Posts Tagged ‘green’

Rock Titan of the Year – 2012 Loudwire Music Awards

Last year, our most popular category in the Loudwire Music Awards was the Rock Goddess of the Year, celebrating the talented women in rock. But we also got some feedback from readers asking us to pay tribute to the men who best represented rock music over the year. We’ve answered the call with a brand-new category in 2012 – Rock Titan of the Year. A massive amount of bands have shaped the world of music in 2012, but some singular musicians have been especially important. Along with releasing quality music and/or touring this year, these titans have accomplished a variety of notable achievements. By making gigantic impacts, overcoming tragic circumstances, or both, we give you seven nominees for Rock Titan of the Year. Check out the nominated musicians and be sure to vote in the poll below: Corey Taylor, Slipknot/Stone Sour Slipknot / Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor  accomplished a great deal this year. Not only did he headline the 2012 Mayhem Festival with Slipknot, but Taylor also released ‘House of Gold & Bones Part 1′ with Stone Sour. ? Jesse Leach, Killswitch Engage After vocalist Howard Jones announced his departure from Killswitch Engage , original Killswitch singer Jesse Leach returned to the band, receiving a red-hot reception from fans. Leach has also been working diligently with his bandmates on a new Killswitch record. ? John Baizley, Baroness Baroness released the brilliant double album ‘Yellow & Green,’ this year before surviving a terrifying bus crash while touring in England. John Baizley sustained some incredibly serious injuries from the crash, but despite the physical toll, Baizley has shared his story with fans, radiating an overwhelming amount of positivity. ? Phil Anselmo, Pantera / Down Legendary vocalist Phil Anselmo had prominent releases from both Down and Pantera this year. Down released their acclaimed ‘Purple EP’ while Pantera’s ‘Vulgar Display of Power’ got a 20th anniversary release with the added track ‘Piss.’ Anselmo even performed in both of the 2012 ‘Metal Masters’ clinics. ? Randy Blythe, Lamb of God Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe was unfortunately on the wrong side of metal’s biggest news story of the year. After releasing ‘Resolution’ with Lamb of God early in the year, Blythe persisted through over a month in Czech prison, while refusing to run from his controversial charges. ? Slash The iconic top-hatted guitarist took 2012 by storm with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Slash released ‘Apocalyptic Love’ this year, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and helped spearhead a reunion performance of Guns N’ Roses sans Axl Rose. ? Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath The news of Tony Iommi ‘s lymphoma diagnosis hit metal fans straight in the gut this year, but the ‘Iron Man’ has been steadfast in fighting the condition while writing and recording a new Black Sabbath album. Iommi was also able to perform with Sabbath for three shows in 2012 and continues to work on a new Sabbath album. ? Voting for the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards closes on Jan. 15 at 11:59 PM EST. Fans can vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite band wins! Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. Get Notified When Winners Are Announced Enter your email address below to receive the daily Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of our full list of winners in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards, as well as the top stories in rock and metal. Email

Rock Song of the Year – 2012 Loudwire Music Awards

It’s been a great year for rock music, and the 10 nominees in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards category for Rock Song of the Year reflect certainly reflect that. We’ve got several perennial chart rulers, a veteran rocker making his self-proclaimed comeback and pair of female-led rock bands who enjoyed major success this past year. Who will take the title? That’s up to you! Check out the nominated songs and be sure to vote in the poll below: Baroness, ‘March to the Sea’ Baroness had one of the year’s standout albums in ‘Yellow and Green,’ and the single ‘March to the Sea,’ the band’s ode to a friend lost to drugs, is a powerful statement set against an equally chugging and forceful beat. Dead Sara, ‘Weatherman’ Dead Sara  frontwoman Emily Armstrong’s powerful vocals caught the attention of many in 2012, and the song ‘Weatherman,’ with a monster riff from guitarist Souixsie Medley, is about as an infectious piece of ear candy as you could find in rock in 2012. Deftones, ‘Leathers’ Deftones carried over the success from the ‘Diamond Eyes’ album in a big way, and ‘Leathers’ is the ‘Koi No Yokan’ track that shows the group was truly clicking on all cylinders, with equal parts moody atmospherics and intense chugging rock. Halestorm, ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’ It is punk! It is rock! It is thrash! Whatever you want to call it, Halestorm ‘s ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’ is an aggressive, fist-pumping anthem that grabbed everyone’s attention in 2012! Marilyn Manson, ‘No Reflection’ From the opening notes of ‘No Reflection,’ it is clear that the Marilyn Manson we’d all come to know from his ’90s heyday is back with full force. The track stands right alongside some of Manson’s best. Papa Roach, ‘Still Swingin” Does anyone know their way around a rock anthem like Papa Roach ? The band kicked off support of their latest album ‘The Connection’ with the standout rocker ‘Still Swingin” and have kept fans rocking throughout most of 2012. Serj Tankian, ‘Harakiri’ While Serj Tankian has been exploring his musical boundaries over the last few years, the title track to his latest album ‘Harakiri’ brought him full circle to the rock spotlight with one of the year’s most melodically beautiful choruses and a powerful statement about today’s growing environmental concerns. Shinedown, ‘Bully’ Shinedown was on message with their first single of 2012, ‘Bully,’ offering up an anti-bullying sentiment with a rocking twist that motivated the listener to stand up for themselves. It’s inspirational and it rocks. Stone Sour, ‘Gone Sovereign’ Stone Sour unleashed the fury on 2012′s ‘Gone Sovereign’ with some blistering guitars, thunderous drumming and a driving track where Corey Taylor sings about being at an emotional low point and trying to stay alive. Three Days Grace, ‘Chalk Outline’ Three Days Grace found themselves with another major hit, deservedly so, with the jarring single ‘Chalk Outline.’ With its gritty guitar and one of Adam Gontier’s best choruses yet, it deserves the accolades it’s received. Voting for the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards closes on Jan. 15 at 11:59 PM EST. Fans can vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite band wins! Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/metal-song-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Category: Metal Song of the Year” align=”center”] Get Notified When Winners Are Announced Enter your email address below to receive the daily Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of our full list of winners in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards, as well as the top stories in rock and metal. Email

10 Best Metal Albums of 2012

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire This year 2012 will be remembered as one that was incredibly rich with quality metal albums. With some of extreme music's most consistent bands having issued near-perfect additions to their discographies this year, many of the albums listed here could have easily come in at No. 1 if released in past years. Albums from Between the Buried and Me , Converge , Pig Destroyer and Gojira made 2012 an incredibly competitive year, and certainly one of the best so far in the 21st century. The year also saw stellar new releases from the likes of Down and Lamb of God , among others. For fans who lean more rock than metal, we've got a separate list for you. But here, we present our picks for the 10 Best Metal Albums of 2012: ? 10 'Blood for the Master' Goatwhore ? ? Coming in at No. 10 is Goatwhore 's blackened death metal gem 'Blood for the Master.' Released on Feb. 13, the band unleashed one of their heaviest and greatest career achievements early in the year. With 'Blood for the Master' fueling an ever-increasing fanbase, Goatwhore earned a place on this year's Summer Slaughter tour along with opening shows for High on Fire, Hate Eternal and 3 Inches of Blood, among others, in 2012. Listen to 'Collapse in Eternal Worth' ? ? 9 'Resolution' Lamb of God ? ? Lamb of God continued their streak of creating addictive “pure American metal” with 'Resolution.' The band stays the course with their latest album, with powerful consistency and flawless execution. While there is no mistaking the album's tracks as anyone but Lamb of God, the band experiments with some doom with 'Straight for the Sun' and spoken word parts with 'King Me.' Add pummeling tracks such as 'Desolation' and Ghost Walking,' and you've got a killer album. Listen to 'Ghost Walking' ? ? 8 'Down IV, Part 1 – The Purple EP' Down ? ? Although 'Down IV, Part 1 – The Purple EP' contains only six songs, the tracks within offer a sustaining energy that carries the weight of a full-length. The vocal prowess of Phil Anselmo remains powerful, especially when delving low into his range, while the rest of Down pump out monstrous sludge into the groove-driven 'Levitation' and the anthemic 'Witchtripper.' Listen to 'Witchtripper' ? ? 7 'Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light' Woods of Ypres ? ? The tragic death of Woods of Ypres mastermind David Gold in December 2011 was a massive loss to the metal world, and tragically, Gold did not live to see the release of 'Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light.' Gold harnessed immense depth and introspective thought, using death itself as the album's central theme. 'Woods 5' follows a man who sees death after being struck by lightning and finds neither a God nor an afterlife. Listen to 'Lightning & Snow' ? ? 6 'Book Burner' Pig Destroyer ? ? With an album so good even Larry King contributed to it (kind of), Pig Destroyer ended a five-year wait for new material in 2012 with 'Book Burner.' The addition of Misery Index drummer Adam Jarvis to the lineup delivered a much dirtier and twisted sound to the new record, displayed prominently in 'The Diplomat.' Along with the all-knowing guitarist / producer Scott Hull and tremendous guest vocalists accompanying J.R. Hayes, the grind of Pig Destroyer remains second to none. Listen to 'The Bug' ? ? 5 'L'Enfant Sauvage' Gojira ? ? Although Gojira already possessed mountains of fans and a solid discography, the band is widely considered to be the breakout metal act of 2012. The French metallers unveiled 'L'Enfant Sauvage' to universal acclaim, successfully balancing the band's key components of brutality, beauty and progression with flawless production attached. For songs like 'The Axe,' 'Explosia,' the title track and much more, we say 'merci beaucoup' to Gojira. Listen to 'L'Enfant Sauvage' ? ? 4 'De Vermis Mysteriis' High on Fire ? ? High on Fire gifted fans with the incredible trippy sludge-fest 'De Vermis Mysteriis' in 2012, which explores the story of Jesus Christ's time-traveling stillborn twin brother who drinks a serum to see the past through his ancestors eyes in order to discover how his brother became a religious icon. Still with us? Even if the concept goes over your head, the brilliance of tracks such as 'Fertile Green' and 'King of Days' will bring you to sonic enlightenment. Listen to 'Fertile Green' ? ? 3 'All We Love We Leave Behind' Converge ? ? Converge possess one of extreme music's most impressive discographies, and 'All We Love We Leave Behind' ranks among the band's crowning achievements. The group strides closer to their hardcore roots with 'Trespesses' and 'Sparrow's Fall,' continue the legacy of Kurt Ballou's ingenious shredding with 'Sadness Comes Home' and even create experimental beauty with 'Coral Blue.' Listen to 'Sadness Comes Home' ? ? 2 'Utilitarian' Napalm Death ? ? Many metalheads expected just another grind record with Napalm Death 's 15th studio album, 'Utilitarian.' Those people were wrong. 'Utilitarian' turned out to be not just a phenomenal album, but a monumental achievement for the British legends. Barney Greenway's unmatched voice remains terrifying and demented, while the band's songwriting created an avant-garde niche consisting of scattered saxophone solos and otherworldly clean vocals. Listen to 'The Wolf I Feed' ? ? 1 'The Parallax II: Future Sequence' Between the Buried and Me ? ? 'The Parallax II: Future Sequence' is metal music's greatest conceptual accomplishment of the year. Set in outer space, BTBAM have created the most complex music you'll ever zone out to, performed by the strongest group of pure musicians within the realm of metal. Much like the band's 2007 album, 'Colors,' the record takes unexpected twists and turns while sonic plates spin without the slightest wobble. For that, we crown it the Best Metal Album of 2012. Listen to 'Telos' ? ? What's Your Favorite Metal Album of 2012? Which one of our 10 picks is your favorite? Did we get the order right? Did we miss your favorite metal album of 2012? Tell us our hits and misses in the comments section below: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-of-2012/” title=”Next: 10 Best Rock Albums of 2012″ align=”center”] ?

10 Best Rock Albums of 2012

Jim Dyson, Getty Images / Michael N. Todaro, Getty Images / Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The year 2012 turned out to be a strong one for rock albums. We saw the highly anticipated return of '90s favorites Soundgarden , the continued brilliance of acts like Deftones and Stone Sour , the emergence of females in hard rock courtesy of Halestorm and Dead Sara , among others, to go along with memorable releases from a number of other rock acts. Unfortunately, all of our favorite albums couldn't make this list, but after much debate among our entire staff, we've come up with our official picks for the best rock albums of the year. If metal is more your speed, don't worry, we've got a separate list for you headbangers. But for now, strap in and turn it up, as we count down the 10 Best Rock Albums of 2012: ? 10 'Dark Adrenaline' Lacuna Coil ? ? Lacuna Coil's 'Dark Adrenaline' album, released early on in 2012, finds the band rediscovering their gothic roots while expanding their sound in the process. 'Trip the Darkness' was a dark sounding gem off the record, and the song got an extra boost when a remix by Dillinger Escape Plan 's Ben Weinman appeared on the 'Underworld: Awakening' soundtrack. 'Fire' showed off a more radio-friendly side, while 'End of Time' served as the band's late year ballad. The disc also included an interesting cover of R.E.M.'s 'Losing My Religion.' Listen to 'Trip the Darkness' ? ? 9 'King Animal' Soundgarden ? ? The promise of Soundgarden's 2009 reunion was finally realized in 2012, as the band released their 'King Animal' album in November. The grunge goliath's first new album since 1996 proves that Soundgarden are still on top of their game. 'Been Away Too Long' became a major hit at radio, while tracks like 'Non-State Actor' and 'Worse Dreams' generated plenty of buzz in advance of the album. Chris Cornell 's voice is as strong as ever, and the full band feels as though they haven't lost a step. Welcome back, Soundgarden, and kudos for delivering one of the 10 best rock albums of 2012. Listen to 'Been Away Too Long' ? ? 8 'Amarylllis' Shinedown ? ? Shinedown had a tough task in matching the success of 2008's 'The Sound of Madness,' but they succeeded in cranking out another hits-filled collection with 'Amaryllis,' certainly showing that there is no slowing down this juggernaut. Both 'Bully' and 'Unity' took the band back to the top of the charts. And the group got great mileage out of 'Enemies' and 'I'll Follow You,' making for a very successful 2012. Look for the output to continue, with the single 'Miracle' lined up to hit radio in early 2013. Listen to 'Bully' ? ? 7 'Born Villain' Marilyn Manson ? ? For longtime fans of Marilyn Manson, 'Born Villain' provided a much welcome creative resurgence. The lead single 'No Reflection' was just the sort of gritty-meets-groovy rocker that the singer built his career upon, and 'Slo-Mo-Tion' and 'Overneath the Path of Mystery' show the true depth of the record. In addition, Manson got some notice for including the bonus cover of 'You're So Vain' with his longtime pal Johnny Depp. Listen to 'No Reflection' ? ? 6 'Harakiri' Serj Tankian ? ? The man of many musical inspirations, System of a Down singer Serj Tankian found his latest solo disc embracing rock, punk and new wave, among other genres. 'Harakiri' earns its spot as one of the 10 best rock albums of 2012 by delivering socially-minded statements through infectious songs. 'Figure It Out' is an in-your-face track that pulls no punches, while 'Cornucopia' showcases Tankian's versatile talents as a musician. But the standout cut just might be the title track, which features a chorus as catchy as any in System of a Down's catalog. Listen to 'Figure It Out' ? ? 5 'The Strange Case of …' Halestorm ? ? Halestorm went from being the “next big rock band” to fulfilling that prophecy with 'The Strange Case Of…' The group rocketed up the charts in early 2012 with the single 'Love Bites … So Do I' and the attitude that Lzzy Hale provided set the tone for the rest of the disc. They enjoyed crossover pop success with 'Here's to Us,' but once again embraced their hard-rock fans with the scorching track 'I Miss the Misery,' which shows off Hale at her belting best. Listen to 'Love Bites (So Do I)' ? ? 4 'Yellow & Green' Baroness ? ? Baroness may not get as much attention as some of the bigger names on this list, but the band delivered one of the best front-to-back efforts of 2012. The two-disc collection 'Yellow & Green' features such standout tracks as 'March to the Sea,' 'Take My Bones Away' and 'Board Up the House.' Unfortunately, the band wasn't able to support the album as much as they has planned, as a terrifying bus crash led to major injuries and kept Baroness off the road for much of the year. Listen to 'Take My Bones Away' ? ? 3 'Dead Sara' Dead Sara ? ? Looking for the next big rock band? It's worth a look at Dead Sara and their self-titled breakout album. The group garnered notice for their single 'Weatherman,' which features Emily Armstrong's powerhouse vocals and some terrific guitar work from Siouxsie Medley, but the disc as a whole is great. Second single 'We Are What You Say' is another notable track, while songs like the chilling ballads 'Dear Love' and 'Sorry for It All' should deserve a longer look in 2013. Listen to 'Weatherman' ? ? 2 'House of Gold & Bones, Pt. 1' Stone Sour ? ? You can't have a Best Rock Albums of 2012 list without Stone Sour's ambitious record 'House of Gold & Bones, Part 1.' Singer Corey Taylor got things rolling with the double-single 'Gone Sovereign' and 'Absolute Zero,' both of which set a hard-driving tone for the disc. Meanwhile, 'Taciturn' shows that the band can hit hard even when not rocking out at 11, providing one of the more moving songs on the record. We have no doubt that 'House of Gold & Bones,' with the second half of the double album coming next year, will play a major role in 2013. Listen to 'Gone Sovereign' ? ? 1 'Koi No Yokan' Deftones ? ? Deftones have found their creative rebound in recent years, and they're making sure to pounce while it's going good. Fresh off the critically acclaimed 'Diamond Eyes' album, the band continues to rock at the top of their game. 'Koi No Yokan' hits on all cylinders with cuts like the single 'Tempest,' and standout tracks 'Leathers,' 'Poltergeist' and 'Rosemary.' With the disc just arriving in mid-November, it looks as though Deftones will have plenty to celebrate over the next year – starting with being named Loudwire's Best Rock Album of 2012. Listen to 'Tempest' ? ? What's Your Favorite Rock Album of 2012? There you have it — the 10 Best Rock Albums of 2012 — at least in our opinion. But that's why we have a comments section. You can let us know if we hit it right on the head, if there's any glaring omissions, or if there's an album you think has no right even making the cut. Let us know what you think in the comments section below. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-metal-albums-of-2012/” title=”Next: 10 Best Metal Albums of 2012″ align=”center”] ?

Melanie Martinez Delivers Haunting Performance of White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ on ‘The Voice’

NBC: The Voice Singing competition shows aren’t really our forte, unless one of the competitors happens to do a smooth jazz rendition of Slayer ‘s ‘Angel of Death’ of course. Although shows such as ‘The Voice’ don’t normally produce performances that would catch our attention, this version of the White Stripes staple ‘Seven Nation Army’ is a breathtaking exception. On Monday night (Nov. 19), ‘The Voice’ contestant Melanie Martinez performed a haunting rendition of ‘Seven Nation Army’ that left the studio audience rabid for more. With her hair color split in two by black and bleach, Martinez added some extra layers to the famously simple track, choosing to sing frontman Jack White ‘s main guitar line. The warmth of Martinez’s voice lends a beautifully haunting edge to ‘Seven Nation Army,’ which is amplified by a very Tim Burton-esque group of backing musicians and colorful murals created Martinez herself. Judges Adam Levine, Blake Sheldon and Cee Lo Green all praised Martinez’s version of the track, with Christina Aguilera holding back a bit in admiration. Sheldon even expressed regret that he hadn’t selected Martinez to join his team. Check out this very different, but captivating performance of ‘Seven Nation Army’ on ‘The Voice.’ Melanie Martinez Performs The White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/white-stripes-seven-nation-army-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”White Stripes – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”]

Green Day Offer Free Stream of ‘¡Dos!’ Album

Reprise Green Day may be out of commission at the moment while singer Billie Joe Armstrong continues his substance abuse rehab, but you would never know it from how prominently they’ve kept fans enthralled with new music. That continues with the new stream of the ‘ ¡Dos! ‘ album on RollingStone.com, a full week ahead of its Nov. 13 release. The high-energy, upbeat disc will be a solid one for the band once they finally do return to the road. ‘F— Time’ features some Georgia Satellites-like good time guitar licks; ‘Stop When the Red Lights Flash’ has that infectious vibe that could make it an eventual single; ‘Makeout Party’ has a great garage-rock feel; and ‘Stray Heart’ is just an immediate radio-friendly rocker that’s the perfect choice for the lead single. The full ‘¡Dos!’ disc drops next Tuesday (Nov. 13) and now competes with the ‘¡Uno!’ album released earlier this year for listeners’ full attention. The third disc in the trilogy, ‘ ¡Tre! ,’ was recently pushed forward to a Dec. 11 release after the band realized they would be unable to tour leading up to the album’s original Jan. 15 street date. Green Day fans can also check out the new ‘ Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 ‘ soundtrack song ‘ The Forgotten ,’ which recently debuted and will also turn up on the ‘¡Tre!’ album. [button href=”http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/green-day-rock-hard-and-fast-on-dos-album-premiere-20121106″ title=”Listen to Green Day’s ‘¡Dos!’ Album Streaming at RollingStone.com” align=”center”] [button href=”http://loudwire.com/green-day-shinedown-van-halen-linkin-park-nominated-peoples-choice-awards/” title=”Next: Green Day Nominated for People’s Choice Award” align=”center”]

Green Day Reveal ‘Twilight: Breaking Dawn’-Themed Video for ‘The Forgotten’

Spencer Kaufman, Loudwire While Green Day dropped the unfortunate bomb earlier this week that they have to cancel all upcoming tour dates in 2012 and postpone most of their upcoming tour dates in January and February to allow their lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong to focus on his recovery from substance abuse, the band also offered up some good news, in the form of a new video for the song ‘The Forgotten.’ Although the band is one-third of the way through their release of a series of three new discs ‘¡Uno!,’ ‘¡Dos!,’ and ‘¡Tre!’ in the coming months, ‘The Forgotten’ can be found on the upcoming soundtrack for ‘ The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 .’ The soundtrack is due out on Nov. 13, a few days prior to the movie hitting the big screen. Kicking off on piano, musically ‘The Forgotten’ slow things down a little for the trio with the vampire meets pop-punk video showing off the softer side of Green Day. The clip, sure to appeal to both Green Day and ‘Twilight’ fans offers up a montage of alternating clips from the upcoming movie and bits of footage of Green Day in the studio and on the stage. Fans are already weighing in with feedback about the new song with comments like, “I love this, it’s so beautiful,” and “Amazing song!” Check it out below for yourself. Watch Green Day’s New Video for ‘The Forgotten’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/green-day-shinedown-van-halen-linkin-park-nominated-peoples-choice-awards/” title=”Next: Green Day Nominated for People’s Choice Award” align=”center”]