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ANGEL WITCH – Live Concert For Charity, December 14th > The Unicorn In London

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , on December 5, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Angel Witch - '78 Re-Visited - concert flyer - December 2012

As stated on the Facebook page of Angel Witch:

Angel Witch used to play this place all the time in the 1970’s when it was called The Brecknock (so did Sampson, Maiden, Urchin and all the others…) – so we thought we’d come back and re-live it.

£4.00 on the door – for charity

For more info on this Angel Witch live event, click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/127254164098383/

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Angel Witch - As Above So Below - cover promo pic - x-large!

* As Above, So Below is the comeback studio album from the legendary Kevin Heybourne and his band Angel Witch. This MUST Metal album was released back in March of this year, via Metal Blade Records / Rise Above Records.

* To read Stone’s Metal excitement over As Above, So Below – click on the link:

ANGEL WITCH “As Above, So Below” Is: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

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* For more info on ANGEL WITCH, click on the link below!

facebook: Angel Witch

http://www.myspace.com/youranangelwitch

Stone - Motorhead Tee pic:small

LONG LIVE ANGEL WITCH.

Stone.

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HOLY GRAIL – Sign Europe-Wide Deal With Nuclear Blast Records!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on October 21, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

HOLY GRAIL – Hailing from Pasadena in Southern California, North American up-and-comers HOLY GRAIL have offered a unique blend of traditional tunes in the vein of the legendary NWoBHM and influences of several contemporary heavy metal subgenres since their inception in 2008. Now, after numerous celebrated festival appearances (“Wacken:Open:Air” & British “Download Festival” among others) and extensive touring together with famous bands of the order of BLIND GUARDIAN, EXODUS and ELUVEITIE, the time is right to take this more than promising quintet to the next level. In that regard, Nuclear Blast Records are proud to announce the Europe-wide signing of HOLY GRAIL!

Nuclear Blast A&R Jaap Wagemaker comments: 

“Already after we’d listened to their debut EP Improper Burial, it became pretty obvious that HOLY GRAIL – offering a modern version of the old-school heavy metal we’ve grown up with – were the most exciting metal band to emerge from the county of L.A. within the last two decades, as renowned American “Decibel” magazine had put it. After Metal Hammer UK had nominated the band as “best new band” at the Metal Hammer Awards even before they had even released their debut album Crisis in Utopia, we knew we had to keep an eye on them. All over Europe, music magazines loved that record and celebrated it by publishing rave reviews. And ever since we’ve seen them playing two awesome shows at Wacken Open Air and British Download Festival, there was no doubt whatsoever that HOLY GRAIL were bringing the leather and steel to a new generation of metal heads. So watch out for HOLY GRAIL’s second coming in 2013!!!”

The band states:

“We in the HOLY GRAIL camp are very proud and excited to announce that we have recently become part of the Nuclear Blast family. We feel honoured to join the ranks of metal legends and many of our favourite bands, including ACCEPT (who we’ve covered), BLIND GUARDIAN (who we’ve toured with) and TESTAMENT (who we’d love to tour with)! Fans of HOLY GRAIL can expect all the metallic elements we’ve built our name on taken to the next level on our forthcoming new record Ride The Void. Coupled with the unequivocal might of Nuclear Blast, European domination is inevitable for our new album. See ya on the road!”

The band’s upcoming second studio album Ride The Void is set for a European release via Nuclear Blast in early 2013; in North America, the record will be released via Prosthetic Records. Stay tuned for further information to follow soon!

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(Source: Nuclear Blast)

* For more info on HOLY GRAIL, click on the links below!

http://www.holygrailofficial.com

http://twitter.com/holygrailband

facebook: Holy Grail (Official Page)

http://www.nuclearblast.de

LONG LIVE HOLY GRAIL.

LONG LIVE NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS.

Stone.

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RAVEN – METAL Legends To Let Loose On Atlanta and Oakland This November!

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, Power Metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on October 20, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

RAVEN – NWOBHM Pioneers, Godfathers of Thrash, Speed and Power Metal. In other Metal words, RAVEN are without a micro-doubt: Metal Legends. Newcastle, England’s very own RAVEN are coming back to America and it’s this November, my Metal brethren! Atlanta and Oakland best get their Metal game faces on! Take a look below at the concert flyers – for they tell all you need to know! Metal be thy name!

ATLANTA GEORGIA:

OAKLAND CALIFORNIA:

RAVEN:

John Gallagher – Bass Guitar, Vocals

Mark Gallagher – Guitar, Backing Vocals

Joe Hasselvander – Drums

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Back on April 29, 2010, I posted my review for RAVEN’s Walk Through Fire. Click that link below to read all about it! Whoa!

RAVEN – RETURNS WITH A METAL DROP KICK ON “WALK THROUGH FIRE”

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* For more info on RAVEN, click on the links below!

http://www.ravenlunatics.com

facebook: Raven

LONG LIVE RAVEN.

Stone.

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PAGAN ALTAR – Shadow Kingdom Records Reissues PAGAN ALTAR’s “Judgement of the Dead”

Posted in doom metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on October 17, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

Shadow Kingdom Records is now offering the newly reissued Judgement of the Dead from cult N.W.O.B.H.M doom band PAGAN ALTAR. Originally released in 1982, Shadow Kingdom Records will stock North American shelves with this classic on January 8, 2013. Until then, fans can order the release exclusively through Shadow Kingdom Records.

For a digital copy and free stream of the album, visit the label’s bandcamp page here: http://shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/judgement-of-the-dead

Physical copies are available at http://shadowkingdomrecords.com/

Shadow Kingdom’s Tim McGrogan had this to say about the album:

“Back in 1982 PAGAN ALTAR released this N.W.O.B.H.M. masterpiece and almost immediately this album went into obscurity. They have been by far the most overlooked band in the history of heavy metal music. It’s amazing that they’ve finally pulled it all together for being virtually non-existent for nearly 15 years. They deserve all of the success and recognition they’re getting today and much, much more! In the late 90’s they came out of the woodwork and put this out on their own label and it was mistakenly called “Volume 1”. The extra track was an acoustic track which was just called “Acoustics” at the time. This is the first time this album will be released in all its glory. The correct title “Judgement of the Dead” and updated acoustic song title as well. Also, this is the original artwork that was released back in 1982 which has never been seen before until now! We’ve re-mastered the CD to sonically preserve its antique feel. It comes with a very nice booklet that includes a story and old band photos. If there ever was such a thing as a perfect album, this would be it! There is nothing more satisfying than the sound of this record. If you’ve never heard of this band or album, think of Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull and you’re almost there. They take music to a whole new level.”

JUDGEMENT OF THE DEAD – Track Listing:

1. Pagan Altar

2. In The Wake Of Armadeus

3. Judgement Of The Dead

4. The Black Mass

5. Night Rider

6. The Dance Of The Banshee

7. Reincarnation

In other news, PAGAN LORD has recently been confirmed for Maryland Death Fest XI, which will take place May 23rd – 26th, 2013 in Baltimore, MD. For for information and updates visit http://www.marylanddeathfest.com.

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(Source: ClawHammer PR)

For more info on PAGAN ALTAR visit:

http://www.paganaltar.com

facebook: Pagan Altar

facebook: Shadow Kingdom Records

LONG LIVE PAGAN ALTAR.

Stone.

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Wanna See My JUDAS PRIEST ‘Painkiller / The Sharpest Cuts’ Cassette? It’s Really Cool…

Posted in classic rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on August 27, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

JUDAS PRIEST – That’s it at the top! That’s my Judas Priest Painkiller / The Sharpest Cuts cassette! It’s still sealed in its original plastic wrap too. This is a 9 song greatest hits. This title was released back in 1990, via Columbia.

I haven’t opened this cassette to play it for I already have all these songs on CD’s. This very cool Judas Priest cassette I discovered at a thrift store last Winter. I paid a whopping 50 cents (U.S.) for this cassette. 50 cents!

Here is what the back of this Judas Priest cassette looks like:

On the back cassette sleeve is the track listing. A bunch of type (so tiny I cannot read it) is on the right side. With that said, there is this red type in the center that reads: Demonstration Not For Sale. Whoa! I always love it when I stumble upon a vinyl album, CD or cassette that was distributed as a promotional copy only. Usually these “demonstration” copies are not that abundant in the open marketplace.

I’ve searched around the worldwide web, discovering that this particular Judas Priest promo cassette has been offered for sale. In other words, the few occurrences when I found this cassette, it was no longer available. Whoa! I’m leaning towards this promo cassette being kinda rare.

Here is what the spine of this cassette looks like:

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JUDAS PRIEST Painkiller / The Sharpest Cuts – Track Listing:

Painkiller

Exciter

Better By You Better Than Me

Victim Of Changes

Hell Bent For Leather

Breaking The Law

Living After Midnight

Electric Eye

You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’

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* For more info on JUDAS PRIEST, click on the links below!

http://www.JudasPriest.com/

http://www.youtube.com/JudasPriest

LONG LIVE JUDAS PRIEST.

Stone.

3 Comments »

IRON MAIDEN – EN VIVO! Is Stone’s Metal Pick Of The Day

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 18, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

IRON MAIDEN EN VIVO! – Released on March 26th, 2012, via Universal Music, is the live 2-CD from Iron Maiden: En Vivo! This amazing Iron Maiden concert was recorded on April 10, 2011, with over 50,000 fans in attendance at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, the capital of Chile. I’m telling it like it is here, this is one incredibly fun listen and a must own for fans of Iron Maiden. Any Metalhead across the globe should find this double live Iron Maiden to have kick-ass Metal credentials!

Kevin “Caveman” Shirley produced, engineered and mixed this concert event into a top-tier live Metal album, so good is the production and sound quality that En Vivo! surpassed my expectations. Steve Harris co-produced this live gemstone and I cannot express enough admiration I have for his bass playing prowess. No one else even sounds remotely close to Steve Harris on bass. His signature tones are all over every song and… ’nuff said.

Bruce Dickinson sounds just fine and dandy to my middle-aged ears. I seriously walk away impressed by how Bruce sings on these live songs. Vintage. After all these years, it’s incredible to hear Bruce Dickinson sing at this level of quality… live. Certainly it’s not 1985 anymore and vocalists do adapt. If there was any technological assistance in making his vocals sound so grand, I’m not hearing it on En Vivo! or I’m missing it.

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With six golden old-school classics of 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Trooper, Iron Maiden, The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Running Free; En Vivo! glistens with the songs that put Iron Maiden at the very top of the Metal food chain. I cannot shake away those psyche-out ostrich bumps that grow on my arms and face, as I listen to these iconic Iron Maiden songs, on this live double CD.

The newest studio album from Maiden, The Final Frontier, is represented well on En Vivo! The intro of Satellite 15 ushers in The Final Frontier to start this stunning concert and I’ve realized once again why It’s my favorite song from that album. The vibes of Iron Maiden 2012 just combine so perfectly with those vibes of Iron Maiden’s past on En Vivo! and it’s terrifically addicting!

Legendary songs. An iconic Metal band. Excellence in vocals and musicianship. Spot-on production. The highest quality of live sound surrounds my senses. IRON MAIDEN. En Vivo! Honestly, what more can I say? There is more… buy this double CD of live Iron Maiden and play it F’n LOUD! Metal be thy name.

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IRON MAIDEN:

Bruce Dickinson – vocals

Steve Harris – bass

Dave Murray – guitars

Adrian Smith – guitars

Janick Gers – guitars

Nicko McBrain – drums

EN VIVO! – Track Listing:

CD 01:

Satellite 15

The Final Frontier

El Dorado

2 Minutes To Midnight

The Talisman

Coming Home

Dance Of Death

The Trooper

The Wicker Man

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CD 02:

Blood Brothers

When The Wild Wind Blows

The Evil That Men Do

Fear Of The Dark

Iron Maiden

The Number Of The Beast

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Running Free

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* For more info on IRON MAIDEN, click on the link below:

IRON MAIDEN

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

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

Stone.

4 Comments »

WITCH CROSS – Danish Heavy Metal Band Returns! Performing At: KEEP IT TRUE FESTIVAL XV

Posted in classic metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals, heavy metal news, metal music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

WITCH CROSS – Danish Heavy Metal band Witch Cross is back on the scene. On the 27th of April 2012, Witch Cross will take to the stage at the prestigious Keep It True Festival in Germany in front of 2000 rocking Heavy Metal fans. The band will be performing songs from their acclaimed 1984 debut album Fit for Fight and founding member and guitarist Mike “Wlad” Koch says “it’s great to be playing the old songs along with one or two new ones, even though we couldn’t get the whole band back together for various reasons it’s exciting to be able to bring our music back to life in front of so many people”! And the band plans to continue to play live after this event so watch this space.

On stage with Mike Wlad will be 2 other original members of Witch Cross , bass player Jan “Little John” Fields and drummer Anders “AC” Hjort. The 3 have drafted in British singer Kevin Moore from Graham Oliver’s Saxon and guitarist Torben Aalykke who has been working with original Witch Cross singer Alex Savage for the last 23 years in Savage Affair and other musical outings.

The band’s debut album Fit For Fight along with their 1982 single No Angel/Are You There and 19 other demo tracks, spanning the bands early days until their split in 1985, has been released on a 4 vinyl limited collectors album by the American Heavy Metal label Hells Headbangers earlier this year. A double CD with some bonus video with be released in the near future.

Vocalist Kevin Moore Comments: On a personal note, it’s really exciting to be fronting Danish Metal band Witch Cross, taking my pro career full circle, as I began professionally playing in Denmark many years ago. Guitarist Mike and I are also busy writing new Witch Cross material.

WITCH CROSS Lineup – Keep It True Festival XV: 

Mike “Wlad” Koch – guitar


Jan “Little John” Fields – bass

Anders “AC” Hjort
 – drums

Kevin Moore – vocals

Torben Aalykke – guitar

FIT FOR FIGHT (1984 – RoadRunner Records)

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(Sources: Kev Moore & Mike “Wlad” Koch)

LONG LIVE WITCH CROSS.

LONG LIVE KEV MOORE.

Stone.

2 Comments »

DARK FOREST: Anticipated Sophomore Full-Length From NWOBHM Influenced Band – Due In November 2011

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, traditional heavy metal with tags , , , , , , , on October 11, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

On Tuesday, November 8th, 2011, Cruz del Sur Music will release Dawn Of Infinity, the sophomore full-length offering from recent label signing, UK traditional Metallers DARK FOREST, onto North American soil. Featuring ten triumphant NWOBHM-styled compositions, Dawn Of Infinity soars with over 50 minutes of glorious, unfiltered, heartfelt Traditional Heavy Metal fans of DARK FOREST throughout the underground have embraced since the band’s formation in 2002.

Two tracks from Dawn Of Infinity are now available for streaming via the label’s official Facebook page. Check out the tracks “Light Years On” and “Under The Greenwood Tree” at this location.

Cruz del Sur Music signed DARK FOREST in June of this year as the band entered the studio to record Dawn Of Infinity, after watching the young Birmingham, England-based outfit evolve over the last few  years. Bearing a strong appreciation for the forefathers of the genre, and producing the full-blooded sound of a distinctly English brand of Heavy Metal, the new album fulfills the expectations placed on one of the most interesting bands in the UK’s contemporary Traditional Metal scene, infusing British folklore and Celtic inspiration into their craft.

Dawn Of Infinity Track Listing:

Hourglass

Light Years On

Green Knight

Seize The Day

The Tor

Through The Glass Darkly

The Stars My Destination

Under The Greenwood Tree

Black Delta

Deadly Premonition

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on DARK FOREST, click on the links below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Forest-UK/155861227763625

http://www.myspace.com/darkforestrealm

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

LONG LIVE DARK FOREST.

Stone.

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JUDAS PRIEST – THE CHOSEN FEW: Greatest Hits Picked By Heavy Music Legends Releasing October 11, 2011

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

JUDAS PRIEST – The Chosen Few is a 17 song compilation album spanning the discography of the legendary Judas Priest and is releasing on October 11, 2011, via Sony/Legacy. In Metal essence, this is a “greatest hits” album which does salute Judas Priest and their unparalleled Metal career. Yes, Judas Priest does have many compilations/greatest hits albums out there, I agree. The story behind The Chosen Few is that all 17 songs have been “chosen” by an impressive group of legendary musicians of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

Oops. Here goes Stone straying off topic a bit here, with the “legendary” musicians who chose songs for The Chosen Few. I had to go and call these musicians “legendary”, now didn’t I? Chris Jericho chose a song and he is cool, still, he has a ways more to go before I call him a legendary musician. Do I consider Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God legendary? I’ve got an answer for you: yes. Yes again.

In my Metal opinion, this is a grand collection of Judas Priest songs, a collection that will prove to be essential for those fans who do not own every Judas Priest album. I will take a pass on buying The Chosen Few for the time being, with money being tight I would much rather pick up new studio albums or vintage releases that I already don’t own. Buying The Chosen Few when I already own the songs just isn’t practical for me. Regardless of my passing over on The Chosen Few, I would recommend new fans of Judas Priest and those fans who don’t own all of the songs to buy it, it looks like a winner to me.

Two Judas Priest classics, that I would have chosen for The Chosen Few are: Hot Rockin’ (Point Of Entry – 1981) and Some Heads Are Gonna Roll (Defenders Of The Faith – 1984). What Judas Priest song(s) would you have chosen for this album? I believe there are 16 studio albums that Judas Priest has their legendary name on, so choosing a favorite song or two is both easy and difficult at the same time for me. I would have to say my favorite Judas Priest album is Stained Class from 1978. Okay, which is my favorite Judas Priest song ever? ACCEPT “chose” my favorite Judas Priest song for The Chosen Few: Exciter. This solid as steel Metal song is from Stained Class too.

Judas Priest is a Metal band that steamrolled the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal into my brain, so many years ago. I honestly couldn’t vision a world of Heavy Metal without their presence and influence. Once Judas Priest are a retired band, I will miss the living Metal daylights out of them. Metal be thy name.

Check out the track listing below for The Chosen Few. The musicians who chose each respective song are listed as well.

Diamonds And Rust (1977) – chosen by Joe Elliot (Def Leppard)

Dissident Aggressor (1977) – chosen by Steve Vai

Exciter (1978)- chosen by Accept

Beyond The Realms Of Death (1978) – chosen by Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

Delivering The Goods (1979) – chosen by Kerry King (Slayer)

The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown) (1979) – chosen by Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) & David Coverdale (Whitesnake)

The Ripper (1979) – chosen by Ozzy Osbourne

Victim Of Changes (1979) – chosen by James Hetfield (Metallica)

Breaking The Law (1980) – chosen by Lemmy (Motorhead)

Rapid Fire (1980) – chosen by Vinnie Paul (Pantera & Hell Yeah)

Grinder (1980) – chosen by Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society)

Living After Midnight (1980) – chosen by Alice Cooper & Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)

Screaming For Vengeance (1982) – chosen by Slash (Guns n Roses)

You’ve Got Another Thing Coming (1982) – chosen by Klaus Meine (Scorpions) & Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

The Sentinel (1984) – chosen by Chris Jericho

Turbo Lover (1986) – chosen by Jonathan Davis (Korn)

Painkiller (1990) – chosen by Joe Satriani

* For more info on JUDAS PRIEST, click on the link below:

JUDAS PRIEST

LONG LIVE JUDAS PRIEST.

Stone.

3 Comments »

Def Leppard – Live Album: “MIRRORBALL Live & More” Releasing Summer of 2011! Includes Three New Studio Tracks!

Posted in arena rock, classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, live rock music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

DEF LEPPARD press release from Def Leppard.com: “Def Leppard, Great Britain’s premier Arena Rock band, have announced the release of their first ever live album, “MIRRORBALL”, out this Summer. The live album was recorded across the world over the course of many of the band’s sold-out dates. “Mirrorball” will feature all of the classic songs that have made Def Leppard one of the most respected and beloved Power Rock bands in the world. The release captures the group’s legendary concert experience at it’s thunderous best, bringing together live versions of classic Leppard hits such as “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, “Rock Of Ages”, “Foolin'”, “Hysteria”, “Photograph” and an incredible rendition of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”.

With Their creative juices at full flow, the band has also added three new studio tracks: “Undefeated”, “It’s All About Believin'” and “Kings Of The World”, that are undeniably Def Leppard. “Mirrorball” follows the bands 2008 studio release, “SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE”, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200, marking the group’s highest chart position since 1992’s “ADRENALIZE”.

In addition to the album, Chronicle Books will be releasing “DEF LEPPARD: THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL HISTORY”, featuring photos of the band by legendary Rock photographer Ross Halfin. His fully authorized visual history of the band follows them from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal to their massive “PYROMANIA” and “HYSTERIA” albums to the sustained power of their records and tours today. The book will be available this June”.

* For more info on DEF LEPPARD, just click here: DEF LEPPARD

LONG LIVE DEF LEPPARD.

Stone.

10 Comments »

Def Leppard “Pyromania” – An Old School Flashback To 1983

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

DEF LEPPARD – I remember this scenario vividly. It was 1983 and I was a junior serving boring time in high school. I was hanging out in study hall in the school’s cafeteria, (the school cafeteria was used as a study hall area after the lunch periods ended). Per usual, I wasn’t studying in “study hall”, instead I always opted to chat long and hard with my Metal buddies about… Heavy Metal. That particular day, I made the announcement to my Metal buddies, Rich and Steve, that I bought the new Def Leppard Pyromania album. This was a telling moment in my teen Metalhead life, this was when I realized that the “battle lines” were drawn for Heavy Metal.

“You like that bubble gum stuff”? I couldn’t believe my ears. Did he really say that? Did Rich just refer to Def Leppard and their new Pyromania album as “bubble gum stuff”? My Metal loyalty, regardless of it being only a few years old, was receiving a verbal open hand slap! Rich shook his head at me in disgust. Steve, on the other hand, was always quite diverse in his music interests. I received a “cool” from Steve along with a nodding approval. (Phew), at least one of my Metal buddies was giving me some encouraging signals.

To sum it up best, Rich was anti-commercial Metal. Motörhead, Venom and later that year, Mercyful Fate, were the Metal bands that Rich swore his loyalty to. Who could blame him for being loyal to those iconic bands? From that day forward, I understood there would be “groups” of fans showing their loyalty towards bands they considered “real Metal“. I always listened to whatever band psyched-me-out or moved me and still do to this day. I just remember that rejected feeling, of not getting that sacred Metal mark of “approval” from a fellow Metalhead peer for liking Def Leppard. Fast forward to 2011 and I can give a rat’s ass about receiving anyone else’s approval for the bands I hold Metal allegiance to.

I’ll never forget hearing for the first time, that “big chorus” in Rock Rock (Till You Drop), it was the first song I heard on the radio from Pyromania. Before I bought this album, that song kept me up many nights, as I tried to find it playing on the FM dial. I remember being familiar with just a few songs from the 1981 Def Leppard album High ‘n’ Dry, before I bought Pyromania. Good old FM radio was playing Let It Go, High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night) and Bringin’ on the Heartbreak rather consistently before Pyromania’s release. Due to Pyromania’s affect on me, I bought High ‘n’ Dry next and a year or two later the debut Def Leppard album – On Through The Night. Strange how I bought the first three Def Leppard albums in reverse, isn’t it?

Pyromania was/still is loaded with some amazingly potent Heavy Metal songs that are now deemed (by me anyways) Old School. Honestly, is there one “bad” song on this album? I say there isn’t. The MTV exposure that Def Leppard attained from Pyromania is Rock and Heavy Metal history in and of itself. Let’s face it… just like any Heavy Metal article or book written about the history of MTV should attest is: Def Leppard made, if not, helped build MTV into the music video juggernaut it once was.

My favorite song from Pyromania is Foolin’. Metal be thy name, that is a powerful sound of vintage 80’s Heavy Metal that explodes from Pyromania. I always could appreciate the vocals of Joe Elliot, let’s face it, who really sounded like him back then? Phil Collen and (the late) Steve Clark on guitars were not just cool to listen to, they were both damn cool to watch on all of those Def Leppard videos as well. Rick Allen on drums and Rick Savage on bass made me a believer in their booming beats on Pyromania. Just a classic album all around is Pyromania, from a legendary band, in my Metal opinion.

As for those Old School Metal buddies of mine from 1983, well, I’d bet Rich is now listening to Josh Groban and John Tesh now. Um, I doubt it. Then again, who knows? Towards graduation, Steve was getting into Christian Metal a great deal and was still quite diverse as a Metal fan. I don’t know what happened to these two Metal buddies of long ago… I sure hope they are doing well.

* Pyromania was released on Mercury Records and produced by the legendary Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange.

Track Listing For Pyromania:

Rock Rock (Till You Drop)

Photograph

Stagefright

Too Late For Love

Die Hard the Hunter

Foolin’

Rock of Ages

Comin’ Under Fire

Action! Not Words

Billy’s Got a Gun

LONG LIVE DEF LEPPARD.

Rest In Peace, Steve Clark.

Stone.

17 Comments »

IRON MAIDEN “The Number Of The Beast” – Metal Excellence From 1982 Is Never Forgotten

Posted in hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, progressive metal music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

IRON MAIDEN – Just the album cover art with Eddie descending upon the devil is Metal excellence. Derek Riggs was the real deal in creating Iron Maiden album covers… no one else comes even close in my Metal opinion. Getting past the album cover art from The Number Of The Beast and diving into the songs is like a parallel journey of the Metal senses. This is an album, where the cover art represents the songs heard within to brilliant perfection. Invaders, The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Children Of The Damned are songs that I can listen to and instantly have this album cover art imbedded in my minds eye. Every song on this ultra-incredible Iron Maiden album does this to me for argument sakes.

This album cover art for The Number Of The Beast has never lost it’s awestruck affect on me, nor have the songs. I toil away, within my own thoughts, as to which album is the “greatest” Heavy Metal album ever… almost on a daily basis. I chose the Black Sabbath classic, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath from 1973, some years ago and have stuck to it since, as being the “greatest” Heavy Metal album ever. Of course this is a “personal” choice of mine and it may change one day… so is the life of being a devout Metalhead, I guess. What gets at me though, is every time I listen to The Number Of The Beast, I feel as this album can very well be considered “the greatest” Heavy Metal album ever. Metal be thy name.

I have always looked upon the first six Iron Maiden albums as being my personal favorites. Convict me of being “Old School”… only I’m not crying in any damned beer about it. God forbid If I remember which albums are the true “classics” of the Heavy Metal genre. To embrace Iron Maiden’s The Final Frontier as the way it “should be” and totally disregard the true essence of this legendary band’s Metal identity of style and sound would make me a phony fan. The Number Of The Beast is an unforgettable Heavy Metal album for me, due to it’s dark themes and 100% dark sound, feel and vibe. The Final Frontier is a new album from Iron Maiden, while The Number Of The Beast is a pulsating highlight of this bands career.

The Number Of The Beast would be the last studio album that has Clive Burr sitting behind the drums. Yes, Iron Maiden did have another drummer… and he was pretty damn good too. Clive Burr was the drummer on the first two Iron Maiden albums as well: Iron Maiden and Killers. This album is also the first that showcases the uncannily soaring vocals of Bruce Dickinson. I look upon The Number Of The Beast as one of the keys that unlocked the door to Metal for me, introducing me to a darker side of Metal when it came to lyrics, as well as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal – (NWOBHM).

The Number Of The Beast was released back in March of 1982, while Screaming For Vengeance by Judas Priest was released in July of the same year. Suffice to say, I realized quickly that these British Heavy Metal Bands were very serious about their Metal back then… and still are. The mood that The Number Of The Beast radiates is untouchable by any other band, a mood so unique that it seems to zero in on my sub-conscious and touches off a feeling of eerie psyche-outness.

Hallowed Be Thy Name is my favorite song on this album, very haunting and desolate are the lyrics. Waiting for your time to die by hanging is as depressingly creepy as you can get with lyrics, only Iron Maiden makes this song seem almost inspiring through it’s melodic Metal… thanks to Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on guitars. Steve Harris on bass even makes the rhythmic melody escalate on this classic Metal song.

On these earlier Iron Maiden albums, especially The Number Of The Beast, the sound coming from Steve Harris’s bass is unlike anything I had ever heard before, almost like Steve Harris was a lead guitarist playing bass. Steve Harris brought to my attention as a young lad, that the bass guitar was just as magical as the guitar to my Metal sponges otherwise known as ears. The atmosphere that Steve Harris created with his bass along with Dave and Adrian’s duo guitars throughout the songs on The Number Of The Beast is what gives this album and band their Metal trademark, in my Metal opinion.

Even as a young lad, I never interpreted Iron Maiden to be a Satanic band due to this or any album they created before it. I was into Creature Feature on Saturday mornings and I never thought of Boris Karloff, Béla Lugosi or Lon Chaney Sr. or Jr. to be Satanists either. I’ve always left the Satanic finger pointing to the self-righteous Phd’s and scholars, that try to tell the human race how to live. Metal be thy name.

Any band of any Rock genre can tweak or change their entire approach, in how they want to sound or write music. The one constant that can never change is which album or albums that any respective band created that are considered to be measuring sticks of a particular Metal era… and looked upon as classics. The Number Of The Beast is one such classic, from an era when Heavy Metal was not just being molded into form, Heavy Metal was breathing a new found life into a generation of fans that are undisputedly loyal to this very moment. I’m one of them… and The Number Of The Beast shall continue to breathe it’s tantalizing, Old School and macabre teetering spell on me till the end of days.

This is one Iron Maiden album I still have the vinyl copy of… still in unreal great condition too. I without question, upgraded this classic to CD years ago as well. No, I don’t have a cassette version, yet if I find one I’d probably buy it, just to play in my good ‘ol Ford Taurus. The Number Of The Beast has become, over the decades, not just a required album to own if you are a Metalhead… this Iron Maiden album could easily be described as an absolute and necessary appendage to thine Metal senses. This is my Metal opinion, so let it be Metal written, so let it be Metal done.

* For more info on IRON MAIDEN, just click this link: IRON MAIDEN

IRON MAIDEN as they appeared on The Number Of The Beast:

Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals

Steve Harris – bass

Dave Murray – guitar

Adrian Smith – guitar

Clive Burr – drums

Original 1982 Track Listing For The Number Of The Beast:

Invaders

Children Of The Damned

The Prisoner

22 Acacia Avenue

The Number Of The Beast

Run To The Hills

Gangland

Hallowed Be Thy Name

* On May 9, 2009, I posted why I feel Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the “Greatest Heavy Metal Album of All Time”. Just click the large header below to read it… if you like.

The greatest Heavy Metal album of all time is…

* On December 6, 2009, I posted about my antique store find… the picture disc of IRON MAIDEN – Run To The Hills. The B side is the song – Total Eclipse, which did not appear on The Number Of The Beast in 1982. Total Eclipse later appeared on the 1995 CD reissue of The Number Of The Beast. You can read more about this fantastic picture disc I found, with photos of it, by clicking the oversized header below:

IRON MAIDEN “RUN TO THE HILLS” PICTURE DISC – AN ANTIQUE STORE FIND!

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

Stone.

2 Comments »

JUDAS PRIEST “METAL GODS” & PRIMAL FEAR COVER OF “METAL GODS” = UNREAL METAL GREATNESS!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, power metal music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

JUDAS PRIEST & PRIMAL FEAR – What do Judas Priest and Primal Fear have in Metal common, besides both being Metal Bands? METAL GODS. As I and so many countless others will attest, “nothing beats an original”… only Primal Fear covers the Judas Priest original – Metal Gods like they were put on this Earth to do so. Originally heard on the 1980 studio album from Judas Priest – British Steel, Metal Gods has been a lifetime favorite Metal song for me.

Hell, this British Steel album is downright Metal sacred and easily one of the greatest Metal albums ever created. I remember the first time I heard Metal Gods off of this British Steel album… whoa… whoa again. The British Steel album in and of itself is a thoroughbred classic Metal album for the ages… and Metal Gods catapults this reasoning of mine fifty fold.

I can recall, with Metal ease, listening to this one track on British Steel, that is Metal Gods, continuously. I would pick up the turntable needle and drop it back down at the beginning of this incredible song, each time it ended. Metal be thy name. It is the obvious and sheer muscularity of Metal, that this Judas Priest original of Metal Gods bestowed upon thine ears, which made me stand at attention in Metal awe so many years ago. This Judas Priest original still has that same Metal affect on me… and I don’t see it waning anytime soon.

The repeated opening riff throughout Metal Gods is like my very own psyche-out Metal stimulant that makes me feel really, really, good. I vividly remember looking up at my Judas Priest poster, which hung on my bedroom wall when I was a teen, while any Judas Priest album was being cranked up by me. When Metal Gods was played at maximum volume, I would then proceed to play air guitar and bang thine head like an out of control Metal lovin’ maniac. Um, I guess I still do that when I listen to this song… so let it be Metal written, so let it be Metal done. (Only I don’t have a Judas Priest poster on my bedroom wall today… my Metal supporting wife won’t allow it and I do understand).

Being a futuristic look into the unravelling of mankind’s involvement into the “dabbling” and experimenting with the science of robotics, Metal Gods is a song about robotic creatures/machines known as… Metal Gods. These Metal Gods taking control of their surroundings and the very same people who created them, while mankind falls victim to their evil control, is the theme that this song gets across quite clearly. Not too far fetched in my Metal opinion. Who knows how advanced our technology will take us all eventually? Herculean robotic machines may very well be the norm some day in our future… and they could eventually get pissed off at us.

Yes, Rob Halford is the Metal God and I will never dispute that title he carries with Metal honor and pride. However, Ralf Scheepers is no cheap imitation of Rob Halford. Ralf can flat-out sing Metal. Ralf Scheepers… maybe a strong candidate for being the Power Metal God? Listening to the Primal Fear cover version of Metal Gods for the first time was like the second coming of when I first heard this prolifically immense song, so many years ago. Primal Fear could have “covered” Metal Gods or they could have covered it with F’n Metal Might. My Metal senses tell me… Primal Fear covered this Judas Priest classic with F’n Metal Might.

No one has to take my Metal word for it, that both the Metal Gods original and the Primal Fear cover verson are unreal Metal greatness. All you have to do is seek out these Metal songs for yourself and give ’em a Metal try. You can give me a Metal thank you later… after you realize Metal Gods is probably one of the greatest Metal songs ever written. For lifetime/veteran Metalheads out there… hopefully you understand my Metal reasoning and agree with my Metal thoughts on… Metal Gods. I have a funny feeling that many of you fellow Metalheads do understand.

Primal Fear – Metal Is Forever/The Very Best Of Primal Fear was released back on April 3, 2007, on Nuclear Blast. This is a double CD, with CD 1 containing 16 greatest hits and CD 2 containing 9 Metal Classics. The cover of Metal Gods is heard on Metal Classics. This double CD showcases just how fabulous this German Power Metal Band known as… Primal Fear was, is and forever shall be.

* For more info on Judas Priest, click here: JUDAS PRIEST

* For more info on Primal Fear, click here: PRIMAL FEAR – Official Website

LONG LIVE JUDAS PRIEST AND PRIMAL FEAR!

Stone.

5 Comments »

VALIENT THORR “STRANGER” – A FUNTASTIC, ROCKIN’, THRASHIN’, METAL MASHIN’ OLD SCHOOL METAL BASH!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

VALIENT THORR – One look at the above headline for this Valient Thorr – Stranger album pretty much says it all. Or does it? Well, the headline probably could suffice with most Old School Metalheads who don’t give a crap about details… an album is supposed to just deliver the Heavy Music goods and be done with it. Have no fear fellow Metalheads, party freaks, moshers, space travelers, Punks, Thrashers and Old Schoolers… Valient Thorr does deliver something for all of you with Stranger. This is Valient Thorr’s fifth album in seven years, releasing September 14th on Volcom Entertainment. With nearly 250 shows a year for most of this run, touring with everyone from Motorhead to Joan Jett, Valient Thorr has certainly proven they are a knuckles pounding the pavement, no bullshit band with those numbers.

Years ago, I mean decades ago, when the cool word floating around was “crossover”, with bands such as D.R.I. and M.O.D. and to an extent Anthrax, they were taking a little bit of every Hard & Heavy genre out there and incorporating it into their very own sound. Valient Thorr doesn’t just have shades and influences of just about every cool music genre in the history of modern day Rock ‘N’ Roll. This Universe exploring band is potently stocked with all of the hell raising, fist pumping, shot-gun beer swilling and garbage can kicking qualities one could only wish for… and then some. Valient Thorr knows how to play some kick ass music.

Is it appropriate for me to state that Valient Thorr has created a “funtastic” album with Stranger? You bet it is. You see, as I listen to the music, (lyrics aside), of Valient Thorr, it makes me feel like jumping right into this album and being a part of the whole damn scene that is going on within these songs. Lyrically, these songs are not just about chugging down a beer and playing darts. Valient Thorr has something to say and they are more than psyched-out to get their point across.

Escapism is a necessity for me and I seek it out through music, through Rock ‘N’ Roll, um, Metal. Hitching a ride on the escapism Space Shuttle that Valient Thorr is navigating is one hell of a trip. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t need his steak “cooked to perfection”, in other words, I sometimes like ’em raw. Valient Thorr is spreading their raw talent and raw sound across this globe for good reason… to one day hopefully make all those Kidz Bop CD’s disintegrate into millions of pieces, from the sheer presence of this band’s musical existence.

Plus, Valient Thorr is no slouch band either, fans of Heavy Music will either connect with their sound or run for cover. If running for cover is the option one chooses, then they should make sure to bring along a case of laxatives with them… cause they are obviously chronically constipated. Gillionaire is a wake up call to the materialistic morons of Planet Earth and I can only second Valient Thorr’s strong and resounding message they convey here. Oh, yeah… Gillionaire Rocks with plenty of pent-up attitude and blue collar angst that makes the vibe thrive, through every note.

Sleeper Awakes is even more attitude laced with gang vocals aplenty and scorching guitar leads, with a searing guitar solo that fortifies my hunger for… Metal. Disappearer mixes some speed, speed and more speed with it’s overall… speed. Metal be thy name does Disappearer grab my damn attention and smacks it senseless. Double Crossed has some wholesome Old School rhythm and does not shy away from being guitar friendly. Riffs and solos abound on Double Crossed that semi-convinced me it was 1984 all over again. “You will pay, I’ve just been double crossed” might very well be my #1 Metal chorus of 2010… and beyond.

The more I listen to Stranger, the more I wonder if the members of Valient Thorr were born on Planet Lemmy Kilmister. Why I think that you query? It’s the I don’t give a shit – take our Rock ‘N’ Roll or bust attitude that Valient Thorr radiates so, um, eloquently. Sudden Death Is Nothing is kinda easy for me to point at and declare as my favorite song on Stranger. Whoa… it’s the blitz of Thrash that races unapologetically straight into my ears, that makes Sudden Death Is Nothing so damn memorable.

Woman In The Woods is for all Metal intents and purposes… eerie… and I like that. The guitar tones and even the tempo shifts are haunting. Is there really anything that Valient Thorr doesn’t experiment with musically? Maybe Kidz Bop. “Vision Quest” is relevant Metal, while also being a reminder that Old School Metal never dies. I catch onto some late 80’s Anthrax vibration while listening to “Vision Quest” and “Habituary”, both with the Metal, gang vocals and vocals of Valient Himself.

It would be a dream come true to have Valient Thorr play at one or both of my daughters weddings someday. Hell, it would be the best damn music to ever invade my ears at a wedding for Metal sakes. Throw in the Metal fact this band is just down right contagious, with their free spirited attitude towards Heavy Music and yes Virginia… there is a Thorrior Claus. Valient Thorr would tear the roof off of a wedding hall and I would want to be there to witness it. Um, I wouldn’t want to pay for the damage though.

One final song to mention, “Future Humans” might be a spine-chilling look into the future of mankind, regardless, this song freakin’ Rocks like there is no weekend, um, I mean tomorrow. It’s the thunder stomping beat and guitar driven nature of “Future Humans”, that makes me want to jump up and down on the hood of a pristine limousine, parked outside of a five-star restaurant. Metal be thy name.

Valient Thorr is a band that is difficult not to admire and gravitate to. They are a gritty working man’s Heavy Music band that should really gain some major Metal momentum with the release of Stranger on September 14th. Fans of NWOBHM, Old School/Traditional Metal, Hard Rock and well… any Metal, should hopefully dig Valient Thorr like I do. This band already has some fiery momentum happening already, it’s just the thought of them gaining legions more Thorriors worldwide and galaxy wide that makes me sleep better at night. I’m now a Thorrior… and it serves me right.

VALIENT THORR:

Valient Himself – vocals

Eidan Thorr – guitars

Nitewolf – bass

Sadat Thorr – guitars

Lucian Thorr – drums & percussion

* Stranger is set to release on September 14, 2010, on Volcom Entertainment.

* Stranger is produced, recorded and mixed by Jack Endino.

* For more info on Valient Thorr, just click on the links below:

VALIENT THORR – myspace music

VALIENT THORR – Official Website

Track Listing For Valient Thorr – Stranger:

Gillionaire

Sleeper Awakes

Disappearer

Double Crossed

Night Terrors

Sudden Death Is Nothing

Woman In The Woods

Vision Quest

Habituary

The Recognition

Without Hope, Without Fear

Future Humans

Thorriors Of The Galaxy Assemble!

Stone.

2 Comments »

IRON MAIDEN – “BRAVE NEW WORLD” ALBUM FROM 2000

Posted in hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal videos, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal bands, progressive metal music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

IRON MAIDEN – In May of 2000, the beyond legendary Iron Maiden released the twelfth studio album of their unparalleled Heavy Metal career. Brave New World is studio album #12 from Iron Maiden and marked the return of their most prolific lead vocalist – Bruce Dickinson. (After 1992’s Fear Of The Dark album, Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden to pursue what became a successful solo career). The two Iron Maiden albums before Brave New World, The X Factor from 1995 and Virtual XI from 1998, featured the strong and capable vocals of Blaze Bayley. There was and always shall be, however, only “one” Bruce Dickinson and Brave New World resonates with his unreal unique, Metal/operatic vocals.

Brave New World is the album that also glistens with the return of long-time Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith. The 1981 album Killers was Adrian Smith’s coming out party for Iron Maiden. With two signature band members in Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, returning to the Heavy Metal historic band known as Iron Maiden, Brave New World was a real return to the make-up of how this band is truly embraced and perceived by their countless fans across the continents.

IRON MAIDEN – Rock In Rio (2002), concert supporting the Brave New World album.

IRON MAIDEN RETURNS! WITH STUDIO ALBUM #15!

THE FINAL FRONTIER – RELEASES AUGUST 17, 2010!!!

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN!

Stone.

1 Comment »

TEN VERY UNCOOL HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVERS

Posted in album covers, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, humor, lists, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

I don’t advertise myself to be an “expert” in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album cover design. Nor am I a photography expert either. What I do know is this… a Hard Rock or Heavy Metal album cover should entice fans or potential fans to buy the album. Skulls, flames, guitars, dragons, sword & sorcery, space aliens, monsters and the macabre is right up my Metal alley when it comes to album covers. You won’t find this cool stuff on the album covers below. Marketing Hard Rock and Heavy Metal should be simple, right? Well, that is not always the Metal case, as you shall see from the following list of ten very uncool album covers that I have compiled… just for you.

Years ago, I did earn a degree in Graphic Communications, therefore I think I know what cool Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album artwork is supposed to look like. Then again, what do I know? Some, if not many of the albums in this top ten list have probably sold millions of copies worldwide… so my opinion on these very uncool album covers is probably one big and smelly fart in the wind anyways.

Here are my Top Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Album Covers, enjoy! Or, try to enjoy.

#10:

WHITE LION – BIG GAME (1989)

What this White Lion album cover really is… too many ideas that seemed to collide onto one front cover. You have The White House, some woods, a field and a lion. Wow… very compelling… where is there any darned hint of Hard Rock? Forget about any imagery of Heavy Metal… this entire image makes me want to fall asleep in a field somewhere. This album went Gold too… gee Metal whiz.

#9:

BREAKING BENJAMIN – SO COLD EP (2004)

Look, if I was to actually read all the jibber jabber on this Breaking Benjamin front cover, It would give me a migraine headache . The album cover eludes to So Cold being a “spoken word” EP for Metal sakes. I always thought tons of text was supposed to be found in the damned liner notes anyways. Despite this being an EP, it makes my list… so Metal be it.

#8:

MR. BIG – BUMP AHEAD (1993)

Ha, ha, hee. Was I supposed to laugh? Ahhhhhhh! Am I supposed to be frightened? What is this enormous man-head doing in the middle of a busy city street? Just another fine example of a genius and artsy idea gone astray. I can’t find any hidden and profound message in this album cover art either. Some linkage to Mr. Big being tied into Hard Rock and commercial Heavy Metal would have helped here.

#7:

BON JOVI – LOST HIGHWAY (2007)

Gosh, just what I need to look at… some strangers cluttered dashboard. No semblance of Rock ‘N’ Roll in this front cover pic. Lost Highway is a perfect title for this Bon Jovi album… for the art direction became totally lost in the creation of this album cover. Plus, as a bonus… it is IMPOSSIBLE for a highway to become lost! Grammatically incorrect alert!! Yeah, yeah, yeah… Bon Jovi gets the last laugh here, due to his selling a million albums a month. This cover still stinks though.

#6:

SAXON – INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE (1985)

What appears to be a teenaged girl eating an apple… well, it’s not cool. What’s the point? It’s NOT Heavy Metal either. Adding the Saxon logo that’s carved into the apple is just plain ridiculous too. This Saxon album cover does not advertise head banging music heard within at all. A superiorly unimpressive album cover from a band that I really, really like… what a Metal shame.

#5:

VIXEN – LIVE & LEARN (2006)

Whoa! This Vixen album cover just SCREAMS Heavy Metal! Look out! Vixen looks so thrilled doing this cover shot too. Sorry, I don’t buy the connection of the front cover photo to the album title either. This album cover is simply boring and boring again. Did I mention it was boring?

#4:

KILLER DWARFS – BIG DEAL (1988)

Um, uh, yup.

#3:

NICKELBACK – CURB (2002 reissue alternate cover)

Well, at least we now know where Bon Jovi got his inspiration for the anti-amazing Lost Highway album cover. If I am not mistaken, this road really needs some traffic… and Curb really needs a new album cover.

#2:

GUNS N’ ROSES – “THE SPAGHETTI INCIDENT?” (1993)

This Guns N’ Roses album cover does not make me yearn for opening and eating a can of Spaghettio’s. I actually lose my appetite for half a day each time I stare at this album cover. I’d rather look at any and all of the Cannibal Corpse album covers before I look at this disgustingly stale spaghetti on this album cover. Again, I am so wowed at the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal imagery found here.

#1:

AEROSMITH – GET A GRIP (1993)

Voila! Here it is! What I consider to be the upmost in uncool… an F’n pierced cow udder. This is so Rock ‘N’ Roll. NOT. The fake Aerosmith branding into the side of this cow only makes matters worse. What were everyone involved with creating this album cover thinking? Yeah… just as the album title states, the culprits involved in the decision making of this extremely uncool album cover should… get a grip.

Stone.

15 Comments »

JUDAS PRIEST “TURBO” – 1986 ALBUM IN MY METAL RETROSPECT

Posted in Album Review, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

JUDAS PRIEST – Turbo was released on Columbia Records, back on April 14, 1986. This Turbo album, is my least favorite Judas Priest album. There. I said it. Now, does that mean I would never listen to Turbo ever again? Of course not. By process of Metal elimination, there has to be my least favorite Judas Priest album… Turbo unfortunately gets the Metal nod for being the one. I revere Judas Priest… they are and always shall be a core band of mine. Therefore, I am not about to pick apart an album where they chose to experiment with synthesizers and melody. I have and always shall accept Turbo for what it is… a detour during the unreal and great legacy of Judas Priest.

Let’s face it, Turbo has eventually become not the drastic detour that Judas Priest would ever undertake. Nostradamus released in 2008, is a far superior musical detour than Turbo. I really feel that this Nostradamus album has motivated me to embrace the maturation process of Metal bands that I uphold. I find the Nostradamus album to be an exquisite listen in not just Metal… it’s an exquisite listen in music period. Well, not to get off the Metal track here… back to Turbo.

I remember buying the Turbo album, (on vinyl), along with Ozzy Osbourne’s album from 1986 – The Ultimate Sin. It was an early Spring day back in 1986 when I bought these two albums together… I was Metal psyched. I eventually upgraded both Turbo and The Ultimate Sin to CD… and I still have The Ultimate Sin on CD, Turbo I sold for a few bucks years ago. Now, regardless of looking upon Turbo as my least favorite Judas Priest album… I uncannily miss having it around. I do have easy access to the song Turbo Lover, it’s on a Judas Priest “Greatest Hits” CD I have:

The Best Of Judas Priest: Living After Midnight

This “Best Of” CD really is power packed with some vintage Judas Priest songs and worth owning, especially if you have “holes” in your Judas Priest album/CD collection.

I will admit, the song Parental Guidance used to get me psyched out. It was the whole anti-establishment and anti-authority thing happening in my brain back then. I still stand strongly behind this song’s anti-censorship theme. I’ve read that this song was Judas Priest taking a direct aim at the constipated PMRC… if true, a Metal kudos to The Priest!

The Turbo album does rekindle some cool memories for me though… man, this CD was always cranked up to the max at every keg party I hosted, back around 1986 – 1988. There always was someone who wanted to hear Turbo back then at my parties… it was popular for the first few years or so it seemed. When I do hear the song Turbo Lover now, it reminds me of those hot Summer nights back in the late 80’s. No, not that kind of “hot Summer night”… this song really reminds me of hanging out on a hot and humid Summer night and drinking beer. Go F’n figure.

So there you have it… I consider Turbo as my least favorite Judas Priest album ever, the album as a whole reminds me of keg parties I hosted as a much younger dude and Turbo Lover reminds me of hot and humid Summer nights of hanging out and drinking beer. Throw in the fact that I kinda miss owning Turbo too. I guess I couldn’t be more Metal honest than that.

“I’M YOUR TUBO LOVER… TELL ME THERE’S NO OTHER”… NOW, SOMEONE PASS ME A COLD ONE. PLEASE.

LONG LIVE JUDAS PRIEST!

Stone.

21 Comments »

RAVEN – RETURNS WITH A METAL DROP KICK ON “WALK THROUGH FIRE”

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on April 29, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RAVEN – This pioneering band representing the NWOBHM has returned with a very Metal memorable album of 16 songs – Walk Through Fire, (released on March 30, 2010, on Metal Blade Records). Raven has contributed in a huge way, in fueling my Metal exhilaration thus far, this year. Raven provides all the Old School, Heavy Metal that I could have hoped for on Walk Through Fire. Plus, it sounds like Raven really had a Metal ball recording this new album, the energy and excitement of three veteran Metalhead musicians seems to jump out at me. Maybe it’s just my personal Metal interpretation here, still, Raven sounds like they certainly are back in Metal form to my ears.

Just as the 2010 album releases of Krokus, Scorpions, Armored Saintand RATT have blown this lifelong Metalhead into a dizzying Metal tailspin of joy… Raven has done likewise with their new album! Sure, it has been about a decade since Raven has put out an album, (One For All in 2000), only the fact remains… quality Metal is not manufactured like dixie cups… quantity does not hold an upper hand to quality in my Metal world. Walk Through Fire is an album of straight forward, in your face, Heavy Metal that isn’t hiding any surprises of experimentation here… it’s Old School Metal done right.

Having 16 songs to listen to, on this new Raven album, is a fine gesture of Metal giving to the fans. The song Bulldozer, with its infectiously heavy riffs has been super glued into my Metal mind since my first listen. Trainwreck and Grip are two more standout songs that will infiltrate your senses and make you a believer that Raven isn’t about musical intricacies… they are about Metal. Live At The Inferno and Rock Until You Drop are both live songs… and these songs heaviness scream everything great about Raven. Mark Gallagher shreds it on guitar during Rock Until You Drop, his solo tears it apart!

John Gallagher on lead vocals and bass hasn’t lost an ounce of Metal muscle, his vocal highs are simply awesome. Raven covers the Montrose classic – Space Station #5 from their 1973 debut album. In my Metal opinion, John Gallagher does one hell of great job singing this song. He actually sounds a sliver like Sammy Hagar on Space Station #5 too… really. This was a really cool, Hard Rock classic for Raven to cover.

Joe Hasselvander on drums is his usual, explicitly great self on Walk Through Fire. If I was to start a Metal band from scratch and I could choose that one drummer… it would be Joe Hasselvander. This is a drummer that comes across as playing by pure Metal instinct. From the opening Intro to the last two live tracks and everything in-between… this is meat and potatoes Heavy Metal from Raven. Don’t be that Metal dude or dudette who needs to “think about” buying this new Raven album. Buy or at least get your ears into Walk Through Fire soon… for Raven is F’n BACK!

RAVEN ARE:

John Gallagher – vocals, bass guitars

Mark Gallagher – guitars

Joe Hasselvander – drums & percussion

_______________________________________________________

Walk Through Fire – Track Listing:

Intro

Against The Grain

Breaking You Down

Under Your Radar

Walk Through Fire

Bulldozer

Long Day’s Journey

Trainwreck

Grip

Running Around In Circle’s

Hard Road

Armageddon (The Beginning)

Attitude

Space Station #5

Live At The Inferno

Rock Until You Drop

_____________________________________

* For more info on RAVEN, click on the links below!

http://www.ravenlunatics.com

facebook: Raven

LONG LIVE RAVEN AND THEIR METAL.

Stone.

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MY FAVORITE HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVER IS…

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal music, heavy metal records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

My favorite Heavy Metal album cover, (of my entire Metalhead life), is… IRON MAIDEN’S debut from 1980 – IRON MAIDEN.Why? It’s Heavy Metal art, in all of it’s glorious Metal infancy. This was 1980 for Metal sakes, well before the multi-thousands of “other” Heavy Metal album covers came forth. Artist Derek Riggs made Eddie into this haunting and nightmarish creature of all things horrible. This mascot called Eddie symbolized an enormous turning point, in the way Heavy Metal was to be portrayed visually, for decades to come. The Metal of Iron Maiden on their debut album coincides with the album artwork with precision… melancholy and haunting are both. It’s probably best summed up this way… the Eddie artwork of Derek Riggs and the Metal of Iron Maiden, on this initial album, was always for me, a match made in Metal heaven.

Don’t get me wrong, the ensuing Iron Maiden album covers of Killers, The Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind and Live After Death are ultra legendary. I choose the debut Iron Maiden album cover for it is just that… the first appearance of not just a mascot and symbol of Iron Maiden, arguably Eddie was then and still is now, a mascot and symbol for all of Heavy Metal as well. Back in 1980, who would have predicted the rise and Metal proliferation of Iron Maiden? With Eddie being a prominent and symbolic fixture of the band spanning four decades now? It all had to start somewhere, commercially, for Iron Maiden. It started with their influential debut 1980 album and this cover, with Eddie as the macabre centerpiece, with those demonic eyes, standing underneath a moonlit creepy sky, amongst eerie street lamps.

Back in 1980, (when my Mom forbid me to have this album for its “bad news” cover), I would still seek it out at the Caldor Department Store… and stare at it in sheer bewilderment, (when my Mom wasn’t looking). The shock and awe this cover instilled in me back then, still gets my shock and awe meter ticking now. Sometime around 1985, my Mom was much more schooled on Heavy Metal… she bought me the Iron Maiden debut album one day, on a whim!

It’s funny how times have changed over the years and decades. Back in 1980, I’m certain there were a ton load of nervous parents out there, who fixed their eyes upon this Iron Maiden debut album… only to be handing down parental mandates to their sons and daughters, stating that this was the second coming of the anti-christ. It’s weird now, looking back on 1980, as a much more “innocent” time. As a parent of ten-year old twin daughters in 2010, there are many times I want to “shield” them from seeing and/or hearing what I deem inappropriate. They are only ten years old after all!

I witness for myself, the over sexed and gory album covers of today, with the infinite number of television, print and movie media’s sexual and violence laced appeal. I guess, after all this time, I can sympathize with my Mom’s feelings back then, in 1980. Regardless, I am anti-censorship when it comes to artistic freedom, our freedom of speech and to assemble as well!!

Picking out one’s favorite Heavy Metal album cover of all time can be difficult, I found this to be quite easy. Sure, Judas Priest and KISS, (just to name a credible twosome), had some incredible album covers in the 1970’s… before this Iron Maiden album was released, yet the visual impact, that this Iron Maiden cover had on me since I was straight out of eighth grade has never wavered. Oh… and every song on this Iron Maiden album, made just as equal an impact on me too. What is your favorite Heavy Metal album cover?

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN!

LONG LIVE EDDIE!

LONG LIVE DEREK RIGGS!

* My favorite song on this Iron Maiden debut album is – Remember Tomorrow. This song seems to drift along in such a dreamscape and melancholy way. A true chameleon of a song, if there ever was one… the mellowness and somber mood, changes over to heaviness… and then repeats itself all over again.

I could go on and on about this Iron Maiden album cover… the pleasure I derive from looking at this artwork is worth its weight in Metal gold.

Stone.

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SAXON – “BACK ON THE STREETS” APPLE SHAPED PICTURE DISC FROM 1985!

Posted in 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal bands, 1970's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal music, 1985 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, feel good stories, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1985, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal picture discs, heavy metal record finds, heavy metal records, metal odyssey, Music, new wave of british heavy metal, old school heavy metal, picture discs, power metal bands, power metal music, rare heavy metal records, rare picture discs, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SAXON – Back On The Streets, (die-cut), shaped picture disc FIND!  This past week, I entered yet another antique mall and I stumbled upon this unreal great Saxon picture disc! I was in Metal glee, upon my eyes becoming affixed, to this piece of Saxon vinyl memorabilia. The price I paid for this Saxon find was $10, (U.S.), Metal money worth spending. I don’t know the actual value of this picture disc on the open Metal market, yet I have a funny feeling it is worth more than the $10 I spent on it. Looking around the world wide web, I did not find one dealer/site that has this Saxon picture disc for sale. (Now, can I honestly say it is not available anywhere on the internet? Of course not… I just have not seen one just yet). I will have to think, with Metal certainty, that this Saxon picture disc must be scarce. Oh, the feeling of making a Metal score like this! Why I feel so psyched is that this is a picture disc from 1985, it’s not as if it’s a current/newly released picture disc. Plus, the sheer fact that this is a Heavy Metal band that I really do like makes it only better.

SAXON – Back On The Streets – Shaped Picture Disc Specs:

Side A: Back On The Streets

Side B: Live Fast Die Young

* To the best of my Metal research, Live Fast Die Young has never appeared on any Saxon studio album. Maybe it has appeared on a Saxon bootleg? Anyone with further info on the song Live Fast Die Young is welcomed to comment. If this is to be the only Saxon recording that Live Fast Die Young is found on, man, that makes this picture disc all the more Metal important.

* This is a U.K. import, the picture disc code, (found at the bottom of Side B), is: RP 6103.

* Directly below the picture disc code is a small logo witch reads: Parlophone.

* Other text found at the bottom of Side B, reads: SAXONGS CARLIN MUSIC CORP., (and), 1985 Original Sound Recordings Made By EMI Records LTD., (and), 1985 EMI Records LTD.

The single Back On The Streets is from the Saxon album Innocence Is No Excuse, (released in 1985).

Saxon, as they appeared on the 1985 album Innocence Is No Excuse:

Biff Byford – lead vocals

Paul Quinn – guitarist

Graham Oliver – guitarist

Steve Dawson – bass guitarist

Nigel Glockler – drums

This super fine picture disc is shaped like an apple, with the stem actually protruding out at the top! Here is what this Back On The Streets – shaped picture disc looks like:

Side A:

Side B:

I thank my wife for taking the pics for Metal Odyssey… she is quite a Metal asset for me in more ways than I can count, I honestly don’t know what I would do without her… that is a Metal fact!

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