Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Head Reviews

music.

Brian "Head" Welch
Save Me from Myself
Released September 2008

Since leaving the band Korn in 2005 Brian became a Christ follower, got baptized in the River Jordan, started an orphanage in India, wrote 2 books (one landed in the top 20 on the NY Times best seller list) and just released his first solo release; not a bad three years.

“I gave you everything, all the pain life brings, just to get you to come back to me.”

This is both the opening line and the tone of the cd.

Incredible guitars, solid lyrics and decent vocals are what you get from Brian “Head” Welch’s freshman release, “Save Me From Myself”. 

Hey one would expect some rock your face off guitar work from the man who pioneered the 7 string guitar and Head does not disappoint.  they are hard, in your face, melodic and thick.  They are often backed with eerie synth and incredible drum tracks thanks to Josh Freese (The Offspring, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle).  The title track proves the power of power chords, not overdone but perfectly muscular.

The lyrical content tackles tough issues head on with perfect passion, boldness and thoughtfulness.  Topics include (and deal very positively with) drug abuse, physical abuse, teen abortion, suicide, rebellion, religion and money.  Head knows his influence and handles some subjects antithetically.  Die Religion Die and Re-bel would conjure Korn fans to a typical anti message.  Head uses them in a tertiary way evoking the opposite message (rebel against what is bad and die formal, bad religion).

Besides penning, Head plays several instruments, and belts several layers of vocals.  Lets see I think for this musical genera (nu-metal?) there are besides singing, a groaner, a shrieker and an obligatory screamer; Head lays all the main vocals. 

Overall this release is solid; albeit, not for everyone.  There are very dark overtones both musically and lyrically (die religion die).  Although the seemingly negative lyrics are really not.  Fans of Korn and those of us new to the party can appreciate this release for face value.  For an initial release, the music here is complex, easy to get and huge (see the first 30 seconds of Adonai). 

video.

Ok.  Lots to say, more questions to ask.

Having said that, this vid aint for everyone.  It is graphic, macabre, hard hitting, edgy and for some offensive.  My first viewing I couldn’t get past the chick on chick action.  After a little more thinking and seeing the obvious, the more subtle came through and I saw the light.

I’ll be concise but there be aware, SPOILER ALERT (if such a thing exists for videos)

            1.  It is pg-13

            2.  It is NOT a Sunday School lesson

            3.  It is very positive and has real life testimonies

            4.  Head breaks free from his chains

            5.  The bad people die in the end

You can see the video with yesterdays links (see below) and make your own call.

In an interview on power fm Head says that he is not a Sunday School teacher and what he is trying to do with the video is reach his people.

I think he is but he may offend grandmas people in the process.

Music Therapy - Brian "Head" Welch



three years ago i didn't know corn on the cob from korn the band.

my friend erik (in the pic below) was a fan and besides attempting to share their music with me told me he was praying for them - good job erik.

anyway, i was browsing the news one day and i saw that a member of the band korn had a religious experience, i would have missed it, except that this epiphany happend at a church in southern california where my uncle was the pastor. i saw his church, him and brian welch on tv. nice. time to call erik.

after confirming the story with my uncle and erik i still was not a korn fan.

fast forward a couple of years; brian has released a couple of books telling his incredible testimony and earlier in the month a cd.

we had the chance to meet him at a local release party and i have to tell the story.

i introduced myself and we exchanged small talk. i thought it would be cool to tell the story of eriks prayer with brian so i did. "hey man, i really didn't know much about korn but erik was a fan and kept telling me he was praying for you and i though it would be cool for you to know that."

here is the coolest part.

a huge smile came across brians face and he gave erik a giant high five and a hug. this made my day - the power and joy of salvation!

Below are some links to some decent reading material regarding brian and his new life.

coming soon, i'll review the cd and the video, but beware the video is a bit of a jaged pill to swallow.

fan site - here
brians myspace - http://www.myspace.com/brianheadwelch
see the video for flush - here (caution - pg13)
testimony/prayer at church - here
some celebrity fodder - here
the making of the video flush - here

Sage Part II

A few more pics of the lil prince before i begin random posts again.



A few more pics of the lil prince before i begin random posts again.

But first, how about a random post about Sage? In the picture below Sage is sporting his hospital jewelry, or as I see it, his Baby low-Jack. It is an actual device that they put on babies so they cannot be "stolen" from the hospital.