Archive for the 1990's heavy metal albums Category

STEELHEART – “TANGLED IN REINS” ALBUM FROM 1992 IS A HEAVY METAL GEM!

Posted in 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's hair metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, album covers, Album Review, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, melodic heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

STEELHEART – released Tangled In Reins on July 10, 1992 on MCA Records. Cutting to the Metal chase here, holy crap, is this a profoundly great Heavy Metal album of 10 songs! In makes absolutely no sense to beat around the Metal bush, when describing my true feelings towards this Steelheart album. Yes, Steelheart back in ’92 can very well be labeled as a Hair Metal band, with Tangled In Reins being called a Hair Metal album. The inner and outer cores of this album cries out just one universal sound and feel for me… Heavy Metal and it is a gem. The all-encompassing power and memorable songs I hear on Tangled In Reins is pretty darn close to Metal sanctity.

A Metal truth is that I never owned or listened to this Steelheart album until recently. (The early ’90’s were very lean years for my wallet). My best Metal buddy Scott Coverdale landed me this CD… along with his enthusiastic Metal accolades of it as well. Thanks Scott, this CD is quite an indulgence. It just seems like the first half of the ’90’s had some real deal Heavy Metal albums released back then, coming across the ones I missed out on years later is better late than Metal never. Metal buddy Scott and I both conclude… Steelheart’s first two albums are just victims to their time period of release. From 1990 onward through that entire decade, Heavy Metal had an upward battle to fight for any mainstream or positive critical attention. As I always say, Heavy Metal never went away back in the ’90’s, it only silently grew stronger.

In my most humble Metal opinion, Steelheart knew how power ballads were to be written and played for Heavy Metal. Not to come across as redundant, yet I am the ever fickle – ballad critic. Two ballads exist on Tangled In Reins: All Your Love and Mama Don’t You Cry. I don’t hesitate a micro second to put down Heavy Metal power ballads, from any band… ever. These two Steelheart ballads are creme’ de la creme’ of how I want them to sound and come across. Both ballads burst at the emotional seams, still they are loaded with hard-edged and melodic grooves. Miljenko Matijevic has an uncanny, God-given ability to hit the high notes and does not whine away in stereotypical ballad fashion.

Tangled In Reins kicks off with Loaded Mutha and this mutha Rocks with all the delectable, good times heaviness I could ask for. Chris Risola on lead guitar, serves up the licks that makes this song just jump out and come to life. Love ‘Em And I’m Gone lends itself to that carefree, single and party time lifestyle, which has been so well documented in Heavy Metal songs over the decades. This song may not be relevant to me lyrically at my point in life now… still I don’t care, it Rocks! Long live fun Heavy Metal songs! Electric Love Child has a catchy Heavy Metal title and the song itself is even more so. Listening to Electric Love Child makes me appreciate Steelheart as one of the finest and most underrated Heavy Metal bands from the early ’90’s. Steelheart has all their Metal cylinders in sync on not just this song… on the entire album as well.

In Metal summation, Steelheart exercises their potent and muscular Metal abilities and skills at a very high level on Tangled In Reins. This Steelheart lineup played like an extremely tight and content unit on this album, giving every indication from the song lyrics to the lively and free spirit feel of the musicianship. Tangled In Reins is just a must listen from the early ’90’s, an album to revisit on a continuous basis. A powerful Heavy Metal album, to simply state: Heavy Metal never sounded so damn good… Tangled In Reins has reined me in for keeps!

I believe Miljenko Matijevic is an extremely gifted vocalist, knowing he still has his Steelheart band out and running around the globe is a testament to the quality and integrity of the music he represents. Plus, one of these days I’m gonna get my hands on some of that Steelheart coffee! Check out for yourself, the latest news on all things Steelheart, (and the coffee too), by clicking on the link below:

STEELHEART – Official Website

STEELHEART, as they appeared on Tangled In Reins from 1992:

Miljenko Matijevic – lead vocals & piano

Chris Risola – lead guitar

Frank Di Costanzo – rhythm guitar

James Ward – bass guitar

John Fowler – drums

* Jeff Scott Soto – appears on backing vocals

LONG LIVE MILJENKO MATIJEVIC AND STEELHEART!

10 Comments »

HARDLINE – “DOUBLE ECLIPSE” 1992 DEBUT ALBUM REIGNS WITH HARD ROCK RELEVANCY

Posted in 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's rock bands, 1990's rock guitarists, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock albums, 1990's hard rock bands, 1990's hard rock videos, 1990's heavy metal music, 1990's rock albums, Album Review, hard rock album review, hard rock albums 1992, hard rock bands, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1992, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal videos, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music history with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 31, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Best Metal buddy Scott Coverdale landed me another album, that flew under my Hard Rock radar many years ago. Here is how the phone conversation went, (after many, many moments of trying to guess what band Scott was quizzing me on): Dude, have you ever heard of Hardline? Neal Schon, man! Whoa… this band Rocks! This is one unbelievable album! The praise Hardline – Double Eclipse was getting from Scott went on and on. I don’t recall one microscopic fault that Scott could find with this album. Some excitable F bombs were probably dropped around in his praise as well, from what I recall. Metal truth be told, I informed Scott that I vaguely remember the Gioeli brothers being involved in a band… however, I never listened to them, ever. Connecting Neal Schon to Hardline was not in my Metal memory… that is why Scott is a Metal Odyssey – Metal Researcher. (I remember vividly Neal Schon being a key member of HSAS, with Sammy Hagar, back in ’84. I always liked the HSAS album Through The Fire a whole lot. Throw in the Metal facts that I revere Neal Schon for his accomplishments as a Rock/Hard Rock guitarist and my adoration for Journey, (and not all the Journey ballads)… well, Hardline – Double Eclipse needed to be finally heard by me!!

I do agree with Scott that Double Eclipse is a great album, it has many hard and heavy moments. I do differ on one key musical aspect of Double Eclipse… the ballads. Oh, they are present… oh yeah. Can’t Find My Way is as annoying to me as a long line at the gas pumps. Lead vocalist Johnny Gioeli is fabulous on Double Eclipse, it’s just that dreaded sappy emotion of Can’t Find My Way that ruins it for me. I’ll Be There is much more upbeat, both with the believably emotional vocals of Johnny Gioeli and the up-tempo of the entire song. Still, it’s a ballad. Change Of Heart brings on that love is in the air feeling… ugh. Understand, I have never embraced ballads in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal my entire life… I am very finicky about them. Ballads have their place… only why interrupt the Hard Rock flow of an album with them? Bad Taste rocks the F’n house down… and it is a song right before Can’t Find My Way! I got all pumped up, psyched out, only to get bummed out immediately after with sappy silliness.

Alright, enough with ballads, why I despise most of them and onward with the songs on Double Eclipse – that rage with the hard and heavy! Takin’ Me Down, (see music video below), takes me down a Hard Rock colliding with Heavy Metal path that I don’t mind taking. Neal Schon is scorching on guitar throughout the non-ballads of Double Eclipse, he really takes it to the top on Takin’ Me Down. The vintage guitar tone of Neal Schon never screams louder than on Hot Cherie… just a damn great Hard Rock song. Everything is a song that sounds like a ballad that was modified to become a more edgier and harder song at the very end, a memorable song for my anti-ballad ears.

Life’s A Bitch, Dr. Love and Rhythm From A Red Car are the first three songs on Double Eclipse, it’s a shame that the entire album could not have followed the Hard and Heavy blueprint of them. These first three songs are what Hard Rock meshing with Heavy Metal is all about! At the end of my Metal day, I will listen to Double Eclipse again… and again. My personal distaste for ballads is just that… personal. I will state, that the ballads heard on Double Eclipse are fantastic for what they are, especially if you are into Rock/Hard Rock ballads!

Just because the ballads heard on Double Eclipse don’t move me, does not mean that they should never be praised or enjoyed by others. Across the Metal board, the credibility in the vocals of Johnny Gioeli and the musicianship of each member of Hardline cannot be ignored or disputed. Johnny Gioeli has the quintessential Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal vocals… a standout singer who really seems to feel the songs, something I find most admirable. This 1992 debut album from Hardline holds strong Hard Rock relevance to what’s currently being created in 2010 and arguably better than a noticeable percentage of current Rock/Hard Rock today… ballads included.

Here is the music video for Takin’ Me Down… it’s pretty darn cool, despite the visual being a tad fuzzy:

Hardline – Double Eclipse was released on April 28, 1992, on MCA Records.

Hardline, as they appeared on their debut album – Double Eclipse:

Johnny Gioeli – lead vocalist

Neal Schon – lead guitar

Joey Gioeli – rhythm guitar

Todd Jensen – bass guitar

Deen Castronovo – drums

Track Listing For Hardline – Double Eclipse:

Life’s A Bitch

Dr. Love

Rhythm From A Red Car

Change Of Heart

Everything

Takin’ Me Down

Hot Cherie

Bad Taste

Can’t Find My Way

I’ll Be There

31-91 (Metal Odyssey note: an acoustic guitar instrumental – very mellow, yet good)

In The Hands Of Time

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ARCADE – REVISITING STEPHEN PEARCY’S “OTHER BAND” AND 1993 DEBUT ALBUM

Posted in 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's hair metal bands, 1990's hard rock albums, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, glam metal, glam metal music, Hair Metal, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock music, hard to find heavy metal albums, hard to find rock cd's, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1993, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music 1993, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

In recent days, the 1993 debut and self titled album from Arcade found it’s way into my ears. (Thank you Best Metal Buddy Scott). Epic Records released this Arcade debut. You all should be quite familiar with Arcade’s front man Stephen Pearcy… lead singer for RATT and very much a prominent, memorable and flamboyant Hair Metal figure from the 1980’s. Fred Coury, the drummer for still another iconic 1980’s Hair Metal juggernaut – Cinderella, found that one of his Heavy Metal path’s led to Arcade as well. Hair Metal and Glam Metal aside, Arcade was just damn good Heavy Metal – period. In my Metal opinion, if Arcade was to have been assembled around 1985, (instead of the gray lined early ’90’s), they would have had their likenesses adorning highway billboards – all over North America. O.k., that might be of a Metal stretch, nonetheless, Arcade would easily have been bigger and more widely received during an earlier era. Revisiting Heavy Metal Bands from the past that are no longer together, makes for the credibility of just where Heavy Metal is today… these are the bands and musicians that kept the Metal flame burning during a ’90’s decade of Heavy Metal uncertainty. I was never uncertain about my beloved Heavy Metal during the ’90’s… and by the sounds of it, neither was Stephen Pearcy and Arcade.

What this debut album from Arcade shows me, is that Stephen Pearcy acknowledged within himself, that he had all the Metal ingredients and creativity to be a star outside of RATT. And certainly, I would hope the majority of us Metalheads know that RATT was no fluke, their heavy legacy still reigns to this very day. For Stephen Pearcy to be the lead vocalist for two bands of this quality and caliber is not an everyday accomplishment. Essentially, the same can be Metal said for Fred Coury respecively, on drums. Guitarists Donny Syracuse and Frankie Wilsex add credence to Arcade’s own Heavy Metal identity. The only reminder of RATT within the sound of Arcade is Stephen Pearcy’s vocals and he CANNOT be faulted for that.

It sounds very clear to me, that Stephen Pearcy and his Heavy Metal posse called Arcade, knew all along, just how to create and write a ballad. Cry No More, Mother Blues and So Good… So Bad… are extremely tolerable ballads to listen to. I can actually listen to these three ballads repeatedly! (Now, listening to any ballad repeatedly is a rarity in my Metal world). Arcade actually found that semi sappy to sappy lyrics don’t need to be coupled with excessively sappy music, that brings you to the brink of an emotional meltdown. I will admit, Cry No More has an acoustic guitar intro that carries on a very reminiscent tone and mood from Cinderella’s classic Power Ballad – Nobody’s Fool. Mother Blues is an unplugged/acoustic listen in Rock goodness, it really is. Sons And Daughters is the lone instrumental on Arcade. An acoustic instrumental that lends itself as the perfect segue to Mother Blues.

Arcade is one of those albums where it is obviously nonsensical to breakdown each song as a review. Those who have listened and liked this album may understand my point. Outside of the three ballads and one instrumental previously mentioned, the other eight songs are undisputed Rockers. If you are looking to revisit these songs or give them a first time listen, understand that the hard and heavy from Arcade doesn’t give me a moments break… and I like that! I try to steer away from pinpointing what exact genre Arcade belongs to… at the end of the Metal day does it really matter? Arcade is Hard Rock colliding with Heavy Metal, whatever one’s interpretation that differs from mine is a matter of personal Metal labeling.

From the onset, Dancin’ With The Angels is fair warning that Stephen Pearcy and Arcade are NOT about re-treading RATT. Messed Up World is my favorite song from Arcade. The lyrics of Messed Up World could not resonate any more loud and true for me. Relevance? This song is exploding at the Metal seams with it. Messed Up World could have easily been written for today’s nightly news features.

Arcade… they came, they saw, they Metal conquered.

ARCADE, as they appeared on their 1993 debut album:

Stephen Pearcy – lead vocalist

Donny Syracuse – guitarist

Frankie Wilsex – guitarist

Michael Andrews – bass guitarist

Fred Coury – drummer

The Track Listing For Arcade:

Dancin’ With The Angels

Nothin’ To Lose

Calm Before The Storm

Cry No More

Screamin’ S.O.S.

Never Goin’ Home

Messed Up World – *(Metal Odyssey Note: My favorite song, man, it’s a good one)

All Shook Up

So Good… So Bad…

Livin’ Dangerously

Sons And Daughters

Mother Blues

* Metal Odyssey’s Metal research has found there is an additional song on the Japanese version of Arcade – Reckless. No, I have never heard this song… yet.

* To the best of Metal Odyssey’s Metal knowledge, Arcade’s debut album – Arcade is out of print. Used copies are circulating for sale all around the world wide web. (I’ve seen used copies on Amazon Music).

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JUDAS PRIEST – “PAINKILLER” ALBUM FROM 1990 STILL EXPLODES METAL FEROCITY

Posted in 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's metal bands, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1990, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Ferocity: the quality or state of being ferocious. That is what I hear each time I crank up Painkiller from Metal legends – Judas Priest. Painkiller was released on September 3, 1990, on Columbia Records. Yes, the 1990’s was ushered in with quite a Metal explosion with this album. Consider that it was 1990, twenty years ago when this amazing Metal album was first released. My Metal point is this: if Painkiller was to have been released today, there is more relevance in it’s Metal in 2010 than ever before, encapsulating everything that is fast, heavy and hard about Metal Music. Honestly, if Painkiller was released in 2010, it would be an enormous candidate for my #1 Heavy Metal album of the year. However, the reality is that Painkiller is an album from the Metal past, only it seems to still have more of an impact on me than I could ever imagine. This was the 12th studio album from Judas Priest, (if you are to consider the 1978 U.K. release of Killing Machine, basically the same album as Hell Bent For Leather, only it is minus The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown). I am not reluctant to state, that this Judas Priest album is arguably the heaviest and fastest album in their catalog. Despite my abhorring the Grammy’s, Judas Priest was nominated for best Metal Performance in 1991 due to Painkiller.

The two songs on Painkiller that standout for me, which are easily two songs I can listen to every day of my life, repeatedly, are: Painkiller and A Touch Of Evil. My inner Metal struggle as of late, is knowing that A Touch Of Evil is my single most favorite, Heavy Metal song of my entire Metalhead life. Why is that an inner Metal struggle for me, you ponder? Well, due to the fact that I simply cannot believe I actually know this is the song! Plus, it did not dawn on me until recently… maybe sometime before the holidays of 2009. I will tell you this though… it is a really cool Metal feeling when it hits you and the realization kicks in, that you finally know that this is THE song. Could A Touch Of Evil ever be replaced by another Metal song as my lifetime favorite? Maybe. I’ll know when it hits me. One thing is guaranteed though… it would NEVER be a Daughtry song.

The song Painkiller is for all Metal intents and purposes… Thrash Metal. I applaud the fact that Judas Priest showed the world that yes… Thrash Metal is in their forte. All ten songs on Painkiller are immense, there is no weak link to be found. The re-release of Painkiller has two bonus tracks: Living Bad Dreams and Leather Rebel (Live). Both of these songs are great for me, still, I don’t see how a “live” bonus track ever fits into a studio album to begin with.

With Painkiller being the last studio album with Rob Halford at the vocal helm, (until the 2005 Judas Priest release – Angel Of Retribution), it showed us die-hard Metalhead followers of Judas Priest that we shall never take anything for Metal granted. Tim “Ripper” Owens is a fine lead vocalist, (taking over lead vocals on 1997’s Jugulator and Demolition from 2001), still there is only one Metal God, one original lead vocalist for Judas Priest… Rob Halford. During Rob Halford’s departure from Judas Priest, Fight became his very own Metal creation… a band that I uphold highly and find extremely thrilling. I did blab and brag about Fight one time… you can check it out by clicking the header below:

Fight was one incredible Metal band!!

Recently, the 2009 release – The End Of Tomorrow from Ravage, paid tribute to this Painkiller album and Judas Priest by having in it’s track listing… the cover of Night Crawler. Ravage did a fabulous Metal job at covering Night Crawler too. In 1990’s retrospect, yes, I would without hesitation, point right at Painkiller as being a top ten Heavy Metal album of that decade. Those of you who do own Painkiller hopefully understand my excitement over it… those of you who do not own Painkiller just yet, well, you are missing out on one damn incredible Judas Priest album for sure, in my Metal opinion.

Judas Priest:

Rob Halford – vocals

Glenn Tipton – guitar

K.K. Downing – guitar

Ian Hill – bass guitar

Scott Travis – drums

Painkiller was produced by Judas Priest and Chris Tsangarides.

Track Listing For Judas Priest – Painkiller:

Painkiller

Hell Patrol

All Guns Blazing

Leather Rebel

Metal Meltdown

Night Crawler

Between The Hammer & The Anvil

A Touch Of Evil

Battle Hymn

One Shot At Glory

Re-release Bonus Tracks:

Living Bad Dreams

Leather Rebel (Live)

27 Comments »

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

22 Comments »

IRON MAIDEN – 1993 FLASHBACK: “A REAL LIVE ONE” AND “A REAL DEAD ONE”

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal bands, essential heavy metal albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1993, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1993, live heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, scary album covers, vintage heavy metal albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 14, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Iron Maiden was alive and well back in the decade that supposedly ignored Heavy Metal… the 1990’s. The year was 1993 and Iron Maiden released not one but TWO live albums. You read that correctly, two. What a splendid feeling it was, back in 1993, to have Iron Maiden release these two live albums. Oh, yeah, here are the two live album titles: A Real Live One and A Real Dead One. (Yes, I did use the word splendid on Metal Odyssey… two lines ago). You see, Heavy Metal did exist in the 1990’s, it never went away, nor did it hide for cover due to any Grunge Bands coming out of Seattle, Washington either. In my Metal opinion, Grunge only enhanced the diversity of Metal Music… Alice In Chains epitomizes that school of thought. Heavy Metal and Iron Maiden never went astray during the 1990’s, all one has to do is just uncover this decade for it’s bounty of Metal worth… it’s out there. Well, not to get off track here, Iron Maiden quietly released these two live albums during what was supposedly “the heart” of the Grunge Music invasion… and they both are really good too.

I totally disregard any lame reviews that these two live Iron Maiden albums have received over the years, (from of course, professionally paid Rock critics), instead I embrace these two albums as being legit as anything Iron Maiden has ever done. No, I am not ever going to say A Real Live One and A Real Dead One are equal to or better than the Iron Maiden classic from 1985 – Live After Death. What these two 1993 live Iron Maiden albums have accomplished is capturing this band at what they do best, playing fast and non-mainstream Heavy Metal in which proves to be an incredible listen as well as Metal historical. How often are fans trying to find live bootleg CD’s and/or DVD’s of their favorite bands? So many times the notion of bootlegs surfacing is considered cool and “must have”… well here are two live Iron Maiden albums that were legitimately released, (originally on Capitol Records) and are light years better in quality than any bootleg available.

In 1993, Iron Maiden stuck to their Metal guns and released two live albums for their fans to embrace. Regardless of what was the mainstream/Rolling Stone Magazine flavor of the month back then, Iron Maiden provided what they always were known for up to that point in time… real Metal. Real live Metal as well. Lately, I have been on an Iron Maiden kick, Metal be damned I’m proud of it. I bought A Real Live One and A Real Dead One on cassette back in 1993. I still have both cassettes too… in super mint condition. I took really great care of the music I bought, regardless if it was an album, cassette or CD… for the Metal Music I bought throughout the decades has taken great care of me.

A Metal Note: The Iron Maiden Band Lineup For Both A REAL LIVE ONE and A REAL DEAD ONE:

Bruce Dickinson – vocalist

Steve Harris – bass guitarist

Dave Murray – guitarist

Janick Gers – guitarist

Nicko McBrain – drummer

A REAL LIVE ONE – was released on March 22, 1993

The Track Listing for A REAL LIVE ONE:

Side One:

Be Quick Or Be Dead

From Here To Eternity

Can I Play With Madness

Wasting Love

Tailgunner

The Evil That Men Do

Side Two:

Afraid To Shoot Strangers

Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter

Heaven Can Wait

The Clairvoyant

Fear Of The Dark

* A REAL LIVE ONE was recorded on the Iron Maiden – Fear Of The Dark Tour 1992. The liner notes of A REAL LIVE ONE, (my cassette version from 1993), contains fabulous full color photos of each band member, (the liner notes fold out into 6 panels, double sided). A detailed equipment list for each band member is shown, as well as the usual credits and a cool thank you from Steve Harris/bass guitarist. These liner notes are done right and are very cool indeed. (I said indeed again, wow).

A REAL DEAD ONE – was released on October 18, 1993

The Track Listing for A REAL DEAD ONE:

Side One:

The Number Of The Beast

The Trooper

Prowler

Transylvania

Remember Tomorrow

Where Eagles Dare

Side Two:

Sanctuary

Running Free

Run To The Hills

2 Minutes To Midnight

Iron Maiden

Hallowed Be Thy Name

* The liner notes for A REAL DEAD ONE, (my cassette version from 1993), do not contain any photo’s or fold out panels like A REAL LIVE ONE does. A REAL DEAD ONE does contain a fold-out mini poster though!! Yeah man!! It came inside of this cassette back in 1993! My copy is in mint shape, with the crispest of edges too! (Save for the original creases from it having to be folded, to fit inside the cassette box). On the front side of this great little Iron Maiden poster are dozens of mini concert photos of all the Iron Maiden members of 1993! At the top/across of this mini poster is the classic Iron Maiden logo in all of it’s vintage Metal glory! The backside of this mini poster has – get this – an Iron Maiden Family Tree!! Yeah Man! It details all of the Iron Maiden members, (up to 1993, of course), with their respective bands they were a part of, both pre-Iron Maiden and post-Iron Maiden! Iron Maiden history, all detailed here on this mini poster gem!

* This mini poster is an oddball piece of Iron Maiden memorabilia… at an oddball size too, it measures approximately 7″ x 11.5″. I really wonder, just how many of these mini posters survived from A REAL DEAD ONE cassettes over the years? How many Metalheads threw them away? How many became ruined from spilled beer? How many were tacked up onto walls and were subsequently faded and torn? I will go out on a Metal limb right here, stating this mini poster just might be… semi rare… to… rare?

For the first time today, I decided to take this mini poster of Iron Maiden from the safe storage of it’s A REAL DEAD ONE cassette box… and finally put it into a thick and sturdy poster sleeve. Now I can better enjoy it, display it and read the Iron Maiden Family Tree whenever I want to! Yeah! From Steve Harris’s first band – Gypsy’s Kiss to Adrian Smith’s band in 1992 – Untouchables, with Bruce Dickinson’s bands – Shots and  Samson in between! Trust me, there is quite a bit involved with this Iron Maiden Family Tree, (and it is only up to 1993), thus making for quite a detailed – future post on Metal Odyssey… that would be a tremendous amount of keystroking!

In Metal summary, I rediscovered A REAL LIVE ONE and A REAL DEAD ONE from 1993, Iron Maiden does not disappoint me. Plus, the rediscovery of the Iron Maiden mini poster and Iron Maiden Family Tree makes this Metal flashback all the more sweeter indeed. (Wow, I said indeed for a third time, as well as the word sweeter… on Metal Odyssey).

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN

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Heavy Metal And Punk Rock Listening Suggestions For The Weekend And Beyond

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's punk rock, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, american punk rock bands, classic heavy metal, classic punk rock, classic rock music, collecting rock music, cool album covers, current punk rock music, essential heavy metal albums, essential punk rock albums, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, lists, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new punk rock music, old school heavy metal, old school punk rock, punk rock album covers, punk rock albums, punk rock bands, punk rock music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 8, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

MetalOdysseyAh, the weekend is here. Time to clean up the house, tidy the garage, finish some yard work and maybe wash and vacuum the car. Watch some College and/or NFL Football this weekend too. What are some music listening suggestions I may have for the weekend? Thank you for asking. Heavy Metal and/or all the other Metal Music genres that exist is first and foremost. Oh, may I also suggest some Punk Rock as well? Thank you for allowing me to do so. What was that? Did someone just ask me to name specifically which bands and/or albums to delve into this weekend? Gee, I feel rather honored to be suggesting to the entire world , a tidy list of great heavy bands and/or albums to choose from… uh, here it is:

The first Heavy Metal suggestion to maximize your listening enjoyment is –

W.A.S.P. GROUP PHOTO #1

LONG LIVE BLACKIE LAWLESS

Here is a Hard Rock favorite of mine, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.  Man On The Silver Mountain is an unreal great song, it never fails to give me the psyched out chills each time I listen to it. Released back in 1975, Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals makes this album a standout for Rainbow… with Ritchie Blackmore on guitar you cannot go wrong here.

Rainbow 1st Album - large pic

Alright, since I feel like it, I will suggest an Old School Punk Rock Band and just one current Punk Rock Band. However, that is it. Then I’m done. Either take it or be uncool and don’t.

Ramones. Enough said about that. Man, if you do not own any Ramones by now… BUY SOME RAMONES THIS WEEKEND!!! Any greatest hits will suffice for the beginner Ramones fan – heck, I have a greatest hits from them… this one:

Ramones "Their Toughest Hits" large album pic

Now, I cannot get enough of this new album from The Casualties. we are all we have was released on August 25, 2009. The Casualties know their Punk roots and it comes out loud and Punk clear through their Punk songs. Yeah it does. Give ’em a listen this weekend.

The Casualties "we are all we have" large pic

O.k., here is one more Heavy Metal suggestion for your listening enjoyment, guaranteed to Rock your weekend! If this album doesn’t do it for you… go listen to some Jim Nabors, (you know, the Gomer Pyle dude who actually sang and made records).

Motorhead "March Or Die" large album pic

The two cover songs of Cat Scratch Fever and Hellraiser are enormously incredible on this March Or Die album. Motorhead is the elixir of all great things about Rock and Roll.

Now, as I stated a few sentences ago… if this Motorhead album or any other suggestions on this Heavy Metal and Punk Rock list are of no interest to you and/or bother you in any sort of way, this is what you should be listening to instead –

Jim Nabors

WARNING: LISTENING TO JIM NABORS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CONSTIPATION


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TONY IOMMI & GLENN HUGHES – 1996 DEP SESSIONS ALBUM- OLD SCHOOL HEAVY METAL

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 heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's classic rock guitarists, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1986 heavy metal albums, 1986 heavy metal music, 1990's classic rock albums, 1990's classic rock music, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, Black Sabbath, century media records, classic hard rock, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock vocalists, collecting classic rock, collecting heavy metal albums, collecting music, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, hard rock music, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, hard to find rock albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock music, rock vocalists, tony iommi heavy metal guitarist, vintage hard rock bands, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 20, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

HUGHES large album picI found IOMMI With Glenn Hughes – the 1996 Dep Sessions on the Century Media Records online store CM Distro.com. This CD set me back 3 bucks plus shipping. (I bought a few CD’s so the total shipping cost of 5 bucks was reasonable to me). This CD was in the clearance section at CM Distro.com, proving to be a cool Metal find for me. Tony Iommi is the lead guitarist for the ultra legendary/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – Black Sabbath. Glenn Hughes has had a stellar career of his own, most notably being a vocalist and bass guitarist for Deep Purple on their Burn and Stormbringer studio albums from 1974. Glenn Hughes is also on the Deep Purple studio album – Come Taste the Band from 1975, as well as several Deep Purple live albums, the most notable being Deep Purple – Made In Europe, from 1976. Glenn Hughes was a member of Black Sabbath, (hey, it is an official Black Sabbath album – Black Sabbath Featuring Tony Iommi – Seventh Star). This studio album, Seventh Star, was released back in January of 1986 and Glenn Hughes was the lead vocalist only… Dave Spitz played bass on Seventh Star. This background information on Glenn Hughes is to help anyone who may be unfamiliar with his musicianship and/or career. Trust me, it would be a very long post to acknowledge everything Glenn Hughes has done during his illustrious music career dating back to 1968.

I have always revered the vocals of Glenn Hughes, not to mention his bass guitar exploits. When I listen to Glenn Hughes sing, it is the real deal for me… real Hard Rock vocals, real Heavy Metal vocals and yes, even soulful vocals on some of his solo work as well. Tony Iommi in my Metal opinion, is… if not the founding father of Heavy Metal guitar, then one of the very first. The combination of Glenn Hughes on vocals and Tony Iommi on guitar worked just fine for me on the Black Sabbath album, Seventh Star. Certainly, it was not the most famous music achievement for either Tony Iommi or Glenn Hughes, still it remains a standout album for me due to it’s Old School – Heavy Metal resonance and quality of songs.

This 1996 DEP Sessions album seems to rekindle that Old School Heavy Metal and Old School Hard Rock sound from the late 1970’s into the ’80’s. Do not expect a layered and very heavy album here, you will not be listening to Heaven and Hell or Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Even the Heavy Metal fog storm of Seventh Star is not revisited here by Iommi and Hughes. What I hear, is an appropriate blend of Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vocals from Glenn Hughes, to correspond with the diverse guitar brilliance of Tony Iommi. The riffs are plentiful, extremely distinguishable that this is Tony Iommi – the Old School, Heavy Metal riff king himself. Iommi does not shy away from writing and playing tremendously melodic leads as well, in a Metal nutshell… Tony Iommi’s guitar is the dominant musical force on this 1996 DEP Sessions album, (of course). Unlike the Black Sabbath albums with Geezer Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums, the rhythm section on this album honestly does take a back seat… albeit intentional during production or it just may be my aging Metal ears.

My three favorite songs on this 1996 DEP Sessions album are: Gone – which plays out as the heaviest song, the opening riff is vintage Tony Iommi. I‘m Not The Same Man – has reality check lyrics and is driven with melodic hardness at every nook and cranny. Fine – is a Hard Rock ballad that just grabs my attention on a personal level, plus Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes really deliver a genuine song here. All eight songs are memorable and good quality, both musically and lyrically. I won’t yell out loud that this album is unreal great and the best stuff these two Heavy Music legends have ever done. I will attest that this album has been a damn cool listening experience for me though. 1996 DEP Sessions is definitely worth picking up if you are a fan of Old School Heavy Metal and/or Hard Rock, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Glenn Hughes and Tony Iommi fans have to own this album of course, the value is in the overall musicianship and diversity in songs. I will be playing this album regularly in the future, the combination of Glenn Hughes and Tony Iommi is just too cool to ignore.

Track Listing For: IOMMI with Glenn Hughes the 1996 Dep Sessions:

Gone

From Another World

Don’t You Tell Me

Don’t Drag The River

Fine

Time Is The Healer

I’m Not The Same Man

It Falls Through Me

* the 1996 Dep Sessions IOMMI with Glenn Hughes was released on September 28, 2004, on Sanctuary and Mayan Records.

HUGHES large album pic

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CROWBAR “Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form” – Sludge Metal At It’s Finest

Posted in 1990's doom metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's metal bands, 1990's sludge metal albums, 1990's sludge metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, doom metal albums, doom metal bands this decade, doom metal music, essential metal music albums, essential sludge metal albums, extreme metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new orleans metal bands, new orleans metal music, sludge metal albums, sludge metal albums this decade, sludge metal bands, sludge metal bands this decade, sludge metal guitarists, sludge metal music 2001, sludge metal vocalists with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 17, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Crowbar - "Sonic Excess" small album picCrowbar was my Metal band of choice today. Sludge Metal with a healthy slice of Doom Metal at it’s very best is Crowbar. I gave another listen to Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form and have walked away with the same Metal satisfaction as always – ultra Sludge Metal satisfaction that is. The slow trudging and heavy duty guitar riffs combined with the slow paced rhythm section, makes me scream in Metal glee that Crowbar has taken Old School Heavy Metal to a more dark and doom ridden place. The lyrics heard in the songs on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form are gloomy, mournful and visits the realms of self suffering, doubt and infliction. Well, that is what Doom Metal delves into, topics too touchy for the faint at heart mainstream. These lyrics explore what it must feel like when one is truly suffering from extreme mental anguish. Now, if you are to look past the psychologically driven lyrics, the Metal Music is an ear crushing experience and/or escape that seems to come at me from all sides. Crowbar plays their Sludge Metal like it surrounds me, repeatedly encircling my space like a slow marching invasion of Metal giants from a far away and spooky place. Cool.

Kirk Windstein on guitar and vocals is in my Metal opinion, a true non-glamorized hero of Metal. Kirk Windstein does not need any damn red carpet to walk down on… his blue collar Metal ethic is too good for that crap. Besides, hearing is believing, listening to Kirk play guitar is dark, creeping and heavy – a wonderland of gray clouds amidst a stormy sky over a bayou. His vocals are dominant and angry enough to be considered Hardcore, the enormity of emotions that are heard when he bellows out the lyrics are mesmerizing. Plus, Kirk Windstein is one hell of a riff enthusiast, he must have millions of dark and scary riffs recorded in his mind that are still waiting to be let out. There is nothing plastic about Crowbar, no artificial ingredients to be heard on this album. Unreal. All eleven songs on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form are a journey into the Doom and Sludge Metal world of Crowbar, a journey I find worth repeating. Hey, it is like the melancholy movie that grips you, a mood intense book that you don’t mind reading again and again… each time you catch onto something that you may have missed before.

* Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form was released on August 21, 2001 on Spitfire Records.

Crowbar are they appeared on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form:

Kirk Windstein on guitar and vocals

Sammy Pierre Duet on guitar

Jeff  (Okie) Okoneski on bass

Tony Costanza on drums

Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form Track Listing:

The Lasting Dose

To Build a Mountain

Thru the Ashes (I’ve Watched You Burn)

Awakening

Repulsive In It’s Spendid Beauty

Counting Daze

In Times of Sorrow

It Pours From Me

Suffering Brings Wisdom

Failure to Delay Gratifacation

Empty Room

Crowbar "Sonic Excess" large album pic

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SLAUGHTER – “STICK IT TO YA” HAS STUCK TO ME

Posted in 1990's classic rock music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal hits, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's rock music, Album Review, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock music, collecting music, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, hard rock music, heavy meta albums 1990, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage heavy metal songs with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Slaughter "Stick It To Ya" small album picSlaughter – Stick It To Ya is an album that has really stuck to me lately. I have been listening to Stick It To Ya each day this past week, these songs on this album just seem to have hit me the right way. Released in 1990, Stick It To Ya has at least four songs that were played quite steadily on FM radio back in the very early 90’s. Up All Night, Spend My Life, Fly To The Angels and Mad About You were the hits, if you will. I have always liked this band for certain, the vocals of Mark Slaughter and the straight up Heavy Metal sound of Slaughter never fails to put me in a cool mood. Labeling Slaughter as a Glam/Hair Metal Band just does not jive with me, their brand of Rock will always be Heavy Metal, in my Metal opinion. I saw Slaughter live back around 1990 or so, they were opening up for Poison. The other opening act that night was BulletBoys. Slaughter did an all acoustic set that evening… I was disappointed that they were not going to let it all Rock out, frankly I was stunned. Despite my initial feelings with Slaughter doing the acoustic versions of their songs, it turned out to be quite cool after all. I was able to see a different look of Slaughter that night, this band showed me they were damn good musicians. This concert took place at Lake Compounce Amusement Park, in Bristol, Connecticut.

Slaughter "The Best Of" small album picI have owned for some time, the CD – The Best Of by Slaughter, the ten songs on this disc are great, only Fly To The Angels and Spend My Life are missing from the song selection. Not cool. So, I promised myself to add the real Slaughter albums to my CD collection over time, starting with Stick It To Ya. About one week ago, I found the used copy of Stick It To Ya at my local f.y.e., the astounding Metal price of $4.49 is all it took for me to claim this CD as my own. Man, I cannot get enough of this album… every single song too. Going back to 1990 for just a Metal second… Spend My Life was a song that reminded me of my girlfriend I was going steady with back then, it still does remind me of her for she is my incredible wife for the past fifteen years now. My wife, (girlfriend was her title back in 1990), gave me unconditional love and support when I needed it most back in the early 90’s. (Believe me, she still does). Spend My Life could  not have been released at a better time than 1990, this song means a ton to me.

I just spoke about Stick It To Ya today, in a conversation with my best buddy Scott, (he digs Slaughter too)… telling him that I could not believe it has been 20 years since this album was released, (give or take a few months). He understood where I was coming from. I told Scott, it seems like it was just a couple of years ago, when Slaughter made their move onto the Heavy Metal scene. This is what happens as you get older I guess, albums and bands you really dig don’t age, they only get better with time and are there for you at the push of the play button. I will be pushing that play button for Slaughter and Stick It To Ya for a very long time to come.

Track Listing for the original release of Stick It To Ya:

  1. Eye to Eye – 3:57
  2. Burnin’ Bridges – 4:07
  3. Up All Night 4:16
  4. Spend My Life – 3:21
  5. Thinking of June (Instrumental) – 1:05
  6. She Wants More – 3:55
  7. Fly to the Angels – 5:05
  8. Mad About You – 4:05
  9. That’s Not Enough – 3:25
  10. You Are the One – 3:55
  11. Gave Me Your Heart – 3:51
  12. Desperately – 3:34
  13. Loaded Gun – 4:18
  14. Fly to the Angels (Acoustic Version) – 3:22
  15. Wingin’ It – 1:11

Some Extra Info on Slaughter’s Stick It To Ya… to better fulfill your Metal Soul:

* Stick It To Ya has gone double platinum, selling over 2 million albums – very cool.

* Stick It To Ya was nominated for best Heavy Metal album of the year, by the 1991 edition of the American Music Awards.

* Stick It To Ya was released on January 27, 1990, on Chrysalis Records.

Slaughter as they appeared on Stick It To Ya: Mark Slaughter – lead vocals and guitar, Tim Kelly – guitar, Dana Strum – bass guitar and Blas Elias – drums

Slaughter "Stick It To Ya" large album pic


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KING DIAMOND – METAL BLADE TO REISSUE “THE GRAVEYARD” and “THE SPIDER’S LULLABYE” on OCTOBER 13, 2009!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, collecting music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current metal albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, extreme metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album reissued, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal solo artists, heavy metal this decade, heavy metal vocalists, horror metal, king diamond, Metal, metal blade, metal blade records, metal music, metal music today, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, scary album covers, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 22, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

King Diamond - The Spiders Lullabye large imageKing Diamond, the legendary Metal front man for Mercyful Fate and Horror Metal/Heavy Metal icon. King Diamond and his band have left more than a mark on Heavy Metal history, a chunk of Heavy Metal history is King Diamond. On October 13, 2009, the infamous Metal Blade Records will reissue two King Diamond Classics… The Graveyard and The Spider’s Lullabye. Very cool. Just in time for Halloween… very cool again. Both albums have been re-mastered by King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque. The Spider’s Lullabye was originally released in 1995, with The Graveyard originally released in 1996. Bonus live bootleg footage will be available for download, for those who purchase either of these two reissues. The bonus footage for download will be these three King Diamond songs: The Spider’s Lullabye, Trick Or Treat and Up From The Grave. Reissue’s are always great, especially when they include new songs and/or videos – downloading the bonus content for these albums is fine with me, especially when King Diamond is looking at giving the fans the highest quality in sound and video. Man, I better start saving up some spare change or my Christmas want list is going to be very long with all of the new Metal CD’s that are coming out next month! Metal rules. King Diamond is a big reason why. King Diamond is delivering a Happy Halloween to his fans and all fans of Metal on October 13, 2009.

You can find out more about these reissues and King Diamond by visiting the official King Diamond/Mercyful Fate site and King Diamond’s MySpace page:

http://www.covenworldwide.org/
http://www.myspace.com/kingdiamond

King Diamond - The Graveyard large album image

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“Frankenstein” – The Edgar Winter Group Rock Classic, an Over Kill Thrash Metal cover song

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's thrash metal albums, 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's thrash metal songs, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock cover songs, classic rock instrumentals, classic rock music, classic rock music 1972, classic rock songs, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential thrash metal albums, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal cover songs, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school thrash metal music, Over Kill, Rock, rock music, Thrash Metal, thrash metal albums 1991, thrash metal cover songs, thrash metal music, thrash metal music 1991, thrash metal music instrumental songs, thrash metal music reviews, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 31, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

The Edgar Winter Group "They Only Come Out At Night" small picIf I had to choose one of my favorite Rock instrumental songs of all time, there is no doubt “Frankenstein” comes to mind. The Edgar Winter Group released “They Only Come Out At Night” in November of 1972, this is the album you will find this original song on. Written by Edgar Winter, how ahead of it’s time was this song? Realistically, this now Classic Rock masterpiece of an instrumental song was as diversified as it was heavy. The multi talented musicianship of Edgar Winter is standout on “Frankenstein”, with the keyboards creating enough spookiness to validate the song’s title. The saxophone, in my Metal opinion, has always had a macabre sounding affect on me, only adding to the overall eerie coolness that “Frankenstein” erupts. I fell Metal head over heels for this song decades ago… I still slap this song on very frequently, especially around Halloween. Seriously, this song just goes perfect when Autumn arrives… once October hits, I have plenty of scary and heavy songs to bust out and revel in their dark side glory, “Frankenstein” leads the pack. No Halloween season can ever get by me, without listening to this song on a consistent basis. The Edgar Winter Group released a mammoth of a Rock album with “They Only Come Out At Night”, “Frankenstein” just made this release immensely complete, with it’s inclusion.

Now, step in… Over Kill. “Horrorscope” was released on September 3, 1991 and on this album, Over Kill includes the cover version of “Frankenstein”. The running time of this Over Kill  cover version comes in at 3:29, compared to The Edgar Winter Group’s original version of 4:44. Despite the shortened length of time, Over Kill demonstrated a monstrous Thrash Metal approach to honoring such a legendary Rock instrumental classic. Yes, I bought this Over Kill album within the first week of it’s release back in 1991, (I still have it on cassette too). When I first listened to Over Kill’s Thrash Metal burn on “Frankenstein”, I was stunned, all I felt was the immediate power force of guitar, bass and drums all coming together like a Metal typhoon. The only word that I honestly can remember saying aloud, listening for the first time to Over Kill’s cover version was… whoa. I also dropped plenty of complimentary f-bombs alongside the adjectives of great, incredible and insane. I still do, when talking about this Over Kill cover of “Frankenstein”. I will not lie, I look upon Over Kill, past and present, as if they were and still are the Thrash Metal kings of the entire universe. That type of Metal bias has no persuasion whatsoever, when I tell the entire planet that this cover by Over Kill is one for the Metal record books. As for the “Horrorscope” album itself… Thrash Metal of profound intensity.

I will succumb by stating, I honestly without a Metal doubt, cannot choose one version of “Frankenstein” over the other. This is a wicked example of how an original Rock Classic can be so legendary and inspiring, yet the cover version with all of it’s grand Thrash Metal bite and might, results in my saying it is a Metal tie. September is just around the corner… October shall be upon us very soon… “Frankenstein” will be played very loud by me very many times starting now… my home stereo speakers are going to get a Metal workout like they never experienced before.

Over Kill "Horrorscope" album large pic

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Skid Row – 1989 debut album still boasts a Heavy Metal variety

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's heavy metal hits, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, 1989 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal albums, Hair Metal, hair metal music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, Music, old school hair metal bands, old school heavy metal, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 4, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

main-150Skid Row released their debut album, “Skid Row” on Atlantic Records, on January 24, 1989. The timing for this Heavy Metal band proved to be a successful one, for this “Skid Row” album sold in excess of five million copies, (going five times platinum in the U.S.A.). The time line of Skid Row becoming so popular, with their first two albums proves to be quite an accomplishment, (their sophomore album “Slave To The Grind”, (released in 1991), sold two million copies and hit #1 on the album charts in the U.S.A.).  1989 was the beginning of the Grunge Music era, with Nirvana and  Soundgarden already in the marketplace. Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots later garnered massive commercial media attention and a strong following of fans in 1991. Regardless of the changing landscape in the Heavy Music culture, Skid Row made a major mark in Heavy Metal history between 1989 – 1991, with their first two albums. It is a tremendous Heavy Metal achievement for Skid Row to sell seven million albums after their first two releases in the United States. Fast forward to 2009, I still will listen to the debut Skid Row album and continue to revel in it’s variety of Heavy Metal songs.

Skid Row is a band that I always referred to as Heavy Metal… Hair Metal can be a justified label for this band as well, with their look and the 1989 breakout release of “Skid Row”, this puts them in the correct time period for that genre. Sebastian Bach in my Metal opinion, bestowed some real flamboyant, powerful, Arena Rock, style of vocals on “Skid Row”. Sebastian Bach did not introduce anything brand new to Heavy Metal with his vocals, yet I always felt he could carry a note and sing with the best of this genre. What had always stood out with Sebastian Bach’s vocals, for me, was his undeniable enthusiasm and cocky confidence. (Two necessary characteristics to have, especially for a Heavy Metal front man). As a total Heavy Metal band, Skid Row certainly never lacked any of the pertinent skills necessary to get the job done. This original Skid Row lineup on “Skid Row” combined their musicianship to create eleven top tier Heavy Metal songs. Not a bad tune in the bunch, in my Metal opinion.

“Here I Am” is probably my favorite song on this album, it just flat out Rocks. This song was not one of the hits that made it to FM radio or MTV back in the day, still, this is my hit pick. “Makin’ A Mess” is another pick of mine that scorches with speed, without question the fastest Heavy Metal song on this album. As for the hits… “Youth Gone Wild” is the most memorable and pumped up – heavy song that I point out here. Even though I may not belong to any youth generation anymore, I still get psyched out of my Metal mind when this song is cranked up. Yeah!! “18 And Life” is another major single that received it’s just due on FM radio and MTV as well… the lyrics make sense, the song Rocks heavy, the combination of these two descriptions makes this song a winner for me. “Midnight/Tornado” is as good as it gets with 1980’s Heavy Metal… the guitar solo, it just brings it man. The lyrics are tidy, the song is heavy, the Heavy Metal power is on high… “Midnight/Tornado” does it for me. O.K., there is a ballad on this album, “I Remember You”. Now, I can make a list of Heavy Metal ballads that stretches from Boston to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that I cannot stomach… “I Remember You” is not one of them. Sebastian Bach sings it… Skid Row brings it. I have spoken my Metal mind on that one.

In Metal summary, “Skid Row” delivered the heavy, at times fast, a ballad and some extremely popular and powerful hits. “Big Guns”, “Sweet Little Sister”, “Can’t Stand The Heartache” and “Piece Of Me” are the four opening songs that are best described as a Heavy Metal continuum of solid songs. “Rattlesnake Shake” is no pushover song either. Heavy album, 1980’s heavy and by today’s Old School Heavy Metal standards… a Heavy Metal album worth passing along to the youthful Metalheads of 2009. Let the youth of today listen to this Skid Row album and they should go wild.

Here is the original Skid Row, as they appeared on “Skid Row”… useful information for a well balanced Metal Music diet: Sebastian Bach on lead vocals, Dave “The Snake” Sabo on rhythm, lead guitars & backing vocals, Rachel Bolan on bass guitar & backing vocals, Rob Affuso on drums & percussion and Scotti Hill on lead and rhythm guitars.

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Jackyl – 1992 debut, Heavy Metal album revisited

Posted in 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, chainsaw heavy metal music, classic heavy metal albums, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1992, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1992, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 2, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

main-150Hey, I have always been eager to get into new Heavy Metal bands, it’s been this way for decades now. 1992 was no different than any other year, as far as searching out the latest and/or newest Heavy Metal Bands and albums. When I first heard Jackyl back in 1992, well, it was the song “The Lumberjack”… with a chainsaw being used for a solo. A chainsaw used as a dominant musical instrument… in a Heavy Metal song, now that is cool, that is Metal. Aw heck, I am going to be blunt and admit… this chainsaw ripping through “The Lumberjack” song gave me goose bumps back in 1992. Now, does this chainsaw and “The Lumberjack” song have the same goose bump affect on me today? Honestly, not as many goose bumps generate when I listen to this song in 2009, still I like the song just as much as ever. Maybe it is due to the fact, that I know the chainsaw is coming, after listening to this song so many times over the years. Make no mistake, “The Lumberjack” song still pumps me up and makes me wish I had an old, decrepit, decaying barn to tear down while I listen to this song. 

This debut album from Jackyl, which is self titled, was a refreshing reminder back in 1992 that Heavy Metal did not curl up into a ball and wither away. Jackyl’s brand of Heavy Metal arrived right when this Metalhead needed it most, when rumors abounded within the mainstream media that Metal Music was done. Well, Heavy Metal never went away, if anything, the mainstream media just did not cover the Metal Music that was out there in the 1990’s, no publicity, therefore… no existence. Right? Wrong! Jackyl was a perfect example of Heavy Metal existing in the decade of the ’90’s. Other than the chainsaw, Jackyl did not reinvent the Metal wheel back in 1992, rather they delivered upon the Metal community an album that kicked some serious tail. “Jackyl” was an album that presented some heavy hitting, kick the dirt and throw the garbage can down the driveway – attitude and songs.

Back in 1995, I worked for a very large, mail order, perennial farm in expensive Connecticut. I can remember working the perennial fields during the Summer, driving a tractor, during a very, very, long dry spell. I recall this one cool, fellow Metalhead who drove a tractor on this farm as well… he and I both so wished it would rain. I introduced him to this Jackyl debut album, (I had it on cassette then), “When Will It Rain” became a theme song for us working the fields at this perennial farm. My Metalhead buddy borrowed my Jackyl cassette to listen to, while he worked the fields with his tractor. (There is definitely something about Jackyl’s Heavy Metal and working outdoors… one seems to compliment the other). “Down On Me” is another very memorable song from “Jackyl”, nothing fancy here, just a steady, Heavy Metal track, that is carried by the rhythm section with authority. “Dirty Little Mind” is like a speeding, Metal ball of wire, uncoiling with spastic Heavy Metal abandon.

In other words, “Jackyl” was never going to indulge in therapeutic topics, nor delve into intricate musical musings. Instead, “Jackyl” was – and still is, a down home, blue collar, back roads, type of Heavy Metal album and band. “Jackyl” was never meant to impress the judges, mainstream media, or uptight people in general. Jackyl the band and “Jackyl” the album, no doubt impressed me in 1992… still does. I think that is why I appreciate this debut album from Jackyl so much, this band wrote songs to have a good time to and maybe heave that rotted log into the woods to.

Jackyl, as they appeared on their debut album “Jackyl”: Jesse James Dupree on vocals & chainsaw, Jimmy Stiff on guitar, Jeff Worley on guitar, Tom Bettini on  bass guitar and Chris Worley on drums.

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