- “I listen to Kelly Clarkson. Girl can SANG!” – Alchemy Within
- “Pearly Drops. Been listening to them quite often lately.” – K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
- “The Zombies.” – Naked Sunday
- “I used to have a secret love for some 2000’s pop, like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Ke$ha.” – Deathmare
- “The Byrds.” – The Immaculate Crows
- “80’s/90’s country! Sawyer Brown is a fave. Other than that, I listen to a lot of girl pop with my daughter. Olivia Rodrigo is punk AF.” – Deadly Vices
- “Colbie Caillat.” – Seethe
- “Limp Bizkit. I’ll own it.” – Gillsaw
- “Kool and the Gang. Fucking love those guys, and they don’t have a single bad song!” – Robbie Ekblom, Jr.
- “Taking Back Sunday. People are really surprised to hear I like a lot of emo bands.” – Encircled Throne
blogging
If You Could Collaborate With Any Artist, Living or Dead, Who Would It Be? [QOTW, 3/17/25]
- “So hard to choose one, but I’d probably have to go with Layne Staley. His style is so unique and full of vibe and emotion. 1B would be Emily Armstrong, new Linkin Park singer. Great songwriting with Dead Sara and new LP stuff and great voice.” – Deadly Vices
- “Trent Reznor!” – Winter in May
- “Peter Spilles of Project Pitchfork! His music inspired me to start writing many years ago.” – K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
- “Trey Anastasio [Phish].” – Til Fauna
- “Tommy Stinson [The Replacements/Bash & Pop]. Just a great songwriter.” – naked sunday
- “Love to work with Impending Doom.” – Encircled Throne
- “I’m gonna get shit for this, but I wouldn’t be the man I am today: Marilyn Manson.” – Deathmare
- “Devin Townsend, for sure. He breaks all rules and molds.” – Gillsaw
- “Frank Black of The Pixies.” – Revolution Rabbit Deluxe
- “Coheed and Cambria.” – Overlay
- “Jonathan Davis.” – After the Apocalypse
- “Idles.” – Televised Mind
Favorite Disney movie? [QOTW, 2/9/25]
I decided to go with another fun question this week – favorite Disney movie? We all have one, right? (The answer to that is no, as I discovered. Lol.)
For the record, I have more than one: The Little Mermaid, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Aladdin, The Aristocats, and The Princess and the Frog. My list would be even longer if I included Disney’s work with Pixar…
Anyway, here are the responses I got from some of my followers.
- “This is gonna show my age, but I’ve always been partial to The Sword and the Stone.” – Marco, After the Apocalypse
- “Peter Pan or Toy Story.” – Steven, Justin Holt/f1oater
- “Dragonslayer!” – Richard, RJ Archer and the Painful Memories
- “The Great Mouse Detective.” – Xavi, The Lürxx
- “Deadpool 3 [Deadpool & Wolverine].” – Bryce, Psycholand
- “Maleficent.” – Mandatory Affect
- “Moana! Mainly because my daughter and I watched it so many times together.” – Deadly Vices
- “I don’t watch Disney. I guess when I was younger it would have been The Little Mermaid or The Aristocats.” – Synthetik Blonde
What was the first album you ever bought with your own money? [QOTW, 2/2/25]
I decided to change the title format for these posts. Anyone reading, feel free to leave your answer in my comments!!! Not all the questions will be catered to bands/artists.
- “Underoath: They’re Only Chasing Safety.” – Seethe
- “Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe.” – TJ, K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
- “Mine was a cassette. T-Rex: The Collection. It had a cool photo of Marc Bolan on the cover!” – Richard, RJ Archer and the Painful Memories
- “Mariah Carey: One Sweet Day. Guilty as charged.” – Martin, Naked Sunday
- “First CD purchase was two. Bought both Slipknot’s and Flaw’s debut albums.” – Encircled Throne
- “Foreigner: 4, in 4th or 5th grade.” – A/V Cult
- “Mötley Crüe: Decade of Decadence.” – Deadly Vices
- “Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet, when I was in the 3rd grade.” – Mandatory Affect
- “Sum 41: All Killer, No Filler.” – The Welcoming
- “Europe: The Final Countdown, when I had just turned 9.” – Xavi, The Lürxx
- “Megadeth: Countdown to Extinction on cassette.” – Marco, After the Apocalypse
- “The first album I bought was KISS on vinyl.” – Scot, Road to Ruin
- “My first two records, I got them together, were Toto’s Through the Looking Glass and Dream Theater’s Scenes From a Memory.” – Kyle, AV/drum tech, ex-Edge of Destiny
Question of the Week [Jan. 26, 2025]
Hello, all! I have started a new feature for this blog. Each Monday, I will be posting a question to my socials for bands/artists to answer, then I will compile them and share the responses here on Sundays.
I shared the first one this past Monday, the 20th, and it has gotten quite a reaction! As you’ll see, some bands specified who was answering and their roles, while others didn’t. Check it out.
Who are your biggest influences? (You personally, not the band as a whole.)
- “Dio, Def Leppard, KISS, Elvis.” – Joe (vocals), Freaky Things
- “Black Sabbath, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Motörhead.” – Michael Jahrling (vocals/bass), Rail Rage
- “Descendents, NOFX, Blink-182, The Ataris.” – Brad (vocals/guitar), Frick
- “Mainly Creedence [Clearwater Revival], Slade, Status Quo, and The Donnas.” – Richard (vocals/guitar), RJ Archer & the Painful Memories
- “Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Maynard James Keenan, Jonathan Davis, and Seether.” – Adam (vocals/writing), EverFelt
- “Tool, A Perfect Circle, Cave In, Periphery, Thrice, Coheed and Cambria.” – The Welcoming
- “Lyrically, I am inspired by Jonathan Davis [Korn], but also heavily influenced by bands like Project Pitchfork, Skinny Puppy, and Spahn Ranch!” – TJ (vocals/et. al), K.A.R.L. (Kill All Remaining Life)
- “Black Sabbath, Deep Purple/Rainbow, Judas Priest, Metallica, Rush, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Voivoid, Death, Godflesh, Brutal Truth… I could go on.” – Ritchie (guitars), Gravehuffer
- “I pull influences from everywhere, mostly heavy stuff but [also] pop all the way to country, on rare occasions. My faves, though, are Chelsea Grin, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Bring Me The Horizon.” – Joseph, Encircled Throne
- “Bob Dylan remains my greatest influence/inspiration, as far as songwriting. As far as musicians… Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa, and Herbie Hancock.” – Bruce Nielsen (songwriter/guitar/harmonica/bass), The Immaculate Crows
- “Phil Collins, Taylor Hawkins, Tony Fernandez, John Bonham, and Chad Smith.” – Alex (drums), Neon Society
- “Lzzy Hale, Tim [Rise Against], and Peter Steele [Type O Negative].” – Nico (vocals), Little Evil
- “Maynard [Tool, APC, etc.], Noah [Bad Omens], Poppy, and Devin [Honey Revenge].” – Allie Riot
- “Trey Anastasio [Phish], Jerry Garcia, and Jimmy Buffet.” – Vesper (vocals), Til Fauna
- “Wes Borland, Jerome Dillon, Tim Skold, Andy LaPlegua [Icon of Coil/Combichrist], Marilyn Manson, Richard Patrick [Filter], and Trent Reznor.” – Mike Novo (drums), Kendall Cage
- “John Lennon has been my biggest influence. Noel Gallagher [Oasis], in terms of songwriting.” – Izzy (vocals), Lazy Ghouls
- “I’m pretty predictable when it comes to this. Metallica was the ultimate for me. Aside from that… Nirvana, Alice in Chains, STP. And the classics: AC/DC, Eagles, CCR, Ozzy. I went through a country/blues phase, so Robert Johnson, Son House, Muddy Waters, Fred McDowell. Newer stuff? I dig Unpeople, Post Profit, The Funeral Portrait, Ayron Jones.” – Anthony (guitar/songwriting), Deadly Vices
- “Sparks, Trio [aka ZAM], Iron Maiden, Japanther, CRASS, and Darkthrone.” – Buzz (songwriting/recording), Buzz N’ Bangs
- “I’m old-school. Geezer Butler, Steve Harris. A few modern players like Alex Webster and John Myung.” – Mike (bass), Welcome Eternity
- “DJ Ashba and Jeff Beck.” – Sabú, The Lürxx
- “On guitar, Izzy Stradlin, late 60s/early 70s Keith Richards. On vocals, Roger Daltrey, Steve Marriott [Humble Pie/Small Faces], and Jon LeSte.” Xavi, The Lürxx
- “Frank Zappa.” – Acting Human
- “Gene Simmons and Angus Young.” – Wayne, Element 117
- “Korn, Linkin Park, NIN, and lots of 90s pop, especially Savage Garden.” – ruin the mind
- “Pearl Jam, The Cult, Foo Fighters.” – Winter in May
- “Dissection, Megadeth, Halfway to Gone, Cradle of Filth, Queens of the Stone Age, Alice in Chains.” – Marco (guitars), After the Apocalypse
- “Classic rock artists like The Beatles, Aerosmith, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin.” – Steven, Tin Zelkova
- “BRMC, The BJM, The Pixies, Idles, Fontaines DC, Amyl and the Sniffers.” – Televised Mind
- “Thrice, Killswitch Engage, Coheed and Cambria, Deftones, Tom Petty, Smashing Pumpkins, Jimi Hendrix, The Warning, Pennywise, RHCP, Metallica, Velvet Revolver.” – Mandatory Affect
Off-Topic: My Favorite Spooky Small Businesses
I know 99% of my posts are about music and I randomly throw out a few things about books or movies, but I really wanted to give a shout-out to some small (online) businesses that are killing it. And it’s not entirely out of my wheelhouse — all of these shops, save one, sell items that are horror- or Halloween-themed.
Not Your Average Babe
I stumbled across this shop on Instagram and fell in love with basically everything I saw. Unique clothing at an affordable price (if you don’t get too carried away), NYAB sells must-haves for any fall/horror/Halloween lover.
Here are just a few items I’ve ordered.
Twisted Allure
Another Instagram find. Twisted Allure often collaborates with NYAB and contributes various bath and body items to NYAB’s monthly boxes. Every single thing I’ve ordered from Twisted Allure has been spookily themed and positively delightful – and doesn’t irritate my super sensitive skin! Their Easter line just dropped, so treat yourself!
Honey Butter Bath Co.
When my best friend moved away last year, I was depressed and decided to treat myself with some bath bombs and body butters. I found a fall/Halloween line from a shop on Etsy and ordered two of the body butters. Best choice I’ve ever made. I have since returned for multiple items, including one of her soaps (lemon and blueberry), and I ordered part of my mom’s Christmas from Honey Butter. I’m only going to link her Etsy shop because I think the IG profile is actually personal.
Vera’s Eye Candy
I found this site because of someone I follow on Instagram. This one is a little more pricey, but the clothing is very unique and includes band shirts/tanks/dresses along with the horror and Halloween themed items. The shop owner is nice and handles any issues swiftly. I highly recommend checking them out.
Wicked Ghost Co.
I love, love, love this page! The selection isn’t huge, but the designs are wonderful – and a handful of shirts are being brought back soon, so I’ll be ordering some stuff when that happens.
My Most Played: 2019
I don’t use Spotify that often, so I can’t get my stats from them. But I know who I obsessed over the most this year and I just felt like sharing.
(Note: This list is not strictly limited to bands that released new music in 2019, it is simply comprised of who I had on repeat over the last twelve months.)
1. Alter Bridge
I know, I know. Duh, right? When do I not have AB on repeat? They are my favorite band, after all.
Alter Bridge released Walk the Sky in October and made me fall in love all over again. I also saw them for the sixth time this year and met lead guitarist Mark Tremonti for the fifth time. There is nothing better than a talented band who are also humble and kind.
2. Rammstein
I promise, I’m not late to the party. I have been listening to Rammstein for years. However, for some reason, they skyrocketed to the top of my list in 2019. Perhaps it was due to my absolute adoration of “Puppe,” from their untitled May release. Whatever the cause, I now have a legit Rammstein collection and have spent too much time and money on them. Ha!
3. Sköld
I didn’t discover Tim Sköld as a solo artist until 2017, but he has been a major music crush ever since. When he released Never Is Now back in April, I preordered it without question. I love every track.
2019 brought me the opportunity to see — and meet! — Tim. It was a great experience, made even better by the fact that his touring keyboardist was Nero Bellum (of Psyclon Nine fame). I have been a fan of Nero’s even longer than Tim, so meeting him was truly the cherry on top of an amazing day.
4. Echo Black
It all started with Instagram. I did a tiny little blurb about this band back in…2017?…and added them to my playlists and a wishlist of those I’d love to see in concert. Coincidentally, they were opening for Sköld on his Never Is Now tour.
I wrote an entire post about them after the show. You can read it here. The short version is this: they were great live, their music kicks ass, and the band members are absolute dolls.
5. Emigrate
Okay. I’ll admit, I didn’t know Rammstein’s lead guitarist — Richard Kruspe — had another band until last year. My enjoyment of them reached full-blown obsession in 2019. They are just so unbelievably good! Honestly, I think I like them more than Rammstein…
6. Lindemann
Another Rammstein side project, this time from Till Lindemann. I once described Lindemann’s first album as “Till being Till, just in English,” and I stand by it. A friend of mine told me that their 2019 release, F & M, is basically Rammstein lite (as the album is entirely in German).
Whatever comparisons I or others have made, I still love Lindemann.
7. Skynd
One of my newer discoveries, Skynd has an interesting approach to writing songs: they focus entirely on stories of true crime. I was hooked from the instant I heard their first single, “Gary Heidnik,” and the tracks “Jim Jones” and “Katherine Knight” have put Skynd on my Favorites list. Even my mom enjoys them.
8. Optic Oppression
I discovered Optic Oppression thanks to the Sköld tour, and now I can’t go a day without listening to them. They just released a new record, Halfway to Hell, and it is fire!
For a more detailed reaction to Optic, read the Bands You Should Know I wrote about them.
9. Third Realm
I have been a fan of Third Realm for several years, starting back when I was in college. I simply stumbled across them on YouTube one day.
Recently, The Art of Despair came out and I bought it for myself for Christmas. There’s not a single song I need to skip while listening to it, though my favorites are the title track, “Garden of Lust,” and “Medusa.”
10. Asking Alexandria
I hated AA the first time I saw them in 2011. I thought they were just…terrible. Then I heard the self-titled album and saw them touring for it, and I am now a certified fan.
They seem to be trying a new direction (again), based on this year’s single “The Violence,” and I’m 100% behind that. I want band’s to explore their creativity rather than sticking to the same mundane sound, so I applaud Asking Alexandria for trying to grow.
And that’s it. These are the ten bands/artists who got me through 2019. I am looking forward to what they will do in the future, and I hope to discover new music to get excited about in 2020.
Happy New Year!
Too Busy For Blogging
I keep trying to get back into a regular posting schedule, but life has been determined to intervene. After my grandmother passed in October, my best friend’s mother-in-law died. I was there for her and her husband, and to be honest I was emotionally drained. My dad noticed and planned a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach.
I can’t tell y’all how much I needed the three days of sun, sand, and sea. Despite the fact that it was November, the weather was gorgeous. I was able to wade in the water and bask in the sun (with a lightweight jacket on). I even got a touch of sunburn.
Since then, it’s just been…change. I’m searching for a new job and trying to get things ready for Christmas. Last week, I took a day trip to Cathedral Caverns with my parents, which was nice.
2019 has had its ups and downs. I won’t say the year has been bad, necessarily, but I am hoping 2020 is better. And it will certainly start that way — I’m going to see Alter Bridge again in February.
Anyway, for those who care, I wanted to give an update. I also wanted to let y’all know there will be some end-of-year posts, I’m just not sure I can keep up with the Playlist Challenge or a weekly featured band right now.
Here are more pictures from the beach and the expedition in Cathedral Caverns! I hope this blog finds you all well.
Gulf Shores
Cathedral Caverns
This is Goliath, one of the largest stalagmites in the world, 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.
“The Improbable”: a 27-feet high stalagmite, growing on a 3-inch base and at a 45 degree angle to the stone below it.
Halloween 2019 [Photos]
I just wanted to share some pictures from our Halloween get-together ❤
I was Harley Quinn. Overdone, I know, but I already had the costume and I was lazy this year. Ha! My best friend did my makeup.
The bestie and her son/my nephew, Alex. He was Sub-Zero.
Tiff’s husband, aka my “husband-in-law”
Tiff’s daughter/my niece, Ivy. She was a dead kitty.
Home Tonight, So Here’s An Update
My mom and I spent the majority of the day at the nursing home with my grandmother. There has been no change, except her blood pressure has dropped slightly (no cause for concern, according to Hospice) and they are now having to suction out her throat and esophagus at least two or three times a day. So, please continue praying/sending us positive thoughts, if you would.
In other news, it’s October — my favorite time of the year! (I know we’re already 13 days in, but I’ve been distracted.) I have no idea what I’m going to be for Halloween. I’m leaning toward a variation on Harley Quinn, the girl on the cover of Mindless Self Indulgence’s Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, or Tim Sköld. I haven’t had the chance to indulge in many horror movies so far; however, my best friend and I have binge-watched “Light as a Feather” on Hulu.
Other highlights of October: it’s finally below 1000 degrees here in Alabama, and my favorite college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is undefeated. Oh, and Alter Bridge is playing a show within two hours of me on the 17th.
Given that this is a music blog, I guess I should mention something about music, huh? Ha! Okay. Here are a few upcoming releases:
- Super Junior – Time Slip (10/14)
- Shane Eagle – Dark Moon Flower (10/15)
- Alex Vargas – EGO (10/18)
- Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky (10/18)
- Cody Jinks – The Wanting (10/18)
- HXXS – Year of the Witch (10/18)
- Jimmy Eat World – Surviving (10/18)
- The Lacs – Rise and Shine (10/18)
- Third Eye Blind – Screamer (10/18)
- Cigarettes After Sex – Cry (10/25)
- Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts (10/25)
- Jinjer – Macro (10/25)
- Night Flowers – Fortune Teller (10/25)
- Norma Jean – All Hail (10/25)
- PVRIS – Hallucinations EP (10/25)
- Scarlett Rose – Welcome to Wonderland (10/31)
I’m trying to schedule some posts in my free time so that my blog isn’t lacking content for consecutive days, or even a full week. I hope to resume the playlist challenge and choose a featured band on the 21st.
Mostly Music 