Saturday, October 5, 2013

Saturday Shuffle: Fifth on the Floor, Savatage, Danzig, Adrenaline Mob, Jon Oliva's Pain

Start off with some country, mix in a couple of Savatage-related tracks, something from Danzig, and could this be the only time Duran Duran will ever appear on this blog?


Fifth on the Floor, “The Fall.” From the album Dark and Bloody Ground (2010). Ooh, this is an easy one. It’s probably my favorite tune from Fifth on the Floor. It’s just so damned soulful and moving. It’s a tight competition between “The Fall” and “Distant Memory Lane,” but I think this one wins.



Savatage, “Degrees of Sanity.” From the album Edge of Thorns (1993). I admit that, even the Savatage fanboy that I am, it took me some time to come around to Edge of Thorns. I missed the voice of Jon Oliva terribly, as he’s second only to the immortal Ronnie James Dio in my book. I eventually came to love Zachary Stevens as well. “Degrees of Sanity” isn’t one of the best numbers from this record, but it’s still Savatage.


Danzig, “God of Light.” From the album 777: I Luciferi (2002). After kind of losing his way for a while, Danzig started to come back to himself on his sixth and seventh solo records. I Luciferi, I think, is a bit underrated. It doesn’t compare with the first three albums, but there’s some good stuff. The squealing riff of “God of Light” is hard to get out of your head.


Adrenaline Mob, “Come Undone.” From the album Omerta (2012). I have mixed feelings on Adrenaline Mob. But anyone that can turn a Duran Duran tune into a really good metal tune has to have something going for them, right. Though I’m not a huge Halestorm fan, Lzzy Hale delivers a really good punch with the female vocals on this one, too.


Jon Oliva’s Pain, “Walk Upon the Water.” From the album Global Warning (2008). Though Jon Oliva has referred to Pain as Savatage reborn, I don’t really feel that vibe. That said, it’s good stuff, and Global Warning is arguably the band’s best outing. “Walk Upon the Water” is one of those big, sweeping dramatic ballads that lends itself so well to Oliva’s voice. It really gives me a Streets vibe.


No comments:

Post a Comment