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

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, psychedelic rock, rock music, rock music news, stoner rock with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

9 CHAMBERS – The Hard Rock supergroup famously known as 9 Chambers have released a NEW track from their forthcoming debut album! This is no audio sample… this is a complete track and it’s titled: All But Done. This Hard Rockin’ and Psychedelic tinged song resonates with the all inclusive talents that this fabulous band bestows.

The dual guitars of Greg Hampton and Ed Mundell are erupting with so much Hard Rockin’ goodness on All But Done that it’s downright intoxicating. The vocals of Greg Hampton are instantly memorable and solid on this song. Greg has reinforced in my Metal mind, that he can stand tall among the very best of Rock and Hard Rock vocalists today.

Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Stoner, Rock and Psychedelic Rock fans should prepare themselves to get ROCKED OUT by 9 Chambers and All But Done. I’ve given out the Rockin’ warning… all you need to do now is click the start button below to hear for yourself! All But Done from 9 Chambers is Hard Rock excellence… Metal be thy name. Crank it up loud and be glad you did all you muthas!!

(Left: Ed Mundell, Right: Greg Hampton)

(Photo Credit: Rockframe Media/Karen Murphy Mundell)

9 CHAMBERS ARE:

Greg Hampton on vocals and guitar – (worked with Alice Cooper, Lita Ford and Bootsy Collins, to name a few. Greg is currently producing a Tommy Bolintribute album, which guests many famed Rock Music musicians.

Ed Mundell on guitar – (ex – Monster Magnet)

Jorgen Carlsson on bass – (Gov’t Mule)

Vinny Appice on drums – (will be involved as his schedule permits) (Black Sabbath, DIOand Heaven & Hell)

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

9 Chambers – Official Website

9 Chambers – Reverbnation

9 CHAMBERS – Official facebook

9 Chambers – Audio Samples

LONG LIVE 9 CHAMBERS.

Stone.

2 Comments »

STINKING LIZAVETA – Prepare For June 2011 Tour

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Philadelphia-based trio STINIKING LIZAVETA are set to embark on a half-month escapade throughout the East Coast and Southern U.S. The festivities kick off in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 3, then they hook up with Erode and Disappear for the next two weeks, heading down the East Coast, through the Gulf States and up through Chicago and Pittsburgh on their way back to Philly, infiltrating town after town with their intense, eclectic, instrumental aggro-prog-jam live rage.

STINKING LIZAVETA June 2011 Tour:

6/03/2011 Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA

6/07/2011 Twisted Tea Room – Charlottesville, VA w/ Erode and Disappear

6/08/2011 The Pilot Light –  Knoxville, TN w/ Erode and Disappear

6/09/2011 The Nick – Birmingham, AL w/ Erode and Disappear

6/10/2011 Siberia – New Orleans, LA w/ Spickle, Erode and Disappear

6/11/2011 Grant St. Dancehall – Lafayette, LA w/ Erode and Disappear

6/13/2011 Emo’s – Austin, TX w/ Erode and Disappear

6/14/2011 Rubber Gloves – Denton, TX w/ Erode and Disappear

6/15/2011 Replay Lounge – Lawrence, KS w/ Erode and Disappear

6/16/2011 Mojo’s – Columbia, MO w/ Erode and Disappear

6/17/2011 Pancho’s – Chicago, IL w/ Erode and Disappear

6/18/2011 Smiling Moose – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Erode and Disappear

STINKING LIZAVETA‘s most recent album, Sacrifice And Bliss, was released in 2009 by At A Loss Recordings in North America, and by Monotreme Records in Europe.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on STINKING LIZAVETA, click on the links below:

http://www.stinkinglizaveta.com

http://www.myspace.com/stinkinglizaveta

http://www.atalossrecordings.com

http://www.facebook.com/atalossrecordings

LONG LIVE STINKING LIZAVETA.

Stone.

1 Comment »

Twisted Sister – The Pinkburst Project Benefit Concert Is A Huge Success!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock music, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

As reported today, May 26th, 2011, by Eagle Rock News/Eagle Rock Entertainment:

On April 29, Twisted Sister performed here in New York City as a benefit for The Pinkburst Project, an organization founded by guitarist Jay Jay French to help benefit the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation.  On May 1, there was an online auction for all the pink guitars and amps that had been collected for this cause from the numerous manufacturers.  Between the auction & the concert, over $110,000 was raised for the Foundation. Congratulations to Jay Jay and the band for a successful weekend for a great cause!

* Metal Odyssey gives a huge Metal salute to Jay Jay French, Twisted Sister and of course The Pinkburst Project/the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation! Well done!

* For more info on The Pinkburst Project, click on the link below:

THE PINKBURST PROJECT

* For more info on Twisted Sister, click on the link below:

TWISTED SISTER – Official Website

LONG LIVE JAY JAY FRENCH & TWISTED SISTER.

LONG LIVE THE PINKBURST PROJECT.

Stone.

4 Comments »

STEELHEART – “Black Dog”: New Single Downloads For FREE On June 5th, 2011!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, melodic metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

STEELHEART – As it has been posted on the official website for SteelHeart:

“Miljenko Matijevic/SteelHeart recorded a new single for the world! After many requests by the fans, Miljenko and the boys went into the studio and cut a rendition of Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. Futuristic, hard and heavy! Get it at the SteelHeart website for free on June 5, 2011″.

Stone Says: Whoa! This new cover song of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog should be quite the Hard Rockin’ ear candy from SteelHeart! Best Metal Buddy Scott Coverdale and I can’t wait to hear it! Plus, what a cool gesture to all Rock, Hard Rock and Metal fans across the globe… to offer this new single for free! I’m marking my Metal calendar for June 5th. A huge Metal kudos goes out to Miljenko Matijevic/SteelHeart for such a move!

(Source: SteelHeart Official Website)

(Contributor: Scott Coverdale)

* For more info on Miljenko Matijevic/SteelHeart, click the link below:

STEELHEART – Official Website

Long Live Miljenko Matijevic/SteelHeart.

Stone.

2 Comments »

Within Temptation – “Shot In The Dark”: A Melodic and Symphonic Metal Song That’s Truly Memorable

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, operatic metal, rock music, rock music news, symphonic metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHIN TEMPTATION – On March 29th, 2011, the fifth studio album from the Dutch Symphonic Metal band Within Temptation was released, via RoadRunner Records. The Unforgiving is the album and my favorite song from it is Shot In The Dark. Sharon den Adel is an amazingly powerful vocalist, she really summons up a bounty of believable emotion on Shot In The Dark. Within Temptation took Melodic and Symphonic Metal to incredible heights with The Unforgiving. I highly recommend this new album from Within Temptation. I admire and respect the direction that this band has taken on this album and it has become quite the contagious listen for me over the past month. Truly an inspiring album is The Unforgiving.

In the April 2011 issue (Issue 130) of Power Play Rock & Metal Magazine, (vocalist Sharon den Adel stated about the new album’s concept: “It’s a very realistic story, although you don’t see that in the first phase when you see a lot of the supernatural and people being brought back to life to have a second chance. It’s not about bad people but good people making bad choices. There are many layers and characters but it’s about making peace with yourself.”

Watch and listen below to Shot In The Dark… I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Within Temptation:

Sharon den Adel – vocals

Robert Westerholt – electric guitars

Martijn Westerholt – keyboards

Ruud Jolie – acoustic & electric guitars

Jeroen van Veen – bass guitars

Track Listing For The Unforgiving:

Why Not Me

Shot In The Dark

In The Middle Of The Night

Faster

Fire And Ice

Iron

Where Is The Edge

Sinéad

Lost

Murder

A Demon’s Fate

Stairway To The Skies

* For more info on Within Temptation, click the links below:

WITHIN TEMPTATION – Official Website

ROADRUNNER RECORDS

LONG LIVE WITHIN TEMPTATION.

Stone.

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AVEDIS – Red Sea EP: Alternative Rock With A Slice Of Punk = It ROCKS!

Posted in alternative rock, Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, post punk, Punk rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

AVEDIS – Originating from the area known to mankind as Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there is a three-piece Rock outfit that is stirring up quite a buzz recently with their newly released 4 song EP titled: Red Sea. Since January of 2011, this EP has been available to feed your ears. I strongly suggest you DO give this Red Sea EP a valid listen and take in what AVEDIS is creating here. Diversity in style and sound is key with this band, they don’t appear to be stuck in any particular Rock genre.

AVEDIS doesn’t spread themselves so thin that there is an identity crisis either… they just flat-out can write and play some memorable songs. Bound Together is a soothing acoustic and keenly orchestrated song that carries with it some mid to late 70’s elegance in it’s vibe. The vocals of Corey Nietupski gives Bound Together it’s strong Alternative relevance, therefore, this becomes a listen that fuses together a Rock feel of yesteryear with the ever present day.

Mer de Mesonges glides along on a steady path to Alternative Hard Rockin’ bliss. Melodic guitar and an up-tempo pace gives this song it’s strong character. Corey’s vocals just come across so damn natural too that I’m freakin’ jealous. Throw in some very cool backing vocals that revive my very fond memories of The Alarm and this song spells out: winner. There’s a whole lotta’ Rock to this band’s Roll and I’m buying into it. The overall Modern appeal that seeps from this EP is what should drive AVEDIS to the top… or pretty darn close to the top.

Mega Ditz exemplifies just how grand Punk Rock can sound when a band feels it. The wha-wha guitar licks on Mega Ditz come with a warning label: Extremely Addicting To One’s Ears. If I could make one plea to AVEDIS, it would be: don’t stray too far away from this Punk flavor you have added into your Alternative repertoire. It’s the edgy Punk vibe of AVEDIS that revs me up most. I have never fallen victim to the “Punk is dead” school of thought from the mindless. AVEDIS obviously hasn’t either.

Walk Alone combines Alternative Rock and Punk, resulting with a thump and stomp, “rip up the club until closing” attitude laced experience. As I listen to Walk Alone, I realize that I do have some pent-up slam-dance energy left in my old bones after all. AVEDIS blends their own brand of Rock, Alternative Rock and Post Punk into this Red Sea EP with impressive attention to details. If AVEDIS is an unsigned band as advertised, then there has to be a record label out there for them. I couldn’t emphasize more loudly, as to how real and relevant the Rock sound of AVEDIS is.

* AVEDIS was formed in 2007 by Corey Nietupski (lead vocals, guitar & songwriter). Total Control was released at this time, the debut full-length from this Rockin’ trio.

* As stated by Corey Nietupski (in regards to the Red Sea EP) in the Official Bio of AVEDIS: “It’s a concept album that uses the color red to depict the different emotions one can feel when being in a relationship or in love”.

AVEDIS are:

Corey Nietupski – vocals & guitar

Josh Lisiecki – bass & vocals

Chris Lehman – drums & percussion

* For more info, videos and streaming music on AVEDIS, just click on the links below:

AVEDIS – youtube

AVEDIS – Official Website

AVEDIS – REVERBNATION

AVEDIS – facebook

AVEDIS – twitter

LONG LIVE AVEDIS.

Stone.

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FAIR TO MIDLAND – Announce A String Of CD Release Shows!

Posted in alternative metal, alternative rock, Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) — FAIR TO MIDLAND will be hitting the road to headline a handful of shows supporting their brand new record due out July 12th. Tickets are on sale NOW

The band recently announced that it was giving away a brand new track titled “Amarillo Sleeps on My Pillow” as a 100% free download, that offer is still available HERE

FAIR TO MIDLAND will release their brand new full length entitled “Arrows and Anchors” on July 12th, 2011. This is the band’s follow-up to the highly acclaimed record “Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True” released in 2007.

7/12/2011 Dallas, TX – Curtain Club

7/13/2011 Tulsa, OK – The Marquee


7/15/2011 Flint, MI – Machine Shop


7/16/2011 St. Paul, MN – Station 4


7/17/2011 Madison, WI – The Annex


7/18/2011 Cedar Falls, IA – The Wheelhouse

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more info on FAIR TO MIDLAND, click on the link below:

Fair To Midland – myspace music

LONG LIVE FAIR TO MIDLAND.

Stone.

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JOURNEY – “ECLIPSE”: Get The Quickest Album Review Here!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, melodic rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WHOA!

ECLIPSE IS ROCKIN’ SOLID… FRONT, BACK AND CENTER!

JOURNEY IS A ROCK INSTITUTION.

CLASSIC ROCK LIVES THROUGH JOURNEY.

WHOA AGAIN!

RING THAT HARD ROCKIN’ BELL AND KISS THE CLASSIC ROCK SKY… ‘CAUSE JOURNEY’S ECLIPSE IS THE REASON WHY!

ARNEL. NEAL. ROSS. JONATHAN. DEEN.

AND… METAL BE THY NAME.

THIS IS MY FIRST IMPRESSION… AFTER 4 LISTENS. IT’S A LASTING IMPRESSION TOO. A PROPER REVIEW SHALL FOLLOW DOWN THE METAL ROAD… STAY TUNED. 

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

LONG LIVE JOURNEY.

Stone.

4 Comments »

DEEP PURPLE – “King Of Dreams”: Song From 1990 Revisited

Posted in classic rock, classic rock songs, Hard Rock, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

DEEP PURPLE – Released back in October of 1990, Slaves and Masters became the thirteenth studio album from the ultra-legendary Deep Purple. This terrific album embodied the reunion of Rock icons Joe Lynn Turner (vocals) and Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), both formerly together in Rainbow, a Rock historic and outrageously important band founded by Ritchie Blackmore. The Joe Lynn Turner and Ritchie Blackmore partnership in Rainbow spanned three studio albums: Difficult To Cure (1981), Straight Between The Eyes (1982) and Bent Out Of Shape (1983).

My favorite song from Slaves and Masters is: King Of Dreams. Sure, as with this entire album, there are flashes of melodic Rainbow that seep out of King Of Dreams… all due in part to Joe Lynn Turners melodic and harmoniously contagious vocals. The tone of Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar does resonate Deep Purple, yet there are reminders of his Rainbow era that resonate in his style as well… in my Metal opinion.

King Of Dreams is just a solid melodic Hard Rock song that seems to carry with it a “no end in sight” shelf life. The sound heard on this album and King Of Dreams is extremely relevant to my ears. I find it incredible that I bought Slaves and Masters on cassette 22 years ago. I still have the cassette… Metal be thy name.

I hope you dig King Of Dreams as much as I do. If not, well, go listen to some Milli Vanilli and take some laxatives.

DEEP PURPLE (Mk V) on Slaves and Masters:

Joe Lynn Turner – vocals

Ritchie Blackmore – guitar

Roger Glover – bass

Jon Lord – keyboards

Ian Paice – drums

* The CD single photo for King Of Dreams is at top of this post. I found this CD single at an antique store on Friday, May 20th, 2011. Yes, an antique store. This is a “For Promotional Use Only” copy which contains both the album and edit version of King Of Dreams. The whole package is in mint shape too. I paid a whopping $3 (U.S. funds) for this piece of Deep Purple history! This King Of Dreams CD single is not the one which contains the track Fire In The Basement. The record labels on the backside of the liner notes are: BMG and RCA.

(Slaves and Masters album cover/1990 – BMG & RCA)

* For more info on DEEP PURPLE, click on the link below:

DEEP PURPLE

LONG LIVE DEEP PURPLE.

LONG LIVE RITCHIE BLACKMORE.

LONG LIVE JOE LYNN TURNER.

Stone.

5 Comments »

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

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

(Left: Ed Mundell, Right: Greg Hampton)

(Photo Credit: Rockframe Media/Karen Murphy Mundell)

9 CHAMBERS – The Hard Rock Super Group of 9 Chambers has posted a brand new song sample: One Thing Missing. You can hear this unreal great and Hard Rockin’ song by clicking here: 9 Chambers – Reverbnation

This band of Rock Music industry veterans called 9 Chambers are:

Greg Hampton on vocals and guitar – (worked with Alice Cooper, Lita Ford and Bootsy Collins, to name a few. Greg is currently producing a Tommy Bolin tribute album, which guests many famed Rock Music musicians.

Ed Mundell on guitar – (ex – Monster Magnet)

Jorgen Carlsson on bass – (Gov’t Mule)

Vinny Appice on drums – (will be involved as his schedule permits) (Black Sabbath, DIO and Heaven & Hell)

9 Chambers are currently recording and putting the Rockin’ touches on their forthcoming debut album. Stay tuned to Metal Odyssey for all the 9 Chambers details!

* 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

LONG LIVE 9 CHAMBERS.

Stone.

1 Comment »

Halestorm Cover of “Bad Romance” Spoils The Hard Rock Party

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 20, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Halestorm – I’ve always dug Halestorm and will continue to do so. However, when you cover a Lady Gaga song such as Bad Romance and slap it on your new EP (ReAniMate: The CoVeRs) not everyone is gonna be psyched-out about it. The first time I heard this ultra–lousy song “covered” by Halestorm, I thought it was a cruel joke or at least a mistake. Why on Earth would Halestorm want to cover this crap song? Is the band “friends” with Lady Gaga? Is Lady GaGa influential to someone in Halestorm? (Ouch). Even so, there is NO rhyme or Metal reason to cover it… unless your looking for a grammar school battalion of fans.

If Halestorm wants to be “cool” within the Hard Rock circles, they shouldn’t even be associating themselves with such a poser song. I would give Halestorm a Metal pass if this song was done as a joke. Children of Bodom covered a crap Pop song called Oops!… I Did It Again (the crap song that made Britney Spears millions) for their Skeletons in the Closet covers album and openly stated it was not to be taken seriously. That is not the case here. Halestorm should step back, take a deep breath, then realize: they are NOT immune to being called out for SELLING OUT on covering a bubble gum Pop song such as this. This is Halestorm obviously cashing in on the current commercial fame of Lady Gaga. I don’t know which version of Bad Romance is worse… it’s a pick ’em.

By no means do I ignore that Lzzy Hale displays her patented powerful vocals on this covers EP. With the likes of Guns ‘n Roses (Out ta Get Me), Temple of the Dog’s (Hunger Strike) and Skid Row’s (Slave To The Grind) being hammered out with undeniably relevant heaviness from the band, this EP does become rescued. The Classic Rock gem from Heart (All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You) lacks the original vibe and feel that Ann and Nancy Wilson can only bring. (I Want You (She’s So Heavy)) is a Beatles song that really doesn’t need to be reinvented or covered at all… some songs are still sacred, you know?

I am not going to cow-tow to anyone and say nice things about a song that is justifiably out of place on this EP as Bad Romance is. Overall I recommend this new EP offering of cover songs from Halestorm to loyal fans… just don’t say I never warned you about the one bad apple song in the bunch.

That’s it. So, as you have read above, Stone is not always going to listen to an album, then hand out smiley faces and tell everybody it’s a sunshine day. Metal be thy name.

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

HALESTORM – Official Website

LONG LIVE HALESTORM.

Stone.

6 Comments »

SEETHER – “Here And Now” Is Truly An Emotional And Stunning Song

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

SEETHER – Before I bought the new Seether album I was already quite psyched-out by their top selling single Country Song. (It has peaked to #2 on the Billboard Rock Songs Chart). I could not hold back my heightened liking for Country Song, so I purchased it on iTunes a couple of weeks before Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray was released on May 17th. Yes, I was anticipating a new album from Seether that hopefully has the potential to blow me away. It has… and one particular song has blown me away ten-fold. That song is Here and Now.

It is not often that a song can touch me on such a personal level. When those moments do occur and a song speaks to me the way Here and Now does, it is simply put: mesmerizing. The lyrics of Here and Now coupled with the melodies, mood and emotional vocals of Shaun Morgan have frozen me in my tracks. This incredible song brought me to tears the first time I listened to it. Those tears were a long time coming. Whenever a song can move me this way, it becomes special to my Metal soul. I guess there isn’t much more I can say than that.

Thank you Shaun Morgan for writing the lyrics to Here and Now. Thank you Seether for the music.

* Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray is the fifth studio album from Seether and released on Wind-up Records.

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

SEETHER – Official Website

SEETHER – Official facebook

SEETHER – myspace music

* For more info on Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray, you can read the Metal Odyssey rundown which was posted on April 25, 2011 by clicking the big header below:

SEETHER – Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray: Releases May 17th, 2011!

LONG LIVE SEETHER.

Stone.

4 Comments »

SOUNDGARDEN WITH COHEED AND CAMBRIA – July 2011 Concert Dates Listed

Posted in alternative rock, concerts, grunge, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, progressive rock, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SOUNDGARDEN With Special Guest: COHEED AND CAMBRIA – July 2011:

02 – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheater – On Sale Now


03 – London, ON – John Labatt Center – On sale 5/14 


06 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena – On sale 5/13 


08 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center – On sale 5/13 


09 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – On sale 5/13


10 – Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center for the Performing Arts – On sale 5/14

* For more info, click on the links below:

SOUNDGARDEN WORLD

www.coheedandcambria.com

LONG LIVE SOUNDGARDEN.

LONG LIVE COHEED AND CAMBRIA.

Stone.

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SHAKRA – Back On Track: Swiss Hard Rock Band Is Blazing Forward!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SHAKRA – Watch out… before you dive your eardrums into this new Shakra studio album Back On Track, bear in mind this veteran band is aiming to kick your Hard Rockin’ and Heavy Metalin’ ass! I just cannot resist warning you all. When an album of 13 songs ROCKS this HARD, HEAVY and MEMORABLE, by God I am gonna raise some noize about it. Released on May 3rd, 2011 via AFM Records, Back On Track has Shakra on track for worldwide Hard Rock domination. Glory be to Metal, this album is a non-stopper… I just can’t hit the stop button when it is playing. I could have easily taken the easy road, by just giving this album a three word review like this: buy this album. Alas, I have to rant and rave about Back On Track.

Based in Switzerland, Shakra is following up on their last album Everest, which soared to #4 on the Swiss album charts back in 2009. I honestly see Shakra making gigantic strides in the States, with enough promotion and (hopefully) consistent radio play, be it FM or satellite. Shakra is tailor made for the Hard & Heavy Rock that makes 80’s old schoolers proud and play with enough relevance for todays younger generation to dig… big time. In a Metal nutshell, Shakra caught my undivided Hard Rockin’ attention from the opener B True B You to the unbelievable closer: Stonger Than Ever. This last song puts the thunder stamp on this album where I’m left muttering… holy crap that was one hell of a goooood listen!

Shakra now has a new lead singer with John Prakesh, (replacing Mark Fox) and he is damn good. Damn good. There are moments where I hear some Marc Storace (influence?) in John’s vocals, only don’t think for one second that John Prakesh isn’t an original. His vocals are a reminder to me, that a band can be elevated by it’s front man. This guy sings the Rockin’ daylights out of this album, Metal be thy name and hallelujah to all. Shakra plays as a cohesive unit, with their energy and Heavy Rock spirit coming through LOUD and very clear on Back On Track. Blazing is the most adequate adjective to describe the sound and total vibe I receive from Shakra, these guys are running on all Hard & Heavy Rock cylinders with Back On Track.

Revved up guitar leads and Hard Rockin’ riffs? Check. Hooks? Check. Melodic and memorable songs? Check. Pumped up chorus? Check. Thumpin’ rhythm section? Check. Psyche-you-out sonic thrills by the minute? Um… check again. Look, I would never praise an album that is the equivalent of bird crap on a windshield. Shakra has created an album that is the equivalent of a Hard & Heavy Rock celebration. This celebration called Back On Track MUST be shared to all fellow Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fans alike. Shakra for all intents and purposes, have smacked it down and let it loose with Back On Track. Spread the Hard Rock word: SHAKRA.

* Recorded and produced with Shakra’s own guitarist Thom Blunier, at Power Ride Studios.

* Back On Track entered the official Swiss Album Charts at #2, the highest charting SHAKRA album ever. Back On Track entered the German Album Charts at #84.

* Back On Track is the eighth studio album from SHAKRA.

SHAKRA:

John Prakesh – vocals

Thom Blunier – lead guitar

Thomas Muster – rhythm guitar

Dominik Pfister – bass

Roger Tanner – drums

Track Listing:

B True B You

I’ll Be

Crazy

Back On Track

When I See You

MMTWGR

Yesterday’s Gone

Someday

Eternity

Lonesomeness

Unspoken Truth

Brand New Day

Stronger Than Ever

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

http://www.shakra.ch

http://www.afm-records.de

LONG LIVE SHAKRA.

Stone.

3 Comments »

WARRANT – ROCKAHOLIC: Hard Rock Glory Has Risen Again!

Posted in classic rock, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WARRANT –  With a new vocalist in place to front the multi-million selling Hard Rock band we all know and embrace as Warrant, Rockaholic (Frontiers Records) comes at me with a new-found attitude and revved up Hard Rock sound that crunches. Robert Mason (Lynch Mob, Cry Of Love) is now the voice behind Warrant and it’s a return to Hard Rock glory for this group. The stereotypical Hair Metal posturing of years gone by is not the sheen of elegance anymore with Warrant, instead Rockaholic comes at me with more Hard Rock relevance than I ever could have expected.

With original members Jerry Dixon (bass), Erik Turner (rhythm guitar), Joey Allen (lead guitar) and Steven Sweet (drums), the backing vocals they all provide on Rockaholic lends a cool-fueled, feel-good atmosphere and tribute to their legendary Hair Metal roots. The ballad Home reminds me that Warrant still has the fever for making a memorable tear jerker. An inspirational ballad it is, the lyrics aren’t sappy… they just hit home. A well written ballad that has substance… and ballads don’t usually impress me. This one does.

Candy Man is a groovy Rocker that hits on all melodic cylinders. A song that is heavy and filled with gimme more hooks, I can understand if Candy Man becomes a strip club favorite. Sunshine has the up-tempo and sing-a-long savvy to be a live favorite. Something about Sunshine makes it a cool candidate for a beer drinking song for some reason. Sunshine is yet another song on Rockaholic that proves these Warrant dudes know a thing or two about playing some good time Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Life’s A Song has Robert Mason giving Jon Bon Jovi a run for his Hard Rock money. This song should hopefully be on Warrant’s live set list for their 2011 Summer gigs. Cocaine Freight Train embodies the heavier personality of Warrant, with a pedal to the Metal tempo and guitar licks that resonate Classic Rock Americana. What Love Can Do is all about the good-time vibes. Crank this song up, roll down the windows and let the breeze hit you in the face while Warrant makes your lazy day cruise Rock! Metal be thy name, this Warrant album is Hard Rock goodness.

Rockaholic is 14 songs, which have the Rockin’ bookends of Sex Ain’t Love opening and The Last Straw closing out. Both of these songs are critical for Sex Ain’t Love sets the Hard Rockin’ tone of Rockaholic from the onset, while The Last Straw makes me wish this album would go on for another six songs or more. Metal be thy name once again. Ring that Hard Rock bell of glory and tell ’em Stone told you to do so.

Dusty’s Revenge resonates with it’s Rock ‘n’ Roll outlaw sound, courtesy of Joey and Erik’s guitars and Robert’s vocals. This is perhaps my favorite song on Rockaholic, being carried by Robert’s vocals that embody the essence and mystique of a Classic Hard Rock performance. If there is to be more praise handed out here, it’s that Warrant is one band from the late 80’s era that knew how to evolve as a band. Did someone say bubble gum? I respond by saying kiss my Metal lovin’ ass. Warrant Rocks.

The hardened sound of Warrant today coupled with Robert Mason’s vocals, makes this entire album scream: It’s a new beginning! Warrant has surprised me with Rockaholic, fans of Warrant should surely be psyched-out of their minds by this new album. Even those few who may have shunned Warrant over the decades, just might realize, Rockaholic is a Hard Rock powerhouse of an album after just one listen. This is a band that never buckled under to nuthin’ and their fired-up and rejuvenated brand of Hard Rock is in the here and now. Warrant is back… and that is a Hard Rockin’ matter of fact!

* Rockaholic releases on May 13th in Europe and May 17th in the U.S., on Frontiers Records.

* Rockaholic was produced by Keith Olsen and mixed by Pat Regan.

Rockaholic Track Listing: 

Sex Ain’t Love

Innocence Gone

Sanke

Dusty’s Revenge

Home

What Love Can Do

Life’s A Song

Show Must Go On

Cocaine Freight Train

Found Forever

Candy Man

Sunshine

Tears In The City

The Last Straw

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

WARRANT ROCKS

LONG LIVE WARRANT.

Stone.

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FAITHSEDGE – Debut Album Is Now On iTunes!

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

FAITHSEDGE – As has been shouted out today by Giancarlo Floridia, (vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and founder of Faithsedge), the debut Faithsedge album is NOW on iTunes! Just click on the link below to get there… then make your purchase of one of the BEST Hard Rockin’ and Heavy Hittin’ albums of 2011!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/faithsedge/id435187614

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

FAITHSEDGE – facebook

FAITHSEDGE – Official Website

To read the complete Metal Odyssey album review for FAITHSEDGE, (posted on April 15, 2011), just click on the big header link below:

FAITHSEDGE – Debut Album Is One Of The Year’s Best In Both Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

LONG LIVE FAITHSEDGE.

Stone.

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SHINEDOWN – Somewhere in the Stratosphere: Madness LIVE from Washington State (Electric)… Electrifies!

Posted in alternative metal, alternative rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 4, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SHINEDOWN – After listening to the 17 live songs on Somewhere in the Stratosphere: Madness LIVE from Washington State (Electric), my conclusion is Shinedown electrifies with their live performance. The quality of sound and all encompassing production of this live album is astounding. The sounds of the audience are captured perfectly, with plenty of exaltation and sing-along moments, making this a true live listen into this Shinedown concert.

Before I listened to this live Shinedown album, I did not hear one song prior. I was hoping for high energy from this live concert album, coupled with the commanding spirit of musicianship that Shinedown so dramatically exemplifies. Well… Shinedown sounds electrifying on this live album and I wish I was there to experience this live concert.

Shinedown have released three studio albums with immense commercial success. Leave A Whisper (2003) has gone Platinum, Us and Them (2005) has gone Gold and The Sound of Madness (2008) has reached Platinum status. All three of these studio albums from Shinedown I admire greatly, from the lyrics to the music and all vibes in-between. Shinedown has sold millions of albums for good reason. Albums just don’t sell that easy these days. It’s my guess that the song writing and lyrical themes of Shinedown’s songs obviously touches the human spirit and relates, plus this band really can play lights out.

I’ve always considered Brent Smith to be a premier vocalist in the world of Heavy Music and all of Rock for that matter. Brent has that gift of spilling out real emotion into the lyrics that he sings, nothing has ever come across as fabricated to my ears. To hear these 17 Shinedown songs live, with Brent’s vocals being as inspirational as ever, is riveting. Hearing live versions of Brent singing I Dare You, Heroes, The Crow & The Butterfly and Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom) is proof positive that he was meant for the live stage.

Throughout this live album, the entire band plays tighter than the knots in my daughter’s sneaker laces. All the while, I can feel the enthusiasm of Shinedown through these live songs, it just comes through to me this way and I’m not complaining. The pumped-up and heavy grooves that erupt from Sound Of Madness are so lively it’s downright wild. Fly From The Inside is brought to the live stage brilliantly. The cover song of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Simple Man is played in acoustic Southern Rock glory. The last verse of Simple Man has Brent Smith inviting the audience to sing-along and it’s simply put… cool and fun stuff.

Second Chance ends this live album of 17 songs by scarring my arms and face with ostrich bumps of emotion. A perfect song to cap off this concert and album. Thank you, Shinedown. Metal be thy name. This new live album from Shinedown should recruit even more new fans into their Rockin’ stable. Longtime fans of Shinedown should presumably be thrilled to hear and own this album. It is my Metal opinion, this is one of those live albums that will be looked upon as being one of the best of it’s generation.

SHINEDOWN:

Brent Smith – vocals

Zach Myers – guitar

Eric Bass – bass

Barry Kerch – drums

Track Listing:

Intro (Scary Fairy)

Sound Of Madness

Devour

I Dare You

Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide

If You Only Knew

Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)

.45

Burning Bright

Heroes

The Crow & The Butterfly

Her Name Is Alice

Save Me

Left Out

Simple Man

Fly From The Inside

Second Chance

* This live album was released on May 3rd, 2011, on Atlantic Records.

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

SHINEDOWN – Official Website

SHINEDOWN – facebook

SHINEDOWN – twitter

LONG LIVE SHINEDOWN.

Stone.

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

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Left: Ed Mundell, Right: Greg Hampton)

(Photo Credit: Rockframe Media/Karen Murphy Mundell)

9 CHAMBERS – Rockin’ right along in the studio and currently making cool progress on their forthcoming debut album is the Hard Rock supergroup known as 9 Chambers. The lineup for 9 Chambers with their storied backgrounds: Vocalist and guitarist Greg Hampton (Alice Cooper, The New Czars, Lita Ford, to name a few), guitarist Ed Mundell (ex-Monster Magnet), Jorgen Carlsson on bass (Gov’t Mule) and Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heavn & Hell, DIO) on drums.

The Rock world is a better place, when musicians such as 9 Chambers can unite and create their unique brand of Hard Rock! Check out the video below for the newly released sights and sounds collection that is 9 Chambers… as they’re recording in the studio right now!

* Stay tuned to Metal Odyssey for constant updates on 9 CHAMBERS, as they progress closer to their debut album’s finish and release date!

* Read the initial cover story about 9 CHAMBERS, as it was posted on Metal Odyssey back on April 8th, 2011 by clicking the big header link below!

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

* 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

LONG LIVE 9 CHAMBERS.

Stone.

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MADDAM INK – Live At The Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, PA, March 19th, 2011: Exclusive Photos and Overview

Posted in alternative rock, concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, modern rock, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Left: Adam Burke/vocals & guitar, Right: Steve Benecke/bass)

(All live photo credits: Tom Coderre)

MADDAM INK – Back on March 19th, 2011, Maddam Ink closed out the evening of Hard Rock at The Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This night featured the Alt/Modern Hard Rock legends COLD on their: A Tour Of The American Dream. On this Hard Rockin’ bill, the other supporting bands for COLD were: Oceans Divide, Kopek and Egypt Central.

Once Maddam Ink took the stage the crowd of fans certainly did thin out quite a bit. It’s a shame for Maddam Ink played a set of songs that Rocked with cool, melodic vibes. The hooks, riffs and head-turning beats were abundant in Maddam Ink’s songs and not one song was a yawner. Tom Coderre (Metal Odyssey’s staff photographer) and I were more than willing to stick around to catch Maddam Ink’s set, we actually were in no big hurry to get home! I’ve always said: it’s not over until the last band plays.

What I like about Maddam Ink isn’t so much that they’re from my home turf of Eastern Pennsylvania, it’s that this band knows how to play accessible Rock and Hard Rock, with a shimmer of Alt and a thick coating of Modern flavor to their overall sound. Adam Burke’s vocals are not sugar coated. Adam’s edgy Hard Rock delivery is unique and downright cool. Maddam Ink is currently playing many a gig to support their sophomore release: Inklination. These guys weren’t pounding their chests on stage, they were four musicians displaying their impressive and credible talents while paying their dues, as they have been doing for several years now.

Before this night of Hard Rock bliss, I never listened to Maddam Ink. I’m listening now though. This is a band that kicked out any annoying Rock Star attitude out the window. It may be just my opinion, still I can see Maddam Ink supporting the likes of Daughtry or even Alter Bridge on an extensive tour… right now. They’d fit right in. Maddam Ink may have something to prove, they proved it to me that they have the sound and style within their well written songs to go as far as they dare to dream.

(Left: Matt Scott/lead guitar, Right: Adam Burke/vocals & guitar)

(Kyle Young – drums)

MADDAM INK:

Adam Burke – lead vocals and guitar

Matt Scott – lead guitar &  backing vocals

Steve Benecke – bass guitar & backing vocals

Kyle Young – drums

MADDAM INK – INKLINATION

* Maddam Ink’s sophomore release Inklination was produced by Grammy nominated engineer/producer David Ivory (Halestorm/Atlantic Records, SilverTide/Sony/BMG and The Roots). Inklination was released back in May of 2010.

* Inklination can be purchased on iTunes, cdbaby and the Maddam Ink online store at their official website: MADDAM INK – Official Website

* Maddam Ink have performed many high profile concerts and festivals. One such high profile festival was the Heaven and Hell Tour/LocoFest at The Tweeter Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, back in 2007. Sharing the stage and an audience of 50,000 fans, Maddam Ink supported legends Heaven and Hell, Alice Cooper and Shadows Fall at this amazing festival of Heavy Music. (Source: Maddam Ink – Official Website)

* For more info on MADDAM INK., click on the links below:

MADDAM INK – Official Website

MADDAM INK – facebook

MADDAM INK/Adam Burke – twitter

MADDAM INK – REVERBNATION

MADDAM INK – myspace music

LONG LIVE MADDAM INK.

Stone.

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FOREIGNER – Revisiting Their 1979 Album: Head Games

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

FOREIGNER – Back in 1979, I was exiting seventh grade in the Spring and entering eighth grade for the coming Fall season. I turned thirteen years of age in January of 1979, kicking off this memorable year as a teen. I used to think the world was mine for the pickings back then… I know much better now. One album that was released back in 1979 was definitely mine for the pickings though, it was Head Games by the forever steady and legendary Foreigner. Head Games was the third studio album from Foreigner, released on Atlantic Records.

When I realized my mother was going to buy me this album, as a reward for doing yard work and other chores, I was ecstatic. You see, Foreigner would be the very first band where I owned every one of their albums! Fortunately for me, Foreigner did not have an extensive catalog of albums back then, so corralling their first three releases was not a difficult task… I just had to earn these albums. Let me tell you this much, I did feel like a big shot and a tad cocky among my school buddies back then, due to my Foreigner loyalty in owning all three of their albums. I chuckle about it now for did it really matter? I guess it did matter at that age.

With albums being such a rare gift or reward for me, (back in 1979 that is), I kept this Head Games album in ultra mint condition. Yes, I did play Head Games like the cows were coming home to fart. I played this album and made certain that my favorite song Dirty White Boy was cranked up the loudest. Being thirteen and turning up the volume to Dirty White Boy, with my bedroom windows open during the warm days, so the neighbors could hear it, was my big idea of rebellion. Yes, I thought I was a rebel by doing that. Metal be thy name.

The big hit was the title track of course and Head Games was played on FM radio all the time back in ’79. I remember like it was yesterday, the ostrich bumps I would get up and down my arms and face whenever I played this song loud… or heard it on the FM dial. Um, I still kinda get ostrich bumps from this song… kinda. Rev on the Red Line is another song on Head Games that never lost it’s Classic Rock cool to my ears… it plays out so smooth and flows so well, while holding it’s hard edge.

Back in ’79, I considered Head Games to be my third favorite Foreigner album, behind their debut/self-titled from 1977 and Double Vision from 1978. I still feel this way. (Double Vision is hands down, my favorite Foreigner album ever). Yes, I do hold fond memories for this Foreigner album. I can remember the album cover giving off the “wow factor” to us kids back then, now I can only shrug and chuckle at it’s classic innocence.

I was into Lou Gramm’s vocals before I ever knew who Joe Lynn Turner was. I was into Foreigner before I can honestly say I was really into Black Sabbath. In reality, thirteen was the age I was during this year of ’79, which was part of the beginning years of my journey, a Rock music journey toward discovering more bands and albums that I could ever dream of. Head Games is an album I will always consider to be a building block of my lifetime infatuation with Hard Rock and yes… Metal.

FOREIGNER as they appeared on Head Games:

Lou Gramm – vocals

Mick Jones – guitar

Rick Wills – bass

Ian McDonald – guitar

Al Greenwood – keyboards

Dennis Elliott – drums

Track Listing For Head Games:

Dirty White Boy

Love on the Telephone

I’ll Get Even With You

Seventeen

Head Games

The Modern Day

Blinded By Science

Do What You Like

Rev on the Red Line

* One nifty fact about Foreigner:  Guitarist (multi-instrumentalist) Ian McDonald was a founding member of the legendary Progressive Rock band: King Crimson.

* For more info on FOREIGNER, click on this link: FOREIGNER

The word “nifty” was used in this Metal Odyssey post. Um, yup.

LONG LIVE FOREIGNER.

Stone.

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