Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Axe by Gojira

Today's Metal Track is The Axe by Gojira. This is off of their 2012 album L'Enfant Sauvage. This song is metaphor about shaping your mind like an axe so that you can cut through anything that is in your way.

"In the dark I've lingered too long
This sharpened axe, beam of light
I reach for and I master
Wield against these shadows"

"All boundaries are illusion
When you reach the center light
And reinforce the striking power"

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Dig by Mudvayne

Today's Metal Track is Dig by Mudvayne. This is off of their 2000 debut album L.D. 50. This was the band's first single and is still one of their biggest hits. The video won the 2001 MTV2 award as an honor for the best overall achievement by an act to premier on MTV2.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Blue Sun by Scale The Summit

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Blue Sun by Scale The Summit. I literally just found out that they released a new album when I searched for them on YouTube. This is off of their album V which came out on September 18. Looks like I have to go buy a new album now.

They finally got guitars with headstocks on them! Enjoy!

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Hello by Lionel Richie

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Hello by Lionel Richie. This is the closing track off of his 1983 album Can't Slow Down. The video shows Richie as a teacher who has an infatuation with a blind student. It's a little weird because it seems like a high school with the bells ringing between classes. The bust at the end of the video has been parodied because it doesn't look like Richie. In fact, Jimmy Fallon just recently parodied the video on The Tonight Show.

Weekend Wildcard - Mad World by Tears for Fears

This Weekend's Wildcard is Mad World by Tears for Fears. This was originally released in 1982 and was also on the British band's 1983 debut album The Hurting. It was the band's first international hit.

This track saw a resurgence in 2001 when it was covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the cult classic film Donnie Darko.

I was inspired to post this after reading Dan Briggs' (Between the Buried and Me) Top 10 List of concept albums.



Here is the cover version

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Ancestral by Steven Wilson

Today's Metal Track is Ancestral by Steven Wilson. This is off of his latest album Hand. Cannot. Erase. which was released earlier this year. This one starts off a little slow but it's worth the wait. If you get impatient, fast forward to 3:30. Like many of Steven's other works, Guthrie Govan provides some wonderful guitar work on this track.

When the world doesn't want you
It will never tell you why
You can shut the door but you can't ignore
The crawl of your decline

You can try if you want to
You can try

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Seven Years Alone by Devil You Know

Today's Metal Track is Seven Years Alone by Devil You Know. This is off of their 2014 debut album The Beauty of Destruction. This is a supergroup highlighted by former Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones. Looks like they already have another album scheduled to be release sometime this year.

From the YouTube Comments: "Howard is slowly turning into Laurence Fishburne"

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Execution/Don't Save Me by Death Angel

Today's Metal Track is Execution/Don't Save Me by Death Angel. This is off of their 2013 album The Dream Calls for Blood. This is just some great thrash metal from this recently revived 80s metal band. I've also included the playthrough which is instrumental only.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Language I: Intuition by The Contortionist

Today's Metal Track is Language I: Intuition by The Contortionist. This is part one of the title track off of their 2014 album Language. This is the band's third album but is the first with vocalist Michael Lessard who joined the band after their former singer left in 2013 after becoming a father. I've only listened to a little bit of their stuff so far but I like it.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Behaving Badly by Animals as Leaders

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Behaving Badly by Animals as Leaders. This is off of their 2009 self-titled debut album. I was listening to this track last night with Adam Satterwhite and realized I had not posted a track by them in awhile.

I hate I missed these guys on their most recent tour with BTBAM. Tosin Abasi is amazing and I've never seen anyone play an 8-String guitar in person before. Hopefully they will come through NC again soon.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Frogs by Alice in Chains

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Frogs by Alice in Chains. This is the acoustic version off of their 1996 album MTV Unplugged. This song was cut from the original MTV broadcast. The original song was released a year earlier on their 1995 self titled album. I think this song is about a friendship that has deteriorated over the years.

The entire song is pretty laid back but the last 2 minutes are so chill.

Weekend Wildcard - Freaks by Live

This Weekend's Wildcard is Freaks by Live. This is off of their 1997 album Secret Samadhi. According to vocalist Ed Kowalczyk, the song "was completely a song about random, abstract notions from the subconscious, not a message of any sort of weight." So don't try to make too much out of the lyrics. However, my favorite part is the "Will you call them gods!"

As for the video, I don't know what this guy's problem is. Milk is awesome and the other people in the video are just trying to help a man out.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Reverie/Harlequin Forest by Opeth

Today's Metal Track is Reverie/Harlequin Forest by Opeth. This is off of their 2005 album Ghost Reveries. This is one of the more accessible songs on the album with mostly clean vocals. Just another example of Opeth's outstanding musicianship!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Great Big White World by Marilyn Manson

Today's Metal Track is Great Big White World by Marilyn Manson. This is the opening track off of his outstanding 1998 album Mechanical Animals. I was hooked on this album the first time I heard this track. It is still my favorite album of his.

Stolen from YouTube comments because it's better than I can explain it: "The song describes Manson as a spaceman, looking down on Earth, and seeing a revolting and depressing sight which is our destroyed world."

In space the stars are no nearer
They just glitter like a morgue
And I dreamed I was a spaceman
Burned like a moth in a flame
And our world was so fucking gone

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Hallways of Enchanted Ebony

Today's Metal Track is Hallways of Enchanted Ebony by Agalloch. This is off of their 1999 debut album Pale Folklore. The title is referring to a forest containing ebony which is a dense black wood. It is so dense that it will sink in water.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Breadfan by Budgie

Today's Metal Track is Breadfan by Budgie. This is opening track off of the band's 1973 album Never Turn Your Back on a Friend. The song is referring to a love of money with bread being a slang term for money.

The song was covered by Metallica in 1988 and released as a B-side on their Harvester of Sorrow single. In was also later included on their 1998 album Garage Inc.

Here is a link to a music video that won't allow embedding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg



Here is the Metallica version. As awesome as the original is, Metallica version is superior IMO.

Scott's Instrumental Track of the Day - Culture Clash by The Aristocrats

Today's Instrumental Track is Culture Clash by The Aristocrats. This is the title track off of their 2013 album by the same name. This is a supergroup consisting of Guthrie Govan, Bryan Bellar (Dethklok), and Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson's band). This was taken from the DVD that was released with the album.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Hey Jude by The Beatles

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Hey Jude by The Beatles. This song was released as a single in 1968. The song was originally titled Hey Jules because McCartney wrote it to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parent's divorce. Clocking in at just over 7 minutes, this song was the longest ever song to top the British charts at the time. It is still the longest running US chart topper in Beatles history spending 9 straight weeks in the number 1 spot.

Weekend Wildcard - Dead and Bloated by Stone Temple Pilots

This Weekend's Wildcard is Dead and Bloated by Stone Temple Pilots. This is the opening track off of their 1992 debut album core. I still have this one on cassette somewhere in the garage. While I think this song is awesome, I'm surprised they went with this as their first single versus the more popular Plush or Creep.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Memory Palace by Between the Buried and Me

They've done it again. The new album is fantastic. These guys just continue to amaze. Their sound continues to mature and evolve. It's a great mix of Prog Rock and Prog Metal. They are on top of their game and in my opinion are the best in the business at the moment.

Today's Metal Track is Memory Palace by Between the Buried and Me. This is off of their newest album Coma Ecliptic which was released earlier this year. This is my current favorite on the album. It combines so many different styles it to one cohesive beautiful song. Tommy's vocals are spectacular with a great mix of clean and growls. One of my favorite parts is at the 5:28 mark when they abruptly change into the "It's over" section.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Without Prejudice by Protest the Hero

Today's Metal Track is Without Prejudice by Protest the Hero. This is off of their 2013 album Volition. This album guest featured Chris Adler (Lamb of God) on drums. This song is about not letting money control you.

Revisions of histories et al. abound.
It flatters me now. It flatters me now…
”Hey spin that song back, it’s my favorite.
It flatters me now. It flatters me now.”

Those lines are about how the band seeks enjoyment, not from money, but from adoration from their fans. especially those who have recorded covers and remakes of their songs.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Delusion Pandemic by Lamb of God

Today's Metal Track is Delusion Pandemic by Lamb of God. This is off of their most recent album, VII: Sturm Und Drang, which was released earlier this year. So far this is my favorite track off of the album.

"Now is the moment when everything can change. You are completely responsible for your own life. And no one is coming to save you from yourself. So stop blaming your problems on any and everything else. It does not matter one tiny bit how unfair you think the world is. Its only what you do. Right here. Right now. Right this instant that matters. It's your choice to... Sink or swim."

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Jesus Built My Hotrod by Ministry

Today's Metal Track is Jesus Built My Hotrod by Ministry. This song was released in 1991 and was later included on their 1991 album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ which is commonly referred to as simply Psalm 69.

Funny story about this song. Gibby, the lead singer of Butthole Suffers, wanted to be on the album so he came into the studio to record. They played the song for him and set him up with a microphone. He was so drunk that all he came up with was the a bunch of gibberish. Al took the recordings and through some magical editing skills pulled out this song.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Meat Hook by Marty Friedman

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Meat Hook by Marty Friedman. This is off of his 2014 album Inferno. There are a few "Heys" thrown in there but it still counts.The saxophone is a little different but I like it.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Don't Cry by Guns 'N Roses

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Don't Cry by Guns 'N Roses. This is off of their 1991 album Use Your Illusions I. They released two versions of this song. The second version with alternate lyrics was on Use You Illusions II which was release simultaneously. There was also a third version of the song that was recorded during the Appetite sessions in 1986. I almost cry when I see Slash throwing that sweet Les Paul off the cliff.

Something I just learned: Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon provides backing vocals on this track and can be seen in the video.

Weekend Wildcard - Radar Love by Golden Earring

This Weekend's Wildcard is Radar Love by Golden Earring. This is off of the Dutch band's 1973 album Moontan. The song is told from the point of view of a man in a car trying to drive to his lover without using any physical means of locating her like a telephone.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Drag the Waters by Pantera

A little Pantera to get your Labor Day Weekend kicked off right! Today's Metal Track is Drag the Waters off of their 1996 album The Great Southern Trendkill.

Dime said that this song "Is about a lifetime of dealing with people that you can't tell what they're really comin' at you for, or what their motives really are. You've got to drag the waters to get to the bottom and find out the truth." RIP Dime :(

I'll be dragging the waters this weekend but it will be with my bare feet at the lake.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Electric Head, Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy) by White Zombie

Today's Metal Track is Electric Head, Pt.2 (The Ecstasy) by White Zombie. This is the first single released off of their 1995 album Astro-Creep: 2000. The song uses samples from the 1971 movie Shaft. The line "A fistful of hair and a splinter to the mind" is a reference to the 1979 movie Zombie where a zombie pulls a woman by her hair through a closet causing a piece of wood to stick through her eye.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Refuse/Resist by Sepultura

Today's Metal Track is Refuse/Resist by Sepultura. This is the opening and title track from their 1993 album Chaos A.D. The intro of the song is a recording of Max's then unborn first son, Zyon.

Chaos A.D.
Tanks on the streets
Confronting police
Bleeding the Plebs
Raging crowd
Burning cars
Bloodshed starts
Who'll be alive?!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Born of a Broken Man by Rage Against the Machine

Today's Metal Track is Born of a Broken Man by Rage Against the Machine. This is off of their 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles. This album was the last original material released by the band. They reunited and toured for awhile but have not played a show since 2011.

Hopefully they can find it in them to release some more material in the future. Seems like they would have plenty of social issues to write about from the past 16 years.

Born of a broken man
But not a broken man