Weekend Wildcard - The Look by Roxette

This Weekend's Wildcard is The Look by Roxette. This classic 80s track is the opening track off of the Swedish band's 1988 album Look Sharp! The first two verses were guide lyrics meaning they just wrote down some words to have something to sing with the idea that they would come back and write new lines. They never were able to come up with anything better so they stuck with them.

Walking like a man,
hitting like a hammer,
she's a juvenile scam.
Never was a quitter,
tasty like a raindrop,
she's got the look.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Those Who Cannot Speak by Shadows Fall

Today's Metal Track is Those Who Cannot Speak by Shadows Fall. This is the closing track off of their 2004 album War Within. This is the album where the band finally hit their stride is probably still their best effort to date. This track has some pretty sweet riffs (My favorite is at 1:12) and a nice solo, to boot.

Eloquence of the inner voice
The poetry of the condemned
A stream of consciousness
Never to be understood

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Deceiver of the Gods by Amon Amarth

Today's Metal Track is Deceiver of the Gods by Amon Amarth. This is the opening track off of their 2013 album by the same name. The footage in this video comes from the historical film Northmen: A Viking Saga.

And yes, that is a man throwing down a charging horse with his bare hands at 1:08!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Souls of Black by Testament

Today's Metal Track is Souls of Black by Testament. This is the title track off of their 1990 album by the same name. Just a good old fashioned thrash song.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Holy Wars... The Punishment Due by Megadeth

Today's Metal Track is Holy Wars... The Punishment Due by Megadeth. This is one of the best metal tracks of all time off of one of the best metal albums of all time; 1990s Rust in Peace. When I think of 90s metal videos this is the first one that comes to mind. No shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.

The riff that starts at 2:43 is one of my all time favorites. When I was little I used to beg my brother to play this part on the guitar for me. He would nail it every time!

The first part of this song is about the Northern Ireland conflict that lasted from 1968 to 1998 while the second part of the song is about the comic book character The Punisher. Mustaine says that he was inspired to write the song in Northern Ireland, when he discovered bootlegged Megadeth T-shirts were on sale and was dissuaded from taking action to have them removed on the basis that they were part of fund raising activities for "The Cause".

Scott's Instrumental Track of the Day - Trademark by Eric Johnson

Today's Instrumental Track is Trademark by Eric Johnson. This is off of his 1990 album Ah Via Musicom. This album went platinum but that probably had more to do with his major hit Cliffs of Dover which was also on the album.

Thanks to Adam Satterwhite for suggesting this track.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Discoloration by Dawn Golden

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Discoloration by Dawn Golden which is a side project by producer/songwriter Dexter Tortoriello. This is the opening track off of the debut album Still Life which was released last year. I discovered this song last Sunday when it was used on the show Shameless. It was used during a highly emotional and powerful scene and it fit perfectly.

Side note: Opeth also has an album titled Still Life.

Weekend Wildcard - Last Child by Aerosmith

This Weekend's Wildcard is Last Child by Aerosmith. This is off of their 1976 album Rocks. It was written by guitarist Brad Whitford and Steven Tyler. The solo was also recorded by Brad instead of Joe Perry. It is one of their more funk based songs and was heavily influenced by the band The Meters.

Mama take me home sweet home
I was the last child, just a punk in the street

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Stinkfist by Tool

Today's Metal Track is Stinkfist by Tool. This is the opening track off of their 1996 album Ænima. Like most of their videos, this one was directed by guitarist Adam Jones. When the video originally aired on MTV, the song was listed as simply "Track  #1" since the title was deemed to be offensive.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Green Hell by Misfits

Today's Metal Track is Green Hell by Misfits. This is off of their 1983 album Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood. This was actually released the month I was born. Like many of their songs, this one is short and to the point. It was later covered by Metallica on their 1987 Garage Days Re-Revisited as part of a medley with Last Caress. That version was also later included on Garage Inc.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Killers and Kings by Machine Head

Today's Metal Track is Killers and Kings by Machine Head. This is off of their most recent album, Bloodstone & Diamonds, which was released last year. This song is about the occult with numerous references to the tarot cards of the Major Arcana.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Siphon the Bad Blood by Thomas Giles

Today's Metal Track is Siphon the Bad Blood by Thomas Giles. This is off of his 2014 album Modern Noise. Thomas Giles is the name that Tommy Rogers releases his solo album. Giles is his middle name. Tommy is better known as the lead singer of Between the Buried and Me. His solo stuff is not nearly as heavy as BTBAM but it still rocks.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Into the Arena by Michael Schenker Group

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Into the Arena by Michael Schenker Group. This is off of the band's 1980 debut self-titled album. Before forming this group, Michael was the lead guitarist for Scorpions and UFO. I was checking out the timeline for band members for this group and it's one of the craziest one's I've seen with over 50 different members.

Thanks to Johnathon Stone for recommending this one.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz. This is the title track off of his 1989 debut album by the same name. I love the smooth chorus and that sax solo. Wikipedia tells me that his then-wife Lisa Bonet is in the video but I've had a hard time spotting her. I think she is the one with the white shirt on but can't get a clean shot.



If that version is not easy enough for you, check out this unplugged version.

Weekend Wildcard - Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum

This Weekend's Wildcard is Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. It is the title track of his 1969 album Spirit in the Sky. I'm sure everyone has heard this song before; most likely in a movie. It was most recently included on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Although it was not used in the movie, it was used in one of the trailers for the movie.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Where Strides the Behemoth by Mastodon

Today's Metal Track is Where Strides the Behemoth. This is off of their 2002 debut album Remission. Brewer, remember when we were talking about the most metal Band Name and Song Title combinations. I think this one deserves a mention.

This song is throw down with heavy riffs all the way through. I especially like the closing 20 seconds.

Kill and I will be damned
Forgive and I will be free
Unify the eyesight
Grow

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Metal Militia by Metallica

Today's Metal Track is Metal Militia by Metallica (That's a lot of metal in one sentence). This is off of their 1983 debut album Kill 'Em All. This is thrash metal at its finest. Loud, fast, and raw!

This song is about the metallization of the world. About spreading the message of Heavy Metal which is exactly what my blog is all about. Join me my fellow metalheads and spread the message far and wide and LOUD!

"We are as one as we all are the same, fighting for one cause
Leather and metal are our uniforms, protecting what we are
Joining together to take on the world, with our heavy metal
Spreading the message to everyone here, come let yourself go"

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - As I Am by Dream Theater

Today's Metal Track is As I Am by Dream Theater. This is the opening track off of their 2003 album Train of Thought. After receiving lots of positive response to their heavier songs on tour, they set out to make a entire heavy album with heavier darker riffs.

Some of the lyrics were inspired by their time on tour with Queensryche. Mike Stone tried to give John Petrucci tip on playing which inspired the lines "Don't tell me what's in, tell me how to write".

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Dead But Rising by Volbeat

Today's Metal Track is Dead But Rising by the Danish metal band Volbeat. This is off of their 2013 album Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies. Poulsen said this song is about reaching out for the spirit of his father who passed away.

He promised his Dad he would take his comb to Elvis's grave site in Memphis. After he did he was driving from Memphis to Mississippi to see the house Elvis grew up in and his GPS went out. He decided to follow an eagle because his father was really into eagles. The eagle led him to the correct town in Mississippi and he thought it was his father's spirit leading him through the eagle.



 Here is the interview with Poulsen. I love the way he says comb.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Physical Education by Animals as Leaders

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Physical Education by Animals as Leaders. This is off of their 2014 album The Joy of Motion. This song has a very catchy groove that you can just put on repeat. Dat bass! Saw in the YouTube comments where the crowd sings along to this during the show. Yes, singing along to an instrumental.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Careless Whisper by George Michael

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Careless Whisper by George Michael. While this is a solo song by George, it was released on Wham!'s 1984 album Make it Big. Well boy did this song ever make it big. It reached number one in almost 25 countries and sold 6 million copies.

The saxophone is what makes the song. It is instantly recognizable and has been covered numerous times through the years. The music video shows the guilt felt by a man over an affair, and his acknowledgement that his partner was always going to find out.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Party Hard by Andrew W. K.

In honor of the birth of my son Andrew, today's Metal Track is Party Hard by Andrew W. K. This is off of his 2001 album I Get Wet. This is the only song I remember by him. There's nothing great about this song music-wise but I love the attitude and energy behind it.



I always think of Aqua Teen when I hear this song. Andrew appeared in one of the episodes where Frylock was dying and the guys paid Andrew W. K. to perform for him to cheer him up. I found it hilarious but also sad.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Ghost Key by Isis

Today's Metal Track is Ghost Key by Isis. This is off of their final album Wavering Radiant which was released in 2009. While the song is open for interpretation, it portrays an image of 2 people freezing to death after repeatedly trying to start a fire. As with most Isis songs, the lyrics are difficult to make out but that is by design. They have always put an emphasis on music first.

It's cold, snowing,
blue light, dusk settles.
A fire burns with failing light
against the growing darkness.

Bending over the dying flames,
you were with me then as always.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Too Young to Fall in Love by Motley Crue

Today's Metal Track is Too Young to Fall in Love by Motley Crue. This is my favorite track by my favorite hair metal band. That riff by Mick Mars is just killer. This comes off of their 1983 album Shout at the Devil. I actually have this album on vinyl from back in the 80s.

I've always loved this cheesy video too. It was on a loop back in the 80s when MTV played music. For some reason this YouTube video is flipped, maybe to avoid copyright.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Keine Lust by Rammstein

Today's Metal Track is Keine Lust by the German heavy metal band Rammstein. This is off of their 2004 album Reise, Reise. The title is German for "Don't feel like it" and the lyrics are about being lazy and mentioning numerous things the person does not want to do. The video shows the band members reuniting when they are much older with most members being morbidly obese due to their laziness.

Even if you don't like the music, you have to like watching these guys in fat suits rocking out.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Kirisute Gomen by Trivium

Today's Metal Track is Kirisute Gomen by Trivium. This is the opening track off of their outstanding 2008 album Shogun. Kirisute Gomen is a Japanese expression that literally translates to "authorization to cut and leave". Samurai had the right to strike with sword (kill) anyone of a lower class who compromised their honor. In many instances, and as portrayed in the song and video, the Samurai would take the head and leave the body. Pretty brutal.

"I can see in their eyes. They've already died"

Scott's Instrumental Track of the Day - Undertow by Marty Friedman

Today's Instrumental Track is brought to you by Marty Friedman. This is off of his most recent album Inferno which came out last year. The song starts off really slow but picks up in the second half. The video is about a girl honoring her deceased older brother by continuing her training in martial arts against her parent's will. They eventually come around and give her her brother's black belt. This feels like it could have been one of last night's Super Bowl commercials.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Dust in the Wind by Kansas

You're my boy Blue!

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Dust in the Wind by Kansas. This classic is off of the band's 1977 album Point of Know Return. The guitar line was originally just a finger picking exercise used by guitarist Kerry Livgren. His wife liked it and encouraged him to write lyrics for it.

While this song has always been a hit, it gained new life in 2003 when it was featured in the movie Old School. Will Ferrell's character sings this at the funeral for their pledge Joseph "Blue" Pulasky who was in his 80s. The actor died in real life just a couple of years after the movie. I wonder what they sang at his funeral. RIP Blue!



Here is the Old School Scene.