Music Blog: Hammerfall - Hearts on Fire (Cover by Minniva)

Another bit of music I've used for writing. 

If you're new here, check out the books on the side and give them a once over. 

If you're not new here, you may wish to check out Coven, from my publisher, Silver Empire.

Music: Sabaton - Resist and Bite (Minniva cover)

While I'm away, a little mood music.

Music Blog: Minniva & Orion's Reign

I've used this one a few times while writing Saint Tommy. 

Enjoy.

Feel Free to pick up one of my books here.

Music to write to: Kamelot - Forever (Cover by Minniva)

Kamelot is a strange group. But they have a good sound. 

Minniva, who's ...somewhere in Europe (she sounds like a friend of mine who's Russian) does a great impression of the lead singer's style.

Enjoy.  And while you're here, check out some of the books on the right margin.

You can check out any and all of my latest books here. 

If you like, you can sign up for my mailing list here. 

Music to write to: Powerwolf, Incense & Iron

As I've been writing Saint Tommy, NYPD (kickstarter link here, and series link here**) I've tripped over a few bands.

One of them I tripped over a cover version of Army of the Night. It was covered by Amaranthe, who I had been following for a while now.

So I looked up the rest of Powerwolf.

They're my kind of smartass.

Please remember to contribute to the St Tommy NYPD Kickstarter. It has some good prices on the books. And Christmas is coming up. 

**Amazon CYA: I cut a very small cut from all Amazon links on this blog. Please feel free to click on one of them before buying bulk items for Christmas. :)

Music blog: Sabaton - To Hell and Back (Cover by Minniva)

Like the rest of Sabaton's songs, this is about a historical figure in the military.

In this case, that figure is Audie Murphy, who not only won medals for his fighting at Anzio, but they made it into a movie .... starring Audie Murphy.

The film was called To Hell and Back.

Sabaton is heap big subtle.

While you're here, please remember that the kickstarter for the audio book of Hell Spawn is up and running. If you're an audio book person, we've got a great price.

Music to write to: Fields of Verdun

This has got to be the most upbeat song about one of the most desolate battles in history. Seriously guys, Cannae was over within a day. And that was pure suck.

Of course, the most reasonable follow up to this is the cover by Minniva, who makes bad songs sound awesome, and good songs around awesome.

And next is where things get bat guano insane. 

In honor of Storming Area 51, here's a parody of Fields of Verdun, based exclusively on memes. And no, not even I understand all of the references

And speaking of Storming Area 51, the anthology of the same name comes out today. So be sure to pick up a copy.

Music Post: Delain - Suckerpunch

This is a cute one by Minniva. The original is .. okay. But I like Minniva's renditions of most things.

So, while I'm out and about in Atlanta for DragonCon this week, have some music.

Music Blog: Sonata Arctica - Fullmoon

This was a fun one. I don't know the group outside of the cover song. Or the song.

But then again, it's a song about werewolves.

It's one of the songs I used while writing the Saint Tommy series.

Read the results here.

Blind and Frozen - Beast in Black (Cover by Minniva/Quentin Cornet/Mike ...

Apparently, this is NOT an 80s band cover.

Much to my shock.

Playlist For City of Shadows

Okay, I'm now just going to get a little lazy as far as my playlist post, because, good Lord, I have a lot of music written down.

I think I should have just made it a blog post listing all of the music

Chapter 6

Amaranthe

• 365
• Inferno
• Countdown
• Helix
• My Haven
• Maximize
• Trinity

Chapter 19

Sabaton

• Winged Hussars
• The Last Battle
• Rourke’s Drift

Chapter 22

Covers by Minniva on YouTube.

• Hearts on Fire,
• To Hell and Back

Chapter 23

From the Doctor Strange soundtrack

• End Credits
• Strange Suite

Thor Suite (from Thor The Dark world)

You can pick up the entire Saint Tommy series to date right here.

And you can check out the latest Dragon Award discussion right here.

City of Shadows Playlist, Chapter 3: Sturm und Drang

Yeah, there's a lot of music for this book. This time it's all from the same piece: Within Temptation's Black Symphony.

First, the "Ouverture" -- yes, it's spelled that way.

And of course, the best part of the entire album -- The Howling.

It's something to read City of Shadows to.  Enjoy.

And if you haven't yet, please kick in a few suggestions to the Dragon Awards discussion.

City of Shadows Playlist, Chapter 2

Only two different ones this time as I went through Chapter 2. I don't know if it was a matter of I played these on a loop, or if these were the only two songs that I remembered.

Both of these are covers by Minniva. I don't know her last name offhand. In a lot of cases, I like her versions better than the original ... if only because they move, and because I can understand them.

Anyway, this is one.

And then Hammerfall's Last Man Standing

In either case, if you haven't gotten a copy of City of Shadows yet, here's the link.

Oh, and if you haven't seen, I have May's Dragon Award discussion up already.

Enjoy one or the other. :)

City of Shadows, Chapter 1 Playlist

When writing City of Shadows, it was the first time I had ever noticed that the music was integral to the plot. Strangely enough. It's one of the few times I had marked the music as I wrote.

And this time, it's all Sabaton.

Chapter 1: Missionary Position

Do I have to mention that the first scene takes place in Rome?

This one, strangely enough, was almost more of a Ghost story. Don't even ask me why I thought it worked. It just did.

I was writing a short story for Daniel Humphreys for his Place called Hope series. Elements of that found me using this song a lot.

And so I ended up using it for this. Let's say there was spillage.

I, too, was a fan of the movie 300.

Obviously, so was Sabaton.

Considering the title, I'm surprised I didn't use this song more during my vampire series.

Anyway, you can get City of Shadows here.

While you're listening to the music,  please join the discussion about the Dragon Awards. I've got the latest post updated and ready to go, and I seriously want to hear from you and your thoughts on what you enjoyed.

Within Temptation - In Vain (Official Lyric Video)

Within Temptation has a new album out.

I can use anything to write scenes where stuff blows up.

And please remember that the Dragon Awards are kicking around. If you want to vote RIGHT THIS MINUTE, click here.

My discussion starts in Wednesday's blog. Enjoy

Helloween - I Want Out �� (Cover by Minniva feat. Mr Jumbo)

One of the nice things about YouTube cover artists is that they expose guys like me to other bands. I tripped over Minniva on YouTube because she covered a lot of Within Temptation and Nightwish. Through her, I've run into a LOT of Sabaton.

Never heard of this group. But I'll be looking it up eventually.

Granted, I expect this to be a Libertarian anthem soon enough... okay, the basic "leave me the hell alone" Libertarians.

While you try playing through this, just do me a favor and glance over these books, see how you like them.

Ciao.

Hell Spawn  Death Cult

 Infernal Affairs 

Delain - April Rain (Minniva Cover)

I think I'm going to go back to my Saturday music blog post.  I would keep up the full films posted on YouTube, but so many of those get yanked, it's not worth it. Maybe again sometime.

The artist I've picked for the next few months is Minniva. I believe she's Russian, based off of her speaking accent. She's made a lot of songs sound awesome, even when I don't like the original singer.

This is a case in point. I'm not actually a fan of Delain in most cases. Very rarely does the lead singer work for me -- the previous post is one of those times. Minniva makes almost anything easier on the ears.

Anyway, a bit of music for your listening pleasure.

While you listen to her fairly pleasant voice, I'm going to suggest that you check out some of the following books.

Enjoy.

Hell Spawn  Death Cult

 Infernal Affairs 

Music blog: Masters Of Destiny

I tripped over this one recently. It was fun.

And while you're here, can I tempt you with some sweet, sweet merch?

Hell Spawn  Death Cult

 Infernal Affairs 

Infernal Affairs Playlist

For the final battle of Infernal Affairs, I needed something epic.

I found this one going through Spotify one day and it fit.

Army of the Night, a cover of PowerWolf's song, only done by Amaranthe

Infernal Affairs can be purchased right here.

Music Blog: ATTACK ON TITAN - Full English Opening 1

I was originally going to give this SOB the time of day months ago on the blog. I had even scheduled a music blog a week.

Then, as is the habit of the Californian soyboy, the little bitch decided to block me on Twitter because we had a conversation on guns and I kept trumping him with, oh, facts. And he started the conversation by saying that since I supported the second amendment, I was responsible for any shooting.

So you won't see him on this blog that often. Though I used to listen to his stuff on a loop for 8 hours a day. I got Spotify because I wanted to make sure creators like him got money they wouldn't get from YouTube. Then he personally insulted me, and now it's amazing how many flaws I catch in his singing.

However, the song for Attack on Titan is so awesome, I'll grant him this one appearance. Though expect a lot more Minniva coming in soon enough.

Hell Spawn  Death Cult