Metal By Newsted Already Rocks 2013

Heavy metal is already shaping up to have a banner year in 2013 with the upcoming release of a four-track EP by former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. The new band, Newsted, puts Jason Newsted on vocals as well as bass. Joining him to round out the new three piece is Jason Mendez, Jr. (drums) and Jessie Farnsworth (guitar).

The names might not be familiar now, but they likely will be. Mendez is a long-time friend to Newsted, having played with him for the last ten years. They originally met when Mendez was working as a roadie for Metallica in California. Farnsworth has been playing with Newsted for about four years. He also handles backup vocals.

Newsted picked these players for their talent and friendship. He said he didn't want to make a super group or invite anyone in who might be jaded after playing in a recognized band. It's all new and it works too.

There is a real effort by Newsted to make Metal real.

There doesn't seem to be any doubt this is not the Newsted who played with Metallica more than a decade ago. Instead, he seems to have a real interest in reshaping heavy metal as a more approachable and even personal genre (something more commonly associated with punk or rising alternative rock).

There was never any news release or press call in advance of the new EP by Newsted. He just sat down in front of his computer at Chophouse Records and made a YouTube video. That was it.



Along with the video, Newsted has taken to personally managing the band's Facebook page, reading responses and sometimes answering questions. It's hard to say how long he'll be able to keep up with the growing fan base, but he tries to visit the page at least once a night.

Live shows won't be any different. Although the band will play big venues, Newsted also wants to find smaller venues that never have an opportunity to book big metal bands. In fact, even after the EP climbed to number 11 on iTunes (as a preorder), he said the band's success will not be measured in millions of sales but by how much he can move people with the music.

The Metal EP does do that. The first track released, Soldierhead, revives old school metal from the turn-of-the-century Metallica era. As the opening single, it makes a great case for no-holds-barred metal. Here is the placeholder until the upcoming video is released in the days ahead.

Like everything else Newsted is doing, the upcoming Soldierhead video will be a bit of a throwback, featuring the band as opposed to any overblown production. In this case, the trio just headed out to an old dusty factory and played their tribute to servicemen and women as hard and fast as they could.

The second track, Godsnake, is significantly slower and sludgier. Heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, Newsted takes long draws off lyrics that talk about differences and judgements. It's the perfect contrast to Soldierhead and proves that there was an additional payoff in playing with Ozzy Osbourne.

King Of The Underdogs mostly retains a steady and sure-handed tempo, but with frantic bursts and a spooky but purposeful guitar showcase when it counts. Somewhat in keeping with the Godsnake theme, King Of The Underdogs is all about being the best of the worst — the outcast that every other outcast in the group admires.

Rounding out the EP, Skyscrapers closes down one of the most promising starts for a new metal band. The song, which was originally written a few years ago, was refreshed to address all the ugliness on this planet, everything from terrorism to the end of the world.

While Skyscraper doesn't feel nearly as powerful or as memorable as the previous three, it was by design. Newsted and crew wanted to make a song that sounded like it came right out of the seventies and showcase some old-style guitar work. It's not necessarily the strongest closer, but will be a solid addition to the future album.

As it stands, these tracks are only the beginning. Newsted has said that the band has 10 or 12 tracks, with some of the second batch already recorded. The next set of three or four will be released as another EP after Metal. The remaining songs will be delivered as part of their full-length debut.

Metal By Newsted Nails Down 9.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale. 

Newsted might wear his influences on his sleeve (they're all obvious in the music) and Metal might not necessarily break any new ground, but this EP is a welcome addition to any metal playlist. It's prominent and personal, giving off a vibe that nobody has put out in some time.

Metal by Newsted will be released on iTunes. Jason Newsted has said he intends to release the first two EPs via iTunes and then follow up with a complete package in time for the full length, which will appear sometime in 2013. Touring dates have yet to be set, but you can follow the band on Facebook.

Godsmack Thrives Live And Inspired

Massachusetts’ favorite son Sully Erna and Godsmack have released the first live CD in the band’s 17-year history. Live & Inspired was recorded during the band’s 2010 tour, but sounds as fresh as it does familiar.

The original concept was to pick songs performed in various cities along the way, but 80 percent of the disc was ultimately recorded at the Fox Theatre in Detroit because of a very lively and engaged audience. The band, already well known for their powerful live performances and ravenous fan base, made the right choice because Live & Inspired captures the energy of their shows without compromise.

An uncompromising live album is just what the band needed. 

The 13 tracks selected are mostly band staples from their studio albums, including The Enemy, Voodoo, and Whatever. All of them continue to be the cornerstone of their live shows.

Unfortunately you won't find any songs from Oracle, but that’s not by choice. The band didn’t have any recordings from Oracle when Live & Inspired was recorded.

There is still plenty to highlight from the album, including Whatever, which plays better live. I Stand Alone, a song that the band contributed to film The Scorpion King soundtrack, is also nothing less than explosive. It's a fan favorite; the most played active rock song in 2002 for a 14 weeks.



Speak, a song written by all four band members, shows their cohesion as a group, and showcases the work of bassist Robbie Merrill and guitarist Tony Rombola. Rombola recalls how Speak first came together.

“While on tour with Metallica, Robbie, Shannon (Larkin) and I were jamming in the dressing room," he says. "Sully popped his head in the room cause he really liked the riff we were playing and he pretty much wrote the melody and finished the song right then and there."

Of course, no live album would be complete without Batalla de los Tambores, which is a drum battle between Erna and drummer Shannon Larkin. Erna spent 20+ years behind a drum kit before forming Godsmack, and it’s clear that his timing and chops are just as strong as ever.

"Live & Inspired is our way of saying 'thank you' to all of our fans for believing in us throughout the years, and helping us to become a great live band,” said Erna. “Along with this ass-whooping set live from Detroit Rock City, we've also included four cover songs of our favorite hits in the past to show you that, we too, are simply just fans that appreciate nothing more than good old fashioned ass-kicking rock 'n' roll! Enjoy!"

Erna is referring to a 4-track bonus disc featuring covers of Rocky Mountain Way, originally performed and made legendary by Joe Walsh; the Beatles’ Come Together; Pink Floyd’s Time; and Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters.



The tracks were selected because they in some way inspired the band. And all four do the originals justice, particularly the passionate Nothing Else Matters and Time, in which the band stays true to the original with Erna sounding remarkably like David Gilmour.

All in all, there isn’t a weak link on the track list. Produced and and recorded by Godsmack, the album also benefits from mixing by Dave Fortman (Slipknot, Anthrax) at Prism Sound Studios in Acton, Massachusetts; and mastering by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine.

Another interesting aspect of the album is that Godsmack showcases how they relish their roles as fans and understand and appreciate their own fans. With Live & Inspired, fans not only participated during the live shows but were also invited to share photos for potential inclusion on the CD’s packaging. Photos include the band on stage, posing with fans, and tattoo close-ups.

 Godsmack Live & Inspired Rocks 9.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

When some bands release live albums to tide over fans (and record companies) in between studio albums, the result is lackluster. But that's not the case here. Live & Inspired holds its own as one of the finer live albums over the past few decades.

Filler it is not. But those itching for a new album anyway can look ahead to 2013, when the band is anticipating the release of its next album. The band recently wrapped up a 20-city tour with fellow Massachusetts rockers Stained. Godsmack has confirmed their participation in Shiprocked, billed as the “ultimate rock music cruise vacation,” for November and December.

They’ll share the bill with Five Finger Death Punch, Fuel, Filter, Sevendust, P.O.D., Black Stone Cherry, Lit, Geoff Tate, In This Moment, and Gilby Clarke. The 4-day cruise sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Key West, Florida, and Nassau Bahamas.

Live & Inspired is available from iTunes. Live & Inspired [2 CD] is also available from Amazon and you can find it on Barnes & Noble. This is one of those cases when digital is cool, but the physical set is well worth it.

Metallica Goes Beyond Death Magnetic

As the preeminent heavy metal band on the planet with only a handful of challengers, not much can be added to the 30-year legacy of Metallica. But this year is different.

While some people are still divided over the well-conceived but  ill-executed Lulu album with Lou Reed, there is no division over the never-before-heard outtakes from Death Magnetic. The four songs that make up the new 29-minute Beyond Magnetic EP drown out months of ardent defensiveness and lighthearted aloofness over Lulu.

Instead, all anyone can hear now is the unrelenting rolling buzz of four rough mixes originally produced for Death Magnetic. They were introduced at a pace of one song per day over four days at the San Francisco Fillmore as Metallica celebrated their continuing epic run with their most ardent fans. And those who did not attend found the EP in their e-mail. Happy holidays. 

Beyond Magnetic is a reminder why metal means Metallica. 

The EP soared to number one on the same day of its release for a reason. The opener, Hate Train, bulldozes into aggressive old school trash metal that makes everyone wonder why they locked it up in the vault. Much like the lyrics tell it, the song thunders aimlessly through your head with great riffs and mind-bending solos that aren't as fast as speed metal but still separate the wheat from the chaff. 

Originally called Shine, Just A Bullet Away conjures memories of And Justice For All as a mid-tempo thrasher with a clean bridge. The brilliance is in the melodic solo in the middle of the song. Most fans are saying that they wished it was on Death Magnetic, even though the song was likely cut because it sounded too much like a throwback to earlier times.

The lyrics in Just A Bullet Away are well thought out and timed perfectly. The instrumentals are sold, with subtleties throughout. If any of the four songs on the EP can be called full-package Metallica, it's this one with James Hetfield picking up lead guitar.

"We're pretty excited to be bringing these songs back to life after nearly four years after they were recorded. Once again, this is the unpolished version of the song ... the original rough mix from March of 2008 in its rawest, untouched form." 

The third song, Hell And Back, originally called To Hell And Back, was one the hardest tracks to find anywhere on the Internet. Expect a clean riff at the open before the song tumbles along, with some beautiful accents brought in by Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo. And after a cue from Hetfield, Kirk Hammett brings in a barrage of notes to help finish it.

The last track, Rebel of Babylon, opens like it might be a swooning metal ballad. The opening is only a warmup as it breaks back into thrash. The song has plenty packed into it: builds, duels, and breakdowns. It's one of my favorites on the EP, proving that Metallica is more than ready to climb back into the trenches of the recording studio and write something without being confined to Reed's backup band.

Although the tracks are rough and raw (which means better Metallica by my standards) and nearly four year old, the EP helps remind people why Hatfield responding to Ulrich's newspaper advertisement was a historic moment in music history. Of course, I'm biased having listened to their music since the beginning and through all the changes (including the Dave Mustaine shakeup). Beyond Magnetic is a classic mesh of both old tricks and evolution.

Metallica's Beyond Magnetic Points North At 7.2 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale. 

Metallica generally has three kinds of fans. Those that like to pretend they "liked them back when...", those that only turned out for the Black Album, and those that have been with them from day one. I'm happy to be part of the latter crowd (just not so smitten to sing the praises of Lulu, which is why we skipped it for review).

That said, if what the band has been working on since earlier this year comes close to the material released on this EP, then their next album will ensure they will continue to play out with a bang and not a whimper. All four tracks are well worth the download. It's 30 minutes of Metallica.

Beyond Magnetic was released on iTunes. If you missed Death Magnetic when it was released in 2008, you can find the album on Amazon, the vinyl at Barnes & Noble, and download on iTunes. 

Lissie Covers Up With Flowers

Any time I hear the words "cover EP" I cringe a little bit and my stomach does some flops. It usually means that a band doesn't have enough material to make another album and then they do it anyway. But then every once in a great while, someone proves they have serious chops.

Elizabeth Maurus a.k.a. Lissie does exactly that on the Fat Possum Records/Sony U.K. release of Covered Up With Flowers. Consisting of the band's five favorite songs to cover during live performances, the EP rocks.

Lissie brings her smokiest voice to bear on the unlikely collection of songs by Kid Cudi, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Joe South, and Nick Cave. Pulling all five out of their genres and recasting them as singer-songwriter indie folk rockers, the EP showcases her rawer potential while still honoring the originals she covers.

Covered Up With Flowers uncovers the real strength of a vocalist to watch. 

I never considered myself a fan of this singer-songwriter and skipped pretty gingerly over her debut. At the time, she was probably best known for a few television show tracks, which is what fast tracked her stardom along with plenty of collaborative breaks — her first two in 2005, one with Peter Dante and another with DJ Harry. But this set of five really gives me a hint of what Lenny Kravitz heard to take an interest and what her growing live performance fan base hears on a regular basis.

As a folk pop singer, Lissie is decent. And yet, these covers suggest she might be stronger as an indie folk rocker, with the cover selection inviting her to roar a bit more. There is no better song that proves it than her cover of Kid Cudi's Pursuit Of Happiness, which adds more power to the song while showcasing Cudi's talent as a lyricist.



While the cover of Cudi's song is hands down the favorite track and the strongest to open the EP, Lissie also powers up Bad Romance by Lady Gaga as a power rock ballad that breaks into a driving beat. And her cover of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica works too. The song is recast as brooding folk rock, adding smoky tones to a growing repertoire.

As a longtime Metallica fan, the cover doesn't eclipse the perfection of the original, one of the few written by James Hetfield (and Lars Ulrich). But I can't think of a single cover that sounds better (most of several dozen by others have been awful).

The rendition by Lissie adds a pouting sexiness to the song, something no one else could have ever imagined it might possess. She might as well be singing it in answer to Hetfield, who originally wrote it while he was on the phone with his girlfriend. It's a keeper, for Lissie and Metallica fans alike.

The last two covers are mixed, one overlooked and the other overrated.

Also impressive is The Ship Song, in which Lissie elevates over the original by Nick Cave. She brings more darkness into the mix, maybe more darkness than anything Cave has done since he was fronting The Birthday Party. She makes his song sad, hypnotic, and addictive.

Ironically, it's Games People Play that is more popular (but not nearly as good as the The Ship Song). Games People Play was originally by the strong-voiced Joe South. Lissie manages to resurrect the 1969 classic that was remade famous by the Alan Parsons Project. By that, I mean people seem to like it. I don't.

Sure, it's a fun cover with a little country flair, but it also pins down what she often misses with her music. It's upbeat, but plods along at the same pace, leaving nothing exceptional to stand out, no matter how the masses might think so.

Still, the overall EP tells me that Lissie has a real opportunity here. After this release, she can continue to play it safe or challenge herself.

Covered Up With Flowers By Lissie Hits Highs At 3.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale. 

With luck, Covered Up With Flowers will mark a transition for the folk-pop singer toward a harder sound tackling more challenging compositions. With more variation added to whatever original material might be next, she has the potential to be someone great. Or she could play it safe, cutting top 40 tunes that will never come close to having one-tenth of impact of her childhood idols. That was Nirvana.

Covered Up With Flowers is available on iTunes. Covered Up With Flowers [explicit] is also on Amazon. While the EP was originally set be released as a digital exclusive, Barnes & Noble has listed the CD release, due out Nov. 8.

Her career is definitely worth watching, but I might add that she is not the "new" Stevie Nicks. Whoever floated that comparison first is an idiot. It might have been the Evening Standard. And if it was, then all I can say is stop it, Rick Pearson. Just stop it. No one can touch Nicks. And Lissie is her own artist too.