metallica

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 26: Dance of Death with Lana Teramae

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 26:  Dance of Death

With special guest Lana Teramae

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #127

Brave New World was a new beginning for Iron Maiden, but the real test to any reunion (or new lineup, for that matter) is “can they do it twice”.  Dance of Death was Iron Maiden’s chance to repeat or exceed.  The road-seasoned lineup was hot with new ideas and got back to work with Kevin Shirley producing once again, but the new album was no re-hash.  The band pushed boldly on.

Joining us for the first time on Grab A Stack of Rock is Lana Teramae, an old friend and writer for Metal Express Radio.  Time zones once again collide in new ways, as Lana is the only guest from the state of Hawaii to ever join us!  Harrison and I have not worked with Lana since our old show (the LeBrain Train), so it is wonderful to have her on with us once again.  Her interviews with many of our heroes on Metal Express Radio might make us jealous, but when we started this series we wanted to include Lana.  She chose Dance of Death of the albums up for grabs.  In her words:

Check me out on Grab A Stack of Rock with Michael Ladano and Harrison Kopp as we discuss one of my favorite Iron Maiden albums, Dance of Death! The episode is set to premiere on YouTube on Friday, November 28, at 2:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. I’m nowhere near as educated as these lovely gentlemen when it comes to Iron Maiden. I was just there for moral support!

Lana offered a new perspective that we have not often seen on the show:  that of a fan that is not a “super-fan” like Harrison and myself.  Lana may prefer Judas Priest to Iron Maiden, but she brings a new voice to the series and several insightful observations on this album that might be considered one that sometimes falls through the cracks.

After finishing an exhausting discussion on the 11 album tracks, we break down every B-side from the three singles:  “Wildest Dreams” (including DVD single), “Rainmaker” (Japanese CD single with two extra tracks), and “No More Lies” (boxed single with unlisted bonus track).  There is a lot to talk about with these B-sides as they included rare Iron Maiden jams, exclusive live versions, and unusual remixes.

As usual, Harrison takes us through the tour, though not too too much, since we will cover the live album Death on the Road in a future episode with special returning guest Jex Russell.  And, of course…we have to address the atrocious cover art.

On a personal note, this was the final episode recorded at the cottage in the 2025 season.  Will 50 Years of Iron Maiden still be going when we re-open in April 2026?  It might be possible as there is still a flurry of albums, live records, singles and compilations left to go.

Join Mike, Harrison and special guest Lana Teramae tonight.  We always try to comment along with you.

Friday November 28 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T., 2:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time.  Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 25: Visions of the Beast featuring Bob Cesca from Camp Chaos

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 25:  Visions of the Beast featuring Bob Cesca from Camp Chaos

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #124

Back in 1999/2000, a little video called “Napster Bad!” went viral.  You know it, you shared it, you loved it.  Well, not Harrison because he was not born yet.  Bob Cesca (founder of Camp Chaos) created that video and many others, including official music videos for bands such as Motley Crue, Yes, and…Iron Maiden!

Bob is a talented jack of many trades, and also a massive Rush fan.  In this effortless interview, Bob tells us everything you wanted to know about him and Iron Maiden.  2003’s Visions of the Beast double DVD was a massive collection, and Camp Chaos did six music videos for it.  These videos mixed animation with the original familiar music video footage.  We break them all down in detail, including how to access the Easter Eggs.  How was he contacted by the Maiden camp?  How much input did Iron Maiden have on his creative process?  Why did he choose certain Eddies and settings, and how did he decide what to edit out of the originals to make way for animation?  It is a fascinating trip back in time, as current events impacted some of the videos, even though the songs themselves were oldies.  Hey…are there 10 ME-109s out of the sun…or not?

Bob also answered all our non-Maiden questions, such as why James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich have no noses in “Napster Bad”?

After Bob had answered all our questions, Harrison and Mike took a deep dive on the rest of the contents of the DVD set.  If you owned Visions of the Beast back in the day, own it now, or not yet…you will want to pop it in after this episode.

Please welcome Mr. Bob Cesca to Grab A Stack of Rock, and 50 Years of Iron Maiden!  Join us at the premiere in the comments tonight – we love interacting with you!

A big thanks to Tim Durling for introducing us to Bob!

Friday November 7 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

VHS Archives #157: The 1991 Phone Interview with Lars Ulrich of Metallica

August 1991: MuchMusic rarely did phone interviews, but when Lars Ulrich is on a big promotional binge, you take what you can get!  Michael Williams, proudly sporting his Fishbone shirt, got to quiz Lars with questions on the new album, and new video “Enter Sandman”, for roughly 10 minutes.

We all knew the next Metallica album was going to be huge.  The hype had been building for a year.   It was just a matter of the release date.

It’s “the record people say Metallica were always trying to make,” said Lars.  Too much of a big deal was being made about Bob Rock, he claims.

“We had Canadian flags all over the studio,” says Lars of the studio vibe with Bob Rock, in answer to Lars’ Danish flag and James’ Star Spangled Banners.

Lars characterizes Rock as someone to bounce ideas off of.  He doesn’t really know what a producer does, but had an idea of what he wanted Bob Rock to capture in the studio.  The last two months was spent overdubbing and layering; stuff that Lars was not familiar with.

Lars also discusses a massive album release party with 18,000 people at Madison Square Gardens.

Is Metallica finally becoming more “video-friendly”?  Watch this legendary interview with Ulrich to find out.

Metal Roger’s Top 5 Albums for a batsh*t crazy 2023

TOP FIVE OF 2023 BY METAL ROGER

Hey, Metal Roger here (holy shit, I have way too many nicknames)!  My picks for 2023 tell a bit of a story about my year. What a batshit crazy year it was. Each month had crazier shit than the last.  These albums helped me get through this crazy year.  Here’s my list of my favourite albums of 2023

#5. Blink 182 – One More Time

Blink 182 is a bucket list band of mine.  I’m finally seeing them in 2024.  I love this album.  It sounds like a Blink-of-old album.  It also sounds like an evolved version of Blink.  When the “One More Time” single was released, boy did everyone cry.  What a beautiful message behind the song. Whoever is reading my words right now — Hey, if you have friends or family that you care about, and you haven’t talked to them in awhile for whatever reason, don’t wait for something shitty to happen tell them you love them and how much they mean.

#4. Better Lovers – God Made Me An Animal

It’s an EP, but it’s my rules.  The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die had a baby — I HAVE to mention this.  Good God does this kick ass.  “God Made Me An Animal” makes you wanna run through a wall and punt the first person you see across the room. I can’t wait for the full length to come out in 2024, and throw around more heavy weights while it’s on.  [Roger lifts weights – Mike]

#3. Sleep Token – Take Me Back to Eden

You either love these guys or cannot stand them, to the point you would rather listen to Nickelback.  Just kidding — nothing is that bad.  This album makes zero sense.  The songs are made in the most random ways you can possibly conceive in your brain.  There’s singing, there’s eletronic parts, there’s heavy-as-hell something out of a death metal album parts, and there’s even jazzy parts. The vocalist Vessel is an awesome singer, who should be applauded for his vocals. Seriously, i have no idea why i enjoyed this so much because its out there. I bet Harrison the Unicorn loves this album.  It’s that out there.

#2. Beartooth – The Surface

Speaking of demons. This might be the first CD ever to make me wanna cry.  The lyrics — holy shit do they ever resonate with me. At the time of my life that I listened to this album, I NEEDED to hear lyrics like these. A little background about me is that I could have had everything in my life that I wanted and more, but I decided I would let my demons drive for awhile. When I first heard the song “Riptide”, I cried. Then when I listened to it again, I said to myself its finally time to let go and become something people are proud of. Enough is enough. No more excuses no more saying I’m back, only to fall down again. Then when I heard the whole album I thought, “Holy shit, this is exactly how I’m feeling right now.” That it’s time to rise. “When I Was Alive” is the perfect way to end this album. It has the lyrics:

Not gonna be on my deathbed
Knowing I’ll be buried in regret
Thinkin’ ’bout the things I never did
While I’m taking my last breath
No need to fear the end
‘Cause I’ll know I didn’t just live
When I die, I’ll know I didn’t just live
I was alive, I’ll know I didn’t just live
I was alive, live
Not gonna be on my deathbed
Wondering why I was always scared
To say those words I never said
To the ones I loved while I was there
When I die, I’ll know I didn’t just live.

There’s so many things times I’ve held myself back because of fears or taking chances. No more holding myself back. 2024 will be the year this koi swims up the river and becomes a dragon. I want my wife to meet the true me. That song woke me the fuck up.  If I wasn’t so biased towards Metallica, this likely would be number 1.

#1. Metallica – 72 Seasons

If you have watched some of the shows I’ve been on (for whatever crazy reason), you would know my love for Metallica has no bounds. Actually, it does.  St. Anger is garbage, and Lulu is some kind of alien abomination that should have never been created. If you take this CD for what it is, it’s a great hard rock/NWOBHM-inspired love letter in my opinion.  “Lux Æterna”  (I’m not doing that stupid font, Mike you do it!):  Very Diamond Head-ish.  “Inamorata” is a Black Sabbath sound-alike to me. The lyrics on this album are both dark and uplifting. To me it tells a story of a man that had demons from his father abandoning him, and eventually fighting back his demons, realizing he’s not too far gone, and not needing the pain and misery to keep carrying on. Maybe I’m reading it wrong, but it sure helped me get through a beyond crazy situation, that whenever I tell people they yell “What the fuck!”  Thank you Metallica for helping me keep pushing through this year

Honorable mentions:  some heavy shit

Unearth – The Wretched; The Ruinous
Fires In The Distance – Air Not Meant For Us
Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite

 

Six Horsemen Bring Their Top Five Metallica Deep Cuts to Grab A Stack of Rock

Metallica deep cuts?  What are the rules then?  Well, rules didn’t matter at the end of the day; we just picked a bunch of tunes we liked a lot.  Your panel was:

We had some brilliant thrashers, a few curveballs…and definitely a couple surprises.  I feel everyone defended their choices ably, however I was the recipient of a bit of roasting in the comments section.  Repeatedly.  Did I deserve it?  Probably.

We also took an “Ask Harrison” question from Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation, and did some very cool unboxings.  There was a bit of “repetition” tonight, but a good time was had by all.  Thank you for watching.

A week off next week — super secret regal recording with Peter Kerr instead!  We’ll be back December 15.

Exploiting Their Supremacy: Top Five Metallica Deep Cuts on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Episode 43:  Top 5 METALLICA Deep Cuts

It is finally time to do Metallica some Justice!

We planned to do a Metallica show back on May 5, but regular readers know what happened that day.  I had to cancel, and deal with a former co-host instead.  There always seems to be something getting in the way of Metallica.  This week we lost my dear Uncle Paul, but the show will go on, and I will pay tribute to this great man on Friday night.

Cinco de Listo is back!  We wait with baited (Motor)breath to see what Top Five Deep Cuts our expert panel will be presenting this time!  On hand will be:

We are going simple with the rules.  A “deep cut” in this case simply means a non-single.  There will be lots of complaints I’m sure, but let’s focus on the great songs instead!  Hopefully we will name some tunes you absolutely need to hear.

Will Justice be done?  Our Merry Band of Metal Fans will do out best tonight at 8:00 PM sharp, Eastern Standard Time.

 

A week off next week — super secret regal recording with Peter Kerr instead!  We’ll be back December 15.

LIVE Friday Dec 1 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 9:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

The Dumbest Thing You Will See On YouTube Today: Mike Opens $1600 Box Set (With Jex) on Grab A Stack of Rock, featuring Paul Shortino

So it shall be written, so it shall be done!  The Metallica box set has been unsealed, opened, and displayed.  And I am glad that I did it.  Yes, I could have turned it around for $1600 but I chose to let the music be played as intended.  (Then there was an added screw-up, which I quickly fixed before too late, you’ll have to see it!)  Obey your Master, and watch this epic unboxing of the Master of Puppets box set.

The box included prints, lyric sheets, buttons, 3 LPs, 10 CDs, 2 DVDs, and a cassette.  We tried to get a look at all of it.  Pause to gaze at the track lists in detail.

In addition we took a peak at some new arrivals:

  • Judas Priest – Hero, Hero vinyl in pristine condition
  • Alice Cooper – Killer and School’s Out deluxe CD editions
  • Official Tee Bone Man stickers

Jex brought the fire with some cool video from Geomatrix.  You have to check this out.  See for yourself at about the 32 minute mark.

A big thank-you to an exhausted Max the Axe, who tried to make an appearance but suffered at the hands of the Streamyard gods.  We never found out what was wrong, but Tim sympathizes!

We had our “Ask Jex” questions this week – a pair from first-timer Rob Daniels.  Thanks Rob!  Great questions.  Keep them coming.

Finally, sincere appreciation to Paul Shortino for a wonderful Cameo, giving us a shout out at Grab A Stack of Rock, to the tune of “Dreaming Again” by Rough Cutt.  The guy still has an amazing voice.  We ran this Cameo twice, once at the start and once at the end of the show.

Thanks for watching and we will probably see you again next Friday evening!

 

 

 

#1026: Fakin’ It

All yesterday, I faked that I was in a good mood.

I’m pretty good at it. I have 12 years of retail experience under my belt.

Not everything is going according to plan. We have water and mold in our storage locker. All my books…all my action figures…all my treasures.

Good thing I’m good at faking it.

Other things have not been working out as I envisioned either. But hey, a new Metallica is coming. I guess I can file that with the last two that I can’t remember the songs from!

Teeth Week #3: “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth” by Metallica – Today’s the day!

Today’s the day.  I’ve never been put under in my life, so mark this date on your calendar, readers!  If all goes well, I’ll update you on how it went!  In the meantime we’re on the third and most important song for Teeth Week.  It had to be “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth” by Metallica today.  No other song would do it.

This track is an instrumental composed and performed by the late Cliff Burton for Metallica’s debut LP Kill ‘Em All.  Surely it has to be one of the most famous bass instrumentals in the history of rock.  The fuzzy bass sound is absolutely perfect, as Cliff plays a rhythm melody with tasty bass licks.  His technique is insane, with fingers flying and tapping over the fretboard.  Lars Ulrich and the rest of Metallica don’t even come in until the halfway point, leaving Cliff to lay down the most awesome of bass songs.

Check out the 1983 studio original, and a live version recorded in Chicago the same year.  If I could play bass a fraction as well as Cliff Burton, I’d be happy!

Bring on the anesthesia — here I go.  Wish me luck!

#964.5: The Lists – 2021 Year in Review – Part Two

Here We Go Again:  End of Year Lists 2021

2021:  the year of the hamster wheel.  It sure felt like we were spinning our tires all year!  Sometimes inching a little forward in the mud, only to slide right back.  What a year.  But we did get some great music out of it.

Here at LeBrain HQ, if you go strictly by the numbers, there were two bands that dominated the year, both oldies acts from the 1980s:  Coney Hatch and Iron Maiden!  They (or members thereof) appear numerous times in the lists you’re about to read.  Not so “oldies” after all eh?  Five appearances for Iron Maiden, and a whopping seven for Coney and its members!

Even I was surprised by the lists this year!  All my favourite things, and the stats of 2021, are curated below.

Top 11 Albums of 2021

11. Polychuck – Shadows Exposed EP
10. Suicide Star – Isolation
9. Max the Axe – Oktoberfest Cheer EP
8. Mammoth WVH – Mammoth WVH
7. Danko Jones – Power Trio
6. Accept – Too Mean to Die
5. Smith/Kotzen – Smith/Kotzen
4. Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
3. Lee Aaron – Radio On
2. Coney Hatch – Live at the El Mocambo
1. Styx – Crash of the Crown

Top Five Box Sets of 2021

5. Kiss – Destroyer
4. Whitsnake – Restless Heart
3. Def Leppard – CD Collection Vol 3
2. Triumph – Allied Forces
1. Metallica – Metallica 

My Favourite Movies of 2021

5. Black Widow
4. Eternals
3. Free Guy
2. The Suicide Squad
1. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

(placeholder) Spider-Man: No Way Home – you have to assume it’ll be my new #1 when I see it!

Top 11 Interviews / Unboxings of 2021 (by YouTube views)

11. Robert Lawson interview
10. Sean Kelly interview
9. Suicide Star interview
8. Coney Hatch live LP unboxing
7. Andy Curran round three
6. Andy Curran part one
5. Paul Laine interview
4. Mike Fraser interview
3. Martin Popoff interview
2. Andy Curran + Mike Fraser interview
1. Iron Maiden Super7 figure blind box unboxing

Top Five List Shows / Deep Dives 2021 (by YouTube Views)

5. Top Concept Albums
4. 5150 Deep Dive with Tee Bone
3. Desert Island Discs
2. Top Maiden Art
1. Top Five King’s X with Martin Popoff

Top Reviews of 2021 by Hits

5. GUNS N’ ROSES – “ABSUЯD”
4. STYX – Crash of the Crown
3. PAUL STANLEY’S SOUL STATION – Now and Then
2. IRON MAIDEN – Senjutsu 
1.  – Off the Soundboard – Tokyo 2001

What’s in store for 2022?

  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • Jethro Tull – The Zealot Gene
  • Marillion – An Hour Before Its Dark
  • Guns N’ Roses – Hard Skool EP
  • new Sven Gali
  • Scorpions – Rock Believer
  • new Coney Hatch live with two new studio cuts
  • new Journey?
  • new Def Leppard?
  • Bryan Adams – So Happy it Hurts
  • Liam Gallgher – C’Mon You Know
  • Thor: Love and Thunder
  • Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • Disney+: Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk, What…If? season 2, Secret Invasion, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
  • The Mandalorian season 3
  • New albums from Ghost, Rammstein, Ozzy Osbourne, King Diamond, Weezer and more

 

TONIGHT.

Friday December 31, 9:00 PM E.S.T. on YouTube, Facebook and also Facebook!