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MAGIC “A TRIBUTE TO RONNIE JAMES DIO” – DESERVES A LOUD METAL BRAVO!

MAGIC/A TRIBUTE TO RONNIE JAMES DIO – This compilation of songs, paying tribute to the late and forever legendary Ronnie James Dio, was released on July 20, 2010, on Magic Circle Music. The executive producer for this album is Joey DeMaio, bass guitarist and founding member of Metal legends… MANOWAR. Joey is also the founder and man-in-charge of Magic Circle Music, starting this record label back in 2005. HolyHell, Feinstein and Jack Starr’s Burning Starr are just a few of the many bands under the Magic Circle Music label and appearing on this tribute album as well.

The assemblage of Metal Bands heard on this Ronnie James Dio Tribute album gives it more added appeal, these are bands that are not vying for position at any Hollywood plastic awards shows, which brings a huge sigh of relief to me. Sincerity in Metal is key, especially when it comes to a tribute album for such a legend as Ronnie James Dio. In other words, you won’t hear any “club mix” or “flavor of the month” band here. It’s all real, especially when “The Kings Of Metal” themselves, are included on this album – MANOWAR. Their presence alone solidifies and justifies all the more reason to buy, listen to and enjoy this Ronnie James Dio Tribute. This album contains cover songs from Ronnie James Dio’s career with Rainbow and Black Sabbath, songs in which Ronnie not only sung his heart out on but cowrote as well.

There are two songs that are the exception here and are not covers, they are – Far Beyond by Feinstein and Never More by Neoclassical guitarist Dean Cascione. Far Beyond is from the debut album by Feinstein – Third Wish. David “Rock” Feinstein, (original guitarist for Elf and later guitarist/vocalist for the influential Heavy Metal Band – The Rods), can play some lean & mean Metal guitar. He displays his guitar prowess on Far Beyond, making for a fabulous salute to his cousin and former Elf band mate, Ronnie James Dio. Whoa, is this song melodic and John West on vocals is an absolute Metal treat to thine ears.

Dean Cascione showcases his guitar skills in a moving and emotional instrumental that is Never More. If Dean’s guitar could speak, it would be saying… thank you Ronnie, you are so missed. That is exactly how I interpret this guitar instrumental, with having it’s rightful place amongst the other songs on this album. Straight Through The Heart covered by Harlet just flat out Rocks. Todd Michael Hall on vocals is excellent… as he gives this DIO classic it’s just revered due.

MANOWAR cuts loose with the first song, a cover of the revered – Heaven And Hell. MANOWAR unleashes their very own thunder strike of Metal into Heaven And Hell, all the while adhering to this song’s original tempo and mystically dark mood. The bass of Joey DeMaio is heavily prominent in this cover, just as Geezer Butler’s bass is in the original. What a tremendous way to get this Ronnie James Dio Tribute album moving!

HolyHell covers Holy Diver, it’s a live recording done somewhere in Norway. Maria Breon on vocals brings another listening dimension to this ultra classic DIO song. Maria’s eloquent vocal style combined with the Power Metal of HolyHell comes recommended by Stone. I really enjoy listening to this cover and to this band. MetalForce covers The Last In Line. This Power Metal version is a mighty listen with Tristan Visser on guitar leaving quite a Metal impression on me, he takes on the solo with fearless Metal fury. Tarek Maghary on vocals gives The Last In Line the Old School emotion it so deserves.

Now, let’s talk about Jack Starr’s Burning Starr… unreal is the cover version of Catch The Rainbow by this legendary guitarist and his band. Todd Michael Hall on vocals is brilliant. Catch The Rainbow is without question, the most soothing Hard Rock song I have ever listened to… both the Rainbow original and this cover version as well. I’d have to pick this song along with the Heaven And Hell cover from Manowar as the two best songs on this album.

For those who may not know, Jack Starr was the founder and guitarist for the highly influential and renowned 1980’s Power Metal Band from New York – Virgin Steele. After the Virgin Steele era, Jack Starr continued onward with Burning Starr, his solo career, revisiting his love for the blues and having a stake in a few other bands. I could continue on and on with the history of Jack Starr… we’ll just leave that for another post in the future. After Burning Starr’s two decade absence of an album, Defiance was released in 2009 on Magic Circle Music. Defiance marks the fifth studio album release from Jack Starr’s… Burning Starr.

Joey DeMaio and all of these bands mentioned, have delivered quite the Old School and well deserved tribute to the late/great Ronnie James Dio with this compilation album. The historical Heavy Metal linkage associated with this tribute album is a thrill in and of itself! Combine this history with a few younger Metal bands that appear here and Magic – A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio truly bridges the gap between generations of Metal Bands and fans. Even the liner notes seem to glisten with that “days of Metal yesteryear” image. The four pages of photo’s celebrating Ronnie James Dio, within the liner notes, show him as a member of The Electric Elves, Rainbow and Black Sabbath.

I guess my Metal enthusiasm has essentially spilled over on writing about this tribute album to Ronnie James Dio. What I walk away with, after listening to all of the songs on this album and realizing the history behind the music, is that the Heavy Metal genre is very much a diverse and well connected family tree. And this family tree I will continue to climb, love and explore for the rest of my Metal life.

* The very cool & Metal album cover illustration is by – Ken Kelly.

* For more info on the bands involved in this great tribute album to Ronnie James Dio, just click on the helpful links below:

MANOWAR – Official Website

MAGIC CIRCLE MUSIC

FEINSTEIN – Official Website

Jack Starr’s Burning Starr – Official Website

Jack Starr’s Burning Starr – myspace music page

HOLYHELL – Official Website

HOLYHELL – myspace music page

METALFORCE – myspace music page

DEAN CASCIONE – Official Website

Track Listing For MAGIC – A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio:

Heaven And Hell – Manowar

Holy Diver (Live In Norway) – HolyHell

The Last In Line – Metalforce

Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll – Magic Circle All Star Band

I Speed At Night – Awaken

A Light In The Black – Crosswind

Never More – Dean Cascione

Far Beyond – Feinstein

Straight Through The Heart – Harlet

Catch The Rainbow – Jack Starr’s Burning Starr

* A Metal Roll Call To The Bands Heard On Magic – A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio:

MANOWAR:

Eric Adams – vocals

Donnie Hamzik – drums

Karl Logan – guitar

Joey DeMaio – bass

HOLYHELL:

Maria Breon – vocals

Joe Stump – guitar

Francisco Palomo – keyboards

Jay Rigney – bass

Rhino – drums

METALFORCE:

Tarek Maghary – vocals

Tristan Visser – guitar

Jan Raddaatz – drums

Magic Circle All Star Band:

Sammy “Shmoulik” Avigal – vocals

Joe Stump – guitar

Jack Starr – guitar

AWAKEN:

Glenn DaGrossa – vocals

Artie Dillon – guitar & vocals

Joe Todaro – guitar

Freddy Villano – bass

Nick D’Alessandro – drums

CROSSWIND:

Kyriakos Vasdokas – vocals & guitar

Leon Tsorbatzoglou – guitar

Vasilis Mitsaris – drums

Guest Musician: Yiannis Papadopoulos – backing vocals

DEAN CASCIONE – guitar

FEINSTEIN:

David “Rock” Feinstein – guitar

John West – vocals

Jeff Howell – bass

Nate Horton – drums

Bob Twining – keyboards

HARLET:

Todd Michael Hall – vocals

Tod Walraven – guitar

Jon Hall – bass

Doug Julian – drums

JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR:

Jack Starr – guitar

Todd Michael Hall – vocals

Ned Michael Meloni – bass

Guest Musician: Rhino – drums

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF RONNIE JAMES DIO.

REST IN PEACE, RONNIE JAMES DIO.

Stone.

4 Comments »

IRON MAIDEN – “THE FINAL FRONTIER” ALBUM INFO TO KNOW!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal videos, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal music, rock music, rock music news with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal news, heavy metal videos, iron maiden 2010, iron maiden heavy metal band, iron maiden the final frontier, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal albums 2010, progressive metal music, rock music news, the final frontier directors cut video, the final frontier track listing on July 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

IRON MAIDEN – The fifteenth studio album from the unparalleled legends of Metal will be released on August 17, 2010, on Sony Legacy. The album is called…

IRON MAIDEN – THE FINAL FRONTIER

Check out – The Final Frontier – Directors Cut, which was aired worldwide on July 13, on Iron Maiden’s official website! (See link below)

As a lifelong fan of IRON MAIDEN, I will readily admit my unreal anticipation and excitement for The Final Frontier. Each time I listen to the song, Satellite 15..The Final Frontier, (the new Iron Maiden music video), I realize that Bruce Dickinson’s vocals have never sounded more prolific and the band never more powerful. IRON MAIDEN hasn’t just stood the test of time, they have obliterated any thoughts of not staying on top of the Metal world.

The Metal world as I know and listen to it… would never be this dynamic, proud, supercharged and full-scale if not for IRON MAIDEN. Truth be told… my life as a Metalhead would not have been the same, if not for the catalog of albums created by IRON MAIDEN. I can only state this about a select group of Metal bands… and IRON MAIDEN rises triumphantly from this group. Metal be thy name.

* Visit the IRON MAIDEN official website by clicking here: IRON MAIDEN

* The Final Frontier album cover artwork is created by Melvyn Grant. For more info on this amazing artist, click the link below:

MELVYN GRANT – Universal Artist and Illustrator

IRON MAIDEN ARE:

Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals

Steve Harris – bass

Dave Murray – guitar

Adrian Smith – guitar

Janick Gers – guitar

Nicko McBrain – drums, percussion

Track listing for – THE FINAL FRONTIER:

Satellite 15..The Final Frontier

El Dorado

Mother Of Mercy

Coming Home

The Alchemist

Isle Of Avalon

Starblind

The Talisman

The Man Who Would Be King

When The Wild Wind Blows

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN!

Stone.

5 Comments »

ACCEPT – “THE ABYSS” FROM “BLOOD OF THE NATIONS” ALBUM – HERE IT NOW! PLUS MORE ACCEPT INFO!

Posted in hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, accept blood of the nations album 2010, accept heavy metal band, accept reunion 2010, accept the abyss song, german heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal on May 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ACCEPT – has returned! On September 14, 2010, the twelfth studio album – Blood Of The Nations, from this legendary Heavy Metal band from Germany, will be unleashed upon the world of Metal! Just click on that really cool video box below to hear the track – The Abyss from the forthcoming Blood Of The Nations.

It’s been 14 years since the last ACCEPT album was released – 1996’s Predator. Founding member and lead singer Udo Dirkschneider is unfortunately no longer with ACCEPT, instead he is continuing on with a very strong and successful solo career with his very own Heavy Metal band – U.D.O., which testifies to Udo’s unrelenting allegiance to Metal. In my Metal opinion, ACCEPT with Udo Dirkschneider as lead singer is the real deal. Regardless, there are many other instances in the history of Metal where legendary lead singers change bands… (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden), just to name a few Heavy Metal powerhouses that have had a changeover at the mic.

* ACCEPT has been down this Metal road before, regarding a change at lead vocalist. The 1989 ACCEPT studio album – Eat The Heat featured David Reece on lead vocal duty.

The new lead singer for ACCEPT – Mark Tornillo, (of TT Quick fame), is leading the vocal charge in 2010 and I really, really, like what I hear thus far from his vocals, on the song – The Abyss. ACCEPT returns with original members – Wolf Hoffman on guitar and Peter Baltes on bass. ACCEPT alumnus and guitarist Herman Frank is on board with this 2010 reunion album as well. Heavy Metal drummer extraordinaire and ACCEPT alum, Stefan Schwarzmann, will be reigning behind the kit.

* Upon my Metal research, I have found no definitive or official track listing for Blood Of The Nations as of May 3rd, 2010. I don’t want to post any “tentative” song titles just yet… staying credible is Metal rule #1 at Metal Odyssey. The Abyss is obviously a legitimate and yes, credible song that has been released to the general public thus far… and what a Heavy Metal song it is! The Abyss is heavy, hard, lean and gritty… Old School too! Just the way I Metal like it. Welcome back ACCEPT!

* A Metal kudos goes out to Scott Coverdale for steering me straight towards this new ACCEPT track – The Abyss! Thanks Metal buddy!

* Get more ACCEPT info – up to the minute by clicking on these ACCEPT links below:

ACCEPT – myspace music page

ACCEPT – Official Website

LONG LIVE ACCEPT!

Stone.

14 Comments »

KROKUS “HOODOO” – CASTS A HARD ROCKIN’ & HEAVY METAL CLASSIC SPELL!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock 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 legends, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, classic heavy metal music, current heavy metal music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, krokus 2010, krokus classic lineup, krokus heavy metal band, krokus hoodoo woman album, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal albums, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock n' roll on April 27, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KROKUS – The new album from Switzerland’s greatest Heavy Music achievement is available as an import right now… and I landed my copy yesterday. Metal buddy – Metal Mark over at the super cool Heavy Metal Time Machine had received one too many copies from the record company to review… he was Metal kind enough to pose the Metal question to me: “you want one”? Of course, my Metal answer was a resounding YES! Thanks Metal Mark!

Usually, I tend to do album reviews in say… 500 to sometimes, 900 or more words. I like to blab about music… Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Music just gets my Metal brain working at top speed while I write about it… Metal be thy name. Then, there are those times when I listen to an album and it is like… whoa, what can I possibly say or write other than holy crap, this is great stuff! Enter… Hoodoo.

From the onset, it is Classic Krokus. No Midnite Maniac stuff happening here on Hoodoo, this is back to the days of One Vice At A Time and Headhunter here. I like the late 80’s Krokus and the very recent Hellraiser album from 2006. Rock The Block from 2003 Rocked my Metal world! Plus, I will still crank up Midnite Maniac very loud… Metal truth be told. Yet, Hoodoo is different… Classic different! This is the Classic lineup of Krokus as well, therefore, Hoodoo was destined to sound so damn great.

I’ve been a big pushover for the song Hoodoo Woman, ever since I first heard it and saw the music video over at Hard Rock Hideout. In My Blood gets my Metal motor revving on high too… I feel like Krokus has given their fans the elixir for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal super bliss. Excuse me please, while I come across as a lifelong Krokus fan. Can’t F’n help it.

Dirty Street just keeps coming at me with that beat and repeat… Old School never sounded so unreal cool. The Steppenwolf cover song – Born To Be Wild is point blank perfect for this Hoodoo album. As I stated earlier, this is one of those albums where I’m cutting it short and telling it like it is… this Hoodoo album ROCKS!

AS KROKUS THEMSELVES, SO METAL ELOQUENTLY PUT IT…

THE PAST IS BACK TO KICK OUR ASS!!

… AND THE HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL PAST CAN KICK MY ASS ANY DAY!

KROKUS as they appear on HOODOO:

Marc Storace – lead vocals

Chris Von Rohr – bass, vocals

Fernando Von Arb – lead guitars, vocals

Mark Kohler – rhythm guitar

Freddy Steady – drums

Track Listing For HOODOO:

Drive It In

HOODOO Woman

Born To Be Wild

Rock ‘N’ Roll Handshake

Ride Into The Sun

Too Hot

In My Blood

Dirty Street

Keep Me Rolling

Shot Of Love

Firestar

* HOODOO was produced by Chris Von Rohr

LONG LIVE KROKUS!

Stone.

5 Comments »

M3 ROCK FESTIVAL, JUNE 19TH 2010 AND I’M THERE!!

Posted in Hair Metal, hair metal bands, hair metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock bands, hard rock concerts 2010, hard rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal concerts 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, m3 rock festival 2010, metal odyssey, Music, music festivals, rock concerts 2010, rock music on April 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

M3 ROCK FESTIVAL – On June 19th, 2010, the M3 Rock Festival once again returns… and this year I’m there! I already received my two tickets through the “snail mail” this past Friday and with that… it is Metal official! What a glorious day of Rock ‘N’ Roll it shall be. Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Hair Metal fans unite! The juicy part of this entire M3 Rock Festival is that the unreal legendary Scorpions will be headlining! Getting an opportunity to see this historic Heavy Metal band on their farewell tour is a Metal privilege I shall cherish forever.

My other ticket for M3 will be for my best Metal buddy – Scott Coverdale. With all of his Metal research and CD’s he has uncovered for Metal Odyssey to jump up and down about… he deserves my buying his ticket. Plus, I’ll even splurge for the room and board Coverdale needs too… he is traveling from very expensive Connecticut to Pennsylvania, then he is driving my Metal lovin’ behind down to M3. That’s a Metal buddy.

I’m looking forward to meeting up with my other Metal buddies from Hard Rock Hideout too! Rob Rockitt, Brian Basher, and Ryo Vie are on board. I have already met up with Ryo Vie, he and I checked out Charm City Devils and Pop Evil together back in March of this year… he has a cool blog too called – The Rock and Roll Guru.

Just take a Metal looksie at the outrageously cool lineup of bands that will be Rockin’ the M3 Rock Festival… as I mentioned, headlining is the Scorpions, with Cinderella, Vince Neil, Kix, L.A. Guns, Winger, Warrant, Nelson, Jetboy, Trixter, Bang Tango, Dizzy Reed, ZO2 and Black Mambooza! Now, the only band I’m not familiar with here is… Black Mambooza. Give me time… I’ll rectify that Metal situation soon.

In my Metal past, I have seen Cinderella, Winger and Vince Neil – (fronting the incredible Motley Crue that is). So, getting to M3 to see all of these bands in one day is a Metal dream come true. I anticipate a real cool and gooood time… with hopefully some very cool stories and pics from M3 to share to the Metal and Hard Rock family around the world! Trust me, I’ll get the memories out on Metal Odyssey!

* The M3 Rock Festival is held at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, in Columbia, Maryland.

* For more info and ticket info about the 2010 M3 Rock Festival, click the link below:

M3 Rock Festival 2010

LONG LIVE AMERICAN ROCK FESTIVALS!

Stone.

7 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 current heavy metal bands, hair metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal compilation albums, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, heavy metal warriors cd, industrial metal music, metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, sludge metal bands, thrash metal bands, thrash metal songs, traditional heavy metal music 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!

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 »

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 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's arena rock, 1980's classic rock, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, classic rock music, current heavy metal bands, forever power ballad, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, hot in the shade album cover, kiss, kiss albums, kiss army, kiss hard rock band, kiss heavy metal band, kiss hot in the shade album 1989, metal odyssey, Music, rock music 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.

13 Comments »

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 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, current thrash metal bands, death angel, death angel live, death angel metal band, death angel sonic beatdown album, death angel sonic beatdown live in germany, death angel thrash metal band, heavy metal album reviews, heavy metal music, metal bands 2010, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal bands, rock hard festival germany, scary album covers, thrash metal albums 2009, thrash metal bands, thrash metal history, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music 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.

6 Comments »

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 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1978 new york yankees, ace frehley, classic rock, classic rock music, collecting rock music, comic books, current heavy metal bands, Gene Simmons, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, kiss, kiss 1978, kiss army, kiss comic book, kiss comic book 1978, kiss hard rock band, kiss heavy metal band, kiss solo albums 1978, metal odyssey, new york yankees, Paul Stanley, peter criss, rock and roll collectibles, rock music 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.

10 Comments »

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 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, Blackie Lawless, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1987, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, old school heavy metal music, W.A.S.P., w.a.s.p. 1987, w.a.s.p. blind in texas, w.a.s.p. live in the raw album 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.

8 Comments »

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 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, current thrash metal bands, exodus, exodus fabulous disaster album, exodus the toxic waltz, exodus thrash metal albums, exodus thrash metal band, fabulous disaster album 1989, gary holt guitarist, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, low rider thrash metal cover song, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal, the toxic waltz song, thrash metal albums 1989, thrash metal bands, thrash metal history, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music 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.

7 Comments »

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 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's classic rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, alcatrazz, alcatrazz heavy metal band, alcatrazz island in the sun song, alcatrazz island in the sun video, alcatrazz no parole from rock 'n' roll album, graham bonnet vocalist, guitar legends, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1983, heavy metal musicians, heavy metal videos, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, yngwie j. malmsteen guitarist 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.

1 Comment »

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 1960's classic rock, 1970's classic rock, classic rock guitarists, classic rock legends, classic rock music, guitar legends, hard rock legends, hard rock music, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, jimi hendrix, jimi hendrix 2010, jimi hendrix valleys of neptune cd single, metal odyssey, Music, new jimi hendrix album, peace in mississippi instrumental, psychedelic rock music, rock and roll history, rock legends, rock music, valleys of neptune album, valleys of neptune limited edition cd single, valleys of neptune song 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.

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 1960's classic rock music, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock guitarists, classic rock music, guitar legends, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock news, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, jimi hendrix, jimi hendrix 2010, jimi hendrix valleys of neptune album, metal odyssey, Music, new jimi hendrix album, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock guitar legends, rock music, rock music legends, rock music news, valleys of neptune album, woodstock 1969 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

2 Comments »

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 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal ep's, 1980's heavy metal vinyl, 1990's heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal albums 1982, heavy metal finds, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1982, heavy metal roots, heavy metal vinyl, live heavy metal ep's, mark reale guitarist, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rare heavy metal albums, rhett forrester vocalist, riot, riot hard rock band, riot heavy metal band, riot live, riot live ep 1982 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

9 Comments »

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 1990's heavy metal music, hard rock music, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, hellbilly deluxe 2 album, horror heavy metal songs, horror metal, horror metal music, john 5 guitarist, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal music, piggy d bass guitarist, rob zombie, rob zombie 2010, rob zombie albums, rob zombie hellbilly deluxe 2, scary album covers, the man who laughs song, tommy clufetos drummer, white zombie, white zombie heavy metal band 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

RUSH – “WORKING MEN” ROCKS LIVE WITH VINTAGE CUTS

Posted in 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's classic rock vocalists, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's progressive rock bands, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock bands, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's rock music, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's hard rock songs, 1980's progressive rock bands, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock bands, 1990's progressive rock bands, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, current rock bands, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive hard rock albums, progressive hard rock music, rock music with tags 1970's classic rock music, 1970's progressive rock bands, 1980's classic rock, 1980's progressive rock bands, 1990's progressive rock bands, alex lifeson guitarist, classic rock, classic rock music, current progressive rock music, geddy lee bass guitarist, geddy lee vocalist, hard rock music, live rush albums, metal odyssey, Music, neil peart drummer, progressive hard rock music, progressive rock bands, progressive rock music, rock music, Rush, rush 2009, rush live dvd's, rush progressive hard rock band, rush progressive rock band, rush songs, rush tom sawyer song, rush working men live album, working men live album 2009 on February 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RUSH is a band that lures me into their progressive Hard Rock world, like an insect flying into a backyard bug lamp. The main difference between me and an insect, (besides my being a human being), is that once I get zapped by the electrifying sound of Rush, I don’t turn crispy and bite the dust. Rush could very well release an album every year and I would buy it. This ultra iconic band’s albums brings back memories and makes new memories for me, on a consistent basis. Metal truth be told, the older I get, the more I have taken a stronger liking to the music of Rush. (I cannot figure this out, therefore, I won’t try to). Rush has released a total of nine live albums over their brilliant career, (counting Working Men), with All The World’s A Stage from 1976 starting this chain. Working Men will never go down as being the greatest live Rush album ever… yet it will not be considered sub standard either. This legendary band can’t compete with themselves, each live album they release, is a signature of where they are as elite musicians. What Rush does best, is give their fans consistency over the decades, while not sacrificing integrity in their musical product. Working Men exemplifies this integrity, with songs that are the most popular from their extensive album catalog.

Geddy Lee, (lead vocals, bass guitar & keyboards), Alex Lifeson, (guitar & vocals) and Neil Peart on drums, possess the uncanny abilities to keep their songs relevant and vibrant. It’s refreshing reality to know that Rush continues onward, entering their fourth decade of creating Progressive Hard Rock, in which they laboriously and consistently helped catapult into a beyond legitimate genre.

All 12 songs are taken from previously released live DVD’s, with the exception of One Little Victory, which is stated as previously unreleased. I come to the conclusion, that this “particular” live version of One Little Victory has never been released, it has appeared on Rush In Rio Live. The studio version of One Little Victory is the opening track for the 2002 Rush album – Vapor Trails. (A tad confusing as to the exactness of the previously unreleased meaning).

Working Men does meld the classics of Rush past, embarking on decades of gems… this live album opens with Limelight, (1981’s Moving Pictures) and Far Cry, (2007’s Snakes & Arrows), is track number six. Having Far Cry in the mix, is a standing true reminder, that Rush is ever the creative trio in recent years. The Snakes & Arrows studio album is an exemplary offering of modern day, Rush Progressive Hard Rock. To acknowledge such a recent Rush song like Far Cry, amidst this vintage lineup of live tracks, was the right move. How can any fan of Rush or such songs as Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Freewill, Working Man or Closer To The Heart resist such a classic compilation of live and Progressive Hard Rock excellence? I can’t resist, no matter how many live go rounds Rush gives these songs.

* The live DVD’s from which these Rush songs were taken from, to compile Working Men: Rush In Rio (2003), R30 (2005) and Snakes & Arrows Live (2008).

The Spirit of Radio, 2112, Dreamline, Subdivisions, and YYZ are the remaining tracks heard on Working Men.

Rush – Working Men was released on November 17, 2009, on Anthem/Atlantic Records.

MERCYFUL FATE – “MELISSA” FOREVER REIGNS A METAL CLASSIC!

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, 1980's thrash metal, 1983 heavy metal music, black metal music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1983, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1983, heavy metal songs 1983, heavy metal videos, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal with tags 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's black metal music, 1980's metal albums, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, hank shermann guitarist, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, kim ruzz drummer, king diamond, melissa song, mercyful fate, mercyful fate 1983, mercyful fate melissa album, mercyful fate melissa song, Metal, metal music, metal music 1983, metal music history, metal odyssey, Metallica, michael denner guitarist, Music, scary album covers, timi hansen bass guitarist on February 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Mercyful Fate released their first full length studio album, Melissa, back in October of 1983. I remember back then, a high school buddy of mine named rich, he had this album in his clutches as soon as it was released. Rich eventually asked me if I wanted to borrow this album and give it a thorough listen. Listen I did. Metal truth be told, this album spooked the hell out of me back then. Heck, it was 1983, how many bands were out there that sounded like Mercyful Fate with Kind Diamond’s vocals? I remember staring at this album cover, wondering to myself… I’ve been introduced to a band that is heavier than Judas Priest. In 1983, getting my Metal taste buds wet with Judas Priest and Black Sabbath was a big deal… Mercyful Fate just shook my Metal senses loose.

Quite honestly, I cannot recall which album I listened to first back in the day… Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All or Melissa. It doesn’t really matter. The Metal fact is clear, these albums changed the way I and countless others listened to Heavy Metal Music back then… period.

I appreciated Rich lending me Melissa back in 1983, he was a real deal Metalhead and a good dude. Fast forward to today, I have Melissa on CD, it is a staple in my collection, a true Metal Classic. Each time I listen to this album, I am blown away realizing Melissa is from 1983 and it still reigns with all the Metal fury it bestowed from it’s initial release. This was just the beginning for King Diamond… so much Metal history and total quality surrounds Melissa. I never hesitate to consider Melissa as one of the greatest Metal albums ever. If you never heard Mercyful Fate – Melissa before, don’t despair… it’s never too late to appreciate this album and song. Give Melissa a listen below and crank it LOUD!

Mercyful Fate, as they appeared on Melissa:

King Diamond – vocals

Hank Shermann – guitar

Michael Denner – guitar

Timi Hansen – bass guitar

Kim Ruzz – drums

LONG LIVE MERCYFUL FATE AND KING DIAMOND!

4 Comments »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LONG LIVE KISS!

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

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

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

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

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