Musical Ramblings: The joy of finding new and old classics

I love it when bands that I've never heard before catch me off guard and bow down to their majesty. I found out about them one night while listening to “Choppers Metal” FM show on Stickam. I actually don't even remember what song it was, but I rushed right to Ebay and found a copy at an awesome price. Now I'm here to give the band props in hopes that you'll pick up their disc.

Black Tide
Light From Above
Based out of Miami, Florida, Black Tide was formed in 2004 and imagine my surprise and jealousy (especially after I listened to all of this killer disc and considering I'm a musician as well) that all the band members are under 20- years-old and the singer/guitarist was only 15 when he recorded this last year.

Black Tide's musical style is a heavier, thrash sound musically, similar to Iron Maiden's while the vocals remind me a little bit of Mark Slaughter (but not as high and way more tolerable for long periods of time). Actually if you like Priestess. but can ask for a little bit more thrash and less raspy vocals, I'm sure you'll find something to like here.

The band has amazing straight forward thrash songs with catch melodies and lyrical hooks but they also diversify it up by playing with different tempos and even get into easy rock radio territory (I'm sure you're going to hear their next single “Shout” all over the place sooner than later). Other killer tunes on the disc that you should sample are “Shockwave,” “Show Me the Way” that has a little bit of a Motley Crue/Skid Row feel to it, and “Light From Above.” It's also noteworthy that they do an excellent cover of Metallica's “Hit the Lights.”

I'm disappointed that I only found out about this disc in August when it's the perfect summer party disc. At least I have it for next year and I know when I listen to it, it'll make me feel upbeat, positive and ready to party. It's that freakin' good, people. If the band is this young, I can only imagine what the future will hold. As a comparison, although they're different styles, just look at the difference between Silverchair's “Frogstomp” and “Young Modern” releases.

Essential Listening

Iron Maiden
Killers
As a metal head, for some reason I didn't get into Maiden for a long, long time. It wasn't up until a couple years ago that it just clicked. The only Maiden I was also really exposed to was featuring Bruce Dickenson on vocals. On Maiden's first self titled release and this one, they featured a young Paul Di'Anno on vocals and I have to say that I really dig the first two — almost more than Dickenson era Maiden. There are many awesome tracks on here and the songs live up to today's standards. Perhaps if I had experienced this Maiden in my youth, the band would have been with me a lot longer. Sample this one, you won't be disappointed… and this is coming from someone who had a hard time getting into the band.