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REVOLVER MAGAZINE’S “THE ART OF HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL” SPECIAL ISSUE IS WORTH OWNING!

Posted in hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

REVOLVER MAGAZINE – has put out a very, very, cool special issue: The Art Of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal. This mag is out now and worth every Metal penny to own! Many past regular issues of Revolver, has included an article pertaining to the history behind a classic Heavy Metal or Hard Rock album cover. This history behind these album covers involves the artist and what thoughts, stories and details surrounded the artwork – from concept to finish. I always state… one can never take in enough Heavy Metal or Hard Rock history, this magazine is Metal knowledge that can only benefit me and you.

I came upon this Revolver Special Issue today, as I was grocery shopping at my local supermarket called Weis. Deciding to take a chance as I meandered down the magazine aisle, hoping that maybe, just maybe, there would be a worthy magazine to pick up, that covers the music I love… and I’m NOT talking about Rolling Stone either. That stroll down the magazine aisle served me right! There it was, this Revolver special issue, with Iron Maiden’s mascot Eddie on the front cover… depicted from their vintage 1981 album cover Killers. The cover price for the magazine is $6.99 (U.S.)… not a shabby deal at all for Heavy Metal and Hard Rock history.

A sampling of album covers that are featured in this Revolver Magazine special issue are: Quite Riot – Metal Health, Megadeth – Peace Sells But Who’s Buying, Sepultura – Chaos A.D., Pantera – Far Beyond Drive, King Diamond – Abigail, Motorhead – Motorhead and Slayer – Reign In Blood. Whoa, unreal great and historic album covers all. A huge Metal kudos to Revolver Magazine for unleashing such a spectacular special issue!

If you can’t locate a copy of Revolver’s – The Art Of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal at retail, click on the link below that takes you right to Revolver’s website, where you can purchase it right there on their online store:

REVOLVER MAGAZINE

Stone.

5 Comments »

HEAVY METAL VINYL FLASHBACK: RAINBOW – “JEALOUS LOVER” EP FROM 1981!

Posted in classic rock bands, classic rock music, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal records, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RAINBOW – Call this legendary band Hard Rock or Heavy Metal, it’s all the same to me. I have grown more fonder of Rainbow as each year passes, each and every lineup of this band too. Yes, call me a Rainbow fan… guilty as Metal charged. I was in the midst of my high school daze when Rainbow became a core band of mine. What intrigues me about Rainbow, is how widespread the fans were for them all those years ago. Looking back on my buddies and acquaintances from the 1980’s, Rainbow was liked by Motorhead fans as well as Van Halen die hards. I even had many Thrash Metal buddies who swore by Rainbow, back in the ’80’s.

Rainbow just seemed to be that band everyone liked. Really, I can’t recall anyone back in the ’80’s walking up to me and saying… hey, turn off that Rainbow song or Rainbow isn’t cool. If my Metal memory serves me right, not liking Rainbow back in the ’80’s would be like disliking Van Halen as well. Everyone I came across seemed to like Van Halen, even the turtlenecks that had alligators stitched onto their polo shirts did too. Hey, this is the way I saw it then, on a social level. Granted, there is ultimately going to be those who dislike both Rainbow and Van Halen… so Metal be it.

As I have always interpreted it, Rainbow just seems to leap over the genres with their Melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal albums. Rainbow with Joe Lynn Turner on lead vocals received some hefty FM radio airplay while I was growing up in expensive Connecticut. This seemed to be the Rainbow lineup that connected with the mainstream crowd, more so than the Ronnie James Dio or Graham Bonnet fronted Rainbow… in my Metal opinion. I look upon the DIO fronted Rainbow as ultra legendary however. Graham Bonnet appeared on only one Rainbow album, Down To Earth from 1979. Unreal great album Down To Earth is… for me.

Doogie White fronted Rainbow as well, on the 1995 release – Stranger In Us All. This is well after the glory years of Rainbow, of course. Still, Doogie White is a bona fide cool vocalist in my Metal book. Back in 1995, it was a fantastic feeling to hear Rainbow being resurrected once again. Ritchie Blackmore. What can I say about this important and historical guitarist? An amazing musical talent is Ritchie Blackmore. Amazing.

When I stumbled upon this Rainbow – Jealous Lover EP today, (I found it in my stash of lifetime vinyl that I absolutely can’t part with), I just wanted to blab and brag about how much this band has meant to me over the years. I held this Rainbow vinyl in my hands today, just looking at it really took me back in time. This was one of those moments, where I was reminded of just how much I appreciate a band… and a vintage slab of Heavy Metal vinyl. Yes, I will be playing a fair amount of Rainbow this coming week and well after that. Metal be thy name.

Here is the front cover of my Rainbow – Jealous Lover EP:

Here is the back cover of my Rainbow – Jealous Lover EP:

* Rainbow – Jealous Lover EP was released as a 12″ on Polydor Records, in 1981. I remember buying it at Strawberries Records & Tapes in a very, very, expensive town in very, very, expensive Connecticut.

* Rainbow – Jealous Lover is also referred to as a single, I prefer EP for there are 4 songs. (Hey, it’s a personal choice of labeling this record as an EP, so Metal be it).

Track Listing For Rainbow – Jealous Lover EP:

Side A:

Jealous Lover

Weiss Helm

Side B:

Can’t Happen Here

I Surrender

* I Surrender and Can’t Happen Here are also found on the 1981 studio album from Rainbow – Difficult To Cure. Jealous Lover and Weiss Helm were not included on Difficult To Cure.

Rainbow, as they appeared on Jealous Lover EP and Difficult To Cure:

Ritchie Blackmore – guitar

Joe Lynn Turner – vocals

Roger Glover – bass

Bobby Rondinelli – drums

Don Airey – keyboards

Here is what the Difficult To Cure album cover looks like:

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF RAINBOW…  FROM EVERY LINEUP OF THIS INCREDIBLE BAND TOO!

Stone.

4 Comments »

L.A. GUNS – “RIPS THE COVERS OFF” ALBUM FROM 2004 REVISITED

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hair metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

L.A. GUNS – released Rips The Covers Off back in 2004. My Metal research has found that there are some copies of this album titled Rips Off The Covers, how many copies exist with this title I just do not know. (The front cover album pic below shows this alternate title). This is the Phil Lewis – L.A. Guns lineup and no matter how you slice it… this lineup ROCKS… for me. I always state, nothing beats the original, nonetheless, L.A. Guns really gives these cover songs all of their Hard Rock splendor and energy. Original versions aside, Rips The Covers Off is meant to be played LOUD and with a good times spirit flowing throughout your mind and soul.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw is a Hard and Heavy blast… Rose Tattoo created it, L.A. Guns only ignites it with more fiery fuel. How do you possibly cover a Queen classic like Tie Your Mother Down? L.A. Guns pulls it off, with the upmost respect to the original as well… keeping the hardness that Queen initially instilled into this amazing song. Sure, I will admit that the unreal classic Custard Pie covered by L.A. Guns does not come close to the ultra iconic Led Zeppelin original, yet in the end it is not an embarrassment of a cover either… it grooves along L.A. Guns style. Moonage Daydream sounds pretty darn cool, Phil Lewis may not be David Bowie, only how many vocalists have Bowie’s unique and moving vocals anyways?

Wheels of Steel comes fully loaded with a gritty and heavy edged sound from L.A. Guns, the Saxon original can never be topped, still I can’t fib that this cover version is justifiably cool. The cover of I Just Want To Make Love To You is outrageously great… the great Foghat themselves should be proud. Stacey Blades on guitar is all over these cover songs, giving his hardened tone to each. Steve Riley is the man on drums… a W.A.S.P. alumni and L.A. Guns veteran never disappoints me.

The two live tracks – Revolution and Don’t Look At Me That Way are from the 2002 L.A. Guns album Waking The Dead. Both of these live songs are potent with the raw energy and sound you would expect, from L.A. Guns. These live tracks added into the mix is really a Metal bonus. I don’t hesitate for a Metal second, to recommend any Hard Rock or Heavy Metal fan to get their ears into Rips The Covers Off. I admire the fact, that this Phil Lewis led L.A. Guns lineup looks back on the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal roots with undeniable respect. The bands they have covered here are all incredibly influential, this album is a Hard and Heavy celebration of that.

L.A. Guns as they appeared on Rips The Covers Off:

Phil Lewis – lead vocals

Stacey Blades – guitar

Adam Hamilton – bass

Steve Riley – drums

Keri Kelli – guitar on Revolution (Live) and Don’t Look At Me That Way (Live)

Brent Muscat – guitar on Revolution (Live) and Don’t Look At Me That Way (Live)

Track Listing for Rips The Covers Off, With Original Band in Parentheses:

Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw – (Rose Tattoo)

I Just Want To Make Love To You – (Foghat)

Tie Your Mother Down – (Queen)

Until I Get You – (Hanoi Rocks)

Wheels of Steel – (Saxon)

Nobody’s Fault – (Aerosmith)

Custard Pie – (Led Zeppelin)

Moonage Daydream – (David Bowie)

Marseilles – (Angel City)

Hurdy Gurdy Man – (Donovan)

Search and Destroy – (The Stooges)

Revolution – (Live)

Don’t Look At Me That Way – (Live)

7 Comments »

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

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

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

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

LIVE AND LET METAL LIVE.

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

Vintage RATT:

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

www.THERATTPACK.com

RATT – MySpace Music Page

RATT of 2010 is:

Stephen Pearcy – vocals

Warren DeMartini – lead guitar

Bobby “The Blotz” Blotzer – drums

Robbie Crane – bass

Carlos Cavazo – guitar

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

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

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

LONG LIVE RATT ‘N’ ROLL!

Stone.

8 Comments »

HEAVY METAL WARRIORS – 2008 CD IS A POTENT DOSE OF 12 METAL SONGS!

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal compilation albums, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal songs, industrial metal bands, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, old school thrash metal bands, rock music, sludge metal bands, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 21, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HEAVY METAL WARRIORS –  In 2008, Crash Music released a 12 song compilation of Heavy Metal songs titled: Heavy Metal Warriors. Heavy Metal compilation albums have been around since I can remember, with the Metal Blade – Metal Massacre compilation albums being the very best… in my Metal opinion. There are no liner notes with this Heavy Metal Warriors CD, just the one page that shows the front cover, (the backside is just a track listing of songs with the corresponding band). This CD is a potent mix of Thrash Metal, (Flotsam And Jetsam), Hair Metal, (Enuff Z Nuff) and straight up Metal, (Omen, Dianno) songs. My favorite song on this CD is Straight To Hell by Flotsam And Jetsam, an Old School Thrash Metal song, by a real deal veteran Thrash band in their own Metal right.

New Thing by Enuff Z Nuff is a live version, it is a melodic grabber and has all the vibe of late 1980’s Arena Rock emanating from it’s sound. Cold World by Dianno just flat out kicks Metal butt, I could not be more Metal honest than that. This song is easily my second favorite track on this cool CD. Cold World flourishes with Traditional Heavy Metal greatness, plus Paul Dianno on vocals sounds vintage and solid. Smooth Up is of course, the Bulletboys. This song is listed on the track listing as such – Smooth Up. I always understood this song title to be… Smooth Up In Ya’, however. Regardless, it’s a pretty darn good live version of Smooth Up In Ya’, the guitar solo is psyche out time and Marq Torien’s vocals are decent… as usual.

Dissconnect Massconnect by Transport League is a mix of Metalcore and straight up Metal, with a slight funky groove happening throughout the entire song. The more I listen to this song, the more I like it. Sick by Diamond Rexx is a Heavy Metal riff explosion. Albeit, the lead riff is played consistently throughout this song, still it works it’s heavy groove just fine for my Metal standards. The guitar solo is short and has a 1970’s tone about it on Sick. Diamond Rexx made their album debut back in 1986, with Land of the Damned and are still a current band.

Single Bullet Theory rages with Murder Machines, a damned good Metal song it is. Murder Machines is heavy as molasses and slick as an ice covered road… (man, that description sounded corn dog). Here is a Metal song that ranks as my third favorite track: Eternal Black Dawn by Omen. Omen is one fine Metal band, there is no doubt in my Metal mind about that. Omen traces their Traditional Heavy Metal roots back to 1983 as a Metal Blade Records signee, with this track coming from their 2003 album – Eternal Black Dawn. Soil brings their in-your-face Metal with Triple Sixs, this song I recommend being played extremely LOUD.

Ashes Of Your Enemy lends the track – Surrender. The lead vocals are a growling and snarling bounty of Metal joy, the music Rocks heavy… only the chorus is what doesn’t do it for me, too damned mellow. All I Had I Gave is from the legendary Sludge Metal band – Crowbar. Man, would I love to down a case of beer with these guys before I hit the age of 90. Kirk Windstein of Crowbar is a powerhouse on vocals and guitar… a modern day riff master of heavy greatness. Twin Method concludes this Heavy Metal Warriors CD, their Industrial Metal meets Alternative Metal sound is all over their song – The Abrasive, from their 2006 debut album, The Volume Of Self.

So, there you Metal have it, Heavy Metal Warriors is as diverse a blend of Metal songs as you can ask for. I am not bashful one bit in recommending any Metalhead to get a copy of this CD. It’s still in print and available at most of the online music sites out there. If Heavy Metal Warriors has proved anything to this Metalhead, it’s that recurring reminder… Heavy Metal F’n Rules!!

* Thanks go out to – Best Metal Buddy Scott Coverdale for landing me this fine Heavy Metal CD this last Christmas of 2009!

“A WORLD WITHOUT HEAVY METAL WOULD BE A QUIET, TIRED, UGLY, CONSTIPATED AND TERRIBLE PLACE.”

Stone.

2 Comments »

RONNIE JAMES DIO – A TRUE HEAVY METAL WARRIOR!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's heavy metal videos, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1984 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1984, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1984, heavy metal videos, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RONNIE JAMES DIO – The prolific and ultra legendary lead singer for bands: Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO and currently Heaven & Hell. A Heavy Metal warrior is Ronnie James Dio… in my Metal opinion. I grew up following Ronnie James Dio, as countless other Old School Metal fans did as well. Without question, the Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules albums from the Dio fronted Black Sabbath are Heavy Metal benchmarks, never to be duplicated and only to be revered. Thanks to these two albums, 1980 and 1981 were a time when Heavy Metal shed away any identity crisis and made a lasting mark on the world. Ronnie James Dio, through his vocals and lyrics, gave Heavy Metal a new found darkness that I couldn’t resist, from Man On The Silver Mountain to Lady Evil to Mystery.

A new DIO album always incited the Heavy Metal psyche within me… the anticipation of hearing Dio’s vocals once again, on all new songs. I could probably carry on for another five thousand words, explaining just how personally important Dio’s vocals and lyrics have meant to me, throughout the decades. As the years have gone by, I never have taken for granted any of my favorite bands or musicians. I couldn’t think of it. I always feel lucky when I get to see a band I like, live and onstage. Seeing DIO years ago at The New Haven Coliseum was a Metal thrill, (seeing Savatage and Megadeth open up for DIO made it a triple Metal thrill too). Best Metal Buddy Scott and friend Rob should remember that evening… they left me stranded in a dark, cold and foreboding New Haven alley while I was taking a leak, after the concert. Gee Metal whiz… no pun intended. I found my way home though… fellow Metalheads are always eager to lend aid to one another in time of need.

There isn’t a week that goes by, where I don’t listen to part of or a whole album that Ronnie James Dio is lead singer on. It’s just been that way… and I hope it never stops.

What makes Ronnie James Dio so special is his ability to connect through song… his lyrics come to life if you let your Metal mind wander. Plus, Ronnie James Dio is a fighter… that’s what being a Metalhead is and always will be about.

I always and forever will love the DIO album – The Last In Line, (from 1984), especially the title track. Yes, the video for The Last In Line may have been outdone over the years with newfound special effects and video technology… still, this music video brings back some very cool Metal memories for me. I hope you enjoy this unreal great DIO song as much as I do… if so, crank it up LOUD and raise the horns to the air!

LONG LIVE RONNIE JAMES DIO!

Stone.

6 Comments »

POWERMAD – “THE MADNESS BEGINS…” IS A HUGE HEAVY METAL FIND ON VINYL!!

Posted in 1980's thrash metal albums, 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, cool album covers, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1988, heavy metal records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal bands, rare heavy metal albums, rock music, speed metal, Thrash Metal, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music, thrash metal songs with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 17, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

POWERMAD – This Speed Metal meets Thrash Metal band formed back in 1984, hailing out of the great state of Minnesota. In 1986, Powermad released their self titled and debut EP on Combat Records. In 1988, Reprise Records picked up Powermad, releasing their EP – The Madness Begins… and this is the very EP that I found hiding in an antique co-op mall just yesterday!! (See pics of it below). Whoa. Whoa again, is how I first felt upon gazing my eyes upon this Heavy Metal super find! It’s Powemad… I thought to myself, thinking, can this be really happening? I am looking at and holding the vinyl EP copy of The Madness Begins…!?!

ANTIQUE STORES F’N ROCK.

In Metal summary, as you can tell, I was extremely psyched out of my mind about this Heavy Metal find… and I still am. I paid a meager – $6 for this Powermad gem! Six dollars! The total condition of this Powermad EP is in excellent to near mint too! The top right and bottom corners of the album jacket are the only areas that show a tad of wear. Otherwise, the original gloss on both sides of the album jacket still literally shines on it!

The original circular sticker is on the front side as well. The text printed on the circumference of the circle sticker reads: “Powermad Specially – Priced Mini – LP”. Specially priced alright, only six dollars, after more than two decades after it’s initial release… and it’s super, super, rare!! The inside text on the circle sticker reads: “Warning: Due to the intense nature of this music, neck braces may be required”. That’s vintage stuff… Old School.

There are four songs on this EP, all four are Thrash Metal and Old School too. Upon my first handling of the actual vinyl record itself, I could not believe there were no visible signs of it ever being handled! (Unless someone really, really took great care of it in the past). Once I dropped the turntable needle down on this POWERMAD EP to play, the sweet sound of analog filled the air, with not a crackle or pop. Take my word for it, these songs are incredibly worthy of multi-multiple listens on a regular basis.

Terminator is the opening track, it begins with thunderous drum beats in unison with vintage, heavy riffs that tell me immediately I’m in for a Metal treat. This song sizzles and then explodes into Thrash Metal glory. Joel Dubay on lead vocals has a coherent delivery, only watch out for his screach… he can hit the high note without any trouble and it’s superb. Hunter Seeker is faster than Terminator, it kicks right in where Terminator left off. This song is a rifftastic display of Old School Thrash Metal – period. I find this song rips, tears and burns each and every second… give me more POWERMAD please.

Gimmee Gimmee Shock Treatment is the shortest song on this EP and it offers up some heavy grooves to go along with the Thrash. This is a Ramones cover song, a Thrashtastic version at that. It blisters along with all the fury one could wish for from a quality, late 1980’s Thrash Metal Band. Credible stuff. Blind Leading The Blind opens up with a spoken word, to the best of my Metal ears, it goes like this: “Your gonna do some praying for me now boy”. The voice of this spoken word sounds like an eerie backwoods hermit that you might bump into at a remote, country keg party. The backing, (gang), vocals on this song just screams Old School. Blind Leading The Blind is by far and large, the fastest song on this EP. Unreal great.

POWERMAD, as they appeared on their 1988 EP – The Madness Begins…

Joel Dubay – lead & backing vocals, rhythm & lead guitars

Todd Haug – lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals

Jeff Litke – bass guitar, backing vocals

Adrian Liberty – drums & backing vocals

Track listing & running times for the Powermad EP – The Madness Begins…

Side One:

Terminator (4:20)

Hunter Seeker (2:52)

Side Two:

Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment (1:45)

Blind Leading The Blind (4:23)

Here is what the front cover of my POWERMAD Vinyl EP looks like:

Man, I couldn’t have asked for this POWERMAD EP to be in any better condition than this! You can see how it still bestows the original gloss on these front and back covers.

Here is what the back cover of my POWERMAD vinyl EP looks like:

POWERMAD, from left to right on this back cover:

Todd Haug, Joel Dubay, Jeff Litke, Adrian Liberty

* POWERMAD – The Madness Begins… was released in 1988 on Reprise Records.

* POWERMAD released their only full length album in 1989 – Absolute Power, on Reprise Records.

This is what the album cover looks like for Absolute Power:

I don’t own a copy of Absolute Power… yet. I will find one though, preferably on vinyl… you betcha.

* The 1986 self titled POWERMAD EP on Combat Records was released as part of the Combat Boot Camp Series, showcasing a heavy band’s demo.

Stone.

16 Comments »

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

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

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

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

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

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

KISS as they appeared on Hot In The Shade:

Gene Simmons – bass & vocals

Paul Stanley – guitar & vocals

Eric Carr – drums

Bruce Kulick – guitar

Track Listing for Hot In The Shade:

Rise To It

Betrayed

Hide Your Heart

Prisoner Of Love

Read My Body

Love’s A Slap In The Face

Forever

Silver Spoon

Cadillac Dreams

King Of Hearts

The Street Giveth And The Street Taketh Away

You Love Me To Hate You

Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell

Little Caesar

Boomerang

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

LONG LIVE KISS ROCK ‘N ROLL!!!

Stone.

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DEATH METAL 101: OBITUARY – “LEFT TO DIE” EP

Posted in 1980's death metal bands, 1980's death metal music, 1980's metal music, 1990's death metal bands, 1990's death metal music, current death meal bands, Death Metal, death metal albums 2008, death metal albums 2009, death metal guitarists, death metal history, death metal legends, death metal music, death metal music ep's, death metal music videos, death metal vocalists, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme music, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

OBITUARY – released their Left To Die EP on September 16, 2008, on Candlelight USA/Gibtown Records. This EP contains four songs and one bonus CD ROM video of  Evil Ways. Check out this Evil Ways video below… it’s unreal great, Obituary just lets it groove with their Death Metal brand, along with this video’s underground ambiance and feel.

Two of the songs on Left To Die are also on the full length studio album – Darkest Day, which was released June 30, 2009, on Candlelight USA/Gibtown Records. These two songs are: Forces Realign and Left To Die. Slowly We Rot is a 2008 re-recording of the title track from their legendary debut album from 1989 – Slowly We Rot.

The cover song Dethroned Emperor, is a fantastic tribute to the iconic and extreme Celtic Frost, a song in which Celtic Frost released back in 1984 on their debut album – Morbid Tales. This song is noted as an additional song, on the USA release version of Morbid Tales. Obituary brings to the forefront, a beyond fabulous song from Celtic Frost’s early beginning… it’s Metal history.

Left To Die is without Metal question, a MUST for any Obituary and/or Death Metal fan. You are getting the Evil Ways video, the cover version of Dethroned Emperor and a 2008 re-recording of Slowly We Rot, plus two tracks from the Darkest Day release. There is credible Death Metal bang for your buck with this Left To Die EP. This is Obituary material that is patented Death Grooves from these legendary originators of Death Metal. Deathly doom and Metal gloom never sounded so unreal great.

Obituary, as they appeared on the Left To Die EP and Darkest Day album:

John Tardy – vocals

Donald Tardy – drums

Trevor Peres – guitar

Ralph Santolla – guitar

Frank Watkins – bass

* If you feel like it, you can check out and read my review for the Obituary album – Darkest Day. I posted it on September 9, 2009. Just click on the link below:

OBITUARY – “Darkest Day” brings the darkest and heaviest Death Metal

I hope you enjoy this song and video – Evil Ways by Obituary as much as I do… if that’s the Metal case, then turn the volume all the way up on this MUTHA!!!

LONG LIVE OBITUARY!

Stone.

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DEATH ANGEL – “Sonic German Beatdown/Live In Germany” Rages With Raw Thrash Metal!

Posted in 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's thrash metal, current heavy metal music, current thrash metal bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, live thrash metal music, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, Thrash Metal, thrash metal album review, thrash metal albums, thrash metal albums 2009, thrash metal bands, thrash metal bands 2010, thrash metal concerts, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DEATH ANGEL – released Sonic German Beatdown – Live In Germany on July 28, 2009, on Nuclear Blast Records. This marks the first “official” live Death Angel album, due to the input and certification from the band. One other live Death Angel album does exist, it it titled – Fall From Grace, released back in 1990 on Enigma Records. From what I have read in print over the years: due to no input from the band, coupled with Death Angel changing labels and no trademark logo of Death Angel on the album artwork, Fall From Grace doesn’t get recognized as “official”. The tiny sticker on this CD’s outer plastic packaging even states: “The first official live release from Bay Area’s masters of Thrash!”

This live concert was recorded on the 26th of May, 2007, at Rock Hard Festival in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The intro has some dude introducing Death Angel to the Thrash rabid fans… I don’t understand German, the only words I do make out from this introduction is “Bay Area” and “F’n Death Angel”. A pretty cool introduction nonetheless, I can hear the fans just getting ultra psyched for a night of Thrash Metal anarchy. Nothing in the world beats hearing some old school, live, Thrash Metal… especially from a band that, in their own right, helped define this sound. Sonic German Beatdown is raw, this recording never went to a studio to become a polished and shiny perfect product. RAW IS THE LAW!!

I always like the live albums that keep the live rhetoric intact, between the lead vocalist and the fans. That’s what F’n live Metal is all about… the excitement that a lead vocalist can incite amongst the masses, just by asking the fans – “are you ready motherfu**ers!” and stating “you guys are F’n beautiful man” is Metal proof Mark Osegueda doesn’t disappoint with his comments to the throng of Death Angel fans, on this live album.

Voracious Souls and Mistress Of Pain are just two songs that empty out all of their live Thrash potency into my ears… making me plead – please give me more Death Angel!! There’s not one sub-par moment to be heard on Sonic German Beatdown… this is Death Angel we are talking about here and it’s live. 3rd Floor is as punishing and unreal great as any song Death Angel has written, the live version only drives home the ferociousness of this song all the more. Thrown To The Wolves is yet another example, out of this amazing set of 14 live songs, that fortifies and enriches the Thrash Metal meal that I eat up with my ears, on Sonic German Beatdown.

The vocals of Mark Osegueda are right on, his pronounced style of singing Thrash Metal is undeniably great for me. Rob Cavestany and Ted Aguilar on guitars are intense as they trade licks with speed and fury, with numerous and fiery solo’s throughout this live set that simply tear up this Rock Hard Festival. The overall sound quality on this live album is fabulous, top notch without any embellishments. This Death Angel lineup certainly has left their live mark on Germany, (from what my ears tell me), a live album of Thrash Metal I behold and recommend with certainty.

DEATH ANGEL – As They Appear On Sonic German Beatdown – Live In Germany:

Mark Osegueda – Vocals

Rob Cavestany – Guitars

Ted Aguilar – Guitars

Dennis Pepa – Bass

Andy Galeon – Drums

Track Listing For Sonic German Beatdown – Live In Germany:

Intro

Seemingly Endless Time

Voracious Souls

Mistress Of Pain

EX-TC

3rd Floor

Thrown To The Wolves

Steps Of Freedom

Thicker Than Blood

The Devil Incarnate

Disturbing The Peace

Stagnant

The Ultra Violence (Introducing: Carnival Justice)

Bored

Kill As One

Check out DEATH ANGEL’S official website by clicking here: DEATH ANGEL – Official Website

Check out DEATH ANGEL’S MySpace Music Page by clicking here: DEATH ANGEL – MySpace Music Page

Stone.

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Check out my KISS Comic Book from 1978!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LONG LIVE KISS!

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

Stone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blackie Lawless – vocals & rhythm guitar

Chris Holmes – lead guitar

Johnny Rod – bass

Steve Riley – drums

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

Track Listing for Live… in the Raw:

Inside The Electric Circus

I Don’t Need No Doctor

L.O.V.E. Machine

Wild Child

9.5. – Nasty

Sleeping (In The Fire)

The Manimal

I Wanna Be Somebody

Harder Faster

Blind In Texas

Scream Until You Like It

Shoot From The Hip (Live) – bonus track

Widowmaker (Live) – bonus track

Sex Drive (Live) – bonus track

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

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

Stone.

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EXODUS – “THE TOXIC WALTZ” SONG FROM 1989 – OLD SCHOOL THRASH METAL REIGNS!

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 bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, current thrash metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal bands, old school thrash metal music, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal bands 2010, thrash metal cover songs, thrash metal guitarists, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal songs with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

EXODUS – released Fabulous Disaster back in February of 1989. A solid, Old School Thrash Metal album it is. Listening to these Thrash Metal originators is a necessity in my Metal life, Exodus is an instant cure for any Thrash dehydration I may come down with. I like every song on this album, especially The Toxic Waltz. Another very cool song on Fabulous Disaster is the cover version of Low Rider, (originally recorded and made famous by War in 1975). Overdose is another song that swelters with unreal duel guitars and all the Exodus heaviness I could possibly ask for. Growing up with so many 1980’s Thrash Metal Bands, has me revering them in 2010 all the more. This is Exodus from 1989, a vintage lineup. I uphold Thrash loyalty to every Exodus lineup, from their inception to today. Guitarist Gary Holt is for all intents and Metal purposes, a Thrash Metal leader, he has the distinction of being on every Exodus album throughout the bands lineup changes. Gary Holt has Exodus blazing into 2010…  Metal legends never surrender.

The entire Fabulous Disaster album flat out Thrashes and burns. This is a must album for any new or veteran fans of Thrash Metal. Exodus helped pave the way for today’s younger Thrash Metal Bands… Exodus is Thrash Metal roots. I hope you enjoy The Toxic Waltz as much as I do! Fellow fans of Exodus know this song well… a classic. Now, it’s time to jump into the pit and crank this song loud mutha!!!

Exodus, as they appeared on Fabulous Disaster from 1989:

Gary Holt – guitar

Rick Hunolt – guitar

Steve Souza – vocals

Rob McKillop – bass

Tom Hunting – drums

Fabulous Disaster – Track Listing:

The Last Act Of Defiance

Fabulous Disaster

The Toxic Waltz

Low Rider

Cajun Hell

Like Father, Like Son

Corruption

Verbal Razors

Open Season

Overdose

LONG LIVE EXODUS!

Stone.


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ALCATRAZZ – “ISLAND IN THE SUN” 1983 VIDEO AND BAND REVISITED!

Posted in 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1983 heavy metal music, classic rock music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1983, heavy metal songs, heavy metal videos, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ALCATRAZZ – released their debut album No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll back in 1983. Island In The Sun was the “hit” song that was on MTV’s rotation and received some FM radio airplay as well. Alcatrazz featured Graham Bonnet on vocals and soon to be guitar legend – Yngwie J. Malmsteen. (Steeler released their debut and self titled album that same year, also featuring Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Ron Keel on vocals). Both Alcatrazz and Steeler are bands I liked very much back in the good ol’ ’80’s… still do. I’ve always and forever will be an admirer of Graham Bonnet’s vocals. Graham Bonnet has fronted many bands, my favorites are: Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Michael Schenker Group and Impellitteri. Yngwie J. Malmsteen is simply put… a core favorite of mine since I first heard him play with this Alcatrazz band. There is a whole bunch of Heavy Metal history surrounding Graham Bonnet and Yngwie J. Malmsteen, the number of bands, musicians and albums they have been connected with is amazing. A live version of Island In The Sun is also found on the live Alcatrazz album from 1984 – Live Sentence, with the subtitle No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll. Yngwie J. Malmsteen is the guitarist on Live Sentence as well. Eventually the great Steve Vai stepped in to become the guitarist for Alcatrazz, on their 1985 album – Disturbing The Peace.

No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll and Live Sentence are just two solid 1980’s Heavy Metal albums to revisit, listen to and enjoy. I really like the song Island In The Sun, the vocal harmony of Graham Bonnet combined with the guitar melodies of Yngwie J. Malmsteen just does it for me. This entire Alcatrazz lineup from 1983 was solid, in my Metal opinion. The video for Island In The Sun brings back some memories for certain… those late nights watching MTV with one eye open, back in the early ’80’s, (when MTV was just one station and really played music videos!) This video for Island In The Sun is goofy… it has that early 1980’s fun and appeal all over it. Nonetheless, the song itself is one terrific and melodic Rocker! Hopefully you will enjoy Island In The Sun as much as I do… you don’t have to like the goofiness of the video though! If anything, there never was a guarantee of an acting career for any of these Alcatrazz musicians… that’s for sure.

* Both No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll and Live Sentence were released on Polydor Records.

Crank up Island In The Sun… and have a chuckle or two at this video!

Here is what the 1984 Live Sentence album looks like:

Alcatrazz, as they appeared on both the debut album No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll and Live Sentence:

Graham Bonnet – vocals

Yngwie J. Malmsteen – guitar

Gary Shea – bass

Jimmy Waldo – keyboards

Jan Uvena – drums

The Best Of Alcatrazz was released back in October of 1998. This Best Of album also contains the studio version of Island In The Sun as well.

LONG LIVE ALCATRAZZ!

LONG LIVE YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN!

LONG LIVE GRAHAM BONNET!

Stone.

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JIMI HENDRIX – “VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE” LIMITED EDITION CD SINGLE I’LL SHOW YA!

Posted in 1960's classic rock music, 1960's psychedelic rock music, 1960's rock music, 1970'S classic rock guitarists, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's classic rock vocalists, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's rock music, album covers, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock guitarists, classic rock music, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, collecting classic rock, collecting rock music, cool album covers, guitar legends, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rare heavy metal cds, rock & roll, rock & roll hall of fame inductees, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame members, rock and roll news, rock guitar legends, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music history with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

JIMI HENDRIX – By now, hopefully all Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fans know that a brand new, studio album of 12 previously unreleased songs by this legend of guitar legends are being released on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010. The album is titled – Valleys Of Neptune. A limited edition, CD single has already been released in front of this forthcoming Jimi Hendrix album, it is aptly titled: Valleys Of Neptune as well. This limited edition CD single is just that… each CD single is individually numbered too!! A total pressing of only 15,000 were passed along to the whole planet! My CD single is numbered 13060/15,000. I bought mine at Walmart… sometimes there are those Metal finds at Walmart… sometimes.

As I see it, whenever a CD, vinyl album or DVD is individually numbered, it is adding credibility to it’s limited edition tag. With just 15,000 of these CD singles available upon it’s release, I would have to guess that there are not enough to go around? C’mon, there has to be throngs upon throngs of Jimi Hendrix fans out in the world that would want to own this CD single… I would hope.

As for the two songs heard on this CD single:

Valleys Of Neptune – this song grooves along, (really, it is a groovy song), Jimi Hendrix sounds great, (as he always did), on vocals. Jimi plays the guitar with his distinctive tone coming through with vintage brilliance. In all Metal honesty, I have listened to this song dozens of times since I bought this CD single, obviously I really like it! I only live once and I’m thankful these new Jimi Hendrix songs have landed in 2010. This song was recorded on September 23, 1969/May 15, 1970!

Peace In Mississippi – this is an instrumental… and it’s all about Jimi Hendrix and his guitar licks. The Godfather of riffs and Heavy Metal leads is heard by me ears as if it were a gift from Heavy Metal heaven. This heavy instrumental is 7:02 long and I wish it would carry on for an hour. This instrumental was recorded on October 24, 1968! I was 2 years and 10 months old when Jimi Hendrix recorded this!!

Jimi Hendrix is in the same class as any of Rock and Roll’s largest of legends, any new songs from him is equivalent to hearing a newly released Beatles or Elvis song. This is in essence, Rock History, re-educating me once again where the true roots of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal were sown.

* The recording dates for these two songs are courtesy of the liner notes.

* This CD single was released through Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings.

So there you have it, two newly released Jimi Hendrix songs on this limited edition CD single, just a heavy prelude to the full length album of 12 songs.

GOD BLESS JIMI HENDRIX.



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

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

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

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

Side A:

If Crimson Was Your Colour

Side B:

I Know You Killed Someone

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

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

Witchcraft are:

Magnus Pelander – vocals & guitar

John Hoyles – guitar

Ola Henriksson – bass

Fredrik Jansson – drums

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

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

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

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

Here is what Side A looks like:

Here is what Side B looks like:

Both sides of this Witchcraft 45rpm plays excellent too!

Here is what the front cover sleeve looks like:

Here is what the back cover sleeve looks like:

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

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

Stone.



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JIMI HENDRIX – “VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE” RELEASES MARCH 9th, 2010!!

Posted in 1960's acid rock music, 1960's classic rock music, 1960's psychedelic rock music, 1960's rock guitarists, 1960's rock music, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970'S classic rock guitarists, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's rock guitarists, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock guitarists, classic rock music, classic rock vocalists, guitar legends, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock vocalists, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll news, rock guitar legends, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music history, rock music vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

JIMI HENDRIX – what else can I actually say that has never been said about this uniquely elite, guitar legend? One of the originators of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal guitar, the greatest or one of the greatest guitarists in Rock history… still, is that enough praise? Nope. I don’t think I could come up with the correct praise for Jimi Hendrix, really. All I can do is listen to the songs, the albums that Jimi Hendrix has his signature on and be glad I did. In my wildest of Metal dreams, a brand new Jimi Hendrix – 12 song, studio album is actually going to be released on March 9th, 2010 – Valleys Of Neptune. Less than a week away. Wow. Metal miracles do happen. From reading the advertising that is promoting this new Jimi Hendrix album, there is over 60 minutes of unheard music on Valleys Of Neptune!!

As with any true legend, they live on decades after their passing. Jimi Hendrix has always lived on through his guitar brilliance, song writing, vocals and pure Rock and Roll majesty… now Jim Hendrix lives on even louder come March 9th, 2010. It’s inevitable, another generation of Jimi Hendrix fans shall be recruited in 2010.

Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal as I know it in 2010, would not be the same, if Jimi Hendrix did not play guitar so many years ago.

God Bless Jimi Hendrix, his music has and always will live on for me.

JIMI HENDRIX – VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE

* Released through Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marq Torien – lead vocals

Mick Sweda – guitar

Lonnie Vencent – bass

Jimmy D’Anda – Drums

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

LONG LIVE BULLETBOYS!

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

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

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

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

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

The Track Listing For RIOT LIVE from 1982:

Hard Lovin’ Man

Showdown

Loved By You

Loanshark

Restless Breed

Swords And Tequila

* RIOT LIVE was released on Electra Records.

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

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

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

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

LONG LIVE RIOT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stone.

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

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

Track Listing For Hellbilly Deluxe 2:

Jesus Frankenstein

Sick Bubblegum

What?

Mars Needs Women

Werewolf Baby!

Virgin Witch

Death And Destiny Inside The Dream Factory

Burn

Cease To Exist

Werewolf Women Of The SS

The Man Who Laughs

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