Who would have thought out of all the music out there, it would be that idiot Trumper Blackie Lawless who would catch my attention and help distract me from what increasingly feels like an oncoming global storm? In related news, W.A.S.P. were kind of amazing, huh? I know everyone gives love to the debut, but I’m really drawn to The Headless Children and The Crimson Idol. This week’s playlist has some of that, some newer metal that came in the post, and a bunch of stuff in between. Have at it below the jump.

• W.A.S.P. – “The Heretic (The Lost Child)”
• Auriferous Flame – “The Insurrectionists”
• Mdou Moctar – “Funeral For Justice (Injustice Version)”
• Blind Golem – “Devil In A Dream”

I was watching an unboxing video of the latest box set from W.A.S.P. and it made me go back to The Headless Children, the only album from the guys I owned as a kid. Their cover of The Who’s “The real Me” was everywhere at the time, but the whole album (as well as The Crimson Idol) shows some serious Townshend worship, so we’re opening with the opening track…I completely forgot I ordered the cassette of the latest album from Greek anti-facist black metal band Auriferous Flame; they didn’t, and a small package arrived in my mailbox the other day. Epic black metal that doesn’t sound like it’s recorded in a toilet…I talk about how much I love Mdou Moctar a lot here, and the arrival of their acoustic version of Funeral For Justice is enough cause to do it again. One of the most vital bands out there right now…

• Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso – “Il Ragno”
• Shinki Chen – “Requiem Of Confusion”
• Opeth – “The Lines In My Hand”
• Wilco – “Muzzle Of Bees”
• W.A.S.P. – “The Great Misconceptions of Me”

Who are Blind Golem? They’re an Italian band who worship Uriah Heep and started as the backing group for Ken Hensley. Their debut A Dream Of Fantasy is a great homage to one of my new favorite classic rock bands, and Hensley even guested on the album before shortly passing away…I know I’ve written about Italian prog legends Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso before, but on occasion of nabbing two more of their albums on vinyl I wanted to celebrate them some more there. “Il Ragno” is taken from their 1976 album Come in un’ultima cena with I’ll be reviewing soon…I just reviewed Eve featuring the blazing guitar of Shinki Chen, and now I’m sitting here looking at his solo album from the same year. More psychedelic classic rock solos? yes, please…

I also just re-evaluated Opeth’s divisive 2011 album Heritage on the occasion of their new vinyl re-issue and, surprise: I really like it now. So why not take a cut from the back-half of the album…Years ago I fell into the hype of Wilco and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and didn’t like it at all. I was in a different place then, and grew to love it, but only after finding and loving A Ghost Is Born. I just got both albums remastered on vinyl and will review soon, but wanted to throw something from them on here…Finally, we opened with the opening track from W.A.S.P.’s The Headless Children, and we close with the closing tracks from their 1992 album The Crimson Idol. Synergy, you know?

Be safe, be good to each other. See you next week.