Device - Out Of Line

Band:  Device feat. Serj Tankian, Geezer Butler
Genre:  Alternative Metal

I was really excited to see that Serj had done a song with David Draiman.  Why you ask?  Why because Serj flocks to social causes like a moth to a flame and Draiman has always been far more political than a musician should be.  When I saw the title of the song I knew it would be a preachy yet wonderful tune and it really did deliver.

A low, one of my favorite bass players is also here!  Geezer is the bassist from Black Sabbath and his stuff is what I learned to play initially.  It was simple enough that I could pick it up and just kinda go with it and feel all accomplished with myself.  Then boom, he slapped some low end on Device and helped cement a solid song together.

System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B.

So on one hand these guys are classed as Nu-Metal, but I'm not sure that's where they belong.  A lot of people place them there simple because that's the era in which they originated, but they are far closer to Prog.  According to Wiki they are Avant-Garde Metal, and that seems to fit a lot more to me.

They've got this fantastic thing they do were they seem to switch up styles in the middle of a verse.  This isn't really what I'm trying to say, but I'm not really sure how to explain what I mean.  Their song Chop Suey probably explains it the best, but there are moments like what I mean in this song as well.

One warning though is that this is a very opinion charged band.  Politics are a primary theme due to the singer Serj Tankian Armenian ancestry.  One neat note though is that Serj "was awarded the Armenian Prime Minister's Medal for his contributions to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music." in 2011 according to Wikipedia.

I'm beginning to think I need some sort of early warning system for people to know whether they need headphones or whatever when they listen to this stuff.  Maybe a language warning?  Lemme know what you think, cause I'd hate to think I'm blindsiding some of you who are unfamiliar with some of the stuff I post.

Tech N9ne - Straight Out The Gate

I first came in contact with Tech N9ne when he did a song with Five Finger Death Punch.  At that time, I kinda assumed that he was a small time person, considering very few of my friends knew who he was and such.  I was just a little wrong.

I have come to realize that Tech N9ne is one of the fastest rappers around, and that his music is reasonably weird.

This song for example features Serj Tankian, formerly of System of a Down.   Serj likes him some political tunes, and after reading what his part would be in this song he probably said something like, "Oh look, an establishment!  Let's protest it."  The video seems to play off of the whole Don't Drink The Kool Aid cult stereotype, and the lyrics definitely are critical of people who don't question what is handed to them.