Archive for Album Review

Charm City Devils “Let’s Rock-N-Roll” – A Charming Hard Rock Album

Posted in Album Review, baltimore hard rock bands, collecting rock music, cool album covers, current hard rock albums, current hard rock bands, current hard rock music, current hard rock songs, current rock albums 2009, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock albums 2009, hard rock bands 2009, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock music 2009, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, heavy metal music, independent record labels, melodic rock bands, metal odyssey, Music, new hard rock album, old school hard rock, Rock, rock & roll, rock album review, rock and roll, rock music, rock music reviews, rock vocalists with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 18, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Charm City Devils "Let's Rock N Roll" large album picI picked up my copy of Charm City Devils – Let’s Rock-N-Roll this past Summer, it was towards the end of July. On July 10, my mother passed away, she was as splendid, caring, giving and loving as a mother could possibly be for me. I received the news of her passing from my father… over the cell phone. We, (my wife and I with our twin daughters), were on our way to Connecticut by car with my courageous wife driving when this tragic news was conveyed to me by my father. We live in Pennsylvania, a solid three and a half hours away from our parents and relatives. The shock and sadness we all felt in the car at that moment can not be expressed in words here. Why I am telling this story is due to the Charm City Devils song Almost Home. You see, upon my first listen to Almost Home, I felt instant sadness, goose bumps formed all over my body and my thoughts instantly were directed to that awful moment in time – of receiving my fathers phone call about my own mothers passing away. It was only a couple of weeks after losing my mother that I first listened to this song.

I had not listened to Almost Home again until today, October 17, 2009. (I just could not bring myself to listening to this song again right away, I needed time to heal, so to speak). The emotional feeling of sadness still erupts within me when I listened to this song again, however, Almost Home actually has now helped me deal with my very own personal experience. It feels good to get this off of my chest… this is a perfect example of how Hard Rock Music or any music for that matter, can connect with you on such a deeply personal level. If this song is to be a true story, connected to any member of Charm City Devils, then I express my deepest sympathy to that person who experienced that phone call too. The lyrics of Almost Home are just too deep and emotional to be fiction.

Alright, now for the cool and Hard Rockin’ part of this album. I will start with stating that the first three songs come out of the Hard Rock gates with the sincerest of enthusiasm and energy. Very memorable are these songs, sing-a-longs if you will. Let’s Rock-N-Roll (Endless Road), House Fire and 10,000 Miles have all the sound and flavor of a hungry up and coming Hard Rock Band. The youthful energy I hear is a kick to my butt to stay in shape and think and act young! (Within reason of course). Best Of the Worst is a mid-paced ballad that sounds like the hit to me, a very commercial sounding song that won’t hurt this bands career. I am a ballad frowner my whole life, still this song has an almost uplifting sensory feel about it. Money has a Punk Rock vibe happening, especially with the rhythm section and arguably with the vocals as well… very cool song for me.

By me stating that Let’s Rock-N-Roll is a charming album, I am not trying to sound sappy, cute or funny here. I really mean it, this is a damn decent – Rock and Roll meets Hard Rock album here. A viable nod to Old School Hard Rock has been established, with Charm City Devils first album. Based on what I here from this album, Charm City Devils can use that old cliche and say the Hard Rock sky is the limit. There is heaping pounds of Hard Rock potential for Charm City Devils to get even better… and they already are quite the Hard Rock band on the rise. Heck, if Bon Jovi could become a household name writing and playing this kind of music, then why not Charm City Devils? I also like to compare this band to Airbourne, although I hear more diversity in song from Charm City Devils which is admirable. At the end of my Metal day, I concede that Let’s Rock-N-Roll is an album worth catching onto and Charm City Devils is a Hard Rock Band worth keeping an eye on.

* Let’s Rock-N-Roll was released on May 26, 2009, on Tenth Street Entertainment/Eleven Seven Music. * Eleven Seven Music has as it’s label president, the legendary Nikki Sixx.

* Charm City Devils hail from the Charm City itself – Baltimore, Maryland.

Charm City Devils as they appear on Let’s Rock-N-Roll:

John Allen – lead vocalist

Vic Karrera – guitar

Anthony Arambula – bass

Nick Kay – guitar

Jason Heiser – drums

Charm City Devils "Let's Rock n Roll" x-large album pic

CROWBAR “Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form” – Sludge Metal At It’s Finest

Posted in 1990's doom metal bands, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's metal bands, 1990's sludge metal albums, 1990's sludge metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, doom metal albums, doom metal bands this decade, doom metal music, essential metal music albums, essential sludge metal albums, extreme metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, metal music, metal music albums, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new orleans metal bands, new orleans metal music, sludge metal albums, sludge metal albums this decade, sludge metal bands, sludge metal bands this decade, sludge metal guitarists, sludge metal music 2001, sludge metal vocalists with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 17, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Crowbar - "Sonic Excess" small album picCrowbar was my Metal band of choice today. Sludge Metal with a healthy slice of Doom Metal at it’s very best is Crowbar. I gave another listen to Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form and have walked away with the same Metal satisfaction as always – ultra Sludge Metal satisfaction that is. The slow trudging and heavy duty guitar riffs combined with the slow paced rhythm section, makes me scream in Metal glee that Crowbar has taken Old School Heavy Metal to a more dark and doom ridden place. The lyrics heard in the songs on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form are gloomy, mournful and visits the realms of self suffering, doubt and infliction. Well, that is what Doom Metal delves into, topics too touchy for the faint at heart mainstream. These lyrics explore what it must feel like when one is truly suffering from extreme mental anguish. Now, if you are to look past the psychologically driven lyrics, the Metal Music is an ear crushing experience and/or escape that seems to come at me from all sides. Crowbar plays their Sludge Metal like it surrounds me, repeatedly encircling my space like a slow marching invasion of Metal giants from a far away and spooky place. Cool.

Kirk Windstein on guitar and vocals is in my Metal opinion, a true non-glamorized hero of Metal. Kirk Windstein does not need any damn red carpet to walk down on… his blue collar Metal ethic is too good for that crap. Besides, hearing is believing, listening to Kirk play guitar is dark, creeping and heavy – a wonderland of gray clouds amidst a stormy sky over a bayou. His vocals are dominant and angry enough to be considered Hardcore, the enormity of emotions that are heard when he bellows out the lyrics are mesmerizing. Plus, Kirk Windstein is one hell of a riff enthusiast, he must have millions of dark and scary riffs recorded in his mind that are still waiting to be let out. There is nothing plastic about Crowbar, no artificial ingredients to be heard on this album. Unreal. All eleven songs on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form are a journey into the Doom and Sludge Metal world of Crowbar, a journey I find worth repeating. Hey, it is like the melancholy movie that grips you, a mood intense book that you don’t mind reading again and again… each time you catch onto something that you may have missed before.

* Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form was released on August 21, 2001 on Spitfire Records.

Crowbar are they appeared on Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form:

Kirk Windstein on guitar and vocals

Sammy Pierre Duet on guitar

Jeff  (Okie) Okoneski on bass

Tony Costanza on drums

Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form Track Listing:

The Lasting Dose

To Build a Mountain

Thru the Ashes (I’ve Watched You Burn)

Awakening

Repulsive In It’s Spendid Beauty

Counting Daze

In Times of Sorrow

It Pours From Me

Suffering Brings Wisdom

Failure to Delay Gratifacation

Empty Room

Crowbar "Sonic Excess"  large album pic

DRIVIN N CRYIN – 1993 ALBUM “SMOKE” IS HARD ROCK BLISS

Posted in 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock bands, 1990's classic rock albums, 1990's classic rock music, 1990's college music, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's rock bands, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock albums, 1990's hard rock bands, Album Review, classic hard rock bands, classic rock, classic rock album finds, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, collecting classic rock, collecting rock music, current hard rock bands, essential classic rock albums, essential classic rock songs, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, feel good stories, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock bands from georgia, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, rock & roll, rock album review, rock and roll, rock music, rock vocalists with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 16, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Drivin N Cryin "Smoke" small album picThere are those select few bands, select few albums throughout my life that I have listened to, that I can say – resonates with me. Drivin N Cryin is one of those bands and their 1993 album – Smoke, (on Island Records). I confess, I never owned a copy of Smoke until October 14, 2009. Unbelievable, how great Rock Music can slip by you. I have vindicated this slip-up by now taking ownership of this great album… finding it on CD during one of my many thrift store Hard Rock and Metal hunts. Rock diversity is a strong point with Drivin N Cryin, their talent to create credible and memorable songs are sensationally a musical characteristic. Smoke is a Rock meets Hard Rock album that even upon it’s initial 1993 release, can be construed as a throwback – to the days when writing Rock songs wasn’t about a race to the commercial finish line. After three consecutive and thorough listens to Smoke on Wednesday, all I could think about that night was listening to Smoke on Thursday! For me, this album is that good… I mean great.

Drivin N Cryin does bring back a very cool Rock memory for me. I saw Drivin N Cryin open up for the ultra legendary – The Who. This concert was at the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford, Connecticut, I think the year was around 1997. (Heck, I cannot remember the exact year). My wife and best buddy Scott were with me for this unreal great night of Rock and Roll. We did not know upon entering this outdoor amphitheater that Drivin N Cryin were opening for The Who that night… we were beyond thrilled when Drivin N Cryin hit the stage, they were simply put – tremendous. I will always remember that night, for Metal sakes, it was The Who taking center stage after all! However, Drivin N Cryin was the Hard Rock bonus that was so unexpected that evening… an unbelievable bonus it was!

Drivin N Cryin "Smoke" small album picThere is no hiding from the fact that I uphold Metal Music and I am a Metalhead, with that said, I also uphold quality Rock and Hard Rock Music as well. Drivin N Cryin enables me to embrace their songs through their vivid musicianship and clarity of their lyrics. With Smoke, there are no illusions going on, no flamboyant and over the ropes attitudes to be heard, just straight -up Rock Music that hits home for me. The first three songs, Back Against The Wall, She Doesn’t Wanna Go and Smoke on Smoke are a 1-2-3 Hard Rock can of whoop ass. 1000 Swings and 1988 are by far cool Rockers as well. Whiskey Soul Woman is just one incredible Rock song to cruise to, it has a Classic Rock vibe swirling all around. When You Come Back is a laid back, Blues Rockin’ song that shows just how diverse Drivin N Cryin can be with Rock. Patron Lady Beautiful can be justified as an epic Rock song for Drivin N Cryin, at 7:36 it plays out with the Rock mellowness that I need to hear every so often and takes it’s twists and turns with Hard Rock heaviness – in real Classic Rock style. What’s The Difference and Eastern European Carny Man has some Tom Petty influence happening, both vocally and musically, not a bad influence for my ears to hear at all.

My favorite song on Smoke, (if I am forced to choose), has to be Turn It Up Or Turn It Off… this is a Hard Rock Classic for me, man these guys jam on this song. There is a hidden track on Smoke, right after the last song, therefore there are really thirteen songs on this album. This hidden song has Classic Rock oozing from it’s every crevice, with the guitars giving way to 1970’s style licks that are beyond cool for me. When it is all said and done, quality Rock musicianship and vocals will always save the day and stay relevant for decades on end. Drivin N Cryin is just this band, extremely credible song writing and musicianship and Rockin’ to this very day. I really dig the vocals of Kevin Kinney, he is at his unreal best on Smoke. I most highly recommend Drivin N Cryin and all of their music to any fan of Rock, Classic Rock and Hard Rock. Smoke turned out to be a hidden Rock gem for me, sending me off to Hard Rock bliss.

* I have not seen this CD for sale on Best Buy online, I have seen it for sale at Amazon.com, as recent as today.

Drivin N Cryin as they appeared on Smoke:

Kevin Kinney – vocals and guitar

Tim Nielsen – bass

Jeff Sullivan – drums

Buren Fowler – lead guitar

DRIVIN N CRYIN "SMOKE" X-LARGE ALBUM PIC

SKELETONWITCH – “Breathing the Fire” Set My Metal World Ablaze

Posted in Album Review, Black Metal, black metal 2009, black metal albums 2009, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current black metal albums, current black metal music, current death metal albums, current death metal music, current extreme metal albums, current extreme metal music, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current metal albums, current thrash metal, current thrash metal albums, current thrash metal music, Death Metal, death metal 2009, death metal guitarists, death metal music, death metal vocalists, essential death metal albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, essential thrash metal albums, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, melodic death metal albums, melodic death metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music today, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new thrash metal albums, scary album covers, scary rock music songs, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, thrash metal 2009, thrash metal music, thrash metal today with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 14, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Skeletonwitch "Breathing The Fire" small album picSKELETONWITCH released their second full studio album with Prosthetic Records, Breathing the Fire, on October 13, 2009. I could not resist the Metal temptation and need of picking up this new CD on my visit to f.y.e. today. As I stood there staring at the hellish and downright evil artwork on the front cover of Breathing the Fire, it dawned on me… the Metal wait is over for this new Skeletonwitch. Yeah, very often enough I want my Metal pretty damned fast and extreme in every musical facet. All twelve songs on this album are extremely worthy, I can’t point out any skip overs whatsoever. Skeletonwitch does not fall short of Extreme Metal – every song on Breathing the Fire is blended with the very best of several Metal genres.

Skeletonwitch brings forth the Thrash Metal attack combined with Old School Speed Metal, adding Death Metal and Black Metal influences just for great Metal measure. With all of these incredible Metal genres explored here, Skeletonwitch is a Metal band that I cannot pigeonhole into one genre. That is fine with me, I am sure Skeletonwitch could care in the least as well… Metal is… Metal. Breathing the Fire is one incredible Metal album to look back upon for 2009, it is like the late season, supercharged and extreme power blast of Metal Music that has set my Metal world ablaze. I always say, that with Metal bands like this, it makes me feel confident knowing that the flag for Metal will be waving high for years to come. Chance Garnette on lead vocals is as mean and talented as I could hope for – his dual Death Metal growls and Black Metal screams are what this music is about. Anyone familiar with Extreme Metal should agree, that this style of Metal was not meant for crooning out the ballads. Chance Garnette gets my Metal horns with thunderous praise. In my Metal opinion, Skeletonwitch can play, it’s not the easiest task to make an album of this Metal genre sound like a standout.

The guitar leads, dual leads and solos have a melodic, Old School – Speed Metal appeal, while never taking away from the overall dark mood of any of the songs. The rhythm section holds everything together like a vice and these songs grip my Metal psyche with pure Metal domination. I once read a professionally paid Rock critic write – melodic and heavy do not coexist… uh, they do. The Metal proof is in actually listening to Skeletonwitch and Breathing the Fire… the rest is Extreme and at times, melodic Metal candy for your ears. To extract each song and dissect it here would be nonsense, the overall themes to know are that these songs are about death and submitting to evil. ‘Nuff said. Ah, Metal. I will state, Blinding Black Rage is as horrific, evil and nightmarish of a song lyrically that I have ever heard. Ah, Metal… Extreme Metal, I love this stuff. This is the new generation of Extreme Metal, take it or leave it… I’m taking it. If you are looking for the current Metal that is happening now, take my advice and give Skeletonwitch – Breathing the Fire a thorough listen… it served me right.

Skeletonwitch as they appear on Breathing the Fire:

Nate “N8 Feet Under” Garnette – guitars

Chance Garnette – lead vocals

Derrick “Mullet Chad” Nau – drums

Scott “Scunty D.” Hedrick – guitars

Evan “Loosh” Linger – bass

Track Listing For Breathing the Fire:

Submit to the Suffering

Longing for Domination

Where the Light has Failed

Released from the Catacombs

Stand Fight and Die

The Despoiler of Human Life

Crushed Beyond Dust

Blinding Black Rage

Gorge Upon My Soul

Repulsive Salvation

Strangled by Unseen Hands

… And into the Flame

Skeletonwitch "Breathing The Fire" large album pic

Entombed – “Wolverine Blues” 1993 Album Sets Me Metal Straight

Posted in 1990's death metal albums, 1990's death metal bands, 1990's death metal music, 1990's death metal songs, 1990's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic metal, collecting rock music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, death metal guitarists, death metal music, death metal music 1993, death metal vocalists, death n' roll, essential death metal albums, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, extreme music, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, melodic death metal albums, melodic death metal bands, melodic death metal music, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school death metal music, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, thrash metal music, vintage death metal albums, vintage death metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 13, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Entombed "Wolverine Blues" small album picToday I found myself in another one of those funks, where the melancholy feelings just won’t subside. So, earlier tonight, I turned to music, Metal Music, to settle my thoughts, nerves and soul. I chose to listen to Entombed, Wolverine Blues. Released back in 1993, on Earache/Columbia Records, I find it startling that this album is around seventeen years old already. An excellent listening choice I made, Entombed was the Metal elixir and their album Wolverine Blues was the Metal prescription that served me right tonight. Entombed delivers their original style of Death Metal or Death N’ Roll with Wolverine Blues, it is as groove charged as it is sinister. With each listen, I can still hear some Thrash Metal being fused within Entombed’s songs on this album. In a Metal nutshell, Entombed covers some ground with Extreme Metal genres. This is one hell of a heavy and hard album, the righteous Metal remedy for curing my blues – let me tell you. Lyrically, there is no bashfulness to be found when it comes to topics and imagery on Wolverine Blues. The combination of the aggressive lyrics and Death N’ Roll charge makes this album sound like it belongs on top of the Metal heap in 2009.

Is Wolverine Blues the heaviest album I ever listened to? Honestly, no. However, this album is one of the most accessibly heavy albums I have listened to… where these songs are not entirely over the top yet they are light years from being mellow too. One song that is quite the enjoyable, extreme listen is Blood Song, with it’s vampire theme that explodes from it’s lyrics and haunting musical tension. My favorite song is Hollowman, it epitomizes the label – groove infested. The lyrics of Hollowman are intensified with messages of death, it reads like Death Metal poetry… if you will. How can an Extreme Metal loyalist like myself not adhere to songs that are titled Rotten Soil, Demon and Full Of Hell… this is the Metal escape I was looking for today, to be shaken back into shape, (courtesy of Entombed) and returned to my normal routine. Out Of Hand is another standout song for me on Wolverine Blues. L-G Petrov on lead vocals is viscous and brutal on Out Of Hand, his accentuating the lyrics only emboldens this songs message of societal distrust and disruption. L-G Petrov is tremendous vocally throughout Wolverine Blues, an unsung Metal legend who deserves any and all accolades that may come his way.

It is the cohesiveness of Entombed that makes Wolverine Blues sound so impeccably strong, all ten songs stand on their own. As this album comes to it’s close with Out Of Hand, I feel not just reinvigorated, I feel Metal empowered knowing that I can turn to Entombed during a personal funk void for a motivational punch in the arm. For seventeen Metal years this album has existed, it deserves to be heard and prescribed to the younger generation of Metal fans across the globe. I am hereby recommending this great album from Entombed to any fan of Metal that might be looking to get out of their own personal mind fog – let the escapism of Wolverine Blues serve you right like it did me today.

Entombed as they appeared on Wolverine Blues:

Nicke Andersson – drums, guitar

Lars-Goran Petrov (L-G Petrov) – lead vocals

U Cederlund (Uffe Cederlund) – guitar, tambourine

Lars Rosenberg – bass

Alx Hellid (Alex Hellid) – guitar

Wolverine Blues Track Listing:

1. Eyemaster

2. Rotten Soil

3. Wolverine Blues

4. Demon

5. Contempt

6. Full Of Hell

7. Blood Song

8. Hollowman

9. Heavens Die

10. Out Of Hand

Entombed "Wolverine Blues" large album pic

NAZARETH “NO MEAN CITY” – 1979 HARD ROCK ALBUM IS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock cover songs, classic rock music, classic rock music 1979, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, collecting classic rock, collecting rock music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential classic rock songs, hard rock music, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, scary album covers, spooky metal album covers, vintage hard rock albums, vintage hard rock bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 9, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Nazareth "No Mean City" small album picI have owned the vinyl album of No Mean City by Nazareth since 1983. No, I could never part with this album at all over the years, never. For years I could never find No Mean City on CD, it most likely had been out of print for some time. To this day, No Mean City does not seem to be that readily available anywhere, on CD and especially on vinyl. Who knows, maybe there is an independent record store somewhere that has dozens of copies in their inventory… I just never come across this Nazareth classic myself. With the brilliant, Old School, Classic Hard Rock heard on this album, combined with the album cover artwork, makes for a keeper. I actually bought this album as a cut-out, back when Strawberries Records & Tapes was around. Back in the early 1980’s, cut-out bins found in any record store was Rock and Roll Heaven! You could always find cool albums in these cut-out bins at real discounted prices, many times there were hidden heavy gems in them. My copy of No Mean City has a cut in the top right corner of the album jacket – this never bothered me one bit. The enjoyment this album’s music has given me all these years more than makes up for any cosmetic defect on it’s exterior.

Remembering the actual price I paid for No Mean City back in 1983 is a tad gray now… it probably set me back three or four bucks at the most. This is one of those albums that I would hold and stare at the front cover artwork, while my turntable played the tunes. The artwork for No Mean City screams Heavy Metal, still this is a true Hard Rock album from Nazareth. Getting nostalgic about Rock and Roll is something I cannot shake loose, Nazareth is one of those bands that epitomizes Classic Rock and gets my nostalgia adrenaline going. No Mean City takes me back to when I had nothing to worry about other than graduating High School. Whenever I listen to this album, everything feels cool around me, uh, that is real cool.

All eight songs on this great album are terrific, there are a few standout favorites of mine, beginning with Simple Solution Part 1 & 2. This song is loaded with strong grooves, carrying it’s melodic Hard Rock weight due in part to Dan McCafferty on lead vocals, Pete Agnew on bass and backing vocals and Manny Charlton on guitar. Star is a Hard Rock ballad  that maintains it’s heaviness through Dan McCafferty’s raspy, sandpapered vocals. To this very day, I still cannot believe that Star was not a huge hit from this album. The lyrics and music of Star are just as great as the Nazareth cover song Love Hurts from their Hair Of The Dog album, in my Metal opinion. May The Sunshine is a Folk Rock meets Hard Rock song. This song is just a great sing along, upbeat in it’s lyrics and melody, a song I never expected to hear upon my very first listen to No Mean City. Since my first introduction to this album all those years ago, I could not see my music collection being the same without it. If you are into Classic Rock and/or Hard Rock, especially from the late ’70’s, Nazareth and No Mean City is a must listen – Hard Rock treasure.

* The late Darrell Sweet was the drummer and Zal Cleminson was also a guitarist for Nazareth on No Mean City. Both of these musicians were just as important to making this album sound so great to me.

* No Mean City was released on A&M Records, in January of 1979.

* No Mean City was the tenth studio album from Nazareth.

* Nazareth is still Rocking to this day… with original members Dan McCafferty on lead vocals and Pete Agnew on bass. Pete Agnew’s son, Lee Agnew, plays drums and Jimmy Murrison plays guitar. This Nazareth lineup released a new studio album – The Newz, in 2008… and it is damn cool and good. I will leave The Newz album for another post in the future.

Nazareth "No Mean City" large album pic

ANVIL – “THIS IS THIRTEEN” – THIS IS OLD SCHOOL, REAL HEAVY METAL

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, canadian heavy metal bands, classic metal, collecting rock music, cool album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current metal albums, current thrash metal, current thrash metal albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential thrash metal albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album reissued, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands from canada, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal drummers, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal songs 2009, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, old school thrash metal music, rock music, spooky metal album covers, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 8, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Anvil "This Is Thirteen" small album picANVIL. Blue collar Heavy Metal personified. No pretentious attitude or pompousness with this band, just a working man’s ethic and never say die mantra that has led them up to 2009, with VH1 Classic Records picking up and reissuing their self funded album This Is Thirteen. (Good Metal move there, VH1 Classic Records). Unless you have been living underneath the remnants of a crashed UFO for the last six months, Anvil is back. Well, they never really went away for any real measurable length of time. Unlike a throng of prima donna Heavy Metal Bands out there who have taken the sabbatical and returned, expecting rose petals to be thrown everywhere they walk, Anvil is just doing what they always have done… play damn good Heavy Metal Music for anyone who will listen. I am listening, I listened to Anvil in the early ’80’s, their Metal has never left my collection since. Hell, I still have Anvil’s first three – Hard N’ Heavy, Metal On Metal and Forged In Fire on cassette – I could never bring myself to part with them. Anvil has stayed true to themselves and cool Metal things come to those Metal bands who wait. Without getting too deep into this bands history… the best way for anyone unfamiliar with Anvil is to watch or buy their newly released DVD – ANVIL – The Story of ANVIL.

I would have bought this great DVD today, yet my Super Walmart never put it out for sale along with any other newly released CD’s or DVD’s… and that was at 9:30 a.m. EST on October 6th when I left that store today. I did not have time to drive around to other stores for this Anvil DVD today, thanks for nothing Super Walmart. I will make certain to buy the Anvil DVD at f.y.e. now, you better Metal believe it. Ha, Ha, Super Walmart… you lost a sale on that one.

What a perfect segue for the first song I will mention from This Is ThirteenBig Business. I like this one a Metal ton, a straight on anti-corporate song if there ever was! Anvil’s lyrics are not overdone, they are not out to impress any Rhodes Scholars, ya’ know? Anvil impressed me with Big Business, reminding me that nothing is free and rising fees… oh how true it is. The album opener is This Is Thirteen, with doom laden riffs, my Metal mind wanders over to vintage Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath here. Combined with the slowed down rhythm section here, this song really does take me back to 1982 and I am proud to say that. Bombs Away has Anvil shredding their brand of Thrash, Lips on guitar is not just fundamentally sound, he is Metal be damned… a great guitarist. As a vocalist, Lips never shies away from a bit of diversity, he isn’t fancy yet he is real – I’ll take him over a bushel load of Metal singers I have listened to over the decades. Should’ A Would’ A Could’ A has become my favorite song on This Is Thirteen. Lyrically, this song is right on the Metal money in describing the game of life. Take chances, no regrets, know your enemies, strength to survive and righting a wrong are all covered on Should’ A Would’ A Could’ A, plus it grooves like there is no tomorrow. Game Over, in my Metal opinion, is the heaviest and fastest song on this album… real good. Anvil took out some cool aggression on Game Over, lyrically comparing life to playing a Game Boy game.

Thumb Hang, (the bonus track), has similar, trudging riffs as the opening track This Is Thirteen. Another fine example of a song, that Anvil is not buying into any current trends of Metal anytime soon. Thank God for that. Robb Reiner on drums… what can I say other than he has been damn good his entire career and makes himself heard quite well on this album. Glenn Five makes for more than a Metal compliment on bass guitar, rounding out this trio the outside world is just now embracing as Anvil. In a Metal nutshell, Anvil created fourteen songs that are missing the over produced sheen and gleam of many of today’s Metal albums. There is that blanket of rawness to this album, then again, Anvil was never about being commercially polished anyways. Thank God for that. This is why I always dug the Metal that Anvil has put out over the last three decades. Anvil did not need a billion dollar producer to waltz in the studio and dictate how it’s done… Anvil (and producer Chris Tsangarides) knew what to do all along with This Is Thirteen, one listen through proves it – in my Metal opinion.

Anvil "This Is Thirteen" large album pic

LYNYRD SKYNYRD – “GOD & GUNS” IS ALREADY A SOUTHERN ROCK CLASSIC

Posted in 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's southern rock music, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's southern rock music, 1980's classic rock, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's rock bands, 1980's southern rock, 1990's classic rock music, 1990's southern rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, cool album covers, current rock albums 2009, essential rock albums, essential southern rock albums, hard rock albums 2009, hard rock music, Music, old school southern rock music, rock & roll, rock album review, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock music, southern hard rock, southern hard rock albums, southern rock, southern rock albums, southern rock music, southern rock music legends with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Lynyrd Skynyrd "God & Guns" small album picLynyrd Skynyrd are Southern Rock Legends and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. What more does Lynyrd Skynyrd have to prove? What keeps the motivation meter running with this band? In my Metal opinion, it is a combination of many things… the Skynyrd Nation and the fact that this band has never lost touch with their roots are two quick examples. Southern Music roots… family roots… old school values, these three attributes come out Southern Rockin’ loud and clear on God & Guns, (released on RoadRunner Records, September 29, 2009). My interpretation of the lyrics found on God & Guns, leads me to believe that Lynyrd Skynyrd are not about to change their beliefs, (both political and social), for no man. Lynyrd Skynyrd has never and is not about to sway or teeter on the fence with their lyrics and music, a quality that I tremendously admire of this legendary band. As the decades have passed and the Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup has unquestionably changed, none of what I have previously touched upon with this band has wavered… and the quality of the musicianship inevitably carries forward this Southern Rock icon to 2009. With God & Guns, a new Southern Rock Classic has instantly been born and I would not have expected any less from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Each of the twelve songs on this new album bestow the trademark Southern Rock shades of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s past, while combining a thrust of relevant Hard Rock vigor, making for an unforgettable listen the first time around. Johnny Van Zant sounds great on vocals and founding member and guitarist Gary Rossington, along with the entire band should be proud of this album.

Still Unbroken opens up God & Guns, it is heavy and hard, a statement that the rest of this album to follow is going to be one hell of a cool ride. Skynyrd Nation is a song overflowing with Southern Rock/Lynyrd Skynyrd pride. I am just waiting for the right moment to crank up this song to the max, with my car window down. Skynyrd Nation is the ultimate Southern Rock anthem for this band, a powerful song. Simple Life is a cry out for the way things used to be as only Lynyrd Skynyrd can convey. Here is where the old school values of life comes into play… eating dinner with your kids, not having to lock up the doors to your house, going fishing and helping out a stranger. This song may sound like preaching to some, however, the lyrics make total sense to me. Unwrite That Song is the ballad on God & Guns that provides a moment to chill, kick back and revel at the change in Southern Rock shift… this song acts as the anchor between the song list, giving me one more reason to call this album a new classic. Floyd is the song that provides the creepy moment on God & Guns. This song tells a story about a man named Floyd who mysteriously disappears after two law dogs got in his way – Southern Rock spookiness in the vein of Molly Hatchet’s classic song The Creeper.

My favorite song on God & Guns is That Ain’t My America. A patriotic song, with strong conservative views, Lynyrd Skynyrd doesn’t just add their two cents here… they reminded me once again, as to how proud I am to be an American. That Ain’t My America makes many points through it’s lyrics, yet it is done with respect and class… the Southern Rock way. Storm and Gifted Hands conclude God & Guns on a high inspirational note and there ain’t nothing wrong with that for me. The lyrics of these last two songs prove that positive lyrics incorporated with the Southern Rock sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd, can easily elevate me to the highest of cool moods. The guitar jamming in Gifted Hands could carry on for hours and I would still listen with gleeful, Southern Rock hungry ears. Aw, damn, I can easily listen to this new Lynyrd Skynyrd classic God & Guns for hours on end… and still want more.

Some extra info on this God & Guns CD:

Within the liner notes of this CD, is a cool concert photo of the late Billy Powell and Ean Evans, shown together. Lynyrd Skynyrd dedicated this new album to both of these gentlemen, along with their respective families. Complete lyrics to every song are in the liner notes. Also found within the liner notes, under the title of Additional Musicians, Rob Zombie and guitarist John 5 are credited. The liner notes do not express which songs they appear on. My Metal ears are astute to so many musicians and their style of play, (this time I am stumped), I cannot pinpoint where Rob Zombie and John 5 do appear… maybe someone out there knows for sure which songs they appear on and can drop the details in a reply.

Lynyrd Skynyrd "God & Guns" large album pic #2

LOUDNESS “Shadows of War/Lightning Strikes” – A 1986 Heavy Metal Blast From The Past

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, 1986 heavy metal albums, 1986 heavy metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1986, heavy metal music, heavy metal music from japan, Heavy Metal Reviews, japanese heavy metal bands, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 29, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Loudness - Black & White Group PhotoThe Heavy Metal genre and all of it’s mind bending sub genres can be quite the vast musical Universe to explore. There are countless bands that make these Heavy Music genres quake and explode with excitement at every turn. For me to say I have listened to every band out there would be an outright Metal lie… I have stated this before. Come forward please, Loudness and their 1986 album Shadows of War. Whoa. Whoa again. Why on Metal Earth, did it take me 23 years to finally listen to Loudness and Shadows of War? (See previous explanation within this paragraph for the Metal answer). Man, the outright powerful, Heavy Metal thunder of Loudness, is overwhelmingly great on Shadows of War. This album is the Japanese version with a different album/CD cover of it’s twin – American release Lightning Strikes. The only differences between Shadows of War and Lightning Strikes are: the order of the track listing, slight differences in the vocal melodies and Ashes In The Sky (from Lightning Strikes) and Shadows of War (from Shadows of War) are the same song. Buying one version over the other is basically an identical listen of Loudness Heavy Metal here. In this Metal situation, recommending either version is the way to go.
Loudness "Lightning Strikes" very small album picYes Virginia, there is a Metal Santa Claus and his name is my best buddy Scott. You see, Scott gets quite giddy about sending CD’s of Metal through the mail to me… especially CD’s of Metal Bands that I have never delved into with unrestrained Metal abandon. Loudness Shadows of War came in the mail last week, courtesy of my buddy. This album is so damn cool, the songs on Shadows of War is yet another reminder to me, that 1986 was an incredible year, from an amazing decade for Heavy Metal album releases. Loudness could have easily named this album – psyche you out of your Heavy Metal mind – for all nine songs encompass a continuous and momentous listen in electrifying Heavy Metal power. Believe me, the last thing I want to come across as doing here is being rah, rah, rah, about Loudness and this album. I could never be more Metal serious by stating… Loudness and their 1986 album, Shadows of War, is one fine Heavy Metal blast from the past.
Loudness "Shadows of War" large album pic This is the Shadows of War cover! (Japanese version)
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Check out LOUDNESS on their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/loudnessisback
Check out LOUDNESS on http://www.takasaki.net/Loudness/
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Loudness – 1986 Band Lineup on Shadows of War/Ligtning Strikes:
  • Guitars: TAKASAKI Akira
  • Vocals: NIIHARA Minoru
  • Bass: YAMASHITA Masayoshi
  • Drums: HIGUCHI Munetaka
  • *****************************************************************************************
    LOUDNESS Shadows of War/Lightning Strikes Track Listing:
    1. Let It Go (4:13)
    2. Dark Desire (4:19)
    3. 1000 Eyes (4:35)
    4. Face To Face (3:49)
    5. Who Knows (Time to Make A Stand) (4:02)
    6. Shadows of War (Ashes In The Sky) (6:02)
    7. Black Star Oblivion (3:55)
    8. Street Life Dream (4:28)
    9. Complication (4:00)
    Loudness "Lightning Strikes" large album pic

    EDGUY – “F***ING WITH FIRE LIVE” GETS MY HEAVY METAL APPLAUSE

    Posted in 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's power metal music, 2009 power metal music, Album Review, cool album covers, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current live heavy metal albums, Edguy, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, european power metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal from germany, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal this decade, heavy metal vocalists, live heavy metal albums, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new heavy metal album, Power Metal, power metal guitarists, power metal music, power metal music today, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 27, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    EDGUY "Fucking With Fire" promo image 2009Edguy F***ing With Fire Live is entertaining as Metal hell. Released on July 28, 2009, on Nuclear Blast Records, this is the second album released by Edguy this year, (Tinnitus Sanctus was released on January 27, 2009). A huge Metal kudos to Edguy for releasing two albums within the same year, they are not the only band out there to do so, still it is cool for fans like me. In a Metal day and age where there are those select few prima donna let’s take everything serious Metal Bands out there, Edguy seems to grasp hold of the positive and accentuates the (gasp) fun in Heavy Metal Music. The title of this live album alone, gives me the impression that Edguy has thrown caution to the Metal wind and could care less about those who don’t get it. In my Metal opinion, Tobias Sammet and his band Edguy have snickered at their antagonists since the late 90’s… and Edguy gets the last laugh every time. From my Metal research, it seems that Europe and Brazil really gets into Edguy big time, uh, I am just like Europe and Brazil with my Metal tastes then. It seems so obvious to me, by listening to Edguy’s catalog of albums, that they really dug the power and enthusiasm of 1980’s Heavy Metal Music. Thus they now turn around and record a live album that has that all encompassing, 1980’s Arena Heavy Metal thrill. By no means am I labeling Edguy as having a dated 1980’s sound about them, no way in Metal hell. I only want to point out that Edguy evokes a feel good emotion inside of me, rekindling some of the 1980’s Heavy Metal spirit that I so embraced. Tobias Sammet seems to write songs that are hook filled and melodically oozing from every crevice. F***ing With Fire Live is an Edguy album that I do give a F*** about.

    Edguy "F***ing With Fire Live" small album picMy favorite Edguy song of all-time, Tears Of A Mandrake takes the Metal prize on this album, as well as Superheroes, Lavatory Love Machine and King Of Fools. The live versions of these Edguy songs only adds fuel to the intense Power Metal energy that they bestow. Tobias Sammet gets Avantasia into this set of songs as well, (from his side project Avantasia), it fits right into the Metal mix of this Edguy set list. The main theme I stress with F***ing With Fire Live is the consistent energy and emotion that Tobias Sammet seems to summon up within himself and his band. I don’t think you need to be an Edguy fan to actually hear and feel the excitement on this live album, then again, this Edguy album will have it’s detractors… so F***ing Metal be it. Tobias Sammet does become quite the talker during this concert. He takes his Metal time to introduce each band member, requests the crowd of Edguy fans to turn on their cell phone’s (and not their lighters), during the Power Metal ballad Save Me and thanks/compliments the fans of Sao Paulo, Brazil quite eloquently. Hey, this is a recorded – live concert for Metal sakes, these type of moments do occur during Heavy Metal shows, so F***ing Metal be it. At the end of the Metal day, I cannot listen to F***ing With Fire Live as a once through, nope, instead, each time I slap this double CD on I need to hear it a second time through too… so F***ing Metal be it.

    *F***ing With Fire Live was recorded on November 3, 2006, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    Edguy as they appear on F***ing With Fire Live:

    Tobias Sammet – lead vocalist

    Jens Ludwig – guitar & backing vocals

    Dirk Sauer – guitar & backing vocals

    Tobias “Eggi” Exxel – bass & backing vocals

    Felix Bohnke – drums

    F***ing With Fire LiveTrack Listing:

    CD 1:

    01.  Catch Of The Century

    02.  Sacrifice

    03.  Babylon

    04.  Lavatory Love Machine

    05.  Vain Glory Opera

    06.  Land Of The Miracle

    07.  Fucking With Fire

    CD 2:

    08.  Superheroes

    09.  Save Me

    10.  Tears Of A Mandrake

    11.  Mysteria

    12.  Avantasia

    13.  King Of Fools

    14.  Out Of Control

    Edguy "F***ing With Fire Live" large album pic

    TWISTED SISTER – “Love is for Suckers” has made a sucker out of me

    Posted in 1980's hair metal bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal hits, 1980's classic rock, 1980's hair metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1987 heavy metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, collecting music, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, feel good stories, hair metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock and roll, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage heavy metal songs with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    Twisted Sister "Love is for Suckers" small picTwisted Sister – Love Is For Suckers was released on August 13, 1987, on Atlantic Records. Back then, as a Metal fan, I was totally engulfed with Thrash and Speed Metal. To make a Metal confession, I never bought this Twisted Sister album, after owning their first four albums. I was not overly impressed with Come Out And Play, (released in 1985), I guess the first three Twisted Sister albums really spoiled me. So, I took in whatever songs MTV or the FM stations were playing from Love Is For Suckers. Seeing the video for Hot Love and hearing it played on FM radio very frequently, back in 1987-1988 was, I thought, the coolest extent of this album. I always liked Hot Love, this song reminds me of some cool times back in 1987-88… and there isn’t anything wrong with that. Hot Love is upbeat and (gasp), commercially catchy in it’s unique Heavy Metal way. A few years ago, I bought Twisted Sister’s Big Hits and Nasty Cuts: The Best of Twisted Sister, it contains several cool live bonus tracks that enticed me… unreal great songs at that. The Metal kicker here, is that there are no songs from Love is for Suckers on this Best of album… I smell controversy. Therefore, my continuation of never hearing more than Hot Love from Love is for Suckers continued… Fast forward to September 18, 2009… Twisted Sister – Love is for Suckers has for all Metal intents and purposes, made a sucker out of me.

    Understand, that I could never financially afford or find the time to listen to every Heavy Metal and Hard Rock album that has been created in the last forty years. For me, that is impossible, I would have to be able to do nothing at all but listen to Heavy Metal/Hard Rock every hour, around the clock, with an endless flow of cash available to buy every album out there. Step in my best buddy Scott… a copy of Love is for Suckers arrived in my mail today, thank you Scott. This album was just an unfortunate victim of being overlooked by me for over two decades… today I repent this Heavy Metal error and I am a better Metalhead for it. I now hereby declare, that Love is for Suckers is incredibly better than Come Out And Play, in my Metal opinion. Plus, all of the professionally paid Rock critics who have bashed and trashed this great album over the years should be embarrassed for never listening to it in the first place.

    My favorite song is the album opener – Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant), not to sound like a lame television talent show judge here… Dee Snider on vocals is not just powerful, he is electrifying, in my Metal opinion. Whoa, do I wish I listened to this album years ago. I honestly will put this song at the top of my favorite list for Twisted Sister songs and Heavy Metal songs period. Me and the Boys and Yeah Right are two other stand out songs for me as well. Suffice to admit, there is not one song on Love is for Suckers that I would fast forward through ever. A wise Metalhead once told me… great Metal comes to those Metalheads who wait. Well, this Metalhead unbelievably waited twenty two years to finally listen to Love is for Suckers in it’s entirety. I’m sure Dee Snider will forgive me. I am Metal thankful to my best buddy Scott for making me realize… I am a sucker for Love is for Suckers after all.

    Twisted Sister as they appeared on Love is for Suckers:

    Dee Snider – lead vocals

    Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda – lead guitar

    Jay Jay French – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

    Mark “The Animal” Mendoza – bass, backing vocals

    Joe Franco – drums, percussion (credited as Joey “Seven” Franco)

    * Obviously, the legendary A.J. Pero was not the drummer on Love is for Suckers.

    * Kip Winger supplies backing vocals on Love is for Suckers… cool.

    Twisted Sister "Love is for Suckers" large pic


    SHADOWS FALL – “RETRIBUTION” album is a Thrash Metal lightning strike!

    Posted in 1990's thrash metal albums, 1990's thrash metal music, Album Review, cool album covers, current extreme metal albums, current extreme metal music, current heavy metal albums, current metal albums, current thrash metal, current thrash metal albums, current thrash metal music, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, essential thrash metal albums, extreme metal music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal music today, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new heavy metal album, new thrash metal albums, rock music, Thrash Metal, thrash metal 2009, thrash metal album review, thrash metal albums 2009, thrash metal music, thrash metal music reviews, thrash metal today with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 16, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    Shadows Fall "Retribution" small picHighly recommended to all Metal fans all over the globe! That is just how unreal good Retribution from Shadows Fall is… that I start off by just bluntly recommending this new album. Seriously, Retribution is one solid chunk of Thrash Metal Music for me. On this new release, (released September 15, 2009), Shadows Fall sounds as if they are not holding back the hard and heavy for no one. I am not taking the easy way out by saying all ten songs are damn incredible. The all encompassing barrage of Metal fury, that highlights each turn and corner on Retribution, is like a Metal power rush to my brain that I do not want to end. In my Metal opinion, it very much seems as if Shadows Fall took a long and hard listen to the once in a millennium, Metal masterpiece from Slipknot called All Hope Is Gone… and decided they too wanted to raise their own Metal bar. The All Hope Is Gone influence I hear on Retribution, is deserving of a raucous Metal applause for Shadows Fall, for if this influence is to be true… Shadows Fall surely knows real Metal when they hear it. The unrelenting surge of Metal power both musically and vocally, (both lead and backing/gang vocals), found within Retribution, are the best ways I can describe my All Hope Is Gone comparison. 

    Brian Fair on lead vocals has never sounded this unreal great before, based on what my ears hear on Retribution. Brian Fair shows his harmonious side as a crooner and just as suddenly can deliver the bad ass vocals I have always expected… and he does so with the determination and tenacity of a seasoned Metal pro. If it was ever possible for Jason Bittner to elevate his already incredible Metal talents on drums, well, he did it here on Retribution… whoa. Jonathan Donais on lead guitar, takes full Metal command with creative leads that are above impressive. One recent professionally paid Metal Music critic wrote in the November 2009 issue of Revolver Magazine: “arguably the most mainstream-friendly album the group has made” – (?), uh, I beg to differ. First, I would never equate the word mainstream to Shadows Fall… never, ever, from 1998’s Somber Eyes to the Sky to 2007’s Threads of Life. Now, with Retribution, for this album to even be remotely considered mainstream friendly, well, that is like saying a Pit Viper hanging from a tree limb above your head is friendly too. Nickelback is mainstream friendly, with absolutely no disrespect of course, to them. This is just another perfect Metal example, that there are some Metal Music critics out there that never bother to listen to the album(s) they are being paid to review. Frustrating, to say the least.

    My two choice picks on Retribution are: King Of Nothing and Embrace Annihilation. These are the two songs that just embody the core Thrash Metal essence of Retribution, in my Metal opinion. Shadows Fall has made me feel Metal secure, with their creating Retribution, this is an album that encapsulates all things powerful about Thrash Metal. Metal truth be told, I will be recommending this album to anyone who listens for the rest of my Metal life. Musical integrity and the respect for quality song writing are characteristics every band should uphold, Shadows Fall upheld them on Retribution ten fold. Shadows Fall will always have their Metalcore roots, with Retribution, they have imprinted themselves into the Thrash Metal genre like an unstoppable lightning strike.

    Shadows Fall are:

    Brian Fair on lead vocals

    Jonathan Donais on lead guitar/vocals

    Matthew Bachand on guitar/vocals

    Paul Romanko on bass 

    Jason Bittner on drums

    Retribution was produced by Zeuss and released on Ferret Music and Independent Label Group.

    Shadows Fall "Retribution" large pic

    MASTERS OF REALITY – “Sunrise On The Sufferbus” album evokes memories of hanging out and chillin’

    Posted in 1990's hard rock music, 1990's rock music, 1990's stoner rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, collecting music, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, feel good stories, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock songs, hard to find rock albums, hard to find rock cd's, Music, old school hard rock, Rock, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock music, silly album covers, vintage hard rock albums, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 6, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    Masters Of Reality "Sunrise On The Sufferbus" small picMasters Of Reality – Sunrise On The Sufferbus was released back in 1992, on Chrysalis Records. I already owned the 1988 debut album, (self titled), from Masters Of Reality when I jumped on this album back in 1992. The best way I can describe this band is Old School Stoner Rock/Hard Rock, in my Metal opinion. This is a grossly underrated Rock album, the musicianship, songs and total grooviness on Sunrise On The Sufferbus makes this a lifetime keeper, for me. My favorite song on this album is J.B. Witchdance, a non stop bass groove with a semi-haunting overall sound, always seems to put me in a cool mood. My second choice pick from Sunrise On The Sufferbus is She Got Me  (When She Got Her Dress On) – this song as with the entire album, is unbelievably unique, I just never heard a band sound like Masters Of Reality back then, nor do I now. This album is the closest thing to heavy without being so… I know that sounds crazy, I just cannot explain this music any better than that. O.K., maybe I’ll try this… cool under heavy… now that might work. (If you are wincing at the use of words here, just go with Stoner Rock).

    My best buddy in the Metal Universe, Scott, well, he and I must have listened to this CD together at least… 250 times, maybe slightly more. I am not exaggerating here with the numbers… we both really locked into Sunrise On The Sufferbus. You see, Scott and I became very fascinated with the Sega Genesis game system back around 1991… so much that we were like anyone else who call themselves gamers, we played Sega Genesis games for very, very, long hours. Of course, during these marathon nights and/or days of  Sega Genesis, we both would listen to Heavy Metal and Hard Rock aplenty. Sunrise On The Sufferbus was just always played, again and again… and again. Speaking for myself here, to this day, I do not know what the hypnotic appeal is to Sunrise On The Sufferbus… all I can say is it stands alone with it’s Rock vibe. Again, I guess that is why I call it Stoner Rock. 

    Looking back on those days in 1992 and the few years after, I appreciate the fact my best buddy Scott hung out with me for those endless hours of NHLPA Hockey, John Madden Football and Tony LaRussa Baseball. I really mastered those Sega Genesis games back then… Scott was not too shabby either, however, he never could keep up with my patented swoop move to the goalie, on the NHLPA Hockey game. Hanging out and chillin’ with my best buddy Scott so many years ago, when there were no major bills to pay, no deadlines to meet, just marathon rounds of Sega Genesis game playing and listening to Sunrise On The Sufferbus are memories I will never forget. We really did have a good time talking Metal, and listening to Metal and Hard Rock… hours at a time. (We listened to so much music during these marathon games, heck, Garth Brooks was even put into the CD rotation too). The Sega Genesis game system with all of those cool games, I gave to my nephew some years back. However, Sunrise On The Sufferbus is still in my CD collection and it is a pretty difficult Masters Of Reality CD to track down. The last time I checked, Sunrise On The Sufferbus is out of print. I can’t see myself parting with Sunrise On The Sufferbus for at least another 100 years or so.

    Masters Of Reality, as they appeared on Sunrise On The Sufferbus: Chris Goss on lead vocals, guitars and keyboards, Googe on bass guitar and backing vocals and the legendary Ginger Baker on drums and backing vocals.

    Masters Of Reality "Sunrise On The Sufferbus" large pic

    KISS “Unmasked” – 1980 album I listened to all Summer of 2009

    Posted in 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal hits, 1980's popular rock bands, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, Album Review, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, essential rock albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1980, heavy metal on vinyl, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 3, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    main-150KISS. I have the fever… it is the addiction to this enormous American Heavy Metal juggernaut that hooked me back in grammar school… the (gulp), 1970’s that is. Over this past Summer of 2009, (actually it goes back to last Winter too), I have ultra consistently listened to the KISS album “Unmasked”… after each listen I am a better Metalhead for it. Unmasked  was released back on May 20, 1980, right before I embarked on my High School years. By now, for anyone who reads my stuff regularly, may be tired of my mentioning that I owned 8 track tapes… still, I need to tell the world that I owned Unmasked on 8 track, thank you all for understanding. The memories that get stirred up inside my Metal mind, each time I listen to Unmasked are good ones… the Summer of 1980… going to the UCONN Basketball Camp, collecting odd and evil looking spiders in my backyard and having no worries in the world other than entering a new teenage chapter in my life.

    Now that the memories are out of the way, I could care in the least about the controversy, rumors or paid professional Rock critic reviews regarding Unmasked. Frankly, like the scene from Gone With The Wind, the character Rhett Butler (played by Clark Gable), says sternly to Scarlett O’ Hara (played by Vivien Leigh), “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”. That is it in a Metal nutshell… I don’t give a damn. The last time I checked, this album peaked at #35 on the U.S. Billboard Album Chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 30, 1980. So there obviously were other KISS fans out there who liked this album too, going all the way back to 1980. I have read over the years, that Peter Criss never played drums on the Unmasked album, that Anton Fig played all the drums and was uncredited in the liner notes. Again, I don’t give a damn.

    Shandi was the song that was supposed to be the big hit from Unmasked… or so I have read over the decades. Was it the big single? I don’t give a damn. All I know is that this song reminds me of lazy, hot, sunny and care free Summer days of when I was fourteen years old. When I listen to Shandi now, it makes me feel good… so Metal be it. My favorite song from Unmasked is… a tie. Is it possible to have a tied favorite of songs from one album? I don’t give a damn. Here they are: Is That You? and What Makes the World Go Round. Is That You? opens up this album in the finest of KISS fashion, it is a song in my Metal opinion, that embodied everything that critics of KISS hated most… contagiously hard driven grooves and bad ass lyrically. KISS could not have chosen a better opening song for Unmasked. What Makes the World Go Round is probably the one KISS song that gets played the loudest by me – ever. I quantum like it, therefore that is it. Metal case closed. It is my Metal opinion that Paul Stanley sings outstandingly great on this album. The original vinyl version of Unmasked came with a very large poster, depicting KISS in a comic book/cartoon form, shunning their KISS masks to reveal their faces with KISS make up still on. (This is shown on a smaller scale, on the very bottom of the album front cover). I did inherit this album on vinyl with it’s bonus poster, years ago – in a trade. 

    She’s So European and Naked City are Gene Simmons songs personified. As I see it, these two Gene Simmons songs stand side to side with his vocal classics God of Thunder and Christine SixteenTwo Side of the Coin is an Ace Frehley classic. I cannot express any other way, the Metal conviction I feel towards this song… it Rocks. There is no need to make any other unnecessary comments about it. I listen to and write about the bands and albums that have made my life enjoyable, KISS Unmasked is as perfect an example of this. I never have and never will, get caught up in what the professional overpaid critics of the Rock world say about a band or album. Even if such said band does not care for their own specific album or song they created, if I still dig it, well then, I don’t give a damn.

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    Gene Simmons – My third favorite KISS solo album

    Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, classic rock, classic rock 1978, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, Gene Simmons, Hard Rock, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1978, heavy metal solo albums, heavy metal solo artists, heavy metal solo vocalists, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 1, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    Kiss - Gene Simmons solo album small picGene Simmons, The Demon, bass guitarist for KISS, music producer and actor. (The many hats this legend has worn are numerous, quite the achiever is Gene Simmons, in my Metal opinion). Gene Simmons always seems to stay in the public eye, the limelight follows this Heavy Metal icon everywhere he goes… with “Celebrity Apprentice” and his very own family reality series “The Family Jewels” making his presence seen and known while KISS is idle. A short while back, I started writing about my favorite KISS solo albums, in preferential order, no less. Why am I doing this? First, I am celebrating the four original members of KISS, their solo albums being what I consider to be quite a historical achievement in Heavy Metal and Rock history. The quality across the board is apparent in the music that Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter created with their solo albums… my reminding and/or informing anyone who is interested in these great KISS solo albums makes for a fine Metal deed. For me to list in order, my favorite KISS solo albums, (it is not etched in Metal stone here), deciding the sequence of which album ranks 1 thru 4, is based on which album has given me the biggest Metal listening thrill over the decades.

    As for the songs on this album, the best interpretation for me, as a whole, is Hard Rock and Rock Music that showcases the diversity in the vocals of Gene Simmons and the talent of his being a highly respectable guitarist. Gene Simmons plays electric and acoustic guitar throughout his solo album, he does not play bass guitar here. While with KISS, there are not many moments where Gene Simmons diversifies with his vocals, (that has always been fine with me), plus Gene Simmons plays bass guitar exclusively while with KISS. Looking back, this album was a great opportunity for Gene Simmons to eradicate the expected, delivering on the unexpected… “When You Wish Upon A Star” is the finest example that I could possibly point out. Now, do I like listening to Gene Simmons sing this song? As a teenager, back in the late 70’s into the ’80’s… no, I could never understand why Gene Simmons would have done this song. I actually would deliberately not listen to it after I heard it the first time. Fast forward to 2009, well, I now like this rendition of “When You Wish Upon A Star”, the softer side of Gene Simmons is rather a relaxing listen… (I guess I am getting softer as I get older). Plus, as a Metal bonus, my nine year old twin daughters really dig this song… and Gene Simmons too.

    My favorite song is the album opener “Radioactive”, it just glistens with Old School KISS, courtesy of Gene Simmons, of course. His vocals are exactly what you would expect on this song, the commanding and sinister tone that is part of the Gene Simmons persona. I really like the vibe I get from “See You Tonite”, just a solid Rock song that has swirls of late ’70’s sound. “True Confessions” is another Classic Rock song that standouts with the background vocals of Helen Reddy… yes, Helen Reddy. This Gene Simmons solo album was the strongest seller out of the four KISS solo albums, I can honestly understand why, after owning and listening to these songs for years. This Gene Simmons album may not be my favorite out of the four KISS solo albums, yet it does not mean squat when I look at the big Metal picture… this Gene Simmons album is a Rock Classic.

    Some of the guest musicians on this Gene Simmons solo KISS album: Rick Nielsen, guitarist of Cheap Trick appears on “See You In Your Dreams”, (Rick Nielsen’s name is spelled incorrectly, by the way, in this albums liner notes, Neilson), Bob Seger – background vocals on “Living In Sin” and “Radioactive”, Joe Perry of Aerosmith plays guitar on “Radioactive” and “Tunnel Of Love”, Donna Summer – background vocals on “Burning Up With Fever” and Cher – voice on phone call during “Living In Sin”. These guest music celebrities that appeared on this album make for excellent Rock Music trivia… not every Metalhead in the world is going to know that Donna Summer appeared on the Gene Simmons solo KISS album.

    KISS Gene Simmons - solo album large pic

    TED NUGENT – “Free For All” a 1976 Hard Rock album of greatness

    Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock music 1976, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Music, old school hard rock, Rock, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage rock albums, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    main-150Ted Nugent “Free For All”, (released in 1976), is an album of Hard Rock songs that I slap the label of greatness on. There is no one you can compare Ted Nugent to… he was and still is his own Rock and Roll Warrior. Meat Loaf’s vocals and Ted Nugent’s guitar are a double dose of Classic Hard Rock superiority on this album. Meat Loaf is the lead vocalist on the songs: “Writing On The Wall”, “Street Rats”, “Together”, “Hammerdown” and “I Love You So I Told You A Lie”. Meat Loaf is the real deal vocally, on these songs. “Free For All” was an accomplishment of incredible songs that just continue to knock me over to this day. This album just carries me off into the thunderous land of Hard Rock glory. Ted Nugent is truly an originator of 1970’s Hard Rock guitar… listening to the guitar play of this legend makes me want to stand atop a crowd of onlookers and scream hell yeah!! In my Metal opinion, Ted Nugent and “Free For All” is all about 1970’s Hard Rock in it’s most genuine and heaviest state. An uncompromising group of songs that are Hard Rock personified, aimed at stirring up a good time and feeling the Ted Nugent power of guitar cool. I finally had my first introduction to this album and other Ted Nugent albums at that, in the early 1980’s. Ted Nugent quickly made me aware that Hard Rock music should never be watered down, it should be hard driven and fostered with head turning guitar licks aplenty. With “Free For All”, there are so many Hard Rock attributes happening that this album could easily be labeled as The Great Reference Book of Hard Rock, in my Metal opinion.

    The album opener “Free For All” plays out as such… a Hard Rock song that sounds heavier than it really is, a Hard Rock song that highlights the fusion and importance of a bass driven flow. “Free For All” the song, when played at the recommended loud volume, makes me feel like the world is a wonderful globe of Rock and Roll beings. “Dog Eat Dog” is just another Ted Nugent classic… it powers forward without making a single pit stop, so be forewarned… this is a Hard Rock song that should never, ever, be turned off until it is rightfully over. “Street Rats” takes a back seat to no other Hard Rock song, in all of Hard Rock history. This song has never failed at it’s goal to Rock me out senseless… never. The word mellow just does not coincide with the persona or music of Ted Nugent. However, “Together” is a song that I consider to be toned down enough for the dreaded mellow adjective to come out and play. Hey, I am going to say that this song is one of my favorites of the entire catalog of Ted Nugent albums. “Together” is a song that is hard enough to not be a bona fide ballad, yet it comes across rather soothing, based on the Ted Nugent heaviness scale.

    “Light My Way” is the one song on this album that I feel legitimized why Ted Nugent was/is such a great guitar player, he jams like a Hard Rock guru meets Southern Hard Rock legend. “Hammerdown” does not stray away from the Ted Nugent guitar lead and solo laden blueprint that makes this entire album – a 1970’s Classic Hard Rock album of upmost legitimacy. “I Love You So I Told You A Lie” could very well have been a song on a future Meat Loaf album, in my Metal opinion. Meat Loaf truly bestowed his vocal brilliance on this Ted Nugent album. Add Meat Loaf into the mix of songs on “Free For All” and this album has and always will satisfy any Classic Hard Rock hunger fits, that I may encounter. For the record, I have listened to this album non-stop today, it just has the Hard Rock groove and vibe I was hankering for.

    Derek St. Holmes was the lead vocalist on the songs: “Turn It Up”, “Light My Way” and “Dog Eat Dog”, while Ted Nugent is the lead vocalist on the title song “Free For All”.

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    JOE SATRIANI “Surfing With The Alien” – My music of choice for today and many days to come

    Posted in 1980's classic rock guitarists, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's instrumental rock albums, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's classic rock, 1980's classic rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, classic rock songs, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, Guitar, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal solo albums, heavy metal solo artists, instrumental guitar rock albums, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, Rock, rock guitarists, rock music, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    main-150I listened to Joe Satriani “Surfing With The Alien” all day today… in the car, in the house and back in the car once again. (Released in 1987, I own both the vinyl LP and CD). I have those days, where I choose that one CD and listen to it the entire day. Joe Satriani is without question, one of my favorite guitarists that ever lived. Pinning down who my favorite guitarist is of all time is too impossible of a task – there are just way too many guitarists across the entire Rock and Heavy Music spectrum that I revere. It’s not that I do not want to get controversial about naming an all time favorite guitarist, I named what I feel is the greatest Metal album of all time, in a previous post – (Black Sabbath, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”). There are just so many unique styles of playing out there, in the world of guitarists, I tend to draw from a cornucopia of these styles and enjoy what I hear from a vast array of players. Joe Satriani really nails it down, with pin point accuracy, on this album. Combining speed and clarity, while slowing things down at all the right moments, makes for a harmonious and melodic guitar instrumental experience, is the best quick summary for Joe Satriani on “Surfing With The Alien”. The daunting question of: Is Joe Satriani a Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Metal guitarist? – can only be answered by stating Joe Satriani can play it all and play it with greatness. The catalog of albums that Joe Satriani has created over the years proves just that, the proof is in his music.

    When I listened to “Surfing With The Alien” today, I never stopped to think about what these songs would be like if lyrics were to be put into the mix. (I am thinking it now, though). That is what a great guitar instrumental album will do for me, the focal point is the guitar brilliance of Joe Satriani, no vocals are necessary. The guitar play of Joe Satriani is what speaks, in essence, that is what it should do. I have always equated a great guitar player, as a musician who can make me hear and feel the emotion that erupts from the notes and chords they play. At 1:46, “Hill Of The Skull” may be one of the shortest songs on this album, yet this is the one that overflows the most emotional feeling – for me. Surfing With The Alien” is hands down, the most popular and fastest song from this album, a quick fix for getting back on my feet and body slamming any negative thoughts in my brain. If I had to describe this album in just two words, they would be: groove saturated. “Always With Me, Always With You” and “Echo” are not just crossover songs to lure the easy listening crowd into the outskirts of Heavy Music, these are songs that encapsulate the upbeat harmony and instinctive music writing genius of Joe Satriani.

    My favorite song on “Surfing With The Alien” is Ice 9″. Oh man, do I really like this song. By process of elimination, there is going to be the one song out of the ten found here, that sends it straight through me.“Satch Boogie” is a song that reels me in as well, it shows just how dynamic Joe Satriani had become as a player, on just his second album release. Listening to just this CD today really did make my day that much better. It is not that often that I will listen to only one CD for an entire day… this has definitely been an exercise in Metal constraint for me. To not slap in some Death Metal, Black Metal or straight up Heavy Metal within today’s routine, only justifies how much I really enjoy this album and Joe Satriani’s guitar. Tomorrow I will go back to my daily mix of Metal listening, still I guarantee that I will crank up “Ice 9” once again.

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    BOSTON – “Don’t Look Back” sealed album provides a very cool Classic Rock find

    Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock albums sealed, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's rock music, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's hard rock, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock 1978, classic rock album finds, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, collecting classic rock, collecting music, collecting rock music, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, everyday experiences, flea market finds, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Music, old school hard rock, Rock, rock & roll, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock and roll memorabilia, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, thrift store finds, thrift store rock music finds, vintage hard rock albums, vintage rock album finds, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 25, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    main-150On one of my recent Hard Rock/Heavy Metal hunts via the second hand route, I came across a true Classic Rock album that I grabbed ahold of within milliseconds of spotting it… Boston “Don’t Look Back”. As a Metal bonus, this great album is also – still factory sealed. That is so right, this vintage Boston album which was released on August 2, 1978, has still, it’s original plastic wrapping protecting it for thirty one years. I never owned “Don’t Look Back” on album before, finding a mint copy of it now, in 2009, is so fine. Sure, I have Boston on CD, yet landing one of my favorite Classic Rock bands on sealed vinyl, on a trip to a thrift store unleashes a cool high for me… every time. I realize this price always gets mentioned when I write about my vintage album finds, it is the truth when reveal it only cost fifty cents. Yikes, that is cheaper than most of the plastic prizes my daughters pay for at the (what I still call) bubble gum machines in front of the grocery stores.

    I just can’t say enough about the song writing found on “Don’t Look Back”, the music and lyrics are just prime examples of what Classic Rock and Hard Rock is about. This is an album where the two biggest hits are my favorite two hits as well. Going on decades now, the guitar leads on the song “Don’t Look Back” still sends me into a Hard Rock high. If “A Man I’ll Never Be” has gone down in Rock Music history as a ballad, then so be it. Musically, it really cannot be disputed as a ballad… so I just consider this song as my second favorite ballad of all time. (My favorite ballad ever is “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue, which I posted on this Metal Odyssey blog in recent weeks). As I stop to ponder, Boston was/is in a Hard Rock class of their own… what other band out there really sounds like them, musically or vocally? Orion The Hunter comes to mind, with their one album, (released on May 9, 1984). Realistically, Orion The Hunter sounded like Boston due to the band members being: Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau, lead singer Fran Cosmo (who became the vocalist for Boston in the 1990’s) and the late Brad Delp who provided background vocals on the “Orion The Hunter” album. Honestly, can a spinoff  band of Boston count when trying to name another band that has that legendary Boston sound?

    This is what makes hunting for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music so interesting… once I land a find, I begin to seek out further the history and Rock Music family tree of the band and album I find. All of this Hard Rock happiness and it only cost fifty cents. I am not too interested in opening the sealed plastic wrap that has protected this album for so long… I am quite content to just stare at it and keep it as a Classic Rock collectible for now. In the end, looking for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal finds can be an educational trip into Rock History. Plus, paying fifty cents for a Boston album that is originally sealed, is extremely more frugal and genuine than paying fifty thousand dollars to rent out twenty eight acres of fun, for one week, on Martha’s Vineyard.

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    FOREIGNER “Double Vision” – a Classic Hard Rock album revisited

    Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's rock music, 1980's classic rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Music, old school hard rock, Rock, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock music, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    main-150Foreigner, a Hard Rock band that opened the doors to the world of Heavy Music for me. Double Vision”, an album that I consider to be one of the greatest Rock or Hard Rock albums ever created. On June 20, 1978, “Double Vision” was released. On January 26, 1979, I received this revered album as a birthday gift from my late mother. I was able to choose an album, just one album, on a trip to the Caldor department store… Foreigner “Double Vision” was my choice, on that birthday. Each year that passes by, these fond memories only grow stronger. Man, if I was to say I have listened to this album more times than any other album, it would not be a stretch. Back in 1979, I was only listening to a handful of Hard Rock bands that would eventually guide me into evolving into the Metal Music loyalist that I am today. I was thirteen years old and completely blown away by this album and band… I listened to every lyric, every chord, every note, that erupted from these songs. Foreigner was actually teaching me, at this very young age, that Hard Rock music this enormous could and would make my life enjoyable. I continue to reflect, to revisit often, the bands and albums that molded my heavy music tastes. 

    From the very first listen to “Double Vision” until this very day, I honestly would choose “Blue Morning, Blue Day” as my favorite song from this album. I completely reject any notion that this song is a ballad. In my Metal opinion, Lou Gramm was at his most impeccable, vocally, on this song. My second favorite song from this classic album is a clear choice… the instrumental “Tramontane”. Whoa, when I first listened to “Tramontane”, it was my introduction to what a Rock instrumental really was and really sounded like. I realized then, at thirteen years old, that Rock and Hard Rock music did not always need lyrics to sound amazing. “Hot Blooded” and “Double Vision” are the two super hit singles from this album that literally sent psyched up – shock waves throughout my entire body. Here I was, only a few years removed from listening to a dozen or so 45 rpm’s that were my mom’s from her teen years… I went from Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers, straight to the Hard Rock strength of Foreigner. Back in 1979, at age thirteen, this was one thrilling Rock Music leap for me. In 1979, Foreigner joined Kiss and Cheap Trick to round out my big three heavy bands that I was so ecstatic over. Queen and Bad Company were right behind them… trust me when I say that once 1980 rolled around, I was in a Hard Rock and Heavy Metal whirlwind of wonder.

    Once “Double Vision” was locked into my system, I needed more Foreigner… so I delved into their debut album by buying it in the Summer of 1979. “Head Games” was released in 1979, with “4” coming out in 1981, both of these Foreigner classics I took to as well. When it was all said and done, my winner was and always will be “Double Vision”. The albums Foreigner released after “4” seemed to take off into a different Rock direction, I never could grasp onto any Foreigner ballads. I was already too spoiled by the first two Foreigner albums to really embrace any Pop Music ballads that they made so hugely popular in the mid to late 1980’s. As I look back now, it is the “Double Vision” album that is really Foreigner, this is one of the albums that took hold of a thirteen year old back in 1979 and set him straight on a life long path of Heavy Music listening bliss. I have absolutely no regrets, just a ton of Metal gratitude to Foreigner.

    Foreigner, as they appeared on “Double Vision”: Mick Jones on guitar, Lou Gramm on lead vocals, Ian McDonald on guitar & keyboard, Al Greenwood on synthesizer & keyboard, Ed Gagliardi on bass and Dennis Elliott on drums.

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    MANOWAR – “Battle Hyms” 1982 album is required Heavy Metal Music

    Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's power metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, Album Review, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1982, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1982, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, Power Metal, power metal music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

    14727432Manowar plays Heavy Metal, their name screams Heavy Metal and they are Heavy Metal with a hundred exclamation points. “Battle Hymns” (released in 1982), was the first album from this prolific and what I consider historic Heavy Metal band. Why historic? Well, the last time I checked, Manowar held the Guinness Book of World Records title for having the loudest live performance. (I always disliked the word performance, especially when it relates to Heavy Metal). Besides being extremely loud, Manowar presented upon the world of Heavy Metal a gloriously lean, mean and heavy album with “Battle Hymns.” All eight songs on this album are laced with forcefully driven guitar leads, riffs and all things sacred to Heavy Metal. The first two song titles say it all – “Death Tone” and “Metal Daze”. What I like most about this album is that there is absolutely not one second of waste to be heard… from start to finish this is muscular, Old School, 500% – Heavy Metal. Of course, this Metal adulation I have for Manowar and “Battle Hymns” is all my Metal opinion, however, this is an album that needs to be heard by todays younger generation of Heavy Metal fans.

    Manowar never complicated anything with their brand of Heavy Metal, no smoke and mirrors to be found. What can be so difficult about embracing heavy, loud and melodic music? In my Metal opinion, the Heavy Metal of Manowar is just as essential as any of the basic food groups. I could thrive just fine, on the Metal of Manowar, if it was to be the only music left on earth. “Death Tone” opens this initial album as if it is unleashing Manowar onto the universe, with their sole purpose to spread the word of Heavy Metal on every living being in existence. “Metal Daze” is my favorite song from “Battle Hymns”, it is the musical personification of Heavy Metal. What would a Manowar album be like without a battle song? It would be like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the bread. “Battle Hymn” takes care of the need for listening to a Manowar call to battle… Heavy Metal style. “Dark Avenger” is another standout song on an album of standout songs, plus the narration found in the midst of this powerful and heavy music, by the late Orson Welles, adds to the mythical ambiance. 

    I find the lead vocals of Eric Adams to be very reminiscent of early and legendary Judas Priest vocalist , Rob Halford. Ross The Boss without any doubt in my mind, exhibits some of the finest Heavy Metal guitar licks I have ever heard… a guitarist that commands and justifiably earns my Heavy Metal respect. “Fast Taker” is a song that sounds better each time I listen to it, even if it has been a zillion listens. “Shell Shock” is a Heavy Metal song that I always wanted to crank up extremely loud in my car, with the windows down, while at a crowded intersection of uptight people. (Maybe that wish will come through for me one of these days). “Manowar” is a Heavy Metal call to conquer, this song is not just named after the band, it signifies their tenacity and perseverance as a leader of the Heavy Metal genre. No matter how loud I play this album, there is the thought that this Heavy Metal has been played louder… rightfully so. If Heavy Metal 101 really did exist, as a college course, I would feel confident that “Battle Hymns” would be a required listen and study as to just how Heavy Metal was molded, American style, courtesy of the great Manowar.

    Manowar, as they appeared on their first album, “Battle Hymns” from 1982: Eric Adams on lead vocals, Ross “The Boss” Friedman on guitars & keyboards, Joey DeMaio on four & eight string bass & bass pedals and Donnie Hamzik on drums & percussion.

    ManowarBattlehymns