Friday, November 30, 2018

Thrash It Out Vol 4, Track 6: LISTENER CHOICE: "CVI" by Royal Thunder


In which Antony and I discuss the 2012 full-length debut of the Atlanta, Georgia hard rock outfit. You can listen to and download the episode here. And if you want to join in the discussion, head over to our Facebook group here.

If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show on Patreon.

Your homework for next episode is Prong's RUDE AWAKENING.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

New Book Release: HAUNTED (The Woodsview Murders #2)

 Haunted--Woodsview Murders--Amazon Ebook

I am so very excited to announce that Haunted is now available! This is the second installment of the Woodsview Murders series that Jolene Haley and I write together. The Woodsview Murders series tells the story of Avery Blair and her best friend Quinn Grady, whose lives are shattered when a serial killer called the Woodsview Harvester begins a murderous rampage in their small Massachusetts town. We released the first book in the series Harrowed back in 2015, and a short Christmas story called After the Storm later that year. Haunted picks up one year after the events of the first book. Jolene and I are so happy to finally share the next chapter of Avery and Quinn's story with you!




Description:

Last October, corpses piled up in Woodsview, Massachusetts faster than autumn leaves in the dead of fall. The small town changed forever when Jeremy Kane, known as the Harvester, slaughtered Avery Blair’s classmates, her friends, and Jason, the love of her life. Avery was supposed to die too, but she narrowly escaped, killing the Harvester in the process.

Avery and her best friend are trying to move on and leave their horrible past behind. They’ve enrolled in college and taken on new challenges. Avery has a campus radio show, and Quinn has found a release—and a new relationship—on the roller derby track.

The Harvester nightmare was laid to rest, along with the bodies of her friends and the remains of the killer. But what’s dead doesn’t always stay buried. With the anniversary of the slayings, comes a suspicious death on campus. When two of their dorm mates disappear, Avery suspects that the Harvester is back to finish what he started.

Avery Blair is haunted by the ghosts of her past—memories of the slayings that torment her days and curse her sleepless nights. She can dismiss the visions of Jason she sees everywhere, but she can’t ignore the signs that scream the Harvester is back...for blood.

One thing is certain—people are dying, and the killer is determined to add Avery and Quinn to the carnage. Can Avery separate fiction from reality and find the killer, or will the ghosts of the past finally consume her? Jeremy Kane is dead. He can’t possibly be back from the grave, can he?

Sunday, November 11, 2018

John Carpenter Made This Halloween the Best Ever


I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this actually happened. On Halloween night, I got see my favorite director of all time, who also happens to be one of my favorite musicians of all time, in concert. And I got to seem him with my writing partner Jolene Haley, as well as a group of our friends. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.



It's hard for me to put into words how much of an impact and influence the work of John Carpenter has had on my life. Every story I have ever written is inspired in some way by his films and his music. If you're a Carpenter fan and have read my work, you'll see how much I wear those influences on my sleeve.



Jolene is a die hard Carpenter fan as well. Her favorite horror move ever is Halloween, and the Woodsview Murders series we write together is heavily influenced by that film.

So, seeing John Carpenter stroll out onto the stage at the Hollywood Palladium with his son Cody and the rest of the band was just like a dream for me. And he started with maybe my favorite theme of them all:

Escape from New York sets a high bar as a starter, but Carpenter's work is so consistently great, that the setlist just went from one hit to another. He also sprinkled in some of the best cuts from his LOST THEMES albums, including my favorite, "Vortex." Here's the setlist:

Escape From New York: Main Title
Assault on Precinct 13: Main Title
Village of the Damned: March of the Children
The Fog: Main Title Theme
Vortex
Mystery
They Live: Coming to L.A.
Starman: Starman Leaves (Jack Nitzsche cover)
The Thing: Main Theme - Desolation (Ennio Morricone cover)
Distant Dream
Big Trouble in Little China: Pork Chop Express
Halloween Triumphant
Halloween Theme - Main Title
In the Mouth of Madness: In the Mouth of Madness
Encore:
Body Bags: The Coroner's Theme
Vampires: Santiago
Prince of Darkness: Darkness Begins
Christine: Christine Attacks (Plymouth Fury)

What made the experience so all-encompassing was the fact that each score was accompanied by movie clips that basically took you through each story. It was like re-watching Carpenter's entire catalog while listening to the soundtracks. And it was life, in front of a packed house, with screaming fans.

I honestly thought I would never get to see John Carpenter in concert, as he doesn't do a ton of dates, and usually doesn't play anywhere near me. But the stars aligned, and I got to see one of my idols, on my favorite night of the year, with some of my favorite people in the world. I will never forget it.

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Power Chords Podcast: Track 29--Dio and Red Dragon Cartel



Opening Act: 
The End: Machine album due in June
Ozzy on tour with Megadeth this Spring
Top 30 Guitarists (All That Shreds)
Kansas fans are great
Riverdale pays homage to Dokken (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=146&v=hKq_dkapY7k)

Ear Candy: 
Dio--Master of the Moon (2004)
Red Dragon Cartel--Patina (2018)

Six Degrees of Frankie B.

Comin Atcha Live:
John Carpenter at the Hollywood Palladium 10/31

Rockversation: Geoff Downes
Matt recently spoke with the legendary musician and songwriter about his work with The Buggles, Asisa, Yes and more. NOTE: Matt's cats make several cameo appearances on this one.

Bonus Track: Fiction Syxx--Tall Dark Secrets
You can keep up with the band at www.fictionsyxxrocks.com, and you can preorder their upcoming album and get some coll bonus stuff at www.melodicrock.com/tags/fiction-syxx.

Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can find more news, reviews, and discussion at powerchordspodcast.com. You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at powerchordspodcast@gmail.com.