Eric Peterson & Mike LePond on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 458 - Titans of Babylon

On April 3rd Testament released their 13th studio album “Titians of Creation” via Nuclear Blast. Founding guitarist (and only constant member) Eric Peterson joins us to give us all the updates on the album and everything else going on with the Bay Area thrashers. 

After that we talk once again with Symphony X bassist Mike LePond about his latest progressive metal effort DeadRisen with guitarist Rod Rivera. Mike remains an ever busy guy as he does press for this as he prepares to launch the latest Silent Assassins release “Whore of Babylon”. We haven’t talked to Mike since 2018’s Pawn and Prophecy so its a good time to catch up. 

A Taste of DeadRisen

Here's the first single off "Whore of Babylon" 

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Tesla's Brian Wheat Guests on This Bonus Episode of Focus on Metal

Episode 457 SE - Jammin’

This weeks bonus episode is a quick chat with Tesla bassist Brian Wheat about their new release “Five Man London Jam” recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios. We also delve into some other Tesla discussion and we have a bit of a social distanced cohost chat.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Metal Church Vocalist Mike Howe and Havok's David Sanchez Guest on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 457 - Havoc Church

Digging into a few new releases this week. First up we talk with vocalist Mike Howe about the new Metal Church release “From The Vault” from our friends at Rat Pak. After that we talk with David Sanchez about Havok’s upcoming fifth studio lease entitled very fittingly “V”. Another great new one brought to us by the Century Media.

Head to RatPakRecordsAmerica.com/metal-church to get your own copy of "From The Vault".

Here's the track "Dead on The Vine


Head to HavokBand.com to preorder your own copy of "V"

And from V here's the advance track "Phantom Force".

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

The Spectacular Rise, Fall and Rebirth Of Hair Metal- Christopher P. Hilton

 

   The cover of this book states hair metal was an era not to be forgotten. That's certainly true now with countless arena package tours doing good business. Heck even Ratt are in the new Geico commercial. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of most of what is termed "hair metal" and like the author I hate the term because it lumps all bands from that era into something that had more style then substance. Winger are in my top 5 bands of all time and those guys can really play.

   This is a big book over 400 pages and it traces the lineage of the genre from the early 80s (rise), the wilderness years (90s) and its resurgence (00s to now). It goes year by year with each chapter titled after the biggest release with an introduction on what in general happened followed by a breakdown of other releases and in closing the author picks his favorite albums. He's an uber fan of the genre, has self-published this book and isn't afraid to criticize bands or albums he didn't like, it's not an "all of the bands were great and never did anything wrong" book, there's enough of that crap in Facebook groups. He recommends music released in the wilderness years that I might even revisit or have never heard at all. He likes Motley Crue with Vince and still thinks the Corabi album is fantastic. I like the guy.

   There are bands he completely left out or didn't cover as much as I would have liked. There's no mention of Europe's worldwide smash The Final Countdown at all in his 1986 chapter, Dokken and WASP are barely mentioned yet there's ton on The Quireboys , Pretty Boy Floyd and The Electric Boys. He picks the bands he likes and there are a lot of them, I suppose if he put them all in the book would be 800 pages.

   In closing there's a chapter on the newer hair metal bands with Steel Panther being the biggest. I know most of them but have to say I don't own a ton of newer hair metal, I'm more akin to buying newer product from older established names. In closing the book is well written, features a ton of bands and albums from a much maligned yet important genre of music. If you want to gain some extra knowledge, find some band to (re)discover or even say to yourself the author is out of his fucking mind for liking or disliking an album this is the book for you.

Richie.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=christopher+hilton&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Industry Insider Dean Budnick on the Post Virus Concert World on This Bonus Episode of Focus on Metal

Episode 456SE - Concert Killer

Author and concert industry insider Dean Budnick joins us on this bonus episode of FoM to talk about what to expect in the concert industry in the post virus world. What happens in the fall when all these bands are vying for venues along with sports teams? What's the outlook for refunds? What can we do to support bands while the live music business has been put on hold? You'll hear from one of the most respected industry insiders on all these questions and more on this bonus episode of FoM.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

David Reece Talks Cacophony of Souls on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 456 - Cacophony of Souls

On March 13th David Reece released his latest sonic barrage of music via El Puerto Records. 

Cacophony of Souls is a fitting follow up to 2018s Resilient Heart.  This week David will go through making of the album as well as talking about a lot of other things, as he usually does.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Nita Strauss Guests On A Bonus Episode of Focus on Metal

Episode 455 SE - Nita Strauss Bonus Episode

Nita Strauss comes on FoM as part of the promotional effort for “Schools Out” And Oh Say Can You Stream the online streaming broadcast to support the Ellefson Youth Music Foundation’s efforts to get music education to kids unable to get music education because of the COVID-19 situation. Its a win cuz you get a bonus episode and we help support a great cause.

Head to EllefsonYouthMusicFoundation.org to get all the info about the foundation and the broadcast.

If you want to contribute directly go to fundrazr.com/deymfschoolsout

Also be sure to go to  HurricaneNita.com for info on Nita or maybe grab a copy of her latest release “Controlled Chaos”

Watch the Hurricane at work from her Controlled Chaos release

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

A Cozy Powell Special This Week on Focus on Metal

Episode 455 - Cozy Powell Special

This one just seemed to fall into place for us. First off we talk with author Laura Shenton about her new book “Dance With The Devil: The Cozy Powell Story” and if that wasn’t enough Richie also talks with Colin Hart who served as tour manager for both Deep Purple and Rainbow. We didn't even plan for this to fall on the same wek as the anniversary of his death. That's just another weird thing that just fell into place as well.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Joe Flynt of Asphalt Valentine On This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 454 - Asphalt Valentine

Holy crap didn't think the RSS feed was ever going to update this week. Been trying crap for about 24 hours the episode is finally available.
This week we talk with Joe Flynt from Asphalt Valentine. We follow that up with a chat with Mike Mostert the founder of GoGo Tuners.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.