If Life's Blood were an unearthed gem from the 80's its value as a lost classic would be unassailable. The vast majority of modern, retro-based heavy metal is content to merely ape the sounds of the 80s, selling to a small but dedicated base of fans who don't like much of what's going on today but have already worn out their copies of Master of Puppets and Holy Diver and just want something new in the same mold, even if it doesn't aspire to the same peaks in terms of quality. Widow are one of the few bands in the 2000s that sound like they belong on an old Metal Massacre cassette from a quarter century ago.
1. Lady Twilight 04:09
2. Blood In Dreams 04:49
3. Take Hold of the Night 03:39
4. Another Fallen Angel 05:10
5. Embrace It 04:23
6. Behind the Light 03:26
7. The Burning Ones 03:12
8. Live Beyond 05:01
9. Judgment Day 03:46
10. I Scream for Ice Queen 04:17
11. Remembering 03:45
12. The One I Know 02:
Got to be honest, Wishbone Ash are not a band I have taken much notice of over the years. I interviewed ridiculously nice front man Andy Powell a while back, and I've probably heard some of their songs on the radio here and there, but that's about as far as my contact with the group goes.
So...I come to this album with few if any preconceived notions of what to expect. I know the band were one of the first to use twin lead guitars, I know they dabble with folk, prog, and soft classic rock, and I know "Elegant Stealth" is (amazingly) the band's 28th album, but that's about it.
The sound on "Elegant Stealth" immediately comes across like a modern take on 1970s prog with a big nod to uptempo bar room rock and laid back folk. In fact as the album plays through it becomes clear they don't like to stick to one style. It makes for a complicated but constantly fresh release that always leaves the listener guessing what's coming next. The musicianship is always good, but it occasionally reaches for the stratosphere with the way complex multi-layered segments are made to sound so simple yet so stunning.
Song wise, where to start? Every track offers something different so it's really hard to compare them like-for-like. I love the chorus in opener 'Reason to Believe', the funky bass opening of 'Big Issues'... and so it goes on. Each song has something interesting to offer, and it's a genuine pleasure to play the album from start to finish.
In Summation:
This is not an album to get the blood stirring, but it does feel like a properly coherent release from a band that really knows what it's doing. It's probably not something I'd listen to normally, but I'm glad I've had the chance. Fans of chilled rock with a twist would do well to check this out.
Band Wishbone Ash Info: Elegant Stealth Years: 2011 Style: Hard Rock / Classic Rock Info: MP3 CBR 320 kbps Info: UK Time: ZXY Music ????? Tracklist: 65:52 Info: 148 mb
Tracklist:
01. Reason to Believe (4:23)
02. Warm Tears (5:02)
03. Man with No Name (4:18)
04. Can’t Go It Alone (5:39)
05. Give It Up (5:07)
06. Searching for Satellites (6:02)
07. Heavy Weather (6:40)
08. Mud-slick (4:14)
09. Big Issues (7:42)
10. Migrant Worker (5:13)
11. Invisible Thread (5:09)
Andrew Powell / vocals and guitars
Muddy Manninen / guitars
Bob Skeat / bass
Joe Crabtree / drums
Guest musicians:
Don Airey / Hammond organ (8)
Pat McManus / fiddle (4)
If its pure power metal you want, look no further than the upcoming release from the Czech band Eagleheart entitled Dreamtherapy. This hard rocking quintet has been around since 2003 and their veteran status clearly shows on this tight and powerful album.
Founded b guitarist Michal K?s, the core of the band (K?s, bassist Ji?í Fiala, drummer Zden?k Vémola, and singer Vojta Šimoník) was solidified by the time they recorded their first EP, Black Sun, in 2005. Their Helloween and Stratovarius influenced sound helped the band build a loyal following and led to the release of their first full length album, Moment Of Life, in early 2008. Eagleheart toured in support of a number of well-known acts, and in 2009 began work on Dreamtherapy, enlisting the help of producer-guitarist-singer Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween). The band also enlisted second guitarist Michal Jankuliak and in 2010 they hit the studio.
Dreamtherapy is a fine power metal release and a great example of the genre – nicely proving that Eagleheart truly deserve the praise they have received. The music is intense and energetic, fronted by the raspy voice of Vojta Šimoník who at times sounds like Blaze Bayley or Pretty Maids’ Ronnie Atkins. His voice is crisp and clear, very well suited to the power metal style. The twin guitars of the Michals (K?s and Jankuliak) are excellent whether laying down big hooky rhythms or subtle and soaring leads. The rhythms of drummer Zden?k Vémola and bassist Ji?í Fiala are equally solid and their contributions are not small. Eagleheart’s true strength is the teamwork and unity displayed in their tight and veteran sounding performances. The band hits all of the power metal targets – everything from somewhat dark and martial lyrics to massive tempo shifts. The fine contributions (both production and performance) of Roland Grapnow only serve to make a solid effort even stronger.
The quick and almost orchestral keyboard opener “Insomnia” flows right into the first real track, “Shades Of Nothing.” Great raspy vocals, intense guitars and manic drumming set the bar very high for the balance of the album, and Eagleheart delivers. “Taste My Pain” is an aggressive and well-structured song with some interesting musical layering and some pushed-to-the-edge vocals and a great lead break. “Lost In The Dead End” has a brighter epic tone and features some great melodic hooks, a slick bass / drum line and an almost sing-along chorus. Neat harmony vocals open “Creator Of Time” and the band brings in a hint of prog-metal lightness while maintaining a brutal pounding rhythm line.
“Nothing Remains” is a slower cut, almost Amorphis-like at the opening and sort of Metallica-ish as the song progresses. It seems to pull the band a bit out its vocal comfort zone, but the acoustic guitar work and excellent bass line make up for it. “Dreamtherapy” brings the power back up and is quite rightly the title track. The band pulls out all the stops here and everything about this track is spot on. “Burned By The Sun” is another great power track built on an aggressive drum and bass line and it features some beautifully executed technical guitar teamwork. The nuclear apocalyptic “Glass Mountain” seems a little forced at the start, but gets rolling nicely by the chorus. “Wheel Of Sorrow” wraps the album with a different sound – more progressive and bass oriented at the start – but becoming a drum and rhythm guitar showpiece. Unfortunately instead of being a truly epic track, this 12 minute piece is just too drawn out and seems endless. While technically excellent, the band could have trimmed this one by a third without losing anything.
If you are into power metal, Eagleheart’s Dreamtherapy is a must – simply no other way to put it. There is nothing ground-breaking style-wise here, but this album is a distillation of modern power metal to its purest form and it could be held up to the rest of the world as the archetype despite a few easily overlooked flaws.
Dreamtherapy will be out on 24-November-2011 in Europe and 17-January-2012 in the USA on Scarlet Records
Genre: Power Metal
Band:
Vojta Šimoník (vocals)
Michal K?s (guitars, vocals)
Michal Jankuliak (guitars)
Ji?í Fiala (bass)
Zden?k Vémola (drums)
Guest musician: Roland Grapow (vocals, guitar)
Track Listing:
1. Insomnia
2. Shades Of Nothing
3. Taste My Pain
4. Lost In The Dead End
5. Creator Of Time
6. Nothing Remains
7. Dreamtherapy
8. Burned By The Sun
9. Glass Mountain
10. Wheel Of Sorrow
1. Insomnia
2. Shades Of Nothing
3. Taste My Pain
4. Lost In The Dead End
5. Creator Of Time
6. Nothing Remains
7. Dreamtherapy
8. Burned By The Sun
9. Glass Mountain
10. Wheel Of Sorrow
Daniel Colletti’s Electric Bat Cave – Berlin… (2011)
Dec 10, 2011 01:42
Heavy Metal |Power Metal Rock
Als ehemaliger Berliner werde ich schon aus Prinzip immer neugierig, wenn eine Veröffentlichung ins Haus flattert, die den Namen meiner Geburtsstadt im Titel trägt. So wie aktuell erst wieder geschehen bei DANIEL COLLETTI’S ELECTRIC BAT CAVE und der Single “Berlin”. Um das schon mal vorweg zu nehmen: “Berlin” lohnt sich auch für Nicht-Berliner.
01. Berlin [2:48]
02. Berlin [Detroit Express Mix] [4:11]
03. Berlin [House Mashup Mix] [7:39]
Download
single
Pat McGee – No Wrong Way to Make It Right (2011)
Dec 9, 2011 23:33
All Exclusive Melodic Rock | AOR
Pat Mcgee Releases No Wrong Way To Make It Right
No Wrong Way To Make it Right is the title of Pat McGees new album. The album will be available at all his upcoming shows, including the sold-out show at City Winery in New York on Friday, February 18 and the sold-out show at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on Friday, February 25. Tickets are still available for shows at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT on Thursday, February 24 and The National in Richmond, VA on Saturday, February 26. Tickets are on sale for other upcoming shows, as listed below.
This will be a limited release before I present it online, so if you cannotmake it to a show, place your order now by clicking here:
http://patmcgeeband.shop.musictoday.com/
Pats word about the record
I am so proud of this record for lots of reasons. It is by far my mostpersonal record, touching on subjects I formerly shied away from and at thesame time staying true to what comes naturally to me. It has my heaviest andmost delicate moments ever caught on tape. It truly is a reflection of allthe music I grew up loving and couldn’t hide from--it’s all there in thesetracks. The album represents the perfect blend of all my influences. (Please see my journal below for much more about each of the songs and the making of the album.)
The album is produced by Doug Derryberry, a longtime friend and someone that Iadmired as a wide-eyed 17-year-old taking in the local bands in the DC musicscene. I wrote some of the songs alone at home and some on the road with friends such as: Jason Mraz, Stephen Kellogg, Ryan Newell of Sister Hazel, Keaton Simons, Mike Daly from Whiskeytown and Emerson Hart from Tonic.
No Wrong Way To Make It Right
Juliet
How We Got Here
See You Again
End Of The Innocence
Take A Bow
Done To Me
They Think We’re Not Gonna Make It
Download
album
Merciful Nuns – Xibalba III (2011)
Dec 9, 2011 21:34
Rock
The Underworld, a place of fear, segmented into nine planes and ruled by 21 Lords. Artaud Seth, Jawa Seth and Jon take us on a descent into this unreal world. After the debut album "Lib.1" and its follow up "Hypogeum II" released earlier this year, the third long player of the MERCIFUL NUNS is now available: "Xibalba III".
Completely unphased by trends and inclination for ingratiation to the listener Artaud Seth in his role as mastermind behind the MERCIFUL NUNS continues to traverse his chosen musical path. Traditional Gothic Rock produced brilliantly not only in the context of present demands but quite simply seminal for timeless great music.
Goth as a mixture of widescreen epic and massive walls of guitar sound, sacred choir chants, rattling drum computer and Artaud's sepulchral voice permeating through every fibre of one's body, at times plunging its intrinsic despair deep into the heart of the listener. And yet, even this does not adequately describe the musical workings of the NUNS.
The primary objective is to ensure the survival of the Goth-Rock spirit of the 80's and early 90's into the modern era; to not only recollect the sound but also from a lyrical perspective, to recall the origins of Gothic culture. Hence we find in "Xibalba III" mythological themes in the foreground. Where do we come from? How long have we been occupying this Earth? Is there such a thing as Gods from outer space? Such questions and more await the listener.
MERCIFUL NUNS are much more than just the sole legitimate successor of the three musicians' legendary former band GARDEN OF DELIGHT! The NUNS have already attained cult status and must be regarded as seminal for intelligent listening pleasure!
For more info visit the band official facebook, any of our lodges or the official sitewww.mercifulnuns.com
01. The Prophecy [5:46]
02. Radiation [3:35]
03. Dark Trails [4:10]
04. Year Zero [6:06]
05. Ancient Astronauts [4:48]
06. Dwellings Of Gods [4:34]
07. The Return [3:20]
08. In Between Worlds [8:17]
09. 13.0.0.0.0 [Bonus Track] [5:35]
Cage, San Diego’s self-professed American power metal kings, has returned with their sixth album, Supremacy Of Steel. Formed in 1992 during the outbreak of grunge, Cage remained true to their sound. Almost two decades later, Cage has maintained a classic heavy metal vibe.
Similarities to Iced Earth, Judas Priest Painkiller-era and King Diamond all come to mind frequently. Vocalist Sean Peck’s high octave screeches might turn some people off, but Halford and King Diamond make a decent living from their falsettos. Some people might also scream Judas Priest or King Diamond rip-off, but those are just two artists that have had an impact on Cage’s sound.
The double guitar attack of Dave Garcia and Steve Brogden, the bottom end assault of Pete Stone, and the thunderous drum display of Norm Leggio (Psychotic Waltz), provides the powerful backdrop to Peck’s air raid siren wails.
Cage’s songwriting and story-telling is part of the band’s strengths. Whether it’s a historical, war-related or horror-themed song, they vividly capture the mood lyrically. Some material verges into cheesy territory or silly comic book scenarios, but otherwise, Cage produce some ass-kicking metal songs.
“Bloodsteel” opens with some heavy reverb-laden tremolo picking and black metal blast beats which then settles into a fast paced metal riff in the vein of ”Jugulator.” One-man black metal band Bitter Frost performs a guest lead guitar spot.
"Metal Empire" is a slightly cheesy ode to heavy metal — fans of Manowar should dig it. "War of the Undead," is one of the fastest and thrashiest songs Cage has ever penned. Peck is a real scream machine the whole way through. A soon-to-be classic Cage song is "The Beast of Bray Road." It has references to “Black River Falls” from their last albumScience Of Annihilation and is about a werewolf.
When it comes to Cage releases, the packaging is top-notch. The brilliant cover artwork of Marc Sasso (Dio, Halford) and the stunning 16-page inside booklet complete with lyrics and artwork by Danial Duarte and Forrest Butler are great visuals to accompany Cage’s aural assault.
Cage has been slugging it out in the metal world for almost 20 years. Some people love ’em, some people hate ’em. But on Supremacy Of Steel, there’s no doubt that Cage is more than capable of delivering the metal goods.
01. Bloodsteel (feat. guest artist BITTERFROST)
02. The Beast Of Bray Road
03. King Of The Wasteland
04. Metal Empire
05. War Of The Undead
06. Flying Fortress
07. Doctor Doom
08. Annaliese Michel
09. Braindead Woman
10. The Monitor
11. Hell Destroyer vs. Metal Devil
12. Skinned Alive (bonus track for Europe)
Tracklist:
1. Another Flower
2. Alone
3. Time 4 Lovers
4. Icy Moon
5. Au Premiere Coup
6. Dangerous Diamonds
7. Take Off
8. Blue Diamond
9. Lovin' Me
10. Sixth Sun
11. Bitter & Sweet
A 23-minute video clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "A Southern Revelation", the seventh album from MY RUIN — the Los Angeles-based band featuring the husband-and-wife rock duo of vocalist Tairrie B. Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Mick Murphy — can be seen below. The CD — which will be made available as a free download and gift to fans starting December 7, 2011 exclusively via www.myruin.net— was produced by Mick Murphy and Joel Stooksbury at Soundtrack Black Studio deep in the snowy mountains just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee in the cold January winter of 2011.
"A Southern Revelation" track listing:
01. Tennessee Elegy
02. Highly Explosive
03. Walk of Shame
04. Deconsecrated
05. Middle Finger
06. Vultures
07. Seventh Sacrament
08. Reckoning
09. The Soulless Beast
10. Mean Street (VAN HALEN cover)
MY RUIN will embark on the "Southern Revelation Tour" to celebrate the release of "A Southern Revelation". Special guests for the trek are British metal heavyweights GODSIZED along with Colchester thrashers and longtime friends SANCTORUM and Nottingham rockers LONG DAY FEAR.
MY RUIN recently announced the addition of drummer Isaac Lee to the group's ranks.
And with these words, so begins “Hate Train,” a previously unreleased song from the Death Magnetic sessions that the band performed last night as part of their four-night thirtieth anniversary celebration at the Fillmore in San Francisco, and a rough mix of which has subsequently been e-mailed to Metallica fan club members (audio below). More»
Chevelle – Hats Off To The Bull (2011)
Dec 7, 2011 18:21
Rock
Produced by Joe Barresi (Tool and Queens Of the Stone Age), this is a successful return to their heavy roots as well as a cohesive and varied alternative hard rock record. This is driven by a solid bass line and a terrific guitar playing complemented by a great drum beat and vocals as we love.
From the opening hit radio-friendly single Face To The Floor to the ending acoustic trackIndifferent, they maintain both a strong intensity and a fierce dynamism that don’t weaken.
They deliver appealing melodies throughout the album. The catchy riffs stick in your head all day in Back To The Floor or Same Old Trip. A lot of tracks can sound very similar but if you listen attentively, it is subtly different.
Pete Loeffler‘s guitar playing and singing are remarkable without a doubt. They also explore new sounds that turn into great pieces of music such as “Envy” and “The Meddler” that stand out. Highly recommended. Envy is my favorite. It features cellos, outstanding heavy guitar parts and an excellent drum beat that reminds me a little bit of ”The Drums of the Bronx”. It is pretty original. The orchestral arrangements are stunning.
If you love acoustic songs, Prima Donna, a blend of middle Eastern music sounds, as Indifferent will do your bliss.
In conclusion, Hats Off to Chevelle for this awesome album. You will not be disappointed. What I love about them, is this unique sound that makes them different from other bands. They don’t follow the current mainstream music and it is a good thing. For fans and music lovers.
01. Face to the Floor (3:38)
02. Same Old Trip (3:09)
03. Ruse (4:39)
04. The Meddler (4:13)
05. Piñata (3:54)
06. Envy (4:19)
07. Hats Off to the Bull (3:55)
08. Arise (4:25)
09. Revenge (3:30)
10. Prima Donna (3:40)
11. Clones (3:27)
12. Glimpse of the Con (Bonus Track) (5:59)
13. Still Running (Live at the Metro) (Bonus Track) (3:49)
14. Indifference (iTunes Bonus Track) (2:09)
Here's the thing. In the morass of harsh modern heavy metal, abounding with grimy death vocals and little melody, it takes a lot, more than a sense of history, to deliver classic melodic heavy metal. This is especially so if you want to invoke and play the seminal and inspired New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) style (that inspired many youngsters to pick up a Fender). Honestly, Birmingham's Dark Forest nails it. On their second release, Dawn of Infinity, they secure their position in this grand tradition.
Above, Dark Forest: it's deja vu all over again: heavy metal with denim and high top sneakers.
Okay, Dark Forest gets it, if you didn't get my point in the last paragraph. With early Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, among others, I was weaned on this classic metal. With twin guitars, a solid and supportive rhythm section, and soaring and clean vocals, Dark Forest are reincarnations of their forefathers, and without apology. The Tor, Sieze the Day, and Deadly Premonition are magnificent interpretations of the genre. They border on genius, if not clever homage. Through the Glass Darkly exceeds expectations. Echoing the best of Maiden, the arrangement offers elements both epic and speedy, both heavy and entertaining. Black Delta echoes this description. If you've guessed I'm impressed, then you would be correct. But, allow me to add this caveat: though a fan of the genre, there is a slight bit of redundancy here. Thankfully, each song has significant merit, thanks to the talented musicianship, to put Dark Forest in the realm of better classic metal bands.
I know that Dark Forest does not meet the standards of current metal fashion. (And that's a very good thing.) Frankly, if they feel unappreciated, I understand. God forgive us for not including some sense of melody and harmony in our heavy metal music. Once more, Dark Forest gets it! For pure and true heavy metal Dark Forest is the real deal. Accept no substitutes.
01. Hourglass
02. Lightyears On
03. The Green Knight
04. Seize The Day
05. The Tor
06. Through A Glass Darkly
07. The Stars My Destination
08. Under The Greenwood Tree
09. Black Delta
10. Deadly Premonition
If Life's Blood were an unearthed gem from the 80's its value as a lost classic would be unassailable. The vast majority of modern, retro-based heavy metal is content to merely ape the sounds of the 80s, selling to a small but dedicated base of fans who don't like much of what's going on today but have already worn out their copies of Master of Puppets and Holy Diver and just want something new in the same mold, even if it doesn't aspire to the same peaks in terms of quality. Widow are one of the few bands in the 2000s that sound like they belong on an old Metal Massacre cassette from a quarter century ago.
