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HUNTED – Progressive Metal Band Signs To Massacre Records!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HUNTED – Based in Cardiff, Wales, the Progressive Metal band HUNTED has signed on with Massacre Records. This very cool Metal news was expressed to me, via correspondence, from HUNTED guitarist Steven Barberini. This Metal news was also released by HUNTED via their twitter page on April 21, 2011, which read: “Hunted sign to Massacre Records! Official announcements coming soon!!” As more Metal details surface, Metal Odyssey will bring it to you! Visit HUNTED on twitter: HUNTED – twitter

Metal Odyssey gives HUNTED a Metal congratulations and horns up! This is well deserved Metal news for an excellent band that has released a debut album that is one of 2011’s very best in Metal: Welcome The Dead.

To read Metal Odyssey’s complete album review for HUNTED – Welcome The Dead, (posted on March 23, 2011),  just click on the big header link below:

HUNTED “Welcome The Dead” – Colossal Progressive Metal To Prize

* For more info on HUNTED, click on the link below:

HUNTED – myspace music

LONG LIVE HUNTED.

Stone.

4 Comments »

MORPHINE KILLER – SICKENING: AN OVERDOSE OF METAL NEVER FELT SO GOOD

Posted in Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

MORPHINE KILLER – Just about two years removed, from Morphine Killer’s 2009 back-to-back EP releases of Unapologetic and Nightmares… and their first full-length album Sickening is unleashed. Morphine Killer has self produced each release thus far, all released on their very own Final Breath Records. If I’ve said it once, I shall never stop saying: the do-it-yourself ingenuity of Eski and Belle Roka, combined with the music genius and production expertise of Eski and the premier vocals that both musicians bestow are what will catapult this Metal duo to great heights one day… very soon.

I look back on the time when I happened to cross paths with this band and it has served me right ever since. A Metal band that gravitates towards a never ending improvement approach, from album to album, instead of levitating, will continuously create music that will stand out. This is the Metal mindset and work ethic of Morphine Killer. What Eski has accomplished with his multi-instrumental and multi-tasking talents on Sickening is nothing short of stunning. Then again, after becoming so absorbed by this bands first two EP’s, I should have expected an album like Sickening to sound this strong and mature.

Eski recently summed it up best to me: “If you have something to prove, you’ll have an edge to your sound. Each new CD is the next chapter of Morphine Killer”. How true are those words from Eski. Sickening is without doubt, a brand new listen into dark lyrical themes which are carried aloft by edgy Metal vibes. This is what shakes loose any status quo cobwebs within my ears. The Metal of Morphine Killer is real, street and non-contained.

There are Metal bands that want to be cool and accepted, while forgetting about song writing, production and substance. Then there’s Morphine Killer, where the music ingredients and chemistry within the band mean something. Eski states: “The biggest benefit is that it’s just the two of us and we’re constantly evolving which breeds continuity”. We’re most proud of this album production wise, we feel we’ve come into our own vocally on this new album”.

The 2010 Morphine Killer single Throw It All Away has made it’s home on Sickening and it already made it’s mark on Metal Odyssey’s “Top Ten Songs of 2010” list, (posted on December 24, 2010). Belle Roka’s vocals on Throw It All Away, It’s Too Late, Crack The Whip and Sacreligious Celebration makes for a legitimate reminder to me, that she can sing like a Classic Rock diva. Morphine Killer’s wild card strength lies in their approach to Heavy Music diversity. Both Belle and Eski are not bashful in bestowing what Rock genres have influenced their creativity and talents. From Grindcore to Classic Rock, there are many Metal nuances to be heard on Sickening.

An Air Of Disrespect and Time To Destroy are blasting reminders that Morphine Killer will grind it out, shred and deliver their brand of Extreme Metal. This song is a formidable statement that Morphine Killer can get pissed off and put some potent rage into their Metal and vocals. The instrumental New Industry is a swirl of macabre sound, courtesy of some ominous keyboards that swirl about and engulf the atmosphere with chilling vibes. Eski remarked: We introduced keyboards on Sickening more often than in the past. It’s another layer of excitement, another wall of sound versus the guitar, bass and drums.”

When speaking to Eski on what the lyrical thought process was behind Sickening, Eski stated: “People want problems solved, but they want someone else to solve them. In our everyday lives, it really has become a real sickening display of how we say one thing and do another. We can’t write happy songs just because it’s what everyone wants to hear, we write how we feel. There is a real beauty about something being so strange, mysterious and scary, we just want to help show that”.

Morphine Killer has released a killer album with Sickening… certainly one of the best in Metal releases this year.

MORPHINE KILLER:

Belle Roka – vocals & keyboards

Eski – vocals, guitar, bass & drums

Track Listing For SICKENING:

Another Day In The Flames

Crack The Whip

Sacrilegious Celebration

An Air Of Disrespect

It’s Too Late

The Breeding Ground

Time To Destroy

Throw It All Away

New Industry

* Sickening album cover designed by: Bobby Rodriguez.

* For more info on MORPHINE KILLER, click the links below:

MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website

MORPHINE KILLER – facebook

MORPHINE KILLER – Myspace music

MORPHINE KILLER – STORE

IF THE FUTURE OF HEAVY MUSIC IS IN THE HANDS OF BANDS LIKE MORPHINE KILLER, THEN I CAN SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT. – Stone

LONG LIVE MORPHINE KILLER.

Stone.

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ARGUS: Full Album Stream and Contest Hosted By MetalReview Is Live Today! April 25th, 2011

Posted in doom metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, stoner metal with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

With the street date for Pennsylvania-based traditional/Doom Metal warriors ARGUS‘ sophomore album, Boldly Stride The Doomed, just over a week away, high-traffic Metal ‘zine MetalReview.com is hosting a stream of the entire ten-song opus until its official for North American release on May 3, via Cruz Del Sur Records. Stop by and crank up the album stream at this location now!

In addition to the album stream, MetalReview is also hosting a contest in conjunction with Cruz Del Sur and ARGUS directly. Running from now until the May 3 North American release date, the “Name That Mascot and Tell Us What the Hell He’s Doing On Those Two Covers” contest focuses on the cover art for ARGUS‘ new Boldly Stride The Doomed full-length, as well as their 2009 self-titled debut album, both crafted by artist Brad Moore. Check out the full details and enter the contest at this location.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on ARGUS, click the link below:

ARGUS – myspace music

LONG LIVE ARGUS.

Stone.

1 Comment »

SYMFONIA – New Album “In Paradisum” Streaming Via AOL Music and Released Today! April 19th, 2011

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, Power Metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 19, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SYMFONIA, the new Melodic Metal project featuring the all-star lineup of vocalist Andre Matos (ex-Angra), guitarist Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), drummer Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween), bassist Jari Kainulainen (ex-Stratovarius) and keyboardist Mikko Harkin (ex-Sonata Arctica), unleash their debut full-length today via Armoury Records. Titled In Paradisum, the ten-track offering was recorded mainly in Finland, mixed and mastered in Italy and produced by Timo Tolkki.

In celebration of its release, the album is currently streaming in its entirety via AOL Music. To check it out, point your browser HERE.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE SYMFONIA.

Stone.

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FAITHSEDGE – AOL Music Is Streaming Entire Debut Album Now! April 18th, 2011

Posted in arena rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

FAITHSEDGE – The debut and self-titled album of Melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal from FAITHSEDGE will be released tomorrow, April 19th, 2011, on Scarlet Records. Originating from Huntington Beach, California, FAITHSEDGE is a band of Rock Music industry pros… and they’re worth every millisecond of your time to check out!  You can listen to the entire album streaming, right now, at AOL Music! Just click this link: AOL MUSIC – FAITHSEDGE

FAITHSEDGE:

Giancarlo Floridia – vocals & guitar

Fabrizio Grossi – bass

Alex De Rosso – lead guitar

Tony Morra – drums

* To read the complete album review I wrote for FAITHSEDGE, just click on the big link below:

FAITHSEDGE – Debut Album Is One Of The Year’s Best In Both Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

* For more info on FAITHSEDGE, click the links below:

FAITHSEDGE – facebook

FAITHSEDGE – Official Website


LONG LIVE FAITHSEDGE.

Stone.

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MORPHINE KILLER – “SICKENING” RELEASES APRIL 20TH, 2011! HERE’S THE METAL DETAILS…

Posted in Extreme Metal, gothic metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

MORPHINE KILLER – From Garden Grove, California, MORPHINE KILLER returns! The Metal… the Extreme Metal… along with their explosively melodic single Throw It All Away are all heard on the new full-length: SICKENING. April 20th, 2011 is the release date for SICKENING via Final Breath Records.

Following the Metal success of their 2009 EP releases of Unapologetic and Nightmares, MORPHINE KILLER are back with an album of 9 songs that will leave your eardrums scorched and begging for more! SICKENING is the Metal beacon that will stop fans of Metal and Extreme Metal right in their tracks. Don’t miss out on one of 2011’s most anticipated Metal releases… serve yourself Metal right and get your copy of SICKENING!

* SICKENING will be available through Amazon.com, iTunes, Emusic, cdbaby and a few other outlets within the next few weeks.

* You can pre-order SICKENING by clicking here: MORPHINE KILLER – STORE

MORPHINE KILLER:

Belle Roka – vocals & keyboards

Eski – vocals, guitar, bass & drums

Track Listing For SICKENING:

Another Day In The Flames

Crack The Whip

Sacrilegious Celebration

An Air Of Disrespect

It’s Too Late

The Breeding Ground

Time To Destroy

Throw It All Away

New Industry

* SICKENING includes Throw It All Away, the single released in 2010. This amazing song features the astounding vocals of Belle Roka and the stellar musicianship of Eski. This melodically heavy side of Morphine Killer ignites! Throw It All Away was honored in Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Songs of 2010! Check it out for yourself and give Throw It All Away a listen by clicking the big links below!

MORPHINE KILLER – NEW SINGLE “THROW IT ALL AWAY” IS OUT NOW AND CAN’T MISS!

Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Songs Of 2010 And #1 Music Video!

* For more info on MORPHINE KILLER, click the links below:

MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website

MORPHINE KILLER – facebook

MORPHINE KILLER – Myspace music

IF THE FUTURE OF HEAVY MUSIC IS IN THE HANDS OF BANDS LIKE MORPHINE KILLER, THEN I CAN SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT. – Stone

LONG LIVE MORPHINE KILLER.

Stone.

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Hemoptysis – Announce European Release Details and Bonus!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HEMOPTYSIS – Phoenix Arizona Metallers Hemoptysis have announced that their debut album “Misanthropic Slaughter” will be available in stores throughout Europe on May 27, 2011.

The album is being released throughout Europe via Rock It Up Records and the European version will include the music video for “Shadow of Death” as a bonus feature. A list of retailers will be available soon. Digital copies can be purchased at this location: Hemoptysis – Official Merchandise Store

In other Hemoptysis news, the band are gearing up to shoot a new music video for an as of yet – undisclosed song from “Misanthropic Slaughter”.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Friday, April 29, 2011 @ The Drunken Lass – Prescott, Arizona

Saturday, April 30, 2011 @ Burts Tiki Lounge – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Saturday, May 7, 2011 @ The Clubhouse – Tempe, Arizona*

* With Sepultura, D.R.I., Hate, Belphegor, Neuraxis, Bonded By Blood and Keep of Kalessin. Tickets are available for $25. Call or txt: 480-570-7599 for free delivery.

* For more info on HEMOPTYSIS, click on the links below:

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

HEMOPTYSIS – bandcamp page

Rock It Up / IceWarrior Records

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

Stone.

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KITTIE – BEGIN RECORDING NEW ALBUM!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) — Veteran all-girl Metal outfit KITTIE are headed into the studio next week to begin work on their new, yet to be titled record. What promises to be a grittier record than their previous effort “In the Black,” front woman Morgan Lander offers her own words.

“We have been working exceptionally hard these cold winter months, crafting what is to be our 6th full length release, and our second for eOne.  In some cases these new songs are faster, darker and much more sinister than our previous release. It contains some of the most difficult and personal subject matter I have had the pleasure (or displeasure) of writing.”

Once again the band will enlist the producing talent of Siegfried “Siggy” Meier at Beach Road Studios in Goderich Ontario, Canada. “The girls have written some incredible and personal songs this time around. They’re heavy as shit and relentless.  It’s a pleasure and an honor to be doing another record with one of the best Metal bands of our time,” says Meier. The new record will be released later this summer.

KITTIE released “In the Black” in 2009 to critical acclaim, “Kittie’s fifth record sees the gals back in heavier form, with Morgan’s much-improved clean vocals soaring alongside mountain-sized riffage.” says Revolver Magazine. Blabbermouth.net even hailed the record as the “biggest Metal shock of the year.” The girls spent the next two years on successful tours with acts like DEVILDRIVER, ICP and last year’s THRASH AND BURN Tour.

KITTIE is: Morgan Lander (guitar), Mercedes Lander (drums), Tara McLeod (guitar) and Ivy Vujic (bass).

(Source: eOne Metal)

* For more info on KITTIE, click on the links below:

KITTIE – Official Website

TWITTER – http://twitter.com/officialkittie

FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/kittiepage

MYSPACE – http://www.myspace.com/officialkittie

LONG LIVE KITTIE.

Stone.

2 Comments »

AMON AMARTH: “Surtur Rising” First-Week Album Sales Revealed

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Surtur Rising, the latest studio album from Swedish Death Metal tyrants, AMON AMARTH sold approximately 15,000 copies in the United States landing the band the #34 on the Billboard Top 200, #6 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums, #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums and #10 on the Indy/Small Chain Core Store Chart.  The record entered Austria’s Top 40 Chart at #12 and Switzerland’s Top 100 at #20. In Germany, Surtur Rising sold over 14,000 units, entered the Top 100 Chart at #8 and is in the official Media Mark Charts at #14 in its second week.

In addition, Surtur Rising came in at #19 on Canada’s Top 200 Chart, #5 on the Independent Charts and #2 on Hard Charts. The record is #1 in Canada on iTunes’ Top Metal albums, and also charted on the following: #16 Top 200, #3 Top Rock and #1 Top Metal. In the U.S., the record ranked in at #2 on iTunes’ Rock Album chart and #20 in the Top 200 (overall album chart).

Released on March 29 via Metal Blade Records, Surtur Rising is AMON AMARTH’s eighth studio offering in a winding discography that’s helped shape the very face of epic, Viking-inspired death metal. Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim (“flame land”) and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record was recorded, mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and bears the striking cover art by Tom Thiel.

The mammoth long-player has been reaping incredible praise from critics nationwide. In a 9/10 review, Blabbermouth compared Surtur Rising to being,  “…bludgeoned by your favorite warhammer. Definitely a contender for this year’s best.” Fearnet called it a, “feast of world-destroying metal on par with the band’s career-defining 2008 release Twilight Of The Thunder God,” while Decibel Magazine commended the band noting, “it’s a pleasure to learn one of metal’s most consistent bands remains as indefatigable as ever.” Pop Matters called the record “…another momentous album for AMON AMARTH, leaving no doubt that they are one of the best Metal bands in the world!,” and Live-Metal agreed: “…one of the strongest, most massively heavy Death Metal bands around…”

In conjunction with Surtur Rising‘s release, AMON AMARTH will make their way to the U.S.  for a near two-week stretch of live dates later this month. Dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this special trek will find the band performing two separate sets each night: one which will feature Surtur Rising in its entirety and another boasting a collection of songs from previous releases. Confirmed dates below:

An Evening With AMON AMARTH

4/14/2011 The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL

4/15/2011 Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN

4/16/2011 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS

4/17/2011 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO

4/19/2011 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR

4/20/2011 Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA

4/22/2011 The Regency – San Francisco, CA

4/23/2011 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA

4/24/2011 House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

4/25/2011 Nile Theatre – Mesa, AZ

4/27/2011 White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX

4/29/2011 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL

4/30/2011 Beacham Theatre – Orlando, FL

5/01/2011 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

5/02/2011 Jaxx – Springfield, VA

5/03/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

5/05/2011 Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

5/06/2011 Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA

5/07/2011 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on AMON AMARTH, click on the links below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

http://www.facebook.com/AmonAmarthBand

http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

1 Comment »

VASTUM “CARNAL LAW” – Death Metal Debut Album Unleashes Wicked, Raw and Old School Savagery

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

VASTUM CARNAL LAW – In the vastness of the dark and melancholy world that is my love affair I have for Extreme Metal, one genre that never fails to recruit it’s bands and followers is Death Metal. A new Death Metal band has emerged from California’s San Francisco Bay Area and they are not playing it safe, nor are they carbon copying legends of this savage and torment stricken sound. Carnal Law releases on May 31, 2011, on 20 Buck Spin. Carnal Law is a Death Metal album that should grab ahold of Death Metal loyalists and shake their enraged Metal world apart… it has shook mine and I’m pleading for more.

The paths that Carcass, Death, Autopsy, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary and Grave (to name a many few) have made for new Death Metal bands to navigate will forever be revered by the Old School. When a band like VASTUM can take the Deathly Metal influence from such legends and fabricate their own vicious sound, style and grooves, then I’m not just listening… I’m breathing a Metal sigh of relief that a new Death Metal band gets it and gets it done. VASTUM exhibits that credible Death Metal persona in their sound, which should make them quite known among the Metal masses in a hurry.

With six songs to sink your Metal scorched ears into on Carnal Law, I only wish there were twelve. Then again, these six songs stack up with such raw Death Metal intensity, that this album more than saturates the inner depths of my Death Metal hungry soul. The dual vocals of Dan and Leila spewing forth Deathly resounding regurgitation, mixes together with extremely memorable riffs and leads, all congealed together with a potently penetrating rhythm section. The Death Metal grooves I hear on Carnal Law thunder along, without the need for over-the-top technical bullshit or over impressive speed. Metal be thy name.

As a Metal bonus, these songs are not annoying Death Metal epics, the Death Metal blitz is done in Old School fashion, without needless passages of unnecessary exquisiteness. There are many melodic guitar moments, which exemplifies the keen awareness that VASTUM has towards making a Death Metal album of songs… and not noise coming from a rented garage. Lyrically tapping into the gray-shades of psychological disparity and yes, death themes, VASTUM are Death Metal students that have studied their Metal craft with merit. VASTUM are ready to share their own Death Metal thesis with all and they are… with Carnal Law.

VASTUM:

Dan – vocals

Kyle – guitar

Leila – vocals & guitar

Luca – bass

RD – drums

Metal Odyssey Gives VASTUM – Carnal Law 4 out of 5 Metal Fists!

Track Listing For Carnal Law:

Primal Seduction

Re-Member

Devoid

Umbra Interna

Carnal Law

Spirit Abused

* For more info on VASTUM, click the links below:

VASTUM – myspace music

20 BUCK SPIN

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

LONG LIVE VASTUM.

Stone.

2 Comments »

ARGUS “Boldly Stride The Doomed” – Sophomore Metal Album Releases On May 3rd, 2011!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Italian Heavy Metal label Cruz Del Sur Music confirms May 3, 2011 as the official release date for the sophomore album from Pennsylvania-based ARGUS, entitled Boldly Stride The Doomed. This is the first release from ARGUS via Cruz Del Sur.

Boldly Stride The Doomed Track Listing:

1. Abandoning The Gates Of Byzantium

2. A Curse On The World

3. Wolves Of Dusk

4. The Ladder

5. Durendal

6. 42-7-29

7. Boldly Stride The Doomed

8. Fading Silver Light

9. Pieces Of Your Smile

10. The Ruins Of Ouroboros

ARGUS stormed onto the underground Metal scene with their twin guitar-driven, Doom-tinged, working class Metal sound with a self-recorded demo in early 2007, on John Brenner’s (Revelation/Against the Nature) DIY label, Bland Hand Records. The band was roundly welcomed by the Metal community at home as well as abroad and established its foundation amongst friends/fans within the scene. With this initial momentum, the band created a buzz that was only solidified by their punishing live performances. Their self-titled debut album was released on Shadow Kingdom Records in 2009 receiving praise from media outlets worldwide. The band continued to gain notoriety attracting like-minded fans worldwide who celebrate the genre and its core values of: hard work, discipline and integrity.

Featuring the powerful voice of former Penance vocalist Butch Balich, ARGUS prepares to cement themselves within the Metal archives with their sophomore effort, Boldly Stride the Doomed!

(Source: Earsplit PR)

Stone Says:

* Head on over to ARGUS – myspace music and hear for yourself Wolves Of Dusk currently streaming… this song is nothing short of amazing! The riffs stick in my Metal mind like Metal glue! Old School Metal, Traditional Metal or just Metal. Call it what you want… ARGUS plays it damn great. ARGUS = METAL. Metal be thy name.

* For more info on ARGUS, just click the links below:

http://www.myspace.com/theargus

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/cruzdelsurmusic

LONG LIVE PENNSYLVANIA METAL.

LONG LIVE ARGUS.

Stone.

4 Comments »

THE HAUNTED “UNSEEN” – Releases March 29th 2011 In U.S.!

Posted in Death Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

THE HAUNTED – Releasing on March 29th, 2011, via Century Media Records, is the seventh studio album, Unseen, from Sweden’s very own… The Haunted. I’m looking forward to getting my ears into this new album from The Haunted. While earlier reviews on Unseen have not been very positive or mixed, the experimental and detoured direction of the Metal that The Haunted have taken seems to have alienated some. From what has been written thus far from other reviews I’ve read, a Sludge Metal sound with many clean vocal moments from Peter Dolving are heard on Unseen.

I’ll keep an “open Metal mind” and deliver a review for Unseen in the near future. If you’ve never checked out any album from The Haunted, you must… this is a Metal band that goes back to 1996 with their debut/self titled album releasing in 1998.

THE HAUNTED:

Peter Dolving – vocals

Anders Björler – lead guitar

Patrik Jensen – rhythm guitar

Jonas Björler – bass

Per Möller Jensen – drums

Track Listing For UNSEEN:

Never Better

No Ghost

Catch 22

Disappear

Motionless

Unseen

The Skull

Ocean Park

The City

Them

All Ends Well

Done

My “all-time” favorite song from The Haunted is The Cynic, from their fifth studio album released back in 2006 – The Dead Eye. Jonas Björler on bass just makes The Cynic sound so melancholy and creepy… it’s right up my Metal alley. Metal truth be told, The Dead Eye is Heavy stuff, I recommend The Dead Eye to all Metal fans across the globe. Peter Dolving on vocals can sing as vicious as any in the world of Metal, while giving way to those tempered down moments when the song dictates. Another Metal truth be told, I’ve never met an album from The Haunted that I didn’t like.

For more info on THE HAUNTED, just click the link below:

THE HAUNTED – Official Website

Century Media Records

LONG LIVE THE HAUNTED.

Stone.

4 Comments »

AMON AMARTH – Full Album Stream of “Surtur Rising” Hosted By Bloody Disgusting!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, melodic death metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Today, popular Horror site Bloody Disgusting streams AMON AMARTH’s long-anticipated full-length, Surtur Rising, in its entirety! Scheduled for North American release via Metal Blade on March 29, 2011, the record, which was voted among Decibel Magazine’s most anticipated albums of 2011, marks the eighth studio offering from the melodic death metal tyrants. The stream will go live at 11:59pm EST on March 25, 2011 and ends at 11:59pm EST on March 28, 2011.

Noted Decibel of the record: “it’s a pleasure to learn one of metal’s most consistent bands remains as indefatigable as ever.” Stereokiller commended the production stating: “Johan Hegg’s vocals continue to be one of the bands strongest points, captivating the listener with clearly enunciated, yet gruff and powerful vocals,” while Metal Assault commended the band for “an album that has enormous aggression, entrancing melody and everything in between… the band’s most well-rounded and musically richest album to date.” Added L.A. Music Blog, “Surtur Rising is the epitome of what death metal should be: ferocious and crushing…possibly the band’s best work to date.”

To check out Surtur Rising, point your browser HERE at midnight.

Pre-order packages for Surtur Rising are still available at tha band’s official landing page: http://www.SurturRising.com.

Coinciding with the record release, AMON AMARTH will make their way to the U.S.  for a near two-week stretch of live dates. Simply dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this very special trek will find the band performing two separate sets each night, one which will feature Surtur Rising in its entirety while the other will boast a collection of songs from the band’s previous releases. The Viking-inspired festivities will commence on April 14 in Chicago, Illinois. Confirmed dates below:

An Evening With AMON AMARTH

4/14/2011 The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL

4/15/2011 Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN

4/16/2011 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS

4/17/2011 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO

4/19/2011 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR

4/20/2011 Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA

4/22/2011 The Regency – San Francisco, CA

4/23/2011 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA

4/24/2011 House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

4/25/2011 Nile Theatre – Mesa, AZ

4/27/2011 White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX

4/29/2011 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL

4/30/2011 Beacham Theatre – Orlando, FL

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* Tickets are on sale now through all local ticket outlets.

* For more info on Amon Amarth, click the links below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

http://www.facebook.com/AmonAmarthBand

http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

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VOLBEAT UPDATE! Plus Info On Ticket Giveaways and More VOLBEAT!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, rockabilly with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Danish rockers Volbeat kicked off their first U.S. headlining tour Thursday night, March 23rd at Irving Plaza in NYC… with a BANG! The sold out crowd sang every word, while Volbeat rocked out with their signature blend of Hard Rock meets Metal meets Rockabilly. I think Metallica’s James Hatfield put it best, calling it “Some kind of Elvis Metal.”

Volbeat has clearly invaded the U.S. Metal scene. Don’t have tickets for your city? Be on the lookout: for each U.S. tour date, Volbeat will be posting a status update on their Facebook page where fans can enter to win tickets to that night’s show. While fans are on Volbeat’s Facebook page, they can also access the “Poll” tab to pick which song from Beyond Hell/ Above Heaven they want played that night.

Volbeat’s latest album, Beyond Hell/ Above Heaven debuted at #1 across Europe, reached #1 on CMJ’s Loud Rock chart, debuted in the top 10 on the iTunes Rock chart and was #5 on Revolver Magazine’s best albums of 2010 list.

Volbeat will also be performing at Revolver’s Golden God Awards, where they are nominated for Album of the Year.

Check out the video for “Fallen” here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBaVlDIMKCU&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.vevo.com/watch/volbeat/fallen/DKNE11099901

Check out Volbeat on:

Facebook

Twitter

Beyond Hell / Above Heaven is available on iTunes | Amazon

LONG LIVE VOLBEAT.

Stone.

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Metal Odyssey Says: Happy Metal Birthday Scott Coverdale!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, classic rock music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY SCOTT COVERDALE! – Metal Odyssey would like to wish contributing writer and Metal Researcher, Scott Coverdale, a Happy Metal Birthday! Yes, Scott turns (?) old today, March 24th, 2011. Let’s just say that Scott is “old enough” to “somehow” remember going to the 1988 Monsters Of Rock Festival in Foxsborough, Massachusetts and NOT “old enough” to remember watching the Beatles make their historical debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.

I would like to thank Scott Coverdale for his contributions, fact finding research and digging through CD’s for Metal Odyssey. Remember, my best Metal Buddy Scott… it’s all done in the name of METAL!

I chose the 1988 album cover of AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video (top of post) due to the Metal memories it provides me. You see, this 1988 AC/DC concert is single handedly, the most obnoxiously funny time I’ve ever had with Scott Coverdale at any we went to together. AC/DC Rocked the hell out of the Hartford Civic Center that night too! 1988 was a very cool Metal year indeed. Heatseeker! Uh… Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE SCOTT COVERDALE.

“HAVE A DRINK ON ME”

Stone.

4 Comments »

HUNTED “Welcome The Dead” – Colossal Progressive Metal To Prize

Posted in classic metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HUNTED – In my Metal quest for delivering to visitors of Metal Odyssey, unsigned bands that are decidedly worthy of their Metal existence, I have uncovered yet another exemplary band. This Progressive Metal band is based in Cardiff, Wales and is known as HUNTED. Remember the name of this band, cause once a record label signs them (and Hunted will get signed) you can say, with Metal pride, you knew about them “back in the day”. Welcome The Dead is the debut album of ten songs that ruptures with proficiency, the Progressive Metal of Hunted. Hunted is a band that’s on the Metal advance and I’m on board for their Metal offensive.

The Metal influences are easily detectable from the Progressive Metal sound that Hunted plays. I hear Geoff Tate’s influence resonate from the vocals of Chris G and trust me, this guy can sing like his life depends on it. Picture if you will, Iron Maiden fusing their Progressive Metal with Dream Theater and you have what Hunted reminds this Old Schooler of and openly agrees with. Hunted is light years from being a copy-cat band, so rest assured you will be listening to a band that has taken such legendary Metal influences and carved out their own flaming ball of Metal originality.

Minus any keyboard atmospherics, Hunted remarkably pulls off an ambiance of Progressive Metal space that excels. This band can play heavy, my ears don’t doubt this for a second. I Want Nothing has it’s tempo changes, only it plays out quite Heavy in both it’s Metal and vocal personality. There is a lot to be said, as to how Hunted structures their songs, leading the listener on a Metal landscape that evolves with it’s intensity and simmers down with melodic majesty.

The totality of musicianship and the vocals of Chris G carry Hunted in unison, combining for a band that plays extremely tight. While not radiating an over-polished listen in sound, there is an air of rawness to this album that many superstar bands are missing today. I am impressed by the talents of Tim Hamill and Hunted in producing and mixing this album, these are songs that can’t be thrown together with their delicate parts. Hunted comes across as a band that planned this Welcome The Dead album a long time ago, in a Metal galaxy far, far away. This is not an album you can listen to three times over and write about. Instead, Welcome The Dead is an album that needs to be digested for a month, enjoyed and continually savored.

The articulation of Chris G’s vocals coinciding with the Metal articulation of Steven Barberini on guitar could not have happened overnight… or over the course of one year, these songs are that luminous with profound energy, thought and dynamism. The melodic leads and solos that Steven plays are so flavorful, that I am launched into a world of swirling Metal highs because of my hearing them. Sounds sappy? Not to me. Music, especially Metal, can move me like there’s no tomorrow. Metal be thy name.

Aria (In Memoriam) plays out at 8:49 and is one of the finest Progressive Metal epic songs I’ve ever listened to. Emotion spills over from both this songs music and vocals. If your going to make Progressive Metal songs that last this long, the key is to keep the emotion on high and never let up and Hunted does just that. The title track/intro begins with the sounds of war, bullets ripping through the air, marching boots and an air raid siren. This is Progressive Metal. An intro such as this sets the stage, mood and impending anatomy to the songs that follow.

Hunted plays as if they have been together for twenty years. Layered songs with clever lyrics, the enthusiasm and competence this band exhibits through their playing of these songs cannot be denied. I’m already looking forward to another album from Hunted… right now. Then again, Metal, Progressive Metal that is this grand, cannot be manufactured or served up fast-food style. Welcome The Dead is an album of Progressive Metal and Metal for discerning fans of Metal Music. I’ll just end this rave review by adding: Hunted is without question, in the sparse crème de la crème crowd of unsigned Metal bands. Metal be thy name.

Track Listing For Welcome The Dead:

Welcome The Dead (1:19)

The Silence Of Minds (6:03)

Chosen (4:28)

Aria (In Memoriam) (8:48)

The Incident (0.33)

Impaled (5.11)

Scars (5.23)

I Want Nothing (5.41)

Shadows (7.00)

The Heart Collector (Bonus Track) (5.49)

HUNTED:

Chris G – vocals

Steven Barberini – guitars

Jon Letson – bass

Matt “Animal” Thomas – drums

Metal Odyssey gives HUNTED Welcome The Dead Five Metal Fists out of Five!

* Welcome The Dead was mixed and produced by Tim Hamill and Hunted.

* Welcome The Dead was mastered by John K. (Biomechanical)

* Welcome The Dead was recorded & edited by Tim Hamill at Sonic One Studio, Wales, UK.

* Album cover art by: Marcela Bolivar

* For more info on HUNTED, click here: HUNTED – myspace music

LONG LIVE HUNTED.

Stone.

4 Comments »

Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Tribute – Live Album From 1987 Is Priceless, Old School, Heavy Metal History

Posted in classic rock, guitar legends, guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal history, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

OZZY OSBOURNE RANDY RHOADS TRIBUTE – How often do you turn to your collection of music, whether it be CDs, vinyl, cassettes or (gulp) 8 tracks for that refreshing listen in Old School?  And as you rummage through your music collection, you find that one Old School release you haven’t listened to in quite some time? It happened to me a couple of days ago. This Old School album I’ve revisited is Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute. I have this live Heavy Metal masterpiece on CD and cassette, once owning it on vinyl. This is a “double-album” release and all 14 songs are on one CD.

Why do I refer to this album as a masterpiece you question? This is the first and only live Ozzy Osbourne album that features the infinitely legendary Randy Rhoads (Randall William Rhoads) as guitarist. Randy Rhoads passed away at age 25, back on March 19, 1982. It was a “freak” small plane accident that took Randy Rhoads away from us all, halfway through the Diary Of A Madman tour. I won’t get into anymore details about this sad story… the internet is loaded with the complete story on this horrible day in Rock Music history.

There are three Black Sabbath classics heard on this live album: Iron Man, Children Of The Grave and Paranoid. Randy Rhoads did these Black Sabbath classics spectacular Metal justice on Tribute. Yes, Tony Iommi is the originator and guitar master of these Black Sabbath songs, there is no dispute. If anything, Randy and Tony are on the same Metal tier in my most honest Metal opinion. Two entirely different guitar styles and two unique legends of Heavy Metal and Rock history are they both. Each guitarist has carved out his individual Metal legacy for all eternity. What more can I say about that?

As I listen now, some 24 years after this live album has been released, the chills still run up and down my body when I crank these Heavy Metal classics up… just as it happened to me in 1987. When a live album or any album for that matter, can never lose it’s euphoric Metal vibe that it gives me, such as this one, then I Metal ordain it a Metal Masterpiece. I’m forever left spellbound by listening to Randy Rhoads play his riffs, leads and solo’s throughout this entire live album. The studio out-takes of Randy Rhoads playing Dee never ceases in capturing my full attention. The all encompassing Metal high I get from hearing these live versions of Flying High Again, I Don’t Know, Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley is a personal feeling that is priceless.

Randy Rhoads has a featured guitar solo on Suicide Solution and it is a dizzying listen into just how immense, influential and dynamic his guitar playing was… and forever will be. Ozzy’s vocals on these live songs sound just incredible to my ears, it’s vintage Ozzy. There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne, just like there shall never be another Randy Rhoads. These two ultra-amazing men of Metal created two magical albums together with Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary Of A Madman (1981). Those were two back-to-back Heavy Metal albums that essentially catapulted Ozzy’s solo career to iconic heights and made Randy Rhoads, the guitarist, an everlasting influence and legend.

Both of these iconic Heavy Metal albums are celebrated on this live Tribute album and Ozzy Osbourne paid tribute to Randy Rhoads through it’s release. The guitar playing and song writing of Randy Rhoads shall be celebrated forever by this Metalhead. This is a live album that belongs in every Hard Rock and Metal fans collection of music, I can’t fathom any reason otherwise. Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute is a live album that captured important Heavy Metal and Rock music history, which will be passed down for Metal generations to come.

The band as listed in the “original” album liner notes:

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals

Randy Rhoads – guitar

Rudy Sarzo – bass

Tommy Aldridge – drums

Track Listing For Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute:

I Don’t Know

Crazy Train

Believer

Mr. Crowley

Flying High Again

Revelation (Mother Earth)

Steal Away (The Night) (With Drum Solo)

Suicide Solution (With Guitar Solo)

Iron Man

Children Of The Grave

Paranoid

Goodbye To Romance

No Bone Movies

Dee (Randy Rhoads Studio Out-Takes)

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was produced and engineered by Max Norman. The executive producer was Ozzy Osbourne.

* Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was released March 19, 1987, on Epic Records.

The combination of knowing that the month of March marks the passing of Randy Rhoads and speaking with “DeadDave” of Dead Daves Radio.com about Old School Heavy Metal over this past weekend, prompted me to dig out this classic work of live Heavy Metal… without my even thinking about it. I guess needing to listen to Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads – Tribute was imbedded in my Metal sub-conscious, all along this past week.

I met “DeadDave” for the first time in my Metal life at the COLD, KOPEK, Egypt Central, Oceans Divide and Maddam Ink. concert at the Crocodile Rock Cafe on Saturday, March 19th. I’ll tell the world this much… “DeadDave” is one cool dude who likes his Horror, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Thanks for the conversations “DeadDave” and for the Metal knowledge you shared as well.

Long Live Ozzy Osbourne.

Rest In Peace, Randy Rhoads.

Stone.

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STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Stream Entire New Album “The Fight Of Our Lives”, Giving Away Single For FREE Via iTunes!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is streaming their entire new album “The Fight Of Our Lives” this week over at AOL Music, to celebrate it’s release that comes out today, March 22, 2011.

Listen to “The Fight Of Our Lives” here: http://aol.it/gLKCmO

Their current single, “Conversion” is featured on iTunes as the FREE “Discovery Download” single of the week. Download it here: http://bit.ly/hLdGni

The band has no qualms about staying on the road this year. They recently announced off-dates with the one and only IN FLAMES during their run on the  2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL. They’ve also announced a handful of dates with road mates NONPOINT, Revolver magazine’s “Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock: Hell Hath No Fury” tour supporting IN THIS MOMENT and last but not least, DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL.  All dates can be found below.

Supporting Nonpoint:

4/6 Tallahassee, FL @ Floyd’s Music Store

4/7 Charleston, SC @ Jimbo’s Rock Lounge

4/8 Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans

4/9 Johnson City, TN @ Capones

4/10 Winston Salem, NC @ Johnny and Junes

4/18 Fayetteville, AR  @ Rogue

4/19 Amarillo, TX @ The Sorority House

4/20 Farmington, NM @ Top Deck

Supporting In This Moment:

4/25 Sparks, NV @ The Alley

4/27 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

4/28 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

4/29 Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom

4/30 Spokane, WA @ The A Club

5/01 Billings, MT @ Railyard

5/03 Des Moines, IA @ House Of Bricks

5/05 Madison, WI @ The Annex

5/06 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection

5/07 Barrington, IL @ Penny Road Pub

5/08 Evansville, IN @ Boney Junes

5/09 Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall

5/10 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck

5/11 Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee

5/12 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s

5/13 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

5/14 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock

5/15 Flagstaff, AZ @ The Orpheum

Supporting In Flames:

7/18 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

7/25 Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre

7/26 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights

8/01 Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend

8/08 Kansas City, MO @ Harrah’s

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2011 Tour Dates:

Jul. 09 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheatre

Jul. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jul. 12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater

Jul. 13 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre

Jul. 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Jul. 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion

Jul. 17 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Jul. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Front woman Alexis Brown is the featured “Hottest Chick in Hard Rock”, in the newest issue of REVOLVER MAGAZINE. Copies are on stands now!

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH originally hailing from Knoxville, TN, features Alexis Brown on vocals, Seth Thacker and Kris Norris on guitar, Jason White on bass, and Kanky Lora on drums.

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the links below:

Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

http://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

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Wildside, Bangalore Choir and Slik Toxik – Hair Metal Album Flashback to 1992

Posted in classic rock, glam metal, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Hair Metal was alive in 1992, the only thing was that nobody noticed. For that matter, I didn’t even notice I was winding down my five year college career back in 1992. However, there were three outstanding debut albums I want to revisit from that blurry year of ’92. Wildside – Under The Influence, Bangalore Choir – On Target and Slik Toxik – Doin The Nasty are three albums I believe would have been huge hits, if only they had been released in a more rightful timeline three or four years earlier. Instead, these albums were seriously overlooked while the malcontents of Metal (aka Grunge bands) were storming their way onto the Metal scene.

Of these three albums, my personal favorite is Wildside’s Under The Influence. There is not a bad song on this album, in my opinion. Wildside’s Drew Hannah epitomizes what a Hair Metal vocalist is all about. Raw and powerful are his vocals, there are no other adjectives needed. From the opening track Hang On Lucy and onward, this album kick’s major Metal butt. So Far Away is a terrific follow up tune that keeps the Metal riffs rolling. Just Another Night is a power ballad and just a fantastic song all around. Drew Hannah’s voice just soars on Just Another Night and is a bit reminiscent of a Steelheart style of ballad. Looks Like Love is another slow tempo song, still it packs some great guitar licks.

A song that continues on the momentum of Under The Influence is one of my personal favorites on this album… Hair Of The Dog. The only blemish on Under The Influence may very well be Kiss This Love Goodbye. This is another power ballad that just misses the mark for me. Wildside ends their impressive debut album in grand Arena Rock style with Clock Strikes. Regardless if Under The Influence is out of print or not, if you can find a copy I definitely recommend getting your hands on it. Wildside Under The Influence is truly one of the most underrated Hair Metal albums of all-time.

On Target by Bangalore Choir came equipped with a familiar Metal voice in front man David Reece, who had previously fronted for German Heavy Metal legends… ACCEPT. (David was Accept’s lead vocalist for their 1989 studio album – Eat The Heat). For obvious reasons, the combination of David Reece and Accept just didn’t work out very well. While David’s work with Stream and Sircle of Silence wasn’t all that bad, his vocals in my opinion on On Target is what I consider to be his finest work. Opening with the muscle behind Reece’s vocals, the songs Angel In Black and Loaded Gun act as a Mike Tyson one-two punch that grabbed my attention immediately with some catchy grooves and chorus.

Now we enter into the power ballad segment of On Target, which is typical of all Hair Metal albums… If The Good Die Young (We’ll Live Forever). This is one doozy of a power ballad and it’s done so extremely well that I could debate it as one of the best power ballads ever recorded. After a couple of tempered down tunes, the pace picks up once again in what I consider Whitesnake fashion with one of my favorite songs on this album – All or Nothin’. On Target doesn’t finish off with the same fury as Under The Influence does, it’s not that the songs are bad, it just doesn’t conclude with that punch I was hoping for.

Doin’ The Nasty by Slik Toxik may very well be the least known of these three 1992 Hair Metal albums. Still, nothing stopped Slik Toxik from releasing an excellent Metal album that would have received some of the same praise that bands such as Firehouse and Slaughter were receiving just a couple of years earlier. Nicholas Walsh in my opinion has an excellent Metal voice and may be the best of these three vocalists I’ve discussed here. Big Fuckin’ Deal starts this album off on the right Rockin’ foot. Helluvatime follows and continues that headbanging anthem style. Sweet Asylum just Rocks the house! This is a favorite song of mine from Doin’ The Nasty and it screams with outstanding guitar licks.

It’s my belief that White Lies/Black Truth would have been a pretty big commercial hit had it been 1989 instead of 1992. This song is a personal favorite of mine, it’s catchy and very melodic, making for a perfect recipe for radio. There are a few songs on Doin’ The Nasty that aren’t standouts, yet they shouldn’t turn off any rabid Hair Metal fan either. That leads me into the power ballad on this album – By The Fireside. This is one of those songs that will surely have you flickering your lighters in a darkened concert arena, not to mention flickering your honey by the fireside! Doin’ The Nasty finishes off pretty strong, the only gripe I have is this album should have ended with Midnight Grind.

During a 90’s decade when the Metal world had changed from the big hair and big guitars to the somber sounds of Grunge, it’s great to look back upon a few Hair Metal nuggets from that era which are uplifting gems today. It’s remarkable to think, what a couple of years could have meant for these bands in terms of album releases. I guess that’s why there is truth to “timing is everything”. Twenty years later, Under The Influence, On Target and Doin’ The Nasty still do the Hair Metal alumnus such as myself proud. Lastly, I’ll make a couple of suggestions. If you haven’t listened to these beauties in a long while, then dust ’em off and Rock out! If you’d never given them a listen at all, it’s time to check ’em out and join the hair club for men party.

Scott Coverdale.

3 Comments »

DARKBLACK “Midnight Wraith” EP – Traditional Metal With Underground Appeal

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on November 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DARKBLACK – Midnight Wraith, a five song EP from Portland Oregon’s DarkBlack, will be releasing on December 1, 2010, on Stormspell Records. Wether you call yourself a Traditional Metal or Old School Metal fan, DarkBlack is a band that may inspire your going out to buy that 1983 Chevy Nova you’ve been holding out on… complete with fuzzy, black dice hanging from the windshield mirror with hood stripes too. As with their Traditional Metal peers, the likes of Enforcer, Ravage and White Wizzard, (to name a few), DarkBlack takes me down Metal memory lane to a time when bootleg and demo cassette trading was the norm.

Stop right there. Is there any Metal relevance you ask? Hell yeah there is! DarkBlack is a Metal band that doesn’t seem to care about contemporary fads… Old School Metal never says die! With that said, this Midnight Wraith EP does sound raw and absent of any multi-million dollar producer… and that is what makes this new release from DarkBlack all the more appealing to my Metal ears.

If any Metalhead out there needs to be swayed into listening to Midnight Wraith, just revisit the first two Iron Maiden albums from the Metal yesteryear. They were not the muscular produced gems of Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast or A Matter Of Life And Death albums. In a perfect Metal world, Metal is best when it stays underground… and DarkBlack seems to have tapped into those underground Metal vibes quite naturally.

DarkBlack may not have their own Boeing 757-200 jet, complete with a band mascot painted on it, yet what they do have is a Metal hunger in their playing and it comes right out at me through their songs. Yes, there is plenty of room for DarkBlack to expand on their Metal palette, however, if one is to look at the legacies of Motorhead and Venom, who gives a crap about how raw a band does sound anyways, especially when the seeds of Metal legitimacy have been planted.

All five songs on Midnight Wraith seem to lure me in, they are like Metal bait on a hook. The riffs, guitar leads and solos are memorable throughout all five songs, admittedly they are kinda hard to ignore. A streamlined speed and heaviness combined with a melodic approach is what DarkBlack has embarked upon. I can’t help rooting for a band like DarkBlack, these guys would be voted off that bubble gum Fox network talent show in a heartbeat and would make the cast of Glee run for cover. What’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing, is the correct answer.

Timothy on vocals could justifiably use some more oomph in letting his pipes be heard, he is a very decent singer… a production tweak is really all it takes there. As for the overall musicianship you can expect to hear on Midnight Wraith, it is all about the foundation. DarkBlack has it and will no doubt continue to build upon it. Sometimes you have to reach back into your Metal archives and realize that some of today’s biggest Metal bands never sounded super polished on their first two or three albums either. DarkBlack is worth checking out and keeping a Metal eye on… give ’em an Old School try, it might just serve you right.

* For more info on DARKBLACK, just click on the link below:

DARKBLACK – myspace music

Midnight Wraith EP Track Listing:

Doom Herald

Power Monger

Golden Idol

Midnight Wraith

Broken Oath

GO GET ‘EM DARKBLACK.

Stone.


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