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JUDAS PRIEST – “A TOUCH OF EVIL LIVE” 2009 ALBUM IS LIVE AND LEGENDARY PRIEST

Judas Priest is one Metal Band that I cannot ignore, especially when they release a new album. These Metal Gods can release a studio, greatest hits and as in this case, a live album and I will eagerly buy it. A Touch Of Evil Live is live with all the glorification of Judas Priest’s heavy history… and why shouldn’t this legendary Metal Band be glorified? The guitar duo of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing is dominant on each and every song, with the Metal God himself, (Rob Halford), showcasing his vocal exuberance. Ian Hill on bass guitar and Scott Travis on drums are in Metal sync together, they add all the more Metal fuel to these live Judas Priests songs. As I listen to A Touch Of Evil Live, understanding that this is live recordings from 2005 and 2008 fills me with total Metal wonderment, that this band has not grown old, only grown better. In my Metal opinion, Judas Priest sounds as heavy, fast, hard and vicious as they did in the early 1980’s. I would lay it on the Metal table and be truthful, if A Touch Of Evil Live sounded like a bunch of half enthused, Metal musicians, going through the motions. Judas Priest IS Metal, captured live with all the power and mystique that I have appreciated from them, these past three decades.

The song list on A Touch Of Evil Live is a very strong representation of vintage Metal, showing just how many great songs are in the Judas Priest catalog, dating back to 1977. This live album may not have the household hits from Judas Priest, instead, it encapsulates the deep album cuts that made Judas Priest legend. Dissident Aggressor, from the 1977 album Sin After Sin, is brought forth to live sensation three decades after it’s initial release. Beyond The Realms Of Death is re-energized live, giving a nod to the unreal great 1978 album – Stained Class. Eat Me Alive comes across live, with the same Metal nastiness that The Priest originally set out to convey, from their 1984 album Defenders Of The Faith. Painkiller, A Touch Of Evil and Between The Hammer & The Anvil are three potent Metal songs from the now classic Judas Priest album from 1990 – Painkiller.

Judas Rising and Hellrider are the first two songs on A Touch Of Evil Live, both songs cementing the Metal foundation to follow that is patented and hell bent Judas Priest. These two opening songs, have me appreciating the reunion album Angel Of Retribution from 2005… all the more. Riding On The Wind is a great choice to represent the Screaming For Vengeance album from 1982. Riding On The Wind deserves all the Metal acknowledgment it can derive, being a deeper track from such a monumental Judas Priest album. Prophecy and Death are the two songs taken from the newest Judas Priest studio album released in June 2008, the concept album – Nostradamus.

* My favorite song on A Touch Of Evil Live is… A Touch Of Evil. The thunderous Metal charge, that this song pounds away with, gets me 100%, certified psyched out. Trudging with flares of being an anthem, A Touch Of Evil IS as bona fide a Judas Priest song you can ever ask for.

I have always been a fan of live albums, especially when they are not tweaked apart to death, this live album from Judas Priest is not tweaked over, in my Metal opinion. A Touch Of Evil Live has all the hard and heavy that I have come to expect from Judas Priest, they give these songs that extra Metal power – live. Hey, this is not the greatest Judas Priest album ever, nor is it the greatest live Metal album ever made either. What A Touch Of Evil Live does demonstrate, is that Judas Priest has kicked some Metal butt the past five years, reestablishing themselves as one of the Metal elder statesmen that do and should command Metal respect. Since 2005, one thing has been Metal certain… The Priest Is Back! A Touch Of Evil Live is a very good, live Metal album from an ultra great and Metal historic band… Judas Priest.

A Touch Of Evil Live Was Released On July 14, 2009

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BLACK ‘N BLUE – 1988 ALBUM “IN HEAT” AND BLACK ‘N BLUE… TODAY!

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, current heavy metal bands, Hair Metal, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1988, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1988, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal music, old school hair metal bands, old school heavy metal, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, black 'n blue, black 'n blue 2009, black 'n blue hair metal band, black 'n blue hell yeah album, black 'n blue in heat album, black n' blue heavy metal band, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, jaime st. james vocalist, metalodyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, old school heavy metal music, patrick young bass guitarist, pete holmes drummer, rock music, tommy thayer guitarist, woop guitarist on December 16, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

I made a rediscovery of a Heavy Metal band and album. Black ‘N Blue is the band, In Heat is the album. Just last week, I was in my 2000 Ford Tauras running errands. Realizing that my urge to hear some Heavy Metal was peaking, I began to rummage through the car glove compartment for some cassette tapes… that is cassette tapes – you just read. Understand that I was not rummaging for a cassette tape while I was driving, the car was in park. This car of mine does not have a CD player, (back in 2000, the auto industry was not regarding CD players as part of any standard equipment, obviously). So, instead, my trusty 2000 Ford Tauras has a built in cassette player instead. That is… a cassette player – you read. I have not listened to this Black ‘N Blue cassette for quite some time, so it proved to be quite a cool listen.

While I have listened to In Heat a few times since last week, I cannot help but be grateful for not getting rid of my Hard Rock and Heavy Metal cassettes. Quite a bit of titles are rather pricey on CD nowadays, being imports or out of print altogether. In Heat is selling for around $27 on Amazon Music as an import CD… now that is reason enough for me to hold onto this cassette and play it on my car stereo and combo home stereo – until it wears out. Gee whiz… import regardless, sometimes the prices out there for Heavy Metal CD’s border on the outrageous.

Black ‘N Blue released In Heat back in 1988, I do remember seeing their videos on the MTV rotation… and of course, Headbangers Ball. Call Black ‘N Blue a Hair Metal Band or just good ol’ Heavy Metal, it makes no difference to me. This band made an album that is loud, melodic, riff and groove laden and infused with every flamboyant aspect of late 1980’s Heavy/Hair Metal. While I listen to In Heat, the thought comes to my mind of just letting it’s good time sound and feel take over any negativity that is currently weighing in on me. The Metal pluses are numerous with In Heat, here is a breakdown of why I feel this way:

#1 Reason why Black ‘N Blue and this album, uh, cassette Rocks hard is – Tommy Thayer on lead guitar. KISS was in his future then… who would have predicted that?

#2 – Genes Simmons produced In Heat. Believe me, you can tell… song structure and power.

#3 – Jaime St. James on vocals. He doesn’t whine when he sings and the flamboyancy and bad boy image of Heavy Metal just resonates from his voice. In other Metal words… a classic front man.

#4 – There are no sappy songs to be heard on In Heat. Stranger is about as close as it gets here… and I really like this song, a power ballad that, uh, Rocks.

#5 – Each song is saturated with enough hooks and grooves that it is flat out – ridiculously great.

#6 – Did I mention Tommy Thayer on lead guitar?

#7 – It’s all about the songs, man. Infectiously good songs all, on In Heat.

#8 – How can I not get enthusiastic about a song as good as – Get Wise To The Rise?

In a Metal nutshell, In Heat should be considered as a late 1980’s Heavy Metal listening experience of dual guitars, anthems and power slick songs. Riffs abound on In Heat… for all of you riff addicts out there. Woop on guitar proved to be no slouch either. Patrick Young on bass guitar and Pete Holmes on drums make for a dominant rhythm section, very good at what they do on In Heat. Listening to Black ‘N Blue on In Heat, gives me the impression that they had a real good time making this album. Hopefully that was the case.

If you are looking for a patented good time Heavy Metal album… well then it is In Heat. Black ‘N Blue made a name for themselves for sure, rediscovering their sound again and listening to In Heat makes this Metalhead… Metal content.

Track listing for In Heat:

Side One:

Rock On

Sight For Sore Eyes

Heat It Up! Burn It Out!

Suspicious

The Snake

Side Two

Live It Up

Gimme Your Love

Get Wise To The Rise

Great Guns Of Fire

Stranger

* Check out Black ‘N Blue’s official myspace music page: Black ‘N Blue – MySpace Music Page

Black ‘N Blue is currently planning to finish and release a new album, titled: Hell Yeah!

Look For This New Black ‘N Blue Album In 2010!

The current 2009 Black ‘N Blue band lineup:

Jaime St. James – vocals

Jef Warner – guitar

Patrick Young – bass

Pete Holmes – drums

Shawn Sonnenschein – guitar

This is what the Import CD cover of In Heat looks like . My cassette front cover only has the band logo that you see in this import version, (no band photo).

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IRON MAIDEN – “KILLERS” STILL REIGNS AS A KILLER OF A METAL ALBUM

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1981 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic heavy metal albums, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal bands, essential heavy metal albums, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1981, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands from england, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, progressive metal, rock music, scary album covers, vintage heavy metal albums with tags 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, adrian smith guitarist, Album Review, classic heavy metal, clive burr drummer, dave murray guitarist, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, Iron Maiden, iron maiden 1981, iron maiden heavy metal band, iron maiden killers album, iron maiden killers album cover, iron maiden songs, killers album 1981, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, paul dianno vocalist, progressive heavy metal, rock music, steve harris bass guitarist, the ides of march song on December 12, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

As decades pass and thousands of Heavy Metal albums are released, there will always be those select titles that are still left standing tall. Iron Maiden Killers is one of those select albums that reigns as a killer for me… 28 years after it’s June 1981, U.S. release. Killers epitomizes Old School Heavy Metal, plus Iron Maiden legitimizes the single word – Metal, as it’s very own sub genre. Whenever I think of “Metal” the first band that comes to my mind is Iron Maiden. I sometimes debate myself senseless, asking why isn’t Iron Maiden my favorite Heavy Metal band of all time? Then, I ease my confusion by just knowing that Iron Maiden is and forever will be a “core” band of mine. Killers essentially was faster and harder than many traditional Heavy Metal albums of it’s time… the great part is that Iron Maiden was just beginning to “touch upon” the progressive side of Metal Music, an attribute they became so legendary for.

Back in 1981, the Thrash Metal movement was the welcomed storm on the horizon… Iron Maiden was the baddest and heaviest outside of just a select group of their peers. Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Scorpions and Accept come to mind, when deciphering which Metal bands were as hard and heavy as Iron Maiden, back in 1981. Still, outside of Motorhead, Iron Maiden was about speed, the songs on Killers are overall – fast. Exceptions do exist, Prodigal Son is a slower paced Iron Maiden song without a doubt. The tempo being dictated by the acoustic guitars only magnifies the slender tempered sound of Prodigal Son. (Going back to the debut Iron Maiden album, Remember Tomorrow signified the flirtation with somberness that this legendary band would revisit in future albums, Prodigal Son carry’s over this assertion).

Backtracking to the intro of Killers, The Ides Of March, I insist that this was the sign of all Metal things to come on this prolific album. The Ides Of March is heavy, it is melancholy, dark and foreboding… in essence, a Metal prelude or warning if you will, that Iron Maiden was not fabricating or pretending. Twilight Zone is the song from Killers, where I feel Paul Di’Anno is at his giant best, vocally. Certainly, it is my personal opinion, as is the case with this entire article. Genghis Khan is the Metal instrumental that catapulted the musical identity of Iron Maiden, the trademark sound of this soon to be – historic Metal band. My eyeballs still pop open wide, to this very day, each time I listen to Genghis Khan.

When it comes down to musicianship, what honestly can be nit picked here? Iron Maiden as a unit on Killers made layering famous and vogue – basically instigating Progressive Metal from it’s dormancy. I cannot and never will find a fault with this legendary Iron Maiden lineup, Paul Di’Anno was the lead singer for this band in 1981 and a damned great one too… Metal case closed. Even back in the mid 1980’s, I never gave a damn about comparing Paul Di’Anno to Bruce Dickinson… what’s the point? Any seasoned Metalhead knew then and should know now, that these two lead singers are worlds apart with technique and range. In my Metal opinion, one is not better than the other, they are both unique and stylistically genuine. Paul Di’Anno gave the songs on Killers a mysterious tone, his vocals created a fog invading sound scape that bordered on macabre.

Murders In The Rue Morgue is my favorite song on Killers. Again, it’s speed, hard and heavy that this song illuminates. Paul Di’Anno never needed to hit the highest note on the planet to make Murders In The Rue Morgue an Iron Maiden classic, instead his fiery swagger is not just heard vocally, it is felt. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith unleashing their duo guitar leads proved that there was another one-two Metal guitar punch out there… alongside Metal guitar legends Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing of Judas Priest. Clive Burr on drums was not an enigma, he was THE drummer for Iron Maiden during the most important years of their maturation. And then, there is THE bass guitarist for Iron Maiden. To better accentuate my Metal point here, what Babe Ruth will forever be to the history of baseball, what the Mona Lisa will forever be to the history of fine art portraits, Steve Harris will forever be of equal importance to the history of Heavy Metal and Metal Music. Go ahead, listen or re-listen to Iron Maiden Killers… then listen really closely to the bass guitar playing of Steve Harris, hopefully you might just understand what I mean.

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ARMORED SAINT – NEW ALBUM “LA RAZA” RELEASING IN MARCH 2010!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, classic heavy metal, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, old school metal bands, rock music, traditional heavy metal music, vintage heavy metal bands with tags 1980's heavy metal, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, armored saint 2009, armored saint heavy metal band, armored saint la raza album, current heavy metal bands, gonzo sandoval drummer, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal music, jeff duncan guitarist, joey vera bass guitarist, john bush vocalist, metal blade records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, old school heavy metal music, phil sandoval guitarist on December 9, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

The following news about the upcoming Armored Saint album, La Raza, was taken from the Metal Blade Records newsletter, dated December 4, 2009. In this newsletter, as told by Joey Vera, bass guitarist for Armored Saint:

Album Title – La Raza

Release Date – March 2010 – (no actual Tuesday date was mentioned)

Record Label – Metal Blade Records

Production Status – all the songs have been recorded and mixed * mastering, photo shoots, CD artwork and the running order of the songs are currently being finished up.

According to Joey Vera, this new Armored Saint album – La Raza, is “full on cardiovascular failure stuff” and is “Old School baby”!

* Heavy Metal credit where it is due: I first caught wind of a new Armored Saint album being finished and it’s release being on the horizon, over at The Metal Files – look for the post titled: DC4 and Warrior – 11/7/09 – Whisky A-Go-Go. It’s a really cool and credible read with an insiders view.

I’m really looking forward to this new Armored Saint album in March. After all these years I admire the Old School Heavy Metal bands that are still around and playing/making valid music. Armored Saint paid their Metal dues, now it’s time for this band to remind everyone what they are all about… 100% traditional/Old School Heavy Metal. 2010 is looking to be another unreal great year for Heavy Metal Music… thanks to Armored Saint’s return!

Armored Saint:

John Bush – Vocals

Joey Vera – Bass

Jeff Duncan – Guitars

Gonzo Sandoval – Drums

Phil Sandoval – Guitars

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WE’VE ADOPTED A CAT! HIS NAME IS TOBY.

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's rock bands, classic rock, classic rock music, cool album covers, everyday experiences, family, family pets, feel good stories, hair metal music, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, lists, metal odyssey, Music, old school hair metal bands, personal stories, real life experiences, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, cats, eye of the tiger song, family, family pets, faster pussycat debut album, hard rock music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, pets, rock and roll, rock music, survivor rock band, tygertailz hair metal band, vito bratta guitarist, white lion hair metal band on December 2, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

On November 21, 2009, my family and I adopted a two year old cat named Toby. He is healthy as can be, we updated all of his required shots and he passed a physical too. Toby is a domestic house cat, a very curious and gentle animal. Yes, he does like to get cozy, especially at night when we are all trying to sleep. Just like the classic Slaughter song goes… Up All Night, Sleep All Day! Toby really enjoys our front reading room during the day, taking turns sleeping on each chair and love seat. There is not a window sill this cat does not like to perch on either. Toby gets box seats to watch the birds, squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks do their thing… in the outside world. Toby does not seem to mind that he cannot go outside though… too many times he hears dogs barking.

As a family, Toby has embraced us all and likewise. We look forward to many great years with him. Toby is only looking for some food, a box to poop in, water, a house to prowl around in and playtime with our daughters, (with some added attention from my wife and I). He really isn’t asking for too much. I posted recently that we were searching to adopt a cat, in this post a nifty list of cat/feline/tiger bands was created, from Rock to Metal. Well, since we finally have Toby, here is another list of such bands associated with this ever popular animal… the cat.

First however, may I introduce to you, Toby:

Here is a Hair Metal Band that I have always liked a lot – Faster Pussycat. Their debut album, released in 1987, is one to own. My favorite song from this initial Faster Pussycat release is Don’t Change That Song. Taime Downe has some unique vocals, plus this band knew how to make some hard rockin’ and good time songs.

Here is another Hair Metal Band that I never covered my ears to, I will listen to this band. I actually caught this band live back in the late ’80’s at a small club. White Lion. I can’t recall what other band or bands played with White Lion that night I saw them… that was a night when the good times made things rather fuzzy. Vito Bratta, (the original guitarist) for White Lion, is very, very, good at playing guitar, no doubt in my Metal mind.

O.k., so Survivor is NOT a Heavy Metal Band or even a bona fide Hard Rock Band. They are a Rock Band still. Their band name does not have a feline connection, their biggest selling single ever does, for that matter. Furthermore, they did psyche me out at age 16, with their huge hit single from 1982, Eye Of The Tiger. I am not bashful, about admitting the affect this song had on me, back in 1982. This was the theme song for the Rocky lll movie sequel as well. From what I have researched, this song alone, sold over two million copies in the U.S., count me as one of those two million who bought the 45 rpm back then. Uh, this one I wound up selling, giving away or (gulp), discarding. I really wish I kept this 45 rpm with the original sleeve intact.

Tigertailz – Hair Metal, Glam Metal… either or – you pick ’em. Their 1987 debut album Young And Crazy I still own… on (gulp), cassette. Metal be damned I’m going to keep it too… and listen to it whenever I feel like it. No, I’m NOT kidding either.

Well, that is all for now. My previous cat related bands/songs list was a little longer, I’m running out of ideas with this now. If anyone has a Rock/Hard Rock/Metal related example for this list, that comes to mind, feel free to comment it.

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HEAVY METAL THUNDER – 1985 BOOK IS VALUABLE HEAVY METAL HISTORY

Posted in 1950's rock music, 1960's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, classic hard rock, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal book reviews, heavy metal chronology, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music books, heavy metal music reference, heavy metal timeline, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music books, vintage hard rock bands, vintage heavy metal bands with tags 1950's rock and roll, 1960's classic rock bands, 1960's rock music, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, classic rock bands, classic rock music, early years of heavy metal, hard rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal book, heavy metal evolution, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal musicians, heavy metal reference book, heavy metal thunder, heavy metal thunder 1985, heavy metal thunder book, heavy metal timeline, history of heavy metal, metal odyssey, Music on November 27, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Back in 1985, I was nineteen and working part time in a grocery store, spending most of my spare change on Heavy Metal albums or cassettes. I was still a teenager trying to find my college and career path back then, making minimum wage really left me with extremely limited funds. Being picky about my purchases in 1985 was out of necessity. To buy a brand new book back then, it had to be good… Heavy Metal good. I would frequent regularly, (most of the time just to browse), a mom & pop bookstore called Bookworks. This store unfortunately no longer exists, thanks to the gigantic, corporate bookstore chains that invaded every corner of the globe. Um, back to the Bookworks store… you see, I happened upon a book that caught my eye instantly sometime back in 1985, the title Heavy Metal Thunder appeared too good to be true. The front cover of the book said it all… sub headings read: The Music, It’s History, It’s Heroes. Plus, a fully adorned Heavy Metal guitarist playing a flying V guitar, on this books front cover, was more than I could possibly resist. I bought Heavy Metal Thunder willingly for $12.95. This was the full cover price back in 1985, quite a bit of cash considering my economic situation back then.

I can remember walking home with this book under my arm, the feeling of striking Heavy Metal gold was resonating through me. Knowing this was a book documenting the history of Heavy Metal up to 1985, enticed me to become the Heavy Metal scholar of my block. I read this book from front to back repeatedly, taking in the facts and timelines of the Heavy Metal history found within it’s pages. As I look back now, this book was as informative as any Heavy Metal book available back in 1985. As I leaf through the pages of Heavy Metal Thunder today, it is obvious this book was written from the perspective of being in the year 1985. Don’t let the year 1985 fool you however, this book is accurate, informative and fact filled with enough Heavy Metal history to still satisfy me in 2009. I wish there was a companion edition of Heavy Metal Thunder that was written, a book that dates from 1985 to the present. The author, Philip Bashe, compiled a timeline of Heavy Metal evolution, in commendable fashion, with this book.

There are 32 full color pages of band and individual musician photos in Heavy Metal Thunder, each photo seems to capture the essence and significance of the Old School Heavy Metal genre. Dozens of black and white photos of Heavy Meal bands and musicians adorn the pages of this great book as well. The featured bands in this book, being depicted in color photos as well, are: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Rush, AC/DC, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot and Motley Crue. Arguably, these were the biggest and most commercially embraced Heavy Metal bands back in 1985. KISS, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Mountain, Blue Cheer, Randy Rhoads, Twisted Sister, Lita Ford, Ronnie James Dio and Led Zeppelin do get their justified due in black and white photographs and are recognized for their importance in shaping and creating the Heavy Metal genre as we know it today. Even The Kinks, The Who and Grand Funk Railroad get their significance pointed out.

For it’s time, Philip Bashe does a top tier job at acknowledging a majority of the bands and musicians that were instrumental in the evolution of Heavy Metal, up to 1985, even if it is a short anecdote, quick mention or fact. From Elvis Presley to the The Doors to Fastway, the links and roots of Heavy Metal are touched upon in such an intriguing way by Philip Bashe, that I find Heavy Metal Thunder to still be a valuable read in 2009. The single most incredible aspect of Heavy Metal Thunder, is the Chronology, (timeline and progression of Heavy Metal Music), which is written so very well by Philip Bashe. This chronology begins on April 28, 1958, with guitarist Link Wray and his million selling instrumental single Rumble and ends on December 31, 1984, with the auto accident of Def Leppard’s drummer, Rick Allen. Believe me, the bands and their respective achievements, that are touched upon in between this timeline, is nothing short of a fascinating read.

Heavy Metal Thunder is a soft cover with 214 pages. A large size book, it measures 8.5″ x 11″ and is written with enough factual research that only adds to it’s total historical credibility. Metalheads both young and old, should find this book completely absorbing, with both it’s written and visual content. I have seen Heavy Metal Thunder for sale on Amazon.com, there were several used copies for sale, as recent as today. I saw the used copy price was for far less than the cover price I paid back in 1985. For me, it was money well spent 25 years ago… for I still own Heavy Metal Thunder to this very day.

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HEAVY METAL 101: GREATEST HITS CD’S WORTH OWNING

Posted in 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, guitar legends, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, progressive metal music, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, Alice cooper, alice cooper the band, Black Sabbath, dee snider, dio, heaven and hell band, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal best of albums, heavy metal greatest hits albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, jimi hendrix, kiss double platinum album, kiss heavy metal band, lemmy kilmister, metal odyssey, Motorhead, motorhead songs, Music, queensryche progressive metal band, ronnie james dio, ted nugent, twisted sister on November 22, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

In striving to make the world a better place, by spreading the blissful two words of Heavy Metal (and any and all Extreme Music), here is a cool list of Greatest Hits CD’s from some very worthy bands and musicians. This list may quite possibly trigger a mad dash to itunes or your nearest record/CD store upon your review. Greatest Hits or Best Of CD’s are sometimes the perfect fix if you do not have any of the respective band’s albums/CD’s already. If you are like me, (a collector and sometimes over excited fan), you may like some or many bands so much, you just need to own everything that is available by such bands, including Greatest Hits. If this list of incredible Greatest Hits CD’s recruits even one new fan to the Heavy/Extreme Music genres, then I have done a fine Metal deed. Please note, I own each Greatest Hits or so named CD on this list… I could never recommend an album/CD without listening to it’s entirety and/or having ownership of. Integrity in Heavy Metal Music recommendations is an ethical must.

The Best Of Ted Nugent – Great Gonzos! – Absolutely a Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal fusion with The Motor City Madman. Cat Scratch Fever, Stranglehold, Wango Tango, Free For All and Dog Eat Dog are late 1970’s into early 1980’s FM radio Classics. Old School and not a lick here that isn’t memorable for Metal life. Plus, the reissue has 3 bonus tracks too.

IRON MAIDEN – Somewhere Back In Time/The Best Of 1980 – 1989 – An undeniably great assortment of Iron Maiden classics, spanning the unreal Metal ’80’s. 2 Minutes To Midnight and The Trooper are enough to get me psyched out of my Metal mind for at least an hour. In my Metal opinion, Iron Maiden could have/should have released a 2 – disc greatest hits, they have that many incredible songs in their Metal catalog. Yes they do.

Jimi Hendrix – Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix – A Hard Rock evolving into Heavy Metal history lesson is heard here on this album. This album of Jimi Hendrix songs are beyond great… their damn sacred. Purple Haze, The Wind Cries Mary, Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, All Along The Watchtower and the Rock historical – Star Spangled Banner… c’mon, these songs are the Metal building blocks of every Heavy Metal and/or Hard Rock genre out there today. 20 songs total on this masterful collection, not a must have… a no brainer must own.

DIO – The Very Beast Of DIO – Ronnie James Dio is a living Metal legend. His vocals for me, are the epitome of what Heavy Metal singing is all about. Dio’s solo career takes center stage on this amazing collection of greatest hits. Holy Diver, Rainbow In The Dark, Rock and Roll Children, Mystery and The Last In Line are DIO songs that pack the same potent Metal punch to my ears and senses… as they did back in the 1980’s. 16 songs total on this DIO disc. Metal masterpieces only sound better with age.

Black Sabbath – The Dio Years – I find this collection of Black Sabbath songs to be uncannily irresistible. These are the Black Sabbath songs from the Ronnie James Dio era, with the Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Live Evil and Dehumanizer albums all represented. This same Black Sabbath lineup may be called Heaven and Hell in 2009, yet does it really matter? Their still Black Sabbath to me.

Twisted Sister – Big Hits and Nasty Cuts – Dee Snider made Heavy Metal all the more visible on MTV with the Twisted Sister video We’re Not Gonna Take It, back in 1984. This Twisted Sister greatest hits album is loaded with 6 live bonus tracks as well. This is another band that could easily fill up more than one disc of great songs from their Heavy Metal catalog. Under The Blade and The Kids Are Back are my two favorites on this one.

KISS – Double Platinum – I have proudly owned this album since it’s release back in 1978. I was in seventh grade back then and this was my very first KISS album. My Double Platinum album is still in beautiful condition too. A 2 record set, opening up as a gatefold, this album also included a platinum record certificate to the fan who purchased it. (I wish I kept this piece of KISS memorabilia, it was just made of paper and it hung on my bedroom wall for several years, when I was a kid of course). The important thing is I still have Double Platinum on vinyl… plus I upgraded Double Platinum by buying the CD many years ago too. (It is not a double CD, all the songs are on just one… I don’t know if this ever changed over to a double CD over the years). Just about every important and cool KISS song from the 1970’s is on Double Platinum, with Hard Luck Woman and Calling Dr. Love being my two vintage KISS favorites.

Queensryche – Sign of the Times, The Best Of Queensryche – Buying this CD suited me well since many of my Queensryche “albums” were purchased on cassette years ago. Queensryche has always been a favorite of mine, a high powered – progressive Metal Band that crossed over into Rock and Hard Rock too. Musical diversity is no stranger to Queensryche. My two favorites are Queen of the Reich and Jet City Woman. Yes, those two songs are tops on my list.

Alice Cooper – Alice Coopers Greatest Hits – This album was released back in 1974, it is the Greatest Hits of Alice Cooper (The Band). Man, this is Old School Heavy Metal. Sure, some may argue it is comprised of Old School Hard Rock as well… that is fine by me. The Metal bottom line is this: Alice Cooper (The Band), was just as much as important to the creation of Heavy Metal as any other band of their time or before them. That is my Metal opinion and I have to tell it to the world. Oh, yeah, my favorite songs from this Greatest Hits are – No More Mr. Nice Guy, Under My Wheels and well, just every song on this Greatest Hits is great.

Motorhead – The Best Of Motorhead – This is one great and comprehensive double disc, greatest hits of Motorhead. I bought this Motorhead disc due to my needing any and all of their releases, regardless if I already have the songs. This Best Of was released in 2000, with two live bonus tracks included. There are 40 songs total on this double disc Motorhead bounty! Also found on The Best Of Motorhead are: Hawkwind playing Motorhead, Girlschool covers Bomber and Headgirl covering Please Don’t Touch. The history of Motorhead is covered up to the year 2000, from Ace of Spades to the Motorhead cover version of God Save The Queen. Plus, my favorite Motorhead song of all time is on here too – Killed By Death, from the No Remorse (Greatest Hits album). Long live Lemmy and Motorhead.

I could go on and on with this list of Heavy Metal Greatest Hits CD’s worth owning. Showing and quipping about some of the Greatest Hits CD’s I own, can maybe help out someone who is on the fence about one of these bands or musicians. These CD’s above are all consistently listened to by me, they are perfect for when I’m in the mood to hear the choice songs from these bands/musicians. As Dee Snider has sung, with Heavy Metal pride: You can’t stop Rock and Roll!

BRITNY FOX – 1989 “BOYS IN HEAT” IS A GLAM SLAM OF A HEAVY METAL ALBUM

Posted in 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal cover songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1989 heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, cover songs, glam metal, glam metal music, Hair Metal, hair metal music, hair metal music genre, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1989, heavy metal bands, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's glam metal bands, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's hair metal songs, 1980's heavy metal music, 1989 glam metal music, Album Review, billy childs bass guitarist, boys in heat album, britny fox, britny fox hair metal band, dean davidson vocalist & guitarist, hair metal albums 1989, hair of the dog cover song, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, johnny dee drummer, metal odyssey, michael kelly smith guitarist, Music, nazareth hard rock band, rock music on November 20, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

The 1980’s, here I go again. There were Heavy Metal Bands aplenty to choose from back in the ’80’s, Britny Fox being one. Only thing is, I never bought any Britny Fox albums back then. It wasn’t because I did not like this band, it all came down to choice and what albums would I throw my (little) money at. Now it is 2009, (obviously) and the Britny Fox Boys In Heat CD is blaring it’s Hair Metal glory for me today. Um, I have to thank my best Metal buddy, Scott, for landing me this CD. Thanks dude. Would I have eventually bought this Britny Fox CD or any Britny Fox CD for that matter? The Metal answer is… probably yes. I just don’t know when precisely that would have happened. The same mindset holds true for me today, with so many choices out there and a reality cap of spending. I am in awe at times, realizing how much catching up I have in Heavy Metal listening. Catching up on Heavy Metal albums going back decades is not a bad hobby, I am not complaining. For all Metal intents and purposes, this Britny Fox CD, Boys In Heat, is some decent Hair Metal candy for my ears.

Cutting to the Metal chase here, my favorite song on Boys In Heat is the cover song – Hair of the Dog. With that stated, I do revere the original version of Hair of the Dog by that legendary band known as Nazareth. This cover of Hair of the Dog is not better than the original, however, Britny Fox did a glam slam job of covering it. Not that it matters, yet Britny Fox gets my Metal approval for their version of Hair of the Dog. Throughout this entire Boys In Heat album, the one constant that I notice is… Britny Fox can play. Britny Fox obviously came out with a throng of other Hair Metal Bands back in the mid to late ’80’s, what really sets this album apart from the Hair Metal pack? I always like quality, not quantity. Boys In Heat is a 13 song album that is consistent with quality, both in it’s Metal and vocals.

Long Way From Home has a kickin’ guitar solo, plus the song has more grooves than I can count. Dean Davidson on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, has those vintage Hair Metal pipes. I truly compare his vocals to that of Tom Keifer of Cinderella. Quite frankly, that is not a bad dude to be compared to. Stevie is as rock solid a Hair Metal song as I have ever heard. Shine On is a song that carries the beat non-stop, it is that kind of song I want to crank up extremely loud on my car CD player, with the windows down on a long drive. The melodic drive of each song on Boys In Heat, never ceases from the opening track of In Motion… this album epitomizes Hair Metal heavy. I also liken this album to be a funk buster, if Boys In Heat can’t get me out of a funk I’m in, then nothing will. What’s that? Did someone say feel good? Once again, if Boys In Heat can’t make me feel good, uh, then something is wrong.

Michael Kelly Smith on lead guitar is as cool as they come, his guitar licks are impressive on Boys In Heat. This album does not lack in the powered up lead and solo department, thanks to him. Billy Childs on bass and Johnny Dee on drums, give me every reason in the Metal world, to turn the bass control up to high, while this album is busting out. It is always a great experience to hear an album that is from years past and like it, especially when it is of the Heavy Metal genre. Britny Fox may not have been on my purchase list back in 1989, yet they are on my current playlist today… courtesy of my best Metal buddy Scott and this CD – Boys In Heat.

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MASTERPLAN – “MK ll” ALBUM IS 100% MELODIC POWER METAL

Posted in Album Review, cool album covers, current power metal bands, essential heavy metal albums, essential power metal albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal vocalists, melodic power metal bands, melodic power metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school power metal music, Power Metal, power metal albums, power metal bands, power metal guitarists, power metal music, power metal music today, power metal songs, power metal vocalists, rock music, symphonic metal with tags axel mackenrott keyboardist, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, helloween power metal band, i'm gonna win song, jan s. eckert bass guitarist, jorn lande vocalist, masterplan, masterplan melodic metal band, masterplan mk ll album, masterplan power metal band, masterplan symphonic metal band, metal music, metal odyssey, mike dimeo vocalist, mike terrana drummer, Music, power metal albums, power metal bands, power metal music 2007, power metal vocalists, rock music, roland grapow guitarist, symphonic metal music, watching the world song on November 12, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Masterplan released the MK ll album back on February 23, 2007. I have never regretted with catching onto Masterplan. Half the fun of being into Heavy Metal, is knowing there are so many bands from so many genres to sink your ears into… ah, the world of Metal is a good thing. For those not familiar, Masterplan is a Power Metal Band, 100% through and through with no gimmicks. Melodic Metal and Symphonic Metal are two other labels that are just as fitting for Masterplan, the three genres I attribute to this band are adequately interlocking. Masterplan is led by former Helloween guitarist, Roland Grapow, he takes on the roles of guitarist, composer and producer. I gravitate very often to the Power Metal genre, finding this form of Metal Music to be inspiring and ultra credible. I find the Power Metal songs from Masterplan MK ll to be like a Metal soundtrack for my mind… uplifting and scenic thoughts appear for me, reflective thoughts too. Getting revved up is not difficult while listening to Masterplan either, there are plenty of psyche out moments in their songs. Masterplan goes full throttle with their Power Metal, there never seems to be a dull moment, for me.

MK ll has been a CD of choice for me, going back to last weekend. Every so often, I need to expand my Metal horizons and listen to another genre that isn’t extremely fast, hard and heavy. Masterplan are a heavy band in their own Melodic Power Metal right, only it is the symphonic side of this band that really keeps me grounded… and I like that. Diversity in the Heavy Metal universe is what makes this music so worthwhile. The longer I stop to look, listen and read, the better acquainted I get with the vastness of the Heavy Metal family tree. Discovering Masterplan on the Heavy Metal family tree is like finding and picking that almost perfect pear, you just know it’s good and juicy.

As for the songs on MK ll, there are no loafers to be found. This album has a cool, consistent flow about it, making MK ll one of those albums I can listen to from start to finish, no leap frogging is necessary! My two favorite songs on MK ll are: I’m Gonna Win and Watching The World. These two songs are #6 and #7, respectively on the track list. Both of these songs project this majestic high that just wraps around my senses and psyches me out. Mike DiMeo is everything you could expect from a Power Metal vocalist, he surely can hit the high notes and harmonizes effortlessly throughout MK ll. Mike Terrana on drums is darn great to listen to, there are moments when his playing is the focal point. Jan S. Eckert keeps the rhythm solid with Terrana, a very tight unit. The keyboards are a major musical ingredient with this Power Metal outfit, Axel Mackenrott makes his presence known by providing the atmospheric and symphonic environment within the songs. I look forward to a brand new Masterplan album in 2010, Roland Grapow has some Power Metal momentum going for him, with Masterplan.

The momentum of Masterplan will be getting even stronger, now that news has been broken, of Jorn Lande returning as lead vocalist. (You can read the official news of Jorn Lande returning by going on the official Masterplan website at http://www.master-plan.net). I will always appreciate the vocals that Mike DiMeo brought to Masterplan, honestly, he is very good, in my Metal opinion. Jorn Lande is a premier Heavy Metal vocalist period. Jorn’s solo career and vocal contribution to Avantasia, coupled with his past Masterplan albums is proof positive he is at the top of the Power Metal pyramid. Welcome back to Masterplan Jorn!

Masterplan "MK ll" large album pic

W.A.S.P. “CRAZY” FROM “BABYLON” ALBUM IS WOVEN WITH HEAVY METAL MATURITY

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's metal bands, Album Review, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, essential heavy metal albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal vocalists, independent record labels, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, rock music, scary album covers, spooky album covers, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage heavy metal songs with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, blackie lawless guitarist, blackie lawless vocalist, demolition records, doug blair guitarist, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal songs, heavy metal vocalists, lyrical messages, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, W.A.S.P., w.a.s.p. albums, w.a.s.p. babylon album, w.a.s.p. babylon songs, w.a.s.p. crazy song, w.a.s.p. heavy metal band, w.a.s.p. the last command album, w.a.s.p. wild child song on November 11, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

W.A.S.P. Babylon small album pic Thank you Blackie Lawless. Thank you for not going away, taking an extended leave of absence or selling out. There are too many 1980’s Heavy Metal Bands that did just those things, now they are scrambling to make their triumphant comeback or best album ever. Some are doing just that, only Blackie Lawless does not belong to that club. The Heavy Metal membership card that Blackie Lawless holds says two words… for life. Why shouldn’t it say just that? The true fans of Heavy Metal and/or W.A.S.P. are in it for life. While the 1990’s ushered in the Grunge genre and scores of pretentious bands (being mistakenly labeled) Heavy Metal, all the while lining up at Hollywood’s red carpet gala’s for accolades, W.A.S.P. was too busy making real Heavy Metal albums of integrity. The politically correct mainstream press was not a necessity for W.A.S.P.’s survival then, it certainly is not now. There is no return of or part ll theme happening with W.A.S.P., just a band that is a Heavy Metal mainstay, due to the perseverance and creativity of Blackie Lawless. To take a quote from Blackie Lawless, (as stated in the liner notes from Babylon)… If it is not the truth, it will not stand.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be writing a series of reviews on the new W.A.S.P. studio album, Babylon. Concentrating on individual songs, musical elements and lyrics from Babylon makes for a more enlightening Metal experience for me, hopefully visitors to Metal Odyssey will agree. When an album of Heavy Metal has such a powerful impact on me, as does Babylon, a generalized review is about as fulfilling as a stale beer sitting in the hot sun. Could I have predicted Babylon would have impacted me in such a fantastic way? Of course not, yet the surprise is more expected than unexpected.

Crazy is the opening song on Babylon. The weight of the world always seems to be put on the opening track of any album. The first song sets the table for the remainder of the album, good or bad, this all important track can either be the demise or exclamation point for the songs that follow. With Crazy, this song kicks and extends it’s Heavy Metal tentacles like a giant sea squid on a caffeine rush. Crazy is the prelude to nine Heavy Metal songs of substance, this song alone foretells that W.A.S.P. connects in 2009. Blackie Lawless borrowed some of his Old School Heavy Metal and fused it with a more mature presentation, both with lyrics and tempo. Sure, Crazy is a fast moving song, only it’s the streamlined sound of it’s speed that makes it so appreciable. The consistency of Heavy Metal muscle is what I have come to expect from W.A.S.P., Crazy illuminates and flexes it from the opening note. My best Metal buddy Scott cued me into the comparison of Crazy to Wild Child, from the 1985 W.A.S.P. classic, The Last Command. (This was well before I owned a copy of Babylon, Scott was a lucky one who nailed Babylon on it’s import release date of October 13th). The opening guitar intro to both Crazy and Wild Child are very similar, still not a mirror image note for note.

The vocals of Blackie Lawless during Crazy extends maturity, not a voice that needs a stretcher… Blackie Lawless is not fooling anyone or pulling any high tech tricks. Doug Blair on lead guitar sounds like a rising star that Ozzy Osbourne would have plucked out of the bushel to call his own, decades ago. Instead, Blackie Lawless has a guitarist that doesn’t just play… emotion is emanated from the guitar of Doug Blair. Listening to the guitar solo on Crazy reminds me as to why I love Heavy Metal in the first place. Crazy is as commercially viable as any song from the storied Heavy Metal history of W.A.S.P., (only it has never been about accessibility with this band)… thank God for that. This is absolutely not an accusation that Blackie Lawless has set out to make a hit single, rather it is a Heavy Metal song that is so melodically driven that it is awe inspiring.

Lyrics, as with music itself, is art. One persons interpretation of a songs lyrics will differ far and wide against another’s. My interpretation of the lyrics for Crazy is – don’t fall in love with anyone or anything that cannot love you back. The symbolic person or thing that won’t accept love in Crazy sends a deep message of steering clear from personal hurt. Human emotion is a very volatile subject and Blackie Lawless has penned some intriguing lyrics with this song. You cannot draw love from drugs, alcohol or hate. These are things that will make anyone look crazy for loving. Inanimate objects are never going to love anyone. A tremendous Heavy Metal song is Crazy, this is the one song I have listened to the most from Babylon thus far… isn’t that crazy?

W.A.S.P. "Babylon" large album pic #2

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W.A.S.P. COVERS THE DEEP PURPLE CLASSIC “BURN” WITH HEAVY METAL PRIDE ON BABYLON ALBUM!

Posted in 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's classic rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic rock cover songs, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current heavy metal songs, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, rock music, scary album covers, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, vintage heavy metal bands with tags 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's hard rock songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, babylon album 2009, blackie lawless vocalist, burn hard rock song 1974, current heavy metal songs, david coverdale vocalist, deep purple burn album, deep purple burn song, deep purple hard rock band, doug blair guitarist, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs 2009, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, W.A.S.P., w.a.s.p. albums, w.a.s.p. babylon album, w.a.s.p. burn cover song, w.a.s.p. heavy metal albums, w.a.s.p. heavy metal band on November 10, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

W.A.S.P. has me burning up with an extreme Heavy Metal fever. Their new studio album, Babylon, is the total Old School Heavy Metal package. I am so excited about this new W.A.S.P. album, I need to calm down. Alright, if you have never purchased a W.A.S.P. album in your life and you are into Metal, do the right thing and buy Babylon. Veteran W.A.S.P. fans should understand why I am pumped up about Babylon… it is the quintessential Heavy Metal album for 2009. Am I saying it is the best Heavy Metal album of 2009? I am sure leaning in that direction for certain. Remember, this is Heavy Metal, no strings attached. Blackie Lawless has proven once again he is not about to back down, cow tow or change for anyone. Blackie Lawless has my total Metal support and praise for his convictions, which he so eloquently states within the liner notes of Babylon.

In a perfect Heavy Metal world, Blackie Lawless would be my choice for President and Chief Commanding Officer. For now, I can live with Blackie Lawless being the living Heavy Metal legend he is. I now hereby declare, that it is very difficult to hide my appreciation for the Heavy Metal of W.A.S.P., I am damn proud of it too. I have been listening to and enjoying the Heavy Metal of W.A.S.P. for too many years now, to give a hoot about what anyone thinks of my admitting my adoration for Blackie Lawless and his band. Hey, it is light years better than admitting to being a follower of an uptight dude, named Keith Olberman, who whines all night on MSNBC.

Get ready – for this will be the first in a series of rave Metal reviews I will be doing regarding this W.A.S.P. Babylon album. It is that unreal great. Oh well, I have to listen to the boss at Metal Odyssey and he says I have to do it this way… that boss is me. Isolating songs from a great Heavy Metal album like Babylon and writing about them, is more of a deserving tribute to a Metal accomplishment by Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P., in my Metal opinion. The only song I will comment on, in this first edition of W.A.S.P. Babylon reviews, is the cover song Burn. This 1974 Classic Hard Rock song from the ultra incredible Deep Purple, is now also an unbelievable Heavy Metal classic, courtesy of Blackie Lawless and his band. I listened to this W.A.S.P. cover of Burn at least six times repeatedly… it blew my Metal mind. Blackie Lawless on vocals is Metal mesmerizing, I can hear the love and passion he truly has for this song… very loud and very clear. W.A.S.P. signs, seals and delivers Burn in powerful Heavy Metal style, nothing formal, no black tie required.

Deep Purple "Burn" small album pic I will always believe, that it is extremely hard to cover a song of this magnitude, without tripping up somewhere along the way. Nothing beats a Hard Rock Classic, especially one from Deep Purple. David Coverdale will forever have the notoriety of originally vocalizing Burn with Deep Purple. David Coverdale’s vocal signature on the original version of Burn, plus his historical importance to Heavy Metal is immeasurable, in my most honest Metal opinion. Fast forward to 2009 and Burn is resurrected from the archives of Hard Rock history, thanks to W.A.S.P.. Blackie Lawless maintains the signature keyboards of Burn, reestablishing the importance this instrument has within this song. Doug Blair on lead guitar, cements himself as an asset, to the Heavy Metal identity that is W.A.S.P., on this amazing cover song. Burn returns and rises like a flaming phoenix, with Blackie Lawless unleashing this song’s power and exposing it’s grandeur for all Heavy Metal time.

W.A.S.P. "Babylon" large album pic #2

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The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal – A Very Resourceful Metal Music Book

Posted in 1970's punk rock, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1980's punk rock music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, 1990's thrash metal music, black metal roots, book reviews, classic rock music, death metal music, doom metal music, extreme metal music, hair metal music, heavy metal book reviews, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music books, heavy metal music guides, heavy metal music reference, heavy metal vocalists, horror punk rock bands, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school metal bands, old school thrash metal music, punk rock bands, rock music, sludge metal bands, southern hard rock, thrash metal bands with tags 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal music, black metal music, current heavy metal bands, essi berelian author, heavy metal book review, heavy metal books, heavy metal genres, heavy metal music, heavy metal music books, history of heavy metal, Iron Maiden, king diamond, kiss heavy metal band, kreator thrash metal band, metal music, metal music genres, metal odyssey, Misfits, Motorhead, Music, Ozzy Osbourne, punk rock bands, punk rock books, Ramones, rock music, rough guides, slayer thrash metal band, the rough guide to heavy metal, thrash metal books, thrift store finds, w.a.s.p. heavy metal band on November 9, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Ozzy small pic I’m always looking for good deals on my Heavy Metal Music purchases, from albums, CD’s to memorabilia and books. Upon one of my recent stops into a local thrift store, I happened upon quite the Heavy Metal find indeed, for the ripe price of fifty cents. Yes, fifty cents. The find you ask? Well, none other than The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal – and it is quite the book for me. (This book is a 1st printing, printed in 2005 by Rough Guides). While perusing the book aisle at this thrift store, the image of none other than Ozzy Osbourne caught my eye. What is this? I could not believe what I had found! Knowing immediately too, that any book in this thrift store is only fifty cents… I was Metal stoked. As a bonus, this book stared right at me in gem mint condition as well. As I picked it up and browsed through it’s Heavy Metal filled pages, it was obvious to me that the previous owner of this book never bothered to read it. As crisp of a new book you will find. Life is a sweet journey sometimes, especially when you can stumble on a 410 page book, when you least expect it, that is dedicated to your favorite music genre… Heavy Metal.

Alright, enough about how I found The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal and onward with it’s review. This richly factual book is written by Essi Berelian, with a foreward by the legendary front man for Iron Maiden – Bruce Dickinson himself. There are over 300 bands and/or musicians that are covered in this book. (Hey, to make a definitive book of Heavy Metal bands would not only be a task of the ages, the page count would reach a bizarre number as well). Therefore, there are going to be bands that are missing, (I am disappointed that Enslaved did not get aknowledged), plus there is that band here and there where I can’t exactly label as Heavy Metal, (Asia has a write-up in this book). I like Asia, yet I do not see the connection here. I will bend and say Foreigner has a loose connection to the genre of Heavy Metal, they are represented in The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal. Diversity is shown in the representation of bands, The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal even acknowledges Lynyrd Skynyrd and their link to heavy music.

From Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss to King Diamond and Magnum, with the likes of Venom and UFO in between, a fabulous smorgasbord of movers and shakers are touched upon with factual integrity and reverence. I am smitten that Slayer, Motorhead, W.A.S.P., Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kreator are well covered here too. Something that Essi Berelian did here, that impresses me most, is the inclusion of legendary Punk Rock Bands such as the Misfits and Ramones. Still, where are the Sex Pistols? C’mon, if you include Punk Rock into a voluminous book such as this, it is not a bright move to ignore the Sex Pistols! Plus, whenever writers refer to the 1970’s Hard Rock band Sweet as “The Sweet”, it drives me crazy. Anyone familiar with this band knows them as Sweet… period. The only album I am aware of, that has the moniker of “The Sweet” is their very first album, which was titled Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be back in 1971. Give me a Metal break.

Essi Berelian deserves much praise and credit, despite the few flaws mentioned, that in reality, I can overlook. Each band or musician represented in The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal has it’s history and discography touched upon in enough detail that suffices for me. Interesting anecdotes and facts are also provided throughout this entire book, making for a very resourceful guide on the history of Heavy Metal. The genres of Heavy Metal are explained very well too, giving the reader an in depth explanation to it’s respective origin and impact on the world of music. From Christian Metal to Black Metal, the genres of Heavy Metal are given their own spotlight. The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal is also loaded with plenty of black and white photographs, (group and individual shots, album covers and concert photos), giving this book that much more appeal.

At the end of the Metal day, The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal makes for an extensive and detailed read into the bands that started, shaped and expanded the world of Heavy Metal Music. Whether you are a life long fan of this incredible genre of music or a brand new fan, this book is rather difficult to put down. I most highly recommend The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal to all, it really isn’t that rough at all. Hey, for the fifty cents it set me back, this book is worth every penny. I cannot shake the Metal grin on my face each time I pick this book up to read.

Ozzy large pic

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I SOLD MY LITA FORD “WICKED WONDERLAND” CD!

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, Album Review, annoying music, annoying rock albums, bad heavy metal albums, bad heavy metal purchase, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, everyday social experiences, hair metal music, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal music shopping, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, independent record labels, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, rock guitarists, rock music, scary album covers with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, Album Review, bad heavy metal albums, current heavy metal albums, f.y.e., female guitarists, female heavy metal vocalists, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, lita ford, lita ford guitarist & vocalist, lita ford wicked wonderland album, lousy heavy metal albums 2009, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, selling cd's, super walmart, uncool heavy metal albums, walmart on November 5, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Yes! I got rid of it! I actually sold it! The “it” I am referring to is the absolutely annoying new album from Lita Ford – Wicked Wonderland. I foolishly bought the CD at Walmart for an even $10.00, (factor in the 6% sales tax and it set me back $10.60). The good Metal news is, I sold it today, finally! I brought it to f.y.e. and man, I never expected to get this much loot for it… f.y.e. took Wicked Wonderland off my hands for $6.25!! I’m NOT complaining. An extremely generous price that f.y.e. is, (for some reason), willing to pay for this CD. I was issued store credit towards other Metal purchases at f.y.e., a fine deal to me. Sure, I am out $4.35 at the end of the day, however, getting rid of this CD for any amount of money is a joyous Metal memory for me. I did state in my review, on this album, that I was definitely going to sell it… I actually held onto it for way too long.

I won’t get into the specifics as to why Wicked Wonderland is unentertaining here, (I could not put myself through writing about it a second time). You can read my fully detailed review about Wicked Wonderland on Metal Odyssey still… look for or type in – LITA FORD – “Wicked Wonderland” Is Naughty And Bad Combined. (That is the complete title of the review I posted on Metal Odyssey). At the end of the Metal day, all I can say to myself is phew, I rid my collection of some bad music. Bad. Hopefully something like this will never happen again.

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Children Of Bodom – “Skeletons In The Closet” Album Of Cover Songs Is Metal Thrashing Good

Posted in Album Review, cool album covers, cover songs, creepy album covers, current extreme metal albums, current extreme metal music, current thrash metal albums, current thrash metal music, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, guitar legends, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, new thrash metal albums, scary album covers, spooky album covers, Thrash Metal, thrash metal 2009, thrash metal album review, thrash metal albums, thrash metal albums 2009, thrash metal bands, thrash metal cover songs, thrash metal from finland, thrash metal guitarists, thrash metal music, thrash metal music reviews, thrash metal songs, thrash metal today with tags Album Review, alexi laiho guitarist & vocalist, bill idol rebel yell cover song, children of bodom thrash metal band, cob, cover songs, death metal music, heavy metal music, king diamond, metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, pat benatar cover song, skeletons in the closet album, slayer silent scream cover song, talk dirty to me cover song, Thrash Metal, thrash metal albums, thrash metal albums 2009, thrash metal cover song album, thrash metal music, thrash metal music 2009, thrash metal songs, w.a.s.p. heavy metal band on November 5, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Children Of Bodom "Skeletons in the Closet" small album pic! I really get a kick out of Alexi Laiho, his lead vocals and lead guitar play are extreme to the Metal maximum. I know that sounds rather yahoo, only there is no other way to really explain it. I like this guys style, he is hell bent on playing some of the fastest Thrash Metal Music out there. On the new Children Of Bodom album, Skeletons in the Closet, (released on September 22, 2009), there are seventeen cover songs. Of the bands and musicians that are covered here, there is one song that I simply cannot get into or simply stomach. Hey, one lousy song out of seventeen isn’t too shabby. Consider the fact, that I really like the other sixteen songs on Skeletons in the Closet and I declare this album a Metal winner. Let’s cut to the Metal chase here and I’ll just state that the cover of the Britney Spears song, Oops… I Did It Again is equally lame as it is annoying. I have never been intrigued by Britney Spears, nor do I give her even one millionth of an ounce of respect for any music she has done in her life.

I don’t hold anything against Alexi Laiho and Children of Bodom for doing this crappy cover song, the liner notes spell out clearly as to why this song was covered in the first place. I will paraphrase the explanation found in the liner notes – apparently, Children Of Bodom, during a night of heavy drinking, were listening to a party CD they made and this crap song was looping over and over. The members of Children Of Bodom made a pact that someday they would cover this crap song, obviously they did, on Skeletons in the Closet. The explanation, (in the liner notes) for this crap cover song goes on to finish: “… and pissed a lot of people off! That’s just what we do”. In the Metal end, sure, after listening to this crap cover of Britney Spears, I felt pissed off – now I think it is damn funny, a song intended to be a joke, not to be taken seriously like it’s original artist Britney Spears.

As I stated, the remaining sixteen cover songs I like a great deal. The Thrash Metal representation of these songs explode with the power and aggression that I have always admired with Children Of Bodom. Many of my favorite Metal bands are covered extremely hard and heavy on this album: Silent Scream from Slayer, Aces High from Iron Maiden, Hellion from W.A.S.P., Don’t Stop At The Top from Scorpions, Mass Hypnosis from Sepultura and Waiting from King Diamond. Children Of Bodom give these songs their stylistic Thrash Metal stamp on them, I find myself appreciating their versions a whole lot. Whenever it comes to covering Slayer, man, that is a tough Metal task to take on.

Other cover songs on Skeletons in the Closet that are powerful Thrash Metal listens are: Rebel Yell from Billy Idol, Hell Is For Children from Pat Benatar and Talk Dirty To Me from Poison. These three songs standout for I like them a great deal more than the original versions. Ghost Riders In The Sky appears on this album too, (it appears on the Children Of Bodom album Blooddrunk as an unlisted ghost song, excuse the pun). Somebody Put Something In My Drink from the Ramones is excellent! Alexi Laiho sounds like he is really enjoying this song as I listen to him sing it. Still, nothing can ever top the original version of this song by the unreal great and legendary Ramones. Trust me, you will NEVER know that the song Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) is from Kenny Rogers. NO WAY, am I ever interested in hearing the original version either… especially since this cover version Thrashes like there is no tomorrow.

Overall, the Metal verdict is Skeletons in the Closet is loaded with fiery Thrash Metal passion from Children Of Bodom, with their trademark keyboards only enhancing the experience. I will listen to this covers album for years, hopefully decades to come. I am soon going to use the “F” word… watch out… here it comes… Children Of Bodom made a darn fun album here. Thankfully the crap song is the very last on the track list, making it easier to just end the album at song #16. I recommend Skeletons in the Closet and always highly recommend Children Of Bodom to all.

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Michael Schenker Group – “Never Trust A Stranger” A Rock Ballad From 1981 I Revere

Posted in 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's classic rock guitarists, 1980's classic rock vocalists, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's rock musicians, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's hard rock songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic hard rock ballads, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal, classic rock albums, classic rock music, classic rock songs, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, feel good stories, guitar legends, hard rock music, hard rock vocalists, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, melodic hard rock songs, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock album review, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage hard rock bands, vintage rock albums with tags 1980's rock music, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's hard rock songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's rock ballads, caldor department store, chris glen bass guitarist, classic rock albums, cozy powell drummer, gary barden hard rock vocalist, guitar legends, heavy metal music, itunes, metal odyssey, michael schenker group, michael schenker group 1981, michael schenker guitarist, msg, msg heavy metal band, Music, never trust a stranger rock ballad, never trust a stranger song, paul raymond guitarist, rock music, steven stills vocalist on November 2, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

MetalOdyssey I can remember the moment like it was yesterday. The moment in time of buying my first Michael Schenker Group album, at Caldor department store, back in 1982. It was the second studio album from Michael Schenker Group, it is often referred to as MSG ll, yet no where on my original album that I bought does it have the marking of “ll” on it. I guess the mystery of “ll” shall stay in my Metal mystery files for now. You can see, as proof, on the image below this post, that the front cover does not have “ll” on it. This image depicts the original album cover, the copy that I still own to this day. I have kept this Michael Schenker Group album in pristine condition for 28 years, this is an album that I extremely admire and highly recommend. The eight songs on this album are best described as Hard Rock, I find it difficult to label this album as straight forward Heavy Metal. There is one exception, Attack of the Mad Axeman is the one song from this album that I would label as an early 1980’s Heavy Metal song, in my Metal opinion.

Over the years, I acquired a cassette tape version of this album too, never upgrading to CD. Don’t ask why, I just never came up with the necessary loot to upgrade everything I ever owned on album and/or cassette, on a consistent basis. Factor in that I have to stay current and buy new CD’s of my favorite bands and deep pockets I do not have! Over this past Halloween weekend I was perusing the archive of songs that can be purchased on itunes and one Michael Schenker Group song caught my eye… Never Trust A Stranger. I bought this amazing Rock ballad from this second Michael Schenker Group album, without a micro second of hesitation. Goodbye 99 cents… hello MSG Rock Ballad I have revered for the better part of my entire Metal life.

You may ask: dude, why didn’t you just throw danger to the Metal wind and buy the entire Michael Schenker Group album from itunes if you don’t have it on CD? The answer is simple… I am holding out to buy this CD at retail or used, (eventually), due to my being old school and wanting the darn liner notes. (I can be a stubborn old Metalhead). Owning a digital copy of Never Trust A Stranger was a necessity that I needed to make good on for myself – finally. I always blab that I am not the biggest ballad fan the world has ever known, this will always hold true. However, there are those ballads, that just carry me off into those la la land moments of self gratifying, mental journeys of glee. On Never Trust A Stranger, the vocal harmony of Gary Barden is incredible stuff for me, with Michael Schenker playing some of the most emotionally inspired guitar licks you could ever imagine. The lyrics of this song are semi-sappy, still in 2009 they do that resonating thing to my mind and I have been a sucker for this song, since being a sophomore in high school in 1982. Gee Metal whiz.

Steven Stills lends his backing vocals on Never Trust A Stranger. Yes, that Steven Stills… from Crosby, Stills and Nash, (and sometimes Young). Once again, don’t ask: dude, how did Michael Schenker get Steven Stills to do backing vocals on Never Trust A Stranger? Hey, I simply do not have the answer. (I think years ago I did know the answer… yet it got erased from all the Thrash and Death Metal stuff I have listened to for decades). If anyone does have any info in regards to Steven Stills being on this song, feel free to comment about it please. So, in a Metal nutshell, Never Trust A Stranger is my second most favorite (Rock) ballad ever. I posted in the past that Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue is my favorite Heavy Metal ballad ever, I can’t go back on my word on that one.

Well, here is the original album cover of Michael Schenker Group, (notice there is NO “ll” anywhere on the cover). I was so enthralled by the guitar play of Michael Schenker and everything else about this album back in high school in 1982, that I made a silk screen copy of the album cover. Metalheads galore had mini posters and t-shirts with MSG and his flying V guitar on it, courtesy of me and my graphic arts class. I recruited lots of MSG fans back then, hopefully this blabbing will recruit more today.

Michael Schenker Group 2nd album - large pic

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LITA FORD – “Wicked Wonderland” Is Naughty And Bad Combined

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1989 heavy metal music, Album Review, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, guitar legends, hair metal music, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal solo albums, heavy metal solo artists, heavy metal solo vocalists, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, rock music, scary album covers with tags 1980's female heavy metal vocalists, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's heavy metal, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, close my eyes forever duet song, female heavy metal vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs 2009, jim gillette vocalist, lita ford, lita ford guitarist & vocalist, lita ford wicked wonderland album, metal odyssey, Music, ozzy osbourne vocalist, wicked wonderland album review on October 29, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Ah, Lita Ford. Reflecting on the 1980’s would not be quite the same without her being in the Heavy Metal world. Lita Ford proved back in those glorious ’80’s that she was more than just eye candy, she really did shred on the guitar for her albums. Plus, Lita Ford’s vocals always had the harmonic, Heavy Metal diva flare happening. Lita Ford even did a very sappy duet with Ozzy Osbourne, Close My Eyes Forever, that I honestly could never stomach back in 1989 and my opinion has not wavered since. Well, it is 2009 and Lita Ford is back, uh, yeah. Wicked Wonderland is her new album, the title really sums it all up quite well. The lyrics throughout this entire album are wicked indeed… with nuances, imagery and flat out references to sex and lust galore. I want to taste your goddess flesh and I penetrate you are two lines taken from the song Indulge… pretty hot stuff if you are a young dude that can’t buy a date for Saturday night. Lita Ford should have known that the majority of her audience buying Wicked Wonderland are the Old School Heavy Metal crowd and we are no longer eighteen and pissed off at our parents anymore.

In the very recent issue of Revolver Magazine, (December 2009), Lita Ford states that “There’s no law that says just because you grow up, you have to stop being naughty”. Oh, it gets better… “The album is pretty much based on our home life”. Lita, Lita, oh, Lita Ford. I will interject here by saying – and this is my quote here – there is a Metal law that says just because you grow up, YOU HAVE TO STOP making annoying music. Plus, it is NOT a turn on for me, to know what goes on in your bedroom. Ew. Now, this is coming from a middle aged Metalhead who is extremely open minded to all Metal Music that has ever existed, plus I kinda like to keep the intimacy that occurs in my home, with my wife, a secret. That is the REAL turn on for me. Sure, there will be a crowd out there that wants to know what Lita Ford does in her, um, spare time, I am not one of them.

To actually listen to all fifteen songs on Wicked Wonderland was like listening to a once glorified Heavy Metal star just pushing out tunes because she’s famous and she can. It appears that Lita Ford’s husband Jim Gillette lends his background vocals throughout Wicked Wonderland. Man, this guy sounds not just creepy, he is a major league part of the ANNOYING FACTOR that this album illuminates. Ugh. I guess Jim Gillette used to be the lead vocalist for some band called… Nitro. Nitro? Does not ring a Metal bell for me. Let me put this in perspective here… Bed is the worst song I have ever listened to in my life. Wicked Wonderland is without question, the worst “Heavy Metal” album that I have bought since, well, since ever. “Tie me to the bed”… these lyrics alongside some of the most bothersome guitar you will ever listen to, throw in the constant ANNOYING keyboards and you have the epitome of BAD.

Is there at least one song on Wicked Wonderland that is at least… tolerable? Uh, let’s see… maybe Scream 4 Me is a bit groovy. Metal truth be told, if Lita Ford created more songs like Scream 4 Me on this album, it would have been a more credible project in the end. It is extremely rare for me to put any album or band through the Metal wringer on Metal Odyssey. Really, it has to be a monumental bad listening experience in Heavy Metal for me to bark this fierce. After listening to Wicked Wonderland twice, I felt an obligation to the Metal world to give my fair warning regarding this Lita Ford album, uh, disaster. In the end, Wicked Wonderland makes for a decent comedy album, the ending song is Push. Uh, yeah, there is sexual innuendo stacked up to the ceiling on Push. Weeeeeeeeeee! I’m selling my Wicked Sensation CD first thing Thursday morning to the used CD dealer, (I hope he buys it). Sometimes immaturity is best expressed through song, yet to combine it with lack of integrity as Lita Ford did with Wicked Wonderland is simply astonishing.

To my best Metal buddy Scott… I should have heeded your warning about this album, Metal lesson learned.

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BADLANDS – 1989 Heavy Metal Debut Album Still Reigns Supreme

Badlands was a Heavy Metal band that I caught onto the instant they released their debut/self titled album – Badlands, (on Atlantic Records), back in 1989. I purchased this Badlands cassette at Strawberries Records & Tapes, located right around the corner from Central Connecticut State University on New Britain Avenue. I was a student at CCSU back in 1989, very much broke to the Metal wind. Therefore, my Heavy Music purchases were not abundant, I chose quality over quantity. With so little funds to buy music as a college student back then, being choosy was a necessity. Badlands with their classic and ultra talented lineup of musicians became a necessity for me. From the very first listen through of this album, (in my case cassette), to say that Badlands left an earthshaking mark on me is the understatement of the decade. The Heavy Metal onslaught of cool and psyched out vibrations, that this Badlands album gave me back in 1989, has once again reintroduced me to that same experience this past weekend.

My best buddy – a.k.a. – best Metal buddy – a.k.a. – Scott, well, he remembered just how much Badlands and their debut album resonated with me back in the day, therefore Scott landed me a CD copy of Badlands. Scott was my roommate at CCSU, my best man at my wedding and if anyone knows my Metal tastes and background… it is him. Thank you Scott, for this Metal gift of Badlands this past Saturday. Getting Badlands on CD in the mail was like experiencing Christmas Day on this cold, dank and rainy day in October. F’n unbelievable surprise.

It is an unreal great feeling to have this Badlands CD finally in my collection. I have never let go of my Badlands cassette since 1989… and I never will. To the best of my Metal research, this Badlands CD is extremely hard to find at retail. Out of print perhaps? Badlands is definitely one of my favorite Heavy Metal albums that I have ever listened to. I only wish this band was able to stay together forever, yet lead vocalist Ray Gillen was called to heaven a little early, on December 1, 1993 at the age of 34. The unreal great guitarist – Jake E. Lee and Ray Gillan on vocals may be the two main musical focal points of Badlands, yet Eric Singer on drums and Greg Chaisson on bass make for an ear bending and jaw dropping rhythm section – stuff of legend. Anyone that knows and enjoys Old School Heavy Metal can certainly identify with Badlands, this band is from that mold. Jake E. Lee proved with Badlands that there was definitely a Heavy Metal life for him away from Ozzy Osbourne.

The eleven songs on Badlands encompass the melodic driven side of Heavy Metal enormously, with the late Ray Gillen’s unique vocals surpassing many of his peers of that time, when it came to harmony and range. I include the late Ray Gillen in with Tony Martin, Jeff Scott Soto, Gary Barden, Jorn Lande and Joe Lynn Turner when it comes to lead vocals status in Old School Heavy Metal. He belongs with this select group of singers. (I definitely left out some names here, yet I think my point is made). If not for his passing away at age 34, I am convinced Ray Gillen would have been a top tier Heavy Metal and/or Hard Rock vocalist to this very day. With so many new vocalists coming out of the woodwork in all of the Metal genres since the 1990’s, too many of them sound like each other or have little regard for originality. This is why I can never tire from the late Ray Gillen’s vocal talent.

My favorite song on Badlands is Dreams In The Dark, I played it six times over, very loud the other night and it served me right. Yes, I acted very silly jumping around in my basement like a psyched out kid, while this song and the rest of Badlands cranked. As the ultra great Blackie Lawless would say… I don’t need no doctor. All I need is to delve back into the Metal world of Old School Heavy Metal, (on a very consistent basis), turn on some Badlands and let the bull crap of the world around me, wallow in it’s own decrepit stank. I don’t look back upon Badlands as a supergroup, instead I look upon them as a fabulously talented Heavy Metal band that was too short lived. Long live the legacy of Badlands – their Heavy Metal still reigns supreme for me.

Track List For Badlands:

High Wire

Dreams in the Dark

Jade’s Song

Winter’s Call

Dancing on the Edge

Streets Cry Freedom

Hard Driver

Rumblin’ Train

Devil’s Stomp

Seasons

Ball & Chain – (this song is not on the vinyl record version of Badlands)

BADLANDS "Badlands" large album pic

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My Least Favorite Ozzy Osbourne Song Ever Is…

Ozzy Osbourne, the Heavy Metal Prince of Darkness. Ozzy Osbourne – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Black Sabbath. Honestly, I revere the living hell out of this Heavy Metal legend. I did get to see Ozzy Osbourne live in concert twice during my lifetime. For me, those two concerts were unbelievable, with Metallica opening up for Ozzy in New Haven Connecticut, (at the spooky New Haven Coliseum) – it was The Ultimate Sin Tour for Ozzy and Metallica was promoting their legendary Master of Puppets album. The other Ozzy concert I saw had Queensryche open for Ozzy in Springfield, Massachusetts, (at the Springfield Civic Center), on this same Ultimate Sin Tour. Alright, so it is obvious I think the Metal world of Ozzy Osbourne… fine. However, by process of elimination, there has to be my least favorite Ozzy Osbourne song out there and there is one. I do not think much of the song, uh, ballad So Tired from Ozzy’s Bark At The Moon album. This song, ugh, ballad is responsible for my distaste of most Heavy Metal ballads ever released since, by any band. This album was released on December 10, 1983. Don’t get me wrong here, the Bark At The Moon album as a whole, is unreal good. Three songs on this album are incredible for me… Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel, You’re No Different and of course – Bark At The Moon. These three Ozzy songs I can hold up on a Metal pedestal forever. Plus, Jake E. Lee on guitar is a Metal bonus to listen to.

So Tired is a song that in my Metal opinion, is overwhelmingly dull and depressing and does absolutely nothing but annoy me beyond belief. Who exactly is supposed to be so tired in this song? Is it Ozzy himself? Someone that Ozzy knows? I really do not care in the darn least who is tired. I get tired too, yet I never whine about it like Ozzy did in this song. Sure, maybe the tired theme was about waiting around for a love lost… who cares. So Tired is a perfect example of what happens when a Heavy Metal icon decides to go the Pop and Bubble Gum Music route with a song. Sappy city is open for tourists with So Tired. Get out the kleenex, So Tired is now playing… sniffle, sniffle, I am so moved. The orchestration in this song only annoys me more.

To me, So Tired just never seemed to fit in with the Bark At The Moon album. So Tired is a downer in the midst of some riveting Heavy Metal songs, a huge let down, like the depressed dude at a party trying to bring everyone else down with him. The video for So Tired, (which was on MTV too often back in the day), was so ridiculous that even I felt embarrassed for Ozzy. When the Bark At The Moon album was reissued, So Tired should have been omitted from the track list… it is that lousy – for me. In my Metal opinion, So Tired is the lowest moment of Ozzy Osbournes unparalleled and ultra legendary Heavy Metal career.

Ozzy Osbourne "Bark At The Moon" Large album picture

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EXODUS – “Bonded By Blood” I Still Bond To For Old School Thrash Metal

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's thrash metal albums, 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's thrash metal music, Album Review, classic metal, collecting metal music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current thrash metal music, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, essential thrash metal albums, extreme metal music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album reissued, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, independent record labels, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal music today, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school thrash metal music, scary album covers, spooky album covers, Thrash Metal, thrash metal album review, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal guitarists, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal music reviews, thrash metal songs, thrash metal today with tags 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's thrash metal, Album Review, bonded by blood alternate album cover, bonded by blood original album cover, bonded by blood track listing, combat records, deliver us to evil song, exodus, exodus bonded by blood album, exodus thrash metal band, exodus thrash metal band 1985, gary holt guitarist, heavy metal album review, metal music, Music, no love song, old school thrash metal music, paul baloff vocalist, rick hunolt guitarist, rob dukes vocalist, rob mckillop bass guitarist, rowdy roddy piper wrestler, thrash metal albums, tom hunting drummer on October 23, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Exodus… a Thrash Metal originator. Exodus… Old School Thrash Metal. Exodus… Bonded By Blood, was the first album released by this very important Thrash Metal Band, (back in 1985). Why I feel Exodus is a very important Thrash Metal Band is due to their being one of the first Metal Bands to introduce this genre to the world. Back in 1985, there were not the hundreds of thousands of Thrash Metal Bands there are now… you can thank Exodus for influencing countless musicians and bands alike for embarking on their careers in Metal… Thrash Metal. Just seek out and read some interviews of past and current Thrash Metal musicians, you discover after awhile, that Exodus and especially their initial album Bonded By Blood is ultra revered. Yes, I am an Exodus fan, since 1985 until this very day. Lineup changes within Exodus has not made me wince one Metal bit. Guitarist Gary Holt and drummer Tom Hunting have held the Thrash Metal fort for Exodus over the past three decades, serving Exodus and their fans well… extremely well. (Note: Paul Bostaph has stepped in on drums for Exodus, he is an unreal great Metal drummer at large).

Last night, I watched my beloved New York Yankees lose to the Angels… ugh. A great game, yet I was anticipating the Yankees to close things out and head to the World Series to beat down the Phillies. Not feeling the cheeriest, I headed down to the basement… to my Metal oasis. Once I began staring at my CD racks, I decided I needed a lift-me-up, some Metal to clear my senses and put me back in the game of life. Exodus Bonded By Blood caught my eye… this CD was just aching to get heard – once again. I put this CD on, sat back and let the Thrash Metal of Exodus infiltrate my senses. Well, it was only halfway into the first song – Bonded By Blood, that I then got off of my butt and began to stalk around my basement like the fiendish Metalhead that I have been my entire life. I raised and pumped my fists into the air, played air guitar and bass, then did some pummeling air drums like there was no freaking tomorrow. Yes, life is not good, it is great when I can turn to Metal… turn to vintage Exodus, to whip my mood into the positive realm where it belongs.

Exodus "Bonded By Blood" alternate cover small pic Listening to the late and unreal great – Paul Baloff on lead vocals is as inspiring to me as all damn hell. His vocals were not your stereotypical Thrash Metal type… he resonated with the influence of early Rob Halford of Judas Priest… in my Metal opinion, still exuding his very own style that to this day is untouched. I reached for my CD jewel case of Bonded By Blood, (my copy is the reissue by Combat Records, it also has the alternate cover that is shown at the left and bottom of this post). The original front cover artwork is damn more cool than the alternate version, just look at it at the top of this post for proof. On the back cover of Bonded By Blood, it has a group photo of Exodus… Paul Baloff is shown wearing a Pipers Pit sleeveless t-shirt. Rowdy Roddy Piper… Paul Baloff… man, that is as fitting a shirt as any for him to wear back then. I used to be the f’n biggest Rowdy Roddy Piper fan around, imitating his wrestling moves and voice too… silly and cool memories, all courtesy of one photo of Exodus.

This Bonded By Blood album kicked my butt last night, just as it did back in the day. Having the private freedom to go bonkers to the Old School Thrash Metal of Exodus last night exhilarated me into feeling tired enough to finally go to sleep. Exodus was a friend to me last night, their music strikes that Metal chord with me. No Love and Deliver Us To Evil are my two extra favorite tracks on Bonded By Blood… holy crap, does the psyche out meter catch on fire for me when these songs are cranked up. I can’t use the word recommend to prospective fans when discussing Bonded By Blood, instead the words I will use are: get this album if you have not already – otherwise you are missing out on a Thrash Metal achievement that catapulted Thrash Metal into what it is today.

Exodus as they appeared on their first album Bonded By Blood:

Gary Holt on guitar

Rick Hunolt on guitar

Paul Baloff on lead vocals

Tom Hunting on drums

Rob McKillop on bass

Track Listing for Bonded By Blood:

Bonded By Blood

Exodus

And Then There Were None

A Lesson In Violence

Metal Commando

Piranha

No Love

Deliver Us To Evil

Strike Up The Beast

* Two bonus tracks are found on the Combat Records reissue that I own… they are both live recordings of: And Then There Were None and A Lesson In Violence. Steve Souza is the lead vocalist on these live tracks… yeah, I think Steve Souza is really cool too… convict me of being an Exodus fan boy already, that is just the damn way it is. I am a Metal fan that has been around the Metal block a few times, paid my Metal fan dues and could give a rats rotting and infected butt if anyone out there considers me a fan boy of any band.

* Exodus under the leadership of Gary Holt, covered the entire Bonded By Blood album, with the current Exodus lineup and released it on October 28, 2008. Yeah, I own that version too and I have nothing but Metal praise for Rob Dukes, the guy is the real deal for Exodus. Again, see my fan boy explanation above in regards to my being enthralled by Exodus’s Rob Dukes. I am quite Metal certain, that I am not alone in my reverence for this band… both past and present. Exodus does not need any stinking Guitar Hero game named after them or useless strolls down any damed red carpet to be considered unreal great by me. I have spoken my Metal mind and it feels really, really, good.

Exodus "Bonded By Blood" alternate cover large pic

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RAVAGE – “The End Of Tomorrow” – A Monster Of A Heavy Metal Album

Posted in Album Review, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, collecting heavy metal albums, collecting metal music, collecting rock music, cool album covers, cover songs, creepy album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, essential metal music albums, halloween songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands from boston, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal songs 2009, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal music today, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new heavy metal album, old school heavy metal, rock music, scary album covers, speed metal, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, thrash metal music with tags al ravage vocalist, Album Review, classic heavy metal, current heavy metal albums, edward j. repka artist, eli firicano guitarist, g.t.b. drummer, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal bands from boston, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal songs 2009, howie snow bass guitarist, Metal, metal blade records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, nick izzo guitarist, old school heavy metal albums, old school heavy metal bands, ravage, ravage band members, ravage heavy metal band, ravage the end of tomorrow album, the end of tomorrow album, the end of tomorrow song, the grapes of wrath song, the shredder song, track listing for the end of tomorrow on October 22, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Ravage is a Heavy Metal Band from Boston, (actually Malden), Massachusetts and is hell bent on keeping Classic Metal Music alive, loud and damn proud. Every song on this second album from Ravage, The End Of Tomorrow, (their Metal Blade Records debut, released on August 18, 2009), is writhing with Old School Heavy Metal influence. Ravage does a credible job at flexing their Metal muscles on each song, heavy, hard and speed are irreversible elements that dominate The End Of Tomorrow. No where is the Old School Heavy Metal influence more evident than in the cover of the Judas Priest classic – Nightcrawler. Ravage shows Judas Priest their deserved Metal respect by not ripping Nightcrawler to pieces with any unnecessary fills or excessiveness. A fabulous cover Ravage does with this song, Nightcrawler is a genius choice to add to their track list on this album, based on it’s creepy and dark theme.

I have found that, the more I listen to The End Of Tomorrow, the more I am being convinced that this album was released back around 1985. Alas, that is not such the Metal case… Ravage brings forth to 2009 the Heavy Metal song structures and ambiance of what I have come to expect from vintage Metal Church and early Judas Priest and Armored Saint albums, to name just a few Old Schoolers. After each listen to this album, it is very obvious that the members of Ravage have done their Classic Heavy Metal homework. Knowing and creating all of the heavy nuances of their influences only catapults quality and integrity, on an upmost consistent level throughout The End Of Tomorrow. The Halls Of Madness not only has a vintage Metal title, it also is quite the convincing Heavy Metal instrumental intro that brings back memories of early Helloween and Savatage, for me. There really is not a scapegoat song to point out on The End Of Tomorrow, all twelve songs have their own distinctive Metal bite, an album that I can hit play and let the Heavy Metal assault take it’s natural course. Excuse me for a Metal second as I proclaim The End Of Tomorrow as being a top favorite Heavy Metal album for me in 2009, in my Metal opinion. Ravage can play Heavy Metal… their original brand too… I would not tell a Metal lie.

Reign Fall lyrically expresses the ghastly imagery of what happens to those who cannot think for themselves, wasting away at the mercy of ones very own doing. Reign Fall, as well as every song on The End Of Tomorrow, is a throwback Metal feast of melodic speed crashing into riffs that are beyond run of the mill. Al Ravage reminds me thoroughly of a young Rob Halford, (Judas Priest), intertwined with a young Paul Dianno, (of early Iron Maiden). Hey, I am by no means putting Al Ravage in this heroic class of Heavy Metal vocalists… (not yet anyways), what I am pointing out is Al Ravage can sing Heavy Metal with marked influences and originality combined. Ravage knows they are Old School, using this phrase so much doing a review may sound very redundant, yet for any veteran fan of Heavy Metal from yesteryear, you know just how juicy it can get when a new album excretes all things good about the glory days of Metal… The End Of Tomorrow is an unleashed monster of what I am talking about here.

My other favorite songs on this album are: The Grapes Of Wrath, which takes a Heavy Metal swipe at all the idiot talking heads on television, these plastic morons get called out on the Metal carpet by Al Ravage here rather eloquently. Plus, The Grapes Of Wrath is authentically memorable for my Metal mind, I just cannot shake this song out of my senses. The Shredder is another manifestation of early Judas Priest influence, only it takes on it’s own Ravage originality… reminding me of the Judas Priest classic – The Ripper, only The Shredder is absolutely not a knock off or copy cat by any means. The End Of Tomorrow is one powerful way to conclude this album, fittingly the title song… lyrically doom laden, the end result is a reality check on the life we are leading and living now. The End Of Tomorrow has a Power Metal approach that echos of great Heavy Metal triumphs to come in the future for this killer “new” band they call Ravage.

Ravage, as they appear on The End Of Tomorrow:

Al Ravage on lead vocals

Eli Firicano on lead and rhythm guitars

Nick Izzo on lead and rhythm guitars

G.T.B. on drums

Howie Snow on bass

Track Listing for The End Of Tomorrow:

The Halls Of Madness

Reign Fall

Freedom Fighter

Damn Nation

The Shredder

Into The Shackles

In Shattered Dreams

The Nightmare’s Hold: Part One

Nightcrawler

The Nightmare’s Hold: Part Two

Grapes Of Wrath

The End Of Tomorrow

C’mon, is this album cover OLD SCHOOL HEAVY METAL or what? Not only does the Heavy Metal of Ravage stand on it’s own, (they could have issued a plain blue cover and that would not change the quality of Metal songs heard inside one bit), yet man, this is cool throwback artwork happening here. I cry out a huge Metal bravo! – to artist Edward J. Repka for creating a REAL Heavy Metal album cover for Ravage.

Ravage - "The End Of Tomorrow" x-large pic

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