Arts & Entertainment
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THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY October 11, 2005 Arts & Entertainment 19 The fi ve greatest heavy metal vocalists that ever lived D.M. LLOYD possibly compliment the band’s hybrid thrash/ formative period of the thrash era that Metallica storyteller in the metal world. Retriever Weekly Staff Writer power sound like Matt Barlow did during his attempted to recruit the singer right before the The standards for conceptual metal were Matt Barlow glorious years with the group. recording of Ride the Lightning. Ever loyal to forever raised after the release of Iron Maiden’s Perfectly at home singing about his boys in Armored Saint, Bush refused and Number of the Beast in 1982, the group’s fi rst Matt Barlow (Iced Earth, 1995- Dante’s Inferno, ghosts of the American Metallica guitarist James Hetfi eld stepped up album to feature Dickinson. 2002) is the best vocalist to ever Revolution, or our brotherhood of and did the vocals himself. The rest is history. Equally apt at singing about Dune, the come out of the hetfi eldian tradition metal, Matt Barlow was truly a class act While Bush missed out on participating in Battle of Britain, the works of William Blake or of guttural, emotive metal singing. and still serves as shining, inspirational the rise and fall of the most infl uential band concepts of his own invention, Dickinson has Few can match the power of beacon of greatness for all of us in true in metal history, the vocalist’s dedication to the done much to alter the intellectual scholarship Barlow’s voice, and no similar singers metal scene to strive for. Armored Saint brotherhood only demonstrated of metal and has increased the visual vocabulary have had the range or uncanny ability Recommended: how much of a metal class act the singer is. of the genre exponentially. to attach AHHH noises or YEAHS “Melancholy” is a powerful song about After being unceremoniously stabbed in Possessing a nuanced, versatile voice, to the end of any lyrical verse brotherhood and being real, while “Dark Saga” the back by Anthrax during their deplorable Dickinson has proven capable of singing like Barlow. Iced Earth has had is a moving, conceptual piece based on Todd Among the Living-era reunion catastrophe everything from epic ballads to raunchy four singers over twenty years, McFarlane’s Spawn comic book character. earlier this year, the future direction of John sex jams. However, his passion has always and although John Greely Iced Earth -- “Melancholy (Holy Martyr)” Bush in metal appears uncertain. been storytelling, particularly about things (Night of the Stormrider) and (live version from Alive in Athens) However, no matter what kind of metal fantastical, and the vocalist has built up an the current Tim “Ripper” Iced Earth -- “Dark Saga” (live version Bush chooses to do in the future, we can be impressive body of work both in Iron Maiden Owens have from Alive in Athens) certain it will be powerful, heavy, and true. and his own solo career. proved Recommended: Children’s novelist, commercial airline perfectly Armored Saint’s “Last Train Home” pilot, heavy metal singer — Bruce Dickinson adequate, John Bush captures the emotive, lusty quality of John is truly a jack-of-all-trades. No matter what the no other John Bush may be the most versatile Bush’s voice in a classic number about lost love future holds, this master artisan can be counted vocalist vocalist to ever record heavy metal. and the reuniting power of trains. Anthrax’s on for metal of impeccable learnedness. can Armed with a forceful, manly voice, “Inside Out” is a gut wrenching but ultimately Recommended: Bush has served in a number of bands over uplifting exploration of the inner struggle we “The Clairvoyant,” one of eight tracks on the past twenty years. His hearty, dynamic all face. a conceptual work by Iron Maiden, offers a technique works across the entire spectrum Armored Saint -- “Last Train Home” (from unique vision of the Creator. Bruce Dickinson’s of real metal, from the classically infl uenced Symbol of Salvation) “Navigate the Seas of the Sun” is a textured, sound of Armored Saint to alternative-tinged Anthrax -- “Inside Out” (live version from partly acoustic song about crossing the surface style of Sound of White Noise-era Anthrax (a.k.a. Music of Mass Destruction) of the sun. Grungethrax). Iron Maiden -- “The Clairvoyant” (from Indeed, Bush’s strong voice and metal Bruce Dickinson Seventh Son of a Seventh Son) scholarship was so respected back in the Bruce Dickinson is the most literate see HEAVY METAL, page 20. Beck takes the stage with a memorable performance from BECK, page 14. and well, g-force. Doing everything from AC/DC, Metallica and Ozzy covers to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” McRorie is the ultimate cover band, entertainer and spectacle, all wrapped up in one awesomely weird, kilted Canadian dude. Once Beck came onstage, it was all energy and dancing and watching the trippy multimedia projections behind him and That Guy Onstage who was doing some dance moves that would put Napoleon to shame. Beck has come a long way from his 1994 debut with slacker anthem “Loser” (although no person in history has ever sounded so cool saying “cheese-whiz”) to become one of the most fiercely talented, genre-defying artists out there. Influenced by everything from funk, folk, blues, and soul to hip-hop and Latin music, he is truly a distinct musical force to be reckoned with. Although he played chart toppers like “Devil’s Haircut” from his hugely successful 1996 album Odelay, he also gave the audience a taste of new album Guero with songs “Girl” and “Black Tambourine.” At one point, the stage emptied and the audience was left waiting for what felt like an eternity. Then, just as unassumingly as he left, Beck moseyed back onstage and did a solo (with his accordion), “Nobody’s Fault But My Own.” At the beginning of “Hot Wax,” he stumbled on the opening guitar slide in the song. He apologized for “losing his slide,” in Courtesy of beck.com Devils guitar: Beck offers up a strong musician ship at his concerts. his signature dead-pan humor which made us love him even more because, well, nobody beat. At which point That Guy Onstage, Microphone.” Then, in the most incredible “Sexx Laws” from his 1999 album Midnite can be mad at a little dude who’s got more with his black and white suit, super-skinny display of raw musical genius, the band Vultures, it was time to roll out, into the soul than a sock with a hole. After “Hot tie and horn rims, got the ghetto blaster up sat down at a dinner table and proceeded starry night. Wax,” the four-piece band broke into some on his shoulder and was right back to bustin’ to play two more songs, with unbelievable of the best beat boxing I have heard since moves. force, with flatware on the glasses, plates and Kathryn Goodman is a new staff writer Rhazel (who, of course, is undoubtedly the The crowd listened intently during dishes. A camera was positioned over the for The Retriever Weekly. We like her, and undisputed king; he his like the McRorie the delicate “Guess I’m Doing Fine” then table so the audience could see everything. It so should you! She is available for comment at of beatboxing) with Beck rapping over the went bananas for “Two Turntables and a was out of this world. After Beck closed with [email protected]..