On this day in history Quarterback Matt Barkley of the University of Southern California was to announce his decision whether to enter the NFL Draft or return to USC to play for the Trojans one last year as a senior in 2012. There are several pros and cons for each possible scenario and while every individual has the right to their own opinion, the truth of the matter is that Barkley would relish in a massive volume of success no matter what his decision is. Many of you understand the tremendous importance of this decision and all of the implications that go along with it, but if you want an in depth analysis on the decision, and the main factors contributing to said decision, no one can explain it better than Arrogant Nation's own Zach Jerome of 'Lost Angeles':
My Opinion? I'm a Trojan! Of course I want Barkley to return! While it is obvious that going to the NFL has its financial benefits (could you pass that up?) there is something about USC that is special. I am not an athlete at USC nor do I represent any prestigious stature here but I can tell you from experience that being a Trojan is an enticing and captivating experience and no one should ever run away from that experience.
Well, he didn't run...
...instead...
MATT BARKLEY ANNOUNCED
HIS RETURN TO USC IN 2012!!!
"My Own Personal Cell Phone Footage"
The quality of the video is sketchy (had to prove I was there though right) but there is a high quality video posted to the USC Football website here: http://www.usctrojans.com/allaccess/?media=289618
Matt Barkley's Announcement came with these words:
"I will earn my degree, the bonds have been forged, but I know in my heart that I have not yet finished my journey as a Trojan football player. Our USC football team has been through some tough times and we have persevered, but the 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to, and I intend to play a part in it."
This was one of the most exciting experiences of my young life and although I have been to a lot of concerts, sporting events, etc. I have never felt an electrifying presence as strong as I did today when the press sat and stood within the confines of Heritage Hall and applauded the announcement that Matt Barkley would return next season.
2012 may now become one of the most successful season in USC Football History. The National Championship is the Trojans' to lose. The Heisman Trophy is already being engraved with Barkley's name. The anticipation is tremendous and if anyone has the athletic ability and mental capacity to take advantage of this opportunity it is Matt Barkley.
Matt Barkley WILL BE the greatest USC Trojan in the history of the institution. Barkley represents everything that goes along with being a student-athlete of the University of Southern California. I am overjoyed with the decision he has made and I wish him good luck in 2012.
In 2011 the most polarizing figure in sports is unarguably Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (But all his friends call him ‘Timbow’). The same love-hate relationship has surrounded the best/worst album of 2011 depending on who you ask. I speak of Korn’s latest album release. My point is that many of you are likely to close this article as soon as you see the mention of Korn because they accidentally created the 2nd most generally hated genre that exists under the ‘metal’ umbrella (let’s face it, glam rock is still #1). However, on this album they have explored the electronic music world as they collaborated with a multitude of today’s top DJ’s in the world! Dubstep and Metal!?! Oh yeah…it just happened.
It was thrust upon the world all the way back on April 11th, 2011 at the Coachella Music Festival. Skrillex, who many consider to be the ‘Prince of Dubstep,’ was tearing through his set when he invited “a couple of friends out” to join him for a couple tunes. Jonathan Davis and Munky of Korn hit the scene and the crowd went fucking crazy!!! 8 months later Korn released their 10th Studio album The Path of Totality through Roadrunner records to sell 55,000 copies in its first week and hit #10 on the billboard charts.
Coachella 2011 - Skrillex Welcomes Korn to the Stage
(Korn introduced at 1:05)
I think the fusion of dubstep and metal is a match made in heaven. They are both genres that inspire a lot of emotional release and physical displays of primitive debauchery. Korn’s music follows a lot of the basic principles that dubstep music typically follows as well as far as the tempo and pitch are concerned. Bass up the ass is the name of the game and no one knows how to play it better than Korn of the ‘90s and Skrillex of today’s new electronic uprising. I LOVE the album. Is this is an ‘experiment’ as they say than consider it a raving success (ha, ‘rave’…see what I did there?). It is certainly a Korn album and all Korn haters will likely continue to hate but they truly executed on a great collection of tunes that weave in and out of guitars, drums, and computers, seamless and with impeccable fervor. While some of the songs seem to kind of run together, there are others like “Narcissistic Cannibal” and “Get Up” that are stand out anthems! Skrillex had the biggest impact on the record and quite frankly the quality of his tracks is far superior to the others. Jonathan Davis pushes his vocal range past his limits which is nice to see as we did on a few tracks from their 2007 ‘Untitled’ album.
The opening notes of this track are particularly curious as it is seemingly a harmony of guitars and computer-based high pitched sound waves. It is in this song’s explosive riffs and the head-bang worthy chorus that we discover the massive brute force that results in the synthesis of electronic, dubstep, and heavy metal music. These first two tracks are undoubtedly not ‘hit singles,’ they manage to project a powerful message and I think that message is: “Metal and Dubstep were made to be together!”
3. “My Wall” (feat. Excision)
Black Sludge. Two words that together describe this third track perfectly. Bass driven, slow-paced, electro-sludge metal. Hahaha I love genre identifiers…so worthless. Anyways, by this time in the album I feel like I’ve heard three songs that sound nearly the same and I’m anxious to move on and hopefully find something a bit more exciting.
4. “Narcissistic Cannibal” (feat. Skrillex & Kill The Noise)
BINGGOOOO!!!! I wanted exciting and this track here is just that! If you have ever wondered what kind of heavy metal music the high-intelligent aliens of a distant universe are listening to (which we all wonder from time to time) than you should probably take a listen to this song! The chorus is catchy and powerful but, it is a bit too perfect and for some reason it sounds a little cheesy (or Korny). Nonetheless this song is another perfect example of a seamless relationship between today’s Dubstep DJ phenomena and the crunching sounds of metal!
Official Music Video
5. “Illuminati” (feat. Excision & Downlink)
In this tune, similar to “My Wall,” the production skills of Excision are obvious and intentional. Barreling bass trudges around like the depressed white ball in the Zoloft commercials. Davis plays with some interesting vocals during the verse that is rather penetrating but the lyrical content on the whole feels bland. Overall this song is forgettable and only the purest of Korn fans will see anything to smile about here.
6. “Burn the Obedient” (feat. Noisia)
A lot of people reviewing this album make claims that much of the album reflects the sound of Korn’s 2002 offering ‘Untouchables.’ For the most part I think this is an exaggeration however “Burn the Obedient” really does sound like something off the previous effort. It fits in somewhere between “Make Believe” and “Blame”….right? Anyways, good tune for the number six slot on an album.
7. “Sanctuary” (feat. Downlink)
This has to be the most interesting recording on the album. I don’t quite know how to put my finger on it but “Sanctuary” is an extremely compelling and overwhelming track. I feel like I’m being hypnotized with what sounds like an attempt at a ‘dubstep-ballad. Altogether I think it is a lovely little gothic number that left me wanting more however I feel like I am in the minority here. Not many that I have talked to seemed to get too excited over this song so maybe there’s some subliminally personal connection for me. One last thought…take Robert Smith and The Cure and slam them together with the sounds of Brock Lesnar pounding on the back of a an immobilized and hallowed out beached whale crying out for help and you get… “Sanctuary.”
8. “Let’s Go” (feat. Noisia)
There are a lot of things about this song that are ‘vintage Korn’ (are they old enough to be vintage yet?). A little repetitious groveling that sounds like that of an adolescent teen who just got picked on for the first time in high school. However, that is what a lot of people appreciate about Korn; their emotional vulnerability. Anyways, this song is great but certainly nothing new added to the music world.
9. “Get Up!” (feat. Skrillex)
The Prince of Dubstep returns for his last track of the album! BOOOOOM WAAAH WAAH WAAH WAAH WAAAH SHUT THE FUCK UP GET UP!!!! There ya go haha my typed impression of this song. In all seriousness this is by far one of the best songs on the album and I hope this shows the world that mosh pits can have fists, glow sticks, leather, lace, weed, and ecstasy in it all at the same time and not only survive harmoniously, but thrive vigorously!
Official Music Video
10. “Way Too Far” (feat. 12th Planet)
Listen up folks because this track gets my official certification for best song on the album! “Way Too Far” just edges out “Narcissistic Cannibal” and “Get Up” for best track on The Path of Totality. What won me over about this track is its perfect storm of heart-thumping power, intimate melodies, and the aura it creates during a live performance. Davis clearly enjoys growling over the electronic bass waves of fury and soon his demonic freak outs turn to lighter-burning sing-a-longs with the crowd! 12th Planet is the featured producer on this one and although it is his only appearance on the album, the American Father of Dubstep leaves no doubt who the master is. I believe this will be the third single off the album and if people could put aside their preconceived notions about Korn and their ‘nu-metal’ stereotype than it could be quite the hit.
11. “Bleeding Out” (feat. Feed Me)
Keyboard intro feels a little out of place here as we quickly jump into the crunching guitar riffs we’ve come so familiar with. All you really need to know about this track is that Jonathan Davis explains that the song is about a rat that lived in a tree at his house where he and his friends would smoke. He got tired of the rat pestering the area so he shot that motherfucker with a gun! Hahaha hence the “…bleeding out” reference….derp. The best part of this song, and one of the most exciting/surprising moments of the album, was the bagpipe solo that enters un-introduced in the bridge. The sustained bagpipe notes lead into a funky collaboration of choppy bagpipe flutters and ‘drum n bass’ rhythm that is to die for (or dance for!).
12. “Fuels the Comedy” (feat. Kill The Noise)
I love the intentions of this song but the execution is just not quite there. It feels like an attempt at a spontaneous and frantic free-styling through a stream-of-consciousness lens that comes off as a bit immature and whiny. However, it is certainly corrected by having a completely addicting and catchy chorus. It’s a track that certainly has its ups and downs and it is understandable as to why this was only released on deluxe albums.
13. “Tension” (feat. Excision, Datsik & Downlink)
This is an all dubstep track with Jonathan Davis performing vocals over a swarm of Datsik and Downlink infused dubstep. Again, it only appears on deluxe versions of the album and it actually seems like it might have been more deserving of a slot of a JDevil EP or LP (cross your fingers). The freak-out that begins around 2:43 completely caught me off guard and if I was at first intrigued; I was quickly thrown back against the wall with amazement. Davis scats harder and crazier than I have ever heard! The violent vocal menagerie is combined with appropriately time ‘drum ‘n’ bass’ thumps that create an exorcist like surrealism.
As I'm sure most of you have heard, football is coming back to Los Angeles. There are a lot of mixed emotions regarding the yet to be announced Los Angeles team franchise and I'm as skeptical as the next guy. I've been a Green Bay Packers fan since the mid-1990s and regardless of what team becomes the Los Angeles team, I'm not so sure I'm willing to transfer my loyalty (Oh and Yes! I'm a bandwagon fan, I hopped on the Brett Favre bandwagon when I was 7 haha). 5 major candidates for the new Los Angeles franchise include the Vikings, Chargers, Jaguars, and our old friends the Raiders and Rams.
Who do you want to come to LA???
Will you become a die-hard Los Angeles Football fan immediately???
Is it considered 'band-wagoning' to be loyal to a brand new team???
These are the questions us SoCal natives must address in the very near future (I'll be staring at myself in the mirror with the lights off for 24 hrs straight waiting for a revelation.....it's the proper way to do things).
However there is 1 thing that everyone in SoCal can be certain about.....The Los Angeles Football Stadium is going to be the greatest stadium ever built!!!
Depending on your age and your level of intelligence you may be asking yourself a few of the above questions. And quite frankly, we all have questions about this "SQS" project because it's relatively secret and the details of the device (if it even is a device) are unknown to most.
What we do know is that Neil Young is creating a 'music listening device' that is supposed to put out incredible sound quality as well as integrating this into the music world we've come to enjoy such as downloading content, web access, etc.
Some Tweety Tweets about it:
Just an FYI, the original tweet that broke this story is pictured above. Mr. Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers mentioned it once and people are already going nuts with curiosity.
So keep your eyes and ears open for more info about this and hit me up on the comments or Facebook....let's break the news right here on The Source!!!
P.S. Neil Young is a LEGEND
(If you don't know....research his work on the internet so you don't look like a fool haha)
Caleb Followill, the front man for Kings of Leon, has really fucked up this time. During a recent show in Dallas Followill ended the show early because his voice was "100% gone" and he was far too exhausted to continue. Rather than explain the details of how lame this is, just watch for yourself:
I'm well acquainted with a lot of musicians and have spoken to a plethora of professional musical performers of all shapes and sizes and I truly cannot fathom how this guy thinks it's okay to do this. This stunt will surely cost the band a lot of fans, money, respect, etc. In all my years of going to 12-Hour long Metal festivals every Summer I completely understand heat exhaustion and performing in tough conditions. However, nothing excuses ending a show early like he did and absolutely NOTHING excuses the cancellation of their entire U.S. tour!!!!
I was never a huge fan of the band but I respected their story and their ability to write great songs. Now??? I hope the whole act goes down in flames. People are busting their asses every fucking day to keep the Kings of Leon Enterprise successful and how does Followill repay them? Take it a step further....the music industry is in a rough patch and it's near impossible to make a living as a musician today. Baby bands are dedicating their lives and all their blood sweat and tears to their music just to survive from day to day and then this asshole just walks off stage because he's too "Dog-Gone Hot" !!!! It's awful and even on my level of involvement I'm offended.
A statement from the group chalked up Friday's meltdown to "heat exhaustion and dehydration… causing [Followill's] vocal chords to seize." However, the rest of the group's reaction to the incident has hinted at the band's internal problems: drummer Nathan Followill called the show a "fiasco" on Twitter, and bassist Jared Followill wrote, "I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade."
Approximately 60,000 people packed into the Coliseum on Saturday Evening as the energy within the arena grew stronger the closer time approached the Rage Against the Machine set. Perfect Weather for an outdoor concert combined with the legendary atmosphere of USC's current home, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to set the stage for the concert of the summer!
El Gran Silencio kicked things off at 3pm with an authentic and fun set they have become known for. Immortal Technique was up next and it was fucking powerful. Freestyle raps, Revolutionary rants, and Acapella flows defined the set and made for a great pre-lude to the rest of the bands. Ms. Lauryn Hill was the outcast of the line-up however this did not stop her from rockin out hard! The crowd really seemed to enjoy all of these opening acts but Lauryn Hill had all of us jammin! Especially to some of her reggae covers!
The sun began to set and the crowd continued to work up a buzz @ $9 a beer and well, who knows what they paid for the weed! haha Time for Rise Against!!! I was completely satisfied with Rise Against's set. The production value was not on par with the headliners but they played all their hits and their live rendition of "Hero of War" really touched the diverse audience. After their set it became very clear to me why Rise Against has become such a great sensation; high energy show and catchy ass tunes!!!
Then came Muse! One word sums up the Muse set, WOW! These 3 dudes really know how to put on a show! Amazing light effects and a multi-dimensional visual experience combined with the powerful songs of the Muse catalog to present a truly headlining performance. Each song inspired sing-alongs as well as some psychedelic trippin and to top it offMathew Bellamy would crank out some classic rock guitar riffs in between songs including favorites from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC. I must admit that some songs were a bit boring, especially considering the audiences tastes and the whole set seemed to run a bit long but overall Muse proved that they are worthy of playing in front of anyone!
Approximately 10:30PM....
Warm, Summer Evening in Los Angeles, CA....
The Scent of Marijuana and stale beer fills the air....
After an intense intro that including an intense video collaboration that depicted Rage Against the Machine controversies from the past and a complete tranformation from the LA Colisuem into a Red and Black Rage Fest!!! The arches turned red, the black flags and mysterious darkness of the arena was exposed and just as the famous torch went ablaze....so did Rage. "Testify" rang out with furry!!! Despite some early technical difficulties the set grew quickly into an all out party! Party....or riot?? Not sure. Fact is, people were going fucking crazy!!! Rage powered through some of their best including "People of the Sun" and "Township Rebellion"! The encore including a spine chilling speech by Zach De La Rocha and an over the top performance of "Freedom" and "Killing in the Name of". The resounding opinion of the audience was 'We Want More!' While the four members bowed at the front of the stage it almost killed me to realize this may be the greatest band of my generation! It was amazing in all Ways!!
They released their full length LP Megalithic Symphony back in March of 2011 and it has been quite a success! The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Heat seekers chart as well as #45 on Billboard's Independent Charts. This tremendous success is partly due to the popularity of the hit single "Sail".
"Sail" has a fantastic tone with an innovative smattering of style that has launched it directly upward on the charts. Not to mention, the music video has done much to help create the spacey aura around the song and the band in general. All of this success with the record only compliments Awolnation's ability to perform strongly on stage.
Awolnation is currently travelling across the U.S. promoting Megalithic Symphony on the Nationwide Summer Tour. With the first leg of the tour already capped, Awolnation is picking up momentum for the rest of the tour!
Nationwide Summer Tour Dates
July 2011
July 8 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
July 10 - Milwaukee Summerfest - U.S. Cellular Stage (w/ The Bravery)
July 11 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue *
July 13 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom ^
July 14 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *
July 15 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *
July 16 - West Chester, PA - The Note *
July 18 - Washington, DC - Red Palace *
July 19 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club *
July 20 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa *
July 22 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall **
July 23 - Columbia, SC - Jillian's **
July 24 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues **
August 2011
Aug 3 - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic Lounge #
Aug 4 - Dallas, TX - The Prophet Bar #
Aug 5 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio #
Aug 6 - Tulsa, OK - Brady District Block Party (Flaming Lips, Primus, Mutemath)
Aug 8 - Tuscon, AZ - The Rock #
Aug 10 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades #
Aug 11 - Portland, OR - Roseland #
Aug 12 - Reno, NV - Knitting Factory Concert House #
Aug 14 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House #
Aug 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex | The Rockwell #
Aug 18 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall #
Aug 19 - Kansas City, MO - KRBZ's Buzz Beach Ball (Jane's Addiction, Incubus, Bush, Middle Class Rut)
Aug 20 - Calgary, AB - X-FEST (Jane's Addiction, Weezer, Social Distortion)
September 2011
Sept 2 - Seattle, WA - The End's Summer Camp
Sept 18 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
October 2011
Oct 14 - Pensacola, FL - DeLuna Fest
* (w/ Bear Hands, Redlight King)
** (w/ The Constellations, Redlight King)
# (w/ Wallpaper, New Regime)
^ (w/ Lights Resolve, Redlight King)
Also, Don't forget to download a free copy of "Sail" from Fuse.tv here!!!
Campus Crusade Intern Lauren Egbert is doing her part!
In order to raise support this summer Ms. Egbert is telling her story and spreading the good word to the world! Read her preview and show support in anyway possible and that definitely includes re-posting her info on Facebook!
"When I entered UCSD three years ago my goal was to finish in three years as a psychology major, attend graduate school at Point Loma, and start my career as a school counselor. However, something unexpected happened my second year of college that placed me on a different path.
I met a group of students and staff members from Campus Crusade for Christ and through them I came to understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ.
Growing up I identified as agnostic, and although I had a very loving family and generally great childhood, in high school I was involved in an abusive relationship, and as a result I had a very low self-esteem and began to find my worth in what men said about me. This view of myself still existed when I entered college, but in my first year at UCSD I had a close friend who encouraged me to get involved with a Christian group on campus.
I met a group of people from Campus Crusade for Christ and began going to all of their events and one night during my second year, I attended church with a suitemate and heard a service on God’s unconditional love and grace. Up to this point, I had only experienced a love that was based on my looks or my abilities, but He loved me simply because I am His and was made in Him. I had been so focused on finding my worth in men, who constantly failed in providing me love that I was blinded by the fact that I had a God who loved me unfailingly. That night I gave my life to Christ and every moment since then I have been surrounded with the Campus Crusade community who has consistently encouraged me to grow in my relationship with Christ, giving me a deeper understanding and love of who He is.
Beginning to understand the love he has for me has given me a huge desire to share my relationship with Christ with others and I have been given an amazing opportunity to do this by serving with Campus Crusade at UCSD for an entire year! My team and I will devote this next year to building relationships with students, sharing the love of Christ, and presenting the opportunity to respond to the gift of salvation. I have already started a bible study with a group of freshmen girls and have seen immense growth in their relationship with Christ and it has been a blessed and humble experience allowing God to use my life to accomplish his work.
Because Campus Crusade is a non-profit organization I must raise all of my support this summer. Therefore, I'll be meeting with people and telling them this story, answering their questions regarding the internship, and asking for support in three ways:
- Financial support (either monthly or one-time gifts)
- Prayer
- Referrals (of people you may know who would be able to support me)
Thank you so much for reading my story and if you would like to set up an appointment with me or support me in any way call (951) 961-7807 or email at: lauren.egbert@uscm.org
After a long break since their last release Stadium Arcadium the Red Hot Chili Peppers are slowly but surely revealing the next addition to their illustrious catalog.
Hear Me Now is set for a Fall 2011 release which will be complemented by a huge world tour over the next few years! As a small taste of glory RHCP has released their first single for the upcoming album,
"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"
1998-2003 is a short time period within the expanding history of heavy metal music and while this era certainly marks a peak in the monetary success of professional musicians, it will forever be remembered in the metal world as the “Nu-Metal Era”
Despite growing up and discovering my favorite music during these years I have come to terms with the fact that Nu-Metal is going to be the butt of all jokes for a long time! Even I, the late 90s metal tween that I was, can admit that there was a lot to laugh at in this brief five year surge.
Why Nu-Metal is considered a fucking joke:
-Hard Rock mixed with rap
---Okay it was cool when Aerosmith did it with Run DMC in 1986 and YES, Anthrax and Public Enemy owned it in 1991 but by the year 2000 you couldn’t have a famous rock band without a rapper in it (preferably a white rapper who shames the very culture and purpose of traditional rap/hip-hop).
-Whiney, Whiney, Americans
---So one potential upside to this era would be the emergence of hundreds of AMERICAN Metal Bands! However, this perk was depleted to irrelevance because the lyrical themes within this genre are so damn whiney! The lead singers in the nu-metal era insist on complaining about life and their problems whether it is politics, society, culture, daddy issues or some other blatant hyperbole. Don’t get me wrong, White Male Americans can have some problems in life (I can probably count them on 1 hand) but at some point it’s better to just chill out and stop screaming on stage about your insecurities.
-Neo-gothic….gangstas???
---In the late 90s there were two very distinct trends in musical fashion and aesthetic projection.
1)The Goth: A varied re-emergence of the ‘80s European Goth scene mixed with the trashy facades influenced by reggae and grunge. Basically, grow dreadlocks, wear black everything, and try to look really eccentric and/or emotionally diverse.
***Wearing makeup and/or grotesque masks is a plus
2)The Gangsta: Poser to the max!!! These are the Fred Durst and Jacoby Shaddix type idiots. Surface level lyrics with an awful screaming rap-flow and rarely any real culture or relevant history to support the outcries.
We could certainly extend this list beyond reason and critique the details of the genre and really put it to shame but I think most of us remember this poor era far too well. The rest of this article proves that I grew up in the 90s and belong to the small pathetic minority that still listens to a lot of bands form this era so be warned….you will probably NOT agree with anything I say from here on out haha.
I believe there are some undeniable facts about the Nu-Metal era that will eventually exploit the significance of the movement in the history of music.
One being the irrefutable statistical reality that metal bands were making more money in these few years than ever before. Of course, everyone will certainly jump on the “sell out” train and debase the success as a corporate rock injustice. However, in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with making money playing the music you love, especially if you can manage to stay true to yourself. 2000 was the peak of record sales in the world and aside from Britney Spears and all the boy bands this was the result of immensely popular metal music. Interesting because everyone outwardly and pretentiously ridicules Nu-Metal music but obviously someone was listening to it.
Furthermore, not every musical movement is going to be perfect or even respected for that matter, but one must appreciate every genre for its role in the progress of musical evolution. Nu-metal was a melting pot of genres and culture and it changed music forever! For better or worse is a lob-sided debate at this point but I believe someday in the future Nu-Metal will get it’s due respect. Mainly because there are a handful of bands that deserve some recognition whether you personally like them or not. These bands either propelled the era to the ultimate success that it was and/or have the keen ability to adapt to the times and still flourish in today’s metal palette.
KORN
I must admit I’m biased!!! Korn is my favorite band (yeah, yeah, laugh it up) and they have a deep influence and connection in my life. With that being said Korn has a track record that speaks for itself. They are considered the founders of Ne-Metal as the quintet certainly got the ball rolling with their self titled debut album in 1993. They re-invented MTV Music Videos and completely took over the world for a few years! They’ve sold over 40 Million albums to date and despite popular belief, they’re still very successful today! Their last record peaked at #2 on the billboard charts and right now they’re putting together a dub step album that is sure to intrigue even the most committed Korn haters! They’ve evolved their music with each and every album and remain a staple in the metal scene. With a catalog of over 150 songs, multiple platinum albums, several Grammy awards, and much more, they are sure to go down in history as legends!
DEFTONES:
Another Nu-Metal band that has stood the test of time! These guys prove that you can stay evolved and adapt to current musical culture while remaining true to yourself. Becoming a testament to ‘Art Rock’ and ‘Beautiful Metal” the Deftones
Each of these bands deserve some respect and I could write a book about each one but you’re tired of reading my shit anyways right? These bands represent success and while some are arguably NOT Nu-Metal bands, see if there’s a few that you enjoy!
2) Be Drunk and Angry or Be Drunk and ready to party
3) If your Drunk, Angry, AND ready to party....God Bless You
***Also....if you have a penis and this video doesn't make you want to walk out the front door and beat the shit out of some guy and and then right when you are about to walk away some voice commands assertively, "Finish Him" and so consequently you froze him like god damn sub-zero ..... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................then you my friend, are no man at all -_-
It was 7:30pm as the sun began to set over Southern California on a much anticipated Friday evening. A line of hundreds wrapped around the block as electro-heads readied for their head first dive into their senses. Ladies putting the final touches on their scantily designed wardrobes and everyone pops their favorite pills as the event neared.....8pm....doors open....MINDS BLOWN!!!!!!!
INNERPARTSYSTEM
This young trio hit the stage first and did as good as any opening act could hope for. The crowd was enthusiastic and certainly responded well to the heavier beat drops in the set. IPS performed a traditional DJ set which is unique for them as they are often more hands on with their stage act with a live drummer, multiple microphones, etc. A remix of "American Trash" especially hit hard with the fans as a flurry of rhythm rushed the ears of the crowd. Perhaps most interesting here is the aftermath of the IPS set. Everyone wanted more!!! A lot of people in the crowd were familiar with IPS and the general consensus was, "They kicked ass....why so short?"
THE JUGGERNAUT
This is no misnomer. When the beat drops during his set, it sounds like the fuckin juggernaut bitch!!! Full of overloaded bases anthems and crunchy tones this guy was taking no prisoners. While some DJs certainly aim for a fun night of dancing, this guy showed that he was there for nothing more than to kick your ass with some of the heaviest dubstep around. His stage presence was simple....simple...simple. Too simple in fact....but the beats hit too hard to matter!
ZEDD
Aaaaa Zedd, the kid from Germany that people just can't quite put their finger on. His remix of "Zelda's Theme" has made him famous over night but the world has far from figured out the mind of Zedd. One thing for sure is that he is not your average DJ. You know anyone today still playing "Move It" by Reel 2 Real??? Zedd makes it clear that he is willing to try anything at least once. This became especially clear when he crowd surfed upon a blow-up raft during Skrillex's set later in the evening.
PORTER ROBINSON
Name on the map....master of house music....internationally toured....dubstep exploration....played with Skrillex, Deadmau5, and Tiesto....AND.......HE'S ONLY 18 YEARS OLD!!!!
I hate to strangle the guy with his age but as a 20 year old I'm always blown away by the success of superstars that are younger than I am! PR is straight up fun! Whether he's hitting hard with the drop of a dubstep-esque beat or enchanting the crowd with techno PR makes you wanna move! Porter Robinson was by far the most enthusiastic DJ of the night! Jumping around and dancing to his own awesomeness PR was there to have a good fucking time and trust me, you would have too! When hanging backstage with all of the acts and their inner circles it became obvious that Robinson was special, and everyone is expecting big things from him in the future!
SKRILLEX
The man we all waited for did not disappoint! Skrillex hit the stage and it was clear that the crowd was a little star struck to say the least. I've never seen so many cell phone cameras in my life! Skrillex, a man always living in the moment pleaded, "Put those cameras away guys, let's have a good fucking time here in person!" There's not much to say about his performance other than WOW. A special mix of "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" went over well with the crowd as do all of the popular hits. When the crowd chanted "I want to kill everybody in the world" over a frantic dance floor it was clear that Skrillex had the crowd by the balls. However, the climax of the set came with silence as Skrillex announced a tribute to the late Ryan Dunn! Ten seconds of silence and a finale track would end the night on a note of admiration for a fallen hero. Skrillex is to be admired for his artistic ability and well, he was cool enough to talk to me a bit backstage too so I'm a fan! haha
ring you are definitely going to need some new tunes to bring in the season.
Well, I have a treat for you my friend, check out my Top 5 bands for June 2011 as I give you a preview of their best and latest work below as well as to your right (mp3 player, etc.)
Foster the People
New to the LA scene in 2009 Foster the People have risen to fame with their undeniably catchy pop-rock jams. The band name evolved to represent the "taking care of others" imagery of the band and while this may seem a bit cheesy and overly romantic, one thing is for sure, their songs take care of the masses! Their debut album peaked at #8 on the Billboard charts thanks to their huge hit single "Pumped Up Kicks". I'll let you listen for yourselves but this song is certain to spark a party-wide sing along and smiles galore. Happy, catchy, poppy tune that will leave you wanting more!
Okay...Okay...I know what your thinking...these guys are ridiculous posers who dress themselves with every heavy metal cliche they can imagine and deliver music to hot topic shopping little pussies. And well, your probably a 100% accurate! However, I'm here to say that while their appearance is a bit over-the-top Black Veil Brides are great! They music is heavy enough to appeal to the headbangers and the choruses are clean and clever enough to make you sing in your car when your stuck in traffic on the 10 freeway. In fact, if people could listen to their music without having to look at them or be so fucking judgmental and narrow-minded than I think their music is good enough to be called brilliant. So for all the haters out there you heard it here first: Black Veil Brides are heavy as fuck and entertaining and they are here for awhile so you can enjoy or continue to hate them because of your masculine insecurities. Below is their latest single "The Legacy"!!!!
Good Ol' Rock 'n' Roll mother truckers!!! Riff heavy with a fast paced groove that'll make you wanna drive a '58 Chevy 100mph down route 66!!! Another newer band on the scene that is on the rise hard! They'll be playing at this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and I'm sure they'll be the cause of much attention on every date. They song "Wires" is a powerful jam-blast of melting guitar licks and melodic prowess.
The sound is in the name....imagine for a second the multitude of sounds that would swarm the atmosphere if you were to actually wrestle a bear!!! This female-fronted metal quintet is a brutal primitive onslaught of destruction that refuses to be ignored. The aggressive growls and howls of singer Krysta Cameron will have most men questioning their masculinity because she is one tough badass!!! The icing on the cake is their unique fusion with electronic soundscapes and melodic vocal tangents that make them completely original!!! It's hard to find words that describe the truly mind-blowing assertiveness of their sound! Take a look and listen to "Danger Manger" and tell me you aren't intrigued!
Don't Call it a come back!!! Okay, actually it's totally a comeback because we haven't heard new material from these guys in many years. But does anyone really care? Nu-metal is the red-headed step child of the heavy metal genre and people take pride in their ability to make fun of the corporate rock era of the late 90s and early 2000s. However, I challenge you to bite your tongue for a bit and listen to the music. There are a handful of acts from the Nu-Metal era that did a great thing for metal music in the mainstream and still remain utterly relevant in the music landscape. Limp Bizkit in my opinion is one of those bands. We love to hate them and well, it's easy to see why, but bottom line is they're music kicked ass and their new stuff seems to be another shot at rap-metal glory. Check out "Shotgun"!!!
So there you have it! 5 Bands and their 5 jams that caught my ear!
Tell me what you think!!! there's a lot to discuss here and I know your dying to detest my opinions.....so do it!
