This is the story of the album "Above" and the supergroup "Mad Season"... During the final mixing of Pearl Jam's "Vitalogy" album, Mike McCready went through a drug and alcohol rehab procedure at a rehab facility in Minnesota. At the institute, he met John Baker Saunders who also came from Seattle and was in the process of rehab. The two returned to Seattle together and decided to set up a side project with drummer Barrett Martin who played in "Screeming Trees". The three entered the rehearsal room and immediately began writing songs. Since they did not have a lead singer, Mike thought who was a good friend of Layne Staley from Alice In Chains, invited Layne to the band. Mike thought it would be good for Layne to work and be around people who had just quit drugs and alcohol since Layne was at that difficult time of drug addiction. (Photo: Lance Mercer) The atmosphere in the rehearsal room and studio was very similar to the atmosphere in the "Temple Of The Dog" sessions, the collaboration and creativity between the members were so amazing that Mike closed a show even before they could finish one song. Detached from their mother bands, without any pressure, without any commitment, and released from all inhibitions, the members together created and recorded 10 songs that entered the album (and many other materials that did not enter). The writing of the entire album took seven days and only a few more days in which Layne recorded vocals. Layne was given a free hand when it came to writing the lyrics and the melody of the song, he felt he was on a spiritual journey, a mission, a search, and this would also be reflected in the songs, in which Layne chaptered all his personal frustrations and his struggles with addictions. Already in the opening song of the album " Wake Up " you can feel the enormous exposure that Layne transmits in the text and poetry, even though the music for the song was written even before Layne arrived in the band. After several appearances on the local scene in 1994, the band gained popularity, changing its name to "Mad Season" which is an English nickname for a season in which the hallucinogenic mushrooms are in full bloom (Mike's allusion to his drinking season and drug use), And on March 14, 1995, they released their only album "Above". The influence of the blues from which John Baker and Layne Staley came from, is very noticeable on the album, but it also includes influences from other genres, even jazz. The album released two top singles " River Of Deceit " and " I Don't Know Anything ". After the album's release, the band performed several shows, including a special one that took place on April 29, 1995, at the Moore Theater in Seattle and was videotaped, but the band disbanded immediately afterward. Baker died of an overdose in January 1999 and in April 2002 Layne Staley also died of an overdose, which finally sealed the band's future. (Photo: Pinterest) A special edition of the album was released in 2013, which included several bonus tracks in addition to the aforementioned performance that took place in 1995. It is interesting to note that the singer and creator Mark Lanegan , known among others from the "Screaming Trees", is hosted in singing and participated in the writing of the tracks " I'm Above " and " Long Gone Day ". Lanegan also wrote the lyrics to three songs from the deluxe version: " Locomotive ", " Black Book of Fear ", and " Slip Away ", following Mike's requests to replace Layne and possibly release another album. Another guest who helped write the song " Black Book of Fear " is Peter Buck from "R.E.M.". Although the band did not survive for a long time and performed many shows, it is one of the prominent albums of the grunge scene, in the eyes of many fans, and especially Mike, this album has a very strong meaning. It's an exciting album that has touched a lot of people around the world and always reminds Mike of the two friends he lost out of the band. Another significant influence of the album's creation on Mike is the turning point created in the career of the talented guitarist. Early in "Pearl Jam's" career, Mike was not active in writing. Maybe because of the dominant talents that were by his side or because of the drugs, but in any case, Mike did not contribute much to work. After recording the album "Above" he discovered his writing ability and received a significant dose of confidence. He said that from that album he started contributing and taking an active part in the "Pearl Jam" albums. (Photo: Krista Kay) The album cover is an illustration created by Layne based on a real picture of him and his then-partner and fiancée Demri Parrott. Damari was the love of his life and his muse and she passed away as a result of an overdose, a year after the album was released. Layne was broken from her mammoth and some say it was the beginning of his deterioration to death. After her death, he asked for Damari's mother, the Demari bear doll that Layne kept until the day he died. Listen to an album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 13, 1995, "The Bends" was released - ,"Radiohead's second studio album, and it's undoubtedly an age-old album, perhaps even the most beautiful of the band's albums. We hope we did not upset anyone with this statement, we still hold the opinion that " OK Computer " is the band's most complete and perfect album, an album on the verge of a masterpiece. But at the same time, over time and after many hours of listening we are willing to swear that there are days when the album "The Bends" is even smoother to our ears, better than its sharpened and polished brother. There are days when we prefer the tremolo effect in the opening song " Planet Telex " over the sawing distortion of " Airbag ", there are times when we prefer to smell "Fake Plastic Trees " than to escape from the " Karma Police " and there are days when we just prefer to watch a man lying on The sidewalk and wondering what he whispers to whoever approaches him in the music video of the amazing song " Just ", than to stare at Thom Yorke drowning inside an aquarium in an equally amazing song " No Surprises ". So "The Bends" is probably Radiohead's disillusionment album, the album that bridges the gap between the immature, rough and even banal sound of the debut album " Pablo Honey " and the meticulous production and tight sound of " OK Computer " . It has on the one hand the innocence and purity of " Pablo Honey " and on the other hand the sophistication and dynamism of " OK Computer" . (Photo: Gie Knaeps) The album gives us the ultimate combination of mowing and kicking songs alongside soft and melodic passages. It opens with the amazing and moving " Planet Telex ", whose original name was "Planet Xerox" but changed to avoid the printer company's copyright claim. The minimalist drum roles in the song were composed of various segments that were recorded during the sessions for the album and played in a loop. Thom recorded his singing roles in one take while lying on the floor drunk. The band returned from a pub straight to the studio and Thom Yorke simply drank too much and decided to improvise. The theme song " The Bends " was written even before the band released their debut album - " Pablo Honey ". The band used to perform it in gigs long before it was recorded for an album bearing its name. The background noise at the opening of the song was recorded by Thom Yorke at the entrance to the hotel where he was staying in the US. He noted that he was influenced by David Bowie in writing the song and that his lyrics are humorous. It's not clear to us why because we really like it, but Thom Yorke was quoted as saying that the song " High and Dry " is not a bad song, but the worse one! The song was recorded as a demo during the recording of the debut album " Pablo Honey " but did not get into it. The album continues with the quiet and melancholy atmosphere song " Fake Plastic Trees ". Thom Yorke was greatly influenced by artist Jeff Buckley and recorded the song after attending his show. He immediately ran to the studio and in two takes recorded the vocals when immediately afterwards he burst into tears. It is interesting to note that this song entered the list of the 500 greatest songs of all time by the "Rolling Stone" magazine. Interestingly, the bass guitar Colin Greenwood played in the song is a 1960s Fender Precision, which once belonged to legendary bassist Steve Harris . Regarding the song " Just ", Thom Yorke stated that it is the result of a competition between him and Johnny Greenwood on who will put more chords into one song. The song was recorded live in the studio and no additional guitar layers were recorded. The track " My Iron Lung " is the theme song of the EP that the band released in September 1994. The song was written in response to the success of the hit "Creep" and after the band felt "suffocated" by the fact that they became known only thanks to it. The song " Street Spirit (Fade Out) " is one of the most beautiful and moving on the album. The passage of the disjointed chords is simply mesmerizing and Thom Yorke 's singing sounds like a caressing lament here. Thom Yorke noted that he was influenced in writing the song by "R.E.M." and from the novel "The Famished Road" by Nigerian writer Ben Okri. And there's also " Bullet Proof.. I Wish I Was " which breaks us to pieces and " Black Star " in which Thom Yorke transcends himself in such a special melody in singing, which travels above and below chords and sounds, and we can go on and on. Listen to the album at: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about Clive Burr - a drummer who, despite his relatively short career, managed to inspire many good drummers. (Photo: Metaltalk.net) 1. He was born in London, England, on March 8, 1957 as Clive Ronald Burr. 2. One of the first bands he played in was "Maya", where he met bassist Chris Aylmer. 3. From there he will move to the band "Samson" according to Aylmer's recommendation. 4. He would record two singles with her, "Telephone" and "Mr Rock and Roll", but in 1978 he would leave the band. 5. He joined "Iron Maiden" on December 26, 1979 as a replacement for former drummer Doug Sampson. This happened shortly after the band released the mini-album " The Soundhouse Tapes " 6. Clive will participate in the recordings of the band's debut album " Iron Maiden " as well as the two following albums, " Killers " and " The Number Of The Beast ". 7. He co-wrote only one song of the band that was released on an official album - "Gangland" taken from the album " The Number Of The Beast ". 8. In addition, he co-wrote the song "Total Eclipse", which appeared as the B-side of the single "Run to the Hills". 9. Clive was fired from the band in 1982 during "The Beast on the Road tour". He was replaced by the band's current drummer, Nicko McBrain . 10. Burr said he was kicked out of the band after taking a break to mourn the death of his father. However, according to Bruce Dickinson 's 2017 autobiography Clive was dismissed due to conflicts with Steve Harris . 11. After being fired from "Iron Maiden", Burr played for a short time in the French hard rock group "Trust", where Nicko McBrain also played with them and released the album "Marche ou Crève" in 1981. 12. Clive released two albums with the band "Trust IV" from 1983 and "Man's Trap" from 1984. 13. Clive also played for a short time in the American band "Alcatrazz", but hurried to leave it when he realized that the band was going to be based in the USA and not in England, his native country. 14. Clive later formed a band known as "Clive Burr's Escape", which later changed its name to "Stratus", in which there were former members of the band "Praying Mantis". They disbanded after releasing one album called "Throwing Shapes" in 1984. (Photo: Virginia Turbett, Redferns/Getty Images) 15. In 1985 he founded the supergroup "Gogmagog" together with bassist Neil Murray, singer Paul Di'Anno and guitarist Pete Willis . The group released in 1985 an EP called "I Will Be There EP". 16. It is interesting to note that the guitarist Janick Gers will later join the group, who will later join "Iron Maiden" himself. 17. In 1988 he will join singer Dee Snider to form the group "Desperado". The band recorded an album called "Bloodied But Unbowed" that year, but due to problems with the record company it was not released until 1996. 18. Burr appeared with the British band "Elixir" and participated in two of their albums "Lethal potion" from 1990 and "Sovereign Remedy" from 2004. 19. He also collaborated with "Praying Mantis" during the 1990s and appeared on Praying Mantis' 1996 live album "Captured Alive in Tokyo City". 20. In the late 1990s, Clive was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the treatment of which left him heavily in debt. 21. Over the years, the members of the band "Iron Maiden" staged a series of charity shows and were involved in the establishment of the Clive "Burr MS" trust fund, which was intended to help him. 22. The band even released on March 11, 2002 the single - "Run to the Hills" from their live album " Rock In Rio ", when all proceeds from this single were donated to Clive Burr. 23. Clive died in his sleep on March 13, 2013 as a result of complications from the multiple sclerosis he suffered from. 24. Clive's drumming influenced many good drummers, such as Dave Lombardo , Charlie Benante, Dave McClain, and many others. 25. Even guitarist Jeff Waters noted that he was inspired by Clive's drumming when writing the drum parts for his band "Annihilator". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

The debut album of "Marillion" was released on March 13, 1983. The album plays a critical role in the revival of Progressive Rock, a genre that didn't exist at the time. Let's find out why. There's one thing that can not be taken from "Marillion". The revival of Progressive Rock. The glorious genre that rose to prominence in the early 70s, but died out at the end of the decade, perceived as inflated, boring, and archaic. In the late 1970s, Progressive Rock had no place in music. The rise of Punk was happening, Disco was taking over, the New Wave was on high and around the corner, Heavy Metal was about to explode. Just at that time, a band was formed in the south-east of England which adopted the name "Silmarillion", after the book series written by J.R.R. Tolkien. The band that formed in 1979 decided to swim against the current, and while the giant bands of Progressive Rock on which they grew up like "Jetro Tull", "Yes" and "Genesis" began to change and look for new directions, "Marillion" decided not to succumb to existing pressures and trends and make the music they love. The main core of "Silmarillion" began to crystallize on August 19, 1979, when guitarist Steve Rothery successfully auditioned for the band. At the time the band members were: Mick Pointer on drums, Doug 'Rastus' Irvine on bass, and Brian Jelliman on keyboards. Rothery 's first appearance in the band's uniform took place on March 1, 1980, then the band also shortened its name to "Marillion". When charismatic Scottish singer, Fish, joined the band in July 1981, things started to move forward. In November 1981, keyboardist Mark Kelly joins the band. Later, in March 1982, came bassist Pete Trewavas, thus perfecting the band's initial lineup. "Marillion" records demos of first versions of the songs " He Knows You Know " and " Garden Party ", which will appear later on their debut album, as well as another song that will be released as a single " Charting the Single ". The band's first opportunity comes when they were invited to the "Friday Rock Show" on BBC Radio, where they played the songs " The Web ", " Three Boats Down from The Candy " and " Forgotten Sons ". As a result of their exposure, EMI signed them to a recording contract. The band's first single " Market Square Heroes " was released on October 25, 1982, and features the excellent B-side " Three Boats Down from The Candy " as well as the epic and Progressive 20-minute track - " Grendel ". This single was well received and even qualified for fourth place in the annual charts of "Kerrang!" Magazine. Reinforced by the positive reviews of the first single, "Marillion" entered the studio in December 1982 to record the debut album "Script For A Jester's Tear". The material of which was composed during the band's many performances. The music on this album traces roots back to the classic Progressive Rock of the early 1970s, but applies a number of evolutionary fixes while remaining true to reality in order to adapt the genre, then considered out of date and bombastic, to the spirit of the time. On the one hand, the band clings to the uncompromising dynamics of the genre and the classical melodies that characterize it, and on the other hand, it abandons the unconventional virtuosity and rhythms. On the one hand, it clings to the complex structures and the epic and long tracks, but on the other hand, it abandons the Mellotron and Hammond in favor of "eighties" synthesizers. This album features only six tracks, which in a sense changed the music map of the early 1980s. 47 minutes of music that gave young Neo-Prog bands an opportunity to take advantage of the vast void left by the dinosaurs of Progressive Rock in the early 1980s. With the title song of the album being also the album opener, " Script For A Jester's Tear " corresponds with the image of the album cover featuring the "Jester" that reflects Fish 's complex personality. Fish will return to dealing with characters based on his personality, such as the boy from the album " Misplaced Childhood " or Torch from the album " Clutching at Straws ". From the vocal intro of the song, one can tell the similarity to "Genesis", especially to Peter Gabriel 's intro to the album " Selling England By The Pound ". Fish and the rest of the band did not hide their admiration for "Genesis" and the fact that Fish used to wear different characters during the band's performances only increased the comparison. However, as we stated, it is less about coping and more about inspiration. "Script For A Jester's Tear" is without a doubt one of the band's greatest pieces of all time, and it is a tremendous purposeful display of its members' writing abilities. Rothery 's solos simply tear us to pieces, Fish 's voice being both powerful and gentle, aggressive and caressing, all keeping with the theme of the story. True, in the specific parts the rhythm section is a bit lacking the passion and improvisation, but when you look at the whole and understand what period this album came out, not only can this be treated with forgiveness, but this amazing bunch deserves all the possible superlatives. True, you will not find the sophistication and virtuosity of the classic Progressive Rock genre here, but you will find melodies, musical transitions, and erupting dynamics that did not exist in those years and for which this band was no less responsible for their relevance. " He Knows You Know " is the big "hit" from the album, which was also released as a single and won a video clip, that even managed to slip into the VHS tape of the best clips from "Heavy Rock" bands, released by Kerrang magazine! At the time. The song length was shortened and adjusted to the 3-minute zone, when Mark Kelly 's keyboard solo was trimmed, to avoid comparison to the dinosaurs from the 70s, which were considered outdated in those years. The song refers to drug use, especially intravenous drug use. Anyone familiar with the band's performances from those years knows that Fish used to present the song as the "drug song" and noted that it was inspired by drug use. It is especially remembered that during the shows Fish performed a movement as if he is inserting the microphone into the vein of his hand, in a perfect sync to Rothery 's guitar solo. " The Web " seals the first side of the album and especially highlights the amazing capabilities of Rothery . A Prog piece that became a crowd favorite at the band's performances and later its name will serve as a nickname for its fan club. The other side of the vinyl opens up with the "Cheerful" and sarcastic " Garden Party ", which was released as the second single from the album. The song mocks upper-class "garden parties" and again it's hard not to compare the writing theme to Genesis' " Selling England By The Pound ", especially considering Fish 's singing style which is very reminiscent of Peter Gabriel 's theatricality. The album ends with two amazing songs, the melancholy " Chelsea Monday " written about suicide, with the moaning and howling guitars of Rothery and the beating and dominant bass of Pete Trewavas and the epic ending track " Forgotten Sons ", which is a protest song about Northern Ireland conflict which won a very theatrical performance in the band's live shows by Fish, who dressed as a soldier. Upon its release, the album was a commercial success and received rave reviews from critics. In the same year, "Marillion" manages to fill the "Hammersmith Odeon" in London and film the final performance of the tour. The show will later be released on VHS tape, in October of that year, and will become a cult show. It is interesting to note that the one who were the opening act for "Marillion" on that show, was none other than Peter Hammill from "Van der Graaf Generator". There seems to be no room for doubt! The success of "Marillion" led to the revival of a dying genre that was about to disappear from the world. True, "Marillion" was not there alone, but its great success tipped the scales and saved the genre, so in our humble opinion all Neo-Prog, Post-Progressive, Prog-Metal bands, owe in one way or another their very existence to "Marillion" and to this album in particular. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

This is a very special album that documents history. There are not very many albums that document history. This album documents the rich and all-influential history of the "Sound City recording studio" located in a shabby Los Angeles neighborhood. About the studio... The studio was set up in 1969 in a building that once belonged to Vox, a British musical instrument maker whose amp you probably know. It was founded by Joe Gottfried and Tom Skeeter who wanted to enter the music industry and establish a record company and artist management. After opening the studio, the two faced many challenges as they were unable to recruit enough artists and their income was stagnant. For the purpose of creating uniqueness and attracting artists to record in their new studio, they purchased the analog recording console "Neve 8028". The console was purchased from a British electronics engineer named "Rupert Neve" at a cost of $ 75,175. There were 28 input channels, 16 bus outputs, and 24 monitor outputs, and let's not forget the 1,008 equalizer buttons! There is no computerized or automatic operation on the console; you simply need to be a nuclear engineer to build and operate one. Only 4 consoles of this model were created! (Photo: Michael J. Cinema) About the console... The console of course attracted many artists to the studio, resulting in five decades of music creation that have yielded many masterpiece albums. Notable artists who have recorded in the studio: Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Guns N 'Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and many others. It was famous for the special sound of the live recordings and the rough and thick sound of the drum recordings made at the studio, which was split into three separate rooms. With the introduction of the Pro Tools system, a computerized system that can be used to record music more easily. The music world has undergone a revolution and analog consoles have slowly become irrelevant. So too the studio whose crown diamond became charcoal, began to slowly lose its value and only a few artists continued to visit it. In 2011 the studio was finally shut down and most of the equipment in it was dismantled and sold. This is where our album comes into the picture... In 1991, Nirvana's breakthrough album and one of the great albums 'Nevermind' was recorded in this studio and 20 years later when Dave Grohl heard that the studio was closing and immediately decided to purchase the console. He felt it was going to be a groundbreaking event and since he had a lot of respect and appreciation for the studio he decided to make a documentary about the studio. (Photo: GearNews.com) About the film... Inspired by the console, Dave Grohl decided to create a documentary movie, documenting the life of the mythological studio from 1969 to 2011. The film, directed by Dave, describes the historical events that took place in and out of the studio and the effects it had on the world of music. How were the big albums created that were a milestone especially in the rock world like: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Damn the Torpedoes" (1979), Tool's " Undertow " (1993), Neil Young's " After the Gold Rush " (1970), Johnny Cash's "Unchained" (1996), "Rage Against the Machine's" " Rage Against The Machine " (1992), Dio's " Holy Diver " (1983), Guns N 'Roses' " Appetite for Destruction " and one of "Fleetwood Mac's" most famous albums - " Fleetwood Mac " created from the studio. The film also documents the process of disassembling the console from the studio and reassembling it in the "Studio 606" studio that Dave Grohl set up at his home. In the process he conducts an interview with Rupert Neve the engineer who designed and created the console with his own hands. Throughout the film he conducts interviews with various artists who recorded in the same studio or were influenced by what happened in it. In the same interviews he conducted in Studio 606, he came up with the idea of ​​having a jam session with the same artists. The idea quickly became a reality ... About the album... Dave Grohl decided to create together with the interviewees (some of them, of course, not all) a new song from scratch and record it within 24 hours in parallel with the interview. Each of the songs was written and recorded especially for the film from which the soundtrack came out and the one who of course wins the recordings is the famous producer Busch Vig. After the release of the album, Dave Grohl formed the temporary band "Sound City Players" which together with various artists who recorded the album also appeared at several festivals and entertainment programs for a period of about a year. (Photo: Sound City Trailer) 1. " Heaven and All " - Participants: Robert Levon Been Creator and singer of the band "Black Rebel Motorcycle Club" and also the son of Michael Been from "The Call" and together with guitarist Peter Hayes who is also from the same band. 2. " Time Slowing Down " - Participants: Chris Goss Musician, producer and friend of Dave Grohl from the band "Queens of the Stone Age" and also singer and guitarist in the band "Masters Of Reality". "Rage Against The machine" bassist Tim Commerford and angry drummer Brad Wilk with him. 3. " You Can't Fix This " - Cast: The stunning Stevie Nicks from the band Fleetwood Mac and Dave's two friends from The "Foo Fighters" - Taylor Hawkins , Rami Jaffee . 4. " The Man That Never Was " - Cast: Rick Springfield An Australian singer and actor who was part of the band "Zoot" in the early 70's and here Dave Grohl also joins his friends from the "Foo Fighters" - Taylor Hawkins , Chris Shiflett , Pat Smear . 5. " Your Wife Is Calling " - Cast: Lee Ving The actor, singer and lead of the hardcore band Punk "Fear". He is joined by the multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes who is known as the founder of the alternative rock band Eleven and a member of the band "Queens of the Stone Age". Here, too, members of the Foo's support. 6. " From Can to Can't " - Participants: Corey Taylor the singer of "Slipknot" and "Stone Sour" with one of the most beautiful songs on the album. Rick Nielsen is a lead guitarist and lead writer from "Cheap Trick". Bassist Scott Reeder from "Kyuss" and "The Obsessed". 7. " Centipede " - Cast: Josh Homme Dave's best friend from "Queens of the Stone Age" and Chris Goss and Alain Johannes. 8. " A Trick With No Sleeve " - ​​Participants: Alain Johannes, Josh Homme . 9. " Cut Me Some Slack " - Participants: The Man, the Legend and the multi-instrumentalist Paul McCartney , joined by "Nirvana" band member Krist Novoselic and their longtime friend Pat Smear . 10. " If I Were Me " - Cast: String Musician Jessy Greene. Drummer Jim Keltner who was defined by Bob Dylan as the leading recording drummer in America. 11. " Mantra " - Participants: Josh Homme and his friend The producer, creator and founder of the band "Nine Inch Nails", Trent Reznor. The album was a huge success and starred in the charts in the US and Europe and even picked up two Grammy Awards in the categories: "Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media" and "Best Rock Song" with the song "Cut Me Some Slack". Listen to the album at: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 12, 2001, "Opeth" releases one of the pinnacles of it's carrier, the fifth studio album "Blackwater Park". This album is without a doubt the band's breakthrough album to the Metal world scene. Just to be clear, for over 10 years before this album's release, "Opeth" did not embark on a single tour outside the borders of Sweden, its homeland. Following the release of "Blackwater Park" and the commercial success that came with it, the band embarked on their first tour in the US followed by a long tour in Europe and began to establish their status and expand their devoted fan base. This commercial breakthrough was made possible, among other things, thanks to the band's unique collaboration with Steven Wilson, who not only produced the album, but plays guitar, piano and sings in 4 of the album's eight songs. It can be said that Wilson received an almost free hand from guitarist, singer and band leader Mikael Akerfeldt, thus helping "Opeth" to change not only the sound, but also the style that would allow their big break. It was a dual and fruitful collaboration that contributed to both sides. Following the change in the sound and musical line of "Opeth", Wilson will continue to accompany them on future albums as well and help them establish their status as a progressive-death-metal band. Wilson, on the other hand, will take the powerful roughness and riffs from "Opeth", which will begin to seep more and more into "Porcupine Tree's" albums, starting with "In Absentia", which was recorded shortly afterwards. "Opeth", founded in Stockholm Sweden, in 1990, by guitarist and singer Mikael Akerfeldt and began it's career as a Death Metal band with Black, Doom and Progressive Metal influences. The first album "Orchid" released in 1995, drew quite a few of the aforementioned genres, which will continue to accompany the band on the next album - "Morningrise" from 1996, which was even darker and heavier. But then, the band's style began to change as they entered a mix, Folk, Jazz and especially Progressive influences, which would grow until 1999 with the album "Still Life", which brought the band even closer to Prog. This change in the band's musical line will allow them to arrive to Steven Wilson's production table, ready and willing for the creation of the album that will change their future. The musical influence of the band on this album, can already be learn from the album title. "Blackwater Park" was a German progressive rock band, and it seems that the choice of name was not accidental. The album includes 8 tracks, most of which were written by the band's leader, guitarist and singer Mikael Akerfeldt. It features the ultimate formula of "Opeth" - a combination of melodic ballads with Clean singing and a Metallic, brutal raged attack, with growling roars. Here exactly lies the greatness of the band which is radically expressed on this album. The incredible ability to shift between melodic, magical and soft moments to heavy, menacing and dark parts. Despite these all-too-extreme dynamic changes, "Opeth" manages to make this musical roller coaster feel like a quiet, smooth ride on the highway. The album features the band's pinnacle tracks, such as the opening song " The Leper Affinity ", which best presents the extreme and deadly combination between the rage attack with the growling roars and the clean and melodic parts. Between rough and cruel electric riffs, and delightful acoustic chords, up to the surprising ending of Steven Wilson's piano playing. The second track " Bleak " takes us to a darker and heavier place, with influences from the band's first albums followed by a big surprise, with the melodic and quiet section in the middle of the piece, which develops with delightful guitar parts and clean vocals singing by Steven Wilson. " Harvest " is as its name implies. It completely "harvests" all the growling singing and leaves us with a "clean", quiet and melodic piece, which has become a regular on the band's next albums, givig the listener a regular and momentary rest. " The Drapery Falls " is one of the band's anthems in its live shows. Steven Wilson's influence is well felt here, especially in the more Progressive parts and in the Jazzy influences. The fifth track " Dirge for November ", is the first of two on the album, whose music was written in collaboration with lead guitarist Peter Lindgren. The song opens and ends with a kind of guitar lament, just like the name of the song implies ("Lament for November"). The song melancholic ending naturally connects to the theme of the next track " The Funeral Portrait ". The short instrumental track " Patterns in the Ivy " leads us to the main musical work and the theme song " Blackwater Park " which seals the album in an epic way. As mentioned, the successful collaboration with Steven Wilson will continue on subsequent albums as well. After the album's release, "Opeth" announced a special project, a double album, half of which would be its heaviest, while the other half would be soft and with no death metal parts. In the end, the band decided to split the project into two different albums. The first and heaviest "Deliverance", and their quietest album " Damnation ", which was its big turnaround. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 12.03.1983 "When you form a new band, you compare yourself to other bands, how many albums they sold, concerts, and more, but after your first or second album all you really care about is your creativity and touring. Of course you are still interested in what others are doing, but you simply choose your own path." When singer Fish talks about his path and his desire to be original, he is undoubtedly referring to the early days of his band "Marillion". The B-side of their debut single in 1982 was a 17-minute epic titled "Grendel" , which immediately invited comparisons to the early 1970s version of "Genesis". In addition, Fish ’s high vocal register sounded remarkably similar to that of Peter Gabriel , and his flamboyant stage costumes reinforced the comparison even further. The British press nearly lost its mind with headlines about the return of progressive "Genesis", but eventually settled for describing "Marillion" as “the second-best Genesis of all time.” Fish , born Derek William Dick in April 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland, was heavily influenced in his youth by artists such as "Genesis", "The Moody Blues", "T. Rex", David Bowie , and "Pink Floyd", influences that clearly hinted at what the future might hold. His nickname Fish came from a landlord who noticed that he seemed to spend an unusually large amount of time in the shower. Formed just before the arrival of a new decade in 1979, "Marillion" would wait no less than four years before announcing to the world the revival of progressive rock in a new package: neo-progressive rock. This subgenre emerged at the end of 1981. Neo-prog is characterized by deeply emotional content, usually conveyed through dramatic lyrics, vivid imagery, and theatrical stage presentation. Musically, it is largely the result of careful composition rather than improvised jams, relying heavily on clean, melodic and emotional electric guitar solos combined with keyboards. The primary influences were first-wave progressive rock bands such as "Genesis", "Camel", "Van der Graaf Generator", and "Pink Floyd". Funk, heavy rock, and punk rock also contributed elements to the genre. "Marillion" took their name from The Silmarillion , the collection of writings by author J. R. R. Tolkien, a book admired by the band’s founding drummer Mick Pointer. Speaking of Pointer, after the release of the debut album " Script for a Jester’s Tear ", which received glowing reviews, the band embarked on a tour that ended with Pointer’s dismissal after he was perceived as focusing less on the performances and more on a fling between two concert nights. When "Marillion" entered the studio to record their second album "Fugazi", released on March 12, 1984, they discovered that the well had run dry and they did not have enough suitable material for a full album. “It was a strange period,” Fish noted. The release of the debut album had generated enormous interest around "Marillion" and around other neo-prog bands that were beginning to emerge. Suddenly every record company was searching for their own  "Marillion", and the band themselves felt uncomfortable carrying the label of neo-prog’s main messengers. Their debut album had been written slowly over two or three years. Now Fish only had a handful of raw ideas and early song sketches, while the pressure from the record company to deliver another album kept increasing. The band eventually rotated through no fewer than ten recording studios while investing approximately £120,000 in the process. "Fugazi", named after American military slang used by soldiers in Vietnam meaning “everything is messed up,” illustrated the band’s development since the debut album, which in comparison sounded rather fragile. Prophets, visionaries and poets everywhere seemed to hear Fish ’s rallying call as the band’s second album, filled with progressive complexity, drama, and wordplay, nevertheless placed "Marillion" firmly on the path toward success. Fish later reflected that the band sounded young and naïve on the album, still trying to find their style. "Marillion" were attempting to establish their identity, not necessarily through immediate success, which would arrive with the following album " Misplaced Childhood " and the timeless hit "Kayleigh" . For the time being, however, the darker "Fugazi" suggested that "Marillion" had found a balanced approach to songwriting, where everything seemed to fall perfectly into place. "Assassing"  opens the album with a character describing himself as an assassin, though the lyrics serve as a metaphor for character assassination. They are commonly interpreted as referring to the verbal arguments that preceded the departure of founding drummer Mick Pointer. Fish later clarified, however, that the lyrics were directed at bassist Diz Minnitt rather than Pointer. "Punch & Judy"  portrays a marriage that has run aground. The lyrics are quite brilliant, presenting examples of everyday relationship struggles. The routine boredom that many relationships eventually fall into is contrasted with an intense longing for the early days of love, when partners still enjoy one another’s company. In "Jigsaw" , Fish takes inspiration from a children’s puzzle to describe a relationship that repeatedly breaks apart only to come back together again. Each time the couple reunites, however, more pieces of the puzzle have disappeared, and it becomes impossible to restore what was lost. In "Emerald Lies" , jealousy and a man’s distrust of his partner become the trigger that eventually leads to the disintegration of their relationship. The album concludes with two songs that, I suspect, later inspired two bands of the 1990s to adopt their names from "Marillion" song titles. "Incubus"  describes a situation in which a woman leaves the boyfriend whose pornographic films she once starred in so she can pursue a mainstream acting career. On the verge of her breakthrough performance, during opening night in front of critics, she suddenly spots her former lover in the audience and fears he may expose her past. The title track "Fugazi"  closes the album with Fish ’s bleak reflection on the state of the world: “This world is totally fugazi.”  In other words, the world is completely messed up beyond recognition. Fish borrowed the term from the slang used by American soldiers in Vietnam, which he encountered in the book " Nam"  by Mark Baker. The album cover was painted by Mark Wilkinson, the artist responsible for all of "Marillion"’s classic album covers. The artwork also contains several visual elements carried over from the band’s debut album " Script for a Jester’s Tear r". The pictures on the wall and the ruined building visible outside the window were created by Julie Hazelwood, Wilkinson’s wife. The records scattered on the floor include " The Wall " by "Pink Floyd", "Over" and "Fool’s Mate "  by Peter Hammill, and the single released shortly before the album, "Punch and Judy" . For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 12.03.1984 Ric Ocasek often explained that his strength as a producer came from his own experience inside a band. Having spent years navigating personalities and creative tensions within "The Cars", he developed a unique ability to guide other musicians without disrupting their internal chemistry. Rather than imposing himself on a project, he preferred to observe how a band functioned together, refine their sound, and help them bring out the best version of their collective identity. By February 1988 it was already behind him. Ric Ocasek, the frontman of "The Cars", announced together with his bandmates that the group was disbanding. Ocasek did not waste time and soon began building what would become his second legacy, this time as a producer. Ocasek gradually became something of a mentor to many of the bands he worked with. Among the artists he produced were "Weezer", "The Wannadies", "Bad Religion", "Bad Brains", "Suicide", "Nada Surf", and "No Doubt". Musicians who worked with him often described his presence in the studio as calming and reassuring. Members of "Weezer" later noted that his guidance had a profound impact on their early career and helped shape the sound that would define their breakthrough. Greg Graffin from "Bad Religion" also recalled Ocasek as a supportive and encouraging producer who treated songwriting as a true artistic craft. Instead of focusing only on technical performance, Ocasek emphasized the creative foundations behind a song and encouraged artists to trust their instincts as writers. At the same time, despite bringing so much joy to music fans, life itself had not always been kind to Ocasek. His early years included a difficult childhood, overshadowed by an alcoholic mother and a father who barely paid attention to him. He was married three times. His third marriage was to Czech model Paulina Porizkova. Porizkova, who was only nineteen at the time, later described their meeting as love at first sight. Ocasek, then forty and a musician at the height of his fame, was captivated by the young model who appeared in the video for "Drive" , perhaps the most memorable hit by "The Cars" from their fifth studio album "Heartbeat City", released on March 13, 1984. The song captured Ocasek’s mindset remarkably well. Written from the perspective of a man observing a woman he apparently once had a relationship with, the narrator sees her during a difficult moment and urges her not to ignore the reality surrounding her, singing "You can't go on, thinking nothing's wrong". Later he asks the now famous question "Who's gonna drive you home tonight?", hinting that she may no longer have anyone by her side. Although Ric Ocasek wrote the lyrics, lead vocals on the track were performed by Benjamin Orr, whose emotional delivery helped turn "Drive"  into one of the band’s most memorable songs. Following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, British radio station XFM temporarily banned several songs that might upset listeners during the period of national mourning. Among the tracks placed on their restricted playlist was "Drive" , whose melancholic tone and lyrical themes were considered potentially too sensitive for broadcast at the time. With "Heartbeat City", "The Cars" effectively staged a comeback, releasing their first album in nearly two and a half years. The record also marked the first major change in the band’s production team, as Robert John "Mutt" Lange replaced Roy Thomas Baker, who had produced the group’s first four albums. Lange, who was rapidly becoming one of the most sought after producers in rock after working with "AC/DC" and "Def Leppard", demanded extreme attention to detail from the band. The recording process stretched close to a full year and left Ocasek exhausted. He later admitted that the intense sessions had taken a toll on him, even sharing some of his frustrations with recording engineer Chris Shaw. The album’s lead single "You Might Think"  went on to win Video of the Year at the very first MTV Video Music Awards, beating strong competition including "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. The innovative video, filled with surreal visual effects, perfectly captured the playful spirit of the emerging MTV era and helped cement "Heartbeat City" as one of the defining pop rock albums of the mid 1980s. In "Magic" , released as the album’s second single, Ric Ocasek writes about a woman who completely captivates him, casting a spell every time they meet. The narrator becomes increasingly convinced that she is falling in love with him, even as the situation feels dreamlike and slightly surreal. The song’s playful tone is reflected in its memorable music video, directed by Tim Pope and filmed at the Hilton family mansion in Beverly Hills. The fourth single "Hello Again"  also featured a fascinating and memorable video, starring Andy Warhol in one of his final creative appearances. Warhol collaborated with Don Munroe on the clip, translating Ric Ocasek’s lyrics into a surreal visual experience. In the song, Ocasek sings about a man who seems destined never to find true happiness. Despite his constant attempts to escape and discover something better, he repeatedly finds himself returning to the very place he tried to leave behind. The album cover features an image of a 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 alongside a classic pin up model originally painted by Peruvian American artist Alberto Vargas. The artwork itself is taken from a 1972 piece by British pop artist Peter Phillips titled "Art-O-Matic Loop di Loop", blending retro automotive imagery with pop art aesthetics that perfectly match the sleek, futuristic pop sound of "The Cars" during this era. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 12, 1996, "Kiss" released the live acoustic album "Unplugged". Few bands seemed less suited for an acoustic setting than "Kiss". For more than two decades the group had built its reputation on fire breathing, explosions, towering amplifiers and comic-book theatrics. Yet, when MTV invited the band to participate in its hugely popular "Unplugged" series, the result became one of the most surprising and historically important moments in the band’s career. At the time the lineup consisted of Paul Stanley , Gene Simmons , Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer. The band had already experimented with acoustic performances during fan conventions earlier in the decade, discovering that many of their classic songs translated surprisingly well to a stripped-down format. The performance was recorded on August 9, 1995 at Sony Music Studios in New York City. Instead of the usual spectacle associated with the band, the stage was filled with candles and warm lighting, creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere that allowed the songwriting itself to take center stage. The set opens with "Comin' Home" , sung by Paul Stanley . Originally released on "Hotter Than Hell", the song adapts beautifully to the acoustic setting and immediately demonstrates how strong the band’s melodies and harmonies are even without distortion. Gene Simmons takes the lead on "Plaster Caster"  and "Goin' Blind" , both of which gain a darker and bluesier feel in the stripped arrangement. The setlist moves comfortably through different eras of the band’s catalog. Paul Stanley delivers strong performances on "Do You Love Me?" , "Sure Know Something" , "Rock Bottom" , "I Still Love You" , and "Every Time I Look at You" , songs that benefit greatly from the acoustic format. Simmons also leads "Domino" , "A World Without Heroes" , and the charming acoustic rendition of "See You Tonite" , a track originally released on his 1978 solo album. But all of this is just a warm-up for what comes next. The concert reaches its historic turning point when Stanley invites former members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss onto the stage. For the first time since the late 1970s the original lineup of "Kiss" stands together in front of a live audience. The crowd reaction is immediate and overwhelming. Ace Frehley takes the microphone for "the Rolling Stones" cover "2,000 Man" , one of the highlights of the performance. Then comes one of the most emotional moments of the entire evening when Peter Criss sings "Beth" , the song most closely associated with his voice. Hearing the original vocalist perform the song again with the band instantly transforms the concert into something historic. The reunion continues with "Nothin' to Lose" , sung as a duet between Eric Singer and Peter Criss, blending the voices of the band’s past and present. The performance closes with the band’s most famous anthem, "Rock and Roll All Nite" . In the acoustic setting the song becomes less of an arena explosion and more of a celebratory sing-along. Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer come back on stage. Gene Simmons , Ace Frehley and Peter Criss share the lead vocals while the the whole band and the audience enthusiastically joins the chorus, turning the finale into a joyful communal moment. That brief reunion on the MTV stage quickly proved to be more than just a nostalgic cameo. The overwhelming fan response helped inspire the legendary 1996 reunion tour, when the original members returned to the stage in full makeup for the first time in nearly twenty years. "Unplugged" therefore became far more than just another live album. It captured a unique moment where the past, present and future of the band collided on the same stage. By stripping away the costumes and theatrics, the performance revealed the strength of the band’s songwriting and reminded listeners that beneath the spectacle, "Kiss" had always been a band built on memorable songs. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is without a doubt one of the greatest and best-known bassists in Metal and he also a songwriter with supreme grace. Let's read some facts about Steve Harris. (Photo: Francesco Castaldo) He was born in East London on March 12, 1956, as Stephen Percy Harris. In his youth, he aspired to be a soccer player. He was spotted by a talent hunter and played for the youth team of West Ham United, the football team he is a fan of to this day. In the early teens of his life, he began to take an interest in rock music and at the same time he realized that he was not interested in becoming a professional soccer player Harris wanted to learn to play the drums but due to space constraints in his parent's home, he chose the bass guitar. In 1971 he purchased his first bass guitar which was an imitation of the Fender Precision. Harris taught himself how to play it. Just ten months after purchasing his first guitar, he had already joined a band called "Influence" and later changed its name to "Gypsy's Kiss". In February 1974 he joined the band "Smiler" and began writing songs for them, but the band members rejected them due to the fact that they were too complex. At Christmas of 1975, Harris formed "Iron Maiden". He got the inspiration for the band's name from the film "The Man in the Iron Mask", in which he saw a torture device named "Iron Maiden." Click the link to read more about Iron Maiden Formation . Exactly three years after the formation of the first lineup, on December 31, 1978, "Iron Maiden" will release its first recording known as " Soundhouse Tapes ". At this point the band included Steve Harris on bass, Dave Murray and Paul Cairns on guitar, Doug Sampson as a drummer and Paul Di'Anno as a singer. Before being signed by EMI in 1979, Harris worked as an architectural draughtsman for a firm in the East End of London. Later he even served as a street sweeper. Harris is the only original "Iron Maiden" member and the only one along with guitarist Dave Murray to appear on all 17 of its studio albums. Harris has a very unique unit style. He is considered one of the best and most influential bass players in the metal world and is also the one who is identified with the "galloping" style he manages to produce through playing with his fingers and without a pick, a style familiar to us from songs like "The Trooper" and "Run To The Hills". In addition to being a bassist, Harris also plays keyboards in some of the band's songs and also sings background vocals. Harris is also the band's lead writer and he is influenced in his writing mainly by historical events, books and movies. He is also responsible for mixing and producing some of the band's albums and even some of its music videos. The musical influences on Harris were from the field of classical rock, hard rock, and Progressive rock. In 1991, Harris collaborated with two tennis players John McEnroe and Pat Cash and released a single with them, that also featured his friend Nicko McBrain and singer Roger Daltrey . The single included a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" and was released as part of the "Life Aid Armenia" charity project. In 2012 Harris released his first solo album "British Lion" and in 2020 his second solo album was released as part of "British Lion", called: "The Burning". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

1967 was one of the most important years in the development of rock and psychedelia. A sequence of masterful albums released at a dizzying pace, shaped the map of world music. The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn", Cream's "Disraeli Gears", Hendrix's "Are You Experienced", and "Bold As Love", The Doors' debut album, "The Velvet Underground & Nico" and more, redefined Rock genre and changed the world of music forever. 24 years later, an equally important musical revolution takes place. 1991 was one of the most important years in world's music, the year when the alternative became mainstream. It was a call of an entire generation growing up in the eighties and crying out for a change, which came big time, with the start of the new decade. R.E.M.'s "Out of Time" album was one of the first to be released in that amazing year that brought the wind of change to the music industry, and it is the first of the "Class Of 91" series of reviews. So to understand the revolution that took place in that historic year, one has to go back a little bit of time. In order to understand the revolution that took place in that historic year of 1991, one needs to go back in time a bit to the beginning of the 80's. In the 1980s the music industry was split in two: On the one hand, there was the mainstream world, where the pop and rock stars stood out. They received vast airplay on commercial radio channels and repeated broadcast of clips on MTV. It was the world that ruled with big money and fame. On the other hand, in a parallel universe, there was a poor industry of "alternative music" - a category that at the time included everything that was not mainstream. Punk, Funk, Metal, Industrial, Indie and more. It was an underground world of pirated, low-budget radio stations, shabby recording studios and underground cassettes. These two parallel worlds were so different and polar that no one could have imagined that they could be bridged. But in 1991 everything changed .... In the late 80s underground music become more and more popular. It all started without any assistance from the media and commercial radio stations. Continuous performances by "Alternative" bands, flyers and street ads helped spread the word - Generation X has taken over the music world! Early in it's career R.E.M. was considered an "underground" band, which in the early-80s was not really accepted in the mainstream music industry. But things changed as the decade was coming to an end. R.E.M. Released five critically acclaimed albums between 1983-1987, but did not manage to break through the glass ceiling of the "alternative" world to commercial success. However, in 1988 the band was signed to the major record label Warner Bros. Warner was the first to recognize the impending change in the world of music and in the same year also signed Jane's Addiction on record contract. In doing so, R.E.M. And Jane's Addiction were the first alternative bands to be signed to a major label, thus starting the great revolution that will be completed 3 years later. The 4 young men of Athens Georgia took full advantage of the chance given to them by Warner, and in 1988 produced their most commercially successful album, up to date - "Green". The album released singles such as "Orange Crush" and "Stand", sowing the seeds for what would come three years later with the album "Out of Time", one of the first alternative albums (it's a bit strange to define it that way today) released in the amazing year of 1991. The band entered the studio to record "Out of Time" after a planned one-year break, the first since its inception. This break was due to a tremendous attrition of the band members who were exhausted after a long and tedious tour that accompanied their album "Green". On the one hand, "Out of Time" is a direct continuation of the unique combination of alternative-pop-rock-folk from "Green". On the other hand the band made a conscious decision to write the songs using instruments that are not inherent to the rock genre. The same musical instruments will also find their way into the recording studio and will enrich the musical diversity of the album. In this way, Peter Buck's mandolin became a more dominant instrument than it was on the previous album and bassist and singer Mike Mills further enriched the range of instruments he plays, with a variety of keyboard instruments, such as piano, organ and more. In addition, the band was assisted by outside musicians who added a variety of strings and brass instruments to the album. And if that's not enough, for the first time the band was assisted by guest singers such as KRS-One, who performs the rap part in the opening song "Radio Song" and Kate Pierson from the "B-52", who is featured in three songs: "Near Wild Heaven", "Shiny Happy People" and "Me in Honey". Four successful singles were released from the album, led by the hit "Losing My Religion", which "burned" the radio stations and especially the MTV, with the famous clip that could not be missed. This song, which began with guitarist Peter Buck's failed attempt to play the mandolin, will overnight cn "R.E.M." as one of the great and successful bands of the 90s. The next single is the Poppy and sweet "Shiny Happy People", which included Michael Stipe's famous (and some say notorious) duet with Kate Pierson, with the bouncy and colorful video clip. After releasing this single it was already clear, "R.E.M." managed to break through the glass ceiling and complete the metamorphosis that transformed them from a mediocre alternative band to a formidable mainstream giant that fills stadiums. And there was "Near Wild Heaven" where Mike Mills takes the lead, singing the duet with Kate Pierson, and the fourth and final single - "Radio Song" - the opening track from the album which included a collaboration with rapper KRS-One. More then 30 years have passed since its release, and it appears that the real magic of "Out of Time" is found in songs that have not become big radio hits, and will form the bridge to the magic that will take place on the band's next album - "Automatic for the People". Songs like "Half a World Away", "Texarkana" and "Country Feedback" just sound more and more special as the years go by. "Out of Time" will mark the beginning of the flood of alternative albums that will change the face of the music industry and conquer "mainstream". This album will reach top charts, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, spending 109 weeks in the American charts and 183 weeks in the British chart. The album sold about 5 million copies in the United States alone and over 18 million copies worldwide. It has won three Grammy Awards, one of them for "best alternative music album". For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Released on March 10, 1992, "Body Count" is the debut studio album by the band "Body Count". By the early 1990s Ice-T  had already established himself as one of the most influential voices in West Coast hip hop. Albums like "Rhyme Pays", "Power", and "O.G. Original Gangster" turned him into a fearless storyteller who addressed crime, racism, and police brutality without hesitation. Yet long before becoming a rap pioneer, Ice-T was deeply influenced by rock and heavy metal. Growing up in Los Angeles he listened to bands like "Black Sabbath" and "Slayer", and the idea of forming a metal band had always been part of his musical ambitions. The roots of "Body Count" actually go back to the mid-1980s when Ice-T befriended guitarist Ernie C in the Los Angeles club scene. The two shared a deep love for heavy metal and often talked about forming a band long before the idea became reality. During Ice-T ’s rap concerts they occasionally performed heavy songs together as a side project, gradually assembling a full lineup that included Mooseman on bass, Beatmaster V on drums, and D-Roc on rhythm guitar. What started as a playful experiment between friends slowly evolved into a fully functioning band. That idea eventually became reality when the musicians officially formed the band "Body Count". Their goal was not to create a rap project with guitars but a real metal band that would combine hardcore riffs with Ice-T ’s sharp social commentary and storytelling. The public first encountered the project on Ice-T ’s 1991 album "O.G. Original Gangster", where the track "Body Count"  introduced the band to listeners. The reaction was immediate. Fans were intrigued by the unexpected fusion between thrash metal aggression and hip hop attitude. When the band entered the studio to record their debut album, they captured a sound that felt raw, loud, and confrontational. Ernie C’s sharp guitar riffs dominate the mix while Ice-T alternates between rap phrasing and hardcore shouting, creating a style that was almost unheard of at the time. One of the album’s first explosive moments arrives with "Body Count's in the House" , a furious declaration that the band had arrived. Fast thrash riffs and pounding drums drive the song while Ice-T unleashes an aggressive vocal performance that immediately establishes the tone of the album. Another standout track is "Bowels of the Devil" , one of the heaviest moments on the record. The song explores the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers returning from war, combining dark riffs with intense storytelling. With "There Goes the Neighborhood" , the band directly addresses critics who believed a Black rapper had no place in heavy metal. The track turns that criticism into sarcasm and defiance, celebrating the band’s refusal to follow musical boundaries while delivering one of the album’s most memorable riffs. A somewhat disturbing moment appears in "Evil Dick" , a dark narrative track built around a heavy, slower groove-driven riff. Ice-T  tells the story of a predatory character in a style that feels like a monologue from a horror film. Then, at 2:42, after a short spoken-word section, everything turns chaotic. The guitar erupts, the tempo doubles, and the “threatening” character seemingly performs a wild sexual act, accompanied by moans and groans that carry the scene almost to a frenzied climax. But the song that ultimately defined the album’s legacy is "Cop Killer" . Written as a protest against police brutality, the track sparked a massive controversy across the United States. Police unions and politicians condemned the song, accusing the band of encouraging violence against law enforcement. The backlash eventually led Ice-T to remove the track from later pressings of the album, although he defended it as political protest and social commentary. The album’s cover quickly became one of the most recognizable images associated with the band. The stark skull logo with the band’s name carved into the forehead reflects the raw and confrontational spirit of the music and helped establish the visual identity of "Body Count". Despite the controversy surrounding "Cop Killer" , the album reached the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 and became one of the earliest examples of hip hop colliding with heavy metal. Years before bands like "Rage Against the Machine", "Korn", and "Limp Bizkit" would bring rap-metal into the mainstream, "Body Count" had already opened that door. Even decades later "Body Count" still sounds raw, rebellious, and fearless. It remains a landmark debut that proved heavy music could carry the voice of social protest just as powerfully as hip hop. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website