The Metal Files

My Life. My Music. Your Voyeurism.

Archive for August 2008

I am alive inside your wife…

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I’m a little tired this morning. Met up with Amelia and Tracey at the Mean Eyed Cat yesterday evening after making some ghetto tacos at home. They weren’t that good. I was let down. My tacos are usually good…you know, for gheto tacos. Not quite sure what happened. Anyway, after 2 free beers from Amelia (she rules) I was over it. The music was driving me nuts and I really never heard a damned thing either of them said to me. I think my hearing is getting worse. I went to my favorite watering hole and had a margarita and a few shots with the fine staff there. Always a good time.

So in 1987, I bought a copy of Aardschok America magazine that had King Diamond on the cover. I didn’t really know much about him except that he was in Mercyful Fate and that the album cover for Don’t Break The Oath creeped me out. It still does actually. So I’m reading this interview with King and he’s talking about the concept of his latest album entitled Abigail. It seemed pretty nifty so I decided to buy it. I think I got it at either The Music Man or Tracks. Not sure.

For whatever reason I didn’t get around to listening to it for a few days. So that same week, I heard on the radio that tickets for Anthrax/Testament were on sale so I decided to head out to Tracks @ Ward’s Corner (RIP) to get my ticket. On the way there which was about a 25 mile trek or more, I put Abigail in. At the same time, the skies grew dark and a really bad thunderstorm came up. If you’ve heard the intro to Abigail, you’ll recall the speaking part at the beginning. Crazy stuff. With the heavy rain, thunder and lightning, I got a little wigged out and had to stop the tape and put something else in (TT Quick’s Metal of Honor I think).

The next day I put the tape in and listened intently. I was completely blown away by the guitar work and Mikkey Dee’s drumming but King’s vocals took several listen to get in to. Now I simply love what he did with Fate and the early King Diamond stuff. Very unique and borderline brilliant all around.

The last 30 seconds of the album are so absolutely phenomenal that even writing this I get goosebumps. Sheer perfection for an ending.

I understand a lot of people not liking King’s vocal style, but the music on this album far outweighs the singing and should be taken on its own merits.

Written by The Metal Files

August 22, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Life can be so complicated…

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It really can. Usually the complications come by our own actions and choices. Over the years, I’ve taken some bad decisions, but who hasn’t? In all reality, 99% of my troubles have been self-imposed. So I’m not gonna bitch.

Let’s get to the real deal. Music. Metal. I live for it. Let’s pick an album to talk about. So, you own Spreading the Disease right? Seriously. You do. Yes? What?

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So, it was 1986 and I had bad poofy Marc Storace blonde hair and acne. It was what it was, ya know? I also had my ’66 Nova that everyone ragged on until they needed a ride somewhere. Yeah, that’s right, bitches. Military Circle Mall here we come! In 16 minutes! No shit.

OK, back to my poofy hair…I mean 1986. I was out and about on a Saturday and popped in to see Drew at Unicorn Records. I was browsing his used $3.99 tapes and saw Spreading the Disease in there. I had read good stuff about ‘Thrax and decided to give it a shot.

HOLY FUCK.

Yeah, that’s right. That tape stayed in my car for a few years. It was my “on the way to school” driving tape. It was simply perfect except for Gung Ho, which I never really liked. Sure, Charlie’s feet are amazing on this one, but the song was just goofy. ‘Thrax always had a goofy side.

This album is just so awesome. I don’t know how to go into it any better. The riffs, the drums and Belladonna’s vocals are just stellar.

I am going to bed. If I actually put this on before bed, I’d never get to sleep. My adrenaline would be pumping.

Written by The Metal Files

August 22, 2008 at 2:43 am

Posted in anthrax, drew, heavy metal, kelz, my balls, unicorn records

"There’s no message here; you’re gonna screw up your needle, asshole."

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“I have got a secret hidden behind my eyes
A violation tragedy of violence hate and lies.
Locked deep within a chamber, dark recesses of my mind
A tribute to insanity, through hours days and time.”
Overkill’s Feel The Fire came out in 1985 and I first put ears to it in 86 via a schoolmate of mine. My junior and senior years at a Catholic high school were tolerable because I finally had another metalhead to commiserate with. He turned me on to a lot of metal that I hadn’t had a chance to hear yet. Thanks Bill, forever grateful.
Anyway, back to this album. He loaned this and Savatage’s Dungeons Are Calling to me for a weekend and took them over to Kelz’ house to check them out. Now if you have been paying attention, Kelz’ mom and my mom thought that heavy metal was evil. OK, they were on to something in a way but evil music didn’t make us bad kids. We were just kids who liked to rock out with our big white hi-top sneakers with the pant leg of our acid washed jeans tucked in behind the tongue. We weren’t out to harm anyone or ourselves, but I guess parents have a different perspective. Our dads were pretty cool about the whole thing but generally went along with what our moms said just so they wouldn’t have to hear any excessive bitching. I remember my dad once saying, “Son, listen to what your mom says then go do what you want. Just don’t do anything stupid and you’ll be fine.” Sonofabitch, pops was right again. He was awesome. RIP, man. You were the coolest.
OK, so, back to this album. Kelz’ record player was in his attic so we went up and put the Overkill on first. Remember, we were zit faced 16 year olds. I snuck the 2 records in under my arm wrapped in a flannel shirt. I’m sure his mom knew I had records but she wasn’t overly nosey that day.
We put the needle on and heard the creepy intro. It was pretty wild. We had never heard Overkill and the opening track kicks in with a wicked evil laugh from Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth. Were a little freaked out but the whole thing just crushed. We were also tripping out on the backwards masking at the end of the album. A year or 2 later we figured out that it said, “There’s no message here; you’re gonna screw up your needle, asshole.”
We spun the record once again. Completely badass…and evil. Perfection. Gustafson’s riffs, rat Skates’ frantic drumming and DD’s clanky Rickenbacker bass tone made for a perfect background for Blitz’ vocals.
There’s not a stinker on here and I will forever recommend it to any metalhead…although if you were a true metalhead, you’d already own it. Right? Right!
By the way, I don’t think we ever spun the Savatage, which is a good record in its own right, but it’s no Feel The Fire.

Written by The Metal Files

August 20, 2008 at 5:03 pm

Posted in 1986, heavy metal, kelz' mom, overkill

Tagged with ,

Thanks Phil…

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For giving me some of my most favorite music ever and for being a huge inspiration for me to play bass. One of the few times I find a posthumous happy birthday wish non-asinine.

Aug 20, 1939 – Jan 4, 1986

Written by The Metal Files

August 20, 2008 at 11:19 am

Posted in bass, death, dying, happy birthday, longhorns, music, my balls, phil lynott, texas, thin lizzy

You could be a king but it don’t mean a thing…

with 2 comments

…if what’s in our hearts remains unspoken.

Adrian “H” Smith is a freak of nature. Twice this week his songs have gotten into my head unprovoked by outside influences. Once with Wasted Years and just a few seconds ago with You Could Be A King. The latter song is from the 1989 album Adrian Smith and Project (ASAP) “Silver And Gold”. It was really a brilliant album and I try to recommend it to any rock fan, no matter if you’re an Iron Maiden fan or not.

It’s one of those albums that I put in the player and don’t take out for a few weeks. There are no songs to skip. What’s more amazing is the drum work by Zak Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr. Ringo should take lessons from his boy…really.

Lyrically it’s pretty good, too. Adrian always had a way of doing heartfelt songs sort of like Rik Emmett’s songs in Triumph when compared to Gil Moore’s.

Unfortunately this CD is out of print so maybe I’ll post it later for download. It’s worth it. There are a few songs here that you can check out. Unfortunately my original autographed copy was stolen a few years ago. My current copy is a bootlegged re-release from a few years back.

Hooray for ellipses!

Written by The Metal Files

August 19, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Posted in adrian smith, beatles, cunnilingus, ellipses, iron maiden, my balls, zak starkey

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