00
3. "Now You've Got Something to Die For" 3:39
4. "The Faded Line" 4:37
5. "Omerta" 4:45
6. "Blood of the Scribe" 4:23
7. "One Gun" 3:59
8. "Break You" 3:35
9. "What I've Become" 3:28
10. "Ashes of the Wake" 5:45
11. "Remorse Is for the Dead" 5:40

Episode 2 of The Music Enthusiast motherfuckers

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Faith No More - The Real Thing (1989)

Spiked by the commercial success of there biggest song to date "Epic" Faith No More had recruited a new vocalist Mike Patton from Mr. Bungle. It was rated best album by Kerrang in 1989 and it placed in the 100 greatest rock albums at 64 by Classic Rock magazine. They were the innovators of experimental metal with songs that had influence from musically ever genre you can think they've attempted it from "Chariots of Fire" to "I Started A Joke" by The Bee Gees. If alternative rock were rated in importance this one would be top notch in there. Some people even point out that nu metal artist were heavily influenced in The Real Thing which maybe not a good thing but, inspiring to some atleast whom were the next decade of rock. If VH1 wants to label Faith No More as one hit wonders they're correct but, Faith No More is a smart man's band and probably over most people's heads. Songs to check out "From Out of Nowhere", "Zombie Eaters" and "Falling To Pieces".

1. "From Out of Nowhere" 3:21
2. "Epic" 4:51
3. "Falling to Pieces" 5:17
4. "Surprise! You're Dead!" 2:25
5. "Zombie Eaters" 6:00
6. "The Real Thing" 8:12
7. "Underwater Love" 3:36
8. "The Morning After" 3:40
9. "Woodpecker from Mars" 5:41
10. "War Pigs" 7:42
11. "Edge of the World" 4:10

311 - Soundsystem (1999)

Whether it's rock, hip hop, reggae, and funk 311 makes very basic and repetitive songs that just get stuck in your head. The fifth album is so catchy that one may think they wouldn't like it at first might actually grow into it because I don't like anybody else that pulls whatever they try to pull off musically. Unfortunately, the most recent album Uplifter is horrible and I just couldn't get into that one but, Soundsystem is not a miss like Uplifter if you've heard the new album. Vocalist Nick Hexum said the lyrics were some of his deepest and personal material he's written. I believe there's great variety in Soundsystem and it's very positive lyrically unlike a lot of the albums I've reviewed this week or perhaps all of them thinking about it. If you're opened enough for some sing/rap style you'll probably be very impressed and dig this album. Songs to check out "Come Original", "Flowing" and "Freeze Time".

1. "Freeze Time" - 3:21
2. "Come Original" - 3:42
3. "Large in the Margin" - 3:28
4. "Flowing" - 3:13
5. "Can't Fade Me" - 2:10
6. "Life's Not a Race" - 4:26
7. "Strong All Along" - 3:28
8. "Sever" - 4:42
9. "Eons" - 3:13
10. "Evolution" - 4:17
11. "Leaving Babylon" - 3:59
12. "Mindspin" - 4:00
13. "Livin' & Rockin'" - 2:42

Fear Factory - Obsolete (1998)

The third album by Fear Factory is a nice mix of industrial metal with groove metal. It would become there best selling album in Fear Factory's catalog although in my opinion Demanufacture and Archetype are the best records they've ever done. This is extremely heavy stuff. On the extra track edition Obsolete, the best Gary Numan cover of all time if that means anything. This is a concept record about how machines have taken place of man and Edgecrusher is speaker of the album who eventually is captured by the Securitons who are the machine run society. In conclusion, Edgecrusher's story ends in a confided jail cell and he feels like he has failed mankind. Songs to check out "Edgecrusher", "Cars" and "Shock".

1. "Shock" – 4:58
2. "Edgecrusher" – 3:39
3. "Smasher/Devourer" – 5:34
4. "Securitron (Police State 2000)" – 5:47
5. "Descent" – 4:36
6. "Hi-Tech Hate" – 4:33
7. "Freedom or Fire" – 5:11
8. "Obsolete" – 3:51
9. "Resurrection" – 6:35
10. "Timelessness" – 4:08
11. "Cars" ft. Gary Numan (Gary Numan cover)- 3:40 *Bonus Track Edition*

Cataract - Kingdom (2006)

This pretty much is your casual metalcore album but, with some thrash/hardcore influence. What separates them from other metalcore bands I would say is the riffs in particularly sound better than most acts of the genre I know of. I've heard people say it's on the terms of new Slayer but, I don't really see that to be honest. It's fast and comes at you pretty fast in a way like Slayer maybe. I decided to give this a chance since I bought it a low price and at a Rasputin. The music itself is good but I can't stand there singer Federico Carminitana which is why I hate most music from that genre. Don't get me wrong I like Lamb of God and stuff like Shadows Fall but, it seems like all new bands feel they have to scream to be metal which is such an annoying trend in metal. I think my point lies in where a bunch of people that listen to stuff from this genre probably grew up with parents listening to heavy metal and just wanted to take it another step because that stuff wasn't cool anymore. If you're musically inspired by some of these screamo bands I suggest you gain some individuality and try not so hard to be metal. Their's attitude and their's ridiculousness. Songs to check out "War of Cultures", "Kingdom's Rise" and "On This Graveyard".

1. Kingdom's Rise (intro)
2. War of Cultures
3. On This Graveyard
4. Denial of Life
5. Tongues Spitting Hate
6. March with Your Battleforce
7. Sacrificed for the Wealth
8. Definition of the Rapist
9. Legions at the Gates
10. Unforgotten
11. For Their Sins

Offspring - Smash (1994)

This album would sell over sixteen million records and it's probably one of the few good punk rock bands I think I've ever liked. Thus, slipping by on the criteria of albums I go over because I have a certain crowd that reads over my blog from time to time and is not bound to attract many that I know who view this. Smash probably is a little more than just punk with some modern rock classics in there. Indeed it follows the kind of poppy punk such as Green Day at this time were getting big. This could be there crossover album if you will since it's heavier than the previous two albums prior to Smash. It suits there older fans and probably there newer fans as well. This prompted there careers to superstars and is a classic regardless if it was super popular or "pop". Songs to check "Come Out and Play", "Self Esteem" and "Killboy Powerhead".

1. "Time to Relax" 0:25
2. "Nitro (Youth Energy)" 2:27
3. "Bad Habit" 3:43
4. "Gotta Get Away" 3:52
5. "Genocide" 3:33
6. "Something to Believe In" 3:17
7. "Come Out and Play" 3:17
8. "Self Esteem" 4:17
9. "It'll Be a Long Time" 2:43
10. "Killboy Powerhead" (The Didjits cover) 2:02
11. "What Happened to You?" 2:12
12. "So Alone" 1:17
13. "Not the One" 2:54
14. "Smash"

Velvet Revolver - Contraband (2004)

My dad insists that this is the best record of the last decade. I personally think Death Magnetic was the best. I'm not really into many supergroup bands like Chickenfoot whom I just could never get into and people kept telling me how great they were. Velvet Revolver's super egomaniacs somehow made the chemistry work and maintained great success with there debut record. The loaded line up of Weiland-Slash-Sorrum-Duff with former Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Dave Kushner made for fun times and trips to rehab. I've seen them twice and they're really energetic and soulful even though, they seemed like they all hated each other when I saw them on the Libertad tour. It was the best selling album for a debuting band which goes to show you how they pulled it off when everyone was thinking Axl Pose was getting the last laugh. Interesting mix of STP and Guns n' Roses here. It was a million times better than Chinese Democracy I bet we can all agree on that. Songs to check out "Slither", "Dirty Little Thing" and "Sucker Train Blues".

1. "Sucker Train Blues" – 4:28
2. "Do It for the Kids" – 3:56
3. "Big Machine" – 4:26
4. "Illegal i Song" – 4:18
5. "Spectacle" – 3:42
6. "Fall to Pieces" – 4:35
7. "Headspace" – 3:43
8. "Superhuman" – 4:16
9. "Set Me Free" – 4:08
10. "You Got No Right" – 5:35
11. "Slither" – 4:08
12. "Dirty Little Thing" – 3:58
13. "Loving the Alien" – 5:49

Ministry - The Land Of Rape And Honey (1988)

Intense, dark and mysterious Ministry's third album has a combination of Nine Inch Nails with a harder sound. This is an essential for industrial fans, it must've been groundbreaking back in the day when people saw the music video for "Stigmata". Al Jourgensen's band were like none other and thus brought arguably the first tracing's of industrial metal. It's as original as can be. I don't think there could've been a Rammstein if it weren't for the weird music of Ministry. If you're looking for melody or musicality than this is probably not for you. It's also one of the angriest sounding too (Flashback) if you pay attention closely to the lyrics which is hard in certain songs because the vocals are heavily distorted. Songs to check out "Stigmata", "The Land of Rape and Honey" and "Deity".

1. "Stigmata" – 5:45
2. "The Missing" – 2:55
3. "Deity" – 3:20
4. "Golden Dawn" – 5:42
5. "Destruction" – 3:30
6. "Hizbollah" – 3:58
7. "The Land of Rape and Honey" – 5:10
8. "You Know What You Are" – 4:43
9. "I Prefer" – 2:15
10. "Flashback" – 4:50
11. "Abortive" – 4:23

King's X - King's X (1992)

The self entitled fourth release from King's X was a darn good one. They signed on to the major label Atlantic but, did not outsell there previous album Faith, Hope, Love which was released on Megaforce. I think it's because the previous album had the hit "It's Love" on it and nothing on here quite matches that single or anywhere close. Ty Tabor is a monster guitar player and his riffs are just as hooky as anyone that comes to mind. Very underrated guitar player, it's a shame King's X don't get the recognition they deserve because they could be the founders of grunge and they produce very solid records. It's hard to understand how they never made it. Lead singer Doug Pinnick is a homosexual which could've affected the Christian listeners as they were consider a Christian band but, I don't know if religion could've been the fault for King's X. It sounds idiotic but, there are many, many people out there that feel homosexuality is a sin and crime to God. I don't feel comfortable around people that are not straight but, it doesn't offend me unless they get to friendly in public. I think straight people making out in public is tacky too. Boy, did I get off topic. Songs to check out "Black Flag", "The World Around Me" and "Lost in Germany".

1. "The World Around Me" – 2:56
2. "Prisoner" – 4:14
3. "The Big Picture" – 5:03
4. "Lost in Germany" – 4:52
5. "Chariot Song" – 5:22
6. "Ooh Song" – 4:01
7. "Not Just For the Dead" – 4:47
8. "What I Know About Love" – 5:38
9. "Black Flag" – 4:01
10. "Dream in My Life" – 4:57
11. "Silent Wind" – 4:10

Rush - Counterparts (1993)

Counterparts is Rush fifteenth album and it's maybe one of the most underrated. It did chart just behind Pearl Jam's Vs doing it's best chart debut in the band's history. I recently bought this album based on the new Rush documentary (Beyond the Lighted Stage) was one of the best flicks I've seen this year. It was inspiring and made me want to expand on my Rush knowledge. I'm not huge on progressive rock but, I like this album. This one in particular doesn't sound as intellectual as the other's but, its still pretty geeky cool sounding still. It has an alternative sounding vibe but, i'm glad it's one of those albums where the guitar was more primary because Geddy Lee went all crazy on that synthesizer stuff like on Presto and made them sound like a totally different band. I'm glad they went back to there old style and the next albums would not abandon the formula that made Rush a cool band. It's weird that Rush has no female fanbase, I never noticed that until the documentary. Songs to check out "Stick it Out", "Leave That Thing Alone" and "Animate".

1. "Animate" – 6:04
2. "Stick It Out" – 4:30
3. "Cut to the Chase" – 4:47
4. "Nobody's Hero" – 4:59
5. "Between Sun & Moon" – 4:39
6. "Alien Shore" – 5:46
7. "The Speed of Love" – 5:01
8. "Double Agent" – 4:51
9. "Leave That Thing Alone" (Instrumental) – 4:06
10. "Cold Fire" – 4:29
11. "Everyday Glory" – 5:11

Six Feet Under - Graveyard Classics (2000)

Six Feet Under's first out of three now tribute cover albums have been classic rock but with that twist of death metal. It's normal for them to play cover songs at there gigs like I know "TNT is a live favorite that they still do live. Many death metal fans that I've seen online, are very confused on why one of the top death metal draws has to play covers. Isn't it a bit ridiculous to perform a Jimi Hendrix song and a Deep Purple song in death metal style? Yes and no, if you were expecting to hear it like the way you're use to hearing it may sound a bit funny or odd but, on the other side of the spectrum it was very bold of them to release these songs. I think the reasoning behind this was a smart idea in the fact they used popular songs when downloading became relevant like someone would type Sweet Leaf and mean to get the Black Sabbath version but would see this other version. It's a very creative approach and great promoting. Songs to check "Holocaust", "Son of a Bitch" and "TNT".

1. "Holocaust" (Savatage) – 4:39
2. "TNT" (AC/DC) – 3:29
3. "Sweet Leaf (Black Sabbath) – 5:22
4. "Piranha" (Exodus) – 3:50
5. "Son of a Bitch" (Accept) – 3:39
6. "Stepping Stone" (The Monkees) – 2:39
7. "Confused" (Angel Witch) – 2:51
8. "California über Alles" (Dead Kennedys) – 3:40
9. "Smoke on the Water" (Deep Purple) – 5:24
10. "Blackout" (Scorpions) – 3:43
11. "Purple Haze" (Jimi Hendrix) – 2:52
12. "In League with Satan" (Venom) – 3:58

Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip (2002)

The second solo album of Jerry Cantrell was released just a little more than two months after Layne Staley of Alice in Chains died of a heroin overdose. Unlike the first solo record, this one is much harder and features a constant lineup that consists of drummer from Faith No More Mike Bordin and now Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo. The album took so long to put together that he had lost his long time label with Columbia. He had to finance the stuido time and at the sametime rebound to another label as heads of major record companies may like your music but, the numbers need to be comparable and profitable to a degree of major pop stars for them to get the outcome they want. As the tour came along, Bordin and Trujillo couldn't make it for the tour and actually Comes With the Fall the band opening up for him would play in his band despite his band switching to play with Ozzy. Ironically, years later William Duvall the frontman for Comes With the Fall would be fronting the new Alice in Chains as lead singer. This would set the once deceased Alice in Chains to revive one of the most influental rock bands of all time. Songs to check out "Anger Rising", "She Was My Girl" and "Angel Eyes".

1. "Psychotic Break" 4:09
2. "Bargain Basement Howard Hughes" 5:38
3. "Anger Rising" 6:14
4. "Angel Eyes" 4:44
5. "Solitude" 4:00
6. "Mother's Spinning in Her Grave (Glass Dick Jones)" 3:53
7. "Hellbound" 6:46
8. "Give It a Name" 4:01
9. "Castaway" 4:59
10. "She Was My Girl" 3:59
11. "Chemical Tribe" 6:35
12. "Spiderbite" 6:38
13. "Locked On" 5:37
14. "Gone" 5:08

Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1992)

The debut STP album Core is an impressive monster rock album. Several hits and not surprisingly there best selling record. At first this record wasn't accepted in praise and critics kept on saying they were nothing but rip offs of Seattle bands and Rolling Stone Magazine has always dissed anything grunge and dismissed anything particularly good while they said Silverchair was the next Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots were the worst band by Rolling Stone critics in an 1994 issue. I once read online that Scott Weiland had only been sober for only one album and that was Core. If I can rant against the STP-Pearl Jam comparison, I believe Stone Temple Pilots is the better band because of consistency; Pearl Jam had Ten and Vs as there best but, they are not better than Core and STP's second album Purple. I believe if Core came out a year earlier it would have sold more than Ten. I bank that! Core sounds nothing like Ten to begin with. Songs to check out "Sex Type Thing", "Creep" and "Crackerman".

1. "Dead & Bloated" 5:10
2. "Sex Type Thing" 3:36
3. "Wicked Garden" 4:05
4. "No Memory" 1:20
5. "Sin" 6:05
6. "Naked Sunday" 3:50
7. "Creep" 5:33
8. "Piece of Pie" 5:24
9. "Plush" 5:13
10. "Wet My Bed" 1:36
11. "Crackerman" 3:13
12. "Where the River Goes" 8:26

White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 (1995)

This is the most popular White Zombie record with more than 2.5 million in sales. It's heavyier than La Sexorcisto. They're previous drummer left the band and Testament/Exodus drummer John Tempesta filled in. Long time producer Terry Date one of my personal favorite producers and mixers whose done most of the Pantera albums, Prong and Soundgarden, produced this monstrous record. It ranked number two best album release by Kerrang in 1995. Who can't forget when in Ace Ventura: When Natures Calls, Ventura tries to run the bad guy over with a monster truck while the White Zombie song "Blur the Technicolor" comes on while he trying to hunt him down. They added industrial metal to the record because they just played groove metal on there first official release, I assume they did this because all of a sudden a lot of people were performing groove metal and industrial was popular at this point so they wanted to get away from being compared with Pantera all the time maybe Zombie was inspired by Nine Inch Nails or Ministry. Several distinctions between Zombie and Pantera but, both were on top in the nineties. Songs to check "Super Charger Heaven", "More Human Than Human" and "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama".

Length
1. "Electric Head, Pt. 1 (The Agony)" 4:54
2. "Super-Charger Heaven" 3:37
3. "Real Solution #9" 4:44
4. "Creature of the Wheel" 3:25
5. "Electric Head, Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy)" 3:53
6. "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains" 3:49
7. "I, Zombie" 3:31
8. "More Human Than Human" 4:28
9. "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama" 4:13
10. "Blur the Technicolor" 4:09
11. "Blood, Milk and Sky" 11:18

Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (1989)

This is a good success story when Trent Reznor worked at a studio and recorded music on his spare time. He did everything and sent demo's eventually led him to get on a label. I'm not even a huge fan of industrial rock music but it's easy to tell that this is a) very creative and b)super catchy. I always thought the bad thing about NIN was that there was never a consistent lineup. Trent Renzor pretty much did this whole album together by himself and you can totally tell that the guitars are not the main focus as synthesizers were the primary. This album in particular was important in getting industrial rock a mass following for the band itself and the many industrial bands would later peak in nineties. Songs to check out "Head Like a Hole", "Down in It" and "Sin".

1. "Head Like a Hole" 4:59
2. "Terrible Lie" 4:38
3. "Down in It" 3:46
4. "Sanctified" 5:48
5. "Something I Can Never Have" 5:54
6. "Kinda I Want To" 4:33
7. "Sin" 4:06
8. "That's What I Get" 4:30
9. "The Only Time" 4:47
10. "Ringfinger" 5:40

Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies (1994)

The second based acoustic record of Alice in Chains' Jar of Flies became the first EP to reach number one. It's also the first album bassist Mike Inez was a part of. I love the story behind the album, guitarist Jerry Cantrell had to do a experiment in school when he was younger and it involved two jars of flies. One jar was given a lot more food and the other jar was underfed. The one that was being overfed died of overpopulation while the second jar the flies survived all year. There's a deep message for you to discover when listening to this masterpiece. Songs to check out "No Excuses", "I Stay Away" and "Rotten Apple".

1. "Rotten Apple" 6:58
2. "Nutshell" 4:19
3. "I Stay Away" 4:14
4. "No Excuses" 4:15
5. "Whale & Wasp" [instrumental] 2:37
6. "Don't Follow" 4:22
7. "Swing on This" 4:04

Whitestarr - Luv Machine (2006)

You might remember a reality show about a band no one ever heard of and never even cared about after the show in VH1's The Rock Life. It has two generations of popular fame in music such as lead singer Cisco Adler's father is Lou Adler the long time music producer and Cisco's cousin is Steven Adler former drummer for Guns n' Roses. To drop another name Roy Orbison's son Alex drums for the band as well. Onto the album, I found it for super cheap at a record store and I knew essentially none of there music I just knew they were a band from Malibu whom were already rich and famous somehow of course one being Cisco dated Mischa Barton and Paris Hilton in the past. The band portrays the sounds of classic rock/glam most recognizably The Black Crowes. I can't find anything to really critique other than it doesn't do that much for me and it's safe to assume that Whitestarr's fan base is mostly chicks where I can't relate to any of the songs it seems as they're definitely one of those bands playing to get chicks. For this one I only found two songs which I did like and they were "Vampire" and "Gimme' a Light".

1. Gimme' a Light
2. Luv Machine
3. Sunshine Girl
4. Since
5. She So Sly
6. Use Me
7. Vampire
8. Welcome to Malibu
9. The King
10. Sex on the Dance Floor
11. Cherry Surprise
12. Marie

Metallica - Garage Inc. (1998)

The double disc covers extravaganza is amazing that all the songs are better than the originals in fact. It's a collection of recordings and B-Sides that caught fame as Metallica always played cover songs at there gigs in there setlist since day one. The first disc recordings are the newly produced songs from 1998. The second disc features the songs from Garage Days Re-Revisited '87, Garage Days Revisted '84, B-Sides & One Offs '88-'91 and Motorheadache '95. It's basically a good selection of artists and songs that influenced Metallica to become what they are and Metallica's way to give credit where it's due. It's a massive collection over two hours of material. It seems to work with there hard rock and metal fans because it's half and half where people can relate to the songs in the genre demographic. Songs to check from first disc "Turn the Page", "Whiskey in the Jar" and "Free Speech for the Dumb". Songs to check from second disc "Last Caress/Green Hell", "So What" and "Overkill".


Disc 1
1. "Free Speech for the Dumb" Discharge (1982) 2:36
2. "It's Electric" Diamond Head (1980) 3:34
3. "Sabbra Cadabra" Black Sabbath (1973) 6:20
4. "Turn the Page" Bob Seger (1973) 6:06
5. "Die, Die My Darling" Misfits (1984) 2:29
6. "Loverman" Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1994) 7:53
7. "Mercyful Fate" (a medley of the songs "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven", and "Evil") Mercyful Fate (1982) 11:11
8. "Astronomy" Blue Öyster Cult (1974) 6:38
9. "Whiskey in the Jar" Thin Lizzy (1973) 5:05
10. "Tuesday's Gone" (recorded in 1997 as Metallica hosted a radio program out of San Jose, CA (KSJO)) Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) 9:06
11. "The More I See" Discharge (1984) 4:49

Disc 2
The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited (1987)
1. "Helpless" Diamond Head (1980) 6:38
2. "The Small Hours" Holocaust (1983) 6:43
3. "The Wait" Killing Joke (1980) 4:55
4. "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" Budgie (1971) 3:10
5. "Last Caress/Green Hell" Misfits (1978/1983) 3:30
Garage Days Revisited (1984)
No. Title Original artist Length
6. "Am I Evil?" Diamond Head (1980) 7:50
7. "Blitzkrieg" Blitzkrieg (1981) 3:37
B-Sides & One-Offs (1988–1991)
No. Title Original artist Length
8. "Breadfan" Budgie (1973) 5:41
9. "The Prince" Diamond Head (1980) 4:26
10. "Stone Cold Crazy" Queen (1974) 2:19
11. "So What" Anti-Nowhere League (1981) 3:09
12. "Killing Time" Sweet Savage (1981) 3:04
Motörheadache (1995)
No. Title Original artist Length
13. "Overkill" Motörhead (1979) 4:05
14. "Damage Case" Motörhead (1979) 3:40
15. "Stone Dead Forever" Motörhead (1979) 4:52
16. "Too Late Too Late" Motörhead (1979) 3:12

The Cult - Sonic Temple (1989)

The Cult definitely are one of those hit or miss bands because they have few classics and some duds but, Sonic Temple is one of the best. This is also the first Cult album produced by Motley Crue and Metallica producer Bob Rock. I think he has a great ear for arena rock. Ian Astbury has the hard rock voice of the eighties which unfortunately he doesn't have to this day but, I'd love to see The Cult in concert someday regardless. This is just a killer rock album here and it's one of the albums when you can tell it's something special. I wish bands these days would put out amazing albums like Sonic Temple and my favorite Cult record Electric. The Cult are one of my biggest influences I can't even stress if there's a band I wish I could influence whom ever maybe be reading this blog to start listening to because they're fucking killer. Songs to check out "New York City", "Sweet Soul Sister" and "Firewoman".

1. "Sun King" – 6:09
2. "Fire Woman" – 5:11
3. "American Horse" – 5:19
4. "Edie (Ciao Baby)" – 4:46
5. "Sweet Soul Sister" – 5:08
6. "Soul Asylum" – 7:26
7. "New York City" – 4:41
8. "Automatic Blues" – 3:51
9. "Soldier Blue" – 4:36
10. "Wake Up Time For Freedom" – 5:17
11. "Medicine Train" - 4:42

Soundgarden - Superunknown (1994)

I suppose this is by the fans the best Soundgarden album but, in my opinion I've always preferred Badmotorfinger. The album debuted at number one with it eventually being there breakout album with some major hits that dominated music television and the radio especially the song "Black Hole Sun". I think Soundgarden was leaving the standard heavy metal sound and going for the more alternative rock sound which eventually became super popular. Lyrically it's dark and depressing so it's seems like there most negative album that comes to mind. It was also recorded at the Bad Animals studio in Seattle where all the big Seattle acts did there albums and it's got that aura for grunge where anything that came out of there was amazing until it got sold to the wrong people who I think now are using for mostly Indie bands. Songs to check out "Spoonman" "Fell on Black Days" and "The Day I Tried to Live".

1. "Let Me Drown" 3:51
2. "My Wave" 5:12
3. "Fell on Black Days" 4:42
4. "Mailman" 4:25
5. "Superunknown" 5:06
6. "Head Down" 6:08
7. "Black Hole Sun" 5:18
8. "Spoonman" 4:06
9. "Limo Wreck" 5:47
10. "The Day I Tried to Live" 5:19
11. "Kickstand" 1:34
12. "Fresh Tendrils" 4:16
13. "4th of July" 5:08
14. "Half" 2:14
15. "Like Suicide"

Life of Agony - Soul Searching Sun (1997)

I believe this album is often scrutinized because it's often thought of them selling out because the songs seem radio friendly. I'm pretty sure it probably left the older LOA fans in shock cause they went from River Runs Red to Ugly to this. If it were up to me I'd pick Soul Searching over Ugly. I'm kind of weird like that but, there's several songs I dig on the record which I'd assume that if you heard this album for the first time you couldn't even tell it was them. Even though it sounds like they were going for an alternative rock sound it still has the negative and depressing lyrical approach that Keith Caputo is known for. It's very wide minded and you can either accept them for trying something different or cry that you're band made it out of the underground and grew up literally and metaphorically. Songs to check out "Weeds", "Heroin Dreams" and "Gently Sentimental".

1. "Hope"
2. "Weeds"
3. "Gently Sentimental"
4. "Tangerine"
5. "My Mind is Dangerous"
6. "Neg"
7. "Lead You Astray"
8. "Heroin Dreams"
9. "None"
10. "Angry Tree"
11. "Hemophiliac in Me"
12. "Desire"
13. "Whispers"

Testament - The Gathering (1999)

I seriously don't think Testament could put out a bad album. They might be the most consistent thrash band of all time. The Gathering is top notch production and features Slayer's Dave Lombardo too. Only bad thing is Alex Skolnick isn't apart of the group at this time so James Murphy from Death and Obituary took his spot. The eighth album has faster and heavier riffs and that's saying a lot cause it's Testament and all the albums sound fast and heavy already. Chuck Billy left the death metal style singing from Demonic which is a plus he's singing like classic Chuck Billy. Wasn't a very popular album but it is a diamond in the rough for heavy metal fans because it's unappreciated for being a newer album and at a time when thrash was at it's lowest or arguably dead. Songs to check "Down For Life", Three Days in Darkness" and "D.N.R."

1. "D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)" – 3:34
2. "Down for Life" – 3:23
3. "Eyes of Wrath" – 5:26
4. "True Believer" – 3:36
5. "3 Days in Darkness" – 4:41
6. "Legions of the Dead" – 2:37
7. "Careful What You Wish For" – 3:30
8. "Riding the Snake" – 4:13
9. "Allegiance" – 2:37
10. "Sewn Shut Eyes" – 4:15
11. "Fall of Sipledome" – 4:48
12. "Hammer of the Gods" – 3:11

Prong - Prove You Wrong (1991)

This was Prong's fourth album and is the only album with Troy Gregory who was a top choice in the many bassists that auditioned to get recruited into Metallica after Cliff Burton died in 1986 formally from Flotsam and Jetsam. At this time, Prong landed on Epic Records and they cleaned there sound up with Beg to Differ and then Prove you Wrong. I always thought they kind of sounded like hardcore punk back in the eighties which totally makes sense since the members Tommy Victor and Ted Parsons of Prong both worked at CBGB. They moved into the groove metal genre and later on got more industrial with the later releases. The thing is that you have to remember you can't get this confused that this album isn't the fastest one they've ever done but, it's the most experimental so it can go either way because I think the casual fan would dig Cleansing obviously that's the hits record or the speed album Beg to Differ which it's not even clear to me what's my favorite to this day since I started listening to them in 2004. Songs to check out "Unconditional", "Prove you Wrong" and "Shouldn't Have Bothered".

1. "Irrelevant Thoughts" – 2:37
2. "Unconditional" – 4:45
3. "Positively Blind" – 2:43
4. "Prove You Wrong" – 3:31
5. "Hell If I Could" – 4:00
6. "Pointless" – 3:07
7. "Contradictions" – 4:10
8. "Torn Between" – 3:11
9. "Brainwave" – 3:01
10. "Territorial Rites" – 3:31
11. "Get a Grip (On Yourself)" – 3:05
12. "Shouldn't Have Bothered" – 2:39
13. "No Way to Deny It" – 4:41

Billy Squier - Don't Say No (1981)

This album is 29 years old. A lot of good records from this year like Blizzard of Ozz and Moving Pictures. Mr. Squier is indeed a guitar god but also an excellent creator of rock anthems. Has a good share of rock hits that still air on the classic rock radio stations which is always a good thing because his stuff was flawless and his band was kind of the step after Zeppelin died off. I'm fanatically into music where it's based heavily on the guitar first and lyrically second. Some people can pull it off most people can't such as the majority of guitar virtuosos such as the prick himself Yngwie Malmsteen could never do. Simplicity over technicality any day. I hate the trend people trying to be creative and it sounds like shit. Happens all the time nowadays. Songs to check out "In the Dark", "Whadda Want From Me" and "Too Daze Gone."

1. "In the Dark" - 4:09
2. "The Stroke" - 3:38
3. "My Kinda Lover" - 3:32
4. "You Know What I Like" - 2:56
5. "Too Daze Gone" - 4:05
6. "Lonely Is the Night" - 4:42
7. "Whadda You Want from Me - 3:43
8. "Nobody Knows" - 4:20
9. "I Need You" - 3:52
10. "Don't Say No" - 3:20

The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell... (2005)

The Darkness' second record was hardly a hit with the fans in America and atleast it was a hard album I sought out long of looking for it too begin with! I never see this in the used sections anywhere I go. Originally, I wasn't even aware they did an album after Permission because there stuff just doesn't get played here as it probably gets too much air time in the U.K. I always ask people from England what they think of the Darkness and it's always been nay over yay. I tell you when I did my Senior Music Project on The Darkness' "Girlfriend" my class was stunned by the song I presented cause it was so over the top and a lot of people think i'm just the metal guy who listens to Slayer first thing in the morning. Hey! My blog's name is THE HARD ROCK ENTHUSIAST. It could be the Music Enthusiast but, my forte is in Hard Rock! I don't know in the great debate of which Darkness album was best because it's hard. Some people will probably choose this album cause there burnt of the old songs like "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". I can see that but, one can say that this one doesn't have that huge hit or moreorless the better songs ultimately because they had several hits on that record when this was the less known record. You can say that this one is more for the females as they incorporated that demographic a little more (Hazel Eyes)than the men in this one. Anyways, you make the decision. Songs to check out "Knockers", "Is It Just Me?" and the wacky as hell "Girlfriend".

1. "One Way Ticket" – 4:26
2. "Knockers" – 2:43
3. "Is It Just Me?" – 3:05
4. "Dinner Lady Arms" – 3:16
5. "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" – 3:34
6. "Hazel Eyes" – 3:25
7. "Bald" – 5:31
8. "Girlfriend" – 2:33
9. "English Country Garden" – 3:06
10. "Blind Man" – 3:25