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Some Rockin’ Albums To Get You Through An Ice Storm Warning!

Well, it’s coming… back for round II. On Tuesday, February 1st, round I came through Pennsylvania and it was enough to cause plenty of headaches and anxiety attacks. As it is, round I was just a teaser compared to the impending “round II”, which is supposed to be bigger, badder and more potent than ever. What is “it”? I can almost see the concerned look on your face, as you begin to mutter: what was round I and what could round II possibly be? What is Stone unravelling about now? An ice storm. Another F’n ice storm. Metal be thy name, ice storms are not fun. Ice storms for all intents and purposes are dangerous to life, liberty and the pursuit of Metal happiness.

I have my snow shovel, yet what can that actually do when it comes to ice? My nearly 4 foot long ice chopper will come in handy though. Rock salt… yup, I have about 15 pounds of it, only it’s not gonna be enough probably. Will we lose our power due to the ice storm’s brutality to tree limbs and power lines? Maybe. Losing power when the temperature outside is below freezing is not something I welcome with open Metal arms.

What can any one of us do when it comes to a raging ice storm? The damn ice storm warning put out by the National Weather Service says it all! With big jack-o-lantern grins on their faces, my late/great uncles (Uncle George and Willard) always used to say to me when I was a young lad: you can’t control or predict Mother Nature. They were not mistaken. All that the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England States can do now is wait. Wait. Wait for this ice storm to cometh… and…

LISTEN TO SOME ROCK ‘N’ ROLL & F’N METAL!

Below is a list of five albums that are somehow linked to that very cold three letter word… ICE. Be it the band name, song or album title, the reference to ice is there. WARNING: This list just might serve you right. Each album is recommended by Stone for your listening Rockin’ pleasure during – Ice Storm Round II of 2011.

Foreigner – debut/self titled (1977)

Their Classic Rock gem – Cold As Ice is as fitting as any song to listen to during Ice Storm Round II. If these lyrics to Cold As Ice speak to me correctly, this song has some pissed off attitude happening. That’s perfect! For I am pissed off at this ice storm. By the way, this Foreigner debut album is a Classic Rock masterpiece.

Yngwie Malmsteen – Fire & Ice (1992)

Göran Edman is the lead vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen’s sixth studio album. I’ve always liked this Fire & Ice album and consider it to be one of those best kept secrets from the early 90’s. Can you keep a secret? I still have… Fire & Ice… in mint condition… on cassette. No, it’s not for sale.

AC/DC – BLACK ICE (2008)

If any band in this great land has the ability to cheer me up, especially during Ice Storm Round II of 2011, it’s gonna be AC/DC. This album’s title and it’s title track have those two words no driver wants to hear during these winter months – Black Ice.

Frozen Ghost – The Essentials (2005)

If you dig Night Ranger, Nelson and Survivor, then you just might dig Frozen Ghost. Their melodic and well crafted songs were tailor made for Rock accessibility. This Canadian AOR band released three studio albums from 1987 to 1992. Here’s a Rockin’ fun fact: Frozen Ghost spelled their band name as Frōzen Ghōst on their first and third album covers, (their second album from 1988, Nice Place To Visit, had the spelling Frozen Ghost). Frozen Ghost broke up in 1993 and their mainstream Rock still resonates relevancy to my ears.

ICED EARTH – ALIVE IN ATHENS (1999)

Since their 1990 debut and self-titled album, Iced Earth has been an American Heavy Metal Band that has never buckled down to music trends or watered down their music for any mainstream acceptance… thanks to the legendary Jon Schaffer (founding member/guitarist/songwriter). Matthew Barlow is the lead vocalist on this live gem from Iced Earth.

Alive In Athens bestows some solid production, capturing Iced Earth’s Heavy Metal energy as they play their classics to a fired up mass of fans in Athens, Greece. I can’t ever find myself keeping this CD out of arms reach. Plus, what other band has a name so fitting for an ice storm? On Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011, when I wake up from my Metal slumber… a visible Iced Earth will be awaiting me outside, courtesy of Mother Nature. My great uncles are smiling down on me now.

By now, many of you are asking: hey Stone, what about that album cover at the top of this post? Is that a cool album to listen to during Ice Storm Round II of 2011? My answer is very simple. Yes, The Crucible Of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 is a Metal recommendation for any ice storm. It receives Stone’s Metal stamp of approval the whole year long too.

METAL BE THY NAME.

ICE STORMS SUCK.

ICE STORM WARNINGS ARE SPOOKY.

Stone.

7 Comments »

ZZ TOP “Eliminator” – Metal Odyssey’s Classic Rock Journey Back To 1983

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, southern hard rock, southern rock with tags 1980's rock albums, arena rock, blues rock, classic rock, classic rock albums, eliminator album, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Quiet Riot, rock music, rock music news, southern rock, zz top on January 29, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ZZ TOP – It’s a humdinger of a thought, reflecting back to those blissful days of keg parties so long ago, in an open field, while Eliminator from ZZ TOP was blasting from someone’s boom box or car stereo. It was very common to hear Eliminator being cranked up along with Screaming For Vengeance from Judas Priest (released in 1982), Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast and Piece Of Mind (released in 1982 and 1983 respectively) and Quiet Riot’s Metal Health. You have to remember, these were profoundly popular Metal albums of the day and ZZ TOP came knockin’ on the door to party… when all the world was abuzz about Heavy Metal. The really cool thing is, I and the majority of fellow Metalheads I knew then… let ZZ TOP in.

Metal Health was released on March 11, 1983 and Eliminator was released on March 23, 1983. Everyone knows the Metal historical importance of Metal Health being the first #1 Heavy Metal album on the Billboard Chart. (If you did not know, well, now you do. Plus QR rules too). Eliminator cracked that same Billboard Chart peaking at #9. As I reflect on it now, both the Metal Health and Eliminator albums should be hailed more frequently for their combined pop culture impact, it was like a one-two punch to the Hard Rockin’ forehead that felt so damn good back then. It certainly was a great moment in Rock Music history, when MTV really played music videos and while Heavy Metal along with Hard Rock was heard everywhere.

The coexistence of Eliminator alongside such Metal album classics back in 1983 proved that Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and Rock can and does have a common connection. A “weeding out” process was happening amongst us fans and bands back in those early 80’s… resulting in the eventual endless list of sub-genres that we all debate about in 2011. Eliminator seemed to break down any barriers of Rock ‘N’ Roll segregation back in 1983, the Country and Southern Rock fans just might like a band that a Metalhead digs!

I’ve never been one to embrace just Metal as my only music listening experience and ZZ TOP is one major reason why. (Metal is #1 in my Metal heart though). I remember my buddies and I rushing to Strawberries Records & Tapes to buy earlier albums from ZZ TOP after Eliminator was released. This album gave the ZZ TOP back catalog even more notoriety, (even though it was already revered) and helped spotlight the righteousness of Blues Rock and Southern Rock/Southern Hard Rock.

While I write about Eliminator, I’m tapping into my memories of yesteryear, regardless of how dazed they might be. I do remember vividly the social impact that Eliminator had on my group of buddies and the media impact goes without saying. The music videos that spawned from this album were beyond entertaining… they were Rock ‘N’ Roll coolness with an exclamation point. TV Dinners is not just a (gasp) fun song, the music video for this song is flat-out hilarious. The slow driven, thump and stump of TV Dinners “really can’t be beat”, in my Metal opinion.

Not to disrespectfully push the “hits” of Eliminator aside, still, there are other songs on this album that cut loose with their dirt kickin’ and down home Rockin’ vibes. I Got The Six, Dirty Dog, If I Could Only Flag Her Down, I Need You Tonight, Thug and Bad Girl are just as potent as the world popular Legs, Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin, Got Me Under Pressure and of course… TV Dinners.

Was Eliminator commercial for it’s time? Of course it was and for grand reason. Eliminator will forever have a commercial appeal due to it’s memorable lyrics and good-times feel. It’s that big Texas boogie beat that will always make ZZ TOP and their catalog of albums timeless. Blues and grooves. Add into the sound and style of ZZ TOP these three words as well: Hard, Heavy, Classic. What other Rock power-trio, if you will, manifested more bluesy slick and muscular grooves into their songs such as ZZ TOP? Eliminator only magnified this.

There was no rushing to the “Prog-Rock” door to impress the fans when it came to the Rock ‘N’ Roll of Eliminator, that’s never been what ZZ TOP was/is known for. Straightforward with their brand of bluesy Southern Rock and Hard Rock is what made ZZ TOP famous for in the first place. As time has gone by, Eliminator just “eliminated” any doubts about this band and album having a huge impact among a cross section of Rock genres. It always feels dandy when I can reflect on an album that has made my Rock lovin’ life so enjoyable. My Eliminator vinyl and CD can never grow moss or collect dust mites… there’s just too many BIG beats and FUN moments that it bulges with, just like a Classic Rock album from ZZ TOP should do.

ZZ TOP:

BILLY GIBBONS – guitar & vocals

DUSTY HILL – bass & vocals

FRANK BEARD – drums

* Eliminator was released on March 23, 1983, on Warner Bros. Records.

* Eliminator was produced by Bill Ham.

LONG LIVE ZZ TOP.

LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK.

The word “dandy” was used in the last paragraph.

Stone.

38 Comments »

Eddie Van Halen – Happy Metal Birthday From Metal Odyssey!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags celebrity birthdays, classic rock, eddie van halen, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, rock music birthdays, rock music news, stone's birthday, van halen on January 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

EDDIE VAN HALEN – Back on January 26, 1955, one of the greatest guitar players that has ever roamed the Rock and Heavy Music landscape was born. This icon of Rock is also a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer as well. Incredibly documented and noted for his superior guitar wizardry, that in turn has made him become a most influential musician spanning Rock ‘N’ Roll generations is – Eddie Van Halen. Happy Metal Birthday Eddie! The legendary founding member and lead guitarist for Van Halen turns a young 56 today! Whoa… YEAH!

(VAN HALEN I – 1978/Warner Bros. Records)

Van Halen I and Van Halen II are both albums that made my eyeballs widen and my jaw drop to the ground when I was just a young lad. All I can remember was thinking to myself… what is this? This music, this Heavy sound, THAT guitar! I would confidently venture to guess, that I’m not alone in that Rock ‘N’ Roll memory. This was 1978 and 1979 when these first two Van Halen albums were released respectively. Van Halen’s wide-open Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal sound and vibe created some excitement, that was and still is damn amazing to my ears to this very day!

CRANK UP SOME VAN HALEN TODAY AND YELL F’N YEAH!

Guess what? Guess who else shares their birthday with Eddie Van Halen on this 26th day of January? Need some hints? He’s a Metalhead lifer. The dude writing this. Stone. That’s me! YEAH! Happy Metal Birthday to me! I turn a very young 18 today! Um, alright… maybe I’m not 18 after all. Just add “27” to “18” and you win the Metal prize… which is the answer to my real age! The older I get, the more Rock ‘N’ Roll I need… and Metal is my all natural elixir.

(VAN HALEN II – 1979/Warner Bros. Records)

LONG LIVE EDDIE VAN HALEN.

LONG LIVE VAN HALEN.

LONG LIVE STONE.

Stone.

14 Comments »

Metal Odyssey’s Rock Music Book Pick: “A Brief History Of Album Covers”

Posted in album covers, book reviews, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, punk rock music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, rock music reviews with tags a brief history of album covers book, album covers, book reviews, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Punk rock, rock and roll, rock music, rock music books, rock music news on January 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALBUM COVERS – I recently discovered and bought a book that is about one of my favorite Rock ‘N’ Roll topics, that being album covers. A Brief History Of Album Covers set me back just $5 (U.S. funds). The store where I bought this cool book sells nothing higher than $5, hence the store name: Five Below. Now, this is not a used book store, nor a thrift store, all the variety of merchandise is sold as “new” at Five Below. There are a few of these Five Below stores in my area of Eastern Pennsylvania. Finding a book that interests me seems to be the norm, each time I visit a Five Below.

A Brief History Of Album Covers is an entertaining and insightful book to read. Author Jason Draper covers nearly 200 classic album covers, all in chronological order. From the debut and self-titled Elvis Presley album from 1956, to the (best of) Oasis album from 2006 – Stop The Clocks. From the Fifties to the “Noughties” as Jason Draper refers to the Millennium decade, he chooses album covers that are “the most iconic, unusual or representative” of each respective decade. It’s interesting and simply fun to see the album covers which Jason Draper has chosen for this book.

Each album cover has a brief write-up, with an anecdotal approach that works just well with me. Every album that is revisited has it’s respective cover pictured, in full color, along with it’s record label, release dates and songwriters. I find this book to be extremely helpful with it’s details that it offers. A Brief History Of Album Covers could have easily been a mammoth sized coffee table book, however, in this instance, the “less is more” school of thought comes together very attractively. This book has a soft cover and is 384 pages long. The oddball measurements (approximately) for this book are: 6 and 5/8″ x 6 and 1/4″.

There are not an abundance of Heavy Metal album covers found in Jason Draper’s research here and I quite honestly can live with it. Not everyone will submit the same list or book of what they consider to be the standout album covers that span 60 years. Iron Maiden’s third studio album from 1982, The Number Of The Beast is included, along with Van Halen’s 1984 and Led Zeppelin’s ultra-legendary sixth studio album – Physical Graffiti.

(Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti)

The diversity is seen here in A Brief History Of Album Covers that lends itself as a tribute to many Rock Music genres, only not all of them. From Frank Sinatra to Lynyrd Skynyrd with Pink Floyd and the Sex Pistols in-between, Jason Draper has accomplished a tidy celebration of album cover art. Sure, if it were my book on a history of album covers I would include representations from Black, Death and Thrash Metal without blinking a Metal eye. As I mentioned earlier though, not everyone will share the same opinion on an absolute list of decade defining album covers.

Even with the lack of Extreme Metal being represented within A Brief History Of Album Covers, I still strongly endorse this book and applaud Jason Draper for revisiting such a tremendous catalog of album covers. His interpretations of the album cover art he compiled, has made me look at these covers with an “open mind” once again. I also commend Jason Draper for paying homage to what is now quickly becoming an obsolete experience for younger generations of music fans, of being able to view and enjoy the album cover art that so often represents the respective music of the album and it’s creators. The LP does live on though, thanks to Jason Draper’s brief journey with all of these cool covers.

There are many interesting facts found in A Brief History Of Album Covers, both historic and artistic. One fact that I was reminded of, (due to my blatantly forgetting about), is the design similarity between Elvis Presley’s 1956 debut album and London Calling by The Clash, which was released back in 1979. Jason Draper refers to The Clash cover as “parodying” the Elvis Presley debut, only I beg to differ. My interpretation is The Clash are paying tribute to a true pioneer of Rock ‘N’ Roll, regardless if the initial intent was to be that of parody or not. Both the Elvis Presley debut album and London Calling are serious representations of their respective Rock genres, therefore the tag of “parody” realistically does not apply. Take a look for yourself below:

Elvis Presley (debut/self titled) – RCA Victor – 1956

The Clash (London Calling) – CBS Records (UK), Epic Records (U.S.)

* Jason Draper is the Reviews Editor for Record Collector Magazine, the United Kingdom’s longest running monthly music magazine, with distribution in the UK and worldwide. Jason Draper is described as a “true collector” on the inside back cover panel of this book… I would tend to agree he surely is, without knowing him.

* The foreword for A Brief History Of Album Covers was written by Paul Du Noyer. As the founder of Mojo (music magazine based in the United Kingdom), Paul Du Noyer has also edited many Rock Music reference books and is an author himself.

* A Brief History Of Album Covers was first published in 2008, by Flame Tree Publishing, based in the United Kingdom.

LONG LIVE ALBUM COVERS.

LONG LIVE THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Stone.

11 Comments »

Cheap Trick “Dream Police” – Pops Into My Head, Has Me Revisiting 1979…

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1979, cheap trick, classic rock, dream police, dream police video, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, rock music, rock music news on January 17, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CHEAP TRICK – Just like it was yesterday. That’s how it feels each time I listen to the 1979 Dream Police album from Cheap Trick. Those days of just playing pick-up basketball games around the neighborhood, going to friends birthday parties on Saturdays, messing around at the roller rink, hanging out at my grandma’s, reading MAD Magazine and having a major crush on Loni Anderson. Back then, I even had a huge crush on Donna Pescow, (she played Angie, on her own sitcom Angie). Yup.

I don’t know exactly why I had Dream Police playing in my head today… maybe because this song reminds me of Winter more than any other season. Songs will do that though… they just “pop” into my head without warning. I’m sure you know what I mean. Wow, maybe “those” Dream Police really do “live inside of my head”. Hey, as long as they’re cool songs that “pop” into my head and not something from The Wiggles (from days when my girls were crawling and rolling on the floor). Whatever the reason why Dream Police caught me off guard today, this song ROCKS and so does Cheap Trick. Metal be thy name.

I hope you enjoy this song and dig Cheap Trick too. This video below is Classic Cheap Trick. ‘Nuff said. If you don’t dig Cheap Trick, well, then go take a laxative and stop watching C-SPAN for awhile.

Back on May 16, 2009, I posted about this Rocktastic Cheap Trick album – Dream Police. If you like to read about it, just click the giant header-link below:

Cheap Trick – “Dream Police” an essential Hard Rock album

CHEAP TRICK SHOULD BE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.

LONG LIVE CHEAP TRICK.

Stone.

10 Comments »

Doobie Brothers “World Gone Crazy” – Classic Rock Never Sounded So Superb!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, classic rock bands, doobie brothers, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, michael mcdonald, rock albums, rock music, rock music news, willie nelson, world gone crazy album review on January 16, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

DOOBIE BROTHERS – On September 28, 2010, the Doobie Brothers released their thirteenth studio album titled – World Gone Crazy, via HOR Records. Classic Rock is named such due to it’s ability to cross generations and make us revisit the songs and albums that became the building blocks of what Rock and Hard Rock is today… and Classic Rock continues to build that solid foundation in which Rock finds it’s stability to this very moment. World Gone Crazy is as fine an example of a Classic Rock foundation block as I could ever point out. The Doobie Brothers are Classic Rock warriors, returning with fire and melody in their sound that needs to not just be listened to, their new album needs to be celebrated.

For a new Doobie Brothers album to have what I consider to be my new “favorite all-time” song from them is quite a Rockin’ thrill to tell. You see, China Grove from their third album The Captain and Me, released back in 1973, has forever been my favorite Doobie Brothers song. No more. Now my favorite Doobie Brothers song is My Baby. The Rock infectious melody coupled with the trademark Doobie Brothers chorus is spellbinding to my ears. Listening to My Baby is like I’m taking a journey back to 1978, I’m a young lad once more and I’m listening to the radio… and being introduced to Rock ‘N’ Roll all over again.

I know I can’t just continue on about My Baby the whole time here, however, this song has brought back something to my senses that has been missing for quite some time… and this song just makes me feel so goooooooooood. This song is like the fountain of youth to my ears. Tom Johnston, you wrote one incredible song with My Baby… take a Rockin’ bow. Alright, onto the rest of World Gone Crazy. I’m crazy about this album. Get it? World Gone Crazy… I’m crazy about it? Whatever.

A Brighter Day opens up this Doobie Brothers gem, packed with enough Caribbean flavor oozing from it’s sound, to send my day dreams longing for that island in the sun. The musical flirtation with Funky grooves summons up this song’s positive theme to even greater heights. The title track, World Gone Crazy is a Doobie Brothers take on the state of our economy, (with the way things are going in 2011, you can take your pick on global or U.S. economy). This song, as with the entire album, glistens with every Classic Rock aspect and nuance that The Doobie Brothers are world famous for.

Far From Home is a mid-tempo ballad that beholds some very inspirational lyrics. Far From Home combines it’s soothing lyrics, cool melodies and harmonious vocals to make it a mellow winner among some hot Rockin’ Doobie Brothers numbers. Young Man’s Game is what Doobie Brothers Rock ‘N’ Roll is all about, with a Classic Rockin’ guitar solo and plenty of foot stompin’ piano, all mixed into a non-stop and up-tempo groovin’ listen on this album.

Don’t Say Goodbye features the legendary and former Doobie Brother, Michael McDonald. This song is a mid-paced and easy listening experience, which fits right into the musical scope of what The Doobie Brothers have ventured into in the past. The only drawback to this song is that Michael McDonald’s vocals are “featured” as background and chorus. Initially, I was expecting a Michael McDonald performance where he takes center stage on vocals, with both lead and background.

With the legendary Country Outlaw we all know as Willie Nelson, his “featured” vocals on I Know We Won are utilized for both lead and background. This song’s lead vocals are shared by both Pat Simmons and Willie Nelson, their duet, if you will, is as fabulous as I could have ever expected. Old Juarez embodies a latin Rock sound and vibe that has me seeking out my Santana albums. I’d swear Carlos Santana plays a lick or two on this song, only his name does not appear in the liner notes. The Doobie Brothers are not falling short on Rock diversity with World Gone Crazy, the shifting of Rock gears makes this album smoke.

Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons both sound excellent on vocals. This Doobie Brothers band has proved to me, they are still a major player in the world of Rock, a Classic Rock icon of a band they truly are. Yes… The Doobie Brothers can still play and jam the Rockin’ lights out. There is comfort food… then there is comfort Rock. The Doobie Brothers epitomize what feel-good Classic Rock sounds like to my ears. Metal be thy name.

In the event I have to recommend that “one” Classic Rock album from 2010 to purchase, (and I guess that this is the event), it is World Gone Crazy. The Doobie Brothers may have let nearly an entire decade pass without a new studio album, yet they have more than made up for the long recess between albums. If The Doobie Brothers are to substitute quality over quantity, then they have unquestionably succeeded, for World Gone Crazy is top tier, Classic Rock quality… magnified ten times.

Doobie Brothers:

Tom Johnston – acoustic & electric guitars, vocals, background vocals

Michael Hossack – drums & percussion

John McFee – acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, percussion, violin, electric guitars, resonator guitars & vocals

Pat Simmons – acoustic & electric guitars, vocals & background vocals

**Other World Gone Crazy Info:**

* Bob Glaub plays bass on all songs except I Know We Won. (There’s no bass on this song, that’s why)

* World Gone Crazy was produced by the legendary Ted Templeman and The Doobie Brothers.

* Ted Templeman plays tambourine on Chateau. (I Thought you’d want to know).

* Nobody is a remake from The Doobie Brothers single Nobody, taken from their debut/self-titled album released back in 1971 on Warner Bros. Records.

* For more info on the Doobie Brothers, click on the link below:

Doobie Brothers – Official Website

World Gone Crazy Track Listing:

A Brighter Day

Chateau

Nobody

World Gone Crazy

Far From Home

Young Man’s Game

Don’t Say Goodbye (Featuring Michael McDonald)

My Baby

Old Juarez

I Know We Won (Featuring Willie Nelson)

Law Dogs

**THE DOOBIE BROTHERS SHOULD BE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.**

LONG LIVE THE DOOBIE BROTHERS.

Stone.

2 Comments »

KISS “KILLERS” – A Piece Of Vinyl KISStory From 1982!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1980's heavy metal, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, kiss, kiss albums, kiss killers album, metal odyssey, rock music, vinyl records on January 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

KISS – Sometime back in 1982 or 1983, I bought the KISS KILLERS album. I can vividly recall when I first saw this album though, it was at a small pop culture store that sold plenty of cool Heavy Metal albums from the 1970’s right up to those early 80’s. My cousin Randy worked at this store, he was always astute at Rock ‘N’ Roll history and what the newest album releases of the day were.

I didn’t hesitate about buying this KISS album then, knowing at the time it was an import, KILLERS was not a mass release within the United States. It was quite an impressive find for any KISS fan back then, even more so today, (see used prices below). The asking price for KILLERS set me back around $7 (U.S.) all those years ago. $7 back in ’82/’83 for a teen Metalhead like me was still a chunk of cheese.

Still having this KISS album in my collection is quite a thrill. I am proud of myself for not selling or trading away this piece of KISStory after all these years. (There are some KISS albums and KISS Kollectibles that I have moronically let go during my lifetime). My copy of KILLERS is in as near perfect condition as you could ever ask for, with no wear to the album jacket or vinyl. I truly took great care of this album over the years.

KILLERS was released a year after The Elder and is the first album cover to have Eric Carr pictured as a member of KISS, being released months before the amazing Creatures Of The Night album. This album is a greatest hits of the time, with four new studio tracks. Those tracks being: I’m A Legend Tonight, Down On Your Knees, Nowhere To Run and Partners In Crime.

KILLERS never came with any inside liner notes, nor are there any musician credits listed on the back cover. I’ve read throughout the years, from many sources, that Bob Kulick, (Bruce Kulick’s older brother), was the guitarist on the four new tracks. Obviously, Eric Carr was the drummer on the four new tracks.

Track Listing For KILLERS:

SIDE I:

I’m A Legend Tonight

Down On Your Knees

Cold Gin

Love Gun

Shout It Out Loud

Sure Know Something

SIDE II:

Nowhere To Run

Partners In Crime

Detroit Rock City

God Of Thunder

I Was Made For Loving You

Rock & Roll All Nite (live version)

* KILLERS was released on Casablanca Records, with their parent company phonogram having their logo at the bottom right corner on the back cover.

* As of January 8, 2011, there are 7 used KISS KILLERS albums (vinyl) for sale on Amazon.com. The prices range from $26.98 to $106.04 in U.S. funds.

* KILLERS was produced by Michael James Jackson, (no, not the Michael Jackson). The album cover design is by Howard Marks Advertising, Inc.

There’s definitely better images out there of this KISS KILLERS album cover. I just wanted to show the world the exact copy that I own. The colors on the album cover I own, are much more vibrant than shown. The back cover design is very simple and it never impressed me. You just can’t beat owning any KISS vinyl. Check it out below:

Front cover of KISS KILLERS

Back cover of KISS KILLERS

LONG LIVE KISS.

LONG LIVE KISS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

13 Comments »

Sweden Rock Festival 2011 – Confirmed Bands Listed!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals 2011, Judas Priest, metal music, metal odyssey, rock festivals 2011, rock music news, sweden rock festival 2011, whitesnake on January 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL 2011

Below is the current list of bands that will be playing at the Sweden Rock Festival 2011. This beyond amazing festival of Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal will be held in Norje Havsbad, Solvesborg, Sweden, June 8, 9, 10 and 11! This list is current as of January 7, 2011. Metal be thy name, from looking at the list below, this looks to be an incredibly potent four days of Rock ‘N’ Metal! For more information on this 2011 Sweden Rock Festival, just click on this link: Sweden Rock Festival 2011

OZZY OSBOURNE

WHITESNAKE

STYX

HELLOWEEN

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

RHAPSODY OF FIRE

MUSTASCH

MR. BIG

BUCKCHERRY

DESTRUCTION

DAN REED BAND

WALTER TROUT

GHOST

RAUBTIER

MASON RUFFNER

RAGE

JUDAS PRIEST

ROB ZOMBIE

THE CULT

SAXON

CLUTCH

MOLLY HATCHET

JASON & THE SCORCHERS

THE DAMNED

OVERKILL

THE HAUNTED

AGENT STEEL

ELECTRIC WIZARD

MOONSPELL

GROUNDHOGS

FLASKET BRINNER

The Sweden Rock Festival is an annual festival, going Metal strong since June 6, 1992!

LONG LIVE THE SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL.

LONG LIVE ROCK, HARD ROCK & METAL.

Stone.

5 Comments »

Phil Kennemore – May He Rest In Peace

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, phil kennemore, rock music news, y&t on January 7, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(photo credit: Jill Meniketti)

PHIL KENNEMORE – On January 7, 2011, Y&T bass guitarist Phil Kennemore has passed away from a brave battle with lung cancer. Phil Kennemore was 57. This sad news has been released through Y&T’s vocalist/lead guitarist Dave Meniketti. You can read the entire message as written by Dave Meniketti, by clicking here: Meniketti.com/Y&T Home Page

Metal Odyssey expresses sincere condolences to the family of Phil Kennemore, Y&T, his friends and fans. Yes, I am saddened at the news of Phil Kennemore’s passing, just like countless other Y&T and Rock fans worldwide. Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven has accepted in, an unreal great bass guitarist.

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, PHIL KENNEMORE.

REST IN PEACE, PHIL KENNEMORE

October 20, 1953 – January 7, 2011

Stone.

Californication Season 4 Music From The Showtime Series – Crosses Rock Genres and Delivers On Cool Vibes

Posted in alternative rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, soundtracks with tags alternative rock, californication series 4 soundtrack, classic rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, popular music, queens of dogtown, rock music, rock music news, rock soundtracks 2011 on January 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Californication Season 4 Music From The Showtime Series – Releasing on January 11, 2011, via Arrival Records/Scion Music Group is Californication Season 4 Music From The Showtime Series. Whenever a team of music supervisors and producers have to choose “those absolute songs” that most reflect the consistent themes and vibes of a television series, a delicate balancing act will be conducted based on both knowledge of that respective series and Rock Music. Nora Felder, Budd Carr and Jonathan Platt can enjoy a collective sigh of relief, that their 13 song selection for Californication Season 4 has flowed together seamlessly, like an assortment of Rock ‘N’ Roll clouds amidst a blue, cool, Summer sky.

The story lines surrounding main character Hank Moody (played by David Duchovny) to the Californication series is more complicated than just blue Summer skies, however. There is plenty of dark and taboo cool, mixed within the reality of this comedy/drama that fans can appreciate and this soundtrack capitalizes on all of it. Life isn’t something that can be followed by any guidelines from a handbook purchased at the corner book store, the songs on this soundtrack dictate exactly how dynamic life is, in all of it’s lovable and not so adored intricacies. Again, another nod to the themes one can find being absorbed into, while watching the Californication series. An overall competence in keeping the relevance between song and series, is accomplished extremely well on this soundtrack.

From Motley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, to Indie Folk Rock artist Gregory Alan Isakov, this Californication Season 4 soundtrack is liberally represented by a cross-section of Rock genres. It makes me pleased, to see the late and legendary Warren Zevon make his appearance with Wanted Dead Or Alive, originally performed by Zevon on his 1970 debut album, famously known by the same title. It’s amazing to me, the strong relevance this Warren Zevon classic has in 2011. Tommy Lee takes a more sing-a-long approach, in covering his galaxy famous band’s hit ballad Home Sweet Home. The vibe I feel, while listening to this cover of Home Sweet Home, puts me in the neighborhood bar where everyone knows my name.

Queens of Dogtown are featured here with three cover songs: Would? (Alice In Chains), Last Caress (Misfits) and I Remember You (Skid Row). All three of these songs are monumental Heavy Music classics in their own right, with realistically no room for error when covering even just one of them. With that said, lead vocalist Zoe Kravitz puts her own emotional feel into each song, giving each their justifiable Rock historic respect. In turn, a whole new generation of fans shall hopefully be introduced to these bands, that made these songs timeless, thanks to Queens of Dogtown. I find myself nodding in approval, while Queens of Dogtown cover these three heavy classics with their hardened Semi-Pop Rock sound.

Experimental/Industrial Disco Rock gets coverage on this soundtrack courtesy of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult or TKK as they are often times referred as. Their song Sex On Wheelz pulls me in with it’s Industrial edge and groove injected up-tempo. Having such a modern sounding invitee to join the party here, makes perfect sense to me. Alternative Rock is represented in excellent form with Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me from Cracker. This song has an uncanny way of making me drift off into cool thoughts… and that isn’t anything too lame to admit.

Eagles Of Death Metal are always a band that takes and makes their brand of Garage Rock serious, even if they did change the title of the Stealers Wheel classic from Stuck In The Middle to Stuck In The Metal. From the 1972 original, to the 2003 cover from Eagles Of Death Metal, it finds home again on Californication Season 4 and it never sounded more Rock righteous. Back in 1989, at the peak of MTV being a real music video network, Love And Rockets was at the top of the charts with their Alternative smash – So Alive. You’ll hear Better Than Ezra put their Alternative cover spin on So Alive, gelling into the mix of this soundtrack and it’s respective Californication theme almost too perfectly.

Soundtracks are either fun, boring or come highly recommended. I’ll omit the boring category here. I will put out to you, that this soundtrack for Californication Season 4 is both fun to listen to and Rocks with enough cool vibes to make me grin defiantly, at a very lousy day. Rock ‘N’ Roll was never supposed to be anti-fun nor anti-cool. Rock ‘N’ Roll was meant to be dangerous, like the series this soundtrack represents. Californication Season 4 has the Rock that sheds away the anti’s and I recommend your getting a copy… especially if you want to have fun and be cool.

* Californication Season 4 Music From the Showtime Series releases on January 11, 2011, on CD and download, on Arrival Records/Scion Music Group.

Take a cool time-out to check out the Californication Season 4 Trailer from SHOWTIME below!

Track Listing With Respective Artists:

01 – Shooter Jennings & Hierophant – F**K You (I’m Famous)

02 – Eagles Of Death Metal – Stuck In The Metal

03 – Better Than Ezra – So Alive

04 – Queens Of Dogtown – Would?*

05 – My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – Sex On Wheelz

06 – Queens Of Dogtown – Last Caress*

07 – Monster Magnet VS. Adrian Young – Mirror People

08 – Cracker – Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me

09 – Queens Of Dogtown – I Remember You*

10 – The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Second Life Replay

11 – Warren Zevon – Wanted Dead Or Alive

12 – Gregory Alan Isakov – If I Go, I’m Goin

13 – Tommy Lee – Home Sweet Home*

* Soundtrack Exclusives

Soundtrack Production Credits:

Soundtrack Album Producers: Jonathan Platt, Nora Felder and Budd Carr

Executive Soundtrack Album Producer: Tom Kapinos

Executive Soundtrack Album Producer For Arrival Records/Scion Music Group: Rick Rand and Mark Spier

Music Supervisors: Nora Felder and Budd Carr

http://www.CALIFORNICATIONTVSOUNDTRACK.com

LONG LIVE CALIFORNICATION.

Stone.

26 Comments »

Gerry Rafferty – Rest In Peace… His Music Lives On

Posted in classic rock, guitarists, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1970's rock music, city to city album, classic rock, gerry rafferty, metal odyssey, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, soft rock music on January 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

GERRY RAFFERTY – On January 4, 2011, Rock Music Legend Gerry Rafferty passed away from liver disease. A mulit-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, Gerry Rafferty was only 63 years old. Metal Odyssey gives condolences to the family, friends and fans of Gerry Rafferty.

I honestly can say Gerry Rafferty was one of the reasons why AM Radio really did Rock for me, back in those late 70’s. The Rock I heard from Gerry Rafferty back in 1978, while going on so many long family day trips, were songs with soothing vocal harmony, a kick-it-up-a-notch sax and melodic guitar. Of course, the two “popular” songs that immediately play out in my mind, are: Baker Street and Right Down The Line from his 1978 studio album – City To City. I remember staring at the City To City album cover so long ago, staring at Gerry Rafferty holding the guitar neck with his left hand, wearing those shades… that was cool stuff for my eyes back then, it still is.

It’s not that difficult in mentioning Gerry Rafferty’s two biggest hits as being most memorable for me, especially when these are two songs that were imbedded in my mind and ears as a young lad. Of course there is much more to this legend’s music catalog. Gerry Rafferty had a soothing characteristic to his vocals, while still coming across as very cool. I never found it difficult either, in my adult life, to crank up to the maximum, Right Down The Line, each and every time it came on my car radio. That song just touches off something in me… and makes me feel extremely good. I would hopefully suppose that is exactly what Gerry Rafferty intended to do with his music, make people feel good… and he succeeded with me.

Rest in peace, Gerry Rafferty.

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF GERRY RAFFERTY.

Stone.

Californication – Showtime Series “Season 4” Soundtrack Releases January 11, 2011!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, soundtracks with tags californication, californication series 4 soundtrack, classic rock, david duchovny, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, rock albums 2011, rock music news, rock soundtracks, showtime, tommy lee, warren zevon on December 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Arrival Records/Scion Music Group – Will release the new soundtrack for the hit SHOWTIME comedy series Californication. Season 4: Music From The Showtime Series Californication will include tracks that play a part in bringing to life many of the storylines of the new season (premiering Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 9pm PT/ET on SHOWTIME).

On Californication, David Duchovny stars in his Golden Globe wining role as TV’s favorite anti-hero, Hank Moody – a hedonistic writer who struggles to raise his teenage daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) while still carrying a torch for her mother, his ex-girlfriend (Natascha McElhone). This season, Becca joins an all-girl rock band fronted by Pearl, (played by singer and actress Zoë Kravitz) called “Queens of Dogtown” and plots will evolve with an emphasis on music and Rock culture.

Soundtrack exclusives will feature three Rock classics reinvented by Queens Of Dogtown as well as Tommy Lee’s (Motley Crüe) solo version of Home Sweet Home. Music by Shooter Jennings & Hierophant, Eagles Of Death Metal, Better Than Ezra, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Monster Magnet vs. Adrian Young, Cracker, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Warren Zevon and Gregory Alan Isakov will also set the tone throughout episodes of Season 4 and on Season 4: Music From The Showtime Series Californication.

Nora Felder and Budd Carr, the series Californication music supervisors and soundtrack co-producers, recently received the HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for “Outstanding Music Supervision in TV”. Other producers for Season 4: Music From The Showtime Series Californication are Jonathan Platt, Tom Kapinos and label heads: Mark Spier and Rick Rand.

Soundtrack Track Listing As Follows:

F**k You (I’m Famous) – Shooter Jennings & Hierophant

Stuck In The Metal – Eagles Of Death Metal

So Alive – Better Than Ezra

Would? – Queens Of Dogtown

Sex On Wheels – My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult

Last Caress – Queens Of Dogtown

Mirror People – Monster Magnet vs. Adrian Young

Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me – Cracker

I Remember You – Queens Of Dogtown

Second Life Replay – The Soundtrack Of Our Lives

Wanted Dead Or Alive – Warren Zevon

If I Go, I’m Goin – Gregory Alan Isakov

Home Sweet Home – Tommy Lee

Season 4: Music From The Showtime Series Californication will be released online, in stores and digitally on January 11, 2011.

http://www.CALIFORNICATIONTVSOUNDTRACK.com

LONG LIVE CALIFORNICATION.

LONG LIVE ROCK MUSIC SOUNDTRACKS.

Stone.

3 Comments »

Alice Cooper (The Band) – A Metal Congratulations!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags Alice cooper, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, rock and roll hall of fame, rock music news, shock rock on December 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ALICE COOPER – Metal Odyssey gives a Metal Congratulations to Alice Cooper and each original member of Alice Cooper (The Band) for their induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, class of 2011. Metal accolades go out to the original lineup of Alice Cooper (The Band): Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and the late Glen Buxton.

Regardless of the bonehead maneuvers and clique driven approach that the “Rock scholars” at this institution have bestowed over the years, it is a fine feeling to have such an iconic band and powerful figure as Alice Cooper as a member there. Alice Cooper represents Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Just exactly where Shock/Horror Rock would be today, without Alice Cooper leading the way, is a scary Metal thought to ponder. Influential, groundbreaking, legendary… how many more ways can I explain the impact that Alice Cooper has had upon Rock Music across the genres?

At the end of my Metal day, it’s not about Rock genres… it’s about music. Alice Cooper has created music that will live on for untold generations, long after my stay on Earth is over.

Metal Odyssey’s Metal Gripes:

* Alice Cooper belongs inducted as a solo artist as well. Alice Cooper’s solo career began in 1975 with the studio album Welcome To My Nightmare and continues to the present day. Alas, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s Rock scholars probably don’t know that.

Let’s just hope the trend of inducting the musicians and bands that belong in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame continues. My criticism of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame shall continue, until there are real knowledgeable and non-political Rock minds in place at the helm. Without the likes of KISS, Cheap Trick, The Moody Blues, Heart, Motorhead, Slayer, The Doobie Brothers, The Electric Light Orchestra and Mott The Hoople, to name a many few, (there are many more), it shall remain one big Hall Of Shame. Remember: ABBA is already inducted (?)… the bands previously mentioned, sadly, are overlooked. Bizarre.

LONG LIVE ALICE COOPER.

LONG LIVE THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL OF ALICE COOPER (THE BAND)

Stone.

19 Comments »

BOSTON – Classic Self Titled/Debut Album On 180 Gram Vinyl Releases December 7, 2010!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags 1970's rock albums, 1970's rock music, boston, boston 180 gram vinyl, boston debut album, classic rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news on November 29, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BOSTON – Attention audiophiles worldwide! The self titled/debut Rock Classic from Boston will be released on 180 Gram Vinyl, (Friday Music), on December 7, 2010. Yes, I will readily admit to playing the debut Boston album more times than I could ever remember, so many years ago. I can recall having this album on my turntable for days, being the only album I was listening to. Personally, the songs on this album Rocked my head off as a young lad. My favorite song on this Boston album was and to this very day is… Something About You. I extremely dig Rock And Roll Band too… oh yeah I do. Gee Metal whiz, this entire Boston album has never grown stale for me.

There was and still is something mystical about hearing my favorite albums on vinyl. Just seeing vinyl spinning on a turntable today, brings me back to a time when “holding” and looking at an album jacket was part of the listening experience. The whole connection to a band I was listening to was through their music and the album jacket… with whatever artwork and liner notes that was part of it. There was no myspace music, MTV or youtube videos back in those late 70’s, … just the needle on the vinyl and my ears listening intently.

Loaded with more amazing melodies and vocal harmonies than I can count, this Boston album is a monumental Rock Classic. Plus… Boston belongs in that absent minded place that’s called The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. This Boston debut was one of the first albums I ever owned, well before I became a Metalhead… Metal be thy name. Do I feel old stating this? Heck no. Feeling old is a state of mind and I’m not approaching 90 anytime soon. I’ll be blabbing, ranting, writing and raving about the music I love when I do hit 90 years of age… I hope.

* Boston was released back in America’s Bicentennial Year of 1976, during the month of July.

* Boston was originally released on Epic Records.

* This 180 Gram Vinyl of Boston will be a “limited edition”… so I guess the number of pressings are low, just how low is the million dollar question.

Track Listing For Boston:

More Than A Feeling

Peace Of Mind

Foreplay/Long Time

Rock And Roll Band

Smokin’

Hitch A Ride

Something About You

Let Me Take You Home Tonight

LONG LIVE THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL OF BOSTON.

Rest In Peace, Brad Delp.

Stone.

13 Comments »

SWEET “Level Headed” – Looking Back Fondly, On A Rock Classic

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags 1970's rock albums, 1970's rock music, classic rock, hard rock music, heavy metal music, level headed album, love is like oxygen, rock music, rock music history, sweet, sweet rock band, the sweet on November 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SWEET – Yes, some call them The Sweet. I prefer to call this British Rock Band by their name that appeared on 8 out of the 9 studio albums they released between 1971 and 1982, which is Sweet. Only their first album, (Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be) has “The Sweet” as their band name on the cover. Whatever, I guess. The plain fact of the Rock ‘N’ Roll matter, is that Sweet was one damn decent Rock Band of their time. Caught in the midst of a post British Invasion and winding down amongst the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Sweet still played their unique brand of Rock… and caught my attentive ears.

The first song that caught my attention from Sweet and had me very psyched-out was – Love Is Like Oxygen. This forever memorable song is from Sweet’s sixth studio album – Level Headed, released back in January of 1978, on Polydor Records. As it always seems to go, so many songs from my Rock fan past still psyche me out like never before. This terrific song from Sweet is no exception. I actually listened to it several times, while writing this post… and I just can’t grow weary of it. Metal be thy name.

Love Is Like Oxygen carries it’s Rockin’ delight through a synthesizer intro, with a most memorable guitar riff that follows… then the combination of these and a rhythm section so bold and pronounced, unveils an all encompassing meaty sound to follow. There are those “breakdowns” in Love Is Like Oxygen, (of the keyboard and acoustic kind), that teeter on the super mellow, only this song is so refreshingly far from being an AM gold hit from yesteryear. This song was born for FM, I can’t even consider trying to recount how many times I heard it played on those cool Connecticut radio stations back then.

When I first bought Level Headed, it was on vinyl and it was stocked at my local Caldor department store. I only knew of Love Is Like Oxygen… so I took the plunge and bought the entire album that one day. It was a gatefold album cover, with a black & white band photo taking up both inside covers. I believe, from my (gasp) memory, it was the band photo that appears on the U.K. cover of Level Headed. The Level Headed cover at the top of this post is the U.S. version. Check out what that U.K. version looks like below:

California Nights is a song with a chorus that tantalizes with that “sing-along” spirit. Bass guitarist Steve Priest sings lead on this song. (Guitarist Andy Scott sings lead on Dream On and Fountain. Brian Connolly sings lead vocals on Love Is Like Oxygen and the remainder of the songs on Level Headed). With a song like California Nights, it came across to me with a wide open vibe of feel-good. This was a song that was tailor made for cruising with the windows down on a hot Summer night… it still is that kind of song to me in 2010.

Dream On, (no it is not a cover of the Aerosmith classic), is a ballad which resonates with an overwhelming “heartfelt” emotion. I can remember the first time this song reached my ears, as this Level Headed album spun on my turntable. Whoa. My Judas Priest and Iron Maiden albums were in full view… I felt as if I got lost and woke up in mellow, mellow land. You want to know something? I loved it. This song may have sappy lyrics and is a ballad, only it was done “right”. As I listen to this song so many years later, I love it still. Honestly, if someone like Chris Daughtry covered this song today… it would be a top ten smash on the charts. I predict it would hit #1. I’m not being a wise-guy and kidding around either. This ballad could be re-released as a single today, in all of it’s original glory and be a hit just as well.

Strong Love is a tad Funky… in a pseudo-Disco sense of the word. This is actually the one song that could be accused of sounding “dated”, the only thing it is a downright catchy listen. This song is not The Village People, so there is no need to worry, all you Classic Rock folks. Anthem, No. 1 (Lady Of The Lake) and Anthem No. II are both strong with their European sounding vibe, these two songs are significant in separating Sweet from the “American” Rock sound of those late ’70’s. The keyboards and string arrangements on both Anthem songs certainly help in providing that European and “royalty” feel.

Level Headed is a Classic Rock album that I shall always look upon very fondly. Sweet seemed to weave their way around in the ’70’s and very early ’80’s with their own style of Rock that won’t be forgotten by me. If anyone out there wants to listen to an album that is diverse with songs, Rocks with efficiency and holds up extremely well with relevance after three decades, this is an album for you.

SWEET as they appeared on Level Headed:

Andy Scott – guitar, synthesizer, lead vocals, background vocals

Brian Connolly – lead vocals, background vocals

Steve Priest – bass, lead vocals, background vocals

Mick Tucker – drums, percussion, background vocals

Track Listing For Level Headed:

California Nights

Silver Bird

Dream On

Fountain

Love Is Like Oxygen

Anthem, No. 1 (Lady Of The Lake)

Strong Love

Lettres D’Amour

Anthem, No. II

Air On ‘A’ Tape Loop

LONG LIVE THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL OF SWEET.

Rest In Peace, Brian Connolly.

Rest In Peace, Mick Tucker.

Stone.

4 Comments »

MEAT LOAF “Bat Out Of Hell” – A 1977 Rock Classic That’s An Ageless Wonder

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags 1970's rock music, bat out of hell album, bruce kulick, classic rock, classic rock albums, hard rock music, jim steinman, meat loaf, meat loaf rock singer, metal odyssey, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history on November 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MEAT LOAF – I don’t know why I do this. Do what you ask? Why do I think about when I first heard a particular song or album. What age was I? What year was it? How did this song or album affect me then, compared to now. Then, I begin to realize just how important, on a personal level, a respective song or album has been to me throughout my life. I’ve written about many songs and albums like this. I’m amazed as to how many songs and albums there are, that I hold so tremendously tight to my heart… and soul. Step in please, Meat Loaf… Bat Out Of Hell.

When I first heard that Classic Rock Ballad “of all ballads” – Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, it was definitely on the radio. As I look back on this tiny portion of my life now, owning the Bat Out Of Hell album then was not important to me. As a young lad… it was all about this song and having it on a 45 rpm, to play it anytime I wanted. Trust me, I eventually owned Bat Out Of Hell on vinyl and later CD. I just could not see my music collection complete without it. Then again, when is my music collection ever complete?

Paradise By The Dashboard Light and You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) were the next two songs I discovered from this prolific album. Yes, I felt spellbound by these Meat Loaf songs, hearing them on the radio back then made me feel like I was “getting older” and I could maybe get a chick and fall in love. These three songs had me maturing in my Rock Music listening habits, without my never knowing it at the time.

Metal truth be told, You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) still gives me ostrich bumps up and down my arms and face, to this very day. The louder I play this song, the greater the emotional impact it has on me. (Not every song in the world is like that). Jim Steinman was, is and forever shall be a songwriting genius. The combination of Jim Steinman’s soul grabbing writing and Meat Loaf’s soul stirring vocals were a match made in Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven… for me anyways… and I’m certain I’m not alone in this Metal thought too.

I’m not going to get into “factual numbers and certification” here, however, Bat Out Of Hell is one of the greatest selling Rock albums of all-time. I can understand why. It seems as if this album never loses it’s relevance for me. The songs on Bat Out Of Hell can be lyrically accepted today as they were in those late ’70’s… there really is nothing corn-dog about these song’s themes. As for the Rock Music as a whole, what other album out there today can drop some teary-eyed ballads in the midst of such Rockin’ cool songs and still come across as not selling out with bubble gum? It’s difficult to do.

All Revved Up With No Place To Go is the oft overlooked “hit” from this Meat Loaf album. It registers definitively with all Rock ‘N’ Roll glory. Only Meat Loaf can give this song it’s roller coaster emotion that it fosters. Meat Loaf surely showcased his theatrical Rock vocals on this song… and many other of his songs without a doubt. The title track, Bat Out Of Hell, can be stamped as epic for both it’s length and layering. This is a song that arguably best exemplifies what 1970’s Rock was all about. Bat Out Of Hell was that song on an album that was never meant to become FM friendly due to it’s length, a song meant for the fan of that generation… the astute Rock enthusiast that wanted more than the Bay City Rollers.

For an album of seven songs, Bat Out Of Hell did something that many studio albums of ten, twelve or more songs doesn’t… providing no filler songs. As for the musicians behind Meat Loaf on Bat Out Of Hell, well, all I can say is quality creates quality. Todd Rundgren on guitar, Edgar Winter on saxophone… not too shabby.

My advice to those who never have listened to this tremendous album of Rock is simple: go out and buy it. Listen to it. Take it in. Then, realize, that this is what Rock Music song writing is all about. Afterwards, you shall know as to why the genre of Classic Rock exists in the first place. Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman and Bat Out Of Hell are just three of the reasons… that gave Classic Rock it’s name. Bat Out Of Hell, a Rock Classic… an ageless wonder.

Original Track Listing For Bat Out Of Hell:

Bat Out Of Hell

You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)

Heaven Can Wait

All Revved Up With No Place To Go

Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad

Paradise By The Dashboard Light

For Crying Out Loud

* Reissued Bonus Tracks:

Great Boleros Of Fire (Live Intro)

Bat Out Of Hell (Live)

* All songs on Bat Out Of Hell were written by Jim Steinman.

* The late, Hall Of Fame Baseball legend, Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto, from my beloved New York Yankees, is credited with the “spoken word” for the play-by-play during Paradise By The Dashboard Light.

* Bat Out Of Hell was originally released in October of 1977, on Epic Records.

LONG LIVE MEAT LOAF & JIM STEINMAN.

Rest In Peace, Phil Rizzuto.

Stone.

4 Comments »

World EXCLUSIVE Premiere – The Jimi Hendrix Experience “HEY JOE” Is Covered By THE NEW CZARS! LISTEN HERE FIRST!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock music, classic rock songs, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music news with tags breaking news in rock music, classic rock, greg hampton musician, hard rock music, hard rock songs 2010, heavy metal music, hey joe cover song the new czars, jimi hendrix, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, the jimi hendrix experience, the new czars, the new czars cover hey joe, world premiere exclusive hey joe cover song on September 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE NEW CZARS – Metal Odyssey is extremely proud and honored, to present to the Rock Music world, the World Premiere Exclusive listen of Hey Joe covered by The New Czars! Metal Odyssey is the only place you will hear this cover version right now! *(Just click on the arrow in the bar below, to hear this song, in it’s entirety for yourself!). This ultra classic song from the ever legendary and late Jimi Hendrix is timeless. Hey Joe was released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, on their debut album, Are You Experienced in 1967.

This cover of Hey Joe by The New Czars is solid in both it’s relevancy and classic heaviness carried over from it’s time. Greg Hampton adds his unique vocals and guitar skills to a song that some may consider sacred and does so with such rightful Rock reverence, which makes me say whoa, well done! Greg’s vocals have an instilled “Classic Rock sound and vibe” that only makes his singing Hey Joe that much more real to me. In my Metal opinion, Greg Hampton and The New Czars have nailed down the true Rock essence of Hey Joe. Jimi Hendrix is probably smiling from above, as he hears this cover version of Hey Joe.

Greg Hampton tells Metal Odyssey: “I have been a lifelong fan of Jimi Hendrix. With the fortieth anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s passing approaching, I’ve been listening to a lot of his music. I wanted to do something to commemorate Jimi Hendrix on this important anniversary, through song. This cover of Hey Joe I’ve been working on for quite some time and I am very proud of it. I hope the fans will appreciate this cover of Hey Joe and like it as much as I do”.

* This cover version of Hey Joe by The New Czars will be available for purchase on itunes, on October 5, 2010.

* Hey Joe will also be featured on the forthcoming EP from The New Czars, titled: Mining The Ruins. This EP is slated for a November 30, 2010 release.

* Greg Hampton, (founding member of The New Czars), plays all instruments on this cover of Hey Joe, except for drums which are played by The New Czars alumni and multi-instrumentalist Chris Collier.

* To listen to the World Exclusive Premiere of Hey Joe by The New Czars, click the arrow in the bar below!

Long live the music of Jimi Hendrix!

Long live The New Czars!

Stone.

15 Comments »

THE DOORS “13” – Reflecting On My First Album By This Beyond Legendary Band

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, psychedelic rock music, Rock, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history, rock music news with tags 1960's rock bands, 1970's rock bands, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock songs, hard rock music, jim morrison, metal odyssey, Music, Psychedelic Rock, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame, rock music, rock music history, rock music legends, rock vocalists, the doors 13 album, the doors greatest hits on September 6, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE DOORS – Today was a gorgeous late Summer day where I live. Eastern Pennsylvania has had it’s fair share of oppressive humidity the last few months, so taking advantage of more mild temperatures with little to no humidity is essential for the mind, body and soul. Outdoor activities are once again in the fold for Stone and his family! So, the family and I set out for some mini golf this afternoon. My wife found what I consider to be the cleanest and most fun mini golf course I’ve ever seen or played. Sittler Golf Center is quite the place… with a driving range, pro-shop, take-out window and of course, mini golf. This cool place is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

There are those many moments in my life, where being somewhere and hearing a song sparks a memory. Today there were two songs I heard being played at Sittler Golf Center, they were Touch Me and Light My Fire by the beyond legendary – The Doors. Listening to these kind of Rock Classics while playing mini golf makes Stone very happy. The memory these two songs sparked in my mind were of the first vinyl album I ever owned by The Doors, which was 13.

It was an immediate vision in my minds eye, the album 13. I could see it as plain as day as I moved about the mini golf course today. 13 is a slab of classic vinyl I wish was still in my collection. All I kept thinking to myself as the vision of this album drifted through my mind was… why did I get rid of so many damn great albums years ago? This question gets brought up by me so frequently and the answers are always the same. CD’s were invented and I traded or sold many of my vinyl albums so I could buy… more vinyl albums and/or CD’s! It was an economic cycle I was in for years, buying and then selling my favorite albums. I guess now I know better, the collector and nostalgic parts of me helps to keep my collection intact.

Yes, I did not own a studio album from The Doors until after this “greatest hits” of 13 ran it’s Rockin’ course through my young Rock ‘N’ Roll hungry veins and consciousness. 13 was as terrific a starting point as I could ever ask for in exploring The Doors. I believe I bought 13 sometime around 1983. I remember choosing this 13 album over The Doors Greatest Hits album, due to my liking the album cover of 13 much better. 13 has all four members of The Doors on the cover, with of course Jim Morrison taking up the majority of the cover… and rightfully so. I can honestly remember, holding both albums, debating which one to buy, while standing in the record aisle at the Caldor department store.

Here is what The Doors – Greatest Hits looks like:

Granted, both album covers have a fantastic photo of Jim Morrison. My thinking back in ’83 was to get the “greatest hits” of The Doors that everyone else was passing over. Thinking back, it seemed most of my friends and cousins had bought the Greatest Hits from 1980. L.A. Woman, Not To Touch The Earth, Break On Through and Riders On The Storm are not on 13 and on the Greatest Hits from ’80. However, 13 did have… 13 songs versus the 10 songs heard on the “original” Greatest Hits album from ’80. So, three more songs plus I liked the album cover better, making 13 my first album of choice in adding The Doors to my record collection and life.

It’s funny, yet as I played 13 over and over again back then, my favorite song on this album was You’re Lost Little Girl. Why it’s funny is that this song was never a huge hit for The Doors. I can recall hearing this song being played on WCCC, WHCN and maybe WPLR up in very expensive Connecticut while growing up, only very rarely. Heck, compare this song to the timeless classics of Light My Fire, L.A. Woman, Riders On The Storm and Hello I Love You and forget about it… these songs were staples in the FM rotation of any reputable station back in the 80’s, today as well for some.

What lured me in first and foremost, upon my initial listening experiences of 13 was the voice of Jim Morrison. Whoa. Jim Morrison sounded like no other dude I was listening to of any band at the time. This wasn’t Rob Halford, Ozzy, Paul/Gene/Ace or Peter of KISS, Dennis DeYoung, Lou Gramm, Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, Jeff Lynne or Robin Zander. Nope. This was a more mysterious voice I was being exposed to at this time of my young life. The previous names I mentioned were all being digested by my ears and mind around 1983, slightly before my “real” exposure to the Thrash Metal movement that enriched my life to this very moment. All of these vocalists I named off are extremely unique and I admire them all greatly.

The voice of Jim Morrison to this day, makes me wonder as to what exactly was going through his mind as he sang. The only other vocalist that I could consider mysterious, with an unreal alluring X -factor, is the late and so sadly missed by me and countless others… Ronnie James Dio. To me, the voice and persona of Jim Morrison was Rock ‘N’ Roll in it’s most profusely exposed state. Sure, I could rant on about the drugs and misfortune of Jim Morrison here, only that’s not what I take from this legend of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Just knowing at that young age back in ’83, that drug abuse defeated Jim Morrison was enough for me to understand the consequences of living such a lifestyle.

13 motivated me to buy this amazing book:

This fabulous biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive, was written by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman and was printed back in 1980. I remember being mesmerized by the content that I absorbed from these pages. Whoa… was I becoming schooled on the life and times of a Rock ‘N’ Roll legend. I was so fascinated by this book, that I can admit to reading it several times over before I graduated high school. I can remember that my mom was just happy that I was reading a book at all! So many kids had this book under their arm, in their locker or tucked away in their stash back in those early ’80’s that it was alarming.

My memory of watching this album, 13, spin around on the turntable seems like yesterday to me. Yes, I held that album jacket and stared at The Doors. I even read No One Here Gets Out Alive as this album played. Listening to Ray Manzarek on keyboards, Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums was a lesson in how American Rock Music was formulated in the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s. I remember back in ’83, as I still do now, the feeling of amazement that The Doors released their debut album in 1967… when I was only 22 days from turning 1 years old!

The Doors and their 13 album only enlightened my adoration for Rock ‘N’ Roll, making me all the more better prepared for the onslaught of Metal Music that has been an important part of my life for so long now. This is not nonsense about The Doors actually pushing me head first into exploring so many other cool and historical bands when I was a teenager. I actually took a keen interest in listening to The Animals, The Rolling Stones, The Who and a slew of other Rock Music heavyweights back in those early to mid ’80’s due to this remarkable album called… 13.

* The Doors – 13 was released back in November of 1970, on Elektra Records.

* The Doors – 13 was their first “greatest hits” album release.

* Apparently, 13 has never been released on CD. I’m going to find it on vinyl again someday… hopefully in the same mint condition as I once owned it!

* For more info on The Doors, just click here: THE DOORS – Official Website

* For more info on Sittler Golf Center, just click: Sittler Golf Center – website

Track Listing For The Doors – 13:

Light My Fire

People Are Strange

Back Door Man

Moonlight Drive

The Crystal Ship

Roadhouse Blues

Touch Me

Love Me Two Times

You’re Lost Little Girl

Hello I Love You

Land Ho!

Wild Child

The Unknown Soldier

LONG LIVE THE DOORS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!

R.I.P. Jim Morrison & Ronnie James Dio

Stone.

4 Comments »

RAY LAMONTAGNE and the PARIAH DOGS – “GOD WILLIN’ & THE CREEK DON’T RISE” CAPTURES STORYTELLING THROUGH SONG

Posted in classic rock, folk rock music, metal odyssey, Music, music reviews, rock music, rock music news, rock music reviews with tags album reviews, classic rock, easy listening music, folk rock, folk rock albums 2010, folk rock musicians, folk rock songs, god willin' & the creek don't rise album, metal odyssey, Music, ray lamontagne and the pariah dogs, rock albums 2010, rock music, soft rock music on August 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RAY LAMONTAGNE and the PARIAH DOGS – If music is the soul of mankind and a man needs to mellow out his soul, then Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs are a band to drift off to. With that said, anyone who really knows Stone, realizes that besides being a Metalhead-Rockaholic, I’m also an admirer of quality music of any genre. Doesn’t the word “genre” come across as intellectual sometimes? It is a “must” word to use when you have a blog about… music. I’ve never been bashful to use this word, Metal be thy name. Well… onward to Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs album – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise.

There are those moments in my life where I turn to some good old fashioned Easy Listening music to chill out my senses. Why do I need to “chill out my senses”? Really, I don’t have a clinical answer for this, other than soothing sounds of music and vocals can relax me and make me look at my life from a different angle. The vocals of Ray LaMontagne I find to be somewhat captivating, it’s almost as if he sings the way he damn well feels and never gave a damn about trying to fit in with any specific group of contemporary male vocalists.

Besides being the vocalist for his band The Pariah Dogs on this album, Ray LaMontagne also plays acoustic guitar and harmonica. The acoustic guitar can justifiably emit as distinct and powerful a message through it’s tone as it’s muscular counterpart… the electric guitar. Soft Rock or as it’s also called, Easy Listening, has always benefited from the mellow side of an acoustic guitar. Folk Rock’s foundation is centered around the acoustic guitar and this new Ray LaMontagne album exploits the easy listening sound of Folk Rock to it’s ultimate potential. Ray’s vocals and the acoustic guitar are like soul mates to one another, the combination of the two brings about reflections of what the song is conveying lyrically as well as emotionally.

As I listen to New York City’s Killing Me, the mental imagery of the New York City sky-scape stays with me. I see the subway, crowded streets and Summer time smog as Ray sings about how this city is killing him. I love New York City myself, still I can understand how some visitors to The Big Apple could easily not become acquainted with it’s social pace and maximized energy. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise has a Pedal Steel played by both Eric Heywood and Greg Leisz, it’s a sound that just hits me perfectly. I just seem to experience that “open country field” feeling while listening to this song, the Pedal Steel only helps to interpret this all the more for me.

Beg Steal Or Borrow is as blatantly fabulous of a song as there could be on this album. The tempo, beat and totality of sound resonating from The Pariah Dogs reminds me of an early ’70’s Fleetwood Mac. I can easily understand there being some Fleetwood Mac influence within the musical veins of Ray LaMontagne or any of his band members.

Are We Really Through is a somber ballad that is about… breaking up with someone. Ray’s vocals on this sad sounding song has an unbelievable Joe Cocker quality. Trust me, Ray LaMontagne is no copycat vocalist to my ears. Just think for a second as to how difficult it would be, to even try to sing like the legendary Joe Cocker. The vocals of Ray LaMontagne spill over these songs, as natural and free as a waterfall spilling over moss covered river stone. Often times, the word “unique” is overused, therefore, I shall state Ray’s vocals are stunningly unique.

To think that maybe Ray LaMontagne is a fan of Neil Young’s Harvest album is a credible thought. The mellowfied Country Rock that sticks it’s happy face out during this album during such songs as Old Before Your Time and For The Summer, comes as a welcomed listen for my retrospective ears and thoughts. These two songs would have been a smash for AM radio back in those satin days of the ’70’s. The interesting aspect of Old Before Your Time and For The Summer is that they are realistically relevant now.

Like Rock & Roll And Radio opens with Ray playing the harmonica, setting the stage for what I would consider his best vocals on this album. Ray is a storyteller and he tells stories through his songs like he has been doing this for decades. There are moments when I have to look at the liner notes of God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, look at the photos of Ray and make sure he’s not a legend from the early ’70’s.

Devil’s In The Jukebox is a glistening finish to an album that was already glistening. The back country woods sound, feel and foot stompin’ character to this song makes it a prize worth listening to repeatedly, making me wish this song would just carry on for another five minutes or more. It’s quite obvious that Ray LaMontagne has a skilled band of musicians behind him. The Pariah Dogs compliment Ray’s vocals as if it was meant to be and it was written to happen this way, hundreds of years ago, on a scroll.

Not to sound as a wise guy here, yet as I listen to God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, the feeling that overrides me from these ten songs are that of AM gold. These songs, practically this entire album is one big hit. If I am to point out one song that doesn’t “do it” for me, it’s Are We Really Through. Regardless of how I feel, this sad song might just touch someone differently with it’s meaning. These are the songs that I don’t mind hearing while taking a long ride in the country or while reading a good book. To listen to this album while sitting on my back patio and staring up at the blue Summer sky, while looking over my gardens and enjoying a couple of cold brews, is on my to-do list.

* God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise was released on August 17, 2010, on RCA. This album is the fourth studio release for Ray LaMontagne and first album being named alongside his band The Pariah Dogs.

* For more info on Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, just click the link below:

Ray LaMontagne – Official Website

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs:

Ray LaMontagne – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

Eric Heywood – pedal steel, electric guitar, acoustic guitar

Greg Leisz – pedal steel, lap steel, acoustic resonator, steel guitar, mandola, banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric baritone guitar

Jennifer Condos – bass

Jay Bellerose – drums

Ryan Freeland – accordion on For The Summer

Patrick Warren – keyboards on This Love Is Over

Track Listing For God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise:

Repo Man

New York City’s Killing Me

God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise

Beg Steal Or Borrow

Are We Really Through

This Love Is Over

Old Before Your Time

For The Summer

Like Rock & Roll And Radio

Devil’s In The Jukebox

Stone.

2 Comments »

SERGEANT STEEL “LOVERS & MANIACS” – GOOD TIMES & CONTAGIOUS HARD ROCK DEBUT FROM AUSTRIA!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock music, rock music news with tags classic rock, current hard rock bands, hair metal music, hammer of love music video, hard rock albums 2010, hard rock bands, hard rock from austria, hard rock music, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, international hard rock bands, metal odyssey, Music, old school hard rock, old school heavy metal, rock music, rock music news, sergeant steel hard rock band, sergeant steel lovers & maniacs album review on July 1, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SERGEANT STEEL – Yes Virginia, there is some kick ass Hard Rock being imported out of Austria and they are known as… Sergeant Steel. Sergeant Steel has released their debut album of Hard Rock blood, sweat and tears titled – Lovers & Maniacs, back on March 6, 2010. A young and talented band, invigorated to take on the world by Hard Rockin’ storm, while obviously having fun along the way is Sergeant Steel. Just one of their song titles – Taking The World By Storm, gives this fact away quite clearly. This song is a speed driven example of just how Heavy Sergeant Steel can play their Rock, plus showcasing that lead vocalist Phil Vanderkill can hit the high notes, with an influential nod to perhaps the Metal God himself, the legendary Rob Halford.

While Taking The World By Storm may be Lovers & Maniacs fastest, grittiest and Heaviest song, the remaining album is loaded with Hard Rock glory. My favorite song on this album is Hammer Of Love, (see and listen to the music video below!). Hammer Of Love embodies all things great about psyche-you-out Hard Rock, it’s melodic drive is noteworthy and was instantly memorable to my ears. I can hear and feel the contagious enthusiasm that Sergeant Steel has for their music throughout Lovers & Maniacs, especially on Hammer Of Love. If this song alone does not put Sergeant Steel on the Hard Rock map, then Metal be thy name.

Guitarists Jack Power and Chuck Boom give Sergeant Steel a double dose of Old School licks, the leads and solo’s are aplenty and gives this debut album a head turning appeal. On the unforgettable anthem Chasing Love, the dual axe attack stands out and screams Arena style Hard Rock, big and bold, a sound and energy that is what Sergeant Steel is truly all about. Looking For An Angel is a feel-good song that Rocks so damn good, it very well could be bottled up, marketed and sold as an elixir to cure the F’n blues. On Looking For An Angel, the upbeat and spirited lyrics combined with it’s music makes it a Hard Rock hit, complete with a saxophone and backing vocals that really compliments this song’s style and mood.

Lovers & Maniacs shouldn’t become a Hard Rock album catalogued within the “best kept secrets” file of 2010. Instead, Sergeant Steel should be considered a Hard Rock newcomer that has released a can’t miss debut album of catchy songs, that remind me why Rock ‘N’ Roll was meant to be fun and illicit cool vibes. This is not a sound-alike band, your not going to be listening to a copy cat album with Lovers & Maniacs. You will hear, however, influences of Hard Rock’s glorious and time proven sound… which is down right dynamite to me. Sergeant Steel is yet another young band that gives me all the more confidence in our Hard Rock and Heavy Metal future. Let Heavy Music freedom ring!

Sergeant Steel makes it proudly known, (in the CD liner notes), that this is a band that shunned trigger drums and auto-tune programmes. Sergeant Steel, (within the liner notes), reveal their sincerity for the music they created, thus making for an honest album. I can appreciate Sergeant Steel’s Old School approach to recording, their Old School Hard Rock sound is a proven result of this.

Any fan of 1980’s Hard Rock and/or mainstream Heavy Metal should take a liking to Sergeant Steel. Old School isn’t checking out anytime soon and Sergeant Steel have submitted their registration to Rock with Lovers & Maniacs. This is a band that can only get better… and that is an incredible thought for they are a damn decent Hard Rock group now.

* Metal Odyssey gives Sergeant Steel – Lovers & Maniacs 4 out of 5 Metal Fists!

* Check out the music video for Hammer Of Love by clicking on the very cool box below! Just be well advised… one must crank up Hammer Of Love… LOUD!

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

SERGEANT STEEL – Official Website

Sergeant Steel – MySpace Music Page

SERGEANT STEEL ARE:

Phil Vanderkill – lead vocals

Jack Power – guitars, backing vocals

Chuck Boom – guitars, backing vocals

Cosy Cox – bass

Kevin King – drums, percussion

Ben Bateman – keyboards, piano

* Lovers & Maniacs produced by Jack Power

* Mastered by the legendary Beau Hill (Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Europe, Warrant, Ratt, Winger & more!)

Track Listing For Lovers & Maniacs:

Hammer Of Love

Chasing Love

Looking For An Angel

Still In Love

Taking The World By Storm

Seizin’ The Crown

Love Hurtz

High On Life

Miss U Tonite

Nuts Of Steel

Go Get ‘Em Sergeant Steel!

Stone.

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