- People from high school I still want to punch. (the answer is most of them.)
- Fruits and vegetables that look like famous dictators. (I have a potato that looks like a slightly larger version of Kim Jong Un, it's amazing.)
- Three bands I would sign to Flicknife Records, if I could.
In the end, I felt like the third option would be the most interesting for our readers. So, without any more rambling, here is my list!
Apocalyptica
Finnish Cello Rock Overlords! Apocalyptica started off as a Metallica cover band, however, after the success of their first album they were faced with a choice: Continue as a cover act, or push ahead and become something different, something that was just their own, they decided to do both. So their second album featured a majority of their own Cello fueled mayhem, but still featured a couple of cover tracks.
Been a fan of this group for many years now and even though they've dipped somewhat since the introduction of Franky Perez on permanent vocals on their latest album, they're still one of my all-time favourite acts. If given the chance, I have a few ideas that I think would take them to new and interesting heights.
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch, winners of the "Album name so long they had to release it in two parts, just to fit the name on" award for "The Wrong Side of Heaven and The Righteous Side of Hell Volume One". When they burst on to the scene back in 2005, with their politically charged metal, there was no way I wasn't going to like them... a heavy metal band whose name is a reference to a Kung Fu movie? How can it end badly? One of the most successful heavy metal bands this decade, I'd love to be able to work with these guys... If only to get a sneak peek at their new album!
BABYMETAL
A controversial choice, I'm sure. When they first arrived back in 2010, no one was really sure what the hell was going on... Three Japanese teenagers singing about Chocolate, and far from the usual cheap pop backing you'd expect from a J-Pop track, these three were singing over what appeared to be Speed metal... and somehow, despite what all logic would dictate, it worked! kinda. BABYMETAL quickly amassed a small but devoted fanbase, who enjoyed the "So bad, it's good" style that seemed to be the core of BABYMETAL.
But then something odd happened... in 2016, they released their second album "Metal Resistance" and it was good!
Not "So bad, it's good", not "Kinda good, all things considered" but actually GOOD. The influence from the somewhat toxic "Idol" machine which spawned them is still evident, they're still certifiably insane but they've grown from a gimmicky band you kinda like, into a really strong addition to today's metal lineup.
BABYMETAL managed to defy the odds and release a very strong second album. I can ONLY see big things in this band’s future, as lead singer Su-Metal grows, her voice will get stronger and I think with a little work these ladies could turn into something great.
All hail the Kitsune!
So there you have it folks, three acts I would sign, given the chance! If you're a fan, feel free to sound off in the comments, if you're not, feel free not to. I promise next month’s blog will be back to the normal programming.
So until then,
Catch you on the flipside,
Taheg Gloder
