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”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Dez Fafara of DevilDriver and Coal Chamber was the guest on Full Metal Jackie’s radio show this past weekend. Fafara spoke all about DevilDriver’s current trek with Gwar and their upcoming European tour with Cannibal Corpse and the band’s forthcoming record, as well as being open to performing more shows with Coal Chamber. Read the full interview with Dez Fafara below: DevilDriver are out on tour with Gwar, this isn’t the first time you guys have toured with together? No, we toured together about six years ago and it was the funnest thing we’ve ever done, especially this time of the season with a bunch of monsters is great. So we’re having a great time. There’s some news semi-recently with a label change so talk to us about about DevilDriver news and what’s happening right now. Well DevilDriver is with Napalm Records now worldwide except over in Australia, where we’re still with Roadrunner Records and we’ve got a new record coming out possibly end Fall time next year. We’re recording in December and I do the vocals in January and the record is sounding really killer. I’m really happy with the songs so far, it’s just real groove heavy . Let’s talk about Coal Chamber for a sec; Coal Chamber reunited last year for what you thought would be just a few shows but now there’s talk of maybe working on some new music. What changed your mind? Well we haven’t talked about new music, there’s a lot of rumors out there. We did Australia and it went incredibly well, we all got along great, we revisited the music and the fans. It was killer. Then we went and did South America and that was just absolutely amazing. We would like to do something in the States but we just don’t know when we’re going to have the time because I’m with DevilDriver right now so we’re just taking it slowly and having a good time with it. Offstage, how are Coal Chamber and DevilDriver different in terms of the collective personalities of each band? Everybody’s different in both bands, Coal Chamber offstage – they’re nuts, those guys are crazy. We’ve settled down a bit. DevilDriver, after shows, everyone’s kind of got a girlfriend or gotten married and this and that. It’s a good time touring with both of them and I’m definitely having a good time doing both sides of my music. Dez, you mentioned earlier that DevilDriver starts recording next month, leaving you with a short amount of time to track vocals before heading to Europe with Cannibal Corpse. How does the pressure of a tight schedule become a creative tool? I think pressure is a creative tool, I think it’s there when you have to do it then you have to get it done and that’s what’s happening with me. In January I’ve got to record and then we go right overseas with Cannibal Corpse and we do a co-headlining thing in February and March so we just pray that it all goes well. [Laughs] We’re going to be doing the record with Mark Lewis, he’s quick, we work well together. He’s already got the new music on him so he knows where we’re going with this. I’m really excited to get trackin’. You just released a song to raise money offset the medical cost of your sister’s cancer treatment. Has that given you any thought of more philanthropic efforts on a broader scale? I love music and I have so many different sides to me and so many different things I listen to and that’s why I have Coal Chamber – it’s a more dark, goth side and that’s why I have DevilDriver it’s more of a heavy side of me. ‘Dark Meadowlark,’ the song I did for my sister Kerri, is a totally different animal than either of those. So we’ll really have to see, time is what really matters – do I have time to do other things and right now I’m really concentrating on DevilDriver. Can you give information on how people can get the song? Sure and it would be very helpful to me and my family if you did so. You got to DezFafara.com and it’ll take you right to Kerri’s Corner, it takes you right to her page. You can download the song, it’s $2.50, some people are giving a thousand dollars, other people are giving ten dollars. Pick up the song and help somebody you don’t know and hopefully it’ll feel good for you. Full Metal Jackie will welcome Chris Adler of Lamb of God on her next show. Full Metal Jackie can be heard on radio stations around the country — for a full list of stations, go to fullmetaljackieradio.com .
Chuck Armstrong, Loudwire Metallica have created some of the most critically acclaimed music in the world of rock and metal over the course of three decades. And one of the foundations of their music has been Kirk Hammett's stellar guitar playing. He's behind some of the biggest face-melting tunes in history and he's never shown any signs of slowing down. From creating ripping leads in the 1980s to still shredding like a pro today, Hammett will go down in the history books as one of the premiere lead guitarists of all time. As we celebrate the axeman's 50th birthday on Nov. 18, we also celebrate his music. We took the painstaking task of handpicking 10 of his best solos, but we weren't even going to try to attempt ranking them. So, without further adieu, we present our favorite Hammett guitar solos (in no particular order): ? 'Master of Puppets' From: 'Master of Puppets' (1986) ? ? What can we say about 'Master of Puppets?' Not only is it one of Metallica's best songs, it features a Hammett solo that has become so memorable that fans cheer along with it at concerts. As James Hetfield slows things down in the tune, he can rely on the thousands and thousands of screaming fans to help his bandmate nail the solo. And without a doubt, Hammett always delivers. Listen to the solo in ''Master of Puppets' ? ? 'Fight Fire with Fire' ? ? Starting at the bottom-end of the wah pedal, Hammett blazes into an absolutely crazy solo in the middle of this classic thrash tune. Just like the song itself, the solo never slows down. At times, it's almost unbelievable how fast Hammett is shredding on his guitar, and just when you think things are wrapped up near the three minute mark, Hammett blazes into an even more mind-numbingly fast solo. Listen to the solo in 'Fight Fire with Fire' ? ? 'Harvester of Sorrow' From: '…And Justice for All' (1988) ? ? By no means is 'Harvester of Sorrow' a speedy metal tune. Somehow, though, Hammett works in his magic to make his guitar solo just fast enough to elevate the intensity of the song while not completely dismissing the original rhythm. At times, his guitar work keeps beat with the mild rhythm while at other times it takes the song to a completely new level, most notably around the 3:50 mark. Hammett is a master at keeping pace with the rest of the band while letting his fingers ignite a face-melting solo. Listen to the solo in 'Harvester of Sorrow' ? ? 'Motorbreath' From: 'Kill 'Em All' (1983) ? ? It doesn't last very long, but Hammett's first solo in 'Motorbreath' is such a shredder that if it lasted any longer, you'd run the risk of having your face completely melt off. Hammett expertly executes the solo in a matter of seconds – 10 to be exact – halfway through the song, and it take 'Motorbreath' to an even thrashier level than before. Oh, and did we mention that Hammett wails on a second solo for twice as long as the first one to wrap up the song? In the world of favorite Hammett guitar solos, it doesn't get much better than that. Listen to the solo in 'Motorbreath' ? ? 'My Friend of Misery' From: 'Metallica' (1991) ? ? In a 2012 interview discussing his guitar solos on Metallica's 1991 self-titled album, Hammett says, “They just kind of formed themselves. It was kind of an amazing process for me. That’s what every musician wants, they just want it to flow out.” No solo stands out more on this album than 'My Friend of Misery.' After Jason Newsted's bass contribution is highlighted, Hetfield begins a very melodic guitar solo. It doesn't take long for Hammett to join his bandmate to add another layer of sound to the solo, and soon after that, Hetfield turns things over completely to Hammett who finishes the solo. Combined with Hetfield's efforts, this is easily one of Metallica's most unique guitar solos to date. Listen to the solo in 'My Friend of Misery' ? ? 'One' From: '…And Justice for All' (1988) ? ? 'One' is one of Metallica's most dynamic songs, beginning with a very simple and even-tempered guitar riff. That mild-mannered rhythm ends abruptly when the band tears into the part of the song that is founded on Lars Ulrich's double-bass drum beat. Helping keep the rhythm as in-your-face as possible, Hammett rips into an unimaginably fast guitar solo around the 5:45 mark. By the end of the nearly seven-and-a-half minutes, there is absolutely no memory of the clean guitar from the beginning of the song, only the thought of Hammett's unforgettable solo. Listen to the solo in 'One' ? ? 'Stone Cold Crazy' From: 'Rubaiyat: Elektra's 40th Anniversary' (1990) ? ? No list of favorite guitar solos is complete without a mention of Metallica's 'Stone Cold Crazy.' Originally a Queen tune, 'Tallica's cover takes an already fairly fast song and cranks up the ferocity with slightly altered lyrics and a couple of insanely fast solos. In one of Metallica's shortest songs – clocking in at two minutes and 18 seconds – Hammett wastes no time by introducing listeners to his first solo less than a minute into the tune. Things really explode during the second solo when it sounds like Hammett lets loose, which fits this song perfectly. 'Stone Cold Crazy' made its first debut as part of the compilation 'Rubaiyat,' an album that celebrated Metallica's the 40th anniversary of Metallica's record label, Elektra. Listen to the solo in 'Stone Cold Crazy' ? ? 'Whiplash' From: 'Kill 'Em All' (1983) ? ? There's no arguing that Metallica's debut album is their thrashiest. Even though it wasn't a huge success at the time of its release, 'Kill 'Em All' has turned into a part of thrash metal's foundation and legacy. There might be no other song that perfectly encapsulates the attitude of the album than 'Whiplash.' An absolutely in-your-face song, 'Whiplash' is non-stop thrash at its finest, especially when Hetfield screams, “Here we go,” and Hammett rips into a mind-blowing guitar solo. Just when you think it's done, Hetfield belts out “Whiplash,” and Hammett keeps things going with another 12 seconds of screaming guitar solo perfection. Listen to the solo in 'Whiplash' ? ? 'Disposable Heroes' From: 'Master of Puppets' (1986) ? ? Listening to Hammett's guitar work on 'Master of Puppets,' it's obvious that he was trained by none other than the great guitar maestro, Joe Satriani. During the crushing tune 'Disposable Heroes,' it's almost expected that when Hammett begins his solo, it's going to be intense, but nobody could expect just how intense. Lasting for a minute, Hammett delivers a breathtakingly extreme guitar solo that lives up and exceeds all expectations. In the song, Hetfield sings, “I was born for dying.” It's safe to say that if the song was about Hammett, the lyrics would be altered to, “I was born for shredding.” Listen to the solo in 'Disposable Heroes' ? ? 'Hero of the Day' From: 'Load' (1996) ? ? Not every guitar solo has to be a facemelter. Hammett's solo in 'Hero of the Day' isn't considered a shredding solo, but that doesn't mean it's any less rocking to fans or important. In an exclusive interview with Ultimate Metallica , the guitarist was asked about his favorite solo, and 'Hero of the Day' was the song that first came to his mind. The axeman says about the solo, “It’s very melodic, it’s very dynamic. I think that guitar solo serves the song in a way that I want all my guitar solos to serve their songs.” Listen to the solo in 'Hero of the Day' ? ? What Is Your Favorite Kirk Hammett Guitar Solo? Obviously, we couldn't include all of Kirk Hammett's memorable guitar solos in this list of 10 tunes. What solos on this list are your favorite, and what ones did we miss? Let your thoughts be known in the comments section below: ?
Sony Legacy Rage Against the Machine are marking the 20th anniversary of their self-title debut disc by reissuing the album as ‘ Rage Against the Machine – XX .’ To celebrate, the band is teaming with Loudwire to bring you an advance listen to one of the bonus cuts you’ll hear in the collection — a demo of ‘Know Your Enemy.’ The major difference between the demo of ‘Know Your Enemy’ (listen below) and the final version that appeared on the studio album is the absence of the guest vocal by Tool singer Maynard James Keenan during the bridge. The demo solely features Rage singer Zack de la Rocha on vocals, and offers a more stripped-down version of the tune. Like the final cut, the demo boasts driving guitar licks from Tom Morello , a killer low end from bassist Tim Commerford and pounding beats from drummer Brad Wilk. ‘Rage Against the Machine — XX,’ which can be pre-ordered here , will be available in three configurations when it arrives Nov. 27. There will be a deluxe edition box set housing two discs, two DVDs, a 12-inch vinyl LP, a 40-page booklet and a two-sided poster. There’s the special edition version with two CDs and a bonus DVD featuring six tracks in an oversized softpack. Plus, there’s the standard single-disc bolstered with three extra tracks. It should be noted that the second disc of the two-CD versions is Rage Against the Machine’s original demo tape that was recorded in 1991 and was available for $5 at the band’s merch table. One of the DVDs that’s included features a free show the band did at Finsbury Park in June 2010 as a show of appreciation for the group’s U.K. fans sending ‘Killing in the Name’ to the top of the charts at Christmas the prior year. Also included are music videos and live concert performance clips. The second DVD focuses on live performances between 1991-1994 of songs from the band’s live album and includes the full set of the band’s first public appearance on the campus of Cal-State Northridge in 1991. Morello recently stated , “We’re really psyched to be putting this out for the fans. We are blessed with having perhaps the most passionate fans to ever listen to a bootlegged recording or mosh at a show, so I want to really give them a mother lode of Rage Against The Machine history, past and present.” However, he also squashed rumors of potential new music by stating that the band had “no plans” beyond the 20th anniversary reissue. Listen to Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Know Your Enemy’ (Demo) [button href=”http://loudwire.com/rage-against-the-machine-best-reunion-tours/” title=”Best Reunion Tours – Rage Against the Machine” align=”center”]
Bradley Kanaris, Getty Images Lamb of God ‘s Randy Blythe will learn in the coming weeks whether or not he’ll have to stand trial on criminal charges in the Czech Republic, as the case file has been sent to the prosecutor for review. Czech news site iDNES.cz reports that police have completed their investigation into the alleged manslaughter case and recommended that the vocalist be indicted and ordered to return to the Czech Republic to stand trial. The prosecutor in charge of the case will now review the facts and determine whether there is enough criminal liability to pursue the case further. A spokesperson for the Municipal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Prague, Stephanka Zenklova, stated that a decision on the matter will be made before the end of November. The singer was arrested this summer for his alleged involvement in the death of an audience member who sustained an injury after being thrown off the stage at their show. The injury didn’t immediately present itself, and the victim passed away a month later. Blythe spent 37 days in a Czech prison before finally being set free on bail. Shortly after arriving back in the U.S., the vocalist stated that he planned to return to face the charge and that the victim’s family had the right to some answers. He added, “I want my name cleared. I have to go around the world and tour, you know. That’s what I do. I’m not going to hide here. I’m an innocent man. I’m going to go to court and see what happens.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-lamb-of-god-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Lamb of God Songs” align=”center”]
Decibel There is absolutely no reason why you should miss this show. Warm up your car, grab your plane tickets, reschedule your wedding date if you have to! The utter excellence in brutality is overflowing with this bill, which consists of Converge , Pig Destroyer , Municipal Waste , Repulsion, Tombs and Evoken. This Philadelphia megashow is set for Saturday, Jan. 19, at Union Transfer, and is to celebrate 100 issues of Decibel Magazine. The tickets are only $20 and each person coming to the show will be given a free Pig Destroyer flexi disc. Converge have continued their streak of brilliant extreme hardcore with their 2012 album, ‘All We Love We Leave Behind.’ The band is currently touring to support the album, which we gave a gleaming review after its release. Pig Destroyer have also accomplished great things in 2012 with ‘Book Burner.’ Their first full-length album since the 2007 album, ‘Phantom Limb,’ and is incredibly executed while continuing the band’s legacy of consistently solid material. Check out our review of ‘Book Burner’ here . Stop reading this now and click here for tickets! [button href=”http://loudwire.com/converge-fault-and-fracture-top-21st-century-metal-songs/” title=”Converge – Top 21st Century Metal Songs” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com In this week’s edition of Loudwire’s Top 20 Countdown, Stone Sour maintain their top spot with their single ‘Absolute Zero’ off of their brand new record ‘House of Gold & Bones Part 1.’ Three Days Grace also keep their No. 2 spot with ‘Chalk Outline’ off of their new album ‘Transit of Venus.’ Soundgarden hold steady in third place with their tune ‘Been Away Too Long,’ as do Shinedown and their latest single ‘Enemies,’ which comes in at No. 4 for the second consecutive week. Linkin Park and their latest track ‘Lost in the Echo’ round out the top five on this week’s list. Other songs on the list include Slash ’s new single ‘Standing in the Sun’ featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, In This Moment ’s new track ‘Blood’ and Avenged Sevenfold ’s new song ‘Carry On.’ 3 Doors Down make their countdown debut this week with their new single ‘One Light’ off of their ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. Check out the Top 20 songs below and be sure to tune in to Loudwire Radio this weekend to blast these tracks at full volume. Loudwire Radio Top 20 Songs of the Week: 20. 3 Doors Down, ‘One Light’ 19. The Offspring, ‘Turning Into You’ 18. Papa Roach, ‘Still Swingin’ 17. The Black Keys, ‘Little Black Submarines’ 16. Kid Rock, ‘Let’s Ride’ 15. Five Finger Death Punch, ‘Pride’ 14. Chevelle, ‘Same Old Trip’ 13. Halestorm, ‘I Miss the Misery’ 12. All That Remains, ‘Stand Up (Stand Up)’ 11. Deftones, ‘Tempest’ 10. Green Day ‘Let Yourself Go’ 09. Volbeat, ‘Heaven Nor Hell’ 08. Avenged Sevenfold, ‘Carry On’ 07. In This Moment, ‘Blood’ 06. Slash, ‘Standing In The Sun’ 05. Linkin Park, ‘Lost In The Echo’ 04. Shinedown, ‘Enemies’ 03. Soundgarden, ‘Been Away Too Long’ 02. Three Days Grace, ‘Chalk Outline’ 01. Stone Sour, ‘Absolute Zero’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/loudwire-radio-station-list/” title=”See Which Stations Air Loudwire Radio” align=”center”]