The List - UnderCover (Unpublished)

We live in the generation of covers. And no, that sentence unfortunately does not carry some deeper, poetic meaning. Bands LOVE to cover popular songs these days. And the fans LOVE them for it.

The question is, why?
Why risk destroying a perfectly decent song?
Are our precious talents running out of ideas for new songs,
or talent for that matter?
Could it be writer's block?
Are cover songs a form of distraction for the bands procrastinating their new material?
Or is it simply a form of mockery?

This is open to interpretation.

Truth be told, it is not easy to make a cover song that’s worth listening to. If a listener has made up his or her mind about a particular song, it is difficult to change ones perceptive. This is especially true if the song chosen is one that is popular, or one that is done by an artist/band with a large and rather aggressively protective fan base.

Take for instance, the song “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones. I was browsing videos on YouTube and came across the highly talented, Jason Mraz, doing a cover of that song on “Smash for Yahoo! Music”. For the record, I happen to be a Ramones fan. But Jason’s full on acoustic rendition of the song really made an impact on me. It was…different. I felt he did a great job making the song, his own. (A phrase way overused by the judges at "X-Factor" but hey, it still holds powerful meaning behind it.) However, majority of the youtubers on the comment space just down right hated it. There, I found myself fighting, cyber style, for my Mr. A-Z, later on figuring that my efforts would all be a waste of finger strength. Mraz’s attempt to be ORIGINAL made Ramones fans absolutely furious and saw it as an attack or some kind of mockery. Like as if originality was a mortal sin. But hey ho, as I mentioned earlier, if a listener feels strongly for the song or band, no matter how good someone’s cover of a song is, it will never be as good as the original. Call it biased, or closed-mindedness, everyone has the right to defend their beliefs. Hey, it's nothing personal. It's just music.

On the other hand, some covers are so beautifully done, that you just refuse to digest the fact that the artist did not originally write the song. That the oh-so-lovely melody and every lyric sung by your favourite front man/woman, was not in fact theirs. Some artists have had the ability to turn an unknown song into a total classic.

And then there is the ever famous punk rock covers. This involves punk rock/pop punk bands remaking popular songs that you would have never thought would sound good, as a rock song. Case in point the song, “Umbrella”, originally by R&B singer Rihanna. About 4 punk/hardcore/rock bands have covered this song. My personal favourite would be Vanilla Sky’s rendition, despite the incredibly disturbing music video.

With increasing demands for compilation albums like “Pop goes Punk”, my spidey senses tell me that it will be awhile until cover songs run out in style. As long as musicians and writers exist to write more hit records, there will simultaneously be an army of bands, who are ready to make a hit cover out of another hit single.


* Umbrella - Vanilla Sky, Lillasyter (originally by Rihanna)

* Kiss me - New Found Glory ( originally by Sixpence None The Richer )

* Summer Of '69 - MXPX( originally by Bryan Adams )

* Holy Diver - Killswitch Engage ( originally by DIO )

* Walk - Avenged Sevenfold ( originally by Pantera )

* To Be With You - Allister ( originally by Mr. Big )

* Mercy - OneRepublic ( originally by Duffy )

* Eyeless - Bring Me The Horizon ( originally by Slipknot )

* Strangers In The Night - Cake ( originally by Frank Sinatra )

* Born In A Casket - Dying Fetus( originally by Slipknot )

* Ring Of Fire - Social Distortion ( originally by Johnny Cash )

* Dancing With Myself - The Donnas ( originally by Billy Idol )

* Die Die My Darling - Metallica,Aiden ( originally by Misfits )

* Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson ( originally by Eurythimics )

* My Way - Sid Vicious ( originally by Frank Sinatra )

* You Give Love A Bad Name - Atreyu ( originally by Bon Jovi )

* Master Of Puppets - Trivium ( originally by Metallica )

* Hero - Paramore ( originally by Foo Fighters )

* Beat It - Fall Out Boy feat John Mayer ( originally by Micheal Jackson )

Your Chance To Die Review

Abstracted from Shout!'s The Pit archives
- August 2008 Issue -
(Shout! is taking a new direction with the zine
and will no longer be publishing Pit pieces.)

When a dear friend of mine linked me up to one of Your Chance To Die’s youtube videos, my very first thought was “please don’t let it be another one of those pretty but talentless bands”. But oh boy, was I in for a shocker. They may look like your ordinary South Carolina rockers, but don’t let the looks fool you!

Formed in February of 2007, this female fronted band is a nice blend of metal and hardcore with a little pinch of death metal. If you like heavy metal breakdowns and adventurous yet technical guitar solos, Your Chance To Die is the band for you.

Guitarists Adam and Coca, both professionally trained with classical and power metal roots, radiate brain busting yet melodic guitar riffs. This is accompanied by machine-like drums that exude adrenaline and speed that leaves listeners no choice but to get their headbangs on! Missi has a growl like no other. Her vocal range is much lower than most female metal front women and is a force to be reckoned with. If vocal ability was a sporting race, this little missy ought to be wearing shorts that read: “EAT MY DUST!”

Your Chance To Die is currently on a hunt for a new guitarist. Details on auditions for a slot in the band can be found on their myspace blog.

Their demo consisting of 4 songs are free for download from their myspace page and also distributed out during their shows. A full length album is in the works and is expected to be released in the fall.

Lost in Los Angeles Review

Abstracted from Shout!'s The Pit archives
- August 2008 Issue -
(Shout! is taking a new direction with the zine
and will no longer be publishing Pit pieces.)

Lost In Los Angeles was formed in 2005 in, yes you guessed it, Los Angeles California. Their wide range of musical influences include rock and roll legends Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Bad Company and even Sir Elton John.

This three piece Californian indie band struck my attention for having such a familiar vibe we all have come to love and miss. Their soothing and catchy sound is something we don’t get to hear as much these days. If you’re a fan of Incubus and Travis, you should definitely check them out. Their sound is atmospheric and hypnotizes listeners to sway their heads from side to side,whether you want to or not. Perfect for sunset dates on the beach or rolling in your Cadillac with the top down, seat back and wind gushing through your hair.

They are currently working on their full length album that is set to be released in the summer. Frontman Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan co-produced the record so it is bound to be good one! Lost In Lost Angeles is also on the way to getting signed by a label. They will be resuming shows in the fall and have plans for a few tours in 2009.

Update: Lost in Los Angeles has recently been signed by Cartel Records! Congrats boys and all the best!

Mary Magdalan Review

Abstracted from Shout!'s The Pit archives
- August 2008 Issue -
(Shout! is taking a new direction with the zine
and will no longer be publishing Pit pieces.)

I was first introduced to Mary Magdalan when a fan of theirs added me on myspace. Her myspace profile was plastered with pictures and music by Mary. Curiosity is what killed my junkie virginity. Honestly, I have never seen such dedication and loyalty from fans than that of the Mary Magdalan junkies. And this craze is for good reason.

Inspired by a dark past, struggling with a mother battling a heroin addiction, female front woman, Mary Magdalan, whole-heartedly bears her soul through her lyrics, in high hopes of bringing healing to those going through the same pain. All of Mary Magdalan’s lyrics are biographical and is what makes them so original. Her story is truly inspiring and is one of the many reasons why I am so attracted to this band.

I can’t quite place what genre of music they belong in. They remind me very much of the band Otep, but with a little more grunge. Their sound is truly a breath of fresh air and very different from what we’re used to hearing. Their different musical influences explain why this band is so darn different. On guitars is Ericb, who has his masters in classical and is heavily influenced by Metallica and Pantera. Gzus brings the hip-hop element to their music and Mary, the vocalist, is influenced by legendary songstresses like Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. Their unique blend of genres is heavily reflected upon their music and is something you just can’t find anywhere else.

Mary Magdalan’s debut album called “Pity Girl” ,which was solely mastered, manufactured and distributed by the band themselves, is out on sale and can only be bought directly from the band. They are in the midst of recording their next album and will be doing 5 exclusive dates around The United States this summer.

Be a junkie. Get your fix today!

How To Get A Front Row Stand [ 1st Piece on Shout! ]

Abstracted from Shout!'s The Pit archives
- July 2008 Issue -
(Shout! is taking a new direction with the zine
and will no longer be publishing Pit pieces.)

It takes careful consideration and planning to achieve a want. This is one advice that can be applied to every aspect of your life. Concerts are no exception. Teenies prefer to play dirty to get ahead. I know this from first hand experience. Their plans usually provide results but this approach is prone to backfire.

From every regretful experience in life comes about something positive. I’d like to think that my horrid years as a teenie would someday benefit another human being. That somehow I have achieved something from 3 years of “OMGILOVEYOU”s and that it can subsequently help others.

Well, the day is finally here! I come to you, as a former insider, bearing a gift of knowledge. Here are some tips on how to be sneaky in a concert crowd and get yourself front and center!

• Dress for Comfort

If you’re planning to be covered in spikes with 50 pounds of metal attached to your body, be prepared to be a target in the mosh pit. First of all, how comfortable can dragging your heavy metal body (literally) be? If you think this will prove how metal or brutal you are, think again. Arrogance equals a target mark on your forehead.

Secondly, what is the point? Unless you have glow-in-the-dark skin, no one can see you in the crowd! And quite bluntly, NOONE CARES! Some of you may be thinking, “but what if I bump into the band after the show?” Believe me, there is nothing sexier than a sweaty band shirt. That’s your way of showing the band you had the time of your life getting down and dirty with them. The goal is to sneak your way to the front, so ensure that you can move about freely and not have anything on you that will act as a physical restriction to glide through the crowd.

Best gig gear would be a band shirt, comfortable pair of jeans or pants and sneakers. Make sure you tie your laces tightly to avoid going home barefoot. Avoid accessorizing excessively as you are bound to lose something, like your ears for instance. Remember, everyone is there for some good music, not a fashion parade.

• Lose Yourself

A concert is the best place to go out of character. Go wild! Do things you don’t normally do. If you see a row of people way ahead of you, with arms hooked around each others necks, head banging like crazy, feel free to join them! Remember, everyone is your friend until they get in your way!

At the same time, respect others and yourself. Don’t start unnecessary fights. If someone has been eyeballing you since the start of the gig and he just happens to be twice as big as you, completely covered in tattoos that scream bloody murder and just happens to have metal knuckles, it would be wise to just walk away.

Eye on the prize my friend. Eye on the prize.

• Be the Exceptional Exception

There will usually come a time during every show whereby the performer gives out a particular command. “JUMP!” And for some odd reason, you feel you have no choice but to do so. It may be tempting but hear me out. By being an exception in this situation, you can earn yourself some exceptional benefits.

In order to secure a desirable position in the crowd when your band takes the stage, it is advisable to execute this plan while the opening acts are performing. In the event of a no-opening-act show, don’t panic. With proper planning, this operation shouldn’t take too long.

Mentally study your surroundings. Look out for holes in the crowd. The word “JUMP” is your cue to start making your way through the crowd. As they bounce around like bunnies on crack , steadily make your way through. Hop and smile as you pass through the crowd.

• Moshing Is The Best Policy

Your best gamble is to join in the mosh. As they shove and kick you everywhere, you have a 50/50 chance of ending up at the front. However,if you’re unlucky, you might end up right back where you started. But the bright side is that you can just get back in there and try again! Crowdsurfing could get you far but the probability of getting yourself tossed way to the front and out of the crowd is high. If this scenario was to play out, don’t forget to give the lead singer a high five on your way back to step 1.

We may have a mission to accomplish here but remember that no one should get hurt in our journey to spit spectrum. Help people off the ground if they fall. Look out for others and they will be sure to do the same for you. Moshing is not a war. It’s a sport. And every sport has its own set of rules and protocols. Follow them.

Dirty is not how we roll. Sneaky is the way to go.

Remember, success is not a destination. It is a journey. So make sure you enjoy yourself every step of the way.

Have fun conquering your next show!

• Image Courtesy Of: http://cycletheory.tripod.com

About The Writer

So finally, after years and years of contemplating on whether I should sign myself up for a blog here, I have decided to go for it. This decision was made with the help of my twin sister, Sya Hysteria (whose work you should really check out by the way).

So let's take a second to briefly introduce this Lyds Labyrinth person.

My real name is Lydia Mohamed. I am a 19 year old Mass Communications student from Singapore. I've been writing ever since I figured out how to use a pencil. My favourite thing in the world to write about is Music. It is ridiculous to explain how someone learned how to love music. It is genetically enforced in our nature to be attracted to something beautiful. In my true and honest opinion, Music defines beauty. There's nothing more magical and enchanting in this world. (Johnny Depp comes close.)

The first song I was ever obsessed with was Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dane, as according to my parents and adoring sister (who is right now in florida. Sis I miss you already). I was told that noone in my family was allowed to even breathe the words to this song when it was playing and as long as there was a mic in my hand, the song was noone elses but mine. That song introduced me to the cult that was music. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns'N'Roses taught me rocking hard was the way to live. I have been a fan of music ever since.

My choice of genre is complicated. There was a time in my life when I thought boybands were the only type of musicians there were, and that the vocal chord was the one and only instrument in music. But obviously, one can stay naive for so long. I moved on to pop-punk rock and bar chords. The transitions made afterwards are a blur to me because I basically jumped from genre to genre trying to figure myself out. I jumped from pop-punk to trash metal to progressive to grind to brutal death to indie and lastly, I fell in the comfortable arms of death metal. I still love that genre to, well DEATH but seeing as how most death metalers wont accept you unless you're "DEATH METAL TO THE GRAVE!", I decided staying low key about it would do me good. Now, I listen to all the genres I've listed here.

As the title of this blog may have suggested, I will be posting some of my written work here, for purposes I shall not discuss at this time. I am all for constructive criticism. Seriously, I know for a fact I'm not that hella good of a writer. But one thing I DO NOT appreciate is thoughtless bashing of ones work. If you don't have anything good to say, don't waste your breath. No point in making a time consuming chore out of nothing. Fire is good but too much of anything can kill a person.

I've only recently had my written work published, after working with a music webzine called Shout!. For that, I will be eternally thankful to my 2 fine editors, Ashley Apathetic and Jacki Spencer. I've contributed a few articles at the zine (that I will be posting up shortly) and am now working as one of the interview staff. It's an awesome job, just so you know. :) Before this webzine, I've had 2 other articles published in a printed magazine by the Singapore Children's Society called CABINLINK.

So finally, I believe the occasion calls for a shout out!

To my family:
I doubt any of you will read this but if you are, YAHOO I LOVE YOU!

To my bestfriends:
Sya - thanks for thinking for me something my brain delayed for so long and for kicking my ass when it needs to be kicked.
Lyn - thanks for being my walking dictionary and kicking my ass for when it needs to be kicked.

To everyone reading:
Thank you for taking the time. ROCK&ROLL!