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STRYPER – COVER SONGS ALBUM IN THE WORKS! & “ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU” VIDEO FROM 1988!

On June 28, 1988, Stryper released the studio album – In God We Trust, on Enigma Records. Man, I can never get enough of Stryper… the inspirational lyrics get me pumped for certain, still this Christian Heavy Metal Band flat out – ROCKS, for me. Always There For You has that contagious something… many somethings, happening for my psyche, it’s been that way since this song and album came out, it’s fine with me. Check out the video for Always There For You below!

The BIG NEWS in the Stryper camp is they will be starting to record soon – AN ALBUM OF COVER SONGS! Lead vocalist and guitarist, Michael Sweet, posted this interesting/exciting news on February 18, 2010 on the official Stryper website, click here to read all about it: Stryper – Official Website

Michael Sweet states, on the official Stryper website: “As you may know, Stryper’s about to start recording a new album of cover songs from bands that influenced us musically growing up.” Michael Sweet also states, on February 15, 2010, (as seen on the official Stryper website: “We grew up listening to many different styles of music and there is a list of bands that influenced us throughout our musical education. Bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Van Halen, UFO, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Kansas and many others, helped to shape our sound and make us who we are today, musically speaking.”

It will be a real Metal treat to see what the definitive song choices will be for this upcoming Stryper – cover song album! I know I will be eager to find out!

Michael Sweet does mention on the official Stryper website: “I’ve decided to periodically release the specific songs we will be recording via my twitter account. Please take a moment to join me on twitter and be the first to know the songs we will be covering for this upcoming album. This will be the only place we’ll be releasing this information.”

*Here is Michael Sweet’s twitter link: http://twitter.com/michaelhsweet

LONG LIVE STRYPER!

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HELIX “DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE” – 1985 HEAVY METAL SONG THAT STILL SOARS!

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1985 heavy metal music, cool album covers, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands from canada, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1985, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal songs, brent doerner guitarist, brian vollmer vocalist, canadian heavy metal bands, daryl gray bass guitarist, deep cuts the knife song, greg hinz drummer, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal ballads, heavy metal bands, heavy metal from Canada, heavy metal music, helix, helix 1985, helix heavy metal band, helix long way to heaven 1985, long way to heaven album, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, paul hackman guitarist, power ballads on February 20, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HELIX, one of Canada’s greatest Heavy Metal Bands ever, released their fifth studio album – Long Way To Heaven, (on Capitol Records), back on November 9, 1985. My favorite song from this really cool album is Deep Cuts The Knife, a mid-tempo power ballad. (Check out the song below, if you like). I always had a tough time hearing Helix being labeled… Hair Metal. Not in my Metal opinion… Heavy Metal is Helix, pure and Metal simple. I remember buying Long Way To Heaven at my local Caldor Department Store back in ’85… the vinyl was warped! Believe this or not, this album still played fine… albeit looking rather funky, as it spun around the turntable! Yup, this is just another fine slab of Heavy Metal vinyl that I no longer have. CD’s took over my Metal psyche and now I have remorse for trading and selling away those treasured vinyl albums of yesteryear. It’s alright… I’ll land Long Way To Heaven on vinyl once again… down the Metal road. Deep Cuts The Knife may no longer be relevant to me lyrically, however, the Heavy Metal of Helix and this song’s melodic power always will be! Today, this great song just stuck to my brain like Metal glue… so I just thought I’d share it with the world. Hopefully you enjoy Deep Cuts The Knife as much as I do. In the event you never heard this song before… then passing along some Helix shall be my Metal deed for the day!

LONG LIVE HELIX!

CRANK UP DEEP CUTS THE KNIFE LOUD – AND BE GLAD YOU DID!

HELIX, as they appeared on the 1985 album Long Way To Heaven:

Brian Vollmer – lead vocals

Paul Hackman – guitar and vocals

Brent Doerner – guitar and vocals

Daryl Gray – bass and vocals

Greg Hinz – drums

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CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED – DEBUT ALBUM IS FULL BLOWN METAL!

Posted in Album Review, cool 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 history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal musicians, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, new heavy metal music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, power metal albums, power metal bands, power metal music, rock music with tags charred walls of the damned, charred walls of the damned debut album, current heavy metal bands, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2010, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, jason suecof guitarist, jason suecof record producer, melodic metal music, Metal, metal blade records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, Power Metal, power metal bands, richard christy drummer, steve digiorgio bass guitarist, the howard stern show, tim ripper owens vocalist on February 19, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Charred Walls of the Damned released their self titled, debut album on February 2, 2010 on Metal Blade Records. Cutting to the Metal chase here, my ears are telling me Charred Walls of the Damned are not just a supergroup, they are an excellent Metal Band… period. There are many shades of Power Metal found within this debut album from Charred Walls of the Damned. How many dozens of American bred Power Metal Bands can you name? Europe outnumbers America in the Power Metal category, thus anytime a North American band even sounds remotely close to Power Metal, it peeks my Metal interest. That is why I am rather excited that founding member and drummer, Richard Christy, decided to embark on an Old School Speed Metal meets Power Metal adventure like this band. Shaking loose from the confines of The Howard Stern Show to create a legit and convincing Metal album is what Richard Christy has done. After listening to Charred Walls of the Damned several times, I’ve come to the Metal conclusion that Richard Christy could probably quit his day job. Then again, it’s not too shabby a gig, to be part of The Howard Stern Show either.

Richard Christy and Tim “Ripper” Owens played together as members of Iced Earth, from 2003 to 2004. Bass guitarist Steve Digiorgio has built his Metal legacy as a founding member of Sadus, while also playing for Death, Testament, Iced Earth and Autopsy… there are a few more, yet the Metal point is made here. Throw in the fact that Richard Christy was also the drummer for Death, from 1996 to 2001 and you have Metal credibility oozing from the Metal seams here. Legendary Metal producer Jason Suecof takes the helm on guitar and of course, producing Charred Walls of the Damned. It is in my sincerest Metal opinion, that Tim “Ripper” Owens does not have to look upon himself as ever being that other lead singer for Judas Priest… never again. Charred Walls of the Damned spotlights the Ripper’s vocals, while he clearly magnifies the power and emotion of each song with Metal conviction.

Truly, an album that has no dog for a song is rare during any era of Metal Music. Charred Walls of the Damned is just that album… from Ghost Town to Fear In The Sky, the unrelenting Metal assault that is unmistakably power charged, comes at you like an out of control heat seeking missile. Jason Suecof demonstrates his guitar appreciation with unreal great confidence and clarity. The Metal leads, riffs and solos rage throughout Charred Walls of the Damned, Jason Suecof can play. If I sound over zealous about this debut album, it’s that I’m only extremely psyched that these four Metal players have combined their skills and minds to deliver a quality Metal product.

Overall, these songs are built on speed, blended with the Power Metal vocals of Ripper and thunder struck by Steve Digiorgio on bass and Christy on drums. Charred Walls of the Damned teamed up to tinker with the traditional brilliance’s of Metal. Oh, did they tinker… the end result is the Metal parts are just as great as the Metal sum with their debut album. I really hope this is just the beginning of a long line of albums, from this “new” Metal Band they call – Charred Walls of the Damned.

For more about Charred Walls of the Damned, click here: Charred Walls of the Damned – myspace music page

CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED – Track Listing:

1. Ghost Town

2. From The Abyss

3. Creating Our Machine

4. Blood on Wood

5. In a World So Cruel

6. Manifestations

7. Voices Within the Walls

8. The Darkest Eyes

9. Fear in the Sky

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KEEL – 1987 ALBUM “KEEL” STILL PACKS A HEAVY METAL PUNCH!

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 guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1987 heavy metal music, Album Review, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1987, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school hair metal bands, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal albums, 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's hair metal songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, bryan jay guitarist, cherry lane song, current hard rock bands, current heavy metal bands, dwain miller drummer, hair metal music, hard rock music, heavy metal albums 1987, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, keel, keel 1987 album, keel cherry lane song, keel hair metal band, keel heavy metal band, keel nation, kenny chaisson bass guitarist, marc ferrari guitarist, metal odyssey, Music, old school hair metal, rock music, ron keel hard rock vocalist, ron keel heavy meal vocalist, ron keel vocalist on February 17, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

When I think of the 1980’s, good times, carelessness, more parties than I can count or remember, no mortgage payments and sleeping real late comes to mind. Hey, why not? It’s all a part of growing up and it all led me down the path to where I am now… and I’m not complaining, I have the best family money or Metal can buy. So when I reach for the albums that remind me of good times, KEEL , (self titled), from 1987 puts a grin on my face and still psyches me out. So Metal be it… KEEL is one of my favorite Hair Metal Bands from the loud, proud and colorful ’80’s. I still have the CD version of KEEL from 1987, liner notes and all. Yes, the liner notes are very important to old school Metalheads like myself. All 10 songs on KEEL are packed with Heavy Metal punch… regardless of KEEL’s Hair Metal tag from that era, it’s all Metal relative. The underlining characteristic of KEEL, is this album has power. Two songs that exemplify this power adjective the best on KEEL are: Somebody’s Waiting and Cherry Lane, plus they are back-to-back… tracks 2 and 3. Does it matter if this was not the hottest selling KEEL album from their catalog? Not in my Metal opinion, at this point in time… does it really even matter?

At the end of the Metal day, it’s all about personal preference and opinion anyways. What once was old is new again… and what albums that did not sell off the shelves, are now being discussed again for those who want to seek out and give a listen to. Going back to Cherry Lane… you won’t find or hear a better tongue-in-cheek Heavy Metal song than this! Cherry Lane is a (gasp) fun song that makes me, (gasp), chuckle a tad almost 25 years later. I’m not embarrassed to admit liking some “fun” in my Hard Rock or Metal. (Hello, David Lee Roth). Calm Before The Storm is a ballad… my finicky side for ballads approved of this song a long time ago. This ballad has a tempo that isn’t so slow you want to scream, it flows very well and lyrically never made me cry and stay in bed for a week… so I have always been down with this song.

The strong vocals of Ron Keel and the chorus from KEEL is what adds to this band’s powerful identity. Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay on guitars, fuel KEEL with numerous addictive licks on this album to make these songs not just hard & heavy, they also made them memorable going on 3 decades. Toss in a smash ’em up rhythm section of Dwain Miller on drums and Kenny Chaisson on bass guitar and yes Virginia, KEEL delivered a potent Heavy Metal album here. If you are into ’80’s Hair and Heavy Metal and never bought this album, seek it out and give it more than a test drive… crank it LOUD with the car windows down… going at a reasonable speed of course, please.

* Check out the KEEL NATION here: KEEL NATION – Official KEEL website

* Also worth checking out: KEEL – myspace music page

KEEL was released on June 21, 1987, on MCA Records. This was the fourth album release from KEEL.

KEEL Track Listing:

United Nations

Somebody’s Waiting

Cherry Lane

Calm Before The Storm

King Of The Rock

It’s A Jungle Out There

I Said The Wrong Thing To The Right Girl

Don’t Say You Love Me

If Love Is A Crime (I Wanna Be Convicted)

4th Of July

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EARLY MAN – “BEWARE THE CIRCLING FINS” EP IS CAN’T MISS METAL

Posted in cool album covers, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, independent record labels, Metal, metal music, metal music ep's, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, speed metal, thrash metal album review, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music, thrash metal music 2008 with tags beware the circling fins ep, current heavy metal bands, early man, early man heavy metal band, early man metal band, early man thrash metal band, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal eps, heavy metal music, metal music, metal music 2008, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, speed metal music, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music on February 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

EARLY MAN. Beware The Circling Fin is an EP of 4 songs, only don’t be fooled, these songs are can’t miss Metal. I only wish Early Man had slapped down a few more tracks for this EP, their Metal is that good. Early Man is no newcomer to the Metal world, they released back on April, 5, 2005, the Early Man EP, which contained 3 songs. Early Man then signed on to Matador Records and released their first full length album – Closing In on October 11, 2005. Beware The Circling Fin was released on October 14, 2008, on independent label The End Records. I find Early Man to be quite the Old School Metal Band, (Traditional Metal, if you will), with total disregard for all things commercial… I like that very much.

Beware The Circling Fin was produced by Jack Endino, who has worked with Nirvana, High On Fire and Mudhoney, to name a few. Early Man hooking up with with a producer of this caliber is not too shabby, in my Metal opinion. Back in 2005, when Early Man first hit the streets with their debut EP, the Thrash Metal revival was heating up. Revival aside, Thrash Metal, (all Metal for that matter), never crawled under a rock… it has only grown stronger. With veteran Thrash Metal Bands making valiant returns, (hello Testament), while other veteran Thrashers like Slayer and Megadeth never relented, younger bands like Early Man can only solidify and bond the Metal cause all the more. (That’s another Metal opinion of mine).

Beware The Circling Fin EP has been my starting point… venturing into the Early Man brand of Metal. One characteristic of this EP that I like is the overall rawness that seems to creep around each song. I’m not talking demo raw here, just good ol’ Metal. Amongst this trio of Early Man, I don’t here one overpowering the other… the vocals and Metal Music seem to gather steam together… another good quality.

Suck Me Dry tends to sway away from total Thrash, this song borders on the Punk side… with it’s play time of 1:31, it’s aggressiveness wrapped with attitude and especially the vocals of Mike Conte. Is that bad? Uh, not for me. Beware The Circling Fin has Mike Conte reaching for the high notes vocally, sounding credible and reminding me of vintage Rob Halford of Judas Priest. The riffs, leads and all encompassing sound of Coiled Like A Snake has me feeling Early Man knows a thing or two about Metal’s founding fathers. Sinking The Blade is for me, the heaviest and fastest song on this EP. If Thrash is Early Man’s forte, they proved it with Sinking The Blade – in my Metal opinion. Early Man has shown they can intertwine their sound from Thrash to semi-Punk, what’s in between these songs is all the stuff I’ve always admired about Metal in the first place.

EARLY MAN as they appeared on Beware The Circling Fin:

Mike Conti – vocals, guitar & bass

Pete Macy – guitar

Adam Bennati – drums

* Tim Ramage is listed as the current bass guitarist, as seen on the Early Man myspace music page.

* Early Man’s myspace music page has their current location listed as Los Angeles, California. You can check out the Early Man myspace music page by clicking here: EARLY MAN – myspace music page

* An eagerly anticipated and forthcoming new studio album from Early Man is titled – Death Potion. This info can be found directly on Early Man’s official website: EARLY MAN ARMY.com – Official Website of EARLY MAN

* Lead singer and guitarist Mike Conte has his own blog, click the link below to check it out:

WHIPLASH HEAVY METAL – Early Man’s Mike Conte blog

METALLICA – MY SILENT AUCTION/THRASH METAL WIN!

Posted in 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1993, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal bands, old school thrash metal music, rock music, silent auctions, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands, thrash metal legends, thrash metal memorabilia, thrash metal music with tags 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, 1990's thrash metal music, antique malls, heavy metal music, james hetfield, jason newsted bass guitarist, kirk hammett guitarist, lars ulrich drummer, live sh*t binge & purge, metal music, metal odyssey, Metallica, metallica 1993, metallica collectibles, metallica memorabilia, metallica snakepit, metallica thrash metal band, Music, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, silent auctions, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal music 1993 on February 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Oh how I love to stumble upon Metal memorabilia without trying. That is exactly what happened when I glanced upon this particular Metallica lot at a recent, (monthly), silent auction. How recent? It was this past January of 2010. Where was this silent auction? At an antique mall… where else? What is this Metallica lot? None other than the enormously popular – LIVE SH*T: BINGE & PURGE, which was released back in 1993. This version, (see images below), was up for bid as a sealed-in-plastic package, minus the tour equipment transport box version. This package included three sealed VHS videos, a tour program, a copy of an access pass to the Snakepit portion of the stage and a cardboard stencil of the scary guy image on the packaging. I just couldn’t resist my Metal self… therefore… I placed one solid bid on this Metallica bounty. A bid of $3 meager dollars was already put down on this Metallihistory. I grinned upon seeing the other lone and miniscule bid… $20 bucks I wrote down along with my “official” bidders number, too late to recant now… Metal game on.

Did I bid too low? Did I bid too high? The ever antagonistic, self doubting thoughts, seemed to envelope my mind like a cornerback blitz from the Philadelphia Eagles defense. I never owned this piece of Metallica Thrash Metal before… as astonishing as that may seem. Back in 1993, I was very, very, broke… and broke again. My Metal buying habits came very close to a standstill for a few years, back in the early ’90’s. Metal truth be told, I usually get outbid on these silent auctions… I tend to bid low… or so it seems. Approaching a silent auction or any auction for that matter, needs to be done with an open mind… and NOT an open checkbook!

As the days went by, I checked in on my $20 bid on this Metallica item… I was the highest bidder up until the closing yell of – “bidders, put your pens down!”. I was semi-psyched upon learning that the winner for this Metallica lot was me. Why was I semi-psyched? Heck, I always want stuff cheap… real cheap. Free is even better. Regardless, I picked up this now vintage Metallica lot from the antique mall a few days after the auctions close and was Metal smitten about it too. The tour program is worth the $20 bucks alone, in my Metal opinion. This program is chock full of incredibly cool tour photos of Metallica, with reprinted correspondence/letters that have to do with all things Metallica… it’s Metal history. Metallica history is a good thing to feed the Metal mind with.

So, after 18 years of not having LIVE SH*T: BINGE & PURGE in my Metal collection, I finally landed it through a silent auction at an antique mall. Metal be damned, if someone told me back in 1993, that I would one day, 18 years later, win this Metallica package at an antique mall’s silent auction… I would have told that person to go suck an expired egg. Rest assured, I am regularly checking out this silent auction… one of these days I will land the big Metal fish… and you will all know about it on Metal Odyssey.

Here is the copy of an access pass to the Snakepit:

Here are the 3 VHS videos that are still sealed. Don’t worry, I am going to watch them… I still own a, (gulp), VCR. The tour program is also shown at the bottom of this pic.

At the end of the Metal day, I’m pleased to have bid the $20 bucks for this Metallica booty. I still would like to get my hands on the tour equipment transport box version too someday… it has the 3 CD’s as a Metal bonus. I’m not complaining though, I feel fortunate that I have the few extra bucks to spend now, compared to my financial situation back in 1993. Plus I’m just enjoying collecting Metal and Metallica.

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MOUNTAIN – The Best Of Live: A Listen In Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Roots

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, guitar legends, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1970's rock bands, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, corky laing drummer, hard rock music, leslie west, metal odyssey, mountain, mountain rock band, mountain the best of live, Music, rock music, rock music news, woodstock 1969 on January 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

I pulled out a classic of a CD to crank up today: The Best Of Mountain Live. Arguably, a bona fide pioneer of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, Mountain even played at Woodstock in 1969. That’s simply very cool. The original Mountain lineup of Leslie West, (guitar & vocals), the late Felix Pappalardi, (bass & piano) and (Canadian born) Corky Laing, (drums & percussion), were probably one of the earliest power trio’s in Rock History. The heaviness of Mountain’s sound from the very start, is what I point to in regarding them as Heavy Metal pioneers.

Leslie West introduced to the world, his guitar tone that leaned away from the early to mid 1960’s Rock and Roll Pop and late 1960’s Psychedelic Rock comfort zone. Being an American Rock Band, there was no Rock and Roll British Invasion wave that Mountain found themselves riding in on. Just straight up, bluesy, hard and heavy Rock and Roll… in essence, Hard Rock. Mississippi Queen from the 1970 Mountain debut album – Climbing! was a building block of Heavy Metal before the world even knew or understood the genre.

Yes, America did stake a claim in the formation of Heavy Metal, Mountain is as credible an example as any band I can think of. Listening to The Best Of Mountain Live only solidifies my Metal opinion on this. Hey, with Corky Laing being Canadian born, let’s give some Heavy Metal pioneering credit to Canada too… eh?

The Best Of Mountain Live is not going to blow anyone over with polished production, what this album does incite is the importance of Mountain’s contributions to the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres. Are the vintage Mountain songs and cover songs heard on The Best Of Live a mirror image of Heavy Metal 2010? Of course they’re not. What these live songs do tell my ears, is that Hard Rock and Heavy Metal evolved from bands just like Mountain, into what we all know and hear as Heavy Music today.

I picked up this CD a few years ago, for just a few bucks. Sure, I could easily have reached for and listened to a Mountain studio album today. Instead, this live CD with all it’s recorded Rock history is what lured me all the more. It was the raw, unpolished and live sensory experience that I was yearning for, from a band that helped shape the Heavy Music sound and style that I find so endearing in 2010.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe, that the roots of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal were being forged by Mountain, while they performed at Woodstock in 1969. I was not even three years old then. Then, I stop to think that Leslie West, Corky Laing and their band Mountain are still around and playing their songs, their own heavy way, still touring recently in 2009.

When it’s all said and Metal done, if you happen to stumble upon Mountain – The Best Of Live, take ownership of it and give your ears some Heavy Music roots. Yes, you will find NO glitz and glam and NO egos heard in the heavy musicianship of Mountain… now doesn’t that just sound too good to pass up?

For more info, current news and the history of MOUNTAIN, click on the link below:

MOUNTAIN – Official Web-Site

Track listing for Mountain – The Best Of Live:

Mississippi Queen

Never In My Life

For Yasgur’s Farm

Rocky Mountain Way

Theme For An Imaginary Western

Why Dontcha

Crossroads

Spark

House Of The Rising Sun

(Released in 2006, on St. Clair Entertainment Group Inc.)

LONG LIVE MOUNTAIN.

Stone.

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BADLANDS – “DREAMS IN THE DARK” 1989 VIDEO REVISITED!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1989 heavy metal music, cool album covers, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal videos, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal videos, badlands, badlands 1989, badlands debut album, badlands dreams in the dark video, badlands heavy metal band, badlands heavy metal video, dreams in the dark song, eric singer drummer, greg chaisson bass guitarist, hard rock music, heavy meal music 1989, heavy metal videos, jake e. lee guitarist, metal odyssey, Music, ray gillen vocalist on January 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

I am always in that Old School Heavy Metal mood. All someone needs to do is simply whisper an Old School Band or musician’s name to me and I’m checking in… into Old School U. BADLANDS – Dreams In The Dark video from 1989 is a trip down Metal memory lane. The vocals and energy from the late Ray Gillen, combined with the guitar wizardry of Jake E. Lee, gives this Dreams In The Dark song and video it’s Classic Heavy Metal appeal. Let’s not count out the powerful rhythm section of Greg Chaisson on bass and Eric Singer on drums… wow. In my Metal opinion, Badlands was a great Heavy Metal Band, this video only solidifies my Metal claim. My best Metal buddy and Metal Odyssey’s Metal researcher Scott Coverdale landed me a copy of the Badlands debut album, on CD, back in the Fall of 2009. I yapped all about getting this Badlands CD upgrade along with a review on October 26, 2009… you can check it out by clicking the header below the video, (if you like). I hope you enjoy this Badlands video as much as I do!

BADLANDS – 1989 Heavy Metal Debut Album Still Reigns Supreme

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SAXON – “BACK ON THE STREETS” APPLE SHAPED PICTURE DISC FROM 1985!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, 1985 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, feel good stories, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal picture discs, heavy metal record finds, heavy metal records, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, old school heavy metal, picture discs, power metal bands, power metal music, rare heavy metal records, rare picture discs, rock music with tags 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1990's heavy metal bands, back on the streets picture disc 1985, biff byford vocalist, current heavy metal bands, heavy metal finds, heavy metal music, heavy metal picture discs, innocence is no excuse album 1985, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, nwobhm, old school heavy metal, paul quinn guitarist, rare heavy metal records, saxon, saxon apple shaped picture disc, saxon back on the streets picture disc, saxon heavy metal band, saxon live fast die young song, saxon picture disc 1985 on January 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SAXON – Back On The Streets, (die-cut), shaped picture disc FIND! This past week, I entered yet another antique mall and I stumbled upon this unreal great Saxon picture disc! I was in Metal glee, upon my eyes becoming affixed, to this piece of Saxon vinyl memorabilia. The price I paid for this Saxon find was $10, (U.S.), Metal money worth spending. I don’t know the actual value of this picture disc on the open Metal market, yet I have a funny feeling it is worth more than the $10 I spent on it. Looking around the world wide web, I did not find one dealer/site that has this Saxon picture disc for sale. (Now, can I honestly say it is not available anywhere on the internet? Of course not… I just have not seen one just yet). I will have to think, with Metal certainty, that this Saxon picture disc must be scarce. Oh, the feeling of making a Metal score like this! Why I feel so psyched is that this is a picture disc from 1985, it’s not as if it’s a current/newly released picture disc. Plus, the sheer fact that this is a Heavy Metal band that I really do like makes it only better.

SAXON – Back On The Streets – Shaped Picture Disc Specs:

Side A: Back On The Streets

Side B: Live Fast Die Young

* To the best of my Metal research, Live Fast Die Young has never appeared on any Saxon studio album. Maybe it has appeared on a Saxon bootleg? Anyone with further info on the song Live Fast Die Young is welcomed to comment. If this is to be the only Saxon recording that Live Fast Die Young is found on, man, that makes this picture disc all the more Metal important.

* This is a U.K. import, the picture disc code, (found at the bottom of Side B), is: RP 6103.

* Directly below the picture disc code is a small logo witch reads: Parlophone.

* Other text found at the bottom of Side B, reads: SAXONGS CARLIN MUSIC CORP., (and), 1985 Original Sound Recordings Made By EMI Records LTD., (and), 1985 EMI Records LTD.

The single Back On The Streets is from the Saxon album Innocence Is No Excuse, (released in 1985).

Saxon, as they appeared on the 1985 album Innocence Is No Excuse:

Biff Byford – lead vocals

Paul Quinn – guitarist

Graham Oliver – guitarist

Steve Dawson – bass guitarist

Nigel Glockler – drums

This super fine picture disc is shaped like an apple, with the stem actually protruding out at the top! Here is what this Back On The Streets – shaped picture disc looks like:

Side A:

Side B:

I thank my wife for taking the pics for Metal Odyssey… she is quite a Metal asset for me in more ways than I can count, I honestly don’t know what I would do without her… that is a Metal fact!

MANOWAR – “WARRIORS OF THE WORLD UNITED” METAL MUSIC VIDEO DEFENDS FREEDOM!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's metal bands, 1990's power metal music, 2002 heavy metal albums, 2002 metal music, american heavy metal bands, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, old school metal bands, power metal bands, power metal music, power metal songs, rock music with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal bands, american heavy metal bands, american metal bands, current heavy metal bands, eric adams vocalist, heavy metal anthems, heavy metal songs, heavy metal videos, joey demaio bass guitarist, karl logan guitarist, kings of metal, loudest metal band, manowar, manowar 2002, manowar heavy metal band, manowar metal band, metal music, metal music legends, metal music videos, metal odyssey, Music, scott columbus drummer, warriors of the world album, warriors of the world united song, warriors of the world united video on January 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MANOWAR. THE KINGS OF METAL. I have always stated… I won’t argue with them on that. I’m cool with it. I have always pumped my fists into the air to Manowar Metal. Manowar is a core Metal Band for me. Warriors Of The World United is an absolute tremendous Metal anthem – defending the freedom we all cherish. Freedom I shall never, ever, take for granted. Manowar is an American Metal Band that I shall never take for granted. There are those Metal Bands and the songs they write, that stand for what I believe in… Manowar and Warriors Of The World United exemplifies this. Warriors Of The World United resonates the spirit and pride of being free, wherever you may live, especially in this undisputed great country of The United States of America. I cannot control the feeling of getting psyched out, each and every time I listen to this song. Hopefully, you may like this song and video as much as I do. I am proud to be an American, a Metalhead and a fan of Manowar. Long live MANOWAR!

* For all the latest Metal news and happenings with MANOWAR, check out their official website by clicking this link: MANOWAR – Official Website

* Manowar released the album Warriors Of The World, on Nuclear Blast Records, June 4, 2002.

MANOWAR as they appeared on the album Warriors Of The World:

Eric Adams – lead vocals

Karl Logan – guitar and keyboards

Joey DeMaio – bass guitar

Scott Columbus – drums

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BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – “THE GREAT MISDIRECT” IS A PROGRESSIVE & HEAVY MIND ADVENTURE

Posted in Album Review, alternative metal music, current heavy metal albums, current progressive metal albums, current progressive metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Music, prog metal albums, prog metal music, progressive metal, progressive metal 2009, progressive metal albums, progressive metal bands, progressive metal music, progressive metal songs, progressive rock music, rock music with tags Album Review, alternative metal music, between the buried and me, blake richardson drummer, dan briggs bass guitarist, diverse metal music, dustie waring guitarist, extreme metal music, hard rock music, hardcore metal, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, paul waggoner guitarist, progressive hard rock music, progressive metal 2009, progressive metal albums, progressive metal bands, progressive metal history, progressive metal music, progressive metal songs, the great misdirect album, tommy rogers vocalist on January 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – The Great Misdirect is a Progressive Metal album that was released on October 26, 2009, on Victory Records. I received this CD as a Christmas gift from my wife and daughters, therefore, my first listen to The Great Misdirect was in the final days of last year. Metal truth be told, this is my very first Between The Buried And Me album that I have ever owned… or listened to. Stagnant, same-old, status quo and ho-hum are words that DO NOT describe The Great Misdirect. Heavy, progressive, semi-psychedelic, retrospective, layered and mind adventure are words THAT DO describe this dynamic album. As I listened intently to The Great Misdirect, I swear that this is a band that has taken a time machine from the mid 1970’s to present day… and they have been kidnapped and forced to create heavier music than they are used to, while still being able to incorporate their own style of Classic Rock into the structure of the songs. Call this thought nutty, call it science fiction, still, this is the type of mind wandering that Between The Buried And Me are all about with their lyrics anyways! It’s not just a fascination with this band being different that gets me… it’s the sheer fascination that this band is damned good at writing Heavy Progressive Music and playing it too.

Just by reading the lyrics to Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain, I realize that BTBAM’s vocalist Tommy Rogers is open minded and embraces the science fiction side of thought and conspiracy theories, (where his actual views stand on such topics, I do not know). Needless to say, just reading the lyrics found within the liner notes is an adventure. As goes Progressive Metal, the moment I sit back and chill to a lengthy interlude of mellow musical interplay, the quicker I have to sit up/get up to the heavy guitar riffs and leads, the bombastic rhythm section and/or the Extreme Metal vocals. (Pssst… I don’t mind it one Metal bit).

Yes, Grand Funk Railroad and any other Classic Rock band of legend should be proud of the astute usage of keyboards found within The Great Misdirect. Once again, Tommy Rogers is at the helm on the keys, raising such a familiar 1970’s sound that actually seems to resonate above the heaviness. Tommy Rogers also seems to go back and forth from extreme to traditional vocals rather effortlessly. As a unit, BTBAM are smart as they are talented with their playing, improvisation with this band in a live setting should never pose a problem.

Mirrors opens The Great Misdirect in a solemn, ultra mellow and quaint way. Lyrically, Mirrors exhibits a person who is without question, disassociated with the world around him/her… both people and things included. Ah, don’t let the opener of Mirrors fool you however, Obfuscation burrows right into my Metal soul… almost without warning, then subsides into a legitimate progressive pattern that BTBAM have indeed succeeded at. Metal Odyssey Note: Obfuscation means to be unclear, evasive or confusing. I actually had to look this word up, yeah, I did. Using a dictionary is cool.

Disease, Injury, Madness is over eleven minutes long, basically a Progressive Metal epic. Too bad this song wasn’t an hour long… it’s that good for me. As being an admirer of Mastodon, Daath, Dream Theater, Yes and The Electric Light Orchestra, my progressive Rock fan roots are as diverse as the Universe itself. Then again, when I think about it, isn’t the word diverse a major characteristic of Progressive Metal to begin with? Between The Buried And Me have recruited a NEW fan, I will gleefully dig into their back catalog without blinking a Metal eye.

Track Listing for The Great Misdirect:

Mirrors and Obfuscation – Metal Odyssey Note: (Mirrors plays out as an introduction to Obfuscation)

Disease, Injury, Madness

Swim To The Moon

Desert Of Song

Fossil Genera – A Feed from Cloud Mountain

Between The Buried And Me, as they appear on The Great Misdirect:

Tommy Rogers – vocals, keys and lyrics

Dan Briggs – bass, fretless bass

Dustie Waring – electric guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar and guitar effects

Paul Waggoner – electric guitar, steel string acoustic guitar, classical guitar and lap steel guitar

Blake Richardson – drums and percussion

2 Comments »

KROKUS – “ALIVE AND SCREAMIN'” IS A HEAVY METAL FIND ON VINYL!

Posted in 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal ballads, 1980's live heavy metal 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, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1986 heavy metal albums, 1986 heavy metal music, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1986, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal records, live heavy metal albums, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rock music with tags 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 krokus albums, Album Review, cool album covers, fernando von arb guitarist, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, krokus, krokus 1986, krokus alive and screamin album, krokus heavy metal band, live heavy metal albums, marc storace vocalist, mark kohler guitarist, melodic heavy metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, scary heavy metal album covers on January 22, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KROKUS – Alive and Screamin’, on vinyl and in mint condition, with it’s original album plastic still covering it… there it was, on one of my recent Heavy Metal hunting expeditions, sitting in an antique mall screamin’ for me to buy it. Five bucks I shelled out to bring this vintage, Old School Heavy Metal album home with me. Five bucks. This great Krokus album was opened by someone in the past, still, the vinyl and original inner sleeve itself is mint! Plus, as a Metal bonus, it plays just fine! I deliberately went to visit this antique mall for a find … a Metal find that is. It’s not as if there are truck loads of vintage or current Heavy Metal albums and memorabilia at this antique mall, not in the least. I really have to scour the goods, peruse the aisles and sniff out the Heavy Metal from where it is hiding. It’s good times for me, searching for Heavy Metal albums or anything Hard Rock/Heavy Metal related at these kind of places. I’m a nostalgic Metalhead, always was, always will be. Finding and collecting the Heavy Metal vinyl I once owned or never owned is a natural Metal high for me, especially when I land them mint and cheap! As long as I have a turntable or two to play these albums on, the Metal enjoyment shall carry on long after the purchase.

Alive and Screamin’ marked the first live album released by Krokus. Overall, this live album has fantastic sound quality, a very well produced live album. This live Krokus album proves for me, to be an Old School and heavy warm-up to the new upcoming Krokus album – Hoodoo, that is set for a February 26, 2010 release! What a heavy duty way for Alive and Screamin’ to start off, kicking into Heavy Metal gears with Long Stick Goes Boom, Krokus sets the tone for the remainder of this live album, they made the statement a long time ago… that they came to kick some Heavy Metal ass.

Stayed Awake All Night and Eat The Rich sound unreal great, with all of the heavy and live elements happening, it’s psyche you-out city! Metal truth be told, I really had a blast revisiting Alive and Screamin’… I actually spun this album on the turntable four times in a row! No skips or crackles… just a real mint album I found here. I actually wonder if this album was ever played in the past at all. I’m playing this album on a regular basis, loud too!

Headhunter is certainly the heaviest Krokus song on Alive and Screamin’, an all-time favorite Krokus song of mine too. Another Metal truth be told is: I actually like the live version of Midnite Maniac better than the studio version. Often times it happens this way for my Metal ears.

Screaming In The Night proves to be a quintessential Heavy Metal ballad, of historical Krokus importance. To this very day, I cannot get enough of Screaming In The Night, this song just seems to flow in it’s heavy uniqueness. Marc Storace on vocals sounds terrific on each song, the same can be said for each member of Krokus on Alive and Screamin’. Fernando Von Arb and Marc Kohler on guitars just seem to ignite these classic Krokus songs.

Krokus, as they appeared on Alive and Screamin’:

Marc Storace – lead vocals

Fernando Von Arb – lead guitar

Mark Kohler – rhythm guitar

Tommy Keiser – bass guitar

Jeff Klaven – drums

* Alive and Screamin’ was recorded live in the following cities: Amarillo, Texas, Cincinnati Ohio, Baltimore Maryland, Poughkeepsie, New York and Toronto, Canada. (Source: liner notes on the inside album sleeve).

Track listing for Alive and Screamin’:

(Note: Krokus studio album from where song originated in parentheses)

Long Stick Goes Boom – (One Vice At A Time)

Eat The Rich – (Headhunter)

Screaming In The Night – (Headhunter)

Hot Shot City – (Change Of Address)

Midnite Maniac – (The Blitz)

Bedside Radio – (Metal Rendez-vous)

Lay Me Down – (Alive and Screamin’)

Stayed Awake All Night – (Headhunter)

Headhunter – (Headhunter)

* Lay Me Down was the first time this song appeared on a Krokus album.

* Alive and Screamin’ was released in October of 1986, on Arista Records.

* The front cover of Alive and Screamin’ was created by world renowned illustrator – Les Edwards.

* I really, really, really, dig the front cover album artwork of Les Edwards – that is one evil looking vampire. If it’s not a vampire, then it is one vile and evil looking dude that I would not want to encounter in a dark alley. Metal be damned, this evil face sincerely reminds me of my old High School chemistry teacher as well. I wouldn’t want to encounter a vampire or my old H.S. chemistry teacher in a dark alley either.

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MASTODON – “DIVINATIONS” PICTURE DISC SINGLE IS A METAL MUSIC FIND!

Posted in collecting heavy metal albums, collecting metal music, cool album covers, current progressive metal music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock music 2009, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal picture discs, heavy metal record finds, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, picture discs, prog metal albums, prog metal music, progressive hard rock albums, progressive hard rock music, progressive metal, progressive metal 2009, progressive metal albums, progressive metal bands, progressive metal music, progressive rock music, rock music with tags collecting heavy metal, collecting picture discs, current hard rock music, current progressive metal music, hard rock music, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal bargains, heavy metal finds, heavy metal music, heavy metal picture discs, hot topic, mastodon, mastodon crack the skye album, mastodon divinations picture disc single, mastodon metal band, mastodon progressive metal band, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal albums, progressive metal bands, progressive metal music, rock music on January 19, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MASTODON. Hot Topic. What do these two Metal Music names have in common? I recently, (last weekend), found the Mastodon – Divinations, 12″ picture disc single… at Hot Topic. Oh, that’s not all… this Mastodon picture disc single only set me back $2.54! That’s not a type-o… $2.54. Much cheaper than a pound of imported ham, currently selling at the local deli. (The original retail price for this picture disc runs around $14). You might query, as to how did I pay such a rock bottom price for this unreal great, Mastodon picture disc. Clearance racks RULE. As I entered Hot Topic, my wife informed me she was heading to the back of the store… to the clearance racks, was my Metal suspicion. It’s funny how I always become engaged by looking over the other stuff at Hot Topic, each time I go there, forgetting to hit the clearance racks first. The t-shirts, rings, vinyl album and CD racks never fail to distract my attention from those glorious clearance racks. I can always count on my wife to hone in on those racks of discounted Metal treasures though!

It’s always a Metal thrill when you can score your favorite bands on the discount racks. This is not the first time we have found very cool vinyl, discounted at Hot Topic. Just as we were checking out at the register, one of the Hot Topic employees raced over to the discount racks where this Mastodon picture disc was found… this employee proceeded to nab the lone remaining copy of Divinations, as well as other assorted vinyl too. She said she wanted to make her move, before the discounted stuff was gone. I can’t blame her one Metal bit. We did pick up other discounted vinyl at Hot Topic that same visit… I will wait to blab about it on future posts because the finds are that unreal great.

This Mastodon Divinations, 12″ picture disc single has the following two songs:

Side A: Divinations – (From the 2009 release – Crack The Skye)

Side B: Divinations (Instrumental)

I really, really, like the Progressive Metal that simmers with touches of psychedelia, from the Crack The Skye album that Mastodon released in 2009. I like it so much that I picked it to be #7 in my list of top 25 Heavy Metal albums for 2009. You can check it out by clicking the link below:

METAL ODYSSEY’S TOP 25 HEAVY METAL ALBUMS OF 2009

You can also just click on the header below to read my review for Mastodon – Crack The Skye, which I posted on May 6, 2009:

Mastodon “Crack The Skye” is a cool Metal journey to take

Here is the front view of this terrific Mastodon 12″ Divinations picture disc single:

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ARCADE – REVISITING STEPHEN PEARCY’S “OTHER BAND” AND 1993 DEBUT ALBUM

Posted in 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's hair metal bands, 1990's hard rock albums, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, glam metal, glam metal music, Hair Metal, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock music, hard to find heavy metal albums, hard to find rock cd's, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1993, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music 1993, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music with tags 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's rock music, 1990's hair metal bands, arcade 1993, arcade album, arcade debut album 1993, arcade hair metal band, arcade hard rock band, arcade heavy metal album review, arcade heavy metal band, cinderella heavy metal band, current heavy metal musicians, donny syracuse guitarist, frankie wilsex guitarist, fred coury drummer, glam metal music, hard rock music, metal odyssey, michael andrews bass guitarist, Music, out of print heavy metal albums, ratt, ratt heavy metal band, stephen pearcy vocalist on January 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

In recent days, the 1993 debut and self titled album from Arcade found it’s way into my ears. (Thank you Best Metal Buddy Scott). Epic Records released this Arcade debut. You all should be quite familiar with Arcade’s front man Stephen Pearcy… lead singer for RATT and very much a prominent, memorable and flamboyant Hair Metal figure from the 1980’s. Fred Coury, the drummer for still another iconic 1980’s Hair Metal juggernaut – Cinderella, found that one of his Heavy Metal path’s led to Arcade as well. Hair Metal and Glam Metal aside, Arcade was just damn good Heavy Metal – period. In my Metal opinion, if Arcade was to have been assembled around 1985, (instead of the gray lined early ’90’s), they would have had their likenesses adorning highway billboards – all over North America. O.k., that might be of a Metal stretch, nonetheless, Arcade would easily have been bigger and more widely received during an earlier era. Revisiting Heavy Metal Bands from the past that are no longer together, makes for the credibility of just where Heavy Metal is today… these are the bands and musicians that kept the Metal flame burning during a ’90’s decade of Heavy Metal uncertainty. I was never uncertain about my beloved Heavy Metal during the ’90’s… and by the sounds of it, neither was Stephen Pearcy and Arcade.

What this debut album from Arcade shows me, is that Stephen Pearcy acknowledged within himself, that he had all the Metal ingredients and creativity to be a star outside of RATT. And certainly, I would hope the majority of us Metalheads know that RATT was no fluke, their heavy legacy still reigns to this very day. For Stephen Pearcy to be the lead vocalist for two bands of this quality and caliber is not an everyday accomplishment. Essentially, the same can be Metal said for Fred Coury respecively, on drums. Guitarists Donny Syracuse and Frankie Wilsex add credence to Arcade’s own Heavy Metal identity. The only reminder of RATT within the sound of Arcade is Stephen Pearcy’s vocals and he CANNOT be faulted for that.

It sounds very clear to me, that Stephen Pearcy and his Heavy Metal posse called Arcade, knew all along, just how to create and write a ballad. Cry No More, Mother Blues and So Good… So Bad… are extremely tolerable ballads to listen to. I can actually listen to these three ballads repeatedly! (Now, listening to any ballad repeatedly is a rarity in my Metal world). Arcade actually found that semi sappy to sappy lyrics don’t need to be coupled with excessively sappy music, that brings you to the brink of an emotional meltdown. I will admit, Cry No More has an acoustic guitar intro that carries on a very reminiscent tone and mood from Cinderella’s classic Power Ballad – Nobody’s Fool. Mother Blues is an unplugged/acoustic listen in Rock goodness, it really is. Sons And Daughters is the lone instrumental on Arcade. An acoustic instrumental that lends itself as the perfect segue to Mother Blues.

Arcade is one of those albums where it is obviously nonsensical to breakdown each song as a review. Those who have listened and liked this album may understand my point. Outside of the three ballads and one instrumental previously mentioned, the other eight songs are undisputed Rockers. If you are looking to revisit these songs or give them a first time listen, understand that the hard and heavy from Arcade doesn’t give me a moments break… and I like that! I try to steer away from pinpointing what exact genre Arcade belongs to… at the end of the Metal day does it really matter? Arcade is Hard Rock colliding with Heavy Metal, whatever one’s interpretation that differs from mine is a matter of personal Metal labeling.

From the onset, Dancin’ With The Angels is fair warning that Stephen Pearcy and Arcade are NOT about re-treading RATT. Messed Up World is my favorite song from Arcade. The lyrics of Messed Up World could not resonate any more loud and true for me. Relevance? This song is exploding at the Metal seams with it. Messed Up World could have easily been written for today’s nightly news features.

Arcade… they came, they saw, they Metal conquered.

ARCADE, as they appeared on their 1993 debut album:

Stephen Pearcy – lead vocalist

Donny Syracuse – guitarist

Frankie Wilsex – guitarist

Michael Andrews – bass guitarist

Fred Coury – drummer

The Track Listing For Arcade:

Dancin’ With The Angels

Nothin’ To Lose

Calm Before The Storm

Cry No More

Screamin’ S.O.S.

Never Goin’ Home

Messed Up World – *(Metal Odyssey Note: My favorite song, man, it’s a good one)

All Shook Up

So Good… So Bad…

Livin’ Dangerously

Sons And Daughters

Mother Blues

* Metal Odyssey’s Metal research has found there is an additional song on the Japanese version of Arcade – Reckless. No, I have never heard this song… yet.

* To the best of Metal Odyssey’s Metal knowledge, Arcade’s debut album – Arcade is out of print. Used copies are circulating for sale all around the world wide web. (I’ve seen used copies on Amazon Music).

4 Comments »

W.A.S.P. – “THE REAL ME” 12″ SINGLE FROM 1989 REVISITED!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal cover songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, collecting heavy metal albums, collecting music, cool album covers, guitar legends, hard to find records, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1989, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal records, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rare heavy metal records, rock music with tags 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, blackie lawless guitarist, chris holmes guitarist, collecting heavy metal, current heavy metal bands, frankie banali drummer, heavy metal collectibles, heavy metal legends, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal records, heavy metal vinyl, johnny rod bass guitarist, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal bands, rare heavy metal records, rock music, the headless children album, the real me song, W.A.S.P., w.a.s.p. 1989 the real me 12" single, w.a.s.p. heavy metal band, w.a.s.p. the real me cover song on January 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Back in April of 1989, W.A.S.P. released The Headless Children, this proved to be THE album that really made me a lifetime fan of Blackie Lawless and his band. My best Metal buddy Scott, he is to blame for getting me into this album to begin with, I thank him for that. Sometime in 1989, (I can’t remember the exact month for Metal sakes), I bought the 12″ vinyl single of The Real Me from a back stabbing and obnoxious record dealer in very expensive Connecticut. The price back in ’89 for this W.A.S.P. record was $9.98. I could not resist the purchase, it was the only copy in that decrepit record store, it’s W.A.S.P. and the collectible side of my Metal brain always wins out in the end… especially when an item doesn’t cost a ton of dough. As a bonus, this 12″ single is enclosed inside a very, very, large W.A.S.P. poster, (see pics below). Back in ’89, I was still living at home, (with my parents), so my living space was a very small bedroom with walls already adorned with Metal posters… posters I just could not take down due to my loyalty and allegiance to so many bands. I am now glad I never hung this poster years ago, it’s basically in mint condition still.

The Real Me is a cover song from The Who, written by Pete Townshend… undisputed Rock legends. This song is found on The Headless Children album:

Here is what The Real Me 12″ single – record poster/jacket looks like when folded up flat:

The B – Side (or) Side Two Songs On The Real Me Single Are:

Lake Of Fools and War Cry

Lake Of Fools and War Cry are later found on the 1998 reissued CD version of The Headless Children.

The Real Me 12″ single was put out on Capitol Records. 1989 Sanctuary Productions Inc. is also printed on the back of this poster/cover.

Made In England is found on this same back poster/cover, (it appears to be rubber stamped). So, needless to say… this 12″ single of The Real Me is an import.

Please excuse the quality of my images below. Besides, being perfect is NOT Metal.

Here is the front side of this W.A.S.P. – The Real Me poster/record jacket:

The caricatures of Blackie Lawless, (guitar, vocals), Johnny Rod, (bass), Chris Holmes, (lead guitar) and Frankie Banali, (drums) are fun stuff. It’s Old School Heavy Metal. I probably won’t attempt to hang this poster up today… it’s just too vintage to ruin now. (Unless I find a poster frame large enough to hold it). Besides my picture disc of The Headless Children, this is the only other cool W.A.S.P. record I have, that is considered a limited vinyl collectible. I know I say this often, still, I’m just thankful for the stuff I did get ahold of and kept after all these years. Maybe I’ll find another W.A.S.P. vinyl collectible down the road, on one of my Metal hunts.

Here is the backside of this W.A.S.P. – The Real Me poster/record jacket:

The photo’s of W.A.S.P. on this poster are really cool and nostalgic to me. 1989 was a moment in Heavy Metal time that will never be forgotten by Metal Odyssey… I’m sure I speak for throngs of Metalheads worldwide.

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JUDAS PRIEST – “PAINKILLER” ALBUM FROM 1990 STILL EXPLODES METAL FEROCITY

Posted in 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's metal bands, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1990, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, thrash metal music with tags 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's heavy metal music, a touch of evil song, glenn tipton guitarist, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal grammy nominees, heavy metal music, ian hill bass guitarist, Judas Priest, judas priest painkiller album 1990, k.k. downing guitarist, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, painkiller album, rob halford vocalist, scott travis drummer, thrash metal music on January 13, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Ferocity: the quality or state of being ferocious. That is what I hear each time I crank up Painkiller from Metal legends – Judas Priest. Painkiller was released on September 3, 1990, on Columbia Records. Yes, the 1990’s was ushered in with quite a Metal explosion with this album. Consider that it was 1990, twenty years ago when this amazing Metal album was first released. My Metal point is this: if Painkiller was to have been released today, there is more relevance in it’s Metal in 2010 than ever before, encapsulating everything that is fast, heavy and hard about Metal Music. Honestly, if Painkiller was released in 2010, it would be an enormous candidate for my #1 Heavy Metal album of the year. However, the reality is that Painkiller is an album from the Metal past, only it seems to still have more of an impact on me than I could ever imagine. This was the 12th studio album from Judas Priest, (if you are to consider the 1978 U.K. release of Killing Machine, basically the same album as Hell Bent For Leather, only it is minus The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown). I am not reluctant to state, that this Judas Priest album is arguably the heaviest and fastest album in their catalog. Despite my abhorring the Grammy’s, Judas Priest was nominated for best Metal Performance in 1991 due to Painkiller.

The two songs on Painkiller that standout for me, which are easily two songs I can listen to every day of my life, repeatedly, are: Painkiller and A Touch Of Evil. My inner Metal struggle as of late, is knowing that A Touch Of Evil is my single most favorite, Heavy Metal song of my entire Metalhead life. Why is that an inner Metal struggle for me, you ponder? Well, due to the fact that I simply cannot believe I actually know this is the song! Plus, it did not dawn on me until recently… maybe sometime before the holidays of 2009. I will tell you this though… it is a really cool Metal feeling when it hits you and the realization kicks in, that you finally know that this is THE song. Could A Touch Of Evil ever be replaced by another Metal song as my lifetime favorite? Maybe. I’ll know when it hits me. One thing is guaranteed though… it would NEVER be a Daughtry song.

The song Painkiller is for all Metal intents and purposes… Thrash Metal. I applaud the fact that Judas Priest showed the world that yes… Thrash Metal is in their forte. All ten songs on Painkiller are immense, there is no weak link to be found. The re-release of Painkiller has two bonus tracks: Living Bad Dreams and Leather Rebel (Live). Both of these songs are great for me, still, I don’t see how a “live” bonus track ever fits into a studio album to begin with.

With Painkiller being the last studio album with Rob Halford at the vocal helm, (until the 2005 Judas Priest release – Angel Of Retribution), it showed us die-hard Metalhead followers of Judas Priest that we shall never take anything for Metal granted. Tim “Ripper” Owens is a fine lead vocalist, (taking over lead vocals on 1997’s Jugulator and Demolition from 2001), still there is only one Metal God, one original lead vocalist for Judas Priest… Rob Halford. During Rob Halford’s departure from Judas Priest, Fight became his very own Metal creation… a band that I uphold highly and find extremely thrilling. I did blab and brag about Fight one time… you can check it out by clicking the header below:

Fight was one incredible Metal band!!

Recently, the 2009 release – The End Of Tomorrow from Ravage, paid tribute to this Painkiller album and Judas Priest by having in it’s track listing… the cover of Night Crawler. Ravage did a fabulous Metal job at covering Night Crawler too. In 1990’s retrospect, yes, I would without hesitation, point right at Painkiller as being a top ten Heavy Metal album of that decade. Those of you who do own Painkiller hopefully understand my excitement over it… those of you who do not own Painkiller just yet, well, you are missing out on one damn incredible Judas Priest album for sure, in my Metal opinion.

Judas Priest:

Rob Halford – vocals

Glenn Tipton – guitar

K.K. Downing – guitar

Ian Hill – bass guitar

Scott Travis – drums

Painkiller was produced by Judas Priest and Chris Tsangarides.

Track Listing For Judas Priest – Painkiller:

Painkiller

Hell Patrol

All Guns Blazing

Leather Rebel

Metal Meltdown

Night Crawler

Between The Hammer & The Anvil

A Touch Of Evil

Battle Hymn

One Shot At Glory

Re-release Bonus Tracks:

Living Bad Dreams

Leather Rebel (Live)

27 Comments »

WANNA SEE MY MOTORHEAD BOOK? IT’S REAL COOL…

Posted in 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's hard rock, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal bands, 1981 heavy metal music, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's metal bands, 1990's hard rock bands, 1990's heavy metal music, book reviews, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock music, collecting rock music, current heavy metal bands, family, feel good stories, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal book reviews, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, life, life stories, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music books with tags "fast" eddie clarke guitarist, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1980's hard rock bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal books, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's hard rock bands, classic rock music, current heavy metal bands, hard rock music, heavy metal book review, heavy metal books, heavy metal music, lemmy, lemmy kilmister, metal odyssey, Motorhead, motorhead book, motorhead book from 1981, motorhead heavy metal band, Music, philthy animal taylor drummer, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music on January 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

The year was 1987 and I was yes, a Motorhead fan. (I still am a Motorhead fan, of course). As Christmas approached in 1987, my late mother had asked me what I would want for (potential) gifts. Well, most certainly they were Heavy Metal related gifts… vinyl albums, CD’s, posters and one very special book in particular. I was raised where you never received every gift on your list… so the bigger the list did not mean the more the gifts. So, with that thought in mind, I really crossed my fingers and hoped that this really cool book would be checked off of the request list that I gave to my mother. That really cool book was titled… MOTORHEAD. Oh yeah, Motorhead. Just the cover alone had me grinning from ear to ear, with Lemmy Kilmister, Philthy Animal Taylor and Fast Eddie Clarke in all of their Rock n’ Roll and goofy splendor. (See the really cool front cover pic of this book below, to see what I mean by that statement). To make a long Metal story short… my mother did buy me that Motorhead book for Christmas after all! I will never forget the smile on her face, as she saw the excitement in mine, upon my first opening that book up on Christmas day in ’87. The sentimental link this book has to my late mother, plus it being a book that’s just about Motorhead… well, it’s priceless to me, both the memory and this book combined.

This dandy Motorhead book was published by Babylon Books in 1981. (Whoa, I used the word… dandy, on Metal Odyssey). One odd thing about this book is that the pages are not numbered. I did count the pages myself, it was pretty easy to do too, yup, there are 64 pages total, (not counting the front and back covers). Throughout this Motorhead book, there are dozens of vintage black & white photos of Lemmy, Eddie and Phil, as well as oddball photos ranging from groupies to fanzine photos and illustrations. The Metal note to remember here is that this book documents Motorhead up until 1981, it is so easy to thumb through these pages expecting to see Brian Robertson, Wurzel, Phil Campbell or Mikkey Dee. This is as vintage as it gets with Motorhead history!

From Lemmy Kilmister’s very beginnings in Rock Music with The Sam Gopal Dream and later Hawkwind, this book lends itself to being a Motorhead 101 mini text book. A well documented history on just how Motorhead came together, through anecdotes and personal accounts makes for a fun and Metal educational read every time. A historical timeline of radio interviews and television appearances up to 1981 are also documented. What would this book be without a Motorhead discography? Albums, singles and bootlegs are covered! Biographies of Lemmy, Eddie and Phil are also included. Want to know the complete 1981 United States tour schedule that Motorhead had? The 1981 tour schedule is nailed down too! I could probably, with incredible Metal ease, blab away for paragraphs on end about the details found in this Motorhead book… unfortunately, I just can’t do that. Take my Metal word for it though… if you are a fan of Motorhead or of any Rock genre at all, this book is worth seeking and owning, both for it’s Rock History and nostalgia.

MOTORHEAD – Front Cover

Please excuse the quality of the photos here, sometimes Metal is Old School and these photos exemplify that. Actually, the ambiance that these photos represent, is just how this Motorhead book feels to hold and read. As a quick closing to the earlier story, about my receiving this great Motorhead book as a Christmas gift from my late mother back in ’87: Whenever my buddies, relatives or just about anyone that would come over to our house back in the late ’80’s, they would usually be confronted by my asking them… wanna see my Motorhead book? It’s real cool…

MOTORHEAD – Back Cover

I truly thank my unreal, great mom for this fabulous Motorhead book. It has served me right.

2 Comments »

SLAYER – 1991 “DECADE OF AGGRESSION”, MY DOUBLE CD IS THE METAL SLIPCASE VERSION!

Posted in Album Review, guitar legends, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal history, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal albums, thrash metal bands, thrash metal legends, thrash metal music, thrash metal music reviews with tags decade of aggression 1991, extreme metal music, heavy metal music, jeff hanneman guitarist, metal music, metal odyssey, Slayer, slayer decade of aggression live album, thrash metal music on January 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Slayer. Just the name alone makes it known that this is serious, real serious… Metal. Slayer’s songs have and always will resonate the pissed off, evil and vendetta seeking side of the human spirit, the lyrics of their songs do not lie about that. The years pass by and Slayer is still the reigning dark side – Thrash Metal champions of the world, (in my Metal opinion). As a matter of Metal fact, I don’t recall a single moment in my Metal appreciating life, when Slayer has not been considered by me to be the baddest mother fu**ers to ever play Metal. Now, onward with the 1991 Slayer Thrash Metal, live slatanic classic… Decade Of Aggression:

Decade Of Aggression is a double CD, (double cassette or vinyl album too, if you want to get picky). The original release date for Decade Of Aggression was October 22, 1991, on Def American Recordings. Back around 1992, I was fortunate enough to discover this double CD in a very thick, black metal slipcase. (No kidding, it is real metal!). This metal slipcase encases both CD’s and the 24 page liner notes booklet. Man, is this metal slipcase heavy stuff… I have not actually weighed it, still, it feels like I am holding at least 5 or 6 pounds of metal! Sometime back in ’92, I saw this unique Slayer Decade Of Aggression package, behind the front counter at a Record Town store… in very expensive Connecticut. My eyes never lost sight of this Slayer prize that day, I made a Metal beeline to the cashier and stated I was buying this Slayer gem. I cannot recall for certain, the actual price I paid for this metal packaged version of Decade Of Aggression… it was in the neighborhood of around $50 U.S. and worth every cent. This limited edition package of Slayer Decade Of Aggression had a run of only 10,000 copies. My copy of Decade Of Aggression came with a certificate of authenticity, gold foil embossed, stating it is numbered: 005815 of 10,000.

* Note: Skeletons Of Society and At Dawn They Sleep are two songs found only on this metal slipcase version of Decade Of Aggression.

In the center front of this metal slipcase, is this classic Slayer logo – metal etched on a center block:

(This Slayer logo looks entirely silver on the front metal casing, due to it being metal etched.)

Here is what this incredible metal slipcase package of Decade Of Aggression, that I own, looks like:

The metal slipcase is unreal great stuff… whoever thought of marketing this back then is a Metal genius. The interior CD slipcases are of a heavy black paper stock. Note that the front cover of the liner notes depicts the original Decade Of Aggression album cover. I have seen the import version, some online merchants have it available for purchase today, it has the original album cover. (I own the original double cassette too, I have kept it in Metal mint condition all of these years. Here is another view of what the original album/cassette/CD cover looks like for Decade Of Aggression:

Now here is what the front album/CD cover of Decade Of Aggression looks like now, if you were to go to a retail record store today and buy it:

Now, as for the live Thrash Metal of Slayer heard within Decade Of Aggression… it’s F’n Slayer man. There is nothing more to break down other than it’s fast, brutal, aggressive and… live Slayer greatness. You’ll be blown away by Dave Lombardo and his double bass drumming assault, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman dueling with leads and riffs that will sting your face like freezer burn and Tom Araya combining both the bass guitar and vocals into a frenzied slatanic blitz. Slayer is one of the very few bands I cannot get fancy about, when it comes to doing a review… what you should know is that Slayer sounds Thrash prolific on Decade Of Aggression. You will hear a band that executes and succeeds at maintaining the highest level of Thrash Metal energy, throughout this entire double CD of songs. These following two lines are actually printed, on the back cover of the liner notes:

Unlike most other live recordings, this is Slayer completely “live”. No overdubbing exists on this recording.

The Complete Track Listing For Decade Of Aggression:

Disc One

(Recorded live at Lakeland Coliseum, Lakeland, Florida, 7/13/91):

Hell Awaits

The Antichrist

War Ensemble

South Of Heaven

Raining Blood

Altar Of Sacrifice

Jesus Saves

Dead Skin Mask

Seasons In The Abyss

Mandatory Suicide

Angel Of Death

Disc Two

(Recorded Live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 10/14/90):

Hallowed Point

Blood Red

(Recorded live at Orange Pavillion, San Bernadino, California, 3/8/91):

Die By The Sword

Black Magic

Captor Of Sin

Born Of Fire

Skeletons Of Society *(only on this metal slipcase version)

(Recorded live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 10/14/90):

At Dawn They Sleep *(only on this metal slipcase version)

Postmortem

(Recorded live at Orange Pavillion, San Bernadino, California, 3/8/91):

Spirit In Black

Expendable Youth

Chemical Warfare

____________________________________________

LONG LIVE SLAYER.

Stone.

6 Comments »

LOUDNESS – 1991 ALBUM “ON THE PROWL” BULGES WITH MELODIC HEAVY METAL

Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's heavy metal songs, 1990's metal bands, Album Review, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, hair metal bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1991, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1991, heavy metal music from japan, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, japanese heavy metal, melodic heavy metal music, 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 guitarists, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal songs, akira takasaki guitarist, Album Review, current heavy metal bands, heavy metal album review, heavy metal from japan, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, japanese heavy metal bands, loudness, loudness 1991, loudness heavy metal band, loudness on the prowl album, melodic heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, mike vescera vocalist, Music, obsession heavy metal band, on the prowl album 1991 on January 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

I listened to the 1991 album from Loudness today – On The Prowl. Alright, I actually listened to this album three times today. It’s that melodic driven Heavy Metal that gets me every time. Well, any quality Metal gets me every time it seems. My best Metal buddy Scott had landed me a copy of On The Prowl, he has great taste in Heavy Metal… I guess that is why we have tolerated each other for over two decades. For anyone not in the know about Loudness, they are a Japanese Heavy Metal Band that formed back around 1981. Thank you Japan. This is a darn good album, it plays out in three parts for me, with the first three songs Down ‘N Dirty, Playin’ Games and Love Toys being true to the core Hair Metal. Secondly, there is a power ballad, Never Again, which stands alone on it’s sole purpose to make the girls weepy. (I am not the power ballad guy… and this is the umpteenth time that this statement appears on Metal Odyssey). Nevertheless, Never Again is a good song, with lead vocalist Mike Vescera singing his emotion filled lungs out. (Mike Vescera is the lead vocalist for 1980’s Heavy Metal warriors… Obsession. A great band is Obsession… without question, great. Obsession is alive and well in 2010 too… with Mike at lead vocals. You can check Obsession out by clicking here: OBSESSION – Official Website

Mike Vescera was also the lead vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen, from 1994 to 1995. Recently, while discussing Heavy Metal with my buddy Scott, (usually a daily experience), we went from talking about Loudness and Mike Vescera to Obsession to Yngwie Malmsteen… realizing that yes, they are all absolutely Metal connected. Heavy Metal is a closely linked world… one big Metal family tree, it often times seems.

Where was I? I unintentionally went Metal astray while explaining the Mike Vescera Metal affiliations… oh yeah… the third part of this Loudness album! That being there are songs that are straight up Heavy Metal – Deadly Player, Take It Or Leave It and Girl are just the way I like ’em, real hard and heavy. The last song, Find A Way, is a muscular and melodic ending to an overall very strong Heavy Metal album from Loudness. I must add that the musicianship of Loudness on this album is excellent. Akira Takasaki is a welcomed Metal listen on lead guitar, coupled with the sensational vocals of Mike Vescera and On The Prowl is an early 1990’s Heavy Metal standout. Don’t hesitate to get ahold of On The Prowl, the Heavy Metal that Loudness unleashes with these songs are worth owning. Add the Metal fact, that the relevance these songs carry into 2010 is quite irrefutable as well.

Long Live Loudness! Click here to get tons of Loudness info: Loudness MySpace Music Page

Track Listing For Loudness – On The Prowl:

Down ‘N Dirty

Playin’ Games

Love Toys

Never Again

Deadly Player

Take It Or Leave It

Girl

Long Distance

In The Mirror

Sleepless Night

Find A Way

22 Comments »

SCORPIONS – “SAVAGE AMUSEMENT” 1988 ALBUM FLASHBACK

Scorpions. Scorps. Thank you very, very, much Germany. How much Metal praise can I really give this band without sounding too smoochy? Since 1972, the Scorpions have created twenty plus albums, (both studio & live), etching out an undisputed place in Heavy Metal history… better yet, Rock history. I have numerous favorite albums from the Scorpions, one such album is Savage Amusement, released back in 1988. O.k., this album leans towards commercial appeal… quite frankly, I don’t give a crap. The songs on Savage Amusement are solid and laced with quality from every Metal angle. I can never resist listening to Don’t Stop At The Top repeatedly and very loud. Savage Amusement has the late ’80’s Arena Rock atmosphere encompassing each song, a sound that is so identifiable to that decade. I am currently listening to Savage Amusement while I write this post… I am starting to get psyched out at the moment… We Let It Rock… We Let It Roll is playing right now… excuse me please while I go and play some spastic air drums.

Alright, I’m back, man that song is a Metal kick for me. You know, when I go off playing air drums while I am sitting at a red light in my car, people look at me with such amazing disgust… go figure. Nothing beats the privacy of your own home for letting loose with Heavy Metal… Scorps Metal too. When music, Heavy Metal Music, can affect my mind and soul like this Savage Amusement album can, it reminds me how great it is to be alive. Listening to this album reminds me of the day I bought it on vinyl back in 1988. I bought this album along with Sevent Son Of A Seventh Son by Iron Maiden. If I am not mistaken, both of these albums were released the same week back in 1988. I remember walking into my graphic design class, (at Northwestern Connecticut Community College), with both new albums under my arm… one damn happy Metalhead I was that day. I was showing off both of these albums to my fellow classmates like they were baby pictures in my wallet.

Saying this once again – I have never been the huge fan of Heavy Metal ballads. However, the Scorpions always know how to do a Heavy Metal ballad right. Believe In Love is one Heavy Metal ballad that gives me those Metal duck bumps up and down my arms. Klaus Meine… his vocals are insanely unreal great. When Klaus Meine sings a ballad, he does so with profound emotion, nothing sounds fake about it. Rhythm Of Love is another powerful Scorps song for me, one that received plenty of FM airplay back in the late ’80’s too. I remember daze, I mean days, when I used to cruise to this song… with little cares in the world to ruffle my Metal feathers. It just seems that a great album like Savage Amusement will always stand the test of time… that is what elite musicianship does, weaving through the decades and sounding better with each listen.

Thank you Scott for hooking me up with this classic Scorpions album, I now finally have it on CD.

Track Listing For Savage Amusement:

Don’t Stop At The Top

Rhythm Of Love

Passion Rules The Game

Media Overkill

Walking On The Edge

We Let It Rock… We Let It Roll

Every Minute Every Day

Love On The Run

Believe In Love

Scorpions, as they appeared on Savage Amusement:

Klaus Meine – lead vocals

Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Matthias Jabs – lead guitar, backing vocals

Francis Buchholz – bass guitar, backing vocals

Herman Rarebell – drums, percussion, backing vocals

6 Comments »

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