Classic Rock + Heavy Metal

CLASSIC ROCK was originally conceived as a radio station programming formula which evolved into the album oriented rock (AOR) format of the early-1980s. In the United States, this rock music genre now features a large playlist of songs ranging from the early-1960s through to the early-1980s with more emphasis on the core albums, artists, and songs most often represented by the subset of recorded catalogue that was popular during the so-called original classic rock era (1964-1975) when rock and hard rock dominated the charts. British hard rock and progressive rock bands make up the central pillar of classic rock artists; significant among these are Led Zeppelin, ELP, The Who, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Yes and Queen.

Concept albums indirectly led to the album-rock format and remain a major component of classic rock. American-bred 70s rock acts such as Aerosmith and REO Speedwagon, Toto, Heart, Rush, Boston and Journey often appear on classic rock radio stations. Also included is late 60s rock from artists like Santana, Free, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, Jeff Beck and Cream. In many areas, Southern rock, notably that of Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top forms a significant subset of classic rock programming as well. Other classic rock playlists also include some of the hard-rock/heavy metal bands of the 1980s such as AC/DC, Guns N' Roses and Van Halen as classic rock. While new generations of fans are drawn to the most enduring classic rock songs and artists, similarly, more modern material by bands such as U2, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Soundgarden, Foo Fighters and The Red Hot Chili Peppers has proven to appeal to generations of older listeners.

Alice Cooper Will Scare You To Death On Welcome 2 My Nightmare And Leave You Begging For More

ALICE COOPER - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Universal Music

Listening to Alice Cooper's diverse vocal range and musicianship is like watching a mélange of horror and drama inspired movies. Try to imagine all of this, but within the auditory spectrum side of things and it is quite out of this world. How does Cooper make all of this possible without losing his identity or without compromising his rich vocal delivery?

Well, here lies the truth, and it's going to blow your mind, no kidding, people. Alice's newest and greatest release (in my opinion, at least) is a strong collection of all of his musical influences from the time he began his career to the present day. "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" is such an unpredictable album that each track could be from another album of his but with a modern day twist. Now this is what I call sheer musical and songwriting brilliance.

It is Cooper's creative ability to blend metal, rock, funk and pop rock styles fused into one concoction of rock wizardry, which makes listening to this album kind of like riding a lengthy roller coaster with limitless highs and lows.

However, it should be noted, any listener expecting 14 tracks of pure heavy rock and metal will be disappointed with Cooper on "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" as this record is as musically and vocally as diverse as it gets with the way Cooper drives the point home with his vocals and songwriting talents on this one.

Ancient Rituals Are Reenacted in Modern Rock Concerts

Mythology, in ancient times, was in many ways the psychic glue that held cultures together. It gave them identity, and endowed their people with a sense of spiritual community. It's hard for any of us who're alive today to really envision what life under a functioning and life-giving mythology was like. The spiritual communion of the West has received some grievous blows, most notably during the Industrial Revolution and in the years since. But our psyches and souls instinctively need - and gravitate towards - the nourishing symbols and archetypes of myth. This is the reason why so many of the motifs of ancient rites find their echo in the rituals (particularly among the young) of the modern day. One prominent example is rock concerts.

The Greek playwrights believed that the greater the suffering depicted onstage within their tragedies, the greater the emotional catharsis their audience would experience. In the modern age, we've long pursued a love affair with tormented artists - gifted and doomed - amongst our painters, poets, writers and musicians. Onstage at a rock concert, the existential struggles of the performer are played out for all to see. And perhaps we unconsciously expect the self-destruction that so often occurs as a culmination. It is the fulfillment of the age-old fate of the tragic hero.

Modern music has revived many of the symbols and story arcs that lay at the heart of ancient rituals. This is especially true of Heavy Metal and its extreme subgenres. Here we often find lyrical content replete with magic, the supernatural, the demonic and the angelic. This can all be seen as an attempt the demarcate the bounds of our reality. How high can man rise - and how far can he fall?

Actual playlist

1. MORBID ANGEL: Altars Of Madness
2. ALARUM: Natural Causes
3. DEVIL: Time To Repent
4. LAKE OF MIND: Condemned Soul
5. CYNIC: Focus
6. TROUBLE: IV.
7. SLAYER: South Of Heaven
8. ANVIL: Juggernaut Of Justice
9. MERCYFUL FATE: Melissa
10. IMMORTAL: Blizzard Beasts