Tag: music

I Swear It’s Not Angry Music

What is your favorite genre of music?

My favorite genre of music is “heavy” metal. I say that because the bands I listen to fall into many sub-genres of metal. Some of the bands I listen to are so much heavier than the others. I wasn’t always into metal music. I only started getting into it when I was in my teens. Before that, I mainly listened to classic rock and country. And, as a surprise to many people, the Backstreet Boys.

The band that got me into metal was Metallica. They’re one of the first heavy bands I remember listening to. Aside from Metallica, I also remember listening to Linkin Park (Hybrid Theory and Meteora), as well as System of a Down. I remember feeling like listening to System of a Down made me a rebellious teenager. I just saw System of a Down live for a second time this summer and they put on an amazing show!

As I got older, my tastes expanded. By the time I reached high school, I was listening to Deathstars, Cradle of Filth, and Marilyn Manson. I remember making a mix CD to play in my CD player on the way to school (yes I’m old). Deathstars and Cradle of Filth were also my introduction to screaming vocals. Cradle of Filth is still active, but it’s been some time since Deathstars has put out an album. I’ll occasionally listen to both, but not as much as I once used to.

From there everything is a blur. I got into more bands. Some heavy others not. My first ever concert was Volbeat, Lacuna Coil, Motorhead, and Megadeth. I don’t remember what year that was, but it was an awesome show. I saw them at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL. I’ve since seen Nightwish there as well as Epica and Sabaton.

For a long time, Iron Maiden had been my favorite band. I’ve seen them live 3 times so far. As time went on, Sabaton took the number 1 spot. I’ve also seen Sabaton 3 times. Currently, I think the number 1 spot belongs to Lorna Shore. I’ve seen them twice, once as a headliner, but they are all such talented individuals.

Funny thing with Lorna Shore, I could never listen to deathcore. I felt like my head would explode. My actual introduction to Lorna Shore was on TikTok. I had come across the final breakdown in “To the Hellfire” and thought it was from a Call of Duty zombies video. I was so completely wrong. Even after hearing that, I didn’t listen to them.

It wasn’t until Pain Remains that I gave them a legitimate chance. Pain Remains changed everything for me. I thought Pain Remains was as good as it would get for Lorna Shore and deathcore. Then they released a new album this year called I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me. It’s just as good, if not better than Pain Remains. Lorna Shore has written several songs that just hit you right in the feels. They’re relatable and that’s why I love them so much. Their music speaks directly to me in a way no band has ever been able to do before.

I often say silly things like “I listen to angry music because it makes me happy.” Or my other favorite thing to say at work is “They scream in my ear so I don’t scream out loud.” It’s dumb, but it’s also true. Some things can’t be sung. They have to be screamed. And when I hear that screaming in my ear, everything feels OK. It’s the calm I need in a sea of chaos. The heavy music and screaming keeps me calm in stressful situations. And that’s something I’ll forever be grateful for.

The Possibility of Tattoos

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I’ve known for some time that I want to get some tattoos. How many? I would like to cover both of my arms with tattoos. I just haven’t yet because I don’t know what I want, it costs money, and I’m not really a fan of needles.

A couple of years ago, I wanted my left arm to be covered in different kinds of tattoos from Norse Mythology. Then, it became any kind of mythology. Now, I kind of want it covered in band logos and symbols. From the start, I’ve always wanted my right arm covered in comic book stuff. That’s never changed and probably won’t. I love comic books, the characters, and the art. And while I do like Marvel so much more than DC, I wouldn’t say no to a Batman tattoo.

I just think it’s more reasonable to cover my left arm in things from the bands I like. There are so many bands that have had an influence on me, and I’d like to honor that in some way. Music will always be a part of my life, and it just makes sense to wear that as a part of me.

I’m swear I’m so indecisive at times, but at the end of the day, I know I either want something Architects (band) related or Mjolnir. Where would I get it? On my left forearm, above my watch. Architects are a band that I found when I needed them the most. They’ve had a bigger impact on me than any other band. And why Mjolnir? Because it’ll be a reminder that no matter what happens or how I might feel, I’m still worthy.

Pain Remains, But Music Helps

I’m a bit late to the party on this one. For the last few months, I’ve known of a band called Lorna Shore. I also knew they were deathcore, a genre of metal I couldn’t listen to. It was way too extreme for me. I first heard Lorna Shore in a TikTok video. I thought it was a video about Call of Duty zombie, but I found out that it was just the end of the song “To the Hellfire.”

Fast forward a bit. I still refused to listen to them, but that all changed in the blink of an eye. They released a song called “Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames.” And yes, it was very much a deathcore song. What’s interesting is that it quickly became one of my favorite songs.

Eventually, they released the other two parts (“Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear” and “Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire”). I listened to both, and I was hooked. The album, Pain Remains, came out in October, and I listened to it from start to finish. I’m not saying I’m a deathcore fan now, but that album was truly something special. It was definitely something I needed at that time.

It’s true, I can’t understand what’s being sung because of the screaming deathcore vocals, but I can read lyrics. And the lyrics are incredible. Mix that with some insane drumming and fantastic guitar work, and you have a killer album.

Pain Remains found me. I didn’t find it. It started on TikTok when I was scrolling. It was almost as if I needed to listen to Lorna Shore and that album specifically. I truly believe that I found it when I did because I needed to. It’s a very emotional album, and at the time, I needed an album like that. That album spoke to me in a way no album before it has.

I still listen to it along with their EP …And I Return to Nothingness. It was a combination of Pain Remains and the addition of Will Ramos (who I didn’t know at all before he joined Lorna Shore), which really brought me into listening to Lorna Shore.

As a result, I want to see them live. They are playing with Mastodon and Gojira this year, and that’s a show I really want to go see. I’ve seen both Mastodon and Gojira once already, and I’d love to see them again.