The Complete Vocal Workout: A Step-by Step Guide to Tough Vocals Review

While there are many books for rock and metal singing, none are more insightful, uplifting, and informative as The Complete Vocal Workout: A Step-by Step Guide to Tough Vocals by Roger Kain. Kain shows anyone who is aspiring to sing rock or metal music that you can always expand your range and that with the proper exercises you too can hit those high notes. He mentions that just because you are not naturally a tenor or a soprano does not mean that you too can not hit high notes or improve. There is also a section in the back for diagnosing problems with your voice (such as not being able to hit the high notes or have the power). This section is very helpful because it explains what you need to do to get the results you want.

Even though I took vocal lessons and I still use the warm ups I was taught, I have used this as a supplement to work on my higher register. It has worked wonders. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to expand their vocal range.

http://www.rogerkain.com/books.html

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Vocal-Workout-Step-Vocals/dp/1844920038

Writing with the Band

Things are going pretty well here writing tracks with the band. I am satisfied with how everything is coming along. It is a metal band, but it's new type of metal. Now we just need to find a drummer.

Slavic Deficiency in Metal, Rock and Punk

As I was going over the list of the ethnicities that dominate rock, metal, and punk music, I found that there were very few people of eastern european decent (except the Polish). I don't know if it's because the culture doesn't value music, or if there aren't that many people with that ethnic background that is the cause for this. And this is mostly for well-known people in the mentioned genres.

Met Eddie Trunk and an issue for the future of metal

On Saturday I went to Chuck Levins, to meet Eddie Trunk, the writer of "Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal."

Prior to recieving his autograph and buying his book there was a question and answer session. I took this time to ask for his opinion one of the burning questions I have had about the present and future of heavy metal and is subgenres. Specifically, whether or not the trend will continue for there to be more left wing metal and less libertarian metal. He said he does not have a ball and cannot see the future.

Personally I think that this is going to be an issue in the future for metal. A lot of the old metal was very libertarian in it's messages, because it was advocating freedom to drink, smoke, and do whatever, but a lot of the metal heads weren not for giving to the poor or those in need. Also satanism is advocating dominating others at your expense and absolute freedom. This is not a message of equality or help those in need (left-wing) or order (right wing). These old messages in metal of freedom are in between equality and order on a spectrum. Libertarians believe in extreme freedom. So one can see why this message is prevelant in a lot of metal.

This is something that is going to need to get dealt with, because often times satanism and similar imagery is used to espouse freedom. However, some metalheads are saying they are liberal, which in itself is broad (in fact classical liberalism in the united states is another name for libertarianism).

I believe this issue about which direction metal is going to take is something that needs to be discussed and dealt with, because it can have profound consequences for how metal is written, performed, and discussed.

Previous Danger and Dissonance Playlists that were not posted

Danger and Dissonance Playlist November 17, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Poisonblack: Rush
2 Amebix: Arise
3 Fugazi: Turnover
4 Gang Of Four: Natural's Not In it
5 Motorhead: Rock 'N' Roll
6 Nachtystium: A Seed For Suffering
7 Nine Black Alps: Get Your Guns
8 The Offspring: Nitro (Youth Energy)
9 Paradise Lost: Ember's Fire
10 Porcupine Tree: Shallow
11 Rise Against: Anywhere But Here
12 Silverchair: Freak
13 Smashing Pumpkins: Heavy Metal Machine
14 Sponge: Wax Esctatic (To Sell Angelina)
15 The Subways: Young For Eternity
16 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
17 Venom: Angel Dust
18 Testament: Souls Of Black
19 The Sword: Freya
20 Edge Of Sanity: Black Tears
21 Carcass: Heartwork
22 Corrosion Of Conformity: Albatross
23 In Flames: Trigger
24 Kreator: Violent Revolution
25 Metallica: Ride The Lightning
26 Norther: Frozen Angel

Danger and Dissonance Playlist December 1, 2010
# Artist: Track
1 Amebix: Arise
2 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Sixbarrel Shotgun
3 Damone: Out Here All Night
4 Death: Together As One
5 Discharge: I Won't Subscribe
6 Exodus: Downfall
7 Mastodon: The Wolf Is Loose
8 Megadeth: 44 Minutes
9 Minor Threat: Minor Threat
10 Misery Index: The Carrion Call
11 Poisonblack: Never Enough
12 Silverchair: Freak
13 Sponge: Plowed
14 The Subways: Young For Eternity
15 The Sword: Freya
16 Testament: Falling Fast
17 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
18 Venom: Angel Dust
19 Veruca Salt: Seether
20 Warbringer: Severed Reality
21 Nachtmystium: Assassins
22 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires
23 Cannibal Corpse: Evisceration Plague
24 Akimbo: Rockness Monster
25 Agalloch: Falling Snow
26 Amon Amarth: Once Sent From The Golden Hall
27 Anti-Flag: Rotten Future
28 Corrosion Of Conformity: Albatross

Danger and Dissonance Playlist December 8, 2010
# Artist: Track: Album: Comment
1 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
2 Young Widows: Lucky And Hardheaded
3 Carcass: Heartwork
4 Edge Of Sanity: Black Tears
5 Kreator: Violent Revolution
6 Megadeth: Peace Sells
7 Slint: Good Morning,Captain: First Song Ever from WMUC's Digital Music Library!
8 Metallica: Jump In The Fire
9 Negative Approach: Evacuate
10 Necrophagist: Extreme Unction
11 Nine Black Alps: Get Your Guns
12 Norther: Deep Inside
13 The Offspring: Nitro (Youth Energy)
14 Pantera: Walk
15 Paradise Lost: Embers Fire
16 Poisonblack: Rush
17 Priestess: Everything That You Are
18 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
19 Silverchair: Freak
20 Sponge: Plowed
21 The Subways: Young For Eternity
22 The Sword: Barael's Blade
23 Akimbo: Rockness Monster
24 Amebix: Arise
25 Anti-Flag: Kill The Rich
26 Black Flag: My War
27 Apocalyptica: (Feat. Gavin Rossdale) End Of Me
28 Apothys: Cacophony Rising
29 Amon Amarth: Once Sent From Golden Hall

Danger and Dissonance Playlist November 10, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Misery Index: Traitors
2 Devourment: Abomination Unseen
3 Cattle Decapitation: Applied Human Defragmentation
4 Amebix: Arise!
5 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
6 Cannibal Corpse: Decency Defied
7 Exodus: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
8 Napalm Death: Control
9 Corrosion Of Conformity: Albatross
10 Bathory: Enter The Eternal Fire
11 Warbringer: Severed Reality
12 Necrophagist: Extreme Unction
13 Testament: Practice What You Preach
14 Baroness: O'Appalachia
15 Fugazi: Turnover
16 High On Fire: Turk
17 Metallica: The Four Horsemen
18 Death: Pull The Plug
19 Misery Index: The Carrion Call
20 Nine Black Alps: Buy Nothing
21 The Offspring: Nitro (Youth Energy)
22 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
23 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
24 Silverchair: Freak
25 Slayer: Angel Of Death
26 Venom: Angel Dust
27 Minor Threat: Seeing Red
28 Black Flag: My War
29 Anti-Flag: Safe Tonight

Danger and Dissonance Playlist November 3, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Carcass: Heartwork
2 Exodus: Downfall
3 Norther: Deep Inside
4 Slayer: War Ensemble
5 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
6 Poisonblack: Never Enough
7 Priestess: Everything That You Are
8 Priestess: Everything That You Are
9 Apothys: Cacophony Rising
10 Drugs Of Faith: The Age Of Reason
11 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition
12 Young Widows: Lucky And Hardheaded
13 Kreator: Violent Revolution
14 Meshuggah: Bleed
15 The Subways: Young For Eternity
16 Negative Approach: Evacuate
17 Pantera: Walk
18 Paradise Lost: Remembrance
19 Rise Against: Life Less Frightening
20 Sponge: Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)
21 Warbringer: Severed Reality
22 Misery Index: The Carrion Call
23 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
24 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Sixbarrel Shotgun
25 Akimbo: Rockness Monster
26 Arch Enemy: I Am Legend/Out For Blood
27 Baroness: O'Appalachia
28 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End

Danger and Dissonance Playlist October 27, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Warbringer: Severed Reality
2 Exdous: March Of The Sycophants
3 Ihsahn: A Grave Inversed
4 The Subways: Young For Eternity
5 Paradise Lost: Remembrance
6 Revocation: Re-Animaniac
7 Negative Approach: Tied Down
8 Napalm Death: Siege Of Power
9 Norther: Black Gold
10 Nine Black Alps: Buy Nothing
11 Nachtmystium: A Seed For Suffering
12 Minor Threat: Minor Threat
13 Sponge Silence: Is Their Drug
14 Venom: Poison
15 The Offspring: Nitro (Youth Energy)
16 High On Fire: Turk
17 Discharge: Does This System Work?
18 Black Flag: Rise Above
19 Necrophagist: Extreme Unction
20 Death: Pull The Plug
21 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition
22 Children Of Bodom: Next In Line
23 Carcass: No Love Lost
24 Anti-Flag: Rotten Future
25 Porcupine: Tree Shallow
26 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
27 Amon Amarth: Once Sent From The Golden Hall
28 Apothys: Cacophony Rising
29 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Sixbarrel Shotgun
30 Corrosion Of Conformity: Albatross

Danger and Dissonance Playlist October 13, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Testament: Practice What You Preach
2 Trihexyn: Years Of Contention
3 Silverchair: Freak
4 Priestess: Everything That You Are
5 Anti-Flag: Safe Tonight
6 Baroness: O'Appalachia
7 Black Rebel Motorcycle: Linen On Your Dreams
8 Black Sabbath: Time Machine
9 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires
10 Carcass: Keep On Rotting In The Free World
11 Children Of Bodom: Sixpounder
12 Apothys: Cacophony Rising
13 Death: Baptized In Blood
14 Discharge: I Won't Subscribe
15 Exodus: March Of The Syncophants
16 Fugazi: Turnover
17 In Flames: Embody The Invisible
18 Kreator: Violent Revolution
19 Minor Threat: Straight Edge
20 Misery Index: The Carrion Call
21 Nachtmystium: A Seed For Suffering
22 Nine Black Alps: Porcupine
23 Norther: Black Gold
24 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
25 Rise Against: Life Less Frightening
26 Sponge: Plowed
27 Metallica: No Remorse
28 Megadeth: Peace Sells

Danger and Dissonance Playlist October 6, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Exodus: Downfall
2 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
3 Revolta: The End Obscured
4 Discharge: Is This To Be?
5 The Subways: Young For Eternity
6 Sponge: My Purity
7 Carcass: Heartwork
8 Silverchair: Slave
9 Megadeth: This Day We Fight!
10 Black Sabbath: Children Of The Grave
11 Misery Index: The Carrion Call
12 Children Of Bodom: Needled 24/7
13 Motorhead: Ace Of Spades
14 Death: Baptized In Blood
15 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You
16 Metallica: Creeping Death
17 Slayer: War Ensemble
18 Priestess: Raccoon Eyes
19 Norther: Deep Inside
20 Trhexyn: Years Of Contention
21 Tool: Stinkfist
22 Negative Approach: Evacuate
23 Nine Black Alps: Cosmopolitan
24 Smashing Pumpkins: Bullet With Butterfly Wings
25 Judas Priest: Breaking The Law
26 Paradise Lost: Embers Fire
27 Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild
28 Stone Temple Pilots: Sex Type Thing
29 Black Flag: Rise Above
30 Minor Threat: I'm Seeing Red

Danger and Dissonance Playlist for September 1 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Trihexyn: Years of Contention
2 Revocation: Dismantle The Dictator
3 In Flames: Minus
4 Negative Approach: Tied Down
5 Smashing Pumpkins: Tales of A Scorched Earth
6 Silverchair: Lie To Me
7 Sponge: Rotting Pinata
8 Death: Pull The Plug
9 Testament: Falling Fast
10 Carcass: Keep On Rotting In The Free World
11 In Ruins: Dead From The Start
12 Exodus: Downfall
13 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Sixbarrel Shotgun
14 Chute: Venom
15 Cradle of Filth: Cthulhu Dawn
16 Black Flag: My War
17 Misery Index: Retaliate
18 Nine Black Alps: Buy Nothing
19 Foo Fighters: Good Grief
20 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
21 Minor Threat: It Follows
22 Poisonblack: The Darkest Lie
23 Veruca Salt: All Hail Me
24 Blitzkrieg: Buried Alive
25 Steve Vai: Bad Horsie
26 Deep Purple: Highway Star
27 AC/DC: Shoot To Thrill
28 Bathory: Raise The Dead
29 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires

Danger and Dissonance Playlist May 6, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Norther: To Hell
2 Testament: Falling Fast
3 Dimmu Borgir: In Death's Embrace
4 Children Of Bodom: Lake Bodom
5 Paradise Lost: Remembrance
6 Priestess: Two Kids
7 Black Flag: My War
8 Sponge: Plowed
9 Poisonblack: Nothing Else Remains
10 Black Sabbath: I Witness
11 Carcass: No Love Lost
12 The Pixies: Break My Body
13 Death: Torn To Pieces
14 Minor Threat: Minor Threat
15 Drugs Of Faith: Anemic
16 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition
17 Kreator: Violent Revolution
18 Megadeth: Head Crusher
19 Discharge: Does This System Work?
20 Nachtmystium: A Seed For Suffering
21 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
22 In Flames: Embody The Invisible
23 Slayer: War Ensemble
24 Pantera: Walk
25 Nirvana: School
26 CKY: Tripled Manic State
27 Nine Black Alps: Buy Nothing
28 Porcupine Tree: Deadwing
29 Venom: Angel Dust
30 Veruca Salt: Seether

Top 5 Metal Amps

This article on Gear-Vault has awesome information about the top 5 amps for heavy metal and hard rock: http://www.gear-vault.com/top-5-amps-peavey-5150-6505/

I never realized that there were so many hard rock and metal amps. The article states that hard rock and metal guitar players must buy a lot of amps since there are so many amps marketed to those players.

I'm not surprised that Marshall is considered number one since it is an iconic brand. I'm also not surprised that the Peavey 5150/6505 and the Mesa Boogie Dual/Triple Rectifiers are on there. Both pack a lot of punch and an awesome metal/hard rock tone.

Danger and Dissonance Playlist April 22, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You
2 Norther: Deep Inside
3 Discharge: I Won't Subscribe
4 Fierce Allegaince: Die Fighting
5 Guns N' Roses: Think About You
6 Judas Priest: Breaking The Law
7 Death: Mutilation
8 Carcass: Generation Hexed
9 Megadeth: Peace Sells
10 Metallica: Creeping Death
11 Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild
12 Minor Threat: Straight Edge
13 Black Sabbath: Children Of The Grave
14 Poisonblack: Nothing Else Remains
15 Nachtmystium: Assassins
16 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires
17 Nirvana: School
18 Silverchair: Freak
19 Pantera: Mouth For War
20 Nine Black Alps: Get Your Guns
21 Priestess: I Am The Night, Colour Me Black
22 Slayer: Born Of Fire
23 Sponge: Plowed
24 AC/DC: Shoot To Thrill
25 Deep Purple: Highway Star
26 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition
27 Knossis: Planetary Subversion
28 Opeth: Advent

Danger and Dissonance Playlist April 15, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Amon Amarth: Once Sent From The Golden Hall
2 Megadeth: Head Crusher
3 Minor Threat: Seeing Red
4 Pantera: Mouth For War
5 Discharge: Does The System Work?
6 Sponge: Silence Is Their Drug
7 Death: Pull The Plug
8 Nachtmystium: A Seed For Suffering
9 Blitzkrieg: Buried Alive
10 Motorhead: Blackheart
11 Black Flag: My War
12 Iron Maiden: Aces High
13 Kreator: Violent Revolution
14 Paradise Lost: Remembrance
15 Priestess: Everything That You Are
16 Smashing Pumpkins: Here Is No Why
17 Nine Black Alps: Get Your Guns
18 Norther: Black Gold
19 Porcupine Tree: Shallow
20 Venom: A Thousand Days In Sodom
21 Ozzy Osbourne: Crazy Train
22 Damone: Out Here All Night
23 Slayer: Raining Blood
24 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition
25 Anti-Flag: Kill The Rich
26 Bathory: Raise The Dead
27 Carcass: Generation Hexed
28 CKY: Tripled Manic State
29 Emperor: Curse You All Men!
30 Nirvana: Negative Creep

Danger and Dissonance Playlist April 8, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Fierce Allegiance: Die Fighting
2 Slayer: Angel Of Death
3 Black Flag: Thirsty and Miserable
4 Metallica: Jump In The Fire
5 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
6 Norther: Going Nowhere
7 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
8 Porcupine Tree: Deadwing
9 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires
10 Priestess: Raccoon Eyes
11 Carcass: Keep On Rotting In The Free World
12 Pentagram: Relentless
13 Sponge: Silence Is Their Drug
14 The Sword: Freya
15 Testament: Practice What You Preach
16 Venom: Angel Dust
17 Opeth: Master's Apprentices
18 Warbringer: Scorched Earth
19 Pantera: Walk
20 Smashing Pumpkins: Bullet With Butterfly Wings
21 Black Sabbath: Tommorow's Dream
22 Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild
23 Corrosion Of Conformity: Clean My Wounds
24 Death: Baptized In Blood
25 Discharge: Why?
26 Silverchair: Freak
27 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You

Danger and Dissonance Playlist April 8, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Fierce Allegiance: Die Fighting
2 Slayer: Angel Of Death
3 Black Flag: Thirsty and Miserable
4 Metallica: Jump In The Fire
5 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
6 Norther: Going Nowhere
7 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
8 Porcupine Tree: Deadwing
9 Bush: A Tendency To Start Fires
10 Priestess: Raccoon Eyes
11 Carcass: Keep On Rotting In The Free World
12 Pentagram: Relentless
13 Sponge: Silence Is Their Drug
14 The Sword: Freya
15 Testament: Practice What You Preach
16 Venom: Angel Dust
17 Opeth: Master's Apprentices
18 Warbringer: Scorched Earth
19 Pantera: Walk
20 Smashing Pumpkins: Bullet With Butterfly Wings
21 Black Sabbath: Tommorow's Dream
22 Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild
23 Corrosion Of Conformity: Clean My Wounds
24 Death: Baptized In Blood
25 Discharge: Why?
26 Silverchair: Freak
27 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You

Danger and Dissonance Playlist April 1, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Carcass: No Love Lost
2 Bush: History
3 Black Sabbath: Children Of The Grave
4 Kreator: Violent Revolution
5 Blitzkrieg: Buried Alive
6 Priestess: Everything That You Are
7 Poisonblack: Nothing Else Remains
8 Silverchair: Freak
9 Discharge: Does This System Work?
10 Slayer: Angel Of Death
11 The Sword: Freya
12 Death: Baptized In Blood
13 Venom: One Thousand Days In Sodom
14 Paradise Lost: Remembrance
15 Sponge: Plowed
16 Pantera: Cemetery Gates
17 Megadeth: This Day We Fight!
18 Norther: Deep Inside
19 Metallica: The Thing That Should Not Be
20 Judas Priest: Breaking The Law
21 Iron Maiden: Aces High
22 Gojira: Toxic Garbage Island
23 Guns N' Roses: Mr. Brownstone
24 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
25 Opeth: Advent

Danger and Dissonance Playlist March 25, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Norther: Going Nowhere
2 Nine Black Alps: Cosmopolitan
3 CKY: Tripled Manic State
4 Carcass: Tommorrow Belongs To Nobody
5 Black Sabbath: Tommorow's Dream
6 Death: Pull The Plug
7 Metallica: The Four Horsemen
8 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
9 Paradise Lost: Rememberance
10 Smashing Pumpkins: Tales Of A Scorched Earth
11 Sponge: Wax Ecstatic
12 The Sword: Barael's Blade
13 Skid Row: Youth Gone Wild
14 Silverchair: Freak
15 Saint Vitus: Born Too Late
16 Testament: Malpractice
17 Minor Threat: Seeing Red
18 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You
19 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
20 Black Flag: Six Pack
21 Candlebox: Don't You
22 Opeth: Master's Apprentices
23 Priestess: Raccoon Eyes
24 Venom: Schizo
25 Corrosion Of Conformity: Clean My Wounds
26 Burning Shadows: Into The Primordial
27 Gojira: Toxic Garbage Island

Danger and Dissonance Playlist February 25, 2010

# Artist: Track
1 Ozzy Osbourne: Mr. Crowley
2 Nachtmystium: Your True Enemy
3 Discharge: Does The System Work?
4 Carcass: No Love Lost
5 Megadeth: Wake Up Dead
6 Bathory: Enter The Eternal Fire
7 Norther: Deep Inside
8 Saint Vitus: Born Too Late
9 Pantera: Walk
10 Porcupine Tree: Shallow
11 Opeth: Master's Apprentices
12 Venom: One Thousand Days In Sodom
13 Priestess: Two Kids
14 Poisonblack: Nothing Else Remains
15 Death: Regurgitated Guts
16 Children Of Bodom: Towards Dead End
17 Norther: Hellhole
18 Nirvana: Negative Creep
19 In Flames: Scorn
20 Metallica: Disposable Heroes
21 Kreator: Destroy What Destroys You
22 Corrosion Of Conformity: Albatross
23 Paradise Lost: Ember's Fire
24 Minor Threat: It Follows
25 Condemn The Infected: Passages To Perdition