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FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN
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A brand new recording from the upcoming HD Documentary DVD "THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED" scheduled for release in early 2012.
melodic hard rock classic rock mainstream original rock political rock arena rock the road less traveled songs with a message avalanche hard rock band michael foster will there be tomorrow
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HARD ROCK BAND THAT BLENDS HEAVY BRITISH AND SOUTHERN ROCK styleS. TOUR DATES INCLUDE GIGS WITH AC/DC, DERRINGER, PAT TRAVERS BAND...AND WERE CONSIDERED AS
AVALANCHE is defined by Webster's as: "an unstoppable natural force"...and this all-original rock band certainly seems to fit that definition...overcoming the odds to produce some of the very best original hard rock anywhere! With an unorthodox strategy for success in 1978 (which included 18 months of intense rehearsals, their own record label, $75,000.00 worth of state-of-the-art stage gear, and a record on over a dozen New England radio stations for three months...all before ever playing a live gig) AVALANCHE's debut show was attended by over 3500 people..and the band was immediately playing to sold-out shows and standing room only crowds wherever they appeared. Within a month after their first gig, AVALANCHE was headlining in large club venues, and shortly after that, the band was opening tour dates and sharing concert stages on AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" tour, as well as with DERRINGER, and THE PAT TRAVERS BAND. They were also considered as a tour opener for TOTO's First U.S. Tour. A tight and well rehearsed rock-n-roll machine...this band did whatever was necessary to bring studio-quality hard rock to the live-concert stage...and they did it without the support of a major record label. Now recording again, with all the surviving members of the original lineup...here is the first new AVALANCHE music in over twenty years...as well as some of their old music too, (most of the recordings have never been available before). AVALANCHE continues to defy the odds with their staying power and persistence...and by remaining "unstoppable"...they are here NOW....for you to sample and enjoy! Click here for official Avalanche band website GOLDEN SUN RECORDS
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Rock General
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Peak #1
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Author
Words and Music by: Michael Foster
Rights
Copyright 2011 by CRYSTAL MAGIC MUSIC PUBLISHING
Uploaded
February 04, 2012
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MP3
MP3 18.6 MB • 320 kbps • 8:07
Story behind the song
FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN Copyright 2011 by: CRYSTAL MAGIC MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP) MUSIC and LYRICS by: Michael Foster PRODUCED BY: Michael Foster and David Pendragon MUSIC ARRANGED by: Michael Foster Recorded in July, 2010 at ROUGH CUT STUDIO, Eastford, Conn. ENGINEERED BY: Mark Easton Mixed in July 2011 at ROUGH CUT STUDIO, Eastford, Conn. and at ABERRANT SOUND STUDIO, Boston, Mass. by: Michael Foster, David Pendragon, and Brian Sargent. Mastered at THE STUDIO, Canberra, Australia in January 2012 by: David Pendragon. MARK EASTON: Electric Guitar (Pan right), Echo Guitar Solos, Lead Guitar (Wire choir) Background and Harmony Vocals. BARRY EASTON: Drums and Percussion. MICHAEL CORSINI: Bass MICHAEL FOSTER: Electric Guitar (Pan left), Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar (Wire Choir), Lead Vocal. STEPHANIE KROWKA: Background and Harmony Vocals. This song ended up being written almost by accident....it happened during our 2010 Recording Sessions at ROUGH CUT STUDIO. We were actually working on a different song entirely...and after taking a short break from the work we were doing on that song, I just started to play this chord pattern, in between takes...and Mark Easton picked up on it and added some guitar leads that seemed to fit very nicely. David Pendragon, who was there filming a documentary about AVALANCHE's recording process immediately thought we had stumbled onto something quite special...and so the band shifted gears...and we spent the next three weeks working on this song. I want to thank David for his contribution to this song (especially on the drum parts and drum mix)...and to Brian Sargent from Aberrant Sound Studio who did just an outstanding job working with us on this track. For me...the most difficult part was writing the lyrics....which usually come pretty easily for me. This song was different...as I tried to write this song from the perspective of the reluctant soldiers who often find themselves in situations they did not ask for or create...and I also wanted to write from the perspective of the inevitable victims of wars, the mothers who lose their children in these often senseless conflicts (regardless of which "side" they are on). I also struggled a bit to find the apppropriate guitar solo for the wire choir section at about 5:00 into the song. The solution actually came to me in a dream during the two weeks when we were finalizing the arrangement. What I "heard" in my dream was the melody for "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" which is actually one of the first anti-war protest songs ever written (as far as I know). The three harmony guitar parts are actually a variation on that melody, although nobody seems to have picked up on that fact...so I thought I'd give you all something to listen for, during that section. I think it works very well...and nothing could be more appropriate...IMHO. Hopefully, the message we are trying to send rings out loud and clear: PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE ESSENTIALLY, ALL THE SAME. Lines drawn on maps to create separation, or cultural differences that are magnified into distortions are in reality, nothing but superficial differences or illusions...designed to keep us at odds with each other. Because when those superficial differences are stripped away...in the end, we are left with this basic truth: No matter who we are or where we live, we all want the exact same things out of life: love, family, home, health, and a decent quality of life that allows us all to feel good about being alive and also allow us to feel good about our futures. There are those who feel the need to possess all this world has to offer at the expense of everyone else...and who use their vast wealth and power to simply acquire more, just for greed's sake. In doing so, they often rob many people all over the world of these simple basic needs. This imbalance simply has to change, if we are ever to break the endless cycle of violence and desperation we find oursel
Lyrics
FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN Copyright 2011 by: CRYSTAL MAGIC MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP) VERSE #1 A scared and tired boy of 20.... Blinded by a desert sun... Dug into a hole in a "No Man's Land"... Is feeling trapped, as he holds his gun... He starts to dream about his girlfiend... She's back at home...and she's having fun... While he searches the horizon.... For anything....and for anyone. Because his orders were explicit: "You hold your ground and you do not run"... "Find anything that moves...kill anything you see... 'Cause that's your job and it's never done." VOCAL BRIDGE #1 So who is wrong...and who is right? Are we taught to believe that we need to fight? (1) Are we wrapped in the flag...are we sacrificed? (2) Are we wrapped in the flag...while we're sacrificed? Tell me, who is the winner? Is it worth the price? CHORUS * And the price of war goes up.... It's all about that "bottom line".... 'Cause the value of a human life... Takes a back seat every time. And before a war is finished...it seems another has begun... (1) And peace has never happened...from the barrel of a gun. (*3) 'Cause peace can never happen...from the barrel of a gun VERSE #2 While back at home...all the politicians Wage a different war on TV screens... With a steady stream of "armchair generals"... Debating sound-bytes, threats, and schemes... Moving armies around their chessboard... To fight the foes that no one's seen... As the "false-flag" operations feed their propaganda dreams... And the heavy price of an endless war... Has us bursting at the seams... As a mother's scream in Bagdhad...answers one in New Orleans. REPEAT VOCAL BRIDGE (2) CHORUS #2 And the cycle never really ends... If this old world can never heal... And the "House of Cards" is shaking.... From all the greed...and all the back-room deals... And when I look around me now...I can see a setting sun... 'Cause peace has never happened... From the barrel of a gun. (From the barrel of a gun) 3-PART HARMONY GUITAR SOLO (WIRE CHOIR) REPEAT CHORUS (*) OUTRO No....not from the barrel of a gun... (Spoken) No justice.....no peace... MUSIC FADES INTO THE DISTANCE (Like marching troops).... END
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Michael Bennett
Jan 14, 2012
Not enough stars to give for this song. NICE!!!
Roger John
Oct 31, 2011
Production is stellar. Great stuff. Im with you on this one. WHy they went to a private army in the US didnt they.... and why they lose now. Never was one in the 1st world war or the 2nd. Never was one in the Civil war. Never was one in the revolutionary one. THose were real causes Now they march to to the other drummer. WHy ROme lost too. History being repeated. Hopefully peace will reign.
Steve Gilmore and In No Sense
Oct 21, 2011
Loved the lyrics on this, the music was as fine as ever but the political point is my highspot. Very timely track.
Richard Bethell
Sep 28, 2011
What sparkling clean production, sparkly press rolls on the snares, and great guitars. Sounds like a million bucks!
The Smivets
Sep 23, 2011
Outstanding. The point behing the lyric is right on the money and I've rarely heard it put so well or so intelligently in a song. And it's a great tune too - especially love the dual guitar work. Loved it!