I have decided to add a special feature to my Metal Odyssey blog, Women of Hard Rock & Metal. As far as I see it, there are many great female vocalists, guitarists and musicians out there in the world of Hard Rock & Metal and I do not overlook them one bit. So, what better platform than right here, to celebrate some of these fabulous female Rockers? The first in this series is none other than – Pat Benatar. Yes, Pat has had her share of ballads and Pop Rock charting singles, yet so has Poison, Warrant, Motley Crue and Van Halen. My point I am trying to make here is, there is Hard Rock aplenty with the catalog of music from Pat Benatar!
“All Fired Up”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Hell Is For Children” solidifies my stating Pat Benatar can deliver the Hard Rock goods. “Promises”, “Treat Me Right” and “Shadows of the Night” are strong contenders of musically being Hard Rock as well. I had the opportunity to see Pat Benatar live last Summer of 2008, wow, what a show. I had a really great time. The exclamation point to the heaviness of Pat Benatar’s music is solidified by her husband and lead guitarist, Neil Giraldo. Let me tell you this, I have seen my share of some great Hard Rock and Metal guitarists play live, Neil Giraldo takes a back seat to very few. This guy can jam it out, play the leads and kick into the solo like the best of them! Needless to say, I left that concert being thoroughly impressed by Pat Benatar’s ageless vocals, Neil Giraldo’s guitar playing and the song list as well. This was one of those concerts where if you sat down for one song, well, you might as well just go home then.
I never put much stock into the Grammy Awards, yet Pat Benatar has won four of them. Now that is some bragging rights for any female Hard Rock vocalist. It is refreshing and inspiring to say the least, when a vocalist like Pat Benatar can exceed your expectations live and sound just as great if not better, than she did in the 1980’s.
Here are five quick and easy to read Metal facts! Who knows when this vital Metal information will come in handy? Might you wind up in the Cash Cab? An inter-office Metal trivia contest? Surprise your spouse or companion with some really cool – hey, did you know that…
Well, here I am, continuing my research and very own and personal Metal journey of deciding what the greatest Metal album of all time is. As with the past 3 lists that I have compiled, these lists are nominees only, in no particular order. Plus, a point I need to make is, it would be “fun” and “cool” to add every Metallica, every Led Zeppelin album ever released to these lists, wouldn’t it? I just cannot do that, for I need to keep “some” integrity flowing around here! There will be a few entries from respective Metal bands however, only due to their enormous impact on the evolution and culture of Heavy Metal. I should not be too far away from “finishing” these lists, I cannot wait to see what Metal album I choose as the greatest ever! Once I do make that illustrious and personal Metal decision, I will definitely detail the reasons for why I chose that particular Metal album, you bet. Without further delay, here are another 15 classic Metal albums that I nominate for greatest ever:
There are those tidbits of thoughts that I have that just need to be read by the entire world. No, these thoughts are not dirty, so if that is what you are looking for keep searching. Instead, these thoughts are rather more like opinions, than anything else. See if you agree or disagree, either way, these are from a Metal mind. 
It was 1983 when I first heard Queensryche on the radio, I heard them on an FM station of course, on a radio show that aired on Saturday nights that was called “Metal Shop.” The very first song I ever heard from Queensryche was “Queen of the Reich,” I was hooked by this band ever since. Geoff Tate, in my opinion, has always had just as powerful and prolific vocals as any other singer in the history of Metal. Queensryche can and has fit right into a few different Metal genres, Heavy Metal, Metal and Progressive Metal. With their debut EP “Queensryche” released in 1983, I easily embraced this great Metal band and remembered telling anyone who would listen that this band was for real. Only 4 songs were on the “original” Queensryche EP, – “Queen of the Reich”, “Nightrider”, “Blinded” and “The Lady Wore Black”. These four songs paved the way of the Metal future for Queensryche, without a doubt, an important and historical Metal EP this is. 27 years of recording and touring, Queensryche proved to the world just how real they are! You can still buy this EP, it has since been re-released, (2003), with the addition of 10 bonus tracks. Now, that is far more tunes than the original 4 song, vinyl record I bought back in 1983!
In continuing my personal search for the greatest Metal album of all time, I will now submit to the world, list #3! Here are 10 more solid choices, that I have personally chosen as nominees. Again, this is a delicate and important process for me, as a life long metalhead to be making such a personal choice of greatest Metal album ever. Agree or disagree, this journey for me making this decision is more fun than watching reruns of “Monster Quest – The Legend of the Lochness Monster.” Please refer to my prior “Greatest Metal Album of all time” articles for past nominees. (as always, the list here is in no particular order, nominees only)
Rob Halford, the “Metal God” of the Metal music world, formed an incredible band in the Summer of 1992 named Fight. Sure, Rob Halford will forever be known as the super famous and powerful lead vocalist for Judas Priest, yet the Metal music that he created with Fight is superior stuff for me. I so very highly recommend Fight to all Metal fans, especially fans of Judas Priest, Pantera and Thrash Metal. I purchased the Fight CD/DVD – “War of Words – The Film”, (released Summer of 2008), whoa was this one powerhouse band. “Into The Pit” is a straight to your face – all out – Thrash Metal tune that does not let up or give in. “Immortal Sin” is more of a Heavy Metal/Metal track that carries along with dark lyrics and vocals courtesy of Rob Halford. “Kill It” is a very aggressive track, again I am amazed at how ahead of their time Fight really was musically. Overall, the songs on “War of Words” are very relevant to what is being created today by the Thrash Metal and Metal community. Rob Halford was joined with Scott Travis on drums in Fight, (Scott Travis being a long time & current drummer for Judas Priest).
Just over this past Winter, I believe it was sometime in January, I stopped by a “good” neighbors house for a visit. It was early evening, I forget the actual day of the week, however it was arctic cold outside. The visit to see my neighbors went well, good conversation, fine refreshments and an offer I just simply could not refuse. My neighbor friend offered me, a mint in-package, factory sealed, 8-track tape of The Doors “Alive She Cried”. This little gem was also for free too. So, I replied to my neighbor, upon being asked if I wanted this 8-track, “yes, yes, I would like to have it, thank you.” Once it was time to set forth on my journey home, (about a 30 second walk), I tucked this factory sealed 8-track into my leather jacket to protect it from the wind and cold. 
The late Jeff Healey, now he was a genuine, real guitar hero. I just cannot resist how much of a role model he can still be, for any youngster wanting to take up playing guitar or any musical instrument for that matter. Jeff Healey was Canadian born, (March 25, 1966) and passed away on March 2, 2008. Jeff Healey lost his eye sight at infancy, despite this handicap, he became an accomplished and world renowned Jazz and Blues/Rock guitarist & vocalist. Jeff Healey & The Jeff Healey Band rose to fame with his 1988 album “See The Light”, which includes the hit single “Angel Eyes”. A Grammy nomination was from this same album for the instrumental “Hideaway”. 
The late Phil Lynott, of Thin Lizzy, lives on again with the release of Still Dangerous – Live At The Tower Theatre Philadelphia 1977. 32 years later, this concert is still being enjoyed and revered by Metal, Hard Rock and Rock fans and any fan of great Classic Rock. It is obvious to me, that when VH1 Classic Records releases this genre of music now, it tells the world that Heavy Metal never ages. The vocals, song writing and bass playing of the late Phil Lynott will be handed down for generations through CD releases like this. Thin Lizzy, to me, represents the sound of 1970’s Heavy Metal, when this genre was just beginning to evolve and blossom into what it is today. The live music on Still Dangerous is such an essential listen for both young and veteran Metal, Hard Rock and Classic Rock fans around the globe.
You know, after writing my last article regarding the greatest Metal album ever, I will refuse to ponder! After sleeping on the thoughts of what makes a Metal album the greatest of all time, I realized that I cannot be a jelly head and not step up and announce what I feel is the greatest Metal album ever created. Patience is a virtue however, I need to continue my research, add more lists of great & legendary Metal albums as nominees, follow my Metal heart and then decide. So, in a Metal nutshell, this topic shall be a series of articles leading up to my personal Metal decision on what Metal album is the greatest of greats. I may have a decision within days, it may take a couple of weeks, I am in no rush to make such an important and personal Metal decision! For once the decision is made, I cannot go back on my Metal word and say – “but” or “I changed my mind” – none of that immaturity will I bestow on the world of my fellow Metalheads out there. Now, without further delay, here is a list of 15 more incredible Metal albums that I have personally nominated to might become the greatest of all time. (There is no importance at this time in regards to the order of this list, these again, are nominees):
Here we go, a “fun” exercise in Heavy Metal debate, one of the more controversial question’s in Metal music history. What Metal band made the greatest Metal album ever? I like to cut to the chase by having this debate as “all inclusive,” meaning every Metal genre get’s involved here. This without doubt, becomes a personal issue for most Metal fans, I can accept that for I take this topic very personal as well. I never like to get caught up with which genre of Metal is better, nor do I like to get childish and say Slipknot is better than… 
I am and have grown extremely tired of the title – “stay at home dad”. What is a stay at home dad anyway? A dad who just decides to stay at home for no reason? A dad who wants to sit around all day and… stay at home? Too many times, people I meet for the first time give me a peculiar look upon knowing my “official” title. I guess the stay at home dad thing came about because, well, a guy cannot be called a housewife. There does not seem to exist, the title – house husband. Upon moving to a new state, 4 years later, the neighbors surrounding our home still look at me peculiarly, wondering what is it that I exactly do. My neighbors know I take care of the yard, heck, they see that for themselves. I am a man in action around the yard, no one who observes me doing yard work can dispute that claim. However, hordes of neighbors wonder….. what does this guy do when he is not in the yard? What about Winter months? Why is he home? What is this guy doing inside of his house? Where is he going now? What are in the bags he is carrying?
I like to think of Heaven as my destination goal, once I leave this world of course. Yeah, it is cool for the Metal genres to write and sing about hell, hell’s kitchen, fires of hell, “Highway To Hell”, etc., etc., yet that is not where I want to be going. I often hope and wonder, will Heaven have everything that is “good” about our lives? Will heaven allow Heavy Metal? I would hope and pray that the late Jimi Hendrix is allowed to have his guitar and play up there in the clouds. I would not doubt for a second, that the angels and saints could not enjoy the late Joey Ramone’s singing. Music as a whole, has made planet Earth more enjoyable, music has definitely made my life more fun and inspiring, I am comfortable thinking I speak for millions of people.
Hey, I hold one heck of a strong allegiance to Thrash Metal. Veteran Thrash originators like Slayer, Metallica, Exodus, Anthrax, Megadeth, Destruction, Over Kill, Testament and even young newcomers like Black Tide and Warbringer set me straight on the road to Thrash Metal glee. My main point of this article is to shout out loudly and proudly to the entire world that – Kreator is one unbelievable Thrash Metal band, wow. What has me so impressed by Kreator, is that they have released 2 amazing Thrash albums in a row! Starting with “Enemy of God”, (released in January of 2005), then this January of 2009 brought us the incredible “Hordes of Chaos”. I am not, in any way, taking away the Thrash Metal greatness of their achievements from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Kreator has, experimented musically in the past, yet this has never been an abomination to me by any means. 
Yes, I am an avid watcher of the Travel Channel’s: Anthony Bourdain “No Reservations”. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this show, Anthony Bourdain is a writer, chef and likes to travel. As Anthony Bourdain travels the globe, he encounters every culture and diverse eatery you could imagine, therefore, Anthony Bourdain eats well on every episode. There are several reasons why I enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain, for starters he has a laid back, chilled out demeanor about him, he always treats different cultures and people with respect, he likes all types of food and drink and narrates each episode with a tasteful and humorous dialogue. Honestly, this show is light years better than any scripted, shallow junk you may find on network television. After being a loyal viewer of Anthony Bourdain “No Reservations” for a few years, I was enlightened and thrilled by two episodes that were aired this past year. Here is the skinny on these two COOL episodes:
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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