SUICIDE STAR–“The Day that Christmas Comes” (2021)
Suicide Star recorded a Christmas song? Then you know it’s going to rock heavy! To make it even more interesting, this is not some overplayed Christmas pop hit from years past. It’s a brand new original song, and the first new single since their excellent debut album Isolation. Let’s celebrate!
As soon as singer Rob Barton opens his mouth, you know it’s Suicide Star. He makes the band easy to identify even on shuffle. Anchored by a melodic guitar line from Les Serran, “The Day that Christmas Comes” relays the bright hopeful feeling of the Christmas season.
There will be presents underneath the tree… But the only thing I need, is you and me.
Lyrically the song captures the spirit and magic of Christmas. Most importantly, the melodic tune (complete with jingle bells) makes it a delight to rock out to. Production is stellar – up there with the album or even exceeding it. There is even a fun and hilarious music video that really nails the Christmas vibe. Well done, Suicide Star, and may your trees be overloaded with joy this Christmas!
If you are looking for something classic but modern, with lyrics that matter, then cease your quest. Suicide Star’s debut called Isolation should be the salve that your soul is craving. From the ashes of former band Step Echo, with new lead singer Rob Barton, this band is ready to kick 2021’s ass.
CD buyers get a bonus that streamers and downloaders do not — an intro before the lead track “I Survive”. This intro, complete with air raid siren, explains the “suicide star” concept (with a shout-out to Neil DeGrasse Tyson). It’s an explosive astronomy lesson! Isolation is available now, just give the band a shout on social media and it’ll be in your hot little hands before you know it.
Opener “I Survive” is a positive start, with lyrics like “We’ve only just begun, this is the place where I wanna feel alive.” Rob Barton’s got the pipes and the band has the heft. Uptempo and heavy, this is the kind of rock we need right now. The riff by seven-stringer Les Serran kicks, and bassist Aki Maris has the groove locked with drummer Brian Hamilton (also of Storm Force). If you wanted something energetic and defiant this summer, here ya go.
The first video is for “Mercy”, another upbeat and catchy number. Each one of these songs has hooks, both vocal and guitar, and “Mercy” just doesn’t let up. “Have mercy on my anger,” sings Barton with intent. Lots going on here lyrically, but framed in such a way that you can relate to the words in whatever way suits you.
After two sledgehammer tunes, the track “Suicide Star” delivers melodies that are more on the pop side, but with the heavy backing intact. “Hold on, before you go too far, don’t you know who you are? You’re a suicide star.” Cannot get that chorus out of the skull!
The “power ballad” (if you will) is “Eye of the Storm”, but the emphasis is still on the “power” rather than the “ballad”. It has a majestic guitar riff, and lyrics with some serious heart. Barton sings ’em with passion, which is necessary when the band rocks this heavy behind.
Back to a tune with a classic metal vibe, “21 Guns” has kick and melody. “Just say you will,” goes the unforgettable chorus, with some killer chords in behind. Then comes the heavy “Follow” with a staggering riff, and Priest-like vibes. The lyrics are fascinating and open to multiple interpretations. It certainly could be about the last year! “When the lie becomes the truth…”
“Love Me Like You Mean It” has a Darkness kind of riff; tremendous hooks. This continues into “No Looking Back”, another lyric that could be about current times. “I just roll with the changes,” sings Barton. We can all relate to that. The hooks don’t let up on “Fractured”, a more plaintive yet still heavy rocker. The final track is appropriately titled “The Unknown” and concludes the album-length series of catchy vocals and guitar parts.
By the time you’re done the album, you’re still fresh to go in for a second listen. There is enough going on in terms of guitars and lyrics that you’ll want multiple listens to drink it all in.
4.5/5 stars
Check out this interview by Deke and I with Rob and Brian from Suicide Star. Get an appreciation for the album and what it took to make it.
Happy Canada Day! Here is your Can-Con for this holiday: The Legendary Klopeks. According to bassist Mike Lukacs, “We used to always play Shannon [Larratt]’s Canada DayBMEBBQ every year. Always liked that.”
For a review of the Klopeks’ first album Homicidal Suicidal Klopekticidal by Aaron at the KMA,click here!
THE LEGENDARY KLOPEKS – Straight to Hell(2002 Pink Skull)
Once upon a time, in Niagara Falls Ontario, there was a band. This was a band unlike any other. They were fronted by future Guinness’ World Record holder Sweet Pepper Klopek. Sayeth the Huffington Post, “Sweet Pepper Klopek…has set many Guinness World Records [and] managed it again by lifting a 5.4 kilogram, or 12-pound, sledgehammer suspended from two huge fish hooks plunged through his cheeks.” Mixing punk rock, wrestling and humour, their best album is the 24 track Straight to Hell.
Every song ends with the words “fuck you!” and almost all are under three minutes. There are also several tracks only a few seconds in length, and yes, even they end with “fuck you”! Some sample song lyrics:
“Where’s my soup? Fuck you!” (“Where’s My Soup”, 10 seconds)
“Touch my dink in the ditch. Fuck you!” (“Touch My Dink in the Ditch”, 12 seconds)
“Turtlenecks and armpits. Fuck you!” (“Turtlenecks and Armpits”, 20 seconds)
For the record, “Where’s My Soup” has long been this writer’s favourite Klopeks tune. For a while I considered getting a “Where’s My Soup” tattoo. A tattoo shop in St. Catharines Ontario used to offer free tats to anyone getting Klopek ink. And I did consider it, but ultimately decided against. After all, how did I know that in 10 years time, my favourite song wouldn’t be “Terry and the Ass Pirates”? Or “Bush Party Hand Job”? Or “She Fell Off the Couch” which has an actual guitar solo?
The fact of the matter is, every song is fast, brittle, vulgar and incredibly fun. The lyrics are fuck-laden beyond conception. The Big Lebowski himself has never dropped so many F-bombs in just 33 minutes. Nothing is taken seriously. Most songs start with bass noodling via Lemon Kurri, moving on to Sweet Pepper screaming like a man possessed. Regardless, these are actually really good punk songs! There is nothing polite or safe on this CD — that’s why they called it Straight to Hell! No apologies. “When it’s all said and done and I’m dead and gone, life’s a fuckin’ game, and fuck you I won!”
RECORD STORE TALES Part 279: Record Store Gallery Deux
I found another whack of old photos going back to the record store days. Allow me to take you on a guided tour!
Gallery #1: This would have been 2002. The tragus was the most painful piercing I experienced. It was the only time that somebody said, “he’s turning white, get him some juice to drink.” The piercer was my friend Lois who works at Stigmata in Guelph. She was apprenticing, with me as a test subject. She even gave me the labret stud that they pierced it with, so the experience was free! Note that Marillion shirt, and my then-sveldt shape!
Gallery #2: A variety of sushi and fancy dinners with our Niagara Falls store owner Lemon Kurri Klopek, Guinness’ Book alumnus Sweet Pepper Klopek, the British piercer Sarge, and the mysterious man known only as Mr. Lebowski.
I look like a goth Leprechaun.
Gallery #3: New arrivals! My birthday 2004! The Paul Stanley interview picture disc was from a friend in York, England named Kim. The Marillion singles were a birthday gift from a guy in France named Charly. And the Marillion Marbles deluxe edition was a gift for me, from me, that happened to arrive at the right time!
Last Words: I love that this photo gallery contains three completely different facial hair styles: A simple goatee, my Ian Paice mutton chops, and finally a full beard. Cool!
It seems like only last year, but in fact it was 10 years ago today. One of the only times we ever closed the store early was the Great Blackout of 2003. If you lived in, well, North America, you probably remember Blackout 2003.
I recall closing up shop in the mid-afternoon. It was obvious the power wasn’t coming back on, but the phones were working. We got the call to do our best to close up without power, and head home.
For many people, particularly in Toronto, this turned out to be an exceptional evening. People left their homes, went out and socialized. Many went to the beach. Me, I just sat at home and read a book until it was too dark to read. Then I turned in.
I fell asleep quickly, it was so quiet. Suddenly I woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. I reached for my watch, my eyes trying to focus on the glowing hands. 4:30 am. I didn’t know what to think.
On the other end was Brandon “You Are So Punk”, who worked at our Niagara Falls location. That first night, they incredibly still had power, although that wasn’t going to last!
“Man, why are you calling?” I yawned. “It’s 4:30 in the morning.”
Brandon paused. “What are you talking about?”
Frustrated, I answered, “I’m looking at my watch, you’re calling me at 4:30 in the morning!”
Brandon paused again, and answered simply, “Dude. Your watch is upside down. It’s 10:00 pm. I just got home from work.”
D’Oh!
The next day, Friday the 15th, the power was restored in the early morning. Still, we weren’t supposed to be open. The government had advised all non-essential businesses to stay closed, and not put additional strain on our fried power grid. Us being so essential, were open (of course). That is until about mid-afternoon when we again had to close, due to rolling blackouts. The shit thing about that was that we were absolutely slammed with people that morning, we were overwhelmed. A lot of them were what I called “tire kickers” — they like to ask you a lot of questions but they don’t buy anything. Since nobody was open except us and a few other “essential” businesses, it was like a holiday for the general public. People brought in used discs by the box load to sell, I kid you not. I went through 300 discs from one guy alone. I had him leave his box behind because it was going to take a couple hours to go through, and then we ended up closing while he was out. He came back a few days later for his cash and unwanted discs (which was most of them).
When people reflect back on the blackout, they usually have fond memories and stories. Not me! I remember shit stories! Oh! And I had to throw out all the meat that I had bought that day before work too, because the fridge had no power. Fuck you, blackouts!
mikeladano.com 