R.I.P. Lemmy

I was never the biggest Motorhead fan, though I did enjoy everything I heard from them.  I just never bought too many of their albums.   That being said, their influence was undeniable.  Lemmy will be missed.

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman

As a longtime Slayer fan this one stings a little.  He was just 49 years old.

Link.

R.I.P. Mike Starr

Link.

Taking a break from Voivod week to express my condolences to the family and friends of original Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr who was found dead yesterday. Starr appeared on all AiC albums through 1993, including the groundbreaking Facelift and Dirt albums. Rest in peace.

R.I.P. Makh Daniels

It's been a rough year for metal musicians dying. Yesterday, Early Graves singer Makh Daniels died when the tour van the band and The Funeral Pyre were riding in was in an accident after their driver fell asleep at the wheel. A life and promising career cut tragically short.

http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/08/02/early-graves-vocalist-mahk-daniels-killed-in-van-accident/

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio

I am truly shocked and saddened by this news. Apparently he died yesterday morning but I was not near a computer all day so I missed it. Ronnie James Dio was one of the most influential and talented vocalists in metal. It truly is a shame to lose him, especially since his voice was still so strong on his last recording, last year's Heaven & Hell album. Rest in Peace, Dio. We will miss you.

R.I.P. Peter Steele

The lead singer and bassist of gothic metal band Type O Negative passed away last night. Type O Negative was one of the early metal bands I really got into. His distinctive deep vocals and surprisingly witty lyrics touched me from the start. It's sad to see him go. R.I.P.

8 Year Anniversary of the Death of Chuck Schuldiner

Today is the 8th anniversary of the death of Chuck Schuldiner. This one is a bit more important to me as I am a much bigger fan of Death than Pantera. Chuck was Death. Plain and simple. The band had several other members but only Chuck stayed. Chuck died of brain cancer. The band's lyrical themes clearly changed as Chuck fought for his life. The last two albums are almost heartbreaking with songs like "Spirit Crusher" and "A Moment of Clarity". R.I.P. Chuck, you were clearly a death metal pioneer.

5 Year Annversary of the Death of Dimebag Darrell

Yeah, I know it was yesterday but I was busy dealing with the blizzard. At any rate, Dimebag has been gone for five years now. I have never been a huge fan of his. I admit, he had some great riffs, but I was never hugely impressed by him. Nevertheless, it is extremely sad what happened to him. Pantera wasn't one of my favorite bands but I did like them well enough. I never bothered checking out Damageplan though. R.I.P. Dimebag.

R.I.P. Chuck Biscuits

Sad news today as it has been reported that Chuck Biscuits has passed away at the young age of 44 from throat cancer. Biscuits was an incredible drummer for Danzig among many hardcore bands. I used to say that drummers were only really noticeable when they were really bad, but Biscuits was one of the drummers that changed my mind, based on his stuff with Danzig. R.I.P. Chuck.

http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/10/29/r-i-p-chuck-biscuits/

Alice In Chains: Black Gives Way to Blue Initial Impressions

Earlier this year, rumors were finally confirmed that Alice In Chains would be releasing an album full of all new material. This would be the band's first album of new material since iconic lead singer Layne Staley died of an overdose. I was skeptical. I believed the band should have called it a day and gone on their separate ways. Guitarist/singer Jerry Cantrell had already embarked on a solo project along with drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Inez had been playing in Ozzy Osbourne's band.

The new singer is William DuVall and he has some very large shoes to fill. Layne Staley's vocals were extremely powerful, and gave the band's music a harmonic, eerie edge. Not many knew that the reason Staley's vocals were so haunting were from his immense inner pain and struggles. DuVall does an exceptional job of filling in. His vocals are similar to Staley's but lack that powerful edge. Nevertheless, he does a fine job and the harmonics with Jerry Cantrell are incredible.

The songs are typically slower-paced and very emotional. It is clear that this album's lyrics deal with a lot of the pain that the band went through after Staley's death. It's kind of a depressing listen to be quite honest. The music is powerful and dark. It calls to mind the band's heyday. It does really sound like the band had never left. This is easily one of the comeback albums of the year.

Three Years Ago Yesterday...

Dissection mainman Jon Nodtveidt committed suicide. Nodtveidt was a member of the Misanthropic Luciferian Order and was a well-known Satanist. He was convicted of accessory to murder of a gay man and was released from prison in 2004. Thereafter, he reformed Dissection for one last album. Believing his work to be done on Earth, he committed suicide.

Nodtveidt is a great example of admiring an artist but not liking them as a person. I love Dissection's music, in particular Storm of the Light's Bane, which is one of my Top 5 all-time albums. Dissection introduced me to black metal and I will always like the band, even if their last album was not nearly as good. But Nodtveidt was not a good person. I will miss his work, but not his actions. Even so, Rest in Peace, Jon.

R.I.P. Dom DiMaggio

Sad day for Red Sox fans as Dom DiMaggio died today at 92. He played for the Red Sox his entire career, playing center field. He often lead the team in stolen bases and he owns the Red Sox record for longest hitting streak at 34 games. He played in seven All Star games. I always hoped he would one day join his brother Joe and his former teammates Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr in the Hall of Fame.