Free Metal Monday: Over the Top (Various Recordings)

Self-Release/Independent
2015

 
I've got Paul Rote to thank for this band. He aptly described this San Antonio, Texas band as The Godz meet Black Sabbath and as I type this up small piece up I've got "Trailer Park Queen" playing in the background and man alive(!)  I just can't get enough of these stone cold rockers! Why am I only now hearing about this band? And what's more why isn't this band a big hit? This is retro-hard rock/stoner doom rock at it's absolute best! A four-piece band lead by bassist/vocalist Jason Chapman and featuring the mad skills of guitarists Jeff Nettles & Matt Brown and drummer Ryan Gonzales, Over the Top not only offers cool original material for free over at their Bandcamp page, but the group also does a bang-up job covering "Strange Ways" by KISS! Originally appearing on KISS's 1974 album, "Hotter than Hell", "Strange Ways". was written by Ace Frehley and it sounds groovy as F**K in Over the Top's hands! As with Over the Top's original compositions it's free to download and it makes for a nice listen on this Monday morning. Enjoy!

Kissin' Time-Canada's Tribute To Kiss

Keep It Live Records
2012

I'm never one to shy away from good music for a good cause. "Kissin' Time" is one such project. 13 of Canada's best indie acts (from metal to singer/songwriters) cover 13 classic Kiss songs with all proceeds from the sale of the CD (after expenses) being donated to the SICKKIDS Foundation (Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital). Right away I just have to say how can you go wrong? Maybe a brief explanation/rundown of this CD is in order will help make the choice a little easier. There are some really choice covers here done up with loving care. In fact, the bulk of this CD is really good. West Memphis Suicide offers up a solid take on "War Machine"  while Spiro Papadatos implores us all to "Rock And Roll All Night". While not the best cover of the Kiss classic (for me that will always be the live cover by the Approach and the Execution!) it at lease keeps to the spirit of the song. Bobnoxious, who play a great mix of dirty rock and roll and Motorhead like metal, rip their way through "C'mon And Love Me" and Grimskunk (a cool name for a band!) tear things up with "100,000 Years". If you've ever wanted to know what "I Was Made For Loving You" would sound like if it was covered by members of White Zombie (later day) and Marylin Manson then A)You're in luck! and B) I have no idea what is wrong with you, but you might want to consider getting medicated! Probably my favorite Kiss cover on this disc is "Hard Luck Woman". With only a guitar and her voice (which proves to be more then enough) Sarah Smith delivers a tear-inducing cover of this classic. Her voice is simply perfect for this cover and she presents "Hard Luck Woman" with such soulful passion and hurt that it's hard not to get a lump in your throat as she sings. Sure, there are a few numbers that defy logic (The Salads give us what has to be the worst version of "Lick It Up" ever played in the history of mankind!) and some that shouldn't be ("I Was Made For Loving You" by R.E.D.), but the majority of these groups do well with the Kiss songs chosen. Really though it's for a really good cause and at $14.99 CAD it won't break your budget!




http://kissintime-canadastributetokiss.bandcamp.com/