Double the Metal

Good morning, Stroock's Books commune. We feel the Ju-Ju for a great week with The New American Order. 

There's a certain type of European that just sets us off. Here's the German version of that type:

If you landed an army in Normandy, Germans don't get to lecture you on freedom. 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸 https://t.co/NNlPd6MrQI

— William Stroock (@WStroock) May 23, 2022

Also, Fritz there has a Ukrainian flag in his Twitter handle and doesn't understand why guns matter. Kraut tosser. We don't like Jerry. Not because we're Jewish, but because we're American.

The indefatigable Larry Correia writes about books, lit, men and the 26 year old single, crazy cat-ladies in training who have ruined books for men. If you write books about war, and action, and adventure and manly men and feminine women, they will read. Larry Correia is always right. So is William Stroock. 

We're actually bored with this. Via The Jerusalem Post: 'A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Quds Force involved in planning attacks on Jews and Israelis worldwide, Colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari, was assassinated in Tehran on Sunday afternoon, the IRGC announced.' Yeah, yeah. The Imams are right, the Jew is clever. Exit question, can the Israelis ever fail? 

What Will's Watching: Because we saw it up on HBO MAX we watched The Omega Man this weekend. Is it great? No. Is it good? In a way. The cinematography is awful and often it feels like one is watching an extralong episode of Dragnet. Half the film is shot on a backlot. The Omega Man is dated AF and we enjoyed all that post-war luxury, the big cars, the gaudy clothes. Charleton Heston, though, gives a very interesting performance. Also, I don't know who needs to hear this, but The Family are the good guys. 

Monday Metal, Monday Metal Double: new website and new album coming from...The Answer! No idea if they're coming to America. We will make a special trip to Ireland to catch multiple shows if need be. Speaking of catching shows...well, we'll make an announcement at the appropriate time. Oley, oley, oley, oley....Those who know, know. Ourto:

Monday Blue not Backed

It's supposed to be Police Week in America. Sorry fellas, this blog has seen way too many videos of cops tackling pregnant women, old people, pastors, rabbis, for exercising their god given rights. Here in New Jersey last year they arrested a woman for attempting to organize an anti-lockdown protest. All while Antifa/BLM rampages. Back the Blue, they say. We tried. Trouble is, we don't think the Blue will back us. 

Mark Steyn made this point today, 'To reprise my frequent observation about the hideous FBI re Mrs Roger Stone, Mrs George Papadopoulos et al, there was not one man among these shock troops willing to say, "Uh, no, thanks. I didn't sign up to take down little old ladies and vicars." Our brother-in-law, a life long New Yorker told us how he sees cops decked out in body armor and carrying rifles at Grand Central Station, 'What are you doing?' he said. 'Take that crap off. Put a tie on. Talk to people.' Yes, yes, we know. It's an anti-terror patrol. Guess what, the terrorists aren't going to hit a place patrolled by cops indistinguishable from soldiers. That patrol is about liability. The brass just wants to make sure their pensions are covered in case there is an attack. 

Yesterday a friend wished us a happy Mother's Day. That's where we are. That's the reality people. Just this morning Middle Daughter stubbed her toe and wailed like she just heard Harry Styles got engaged. We finally said, 'Get dressed. Either you're going to school or the emergency room. Pick one. We don't care which. But stop the sobbing.' Later we'll be complaining to the rest of the gals at Pilates. 

Thanks god Mrs. Stroock is coming back tomorrow.

Ok, if we're going to do with the Korean War chapter what we want to do with the Korean War chapter we're going to need to add a chapter. Besides, it will be interesting to see what the military is up in 1976. And we're still on 64,000 words anyway.  Subic Bay, Europe...we'll open with a chapter in which Def Sec Rumsfeld and staff are going over the current TO&E. We are very good at what we do.  

Monday Metal. When in doubt, The Answer. Feel those grinding power chords. That's the album cover. Clever video. No?:

Monday Metal

Has this blog ever mentioned that it likes the Irish hard rock band, The Answer? Check out this cover of Sweet Emotion, easily one of the top five riffs in rock:

Monday Metal

 When in doubt, The Answer:

Off their first album, track two. Extremely hard hitting with a great hook. Has this blog ever mentioned how much it loves The Answer. 

And here's another, just because we're a giver:

Monday Metal

The Answer, Real Life Dreamers:

A song put together in a very interesting way, half melodic, half blues. Nice chords and oh boy, what a simple but shattering riff.  We're reminded a bit of Pearl Jam's Dissident. We like the organs backing up.

From their latest and slightly eccentric album, Solas.

Monday Metal, Late Edition

Apologies but Mrs. Stroock is on a business trip down south and has left us alone with the Stroocklettes, so we're a bit pressed for time.

Here's The Answer again:

Why? becuase we can play it, that's why. Do note, we did not say we can play it well. But by god, we can play it.

Monday Metal

[Not Again-Ed]

The Answer, Comfort Zone.

Jake Bloom listens to this in Blooms.

The Answer to Monday Metal

If it's Monday, it's Monday Metal and if it's Monday Metal, it's The Answer and if it's The Answer, it's Caught on the Riverbed:

We are working feverishly to decipher that absolutely thunderous and stunning solo.

We listen to them on the treadmill, 30 minutes, motherfuckers. This is also when we think about plot. So when the NATO counterattack on the Weser is called Operation Spangled Banner, this is why.

Here's another good one:

Monday Metal

This is The Answer openning up for AC/DC at Scranton Wilkes Barre in 2008:

It was the first night of the Black Ice tour.

I was there. I'm in that concert shot, on the floor about ten rows back. When The Answer came on I yawned and thought, Yeah yeah....bring me Angus. Half an hour later I was a fan for life.

Monday Metal

Mentioned here before, my favorite modern rock band, Ireland's Own, Belfast's Finest, The Answer:

One day, when you read about something called Operation Spangled Banner (about 3:50) in one of my novels, now you know why.

Four or five of their songs will get me about 20 minutes on the treadmill.

Metal Monday

Anthems Edition.

Lately we're in mind of mental/rock songs that are anthems, that tell the listener, 'This is why we got in this business. These song sing to the lonely 14 year old in his room. He hates school, he hates extracurricular activities, he's got no prospects with girls and he knows he'll not have them for years.

[Autobiographical much?-ed?]

Shut the fuck up, ed.

Here gos:

The Answer,Battle Cry. Best line, 'You are the static across the night sky, you are an anthem on the radio...[Fuck yeah].
Halford, Made in Hell. Best Line:In Henry's and in mother's where I'd go to bang my head The feeling took a hold of me with every word I said.
Queen, Radio Gaga (obvious, I know, but still)Best Line:  I'd sit alone and watch your light My only friend through teenage nights.

[Radio Gaga? Don't you mean MTV?-ed]

I told you to shut the fuck up, ed.

[Lady Gaga?-ed]

You know, I'm about to get angry I...

[whoa! whoa! Put the rifle down...-ed]

I'm putting you down, motherfucker.

'[Hey!-ed]

You want me to shoot the other kneecap?

[No, sir-ed]

That's better....

Metal Monday

Belfast Rocks Edition

Anyone whose ever read A Line through the Desert knows Sgt. Jake Bloom loves hard rock. He'd love this band I'm about to talk about and you'll see them in the ALTD sequel.

Back in 2008 I saw three AC/DC shows on their Black Ice Tour. It was glorious. I caught the first show in Pottstown PA. The opening act came on, some band I'd never heard of.  They opened with this:

I've been hooked ever since the first riff.

That band is the Answer, Belfast's answer to Rock and Roll glory. They sound like they came out of the 70's with grinding vocals reminiscent of Paul Rodgers and Free, and searing hooks, and guitar licks worthy of anything one might have heard on a retro-classic rock station. In fact I recently saw an interview with the lead singer and he was asked what his favorite hook is and he replied, 'All Right Now.'

Good lord he can sing.

Rise is their first album they've put out six all together. What follows is a listing of their first four albums with their best and or most interesting songs:

Rise A ridiculously good debut
Best Song: The first three. All hard hitting
Most Interesting: Memphis Water. A classic steel guitar blues song
Weakness: Minor, but there's really no 'stake' song, that one tune that holds down the whole album where the listener says, 'Yes, this is the one'.

Everyday Demons This is their best album
Best Song: Walking Matt. An anthem 'I'm not your walking matt'
Most Interesting: Comfort Zone. Sincere love overture, 'Can I embrace, a moment with you, don't need a lifetime a moment will do. Cause I missed my chance a thousand times before. I swear that I ain't gonna miss no more.'

Revival This one took a bit to grow on me, but now I love it
Best Song: Waste Your Tears
Most Interesting: Tornado. Sounds like its name, 'You're my tornado...'

New Horizon Heavily grunge influenced
Best Song: Call Yourself a Friend.
Most Interesting: Spectacular

Their latest is Solas, which is very different from their other work, but very good and very interesting. Imagine if Led Zeppelin's Presence was any good. There you go.

Metal Monday

Irish Sellout Edition

In 2008 I saw AC/DC three times on tour. Each time my favorite new band opened. The first time, I was thinking, yeah, come on do your set and let the big boys on stage.

This was them and this was the song:

I've been a fan ever since. Sounds like Zeppelin without ripping Zeppelin, don't it.

Their first album, Rise, was good.

Here's another one from Rise:

Their second album, Everyday Demons was better:

Well, this evening I got a note from them on FB:

The new The Answer album Solas is a contemporary, uplifting rock album, channelling the band’s Irish roots to deliver a bold new sound.

I'm terrified.