SONG OF THE WEEK: 9-13-2026

 

SONG:  "Down"

ARTIST:  Seether

ALBUM:  "Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Down" by Seether is a heavy, emotionally raw track that explores themes of suffocation, emotional manipulation, and toxic relationship dynamics.

SEETHER DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - Disclaimer (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #92 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2004 - Disclaimer II (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #53 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2005 - Karma And Effect (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2006 - One Cold Night (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200

2007 - Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2011 - Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray (Wind-Up Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2014 - Isolate And Medicate (The Bicycle Music Company)

* Peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2017 - Poison The Parish (Canine Riot Records)

* Peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200

2020 - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum (Fantasy Records)

* Peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200

2024 - The Surface Seems So Far (Fantasy Records)

* Peaked at #138 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON SEETHER:

Seether is a South African band that got it's start back in 1999. Originally the band was called Saron Gas and released an album under that moniker in 2000 called "Fragile". In 2002, the band changed their name to Seether, after the Veruca Salt song of the same name. Seether, I guess you would call official debut album, would release "Disclaimer" in 2002. Right off the jump, singles like "Fine Again" and "Gasoline" created huge buzz for Seether. In 2004, the band would put out "Disclaimer II" which basically was "Disclaimer" with extra tracks. This album also featured what may be Seether's biggest song, a version of "Broken" featuring guest vocals by Amy Lee of Evanescence. This album would be the beginning of a string of 3 releases that went on to be certified Platinum. The next one was 2005's "Karma And Effect" and following that, 2007's "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces", an album that features my favorite song by the band "Rise Above This". 2011's "Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray" would be the last album release with label Wind-Up Records, who the band had been signed with since 2002. That was also the band's highest charting album, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts. In 2014, Seether released "Isolate And Medicate". The band would continue a streak of albums which charted in the Billboard 200 with the release of 2017's "Poison The Parish", 2020's "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" and the band's most recent full length album, 2024's "The Surface Seems So Far". The band released an EP in 2026 called "Beneath The Surface" which is considered a continuation of their album "The Surface Seems So Far". Seether is a post-grunge, alternative metal type of band. Heavily influenced by the grunge era, you can hear the styles of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden all through their music. Seether has also been one of the most successful hard rock acts of the 2000's for sure. I got into these guys right away. The first song I heard by them was "Fine Again" and I was like, yeah, that's a band that's right up my alley! They just constantly put out great albums and great songs. Their song "Rise Above This" from their 2007 album "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" is a fantastic song. I just love it. It's not as heavy as some of their other material but for me, it just sunk it's teeth into me! There aren't too many playlists that I put together that don't feature that song on them. Awesome band, Seether!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Staind

Breaking Benjamin

Three Days Grace

Chevelle

Saint Asonia

TEN SEETHER SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Rise Above This

2. Broken

3. The Gift

4. Remedy

5. Country Song

6. Dangerous

7. Let You Down

8. Words As Weapons

9. Judas Mind

10. Seether (Veruca Salt cover)

SONG OF THE WEEK: 9-6-2026

 

SONG:  "The Fight"

ARTIST:  Avenged Sevenfold

ALBUM:  "Diamonds In The Rough"

YEAR:  2008

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Huntington Beach, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"The Fight" by Avenged Sevenfold is a song about individual critical thinking, resisting social brainwashing, and breaking free from systemic indoctrination. Released on their 2008 b-sides and rarities album, "Diamonds in the Rough", the track stands out for its straightforward, politically charged lyrics. Instead of the dark, mythological, or deeply personal themes the band is often known for, "The Fight" serves as an anthem for mental independence.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2001 - Sounding The Seventh Trumpet (Good Life Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - Waking The Fallen (Hopeless Records)

* Peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2005 - City Of Evil (Warner Bros. Records)

* Peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2007 - Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Bros. Records)

* Peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2008 - Live In The LBC/Diamonds In The Rough (Warner Bros. Records)

* Peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2010 - Nightmare (Warner Bros. Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2013 - Hail To The King (Warner Bros. Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2016 - The Stage (Capitol Records)

* Peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200

2017 - Live At The Grammy Museum (Capitol Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Life Is But A Dream (Warner Records)

* Peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AVENGED SEVENFOLD:

Avenged Sevenfold got it's start back in 1999, hailing from Huntington Beach, California. Starting out with a metalcore sound, the band dropped their debut full length album, "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet", in 2001. The band's sophomore effort, 2003's "Waking The Fallen", continued that metalcore style and the single "Unholy Confessions" started to give the band a big bump. 2005's "City Of Evil", in my mind, is where Avenged Sevenfold honed their sound. Gone was the gutteral screaming vocals and their style veered towards a more mainstream heavy metal sound. The lead single "Bat Country" really propelled the band to new heights of success. In 2007, the band dropped "Avenged Sevenfold". This album features the ballad "Dear God", one of my favorite Avenged Sevenfold songs. In 2009, tragedy struck the band as their drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan passed away unexpectedly.  2010's "Nightmare" and 2013's "Hail To The King" finished a string of five straight albums that would be certified platinum for Avenged Sevenfold. It also marked the end of the band's relationship with major label Warner Bros. Records. In 2016, the band released "The Stage" through Capitol Records. This would mark the band's first concept album. The band's most recent release would be 2023's "Life Is But A Dream", a true departure in style. Very experimental and avante garde metal. In 2026, the band dropped an EP titled "Statica". This proved to be a side project for the band featuring "electronic" music and since the band has stated that the side project will also be called Statica. Avenged Sevenfold has been one of the most successful heavy metal bands to emerge in the 2000's. They have a style and sound that allows them to play punk festivals like the Warped Tour or metal festivals like Ozzfest. Sometimes that acts as a detriment to the band from backlash from diehard fans from either genre. Whatever.. the record sales and the sold out tours prove that Avenged Sevenfold is a juggernaut of a band! The first song I heard by these guys was "Unholy Confessions". While that wasn't my favorite song, it definitely planted a seed in my head. The band had me when they released "City Of Evil". I'm iffy on gutteral, screaming vocals. I like some bands that do it, but I prefer the cleaner vocals so I instantly became a bigger fan of the band when "City Of Evil" dropped. I'd also say i'm more of a punk fan than a metal fan but Avenged Sevenfold is one of the band's that crossed over for me. Them and Bullet For My Valentine who I also am a big fan of. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Bullet For My Valentine

Stone Sour

Three Days Grace

Breaking Benjamin

Godsmack

TEN AVENGED SEVENFOLD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Beast And The Harlot

2. Dear God

3. Nightmare

4. St. James

5. Hail To The King

6. Unholy Confessions

7. The Stage

8. Nobody

9. Crossroads

10. Darkness Surrounding

SONG OF THE WEEK: 8-30-2026

 

SONG:  "Rope"

ARTIST:  Foo Fighters

ALBUM:  "Wasting Light"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Seattle, Washington

YEARS ACTIVE:  1994 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The Foo Fighters song "Rope" explores a frantic emotional struggle, anxiety, and the desperate need for stability through a supportive relationship.

FOO FIGHTERS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1995 - Foo Fighters (Roswell/Capitol Records)

* Peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

1997 - The Colour And The Shape (Roswell/Capitol Records)

* Peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

1999 - There Is Nothing Left To Lose (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2002 - One By One (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2005 - In Your Honor (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2006 - Skin And Bones (RCA Records)

* Peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200

2007 - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2011 - Wasting Light (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2011 - Medium Rare (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Sonic Highways (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

2017 - Concrete And Gold (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

2021 - Medicine At Midnight (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200

2023 - But Here We Are (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200

2026 - Your Favorite Toy (Roswell/RCA Records)

* Peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON FOO FIGHTERS:

The Foo Fighters started out as a secret solo project of Dave Grohl, who at the time was best known as the drummer of Nirvana. The debut 1995 album by the Foo Fighters basically featured Grohl playing every instrument and laying down the vocals. Once the album was released, Grohl decided to put a band together to tour the album. He enlisted Nate Mendel (bass) and William Goldsmith (drums) from the recently disbanded Sunny Day Real Estate, as well as legendary Germs guitarist Pat Smear. In 1997, the band dropped their sophomore effort, "The Colour And The Shape". This album exploded the Foo Fighters to headliner material, thanks in part to hit singles like "Everlong" and "My Hero". Shortly after the release of this album, Pat Smear departed the band and Grohl's bandmate from his previous band Scream, Franz Stahl, took over for Smear. Also, William Goldsmith left the band after the recording of "The Colour And The Shape" because he felt disrespected that Grohl re-recorded all the drum tracks by himself. Taylor Hawkins replaced Goldsmith on drums. 1999 saw the band let Stahl go and release the album "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" as a 3 piece featuring just Grohl, Mendel and Hawkins. Former No Use For A Name guitarist Chris Shiflett was brought on as lead guitarist in 1999. In 2002, the band released "One By One". 2005's "In Your Honor" was a double sided album with full on rock songs on one side and acoustic tracks on the other. This led to an acoustic tour in which Smear came back to play additional guitar and it's the first sighting of keyboardist Rami Jaffee with the band. This tour led to the live acoustic album "Skin And Bones" in 2006. In 2007, "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" was released which featured stand out single "The Pretender". In 2010, Pat Smear was officially back in the band. 2011 saw the band release "Wasting Light". For 2014's "Sonic Highways", the Foo Fighters recorded 8 songs in 8 different cities in America trying to connect with the vibes of those cities. In 2015, Rami Jaffee was officially in the band. In 2017, "Concrete And Gold" was released. This was the band's second album after "Wasting Light" to peak at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. "Medicine At Midnight" was released in 2021. On March 25, 2022, while the band was touring South America, tragedy struck the band as drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia. This was a devastating blow to the band as Taylor was so loved by all the band members, especially Dave Grohl. The 2023 album "But Here We Are" was a tribute to their fallen bandmate and friend. Josh Freese took over on drums for that album but was let go in 2025. Ilan Rubin who had recently played with Nine Inch Nails, took over on drums in 2025. Most recently, the Foo Fighters released their latest full length album, "Your Favorite Toy", in 2026. The Foo Fighters are a juggernaut of a band. Arguably the biggest rock band that's out there today. Their first 7 albums were all certified platinum and while some say that guitar rock has lost some spark, don't tell that to the Foo Fighters who have been selling out stadiums for decades. Though they grew out of the grunge era, their sound is not quite as dark as those early 90's grunge stalwarts. The Foo Fighters have carved their own way en route to becoming one of the biggest bands ever! 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Pearl Jam

Audioslave

Stone Temple Pilots

Them Crooked Vultures

Queens Of The Stone Age

TEN FOO FIGHTERS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. All My Life

2. Everlong

3. The Pretender

4. Learn To Fly

5. Walk

6. Best Of You

7. Waiting On A War

8. Rescued

9. This Is A Call

10. Asking For A Friend

SONG OF THE WEEK: 8-23-2026

 

SONG:  "Working" (Cock Sparrer cover)

ARTIST:  Dropkick Murphys

ALBUM:  "The Singles Collection, Vol. 2"

YEAR:  2005

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Quincy, Massachusetts

YEARS ACTIVE:  1996 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The Dropkick Murphys track "Working" is a direct cover of a 1983 song by the legendary British Oi! punk band Cock Sparrer. The song's core meaning focuses on the desperation of working under-the-table (cash-in-hand) while simultaneously collecting government unemployment benefits to survive during economic hardship. It explores the survival tactics of the British working class under extreme financial strain, blending defiance with economic necessity.

DROPKICK MURPHYS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - Do Or Die (Hellcat Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - The Gang's All Here (Hellcat Records)

* Peaked at #184 on the Billboard 200

2000 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 1 (Hellcat Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (Hellcat Records)

* Peaked at #144 on the Billboard 200

2002 - Live On St. Patrick's Day (Hellcat Records)

* Peaked at #155 on the Billboard 200

2003 - Blackout (Hellcat Records)

* Peaked at #83 on the Billboard 200

2005 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 2 (Hellcat Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - The Warrior's Code (Hellcat Records)

* Peaked at #48 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2007 - The Meanest Of Times (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200

2010 - Live On Landsdowne, Boston, MA (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200

2011 - Going Out In Style (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200

2012 - Live At Fenway (Born & Bred Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Signed And Sealed In Blood (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200

2017 - 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200

2021 - Turn Up That Dial (Born & Bred Records)

* Peaked at #74 on the Billboard 200

2022 - This Machine Still Kills Fascists (Dummy Luck Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Okemah Rising (Dummy Luck Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2025 - For The People (Dummy Luck Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON DROPKICK MURPHYS:

Dropkick Murphys formed as a band back in 1996, hailing from Quincy, Massachusetts. Very early on, the band caught the ear of the guys in Rancid who signed the Dropkick's to their label Hellcat Records, which is a subsidiary of Epitaph Records. In fact, Rancid's Lars Frederiksen produced the debut album for the Dropkick's, 1998's "Do Or Die". Shortly after the release of that album, lead vocalist Mike McColgan left the band. Al Barr from the band The Bruisers came aboard to replace McColgan. Bassist Ken Casey also began to take on more lead vocals as well. The band's first album to feature Barr on vocals would be 1999's "The Gang's All Here". In 2001, the band released "Sing Loud, Sing Proud!". 2003 saw the Dropkick's release "Blackout" which featured two of the band's standout tracks, "Walk Away" and "The Dirty Glass". 2005's "The Warrior's Code" would be their only album to be certified Gold to date, thanks in part to their song "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" which was featured heavily in the movie "The Departed", widening the band's reach big time! In 2007, the band began releasing albums under their own label, Born & Bred Records. The first album on their own label would be "The Meanest Of Times". 2011's "Going Out In Style" would be the band's highest charting album, peaking at #6 on the Billboard 200. The band put out three more albums on Born & Bred which were 2013's "Signed And Sealed In Blood", 2017's "11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory" and 2021's "Turn Up That Dial". In 2022 and 2023, the Dropkick's released two albums, "This Machine Still Kills Fascists" and "Okemah Rising", which were centered around unused song lyrics by Woody Guthrie. These albums also marked the first time that Al Barr did not appear on an album since 1998's "Do Or Die" as he went on a hiatus from the band to care for his ailing mother who was suffering a form of dementia. In 2025, the band released "For The People". Al Barr did appear on one song on this album but he is still on a hiatus with the band. He also appeared at one of the band's annual St. Patrick's Day concerts in Boston in 2026 to perform four songs with the band. The Dropkick's most recent release was a split with the band Haywire in 2026 called "New England Forever". The Dropkick Murphys are an Irish punk/Celtic punk/street punk type band at it's core. The band is not shy about wearing it's politics on it's sleeve and they represent Boston to the fullest! I would argue there isn't any band out there that represents their city like the Dropkick Murphys do for Boston. Even though I'm a Boston guy myself, I was a little late to the party when getting into the Dropkick's. I'd say I really took notice on their 2003 album "Blackout". That's when I caught the Dropkick bug and started to check them out more fully. In my opinion, the five album span from 2003's "Blackout" to 2013's "Signed And Sealed In Blood" is my favorite era of the band, though all of their albums have been consistently good. It would be great to have Al Barr back in the band full time but family comes first understandably.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Real McKenzies

The Rumjacks

Street Dogs

The Bouncing Souls

Rancid

TEN DROPKICK MURPHYS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Warrior's Code

2. Barroom Hero

3. The Dirty Glass

4. Going Out In Style

5. The State Of Massachusetts

6. Mick Jones Nicked My Pudding

7. The Gauntlet

8. Rose Tattoo

9. Sirens

10. Two 6's Upside Down