‘Three chords, three countries, one revolution. Punk in Africa is the story of the multi-racial punk movement within the recent political and social upheavals experienced in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.’

Here’s ‘Everybody Loves Freedom’ by National Wake, who were a mixed racial band active in the ’70s when apartheid was taking its toll on our nation’s togetherness.
 
 
 
Tension: 25 Years of Underground – Tension – ‘Shock Treatment’

‘Tension: 25 Years Underground chronicles the band’s rise in popularity and how, even through several line-up changes, they stuck to their guns and refused to bow to the demands of record companies. The film leaves you wondering what would have happened to Tension if they had ‘sold out’ and made it big, and indeed the common notion of success itself. Marty Friedman (Megadeth) and Tommy Gattis cut their teeth in this band, and the film opens a time capsule to reveal vintage video footage and unbridled interviews on subjects like how the PMRC helped and hindered ’80s heavy metal music, and how ‘hair bands’ of the
time commercialized the public perception of the genre.’

Here’s ‘Shock Treatment’ from their 1986 LP Breaking Point.
 
 
 
Mission to Lars – Metallica – ‘One’

‘Lars Ulrich is a Heavy Metal God with his own jumbo jet. Tom Spicer lives in a care home in Devon and has fragile x syndrome. Tom has a dream, to meet his hero, to meet Lars. His siblings promise to make it happen, with hopes of good times and bonding. But what starts out a dream soon becomes a nightmare as Tom’s disabilities, a dysfunctional family, and heavy metal’s labyrinthine backstage world thwart the mission at every turn. But as they get closer to Lars, Tom the man starts to shine.’

Here’s the power ballad ‘One’ from the album …And Justice for All by the drummer’s leading heavy metal band Metallica.
 
 
 
EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN: Liebeslieder – Einstürzende Neubauten – ‘Die Interimsliebenden’

‘The undisputed originators of industrial music are the German audio scientists Einstürzende Neubauten, led by the magnetic Blixa Bargeld (who also played guitar for Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds).
This in-depth documentary by Klaus Maeck and Johanna Schenkel takes a focused look at this highly innovative group (formed in the early ‘80s), using more than mere musical instruments to create sounds, from power drills and jackhammers, to scrap metal and vocal contortions they pushed the boundaries of conventional music to another dimension. Includes interviews with all the members, and footage from across their career, with very rare early performances, as well as later shows. This is the definitive documentary on a group that still remains an unparalleled genre unto themselves. German with English subtitles.’

Here’s ‘Die Interimsliebenden’ off the industrial band’s 1993 album Tabula Rasa.
 
 
 
BARóN ROJO – Long Live Rock & Roll – Barón Rojo – ‘Tierra de Nadie’

‘Baron Rojo, the biggest Spanish rock group of all time, received an offer to reunite the original lineup 20 years after their traumatic separation. The four musicians return to the road to face old demons of the past…’

Here’s ‘Tierra de Nadie’, ‘No Man’s Land’ in English, off their 1987 album of the same name.
 
 
 
The Heart is a Drum Machine – John Frusciante – ‘Wayne’

‘What is music? Many of today’s top artists and scholars grapple with the question in this cinematic look at a uniquely human obsession. With musicians, composers, producers, engineers, scholars, scientists & record label owners, feat. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Matt Sorum (Guns ‘n Roses, Velvet Revolver), Juliette Lewis, Charlie Clouser (Nine Inch Nails), George Clinton (Funkadelic), Kurt Loder, Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad), Eddie Kramer, Bob Ludwig, Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), Bijou Phillips, Elijah Wood and many more.’

Here’s John Frusciante‘s recent single ‘Wayne’ recorded for his friend Wayne Forman.

Film descriptions taken from flamedrop.com.

Released on 21st of May 2012 on their new UK label, Cooking Vinyl, the album’s 10 tracks reveal the band at its rawest and most visceral, encapsulating cinematic visions and themes of love, revolt, and redemption. The track ‘Lucifer’ is available as a free download through the band’s website www.thecult.us, while details are being confirmed for a worldwide tour and will be announced soon.

Choice of Weapon is the follow up to the critically-acclaimed 2007 release Born Into This, which UK magazine, Mojo, called ‘a wholehearted, utopian and irrefutably exciting record.’ Long-time Cult collaborator and producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bush) – who produced one of The Cult’s most successful albums, the platinum-certified Sonic Temple, put the finishing touches on the foundations that were laid by co-producer Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E., Masters of Reality).

The album was written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy and recorded in New York City, Los Angeles; the California high desert and the band’s Witch Mountain studios in the Hollywood Hills, between July and December 2011. The new release features founding members Astbury on vocals and Duffy on guitars, with drummer John Tempesta and bassist Chris Wyse.

We have had the opportunity to work with two of the most influential and talented producers in the world today. They pushed us beyond our comfort zone, and helped us craft Choice of Weapon. (Astbury)

The album is aimed at the heart of The Cult’s loyal following. It reflects the current discontent and destruction of our eco systems, the search for individual meaning against a tide of rampant materialism, narcissism and disconnected lives.

We went deeper . . . we worked a bit harder on this record. We have great fans and they deserve our best, and I feel this is one of our best records, maybe the best. (Duffy)

 

The album is released as a special edition fan pack on May the 14th, followed by digital and double vinyl on May the 21st, with the CD and deluxe CD’s on June the 4th.

Choice of Weapon Track Listing:

01   ‘Honey from a Knife’

02   ‘Elemental Light’

03   ‘The Wolf’

04   ‘Life & Death’

05   ‘For The Animals’

06  ‘Amnesia’

07   ‘Wilderness Now’

08   ‘Lucifer’

09   ‘A Pale Horse’

10   ‘This Night In The City Forever’

Choice of Weapon – Bonus Tracks:

• ‘Every Man And Woman Is A Star’
• ‘Embers’
• ‘Until The Light Takes Us’
• ‘Siberia’

Source: 2 Feet Music, Sheer Sound & Musketeer Records, media.photobucket, YouTube.com