The above video is CKY in 2003, playing Shock and Terror from their second full release, ‘Infiltrate.Destroy.Rebuild’. I was at this show and can vividly recall with great detail this show and the one preceeding it on Halloween (Hellview 1). This was one of the greatest weekends of my life. I met a ton of cool people at this show, most of whom I am still in regular contact with today and pretty tight. People flew in from all over the world to attend Hellview, some even as far as coming from the UK. That’s a huge statement about this bands impact. Most people won’t even cross county lines to see a band they like.
There I was, amongst friends, dead center, front row. Rocking out, drenched in sweat and beer, getting hit by crowdsurfers every other song. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. These experiences are ones that cannot be duplicated, ever. If you weren’t there, no amount of words or description could ever paint the picture. The energy you feel, coming off the stage, off the band, out of the speakers, between each other, in the mosh pits and the balcony is just unreal. CKY brings it each and every night. Headbanging, screaming along every lyric, making eye contact and sharing and intense moment- living the moment. It cannot be beat.
That’s why I couldn’t be more excited than I am right now. CKY is about to release ‘Carver City’, their fourth full length studio album. Hellions on Parade was recently put up for free as a digital download, and anyone who didn’t have hearing like Ray Charles was blown away by it. Deron Miller’s writing style combined with Chad Ginsburg’s studio prowess, guitar shredding and keyboard layering set the stage for Jess Margera’s Bonham’ish approach to laying down the drums results in a killer nonstop sonic roller coaster from start to finish. Matt Deis adds in thunderous basslines, bringing it all together.
Those disappointed with the last album will find solace in the fact that Hellions on Parade is a return to form of the hard hitting rock effort of Infiltrate.Destroy.Rebuild. The fanbase is all abuzz about this track, giving positive feedback and clamoring for more. Luckily enough, Roadrunner accidentally leaked CKY’s next single A#1 Roller Rager in an email blast. They meant to include Hellions on Parade, but due to a technical screw up, A#1 Roller Rager was downloaded by a few hundred people (and quickly spread around the internet to a few thousand). The reception was even more positive than the first, the level of excitement through all the fans is as high as it was back in 2002 for the release of Infiltrate.Destroy.Rebuild. You can’t help but catch CKY fever from it.
Some are calling Hellions on Parade and A#1 Roller Rager even better than ultimate CKY classics like Escape from Hellview and Disengage the Simulator. I’d almost agree with them, its too close to call for me.
I’ve seen these guys over 25 times now, they just get better and better. Some of the best group of guys you could ever meet. I love these videos. It’s a way I can look back and say whoa, I was here, we had a great time and treated to some great rock and roll. I carry this band in my heart and wear it on my sleeve, its had more of an impact on my life than most people could understand. What and who I am today is a direct result of the experiences and people I’ve met, the band too, over the years. Chad and Deron provide such killer tunes and even better advice and perspective on life.
Hellions on Parade is available on iTunes April 21st 2009, and A#1 Roller Rager will be available May 4th, 2009. The full album Carver City will go on sale May 19th.
CKY Hellions On Parade Lyrics
Your fear becomes a prodigy
For a makeshift operation
Devouring until the system’s slain
The rage imposed, it overflows
Pensive reason slows
And at dawn, it’s on to kill the light of day
You taunt the fraying fabric of a brain that twists a little more
You’ll find demise as hatred has its way
Panic thrives, our numbers rise
Don’t open your eyes
The rally’s closing forcing you at bay
You don’t want to see this
If you did, you’d surely disbelieve it
Establishing your plan again
You think to seal our doom
There’s no room in our agenda for defeat
Defense defies you, lame, tame, and humane
And 96 will stop you easily
You don’t want to see this
If you did you’d surely disbelieve it
Locked in and surrounded
Every heart is pounding
Hellions on parade
Bodies fall by hand and blade
We relish your foundations burning
Destruction on display
Hellions on parade
Swiftness preys on all delay
Join in this brigade
Be afraid the hellions on parade
You don’t want to see this
If you did you’d surely disbelieve it
A city placed on red alert
Collapses to the dirt
Along with faith and pompous dignity
Conformists crumble to their knees
Stripped of their abilities
Abundant screams of begging feeble pleas
You don’t want to see this
If you did you’d surely disbelieve it
Locked in and surrounded
Existences impounded
Hellions on parade
Bodies fall by hand and blade
We relish your foundations burning
Destruction on display
Hellions on parade
Swiftness preys on all delay
Join in this brigade
Be afraid the hellions on parade
