No Heroes For The Dead

No Heroes For The Dead is a blog that will try and give many rock and metal bands some recognition as well as bringing some news from the metal and rock scene. If you want your band featured here, send me a message.

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Number 1 - Trivium

This is one of my favourite albums of all time. It’s just spectacular. It took me over a month and a half to get it thanks to the abysmal service from the pre-order but I listened to it 15 times back to back before I took it out my CD player. 

The Sin And The Sentence by Trivium is just a fucking masterpiece and there’s not two ways to say it. It’s by far my favourite Trivium album. You can hear Trivium go back to their roots and implement the knowledge they accrued over their career. 

I was looking forward to Metal Hammer releasing their greatest albums of 2017 to see how high it placed and was shocked, horrified even when it wasn’t even in the top 10. In fact, only 3 of my top 24 (if you’re thinking, I thought he did 25 there’s a typo, it’s not. I’ve deleted my 25th because I’m still pissed off that I included it. You’ve got a top 24 this year) made it into their top 25. To find out which three you’ll need to buy Metal Hammer’s end of year issue (which is Hammer 304). Or they might have even published it on their website by now, I’m not sure. 

Anyway, Trivium, The Sin And The Sentence. Best album of the year. One of the best albums of all time in my opinion. 

RATING 9.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: (THE WHOLE FUCKING ALBUM, BUT SINCE I NEED TO PICK ONE) The Revanchist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBs5EVrAwNo

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Honourable Mentions

Now, before I reveal the number 1. It’s time to acknowledge all the releases that weren’t eligible for my list but are worthy of some recognition at least. 

Black Stone Cherry - Black To Blues - This EP features six covers of blues songs done in the classic Black Stone Cherry style. If you like Black Stone Cherry, or good rock music, I’d recommend this EP. My favourite track has to be ‘Built For Comfort’. It’s got a great beat to it. 

David Bowie - No Plan - David Bowie continues to surprise us all from beyond the grave by ordering this EP to be released at the beginning of 2017. No Plan features one track from the wonderful ‘Blackstar’ album and three new tracks. It follows on from Blackstar in a powerful way. I’m just sad that this is probably the last David Bowie release the world will see. Rest In Peace, Sir.

Halestorm - Reanimate 3.0 The Covers - Halestorm have begun work on their follow-up to Into The Wild Life, but before they did, they released their third covers EP. Featuring Metallica classic, Ride The Lightning, Soundgarden’s Fell On Black Days and twentyone pilots Suicide Squad song, Heathens. If you’ve listened to Halestorm before you’ll know what to expect. If you’ve never listened to Halestorm, I’d recommend starting with the covers EP’s and then moving on to The Strange Case Of...

Lucy Rose - Something’s Changing - If you’re wanting something mellow, go with this release from Lucy Rose. Lucy Rose is a singer-songwriter from England and she’s good (she’s not in the list because this isn’t a rock or metal record - I don’t think it could be further away if it tried, but if you want a change for a second, Lucy Rose is the way to go). 

Taylor Swift - reputation - I don’t care what anyone says. Taylor Swift is the one current pop musician that I like. Reputation is a good album, especially after a few listens. Deal with it.  

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Number 2 - Butcher Babies

STICK WITH ME HERE! I know this band get a lot of hate (unnecessarily might I add) because of how they became famous. If you don’t know, basically this is band is fronted by two rather attractive looking ladies who used to wear lingerie on stage. They’ve not done that for years, but people still hold it against them. Some people also think that women don’t belong in metal bands (these people are called morons and are not to be listened to). However, Butcher Babies are determined to prove all the haters wrong and continue to release albums. The third of which is Lilith. My number 2.

On the previous record, Take It Like A Man, I felt there was too much going on and that all the songs lacked the intensity of the first album (Goliath). Lilith is an absolute fucking masterpiece. It’s got everything that was good about Goliath and the Butcher Babies EP and they’ve expanded on it. After Take It Like A Man, I wasn’t expecting much from this record. I tried to do my “let’s not listen to any of the singles and listen to the full album once it’s out” thing that I’ve decided like doing. When I got the album, I put it on and was honestly just so happy. It’s what should have been album 2, but every band has a blip, and in my opinion Take It Like A Man was theirs. They tried to be too technical with it and showcase all their influences and what they produced was an album where it felt like they didn’t know what they were doing. 

This album is just a kickyouintheface metal album which is what they’re good at. The screams are good. The singing is good. The guitars are good. The drums are good. If you take all tracks at a 9 except Korova, Overground And Overrated, and Oceana at a 8, you’re close to how I would describe this album. Picking a stand out track for this album has been insanely difficult as I really want to just say the whole album, but I’ll pick one. 

Seriously, if it wasn’t for the number 1 this would have been the easiest number 1 decision I’d ever have to make. 

If you haven’t listened to it, please go and do so. I know everyone has their own opinions on music and I won’t be upset if people listen to the album and don’t like it, but don’t let some reviewer taint your judgement of it. Forget everything I’ve said. I’m just your friend that’s said ‘here, check this out’. That’s all. Listen to Butcher Babies and I hope you understand where I’m coming from. 

RATING 9/10. 

STAND OUT TRACK: Lilith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-fBYO9pOUg

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Number 3 - Enter Shikari

At number 3, we have Enter Shikari with their album to speak to the masses. An album with so much lyrical content and meaning. From Brexit to singer Rou’s personal troubles this album is diverse as only an Enter Shikari album can be. 

When I first listened to Enter Shikari I didn’t like them. I thought there were far too much electronics in the music and it wasn’t really for me. Then my (at that point) girlfriend played me one of their songs and I was hooked. I went out and bought every album I found. In fact, I have more Enter Shikari vinyl than any other band. Each album they create is just so different and you really can’t pin them to a genre and I’m not even going to attempt it because the ‘AWESOME’ genre is good enough for me. 

Each song is so different. There’s so much going on in every song it takes five listens to fully hear the full song. Enter Shikari are just a great band, a band that didn’t want to sign to a label so they created their own so they could be in charge of their own content and be as political as they damn well please. If you’re angry at Brexit, ‘Take My Country Back’ is the song for you. If you’ve got your own insecurities, ‘Airfield’ is the song for you. If you’re just fed up of the system ‘Live Outside’. If you’re annoyed by the commercialism of mainstream music, ‘Rabble Rouser’. Enter Shikari have released another great, diverse record that is worthy of being heard by the masses and I encourage everyone to listen to it.  

RATING: 8/10

STAND OUT TRACK: The Sights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ymjcSvEyhk

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Number 4 - Alice Cooper

For this album, I need to thank a friend of mine at the theatre group I’m a part of for getting me into Alice Cooper (or at least into more than Poison, School’s Out and Elected). 

Paranormal by Alice Cooper is a great album. It’s a guy who just loves rock music and wants to contribute the best way he can. I know Alice Cooper’s voice can be an acquired taste, but I have acquired the taste and it tastes good. 

I feel this album could have been released when he was in his prime back in the 70′s and it almost transports me back to the 70′s and I wasn’t even born. The drums are great, the guitar riffs are good. The first 35 seconds of the album just really set the tone. Then as you reach the 48 second mark, you can just feel a power coming through. This album is honestly great and I think everyone should listen to it at least once. 

RATING: 8/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Paranormal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlEcM53kj_I

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Number 5 - Fozzy

TOP 5 TIME! First off, I’d just like to say that Chris Jericho is one of my idols. As a wrestling fan I truly believe he is one of the greatest of all time. As a music fan, Fozzy produce some absolutely great rock albums. I’m a fan of his podcast, Talk Is Jericho (recommended). And his books are always a treat with a small insight into the wrestling business and a bit about how he is, which is naturally just funny. 

Anyway, that’s enough from the fangirl part of me. Time to discuss Judas, the album by Fozzy. Judas is a thoroughly enjoyable rock album. They’ve got the right intensity and if it wasn’t clear before, it is now. Jericho is a great frontman. He’s got the charisma to pull it off. He’s got the voice. He’s got the band behind him blasting the tunes. You’ve got Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo) making sure the songs have the right punch. They’ve got Hyro Da Hero (I think I read this somewhere) on Three Days In Jail - this song has a good Stuck Mojo feel and you can really feel Rich Ward’s influence on it. 

They’ve really gone for it on this album, and I was thoroughly entertained while listening to this album. If you think this band isn’t worth listening to just because they have a frontman who is a wrestler, you really need to reevaluate that stance because Fozzy Rock and Fozzy are here to stay!

RATING 8/10

STAND OUT TRACK - Judas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqURPBtGJzg

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Number 6 - Code Orange

Now onto a band that’s really blown up recently, Code Orange. When I first heard about them, I just assumed it was another bit of hype that would eventually die away, then I kept hearing more. When I heard they were performing live at a NXT (brand of WWE) pay-per-view I thought I’d check them out and I didn’t like them at all. But, three weeks ago I decided I was going to listen to them on a recording rather than live through a TV. 

About halfway through the opening song on this album, I got the hype. What a band this is and this album is great. I’m really buying into the hype. The only problem I have now is that expectations are high for this young band and I hope they’re not too high for them. 

The aggression on this album is great, and they’re very versatile. They know when to go in heavy, they know when to make a song a bit softer, they know which member should sing at any given point in the song and it’s rare to see a band so young seem like they’ve been playing for twenty years and know what they’re doing. Mass respect to Code Orange for doing what they’re doing and doing it fucking well! 

I was debating whether or not to put this in my top 5, but unfortunately it just misses out for me. Honestly though, if this was released last year it’d be in my top 3 no questions asked. 

RATING 7.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Bleeding In The Blur - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9-l8_t4AS8

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Number 7 - Royal Blood

On to number 7 now and we have the second album from Royal Blood. This album takes a completely different approach to their debut album. According to them, when beginning this album they sat down and thought ‘what if Daft Punk released a rock album’. And I think they’ve come pretty damn close to that vision. 

I wasn’t sure about Lights Out, the first single from this album at first but then I heard it again and I loved it (moral of the story - never go off first impressions). How Did We Get So Dark? is a great album that truly shows the diversity of a band that only has two members and no guitar. Only a bass guitar and a drum kit. When I first heard them I thought the guitarist was good, but when I found out that he was playing a bass I was well impressed. You don’t hear a noise that good come from a bass a lot. The drummer is amazing too. I don’t have enough words to properly praise this band. They’re just fucking immense, especially live. 

Back to the album, there’s a few songs on here that aren’t that exciting and don’t really get you in the mood for anything really. However, Lights Out, the title track (How Did We Get So Dark?) and She’s Creeping are great rock tunes. However, by far the best song I’ve ever heard them play is Hook, Line And Sinker. There’s just something about that tune. It’s heavy, the drums are solid, the bass is solid, the lyrics are, well they’re ok, but the song is great.

RATING: 7/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Hook, Line And Sinker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgrLHKM5z4E

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Number 8 - Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Fucking Manson. A man on the rise once more. After a few awful releases, he’s really found his footing on The Pale Emperor and now on Heaven Upside Down. 

I wasn’t that big a Manson fan until I listened to all of Antichrist Superstar - which I only did around May this year and I was hooked. I got all his albums, even the ones that weren’t that good because I don’t let people tell me what albums are shit and what albums are good. Make your own mind up. In that instance, the other people were right, they weren’t great. 

I listened to Say10 and I thought this album had a lot of potential, and as soon as We Know Where You Fucking Live came out, I knew I had to get this album... and I did. I was gutted I missed his show in Glasgow as I was performing in a Pantomime (that’s right, I’m a multi-talented fucker), but next time he comes around I’ll be there. 

This album does have a few songs that while I was listening to it I was bored, but most of the album is good and there’s a few songs that are absolutely incredible (Say10 and We Know Where You Fucking Live - they were the singles for a reason!). 

RATING: 7/10

STAND OUT TRACK - We Know Where You Fucking Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KWpuVrRek4

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Number 9 - The Darkness

Now, a band that draw a lot of similarities to Steel Panther. The Darkness. A band that just cares about Rock N Roll. Doesn’t care if they’re viewed as a joke band and always has a bit of humour on their tracks (see Southern Trains from this album). 

Pinewood Smile is the 5th The Darkness album and it’s good, despite what it’s cover might tell you. They recruited Rufus Taylor (son of Queen drummer, Roger Taylor) for this album and you can really hear his influences come through on the album. I’ve got this album on CD and on Vinyl (both of which are signed) and I’m incredibly happy that I do. 

This album slumped a bit because there is just one too many slower songs on it for me. However I compare every The Darkness album to Permission To Land (their first - I Believe In A Thing Called Love, etc) which is in my top 20 albums of all time. Perhaps even my top 10, but Pinewood Smile... I really want to like it, but it’s just good. Not great. 

The Darkness are a prime example of a band that peaked right at the beginning of their career, but they’re still a good rock band and I’d recommend them to anyone wanting to have a good time. 

RATING: 7/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Solid Gold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGoh-drn2iQ

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Number 10 - Steel Panther

Steel Panther are just one of those bands you’ve got to smile at. Paying ‘homage’ to the hair metal and glam metal bands of the 80′s, they’re really keeping that image alive and rightly so. 

Not only that, but their lyrics are always so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh (one that immediately jumps out is from the previous album ‘All You Can Eat’, the song is ‘Gangbang At The Old Folk’s Home and... I’ll let your imagination do the rest, but check it out if you can!).

Lower The Bar is a good album. Not one of their best, but I think that about every release they’ve done. I always go back and listen and find it considerably better than what I first thought. This one has yet to grow on me. I find some songs better than I did on first listen (That’s When You Came In, Poontang Boomerang, and Walk Of Shame). But, yes. This album is good, when it finally grows on me it’ll probably move up a few but as I’ve said in previous posts, this year has been great for music. 

RATING: 6.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: That’s When You Came In - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw1sivwNE7g

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Number 11 - Stone Sour

At number 11, we have Stone Sour. I listened to this album a lot when it first came out. It was the first Stone Sour album I bought and I just fell in love with it. After six or seven listens, I did get a bit bored and put it away and didn’t lift it again until a few weeks ago. 

It wasn’t as good as I remembered it, but it was still good. I really don’t know how Corey Taylor has spare time because it just seems he’s non-stop. Slipknot album, Slipknot tour, Stone Sour album, Stone Sour tour, at some point he’ll throw in a book as well. I’ve got massive respect for the guy. 

The start of Hydrograd is great, it does fall a bit towards the end which is why it’s slumped down here to number 11, but it’s still a good album. I’d highly recommend anyone who wants a good hard rock album.

RATING: 6.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Song #3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K73-hmaHPHY

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Number 12 - Prophets Of Rage

Number 12, with the third debut album in a row in my list (unintentional), we have Prophets Of Rage self titled debut album. To first explain, Prophets Of Rage sounds a bit like Rage Against The Machine because three of the four members from Rage Against The Machine are in Prophets Of Rage, so stop complaining about no Zack, PLEASE!!

I’m not an avid fan of RATM, but this album I thought was very good. It possessed a good sense of anger, the vocals were at the right intensity and the music is great. It’s a great politically motivated album, from a politically motivated band. 

If you’ve not checked them out already, I strongly recommend you do. Especially if you’re a RATM fan. It doesn’t look like RATM are going to be releasing any more music any time soon, and this Prophets Of Rage is the closest thing you’ll get. Just don’t go in thinking it’ll sound like Zack on vocals, because it really doesn’t and you’ll ruin it for yourself. 

RATING: 6.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Unfuck The World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ad4MH7fMLs

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Number 13 - Rews

Here’s a band I hadn’t heard of until late in the year. I saw them through Facebook advertising and thought I’d check them out. I’m glad I did, this female duo are great. 

Debut album Pyro shows a lot of potential and while just a few more albums and they’ll be great, this is a great first effort. I was really impressed with what they came up with. Out of the ten tracks, six of them have the potential to be strong singles, while the rest are nothing to shout about. 

If you haven’t yet, I’d really check them out because they really do Rock and I’m looking forward to what they’re going to do next. And again, the main reason they’re not higher is because this year has been excellent for music. Last year, I’d probably have put this in my top 5, but it sits nicely hear at number 13. 

RATING: 6.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK - Your Tears - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1TMWDGpuSg

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Number 14 - Galactic Empire

I’m a massive Star Wars fan. Love the movies. Went to see The Last Jedi at midnight when it came out (no spoilers from me because I’m a nice guy). 

I remember when I first heard about Galactic Empire, the Star Wars themed metal band and I thought it would be awful... however I was greatly mistaken as they’re awesome. They take some of John William’s original score and make it heavy. Add some great drums, exchange the violins for guitars. No vocals. The way it should be. 

There’s not much you can say about this album other than if you like Star Wars and you like heavy metal, you’ll probably love this album. They’re also brilliant live. 

RATING: 6/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Cantina Band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1PhK2WIEpM

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Number 15 - Power Trip

A band that I only discovered a few weeks ago when I saw the Trivium tour announcement. The bill for that looks insane. Trivium (featured later in this list), Code Orange (featured later in this list), Power Trip and Venom Prism. I honestly cannot wait for that tour, unsure if I’ll be able to make it but if I find out I can, I’ll be buying tickets immediately.

Anyway, enough about gigs, onto the album. Nightmare Logic is a great Thrash record. It’s everything you would expect it would be. I’ve saw numerous people compare it to early Anthrax (personally I wouldn’t know anything about that as I don’t listen to Anthrax).

This album is the right amount of heavy. Great solos, the drummer is great, the vocalist is good, great riffs too. The reason it’s so low on this list is because Thrash isn’t entirely my thing. I’m not that big a fan - you’ll probably be able to tell that given how much Thrash I post on my blog. But, I do kinda enjoy this album and if you like Thrash Metal, you’ll probably like this album unless you’re one of those metal elitists who thinks only Megadeth, early Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax can do Thrash Metal. 

RATING: 6/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Executioner’s Tax - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOWf8uqGf8A

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Number 16 - The Raven Age

I’m actually sad that it was announced a week or two ago that the vocalist has left The Raven Age as he had such a good voice. It was actually the voice that made me continue to listen to them and appreciate the music more. Darkness Will Rise, the debut album from The Raven Age comes in here at number 16. 

The album is pretty consistent throughout. A few great tracks, nothing completely awful. A solid debut from a band that are only going to rise, provided they get the right vocalist in to replace the one that just left. Another band for the future. 

RATING: 5.5/10

STAND OUT TRACK: Angel In Disgrace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvb8QPiA6Lk