Archive for the current heavy metal bands Category

RATT – “INFESTATION” RELEASES APRIL 20, 2010… I’M IN!!

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1984 heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1984, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 21, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RATT – Yes, I have that Metal fondness for RATT. Always have. Plus, I’m a big fan of the late Milton Berle too, his appearance in the Round And Round music video only made it that more cool. Stephen Pearcy’s “other” band Arcade is unreal great… for me. I inhale the debut and self titled Arcade album, from 1993, like it’s Heavy Metal oxygen. My favorite RATT album ever, is Out of the Cellar, from 1984. This Out of the Cellar album is super loaded with one memorable song after another. Metal be thy name.

There’s much abuzz around cyberspace as to: Does RATT still have “it”? Will this album be worthy? Why is RATT reforming at all? My Metal answer to any and all of these questions is:

LIVE AND LET METAL LIVE.

On or about April 20, 2010, I will obtain a brand spanking new CD of Infestation… and be damned glad I did. Will I like every song? Will I be disappointed for whatever reason? I cannot predict the Metal future. I’m not the Metal Nostradamus. I am anticipating, however, a bona fide and downright credible album from a group of musicians who know a thing or two about Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Look, for the nay sayers on the upcoming RATT release… it could be worse, there could be a brand new ABBA album coming out on April 20, 2010 instead. Worse yet, a CD/DVD deluxe edition of Jim Nabors could have been released as well. Think about those two chilling thoughts for a moment. Double whoa.

Vintage RATT:

For all the cool RATT info one could wish for, plus the first two singles from Infestation, (Eat Me Up Alive, Best Of Me) both streaming, check out these links below:

www.THERATTPACK.com

RATT – MySpace Music Page

RATT of 2010 is:

Stephen Pearcy – vocals

Warren DeMartini – lead guitar

Bobby “The Blotz” Blotzer – drums

Robbie Crane – bass

Carlos Cavazo – guitar

I just thank God each and every day that Hard Rock and Heavy Metal exists… period. This is RATT 2010, not some quickly put together, televised talent show winner that can’t remember their lyrics.

Ever since the Out of the Cellar album came out back in 1984, I seemed to have been imbedded with the sound of RATT ‘N’ ROLL. Back on May 19, 2009, I blabbed up and down, just how this RATT album brought great Metal joy into my teenage life back in ’84 . Check it out by clicking on the header below… if you like.

I drove my neighbors nuts with Ratt – “Out Of The Cellar”

LONG LIVE RATT ‘N’ ROLL!

Stone.

KISS – “HOT IN THE SHADE” – REVISITING A 1989 KISS KLASSIC!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1989 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, classic rock bands, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1989, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KISS – I honestly don’t know what’s not to love about this KISS album. Since it’s October release back in 1989, I can’t ever refuse Hot In The Shade the moment my eyes make contact with it… I just have to play it and play it LOUD. This album is chock full of the patented KISS hard & heavy… with all the vocal harmony I could ever wish for. Melodic isn’t the word for a song like Hide Your Heart, super melodic is more like it. There should have been a disclaimer within the liner notes of Hot In The Shade for Hide Your Heart… that stating: Warning – this song is extremely contagious to your Hard Rock and Heavy Metal health!

Hot In The Shade opens up with Rise To It, man, if this KISS song doesn’t get a rise out of any fan of Hard Rock or ’80’s Heavy Metal, then that person should check into the: Sprawling Meadows Mellow Clinic for the Dazed and Confused. Seriously, if I am having a semi-funky day or I’m starting to feel a tad down, Hot In The Shade is a pump you up and psyche you out Heavy Metal prescription I reach for. Metal be thy name.

Even Michael Bolton got in on the act with Hot In The Shade, co-writing the power ballad – Forever alongside Paul Stanley. I guess if you need some teary eyed lyrics, just call Michael Bolton up and he will deliver the kleenex worthy goods. Never the excitable ballad fan that I am, Forever is one inspirational and love infested song. For being the power ballad that it is, I respect Forever and find it to be a decent listen. Plus, due to the intense psyched out mood I’m in while listening to Hot In The Shade, once Forever comes on… I keep on listening. It’s kinda funny how Forever is the song right after Love’s A Slap In The Face too.

Even a deep album track like Boomerang Rocks like there is no tomorrow, Gene Simmons sounds classic on vocals. Silver Spoon is another example of a deep track that resonates the classic hard & heaviness of KISS. Hot In The Shade was released at the tail end of the 80’s Heavy Metal boom… and what an asterisk KISS put at the end of this power packed decade. At the end of my Metal day, this is a KISS album from the past, that I would have no problem recommending to someone, who has never listened to this iconic band before. Is this the greatest KISS album ever? Of course it isn’t… yet it isn’t the Asylum album either.

KISS as they appeared on Hot In The Shade:

Gene Simmons – bass & vocals

Paul Stanley – guitar & vocals

Eric Carr – drums

Bruce Kulick – guitar

Track Listing for Hot In The Shade:

Rise To It

Betrayed

Hide Your Heart

Prisoner Of Love

Read My Body

Love’s A Slap In The Face

Forever

Silver Spoon

Cadillac Dreams

King Of Hearts

The Street Giveth And The Street Taketh Away

You Love Me To Hate You

Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell

Little Caesar

Boomerang

* KISS – Hot In The Shade was released on Mercury Records.

LONG LIVE KISS ROCK ‘N ROLL!!!

Stone.

Check out my KISS Comic Book from 1978!

Posted in 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, classic rock bands, classic rock music, collecting rock music, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal memorabilia, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll memorabilia, rock music, rock music history, sports, sports history with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KISS – just about any and every item you can think of, has had the KISS logo or images of the band put on them. From lunch boxes to boxer shorts. Over the years, (since the late 1970’s), I have collected KISS collectibles. Still, I would not consider my KISS kollection to be very huge at all. In fact, my KISS kollection is quite modest, I have for some reason or another, showed much restraint in buying “anything” that has the KISS logo on it. One KISS kollectible that I did purchase back in the mid 1980’s was a comic book, from a comic book store that was quite messy and cold. I still have this cool comic book, (see the two pics below this post).

This KISS comic book was put out by Marvel Comics back in 1978. This comic book has 56 pages, a four page/pull out KISS poster and two pages dedicated to the making of the KISS movie – KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. A KISS interview is also included in these same pages, in regards to their making this movie. I remember when network television carried KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park, it was on NBC, sometime around 1978. If my Metal memory serves me correctly, this movie was rather corn dog… still, it was KISS! I have not seen this KISS movie in probably 30 years now… quite a few years. I will most likely seek out this KISS movie on video or if it’s even on DVD? It would be a Metal hoot to just watch it again… for old times sake!

Going back to my KISS comic book… it is in excellent condition, not mint, yet that is still fine with me. I keep it in a protective plastic comic bag too, just to preserve it all the more.

Here is what the front cover of my KISS comic book from 1978 looks like:

Here is what the back cover of this same KISS comic book looks like:

This back cover advertises the four KISS solo albums from 1978!! The heading on this back cover ad could never be more true – A Milestone! Man, does this bring back some vintage KISS memories! Plus, 1978 was the year that my beloved New York Yankees beat down the hapless Boston Red Sox in a one-game playoff for the American League Eastern Division Title!! Another Milestone! That same legendary Yankees team went on to win the 1978 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers too!! Ahhh… the memories, the milestones, they are truly priceless.

1978… KISS… a KISS comic book… and Bucky Dent hitting a home run over the infamous Green Monster at the ever historic Fenway Park. It’s funny how one memory leads to another from a particular, remembered year.

LONG LIVE KISS!

LONG LIVE BUCKY DENT AND THE 1978 NEW YORK YANKEES TOO!

Stone.

W.A.S.P. – “LIVE… IN THE RAW” RESONATES THE LIVE POWER AND SOUL OF HEAVY ROCK ‘N ROLL!!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's live heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1987 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1987, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, heavy metal vocalists, live heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

W.A.S.P. – released their first live album, Live… in the Raw on November 27, 1987, on Capitol Records. This is THE live W.A.S.P. album to own… in my Metal opinion. My best Metal buddy Scott and I practically wore this cassette out back in those late 80’s… (yes, the cassette is still in my Metal stash). With Live… in the Raw being reissued, back in 1998, four bonus tracks have since been included on this Heavy Metal masterpiece. (See track listing below). Every song rages with thorough and uncompromising heaviness, as only W.A.S.P. can deliver it. Blackie Lawless has always and still penetrates my Metal senses like an unrelenting electric shock… his vocals are damn great on this live album. Damn great.

All I hear on Live In The Raw, since Metal day one, is one impeccably talented and confident band. This W.A.S.P. lineup is classic, downright legendary. W.A.S.P. took their hits from the vulgar PMRC, (these bored political housewives started this obscene attack on Rock ‘N Roll’s freedom back around 1985), in the end, all that these snotty billionaire’s got out of their unnecessary antagonism was a lousy parental warning sticker to be put on albums. Let Metal freedom reign. If you look at the front album cover of Live… in the Raw closely, there is PMRC scrawled inside a circle with a line going through it, (just underneath the title Live… in the Raw), … that’s funny, even in 2010.

As I look back upon it now, the PMRC really did Rock ‘N Roll and all of it’s trillions of fans a huge favor… they only made us embrace and behold our bands and music we cherish all the more stronger. Live… in the Raw reestablished my fond joy that Heavy Metal brings to my life back in 1987, as I listen to this album now in 2010, it continues to reestablish that Metal fact. I knew W.A.S.P. was an enormous Heavy Metal band before Live… in the Raw was released, I just didn’t realize how F’n huge they really were… until my ears were Metal christened with this live album.

After all these years, songs like – Harder FasterI Wanna Be Somebody, I Don’t Need No Doctor, Blind In Texas and The Manimal, as heard in all their live, Metal glory, revs me up to the point where I’m beyond psyched out… I’m super F’n psyched out. You know what? I’m going out on a Metal limb here… Live… in the Raw is simply untouchable. That’s it. The overall theme of this live W.A.S.P. album is Heavy Metal F’n rules. How else can I explain it? It’s blue collar, old school and I’m not about to get fancy about this live W.A.S.P. album. I’m not going to tip toe through the F’n tulips to describe the Metal credibility and importance that this W.A.S.P. album bestows. Nor shall I fart around about the unreal energy level that Blackie Lawless and the boys generate on it. It’s Heavy Metal good times… one gigantic Heavy Metal party… this Live… in the Raw album is. Every and any fan of Hard Rock and/or Heavy Metal MUST own this piece of Heavy Metal history.

Suck me, suck me, eat me raw!!!

W.A.S.P. as they appeared on Live… in the Raw:

Blackie Lawless – vocals & rhythm guitar

Chris Holmes – lead guitar

Johnny Rod – bass

Steve Riley – drums

* Scream Until You Like It was included on the 1988 movie soundtrack for Ghoulies II.

Track Listing for Live… in the Raw:

Inside The Electric Circus

I Don’t Need No Doctor

L.O.V.E. Machine

Wild Child

9.5. – Nasty

Sleeping (In The Fire)

The Manimal

I Wanna Be Somebody

Harder Faster

Blind In Texas

Scream Until You Like It

Shoot From The Hip (Live) – bonus track

Widowmaker (Live) – bonus track

Sex Drive (Live) – bonus track

Sleeping In The Fire (Acoustic Studio Track) – bonus track

* My reissued CD copy of Live… in the Raw is on Snapper Classics.

Stone.

WITCHCRAFT – “IF CRIMSON WAS YOUR COLOUR” RARE, GREEN 45RPM – I’LL SHOW AND TELL!

Posted in album covers, current doom metal bands, current heavy metal bands, doom metal albums, doom metal music, extreme metal bands, extreme music, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal 45 rpm records, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal record finds, heavy metal records, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 5, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

WITCHCRAFT – is a throwback Metal Band, a Stoner Metal Band if you will. This band is also well known as Doom Metal. O.k., they are resiliently Old School Heavy Metal, that is for certain. Metal is… Metal. Listening to Witchcraft is always like a breath of fresh Metal air for me. I just get that everything is mysteriously mellow vibe from their music, uh, Metal. Even if the lyrics from Witchcraft are a bit doom & gloom, it doesn’t get me down. Basically, Witchcraft does cast a Metal spell on me! (Man, is that corn dog or what?). Early last year, I picked up a downright nifty Witchcraft 7″ vinyl single, (45rpm), that is green. You betcha… green vinyl. (See pics of my Witchcraft 45 below at bottom). My Metal research has found that the green vinyl pressing I own is considered a repress from 2007… and limited to 200!!! There is only 200 of these Witchcraft 7″ green vinyl, 45rpm’s in the entire world!!! I’m very pleased to be the owner of one.

The two songs on my Witchcraft 7″ green vinyl 45rpm are:

Side A:

If Crimson Was Your Colour

Side B:

I Know You Killed Someone

Both songs carry a semblance of early years Heavy Metal, sprinkled with some psychedelia nuance. The riffs scream Old School, as well as the vocals of Magnus Pelander, who also plays guitar. The echo vibe that happens on these Witchcraft songs make them all the more retro pleasing. These two songs are heavy, no speed or mind blowing solos… just some real good Metal. Witchcraft is not from the early ’70’s, nor are they from the ’80’s either. Witchcraft formed in 2000, releasing their first studio/self titled album Witchcraft on Rise Above Records in 2004. Witchcraft hails from Örebro, Sweden.

Fans of these unreal legends – early/Ozzy Osbourne era Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Candlemass or any Doom Metal Band, just might take a Metal liking to Witchcraft. Stoner Metal fans of The Sword, High On Fire and Sleep, to name a few, could easily sink their teeth into Witchcraft’s Metal too.

Witchcraft are:

Magnus Pelander – vocals & guitar

John Hoyles – guitar

Ola Henriksson – bass

Fredrik Jansson – drums

* I Know You Killed Someone does not appear on any studio album from Witchcraft, essentially this is a non-album track.

* If Crimson Was Your Colour appears on the Witchcraft studio album – The Alchemist, released in October of 2007.

* Witchcraft is signed to Rise Above Records… an independent label.

* I paid roughly around 7 dollars (U.S.) for this Witchcraft record, that included shipping too.

Here is what Side A looks like:

Here is what Side B looks like:

Both sides of this Witchcraft 45rpm plays excellent too!

Here is what the front cover sleeve looks like:

Here is what the back cover sleeve looks like:

Thanks for reading about and looking at my Witchcraft – green 7″ 45rpm of If Crimson Was Your Colour.  Check this band out, if you already haven’t… it’s really good Metal!

* The word – “nifty” – was used in the first paragraph on Metal Odyssey.

Stone.



BULLETBOYS – “SMOOTH UP IN YA” 1988 SONG & VIDEO REVISITED!

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal hits, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's heavy metal videos, 1988 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, album covers, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1988, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1988, heavy metal songs, heavy metal videos, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BULLETBOYS – On September 20, 1988, the debut and self titled album BULLETBOYS was released on Warner Bros. Records. I bought the cassette and later down the Metal road… CD of BULLETBOYS. My favorite song from this album and from this band’s career is – Smooth Up In Ya. Man, does this song bring back some fine memories… of hanging out and doin’ just nuthin’ at all besides having a good time. I saw Bulletboys live, on two Metal occasions. I saw these guys with Slaughter and Poison at Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol, (expensive) Connecticut. I later saw them with Cinderella and Winger at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Mass. My girlfriend that was with me at both Bulletboys shows is now my wife. We had a good time seeing Bulletboys (and all the other bands named, of course) live… you betcha!

Marq Torien was quite the flamboyant front man, when I saw Bulletboys live. He always reminded me of someone who looked up to David Lee Roth… not a bad influence to have if your fronting a late 1980’s Hair Metal or Hard Rock Band, in my Metal opinion. Shoot The Preacher Down from this very same debut album is another favorite of mine from Bulletboys. This song strays away from the Hair Metal stylistics and just flat out Rocks for me.

I always got a kick out of the music video for Smooth Up In Ya. The funny, cartoon illustrations that keep flashing throughout this video are a Metal hoot. This video of the Bulletboys does scream 1988 Hair Metal and rightfully so. Bulletboys always was and forever will be a cool and heavy listen for me. Check out the video for Smooth Up In Ya below… hopefully you like this song as much as I do, if so, crank it up loud mutha!!

BULLETBOYS as they appeared on their 1988 debut/self titled album:

Marq Torien – lead vocals

Mick Sweda – guitar

Lonnie Vencent – bass

Jimmy D’Anda – Drums

* BULLETBOYS was produced by Ted Templeman, (Van Halen & Doobie Brothers fame).

LONG LIVE BULLETBOYS!

RIOT – “RIOT LIVE” EP FROM 1982 IS A HEAVY METAL VINYL FIND!

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1982 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, antique shopping finds, collecting heavy metal albums, collecting rock music, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard to find records, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1982, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1982, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal records, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rare heavy metal albums, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RIOT – RIOT LIVE, was sitting there, on vinyl no less, in a pile of other vintage albums from years long past. In the middle of this antiques mall, there I staked claim to a rare and never seen by my eyes before, RIOT EP… and it was a live EP too! I decided to take a look around this antiques mall this past Sunday, not knowing what I might come across for Metal treasures. For five bucks, (U.S.), I did not hesitate to take this piece of Heavy Metal history home. The funny part of finding this RIOT album is that a Telly Savalas – Who Loves Ya, Baby? album was resting right against it! Whoa, that’s funky stuff… God rest Telly Savalas’s soul. Another funny part of this whole scenario is… someone out there will eventually buy that Telly Savalas album and be just as psyched about their find as I am about mine. Beauty is in the eye of the respective music beholder, in my case it is Old School Heavy Metal vinyl… that is rather… rare. It’s no secret that I own a turntable, uh, a few of them. Buying these Heavy Metal Vinyl Classics are to be enjoyed, by dropping that old needle down on those aging grooves.

These songs are live alright, they are Old School raw too. As I played this album for the first time,  I could here the excitement resonating in the air during these live RIOT songs. I can understand that excitement, RIOT has always been a respected Hard & Heavy band, regardless of lineup changes through the years. RIOT has that early years of Metal vibe happening on this EP, I can hear and feel the roots of Heavy Metal from these songs. Despite the NWOBHM sound that was swarming across the Atlantic back in the very late ’70’s and early ’80’s, RIOT was American made. This was a RIOT band with four studio albums under their belt as of 1982 – Rock City (1977), Narita (1979), Fire Down Under (1981) and Restless Breed (1982).

Swords And Tequila is from the studio album  the 1981 studio album – Fire Down Under. The other five songs on RIOT LIVE are from the 1982 studio album – Restless Breed.

The Track Listing For RIOT LIVE from 1982:

Hard Lovin’ Man

Showdown

Loved By You

Loanshark

Restless Breed

Swords And Tequila

* RIOT LIVE was released on Electra Records.

* You can hear Restless Breed from RIOT LIVE and many more RIOT songs from their catalog of albums, streaming on the RIOT MySpace Music Page by clicking here: RIOT – MySpace Music Page

Here is what the front cover of this album jacket for RIOT LIVE looks like:

* The bottom line of type on the front cover of RIOT LIVE reads: Limited Edition – Manufacturer Suggested List Price $4.98. That’s cool… I paid 2 cents more than it’s original 1982 price. (Granted, the condition of this vintage vinyl that I acquired is no longer mint).

Using an iphone to take this picture of my RIOT LIVE EP, the black background with the bright red type made for difficulty in clarity. The album jacket itself has worn edges and a few worn spots, that’s o.k. by me, it goes to show this RIOT EP was once loved hard by some other fan. Despite these imperfections of the album jacket, I still am Metal pleased to have found a copy of this RIOT LIVE EP. The album jacket’s back cover is a solid black, with the Elektra Records logo on the bottom center. Taking a pic of this back cover would not make much sense for it’s blankness. (In other words, there’s nothing to look at with the back cover).

LONG LIVE RIOT

ROB ZOMBIE – “HELLBILLY DELUXE 2” BLASTS WITH HEAVY METAL, HORROR AND DIRTY FUNKY COOL!

Posted in 1990's heavy metal music, album covers, Album Review, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal songs, heavy metal vocalists, horror metal, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ROB ZOMBIE IS BACK. HELLBILLY DELUXE 2 was released on February 2, 2010 on Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. If change was in the air, Rob Zombie has not smelled it. Rob Zombie has not even nibbled on the flavor of the month either. Thank the Metal Gods for the fact Rob Zombie has not undergone any self serving and self righteous soul searching with music. What Rob Zombie has created with Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is not the pre-packaged usualness of Heavy Metal. The funky heavy origins of White Zombie will always be hanging out in Rob Zombie’s albums… and why the hell not? Rob Zombie did have a valid Heavy Metal career before his name alone lit up the Metal marquees. Horror themed lyrics, funky grooves, sensational and at times bizarre sound effects, are once again the norm with Rob Zombie. Thank the Metal Gods for that.

If Rob Zombie were to come out with an album that featured acoustic ballads and songs that promoted saving the environment, I would most likely feel like the end was near for certain. Hey, string arrangements are heard on Hellbilly Deluxe 2, (courtesy of Tyler Bates), on The Man Who Laughs. This is the one song where each band member contributed to the writing of it’s music. The string arrangements are chilling, eerie and horror soundtrack material, what else would you expect? Rob Zombie makes any musical idea that comes to his Metal mind sound very cool, once it becomes a song. The percussion and drumming skills of Tommy Clufetos, creates a nightmarish image of one running away from whatever evil entity is chasing them, in my Metal interpretation. At 9:44, The Man Who Laughs is a Rob Zombie nightmare of an epic… which is a Metal compliment.

Werewolf Women Of The S.S. is about telling the truth behind Hitler’s diabolical plans to create a race of super women. Whoa. Now, that is subject matter that I would never, ever, in a million Metal years come up with myself! This is reason #1,000 as to why no one can touch the horrific and melancholic imagination of Rob Zombie. As a bonus, John 5 plays some shades of surf guitar that makes this song all the more surreal. Burn takes it to the Funk and Roll level, the kind of song you want to jump up and down to, in a dark field under a full moon. All Metal kidding aside, Burn really makes me feel like jumping up and down. Piggy D on bass and Tommy Clufetos on drums makes Burn thunder thump, like an invading band of gargantuan aliens from space, taking over a 1970’s disco.

Sick Bubblegum is Rob Zombie and his band accentuating their trademark heaviness with all of it’s non-stop and invitingly corrosive lyrics. This is Rob Zombie Heavy Metal… thank you Mr. Zombie for creating it. You have to look to the living legend of Horror Rock and Horror Metal himself, Alice Cooper, to get an understanding as to why this style of Heavy Metal is so non-negotiable. If you like, you buy and you listen. Rob Zombie has had no problems with people liking or buying over the years… shock and awe sells.

Throw in a clear fact that Rob Zombie has assembled an incredible band behind him… John 5 makes these songs scream Heavy Metal with his creative licks. Jesus Frankenstein is as hair raising as the title suggests, the haunting intro that has more darkness than a remote underground tunnel, John 5 lending a lead that seems to signal the apocalypse and an intermittent chorus of “All hail Jesus Frankenstein”, makes for the embodiment of Horror Heavy Metal legend.

Rob Zombie and John 5 are quite the dynamic Metal duo, I can literally hear the spontaneity that these two must bring to the recording studio, in these songs. (Rob Zombie and John 5 wrote each song, with the exception of The Man Who Laughs, as I noted above). This is Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, with no artificial or superficial parts or extremities. This album is an eleven part Horror Film for my ears, with Heavy Metal that realistically carries it’s own weight with creativeness that Rocks and lyrics that shocks. Rob Zombie has returned once again… and that’s a sigh of Metal relief.

Stone.

* The sub-title of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 reads: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls And The Systematic Dehumanization Of Cool

* The liner notes of this CD are unreal great, they are vintage Rob Zombie, from the art and photography to the type fonts as well. Plus, these liner notes unfold to a large poster of Rob Zombie too! Perfect for framing and mounting on your dining room wall.

Track Listing For Hellbilly Deluxe 2:

Jesus Frankenstein

Sick Bubblegum

What?

Mars Needs Women

Werewolf Baby!

Virgin Witch

Death And Destiny Inside The Dream Factory

Burn

Cease To Exist

Werewolf Women Of The SS

The Man Who Laughs

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME – TRULY IS A HALL OF SHAME.

Posted in 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's rock bands, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's hard rock bands, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock music, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock & roll, rock and roll hall of fame complaints, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock and roll hall of fame members, rock and roll news, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Well, another year has gone by and the “astute” historians and archive keepers of Rock and Roll History – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has bumbled another induction. WHERE IS… KISS? You know, the four guys known as GENE SIMMONS, PAUL STANLEY, ACE FREHLEY and PETER CRISS? Oh, god forbid if I dare mention the extended family of musicians that are/were members of KISS as well. I guess ABBA contributed so much more, to the “history” of Rock and Roll. I forgot, that ABBA is so damn hot right now in 2010 as well. Hey, disco needs it’s just due in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame too… of course. While these Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation dorks were at it, why didn’t they just induct The Wiggles right now, alongside ABBA? Get it over with. At this point, Bananarama and The Partridge Family will get inducted well before KISS ever gets their rightful induction into this snobby, uneducated in Heavy Metal, white collar, Pop Music is king… cheap excuse of a building.

Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Stooges and The Hollies deserve their rightful and historic recognition. Arguably, it is not ABBA’s fault they are recognized either… but give me a Metal break here. ABBA over KISS? That’s like choosing a glass of warm milk over a cold draft beer.

As quoted directly from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website:

“The 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were chosen by more than 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twenty-five years after their first recording is released.”

* Uh, yeah… what about… anything other than 25 years after their first album is released? Is that the only damn criteria? Crap, I’ll make a record then and wait 25 years to see if I get inducted.

* Who really is… this mysterious… 500 voters of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation? Are they all scholars, who are afraid of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal? Do any of these voters listen to Rock Music in the first place?

* It’s almost as if, these 500 voters of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation receive a copy of Rolling Stone Magazine, a few times a year, read about bands that get the good ol’ Rolling Stone Magazine seal of approval… and then… these voters decide, these are the bands! They must be good if Rolling Stone Magazine says so!

* Apparently, these 500 voters of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation get more psyched out by listening to Dancing Queen and Waterloo instead of Rock and Roll All Nite and Detroit Rock City.

* I’m not going to blab about how many Gold and Platinum Records KISS has achieved, chart singles, concert tickets sold, their impact on American Pop Culture, nor how many total albums they have put out… what’s the use? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn’t give a crap. ABBA is Back! ABBA = Rock Legends.

* Man, what would Elvis think and say of this mess they call The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Some “important” dude, named Joel Peresman, (who thinks he knows about Rock and Roll by the way), gives this lackluster and embarrassing statement on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website:

“We are very happy to present this year’s inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as they represent a great cross-section of artists that define the broad spectrum and history of rock and roll and people that have contributed immeasurably to our business” says Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Joel Peresman.

* HEY JOEL: I guess KISS are not considered to be part of the people that have “contributed immeasurably to our business”… huh?

* HEY JOEL: Go slap down some vintage opera vinyl and eat your caviar. Then light up a $10,000 stogie and make a wet fart in your imported silk pajamas.

* HEY JOEL: You really, really, um, really, need to change your sign outside that building in Cleveland, Ohio, to read: ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF SHAME AND EXPENSIVE MUSEUM

LONG LIVE KISS!

KISS – IS HEREBY, THE FIRST BAND EVER, INDUCTED INTO THE METAL ODYSSEY ROCK AND ROLL AND HEAVY MUSIC HALL OF FAME!

I SHALL INDUCT BANDS AND MUSICIANS, WHENEVER I DAMN WELL FEEL LIKE IT, AND HAVE THIS LIST POSTED ON THE METAL ODYSSEY HOME PAGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND ENJOY. A REAL ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. A REAL HEAVY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

ON FEBRUARY 21, 2010, KISS HAS BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE METAL ODYSSEY ROCK AND ROLL AND HEAVY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

CONGRATULATIONS KISS, ON BEING THE FIRST INDUCTEE INTO METAL ODYSSEY’S ROCK AND ROLL AND HEAVY MUSIC HALL OF FAME!



HELIX “DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE” – 1985 HEAVY METAL SONG THAT STILL SOARS!

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1985 heavy metal music, cool album covers, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands from canada, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1985, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 20, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HELIX, one of Canada’s greatest Heavy Metal Bands ever, released their fifth studio album – Long Way To Heaven, (on Capitol Records), back on November 9, 1985. My favorite song from this really cool album is Deep Cuts The Knife, a mid-tempo power ballad. (Check out the song below, if you like). I always had a tough time hearing Helix being labeled… Hair Metal. Not in my Metal opinion… Heavy Metal is Helix, pure and Metal simple. I remember buying Long Way To Heaven at my local Caldor Department Store back in ’85… the vinyl was warped! Believe this or not, this album still played fine… albeit looking rather funky, as it spun around the turntable! Yup, this is just another fine slab of Heavy Metal vinyl that I no longer have. CD’s took over my Metal psyche and now I have remorse for trading and selling away those treasured vinyl albums of yesteryear. It’s alright… I’ll land Long Way To Heaven on vinyl once again… down the Metal road. Deep Cuts The Knife may no longer be relevant to me lyrically, however, the Heavy Metal of Helix and this song’s melodic power always will be! Today, this great song just stuck to my brain like Metal glue… so I just thought I’d share it with the world. Hopefully you enjoy Deep Cuts The Knife as much as I do. In the event you never heard this song before… then passing along some Helix shall be my Metal deed for the day!

LONG LIVE HELIX!

CRANK UP DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE LOUD – AND BE GLAD YOU DID!

HELIX, as they appeared on the 1985 album Long Way To Heaven:

Brian Vollmer – lead vocals

Paul Hackman – guitar and vocals

Brent Doerner – guitar and vocals

Daryl Gray – bass and vocals

Greg Hinz – drums

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED – DEBUT ALBUM IS FULL BLOWN METAL!

Posted in Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal musicians, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, power metal albums, power metal bands, power metal music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 19, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Charred Walls of the Damned released their self titled, debut album on February 2, 2010 on Metal Blade Records. Cutting to the Metal chase here, my ears are telling me Charred Walls of the Damned are not just a supergroup, they are an excellent Metal Band… period. There are many shades of Power Metal found within this debut album from Charred Walls of the Damned. How many dozens of American bred Power Metal Bands can you name? Europe outnumbers America in the Power Metal category, thus anytime a North American band even sounds remotely close to Power Metal, it peeks my Metal interest. That is why I am rather excited that founding member and drummer, Richard Christy, decided to embark on an Old School Speed Metal meets Power Metal adventure like this band. Shaking loose from the confines of The Howard Stern Show to create a legit and convincing Metal album is what Richard Christy has done. After listening to Charred Walls of the Damned several times, I’ve come to the Metal conclusion that Richard Christy could probably quit his day job. Then again, it’s not too shabby a gig, to be part of The Howard Stern Show either.

Richard Christy and Tim “Ripper” Owens played together as members of Iced Earth, from 2003 to 2004. Bass guitarist Steve Digiorgio has built his Metal legacy as a founding member of Sadus, while also playing for Death, Testament, Iced Earth and Autopsy… there are a few more, yet the Metal point is made here. Throw in the fact that Richard Christy was also the drummer for Death, from 1996 to 2001 and you have Metal credibility oozing from the Metal seams here. Legendary Metal producer Jason Suecof takes the helm on guitar and of course, producing Charred Walls of the Damned. It is in my sincerest Metal opinion, that Tim “Ripper” Owens does not have to look upon himself as ever being that other lead singer for Judas Priest… never again. Charred Walls of the Damned spotlights the Ripper’s vocals, while he clearly magnifies the power and emotion of each song with Metal conviction.

Truly, an album that has no dog for a song is rare during any era of Metal Music. Charred Walls of the Damned is just that album… from Ghost Town to Fear In The Sky, the unrelenting Metal assault that is unmistakably power charged, comes at you like an out of control heat seeking missile. Jason Suecof demonstrates his guitar appreciation with unreal great confidence and clarity. The Metal leads, riffs and solos rage throughout Charred Walls of the Damned, Jason Suecof can play. If I sound over zealous about this debut album, it’s that I’m only extremely psyched that these four Metal players have combined their skills and minds to deliver a quality Metal product.

Overall, these songs are built on speed, blended with the Power Metal vocals of Ripper and thunder struck by Steve Digiorgio on bass and Christy on drums. Charred Walls of the Damned teamed up to tinker with the traditional brilliance’s of Metal. Oh, did they tinker… the end result is the Metal parts are just as great as the Metal sum with their debut album. I really hope this is just the beginning of a long line of albums, from this “new” Metal Band they call – Charred Walls of the Damned.

For more about Charred Walls of the Damned, click here: Charred Walls of the Damned – myspace music page

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED – Track Listing:

1. Ghost Town

2. From The Abyss

3. Creating Our Machine

4. Blood on Wood

5. In a World So Cruel

6. Manifestations

7. Voices Within the Walls

8. The Darkest Eyes

9. Fear in the Sky

KEEL – 1987 ALBUM “KEEL” STILL PACKS A HEAVY METAL PUNCH!

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1987 heavy metal music, Album Review, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1987, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school hair metal bands, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 17, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

When I think of the 1980’s, good times, carelessness, more parties than I can count or remember, no mortgage payments and sleeping real late comes to mind. Hey, why not? It’s all a part of growing up and it all led me down the path to where I am now… and I’m not complaining, I have the best family money or Metal can buy. So when I reach for the albums that remind me of good times, KEEL , (self titled), from 1987 puts a grin on my face and still psyches me out. So Metal be it… KEEL is one of my favorite Hair Metal Bands from the loud, proud and colorful ’80’s. I still have the CD version of KEEL from 1987, liner notes and all. Yes, the liner notes are very important to old school Metalheads like myself. All 10 songs on KEEL are packed with Heavy Metal punch… regardless of KEEL’s Hair Metal tag from that era, it’s all Metal relative. The underlining characteristic of KEEL, is this album has power. Two songs that exemplify this power adjective the best on KEEL are: Somebody’s Waiting and Cherry Lane, plus they are back-to-back… tracks 2 and 3. Does it matter if this was not the hottest selling KEEL album from their catalog? Not in my Metal opinion, at this point in time… does it really even matter?

At the end of the Metal day, it’s all about personal preference and opinion anyways. What once was old is new again… and what albums that did not sell off the shelves, are now being discussed again for those who want to seek out and give a listen to. Going back to Cherry Lane… you won’t find or hear a better tongue-in-cheek Heavy Metal song than this! Cherry Lane is a (gasp) fun song that makes me, (gasp), chuckle a tad almost 25 years later. I’m not embarrassed to admit liking some “fun” in my Hard Rock or Metal. (Hello, David Lee Roth). Calm Before The Storm is a ballad… my finicky side for ballads approved of this song a long time ago. This ballad has a tempo that isn’t so slow you want to scream, it flows very well and lyrically never made me cry and stay in bed for a week… so I have always been down with this song.

The strong vocals of Ron Keel and the chorus from KEEL is what adds to this band’s powerful identity. Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay on guitars, fuel KEEL with numerous addictive licks on this album to make these songs not just hard & heavy, they also made them memorable going on 3 decades. Toss in a smash ’em up rhythm section of Dwain Miller on drums and Kenny Chaisson on bass guitar and yes Virginia, KEEL delivered a potent Heavy Metal album here. If you are into ’80’s Hair and Heavy Metal and never bought this album, seek it out and give it more than a test drive… crank it LOUD with the car windows down… going at a reasonable speed of course, please.

* Check out the KEEL NATION here: KEEL NATION – Official KEEL website

* Also worth checking out: KEEL – myspace music page

KEEL was released on June 21, 1987, on MCA Records. This was the fourth album release from KEEL.

KEEL Track Listing:

United Nations

Somebody’s Waiting

Cherry Lane

Calm Before The Storm

King Of The Rock

It’s A Jungle Out There

I Said The Wrong Thing To The Right Girl

Don’t Say You Love Me

If Love Is A Crime (I Wanna Be Convicted)

4th Of July

KITTIE AND GOD FORBID – 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES!

Posted in concerts, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme music, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal tours, metal music, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KITTIE and GOD FORBID – TOUR DATE SCHEDULE – NORTH AMERICA!

3/3/10 – Toronto, ON. Opera House
3/4/10 – Mar Montreal, QC. Underworld
3/6/10 – Sayreville, NJ. Starland Ballroom
3/7/10 – Raleigh, NC. Volume 11
3/8/10 – Allentown, PA. Crocodile Rock
3/10/10 – Huntington, WV. V Club
3/11/10 – Covington, KY. Mad Hatter
3/14/10 – Milwaukee, WI. The Rave
3/16/10 – Waterloo, IA. Spicoli’s Rock Garden
3/19/10 – Columbus, OH. Al Rosa Villa
3/20/10 – Flint, MI. Machine Shop
3/21/10 – Cleveland, OH. Peabodys
3/23/10 – New York, NY. BB Kings
3/24/10 – Foxborough, MA. Showcase Live
3/25/10 – Nashua, NH. Amber Room
3/26/10 – Orono, ME. Ultra Lounge
3/27/10 – Poughkeepsie, NY. The Chance

Two unreal great Metal Bands… together… this shall make for one HELL of a show!

SCARS ON BROADWAY – “THEY SAY” 2008 7″ PICTURE DISC SINGLE & VIDEO I’D LIKE TO SHOW YA’

Posted in 1990's alternative metal bands, alternative metal bands, alternative metal music, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal picture discs, heavy metal records, heavy metal songs 2008, heavy metal videos, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SCARS ON BROADWAY. Daron Malakian, (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, organs and vocalist) and John Dolmayan, (drums), need no formal introduction, due to their legendary careers with System of a Down. The debut and self titled album Scars On Broadway was released back on July 29, 2008. The single from their debut album – They Say was also released as a 7″ picture disc back in 2008. My picture disc version of They Say, is shown below – both sides. (There is a U.K. version that is limited to 2,000 pressings, with a different image as well) (My picture disc version of They Say has no exact number to it’s limited pressing, to the best of my Metal knowledge). This picture disc was released by Velvethammer with the song licensed to Interscope Records.

As for the song itself… great song! I simply get into this song like there is no tomorrow! The lyrics of They Say basically speaks exactly how I feel about the nightly news and all the depressing information and disinformation, that is fed into the minds of people, on a constant, daily basis. Through the lyrics of They Say, Daron Malakian is honestly stating that the world’s news isn’t all peaches and cream. Lyrical reality about society can and does exist in Metal and Hard Rock songs. When expressed in matter of fact language, such as They Say, the points are driven home and are related quite easily for my interpretation. Sure, They Say Rocks hard and gets me psyched out… yet it also makes me stop to think – about the reality of the world we live in. In my Metal opinion, this song is riveting.

Check out, if you so choose, the still music video for They Say below. It is a still video, showing the debut/self titled album cover – Scars On Broadway, with this great song being played with NO lyrics being edited… crank it LOUD!

Here is what my 7″ picture disc looks like, Scars On Broadway – They Say:

Daron Malakian is pictured on the left, John Dolmayan is pictured on the right of this picture disc photo.

*This picture disc version contains They Say on both sides.

I bought this picture disc sometime back in 2008… guess where? Hot Topic. If you guessed Office Depot or Walgreens Pharmacy… you were way off.

* For more info, music, videos, news and images of Scars On Broadway, click on the link below for a direct visit to their official website:

SCARS ON BROADWAY

As for the entire debut and self titled album – Scars On Broadway, I will praise it on a future post… it’s that darn good! Here’s what the Scars On Broadway album cover looks like:

Thanks for visiting and/or making return visits to Metal Odyssey! It’s Metal appreciated, believe me.

SCORPIONS – A METAL THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC AND MEMORIES!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, classic rock music, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, hard rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal birthdays, heavy metal from germany, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SCORPIONS. Legends of Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and Rock History. Really, what can I truly say about the inevitable retirement of the Scorpions, that has not already been said today, across the world? All I can say, from my very own personal, Metal perspective, is THANK YOU. Thank you Scorpions for the albums of songs, the videos, the tours, the loyalty to the fans and for just knowing that you were THERE for me to listen to as a young teen, all the way through adulthood. With three years left to go before the official Metal curtain falls… I will make every Metal effort to say goodbye at a live show. There is still three more years of Scorpions memories to be had. Plus, with the new studio album Sting In The Tail coming out this March, there has never been a better time than 2010 to celebrate a true Champion of Heavy Metal – SCORPIONS! I actually have duck bumps going up and down my arms as I write this… it’s like I am saying thank you and goodbye to a good buddy. In the grand Metal scheme of things, yes, the Scorpions were always my buddy… one of my core Heavy Metal bands to turn to for inspiration, enjoyment and of course… partying, (when I was a young lad and could stay up all night).

A fan becomes a part of a band, whether or not that band knows it or not. The Heavy Metal community is family and it’s a day like January 25, 2010, when this realization really sets in. Just like when a favorite New York Yankee of mine retires or gets traded, it leaves that notorious lump in my throat. Well, I have that lump in my throat today… only it’s a Metal lump. To commemorate this iconic Heavy Metal Band, I have compiled a list, a Metal roll call if you will, of the musicians of the Scorpions – both past and present. I thank each and everyone of them. I also have blabbed about my Metal adoration for the Scorpions a few times on Metal Odyssey, during my short time in doing this blog gig. Please check out these three posts if you feel like it, just click on the headers below the Scorpions roll call.

Scorpions – Present:

Klaus Meine – vocalist

Rudolf Schenker – guitarist

Matthias Jabs – guitarist

Pawel Maciwoda – bass guitarist

James Kottak – drummer

Scorpions – Past: (In no particular order)

Michael Schenker – guitarist

Ulrich Roth – guitarist

Francis Buchholz – bass guitarist

Herman Rarebell – drummer

Wolfgang Dziony – drummer

Lothar Heimberg – bass guitarist

Jurgen Rosenthal – drummer

Achim Kirschning – keyboardist

Rudy Lenners – drummer

Barry Sparks – bass guitarist

Ralph Rieckermann – bass guitarist

Curt Cress – drummer

Ken Taylor – bass guitarist

Ingo Powitzer – bass guitarist

(And of course, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra too)

* Please note, if I happened to overlook any former Scorpions musician from the past, please let me know through a comment and that respective musician shall be added to this list. Any Metal oversight is wholeheartedly unintentional on the part of Metal Odyssey and I apologize now in case this was to happen.

From the 1972 studio album release of Lonesome Crow to the highly anticipated Sting In The Tail studio album of 2010, with every single studio and live album in between, the Heavy Metal from the Scorpions will live on for future generations to embrace and enjoy.

LONG LIVE SCORPIONS HEAVY METAL!

SCORPIONS – “SAVAGE AMUSEMENT” 1988 ALBUM FLASHBACK

Scorpions “World Wide Live” – 1985 album revisited

Happy Metal Birthday, Klaus Meine – Scorpions vocalist

SAXON – “BACK ON THE STREETS” APPLE SHAPED PICTURE DISC FROM 1985!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, 1985 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, feel good stories, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal picture discs, heavy metal record finds, heavy metal records, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, old school heavy metal, picture discs, power metal bands, power metal music, rare heavy metal records, rare picture discs, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SAXON – Back On The Streets, (die-cut), shaped picture disc FIND!  This past week, I entered yet another antique mall and I stumbled upon this unreal great Saxon picture disc! I was in Metal glee, upon my eyes becoming affixed, to this piece of Saxon vinyl memorabilia. The price I paid for this Saxon find was $10, (U.S.), Metal money worth spending. I don’t know the actual value of this picture disc on the open Metal market, yet I have a funny feeling it is worth more than the $10 I spent on it. Looking around the world wide web, I did not find one dealer/site that has this Saxon picture disc for sale. (Now, can I honestly say it is not available anywhere on the internet? Of course not… I just have not seen one just yet). I will have to think, with Metal certainty, that this Saxon picture disc must be scarce. Oh, the feeling of making a Metal score like this! Why I feel so psyched is that this is a picture disc from 1985, it’s not as if it’s a current/newly released picture disc. Plus, the sheer fact that this is a Heavy Metal band that I really do like makes it only better.

SAXON – Back On The Streets – Shaped Picture Disc Specs:

Side A: Back On The Streets

Side B: Live Fast Die Young

* To the best of my Metal research, Live Fast Die Young has never appeared on any Saxon studio album. Maybe it has appeared on a Saxon bootleg? Anyone with further info on the song Live Fast Die Young is welcomed to comment. If this is to be the only Saxon recording that Live Fast Die Young is found on, man, that makes this picture disc all the more Metal important.

* This is a U.K. import, the picture disc code, (found at the bottom of Side B), is: RP 6103.

* Directly below the picture disc code is a small logo witch reads: Parlophone.

* Other text found at the bottom of Side B, reads: SAXONGS CARLIN MUSIC CORP., (and), 1985 Original Sound Recordings Made By EMI Records LTD., (and), 1985 EMI Records LTD.

The single Back On The Streets is from the Saxon album Innocence Is No Excuse, (released in 1985).

Saxon, as they appeared on the 1985 album Innocence Is No Excuse:

Biff Byford – lead vocals

Paul Quinn – guitarist

Graham Oliver – guitarist

Steve Dawson – bass guitarist

Nigel Glockler – drums

This super fine picture disc is shaped like an apple, with the stem actually protruding out at the top! Here is what this Back On The Streets – shaped picture disc looks like:

Side A:

Side B:

I thank my wife for taking the pics for Metal Odyssey… she is quite a Metal asset for me in more ways than I can count, I honestly don’t know what I would do without her… that is a Metal fact!

MANOWAR – “WARRIORS OF THE WORLD UNITED” METAL MUSIC VIDEO DEFENDS FREEDOM!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's metal bands, 1990's power metal music, 2002 heavy metal albums, 2002 metal music, american heavy metal bands, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, old school metal bands, power metal bands, power metal music, power metal songs, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MANOWAR. THE KINGS OF METAL. I have always stated… I won’t argue with them on that. I’m cool with it. I have always pumped my fists into the air to Manowar Metal. Manowar is a core Metal Band for me. Warriors Of The World United is an absolute tremendous Metal anthem – defending the freedom we all cherish. Freedom I shall never, ever, take for granted. Manowar is an American Metal Band that I shall never take for granted. There are those Metal Bands and the songs they write, that stand for what I believe in… Manowar and Warriors Of The World United exemplifies this. Warriors Of The World United resonates the spirit and pride of being free, wherever you may live, especially in this undisputed great country of The United States of America. I cannot control the feeling of getting psyched out, each and every time I listen to this song. Hopefully, you may like this song and video as much as I do. I am proud to be an American, a Metalhead and a fan of Manowar. Long live MANOWAR!

* For all the latest Metal news and happenings with MANOWAR, check out their official website by clicking this link: MANOWAR – Official Website

* Manowar released the album Warriors Of The World, on Nuclear Blast Records, June 4, 2002.

MANOWAR as they appeared on the album Warriors Of The World:

Eric Adams – lead vocals

Karl Logan – guitar and keyboards

Joey DeMaio – bass guitar

Scott Columbus – drums

KROKUS – “ALIVE AND SCREAMIN'” IS A HEAVY METAL FIND ON VINYL!

Posted in 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's live heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1986 heavy metal albums, 1986 heavy metal music, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1986, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal records, live heavy metal albums, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KROKUS – Alive and Screamin’, on vinyl and in mint condition, with it’s original album plastic still covering it… there it was, on one of my recent Heavy Metal hunting expeditions, sitting in an antique mall screamin’ for me to buy it. Five bucks I shelled out to bring this vintage, Old School Heavy Metal album home with me. Five bucks. This great Krokus album was opened by someone in the past, still, the vinyl and original inner sleeve itself is mint! Plus, as a Metal bonus, it plays just fine! I deliberately went to visit this antique mall for a find … a Metal find that is. It’s not as if there are truck loads of vintage or current Heavy Metal albums and memorabilia at this antique mall, not in the least. I really have to scour the goods, peruse the aisles and sniff out the Heavy Metal from where it is hiding. It’s good times for me, searching for Heavy Metal albums or anything Hard Rock/Heavy Metal related at these kind of places. I’m a nostalgic Metalhead, always was, always will be. Finding and collecting the Heavy Metal vinyl I once owned or never owned is a natural Metal high for me, especially when I land them mint and cheap! As long as I have a turntable or two to play these albums on, the Metal enjoyment shall carry on long after the purchase.

Alive and Screamin’ marked the first live album released by Krokus. Overall, this live album has fantastic sound quality, a very well produced live album. This live Krokus album proves for me, to be an Old School and heavy warm-up to the new upcoming Krokus albumHoodoo, that is set for a February 26, 2010 release! What a heavy duty way for Alive and Screamin’ to start off, kicking into Heavy Metal gears with Long Stick Goes Boom, Krokus sets the tone for the remainder of this live album, they made the statement a long time ago… that they came to kick some Heavy Metal ass.

Stayed Awake All Night and Eat The Rich sound unreal great, with all of the heavy and live elements happening, it’s psyche you-out city! Metal truth be told, I really had a blast revisiting Alive and Screamin’… I actually spun this album on the turntable four times in a row! No skips or crackles… just a real mint album I found here. I actually wonder if this album was ever played in the past at all. I’m playing this album on a regular basis, loud too!

Headhunter is certainly the heaviest Krokus song on Alive and Screamin’, an all-time favorite Krokus song of mine too. Another Metal truth be told is: I actually like the live version of Midnite Maniac better than the studio version. Often times it happens this way for my Metal ears.

Screaming In The Night proves to be a quintessential Heavy Metal ballad, of historical Krokus importance. To this very day, I cannot get enough of Screaming In The Night, this song just seems to flow in it’s heavy uniqueness. Marc Storace on vocals sounds terrific on each song, the same can be said for each member of Krokus on Alive and Screamin’. Fernando Von Arb and Marc Kohler on guitars just  seem to ignite these classic Krokus songs.

Krokus, as they appeared on Alive and Screamin’:

Marc Storace – lead vocals

Fernando Von Arb – lead guitar

Mark Kohler – rhythm guitar

Tommy Keiser – bass guitar

Jeff Klaven – drums

* Alive and Screamin’ was recorded live in the following cities: Amarillo, Texas, Cincinnati Ohio, Baltimore Maryland, Poughkeepsie, New York and Toronto, Canada. (Source: liner notes on the inside album sleeve).

Track listing for Alive and Screamin’:

(Note: Krokus studio album from where song originated in parentheses)

Long Stick Goes Boom – (One Vice At A Time)

Eat The Rich – (Headhunter)

Screaming In The Night – (Headhunter)

Hot Shot City – (Change Of Address)

Midnite Maniac – (The Blitz)

Bedside Radio – (Metal Rendez-vous)

Lay Me Down – (Alive and Screamin’)

Stayed Awake All Night – (Headhunter)

Headhunter – (Headhunter)

* Lay Me Down was the first time this song appeared on a Krokus album.

* Alive and Screamin’ was released in October of 1986, on Arista Records.

* The front cover of Alive and Screamin’ was created by world renowned illustrator – Les Edwards.

* I really, really, really, dig the front cover album artwork of Les Edwards – that is one evil looking vampire. If it’s not a vampire, then it is one vile and evil looking dude that I would not want to encounter in a dark alley. Metal be damned, this evil face sincerely reminds me of my old High School chemistry teacher as well. I wouldn’t want to encounter a vampire or my old H.S. chemistry teacher in a dark alley either.

GRIM REAPER – “SEE YOU IN HELL” 1984 VIDEO EXPLODES OLD SCHOOL HEAVY METAL!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1984 heavy metal albums, 1984 heavy metal bands, 1984 heavy metal music, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1984, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1984, heavy metal videos, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, scary album covers, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Grim Reaper – See You In Hell. This album was released in 1984, (on RCA Records). I was a senior in high school and in dire need of some Metal “pick-me-up” on a daily basis… Grim Reaper delivered with this album and song. Metal truth be told, See You In Hell was my very own anthem, that I would sing under my breath to my antagonists, back in those days. See You In Hell is still a very inspirational song for me today… and why not? It’s more polite to sing these lyrics under my breath at those who irritate me, than to say f**k off to them. I am a considerate Metalhead after all. Looking back on this debut album – See You In Hell from Grim Reaper, it just screams Old School Heavy Metal from every dark corner. Raw. Very raw. Grim Reaper later polished their Metal up a bit with their next two albums: Fear No Evil (1985) and Rock You To Hell (1987). Nonetheless, this debut album from Grim Reaper remains my favorite out of their three studio albums. I can remember catching this video for See You In Hell on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, it was absolutely a favorite Heavy Metal Music video of mine, back in the ’80’s… it still is.

At the end of the Metal day, See You In Hell is an album I look upon with the fondest of Metal memories. This wasn’t a superstar Heavy Metal band, instead this was a blue collar Metal band that brought the heavy goods to an eighteen year old who needed it most back in 1984. Grim Reaper was not built on selling their looks and style for GQ magazine… they were built on Metal. I understand lineup changes occur over the years, still, I sincerely hope for Steve Grimmett and Grim Reaper to maybe consider a strengthening of their Metal reformation – into a new album of headbanging songs… that would make my middle-aged Metal day.

The See You In Hell video below just explodes everything Old School Heavy Metal. From the overall production to the Metal of Grim Reaper… this was back in the day when the song and Metal mattered the most and not the smoke and mirrors of a visual experience.

To learn all you want about the career of Steve Grimmett, (lead vocalist of Grim Reaper, Onslaught, Lionsheart and The Steve Grimmett Band, click on his MySpace Music Page link here: Steve Grimmett/Grim Reaper/Solo Artist – MySpace Music Page

Here is a cool Grim Reaper – Tribute Site to check out: GRIM REAPER – Tribute Site

Grim Reaper, as they appeared on See You In Hell:

Steve Grimmett on vocals

Nick Bowcott on guitar

Dave Wanklin on bass

Lee Harris on drums

Track listing for See You In Hell:

See You in Hell

Dead on Arrival

Liar

Wrath of the Ripper

Now or Never

Run for Your Life

The Show Must Go On

All Hell Let Loose

LONG LIVE GRIM REAPER!

SEE YOU IN HELL!

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)

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