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ELECTRIC TOUCH – To Perform At This Year’s ACL FESTIVAL – Plus More ELECTRIC TOUCH news!

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on August 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

BRAND NEW SONG – “DON’T STOP” – NOW IN ROTATION AT SIRIUS-XM – ALT NATION

SOPHOMORE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON ISLAND RECORDS

(LOS ANGELES, CA – August 25, 2011) – Fresh off of their success at this summer’s WARPED TOUR and Lollapalooza, Austin-based rockers Electric Touch have once again been selected to perform at this year’s Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival. The band will take the Austin Ventures Stage on Friday, September 16th at 3:45pm.

Electric Touch appeared at last year’s critically acclaimed ACL Festival, in addition to the last two Coachella Festival’s, and at some of the biggest radio-sponsored festivals of the summer, including Edgefest in Dallas, Buzzfest in Houston and Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK.

After their second critically-praised Coachella appearance at this year’s festival, Jim Fusilli from the Wall Street Journal noted, “Coachella was a level playing field for talented musicians, and attendees were best served by considering the experience an opportunity to prospect the likes of Electric Touch, which brought to mind Oasis without the condescension.”

In other exciting ET news, Sirius-XM’s popular Alt Nation station has started spinning the bands new song, “Don’t Stop” without solicitation.  The band completed their as yet untitled sophomore album, produced by Grammy-nominated Producer of the Year, Howard Benson, last year and are awaiting release on Island Records shortly.

Starting off in ’08, Electric Touch has had an impressive run by anyone’s standards.  After the successful release of their self-titled debut album, they confirmed their growing popularity with spots at Coachella and the SXSW festival.  They also appeared at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Summerfest, V-festival, Mile High Festival, Buzzfest, and Austin City Limitsfestivals. Electric Touch toured that year with The Fratellis, The Airborne Toxic Event and Filter.  The rockers made such a musical impression in the freshmen outing that Austin.com went, “out on a limb to call Electric Touch the best set of the (ACL) fest.”

With members hailing from both sides of the Atlantic, this exciting 5-piece delivers their own original brand of British-American Rock music. In this case, the result is Electric Touch, the type of unbridled rock band that’s been missing from the scene for quite awhile — a monster of a group whose sound is big enough to fill an arena. The band delivers a pounding beat, punctuated by killer bass lines.  Dynamic guitars bring angular melodies, refreshing in simplicity, one moment then exploding into frenzied fury the next.

ELECTRIC TOUCH is: Shane Lawlor (vocals), Louis Messina, Jr. (drums), Christopher Leigh Messina (guitar), Isaac Strycker (Guitar/Keys/Vocals) and Portland Musser (Bass/Vocals).

(Source: MAD Ink, PR)

* For more info on ELECTRIC TOUCH, click on the link below:

www.electrictouchmusic.com

Follow at: Facebook.com/ElectricTouchMusic & Twitter.com/ElectricTouch

LONG LIVE ELECTRIC TOUCH.

Stone.

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BRUCE LAMONT – Solo Mini-Tour With Man’s Gin To Begin Next Week

Posted in experimental music, experimental rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on August 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Infamous multi-instrumentalist BRUCE LAMONT (Yakuza, Bloodiest, Circle Of Animals, Led Zeppelin 2) will be hitting the road late next week for a short five-show run, touring alongside Man’s Gin. Kicking off with a free show on LAMONT‘s home turf in Chicago, the short tour will run through Ohio, Pennsylvania and will come to a close in Brooklyn at a show headlined by his label mates The Body.

BRUCE LAMONT Mini-Tour With Man’s Gin:

9/02/2011 The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL [free show with RSVP]

9/03/2011 Kobo – Columbus, OH

9/04/2011 Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH

9/05/2011 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA

9/06/2011 St. Vitus – Brooklyn, NY w/ The Body

BRUCE LAMONT‘s debut solo album, Feral Songs For The Epic Decline, was released via At A Loss Recordings in January, to which he’s received endless praise from international media outlets and open-minded fans abroad. After touring on the material from the album sporadically over the past year or two, including several shows at this year’s SXSW festival (one of which was an impromptu set with Eyehategod’s Mike Williams), most recently LAMONT completed two back-to-back European tours this Spring; the first with Keelhaul and the second with Macabre, Birdflesh and Rompeprop.

Check out a full live BRUCE LAMONT solo set filmed in Moscow last may at this location.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE BRUCE LAMONT.

Stone.

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BLACK TIDE – Post Mortem: Releases August 23rd, 2011

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on August 21, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

BLACK TIDE – Having Post Mortem, their sophomore studio album being set for release this Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, Black Tide is back! Post Mortem will be released on DGC/Interscope. Rising to the occasion is nothing new for this band originating from Florida, gaining invaluable exposure and experience from extensive touring with the likes of heavy hitters: Disturbed, Slipknot and Avenged Sevenfold.

Post Mortem follows their internationally critically acclaimed debut album, Light From Above, released in 2008 on DGC/Interscope.

BLACK TIDE:

Gabriel Garcia – vocals & guitar

Austin Diaz – guitar

Zakk Sandler – bass

Steven Spence – drums

Post Mortem – Track Listing:

Ashes (featuring: Matt Tuck of Bullet For My Valentine)

Bury Me

Let It Out

Honest Eyes

That Fire

Fight ‘Til The Bitter End

Take It Easy

Lost In The Sound

Walking Dead Man

Into The Sky

So Broken (iTunes exclusive bonus track)

* For more info on BLACK TIDE, click on the link below:

BLACK TIDE – Official Website

LONG LIVE BLACK TIDE.

Stone.

2 Comments »

Queensrÿche RULES! ‘Nuff Said.

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 19, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Coderre)

Queensrÿche – Back on August 2nd, 2011, I and staff photographer Tom Coderre went to cover the Queensrÿche concert at Allentown Pennsylvania’s Crocodile Rock Cafe for the ultra cool  HARD ROCK HIDEOUT. When HRH’s Rob Rockitt gave us the assignment we were overjoyed! Why not head over to Hard Rock Hideout and read for yourself, the concert review I wrote while checking out some very cool photos of “live” Queensrÿche… courtesy of Tom Coderre. Just click on that big header link below to take you there! Metal be thy name!

Top photo: To the right is the legendary vocalist, Geoff Tate, of the also legendary Queensrÿche. Geoff and each member of Queensrÿche are class acts. The dude to the left, well, you’re looking at a happy Stone.

Click that link below!

Queensrÿche – Concert Review: Live At The Crocodile Rock Cafe, August 2nd, 2011

Long Live Queensrÿche.

The words “overjoyed” and “happy” were used in this post.

Stone.

7 Comments »

THE TREWS – Play The Viper Room, West Hollywood, CA: August 23rd, 2011

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

* To read the Metal Odyssey album review for THE TREWS new album Hope & Ruin, (posted on August 5th, 2011), click on the big header link below:

THE TREWS – “HOPE & RUIN”: A Rock Album of Solid and Memorable Songs

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

THE TREWS – Official Website

THE TREWS – myspace music

LONG LIVE THE TREWS.

Stone.

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The Hunting Accident – Ancient Fish: 4 Song EP Of Alternative Rockin’ Coolness

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on August 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

THE HUNTING ACCIDENT – I found this very cool band on twitter recently. This band goes by: The Hunting Accident. Actually, they found me first on twitter. 99% of the time, when a band follows Stone on twitter, Stone follows back. What happened to the other 1% somebody might ask? Those are the bands that aren’t really bands at all… they just try to fool you. Metal Odyssey doesn’t have nearly as many followers on twitter as I would like… so please feel free to follow Stone! (Especially if you are a band known across many continents as: Cheap Trick). Come on Cheap Trick… I’ve already pledged on twitter that if you follow Metal Odyssey, um, (Stone), then I would graciously write a “positive” piece on… ABBA. I cringed as I wrote that you know. Still, Stone gives his Metal promise on that one. Metal be thy name one thousand time over.

I do follow just about everyone except: doctors, lawyers and marketers who are only trying to make an easy buck from anyone they sucker. Seriously, if I needed a doctor or lawyer, the last place on Mother Earth I would seek one out on is twitter. Metal be thy name. I’ve seemed to have gotten off topic here and that’s cool. Why is that cool you might query? For the simple fact that sometimes I grow extremely tired of the formatted and run-of-the-mill album review. It’s normal.

Don’t get me wrong, I guarantee you will certainly see those  strict and conscientious album reviews here at Metal Odyssey. They will never go away. I wish political advertisements would go away though. Head cheese too. I wouldn’t touch head cheese with my worst enemy’s big toe. If I had a worst enemy that is. Maybe it’s the dude that keeps leaving postcards on my front door asking if I need “new uv-rated windows or a patio”.

Okay, now it’s definitely time to steer back to The Hunting Accident. Hey, this band is damn good. Yes sir and madam. All four songs on their Ancient Fish EP are just steaming with an Alternative bite that is both relevant and Hard Rockin’. These are songs that should catapult this band to some sort of Rock and Roll stardom. In my opinion, from these songs I’ve listened to, The Hunting Accident could realistically open for the legendary Alt/Rock band we all know and love called: The Cars. Just one listen to their song Big Mistake and you might not think I’m so crazy for stating that last thought.

I can honestly say I am hoping The Hunting Accident releases a full-length album very soon. I’ll admit, I never heard of this band before my twitter encounter with them and this Ancient Fish EP has served me right. Each musician of The Hunting Accident has a very decent track record in the music industry too. Really, they do. Check out their website here for more bio and info on them: The Hunting Accident – Official Website

You can either download this 4 song EP for free (yes free) or buy the 7″ EP of Ancient Fish directly on their site. How amazing is that? Free Rock and Roll or buy some vinyl… those words are wonderful to my ears. Plus, you can stream all 4 songs if you like, before you make that important decision as to how you want to own them. Seriously, if you are into Alternative Rock/Hard Rock or just want to hear 4 very groovy songs, The Hunting Accident is delivering the Rockin’ goods.

* You can also check out The Hunting Accident by clicking on their facebook link below:

The Hunting Accident – Official facebook

Ancient Fish – Track Listing:

Hot Drum

Important

Jack Trap

Big Mistake

LONG LIVE THE HUNTING ACCIDENT.

The words “wonderful” and “groovy” were used in this post.

Stone.

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Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation: Released 24 Years Ago Today, August 18th, 1987

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

AEROSMITH – Back on August 18, 1987, Aerosmith had their ninth studio album, Permanent Vacation, release on Geffen Records. That was 24 years ago my fellow Rockaholics. Where were you 24 years ago? Were you born yet? Were you lost in the farthest region of the Amazon Rain Forest? Maybe you were like me, sleeping until noon everyday and partying until six in the morning. I couldn’t live like that now! Hell, as that ultra-classic Aerosmith song goes: Dream On.

Despite whatever you may have been doing, wherever that may have been, this Aerosmith album made quite the Hard Rock impact on MTV and FM radio back in 1987. I can recall seeing the music video for Dude (Looks Like A Lady) for the first time, all those years ago. I was semi-interested. It’s not a bad song, still it’s not Mama Kin either. I remember vividly the teary eyed ballad Angel being played on every FM Rock station every five minutes back then too. (Or so it seemed). Yuck.

Rag Doll. Once this song first hit my eardrums I was grimacing. I couldn’t figure out how Aerosmith could go from Sweet Emotion to sweet annoyance so swiftly. Yuck again. Hangman Jury is no better either. Overall, this is my least favorite Aerosmith album from their unquestionably legendary discography. Sure, Permanent Vacation has sold multi-million copies worldwide since it’s release date. Mainstream appeal back in 1987 resulted in overexposure, which equates to the masses wanting to run out and buy, just as it happens now in the Rock music world.

Heart’s Done Time, Magic Touch and Permanent Vacation are three songs on this album that I truly like. So all is not lost when it comes to Permanent Vacation being my least favorite Aerosmith album. I’ve always adored the heavier and harder sound that Aerosmith was and is so famous for. Would I recommend this album to a buddy? Nope. I would say buy the digital songs that you like individually instead.

Two years later, in 1989, Aerosmith released their tenth studio album Pump. I always gravitated toward Pump, really digging that album to this day. One thing is for certain, Aerosmith did catapult themselves into the Rock n’ Roll stratosphere with Permanent Vacation. Trust me, I will forever be an Aerosmith fan, nothing beats the classics this band churned out during those influential 70’s. When it comes to Permanent Vacation, I was and still am one of those fans who just wasn’t buying into the fast food approach that this album represented towards the song.

Aerosmith:

Steven Tyler – vocals, piano, harmonica

Joe Perry – lead guitar

Brad Whitford – rhythm guitar

Tom Hamilton – bass

Joey Kramer – drums, percussion

* Permanent Vacation was produced by Bruce Fairbairn.

Permanent Vacation – Track Listing:

Heart’s Done Time

Magic Touch

Rag Doll

Simoriah

Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

St. John

Hangman Jury

Girl Keeps Coming Apart

Angel

Permanent Vacation

I’m Down

The Movie

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

AEROSMITH – Official Website

LONG LIVE AEROSMITH.

Stone.

6 Comments »

MISFITS – “The Devil’s Rain”: New Studio Album Releases October 4th, 2011!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, horror punk, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, Punk rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 14, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ATTENTION ALL FIENDS:

THE NEWS HAS BROKE.

GATHER AROUND AND BE TOLD:

A NEW MISFITS STUDIO ALBUM IS UPON US…

THE DEVIL’S RAIN.

RELEASING OCTOBER 4, 2011.

METAL BE THY NAME.

MISFITS:

Jerry Only – bass & vocals

Dez Cadena – guitar

Eric “Chupacabra” Arce – drums

* The Devil’s Rain was produced by Ed Stasium

* The Devil’s Rain is the first MISFITS studio album of original songs since 1999’s Famous Monsters.

* The last studio album the MISFITS released, was Project 1950, back in 2003. Project 1950 is a collection of cover songs celebrating ten Classic Rock n’ Roll hits.

Stay tuned for more Fiendish details as they are set loose…

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

MISFITS – Official Website

MISFITS – facebook

MISFITS – MySpace Music Page

LONG LIVE THE MISFITS.

LONG LIVE ALL FIENDS WORLDWIDE.

Stone.

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THIN LIZZY – ICON Greatest Hits: 11 Songs Of Timeless, Classic Hard Rock

Posted in classic rock, classic rock songs, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 13, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

THIN LIZZY – Released on June 21st, 2011, via Mercury Records is the Icon series of greatest hits installment of the ultra-legendary: Thin Lizzy. There are 11 songs on this Thin Lizzy compilation. Timeless, Revered, Classic Rock songs all. This past week, I bought this CD for two reasons: 1. I really dig Thin Lizzy and 2. I do not have every Thin Lizzy album on CD. Stone still swims among his vinyl and cassettes, therefore, Metal be thy name and ring that Old School F’n bell.

This Thin Lizzy CD set me back $7 (U.S.) and I’m happier than a pig in murky, stink ridden mud now that I own it. How can any of these Thin Lizzy classics ever grow stale? Impossible I say! These Thin Lizzy songs are the reason why the word “Classic” was put in front of the word “Rock”.

It is a difficult task in choosing which is my favorite Thin Lizzy song on this CD. I’ll go with Cowboy Song for now, then an hour later it is Jailbreak. Tomorrow it’s The Boys Are Back In Town as my top choice. You get the Metal picture.

Thin Lizzy – Icon Track Listing:

Whiskey In The Jar

The Rocker

Still In Love With You

Rosalie

The Boys Are Back In Town

Jailbreak

Cowboy Song

Borderline

Don’t Believe A Word

Bad Reputation

Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In It’s Spotlight)

* For more info on THIN LIZZY, click on the link below:

THIN LIZZY

LONG LIVE THE ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF THIN LIZZY.

Rest In Peace, Phil Lynott and Gary Moore.

Stone.

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Jani Lane – May He Rest In Peace

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Metal Odyssey extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, band mates and fans of Jani Lane. The former lead singer of Warrant and Saints Of The Underground passed away on August 11, 2011. Jani Lane was only 47.

As a lead vocalist, songwriter and lyricist for Warrant, Jani Lane’s Hair Metal and Rockin’  identity could never be denied, especially on such Warrant album classics as 1989’s Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich and 1990’s Cherry Pie. Jani Lane’s music will live on for generations to enjoy. God Bless Jani Lane and may he rest in peace.

Stone.

3 Comments »

SALTY DOG – Every Dog Has Its Day: This Hard Rockin’ Album From 1990 Has Its Day On Metal Odyssey

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SALTY DOG – Going back to 1990, here is a band that I Rocked out to and was reminded about while rummaging through my “vintage” cassette collection late last night: Salty Dog. I remember buying the cassette for Every Dog Has Its Day instead of the CD due to my not having a CD player in my car. Cassette players in cars ruled the day back then. Heck, back in 1990, who did have a CD player in their car? No one in my crowd!

Holding onto the cassettes of my past enables me to go back in time and listen to albums that I never upgraded to CD. Many of my cassettes are not even available on CD either due to the “out-of-print” syndrome that seems to affect so many cool bands and albums of decades past. My apologies for often times overstating this annoying music industry fact.

Salty Dog may have been ahead of their time or time was just standing still for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal in 1990. Take your pick. The Rockin’ tenure for Salty Dog was 1986 to 1991, with Every Dog Has Its Day being their album of note. Looking back, 1990 was not a generous time for up and coming bands of Heavy Music. With that said, there were and always will be an audience of fans and supporters for the kind of hard-edged Rock and Roll Salty Dog created and played. I’m living proof and I know I’m not alone.

Every Dog Has Its Day was originally released on Geffen Records in 1990. That was a tough year and time period for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands, with so many record labels looking for the next Nirvana. I wonder out loud, just how popular this Salty Dog album would be if it were “newly” released today? Gambling with my guess, I’m leaning towards Every Dog Has Its Day as being a hit. Why not? The Bluesy, Hard Rockin’ sound of Salty Dog should be appealing to the Hard Rock, Arena Rock and Classic Rock fans of 2011.

This is an old school, party till it’s four in the morning album… that comes with a spinning back kick of Hard Rockin’ relevance. (To my ears anyways). I remember the song Come Along like it was yesterday and it’s easily my favorite on this album. I looked up the availability of Every Dog Has Its Day on Amazon.com and used copies are available for around $13 (U.S.). Trust me, these “used” CD prices for this title go even higher! However, new or unopened copies of this original CD fetch a far bigger price: upwards to around $100 (U.S.). A 2010 reissue on a label called Bad Reputation has the new price floating at the $30 level (U.S.).

For a one album band, Salty Dog is surely remembered as delivering some memorable Rockin’ goods. Check ’em out by picking up this CD. Only get it at a decent price!

BELOW: Is a very cool & rare promo bio picture sheet that was distributed by Geffen Records back in 1989. This Salty Dog promo is courtesy of Metal Buddy Kinger over at Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival. Thanks Kinger!

SALTY DOG:

Jimmi Bleacher – vocals

Pete Reveen – guitar

Michael Hannon – bass

Khurt Maier – drums

Every Dog Has Its Day – Track Listing:

Come Along

Cat’s Got Nine

Ring My Bell

Where The Sun Don’t Shine

Spoonful

Just Like A Woman

Sim Sala Bim

Keep Me Down

Heave Hard (She Comes Easy)

Lonesome Fool

Slow Daze

Sacrifice Me

Nothin’ But A Dream

(CD Back Cover)

LONG LIVE SALTY DOG – EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY.

Stone.

10 Comments »

MADINA LAKE – Chatting Live On Their Stickam Channel: August 10th, 2011!

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on August 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

As taken from the Madina Lake newsletter, August 9th, 2011:

Hey everyone,

Just checking in to let you know that we’ll be chatting live on our Stickam channel tomorrow, Wednesday August 10th at 5 PM ET/4 CT. We’re excited to hang out with you all, answer your questions, and get you as excited about our new album WWIII as we are. Can’t wait to see you there!

Don’t forget- our new single “Hey Superstar” is now available on  iTunes.

LONG LIVE MADINA LAKE.

Stone.

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MASS “Voices In The Night” – Revisiting A Hard Rockin’ and Feel Good Album From 1989

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

MASS – Among the 80’s resurgence of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands these last several years, there is one band from that era that cannot be overlooked. This band is from Boston, Massachusetts and their world known as MASS.

This band’s strong and memorable contributions to 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal are forever forged on their 1984 debut & self-titled EP, along with three other albums from that loud, proud and colorful 80’s decade. One such album from MASS that I’ve been listening to (non-stop it seems) since this past Winter is 1989’s Voices In The Night.

Released on Enigma Records and produced by the legendary Michael Sweet, of the also legendary Stryper, Voices In The Night is a triple threat of: Hard Rockin’, feel good and elevated vibes. Yes, I do feel good listening to this album and it only seems to become elevated with each passing song. For those unfamiliar, MASS plays hard and heavy in the vein of Stryper, Steelheart, Slaughter and Nelson. MASS sold their share of records back in the 80’s and even made it on the rotation of a music network that used to be cool, known as MTV.

The vocals of Louis St. August are tailor-made for Arenas on this album… and still are in 2011. Where Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe has a pissed-off flair vocally and Tom Keifer of Cinderella always bestows a bluesy vibe with his voice, Louis St. August displays that assured, energetic and commanding vocal style. Louis gives the songs on Voices In The Night that elevated atmosphere; it’s his tones, range and notes he hits that dictates the highs you can obviously hear and actually feel.

As with every band, the debate will surface as to which album is their finest in their discography. I’m not aiming for Voices In The Night to be declared their best work, what I am pointing out however, is Voices In The Night is an album that should be remembered for its overall late 80’s hard and heavy luster, coupled with its melodic appeal and strength of songs. Metal be thy name, if this album was newly released today, it would be noticed for its old school glow and Classic Rock relevance. Well, in my Metal opinion, of course.

The ballad Chance For Love is realistically one of the finest of its kind, spanning Hard Rock to Hair Metal, from the mid to late 80’s. I’m no ballad freak, still Chance For Love makes me realize that when done with an acute awareness of not going overboard on the sappy meter; a band can achieve excellence with some Rockin’ tenderness. Uh, oh… Stone is in trouble now, I’m revealing my softer side. On songs such as the title track and Nine Tonight, the tempo is high, the rhythm section grooves, while the guitar of Gene D’Itria crunches out melodic licks and head banging’ riffs. In essence, that can easily sum up this entire album. One song that Gene flat-out shreds on is Staying Alive. Metal as my witness, it’s a cool song.

The chorus in these songs are not just harmonious, they are undeniably sing-along. Reach For The Sky is one song that never fails to have me pumping my fist into the air while (trying) to sing along to. Louis makes it sound so easy as he sings Carry Your Heart, he more than likely was born with that confidence factor. Carry Your Heart is an edgier song, with a psyche-you-out guitar solo that beckons me to play some vintage air guitar. Miles Away can be pointed out as an anthem on this album, one that can supercharge the Metal senses into indestructible mode, with its music alone.

Overall, Voices In The Night has an old school echo happening within its wall of sound and I’m not whining about it. The semi-rawness that this album radiates only makes the songs sound more real and fortified with a Hard Rockin’ punch. With a Christian Metal approach to positive reinforcement, I can’t see how this album couldn’t make anyone’s mood better. Then again, not everyone will like what Stone digs. Seasoned MASS fans already know this, yet new recruits to this band should be informed the following: Voices In The Night is an album to be revisited, enjoyed, Rocked out by and recommended to fellow Rockaholics.

* Voices In The Night was reissued by Retrospect Records in 2008, with the bonus track: Stevie.

MASS: Lineup on Voices In The Night:

Louis St. August – vocals

Gene D’Itria – guitar

Kevin Varrio – bass

Joey “Vee” Vadala – drums

Voices In The Night – Track Listing:

Voices In The Night

Nine Tonight

Reach For The Sky

Chance To Love

Turn It All Around

Carry Your Heart

Miles Away

Follow Me

Call Out Your Name

Staying Alive

Still Of The Night

_____________________________________________________________

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

MASS – MASS ROCKS.COM

LONG LIVE MASS.

The word “tenderness” was used in this post. Whoa.

Stone.

3 Comments »

Opeth – Heritage: New Studio Album Releases September 20, 2011, via RoadRunner Records

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

OPETH – On September 20th, 2011, Heritage, the new studio album from Swedish Progressive Metal icons Opeth will be released via RoadRunner Records. Heritage will be the tenth album overall from Opeth, their third release with RoadRunner Records. Check out the album artwork (above) and the track listing below. You will also find the exclusive Heritage box set information below too.

Heritage – Track Listing:

Heritage

The Devil’s Orchard

I Feel the Dark

Slither

Nepenthe

Haxprocess

Famine

The Lines in My Hand

Folklore

Marrow of the Earth

Mail order exclusive version of Deluxe Edition Collector’s Box Set Includes:

* Double LP Set of Heritage with exclusive Lenticular Artwork (180-Gram Vinyl in gatefold jacket)

* Custom gatefold jacket that houses the Heritage Special Edition CD/DVD set (Includes 2 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of album and making of Heritage documentary)

* Exclusive 7″ of 2 bonus tracks – Side A: Pyre, Side B: Face In The Snow

* Litho print of album cover

* Oversized 16 page booklet with exclusive photos and artwork

* All content housed in custom slipcase

* Receive a digital download of Heritage the day BEFORE release and an instant grat of lead track: The Devil’s Orchard

(Source: RoadRunner Records)

* For more info on OPETH and to order Heritage and/or the exclusive box set, click on the links below:

OPETH – Official Website

ROADRUNNER RECORDS

LONG LIVE OPETH.

Stone.

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Adrenaline Mob – Mike Portnoy’s Supergroup To Release Debut EP On August 9th, 2011

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on August 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ADRENALINE MOB – With Mike Portnoy no longer the drummer for Dream Theater, he is embarking on the next chapters of his stellar music career, one such new chapter is a new Heavy Rock band called: Adrenaline Mob. News of this new “supergroup” broke out in mid June of this year and now the debut EP from Adrenaline Mob will be released on August 9th, 2011.

This Adrenaline Mob, five song EP, includes a cover of the (RJD era) Black Sabbath classic: The Mob Rules. From the samples I’ve listened to on Amazon.com, all five songs undisputedly ROCK and Adrenaline Mob play The Mob Rules with Metal muscle. There will never ever be another Ronnie James Dio, with that said, from the short sample I’ve listened to, Russell Allen sounds damn good singing The Mob Rules. Some may call Adrenaline Mob a Hard Rock band, others will swear they are Metal. I’m going the Metal route here… based on the raw, heavy and edgy moments of these songs I’ve sampled into my ears. Metal be thy name.

* The mp3 album/EP of Adrenaline Mob can be downloaded at Amazon.com for $4.95 (U.S.) on August 9th, 2011. A full-length Adrenaline Mob album is reportedly forthcoming, at the beginning of 2012.

ADRENALINE MOB:

Mike Portnoy – drums (Dream Theater, A7X)

Russell Allen – vocals (Symphony X)

Mike Orlando – guitar (Sonic Stomp)

Paul Di Leo – bass

Rich Ward – guitar (Stuck Mojo, Fozzy)

Adrenaline Mob – Track Listing:

Psychosane

Believe Me

Hit The Wall

Down To The Floor

The Mob Rules

* For more info on ADRENALINE MOB, click the link below:

Adrenaline Mob – Official facebook

LONG LIVE ADRENALINE MOB.

Stone.

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THE TREWS – “HOPE & RUIN”: A Rock Album of Solid and Memorable Songs

Posted in alternative rock, alternative rock bands, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, metal odyssey, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on August 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

THE TREWS – One Rock album that I’ve been listening to consistently since it’s April 12th release date is Hope & Ruin from The Trews. Released on Bumstead Productions Ltd., this album is enriched with memorable melodies, standout vocal harmonies and Alternative stylings aplenty. With two gold records and ten top ten singles on their Rock resume, The Trews in my Rockin’ opinion are one of the best of bands imported from The Great White North. Based in Toronto, Canada, The Trews exemplify to me, just how grand a Rock album can sound when equal importance is given to lyrics and music.

Hope & Ruin makes it rather non difficult, when comparing The Trews to their Rock peers such as Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls. Song structures, lyrical diligence, tempos and degrees of Rock hardness all come into play when making such a comparison. The Trews just don’t bang-it-out on this album, they play the song and take you on an escalator of Rock, one that is aimed for being memorable and not run of the mill. There’s no question The Trews are accomplished artists and Hope & Ruin solidifies this, in my Rockin’ opinion.

You Gotta Let Me In is the mellow song on Hope & Ruin, with an acoustic listen that also takes advantage of soothing strings to compliment the soothing vocals of Colin MacDonald. Wether you listen to You Gotta Let Me In first or last, this song is a Folk Rock welcome mat from The Trews, which ultimately suggests this band’s admirable level of music appreciation. Upon hearing the guitar intro to The World I Know, the realization that The Trews are about to Rock-it-out is ever apparent. Latter days of The Alarm and early days of R.E.M. jump out at me, while The World I Know is cranked up, reminding me that yes, there is an old school Alternative Rock heaviness swirled about in this song.

Stay With Me is just an undisputed song of Rock excellence, both musically and lyrically. It’s easy for me to say this song would be a number one single on Billboard (if it were only 1985 all over again)… only real Rock music like this in 2011 takes a pounding from teen-Pop on those sacred charts. Rock fans with a pulse, know a number one single with relevance when they hear it and Stay With Me soars. The Trews compliment Stay With Me with yet another foot stomping and body jumping number called: People of the Deer. What this song substantiates, is, the true desire to move your body to Rock and Roll and let the vibes from the song take control.

Misery Loves Company is a short Hard Rock number (2:57) that flirts with a Punk fever tempo and bouncy bop to its beat. No, The Trews are not so diverse on this album that they lose their identity, their sound and semi-raw delivery is all there to be heard and recognized. Love Is The Real Thing encapsulates all good things about The Trews on Hope & Ruin: up-tempo, lyrical competence and a sensibility of some lean, blue-collar Rock, while hovering in and out with an Alternative appeal.

If You Wanna Start Again opens with delicate piano keys, only to become a guitar and chorus driven mover. Colin sings his Rockin’ heart out and John- Angus plays his guitar with unreal memorable licks on this song. The title track is yet another solid song on an already solid Rock album. With the tempo level being raised steadily as Hope & Ruin plays out, this song captivates with its unending Rock passion, from the vocals and backing vocals and all the way along its rhythmic beats. A fabulous title track to have, especially when it’s such an inspiring listen.

On Hope & Ruin, The Trews capture the sound, mood and vibes of Rock, Alternative Rock and Hard Rock with an efficiency that is easy to seize and enjoy. If you’re looking for an album that has been created with Rock discernment in mind, this is for you. Hope & Ruin pours with a sound of Rock that is not only real and sincere, it’s downright distinguished with its Rock stylings. Wether it’s a long drive, party time or you’re just chilling out, this is an album to turn to often for a cool dose of Rock.

THE TREWS:

Colin MacDonald – vocals

John-Angus MacDonald – guitar

Sean Dalton – drums

Jack Syperek – bass

Hope & Ruin – Track Listing:

Misery Loves Company

One By One

People Of The Deer

Stay With Me

Hope & Ruin

If You Wanna Start Again

The World I Know

Dreaming Man

I’ll Find Someone Who Will

Love Is The Real Thing

Burned

You Gotta Let Me In

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

http://www.thetrewsmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/thetrews

LONG LIVE THE TREWS.

Stone.

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Led Zeppelin – Mothership and Remasters: Greatest Hits Albums Of The Day!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 4, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

LED ZEPPELIN – I’m recommending Mothership (2007/Atlantic) and Remasters (1992/Atlantic), as the “Greatest Hits Albums Of The Day” from the ultra iconic Led Zeppelin. Honestly, what in the hell could I possibly write about, regarding any Zofo song or album, that has never been written about before? Break down a Led Zep album? C’mon, I’m a realist. Anyhow, I bought Mothership this past Winter due to my “want” behavior that sometimes is difficult to control… especially when it comes to Rock and Roll.

Due to my being a spontaneous album/CD collector geek, I own both these dandy Led Zeppelin “Greatest Hits” I’m recommending. (Remasters is shown below). I picked up Remasters in a “trade” many years ago. Due to my very serious lack of disposable income all those years ago, I traded away the CD’s of Pink Floyd The Wall and threw in Metallica …And Justice For All to get this Remasters.

This trade happened back around 1993 or ’94. I finally picked up The Wall on CD this past year, once again reuniting myself with a Pink Floyd classic of classics. I parted ways with …And Justice For All due to my disliking the song One so badly. I never to this day replaced …And Justice For All either. I most likely will replace it, however. As Lenny Wolf of Kingdom Come would say: “It is what it is”.

Remasters is an odd size, (approximately 5 3/4″ x 12″), while it looks and feels like a long hardcover book that opens up. This Remasters is a 3 disc set, with disc 3 being an interview with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. This set was released back in 1992 on Atlantic Records. Of course, with the interview CD on Remasters, it does set itself apart from Mothership.

If I was “forced” to choose my favorite Led Zeppelin song of all-time, then that song is: Houses of the Holy. I’ll say this though, Trampled Underfoot comes a very, very close second.

LONG LIVE THE ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF LED ZEPPELIN.

The word “dandy” was once again used, on Metal Odyssey.

Stone.

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Monday’s “The Question Of The Day”… Queried By Metal Odyssey

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on August 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

YES – Fly From Here (Frontiers Records)

Here is Monday’s “The Question Of The Day”… so get ready… here it comes…

HOW

COME

YES

ISN’T

IN THE

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME?

* For more info on YES, click on the links below:

YES

FRONTIERS RECORDS

LONG LIVE YES.

RING THAT DUH? BELL ONCE AGAIN FOR…

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF SHAME.

Stone.

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9 CHAMBERS – Self-Titled Debut Album Releasing On September 27th, 2011!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on July 30, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Rockframe Photography)

9 CHAMBERS – Hard Rock Supergroup 9 Chambers will be making Rock n’ Roll history on September 27th, 2011… this is THE release date for their self-titled debut album! With Greg Hampton (vocals & guitar), Ed Mundell (guitar), Jorgen Carlsson (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums), this album boasts four incredible musicians with legendary experience. Metal be thy name.

9 Chambers will be released via Samson Records/E1 Entertainment. Mark your Rockin’ calendar for this highly anticipated, Hard Rock debut album from 9 Chambers!

9 CHAMBERS:

Greg Hampton – vocals & guitar: (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, Bootsy Collins and world respected album producer & songwriter)

Ed Mundell – guitar: (ex-Monster Magnet)

Jorgen Carlsson – bass:(Gov’t Mule)

Vinny Appice – drums (as schedules permit): (Black Sabbath, DIO, Heaven & Hell)

* For more info on 9 Chambers, click on the links below:

9 Chambers – Official Website

9 CHAMBERS – Official facebook

9 Chambers – Reverbnation

9 Chambers – Audio Samples

* For related info and posts on 9 Chambers, (from the Metal Odyssey archives), click on the big header links below!

9 Chambers – Hard Rock Supergroup Of: Greg Hampton, Ed Mundell, Jorgen Carlsson and Vinny Appice!

9 Chambers: In Studio and Recording “Goin’ The Other Way” – See The Video Here!

9 CHAMBERS – Hard Rockin’ Studio Update: Through Sights and Sounds!

9 CHAMBERS – Posts New Song Sample: “One Thing Missing”

9 Chambers – “All But Done”: New and Complete Track Is Streaming Here Now! Yes, It ROCKS!

LONG LIVE 9 CHAMBERS.

Stone.

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CHICKENFOOT – Announce Track Listing, Second Teaser For: “CHICKENFOOT III”

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on July 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: LeAnn Mueller)

LOS ANGELES, CA – July, 2011) – A much anticipated follow up album to the successful eponymous debut of a rock band packed with successful veterans – guitar hero Joe Satriani, drummer Chad Smith, former Van Halenbassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar – has garnered a bevy of buzz and rumors that the band is setting straight today with the official announcement of the album title, full track listing, release date and more:“Chickenfoot III” (not IV as previously implied), produced by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica), is set for worldwide release on September 27th from eOne Music in North America and around the world by earMUSIC/Edel in a special 3D designed package. The album’s lead single “Big Foot,” is set for release on August 2nd.

“I am very proud of the new album,” says lead singer Hagar. “We’re calling the album “Chickenfoot III” because it’s so good, the songs are so tight, it’s like we jumped right past having to make a second record.” He adds, “We’ve established a real trust, Joe and I, we truly bring out the best in one another, and that spreads to the whole band.”

“Chickenfoot III” features 10 tracks with so many moments of epiphany that one can barely take them all in on first listen. Colossal, stadium-shaking riffs abound on earth-movers such as “Alright, Alright,” “Last Temptation,” “Bigfoot,” and “Lighten Up.” Tradition meets innovation on the Nashville pop-tinged “Different Devil,” the Delta-blues flavored “Something Going Wrong”and the aching rock ballad “Come Closer.”

“Come Closer” marks a dramatic twist in that singer Hagar wrote the words first and guitarist Joe Satriani composed the music to suit the lyrics. Elsewhere, Chickenfoot tackles issues such as mortality in “Up Next” and the world’s economy in “Three and a Half Letters” on hard-as-nails cuts that rock the body while filling one’s senses. A teaser video with some music from the forthcoming single “Big Foot” can be viewed on the band’s webpage and YouTube.

Joe Bosso of MusicRadar says, “In an era when the relevance of the album as an art form is under close scrutiny, Chickenfoot comes roaring back with the perfect answer: a superlative, hook-filled rock ‘n’ roll disc that simply must be experienced from start to finish. Tough yet full of intricate textures, played by musicians at the top of their game, this is the kind of record that bands both young and old dream of making.”

“Chickenfoot III” Full Track Listing:

Last Temptation

Alright, Alright

Different Devil

Up Next

Lighten Up

Come Closer

Three and a Half Letters

Big Foot

Dubai Blues

Something Going Wrong

“Chickenfoot III” follows up the band’s 2009 self-titled debut “Chickenfoot”, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, topped the charts at #3 on Billboard’s Top Independent albums of 2009 and #88 in the Top 200 Albums of 2009, was supported by performances on TheTonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, an initial sold out 9-city club test tour and rolled into a full 30-city cross-country US Tour. Chickenfoot was named “Best New Band” at Classic Rock Magazine’s annual awards ceremony in London.

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more info on CHICKENFOOT, click on the links below:

eOne Metal

eOne Music – facebook

LONG LIVE CHICKENFOOT.

Stone.

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