Avenged Sevenfold- Rock with a Touch of Dark
Huntington Beach, California is the place of origin of the dark band, Avenged Sevenfold. It was in 1999 when the band members, all still in high school, first came together. Vocalist M. Shadows came up with the band name. Despite not being a religious band, their name is actually lifted from a biblical reference contained in the Cain and Abel story in which God warns that anyone who kills Cain will be punished sevenfold.
In addition to the band’s unique name, its members also carry nicknames that clearly reflect the group’s fascination with dark underpinnings. Among the founding members are Zacky Vengeance, James “The Rev” Sullivan and Matt Wendt. Joining Shadows and Vengeance in its current roster are Synyster Gates on lead guitar and Johnny Christ on bass.
At the outset, the group appropriately took on metalcore tones which seemed to fit perfectly with their image. This was evident in their first album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet which was released under Good Life Recordings in 2001 and under Hopeless Records in 2002.
The year that followed gave the group more exposure with the release of Walking the Fallen and loads of Avenged Sevenfold merch. It was also at this point, up to 2004 that the band performed in the Vans Warped Tour. It didn’t take long for the band to finally decide to go mainstream. As if to mark the move, Warner Bros. Records became the group’s new label.
It was with Warner Bros. in 2005 that Avenged Sevenfold came up with City of Evil, their third album. Despite being viewed as highly reflective of the band’s image, the album was a departure from their initial musical tone. Metalcore was no longer the strong element in the band’s music but rock. This is obvious because of the glaring omission of screaming vocal outputs.
In 2006, the group gained acclaim as MTV Video Music Awards’ Best New Artist. In this same year, they returned to the Vans Warped Tour, played in Ozzfest and launched their own world tour covering the US, UK and Australia among other locations. As if to highlight their new popular status, the band capped 2007 with the release of their self-titled fourth album, Avenged Sevenfold which debuted at the #4 spot.
The year 2009 gave the group its first real obstacle. By the end of the year, the group had made it to the second spot of Ultimate Guitar’s Top Ten Bands of the Decade trailing only behind the legendary Metallica. In the same month however, Avenged Sevenfold lost its drummer, James “The Rev” Sullivan due to drugs. The loss was significant but by February of the following year, the band had moved on with drummer Mike Portnoy.
The group started work in 2010 with its new drummer. A fifth release is scheduled for July. Shadows says it will be deeper and darker compared to all the other albums made by the band.
Despite the apparent genre switch, Avenged Sevenfold seems to be on more solid ground than many other genre bands. There is no question where the band is headed. By all appearances, they have become leaders in deeply emotional, dark music. This is one band you’ll definitely see in more band posters.
HIM Defines Love Metal Best
For the most part, HIM has remained defiant of the labeling that is an all too common preoccupation among music fans and band store experts. The group has been variously placed under such categories as gothic, alternative and hard under the major umbrellas of rock and metal. Until today, there is no clear agreement as to how to define or categorize the band’s music. For certain though, both the fans and the group itself don’t seem to mind that they are viewed from different perspectives.
Band Symbol
Perhaps the closest label that can be pinned on HIM is love metal. This may seem like a strange category considering that it is in fact a mix of a variety of influences and approaches including gothic, rock, pop, glam and heavy metal. This unique brand of music is often said to be Ville Valo’s creation.
In keeping with the band name, the group has adopted the heartagram as its definitive symbol which also reflects its genre. Valo believes that the symbol has become so well known that people now associate it more with the band than anything else.
Band Story
The band was originally known as His Infernal Majesty. By 1998, the name was changed to HIM after the release of the Wicked Game single. The name however should not be taken as the same as American post rock group HiM, Christian group 4Him and Canadian metal band Infernal Majesty.
Incidentally, the band bought the rights to the name from HiM and has since used it in their worldwide tours and albums. Previously, they used the name HER for Razorblade Romance, which was their sophomore album, as well as HIM and HER during tours in Europe.
Like a lot of other bands, HIM has had its fair share of member shifts and changes. Band members include a considerably long list of performers. This includes lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist Ville Valo; lead and acoustic guitarist Mikko Lindstrom; bass guitarist and backup vocalist Mikko Paananen; drummer and percussionist Mika Karppinen; and keyboardist and backup vocalist Janne Puurtinen. Past members complete the official list with drummers and percussionists Juhana Tuomas Rantala, Juippi, and Juha Tarvonen; keyboardists Sergei Ovalov, Antto Melasniemi and Jussi-Mikko Salminen; and guitarist Oki.
Albums Out
As expected from this unique band, they can boast of a substantial work collection. They have twenty-two singles, twenty-three music videos, seven HIM albums, six compilations, one live album, one extended play and four video albums.
• Greatest Lovw Songs Vol. 666- This 1997 album is nowhere close to Satanic despite its title
• Razorblade Romance- This came out in 1999 and holds the record of being the top bestseller in the band’s country of origin
• Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights- This came out in 2001 and is the band’s third piece of work
• Love Metal- As the title suggests, this is the groups most definitive piece of work and came out in 2003 with the heartagram symbol featured for the first time
• Dark Light- This 2005 release included elements of mythology and current religions
• Venus Doom- This 2007 release is widely regarded as the heaviest piece of work the band has produced
• Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice- This newest 2010 release is considered by Valo to be a cathartic, primal scream
We can expect many more from the band that pioneered love metal. And that’s what we love about HIM. There’s no doubt that they’ll me on more band posters.
The Legend of Pearl Jam
There’s no question that the 1990s gave us one of the most popular rock and roll bands in history. It was in this decade that we first heard of the music of the would be legend, Pearl Jam. Thanks to the band member’s outstanding talent and artistry, their popularity and music merch sales haven’t dimmed. This is despite the fact that they have made controversial stands in relation to social and political issues.
One other explanation behind the band’s enduring quality is its strong following and fan base. Millions continue to listen to Eddie Vedder on lead vocals and guitar, Matt Cameron on drums, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, Jeff Ament on bass guitar and Mike McCreedy on lead guitar.
Enduring Popular Band Discography
With impressive album sales of 60 million worldwide, Pearl Jam definitely has staying power over its contemporaries from the 1990s. This comes as no surprise as its songs are as relevant today as it was 20 years ago, the themes touching on subjects ranging from the personal to the social and political.
The band’s inexhaustible energy is apparent in the volume of work that they’ve churned out. To date, they have a total of nine albums, two compilations and six live albums. Aside from their own work, they have collaborated with other big name artists such as Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog.
The 9 studio albums with their release year are as follows: Ten (1991), Vs. (1993), Vitalogy (1994), No Code (1996), Yield (1998), Binaural (2000), Riot Act (2002), Pearl Jam (2006) and Backspacer (2009).
Diverse Musical Influences
There is no doubt that the band has its own unique and noticeable mark. Most hardcore fans would know though that it is difficult to pin Pearl Jam entirely on one category. Although the group is generally considered a classical or punk rock band, they have successfully fused a number of musical elements from different genres.
The variety of influences can clearly be noticed across the band’s albums. Ten is strongly alternative rock while No Code is considered more Garage Rock. Vitalogy evinces a noticeable punk rhythm. Yield belongs more to the category of rock and roll while Binaural is more within the realm of art rock. Riot Act is perhaps the most unusual with elements of folk rock. The band’s self titled album is more definitive because of its return to the alternative influence. Backspacer is perhaps the most in tune with popular culture and music.
Because of the band’s variety of music quality, the band’s influence also encompasses bands from different genres. Bands that reflect Pearl Jam’s work include alternative band Silverchair, rock band The Strokes and post grunge band Puddle of Mud. More bands influenced by the group are perhaps currently in the works.
The great thing about the group is that its members are more than just rock musicians. They are also highly involved members of society. Eddie Vedder in particular has openly used his popularity as leverage when speaking out about such concerns as wildlife protection, Chrohn’s disease and voter registration.
Pearl Jam continues to demolish the image that rock stars are wasted individuals in search of fame and fortune, often with no regard to their surroundings. And with music worthy to jam to through the generations, we may have just found for ourselves the band to worship at the altar of music or at the very least on band posters.
The Mark of Avenged Sevenfold
The American band Avenged Sevenfold first saw the light of day in Huntington Beach, California when the then 18 year old founding band members came together. The band name was the idea of vocalist M. Shadows. Although the name carries sinister suggestions, it is actually a direct reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The group has clarified though, that they are not a religious band.
The group name is not the only one that stands out. The members have also taken on stage names that are reflective of their musical leanings. Other original members are Zacky Vengeance, James “The Rev” Sullivan and Matt Wendt. Current members with Vengeance and Shadows now include Synyster Gates who plays lead guitar and Johnny Christ who handles bass.
From the very beginning, both the image and the sound of the group was resoundingly metalcore in nature. The debut release Sounding the Seventh Trumpet under their first label Good Life Recordings gave a taste of the group’s early music. Its original 2001 release was followed by a second 2002 release by Hopeless Records.
In the following year, the group saw more action with the release of Walking the Fallen. In the same year, the group saw greater recognition as they played in the Vans Warped Tour in both 2003 and 2004. After this Avenged Sevenfold album release, their eventual move to mainstream was marked by their move to Warner Bros. Records. Apparently, this also introduced more popular Avenged Sevenfold merch.
It was with Warner Bros. in 2005 that Avenged Sevenfold came up with City of Evil, their third album. Despite being viewed as highly reflective of the band’s image, the album was a departure from their initial musical tone. Metalcore was no longer the strong element in the band’s music but rock. This is obvious because of the glaring omission of screaming vocal outputs.
In 2006, the group gained acclaim as MTV Video Music Awards’ Best New Artist. In this same year, they returned to the Vans Warped Tour, played in Ozzfest and launched their own world tour covering the US, UK and Australia among other locations. As if to highlight their new popular status, the band capped 2007 with the release of their self-titled fourth album, Avenged Sevenfold which debuted at the #4 spot.
The year 2009 gave the group its first real obstacle. By the end of the year, the group had made it to the second spot of Ultimate Guitar’s Top Ten Bands of the Decade trailing only behind the legendary Metallica. In the same month however, Avenged Sevenfold lost its drummer, James “The Rev” Sullivan due to drugs. The loss was significant but by February of the following year, the band had moved on with drummer Mike Portnoy.
With a new drummer and a new year, fans wonder what’s in store for 2010. Shadows has spoken of a fifth album due this July that will be darker and more emotional. Fans got a taste of this in May with the release of the single Nightmare.
The seeming switch in genre is understandable. Avenged Sevenfold is apparently evolving. Nonetheless, they are clearly on more stable foundations than other bands. There is hardly any doubt what the band wants to evoke with its dark sounds. They’ll surely be in more future band posters.
Iron Maiden- The Legends of Heavy Metal
It isn’t an understatement to say that Iron Maiden is now on a pedestal of its own. After more than three decades as a band, the group still manages to sell albums and music merch and inspire numerous novice bands and performers.
As of today, the group has sold 75 million records worldwide. For this accomplishment and for their work, they have been included in the Hollywood RockWalk. To further illustrate the wide and enduring influence of this band, one only has to look at the various films, video games and songs in which the group is mentioned. The continuing popularity of Iron Maiden simply can’t be stopped.
Band History
Despite their near legend status, the group has had some experience in changing lineups. It was Steve Harris who founded the first group in December of 1975. The band’s name is taken from the torture tool called iron maiden used in the film The Man in the Iron Mask. Other than Harris who is the band’s bassist, backup vocals and studio keyboardist, guitarist David Murray shares the distinction of being the member who has been with the group the longest.
Other current members include Bruce Dickinson on lead vocals, Adrian Smith on guitar and backing vocals; Janick Gers on guitar; and Nicko McBrain on drums and percussion while Michael Kenney performs with the group during live performances as the keyboardist. The former members were either fired from or left the group due to personal and professional differences. These former members were Doug Sampson and Clive Burr on drums and percussions; Paul Di’Anno, Paul Day and Dennis Wilcock on lead vocals; and Dennis Stratton on guitars and backing vocals.
Albums Out
Iron Maiden has had an outstanding thirty releases spanning more than three decades of their music career. Of this number, fourteen are studio albums, four are EPs, five are compilations and seven are live Iron Maiden albums. Their work has led to the band’s inclusion in numerous charts and lists including the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement, the VH1 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and the MTV Top 10 Greatest Heavy Metal Bands of All Time.
Just to describe a few of the 14 studio albums released in the three-decade long career of Iron Maiden:
• Iron Maiden (1980)- This is the eponymous debut album of the band, which contains classics like The Phantom of the Opera, Sanctuary and, of course, Iron Maiden
• The Number of the Beast (1982)- Widely considered as one of the most influential albums in the heavy metal genre, it is also the band’s highest-selling album with worldwide sales of over 14 million, not to mention that this is also the debut of Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist
• Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)- Probably the most lyrical of the group’s body of work, it centers on topics like mysticism, prophecy, reincarnation and the afterlife
• The Final Frontier (2010)- This is the band’s latest and fifteenth album slated for release in late summer and is gearing up to be yet another reason to worship at the altar of the Iron Maiden
There is simply no way to sink Iron Maiden. With their outstanding work and huge following, it’s likely they will get enshrined in music immortality or at least in thousands of band posters.
Fall For Bring Me the Horizon’s Metalcore
Compared to other bands, Bring Me the Horizon hasn’t been around for very long. Nonetheless, it is obvious that like any other band, this one from Sheffield, Yorkshire aspires to launch an international music merch invasion. The may be on the right track to it.
The band’s name isn’t a complete unknown. Movie fans would recognize it as a line from Captain Jack Sparrow, “Now bring me that horizon,” from the popular movie Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. For a metalcore group, the name seems a bit whimsical but fans don’t even seem to care.
Band Story and Albums Out
The history of Bring Me the Horizon spans three periods at present. First, the early years from 2004 to 2007 starting with the formation of the band. The members came from the defunct bands in the local area with Oliver Sykes on lead vocals, Lee Malia on lead guitar, Matt Kean on bass guitar, Matt Nicholls on drums and percussion, and Curtis Ward on rhythm guitar. Jona Weinhofen later replaced Ward and then taking on the roles of keyboardist, programmer and vocalist.
During this period, their debut album Count Your Blessings was released in October 2006 and August 2007 in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively. Bring Me the Horizon also toured with I Killed the Prom Queen, Lostprophets, The Haunted, The Blackout, and Killswitch Engage in addition to playing at the 2007 Download Festival.
The years 2008 to 2009 marked a second phase for the group and was highlighted by the leave taking of Curtis Ward. Jona Weinhofen was tapped to occupy the vacant spot but initially on a temporary capacity. In 2009 however, Weinhofen became a permanent member of the band and even took on a number of additional responsibilities.
Around this period, the group came up with the second Bring Me the Horizon album. The release of Suicide Season met with better reception than the first release. This was mainly because the second album took on a more metalcore approach than the first one. It went on to take the 28th slot in the Australian ARIA Albums chart.
Close to the end of 2009, Suicide Season: Cut Up!, a remixed version of the original was released. Unlike the original, this one came infused with a variety of musical elements including electro and hip hop. This is most likely because of the contribution of many individuals including Sonny Moore and Shawn Crahan.
The group’s third period spans 2009 to the present and, hopefully, the release of the third Being Me the Horizon album. It is slated for release in the summer of 2010, an event that many fans are eagerly awaiting for.
Band Awards
The group has been recognized on several occasions for their music. The most notable recognitions for Bring Me the Horzion include the 2006 Kerrang! Award for Best British Newcomer, Rock Sound Best British Band and Best Album. Barely two years later though, music listeners seemed to have turned against the group voting it the Worst Band of 2008 in the Kerrang! Reader’s poll. Suicide Season was subsequently named the Worst Album.
Despite mixed reception however, the group has showed no signs of throwing the towel. There may be a couple more years of getting featured on band posters for this young group.
Hear Love Metal First From HIM
HIM is a Finnish band that seemingly defies conventional band store categorization. The band has been alternatively placed under the genres of rock and metal. This isn’t the end of the attempt to define the group though since it has also been variously placed under the sub genres of gothic, hard, doom and alternative. There are just so many different ways of looking at the band’s work. Clearly though, it doesn’t seem to matter what their music is most like.
Symbolism
It is perhaps because of the differing categories that the term love metal was hatched to define the group’s kind of music. In an attempt to be as exact as possible, experts say that love metal is really a mixture of rock, gothic, heavy, rock and pop elements. This rich mix is said to largely be the result of lead singer Ville Valo’s creative juices.
In accordance with its name, the so-called heartagram represents the band as well as the musical genre. Because of its wide popularity, Valo once remarked that the band is now better known for its symbol than its music.
Band Past
The original name of the band is His Infernal Majesty. After the Wicked Game single came out in 1998, this name was seemingly shortened to HIM. Other groups carry names similar to it. The group however is not the same as the Christian band 4Him, the American post rock group HiM and the Canadian metal band Infernal Majesty.
The group only really adopted the HIM name after it bought the rights of the name from HiM. Before they were able to obtain the rights, they used HER for Razorblade Romance, and HIM and HER for tours across Europe.
Just like any rock band, the group has had its share of musical chairs amongst its members. At present, the band is composed of Ville Valo on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Mikko Lindstrom on lead and acoustic guitar; Mikko Paananen on bass guitar and backing vocals; Mika Karppinen on drums and percussion; and Janne Puurtinen on keyboard and backing vocals. The former members included Juippi, Juha Tarvonen and Juhana Tuomas Rantala on drums and percussion; Antto Melasniemi, Sergei Ovalov and Jussi-Mikko Salminen on keyboards; and Oki on guitar.
Released Albums
The band is currently one of the most productive of modern bands. They have seven HIM albums, six compilations, one live album, one extended play, twenty-two singles, four video albums and twenty-three music videos. Some of their works are detailed below.
• Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666 came out in 1997 but is not a Satanic album as some would think
• Razorblade Romance was released in 1999 and is a particularly significant work because it is an undisputed bestseller in the Finnish music scene
• Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights was a 2001 album that first featured the current band lineup
• Love Metal is a 2003 album, featuring the heartagram, that clearly reflects the band and its genre the most
• Dark Light followed in 2005 and was inspired by ancient mythology and present day religions
• Venus Doom was released in 2007 and is currently considered the most heavy metal of all HIM albums
• Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice is the most recent 2010 release from the group and is dubbed by Valo himself as a cathartic primal scream
With this long list of artistic creations, there is no doubt that HIM will be around for long on band posters. There’s no killing this pioneering music giant.
Distinctive Evolution with Pearl Jam
There’s no question that the 1990s gave us one of the most popular rock and roll bands in history. It was in this decade that we first heard of the music of the would be legend, Pearl Jam. Thanks to the band member’s outstanding talent and artistry, their popularity and music merch sales haven’t dimmed. This is despite the fact that they have made controversial stands in relation to social and political issues.
Fortunately, the band has attained legendary status amongst its fans and music lovers. Today, the current band members, Eddie Vedder on lead vocals and guitar, Jeff Ament on bass guitar, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, Mike McCready on lead guitar and Matt Cameron on drums, continue to make music that millions still jam to.
All Time Favorite Discography
With impressive album sales of 60 million worldwide, Pearl Jam definitely has staying power over its contemporaries from the 1990s. This comes as no surprise as its songs are as relevant today as it was 20 years ago, the themes touching on subjects ranging from the personal to the social and political.
At present, Pearl Jam has 9 studio albums, 2 compilation albums and 6 live albums with 28 singles and several official bootlegs to its name. It must be noted that the number does not include numerous collaborations with other bands like Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, and Temple of the Dog, to name a few.
The nine studio albums span two decades, Ten in 1991, Vs in 1993, Vitalogy in 1994, No Code in 1996, Yield in 1998, Binaural in 2000 Riot Act in 2002, Pearl Jam in 2006 and Backspacer in 2009.
Musical Style, Influences and Legacy
Fans of Pearl Jam can always expect something new from the band and yet still evocative of the spirit that makes the band what it is. With each new release, the band broadens to experiment with and influences other musical styles but without losing its essence as a band with decidedly classic rock and punk rock influences of its own.
The variety of influences can clearly be noticed across the band’s albums. Ten is strongly alternative rock while No Code is considered more Garage Rock. Vitalogy evinces a noticeable punk rhythm. Yield belongs more to the category of rock and roll while Binaural is more within the realm of art rock. Riot Act is perhaps the most unusual with elements of folk rock. The band’s self titled album is more definitive because of its return to the alternative influence. Backspacer is perhaps the most in tune with popular culture and music.
Because of the band’s variety of music quality, the band’s influence also encompasses bands from different genres. Bands that reflect Pearl Jam’s work include alternative band Silverchair, rock band The Strokes and post grunge band Puddle of Mud. More bands influenced by the group are perhaps currently in the works.
The great thing about the group is that its members are more than just rock musicians. They are also highly involved members of society. Eddie Vedder in particular has openly used his popularity as leverage when speaking out about such concerns as wildlife protection, Chrohn’s disease and voter registration.
It’s clear that the band members’ additional point of appeal is their social involvement. They definitely have more in mind than fame and money. This truly makes them the best candidates for immortalizing at least on band posters.
Blink 182- A Band that Defines Pop Punk
Who doesn’t know Blink 182? The band has been on top of its pop punk scene for years and can boast of an international fan base. Some music experts and music merch sellers believe that there is just Blink 182 and most of the others are mere posers. This has become all the more true considering that the band’s name is first on everyone’s mind when pop punk is mentioned.
In reality, Blink 182 is considered a pioneer of sorts in their genre. Many other groups regard this band as their major source of inspiration and influence. To prove their popularity, the group has a number of awards to boast of.
Impressive Discography
Blink 182 has been an extremely active band. They currently have twenty-one singles and three extended plays. They also have four video albums, five studio albums and one compilation. Their music first saw the light of day in 1994 with Cheshire Cat when the band first came together as a group. This initial release did not meet with success but it gave the band its first shot at establishing a long career. In 1997, Dude Ranch came out with better success.
It was Enema of the State that gave the band its first major break, debuting in Billboard’s top ten. “All the Small Things” which was part of the album became a sensation and took the number one spot in the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Blink 182 was eventually able to release a US number one album, Take Off Your Pants. To date, only this album has occupied top spot. The eponymous Blink 182 album was only number three in the Billboard 200. Although it never went over the third rank, it is still considered the band’s most definitive release.
A sixth album is in the works for 2010 adding to the Blink 182 discography. It can be modestly said that the music scene awaits the latest collaboration between the band members of this popular band, which has sold over 25 million albums globally.
Constancy in Composition
Except for Scott Raynor, who was the drummer and percussionist of the band from 1992 to 1998 and was subsequently replaced by Travis Barker, the other two band members remained the same since 1992. These were Mark Hoppus on lead vocals and bass as well as Tom DeLonge on lead vocals and guitar; both were songwriters for Blink 182.
Undoubtedly, the good music that Blink 182 provides is the major reason for its popularity. The staying power of the group however is often also pinned on the fact that the members share strong personal and professional bonds. This has led to a number of important merits:
• Teen Choice Awards – Choice Rock Group (2000), Best Rock Group (2001) and Choice Love Song (2004) for “I Miss You”
• MTV Video Music Awards – Best Group Video (2000) for “All the Small Things” in addition to other nominations for Video of the Year and best Pop Video
• MTV Europe- Best New Act (2000) and Best Rock Act (2001)
Although the music of Blink 182 has been variously described as pop punk, punk rock, punk revival and skate punk, one thing is not in question. Its music is as relevant today as it was more than a decade ago in terms of teen angst. This group will definitely have their band posters on fan walls for years to come.