I was originally going to upload this cover once lockdown was finally over, but as the pubs are back open (despite the goal posts keep getting shifted) I thought "Ahh, what the heck!" - it's the thing I've been looking to the most.

Lick It Up (KISS Cover)

I've been wanting to cover some Ronnie James Dio for some time, but deciding which track to cover took a while. Finally, though, I settled for this one!
ENJOY!

Shame On The Night (DIO Cover)

This is a little instrumental I composed for the fantasy screen curation project at University. The subject was 'controversial music videos'.

Years later, I did some 'touching-up' to the end product and converted it into a short feature film, with the original content still embodied.

Check out the feature here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtwTBRay-ME 

Drowned In Peace

This is an unfinished piece inspired by the music of Mac Demarco. Charlie Gibson of Bison appears on lead guitar.

14 Schürrle (Sample)

This track has an 'album-starter' philosophy behind it. It is another unfinished track, but I hope to complete and use it in the near future.

Beyond The Horizon (Demo)

This is the finalised version of the Maiden cover! An underrated gem form the 'Dance Of Death' album, and one that (I think) works as an acoustic track. Up The Irons!

Montségur (Iron Maiden Cover)

This track has been on the back-burner for a while, but I finally got it down - in demo form for now at least.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Iron Maiden, Megadeth, the film 'Videodrome' and a little S&M, it has the aspect of 'single' injected into it.

Special thanks to Nick Estrada on guitars - couldn't have been possible without you, bro!
_______________________________________

A masochistic self-belief
Tells you 'you're after that sweet old relief'
What's come and going just ain't enough
You can't escape this addiction to snuff

A state of mindfuck gone running wild
One so horrific yet you can't help but smile
The twisted image inside your head
Shows no mercy or feeling of dread

CHORUS:
(Sadist)... On a quest to cross the line
(Sadist)... Then let us 'hook you up' sometime
(Sadist)... But when you come to cross the line
(Sadist)... The session's yours, but your ass is mine!

No sign of guilt, nor feel of shame
The rush you crave is the pleasure of pain
Close the harness, and lock it tight
Prepare yourself, you could be in for a fright (yeah right!)

Your guilty conscience just missed its train
The torture station consumes you again
Caress the leather and lash the whip
We won't take prisoners or take any shit

The Sadist [Demo]

Been meaning to try this one out for a while. A tad cheesy, but I still enjoyed making it!
Big thanks to Nick Estrada for providing the guitar solo for this one too - YOU THE MAN!! :)

Three Steps To Heaven (Eddie Cochran Cover _ Speed Metal Version)

This is my most ambitious piece of music at this point.
It takes inspiration from the likes of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and a little Sigur Rós. The goal was purely one of atmosphere, but with a possible touch of cinematic value to go with it.

The name is a reference to the Harryhausen monster movie 'The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms' (1953).

I wrote it for, undoubtedly, the most wonderful person I'll ever know. You know who you are, and you mean so much to me!

Operation Xperiment

This is my take on the classic era of British metal, mainly that of Iron Maiden. It focusses on the historical event that took place during the English Armada of 1589.

The person that provided the Adrian Smith style guitar solo wished to remain anonymous, but I thank them for the contribution either way!

LYRICS

The plan that he weaved, it left them deceived
Shot in the back, hence such disbelief
With nowhere to run and nowhere to hide
She was far from the gun and far from the cries

Sir Francis's plan yet optimistic
Would later become so catastrophic
Egos in prep, they ran like the tide
Surrendered logic for upholding pride

Six galleons afloat, five squadrons assigned
To raise a revolt with arson in mind
But Spaniard galleys were soon slipping past
As hickory shred from fierce cannon blasts

The English would lose all hope to prevail
A damned execution from when they set sail
The Westerly winds blew ashes a'gust
At four captains down, where then was the trust?

(Chorus)
Grasping at straws
With cavalry flaws
Losing men fast
When would the time pass?

Abandoned ships
All hope was lost
Who would be left
To count the cost?

Armada 1589

This track is a cover, a classic and an underplayed gem from childhood, done in the style of The Cure. It's also a parental favourite! :D

Hang On Rose (Gary Brooker Cover)

This track was heavily inspired by chilling in a garden hammock at night, and looking straight up whilst The Cure's 'Doing The Unstuck' was blasting through the headphones.
I wanted this one to be minimalist but atmospheric, as simplicity can be golden.
I never thought that chorus and overdrive FX could work so well together, but they did!

Polaris (Instrumental)

I've wanted to write a hard rock track for some time, and I finally got to it after taking inspiration from the likes of Airbourne and Bullet, which has kept me going through this isolation period, hence the title.

I wanna dedicate this tune to all my wonderful work colleagues who I miss terribly - you guys are the best!
___


It's now begun
And comin' in fast
Our living ways
Are under attack

With daily routines
And meetings on hold
As we sit and watch
The mess unfold
There'll be no playtime
In the open air
It's here for a while so
We must prepare (for the)

(CHORUS)
Lockdown Blues
It appears to be
Have you heard the news
It's a reality (it's the)
Lockdown Blues
Here for you and me
So no time to lose
Our sanity

Financial burdens
Spreadin' all around
Gonna take time
To get back off the ground

Keepin' steady stock
Of the things we got
Stayin' occupied
And not losin' the plot
Our collective strength's
Gonna see us through
Until that time comes I guess
We're grounded here (dealin' with the)

(CHORUS)

Lockdown Blues

This is an unfinished track where the focus was instrumental syncing.
Got inspired by Tony Martin era Black Sabbath (specifically tracks like Black Moon) and tried to adapt it to a more Nightbird-esque sound.
There is lyrical content for this track, surrounding the importance of individuality as well as thinking for oneself, and I'm hoping it can be applied in the near future.

It is still in use/discard limbo, but I personally think is one of the better sounding mixes I've done to date.

Stuck To Ya Guns (Rough Rhythm Mix)

This is my magnum opus, and dedicated to the most important and influential person I ever knew! 
Originally uploaded on 06/07/2020 - Due to a mixing error on the previous version, I took it down for corrective treatment and enhanced the rhythm section to give it that extra punch. Now, I feel it is the best it will ever sound. I love you and I miss you, Dad - this one's for you!

--------

Strolling in the confines
Of their unfinished lands,
The labours of the known
Still standing close to hand.
The neat tricks of the trade
By men of influence,
From what little they possessed
Came the more they would remit.

Let the powder of their being
Be spread throughout the land,
The past and present memories
Flowing freely in the breeze,
As we gather up our wills
And the tools they left us all,
And complete all the unfinished
In the name of heroes lost.

Commence the soul’s construction
And let the spirits filter through,
Like the passing of their genes
From fathers down to sons.
To have brought out the best
In those that they spawned
Is the true sign of wealth
That can never be scorned.


Spreading the influence
Of Men and of Kings
Spreading their influence
Let us see what it brings

Making the difference
For your men and kings
Making the difference
And we’ll see what it brings

Spreading The Influence Of Kings

Free-spirited aspiring musician, doing crazy covers and writing original material whenever I can. Taking inspiration from both the light and heavy side!
#musickeepsmesane

XLCR

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