Early Song Saturday: BATZZ In The Belfry's O Holy Night {Creepy Goth Cover}

How's it going lurkers? Originally, I planned to share this Song Saturday blog, tomorrow. Considering how incredibly exhausted I've been these last few weeks with chores, shoveling snow, and Christmas shopping, I am sharing Song Saturday 1 day early.

It has been a while, since I last published a festive Song Saturday blog featuring any Goth Rock. The last Song Saturday I published with a Goth Rock song for Christmas (if memory serves me right) was in 2013. In case you missed London After Midnight's "The Christmas Song," click right HERE.

London After Midnight's "The Christmas Song" was 1 of my earliest Song Saturday blogs I published, after building my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns in 2013. It's amazing how time flies.

This next Goth Rock Song Saturday blog features the Goth Rock band, BATZZ In The Belfry. BATZZ In The Belfry has been around for the last 10 to nearly 15 years.

Nelson founded the band in San Francisco, CA during 2003. He wanted BATZZ to sound more like a Classic Goth Rock band.

After listening to the band perform the Christmas song, "O Holy Night" on their 2007 debut album, Sparks Fly Upward, I noticed that BATZZ sounds somewhat similar to Sisters Of Mercy.

If you have ever listened to the 1980's Goth Rock band, Sisters Of Mercy, imagine lead singer Andrew Eldritch singing "O Holy Night." BATZZ In The Belfry's cover of this song sounds creepy.

Even though BATZZ sounds creepy covering "O Holy Night," they still managed to do the song justice. Everyone cannot sing "O Holy Night." 

Over the years, I have noticed that everybody can't hit the notes for this Christmas song. Even if they can, somebody usually RUINS the song by changing the style of how the song is meant to be sung in an attempt to sound "edgy" and innovative. 

After discovering 2 years ago, that the late great Scott Weiland sang "O Holy Night" on his 2011 Christmas album, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, I was HIGHLY disappointed.

It was not that STP's late frontman could not perform the song. It was the style of the cover that really disappointed me as a longtime fan; His cover was a joke!

Can you imagine Scott Weiland turning "O Holy Night" into a Calypso song? 

As much as I loved and still love Scott Weiland as the original lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, I HATED his version of "O Holy Night."

I refused to add Scott Weiland's version of "O Holy Night" to the Song Saturday blog I published 2 years ago.

The blog I published 1 week after Scott's death, featured Christmas songs from his album, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.

Meanwhile, BATZZ In The Belfry's cover of "O Holy Night" managed to sound creepy but still decent.

Critics may claim, that BATZZ In The Belfry was only trying to sound "edgy," in their attempt at covering "O Holy Night." However, I do NOT  want to turn off the song.

BATZZ's creepy cover sounds like it should be used for a tragic ending of a Christmas Horror film. 

Don't believe me? Listen to the cover for yourself and you be the judge.

Batzz In The Belfry "O Holy Night" Sparks Fly Upward (2007)

Early Song Saturday: Dokken's Mr. Scary

 

How's it going lurkers? If you read my previously published Song Saturday blog about Dokken on February 18, 2017, you may recall the significance of last Thursday.

What was so significant about last Thursday?

November 2, 1987 was the day that Dokken's 4th album, Back For The Attack released in stores; Last Thursday was the 30th anniversary of their Back For The Attack album. I cannot believe it has been 30 years!

Realizing that I was ONLY going on 5 years old, when Dokken's theme song for the 3rd A Nightmare On Elm Street film ("Dream Warriors") released and was in K5, when Back For The Attack released, makes me feel old.

3 decades?! Wow! Where has the time gone?! Shouldn't I be older than 35? Honestly, it feels that way. 

My love for music had influence over me wanting to host my own radio show and becoming a disk jockey. By 20 years old, it actually came to fruition.

Looking back, I really should've aired some of Dokken's songs on my radio show. Then again, I don't think their songs would've attracted many college students, during the early 21st Century. However, my audience was male-dominated, 15 years ago.

Years later, my gender demographic is STILL is male-dominated. Therefore, I could've aired Dokken and other bands from the 1980's and '90s. Listeners would've listened to my show, regardless.

After digging up the previous Song Saturday blog about Dokken's Back For The Attack album, I made some minor changes. Music videos for "Dream Warriors," "Burning Like A Flame," and "Heaven Sent" are still in the previous blog. 

Nevertheless, Dokken's "Mr. Scary" from Back For The Attack was originally featured as a bonus song for that particular Song Saturday blog.  Last night, I transferred it for today's early Song Saturday blog. 

Earlier this year, it was mentioned in the preceding Song Saturday blog that "Mr. Scary" was a guitar solo by George Lynch and Jeff Pilson. 

On the band's Back For The Attack album, "Mr. Scary" is the 6th song, which happens to be the song after "Heaven Sent." 

You may be wondering, "Anna, why didn't you share 'Mr. Scary' in a Song Saturday blog last month?"

There are only so many Saturdays in a month. If I could've, I would've re-shared the song.

Although, re-sharing it today is more fitting, since Dokken's Back For The Attack recently turned 30. "Mr. Scary" has Classic '80s Guitar Solo written all over it. Without a doubt, they are by far 1 of the most highly UNDERRATED Metal bands from the 1980's.

Even though Dokken's Back For The Attack was heavily promoted 30 years ago for A Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors, it's sad that they NEVER received the same amount of praise as other '80s Metal bands.

In the meantime, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dokken's Back For The Attack, let's revisit "Mr. Scary" for not only an early Song Saturday, but also as a throwback!

Dokken "Mr. Scary" Back For The Attack (1987)

Early Song Saturday: Danzig Block

How's it going lurkers? Because we have to celebrate my mother's birthday on Sunday, I am sharing Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday early. Her birthday was actually on April 26th.

Throughout April, there were so many events simultaneously happening, that my mother's birthday celebration was delayed. Not that she cares too much.

Aside from my mother's birthday celebration, let's return to the Rock. Yes, I know some of you have been waiting for this. 

After browsing around this site, I realized that I only have 1 Song Saturday blog about Danzig. I was quite surprised.

Danzig was another band I used to play on my radio show, All Things Frightening, 14-15 years ago. I don't recall of ever playing "Mother" simply because it was the most OVER played song by Danzig. 

At the time, I regularly played new songs from his I Luciferi album. Normally, I aired "Angel Blake" on WIPZ. Sometimes I played "Wicked Pussycat."

It is ridiculous that so many Rock stations never want to play other songs released by Danzig. It wouldn't surprise me if that was the main reason why Glenn Danzig would always be pissed off, during other interviews.

For years, the media ALWAYS depicted the man so horribly. Marilyn Manson is constantly condemned and demonized in the media too, but at least Rock stations still play more than 1 song by him.

Whether I am watching TV, listening to a radio station, or talking to someone on or offline, people and the media always frame Danzig as being this big, scary, angry Satanist.

Honestly, I feel the media launched a smear campaign against Glenn Danzig because he won't validate much less tolerate their bullshit and it threatens them. 

There is so much we DON'T  know about Danzig, that someone would have to personally sit and interview him. However, I believe the media demonized him to the extent, that he automatically developed a scandalous reputation.

Some of you may recall that last May, I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing White Zombie's former co-founder and bassist, Sean Yseult. It was quite an honor.

Too bad I never had the chance to interview Metal vocalists such as Type O Negative's Peter Steele and Glenn Danzig on my radio show. Despite what those critics say about Danzig, they will not give him a chance because they fear him.

I have watched this man in past interviews with some interviewers and he didn't try attacking any of them. 

Here is an interview Glenn Danzig did with Loudwire. In this interview, he mentioned that he wanted to quit touring after 2015.

Loudwire: Glenn Danzig Plans To Quit Touring After 2015 With Superjoint (2015)

 

The preceding interview with Loudwire was uploaded on October 22, 2015. Then, on October 30, 2015, Rolling Stone uploaded an interview with Glenn Danzig. In that interview, he explained about movies that still scare him.

Rolling Stone: Glenn Danzig Talks About Movies That Scare Him (2015)

If I would've interviewed Glenn Danzig 15 years ago, I don't believe we would've ever had any problems. Our interview probably would've gone swimmingly well. 

 

The fact that he is a Horror fan and has an appreciation for art as well as Japanese animation (Anime), we probably would've had a fun time together.

Speaking of Glenn Danzig and Anime, he has a GREAT  appreciation for the Mangaka, Kiyoshi Nagai. He is best known under the pen name, Go Nagai. 

Also, Danzig aspired to be a comic book artist, when he was growing up. He was frustrated with American comics years ago and wanted to create "crazy, violent, erotic comics."

Glenn Danzig attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts and The New York Institute of Photography. By 1994, he launched Verotik, which is an adult-oriented comic book publisher.

As far as The Arts go, Glenn Danzig is very well educated and has a lot versatility. (It is amazing what you can learn, when conducting research!) 

This Goth Metal vocalist is HIGHLY underrated for his talents and deserves a lot more praise than being famous for the song, "Mother."

In regards to Glenn Danzig's vocals, I had the hardest time figuring out, who he sounds like for the last 2 decades. Recently, it dawned on me.

Glenn Danzig sounds a LOT like the late Elvis Presley and The Doors frontman, Jim Morrison performing Goth Metal and Horror-Punk.

As a quick side note, music journalist, Simon Reynolds considers Jim Morrison's sound as being Goth Rock. I always considered Morrison's songs to be pretty Goth too, when you REALLY think about some of his lyrics.

Imagine Jim Morrison fronting Goth Rock and Horror-Punk bands. That's Glenn Danzig in a nutshell. In fact, he credits Morrison as being 1 of his early musical influences.

Today fellow Danzig fans are in for a treat. For this early Song Saturday blog, 7 songs by Danzig are featured, which are from 7 of his 11 albums. 

Never have I ever played THAT MANY songs in a block by Danzig, when I was a Radio DJ at WIPZ.

This block of songs is especially beneficial for all those, who have NEVER heard any song(s) by Glenn Danzig except "Mother."

Before I forget, Danzig's new album, Black Laden Crown is set to release on May 26, 2017. Anyway, here is Danzig for today's early Song Saturday.

1) Danzig [Featuring Metallica's James Hetfield] "Possession" Danzig (1988)

2) Danzig "Her Black Wings" Danzig II: Lucifuge (1990)

 

3) Danzig "How The Gods Kill" Danzig III: How The Gods Kill (1992)

4) Danzig "Stalker Song" Danzig 4 (1994)

5) Danzig "Deep" Danzig 5: Blackacidevil (1996); The X-Files Soundtrack (1996)

6) Danzig "Angel Blake" Danzig 777: I Luciferi (2002)

7) Danzig "Devil On Hwy 9" Black Laden Crown (2017)

Song Saturday: VNV Nation {Double Dose}

How's it going lurkers? Like I already mentioned in my last blog, I am putting a rush on this week's Song Saturday. These next 2 Song Saturdays, I will return to getting you "into the groove" with some Industrial-Electronica Music.

Suddenly, KMFDM's "Megalomaniac" mixed with Madonna's song, "Get Into The Groove" are stuck in my head. Hmm... I just had an idea. It would be interesting to have the Excessive Force Remix of KMFDM's "Megalomaniac" remixed with Madonna's "Get Into The Groove."

Like I was saying, this is an early Song Saturday. Today I have Ireland's Industrial-Electronica duo, VNV Nation. They relocated to Hamburg, Germany. Considering that Industrial Music has become popular in Germany, it made sense for this duo to relocate there.

If you have never listened to VNV Nation, I recommend doing so. This Song Saturday, I present to you a double dose of some Classic VNV Nation with their songs "Electronaut" and "Genesis."

1) VNV Nation "Electronaut" Futureperfect (2002)

2) VNV Nation "Genesis" Futureperfect (2002)

Early Song Saturday: Drain STH {Double Dose}

How's it going lurkers? Since I will be really busy this weekend, I've put a rush on Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday. I'm sure it's already Saturday in other countries. It just turned Friday in America, several hours ago. 

I must shop for both my mother's and youngest aunt's birthday presents. Their birthdays are next week. On Easter, we are going to dinner with family. Therefore, I'm sharing Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday early.

Earlier this week, I debated whether or not to publish a Song Saturday blog about Type O Negative (since Monday was the 4th anniversary of Peter Steele's death), or Drain STH. 

Because most people have never heard of Drain STH in America and overseas, this Song Saturday will be focused more on them. 

Drain STH was a female Swedish Grunge/Metal band that formed in the 1990's. 

In fact, the band performed at Ozzfest in 1997 and 1999 with Type O Negative and other bands. Both of Drain STH's albums, Horror Wrestling and Freaks of Nature, were released those same years and I own both of them. 

On 101.7 WIPZ, I mostly played songs from the Swedish Grunge/Metal band's debut album (Horror Wrestling), 11-12 years ago. I especially got someone, who I was "sorta seeing," 10 years ago, to love Drain STH. 

As soon as he heard their debut single, "I Don't Mind," he put Horror Wrestling into his CD burner. Wow! It's amazing how time flew!

Maria Sjoholm, who happens to be married to Black Sabbath's guitarist, Tony Iommi, was the vocalist of Drain STH. They met, while working on Drain STH in 1996 and married in 2005. 

Hmm, this makes me wonder if they're still married. Some of us consider Drain STH to be the female, Swedish version of Alice in Chains. Whenever I hear Drain STH's song, "Mind Over Body," I cannot help thinking about Alice in Chains, since Drain STH was highly influenced by them. This does not surprise me in the slightest.

It's like I said last Song Saturday, Alice in Chains heavily influenced many bands of the past and present.

Drain STH disbanded in 2000. It's a shame they never completely mainstreamed. I don't recall of MTV ever airing their music videos. However, I sometimes heard Drain STH's single's "I Don't Mind," "Crack the Liar's Smile," "Enter My Mind," and "Simon Says," as a teenager on Rock stations. 

From both albums, it seems like "Crack the Liar's Smile" and "Simon Says" were played the most. 

Years ago, I read that Drain STH were dropped from their record label and never became mainstream simply because the chauvinistic Metal masses said they were "too pretty" to be taken seriously. 

Talk about some chauvinistic, superficial, Boys Club Only, bullshit!

According to the Metal Edge Magazine's 1999 Readers' Choice Awards, Drain STH was voted "Female Performers of the Year" and "Most Underrated Band."

So... Where is Drain STH, Now?

Maria Sjoholm completely retired from music. Meanwhile, drummer/backup vocalist Martina Axen sang in Snake River Conspiracy and is currently recording a solo album. 

Guitarist Flavia Canel currently manages Sonic Syndicate and stopped professionally playing guitar. 

Lastly, bassist Anna K. joined Hanzel Und Gretyl, Revolting Cocks, and Opiate for the Masses. 

Now, Anna is working on a Stockholm, Sweden based project, which involves the members of Clawfinger and Skintrade.

This Song Saturday, I present the only 2 music videos that I have ever seen from Drain STH. "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile" are both from the band's debut album, Horror Wrestling.

Watching "I Don't Mind" automatically reminds me of their Horror Wrestling album cover. Well, enough about the band. Here's Drain STH's "I Don't Mind" and "Crack the Liar's Smile."

1) Drain STH "I Don't Mind" Horror Wrestling (1997)

 

2) Drain STH "Crack The Liar's Smile" Horror Wrestling (1997)

Song Saturday: Siouxsie And The Banshees [Triple Dose]

How's it going lurkers? I have stopped participating in Blogster's Song Saturday Tours and have chosen to adopt Song Saturday, recently. Song Saturday is a fun concept.

Now, that I no longer particpate in the tours, I have LESS pressure on my shoulders because I am sharing whatever I want.

I am doing Song Saturday early. We are supposed to be getting more snow tonight and I will be too busy watching Grimm on NBC and the MMA's on AXS TV. MMA's stands for Mixed Martial Arts. It is nothing like the fake wrestling, that most people enjoy watching on TV. As usual, I digress.

This Song Saturday will be a triple dose of Siouxsie And The Banshees. They are an old Alternative Post-Punk New Wave/Goth Rock band from the late 1970's to 80's. These 4 kooks were originally from London, England.

It is surprising that most people do NOT know about Siouxsie And The Banshees. They highly influenced many bands and artists over several decades.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Shirley Manson from Garbage, The Cure, U2, Tricky, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem, and TV On The Radio were all highly influenced by Siouxsie And The Banshees.

This is only a short list. I'm giving you a triple dose of my favorite Siouxsie And The Banshees songs. These first 2 songs from their album, A Kiss In The Dreamhouse released months after I was a new born.

Out of "Cascade," "Melt," and "Scarecrow," I don't know which song I like the best. Anyway, here's some Siouxsie And The Banshees:

1) Siouxsie And The Banshees "Cascade" A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982)

2) Siouxsie And The Banshees "Melt!" A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982)

3) Siouxise And The Banshees "Scarecrow" Peepshow (1988)