Metal Odyssey &gt; Heavy Metal Music Blog

KOPEK – MySpace Music Page

Metal Odyssey Says: Happy Metal Birthday Scott Coverdale!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, classic rock music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags ac/dc, blow up your video album, celebrity birthdays, Hard Rock, hartford civic center, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, rock music news, scott coverdale on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY SCOTT COVERDALE! – Metal Odyssey would like to wish contributing writer and Metal Researcher, Scott Coverdale, a Happy Metal Birthday! Yes, Scott turns (?) old today, March 24th, 2011. Let’s just say that Scott is “old enough” to “somehow” remember going to the 1988 Monsters Of Rock Festival in Foxsborough, Massachusetts and NOT “old enough” to remember watching the Beatles make their historical debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.

I would like to thank Scott Coverdale for his contributions, fact finding research and digging through CD’s for Metal Odyssey. Remember, my best Metal Buddy Scott… it’s all done in the name of METAL!

I chose the 1988 album cover of AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video (top of post) due to the Metal memories it provides me. You see, this 1988 AC/DC concert is single handedly, the most obnoxiously funny time I’ve ever had with Scott Coverdale at any we went to together. AC/DC Rocked the hell out of the Hartford Civic Center that night too! 1988 was a very cool Metal year indeed. Heatseeker! Uh… Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE SCOTT COVERDALE.

“HAVE A DRINK ON ME”

Stone.

4 Comments »

KOPEK, OCEANS DIVIDE, EGYPT CENTRAL, MADDAM INK. and Legends COLD… A Night Of Hard Rock at the Crocodile Rock!

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock concerts, rock music, rock music news with tags alternative rock, cold, crocodile rock cafe, egypt central, Hard Rock, hard rock concerts, Heavy Metal, kopek, maddam ink., metal odyssey, modern rock, oceans divide, rock concerts 2011, rock music news on March 20, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

KOPEK: Daniel Jordan (front), Shane Cooney (back left) and Brad Kinsella (back right)

A NIGHT OF HARD ROCK – Last night (Saturday, March 19, 2011) Metal Odyssey’s staff photographer Tom Coderre and I took in a LOUD and HEAVY night of Hard Rock at Allentown Pennsylvania’s world popular Crocodile Rock Cafe. Oceans Divide, KOPEK, Egypt Central, Maddam Ink. and Modern Hard Rock legends COLD all performed on this one night. It was like a mini Hard Rock festival, if you will. The entire evening was filled with enormous Hard Rock songs, from these bands that played their Rockin’ hearts out.

This night of live Hard Rock was overflowing with Rock n Roll camaraderie by both bands and fans, while friendships were being made. I, along with Tom, walked away from the Crocodile Rock Cafe last night feeling Rocked Out and wanting more of it. I would not have predicted it any other way, for the culture of Heavy Music is second to none.

Look for a series of posts in the coming weeks, documenting the sights, sounds and experiences of this fabulous night of Hard Rock… by yours truly. Tom Coderre’s stellar photo’s documenting the evening’s Rockin’ festivities will be featured in every post as well. His talented eye for capturing the “live” moment of Rock n Roll, through the lens, is a tremendous addition to Metal Odyssey.

(COLD self-titled debut album 1998)

* For more info on these outstanding bands, click the links below:

COLD ARMY.com

COLD – myspace music

KOPEK – Official Website

OCEANS DIVIDE – Official Website

EGYPT CENTRAL – Official Website

MADDAM INK. – Official Website

LONG LIVE HARD ROCK.

Stone.

MISFITS – Official Website

MISFITS – NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2011!

Posted in horror metal, horror punk, horror punk rock bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, Punk rock, punk rock bands, punk rock music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags dez cadena, horror metal, horror punk, jerry only, metal odyssey, Misfits, misfits brazil tour, misfits mexico tour, misfits tour dates 2011, Punk rock, punk rock concerts 2011, rock music news on March 17, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

MISFITS – Get ready all of you Fiends out there… here are some NEW tour dates just announced by the Misfits! Take a look below and see if there is a Misfits show in your neck of the scary woods!

04/11/11 – State College, Pennsylvania @ The Mezzanine **NEW**

04/15/11 – Recife, Brazil @ Abril Pro Rock

04/17/11 – TBD, Brazil, TBA

05/05/11 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Escenica

05/06/11 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Salon Cuervo

06/11/11 – Milovice, Czech Republic @ Sonisphere Festival **NEW**

06/12/11 – Vienna, Austria @ Arena Open Air Festival **NEW**

06/17/11 – Lichtenfels, Germany @ Rock In Concert Festival **NEW**

* I don’t have any additional info on the 04/17/11 date in Brazil. “TBD” and “TBA” is what’s currently attached to this Brazil date. Once I find more info on this Brazil date, I will post it up!

(Source: MISFITS Official Website)

* For more info on the MISFITS, just click the links below:

MISFITS – MySpace Music Page

MISFITS – facebook

MISFITS RECORDS – facebook

LONG LIVE THE MISFITS.

Stone.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Misfits Records Updates Fiends On Safety and Welfare of Balzac and Their Families In Japan

Posted in horror punk, horror punk rock bands, japan, metal odyssey, Music, Punk rock, punk rock bands, punk rock music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags balzac, horror punk, japan, japan earthquake, metal odyssey, Misfits, misfits records, Punk rock, punk rock news, rock and roll, rock music news on March 16, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

NEWS FROM JAPAN – “Misfits Records would like to update fiends everywhere regarding the safety and welfare of the members of Balzac and their families, in the wake of the terrible events unfolding in Japan. We’re happy to report that thankfully, the entire band, Hirosuke, Atsushi, Akio and Takayuki as well as their families and friends, are safe and unharmed. Balzac extends great thanks to everyone who is thinking of them”.

A message from Hirosuke:

“This time, in the East, especially in the Tohoku area, it has become a massive disaster. Tokyo has also become quite chaotic. When something like this affects Tokyo, it has great effect on all of Japan. At the moment, the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor has become a very large worry. Even though we are living in the West of the country, many of us are also affected by the disaster. It will take time to overcome everything that has happened, but all Japanese citizens are working hard and cooperating to reconstruct Japan.”

(Source: Official Misfits Records Newsletter, March 16, 2011)

* For more info on BALZAC, click the link below:

BALZAC – myspace music

* Metal Odyssey reminds those who want to help out our great friends in Japan, to click on the link below for assistance:

LONG LIVE THE MISFITS.

LONG LIVE BALZAC.

LONG LIVE JAPAN.

Stone.

2 Comments »

THE CARS “MOVE LIKE THIS” – New Studio Album Releases May 10, 2011!

Posted in alternative rock, classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags alternative rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, move like this album, new wave, ric ocasek, rock albums 2011, rock music, rock music news, the cars, the cars move like this on March 16, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

THE CARS – Making a triumphant return with their first studio album since 1987’s Door to Door is The Cars! Yes, The Cars are back! Move Like This will be the seventh studio album in The Cars influential discography, releasing on May 10, 2011, via Concord Music Group. The Cars 2011 lineup consists of all original members, with the exception of Benjamin Orr, who passed away too young from cancer in 2000. Ric Ocasek sings lead on all ten songs of Move Like This.

With ten new studio songs to savor over from The Cars, the landscape of Rock Music in 2011 will be ignited once again, courtesy of the unique style and sound from this legendary Rock band. The Rock, Alternative, New Wave and Pop accessibility that The Cars have bestowed upon their fans, from 1978’s debut/self titled to 1987’s Door to Door, helped shape and define Rock diversity in modern day music. As the years have passed and the Rock ‘n’ Roll dust has settled, it’s now best summed up as Classic Rock genius that made the music of The Cars roll! Rock and Roll fans worldwide, let us all welcome back… THE CARS!

THE CARS:

Ric Ocasek – rhythm guitar & lead vocals

Elliot Easton – lead guitar & background vocals

Greg Hawkes – keyboards, bass & background vocals

David Robinson – drums

**Track Listing For Move Like This:**

Blue Tip

Too Late

Keep On Knocking

Soon

Sad Song

Free

Drag On Forever

Take Another Look

It’s Only

Hits Me

* For more info on THE CARS, click the links below:

THE CARS – myspace music

THE CARS – UNLOCKED

THE CARS – facebook

LONG LIVE THE CARS.

Rest In Peace, Benjamin Orr.

Stone.

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Official Website

KISS “DYNASTY” – An Old School Flashback To 1979

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1970's classic rock albums, ace frehley, classic rock, dynasty album, Gene Simmons, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, kiss, metal odyssey, Paul Stanley, peter criss, rock music news on March 14, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

KISS DYNASTY – 1979 was an interesting year. In sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII by a score of 35-31, at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Five days later, I turned thirteen years old. (Yes, I am the same age as the Super Bowl, in case you didn’t notice). This was a grand year for the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Pirates also became World Champions too, by winning the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles in seven games. This was after the Pirates were down in the World Series three games to one. “We Are Family”! Yes, Sister Sledge will forever be most famous for this Pittsburgh Pirates theme song of 1979.

Jimmy Carter was serving as the 39th President of The United States, with Vice President Walter Mondale by his side. There were extremely long lines at the gasoline pumps in the U.S. due to an “oil crisis”. A partial core meltdown accident occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Facility, on March 28, 1979, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Three huge news stories involved Pennsylvania in 1979: the World Series Champions, the Super Bowl Champions and Three Mile Island. Now that’s Pennsylvania trivia for you! Of course there were countless other news stories going on around the world in 1979… KISS releasing their seventh studio album Dynasty was one of them.

As a thirteen year old KISS fan, I was psyched-out when I first learned of Dynasty being released. I was not a full-fledged Metalhead just yet and KISS was heavy-duty stuff for my ears at that age. I remember seeing the KISS Dynasty advertisement on the back cover of many comic books, well before it’s release, making it all the more exciting to me. When I first heard I Was Made For Lovin’ You on FM radio, I was hooked! You have to look at my age and the time period of this KISS album being released, to truly understand why I Was Made For Lovin’ You was a big deal.

Fast forward to 2011 and many (if not the majority) of KISS fans both young and old, will wince at putting I Was Made For Lovin’ You at the top of the list of all-time KISS Klassics. Honestly, I still like this song, only it’s not the greatest KISS song ever recorded. I may not get the ostrich bumps up and down my arms from this song, as I did back in 1979, yet tastes change and so did this iconic KISS group. My biggest pet peeve about I Was Made For Lovin’ You is it being singled out as a (gulp) Disco song. Ouch. Sure, this song has some “dance in it’s step”, still, it isn’t Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park from 1978 either. The Village People were Disco. Metal be thy name.

Charisma and Sure Know Something are my two favorite songs from Dynasty. I’ve always loved hearing Gene Simmons play that rich, deep bass on Sure Know Something. Gene’s vocals on Charisma were fun then, they still are entertaining as ever for me today. 2,000 Man is a Hard Rock Klassic, Ace Frehley sings this song with timeless coolness. This was and always will be a fun KISS album to listen to, not to be misunderstood as a Classic Rock masterpiece. Dynasty is a very decent album from KISS. These were KISS songs that reflected this era of Rock ‘n’ Roll, not to be misjudged as songs meant to change the course of Rock history.

For several years after the release of Dynasty, I had the KISS poster that came inside the album jacket hanging on my bedroom wall. My wife remembers, as a young kid, having this same poster hanging on the back of her bedroom door for years as well. Neither one of us kept this Klassic KISS poster, however, we both still have our respective copies of Dynasty on vinyl! Go figure. By the way… my copy of Dynasty is in better condition than my wife’s copy. Don’t anyone tell her I said that.

* KISS DYNASTY was released in May of 1979, on Casablanca Records.

* DYNASTY was produced by Vini Poncia.

Track Listing For KISS DYNASTY:

I Was Made For Lovin’ You

2,000 Man

Sure Know Something

Dirty Livin’

Charisma

Magic Touch

Hard Times

X-Ray Eyes

Save Your Love

* Per request of Tokyo Five who sent me the pic of the KISS DYNASTY poster, here it is, in all it’s KISS Klassic glory:

* For more info on KISS, just click here: KISS

LONG LIVE KISS.

KISS SHOULD BE INDUCTED IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME… DAMMIT.

Stone.

19 Comments »

KISS, JOURNEY and DAUGHTRY – HEADLINING ROCK USA 2011 FESTIVAL IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock festivals, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, daughtry, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, journey, kiss, metal odyssey, oshkosh wisconsin, rock music, rock music festivals, rock music news, rock usa 2011, southern rock on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK USA 2011 – It’s spectacular Rock ‘n’ Roll news! KISS, Journey and Daughtry will be headlining the Rock USA 2011 festival at Ford Festival Park in the great city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin! This extremely cool Rock USA 2011 will take place on July 14th, 15th and 16th. There is a “TBA” (to be announced) shown, so we will stay tuned as to what band is added! The three days of band lineups for Rock USA 2011 are listed below. These lineups are current with the Rock USA 2011 website as of March 29th, 2011:

JULY 14TH BAND LINEUPS:

DAUGHTRY

BUCKCHERRY

PUDDLE OF MUDD

CHEAP TRICK

BOXKAR

JULY 15TH BAND LINEUPS:

JOURNEY

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

TBA

CANDLEBOX

WARRANT

HYDE

JULY 16TH BAND LINEUPS:

KISS

KORN

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD

DOKKEN

ROAD TRIP

KINDRED SOUL

You did read that right… CHEAP TRICK, BUCKCHERRY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and KORN are on the bill too! Metal be thy name, this looks to be one incredibly potent lineup of bands!!

* My Metal research has found that Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a population of 64,592, with a metropolitan population of 160,000. These are 2007 statistics.

* For all info including ticket info just click on the links below:

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Facebook

LONG LIVE THE ROCK USA FESTIVAL.

LONG LIVE THE POWER OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

14 Comments »

Rock Jamberoni – A Dream Album Of Classic Rock, Southern Rock and Heavy Metal Jams!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, southern rock with tags ac/dc, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Judas Priest, metal odyssey, Metallica, molly hatchet, rock jamberoni, rock music, rock music news, southern rock on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK JAMBERONI – Have you ever wished for that one day, when you were handed the golden keys to a record company by being named it’s Chief Executive Officer? With this newly bestowed title, you are now able to create that one Rock ‘n’ Roll album that forges your name alongside the legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll history? Well, yesterday I received word via email that my Rock ‘n’ Roll wish has been granted. For today only, I have been officially designated as the CEO and producer for Coverdale Records.

Given my new found Rock ‘n’ Roll power, I’ve decided to take up the fun task of compiling an album of legendary songs. These songs feature kick ass Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal jams! These jams aren’t just merely a guitar solo heard at the beginning or during the middle of a song, these are full-throttle instrumental jams that last more than a minute with total band participation. Below is the album track listing of such legendary jam songs… and I’m titling this revved-up album – Rock Jamberoni. The expected release date is March 24, 2011. Enjoy!

Rock Jamberoni – Track Listing:

Green Grass and High Tides – The Outlaws

Fall of the Peacemakers – Molly Hatchet

Highway Song – Blackfoot

Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Working Man – Rush

Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC

Wasted White Boys – W.A.S.P.

Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden

Fade To Black – Metallica

Beyond the Realms of Death – Judas Priest

Layla – Derek and the Dominos

Diamonds For Eyes – Whitestarr

* Bonus Track:

Hocus Pocus – Focus

Life Is One Gigantic Jam Session!

Scott Coverdale.

Metal Odyssey Celebrates Two Year Anniversary!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags Black Metal, classic rock, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Power Metal, rock and roll, rock music news, Slayer on March 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

METAL ODYSSEY – Back on March 1st, 2009, I started this Metal Odyssey – Heavy Metal Music Blog. As days, weeks and months passed by, I realized that Classic Rock, Punk Rock, Rock, Hard Rock and even Folk Rock were being consumed by my ears all of my life as well. It’s the Rock classics of yesteryear that made me the Metalhead I am today anyways! With so many Rock genres crossing my Metal path, I began to write album reviews and commentary about them. So, a union of Rock ‘n’ Roll sort of happened within a two year period on Metal Odyssey. My first love is Metal, yet I’m a bona fide Rockaholic. If it Rocks, I’m listening and blabbing… regardless of genre.

* I chose to show the album cover for Slayer’s Show No Mercy at the top of this post for one simple reason: this album represents my coming of Metal age as a young lad… when the bands I began to follow were no longer available at my Caldor department store!

**Without making a huge list of names, I want to say THANK YOU:**

* To all the visitors and subscribers to Metal Odyssey. Without you Rockin’ guys and gals, there would be no reason to even have this blog! Really. Sure, I enjoy writing about music… only it is extremely more enjoyable knowing that my “stuff” is actually being read by others who either agree or disagree with me. I thank all the visitors and fellow Metalheads for their comments!

* To all the bands and musicians who I’ve interviewed and/or became friends with during the past two years. It’s Rockin’ guys and gals like you, who’ve inspired me to listen better and write all the more about Metal and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

* To all my peer Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bloggers out there. Many I have become Metal buddies with and I can’t describe just how cool that makes me feel! Rob Rockitt at HARD ROCK HIDEOUT, Kinger at Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival and Metal Mark at Heavy Metal Time Machine… thank you for listening to my whining and helping me out as often as you do. Gee Metal whiz you guys ROCK.

* To all the incredibly cool PR guys and gals who have been instrumental in helping Metal Odyssey have the Metal muscle to deliver the Metal goods! Metal be thy name.

* A special thank you to my wife and Scott Coverdale for their support! Coverdale’s Metal research is a splendid thing and he is embarking on being a contributing writer for Metal Odyssey too!

* Anyone that I forgot to thank… THANK YOU!

* To read the very first post I ever wrote for Metal Odyssey, just click that big header link below. When I read it now I get embarrassed.

HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK RULES.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

LONG LIVE METAL.

The word “splendid” was used in this post.

Stone.

19 Comments »

Neal Schon – Metal Odyssey Salutes Rock Legend’s Birthday!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, guitar legends, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags aor, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, journey, metal odyssey, neal schon, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music birthdays, rock music news, santana on February 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(That’s Neal Schon, in the top left/back row. This Next album from 1977 was Journey’s third studio album and pre-Steve Perry)

NEAL SCHON – Metal Odyssey gives a loud and Rockin’ Happy Birthday to Neal Schon! A founding member and non-stop lead guitarist for the ultra-legendary Journey, Neal Schon was born on February 27th, 1954. How can anyone measure the Rock ‘N’ Roll career and achievements of Neal Schon? I couldn’t. This is as key a figure in the history of Rock as you can ask for. Neal Schon is an influential guitarist, songwriter and figure of the Rock Music world spanning five decades. Thank you for the music Neal Schon!

My personal favorite Journey song of all-time is Any Way You Want It from 1980’s Departure. My second favorite Journey song ever is: The Party’s Over (Hopelessly In Love) which is the lone studio song on the 1981 live double album – Captured. I always have a soft spot for that little guitar solo that Neal Schon created in Don’t Stop Believin’ from 1981’s Escape.

As for my all-time favorite Journey album? Man, it’s tough. I’m going with two here: Infinity from 1978 and Evolution from 1979. The entire Journey catalog is just too rich with enormously memorable songs for me.

* Here is a list of some notable bands that Neal Schon has been a key part of during his amazing career. By no means is this list complete and in no particular order, that is not my intent here.

JOURNEY – (of course and ’nuff said)

HSAS – (with Sammy Hagar, Kenny Aaronson and Michael Shrieve). HSAS released only one studio album: Through The Fire back in 1984. Yes, take my Metal word for it, it’s a very cool Hard Rock album to own.

BAD ENGLISH – (with John Waite, Ricky Phillips, Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo). Bad English released two studio albums: Bad English in 1989 and Backlash in 1991. An excellent Hard Rock group was Bad English, both albums are very worthy listens.

SANTANA – Neal Schon played guitar on Santana III, which was released back in 1971. Neal Schon was only 17 years old then! Neal also played guitar on Caravanserai (1972). Rock history, pure and simple.

HARDLINE – Neal Schon played lead guitar on Hardline’s debut 1992 studio album: Double Eclipse. This is one fabulous Hard Rock album to get ahold of… if you haven’t already.

* For more info on Neal Schon, click here: NEAL SCHON – Official Website

* For more info on Journey, click here: JOURNEY

LONG LIVE NEAL SCHON.

Stone.

Classic Rock… What Would I Do Without You?

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1960's rock bands, 1970's rock bands, 1980's rock bands, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, kiss, metal odyssey, Motorhead, rock music, rock music news on February 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CLASSIC ROCK – Yes, I will admit, the thought of a world without Classic Rock is a bit scary. Just in the last couple of days, I thought to myself, what would I do without Classic Rock? If it wasn’t for the bands, solo musicians and albums of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s yesteryears would Metal as we all know and love it in 2011 be the same? What would Rock and Hard Rock have sounded like the past 20 years without Classic Rock? The Classic Rock bands that I turn to on a consistent listening basis, are equivalent to comfort food. My mashed potatoes and chicken pot pies of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Truthfully, bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Pink Floyd, Styx, The Doors, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Heart, Bad Company, Grand Funk Railroad, Yes, Sweet, Asia and Boston give me an engulfing sense that everything is either alright or it’s gonna be alright. There are countless more Classic Rock bands that I can rattle off here, of course. These bands and their albums have forever been linked to moments I’ve experienced through life, good or bad, from a young lad to adulthood. Certainly, any fan of music knows what I’m getting at here… I hope.

I can’t leave out KISS… their 1970’s catalog of albums can realistically be tagged as Classic Rock, regardless of the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that they are so famously known for. How about Motörhead? Can a case be made that this iconic Rock ‘N’ Roll band’s legacy is, after all, Classic Rock worthy? Am I just getting too damned sentimental in my thoughts? Am I becoming this big old softy after all? Classic Rock is synonymous with good times. That’s just the way I feel about this era of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

There will never be another 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s or 1980’s. Those are all decades that will continue to live on through their respective music, with no genre excluded. No decade can ever be duplicated for it’s pop-cultural or Rock ‘N’ Roll impact. Duplication of a Classic Rock sound and/or style is merely called influence. Classic Rock grows it’s roots deeper into the fabric of Rock ‘N’ Roll history with each passing day. There are young bands of today that will inevitably be looked upon as influential and classic as well… 25 or 30 years down the road by different generations of fans.

Who are these bands of today that will be the Classic Rock influences of tomorrow? Is it Kopek? Rooney? My Darkest Days? Pop Evil? Daughtry? Sons Of Sylvia? I never thought of this question when I was a young lad. I used to think that the bands I listened to back then would not be around once I turned, um, the age I am now. Man, was I ever wrong! I’m very glad that I was wrong too.

LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK.

Stone.

11 Comments »

Motörhead “Icon” Compilation CD – Made My Metal Day!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, life, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, icon series cd compilations, lemmy kilmister, life, metal music, metal odyssey, Motorhead, rock and roll, rock music news, target stores on February 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Motörhead – This is how my Metal story went: You see, I was feeling rather chipper due to my receiving a “clean bill O’ health” from my doctor on Tuesday, February 22nd. Therefore, when Stone feels good about being healthy, well, that’s cause for celebration. What did I do you query? I drove to my nearby Target “Greatland” store and parked my car. There is something about going to Target that makes me feel like things are cool in Stone’s land. It’s called living on the edge. (chuckle). I can’t understand it, I just go with it. Upon sitting there in this Target parking lot, I wondered what the hell was I suppose to be buying anyways? I guess I’d find something I figured to myself.

Once I was in the store, I walked over to the household cleaning supplies aisle and grabbed a couple packages of those all-purpose cleaning wipes. Then I grabbed a jumbo package of those anti-bacterial handi-wipes too… with kids and a cat, they really do come in handi, um, I mean handy. Well, by now you are probably wondering what the hell handi-wipes, all-purpose cleaning wipes and Target has to do with this Motörhead Icon compilation CD huh? As anyone who listens to Hard Rock or Metal Music knows, the CD selection at Target simply stinks like camel feces on a humid day. However… there are those rare moments… when a cool CD can be found at Target. This Tuesday trip to Target was just that moment.

While browsing the CD’s, from the corner of my eye, I saw that vintage Motörhead logo and Snaggletooth. The CD that jumped out at me was actually a black and white cover of the 1977 debut/self-titled Motörhead album. As it turned out, this Motörhead CD is a compilation or greatest hits (take your pick) of this incredibly legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll band. Apparently, Sanctuary Records has released an assortment of Classic Rock and Heavy Metal bands through their Icon series of compilations last year and Motörhead is one of them. I’ve seen Icon compilations of Styx, KISS and Rush recently for sale on the retail level, only this was the first time I found Motörhead!

Yes, I own every song that is on this Motörhead compilation already, so have I wasted my money? Simply put… nope. I just could not resist the urge to buy this CD today. It’s F’n Motörhead. The vintage CD artwork and back cover photo of Lemmy, “Fast” Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor were motivating factors for me to make the purchase, plus being a Motörhead fan and Metal music hoarder does help. This is about having 12 Motörhead classics on one CD, with eye candy artwork, that I can grab when I’m on the move… I can slap this CD into my car stereo and have instant Motörhead gratification!

On a personal Metal level, I’m psyched that I made it through a doctor’s appointment and psyched that I bought this Motörhead CD on the same day. I guess there was a legitimate purchase for me to get on this Target trip afterall… and it was Motörhead. Metal be thy name.

Sure, there a dozens, perhaps hundreds of Motörhead compilations out there. I’m sure it was no easy task, choosing the best songs from this Rock historical band’s vast catalog, to be on this CD. My favorite song on this Icon compilation is Killed By Death. If it were up to me, I’d have chosen One Track Mind (from Motörhead’s 1983 album – Another Perfect Day) to be on this compilation as well. The track listing is shown on this Motörhead CD cover photo, at the top of this post. The type may be too tiny or fuzzed out to read, so here is the track listing below to help out us elder Metalheads:

Iron Fist

(We Are) The Roadcrew

Ace Of Spades

Louie Louie

Eat The Rich

Motörhead (Live)

Bomber

Rock ‘N’ Roll

Damage Case

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Killed By Death

Overkill

Long Live Motörhead.

Stone.

Wildside, Bangalore Choir and Slik Toxik – Hair Metal Album Flashback to 1992

Posted in classic rock, glam metal, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1990's hair metal albums, 1992 hair metal albums, bangalore choir, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, rock music news, scott coverdale, slik toxik, wildside on February 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Hair Metal was alive in 1992, the only thing was that nobody noticed. For that matter, I didn’t even notice I was winding down my five year college career back in 1992. However, there were three outstanding debut albums I want to revisit from that blurry year of ’92. Wildside – Under The Influence, Bangalore Choir – On Target and Slik Toxik – Doin The Nasty are three albums I believe would have been huge hits, if only they had been released in a more rightful timeline three or four years earlier. Instead, these albums were seriously overlooked while the malcontents of Metal (aka Grunge bands) were storming their way onto the Metal scene.

Of these three albums, my personal favorite is Wildside’s Under The Influence. There is not a bad song on this album, in my opinion. Wildside’s Drew Hannah epitomizes what a Hair Metal vocalist is all about. Raw and powerful are his vocals, there are no other adjectives needed. From the opening track Hang On Lucy and onward, this album kick’s major Metal butt. So Far Away is a terrific follow up tune that keeps the Metal riffs rolling. Just Another Night is a power ballad and just a fantastic song all around. Drew Hannah’s voice just soars on Just Another Night and is a bit reminiscent of a Steelheart style of ballad. Looks Like Love is another slow tempo song, still it packs some great guitar licks.

A song that continues on the momentum of Under The Influence is one of my personal favorites on this album… Hair Of The Dog. The only blemish on Under The Influence may very well be Kiss This Love Goodbye. This is another power ballad that just misses the mark for me. Wildside ends their impressive debut album in grand Arena Rock style with Clock Strikes. Regardless if Under The Influence is out of print or not, if you can find a copy I definitely recommend getting your hands on it. Wildside Under The Influence is truly one of the most underrated Hair Metal albums of all-time.

On Target by Bangalore Choir came equipped with a familiar Metal voice in front man David Reece, who had previously fronted for German Heavy Metal legends… ACCEPT. (David was Accept’s lead vocalist for their 1989 studio album – Eat The Heat). For obvious reasons, the combination of David Reece and Accept just didn’t work out very well. While David’s work with Stream and Sircle of Silence wasn’t all that bad, his vocals in my opinion on On Target is what I consider to be his finest work. Opening with the muscle behind Reece’s vocals, the songs Angel In Black and Loaded Gun act as a Mike Tyson one-two punch that grabbed my attention immediately with some catchy grooves and chorus.

Now we enter into the power ballad segment of On Target, which is typical of all Hair Metal albums… If The Good Die Young (We’ll Live Forever). This is one doozy of a power ballad and it’s done so extremely well that I could debate it as one of the best power ballads ever recorded. After a couple of tempered down tunes, the pace picks up once again in what I consider Whitesnake fashion with one of my favorite songs on this album – All or Nothin’. On Target doesn’t finish off with the same fury as Under The Influence does, it’s not that the songs are bad, it just doesn’t conclude with that punch I was hoping for.

Doin’ The Nasty by Slik Toxik may very well be the least known of these three 1992 Hair Metal albums. Still, nothing stopped Slik Toxik from releasing an excellent Metal album that would have received some of the same praise that bands such as Firehouse and Slaughter were receiving just a couple of years earlier. Nicholas Walsh in my opinion has an excellent Metal voice and may be the best of these three vocalists I’ve discussed here. Big Fuckin’ Deal starts this album off on the right Rockin’ foot. Helluvatime follows and continues that headbanging anthem style. Sweet Asylum just Rocks the house! This is a favorite song of mine from Doin’ The Nasty and it screams with outstanding guitar licks.

It’s my belief that White Lies/Black Truth would have been a pretty big commercial hit had it been 1989 instead of 1992. This song is a personal favorite of mine, it’s catchy and very melodic, making for a perfect recipe for radio. There are a few songs on Doin’ The Nasty that aren’t standouts, yet they shouldn’t turn off any rabid Hair Metal fan either. That leads me into the power ballad on this album – By The Fireside. This is one of those songs that will surely have you flickering your lighters in a darkened concert arena, not to mention flickering your honey by the fireside! Doin’ The Nasty finishes off pretty strong, the only gripe I have is this album should have ended with Midnight Grind.

During a 90’s decade when the Metal world had changed from the big hair and big guitars to the somber sounds of Grunge, it’s great to look back upon a few Hair Metal nuggets from that era which are uplifting gems today. It’s remarkable to think, what a couple of years could have meant for these bands in terms of album releases. I guess that’s why there is truth to “timing is everything”. Twenty years later, Under The Influence, On Target and Doin’ The Nasty still do the Hair Metal alumnus such as myself proud. Lastly, I’ll make a couple of suggestions. If you haven’t listened to these beauties in a long while, then dust ’em off and Rock out! If you’d never given them a listen at all, it’s time to check ’em out and join the hair club for men party.

Scott Coverdale.

BONFIRE – Official Website

BONFIRE – Celebrates 25th Hard Rockin’ Anniversary In 2011 With New Studio Album! Launches Official Facebook Page!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags aor, bonfire, bonfire branded album, classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock albums 2011, Heavy Metal, melodic hard rock, metal odyssey, rock albums 2011, rock music news on February 21, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

BONFIRE IS BACK! – Celebrating their 25th Hard Rockin’ Anniversary in 2011 is Rock & Hard Rock Legends… BONFIRE! Metal Odyssey extends a huge Metal congrats to BONFIRE… may there be many more years to come of their melodic and memorable hard driven Rock ‘n’ Roll! BONFIRE is on a Hard Rockin’ roll with their newest studio album BRANDED just being released in the U.S. on February 15, 2011 (LZ Records) and their “official” Facebook page being launched on February 20, 2011! You can visit the “official” BONFIRE Facebook page by clicking here: BONFIRE – Official Facebook

**Track Listing For Branded:**

Deadly Contradiction

Just Follow The Rainbow

Save Me

Let It Grow

Better Days

Do Or Die

Close To The Edge

Crazy

Loser’s Lane

Hold Me Now

I Need You (bonus track)

Rivers Of Glory (bonus track)

Twenty five years ago, BONFIRE was founded in Ingolstadt, Germany. The 2011 BONFIRE lineup features original members Claus Lessmann (vocals) and Hans Ziller (lead guitar). The first BONFIRE studio full-length album, Don’t Touch The Light, was released back in 1986, on RCA Records. Since 1986 13 studio albums (including a German version of 1996’s Feel’s Like Comin’ Home) have been released. From 1993 to 2009, nine BONFIRE compilation and/or live albums have been released.

(BONFIRE Don’t Touch The Light – 1986)

BONFIRE:

Claus Lessmann – lead vocals, acoustic guitar

Hans Ziller – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, sitar, slide guitar

Dominik Hülshort – drums & percussion

Uwe Köhler -bass

Chris “Yps” Limburg – rhythm guitar

* For more info about BONFIRE, just click the links below:

BONFIRE – myspace music

* For more info on Cargo Records UK, click here: CARGO RECORDS UK

* I have found a great number of BONFIRE CD’s are available on Amazon.com, including Branded. Cargo Records UK is selling Branded. I did not find Branded available on iTunes.

* Feel free to leave any cool info you may want to share about BONFIRE through a comment, it is always appreciated by Stone.

LONG LIVE BONFIRE.

Stone.

RAINBOW “Power” – Dedicated To My Dad and Cousin Mike

Posted in classic rock, family, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music with tags classic rock, family, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metalodyssey, rainbow, rainbow power song, rock and roll, rock music on February 17, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Right now, the best way I can speak about how I feel is through the music I love. Recently, my Dad has had his setbacks with his health. My cousin Mike has had a serious health setback as well in recent days. I love them both and dedicate Rainbow’s incredible song Power to both of them. Regardless of what faith you may hold in your heart, regardless if you believe or don’t believe in God, please cheer these two amazing dudes on for Stone. They can both use some Power right about now.

LONG LIVE MY DAD.

LONG LIVE MY COUSIN MIKE.

Stone.

Mötley Crüe – Three Concerts Announced For Mexico This May 2011!

Posted in classic rock, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal concerts 2011, metal music, metal odyssey, motley crue, motley crue tour 2011, rock music news on February 15, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Mötley Crüe – The official Mötley Crüe fan club newsletter, has reported, that three concert dates are scheduled for The Crüe to play in Mexico, this May of 2011! Here are the three dates and their respective venues:

May 24, 2011 – Mexico City – Palacio de los Deportes (The Sports Palace)

May 26, 2011 – Monterrey – Teatro Banamex (Banamex Theatre)

May 27, 2011 – Guadalajara – Arena VFG

Mötley Crüe:

Vince Neil – vocals

Nikki Sixx – bass

Mick Mars – guitar

Tommy Lee – drums

* For more info on Mötley Crüe, click here: Mötley Crüe

Long Live Mötley Crüe.

Stone.

Some Music Suggestions For a Hard Rockin’ and Headbangin’ Valentines Day!

Posted in classic rock, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, holidays, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, Hard Rock, heart, Heavy Metal, kiss, metal music, metal odyssey, rainbow, rock and roll, rock music news, valentines day, valentines day music, valentines day rock songs on February 14, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

What would Valentines Day be without some KISS – Lick It Up?

Happy Valentines Day to all! Even if you despise Valentines Day, Metal Odyssey is still wishing you a terrific day. To make your Valentines Day all the more enjoyable, here are some helpful music listening suggestions that kinda goes with the Valentines Day flow… I think you’ll see and hear what I mean! Enjoy these suggestions… and if you don’t like ’em, just don’t seek ’em out and listen to ’em. It’s that easy!

Just the name alone is good enough with Ann and Nancy Wilson’s band! I LOVE Heart. As a bonus, their 1978 studio album Magazine has a 100% pure Classic Rock song titled: Heartless. Oh, by the way, Heart should be inducted into that, um, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Did I say I LOVE Heart?

Hey, it’s KISS again! C’mon, just their name alone is associated with that four letter word we know as… love. This 1977 album is titled Love Gun for Metal sakes too! Just listen to these Klassic KISS songs on Love Gun and you might be falling in love all over again while your banging thy head: Love Gun, I Stole Your Love, Got Love For Sale and Then She Kissed Me. I’ll let all your minds wander with Plaster Caster.

A Classic Rock album that bumps and thumps and never loses that Texas groovin’ boogie beat! ZZ Top released Eliminator back in 1983 and it has never lost it’s Rock ‘n’ Roll luster with Stone. You might not want to give your Valentine any TV Dinners, just become a Sharp Dressed Man and take your gal out somewhere nice. At the end of the night ask her: Gimme All Your Lovin.

Lita Ford has made some lovin’ filled songs throughout her legendary Heavy Metal career. Her 1988 self-titled and third studio album boasts some songs that are sure to spark some Valentines Day thoughts… no matter how melancholy or gray they may be. Kiss Me Deadly, Can’t Catch Me, Falling In and Out of Love and Fatal Passion are all on this Lita album.

To say this 1990 debut and self-titled album from Steelheart is love infested is a Metal understatement. Just take a Metal listen to these songs on this album and you might get all soft inside while you try to bang thy head: Love Ain’t Easy, Can’t Stop Me Lovin’ You, I’ll Never Let You Go and Everybody Loves Eileen. Gee Metal whiz… I’m getting all soft inside while I write these songs down. I really like this band and album too.

Yes, Rainbow. This band for all intents and Metal purposes ROCKED my world then… and they ROCK my world now. The Very Best Of Rainbow was released back in 1997 and has one of many classics they created – Jealous Lover. Joe Lynn Turner is the vocalist on Jealous Lover. I swear I can listen to this song 100 times in a row and still want to listen to it 100 times more. Did I say Ritchie Blackmore rules?

Bullet For My Valentine. This band is HUGE in Stone’s Metal world. Scream Aim Fire is the second studio album from this Welsh Metal Band and it is worth owning if you like your Metal laced with melodic heaviness. This is an album of SONGS… and one of these fabulous songs is: Hearts Burst Into Fire. Whoa, this song is very, very, incredibly memorable to my Metal mind. I always tell myself that I sing this song really cool. No, I won’t sing it for you.

This list would be useless without the late and ultra-legendary Ronnie James Dio being on it. Holy Diver was released back in 1983, being the debut DIO album too. I have come to the Metal conclusion that Holy Diver is one of the greatest Heavy Metal albums of all time… and one of the greatest albums in Rock history. Straight Through The Heart is my Valentine pick off of this album. ‘Nuff said.

Oh yes… Rod Stewart. Rock Legend. This was Rod Stewart when he ROCKED! Admittedly, Rod the Mod’s easy listening stuff isn’t the end of the world to my ears. I would pay to see Rod Stewart sing from his Great American Songbook live in 2011. However, I’ll take the Hard Rockin’ Rod Stewart over his present day crooning any day of the week.

Back in 1978 I would try all day long to pull in Do Ya Think I’m Sexy on the radio. I would do that. What was wrong with me you query? Absolutely nothing… I really dug this song and still do. Another “love” song on this Blondes Have More Fun album is – Ain’t Love A Bitch. Throw in the fact that the legendary Carmine Appice plays drums on this album and it’s a Classic Rock keeper.

Oops… it’s KISS again! Rock And Roll Over is the fifth studio album from KISS, released during the U.S. Bicentennial Year of 1976. What more can be said about a KISS Klassic such as this? Calling Dr. Love, I Want You, Take Me, Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em and Makin’ Love are all here. Um, I’ll let your mind wander once more with Ladies Room.

LONG LIVE VALENTINES DAY.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, NILLA.

Stone.