Duff McKagan, you know, the very famous and former bass player for the legendary Guns N’ Roses and current bass wizard for Velvet Revolver? Yeah, that guy. Well, let me tell you, Duff McKagan has his brand new solo, (if you will), album out right now and it is in my Metal opinion, sensational. Really, these tunes that Duff McKagan provides with Loaded are just that – loaded. Loaded with quality Hard Rock driven tunes. These songs have catchy hooks and an almost unmistakable Punk Rock vibe happening throughout the entire album. Loaded is groove laden and if I am not mistaken, not over-produced! I can honestly say, that I hear a bit of overall polish missing and I love that!!
Duff McKagan handles the lead vocal duties on every song and plays guitar on this album. I will say this without hesitation, Duff McKagan can sing. His vocals are tailored made for Hard Rock, with a whole bunch of Punk Rock attitude to go along with them. Why do I keep bringing up the comparisons with Punk Rock? Well, that is what I honestly hear, Duff Mckagan’s Loaded is all about Hard Rock and Punk Rock meeting each other in the middle. The only song that gets the least of my attention on this album is “Mother’s Day” – the lyrics are depressing. I always stray away from the sad ballads/sad lyrics from any band. However, despite the lyrics on this song, musically it is very listenable.
Once you listen to the first two tracks – “Sick” and “Sleaze Factory”, anyone who appreciates Hard Rock and Punk Rock will realize the fusion of the two are here with Loaded – these two songs set the table for this album. Duff McKagan has proved to me, that he is an extremely well rounded Rock musician, his talents resonate loud and clear on this album. Loaded as a band and Sick the album, are sure fire to achieve commercial and mainstream acceptance and success, I can appreciate that. Loaded as a band deserves all the applause they can muster. When you have the instant and legendary credibility of Duff McKagan carrying the music, broad acceptance is unavoidable, forget being labeled underground. Loaded and this album has become an instant favorite for me, I highly recommend this album to all heavy music fans worldwide. Now, to spotlight the fine musicians that make up Loaded: Duff McKagan on vocals & guitars, Geoff Reading on drums & vocals, Jeff Rouse on bass, vocals and translucent and Mike Squires on guitars and vocals.
I have been reading “professionally paid” music critic reviews about the newest release from Mastodon – “Crack The Skye” – the majority of them are not even worth discussing or repeating. I dig the new Mastodon album, simply put it rocks. For Metal sakes, anyone who knows Metal, should know and/or understand that Mastodon is and always has been a Progressive Metal band. With the Progressive Metal bands, you never know exactly what you are going to get with the next album. (To solidify my point, just look at Rush, Dream Theater and Queensryche, these bands have always experimented musically). So what, big deal, so the new Mastodon album is not as heavy as their last release “Blood Mountain” – give me a Metal break.
The Metal musical “escape” I feel and hear while listening to “Crack The Skye” is cool for me. The vocals are still heavy, the guitar leads are still heavy, and the rhythm section is the farthest thing musically from 1970’s Hard Rock as you can possibly get. This album was not created in 1977, this Metal is happening now. Sure, there are plenty of synthetic sounds applied to “Crack The Skye,” that is what makes this album progressive. The synthetic interludes and backdrops along with the lyrics are why I call “Crack The Skye” a Metal journey. Mastodon did not provide here, a “rip and tear – let it all loose, heavy frenzy” – if I or any other true Metal fan wants that, heck, I will listen to a Metal band that is supposed to play that way. Suffice to say, in my Metal opinion, Mastodon has created a Progressive Metal gem. Paid and uninformed music critics can call this new album from Mastodon anything they want. The sole reason why I live for Metal music in the first place, is due to it’s diversity with all of the Metal genres. At the end of the day, when you break it all down, musically, Metal will always be… Metal. 
I really give praise to the vocals, musicianship, song writing and lyrics on “Crack The Skye” – do I find any flaws? Nope. I could never write or play Metal music this darn good. I recommend to all Mastodon and Metal fans across the globe to chase this album down, play it, enjoy it. Rock out to it. Jump onto “Crack The Skye” and experience the Progressive Metal journey that Mastodon created. Now, just because I want to, here is a roll call of the fine Metal musicians that are Mastodon: Brann Dailor (drums, vocals & percussion), Brent Hinds (lead guitar, vocals & banjo), Bill Kelliher (guitar) and Troy Sanders (bass, vocals & bass synth).
The late Kevin DuBrow of Quiet Riot has certainly left his mark on the world of Heavy Metal. In my opinion, just the album “Metal Health” alone is quite the Metal accomplishment. “Metal Health” (released in 1983), will forever have the distinction of being the very first Heavy Metal album to hit #1 on the album charts. Fast forward to October 31, 2006, Quiet Riot “Rehab” was released under the radar, so to speak. “Rehab” is a darn good hard rockin’ album, in my Metal opinion. You no longer hear the Hair Metal thumping of the 1980’s on this album, what I do hear, are quality written songs with quality musicianship. In summary, the music on “Rehab” is Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal.
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder. It was just a matter of time before I picked up the newest release from these Thrash Metal dudes. “Living For Death, Destroying The Rest” is their brand new album, (on Relapse Records), it is fast, furious, super heavy, a tad diabolical, well, I made my point. These attributes are exactly what I look for from any Thrash Metal album, so it is safe to say that Rumpelstiltskin Grinder delivered the super Metal goods here, in my Metal opinion. I cannot say enough about the frenzied pace of the Thrash Metal with this album, while driving and listening to these guys, I have to say it is quite exhilarating. 
Supergroups are not a new concept to the worlds of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Asia, Hellyeah, HSAS and Saints Of The Underground are just a handful of really cool supergroups of Hard Rock and Metal, both from the past to the present. Chickenfoot, however, is a super – supergroup. With the likes of Sammy Hagar on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass & backing vocals, Chad Smith on drums and the brilliant – Joe Satriani on guitar, Chickenfoot is one monster of a legendary lineup of musicians. C’mon, you are looking at half of the Van Halen lineup here, with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. 
Alas, I finally received via U.S. mail, on April 29, 2009, directly from Best Buy online, the brand new Heaven & Hell release – “The Devil You Know” – (I pre-ordered the CD/DVD version) and I am simply ecstatic over this Metal! I feel I am exonerated from all the praise and hype I have been giving Heaven & Hell for their embarking on making this new album. Greatness is not enough of a positive adjective to describe the Metal tunes on “The Devil You Know” – and I mean all ten songs are enormously great. My favorite tune on this album is “The Turn Of The Screw” – it sounds incredible with Tony Iommi on guitar, for Iommi seems as if he let his melodic side take over with the leads and solo. Ronnie James Dio sounds like he is thirty years old again on not just this tune, all ten of these tunes!
“W.A.S.P. “The Last Command” is a Heavy Metal album that has enormous energy, loaded with heavy riffs and guitar leads. I am a W.A.S.P. fan, I by no means want to sound bias, yet this is a classic example of just how sensational, fun and at times provocative the Heavy Metal music and lyrics of W.A.S.P. truly are/were. Released in November of 1985, it is my opinion that “The Last Command” provides more Heavy Metal music muscle than many bands of this genre and time period. The bonus tracks are key, (these bonus tracks are found on the reissue version), there are 7 in all, with W.A.S.P. doing a heavy duty cover of the infamous Mountain song “Mississippi Queen”. Blackie Lawless on lead vocals and bass is the epitome of Heavy Metal then and now, his vocals are a focal point for me, extremely riveting. The 5 live bonus tracks are infused with an electrifying energy of all things Heavy about this band, these songs are quality live recordings. After you listen to the 3 opening songs, the captivating Heavy Metal of W.A.S.P. will have you wishing you owned “The Last Command” for the last 20 plus years! I have never known of or listened to a W.A.S.P. album that I never liked. “The Last Command” kicks the Metal into high gear and should always be played LOUD for maximum enjoyment. I highly recommend “The Last Command” to all W.A.S.P. fans, Heavy Metal and Metal fans and any fan of quality Heavy music from the decade of the ’80’s.
When I first purchased Seether “One Cold Night”, I knew I was going to hear a live, acoustic concert. What I did not expect, was how incredible the songs from Seether’s past albums would sound acoustically. As the subtitle of this CD states – “An Intimate Acoustic Performance”, “Feb 22 2006” – the entire musical atmosphere does definitely come across as mellow and intimate. That is what playing acoustically does, the once Heavy Metal or Hard Rock songs become more personal to the listener/audience with even deeper meaning, in my Metal opinion. Shaun Morgan to me, is brilliant as a vocalist and guitarist. He can sing the acoustic versions of his songs, making me believe that this could very well be the only versions. When I listen to the acoustic versions of “Gasoline”, “Diseased” and “Immortality”, It makes me listen more to the lyrics and song structure.
I still have my ability to hear, thank goodness, especially after I listened to the new release from the Death Metellars from Atlanta, Georgia, – DAATH. This is my kind of Metal cup of tea – a full blown onslaught of Death Metal, that rages through all eleven new songs like an out of control meteor, ready to strike the desolate and cold planet Mars. The new lead singer for DAATH is Sean Z., one listen to “The Concealers” and I am very convinced that he is up to the task to be a standout Death Metal front man. Sean Z. on vocals just seems to engulf the attitude and strength of the lyrics, belting out with the desire and hunger that the entire Metal world should find captivating.
Yes, Kip Winger is still creating music. Only you will not hear the Winger of the 1980’s on “From The Moon To The Sun” – this is Kip Winger accentuating his diverse affection for all music. Really, this is not an album to pass over if you are an open minded Hard Rock or Metal fan. With so many musicians in Hard Rock and Metal experimenting musically these days, it does not come as a huge surprise to listen to a softer, more mature (musically), Kip Winger. I hear Kip Wingers influences throughout “From The Moon To The Sun.” Kip Winger gives special thanks, in the liner notes, to his musical heroes, they are: Honegger, Ravel, Debussy, Bach, Brahms, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Kurek, Vaughan Williams, Adams, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and Joe Walsh. Seeing the list of Kip’s musical heroes definitely solidifies my saying this album is truly musically diverse. Quite honestly, there are some dudes on this heroes list that I have absolutely no clue as to who they are. I am innocent, for I am a Metalhead after all. (I am not used to too many mellow musicians, especially Classical musicians, however, I am a work in progress).
who has without doubt, carved out his place in Heavy Metal history.
I look around and listen to a healthy dose of all Metal music, naturally. Power Metal has always been a staple for me, with DIO, Helloween, GammaRay, Blind Guardian, Yngwie Malsmsteen and so many others leading the way. I by no means take anything away from any other Power Metal band out there when I say that Edguy, led by Tobias Sammet, is at the top of my Power Metal play list. If I say it once, I will say it a million Metal times, Tobias Sammet is one amazing song writer and Power Metal vocalist. The brand new album from Edguy, “Tinnitus Sanctus” is for me, superb. This new release from Edguy, (January, 2009), is more edgier, dark and philosophical than their past albums have been. I sincerely recommend every studio album, live album and EP that Edguy has ever released, they are that incredible to my Metal ears.
As “Commando” kicks in, there is no glimmer or hint that Satyricon “The Age Of Nero” is going to disappoint. The groove heavy Black Metal and black as night lyrics are two powerful characteristics of this entire great album. “The Wolfpack” pick up where “Commando” leaves off, with unrelenting and extremely likable riffs and leads that has me nodding, knowing that Satyricon has quite possibly created an album, that is the very best in all of Metal for 2009. “Black Crow On A Tombstone” is indicative of just how Satyricon can be creatively dark and creepy, both lyrically and musically, without over stating any traditional or obvious themes. In my opinion, throughout “Age Of Nero”, I hear nothing less than rock solid confidence through Satyr’s vocals and guitar playing. A serious approach musically has captured Black Metal greatness in a black bottle for Satyricon.
What Papa Roach has created with “Metamorphosis” is a Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal good time. My favorite tune, (like many fans I’m sure), is “Lifeline”. An inspirational hard rocking song that is a can’t miss if you are looking for an uplifting moment in Metal. This song pretty much says it all, about the emotions and tribulations that many people are going through in our society at this moment. “Days of War” is a cool and heavy intro – the perfect start for any Heavy Metal album, a strong prelude to get your adrenaline cooking. “Change or Die” is the lead song, very heavy with strong & aggressive vocals and a pumped up tempo. Every song on “Metamorphosis” is a winner for me, a straight up – melodic ride. This album is an essential listen for leaving your troubles behind you, just move forward with Papa Roach!
Queensryche has done it, done it very, very well too. “American Soldier” is a Progressive Metal achievement, in my Metal opinion. This is a concept album, that was written from the words spoken from those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This release brings Queensryche back to where they belong, at the top of the Metal heap, reminding me of the “Operation Mindcrime” days. This is an album to really follow along to, with the lyrics that are inside the liner notes. Each song does lead itself into the next, both with it’s time line and lyrical content. 
Alas, I found a moment to just kick back, chill out and listen to a Metal CD that caught my eye. This Metal CD was filed in my collection, just waiting for it’s turn to be enjoyed by my hungry ears. Oh, the CD I am talking about? Dream Theater – “Systematic Chaos”. Try hard as I may, it is impossible for me to hear any chaos on this Dream Theater release, none. Instead, what I do hear, is what I will call Progressive perfection. Seriously, for me, the Progressive Metal music of Dream Theater is so accurate, structured, and created on the premise of musical integrity and musical knowledge. Honestly, I am schooled each and every time I give Dream Theater a listen. The musical dynamics that are occurring throughout “Systematic Chaos” makes me realize it may take quite a few more listens before I feel I have heard every key, lyric and note that mystically saturates this incredible album.
Here it is, list #5 in my soul searching quest to determine the greatest Metal album of all-time! I feel like I am nearing closure, the light is at the end of the Metal tunnel. Please feel free to chime in and throw at me any Metal album you have not seen on any of these lists thus far, that you feel is deemed worthy of nomination for the greatest Metal album ever. Why, for me to actually forget a legendary Metal masterpiece? Of course, I am only (Metalhead) human. Plus, the years of Metal have provided such a vast array of genres, so many cool and brilliant albums are out there. I will consider any Metal album suggestion that may come my way, despite my being a Heavy Metal expert – I am kidding of course, all you need to do is read my article on “experts”! Now without any more Metal delay, here goes another 10 nominations (in no particular order) for the greatest Metal album of all-time:
It was 1983 when I first heard Queensryche on the radio, I heard them on an FM station of course, on a radio show that aired on Saturday nights that was called “Metal Shop.” The very first song I ever heard from Queensryche was “Queen of the Reich,” I was hooked by this band ever since. Geoff Tate, in my opinion, has always had just as powerful and prolific vocals as any other singer in the history of Metal. Queensryche can and has fit right into a few different Metal genres, Heavy Metal, Metal and Progressive Metal. With their debut EP “Queensryche” released in 1983, I easily embraced this great Metal band and remembered telling anyone who would listen that this band was for real. Only 4 songs were on the “original” Queensryche EP, – “Queen of the Reich”, “Nightrider”, “Blinded” and “The Lady Wore Black”. These four songs paved the way of the Metal future for Queensryche, without a doubt, an important and historical Metal EP this is. 27 years of recording and touring, Queensryche proved to the world just how real they are! You can still buy this EP, it has since been re-released, (2003), with the addition of 10 bonus tracks. Now, that is far more tunes than the original 4 song, vinyl record I bought back in 1983!
Rob Halford, the “Metal God” of the Metal music world, formed an incredible band in the Summer of 1992 named Fight. Sure, Rob Halford will forever be known as the super famous and powerful lead vocalist for Judas Priest, yet the Metal music that he created with Fight is superior stuff for me. I so very highly recommend Fight to all Metal fans, especially fans of Judas Priest, Pantera and Thrash Metal. I purchased the Fight CD/DVD – “War of Words – The Film”, (released Summer of 2008), whoa was this one powerhouse band. “Into The Pit” is a straight to your face – all out – Thrash Metal tune that does not let up or give in. “Immortal Sin” is more of a Heavy Metal/Metal track that carries along with dark lyrics and vocals courtesy of Rob Halford. “Kill It” is a very aggressive track, again I am amazed at how ahead of their time Fight really was musically. Overall, the songs on “War of Words” are very relevant to what is being created today by the Thrash Metal and Metal community. Rob Halford was joined with Scott Travis on drums in Fight, (Scott Travis being a long time & current drummer for Judas Priest).
You know, after writing my last article regarding the greatest Metal album ever, I will refuse to ponder! After sleeping on the thoughts of what makes a Metal album the greatest of all time, I realized that I cannot be a jelly head and not step up and announce what I feel is the greatest Metal album ever created. Patience is a virtue however, I need to continue my research, add more lists of great & legendary Metal albums as nominees, follow my Metal heart and then decide. So, in a Metal nutshell, this topic shall be a series of articles leading up to my personal Metal decision on what Metal album is the greatest of greats. I may have a decision within days, it may take a couple of weeks, I am in no rush to make such an important and personal Metal decision! For once the decision is made, I cannot go back on my Metal word and say – “but” or “I changed my mind” – none of that immaturity will I bestow on the world of my fellow Metalheads out there. Now, without further delay, here is a list of 15 more incredible Metal albums that I have personally nominated to might become the greatest of all time. (There is no importance at this time in regards to the order of this list, these again, are nominees):
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