Archive for January, 2010

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WANNA SEE MY MOTORHEAD BOOK? IT’S REAL COOL…

Posted in 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's hard rock, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1981 heavy metal music, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's metal bands, 1990's hard rock bands, 1990's heavy metal music, book reviews, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock music, collecting rock music, current heavy metal bands, family, feel good stories, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal book reviews, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, life, life stories, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music books with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

The year was 1987 and I was yes, a Motorhead fan. (I still am a Motorhead fan, of course). As Christmas approached in 1987, my late mother had asked me what I would want for (potential) gifts. Well, most certainly they were Heavy Metal related gifts… vinyl albums, CD’s, posters and one very special book in particular. I was raised where you never received every gift on your list… so the bigger the list did not mean the more the gifts. So, with that thought in mind, I really crossed my fingers and hoped that this really cool book would be checked off of the request list that I gave to my mother. That really cool book was titled… MOTORHEAD. Oh yeah, Motorhead. Just the cover alone had me grinning from ear to ear, with Lemmy Kilmister, Philthy Animal Taylor and Fast Eddie Clarke in all of their Rock n’ Roll and goofy splendor. (See the really cool front cover pic of this book below, to see what I mean by that statement). To make a long Metal story short… my mother did buy me that Motorhead book for Christmas after all! I will never forget the smile on her face, as she saw the excitement in mine, upon my first opening that book up on Christmas day in ’87. The sentimental link this book has to my late mother, plus it being a book that’s just about Motorhead… well, it’s priceless to me, both the memory and this book combined.

This dandy Motorhead book was published by Babylon Books in 1981. (Whoa, I used the word… dandy, on Metal Odyssey). One odd thing about this book is that the pages are not numbered. I did count the pages myself, it was pretty easy to do too, yup, there are 64 pages total, (not counting the front and back covers). Throughout this Motorhead book, there are dozens of vintage black & white photos of Lemmy, Eddie and Phil, as well as oddball photos ranging from groupies to fanzine photos and illustrations. The Metal note to remember here is that this book documents Motorhead up until 1981, it is so easy to thumb through these pages expecting to see Brian Robertson, Wurzel, Phil Campbell or Mikkey Dee. This is as vintage as it gets with Motorhead history!

From Lemmy Kilmister’s very beginnings in Rock Music with The Sam Gopal Dream and later Hawkwind, this book lends itself to being a Motorhead 101 mini text book. A well documented history on just how Motorhead came together, through anecdotes and personal accounts makes for a fun and Metal educational read every time. A historical timeline of radio interviews and television appearances up to 1981 are also documented. What would this book be without a Motorhead discography? Albums, singles and bootlegs are covered! Biographies of Lemmy, Eddie and Phil are also included. Want to know the complete 1981 United States tour schedule that Motorhead had? The 1981 tour schedule is nailed down too! I could probably, with incredible Metal ease, blab away for paragraphs on end about the details found in this Motorhead book… unfortunately, I just can’t do that. Take my Metal word for it though… if you are a fan of Motorhead or of any Rock genre at all, this book is worth seeking and owning, both for it’s Rock History and nostalgia.

MOTORHEAD – Front Cover

Please excuse the quality of the photos here, sometimes Metal is Old School and these photos exemplify that. Actually, the ambiance that these photos represent, is just how this Motorhead book feels to hold and read. As a quick closing to the earlier story, about my receiving this great Motorhead book as a Christmas gift from my late mother back in ’87: Whenever my buddies, relatives or just about anyone that would come over to our house back in the late ’80’s, they would usually be confronted by my asking them… wanna see my Motorhead book? It’s real cool…

MOTORHEAD – Back Cover

I truly thank my unreal, great mom for this fabulous Motorhead book. It has served me right.

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SLAYER – 1991 “DECADE OF AGGRESSION”, MY DOUBLE CD IS THE METAL SLIPCASE VERSION!

Posted in Album Review, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal history, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal music reviews with tags , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Slayer. Just the name alone makes it known that this is serious, real serious… Metal. Slayer’s songs have and always will resonate the pissed off, evil and vendetta seeking side of the human spirit, the lyrics of their songs do not lie about that. The years pass by and Slayer is still the reigning dark side – Thrash Metal champions of the world, (in my Metal opinion). As a matter of Metal fact, I don’t recall a single moment in my Metal appreciating life, when Slayer has not been considered by me to be the baddest mother fu**ers to ever play Metal. Now, onward with the 1991 Slayer Thrash Metal, live slatanic classic… Decade Of Aggression:

Decade Of Aggression is a double CD, (double cassette or vinyl album too, if you want to get picky). The original release date for Decade Of Aggression was October 22, 1991, on Def American Recordings. Back around 1992, I was fortunate enough to discover this double CD in a very thick, black metal slipcase. (No kidding, it is real metal!). This metal slipcase encases both CD’s and the 24 page liner notes booklet. Man, is this metal slipcase heavy stuff… I have not actually weighed it, still, it feels like I am holding at least 5 or 6 pounds of metal! Sometime back in ’92, I saw this unique Slayer Decade Of Aggression package, behind the front counter at a Record Town store… in very expensive Connecticut. My eyes never lost sight of this Slayer prize that day, I made a Metal beeline to the cashier and stated I was buying this Slayer gem. I cannot recall for certain, the actual price I paid for this metal packaged version of Decade Of Aggression… it was in the neighborhood of around $50 U.S. and worth every cent. This limited edition package of Slayer Decade Of Aggression had a run of only 10,000 copies. My copy of Decade Of Aggression came with a certificate of authenticity, gold foil embossed, stating it is numbered: 005815 of 10,000.

* Note: Skeletons Of Society and At Dawn They Sleep are two songs found only on this metal slipcase version of Decade Of Aggression.

In the center front of this metal slipcase, is this classic Slayer logo – metal etched on a center block:

(This Slayer logo looks entirely silver on the front metal casing, due to it being metal etched.)

Here is what this incredible metal slipcase package of Decade Of Aggression, that I own, looks like:

The metal slipcase is unreal great stuff… whoever thought of marketing this back then is a Metal genius. The interior CD slipcases are of a heavy black paper stock. Note that the front cover of the liner notes depicts the original Decade Of Aggression album cover. I have seen the import version, some online merchants have it available for purchase today, it has the original album cover. (I own the original double cassette too, I have kept it in Metal mint condition all of these years. Here is another view of what the original album/cassette/CD cover looks like for Decade Of Aggression:

Now here is what the front album/CD cover of Decade Of Aggression looks like now, if you were to go to a retail record store today and buy it:

Now, as for the live Thrash Metal of Slayer heard within Decade Of Aggression… it’s F’n Slayer man. There is nothing more to break down other than it’s fast, brutal, aggressive and… live Slayer greatness. You’ll be blown away by Dave Lombardo and his double bass drumming assault, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman dueling with leads and riffs that will sting your face like freezer burn and Tom Araya combining both the bass guitar and vocals into a frenzied slatanic blitz. Slayer is one of the very few bands I cannot get fancy about, when it comes to doing a review… what you should know is that Slayer sounds Thrash prolific on Decade Of Aggression. You will hear a band that executes and succeeds at maintaining the highest level of Thrash Metal energy, throughout this entire double CD of songs. These following two lines are actually printed, on the back cover of the liner notes:

Unlike most other live recordings, this is Slayer completely “live”. No overdubbing exists on this recording.

The Complete Track Listing For Decade Of Aggression:

Disc One

(Recorded live at Lakeland Coliseum, Lakeland, Florida, 7/13/91):

Hell Awaits

The Antichrist

War Ensemble

South Of Heaven

Raining Blood

Altar Of Sacrifice

Jesus Saves

Dead Skin Mask

Seasons In The Abyss

Mandatory Suicide

Angel Of Death

Disc Two

(Recorded Live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 10/14/90):

Hallowed Point

Blood Red

(Recorded live at Orange Pavillion, San Bernadino, California, 3/8/91):

Die By The Sword

Black Magic

Captor Of Sin

Born Of Fire

Skeletons Of Society *(only on this metal slipcase version)

(Recorded live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 10/14/90):

At Dawn They Sleep *(only on this metal slipcase version)

Postmortem

(Recorded live at Orange Pavillion, San Bernadino, California, 3/8/91):

Spirit In Black

Expendable Youth

Chemical Warfare

____________________________________________

Stone - Motorhead Tee pic:small

LONG LIVE SLAYER.

Stone.

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HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY TO AYNSLEY DUNBAR!

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's rock bands, 1970's rock music, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, cool album covers, hard rock drummers, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal birthdays, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll birthdays, rock drummers, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Metal Odyssey wants to give out a LOUD Happy Metal Birthday to legendary Rock drummer – Aynsley Dunbar! Aynsley Dunbar turns a solid and cool 64 years of age on January 10th, (born January 10, 1946). Aynsley Dunbar’s association to Heavy Metal is with Whitesnake, UFO and Sammy Hagar, (to name a few), being the drummer on one or some of their respective albums. Being the drummer for Frank Zappa in the early 1970’s is a music milestone in itself. Aynsley was also a member of Journey, being the drummer for their first four studio albums, released from 1975 to 1978. Let’s be real however, Aynsley Dunbar is a fabulous Rock drummer… period. Regardless of Rock genres Aynsley Dunbar has played, at the end of the Metal day it’s all about talent and musical integrity… and he has proved it for decades. A complete list of Rock musicians and bands, that Aynsley has performed with over the decades, would be a who’s who in Rock History for certain. In celebration of Aynsley Dunbar’s birthday and legendary Rock career, I have compiled a very abbreviated list, (in no particular order), of just some of the great Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal albums that he played drums on and bands he was a member of. By no means is this a definitive list of albums that Aynsley Dunbar has appeared on, just a Rock solid salute to his achievements in Rock History.

Thanks for all of the great Rock Music you have created and been a part of Aynsley Dunbar.

Visit the Official Web Site of Aynsley Dunbar by clicking here: Aynsley Dunbar – Legendary Rock Drummer – Official Site

Whitesnake – Whitesnake, (1987)

UFO – Convenant, (2000)

UFO – Sharks, (2002)

Journey – Journey, (1975)

Journey – Look Into The Future, (1976)

Journey – Next, (1977)

Journey – Infinity, (1978)

David Bowie – Diamond Dogs, (1974)

Frank Zappa – Apostrophe (‘), 1974

Jefferson Starship – Winds Of Change, (1982)

Ian Hunter – All American Alien Boy, (1976)

Mick Ronson – Slaughter On 10th Avenue, (1974)


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LOUDNESS – 1991 ALBUM “ON THE PROWL” BULGES WITH MELODIC HEAVY METAL

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's metal bands, Album Review, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1991, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1991, heavy metal music from japan, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, japanese heavy metal, melodic heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

I listened to the 1991 album from Loudness today – On The Prowl. Alright, I actually listened to this album three times today. It’s that melodic driven Heavy Metal that gets me every time. Well, any quality Metal gets me every time it seems. My best Metal buddy Scott had landed me a copy of On The Prowl, he has great taste in Heavy Metal… I guess that is why we have tolerated each other for over two decades. For anyone not in the know about Loudness, they are a Japanese Heavy Metal Band that formed back around 1981. Thank you Japan. This is a darn good album, it plays out in three parts for me, with the first three songs Down ‘N Dirty, Playin’ Games and Love Toys being true to the core Hair Metal. Secondly, there is a power ballad, Never Again, which stands alone on it’s sole purpose to make the girls weepy. (I am not the power ballad guy… and this is the umpteenth time that this statement appears on Metal Odyssey). Nevertheless, Never Again is a good song, with lead vocalist Mike Vescera singing his emotion filled lungs out. (Mike Vescera is the lead vocalist for 1980’s Heavy Metal warriors… Obsession. A great band is Obsession… without question, great. Obsession is alive and well in 2010 too… with Mike at lead vocals. You can check Obsession out by clicking here: OBSESSION – Official Website

Mike Vescera was also the lead vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen, from 1994 to 1995. Recently, while discussing Heavy Metal with my buddy Scott, (usually a daily experience), we went from talking about Loudness and Mike Vescera to Obsession to Yngwie Malmsteen… realizing that yes, they are all absolutely Metal connected. Heavy Metal is a closely linked world… one big Metal family tree, it often times seems.

Where was I? I unintentionally went Metal astray while explaining the Mike Vescera Metal affiliations… oh yeah… the third part of this Loudness album! That being there are songs that are straight up Heavy Metal – Deadly Player, Take It Or Leave It and Girl are just the way I like ’em, real hard and heavy. The last song, Find A Way, is a muscular and melodic ending to an overall very strong Heavy Metal album from Loudness. I must add that the musicianship of Loudness on this album is excellent. Akira Takasaki is a welcomed Metal listen on lead guitar, coupled with the sensational vocals of Mike Vescera and On The Prowl is an early 1990’s Heavy Metal standout. Don’t hesitate to get ahold of On The Prowl, the Heavy Metal that Loudness unleashes with these songs are worth owning. Add the Metal fact, that the relevance these songs carry into 2010 is quite irrefutable as well.

Long Live Loudness! Click here to get tons of Loudness info: Loudness MySpace Music Page

Track Listing For Loudness – On The Prowl:

Down ‘N Dirty

Playin’ Games

Love Toys

Never Again

Deadly Player

Take It Or Leave It

Girl

Long Distance

In The Mirror

Sleepless Night

Find A Way

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KISS – 1974 ALBUM “HOTTER THAN HELL” IS STILL JUST THAT IN 2010

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's rock guitarists, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock bands, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, collecting classic rock, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, guitar legends, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

In 1974 I was only eight years old. In 1974 KISS released their Hotter Than Hell album on Casablanca Records. I had not a clue as to who or what KISS was back in ’74. The heaviest bands I was listening to that year, was my mother’s Everly Brothers album and Josie And The Pussycats, (a Hanna-Barbera cartoon of a female Rock Band). It wasn’t until 1978 that I owned my very first KISS album, KISS Double Platinum, so I was only four years away from becoming a member of the KISS Army. I eventually traded for the vinyl/album copy of Hotter Than Hell, I was in High School at the time, now I can’t even recall the dude’s name who traded it to me. In later years, (sometime in the early to mid 1990’s), I sold this same Hotter Than Hell album to a crusty and shady record dealer. I regret that move… for a good number of years I went without replacing Hotter Than Hell in my Heavy Metal Music collection. Now, it is Metal safe to say, that I do own Hotter Than Hell on CD… and I am not parting with it – not a Metal chance. This is arguably, one of the greatest KISS albums ever created, a 1970’s Vintage Heavy Metal gem. Am I going too far or thick with the accolades here? Not a Metal chance again… just compare this album to a wide array of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal releases, just in the past decade alone, I am then convinced Hotter Than Hell is still just that in 2010 – Hotter Than Hell.

I will not lie to the fact, that this album does sound like it was recorded back in the early 1970’s. Dated? Alright, sure, only how much of a negative impact does that have on Hotter Than Hell as a whole? Not every song on Hotter Than Hell can be construed as dated either. I really can’t stomach the word dated when it comes to Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Music, it is a word that only should be used by archaeologists, who dig up ancient relics and/or artifacts underneath some pyramids or rain forest. Besides, the word dated has been politely replaced with two words that are more Metal politically correct… they are… Classic Rock. Whoever the dude or dudette is out there, that came up with the idea of creating the music genre – Classic Rock, is in my Metal mind… a very cool genius.

Excuse my going off on sort of a Metal tangent in the last paragraph, it has been awhile since my last one, plus it felt really, really good. It did.

When you listen to Strange Ways, the very last song on Hotter Than Hell, I cannot ignore the fact that Ace Frehley plays some unreal licks, all the while the repeated riff is decades worth of relevance. Comin’ Home is a KISS song that easily could have been on any KISS album up to and including their Unmasked album from 1980. Mainline is as authentic of a Hard Rock song from the 1970’s as I can ever point out. This is, (probably), my favorite Peter Criss sung KISS tune ever. Yes, that means I like Peter Criss singing Mainline a whole lot more than the ultra classic ballad… Beth. Hotter Than Hell and Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll are the two most famous songs from this album, they honestly are the top two tracks, only there are the other eight songs that truly shouldn’t take a back seat to them.

This vintage KISS album flows along like a Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal dream gone wild… 1974 style. Goin’ Blind is Gene Simmons at his extreme best vocally, (in my Metal opinion), just an amazing KISS song that in Metal hindsight, is a pioneering power ballad. I can listen to Goin’ Blind 20 times in a row and still feel the need to hear it again… and again. No, I am not kidding about that. Regardless if you are a KISS fan or not, Hotter Than Hell belongs in any Hard Rock or Heavy Metal album collection… it’s that genuine.

Hotter Than Hell is an album to uphold, play loud and enjoy for a lifetime. Long Live KISS.

KISS On Hotter Than Hell:

Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals

Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals

Ace Frehley – lead guitar

Peter Criss – drums, percussion & vocals

Hey, cut me some Metal slack… I was only 8 years old when I was into Josie And The Pussycats.

I was a toddler… Gee Metal whiz.

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EXODUS – “SHOVEL HEADED TOUR MACHINE” DVD/CD RELEASES U.S. JANUARY 12, 2009!

Posted in 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's thrash metal music, current thrash metal, current thrash metal albums, current thrash metal bands, current thrash metal music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal festivals, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, live thrash metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new thrash metal albums, old school thrash metal bands, old school thrash metal music, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal bands 2010, thrash metal guitarists, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal music 2010 with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 7, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Look out. Gary Holt and Tom Hunting mean Metal business… their legendary Thrash Band – Exodus is going to make another Thrash Metal thunder strike again in 2010. Shovel Headed Tour Machine: Live At Wacken And Other Assorted Atrocities, (on Nuclear Blast), hits the U.S. Metal Market on January 12, 2009 and the European Metal Market on January 15, 2009! That is this coming Tuesday, my fellow U.S. Metalheads. When I stop to think about it, there is nothing more Metal enlightening than having so many Old School Thrash Bands still creating albums, DVD’s and touring up to this point in Metal time, Exodus is just one great example.

This NEW Exodus release will be a 2 DVD and 1 CD package – U.S. The double DVD is live concert footage of Exodus at the Wacken Open Air Festival. The CD is live Exodus playing at the Waken Open Air Festival… we are going to get the best of both Thrash Metal worlds here, both audio and visual! This release features Exodus at the 2008 Wacken Open Air Festival. Also included on the DVD: Exodus documentary, never before seen footage, photo gallery and music videos.

Exodus Is:

Rob Dukes – vocals

Gary Holt – guitar

Lee Altus – guitar

Jack Gibson – bass

Tom Hunting – drums

The Wacken Open Air Heavy Metal Festival is annually held in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. The Wacken Festival was first held in 1990, as a small concert promoting and showcasing local German bands. The Wacken Open Air Festival is now the major Heavy Metal festival held in Europe today.

To find out more about the Wacken Open Air Festival history and up to the minute news on the 2010 edition of this Heavy Metal celebration, click here: Wacken Open Air Festival

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BAD BRAINS – 1989 “QUICKNESS” ALBUM ENTWINES GENRES… AND BURNS

Posted in 1980's hardcore punk bands, 1980's punk rock bands, 1990's hardcore punk bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's punk rock albums, 1990's punk rock bands, 1990's punk rock music, 1990's rock bands, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock albums, 1990's rock albums, alternative rock albums 1989, collecting rock music, current heavy metal bands, current punk rock music, diverse metal music, diverse punk rock music, essential hardcore albums, essential punk rock albums, essential rock albums, hardcore punk rock history, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, independent record labels, metal odyssey, Music, old school punk rock, punk rock album covers, punk rock albums, punk rock history, punk rock music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 5, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Bad Brains. Forget about music genres. If there ever was a band that fuses together multiple Rock genres and flips the bird at the status quo simultaneously, it is Bad Brains. When I’m in the mood to listen to a band that plays from the gut, the heart… Bad Brains. Punk Rock, check. Hardcore Punk, check. Reggae, check. Hard Rock, um, check. Some flashes of Thrash? Bad Brains can. Oh, don’t forget about some Funk in the rhythm either… Bad Brains will deliver. Ska and Heavy Metal… it’s been part of Bad Brains diverse musical identity as well. If you are totally new to Bad Brains and all of this sounds confusing, need not worry, Bad Brains is the antidote to stagnant music listening. In other words, you are never going to hear of or find another band like them… and if you do, it would have to be a cover band of Bad Brains, which in the end would never come remotely close to the original.

Since Bad Brains released their debut, self titled album in 1982, there has been untold “flavors of the month” in Heavy, Extreme, Alternative and Punk Music. Since 1982, there has only been one Bad Brains. To span three decades while releasing eight ultra legit studio albums is monument. (Granted, their 2002 release I & I Survived was/is an instrumental dub album, with H.R. not present on vocals. Regardless, it shall always remain as a unique musical representation of/from Bad Brains). Think of it this way, it is easier to span three decades and release fifteen albums, all the while just two or three are justified. As I see and hear it, Bad Brains has accomplished what the Beatles, Ramones, The Who and Led Zeppelin, (to name more than a few), before them already had… an astoundingly identifiable style of music, which sound is impossible to confuse with any other band.

Bad Brains will forever be regarded as a Hardcore Punk originator and rightfully so. Only at the end of the day, what really matters is the overwhelming uniqueness that flows from their songs hot as magma, ultimately creating a cooling down – experience in music listening, which once again gets ramped up from the Bad Brains ride you embark on… a Bad Brains trip never stays the same. Sound cool? Bad Brains is just that. In the sad event you have never listened to Bad Brains, there is still time to redeem your hijacked and commercialized, MTV and/or VH1 soul. I picked the Bad Brains album – Quickness, as my listening choice today. Quickness may not be heralded as the greatest Bad Brains album made, regardless, I am not into any unfair comparisons to their iconic, self titled, debut album either. Quickness is a listen into just how an album can encompass so many great qualities of heavy, hard and at times softer song structure. This fantastic Bad Brains album was, (and always is), a slap to my forehead reminder that a band does not have to sell out sports stadiums and win multiple Grammy Awards, in order to be appreciated and accepted as realistically legendary, genuine, unapologetically diverse and damn right hard & heavy.

Bad Brains – Quickness was released in 1989, on Caroline Records.

Bad Brains – Quickness Track Listing:

Soul Craft

Voyage Into Infinity

The Messengers

With The Quickness

Gene Machine/Don’t Bother Me

Don’t Blow Bubbles

Sheba

Yout’ Juice

No Conditions

Silent Tears

The Prophets Eye

Endtro

The original Bad Brains lineup:

H.R. – lead vocals

Dr. Know – guitar

Darryl Jenifer – bass

Earl Hudson – drums

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KATAKLYSM – “TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM” PICTURE DISC & “PREVAIL” ALBUM = DEATH METAL DOMINATION

Posted in 1990's death metal bands, 1990's death metal music, Album Review, canadian death metal bands, collecting metal music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current death meal bands, Death Metal, death metal albums 2008, death metal music, death metal music 2008, death metal picture discs, death metal vocalists, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal picture discs, melodic death metal albums, melodic death metal bands, melodic death metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, scary album covers, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Back in the Summer of 2008, I came across a 7 ” picture disc from Kataklysm: Taking The World By Storm. This picture disc was released on May 30, 2008 on Nuclear Blast (Records). I bought this sweet picture disc off of the Century Media Records web site – CM Distro. (Damn, I just used the word sweet on Metal Odyssey). Kataklysm hails from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It’s great to see Death Metal staking it’s claim up in the Great White North, I’d rather see an export like Kataklysm come out of Canada, rather than an Alberta Clipper snow storm. (I can’t stand those Alberta Clippers… they always seem to dump a few inches or more of snow during rush hour traffic). Back to this unreal picture disc… the two songs on it are from Kataklysm’s tenth studio album – Prevail, released in North America on May 27, 2008, they are:

Taking The World By Storm

Breathe To Dominate

I really like Kataklysm… this band epitomizes perseverance and being true to Metal. Kataklysm is as hard and heavy as any in the Death Metal world, with their melodic tone making for an even greater listening experience, Metal time and again. Kataklysm really created a furious and Metal blinding album of songs with Prevail, Taking The World By Storm and Breathe To Dominate are two enormously justified Death Metal songs to appear on this picture disc. Adding this Kataklysm picture disc to my collection, only makes it all the more Metal potent. Take a Metal gander at this amazing 7″ picture disc below, I have shown you both front and back:

It’s always a great Metal treat, when the album artwork is brutal and hellishly unreal… fitting right in with the Death Metal theme. (Did I use the word treat back there?). The back cover shows Kataklysm, in all of their Metal glory, from left to right: Stephane Barbe (bass), Max Duhamel (drums), Maurizio Iacono (vocals) and Jean-Francois Dagenais (guitars).

The two songs on this picture disc, as well as every song on the Prevail album, are immensely dominant in all of it’s Death Metal extremity. Kataklysm comes at you from all Metal angles… there really is no room to escape, all you can do is listen to their songs on this picture disc and their Prevail album and be set Death Metal straight. Kataklysm plays extremely tight and solid, with a flurry of Thrash Metal thrown around for good Metal measure. The riffs are abundant and very memorable, you can’t possibly listen to these Kataklysm songs without walking away with several riffs and leads – buzzing in your head. Even if you are not a fan of Death Metal, (I could never fathom not being a fan of Death Metal), this Prevail album from Kataklysm will certainly leave a long lasting dent in your skeptic attitude. Maurizio Iacono is without Metal question… one of the most underrated vocalists in not just Death Metal, in all of Metal. (That is my Metal opinion and I am sticking to it).

Here is the track listing for the Prevail album:

Prevail

Taking The World By Storm

The Chains Of Power

As Death Lingers

Blood In Heaven

To The Throne Of Sorrow

Breathe To Dominate

Tear Down The Kingdom

The Vultures Are Watching

The Last Effort (Renaissance ll)

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“SIX – STRING HEROES” – BOOK DOCUMENTS HISTORY OF GUITARISTS THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS

Posted in 1950's rock guitarists, 1950's rock music, 1960's rock guitarists, 1960's rock music, 1970'S classic rock guitarists, 1970's rock guitarists, 1980's classic rock guitarists, 1980's rock guitarists, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's rock guitarists, classic rock music, collecting classic rock, current rock guitarists, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock music books, heavy metal book reviews, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, history of rock guitarists, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame members, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music books, rock music history with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

As I was out today, enjoying the last weekend of this holiday season with my family, I meandered into Waldenbooks at my local mall. Upon walking closer to this Waldenbooks store, several large posters hanging in this store’s windows grabbed my attention, they read: going out of business sale and up to 50% off. I was semi-shocked, this Waldenbooks store happened to be a favorite stop of mine, my wife and daughters included. Sign of the times? Perhaps. What is important to note, however, is that the Waldenbooks store chain is not going out of business… it is just this store location. (I never like to see any reputable book store go out of business, be it an independent or mass retailer). So, with a lump in my throat and a semi-bewildered look upon my face, I journeyed into this Waldenbooks store to see what deals may be lurking. Oh and what a deal I did find… a large, hardcover book that is chock full of the greatest guitarists of our time! The book I bought today, without a blink of hesitation, is:

Six – String Heroes – Photographs Of Great Guitarists

The cover price for this unreal great book is $35.00/U.S., however, with the 50% taken off at the register, it set me back $17.50… plus tax. Let me just say this, any fan or musician of Rock, Hard Rock and/or Heavy Metal will get a thrill out of the photographs that lie within Six – String Heroes. As a Metal bonus, there are literally dozens of anecdotes and personal comments, directly quoted from dozens of the most famous and influential guitarists of the modern era. These guitarists comment on themselves, their playing styles and influences. Comments and quotes, about what these same guitarists think of their peers are spread throughout this magnificent book as well. The majority of the photographs are in full color, while the vintage black & white photo’s only add to this book’s overall Rock elegance. Quite honestly, just looking at the photographs alone puts an awe struck feeling inside of me… the photography found here is that amazing. Anytime I can find a compilation book of photos, that is directly related to the history of Rock Music, I am going to dig deep into my pockets to purchase it.

In my Metal opinion, Six – String Heroes is a lifetime keeper, a book so rich with it’s historically documented, visual accounts of the most influential guitarists that ever lived. Here is a meaty sampling of the guitarists that are found inside the pages of Six – String Heroes:

Les Paul, Brian May (Queen), Peter Frampton, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), Brian Setzer, Waylon Jennings, Neal Schon (Journey), Eric Clapton, C. C. Deville (Poison), Tommy Shaw and James Young (Styx), Rick Derringer, Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Nancy Wilson (Heart), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Yngwie Malmsteen, Glenn Tipton & K. K. Downing (Judas Priest), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Steve Howe (Yes), Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow & Deep Purple), Adrian Smith & Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Michael Schenker (Scorpions & MSG), Angus Young & Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains), George Lynch (Dokken & Lynch Mob), Paul Gilbert, Vivian Campbell (DIO & Def Leppard), Slash, Bonnie Raitt, Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy), Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Randy Rhoads (Ozzy), Mick Thomson & Jim Root (Slipknot), James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Hanneman & Kerry King (Slayer), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Ace Frehley & Paul Stanley (KISS), Tommy Thayer (KISS), Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), B.B. King, Robin Trower, Pete Townshend (The Who), Bruce Springsteen (The Boss), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Ted Nugent, Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

There are many, many more guitarists in this book that I could mention, yet I think you get the point. When a book can have George Benson and the two leading axe men from Slayer within it’s same pages, you are talking musical diversity here. From Jazz guitarists to Thrash Metal guitarists, this book covers them.  If I have one complaint about this book, it is the sinful lacking of at least one Jimi Hendrix photograph. Then again, there are always legalities involved when publishing a book of photographs too, I do not know what may have taken place, if the author did try to include a Jimi Hendrix photo. Maybe Neil Zlozower never photographed Jimi Hendrix either? There obviously is a valid reason out there for this omission.

There are 256 pages total. This is a coffee table sized book, regardless, I will be carrying it around for quite some time. Six – String Heroes was published in 2009. The legendary Rock photographer for this book is Neil Zlozower, he has spent 40 years of his life photographing the greatest guitarists that have ever lived. I applaud Neil Zlozower’s talent that is bestowed within these pages of Six – String Heroes. The text is written by Steven Rosen with a foreword by legendary guitarist, Steve Vai.

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METALLICA – “CREEPING DEATH” PICTURE DISC IS THRASH METAL HISTORY

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's thrash metal albums, 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's thrash metal bands, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, current thrash metal bands, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1984, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1984, heavy metal picture discs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, old school heavy metal, old school thrash metal music, rock and roll hall of fame members, rock music, scary album covers, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal cover songs, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal picture discs with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Any regular visitor to Metal Odyssey knows, that from time to time, I like to post about Heavy Metal picture discs. This past year of 2009 was when I realized how much I really like collecting them… again. Back in the ’80’s, I picked up quite a few Heavy Metal picture discs. The picture discs that survived from being sold or traded by me over the decades, I have in recent months been showing to the world on Metal Odyssey. Here is a cool picture disc from Metallica, a Thrash Metal band that really needs no Metal introduction on Metal Odyssey. Metallica is in the elite class of Metal, a band that is partly responsible for my being a lifetime Metalhead. Uh, thank you, Metallica… very Metal much. Metallica’s first three groundbreaking albums will always be considered, in my Metal opinion, a major part of the puzzle in the creation and evolution of Thrash Metal Music. This is the Metallica I most revere, (and it is not due to my growing up with these first three albums either). The first three albums from Metallica experimented and brought forth a style of Metal Music that was/still is original as a personal signature. I pulled this Metallica gem out of a stash of mine this past week:

METALLICA – CREEPING DEATH – PICTURE DISC, 1st ISSUE

SIDE 1:

SIDE 2:

Why is this Creeping Death picture disc considered a 1st issue? Answer: There is NO barcode found on side 2, the 2nd issue of Creeping Death HAS the barcode on side 2.

Those pics of Metallica on Side 2 of this picture disc are now… vintage. Kirk Hammett on the left, Lars Ulrich on the top, the late Cliff Burton on the right and James Hetfield on the bottom. Yup, Metal time does seem to fly.

This Creeping Death picture disc was released sometime in 1984. (I just do not know the exact month/day of it’s 1984 release… I will continue my Metal research and update this post once I do know).

Although it is not printed on this actual picture disc that I own, this is a U.K. release, on the Music For Nations record label – I have found this information upon my Metal research through the years.

The infamous, picture disc letter & number code found on this Creeping Death 12″ is:

P12 KUT 112 – (you can see it, on the above side 2 image too)

I am absolutely psyched, that this Metallica Creeping Death picture disc is still in my collection. As I delve further into it’s track listing, the Thrash Metal History just seems to come alive… as you read on, you shall see what I mean!

The track listing on Creeping Death: (The image above, of side 2, shows it as well)

Side 1:

Creeping Death

Side 2:

Am I Evil?

Blitzkrieg

Am I Evil? and Blitzkrieg were two songs labeled together as – Garage Days Revisited, (the above image of side 2, shows this).

Creeping Death is from Metallica’s second studio album: Ride The Lightning, (released in July of 1984. I can remember the first time I listened to this Ride The Lightning album, it was sometime back in 1984… I held onto and stared at the album jacket as the songs played on and I never felt more awe struck in my entire young life. Yes, I do remember trembling, upon my very first listen to For Whom The Bell Tolls… it was a listening experience so unreal, I can never forget it. Creeping Death, however, was/is just as sensational a song from Ride The Lightning as any of the others.

Metallica Ride The Lightning – greatness never fades, it only grows stronger.

Am I Evil? is the b-side single on Side 2, a song originally written and made famous by Metal legends… Diamond Head, from the Diamond Head 1980 debut album – Lightning To The Nations.

Metallica’s cover version of Am I Evil? was only found on this Creeping Death 12″ picture disc, up until it was released on the Metallica album – Garage Inc., (a double album of cover songs), in November of 1998.

Blitzkrieg is the second cover song on side 2, a song originally written and released by the Heavy Metal band – Blitzkrieg. This song was originally released in 1981, on the Blitzkrieg 7″ single – Buried Alive. The song Blitzkrieg was later released on the Blitzkrieg 1985 album – A Time For Changes.

So there you have it, some Thrash Metal and Heavy Metal History surrounding the 3 songs found on this Metallica Creeping Death 12″ picture disc. I find it of Metal importance, to understand where the songs originally came from… and from what band and/or album. Die hard fans back in 1984 knew who Diamond Head was for sure, yet for Metallica to also embrace a song from Blitzkieg and make it work as a Thrash Metal cover, just magnifies the brilliance that Metallica created together as a band. To just listen to a song is one thing, to know the linkage of a song makes it all the Metal better… it’s called Metal roots, Metal history.

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HEAVY METAL FLASHBACK: MONSTERS OF ROCK, U.K. 1980, CONCERT POSTER!

Posted in 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, classic hard rock, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock music, collecting heavy metal albums, concerts, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal concert posters, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1980, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, new wave of british heavy metal bands, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, vintage hard rock bands, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Here is a Heavy Metal blast from the past! Man, I wish I attended this Heavy Metal festival! This vintage poster promoted the inaugural Monsters Of Rock festival at Castle Donington Raceway, Derbyshire, U.K., August 16, 1980. I was a freshman in High School back in 1980, plus I did not live in the U.K. either. Regardless, this is as fine a lineup of Heavy Metal bands that you could possibly ask for… going back to 1980. Rainbow headlining, with Graham Bonnet on lead vocals! Obviously, the Down To Earth Tour for Rainbow. Judas Priest, whoa, they were supporting their now ultra classic – British Steel album. Scorpions… wow… their Animal Magnetism album was already in the hands of fans when this festival took place. April Wine was out there supporting their Harder… Faster album, classic. Just how much praise can be said for Saxon? Tons! Saxon was out there, sandwiched in between supporting their Wheels Of Steel album, (released in May 1980) and their upcoming album – Strong Arm Of The Law, (released in October 1980).

Riot was out there supporting their Narita album, (an October 1979 release), while their Fire Down Under album was on the Metal horizon for a February, 1981 release. Touch was a relative newcomer, a melodic Rock/Hard Rock Band, they have the distinction of being the first band to open for this Castle Donington, U.K., Monsters Of Rock Festival. Touch was supporting their debut album, aptly titled… Touch. Neal Kaye I really do not know much about… maybe someone out there does? Drop a comment if you do, it would be Metal welcomed and appreciated.

This is without a Metal doubt, a vintage Heavy Metal concert poster I would love to own, an original printing would be preferred by me too. Aw, heck, I wouldn’t mind owning a reprint as well. I just really get into researching this stuff… it is Heavy Metal History, Rock History. Reading about and reflecting upon Heavy Metal History makes for a strong and great Metal mind. It is these concerts, festivals and the Heavy Metal Bands from yesteryear that played them… that make up the building blocks of what Heavy Metal is today… in 2010. Heavy Metal as we all know it today, would not be the same, without these legendary bands that played this historic Monsters Of Rock festival, back in 1980.

Judas Priest, Scorpions and Saxon are still Heavy Metal powerhouses… ’nuff said about their incredible legacies to Heavy Metal. Rainbow, despite not having a long standing band lineup or lead singer, is nonetheless as important as any Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band from their generation. Every Rainbow band lineup, will forever hold a special place in my Metal heart. From Ronnie James Dio fronted Rainbow to Doogie White at the mic, Rainbow… Rocks. Riot and April Wine may not have received the commercial acclaim of the other bands I have mentioned, regardless, they both are very important contributors to the historical development of Heavy Metal Music… in my Metal opinion.

LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!


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KROKUS – NEW ALBUM “HOODOO” RELEASES ON FEBRUARY 26, 2010!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal from switzerland, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new heavy metal music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Here is an album from a Heavy Metal heavy weight that I am counting down the days for… Hoodoo from KROKUS! Yes, my fellow Metalheads, Krokus. The Heavy Metal legends from Solothurn, Switzerland, are releasing Hoodoo to the Metal masses on February 26, 2010! It appears that the Metal year 2010 is going to kick into maximum Heavy Metal gear, once this album is unveiled. I will be making every Metal effort to purchase this new Krokus album on it’s release date. Metal source for the February 26, 2010 release date is: KROKUS – Official Website

My Metal anticipation is high for Hoodoo, I am looking forward to some Old School Heavy Metal meets 2010 heaviness. The memories of basking in the Heavy Metal sound of Krokus, back in the early to mid 1980’s, will never fade away for this Krokus fan.Upon my first listen to Metal Rendez-vous, all those years ago, with Headhunter solidifying my Krokus allegiance and The Blitz and Change Of Address strengthening my loyalty to this band, I am Metal smitten Krokus is back with their classic lineup. Sure, Krokus took a commercial route in the mid-late ’80’s… only it was damn good for my Metal ears. Rock The Block from 2003 and Hellraiser from 2006 reminded the planet that Krokus was not just lurking in the Metal woods… they made two back to back Metal legit studio albums. (You can check out my review for Hellraiser by clicking here: KROKUS – HELLRAISER – my review for Rock The Block is a click away on the header directly below:

KROKUS – “ROCK THE BLOCK” Has Rocked My Heavy Metal World

KROKUS IS HEAVY METAL… THE PAST IS BACK TO KICK OUR ASS!

KROKUS IS:

Marc Storace – vocals

Chris Von Rohr – bass

Fernando Von Arb – lead guitar

Mark Kohler – Rhythm Guitar

Freddy Steady – Drums

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