Album Review: Butch Walker Reflects On Life, Death With "Peachtree Battle"

Butch Walker's 10+ year solo career has seen him release albums like clockwork every couple of years.  So, naturally, he was due to treat his fans to yet another addition to his body of work in this second half of 2013.

However, the timing of his latest release, Peachtree Battle, was based more on some monumental life events for the singer-songwriter than any record company's schedule.

In interviews he did prior to the release of the album, Walker indicated that this album was pushed along to be completed before the death of his father, who passed away August 21.  The result is a collection of five songs that are, dare I say, true music-as-an-art. 

Album Review: Avenged Sevenfold Takes Old-School Metal Risk With Hail To The King

On the day that Avenged Sevenfold released their long-awaited new album, Hail to the King, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale tweeted that there hasn't "been a metal record like [Hail to the King] in years."

We assumed she was referring to the quality of the songs on the album.  But, after giving Hail to the King several listens, we think she could have easily been referring to the style of the music or even the actual melodies, notes and chords of the songs themselves. 

What do we mean by that? 

Pittsburgh’s Leeja Stark Discusses Going From Underground To Viral With New Video In Her First Interview Ever

Photo Credit:  Alyssa Battin

With 100 hours of video being uploaded to YouTube every minute, the dream of an independent artist making a viral music video is getting more and more elusive.  Even getting 1,000 views can be a challenge.  Yet, every now and then, an artist breaks through the clutter and gets snowballing attention.  One such artist is Pittsburgh-based Leeja Stark.

Her video for “Symptoms of Insanity” was approaching 200,000 views just three days after release.  Beyond the hit count, however, you will find a musician and songwriter with true substance.  Sometimes, when a passionate artist is about to break, one can feel it and Helping Hands Rock Reviews is feeling it with Leeja Stark.  We were fortunate enough to have the chance to sit down with this newcomer to the female-fronted metal world for her first interview ever.  In the interview, we learned more about the making and promotion of the video, her forthcoming EP, and what else is on the horizon for this exciting, up-and-coming artist.