Applehead is a two-piece Melodic Heavy Metal band from California and the brainchild of guitarist-Greg Minier. Greg cut his teeth as a guitarist with the California based band 'The Crucified'. The Crucified had a solid run from 1985 to 1991 and to their legacy produced 3 demo recordings and 2 full-length albums. While working with 'The Crucified', Greg Minier began working on material for a solo project. In 1990 Greg released his solo album titled 'Minier' which continued musically in the veins of The Crucified's Crossover direction.
Then In 1991, while still playing for The Crucified, Greg Minier moved on and started a new solo project under the band name 'Applehead'. To realize his new project, Greg brought on a number of guest musicians. The full line-up was comprised of Greg Minier(lead vocals, lead/rhythm guitars, bass, drums, organ), Jamie Mitchell(lead guitars), Bob Moon(organ), Chris Morris(bass), and percussionist-Tim Worman on drums. That same year, Applehead darkened the studio doors to began work on material for a full-length recording. In 1992 Applehead released their debut full-length album simply titled ‘Meaning’ on Ocean Records. After the release of 'Meaning', Applehead began opening for The Crucified at their shows. With the publication of 'Meaning', Applehead is found in the heart of the Alternative music scene with the band playing 90's era Grunge. 'Meaning' was produced by Greg Minier and recorded at both Mama Jo's & Ocean Studios. The recording was mixed at Ocean Studios, except for "Crutch" which was mixed at Mama Jo's.
The track-list for 'Meaning' included 1.Revolutionary 2.Six Feet Under 3.Thoughts 4.Eyes Of A Foolish Man 5.Sot 6.Intermittent You 7.Radical Departure 8.Monkey On My Back 9.Crutch 10.Meaning 11.Revelation.
The track-list for 'Meaning' included 1.Revolutionary 2.Six Feet Under 3.Thoughts 4.Eyes Of A Foolish Man 5.Sot 6.Intermittent You 7.Radical Departure 8.Monkey On My Back 9.Crutch 10.Meaning 11.Revelation.
After 30 long years, Applehead's original 'Meaning' release was out of print and needed a good dusting off. In 2022 Roxx Productions came to the rescue and re-released Applehead's original 1991 'Meaning' album on Roxx Records as a Gold Disc Edition limited to 500 copies. 'Meaning' was originally issued on CD and Cassette formats only. However, Courtesy of Roxx Records, 'Meaning' has now been reissued & remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound on both CD and vinyl format for the first time ever. The album's cover art was given a fresh new look along with all new liner notes & lyrics courtesy of Scott Waters of NoLifeTilMetal Graphics. The album features the original 11-tracks along with 3 additional bonus tracks. These three tracks were originally recorded as part of what would have been a second Applehead release which never came to fruition during that time. However, fans of the band can now hear those unreleased tracks as an exclusive bonus to this Gold Disc Edition.
The track-list for this 2022 reissue of 'Meaning' includes 1.Revolutionary 2.Six Feet Under 3.Thoughts 4.Eyes Of A Foolish Man 5.Sot 6.Intermittent You 7.Radical Departure 8.Monkey On My Back 9.Crutch 10.Meaning
11.Revelation 12.Remnants Of Life(Previously Unreleased) 13.Why Me(Previously Unreleased) 14.Fall(Previously Unreleased).
The track-list for this 2022 reissue of 'Meaning' includes 1.Revolutionary 2.Six Feet Under 3.Thoughts 4.Eyes Of A Foolish Man 5.Sot 6.Intermittent You 7.Radical Departure 8.Monkey On My Back 9.Crutch 10.Meaning
11.Revelation 12.Remnants Of Life(Previously Unreleased) 13.Why Me(Previously Unreleased) 14.Fall(Previously Unreleased).
In 2023 Applehead released their follow-up studio album titled ‘The Light Side of the Apple’ on Roxx Records. Yes, Applehead has returned to the music scene after a 31-year hiatus. With their sophomore release, the band storms the stage with an all new larger-than-life Heavy Metal attitude. I have to admit that this listener wasn't a big Applehead fan back in the 90's with the band's Grunge style arrangements. However, that has now changed with the release of their latest recording. This album finds the band moving in a whole new direction. Gone is the Grunge sound of their debut album and they are now found playing Melodic Heavy Metal with a slight modern-day vibe. However, to say that Applehead just plays Melodic Metal on this 2023 release seems to be an injustice. There is much more going on in the band's arrangements. Also, there is a progressive vibe throughout that only a well-seasoned band could pull off. The band takes the listener on a slightly progressive musical journey without the lengthy buildups that most "Progressive focused" bands have.
Metal fans are going to love track-7 "A Harmonic Minor". This is one of many songs that stand out on this 2023 release. "A Harmonic Minor" is a hard hittin' Rocker that is a Metal theme-song not unlike Ultimatum's "Heart of Metal" or Rob Rock's "Metal Breed".
Greg sheds some light on track-2 "Down": "It’s about my season of drug abuse - specifically cocaine. I believe I was dying in my sleep one night. I gasped and awoke from a frightening “dream” of being pulled from my body by evil forces. It felt too real to be just a dream. Remember the movie “ghost” with Patrick Swayze? The dark forces were like the shadows that dragged off the mugger in that movie. Anyway, years later I was playing a ghetto men’s worship night with the worship team from my church. I sat at a table with this thug gang banger guy and he told me about how he overdosed and was brought back to life in the ambulance when they hit him with the defibrillator. Everything he described was exactly like my “dream”. So, the song is about my experience - drugs are fun at first, but they soon consume you. Luckily, I just kinda “stopped” doing all that after my wife and I got together…"
The track-list for ‘TLSOTA’ includes 1.Raze Hell 2.Down 3.Worthless Words 4.Pretty Creepy 5.And Then the Rain Comes Down 6.In Pouring Rain 7.A Harmonic Minor 8.The Destiny 9.The Destiny - Part 1 Redemption 10.The Destiny - Part 2 Resurrection 11.The Destiny - Part 3 Ultima Pguna.
One of the many highlights on this project is the guitar work by shredder-Greg Minier. Having played in bands of different genres has given Greg exposure to many guitar styles allowing him to draw from a deep bag of tricks. Yes, guitar enthusiasts are going to find a lot to get excited about here!
Bassist-Jaymi ‘Pinkbassman’ Millard(Slaughter) keeps the arrangements heavy with his terminator bass lines. I like that you can easily make out Jaymi's bass play from track to track. As a rarity, I found that there are a few tracks where I think he "forgot" that he was playing a bass and began playing Doomy bass lines similar to that of what a guitarist might play of said genre.
Lyrics tell biblical stories, Eschatological events, and more as one can see in the following excerpts:
"The Destiny"
39 Lashes
and thorns on His head
He carried his cross
to the place of the dead
Our sins on his back
He fell three times
Veronica wiped His face
As He would climb
Simon helped Him atop of Calvary
Soldiers crucified Him next to thieves
Six hours He hung and able to take more
committed His Spirit and opened the doors
It is finished!
"The Destiny (part 1)"
Ten plagues fallen the chosen were set free
Led them out of Egypt as he parted the Red Sea
Forty years no milk and honey wandered by sight and not by faith alone
Doubting what was promised them a generation was denied their home
Jericho Samson Daniel lion’s den
David and Goliath man couldn’t follow ten
And then He came the One to save God’s people
Mary’s boy the Son of Man
A carpenter’s son the King of Kings a baby to the throne
"The Destiny (part 2)"
The followers scared and confused in a dark upper room
Their Master has risen and removed Himself from the tomb
They will go and speak the truth with fiery tongues above their heads
This story of victory the news need to be spread
Glory be my Father to You the glory
Fulfilled the prophecy
"The Destiny (part 3)"
Jesus is back you better run for cover
Evildoer it’s the Harvest Revelation game
Up on His white horse broke all the seals
The Savior brings the pain yeah the pain pain pain
Alpha and Omega controls the hands of time
And your clock just ran out because the Lord is primed
The war in Heaven His home field advantage
This is judgement day so here comes the damage
The sun turned black the moon red like blood
The seven seals are open and the time’s come to judge
"In Pouring Rain"
Baptized, my flesh died leaving my old life
As I picked up God’s might sword and His reign began to pour
In pouring rain I fought the good fight
In pouring rain my faith it took flight
In pouring rain I bared it all no sin was too great or too small
Oh Lord what will remain in pouring rain
He cleansed me He set me free tell me what remains in pouring rain
"A Harmonic Minor"
A harmonic minor is a scale that I just learned
Check out the riffs man you know they really burn
Turn it up to eleven because you know that’s one louder
And feel the intensity of the metal power
My fingers are burnin’ yeah you know they’re on fire
Can’t hold me down I ain’t never gonna tire
Rock n’ roll high octane it’s got me risin’
To the top of the mountain fueled and I am flyin’
When it’s in your blood you can’t turn it down
39 Lashes
and thorns on His head
He carried his cross
to the place of the dead
Our sins on his back
He fell three times
Veronica wiped His face
As He would climb
Simon helped Him atop of Calvary
Soldiers crucified Him next to thieves
Six hours He hung and able to take more
committed His Spirit and opened the doors
It is finished!
"The Destiny (part 1)"
Ten plagues fallen the chosen were set free
Led them out of Egypt as he parted the Red Sea
Forty years no milk and honey wandered by sight and not by faith alone
Doubting what was promised them a generation was denied their home
Jericho Samson Daniel lion’s den
David and Goliath man couldn’t follow ten
And then He came the One to save God’s people
Mary’s boy the Son of Man
A carpenter’s son the King of Kings a baby to the throne
"The Destiny (part 2)"
The followers scared and confused in a dark upper room
Their Master has risen and removed Himself from the tomb
They will go and speak the truth with fiery tongues above their heads
This story of victory the news need to be spread
Glory be my Father to You the glory
Fulfilled the prophecy
"The Destiny (part 3)"
Jesus is back you better run for cover
Evildoer it’s the Harvest Revelation game
Up on His white horse broke all the seals
The Savior brings the pain yeah the pain pain pain
Alpha and Omega controls the hands of time
And your clock just ran out because the Lord is primed
The war in Heaven His home field advantage
This is judgement day so here comes the damage
The sun turned black the moon red like blood
The seven seals are open and the time’s come to judge
"In Pouring Rain"
Baptized, my flesh died leaving my old life
As I picked up God’s might sword and His reign began to pour
In pouring rain I fought the good fight
In pouring rain my faith it took flight
In pouring rain I bared it all no sin was too great or too small
Oh Lord what will remain in pouring rain
He cleansed me He set me free tell me what remains in pouring rain
"A Harmonic Minor"
A harmonic minor is a scale that I just learned
Check out the riffs man you know they really burn
Turn it up to eleven because you know that’s one louder
And feel the intensity of the metal power
My fingers are burnin’ yeah you know they’re on fire
Can’t hold me down I ain’t never gonna tire
Rock n’ roll high octane it’s got me risin’
To the top of the mountain fueled and I am flyin’
When it’s in your blood you can’t turn it down
With the release of ‘The Light Side of the Apple’, what we have here is a possible contender for Album of the Year! This 2023 release is a solid offering that doesn't dissapoint. Help support the band & Christian Metal music by Picking up your copy of 'The Light Side of the Apple' today! Also, don't forget to check out the interview I had with the band.
Applehead's new album is slated for full digital streaming and CD release on September 1, 2023.
Applehead's new album is slated for full digital streaming and CD release on September 1, 2023.
Musicians:
Greg Minier(The Crucified) - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Jaymi ‘Pinkbassman’ Millard(Mark Slaughter Band, Slaughter) - Bass
Greg Minier(The Crucified) - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Jaymi ‘Pinkbassman’ Millard(Mark Slaughter Band, Slaughter) - Bass