As reported on the STYPER Facebook page:
Stryper has been nominated for “Best Album Art” at HM Magazine’s The HM Awards! Spread the word and encourage fans to vote! Online voting runs through Dec. 31.
http://vote.hmmagazine.com/#album-art/1
* For more info on STRYPER:
Facebook: Stryper
Website: http://www.stryper.com
Stone.
Jeff Paulick, lead vocalist/bass guitarist of Lazarus A.D. interviews some of the biggest, baddest and best Metal musicians attending and/or receiving awards at the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods Awards for Metal Blade TV! Vinnie Paul, Alice Cooper, Andrew W.K., Lemmy, Gene Hoglan, Brendon Small, Kerry King, Joey Vera, Burton C. Bell and Marilyn Manson just to name quite a few! Man, would I have loved to do that job with the microphone! Hire me Metal Blade TV! Um… please? Pretty Metal please?
Take a Metal gander at the 2 video’s below to see what I’m all excited about… and enjoy!
The actual broadcast of the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods Awards may have been cut-up and edited to pieces, still, the pre-awards black carpet chatting is cool stuff! A Metal kudos to Metal Blade TV! Maybe Metal Blade TV should just broadcast this event from the inside as well starting next year?
LONG LIVE METAL!
…AND HARD ROCK TOO!
O.K., LONG LIVE METAL BLADE RECORDS AND METAL BLADE TV!
The word “pretty” was used on Metal Odyssey… yup, in the first paragraph.
Stone.
OZZY OSBOURNE – released his very first solo live album Speak Of The Devil back on November 27, 1982. I remember getting excited about this new Ozzy album coming out… it was live… it was Ozzy! My late sister Christine, she worked at a department store named Stars back in 1982. This Stars department store sold just about anything and everything, it was a store where you could find faucet washers or chain link that no other hardware store carried. From tampons to cookies to records, Stars had it all! It was our Walmart before we had… a Walmart. Well, this store did not have a very bright store manager… as you will soon find out.
You see, I asked my sister back in late November of 1982, if she could pick me up the new Ozzy Osbourne album for me… Speak Of The Devil. She said it would be no problem at all. Well, it did become a problem. Apparently, the store manager of Stars decided he wanted to “play the dictator card” and ban the Speak Of The Devil album from being sold at Stars. My sister was just as miffed at this as I was back then. She told me, “he” (the store manager), did not like Ozzy Osbourne and abhorred the album cover artwork of Speak Of The Devil, therefore, he did not want this album or any Ozzy Osbourne album for that matter, sold at Stars. The guy was a first class moron, a first rate censorship warlord.
I won’t mention this idiot managers name, (just to protect any of his embarrassed family members). However, his daughter did go to my high school, was a year or two younger than me and she was… a Metalhead. Poor girl, to have a dip-crap father like that… it’s no wonder she didn’t go insane. Plus, this censor police chief of a store manager wore… get this… polyester pants and… turtlenecks. F’n turtlenecks! That is probably where my absolute hatred for turtlenecks was sown. Turtleneck traumatized was I, at a very young age. Seeing that fart face store manager pacing up front of that store, man, the memory is so damned vivid now. Excuse me please, I think I want to go puke right now.
Anyway, to make a sad censorship story better… I did get my hands on Speak Of The Devil at a very non-censored store called Strawberries Records & Tapes. Kiss my Metal butt Stars and your third world nation store manager. My trips to Stars did continue even years after this censorship “issue” with the Speak Of The Devil and all Ozzy Osbourne albums. Stars later named another dude as store manager and he was cool. As for the censorship addict that once reigned as store manager there… well, I don’t really know what happened to him and really don’t give a maggot infested, moose crap either.
Heavy Metal took a beating back in the early days, especially the 1980’s, with censorship jackasses. Maybe this former store manager of Stars became a fan of the overly constipated PMRC? One never knows. All I know is that censorship is creepy, scary and wrong. Censorship of music, art, books or any other “freedom of speech” that America takes for granted has happened and can still happen at any time. Censorship is probably happening right now, in some shape or form, in yes… America. Freedom is fragile, sometimes it is too easy to forget that.
Granted, this story may come across as a “micro” incident in small town America, too long ago to even blink an eye at. Don’t be fooled… history does have a funny way of unfortunately repeating itself.
LONG LIVE ARTISTIC FREEDOM!
AND OZZY OSBOURNE TOO.
Stone.
Phew. My two “Top” album lists are done and posted, (Top Ten Hard Rock Albums of 2009 and Top 25 Heavy Metal Albums of 2009). Christmas has arrived and left quicker than an odorless fart. The hustle and bustle has subsided and I am awaiting for the huge snow storm that may or may not hit the Northeast Coast of the United States, (a New Years Eve storm no less). As I kick back and reflect on this past year, I am thankful for being alive to enjoy music – period. I’m also thankful for my incredible wife and twin daughters, all three support my love for Heavy Metal and Extreme Music… they really support me. I said goodbye to my beyond amazing and loving mother this year… she was called to Heaven. I’m sure she probably is watching Buddy Holly, Elvis and Ricky Nelson, live in concert… up in the clouds. I’m thankful for my father who once again, proved to me he is a fighter and survivor. My best Metal buddy Scott has hooked me up all year long to lots o’ great Metal Music, both Old School and new… keep ’em coming buddy! Yeah!
REMEMBER… BE TRUE TO METAL AND METAL WILL BE TRUE TO YOU.
I also want to give a Metal thank you to Century Media Records, a.k.a., CM Distro.com – this is one damn incredible record company… the most vast selection of Metal albums – both vinyl and CD to choose from, along with a vast array of Metal memorabilia too. As a bonus, they are professional, generous, speedy and fair to do business with… something that has been missing in the business world for too long now.
A very special thanks goes out to my neighborhood f.y.e., the gals there not only are courteous, friendly and are conversationalists… they know the music they are selling too. (A very uncommon situation to find in 2009). The South Mall f.y.e. rules.
O.k., with all of that off of my chest… here are some more Metal Odyssey lists and/or awards, that need to be thrown out to the world to digest. Hope you enjoy this stuff called Heavy Metal as much as I do…
THE MOST FUN HEAVY METAL ALBUM OF 2009… THAT’S RIGHT… FUN!
AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE – DOUBLE BRUTAL
You bet I bought this double CD of Austrian Death Machine! Hey, I like to have some fun with life, why not with Heavy Metal too? Plus, as a bonus, the Heavy Metal brutality on this album is a great combo of Death Metal meets Thrash Metal with Ahhnold butting in throughout. Tim Lambesis, (lead vocalist of As I Lay Dying), is the Metal brainchild behind this Austrian Death Machine project, handling song writing, vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Tim Lambesis does have musical assistance on this album, he names Mark MacDonald as being key in the lead guitar department. Many other special guests appear here as well, (too numerous to mention… they are all listed in the liner notes though). In a Metal nutshell, the songs are yeah… heavy and chug right along at a ferocious pace, just the way I like it. Still, it is Ahhnold that brings the humor and I see nothing wrong with me giving off a freakish smile and chuckle, as I bang my head, each time I listen to Double Brutal.
TOP THREE LIVE HEAVY METAL ALBUMS OF 2009
It just appears to me, that live Heavy Metal albums are not as abundant as studio Heavy Metal albums. Throw in the fact that I did not throw myself into a stack of live CD’s to listen to in 2009 as well, therefore, I list just three:
#1 – IRON MAIDEN FLIGHT 666
Iron Maiden is big. No, Iron Maiden is legend. No, Iron Maiden is everything about Metal Music that I could ever wish for… and they released a dog gone, unreal great, live Heavy Metal album with Flight 666. I’ve said this before… this live album won’t topple over the Iron Maiden classic, Live After Death, yet it did topple over all other live Heavy Metal albums in 2009 – in my Metal opinion. On June 11, 2009, I posted my Metal appreciation for this live, double disc gem… the header link below will bring you to it:
#2 – JUDAS PRIEST – A TOUCH OF EVIL LIVE
Whoa. Whoa again. Judas Priest gave me a solid reminder that they are still lurking about in the Metal world… with A Touch Of Evil Live. This is Old School Metal with an exclamation point. No, make that one hundred exclamation points. This is a very good Judas Priest album to own… forever. You can look over my review that I posted on A Touch Of Evil Live, recently on December 22, 2009… it’s only a click away on the header below:
#3 – EDGUY – F***ING WITH FIRE LIVE
Power Metal = EDGUY. Tobias Sammet and his band gave me a Metal listen, into their World Tour of 2006-2008. This is a highly energized and turn up the adrenaline – Heavy Metal album to listen to… again and again. And again. Sure, Tobias Sammet likes to talk on this live album, only he can walk the Metal walk too. Just a good time Power Metal experience… for me. Yup, I did a review on this one too… on September 27, 2009, I, ahem, applauded EDGUY for releasing this live album. It’s all there on the header link below:
BEST HEAVY METAL SONG OF 2009!
MARILYN MANSON – ARMA-GODD**N-MOTHERF**KIN-GEDDON
Yes Virginia, there is a Marilyn Manson… and he created one helluva Heavy Metal album in 2009 titled: High End Of Low. Furthermore, Marilyn Manson created, in my Metal opinion, the very best Heavy Metal song of 2009 – and it’s on this album… the song is:
Arma-godd**n-motherf**kin-geddon
Metal truth be told, the title of this song backs up the music – and vice versa. This song is super-filled with all of the rage and fiery pissed off attitude that Marilyn Manson can muster… and it also rocks so hard with it’s dark and doom glory, that I get both psyched out and scared straight simultaneously, with each listen. Lyrically speaking, Marilyn Manson has made his Metal point with this song.
HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVER OF THE YEAR – 2009! YEAH!
RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER – LIVING FOR DEATH, DESTROYING THE REST
Um, yes, this is the Heavy Metal Album Cover of the Year – 2009. I mean, look at it! There is a terrible, ungodly and pissed off cyclops from hell on this cover! This angry and hell born cyclops is destroying everything in it’s doomed path! Nothing can stop this monstrosity! Not even the Creature From The Black Lagoon! A city is being destroyed, pandemonium is breaking loose! Smoldering debris, fires breaking out… and a huge, damned, evil skull is even in the sky above! Hell, if this is not Metal… what is? Rumpelstiltskin Grinder gets my Heavy Metal Art Appreciation Award for this cover too!
An extra loud Metal bravo goes out to artist Mike Hrubovcak, his artistic talents created this cover. Mike Hrubovcak is also the vocalist for the bands MONSTROSITY and VILE. Be certain to check out all the Metal artwork created by Mike Hrubovcak by clicking here: VisualDarkness.com
I bought this CD this past year and I have NO Metal regrets. Rumpelstiltskin Grinder is as vicious and maniacal as they come in Metal Music, both in their lyrics and music. I love this stuff. Check out, if you wish, what I wrote about this fine album on May 2, 2009, by clicking the link header below:
BEST HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE OF 2009 – REVOLVER
Revolver Magazine is the best Metal mag out there, in 2009. In my Metal opinion, you are hard pressed to find a better publication than this in America… which covers ALL the Extreme Metal genres like a black velcro carpet. Plus… this Metal magazine survived an economic crisis that really put the smack down on the entire printing industry – a huge Metal kudos for Revolver’s perseverance and understanding what Metal fans want from a magazine.
THE ONE ALBUM THAT REALLY DID NOTHING FOR ME IN 2009:
(UM, THIS IS NOT AN AWARD… IT IS FAIR WARNING)
LITA FORD – WICKED WONDERLAND
All I can say, after all has been said and done… ouch. O.k., I’ll say more. Oh, where have you gone, Lita Ford? What happened to the foxy, smooth guitar licks? I/many of us, know it is not the 1980’s anymore… but gee Metal whiz… what is that music called on Wicked Wonderland? After thinking about it for awhile now… I hope and wish for the Lita Ford of the 1980’s to come back with a kick album in 2010? Maybe 2011? Just come back Lita! Honestly, you are so much better than this album. I did a couple of posts on this album on October 29th and November 5th, respectively. You can read on if you like, by clicking on those righteous headers below:
I want to thank anyone and everyone who has visited Metal Odyssey in 2009! Thank you for making it all worthwhile! Feel free to check out my two Best Of posts, the links are right below:
*Also, check out these other Hard Rock & Heavy Metal blogs that have put out their Best Of 2009 lists as well… they have all done their Metal homework all year, carrying the flag for Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Rock and Roll – it is worth the time and it is just good Metal fun.
Heavy Metal Addiction – http://heavymetaladdiction.com/
All Metal Resource – http://allmetalresource.com/
Bring Back Glam – http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/
Hair Metal Mansion – http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/
Hard Rock Hideout – http://hardrockhideout.com/
Heavy Metal Time Machine – http://metalmark.blogspot.com/
Imagine Echoes – http://www.imagineechoes.com/
Layla’s Classic Rock – http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/
Metal Excess – http://metalexcess.com/
The Metal Minute – http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/
Rock Of Ages – http://rockofages.wordpress.com/
The Ripple Effect – http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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