My End of World Playlist

Yes, we're all going to die. Though I'm not really sure it'll happen exactly at 6pm today (which time zone are we working with, btw?). But just in case, I created a soundtrack to go out with that starts off heavy then gets a little groovy at the end. Fuck it, might as well bow out shaking your asses.

You're all quite welcome.

 Doomsday Playlist, Vol. 1

"Don't Open 'Til Doomsday" - The Misfits
"At the End of the My Daze" - Trouble
"Armageddon It" - Def Leppard
"South of Heaven" - Slayer
"We're Only Gonna Die" - Bad Religion
"Rapture" - Morbid Angel
"Abandon Ship" - Gallows
"Countdown to Extinction" - Megadeth
"Armageddon" - Carnivore
"Doomsday" - Monster Magnet
"Dying World" - Pentagram
"False Idols Fall" - Comeback Kid
"The End of the World" - The Cure
"Killing" - The Rapture
"Till the World Ends" - Britney Spears
"Fuck Armageddon, This is Hell" - Bad Religion

Leon Made a Video

My boo 4 life (and friend of 16 years), Leon Del Muerte, has been in a million bands. OK, maybe not a million, but he's played bass for Intronaut, Impaled, Exhumed, Murder Construct, Phobia—plus a host of other projects. Yet he only just appeared in his first music video. The lucky outlet? D.I.S. (Destroyed in Seconds), his crusty-punk/grind hybrid.

So without further adieu, kindly check out D.I.S.'s "Lamentations." That's him at 1:48.

Friday the 13th Tattoos, Pt II

Flash Designs by Studio 13 in Wayne, IN

Friday the 13th is quickly becoming to tattoo junkies what April 20 is to stoners—a silly, irresistible annual celebration of their addictions. An ever-expanding worldwide phenomenon that involves tattoo parlors offering one-day specials of 13-themed flash pieces for $13 (though usually, the customer is expected to shell out change from a $20 for the artist's tip), the event will take on even greater proportions this coming Friday. And as usual, these specials are generally first come, first served—so start practicing that cough early on Thursday...

One local joint, Brooklyn's Three Kings Tattoo, will be donating proceeds from their Japanese-inspired 13 designs towards tsunami and earthquake relief in that country. Another Williamsburg establishment, Asylum is flat-out calling their Friday special a marathon. Meanwhile, All is One in Albuquerque, NM is throwing a full-on block party that boasts an art show and karaoke. Tons of others listings for Facebook events came up in a search, so no excuses! Get out, get marked... and send me pictures.

Flash Designs by Forever True, Liverpool UK

Kvelertak's New Video

Check out "Ordsmedar Av Rang" courtesy of Noisecreep.com and act like you know.

Three Songs Perpetually Stuck in My Head

This one's pretty self-explanatory. Songs get stuck inside my head all the time - everything from old PSA jingles to Top 40 songs I don't remember consciously listening to (ah, the gift and the curse of the day job). But the following three are my brain's go-to's. With good reason.

1. Dead Weather's "The Difference Between Us" - the hottest psycho chick song of all time.


2. Turbonegro's "Stroke the Shaft" - probably the worst instructional handjob lyrics in the history of the act.


3. Led Zeppelin's "In the Evening" - greatest slide riff EVER.

Happy Easter From Mastodon

Gotta love their thoughtful seasonal planning... and all that adorable blasphemy! Order your limited edition shirt here, but be careful about wearing it to church.

Five Hard Rock Songs to Avoid Covering

A friend of mine recently put me on to Halestorm's new covers EP, ReAniMate, which features an eclectic (read: terrible) selection of tracks, including Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike." And though their ballsy take on Guns N Roses' "Out Ta Get Me" is rather enjoyable, the most dumbfounding inclusion is their version of Heart's "All I Wanna Do (Is Make Love To You)." [Listen to "Bad Romance" and Skid Row's "Slave to the Grind"]

Yes, Halestorm chose to avoid classics like "Crazy On You" and "Barracuda" in order to spotlight Heart's adult contemporary transition by way of 1990's Brigade. These kids today. But rather than cutting them down for it, I chose instead to put together a primer of five off-era hard rock songs to avoid in the future. Should they ever decide to churn out ReAniMate 2 (but also appropriate for your band).

1. Motley Crue's "Raise Your Hands to Rock" | It's still better to "Shout at the Devil."



2. Starship's "We Built This City" | This is not the same band that created "White Rabbit."


3. KISS - "Crazy Nights" | No, you so crazy.


4. Celtic Frost's "Cherry Orchards" | d00d, cred. Wink.


5.  Extreme's "Little Girls" | Creepy, yo. And that's coming from me.