#SupportNewMusic with Nikki Sixx: Raise Your Hands to Hard Rock
By: Nikki Sixx
I believe in all music, but sometimes we need to narrow down and just focus on one genre at a time. This month’s iHeartRadio blog is about new hard rock bands—we need them, radio needs them and the economy needs them. Rock helps you go that extra mile on the treadmill and unleashes that inner teenager you forgot was still breathing inside you. It makes summer nights a little sweeter and keeps you turning the volume knob up in the car.
But I’m not just talking about regular rock today: I’m talking about the black sheep of the neighborhood, hard rock. Adrenalized and dripping in distortion, looked down upon by some and worshipped by others. Framed as evil for decades, but at the same time, a reason for millions to believe. It helped us break rules, question authority, refocus our social standing, rethink fashion, and had us gathering for concerts in dirt fields to scream along to the same song.
It’s that "dirty stuff" that starts in garages, moves toward clubs, claws its way into theaters, and then overtakes every arena around the world. We are talking big guitars, opinionated lyrics and—let’s not forget—passion. The path to hard rock is not a sweet stroll down a country road; it’s a fistfight in a back alley where only the strong survive.
Here’s some new music by bands I think have what it takes to step into the ring:
“In Between” by Beartooth
This band is a great way to wake up the neighborhood and then seduce them with over the top melodies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2p_w409y-o
“Are You Evil” by Evil Blizzard
This band has four bass players and they all wear masks, and when you see the video you're like, “Wow, this is really cool.” It's gothic and it's punk rock, but forget about all that and just listen to the song, because without a good song, none of that other stuff matters.
“Right To Rise” by Wilson
I love how dirty Wilson is, but they still got the hook right where it needs to be: in your face!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXAtvejK-Fo
Check them out below in the video, "6 Things You Don’t Know About Wilson":
“Silence In The Snow” by Trivium
Sorry if this upsets the band or even some diehards, but these guys could be the next Metallica and god knows we all need more bands like Metallica. Go see them live—it’s pure metal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcIlZ3luYHc
“Breaking Out” by Raveneye
Keep an eye on Raveneye. They are organic, raw and I hear a real ‘70s influence with these guys. When a band like this nails it, you never forget it. Wait for that riff in the middle of the song. The girls won’t forget the singer’s name either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arh_bK0Cr-4
There's a lot more where these bands came from, so check back next month. Rock is on the rise again—expect hearing loss in your future.
Nikki Sixx is an international rock icon, founding member of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M., two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Heroin Diaries and This Is Gonna Hurt, philanthropist, photographer and host of the syndicated rock radio programs Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown.
