Author: THE SAW

Categories
Classic Album Review

Classic Album Review: Dr. Dre – The Chronic

The breakout solo debut for Dr. Dre, The Chronic, was (and still is) a timeless banger in its own right! This record revolutionized west coast hip-hop, setting the standard for everything in the genre that followed. Not only does this album showcase the groundbreaking production talent of Dre, not to mention his powerful lyrical style and delivery, but it also introduces us to some upcoming talent – namely, Warren G, Nate Dog, and (a certain) Snoop Doggy Dogg.

Fresh off his split with N.W.A., Dr. Dre released The Chronic on his own Death Row Records on December 15, 1992. The album cover pays tribute to Zig Zag rolling papers and the title is slang for high grade cannabis. On this record, Dre patented a new style of hip-hop, a sub-genre of sorts, called G-Funk. This style incorporates “fat, blunted beats" with old school soul/funkadelic grooves and rolling bass lines with single line synthesizers. But the key to this new style was the lyrical delivery. The form would later be called a “lazy drawl;” a laid-back delivery – controlled and measured – but containing ferocious, offensive, aggressive content. The new combination launched Dre and Death Row (and every single guest performer on the record) to the top of the hip-hop field.

My dad (the O.G. Metalhead) remembers this record’s release. He says, “We’d go to [metal] head parties where it’s usually the newest Metal album being played, and hear this new thing called ‘Gangsta’. I’m not exaggerating when I say, almost every single Metal Head was into this new stuff! It related well to the Metal community, with its swaggering style and crushing lyrics. The delivery was strange at first, but the words were all-too familiar.” There are many Metal shows I go to today where, when music is played between bands, Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg or Coolio, etc. is played over the speakers.

The Chronic peaked at number three on the Billboard Top 200. It was certified triple platinum by RIAA, selling over three million copies. The records three singles reached the Top Ten on the Top Ten Billboard singles. “Nuthin’ But a G Thang" reached #2 on Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on both Hot Rap Si goes and Hot R&B Singles charts. The album ranks 138th on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of all Time. In 2020, The Chronic was selected by The Library of Congress to be placed into the National Recording Registry because of its “cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.”

Favorite songs: F*ck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’), Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang, Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat

Rating: 10/10!! One of the best records ever!

What are some of your favorite songs off of The Chronic?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Snoop Dogg

Bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay Snoop doggy Dogg is in the house!!! Snoop Dogg is one of my all-time favorite rappers! The beats he uses are awesome and I absolutely love his flow in which he raps and the word play he uses within his lyrics. I saw Snoop Dogg back in December of 2019 at the Ritz in Raleigh and it was my first time seeing him. He puts on an awesome stage show and did his little Snoop Dogg signature dance of the bobbing from side to side. I would definitely recommend seeing him live!

Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. was born on October 20, 1971 and is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor. His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg played a huge role in Dr. Dre’s solo debut album, The Chronic. Snoop Dogg is featured in numerous songs off that album and with this album, this was the first time my dad ever heard of Snoop Dogg and fell in love with his sound. My dad would play The Chronic during my childhood and that is where I found my love for Snoop Dogg.

Snoop Dogg’s debut album, Doggystyle (one of my favorite albums), was released in 1993 by Death Row Records. The album debuted at number one on both billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Doggystyle became certified quadruple platinum in 1994. In 1996 he released his second album, Tha Doggfather and that album was certified double platinum in 1997.

After leaving Death Row Records, Snoop Dogg signed with No Limit Records where he recorded his next three albums. He was then signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in 2002. He was hired by EMI as the chairman of reactivated Priority Records in 2009. He also coaches a high school football team on his free time.

In 2012, Snoop Dogg took a trip to Jamaica and announced his conversion to Rastafarianism and was now Snoop Lion. He released a couple of records and a film under this name but in 2015 with the release of his album, Bush, he returned to using the name Snoop Dogg. In 2019, Snoop Dogg announced that he was a “born-again Christian” and released his first gospel album, Bible of Love. On November 19, 2018 he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Discography:

·      Doggystyle (1993)

·      Tha Doggfather. (1996)

·      Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998)

·      No Limit Top Dogg (1999)

·      Tha Last Meal. (2000)

·      Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002)

·      R&G (Rhythm and Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004)

·      Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006)

·      Ego Trippin’ (2008)

·      Malice n Wonderland (2009)

·      Doggumentary (2011)

·      Reincarnated (2013)

·      Bush (2015)

·      Coolaid (2016)

·      Neva Left (2017)

·      Bible of Love (2018)

·      I Wanna Thank Me (2019)


Favorite Songs:

·      Gin N Juice

·      Drop It Like It’s Hot

·      Murder Was The Case

·      Who Am I

·      I Wanna Rock

·      1800

Have you seen Snoop Dogg? What are some of your favorite songs?  

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Genre of the Week: Gangster Rap

Are you surprised that I am reviewing something that isn’t metal? Yeah, I am too! Gangster rap is my favorite sub-genre of rap because of the lyrics, the beats, and the overall attitude of the genre. In some ways, gangster rap reminds me of metal because of how intense the songs are and ferociously violent the lyrics of some of the songs. Sometimes when listening to gangster rap, you can imagine riffs from guitars instead of beats and this is when you can see the semblance between metal and gangster rap.

Gangster rap emphasizes the “gangsta,” “O.G.,” and “thug life” lifestyle. The genre evolved from hardcore rap and was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Ice-t and later by rap group N.W.A. While this form of hip hop was primarily underground, it soon became the most commercially lucrative sub-genre of hip hop. Many gangster rap artists openly talk about their associations with various active street gangs as part of their image, with the Crips and Bloods being the most represented. There have been a lot of criticism against gangster rap claiming that it promotes gang violence, substance abuse, and other criminal activities. Others have come to the defense of gangster rap and have stated that this music tells a story of personal lives and brings awareness of what goes on during inner-city violence. In my opinion, both of these things, can be true. Gangster can, both, promote and lend awareness to violence.

Ice-T released “6 in the Mornin’” in 1986 and is often regarded as the first gangster rap song. Ice-T has been an MC since the early ‘80s but transitioned into gangster rap themes after he was influenced by Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D and his 1985 album, “Schoolly D.” Schoolly D not only influenced Ice-T, but also Eazy-E and N.W.A., as well as the Beastie Boys.

This first blockbuster gangster rap album was N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which was released in 1988. This album established West Coast hip hop as a vital genre and established Los Angeles as a legitimate rival to hip hop’s long-time capital, New York City. In the early 1990s, former N.W.A. member Ice Cube would further influence gangster rap with his hardcore, socio-political solo albums.

Run DMC is often credited for popularizing hardcore and confrontational attitudes and lyrics in hip hop culture; but in my opinion, Run DMC is not even close to being brutal like gangster rap. They do talk about partying and objectifying women, but nowhere near the subject matter, language, and the tempo of gangster rap. In some of Public Enemy’s tracks you can hear some of the early gangster material that influenced the sound that became popular. Rappers like LL Cool J also influenced the overall lyrical format that gangster rap would later use. This type of lyrical content reminds me of hardcore music that you hear today in the metal scene.

In 1992, former N.W.A. member Dr. Dre released “The Chronic,” a massive seller which showed that explicit gangster rap could hold mass commercial appeal just like pop-oriented rappers. This album established the dominance of West Coast gangster rap and began to create the sub-genre of G-funk – a slow, drawled form of hip hop. Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” is one of my favorite all-time records because of the beats, lyrical content, and the grooves of the songs. This type of rap reminds me of groovy death metal in a way, both are easy to dance to. Death Row Records rappers Snoop Dogg and 2pac helped spread the popularity of gangster rap and G-funk. Other popular and influential G-funk rappers, Warren G and Nate Dogg also helped popularize this sub-genre of music into mainstream media.

The feud between East Coast/West Coast gangster rap hit mainstream media in the late ‘90s. Rappers from New York City such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and Lil’ Kim, etc. pioneered a grittier sound known as East Coast hardcore hip hop in order to take back dominance from the West Coast. It has widely been speculated that the “East Coast/West Coast” battle between Death Row Records (West Coast) and Bad Boy Records (East Coast) resulted in the deaths of Death Row Records’ 2pac and Bad Boy Records’ The Notorious B.I.G. The feud is also credited for the downfall of the Gangster Rap genre. Add to this that, most of these artists are millionaires and can no longer relate to the streets that raised them. However, you can still find many people (including tons of metalheads) who still love Gansta’!

Here are some of my favorite gangster rap albums/songs!

  • Dr. Dre – The Chronic (album)
    • Favorite songs: F*** wit Dre Day & Nuthin’ but a G thang
  • Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle (album)
    • Favorite songs: Gin N juice, Who Am I (What’s My Name)?, Murder Was The Case
  • Friday (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    • Favorite song: Keep Their Heads Ringin’ – Dr. Dre
  • Regulate (single) by Warren G and Nate Dogg
  • Gangsta’s Paradise (single) by Coolio
  • Fantastic Voyage (single) by Coolio

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is just one of those bands that never get old; you never get tired of hearing any songs from the nearly 30-year catalog. Hailing from Ludvika, Sweeden, Hypocrisy formed in 1991 and is an important figure in the awesome metal (death and black) that has been pouring out of the Old Norse countries. They have spent their entire career on Nuclear Blast Records (which is saying a lot) – 12 studio albums, 4 EPs, one compilation album, and 2 live albums.

For the first two records (Penetralia in 1992 and Osculum Oscenum in 1993) Magnus Broberg handled writing lyrics and spewing gutturals and growls. These two records were simply and purely death metal. Broberg left in 93’ because of a ruptured eardrum, and later took part in forming Dark Funeral. Thus, in 93’ Peter Tagtgren (guitars) took over both the lyrical content and the vocal duties. At this point, Hypocrisy shifted toward melodic Death Metal and hit their stride.

With Tagtgren at the helm, the band’s discography is impressive: The Fourth Demension (1994) – featuring the first Death Metal ballad I have ever heard! Abducted (1996), The Final Chapter (1997), Hypocrisy (1999), Into the Abyss (2000), Catch 22 (2002), The Arrival (2004), Virus (2005), A Taste of Extreme Divinity (2009) and, End of Disclosure (2013).

Presently, Hypocrisy is Tagtgren (guitar, vocals), Mikael Hedlund (bass), Reidar “Horgh” Horghagen (drums) and live guitarist Tomas Elofsson. Tagtgren is also a producer, as owner of The Abyss studios, where he has worked with the likes of Sabaton, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Amon Amarth, Skyfire, Children of Bodom, Amorphis, and Celtic Frost, etc.

Favorite songs spanning the hypocrisy catalog: The Fourth Dimension, Valley of the Damned, Adjusting the Sun, Eraser, Let the Knife Do the Talking, Weed Out the Weak, Roswell 47, End of Disclosure, 44 Double Zero, Hell is Where I Stay, When Death Calls.

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Classic Album Review

Album of the Week: AC/DC – Back in Black

On July 25, 1980, one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) Hard Rock records was released onto the world; Back In Black (Atlantic Records). It Mark’s the 7th studio album (6th international album) by Australia’s AC/DC. It was recorded in April and May of that year at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas. The record was produced by the legendary John “Mutt" Lange, and is the band’s first album to feature Brian Johnson (Geordie) on vocals.

Following the breakthrough record, Highway to Hell, AC/DC was prepared to hit the studio again to record their next record. However, in February of 1980 Bon Scott was found dead of alcohol poisoning. Rather than disband, the remaining members – Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), Cliff Williams (bass and backing vocals) and Phil Rudd (drums) – decided (on March 29) to hire Johnson and continue on. None of Scott’s lyrics were used on Back in Black, because the band did not want it to seem they were profiting off his death. The album’s all black cover was a sign of morning for Scott.

Back in Black is, literally, an unprecedented album. It has sold more than 50 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums in music history. Typical of the era, over half the songs on the record concern sex, written in innuendos, metaphors, and/or double entendres:

“Shoot to Thrill”; “What do You do for Money Honey”; “Given the Dog a Bone”; Let Me put My Love Into You”; “You Shook Me All Night Long” ; “Shake a Leg.”

One of the best songs offered is about drinkin’!! – “Have a Drink on Me”

“Hell’s Bells” is a reference to all the storms passing over the island during recording. The title track is a celebratory bop of the bands return, and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” is purely self-explanatory.

Favorite Songs: Given the Dog a Bone; Have a Drink on Me; Back in Black

Rating: 10/10!!

*Special Note* In 2014 Malcolm Young was diagnosed with Dementia and, on November 18, 2017 died from the disease at the age of 64.

What is your favorite song off of Back in Black?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Playlists

Heavy Metal Holiblaze

^^ I just think this meme is funny so I wanted to share it.

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s ya girl, your Master Butcher, The Saw and I am back with another fun playlist for you to jam out to this month! Two important holidays have passed and we should keep the celebration alive by jamming a holiday themed playlist! This playlist will have some Christian metal bands to contribute to the Easter portion (e.g. For Today). The other set of bands will contribute to the other holiday this month that most of you have already guessed. If you need a hint, one of the bands in this playlist is called Cannabis Corpse. So, sit back, relax and enjoy these fresh tunes!

Here are some of my favorite songs in this playlist:

·      Lamb of God – Redneck

·      Demon Hunter – On My Side

·      Becoming the Archetype – How Great Thou Art

·      Living Sacrifice – Flatline

·      August Burns Red – White Washed

·      As I Lay Dying – Nothing Left

·      Impending Doom – Murderer

·      For Today – Break The Cycle

·      Bong Rips For Jesus – Jesus Has Resin

·      Cannabis Corpse – The 420th Crusade

·      Cypress Hill – Hits From the Bong

·      Black Sabbath – Sweet Leaf

·      Weedeater – Wizard Fight

·      Bongzilla – Weedthumb

·      Six Feet Under – 4:20

·      Bongripper – Reefer Sutherland

Link to Spotify playlist

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Morbid Angel

American Death metal derived from the state of Florida, a lot of great metal bands were involved in the death metal scene back in that day, and are still successful today! Bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Morbid Angel.

I have been listening to Morbid Angel for years, unlike my common theme of liking groovy death metal, this band does have some grooves and nice riffs, but their main theme is being very Satanic. This band references Satan and darkness in all of their songs, and their sound compliments the darkness of their lyrics. They are in a branch of death metal all on their own and have a very distinct sound within the metal genre. I had opportunities to see Morbid Angel, but I always had something school related get in the way of the show. Hopefully one day I will be able to see them!

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida and formed in 1983 by guitarist and sole remaining original member, Trey Azagthoth. They are known as one of the most influential bands in the genre and important in the transition of death metal from its thrash metal roots. Morbid Angel was one of the first bands to incorporate guttural vocals, blast beats, multiple tempo changes, and an extremely dark atmosphere. They were also the first death metal band to experience mainstream success when MTV put their music video for “God of Emptiness” on heavy rotation in 1992. This song was also shown on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head. Their first four albums are considered classics of the death metal genre.

The band’s original lyrical themes with Vincent’s influence were about Satanism, occultism, and anti-Christian subject matter. Azagthoth later moved the lyrics towards talking about the ancient Sumerian gods.

Morbid Angel’s sound has heavily influenced the growth and development of death metal and black metal bands in South America, as well as the early black metal scene in Norway. Many bands have cited Morbid Angel as an influence including Immortal, Gorguts, Behemoth, Gojira, and Revocation, etc.

Current Members:

·      Trey Azagthoth – guitars

·      Steve Tucker – bass and vocals

·      Scott Fuller – drums

·      Dan Vadim Von – guitars

Discography:

·      Altars of Madness (1989)

·      Blessed Are the Sick (1991)

·      Covenant (1993)

·      Domination (1995)

·      Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)

·      Gateways to Annihilation (2000)

·      Heretic (2003)

·      Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)

·      Kingdoms Disdained (2017)

Favorite songs:

Immortal Rights, Where The Slime Live, I am Morbid, God of Emptiness, Garden of Disdain, and Summoning Redemption.

Have you ever seen Morbid Angel live? What are some of your favorite songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Jungle Rot

Ahh Jungle Rot, and no, I am not talking about Tropical ulcer, that is just nasty. I am talking about the American death metal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin. The first time I heard of and saw Jungle Rot was at the 2015 Mayhem Fest. Me and my dad mainly went to this festival to see King Diamond, and wow! At this festival, we also saw Thy Art Is Muder and Whitechapel. Right when we got to the festival, Jungle Rot was playing. At first, I thought it was Obituary! When I was waiting to get a Thy Art Is Murder shirt, Jungle Rot was at their booth meeting fans.

Fast forward to 2019, I started listening to Jungle Rot! I was hooked on their song Paralyzed Prey for the longest time. Their songs are about zombies, war, battles, and everything in-between! What I really like about Jungle Rot are their grooves. They are insanely groovy and it is the traditional groovy death metal sound. I love them so much; I never get tired of them. I got to see Jungle Rot with Deicide in June of 2019 and they were awesome!! I pushed my way to the front during Jungle Rot’s set and they absolutely killed it. I also go to meet their touring drummer at the time and he was really cool. I would definitely recommend seeing Jungle Rot when you get the chance.

Jungle Rot formed in 1992 as a side project by Jim Harte and Joe Thomas, members of the Illinois thrash metal band, Prisoner. The band’s name refers to Jungle rot, an infection of the feet, which people develop in the jungle when their military boots are left on. They are an aggressive style of thrash influenced death metal. They are known to integrate slow stomp melodies within their style.


Current Members:

Dave Matrise – vocals and guitars

James Genenz – bass

Geoff bub – guitars

Spense Syphers – drums


Discography:

Skin The Living (1996)

Slaughter the Weak (1997)

Dead and Buried (2001)

Fueled by Hate (2004)

Warzone (2006)

What Horrors Await (2009)

Kill on Command (2011)

Terror Regime (2013)

Order Shall Prevail (2015)

Jungle Rot (2018)


Favorite Songs:

A Burning Cider

Paralyzed Pray

No Mercy

The Unstoppable

Send Forth Oblivion

Demigorgon

Have you seen Jungle Rot? What are some of your favorite songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Playlists

Viral Infection: Infected Grooves

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! We have been cooped up in the Butcher Shop for one whole month! Can you believe it? I know that I said that there aren’t any exits in the Butcher Shop, but I’m kinda getting some cabin fever. Apparently, The Saw’s Butcher Shop is not essential. But that is okay! We can still stretch, hang, grind, and chop up some tracks from home!

This playlist is a part of the Viral Infection series, but it has been infected with some grooves! All these songs have the theme of rotting, viruses, infections, plagues, pandemics, death, the apocalypse,  and zombies, etc. These songs are also very, very groovy. So get prepared to jam out to these tunes in your house. Blast these tunes all the time to spread the love of the Butcher Shop!

Some of my favorite songs in this playlist are

·      Rotton Bodies – Jungle Rot

·      Rotting Ways – Obituary

·      Rabid – Cannibal Corpse

·      Bring Back the Plague – Cattle Decapitation

·      Evisceration Plague – Cannibal Corpse

·      My Apocalypse – Arch Enemy

Here is the full playlist on Spotify

What are some songs I should add to this playlist?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW  

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Devourment

Fun fact: I discovered this band in 2019 and I am kicking myself for not listening to this band sooner! I was strolling through some Instagram stories and multiple friends posted a screenshot of their album that came out in 2019, and I got to thinking, “who is this?” I started listening to their newest album and I fell in love with their sound. The pure intensity of the music with lots of double bass and blast beats combined with the deep gutturals of the singer makes my heart really happy. I have never seen this band live but I hope that one day I do. I feel like when the day comes that I get to see them, my reaction is going to be the same as the first time I saw Dying Fetus, in pure awe. They have easily became one of my favorite bands.

Devourment is an American death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Although they are considered death metal, I see them more as a slam band because the instruments are not played as “cleanly" as death metal. Slam has a more distorted and disorganized sound (though it resembles the beauty of chaos). They formed in 1995 following the breakup of the band Necrocide – the drummer, Brad Fincher, and guitarist, Braxton Henry then founded Devourment. The band has split up and reformed three different times leaving Fincher as the only original member. The band is currently signed to Relapse Records.


Members:

Ruben Rosas (vocals)

Chris Andrews (guitars)

Brad Fincher (drums)

Dave Spencer (bass)


Discography:

Molesting the Decapitated (1999)

Butcher the Weak (2005)

Unleash the Carnivore (2009)

Conceived in Sewage (2013)

Obscene Majesty (2019)


Favorite songs:

Cognitive Sedation Butchery, Sculpted in Tyranny, and Tomb of Scabs

Have you seen Devourment live? What is your favorite song by them?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW