Konkeror - Creator/Destroyer

You have now been given all eight of my songs that I had chosen for Hardrock evening. Thought that I in the coming days gonna check up what the other participants had to come by with during this evening, a lot of really good songs, most of them really hard so hold on let's go.

We begin with Cheif Rebels favorite discovery in 2013. This is Progressive death-thrash of the very highest quality, he played "Beyond The Abysmal Horizons" on his album, but I choose the Creator / Destroyer so you get the opportunity to see a video.

From the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, Konkeror has only just begun to extend their reaches deep into the collective unconscious with their debut album, "The Abysmal Horizons." Deconstructing the musical paradigm through blistering speed and punishing force, Konkeror reigns supreme as the true manifestation of those ancient and primal elements long forgotten. 

Konkeror Consists of:

Eric Zwicker / Guitar
Jake Plater / Guitar
Jeff Beauchamp / Vocals & Bass
Tobias Dennis / Drums

Todays tune "Creator/Destroyer" from Konkeror's album "The Abysmal Horizons"



More info @

Official Konkeror Web

Listen to ”Konkeror - Creator/Destroyer" on Spotify here!

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Record Madness: U

Record Madness is a project between Metal blog and Tune Of The Day, a project that has been and boiled under low heat for a long time but now finally became a reality and have now been running for some time.

In short, its based on a closer look at our record collection, and the rules are relatively simple.

There will be challenges between us. Everything is about to dive into the shelf and pick up the records with the letter which you have been challenged with. One tells stories, shows pictures, a little anecdotes, or anything that affects the character that is current at the moment. The posts ends with a challenge in the form of a letter from the alphabet sent to Chief Rebel on Metal blog. Then he makes the same thing with his record shelf (hey CD!) But with his twist and his angle on it before he sends back a letter. Then it all goes back and forth like a pinball machine, but in slow motion.

Everything started with "Chief Rebel" who dived into the letter "A", and wrote a mammoth post with lots of pictures of what was in his record shelf under the letter A. Then he has described what he has under "R","G" and now latest "U" (ARGU)

Now we have come up a bit in the process and I have harvested both the letter "L", "Q" and "B" and today we'll see what is hidden behind the letter "U"(LQBU)

Alright let's get it going. "U" a little odd letter, is far down the record shelf, if you suffer from bad back, then it will not be so frequently that you will be checking out a record down there. Once I began to browse through these records, I discovered that I have some holes to fill in. For example, I don't own a single album with UDO, i mean nothing, samething goes with Ufomammut (however, they are on the shopping list) Unleashed also conspicuous by its absence, something needs to be purchased, tip on what tiles you should have received gladly, have I missed something else?

 

Here we have Ireland's pride U2, from left we have "Boy" (1980), "October" (1981), "War" (1983) and "Under A Blood Red Sky" (1983). A band that I liked big when I was younger, however, can not claim that these records are played quite often nowadays.

More U2, from left "The Unforgettable Fire" (1984), "Wide Awake in America" (1985), "The Joshua Tree" (1987) and "Rattle and Hum" (1988)

Here we got some more, from left "Achtung Baby" (1991), "Zooropa" (1993) and "Pop" (1997)

Here we have 3 bootlegs with U2, 2 "Rehearsels & Full Versions" (1991) and in the middle a live album "Higher Ground", this show is recorded on a rainy evening at Eriksbergs Shipyard in Gothenburg 6/6-87

And in this pile we have the English hardrockers Ufo, from left the debut album "UFO 1" (1970), "Headstone" (1983), "Strangers in the Night" (1979) and "Force It" (1975).

"Force It" cover art. For years the genders of the couple in the bath were unknown, and the nudity was on the verge of decency standards. The models were actually Genesis P Orridge and girlfriend Cosey Fanni Tutti, both later of the band Throbbing Gristle. The artwork was softened for the initial US release, making the couple in the bathtub transparent.

More Ufo, from left "Mechanix" (1982), "Making Contact" (1983), "Ain't Misbehavin'" (1988) and "Misdemeanor" (1985). 

Did you know that UFO's influence was strongly felt in the 1980s heavy metal scene and they have been cited as a primary influence of Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Frank Hannon of Tesla, and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, among others.

Per Allan Magnus Claësson Uggla, aka Magnus Uggla, is a Swedish artist, composer, actor, known for his satirical lyrics. "Godkänd Pirat" (1981), "Livets Teater" (1976) and "Innan Filmen Tagit Slut" (2011) 

Here we got some heavier stuff, from left the Spanish Undercroft with "Ruins of Gomorrah" this is  a relly groovy-thrash that meets death metal. The album have some cool guests on vocals, like L.G. Petrov (Entombed), Mattis Kärki (Dismember), Tobias Sidegård (Necrophobic) and E. (Watain).

Next album is "The March" (2008), that is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Unearth.

Now it's time to show some real nice vinyls from English rock band Uriah Heep, first the debut album "...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble" (1970), The original vinyl release was a gatefold-sleeve, featuring David Byron on the front sleeve, almost unrecognisable beneath the cobwebs. (Amazing Cover).

The 2:nd album is "Salisbury" (1971) On the front of the album sleeve is a British Chieftain tank. The original LP release was a gatefold-sleeve, with a b/w picture inside of a British tank of the First World War, over which were printed Hensley's comments on each track. Later reissues would be in a single sleeve.

"Demons and Wizards" (1972) The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean and contains a hidden erotic image of male and female genitalia. Two singles were released form the album: "The Wizard" and "Easy Livin'".

The 2:nd is "The Magician's Birthday" (1972) The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean.

"Look at Yourself" (1971) The original cover art on the LP came in a single sleeve with a die-cut opening on the front through which a reflective foil 'mirror' was seen. This relates the cover art directly to the album title. 

The idea was that of guitarist Mick Box. Not being a perfect reflecting surface, one sees a distorted image of oneself. Indeed, this theme is carried on with the band photos on the rear of the LP sleeve, which have also been distorted.  If you look closely, you can imagine the contours of me taking a picture of the album

The song "July Morning" has become the inspiration for a Bulgarian Hippie tradition, known eponymously as July Morning.

From left "Uriah Heep Live" (1973), "Sweet Freedom" (1973), "Return to Fantasy" (1975) and "Live at Shepperton '74" (1974)

From left "Wonderworld" (1974) - (The album was the last to feature bass player Gary Thain, who was fired from the band in 1975, and subsequently died from a heroin overdose), 

"Conquest" (1980) - (1979-80 was a period of change for Heep, with John Sloman taking over lead vocal duties, Lee Kerslake bowing out from behind the drumstool, and main songwriter Ken Hensley ultimately leaving the band. Taken together with the commercial rock sound of the album, this is the most contentious era of Uriah Heep's history, with many fans believing Conquest is the group's worst record), 

"High and Mighty" (1976) - (This was the last Uriah Heep album to feature vocalist and founding member David Byron, who was subsequently fired due to his troubles with alcohol), 

"Head First" (1983) - (Bob Daisley left the group shortly after the album's recording to rejoin Ozzy Osbourne; on the Head First tour former Heep bassist Trevor Bolder rejoined the band, effectively replacing his replacement, and remains to this day),

Bottom row from the left "Equator" (1985), "Hold Your Head Up" (1989, "Blood Red Roses" (1989), "Different World" (1991) and "Sea of Light" (1995) - (Bassist Trevor Bolder sings lead on "Fear Of Falling" and gets his highest songwriting count on any Heep album to date)

Here we got some odd pieces, first a pop reggae album with UB40 - "UB44" - (1982) - (Did u know that UB44 was the Department of Employment form letter sent to British unemployment benefit claimants when they missed their 'signing on' appointment), 

The we have a Jazz/Fusion album with James "Blood" Ulmer - "Free Lancing" (1981)  and the last one is a Progressive rock album with U.K. - "Danger Money" (1979)

From left we have "Ursa Major" with former Amboy Dukes bassist Greg Arama and Dick Wagner released one self-titled album. Wagner was soon recruited for Lou Reed's band along with Steve Hunter.  Wagner is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and KISS. He also fronted his own Michigan-based bands The Frost and The Bossmen. "Blood Lust" - (2012) with Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats and the last one is the Doom Metal band Uzala from Idaho, with the self-titled album from (2012)

Three CD's with Canadian jazz fusion band UZEB. Odd but wonderfully swinging Jazz Funk.

Umar Bin Hassan is an African-American poet associated with The Last Poets. He sold his younger sister's record player to purchase a bus ticket to New York City, where he joined the Last Poets. In the mid-1990s, he recorded a solo album titled Be-Bop or be Dead on Bill Laswell's Axiom Records through Island/PolyGram Records.

Some Roots Reggae with U-Roy "Now" (2001)

From left we have the American hard rock band Unruly Child "Unruly Child III" (2003), Uriah Heep "The Lansdowne Tapes" (1994), From the bottom line, starting from the left we have the American rock group Union, featuring lead vocalist and guitarist John Corabi (ex-The Scream and Mötley Crüe), guitarist Bruce Kulick (ex-Kiss), bassist James Hunting, and drummer Brent Fitz (Slash). The last record is "The March" (2008), with Unearth (As I also have on vinyl, this is still wrapped in plastic, perhaps will draw it out or give it to some hardcore fan).

Here we have three bootlegs with U2 that I have on CD

The last batch we have some autographed CD's from the top we find the sleaze band "United Enemies", then from the left, we have Jukkis Uotila "Avendia" (1988), Some Swedish Stuff, Uriah Heep "Celebration" (2009) and a live recording with Union "Live in the Galaxy" (1999)

That was it, a moderate entrie, but with the right wide spectrum of music, one sees that there are a lot of holes that must be filled in, things that I have to work on. Hope it will be an interesting reading.

Now we throw the ball to Cheif and challenge him in the letter "S", that will be a little tougher match than the last time, probably think that there may be both the one and the other hiding under this letter that echoes both "Saxon", "Soundgarden" and "Satyricon". Furthermore, the letters that "Chief" have received during Record Madness form the name "Argus" which sounds like a title on a record, do you know which album?

Todays tune will be posted later on this evening, based on the letter "U" ofcourse.

Cheers
/Stones

Record Madness: Q

Record Madness is a project between Metal blog and Tune Of The Day, a project that has been and boiled under low heat for a long time but now finally became a reality.

In short, its based on a closer look at our record collection, and the rules are relatively simple.

There will be challenges between us. Everything is about to dive into the shelf and pick up the records with the letter which you have been challenged with. One tells stories, shows pictures, a little anecdotes, or anything that affects the character that is current at the moment. The posts ends with a challenge in the form of a letter from the alphabet sent to Chief Rebel on Metal blog. Then he makes the same thing with his record shelf (hey CD!) But with his twist and his angle on it before he sends back a letter. Then it all goes back and forth like a pinball machine, but in slow motion.

Everything started with "Chief Rebel" who dived into the letter "A", and wrote a mammoth post with lots of pictures of what was in his record shelf under the letter A. Very interesting reading, check it out here! However, it's in Swedish, but use a translator, it's worth it, believe me.

I got the first challenge and deliver a similar post on the letter "L", which was pretty good. Then I threw back the letter "R" as Chief delivered gallant with both Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rainbow and now it is again my turn to deliver.

Well lets get started, my challenge to master to today is the letter "Q", this time was Chief really kind, he guessed that behind the letter "Q" would not have so much, here he was right, a very empty letter indeed, which is dominated by three bands "Queen", "Queen Of The Stone Age" and "Queensryche" .

The mixture is total even under this letter, something that most of you have guessed that follow this blog. First out in the pile is Aggro-Phobia is the fourth studio album by Suzi Quatro, released in 1976. She would appear live on a bill full of males and very much hold her own. Playing a long-necked bass guitar and stomping the floor, her attitude was that (if she were taken on) she would take no prisoners. As a personality, she still endures. Her recorded music is memorable and will continue to endure.

Then we have two albums by Queen, the fourteenth studio album "Innuendo" from 1991 and the thirteenth album "The Miracle" from 1989. I'll also have a couple of the older albums "Queen", "Queen II", "A Day at the Races" and "Sheer Heart Attack" but they are in a box up in the north (will come home on the next trip I guess).

Then we have the fourth studio album "Self" by the English group Quintessence. A rock band formed in April 1969 and playing a mixture of jazz, psychedelic rock and progressive rock with an influence of music from India. Quintessence was among the first true progressive rock outfits signed by Island Records.

Under the next picture we find two records with the American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. First the is the fourth studio album "Lullabies to Paralyze" from 2005. The record that contained the monster hit "Little Sister", It is also the band's first album to be released after Nick Oliveri was fired from the band. Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan are the only members from the previous album, Songs for the Deaf, to play on this album and it's the first album to feature drummer Joey Castillo and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen. And then we have the fifth "Era Vulgaris" from 2007, The album's title Era Vulgaris refers to the Latin term for Common Era. The title was chosen by Homme because he thought "it sounds like 'the Vulgar Era', which I like, because that sounds like something that I would like to be part of… I mean I think we're in it, and I'm stoked". The Vinyl was released as a 3 × Vinyl, 10 ", a very odd format.

In the middle we have The Quireboys ‎– I Don't Love You Anymore from 1990, on a Shaped Picture Disc, Vinyl 7". Nice looking one.

 

Next pile of records are composed of the American progressive heavy metal band Queensrÿche. There lies the at the bottom left The Warning (1984), Rage for Order (1986), Operation: Mindcrime (1988), Empire (1990), Operation: Mindcrime II (2006) and Promised Land (1994). A high pile of with wonderful record titles, where the flag is high, when it comes to Queensrÿche.

Found also a signed copy of The Warning that at some point should be framed and hung on the wall.

The last image contains a nice mix of records of the digital media. There lies the at the bottom left Swedish stoner rock/heavy metal band The Quill, a band Spader Ess holds dear to his heart. Then a disc with Quant (Jonas Quant), a friend from Gothenburg. The sixth studio album "News of the World" by British rock group Queen, released in 1977 and the compilation album "Greatest Hits" released in 1981. The last record in the upper row is Songs for the Deaf, the third studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. Released in 2002, the album features Foo Fighters and former Nirvana member Dave Grohl as a guest drummer.

The middle record is a signed American Soldier booklet with Queensrÿche.

The bottom row contains records as Q2K (1999), "Another Rainy Night (Without You)" CD-Single (1990), American Soldier (2009), Tribe (2003) and Live Evolution (2001).

That's it, as a second shot in the series Record Madness. It will take form along the way, this time i didn't have so much to work with but i guess next time i will. That it has popped music during the creation of this is of course a obvious, all day basically, been a little "home alone" as wife is out doing the Swedish Eurovision in Karlstad and im doing a warm up for the evenings concert.

I will wrap this up with sending the puck to "Chief". He knows nothing about the letter that will be his next target, for it will be choosen by me here and now. (just as little I know what he's going to send it back eventually).

Even this time it will be a bit a bit calmer for Chef, knows he has a lot right now with jobs and so. But I am a bit unsure of what is hidden behind his.

Chief's mission is to describe what hides behind the letter "G". The glove is thrown.

Today's tune comes a little later and will of course be based on the letter "Q"

Record Madness: L

Record Madness is a project between Metal blog and Tune Of The Day, a project that has been and boiled under low heat for a long time but now finally became a reality.

In short, its based on a closer look at our record collection, and the rules are relatively simple.

There will be challenges between us. Everything is about to dive into the shelf and pick up the records with the letter which you have been challenged with. One tells stories, shows pictures, a little anecdotes, or anything that affects the character that is current at the moment. The posts ends with a challenge in the form of a letter from the alphabet sent to Chief Rebel on Metal blog. Then he makes the same thing with his record shelf (hey CD!) But with his twist and his angle on it before he sends back a letter. Then it all goes back and forth like a pinball machine, but in slow motion.

Everything started with "Chief Rebel" who dived into the letter "A", and wrote a mammoth post with lots of pictures of what was in his record shelf under the letter A. Very interesting reading, check it out here! However, it's in Swedish, but use a translator, it's worth it, believe me.

The possibilities of weird, twisted and confused things is big. The risks of crazy and odd records in focus are obvious. It will probably take a long time to scroll through the alphabet, but that was the bit of the point. Each writer takes his task with the time he can, the aim is that it should be pleasurable, and really a chance to make impact in one's record collection.

While my colleague focuses on the digital format, I will dig deep into the analog swamp, of course there are the occasional CD in the collection, but I have to admit that it's pretty tiny. My angle will contain a little of everything, but mostly focus on the analog format, ie Vinyls. I prefer that format,  perhaps not everbody choise, but I like the physical product, I want to hold the cover, read all the text when the record spins so beautiful on the turntable.

That the "Chief" stick only to the digital format, is because he has given away most of the vinyls, I got a paper bag from him, it contained some classic sweets cuts. Thanks for the bunch of records man, i really enjoyed them!

Well lets get started,  my challenge to master to today is the letter "L", that the man "Chief" chosed "L" as a challenge and the start was almost given.

Under the letter "L" you will find my household gods, "Led Zeppelin".  And when take a closer look what's under the letter "L", i notice that it gets a little thin with other stuff, there is not really room for much else but "Zeppelin" that virtually takes all place :) That it is a bit thin on the shelves probably because I still have a bunch of banana boxes up in Norrland, usually take one every year I go up. Though I'm starting to get very little space, maybe time to move to bigger place soon??

That it became Led Zeppelin that took my heart is a long story if you count the years. But to keep it brief. I guess I was maybe 10 years or so, a classic punk from Norrland, a snotty-nosed bastard who liked AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Spent most of my time off with my brother who was living in the music rich town Stockholm and had a pretty nice collection of vinyl records, however, contained the mostly of Frank Zappa and old jazz, but one or another rock album, where Led Zeppelin was one of them, which I secretly listened to when he was not home :) The riff and empathy in their songs stuck as a chewing gum that just was etched in the head, oh yeah, it's still remains today, and I enjoy almost always when I hear them played.

So here are some pictures of the records.

Why do so many of the same ... hehe erm, well, geek that I am, then you need a pair or more. First you have to have the original from the UK, where the band originated from, then you will need a U.S. original, because it sounds a little different, then you want to have the later version that have the new remaster and pressed in the best possible way, then you can always add a few odd issues such as the Blue Houses of The Holy that comes from Korea, fun for its very own cover.

In Through the Out Door  album as you can see have different pictures, there were six different sleeves featuring a different pair of photos and the external brown paper sleeve meant that it was impossible for record buyers to tell which sleeve they were getting. (There is actually a code on the spine of the album jacket which indicated which sleeve it was—this could sometimes be seen while the record was still sealed.) I only got five of these, need to get the last one to complete the set, so someday.  :)

Here are a few live recordings that i have on Vinyl where the sound is of variable quality.

Some boxes on Vinyl were the last one "Destroyer" is a live recording with awesome sound quality.
 

A handful of 7 incher.

Like the Chief, it is of course important to have an order in your record collection. How the hell should you find a record you are searching for in the piles, if everything was laying all over the place. Alphabetical order first, then the order of release within each artist. That I then have a crate with records which are in line to play is of course a different story, where the last purchase usually ends up at the front, which is completely wrong, because it would mean that the record is located in the back can catch some dust before I've even got there. Something that I have to overcome.

A bunch of Zeppelin on CD

Even I use IKEA Benno's for storage of CDs

 Books you need, both for enjoyment, pastime or curiosity.

Certainly there is little else under "L", a mixed bag of Leaf Hound (excellent rock, a must have if you dig 70's rock), Bill La Bounty (old man in the yellow raincoat) it's kinda funny, but good record, i just love to cover, what was he thinking about when it was time to release this???, Lacuna Coil, Legs Diamond (classic hard rock with the punch in your face cover) and Mark Lanegan (Awsome Singer Songwriter rock.). There, we covered the genre Rock, Hard Rock, Soft Rock and Singer Songwriter.

Little Caesar, Live, and Living Colour

Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends, Lindisfarne, Lennon, Lighthouse, Lucifer's Friend and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Here we get a little psycadelica, folk and 60's rock.

Even some Swedish can be find in the collection, Ulf Lundell, Lykke Li and Långfinger.

 

Digged a bit among the CD discs and found a small bunch of signed albums, had almost forgotten that I had them, quite fun. In the picture we find Lemonheads, Living Colour, Ray LaMontagne, Little Feat and Juliette Lewis.

 Even a real Swedish classic with Leather Nun appeared.

That's it, as a first shot in the series Record Madness. It will take form along the way. This was a very fun thing to do. That it has popped music during the creation of this is of course a obvious, all day basically, been a little "home alone", fun as hell. Neither I or "Chief" know how it will develop, and what each letter with it (there are, for example, a large wedge land to describe the records under the letter 'M' compared with 'Q', as only the amount of records represents a different approach and it should add personal favourites that might be found on some letters ...) and how long it will take between the various interventions.

I will wrap this up with sending the puck to "Chief". He knows nothing about the letter that will be his next target, for it will be choosen by me here and now. (just as little I know what he's going to send it back eventually).  

I'm starting a little soft with choosing a letter that does not contain 1/10 of the collection, but is a bit more limited, but I am a bit unsure of what is hidden behind his.

Chief's mission is to describe what hides behind the letter "R". I know of course that there are one of the groups that actually he digs really hard, maybe it is even his household gods, it remains to see how it develops and I'm very curious about what a recordaholic as Chief actually possesses with that particular group. The glove is thrown. The challenge is started!

Today's tune comes a little later and will of course be based on the letter "L"