JOE SATRIANI – The 14th studio album, Unstoppable Momentum, from Legendary Rock/Heavy Rock guitarist Joe Satriani will be released on May 7th, via Epic Records. Check out the sensational cover art above! Metal be thy name!
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Unstoppable Momentum – Musicians Featured:
Vinnie Colauita (Sting, Jeff Beck) on drums
Chris Chaney (Janes Addiction) on bass
Mike Keneally (Dethklok) on keyboards
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Track listing for Unstoppable Momentum:
01. UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM
02. CAN’T GO BACK
03. LIES AND TRUTHS
04. THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND
05. I’LL PUT A STONE ON YOUR CAIRN
06. A DOOR INTO SUMMER
07. SHINE ON AMERICAN DREAMER
08. JUMPIN’ IN
09. JUMPIN’ OUT
10. THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
11. A CELEBRATION
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JOE SATRIANI – UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM– Joe’s new studio album will hit the streets May 7th; yet you can get your presale bundle now! http://www.satriani.com/presale/
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* For more info on JOE SATRIANI, click on the links below!
Richmond, VA – Much to the excitement of Hard Rock fans around the globe, Firehouse legend Bill Leverty has released a fantastic new CD of classic rock covers – guaranteed to thrill even the hardest of rockers! Covers include songs from bands and artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Little Feat, The Ohio Players, Three Dog Night, Eric Clapton, Edgar Winter, The Guess Who, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Rare Earth.
Says Bill, “These songs were all very personal. In choosing these songs to cover, each had to be a song that I loved before I started playing guitar, that I still love today, a song that hadn’t been covered to death in the genre and a song that I thought I could put my own spin on, while still staying true to the original recordings. That narrowed it down to these ten songs.”
Hailing from Richmond, VA, Bill Leverty and Firehouse first gained recognition in 1991 when they won the ‘Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist’ from the American Music Awards. Signed to Epic Records, Firehouse would go on to release several hit songs throughout the ’90s such as “Don’t Treat Me Bad”, “Love Of A Lifetime”, “All She Wrote” and “Reach The Sky”, to name a few. The band sold over 2 million copies of their debut album ‘Firehouse’, and sold close to a million copies of their second album ‘Hold Your Fire’ in the US alone.
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For their 3rd release the band secured the production chores of famed producer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Damn Yankees, UFO, etc). ‘Firehouse 3’ went on to be another big seller, especially in Asia. Their next release ‘Good Acoustics’, the first of several albums produced by Bill Leverty, won them a Gold record in several countries. Firehouse would go on to release 5 more well-received critically acclaimed albums as well as successful world tours throughout the 2000’s. The band to this day continues to tour playing their back catalog of hits to cheering fans everywhere and has sold over 6 million units worldwide!
In the mid-2000’s Bill Leverty released several musically diverse solo albums ‘Wanderlust’ (2004), ‘Southern Exposure’ (2007) and ‘Deep South’ (2009). Which leads us to ‘Drive’, Bill’s new covers CD.
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Tracks include:
“Fortunate Son” – CCR
“Spanish Moon” – Little Feat
“Free Ride” – Edgar Winter
“One” – Three Dog Night
“I Shot The Sheriff” – Eric Clapton
“Fire” – The Ohio Players
“No Time” – The Guess Who
“Jesus Children Of America” – Stevie Wonder
“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” – Steely Dan
“I Just Want To Celebrate” – Rare Earth
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In a recent interview with Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited, Bill explains the exciting rock guitar sound he has created on the album’s recordings, “It all starts with my C.R. Alsip guitar. C.R. Alsip guitars are made right outside of Wichita, KS. Mine is a neck-through-body guitar. It’s hard rock maple with mahogany sides. This wood combination, along with some other very unique design elements, makes the guitar very solid and it has a very favorable tone. I used the bridge pickups, which are Billy Gibbon’s Pearly Gates pickups by Seymour Duncan, on this one. I plugged the guitar straight into my Splawn Quick Rod 100 for a stereo pair of rhythm tracks and into my Fractal Audio Axe FX II for another stereo pair.”
In closing Bill has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “I really want to thank all the people who have supported my career and made it possible for me to be able to work full-time in the music business for over 25 years. It’s been a great ride so far. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep this train rolling for another 50 years. Hope to see you down the road!!”
Check out the recent interview Bill did with Guitar World magazine:
CLUTCH – The brand new studio album, Earth Rocker, from Maryland’s warriors of Heavy Rock, aka CLUTCH, will be releasing tomorrow on March 19th! This will be the 10th studio album from CLUTCH, releasing via Weathermaker Music.
I’ll be heading out tomorrow to buy the physical CD of Earth Rocker, cause there’s nothing like grabbing a hot new release from CLUTCH right off the store shelf. Metal be thy name.
Below is the Best Buy pre-sale link for both CD and Vinyl:
On Record Store Day, April 20, Soundgarden will be releasing a limited edition vinyl of the King Animal demos worldwide. This is the first time these recordings have been available together.
The songs will be pressed on 10″ PINK vinyl and the 6-song package will also include a free digital download card.
The demos were recorded by Chris Cornell & Soundgarden at TNC Studios in Los Angeles, CA and Deke River Studio in Seattle, WA.
SLAUGHTER REVOLUTION – STONE’S METAL PICK OF THE DAY!
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SLAUGHTER REVOLUTION – This fourth studio album from Slaughter, Revolution, may not bestow that same 90’s Arena-style Heavy Rock which skyrocketed this band up the charts; still this is a Slaughter album that deserves to be revisited for its Psychedelic backdrop meets late 90’s Hard Rock. Truthfully, the album cover is much more Psychedelic than the songs! Back when Post-Grunge was heating up the airwaves and Heavy Metal was not getting anymore love from the media, for me, Slaughter honestly released a very memorable album with Revolution back in 1997.
The vocals of Mark Slaughter are toned down here and there on Revolution, yet Tongue n’ Groove is a song that Mark Slaughter nails with excitement! Believe me, Mark Slaughter has his classic moments, vocally, on this album. There’s something about the ambiance of it all, some special Slaughter potion was added here that makes this album still Rock like crazy for me. The album opener American Piemakes me feel like it’s 1970; only in a good way. This American Pie song has all the retro/Psychedelic flavor one could ask for and it seriously sucks me right in.
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The (legendary) Joe Walsh gem from 1973, Rocky Mountain Way, is covered here by Slaughter and it sounds exceptionally groovy. Metal as my witness, Slaughter made this song their own… still, the original can never be topped. From beginning to end, Revolution is worthy of listening to in its entirety. I truly don’t want to skip a song on Revolution, each time I listen to it. A sad fact about Revolution is it’s the last time guitarist Tim Kelly would shine on a Slaughter studio album. Tim Kelly had passed away in an automobile accident the following year of 1998.
I’ve seen Revolution for sale on Amazon.com as an import CD, along with the MP3 album. If you’re looking to get your ears into a 90’s Hard Rock album without all the bells and whistles featuring the flavor-of-the-month from that era, then Revolution from Slaughter just might do the Rockin’ trick. By the way, my media version of Revolution is on cassette and it sounds grand while I’m driving my 2000 Ford Taurus. Metal be thy name.
BLACK STAR RIDERS, the new band featuring THIN LIZZY members Ricky Warwick, Damon Johnson, Scott Gorham and Marco Mendoza together with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper / Megadeth), have announced ‘All Hell BreaksLoose’ as the title of their debut album on Nuclear Blast Entertainment, which will be released Worldwide on the following dates:
May 21st – Japan
May 22nd – Sweden
May 24th – Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway
May 27th – U.K., France, BeNeLux, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Greece
May 28th – U.S., Canada, Italy, South America
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About the origin of the album title, BLACK STAR RIDERS frontman Ricky Warwick states:
“I was watching a documentary about World War II bombers and saw the name painted on the side of one of the aircraft. The name just resonated with me and it seem to encapsulate the turmoil that we, as a society, are currently experiencing. The past few years have been such a wild ride and now with the release of the album, it sounded like a bad-ass album title that summed up what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about.”
Produced & mixed by the legendary Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Rush), the track listing for All Hell Breaks Loose is:
01. All Hell Breaks Loose
02. Bound For Glory
03. Kingdom Of The Lost
04. Bloodshot
05. Kissin’ The Ground
06. Hey Judas
07. Hoodoo Voodoo
08. Valley Of The Stones
09. Someday Salvation
10. Before The War
11. Blues Ain’t So Bad
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The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special edition digi-pak featuring a bonus track “Got A Right To Be Wrong” and a “Making of” DVD.
A 24-minute compilation of behind-the-scenes video reports from the band’s studio time in Los Angeles can be viewed on YouTube: http://youtu.be/JEx9gD8RPz8
Confirmed festival appearances for BLACK STAR RIDERS include:
June 1st Hi Rock Festival – Inzell, Germany
June 2nd Hi Rock Festival – St. Goarshausen, Germany
June 8th Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, Sweden
London, UK – Muli-instrumentalist and former drummer with the longest running KISS tribute act Dressed To Kill, Ian Danter has released his debut hard rock CD ‘Prove You Wrong’ on CherryRed Records. Ian Danter, a well-respected musician in his own right,can proficiently play several instruments, which he displays on his new CD. Ian plays drums, guitars, bass, keyboards and sings background vocals and lead on the three tracks. Lee Small, lead vocalist from the UK hard rock outfit SHY, lends his powerful Dio-esque vocals to 12 of the 15 tracks on the CD. Upon first listening to ‘Prove You Wrong’ classic rock artists like Rainbow and Dio immediately spring to mind. Ian explains, “I loved the music I grew up on because it made me stop and listen. It also made me appreciate good melody and how to construct a song. That is what ‘Prove You Wrong’ set out to do – to recreate the era of the song, the riff, the FEEL rather than following a trend.”
Some say sports and Rock and Roll don’t mix.. yet in the case of Ian Danter, this notion has been proven wrong. As well as his fame in the music industry, Ian is also known for his highly successful and fanatical fan-supported Saturday evening show ‘Football First’ on talkSPORT Radio, as well as presenting both local and national radio programmes in a wide variety of formats for well over a decade. Some may find it peculiar that a renowned sportscaster with an immense fan following would be able to deliver a hard rocking, well written and produced album, yet the CD title says it all. Ian explains, “As for the title, ‘Prove You Wrong’…well that is all about my desire to show that sports broadcasting and rock music are not mutually exclusive career choices! You can be credible as both, despite conventional wisdom, and I want to ‘prove’ that with this album.”
Because of Ian’s fame and work schedule as sports presenter, recording his new CD was not something that happened overnight. Says Ian, “I’ve been meaning to record my original stuff for over a decade now. The spark to actually get me into the studio was a little unfortunate – a couple of local musicians and friends passed away recently, including SHY guitarist/songwriter Steve Harris. At Steve’s funeral, I started talking to a producer friend and the subject came around to my stuff… Steve had been able to complete recording SHY’s best album just before his passing, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had to record my songs as soon as I could…you never know what the future might bring, after all.”
Ian’s musical influences can be heard loud and clear on his new CD, in particular his earliest musical loves Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and Rainbow. Ian recalls, “My older brothers owned ‘Machine Head’ by Deep Purple, ‘Live & Dangerous’ by Thin Lizzy and ‘Rising’ by Rainbow. Rainbow and Ronnie Dio’s voice were a huge influence on me. ‘Rising’ especially really captivated me…the riffs, the vocals, the sheer scale of it all just blew me away. Then one day at my cousin’s place I saw a couple of KISS albums in his collection and asked to borrow one – that was ‘Alive!’ and it was a total life-changer and had a profound effect on me. Before long I was buying everything I could find in their back catalogue – which wasn’t an easy task in 1970’s England! I’ve remained a staunch foot soldier in the KISS Army ever since.” Ian played drums with the longest running KISS tribute band Dressed To Kill for 5 years. Other musical influences include Dio, Rush, Foo Fighters, Wildhearts, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, Pantera, Journey and Aerosmith, to name a few.
In closing, Ian has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “I hope you get as much out of listening to these songs as I did putting them together. It was a real labor of love… and hard work should always pay off!”
Ian Danter’s CD release party will be held on Friday March 22, 2013 at Birmingham City FC’s Jasper Carrott Suite.
Our fans are the are the most loyal fans in the world. We are totally grateful and feel very blessed! – Mark Kendall
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The story of Great White has many twists and turns; rising to a hard-earned status of world-wide popularity in the 80’s, with millions of albums sold, resulting in an instantly recognizable and branded band name, a 1990 Grammy nomination, touring across the globe with the industries biggest name bands, tragedy, a media intensified change in lead vocalists, lawsuits and then… Elation. With the arrival of Terry Ilous as the new frontman for Great White, a whole new era of Rock ‘N’ Roll spirit was ushered in as well for this legendary band.
Mark Kendall, Great White’s founding member, guitarist and songwriter, has recently took the time from his packed schedule to be interviewed by me; for which I extend a tremendous thank you to this talented and legendary gentleman of Rock. Mark elaborates on what the current vibes within Great White are like, the band’s newest studio and live albums, the changeover with lead vocalists and of course the fans. Here is what Mark Kendall had to say:
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Stone: What was (until now) the untold “big break” that Great White encountered during the early days of the band?
Mark: One of our first big breaks was meeting our Manager Alan Niven and making our first 5 song EP. This was such a huge moment for us. Michael Wagener was brought out from Germany to Engineer and Produce it and we already knew of him because of his work with Accept. Then when airplay followed on the 2 biggest Radio Stations in Los Angeles on KMET and KLOS we had really started to get excited.
Stone: After all these years, can Great White declare a feeling of Elation, just as your new album title reads?
Mark: Absolutely! We are really enjoying ourselves at the moment and the energy within the band is very positive!
Stone: During the exit period of Jack Russell was there ever a time when you thought Great White was “on the ropes”?
Mark: I never felt the band was on the ropes, but I felt Jack was. It’s very difficult to watch a person self destruct and you can’t do anything about it. I have never put that much energy and attention into trying to get a person sober and healthy in my entire life. It just wears on you and it’s a very difficult thing when someone just won’t accept help. His addiction unfortunately is winning and it has literally destroyed his body. He has this huge extended stomach, skinny little legs and just looks so sick, it’s very sad. I asked people who have 30 plus years sobriety is there anything I am missing or is there something else I can be doing for him. I was told that if an addict is not ready to surrender to his addiction there is nothing anyone can do. I work with a lot of struggling addicts and alcoholics on a daily basis, as well as I am involved with the Grammy Foundation through MusiCares to give back to the program and help people. What I have found is the ones who do well and are successful are the ones who want it more than anything! One can only hope he finds help before it’s too late..He remains in our prayers…
Stone: Is there a new-found feeling of brotherhood within Great White, now that Terry (Ilous) has become your new lead vocalist?
Mark: Everything is just easy and fun. We are having fun again without any drama. That alone is worth its weight in gold! Terry leaves it on stage every night and always brings everything he has to our live shows. He is a pleasure to be around and always has a positive vibe. He makes you feel good when you’re around him. The brotherhood is totally intact and our creative juices are flowing like crazy! I can’t wait to do the next record.
GREAT WHITE:
Mark Kendall – Guitar Michael Lardie – Keyboards & Guitar Scott Snyder – Bass Audie Desbrow – Drums Terry Ilous – Vocals
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Stone: Mark, how did it all unfold as Terry becoming the lead vocalist for Great White?
Mark: He filled in when Jack was on his path of self-destruction. Jack had to pull out of a tour with more than 30 dates on the books. To save face with the promoters we asked Terry to fill in. Terry had already filled in for one show. We actually had Jani Lane fill in for a few shows as well. When Jack reached the point of no return and announced he was moving on, Terry was a no brainer. We loved the man. Terry is such a good singer and a total pro. He is very dedicated and wants to work very hard all the time and is always very motivated. He vibrates at a frequency that’s a little higher than your average person!
Stone: Of course money is essential to live, however, what is more important, selling multi-millions of albums or playing the music that you love, live for your fans?
Mark: Playing live is everything to us!! Selling music has nothing to do with anything as far as just pure enjoyment. The great thing if you are selling millions of records though means your music is reaching a lot of people. That probably means more people will be at the shows and that’s very cool. Playing live is my favorite thing about making music though. Nothing else even comes close!
Stone: I look upon your newly released “30 Years – Live From The Sunset Strip” (Frontiers Records) as not only a celebration of Great White; I look upon it as a band that has persevered and showcases one of America’s greatest live Hard Rock Bands of yesterday and today. Did you guys have to be prodded for this live anniversary album or was it always in the cards?
Mark: No we didn’t. This is a tremendous milestone and we really wanted to celebrate it. We felt what a great way to do it by bringing it back to where it all started for us on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood California! It was such a great night. All our friends, fans and family came down to the show. We brought the video cameras out and recorded the show.
Stone: Media and fan response to “Elation” and your hit single “Hard To Say Goodbye” has been phenomenal. What were your expectations with the release of “Elation”? I look upon it all as a tremendous fresh and new start for Great White.
Mark: The feedback from everyone has been absolutely amazing!I think it’s a very great first effort. It was a lot of fun to make and we are all happy. I think the album is consistent and for writing, recording, mixing and mastering the album in 35 days we can’t complain. I really look forward to doing the next one. I am ready to make a statement and the next album I feel is going to be our strongest ever. I am setting my goals high and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t believe it. This is a new chapter in the Great White book and we are enjoying riding the wave. Our fans are the are the most loyal fans in the world. We are totally grateful and feel very blessed!
Listen to and watch “Hard To Say Goodbye” below!
Stone: Frontiers Records has continuously signed the crème de la crème of 80’s Rock and Hard Rock bands. Were you approached by Frontiers or did you approach them?
Mark: We approached them and a few others. I think it’s great that there are labels that help get rock and roll music to the people. It’s a different world now than it was back in the day. We no longer have all the mediums like MTV and Radio, so it’s harder to get our music to the people. I just want people to hear our music. Everything is internet now so you really need a good team of people who know how to network.We have a great staff who are doing a wonderful job!
Stone: Mark, could you pinpoint the greatest moment you’ve experienced as a musician, regardless of how small or large the moment was?
Mark: For me it was having a musician father that encouraged me. I had some natural ability and there was always music in my house. I think having a Mother and Father that encouraged just about anything I did musically was a great experience and I don’t think anything else could really compare to that.
WHITESNAKE – YEAR OF THE SNAKE – Here’s some incredible news updates and tour info on Hard Rock legends Whitesnake for 2013! And it’s all… Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! Metal be thy name!
WHITESNAKE – MADE IN JAPAN:
Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition/ DVD Edition (1 DISC) Blu-Ray Edition (1 DISC)
RELEASE DATES:
JP Release: Wednesday 3rd April 2013
UK Release: Monday 22nd April 2013
US Release: Tuesday 23rd April 2013
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce Whitesnake’s highly anticipated live concert Made InJapan – released on Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition, Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on Monday April 22nd (North American release is Tuesday April 23rd).
Multi-platinum Rock band Whitesnake co-headlined the “Loud Park” festival on October 15th 2011 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan during their “Forevermore World Tour.”
Photo from Ultraviolet recording sessions at The Jam Room
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“UNSPOKEN” MP3 AVAILABLE NOW
Feb. 26, 2013, Philadelphia – Kylesa is set to release Ultraviolet, one of the most anticipated Hard Rock releases of the year and the follow-up to their critically acclaimed album SpiralShadow, on May 28 via Season of Mist (May 24 in Europe).
“Whereas Spiral Shadow was a warm album suggesting concepts of hope, Ultraviolet is a bit colder and darker,” explains songwriter/guitar player Laura Pleasants. “All of our studio albums have their own unique identity and we’ve always been a band who strives for something different than what current fads suggest. With Ultraviolet, we took a step inward and wrote music that we felt we had to write; this album centers around the multiple themes of loss and you can feel it in the music. Everyone goes through it during their lifetime and this record reflects that experience.”
The Savannah-based quintet recorded Ultraviolet at The Jam Room in Columbia, SC with the band’s guitar player/songwriter, and sought-after producer, Phillip Cope (Baroness, Black Tusk) once again overseeing production.
Kylesa released a rarities collection in November titled From The Vaults, Vol. 1, which featured unreleased, new and alternate versions of songs spanning the band’s catalogue as well as one new song titled End Truth. Cope and Pleasants spent over a year going through their archives preparing the release.
The band’s most recent studio album, Spiral Shadow, had the highest Metal/Hard Rock entry on the Village Voice’s 2010 Pazz & Jop album poll, led Pitchfork to say “Kylesa would be a household name” following the release and landed the band on the cover of Terrorizer as well as album of the month accolades from Metal Hammer, Rock Sound and Visions Magazines. In 2011, Kylesa became the first Metal band to perform on Last Call with Carson Daly.
Kylesa will return to the road in May with more details forthcoming.
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(Source: Speakeasy PR & Marketing)
* For more info on KYLESA, click on the links below!
TOKYO DRAGONS – They came from London, England. They played in-your-face, denim and leather wrapped, good-times Hard Rock. Their debut album Give Me The Fear was released back in 2005, via Escapi Music. This band certainly packed 100% Heavy Rockin’ potency and Give Me The Fear is 100% proof, to my middle-aged and Metal scorched ears. Tokyo Dragons was their name and how I wish they were still in the Hard Rock game!
Apparently, Tokyo Dragons is no longer a band. From what I’ve read, Tokyo Dragons disbanded back in 2008; just after releasing their sophomore album Hot Nuts. With no official website or facebook page existing for this band, the alternative source for information is reading about their career biography on Wikipedia. Now that’s an unfortunate thing.
What I do know is what I hear and Give Me The Fear is an amazing experience of Hard Rock bliss upon my senses! This debut from Tokyo Dragons could have easily been titled: Psyche-You-Out-Of-Your-Hard-Rockin’-Party-Lovin’ Mind! ALL 11 songs on Give Me The Fear are high-octane and pedal to the metal! This is an album that can be enjoyed by both Classic Rock and Hard Rock fans alike; with the 80’s Heavy Metal crowd undoubtedly included!
There’s so many memorable riffs and hooks on Give Me The Fear that it’s flat-out insane! Guitar driven to the maximum and lead vocalist/guitarist Steve Lomax sounds like a seasoned superstar of the Hard Rock world. To me, Tokyo Dragons were (very likely) feeling and sharing some legitimate Hard Rockin’ chemistry as a band, when they recorded their debut; it’s such a damn shame they’re no longer around.
I landed Give Me The Fear on CD this past weekend; finding a used copy at a store called BuybacksEntertainment. For $2.99, I couldn’t have spent my money any wiser! Due to Give Me The Fear, I’ve been transported from being unfamiliar with Tokyo Dragons to being a fan of their heavy music. Tokyo Dragons played some blue-collar, kick-ass Hard Rock. ‘Nuff said.
In my most honest opinion, Tokyo Dragons wasn’t any copycat band. Fans of AC/DC to Cheap Trick (with Helix, Fastway and Motörhead fans in-between) can all find something to savor from Give Me The Fear. I know I’m savoring every moment, each and every time I listen to this album. Now if only Tokyo Dragons would reunite… that would be Hard Rock news to celebrate. Metal be thy name.
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Give Me The Fear – Track Listing:
What The Hell
Get ‘Em Off
Do You Wanna?
Come On Baby
Let It Go
Johnny Don’t Wanna Ride
Teenage Screamers
Ready Or Not
Burn On
Rockin’ The Stew
Chasing The Night
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TOKYO DRAGONS:
Steve Lomax – lead vocals & guitar
Phil Martini – drums & vocals
Mal Bruk – guitar & vocals
Ade Easily – bass guitar
* In the liner notes of Give Me The Fear, it reads: “Tokyo Dragons welcome aboard Mathias Stady on Bass Guitar.”
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LONG LIVE THE HARD ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF TOKYO DRAGONS.
KROKUS – For almost 40 years now, Krokus has stood for high-quality, honest-to-goodness, hand-made power rock. No other Swiss rock band sells albums worldwide like Krokus. The band has already sold over 14 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. The milestones in their rock career are dotted around the world: from Australia and the USA to Mexico, Russia, Japan, and China.
Today they are back in their classic line-up with Mandy Meyer and are stronger than ever on their new album, DIRTY DYNAMITE. The band spent two years working on the new album under the watchful eye of producer Chris Von Rohr at the legendary Abbey Road Studio. Guitarist MarkKohler has this to add: ‘This is not just another Krokus album. I think we have definitely passed another rock milestone with this record.
BUCKCHERRY – I’ll call it this way, while I was eagerly anticipating the release of Buckcherry’s sixth studio album, Confessions, I knew it would just have to be really good. Let me say this much, my fellow Metal brethren and Rockaholics: Confessions is really, really, really good. Really. Confessions is this type of good: it’s running through the village square naked, while bellowing hallelujah to the Hard Rock and Rock ‘N’ Roll Gods. Now, that’s what Stone calls good.
My eardrums and whatever part of my brain that’s responsible for absorbing music has been thanking me, ever since I’ve been listening to Confessions. The hooks, rhythms, melodic continuance, psyche-you-out beats, vocals, backing vocals, mellow album closing and irresistibly grand presence of guitar driven songs makes Confessions a measuring stick for all other Hard Rock and Rock albums released in 2013. I’m not trying to bamboozle anyone here. Take my Metal word for it and go cash it in at the Rockaholic savings and loan and tell ’em you were sent by Stone.
* Above: Cover artwork for inside cover of jewel case.
* At top of post is the cover artwork for CD outer sleeve.
Apparently, Buckcherry realizes that there are many Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bands out there all competing for the same audiences and greenbacks. Therefore, obviously, Buckcherry decided to write and record a new album that would stand above the heap and kick the living shit out of my Hard Rock lovin’ ass. Has this new Buckcherry album done the same to you? If so, it feels damn fine… doesn’t it?
It’s like that old cliché of capturing lightning in a bottle; yet with Confessions, Buckcherry captured Hard Rock lightning in a case of bottles. With Confessions being an album of songs that carry the theme of the Seven Deadly Sins, (as seven song titles of Gluttony, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Envy and Lust portray), this is an album that is as lyrically potent as its memorable music.
With songs like album opener Gluttony and the mid-tempo Rocker of The Truth, Confessions is stacked and packed with song favorites I could continue to list; only what’s the point when the total package is my favorite? I will note that Dreamin’ Of You is a perfect song to end this album. With its inspiring lyrics and slower vibe, Buckcherry sends a clear message through Dreamin’ Of You; that there is still hope and a spirit of belief in oneself for us to reach for after all. Buckcherry can take a justified Hard Rockin’ and Rockin’ bow and I’m raising the horns to the sky for their accomplishment with Confessions. Metal be thy name.
* Buckcherry – Confessions was released on February 19th, via Century Media.
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BUCKCHERRY:
Josh Todd – vocals
Keith Nelson – guitars & backing vocals
Stevie D. – guitars & backing vocals
Jimmy Ashhurst – bass
Xavier Muriel – drums & percussion
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As you can see by the above promo ad, Confessions is available at many retail locations; therefore there’s no excuse for not scoring the whoop-ass Hard Rock of the new Buckcherry!
Ohio-based trio THE UNCLEAN has this month self-released their sophomore full-length album, in the process unleashing some of the most classic but contemporary, polluted but pristine Rock n’ Roll the underground has to offer.
Known for trolling Akron’s dive-bars and tattoo shops, the members of THE UNCLEAN collective pulled their resources together in 2007. Hailing from predominantly sludge/doom-scene acts including Rue, Fistula, Sofa King Killer, with this act the members crank out solid, no-frills, riff-heavy, Blues-based Rock anthems. With influences and comparisons tracing to classic acts like ZZ Top, Humble Pie, Thin Lizzy and Motörhead, the band self-released their debut album No Excuse Necessary in the Fall of 2008 and have since honed their soulful tunes even further on-stage regionally, alongside other hard-working local and touring acts.
At the end of 2012 the trio shacked-up in the studio to lay down the thunder that would culminate into their second full-length. The drums were recorded at Studio Time in Akron, Ohio (former Black Keys studio) by Jason Tarulli (current mastermind behind Black Keys live sound), and the rest of the album written, recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by the band in their own Unclean Studio. Now completed and available to the public once again in totally D.I.Y. fashion, THE UNCLEAN proudly offer their most honest and lively material yet with The Eagle.
Boasting nearly forty minutes of ballsy, Bluesy, beer-swilling anthems about good times and bad, guitarist/vocalist Bremmy (ex-Sofa King Killer, Honkeytonk Damnation), bassist Burns (ex-Rue, Nailblack, Fistula, Sofa King Killer), and drummer Frank The Tank (ex- Search Block) play it straight from hip, loud and in your face.
After releasing The Eagle this month digitally via all the usual online suspects (iTunes, Spotify, EMusic, Google Play and more), THE UNCLEAN will drop a CD version in the coming months alongside regional shows and sporadic touring in support of the record. Stay tuned for further info in the coming weeks.
It was sometime back in 2006 and I saw a contest ad in Revolver Magazine; with the prize being a CD single of Always The Pretenders by EUROPE. I forget what the actual questions(s) I had to answer were, to win this CD single. I believe the contest was run by Sanctuary (Records), then again my memory is vague on it. I guess that stuff doesn’t really matter anymore!
All I do know: I still own this CD single (that I won) and I recently stumbled upon it while rummaging through some CD’s I haven’t listened to in years. This (lead) single Always The Pretenders was used to promote the seventh EUROPE studio album released back in 2006: Secret Society (Sanctuary). This CD single was released via T&T / Sanctuary.
The song Always The Pretenders and album Secret Society is not the Glam/Arena/Hair Metal version of EUROPE from the 80’s; instead, this is a much more Modern and Hard Rockin’ version of the latter. Honestly, the sound that EUROPE tapped into back in 2004 with Start From The Dark married well with their sound on Secret Society from 2006. Relevancy is key here, my Metal brethren.
EUROPE – 2006
What makes this CD single extra cool is there are 4 songs on it. Here’s the track listing: Always ThePretenders (Radio Edit), 2. Always The Pretenders (Album Version), 3. Flames (Live) and 4. Superstitious (Live). The 2 live songs were previously unreleased. Both live songs were recorded at B.B.King in New York.
Superstitious originally appeared on Out Of This World; the fourth studio album from EUROPE released back in 1988. Flames originally appeared on Start From The Dark; the sixth studio album from EUROPE, released back in 2004. Both live songs are solid listens from EUROPE, with some top-tier sound quality happening.
I surely recommend this CD single from EUROPE to all Classic Rock and 80’s Hard Rock/Arena Rock fans. As for this EUROPE CD single being a collectible one day, who knows? I’ve seen this CD single selling between $4 and $10 (U.S.) around the internet, both used and new.
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Here’s what the album cover of EUROPE – Secret Society looks like:
Released back in 2006 via Sanctuary Records, this Secret Society CD doesn’t come cheap! I’ve seen “used” CD prices range from $22 to $75+ (U.S.) around the internet. Granted, some used copies are imports and command import prices, nonetheless, this EUROPE CD has become collectible. Metal be thy name!
LOVE.MIGHT.KILL – Releasing on March 8th, 2013, via Massacre Records, is the digital-only release from LOVE.MIGHT.KILL – 10 Mighty Killers. This digital-only offering of 10 Mighty Killers will be available for purchase on March 8th, by clicking the link below. You also can listen to samples of this fabulous compilation of LOVE.MIGHT.KILL songs by clicking the same link below:
“MY REVENGE” VIDEO FEATURED ON HUFFINGTON POST; io9 NAMES IT ONE OF THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION MUSIC VIDEOS
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Feb. 13, 2013, San Francisco – King Loses Crown, a new Bay Area trio 3Hive described as “darker than Devo, faster than Depeche Mode, denser than Killing Joke,” release You Can’t Escape, a six-song EP, on Feb. 19.
The title track is streaming now via AMP: http://www.ampmagazine.com/55168/featured-stream-king-loses-crown-you-cant-escape/. A video for “My Revenge” was created by movie and visual effects director Jim Mitchell (Jurassic Park III and the Harry Potter series) and can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/pwpFeVibck8. The video, featuring realistic robots mingling uncomfortably with humans in modern day street settings, has already been featured on Huffington Post and SF Weekly’s website as well as being named one of io9’s “Best Science Fiction” music videos alongside The Flaming Lips and M83.
The You Can’t Escape EP was written, recorded and produced by King Loses Crown with mastering duties handled by John Cuniberti, most noted for his work with the Dead Kennedys.
EUROPE released their fourth studio album, Out Of This World, back in August of 1988. My favorite song from this album is the opening track: Superstitious. This is just one fine, memorable and inspiring (uptempo) late 80’s ballad from Europe. I still own the cassette version of Out Of This World and I’m not selling it. It has nothing to do with my being superstitious either. Metal be thy name.
Sweden’s chart-topping, multi-million unit selling band spanned the Glam/Hair, Arena Rock, Hard Rock and 80’s Heavy Metal genres with their Heavy Melodic Rock sound; embedded with powerfully driven guitars along with a dynamic rhythm section and keyboards to match. The vocals of Joey Tempest are laced with Heavy Rock eloquence, coupled with his confidence and unique harmony.
EUROPE still kicks Heavy Rock ass to this very day. Ring that EUROPE bell and tell all the villagers to gather around, cause the song Superstitious has a brilliantly contagious sound!
Watch and listen to EUROPE perform Superstitious below! Hopefully this music video hasn’t been pulled for some lame reason. If it has, then check it out for certain on YouTube. Whoa.
Stone’s Relocation Files: Part Two – Back on January 2nd and February 8th, I wrote about how my family and I are relocating to Ohio. Leaving the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania and embarking on an entire changeover to Ohio is no easy task! Therefore, there may be some interruption with my covering the Metal news, album reviews, interviews and random Metal blabbing that you’ve become accustomed to on Metal Odyssey.
* I have scheduled some kick-ass posts that will run through the third week of February (just in case there’s a bottleneck in getting the internet into our new home).
As you read this, my family and I are now official residents of Ohio! Whoa! We are now residents of the Buckeye State!
Have no fear, Metal Odyssey is not going anywhere and I shall get back in the Metal groove, once my family and I are settled into our new home and surroundings in Ohio. In the Metal meantime, I’m crossing my Metal fingers that internet access will be delivered to our new home in a reasonable time frame!
Here’s A BIG METAL THANK YOU to every visitor for your supporting Metal Odyssey!
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By now you are probably wondering: why did Stone put the album cover of EUROPE – The FinalCountdown at the top of his Relocation Files post? The answer is simple. Ever since this whole relocation gig began to heat up, the title track from this EUROPE album popped into my Metal brain! I just couldn’t shake this (very popular) song from my sub-conscious! Therefore, as each day passed and our relocation to Ohio became more of a reality, it all became a final countdown feeling to this entire life changing journey.
I never would have predicted that this (very huge 80’s hit) from EUROPE would become a theme song for me, as it represents such an important chapter in my Metal life. Metal be thy name.
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DID YOU KNOW: EUROPE will be playing a very special gig at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival, on June 7th; celebrating their 30th Anniversary as a world-wide successful Hard Rockin’ band! Whoa!
Back on January 2nd, I wrote about the relocation that would be taking place in the live’s of my family and I. You can read all about it by clicking that handsome link below! Whoa!
GREAT WHITE’sHard to Say Goodbye is now No. 8 on the Classic Rock radio Mediabase chart. The third single from Elation last charted at No. 10 and is expected to continue its climb, with news that the video has just been picked up by MTV.com.
GREAT WHITE released Elation (the band’s 12th studio record) from Frontiers Records in May 2012. Elation thrives on GREAT WHITE’s signature grit and blues-hued sound, only marked with a new synergy.
“The validation from our fans and the radio community has been phenomenal,” said GREAT WHITE founder Mark Kendall. “The energy on this record has been building higher and higher. This is the GREAT WHITE sound and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this amazing experience.”
GREAT WHITE – 2013 TOUR DATES:
GREAT WHITE’s robust touring schedule keeps growing with two additional dates just added, August 15’s UP State Fair (Escanaba, Mich.) and October 26 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).
March 16 – 20, Monsters of Rock Cruise (various)
March 30, Sierra Ballroom at Boomtown Casino (Reno, Nev.)
April 5, Chester’s Harley Davidson Pavilion (Mesa, Ariz.)
May 4, Yucaipa Festival (Yucaipa, Calif.)
May 10, The Railhead at Boulder Station Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.)
June 1, Ride for a Cure (Salt Lake City, Utah)
June 8, Thunder on the Lot at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Lancaster, Calif.)
June 27, Chumash Casino (Santa Ynez, Calif.)
July 6, Concerts on the Green (Hollister, Calif.)
July 11, Gettysburg Bike Week (Gettysburg, Pa.)
July 12, BBQ Festival (Kankakee, Ill.)
July 20, Waukesha County Fair (Waukesha, Wis.)
July 26, Braun’s Concert Cove (Akron, N.Y.)
July 27, Mattawa Voyageur Days (Mattawa, Ontario, Canada)
August 2, Rocking the River (Detroit, Mich.)
August 3, Yamhill County Fair (McMinnville, Ore.)
August 15, UP State Fair (Escanaba, Mich.)
October 26, Deerfoot Inn & Casino (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Featuring Kendall (guitar), and 28-year-veterans Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Audie Desbrow (drums), lead singer Terry Ilous and bassist Scott Snyder join them. GREAT WHITE emerged unscathed from late 2011 band member changes. Best known for the 1989 smash “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” GREAT WHITE’s worldwide sales are approaching 10 million. Their song arsenal also includes “Rock Me,” “Save Your Love,” “The Angel Song,” “Mistabone,” “I’ve Got Something For You” and “Feeling So Much Better” (recent Top 20 on the classic rock chart.) Visit http://GREATWHITEROCKS.COM for additional information.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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