CrypticRock

Sometimes, the identity we attach to a musician is not entirely representative of who they are. For many, it is human nature to associate well-known artists with a particular band, like Phil Collins with Genesis, Sting with The Police, or Alex Lifeson with Rush. A founding member of the iconic Rock band Rush, Alex Lifeson made a massive impact during his time as their guitarist and leading songwriter over the course of forty-plus years and nineteenth studio albums.

Cryptic RockCrypticRockInterviewsNews Comments(0) Fortunate, fame, and glory are nice, but what matters most is that you are doing what you love. Without fulfillment of what is deeply embedded in your soul, all the money and riches in the world mean absolutely nothing. This a bold statement, but very true. It is also true that happiness cannot be bought… however, it can be cultivated.

In an era where there were many standout Hard Rock/Heavy Metal frontmen, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider was in a league of his own. With a highly colorful image, demanding stage presence, and powerful singing voice, Snider’s Twisted Sister anthems such as 1983’s “You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll,” along with 1984’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” were battle cries for legions of followers.

A vital part of the legendary Hip Hop group Cypress Hill since its inception in 1988, Sen Dog is a name fans know and love. Recognized for his many vocal performances, especially 1991’s “How I Could Just Kill a Man” and 1993’s “Insane in the Brain,” Sen Dog’s impact goes far and wide. Showing different sides of his musicality, he formed a Rap Rock band back in 1996 called SX-10 and, in more recent times, put together the Heavy Metal-driven Powerflo.

There is often debate about who the originators of the hybrid Rap Metal genre are. While Hip Hop legends like Run-DMC intermingled Rock elements in songs like 1984’s “Rock Box” and Beastie Boys on others such as 1986’s “Fight for Your Right,” many would look at Anthrax’s colliding with Public Enemy on their June 1991 version of “Bring the Noise” as turning point.

One of Rock-n-Roll’s most iconic bands, Blue Öyster Cult, is set to lift the stage curtain for the release of their 50th Anniversary Live – Third Night album. Available on December 13, 2024, it is the third in a set of live album releases that began with the release of 50th Anniversary Live – First Night on December 8, 2023, and continued with 50th Anniversary – Second Night on August 9, 2024.

In the world of Heavy Metal Helloween is one of the genre’s most elite. Together forty years now, Helloween reigns as one of Germany’s most successful alongside Accept, Scorpions, and Rammstein. Also considered one of the pioneers of what is referred to as Power Metal, Helloween’s reach goes far and wide across many continents… including the expansive region of Asia.

Historically, 1994 was a pretty turbulent one in the world of Alternative Rock. Bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Hole were at peak mainstream popularity, but amidst it all, tragically Kurt Cobain was gone at only twenty-seven years old. A loss that sent many young listeners through a tailspin of emotion, in the coming months after Cobain’s death, new music emerged as a form of comfort and realization that even in darkness, there can be light.

It is hard to believe, but it has been twenty years since U2 released their highly acclaimed How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Released on November 22, 2004, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb arrived with a mass of excitement.

Releasing the highly acclaimed Good Morning Gorgeous in 2022, modern R&B Queen Mary J. Blige returns in 2024 with a powerful and emotional reflection that takes shape in the newly released Gratitude. Released via Blige’s Mary Jane imprint label and 300 Entertainment, her fifteenth overall studio record successfully progresses her modern R&B legacy.