Welcome back, my dark friends! If I’d have thought this thing through a bit better or had some semblance of planning –we’d be talking about Christmas based music right now wouldn’t we? But nope! Good ole Steve, ole buddy old pal missed the memo and didn’t get his act together.
So, instead, we’ll keep tracking down the road of bands that he discovered. Last month’s was dedicated to Nu-Metal and finding that world. Interestingly, at the same time while still reading and enjoying the music magazines I could get my hands on, the explosion of Nu-Metal seemed to open more musical doors for me. I think part of that is that metal musicians have a wide and varied group of bands they themselves love. So they wear their influences on their sleeves and because of that, I would discover these new bands.
Ministry
One such band I discovered from a few bands is an iconic one. Uncle Al and his band Ministry. The first song I ever heard from Ministry was NOW and I was hooked. Then I heard Jesus Built My Hotrod. It blew me away that Gibby from Butthole Surfers was singing on that song, but it still sounded like a Ministry song!
NWO
Jesus Built My Hotrod
I’m in the vast minority here when it comes to my favourite Ministry album. I’ve always enjoyed their stuff, but the album Filth Pig is the one that stands head and shoulders above for me. I’m not sure if it’s because I liked the stripped-back approach or the rhythms in each song, but for me it just hums along. Dead Guy from that album is still on constant rotation.
Dead Guy
KMFDM & MDFMK
Through discovering Ministry, I naturally found KMFDM. The first song I heard from KMFDM was ‘A Drug Against War’ on the MuchMusic show Loud. The music video for this is fantastic.
I’ve always loved how tongue in cheek they are. Sadly, I’ve yet to see them live, but as they frequently tour, I’m hoping to catch them soon.
A Drug Against War
Kunst
In 1999 KMFDM went on hiatus and a few band members resurfaced with MDFMK. They released one album and appeared on the Heavy Metal 2000 Soundtrack before KMFDM resurfaced. I really loved their output. It felt different than KMFDM.
Torpedoes
Missing Time
Mortiis
Another band I discovered through the industrial connection was Mortiis. Mortiis himself began his musical career by playing bass in the black metal band Emperor. It was years later that I discovered Emperor. But for me, Mortis was a unique take on electronic metal. His appearance of being a troll and trying to tell this story of living in the mountains was a lot of fun.
Parasite God
Decadent & Desperate
As time went on Loud began to play a bit less and less of the industrial metal and slowly went towards a new wave of American metal.
Mushroomhead
I discovered Mushroomhead before I ever heard of Slipknot. I’m not a Slipknot fan, they have a few decent tunes, but the Mushroomhead album XIII is still outstanding to this day. I’ve stopped listening to the new stuff, but I still pop this album on at least once a month.
Sun Doesn’t Rise
Kill Tomorrow
Ill Nino
Ill Nino was a band I discovered as well through Loud. I got to see them live and met the guys. They were all super awesome. It was really cool to meet Ahrue Luster as I loved his work with Machine Head. I haven’t listened to them in years now, but see they are currently going through some issues with the band name and two versions. Hope they figure it out.
How Can I Live
This is War
Devildriver
I was a fan of Coal Chamber, but for some reason never even realized Dez had formed this new band before we met them at a show in Vancouver. I’ve been a fan of almost all of their stuff and always look forward to seeing what they have in store. I’ve met Dez probably a dozen times now and he’s always been super nice.
Hold Back the Day
Clouds Over California
Soil
Through the continuing emergence of newer metal bands on Loud, one such band that caught my attention was Soil. They were hard rock to the next level, skating that thin line between radio sensibilities with mosh pit riffs. The singer, Ryan ended up leaving for a bit and fronting Drowning Pool, but has since returned.
Halo
Redefine
Adema
Adema is an interesting band. I heard their first song ‘Giving In’ and was blown away. It wasn’t until later that I found out the singer was the brother of Jonathan Davis from Korn. Mark seems to be an enigmatic person –having left the band, then returned, to only leave again. They’ve had some up’s and down’s but that first album –wowsa!
Giving In
The Way You Like It
Shadows Fall
Lastly, I’ll close this with Shadows Fall. Brian and Co arrived at a time when I was starting to move away from the radio-ish tunes and wanting something grimier and heavier. The first time I heard ‘Thoughts Without Words’ I was blown away. Simple video –but amazing performance. I found near the end of their run, they became too commercial sounding and stopped caring as much, but I would welcome a return from these guys.
Thoughts Without Words
Destroyer of Senses
OK, that’s all I got this month! Hope your 2019 was killer!
2020 is just around the corner. Are there any bands you are excited to hear new music from or see live? Let’s hear it!
Next month I’ll be back with some jams from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal!
Horns up!
Steve
Steve Stred
Steve Stred writes dark, bleak horror fiction.
Steve is the author of the novels Invisible & The Stranger, the novellas The Girl Who Hid in the Trees, Wagon Buddy, Yuri and Jane: the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick, and the dark poetry collection Dim the Sun.
On September 1st, 2019 his second collection of dark poetry and drabbles called The Night Crawls In will arrive. This release was specifically created to help fund the 1st Annual LOHF Writers Grant.
Steve is also a voracious reader, reviewing everything he reads and submitting the majority of his reviews to be featured on Kendall Reviews.
Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.
You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevestred
You can visit Steve’s Official website here
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