Unicorn Sighting - Byzantine

Ok kids, I'm very excited - today it's Byzantine out of... West Virginia?  The reason I am so excited is that, while it is unlikely that one will even once discover that unicorn of progressive metal, a progressive metal band you actually want to listen to, Byzantine makes two for me (don't feel left out if you're new to Ton of Metal, or you missed the previous unicorn sighting post when I was still operating on Facebook - I'll post a video from the other band soon enough.)  So basically, I've taken you out into the forest and just pointed out a unicorn to you - you're welcome.  CRANK IT!

Flashback - Failure

Ok kids, it's that time again: FLASHBACK!  Since it's my blog and I like to educate my readers (you) and bend the idea of what heavy metal is whenever I can, I thought we'd pull an interesting twist on the flashback today.  It's a cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" done for the DM tribute, "For the Masses" by the band Failure (which unfortunately turned out to be a prophetic name in that band's case, unlike for bands like Garbage - seems like a 50/50 shot on calling your band "Snot" or some such, so consider carefully before you get the kick drums painted.)  So, the original song isn't exactly metal, but I assure you this version metals (or at least alternative-s) it up, so be sure to CRANK IT!

(02/14/15 Update: And, of course, just to prove me wrong, Failure is back together and has a new EP - thanks, jerks.)

Prong

Alright kids, no foolin' around today - it's Prong.  Now, I've already played a lot of cool stuff on here and there's a lot more severely cool stuff lined up for the future, including new bands that I am still working to discover for you (well, I actually discover them for me, but you also reap the benefits), but Prong has been one of my, like, five favorite bands for many years, and they show no sign of slowing down.  Even if you already think you know Prong and think you don't like 'em, you'll like this - but don't take my word for it - it's The Banishment today - CRANK IT!

Strapping Young Lad

Ok kids, today it's a reason to be afraid of Canada, the band that was my gateway drug into extreme metal: Strapping Young Lad.  Whatever you do, be sure you've CRANKED IT by about 0:58 - wait for it...

ZYNC!

Alright kids, it's Zync today, a very cool band out of Louisiana whom I have met and had the pleasure of seeing play live.  Heavy, death-metal-ish, yet mesmerizing at the same time.  Happy CRANKsgiving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=948fda06UOk

Flashback - Helmet

Alright kids, it's that time again: FLASHBACK!  It's Helmet today - CRANK IT!

Fu Manchu

Alright kids, I have a bit of a confession to make.  As a rule, (with a couple exceptions) I usually post what I think are the SECOND-BEST songs of the bands to which I'm trying to introduce people.  The two reasons I do this are 1) so that if you reward yourselves by actually checking out more music by a band you hear here, you'll actually GET a reward by finding that the band has an even more awesome song than the one that made you want to listen to it in the first place, and 2) it keeps me from jacking you over (often) by putting up bands that only HAVE one good song (*cough* ENGEL *cough*.)  Anyway, today is no different, but now you have a little more (probably unwanted) insight into how my mind works.  It's Fu Manchu "Separate Kingdom" today, but be sure to search for their even more badass track from the same record.  Be sure to leave a shout-out in the comments section each week (do people say "shout-out" anymore?), send a link to the blog to your friends, and oh yeh, CRANK IT!

Anterior

Ok kids, it's Anterior today.  Metalcore? Decidedly.  Welsh?  Well, yeh.  Guitar tone a little too 80s-metal anthemic? Sometimes.  Badass? Ayep.  CRANK IT!

Lordi

Alright kids, for our purposes, it's still Halloween today.  It's Lordi - CRANK IT!

Flashback - Orgy

Ok kids, it's the last Saturday of the month, and as promised, it's that time: FLASHBACK!  It's Orgy - goth-style-CRANK IT!

Sybreed

Here it is, kids: the debut of my actual blog.  Here you can expect to receive the same kind of short (sometimes medium-to-long) commentary on great bands that I have gone through the pain and disapointment of discovering and vetting so you don't have to.  All you have to do is click in every Saturday and CRANK IT!  It's Sybreed today, a most excellent band very fit for the inaugural blog post.  Sybreed is an extreme-metal band with an electronic element and extraordinarily skilled singer.  Interestingly, the band is from... Switzerland?  Yes, Switzerland.  Anyway, without further yammering, here's Bioactive - CRANK IT!