Alice In Chains' gives fans a video twofer - one bad and one good!

Black Gives Way to Blue is a great Alice in Chains album. However, the new video for "Acid Bubble" is nowhere near as excellent.

The band (or more likely the vid's director) tried to pull together a "groundbreaking interactive video," but instead ended up creating something that is visually boring. You can check out the video minus the interaction below. And the actual version here.

I recommend just cranking the album and avoiding this video altogether.



UPDATE: Turns out Alice in Chains released another music video for "Lesson Learned inbetween the time it took me to make another post! This one is a better video and reminds me strongly of Cantrell's solo album Degradation Trip.

The Grammy Awards Suck

Rob Halford: "I'm glad accept this award for the Dissident Aggressor performance..." What the hell is this? 1977?

So right now millions of Americans are checking out what insane outfit Lady GaGa is wearing or waiting for Kanye West to pull some crazy stunt on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

As a life-long fan of music (especially metal music), I have to question what the Grammy's really mean anymore (or ever).

The judges often go with the commercial hits for their choices and the hard rock and metal categories don't even get a nod on the show, although that might be a good thing... AC/DC won the Grammy for "Best Hard Rock Performance" with "War Machine," a track that comes off one of the band's most irrelevant album in years, when they could have picked Alice In Chains with "Check My Brain" as it is a great track and Black Gives Way to Blue was a solid rock record.

As for "Best Metal Performance," Judas Priest's 1977 song "Dissident Aggressor" managed to beat out Megadeth's "Headcrusher". Now I do find Megadeth's live show to be a bit bland, but at least it's a recent song that is memorable and the band has never won a freakin' Grammy before despite being nominated eight times! What the hell? You can't tell me that Rob Halford, while being the awesome vocalist he is, is performing the song better than ever in 2009!

Maybe I'm just overreacting and need to zone out and tune in, but it's hard to watch an awards show that cares more about fancy bling and commercial appeal than the actual music.

If you care you can check out a list of nominee's (and later the winners) RIGHT HERE.

Best Metal Releases of 2009

New Year's partying got the best of me and delayed my year-end list until now. Don't forget to check out the comprehensive Year in Review list for other notable metal releases.

Randy's Top 10 Albums of 2009

10) Obscura – Cosmogenesis



Reasoning: I'm not the biggest fan of tech-death metal, but Obscura does it right on Cosmogenesis, creating an album that is both skillful and memorable.

9) Kreator – Hordes of Chaos



Reasoning: On Hordes of Chaos Kreator proves it still has the balls of steel required to deliver true thrash metal, leather, spikes and all.

8) Revocation – Existence is Futile



Reasoning: I'll admit I only listened to this album all the way through about a week ago, but I'm glad I did. Existence is Futile provides a look back at what made thrash so great, all while advancing the scene forward in terms of heaviness.

7) Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue



Reasoning: Alice In Chains surpassed all expectations with Black Gives Way to Blue and William Duvall is an excellent musician to boot.

6) Mastodon – Crack the Skye



Reasoning: Crack the Skye may not be my favorite Mastodon album, hell I'd consider it more prog rock, than metal. But to the mainstream this IS metal and it is GOOD. If an album can bring this much attention to the metal scene, while still being unique, then it deserves the accolades.

5) Candlemass – Death Magic Doom



Reasoning: Candlemass provides the sleeper hit of the year with Death Magic Doom. Stoner/doom metal bands of today just can't compare to the greatness of this band.

4) Ace Frehley – Anomaly



Reasoning: Anomaly may not be metal, but it is great rock 'n' roll. Plus Ace Frehley influenced enough metal dudes to be legit in the scene. See why by checking out this release.

3) Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague



Reasoning: I never was all that into Cannibal Corpse, but "Evisceration Plague" may just be the perfect death metal song. Check out my review of the album here.

2) Shadows Fall - Retribution



Reasoning: Although Shadows Fall's latest album Retribution may have the lamest cover of the top albums of 2009, it has some of the best content. I had almost lost hope with one of my favorite modern metal bands, until hearing this release, which is the band's best since The Art of Balance in my book.

1) God Forbid - Earthsblood



Reasoning: Earthsblood is God Forbid's greatest album and my choice for best album of 2009. Why? Because this album is a breath of fresh air in the metalcore genre - containing excellent songwriting that blends heavy and clean vocals to perfection.

Other Random Awards:

Best Local Metal Album:
Dark Mirror – Portrait of Evil(Des Moines)



Why it got the award: Power thrash metal outfit Dark Mirror saw a lot of changes in 2009, but the band's latest incarnation put out its best album yet. Listen to some tracks on the band's Official Web site.

Also check out:
Identity Crisis – Finding Balance (Iowa City)
(Click here for MySpace)

Most Overrated album of 2009:
Baroness – Blue Record



Why it got the award: There's no doubting Baroness released what is possibly the best album of its career. But best album of the year? I think not. Maybe I just don't fully appreciate "stoner metal," but after favorably reviewing the album I didn't feel a need to listen repeatedly.

Biggest Controversy:
Rammstein – "Pussy" Music Video



Why it got the award: Well, those crazy Germans in Rammstein made a hardcore porn video for the first single "Pussy" off the surprisingly good Liebe Ist Für Alle Da. There isn't much else to say. Check it my original post on the video here.

Music Video Roundup: Alice In Chains "Your Decision" and Scar Symmetry "Ascension Chamber"

Two new videos. I dig the Alice In Chains one and great choice for a single. Scar Symmetry's is a little cheesy, but the song is still pretty good.



Go here for the full Alice In Chains video.


SCAR SYMMETRY - Ascension Chamber

SCAR SYMMETRY | MySpace Music Videos

Remember When: Drain STH

I can't say I was ever totally into Drain STH in the '90s (I know the group was on Ozzfest). But I was doing some YouTube browsing and decided to check out some videos of them. Pretty cool music with sort of an Alice In Chains vibe.

They have some heavier tunes, but this one was the best quality. I wonder what this band is up to now?

Update: After doing some research, I found out that apparently this band is no more. The members broke up after what I believe was their second album. The singer married Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath and the rest are playing music in other bands.

Alice In Chains Unplugged 2

High quality unplugged performance from Alice In Chains. Congrats to the band for making it to No. 5 on the Billboard Charts with "Black Gives Way to Blue".

Alice In Chains: "Black Gives Way to Blue" Listen Now!

What could be the biggest rock album of the year is almost here. I haven't had time to listen to "Black Gives Way to Blue" online yet, but I have heard only positive things so far.

"Black Gives Way to Blue" comes out this upcoming Tuesday, Sept. 29. Take a sneak peak (or more like full peek) at this Web site.

Alice In Chains "Black Gives Way to Blue" Short Film

Metal Show Playlist September 21

Metal Show Playlist Monday 9/21 (8 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

1) Ace Frehley- Outer Space (CD)
2) Shadows Fall- The Path to Imminent Ruin (CD)
3) Shadows Fall- My Demise (CD)
4) Behemoth- Transmigrating Beyond Realms Ov Amenti
5) 3 Inches of Blood- Snake Fighter
6) Megadeth- Bodies
7) The Agonist- Thank You Pain
8) Alice In Chains- Check My Brain
9) The Black Dahlia Murder- Throne of Lunacy
10) Identity Crisis- Deception of the Fourth Dimension (CD)
11) Judas Priest- Deal With the Devil
12) Blaze Bayley- While You Were Gone

Somebody "Check My Brain"...

So... this week looks to involve very little sleep. And to top things off I might have to miss The Metal Show tomorrow night due to the Buckethead concert...

I hate to miss shows, but I can't pass up Buckethead! Please forgive me! The Metal Show will be back next Monday September 21, bigger, badder and better than ever, with new tunes from Ace Frehley, Shadows Fall, Megadeth, 3 Inches of Blood, The Black Dahlia Murder and Dying Fetus, not to mention some great metal classics in between.

Now onto the good news. Alice In Chains released another video, this time for the song "Check My Brain". A great Alice In Chains tune!

This is much more straightforward than the video for "A Looking In View", but still shows the band rockin' out in all its glory.

September 29 Couldn't Come Sooner

Watch Alice In Chains perform "Nutshell" during a live unplugged set.

Alice In Chains: One Step Closer to Release, Album Cover is Revealed!

I like it. The heart of Alice In Chains is definitely still alive and beating.

UPDATE: Now you can listen to the new song "Check My Brain" at the Metal Insider page. I like the trippy riff at the beginning and the song is catchy as hell. I'm surprised the band didn't release these as the first single.

UPDATE #2: "Check My Brain" is also available from YouTube below. The more I listen the more I can hear some Cantrell "Degradation Trip" influences, which is cool in my book.

Sunday Night Acoustic Jam: Phil Anselmo Covers Alice In Chains' "Nutshell"

Phil Anselmo may not be in top shape vocally anymore due to the drugs and alcohol, but he still is one of the better frontmen in all of metal history.

"Nutshell" comes off Alice In Chains' "Jar of Flies" EP.

In September We Go Broke

List of Albums Coming Out in September (if all goes to schedule):

September 1: Megadeth- "Endgame"
September 8: 3 Inches of Blood and Dethklok albums
September 15: Ace Frehley- "Anomaly", Shadows Fall- "Retribution" and Black Dahlia Murder- "Deflorate"
September 22: Vader- "Necropolis"
September 29: Alice In Chains- "Black Gives Way to Blue"

Also scheduled for release in September: New Kiss Album

Alice In Chains: "A Looking In View" Out Now

The new single "A Looking View" off the forthcoming "Black Gives Way to Blue" is out on iTunes and Amazon retailers. Holy Jesus it's good!

William Duvall does Layne Staley justice and Jerry Cantrell in company deliver a tune that is darker and heavier than anything the band has put out.

If the rest of the album sounds this good, it could be a heavy contender for album of the year. I heard the video comes out tomorrow so I will post it ASAP when it does.

Alice in Chains is back. Staley would be proud.

UPDATE: No video yet. Not sure when it's going to be released. But you can listen to the song now below.

UPDATE 2: The video has arrived. Very professional looking and fits the song.

Alice In Chains: "Black Gives Way to Blue"

Yeah, "Black Gives Way to Blue" is the name of the new Alice In Chains album which will be released on September 29!

The album title is interesting and definitely not what I saw them choosing (I figured it would be some type of play on the band's resurrection). However, I am still betting on this release being huge and hopefully a good one too.



Also if you thought Jerry Cantrell was dead all of those years away from Alice In Chains you were very wrong. In fact Degradation Trip is one of my favorite albums (although a bit depressing) and an essential buy. Make sure you get the double-album though.

Alice In Chains Release New Teaser Video

So awhile back I made the prediction that the new Alice In Chains album will be one of the biggest releases of 2009 and the band just keeps building on the hype by releasing these in the studio vids.

Check out the latest one below which features an ominous and heavy Alice In Chains riff. Lets hope the rest of the album will sound that good!

Week 11 Update

Guitar Hero: Metallica = Best Guitar Hero Yet!

Today the complete track listing for Guitar Hero: Metallica was announced and I was surprised and excited to see all of the songs that made it on there.

It's no secret I am a Metallica fan-boy, but even those that only occasionally enjoy their Metallica should be impressed with the song options.

Here is a sample of what's to come and you can check out the complete song list via Blabbermouth.

Metallica songs:

+All Nightmare Long
+Creeping Death
+Disposable Heroes
+Dyers Eve
+No Leaf Clover
+Mercyful Fate (medley)
+and many more

Other bands:
+Diamond Head- Am I Evil?
+Judas Priest- Hellbent for Leather
+Mercyful Fate- Evil
+Alice in Chains- No Excuses

Any video game that gets kids into Mercyful Fate, Diamond Head and Samhain is cool in my book.

Even if you haven't played Guitar Hero and put it off as a toy, believe me, it is plenty of fun to play when gathering with friends and a few brews.

What will be the biggest album of 2009?

2008 has been a year of multiple heavy hitting metal albums. Metallica, AC/DC, Testament, Iced Earth, In Flames, Sebastian Bach, Meshuggah and several other bands released solid albums this year.

Newer bands such as Gojira and Trivium kept metal alive for a new generation of fans with their 2008 releases.

A little over two weeks and we will have the new Guns N' Roses as well.

Now looking at 2009, it looks like there could be some more great metal CDs released in the near future.

Anthrax, Lamb of God, Shadows Fall, God Forbid, Sepultura, Slayer and possibly Ace Frehley will be releasing new albums.

However, one of the biggest new releases will be coming from a band that hasn't recorded a new CD since about 1995 when they released the self-titled album Alice In Chains. Recording only three full-length albums, the band left a huge mark on the metal and rock world.

One can argue this band is grunge, but to me, Alice In Chains is just good music. I have high hopes for the new CD. Lets hope that this band and the others make 2009 a year to be remembered for metal music and music in general!

Week 2 Update