YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO: Cortland/Carbondale heavy metal band The Rods
City: Cortland, New York; Carbondale
Genre(s): Heavy metal, rock, hard rock
Years active: 1980-present
Sounds like: When most people remember ’80s rock bands, they think of big hair and cheesy power ballads, forgetting that many great heavy metal bands produced some badass music throughout that decade as well. The Rods are one such band, a power trio that toured with some legendary acts while still retaining their underground cred.
With soaring vocal harmonies, fist-pumping sing-alongs, kick-ass metal shredding, and heart-pounding drums, their ’80s tunes still hold up if you love classic metal, and after reuniting in the 21st century, their music took on a slightly harder edge that retains their old school feel with horn-throwing, headbanging hooks. Let them eat metal!
For fans of: Dio, Elf, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, Guns N’ Roses, and KISS
Number of albums/EPs released: 10 (nine full-length albums and one EP, along with several solo albums by members of the band)
Latest album/EP: “Vengeance,” released March 29, 2011 (Drummer Carl Canedy is also releasing a new album, “Resurgence,” with his other band, St. James, at the end of the year.)
Fun facts: Guitarist/vocalist David Feinstein is Ronnie James Dio’s cousin and played with him in Elf. Canedy, who lives locally in Carbondale, produced classic albums for Megadeth, Anthrax, Exciter, and Overkill.
Online: Facebook, ReverbNation, YouTube, and therods.com
Upcoming shows:
Sept. 17: Electric City Music Conference at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill (120 Lincoln St, Olyphant) with Skin-n-Bones, The Molly Pitcher Path, Polly Anna, Strawberry Jam, Better Than Band, and The Chatter, 6 p.m.
Read more about the band in their Electric City Music Conference announcement here.
