Archive for classic hard rock

BIG GUNS – Announce Debut Album ‘Down But Not Out’

Posted in classic hard rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on September 17, 2013 by Metal Odyssey

Big Guns - promo band pic - B&W - 2013 - #81

Big Guns are a new Classic Rock band born from the ashes of the highly regarded Twister. Renowned for their powerful live rock performances and having played extensively across Ireland on the pub, bike rally & festival circuit, Big Guns are set to inject a new leash of life into Classic Hard Rock.

Founded by Kieran ‘Twerp’ McArdle (Guitar & Vocals) & Tony Drumm (Bass), the band later introduced Lisa Howe (Drums) & Daniel ‘Baldo’ O’Toole (Guitar) to complete a powerhouse line-up with a wealth of playing experience and a sound that proves it.

The band’s debut album Down But Not Out draws influences from the sounds of AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest – it’s guaranteed to get you singing, headbanging and tapping along.

Lisa Howe - Drummer - Big Guns - Promo pic - 2013 - #4

Drummer Lisa Howe comments on the album: “The whole band are very excited, we’ve really put our hearts into making this album & we’re very proud of it. We can’t wait to take it on the road & see how it’s received! Hard rockin’, catchy & full on. Think Judas Priest from ’83 with a modern production.”

BIG GUNS - Down But Not Out - promo cover pic - 2013

Down But Not Out – Track List:

01. Red Eyed & Rollin’

02. Devil’s Highway

03. Song For A Friend

04. Remember Me

05. Kiss N Tell

06. Rockin’ In The Free World

07. Fall From Grace

08. Forever & Always

Down But Not Out is out 29th November.

Pre-Order the album here: http://bigguns.bigcartel.com/

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(Source: Future PR)

* For More Info On BIG GUNS:

www.facebook.com/biggunsrocks

http://www.biggunsofficial.com

Stone - Motorhead Tee  pic:small

LONG LIVE BIG GUNS.

Stone.

KISS “Sonic Boom” album cover & track listings!

Posted in 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 music, 1970's Rock, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's heavy metal hits, 1980's popular rock bands, 1980's classic rock, 1980's classic rock music, 1980's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, collecting music, cool album covers, current hard rock albums, current hard rock music, current hard rock songs, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current rock albums 2009, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential heavy metal songs, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock albums 2009, hard rock music 2009, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal favorites, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, heavy metal songs 2009, heavy metal this decade, Metal, metal odyssey, Music, new hard rock album, new heavy metal album, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, recent heavy metal albums, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage heavy metal songs, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 20, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

KISS Sonic Boom will be released on October 6, 2009, in the U.S., exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam’s Club. Sonic Boom is a 3 – disc set: a CD of 11 new KISS songs, a 15 song newly re-recorded KISS Klassics CD and 1 KISS Bonus Live DVD. Cool. I will be buying my copy of Sonic Boom first thing on October 6th, (right after I bring my daughters to school). Admitting that I am stoked about KISS returning with Sonic Boom is a Metal understatement! The wait is coming to an end… a new KISS album is upon us, for me it will be Christmas in October, uh, Kissmas in October that is. Long live KISS Rock and Roll!

The Bonus Live DVD is footage from the KISS 2009 South American Tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A 20 page booklet will be included inside Sonic Boom as well. Sonic Boom will come as a DigiPak.

 

KISS "Sonic Boom" x-large album pic 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Track Listing for KISS Sonic Boom:

  1. Modern Day Delilah

  2. Russian Roulette

  3. Never Enough

  4. Yes I Know (Nobody’s Perfect)

  5. Stand

  6. Hot And Cold

  7. All For The Glory

  8. Danger Us

  9. I’m An Animal

10. When Lightning Strikes

11. Say Yeah

Track Listing for the KISS Klassics CD:

  1. Deuce

  2. Detroit Rock City

  3. Shout It Out Loud

  4. Hotter Than Hell

  5. Calling Dr. Love

  6. Love Gun

  7. I Was Made For Lovin’ You

  8. Heaven’s On Fire

  9. Lick It Up

10. I Love It Loud

11. Forever

12. Christine Sixteen

13. Do You Love Me

14. Black Diamond

15. Rock And Roll All Nite

KISS Bonus Live DVD Track Listing:

  1. Deuce

  2. Hotter Than Hell

  3. C’mon And Love Me

  4. Watchin’ You

  5. 100,000 Years

  6. Rock And Roll All Nite

Happy Birthday Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick!

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, classic rock, current hard rock albums, Drums, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, live rock albums, Music, new hard rock album, Rock, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock celebrity birthdays, rock music, vintage hard rock albums, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 13, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

main-150-1Bun E. Carlos, drummer of Hard Rock legends, Cheap Trick, turned 58 Rockin’ years young today, (June 12, 2009). Metal Odyssey extends a huge Happy Birthday to Bun E. Carlos! I am not holding back when I say, I have been a fan of Cheap Trick since I was in 6th grade… (back in the late 1970’s)… when owning 8-track tapes of Cheap Trick was the norm and collecting Kiss trading cards was cool. I still get a cool kick from listening to Bun E. Carlos’s  classic drum intro, to the live track of “Ain’t That A Shame” off of the “at Budokan” album. Listening to Bun. E. Carlos over the years, I have never lost sight of the fact, that this drummer is as capable and talented as any other in Hard Rock history. Just give the album “Dream Police” a listen, especially the title track, you will hear Bun E. Carlos solidifying the song with precision. Bun E. Carlos has proven to me, it is not the glitz and glam that make a real Hard Rock drummer, it is the playing, the integrity in the musicianship that really matters. Many Hard Rock drummers have the look, yet they do not have half the talent with the drumsticks, like Mr. Carlos bestows. Bun E. Carlos is not an overnight sensation, this is a drummer that along with the entire Cheap Trick band… have paid their Hard Rock dues spanning three decades. 

Cheap Trick, as stated on the official Cheap Trick website, have achieved 40 gold and platinum recording awards, have more than 5,000 performances, 29 movie soundtracks and 20 million records sold. If I am not mistaken, this appears to be Hard Rock success and excellence, personified. 

I am Metal smitten that Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and of course, Bun E. Carlos are still Rocking heavy and steady to this very day! Cheap Trick will be releasing yet another new album, adding more credence to an already storied and legendary career. As reported on the official Cheap Trick website, “The Latest” will be the new Cheap Trick album, with it’s release date set for June 23, 2009. Amazon.com will have exclusive rights in selling “The Latest” for one month. The official Cheap Trick website also states that limited editions of this album will be available on LP and 8-track tapes… that is correct… 8 -track tapes!! (Now that is what I call vintage). Thank you Bun E. Carlos and Cheap Trick for your incredible contributions to Rock and Hard Rock history… thank you for being a mainstay in my music listening life.

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Happy Metal Birthday, Klaus Meine – Scorpions vocalist

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's Rock, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, Album Review, classic metal, classic rock, cool album covers, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal from germany, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, Rock, Scorpions, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 25, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

fullsizeIt is May 25th, 2009, Memorial Day in the United States. Today is also… the 61st birthday for Klaus Meine, lead vocalist for the incredible, dynamic and legendary Scorpions. Metal Odyssey gives out a loud, Metal filled, Happy Birthday to Klaus Meine! I can go on for days as to how much Metal joy that Klaus Meine and the Scorpions have given me, with their Heavy Metal, throughout my life. My favorite Scorpions album ever, is “In Trance” – this album showcased an up and coming Heavy Metal band that was filled with the Metal hunger and talent needed to sustain such a long standing, unbelievable career. Released in 1975, the third album, this is a Scorpions release unlike their “Animal Magnetism”, “Blackout” or “Love At First Sting” albums. This is Scorpions Metal that was raw, rough and edgy, in other Metal words – great tunes without the Arena Rock flamboyancy. Do not get me wrong, I support and revere every album ever released by the Scorpions. Only this is a Scorpions band in their Metal infancy, the dynamics are clearly heard on this album, which makes me choose “In Trance” as my favorite Scorpions release. This vinyl Metal Classic still exists in my collection today, after so many plays on the turntable. I am still amazed that I was able to keep this album, in such incredible condition, for this long!

“Top of the Bill” is my favorite track on “In Trance”, this song exemplifies what true old school Heavy Metal sounds like. The Scorpions musicians over the decades are stand alone – top of their Metal game players. Klaus Meine is realistically, for me, a top ten, all-time Heavy Metal vocalist. You can argue that Klaus Meine is a top ten, all-time Hard Rock vocalist as well. (Take your pick or pick both). “In Trance” does not lack in quality of musicianship or song writing, in my Metal opinion. This was an album that really represented this time period well, representing what Heavy Metal from Germany sounded like. (Thank you Germany). I am confident in saying that the world of Metal has embraced and revered the Scorpions to this very day. Thank you Klaus Meine for sharing your unique and unbelievable vocals with us, you and the Scorpions are in a Metal class all your own!

Scorpions as they appeared on “In Trance” in 1975: Klaus Meine on lead vocals, Ulrich Roth on lead guitar & backing vocals and lead vocals on “Dark Lady” & “Sun In My Hand”, Rudolf Schenker on rhythm guitar & backing vocals, Francis Buchholz on bass guitar & backing vocals and Rudy Lenners on drums & percussion.

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The greatest Heavy Metal album of all time is…

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, Album Review, Black Sabbath, classic rock, cool album covers, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, ozzy, Ozzy Osbourne, Rock, rock music, rock music vocals, tony iommi heavy metal guitarist with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 9, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

527399Well, I have finally reached the pinnacle in my decision process for The Greatest Heavy Metal Album Of All Time. Please reference my past posts on this topic, you will find many great & legendary Metal albums that I personally nominated for this prestigious label. Without further delay, in my Metal opinion, and only mine alone, I have chosen: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”      

Please note that this is my opinion, anyone out there can have his/her own choice for this topic. It boils down to personal preference, especially when it happens to be Metal. Here are my reasons for why I feel this way about this incredible album:

1. It is my belief that Doom Metal, Stoner Metal and real Metal all began with Black Sabbath. “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” just signifies musically, what Metal was and where Metal was heading, back in 1974. 

2. Without question, for me, the ‘riff master’ of the Metal world then and now is and forever will be the legendary Tony Iommi.

3. Ozzy Osbourneno Rock or Metal vocalist has ever sounded like him, or even come close. Ozzy’s vocals are so unique, it is uncanny. I am not saying Ozzy is the greatest vocalist ever, what I am stating is that his vocals are a signature, a trademark if you will, of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” Ozzy’s vocals are so extraordinarily identifiable, just as Tony Iommi’s guitar riffs.

4. Not that this played any factor in my decision whatsoever – the album cover artwork is extremely cool, very much Metal. The artwork depicts a skull, demonic beings, a nightmarish snapshot of a piece of hell. Perhaps, I do not know officially for certain, this was the first album cover of any Rock genre which depicted 666 in it’s artwork. (Again, I would need to really research this).

My summary as to why I believe “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” to be The Greatest Heavy Metal Album Of All Time is this:

Black Sabbath “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is a tried and true Heavy Metal classic. Every song is a definitive statement of just how talented and forward thinking Black Sabbath was in 1974. These 8 songs are a journey of surreal riffs, post psychedelic musical heaviness, that molded Heavy Metal into what it has become today. The opener “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” has a lead riff that instantly prepares you for the remaining set of songs. The instrumental “Fluff” could only work for Black Sabbath on this album, it’s convenient yet prominent position within these songs makes complete sense. “Fluff” and it’s acoustic beauty embarks on the intelligence Black Sabbath held onto musically. Just look at how many Metal bands since, that have slipped in dreamy, mystical or macabre instrumentals for their respective albums. Ozzy Osbourne is so unmistakably eerie on vocals, he was and always shall be one of a kind. Tony Iommi delves into the world of heavy riffs, formulating one after another throughout, unknowingly becoming the Metal riff king for all time. Geezer Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums provide a legendary rhythm section, that shapes the dark moodiness of this beyond fantastic Metal masterpiece. I look at 1974, then I realize exactly how prominent Heavy Meal was then. It really was not an embraced genre as yet, Metal was truly in it’s infant stage.

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” was the Metal comet that stormed into the musical universe in 1974, making a collision onto a world of Rock & Roll that did not know what hit it. Legions of bands and musicians have been influenced by this album, if not, these bands/musicians are not into Metal and/or do not live on this planet. I strongly urge any and all Heavy Metal or Hard Rock fans to add “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” to their music collection, it is an essential and important work of Heavy Metal. The Greatest Heavy Metal Album Of All Time. 

Just as a sidebar, I struggled with this decision. I was steadfast in deciding on Slipknot “All Hope Is Gone” as the greatest ever. Then, I followed my Metal heart and realized, if it wasn’t for Black Sabbath and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” would there even be Metal music as we know it today?

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Happy Birthday Craig Frost – keyboardist, Grand Funk Railroad

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, american rock band, grand funk railroad rock band, Hard Rock, Music, Rock, rock celebrity birthdays, rock keyboard musicians, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 22, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

16694454I really enjoy paying homage to the greats of Rock & Roll music. Especially when the musician is a member of a band that I can never, ever, tire from. Happy Birthday Craig Frost! Craig is the keyboard extraordinaire for Grand Funk Railroad, a true – blue collar, American Rock Band. Craig turned a super cool 61 on April 20th. 

Man, whoever is into Classic Rock and/or Classic Hard Rock, simply cannot deny that “We’re An American Band” is seriously one heck of a kick tune, that has stood the test of time. For me, this song characterizes Grand Funk Railroad, for me it is their signature song. “The Loco – Motion” is another favorite Grand Funk Railroad tune of mine, the louder I play this bands music – the better it is. I always fall victim to the feel good mode when I crank up Grand Funk Railroad’s Rock & Roll. In my Metal opinion, Craig Frost exemplifies what quality musicianship on the keyboard is supposed to sound like, throughout his successful career. Thank you Craig Frost for the great music over the years!

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