ABBA Freaks Dream Come True

Various
Tribute to ABBA
Nuclear Blast
56:51 mins

Bands:
Therion,Metalium,Sinergy,At Vance,Rough Silk, Morgana Lefay,Paradox,Tad Morose,....etc

Amen, finally someone else with the balls to admit liking ABBA! After years of being laughed at and having bartenders hit the skip button on the jukebox, I can feel proud of loving ABBA! To all the people who thought I was gay for playing "Gimme Gimme Gimme" you can suck my....(wait that would make me gay!) I could write on and on about this cd but I would lose my only 3 readers so I'll make it short!
Really the only disappoints on this cd is METALIUM doing "Thank you for the music" (but the belch is classic) and Flowings Tears (who the hell are they?) doing "One of us" both songs are too slow and i never really liked the orginials. So i guess they did a good job recreating them cause I still dont like them!
The masterpieces are At Vance,"Money Money Money",Rough Silk, "Take a Chance on me", Paradox "SOS" and Sinergy "Gimme Gimme Gimme"! All 4 songs are really heavy and just as addicting as the orginials. You have got to hear "SOS" to believe it! A+ to all 4 bands on their choices and delivering the goods!
The rest of the tracks especially "Voulez-Vouz" by Morgana Lefay (RIP) and "Eagle" by Sargant Fury (kick ass old school comic) are faithful to the orginials but are heavy enough not to bore your socks off!
Overall an excellent album for metal fans...if you like ABBA then its a MASTERPIECE!! Thanks Nuclear Blast you almost made up for dropping HOLLOW!

Rating: 68

A Delicate Boredom

Alchemy X
A Delicate Balance

Band:
Chris Fox (Guitars)
Martin Morin (Vocals)
Steve Ratchen (Bass)
Rob Schreiber (Guitars)
Chris Scorses (Drums)

Not being a big fan of Progressive metal in the first place, and then having to listening to this Prog. Rock cd my required three times to review it, really annoyed the hell out of me.
There is hardly anything on this CD that resembles metal to me. Plus most of the cd sounds like it was taken out of a book entitled “How to play Progressive music for dummies!” It has that same old sound and feel and a few "borrowed" Rush riffs that 75% of prog is built on! To me it isn't a musical movement, it is a bowel movement! But i bet the chicks dig it!
This cd is a prime reason why I hate bands that play prog. music and use “X” in their name. If they can’t come up with a creative name without using X then how can they come up with creative music?

Rating: 19

Better then the orginal..thank gods!!

Alchemy X
11:59:59

Band:
Chris Fox (Guitars)
Bob Mitchell (Vocals)
Steve Ratchen (Bass)
Rob Schreiber (Guitars)
Chris Scorses (Drums)

HUH? WHAT?? WHO?? Where did that crappy band called Alchemy X go? This album is heavier in the first 20 seconds then the whole last one was combined! Did the band hit puberty or just get rid of the prog music book and try to do something on their own? This album isn't delicate like the last one, this has some bite and balls! Plus the music on most of the songs don't completely follow the same old same old path for making progressive music.
Granted this is still at times to proggy for me but the new aggressiveness of the music and the improved vocals of Bob Mitchell (can’t believe he can sound so mellow and relaxed!).
Songs like “Penance” , “11:59:59” and “Beyond the Veil of Sorrow” actually give me a sense of awe and give me faith in prog stuff. I find this Album a lot more enjoyable then anything I have heard by the band that will ruin the Blind Guardian tour….Suckaphony X

Rating: 40

Blaze
"Silicon Messiah"
SPV

MEMBERS:
BLAZE BAYLEY (vocals)
Steve Wray (guitar), John Slater (guitar),
Jeff Singer (drums), Rob Naylor (Bass)

Rating: 69

A NIGHTFALL at the Opera

Blind Guardian
A Night at the Opera
Century Media
Toooooo LONG!

MEMBERS:
Hansi Kursch (Vocals)
Andre Olbrich (Guitar)
Marcus Siepen (Guitar)
Thomas Stauch (Drums)

Rating: 25..yeah that's it! (If I went lower I'd be lynched!)

THE REAL MEN IN BLACK!

The Bronx Casket Crew
Self Titled
Massacre Records

MEMBERS: 
D.D Verni (bass), Jack Frost (guitar),
Tim Mallare (drums), Charlie Calv (keyboards),
SPY (vocals)

DARK LORD VERNI RETURNS

Bronx Casket Company
Sweet Home Transylvania
The Music Cartel
56:40

MEMBERS:
DD Verni (bass), Tim Mallare (drums), Jack Frost (guitars),
Charlie Calv (keyboards), Spy (vocals)

Waiting for what seemed like forever for the new Bronx Casket Company (BBC) CD. I was figuring that there would be some let down between the 2 CDs; I was predicting a sophomore slump! Well I guess I forgot to tell DD Verni cause he proved me very wrong. Sweet Home Transylvania picks up where the awesome Debut left off. This CD is just as dark and intelligent as the first one and a tad bit heavier and experimental! Every track is as contagious as fear of Anthrax. (God I'm an ass!) Hell "The Other Me" was and still is my theme song for the last month or so. Songs like "Jesus Doesn't live here anymore", "Black Valentine" and "Dead…for the moment" blows anything that Type O Negative has done out of the water, when it comes to creating atmosphere. "The Other Me " and "BBC/Sweet Home Transylvania" are just incredible. "Killing MaryJane" is heavy as hell and DD's vocals just add to the novelty. This CD has it all heavy riffing, dark gothic atmosphere without getting boring, and some pretty cool lyrics. Top all that off with DD's bass, Jack Frost's guitars and Spy's killer vocals (he is quickly becoming one of my favorite vocalists) and you cant lose. Want to make sure you get your hard earned moneys worth? Then get this CD you wont regret it!

Rating: 66

Better then BLACK?

Cage
Darker then Black
Massacre

Band:
Sean Peck (Vocals)
David Garcia (Guitar)
Micheal Gordano (Bass)
Anthony McGinnis(Guitar)
Mikey Neil (Drums)

Calafornia isn't the only the home of the best underground metal band in perhaps the world (The Wierd Lord Slough Feg) but is the home of the one of the best Vocalists in the World. Enter Sean Peck of Cage from San Diego! Their last album Astrology was a masterpiece and Sean was in his prime on it. And after hearing all the hype about the new CD plus the fact that they were on a big metal label...made me wonder if it was that great or if people were jumping on their wagon now since they were on a real label. Well the rumors are true, the new album is great perhaps one of the best CD's of the year...and yes "Kill the Devil" maybe one of the best songs in CAGE's short career and perhaps metaldom. Yes, with Sean adding Black metal vocals to his style makes him a freak of vocal nature and a bigger force to rekon with. Yes, Dave Garcia might be one of the best Riff Masters no one ever heard of, Yes this album kicks major ass...but I still think Astrology is their crowning jewel.Well that is the only unpositive thing I can say about "Darker then Black" other then that it is a gift from the metal gods them selves.

"Kill the Devil" like I said is the best Cage song ever and one of the best in metaldom. "Chupacabra" has a catchy as hell riff and Sean goes from soaring vocals to black metal ones with ease. "Eyes of Obsidian", "Door to the Unknown" , " Philadelphia Experiment" and "Secrets of the Fatima" (even though the cd jacket has a typo and spells its SECRETC ) are all what I've come to love about Cage. Hearing Sean do the Black metal vocals (especially in "White Magic" ) still freaks me out a bit because he switches from the black and soaring vocals so fast that I can feel my own vocal cords rip under the stress! To sum it all up Cage is one of the best bands in metal (but i've know that for years) and "Darker then Black" and will put them on everyones radar. With Peck and Garcia as the foundation, the sky's the limit for CAGE. And I know they will be up to the challange.

Rating: 66

Catch Duece Duece

Catch 22
Time Reveals All

MEMBERS:
T.J. Berry (lead vocals/lead guitar)
Keith Taylor (bass/back up vocals)
Bob Britton (guitar/back up vocals)
Andy Brookhart (drums)   

Catch 22 is an obviously overused name/word. Over used to the point of generic! But let me tell you there is nothing generic about the metal band from Ohio called Catch 22! There is nothing generic about T.J Berry’s voice! Like a cross between Brad Divens (wraithchild america) and a rougher poor man’s Jon Oliva, in shriek-hawk mode during the "good savatage" years, Berry powers his way thru, even the average tracks sound special with his yelps. With 15 tracks of metal you can’t go wrong. Lots of variety and hooks to keep your attention. Some super tracks like ”Empty” (which is carried by Berry’s voice since it is nothing more then a typical chug chug riff) , “Disgruntled” , “Down the Drain” and “Dysfunctional” plus Berry’s multiple voices turns this CD into one of the ones that you listen to over and over, instead of one of those cds you say “wow… that was a good cd” and don’t listen to again for 4 months. The only down side to this cd is the drum production is weak making them sound like pots and pans at times (or like on ”Think for your self” where they sound like Weird Al’s Accordion case!) and that some of the riffs are rehashed. But for every negative mark I can find I have an equally strong positive point. TJ Berry’s vocals!

Rating: 49

METAL AWAKENING

CATCH 22
"AWAKEN"

Band:
T.J. Berry (Vocals/Lead Guitar)
Keith Taylor (Bass)
Bob Britton (Guitar)
Andy Brookhart (Drums)

Wow, what a difference few years and a better production can make. Granted I really enjoy their first CD "Time Reveals All" but "Awaken" is leaps and bounds better sounding and more mature. Though I think the first Cd is catchier in and "sing along" way but it is by no means a better album. This album has so many strong points I'm not sure where to start! Ok T.J Berry's voice still rules, hell it's even gotten better! And the Catch 22 guitar attack sound way more pissed and brutal then before. Hell the drums and bass sound way better too, giving this album a shitload more aggression and power! Hell the drums alone are enough to pin your ears to the side of your head! This recording really captures the Catch 22's aggressive live sound perfectly.
The best of the best of the album are "Betrayal of the Masses", "Form", "Wicked from the Womb", "Blood on the Bricks", "In to the Black" and the excellent "Where Darkness Is Divine Trilogy". I been listening to this album for like a month now and every time I put it away it seems to find its way back into my mind,body and soul (that is if I have any of the before mentioned). Additive and Heavy Power Thrash at its best, with intelligent lyrics and purpose, watch out NEVERMORE!

Rating: 60

Keep it Heavy!!

CONQUEST
No Boundaries

The first thing that I noticed about Conquest's sound is how much they remind me of my Favorite Cleveland band Ground Zero! They kind of have that half thrash and half NWOBHM sound but they go seem to be drawn more to catchiness then cliché! Good riffs and catchy chorus seem to be all that these guys care about! With catchy songs like "Ruin my Life", "Back Against the Wall", "So Cold" and "Nightmare" it's just about the metal, nothing more!! Final song "Take" is a super catchy head banger that is like the ultimate "FUCK YOU, I am what I am" song, Popeye would be proud and so should Conquest because they made a kick ass album built around cool riffs and catchy choruses and not who they could impress with their superman song structure. Conquest has taken the old saying "Keep it Simple Stupid" and changed it too "Keep is HEAVY Stupid!"
Amen

http://www.conquestmetal.com/

Rating: 54

Crimson Glory
"Astronica"
SpitFire Records

MEMBERS:
Ben Johnson (guitars), Jon Drenning (guitar), Wade Black (Vocals), Jeff Lords (Bass), Steve Wacholz (drums)

Rating:45

Dirty Deeds
"Real World"
Sanctuary Records

MEMBERS:
Pete Franklin (Vocals, Guitar), Tony Newton (bass)Barry Fitzgibbon (Guitar), Dave Cavill (drums)

Rating: 26

Prog Metal that doesn't blow

Exhibition
Sign of Tomorrow

Band:
Bobby Lucas(Vocals)
Brett Rome (Bass)
Jeff Shernov (Guitar)
Jamie Mazur (Keyboard)

If you read any of my past ramblings or review you know I really don't like prog metal at all. So when I heard one of my favorite singers ( Bobby Lucas ex-Seven Witches and member of Overlorde ) had joined one I figured the CD would tarnish his perfect record with me. But once again in spite of me my negative thinking creates positive effects. Granted this does have some times whn the keyboards have that normal prog metal annoyance factor but the vocals and musical structure of these songs actually make it a kind of interesting plus at times the keyboards makes it more moody which works for some songs but yet on other songs they ruin some of the heaviness. But with songs like "Wings of the Dragon" , "The Sign of Tomorrow", "Dark Horizons" and "Queen of Pain" there is more then enough non trendy prog things going on to make it metal. Plus "Shattered Memories" has to be one of the best ballads ever and this is coming from a guy who generally doesn't like them. The piano and Bobby's emotional vocals make me wanna cry. Overall I would have to say if you like Jacobs Dream and bands like that then you will love these guys, oh did I mention this has the members of Eternity X in it?

Rating: 54

Enola Gay
" Strange Encounters"
Century Media

MEMBERS:
Peter Diersmann (vocals), Cagge (guitar), Nico Luttenberg (guitar), Marc Konnecke (drums), Christian Meyer (bass)

Rating: 50

REAL COWBOYS FROM HELL

GHOULTOWN
Give 'em more Rope
Angry Planet Records

MEMBERS:

COUNT LYLE -- vocals / guitar
LIZARD LAZARIO -- acoustic guitar / vocals
JAKE MIDDLEFINGER -- lead guitars
X-RAY CHARLES -- drums / percussion
SANTI -- bass
J. LUIS -- trumpet

“Give ‘Em More Rope” is the newest GhoulTown Cd, if you don’t know Ghoultown, you should. Formed by an ex-member of Solitude Ateurnus, Ghoultown (Lyle Steadham now known as Count Lyle) is I one of the most unique bands that I can think of. They are more punk then metal but the fact their band theme is all based around the wild west and the undead is cool. Picture the Misfits trapped in the Wild West. They even have a trumpet player so they sound more and more like Wild West Movie sound track. With songs like “Return of the Living Dead” ,” Fistful of Demons” , and “Dragging Your Bones” and 13 other tracks this CD is more then worth the money you will pay for it.
So unique! So brave an attempt to be orginal in a copy cat world! Great change of pace!!

Rating: 50

NEW kings of metal?

Gothic Knights
Kingdom Of The Knights
Sentinal Steel
43:19 mins

MEMBERS:
John Tsantakis (guitars),
Mario Cosentino (bass),
Kevin Myers (drums),
Bryan Avatar (Vocals)

Hitting harder then a hockey puck in the face, Gothic Knights bulldozes you with their brand of power metal. Lets put it this way Kingdom of the knights has all the elements you expect from power metal. It has the usual soaring vocals and epic riffing and soloing that you come to expect from power metal. But lately power metal has been lacking in one important part and thats the POWER! But fear not, for there is plenty of that in this album! From the opening song "At Dawn You die!" you know exactly what this cd is trying to do...Its trying to break your fucking neck! Hell I'll bet the first 3 tracks "At Dawn You Die! or "War in the sky!" and "Ring Of Souls" will have you either singing along (they can be that catchy) or have you whipping your head around like some lunatic. A couple days later when you finally stop hitting repeat for tracks one thru three, you will be treated to the rest of a kick ass album. "Song of Roland" and "That Evil Wizard" follow suite with lots of catchiness (is that a real word? ) and power. Then there is the reason I got the cd "Keeper Of the Gate" (nuff said!) The only drawback to this cd is its only 43 minutes and one song is an average cover of "The Ripper" (but then again I think this song should be retired after the awesome cover by Mercyful Fate!)
Gothic Knights follow that saying that we all learned as kids "KISS" (Keep it simple stupid!) I'm by no means saying the the cd is moronic, what I'm saying is the they put only what they need in the songs to make them fit together perfectly. No extra soloing to lose the listener. No extra repeating of the chorus to bore the listener. Not to cold or too hot, its JUST RIGHT!
If in your face bass, intelligent guitar work and metal the way it used to be, isn't enough to get your interest. Then perhaps this will "If Manowar doesn't get off their ass put out something new,I may have already found the NYC's new KINGS OF METAL!"

Rating: 55

Gutrix
"Mushroom Songs"
New Renaissance

MEMBERS:
Hank Shermann (guitars), Claus Weiergang (bass)Bjarne T. Holm (drums) , Richard Plougmann (vocals)

Rating: 39

OLD BROTHERS OF CONQUEST

HOOKERS II
"BLACK VISIONS OF CRIMSON WISDOM"
SCOOCH POOCH RECORDS

Band:
Rock n Roll Outlaw (Vocals)
Tom A. Foolery (Bass)
Blizzard of Hoz (Guitar)
Stoney Tombs (Guitars)
Chris Hamilton (Drums)

The HOOKERS CD "BLACK VISIONS OF CRIMSON WISDOM" has all the attitude and imagery of metal but has a more rock and punk sound. Kind of like a pissed off combo of MotorHead and Ted Nugent. This might be perfect stuff for people who love their late 70's, early 80's metal. But for me it just doesn't get my blood or fist pumping enough for me to call it metal. But then again I think Judas Priest isn't metal either! It does make a nice change of pace once in awhile I have to say I would rather seen their new incarnation the BROTHERS OF CONQUEST live.

Rating: 33

Classic Metal

IMAGE
Drowning in a Sea of Life

Hailing from Tennessee is the band IMAGE, and after listening to their new album "Drowning in the Sea of Life" I find it hard to fit them in any genre since their sound predates the metal genre trends. I would just have to say that they are just a HEAVY METAL band and nowadays that's the hardest tag to get because genres make everything so much "easier" to explain. Image sounds like an extremely tight band ( it's almost if they were born from the same womb ) and seems to have perfected their sound, but I just can't seem to get used to David St. Clair's voice. Musically, especially on songs like "Tyrant", "Killer on a Loose" and "Dead or Alive" (which are my favorite tracks) Image is almost a finesse kind of metal band and St. Clair's rougher almost biker bar voice seems to cause a conflict and seems to take away something from the song, but then again, I can't sit here and say "Well Image sounds like so and so", so perhaps I'm the one that just doesn't get it. Perhaps it is just the mix on the album because his voice didn't seem to bother me so much live. Don't get me wrong the album is still enjoyable and guitarist Brain Primm has seemed to have mastered the art of the solo. So I bet if your more familiar with the early days of Heavy metal then I'm, you will love this stuff

http://www.imageslams.com/

Rating: 47

OHIO METAL

Jacobs Dream
Self-Titled
Metal Blade

MEMBERS:
James Evans (bass), John Berry (guitar and synth), Gary Holtsman (guitar), David Taylor (vocals), Rick May (drums)

Being loyal to my states Metal scene when I heard there was a band on Metal Blade from Ohio and I also heard they we pretty good so I had to check them out. At first listen I was "ok another progressive band..yawn" but after a couple listens I started noticing how heavy they actually were even though they were kinda artsy. I also noticed how intellgent some of the lyrics were. Songs like "Scape Goat" , "Crusade" and "Never Surrender" not only show how good of musicians they are but it also shows a thinking mans attitude towards metal. This band is one of the few that can use a synth or keyboard and not lose any heaviness in the process.This is a very solid debut for any band and shows that they may have unlimited room for growth. This could be one of those bands that make every CD very different from the others but yet never lose their sound. Which is rare in my opinion. Lets justt hope they don't outsmart themselves.
The whole Cd has grown on me and made me be proud to be a metalhead from Ohio! I await their second CD with eager ears.

Rating: 53

Metal Wisdom

Jacobs Dream
Theatre of War
Metal Blade
45:01 mins

MEMBERS:
John Berry (guitars and guitar synth)
Derek Eddleblute (guitar),
James Evans (bass),
David Taylor (vocals),
Billy Queen (drums)

At first I didn't think the heavier sound and David Taylor's voice mixed well, but after a couple listens I started to "get it". Once again, Jacobs Dream has shown that metal bands can write intelligent lyrics and still be metal. Hopefully between them, Skyclad and Nevermore labels will get the message that you can have brilliant lyrics and still sell cds!
Firstly I would like to say I been listening to "Theatre of War" alot more then Iced Earths "Horror Show" that should say tons for it. Gee I don't know where to start really. Here goes nothing! "SARAH WILLIAMS" is a and very emotional ballad about drunk driving, very classy and well done! The other must hears are "Sanctuary" ,"Wisdom" and "Critical Mass" they are surprisely heavy but yet very melodic! Jacobs Dream has done a very good job on evolving as a band. Every weak spot on the last CD seems to be a strong point on this one! (example: Cover,Layout,overplaying abit) Making this one better but yet the same as their debut (and I mean that as a good thing!) Very Intelligent! Class Act!

Rating: 58

King Diamond
House Of God
Massacre Records

MEMBERS:
King Diamond (vocals)
Andy Lacque (guitar), Glen Drover (guitar)
David Harbour (Bass). John Herbert (drums)

Rating: 64

"Obscure world to which they belong"

Manticora
Darkness with Tales to tell...
Scarlet reocrds

MEMBERS:
Lars Larsen(Vocals)
Kristian Larsen (Guitar)
Flemming Schults (Guitar)
Mads Volf (Drums)
Rene S. Nielsen (Bass)
Jeppe Eg (Keyboards)

Rating: 58

MOB BLOWS

Mob Rules
Temple Of Two Suns

Band:

Poor Bastards!!

To me there is only one thing worst then boring and lame Angra and thats other bands that dedicate their lives to ripping of Angra. Mob Rules should be paying AnGAY royalites in a big way. If flowerly NON POWER metal is would you like then MOB RULES almost rules. If you like like this stuff like this please get your Sonata Arctica listening ass off my website!!

Rating: ZZZZZZZZZ...i mean 20

Putting The POWER back into Power Metal!

Morifade
"Possession Of Power"
Loud N' Proud Records

MEMBERS:
Stefan Petersson(Vocals), Kim Arnell(drums) Jesper Johansson(Guitar), Henrik Weimedal(Bass)

Rating: 52

True Metal Glory

Paragon
Law of the Blade

Band:
Andreas Babuschkin (Vocals)
Jan Bunning (Bass)
Claudius Cremer (Guitar)
Martin Christeian (Guitar)
Markus Corby (Drums)

Having never hearing of Paragon before seeing them mentioned in a WIZARD and MAJESTY thanks list. I decided to check out their website and see if they had any MP3's. Once I heard a couple samples I got a kind of Grave Digger with some of Running Wild's speed vibe off of them so I decided to go out on a limb and buy their newest CD "Law of the Blade" boy I'm I glad I did because these German monsters are one of the best new bands ( new at least to me ) in awhile. They really do have a Grave Digger vibe but Andreas sounds way better then Chris from Grave Digger ever will. Actaully "Law of the Blade" is want I expected from the weak Grave Digger "The Grave Digger" to be kind of like, but to me I think Paragon beats Grave Digger at their own game. The starting track "Abducted" is worth the price of the CD alone. It's a fast paced track that tells you can soon as you put in the CD player "THE WEAK SHALL NOT INHERIT THE EARTH!" Hell the whole CD tells you that. Songs like "Palace of Sin" , "Armies of the Tyrant" and "Law of th Blade" all let you know that this isn't your girlfriends wimpy Hammerfall and Savatage. Hell even when they slow it down a tad for songs like "Across the Wasteland" they still are so heavy it hurts.

Plain and simple this is the way metal should be. Everything from the cover art, cd booklet design and production scream HEAVY METAL at it's purest form.

Rating: 63

Peaceful War?

Phantom Stranger
Self-Titled

Band:
Ray Underwood - Vocals
Rob Wiley Jr. - Guitar
John Salabounis - Guitar
Joe Valente III - Drums
Dan Allen - Bas

Phantom Stranger is a metal band from Illinois. Honestly after listening to their album a couple times (at least when I can get past the mystical "Trembling") I still think they are kind an a odd band to describe. The singer Mr. Underwood has a smooth as silk voice which at times reminds me of a young Harry Conklin or the Jacobs Dream singer. Then again I guess you could say with him they sound abit Queensryche-ish. That and the fact his voice is so high in the mix kind of gives Phantom Stranger a kind of mellow or mystical vibe. Sure the band is playing Maiden inspired riffs and metal but with his silky voice up front its like watching an Opera singer two feet away from you and a battle going on three blocks away, afterwards you just remember the singer!

As for the music, like I said it is kind of a cross of Maiden and at times maybe a touch of early Def Leppard (On Through the Night era ) the Maiden and Rock cross even seems to add to the mellow/mystical vibe. Rob Wiley's solos are excellently entertaining. The rest of the band also seem to be solid musicians, but at times it is hard to hear them over Underwood's vocals.

The only thing I would have to say negative about the cd besides the expected demo disc production is the fact that at times the band really jamming out some cool and heavy 80's metal and Underwood vocals are still in mellow and silky mode, which kind of gives it an odd contradictional kind of vibe. I'm curious to hear what he would sound like if he let lose!

Overall I would have to say the disc is enjoyable and I found the song "Trembling" almost addictive. "House of Lies" and "Enders Game" are darn good tunes too. I would have to say if your looking for an interesting NWOBHM band then Phantom Stranger is your cup of Earl Grey!

Rating: 48

Pegazus
Breaking The Chains
Nuclear Blast

MEMBERS:
Danny Cecati (vocals) , Johnny Stoj(guitars) ,
Cory Betts(bass) , Robbie Stoj(drums)

Rating: 65

DOWN UNDER THE POWER

Pegazus
Nuclear Blast
The Headless Horseman
53:37

MEMBERS:
Robbie Stoj (drums)
Johnny Stoj (guitars)
Rob Thompson (vocals)

Well here is another band that I loved who lost a great singer. When Danny Cecati left the band it hurt (not as much as Bobby Lucas leaving SW) He was replaced by a guy named Rob Thompson that no one knew shit about, except Johnny. So unlike SW I had no idea if the Pegazus sound would remain intact.
When I first go the CD I wasn't sure what to think of Rob's voice I kept thinking "this song would be awesome with Danny singing" but after a couple listens I realized that the songs "The Headless Horseman"," Call to Arms", "The Patriot" and" Look to the Stars" WERE awesome! Once I got Danny's Eric Adams like voice out of my head I realized like that Rob's voice was greast on it's own. He kind of sounds like a more aggressive and powerful version of Kai Hansan. So far this is the 2nd best cd of the year (close behind Blaze's Tenth Dimension and way better then the new Blind Guardian and Facloner )and just as good as past Pegazus albums. They are still soaring high!!!

Rating: 63

DARK METAL TO GENERIC METAL

Seven Witches
Xiled to Infinity and One
Noise Records
46:19

MEMBERS:
Wade Black (vocals)
Jack Frosr (guitars)
Billy Mez (bass)
Brain Craig (drums)

When Booby Lucas left Seven Witches I almost cried! He put so much emotion in his vocals that I knew it woukd be hard to find a singer to replace him. When I heard that Wade Black had replaced him (whose vocals I enjoyed on Astronomicia (Crimson Glory)) I was kind of glad and sad. I was glad that a singer that I liked had replaced one of my favorite singers of all time. I knew though that the dark vibe would be a thing of the past with Wade's voice.
Now that I have the new CD I can say unfortunetly I was once again right. The covers cries out DARK, EVIL and OCCULT but the music screams PRIMAL FEAR...I mean Judas Priest! Granted the CD isn't bad (better then half the Homo Fall stuff out there) but to me it is the weakest Seven Witches CD. It is closer to SPEEED and FROSTBITE then OLD SW and BCC. I guess the only way JACK FROST can be evil is if D.D VERNI and BOBBY LUCAS show him how. Wade delievers an techincially perfect preformance but doesn't seem to convay much emotion. (Plus his pic on the CD cover looks like a painful dump moment!) A good CD but not even comparable to the GODLY last two CD Rating is compared to past 7W cds and not other bands, thats why it is so low.

Rating: 40

Commercial Death Metal

Shadows Fall
Art Of Balance
Century media

MEMBERS:
Jonathan Donais - lead guitar/vocals
Brian Fair - lead vocals
Paul Romanko - bass
Matthew Bachand - guitar/vocals
Jason Bittner - drums

ShadowsFall’s “The Art Of Balance” borders on edge between metal and that soncalled metal crap stuff like Skinlab and the stuff that In Flames has been posing as metal the last couple years. Though this style isn’t my cup of tea, I find this cd much more listenable the crap cd “CLAYMAN” but that is’t saying much! The only reason I’ even reviewing this CD
Is cause of the awesome “Welcome to the Machine” cover. Over all it isn’t as crappy as the rest of the commercial death metal/ harcore bands and perhaps I’ll learn to like it for more then the cover song. But for now, I don’t get all the hype surrounding this band. Listenable at best!

Rating: 30

HAIL THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG

The Lord Weird Slough Feg
Down Among the Deadman
DragonHeart Records
50:11

MEMBERS:
Mike Scalzi (guitars,vocals), Greg Haa (drums), John Cobbet (guitar),
John Torres (bass)

Searching everywhere for this impossible to find CD and the one before it "Twilight of the Idols" for about 6 months to a year. I was finally able to track both down at POWERMAD at the Sentinel Steel table. And let me tell you neither one let me down! But Down Among The Deadmen is the true Masterpiece! Sounding like….actually NO-ONE! This band and Mike Scalzi show that there are still paths untraveled when it comes to making great heavy metal! Listening to Slough Feg is an unpredictable and strange ride through Heavy Metal. Scalzi's guitar playing and songwriting tell a story without the lyrics! Oh the praises I can sing! Slough Feg is a refreshing breath of molten steel. Songs like "Down Among the Deadman", "Heavy Metal Monk" and "Troll Pack" can redefine what Heavy Metal can and should sound like! Scalzi's Solos are genius and don't end up becoming musical masturbation! You won't believe his song structures even after you hear it for yourself! Unique and brilliant! I may have been a witness to the changing of guard and didn't even know it!

Rating: 62

SCI-FI FOLK METAL?

The Wierd Lord Slough feg
Traveller
DragonHeart

Band:
Mike Scalzi (Vocals/Guitars)
Adrian Maestas (Bass)
John Cabbett (Guitar)
Greg Haa(Drums)

When I got the new Slough Feg in the mail, I was afraidto open it. It looked to perfect in it's plastic wrapping. I was terrorfied that it would blow and ruin for me what I considered be the underground metal gods. Mike Scalzi's voice and guitars sound like NO ONE else on the planet! Slough feg has their own sound and vibe. Hell they don't even need to write catchy lyrics. Who needs choruses when your Slough Feg.
Would opening and listening to this CD leave me crying and forever ruin my image of underground metal or would it have me pounding my fist chanting "Slough Feg" to the metal gods!! So much metallic faith was laying in the balance! I'm I crazy or just crazy about my metal. With Hard Cider came Hard Courage! I broke the holy seal of plastic wrap, the sky darken, my knees shook with fear and excitment. My hand shook as it placed the holy disc into the CD player. Could Sough Feg make three godly albums in a row (four if you count the blessed Hammers of Misfortune)?? Or would I be crushed under my own religion?? Fear swam thoughout my body!!

The riffs issued forth into my ears, my mind, and my soul! The gods are great and the gods are back!!! Every riff and sound reeked of....SLOUGH FEG!! YES!!! ODIN BE PRAISED or should I say MIKE be praised the CD lives up the Slough Feg mythos. My gods did not crumble!! The Church of Slough is in session.

Now I must find a way to explain the divine with human thoughts and words.

Hmmmm....

Uhhhhhhh...

Can't type while I headbang....

ARGGGGGHHHHHHH.......

Slough feg has always been heavy but the drum production on this CD is unreal....it gives SF a whole new aggression. From the starting track to the ending one my ears are just pinned to my balls. Even though this album is 100% Slough Feg. I was still surprised by some curve balls in the riffs and song structures in songs such as "Professor's Theme" and "The Final Gambit". Even Mike vocals have improved....he has a more meodic quality about him. I hate ballads but I love " Baltech's Lament" it is so heavy for a ballad Can't help but to ramble and spit up the flashes of understanding when it comes to reviewing this CD....i can't put the emotions it creates into words. My body is too busy asborbing the power to think.

WOW....if me being short on words isn't enough to explain how great of a CD this is then nothing can!

DROOL....

Rating: 69

SPEEED
"Powertrip Pigs"
Massacre

MEMBERS:
Aaron Randell (vocals), Jack Frost (guitar),
Ray Hartman (drums), Bernie Altmann (bass)

Rating: 37

STORMHAMMZZZZZZZZZZ

STORMHAMMER
"COLD DESERT MOON"

Band:
Who Cares!!!

Super Generic Name, Super Generic Cover Art, Super Generic Power Metal & Super Generic Keyboards!! Makes me wonder who got a blowjob at Century Media to put this album out! Makes Power Metal Look Bad!! Makes HammerFall look Orginial!!

Rating:21

Symphony X
"The Damnation Game"
CNR Music

MEMBERS:
Michael Romeo (guitar), Russsal Allen (vocals), Thomas MIller (bass), Michael Pinnella (keys), Jason Rullo (drums)

Rating: 19

Better Unseen then Unheard!

Will 'O' Wisp
Unseen

Band:
Ermanno Argenti (Vocals)
Fabrizo Colussi (Bass)
Paolo Puppo (guitar)
Loredana Canepa (Keyboards)
Giancarlo Pancrazi (drums)

Will o wisp is an Italian band that crosses different genres to create their desired atmosphere. They use Gothic metal with female voices, Pink Floyd metal and even some Black and Doom metal elements. Even though the whole Pink Floyd metal thing puts me to sleep these guys mix things up enough and throw in some really bizarre sounding riffs or scales that make stay awake. Over all I would say I enjoy these guys more then Anathema and their clones. There are times when Will O Wisp sound like what I think Tiamat would have sounded like after Wildhoney, if they would have went with a darker sound instead of the pop sound they did.
And I have to say that I’m glad to add them to the short list of Italian bands (with Power Symphony, White Skull and ElvenKing) that can make music with out ripping off Helloween, Dio, and Rhapsody!

Rating: 42

BELARUS METAL CRUSADERS

Vicious Crusade
The Unbroken
Metal Records
59:10

MEMBERS:

Dmitry Basik (guitars, vocals)
Alex Vertel (guitars)
Alex Gladysh (drums)
Pavel Reunov (bass)
Alena Gornyh (vocals)

Growing up in the USA during the 70's and 80's I was programmed to hate the evil IRON CURTAIN know as Russia.(Just like they were told that we were evil! ) During the 90's I forgot they existed. During 2002 VICIOUS CRUSADE put them back on my radar and taught me that Belarus and Russia are two different things plus now they have me thinking perhaps it was a HEAVY METAL CURTAIN and not an iron one. VICIOUS CRUADE are an interesting band they can be heavy as hell, melodic as hell the next but they always seem to be catchy as hell regardless. They have both harsh male vocals and beautiful female vocals, but unlike a lot of bands they use the female vocals not only for singing lyrics but they use it as almost an extra instrument for carrying the harmonies. There are times when Alena Gornyh uses her voice to carry the songs harmony while the band is silent and the brilliant Dmitry Basik growls his part. Vocally imagine the magic THERION had on the song “Beauty In Black” and now picture a whole CD like it.
Musically VICIOUS CRUSADE has their own signature sound, that can’t be compared to anyone that I have found yet! The can me straight ahead metal or play a riff you would swear was written by the late Chuck Schuldiner or give a song an eastern feel.. (Must name drop to describe the indescribable! Think Therion, Dark Traquillity and Nightwish all rolled up into one!)
With songs like “Masquerade of Piety”, “The Unbroken”, “The Land of Lakes” “Who are these Men” and “Theodore’s Song” the CD the Unbroken has it all folk, death, NWOBHM, Opera, Theatre, Harmonies, Melodies and yet so HEAVY METAL that it almost brings tears to my eyes! (IT ALMOST DID! It is that good!)
In short with meaningful lyrics this is easily one of the best METAL CD’s ever in my book!! If I had to pick one CD to sum up everything I love in metal, piss on NUMBER OF THE BEAST, THEM, DREAMING NEON BLACK or IRRATIONIAL ANTHEMS, I would pick THE UNBROKEN. ( at least for this month! )

Rating: 69

BELARUS METAL CRUSADERS part 2

Vicious Crusade
Messiah..isn't it me?/Faces of Vice
Metal Records

MEMBERS:

The EP “Messiah…Isn’t it me?” is a tease for their new upcoming CD, but it also includes the mini-album from 97 “Faces of Vice” which I guess was their demo. Firstly all the songs on second half of the CD are the “Faces Of Vice” CD they are just earlier versions of songs on “The Unbroken” so no real surprises, just some different arrangements that are kind of cool. You can see why Metal Records grabbed these guys when they could. The first half of the CD is the new stuff that will be appearing on “The Forbidden Tunes”. The first song is the GODLY “Messiah…isn’t it me?” as awesome as all the songs on “The Unbroken” were I would have to say this is the flagship song of VICIOUS CRUSADE. It has everything dueling vocals, catchy harmonic riffing, pounding drums and hypnotic violins! It is a true work of art, plus it happens to be metal, which makes it even better! Next comes “Dancing on the ledge” with a name like that I wasn’t sure what to expect cause it isn’t you typical VC song title. It is a catchy musical song that kind of surprised me cause it was more lovey dovey then what I had come to worship from VC based on “The Unbroken” a very enjoyable song just doesn’t have that VC aggressive bite plus a trumpet in metal?? Now that takes BALLS! To bad GWAR beat them on that one with “Saddam A Go Go” The Pace once again picks up with “Divine Contract” fast paced riffs and fast and timely place violin attacks and what’s is that a trumpet again…cool. Very good song and a fast paced violin solo (a la Skyclad) make this a cool as hell. The last of the new tracks is “Capriccio in g-moll per violino ed basso guitarra” is a three and a half minute instrumental jam fest comes off as half folk and half classic but all in your face! POW! Very cool.

Rating: 60

BELARUS METAL CRUSADERS part 3

Vicious Crusade
Forbidden Tunes
Metal Records

MEMBERS:

After the “The Unbroken” I had high hopes for “Forbidden Tunes” but how can any band beat GODLY? Well Based on what I had seen on the EP I had high hopes that Vicious Crusade could beat themselves at their own game!

First song “Forbidden Tunes” has the same magic, same vibe and same result catchy metal and the VC mythos remains untainted!

“Lost Generation” is when I noticed abit of experimentation going on….it is still very much VC but kind of has a pop sound kind of like PYOGENESIS had before they completely went to crap. Sound kind of familiar but can’t place it. Still a cool listen….cause you can never tell what the hell VC is going to next. Just when metal experience tells you there is a guitar or violin solo next they shock you with something else.

ACK!! “Get Stripped” is either made to get some play in disco’s or is the missing track for Nuclear Blast’s Tribute to ABBA! Half techno, half ABBA…. not sure what to make of it… Bored? Experimentation? Only time will tell!

HOORAY “Hurt” starts out with the typical VC feel, even though it is a very good track it seems to lack the aggressiveness that I have come to expect.

“Requiem to innocence” is by far the mellowest VC song that I know of, even having the Tinker bell sound in it! Then they have a small rapping part? CRY!!!

The VC flagship song “Messiah…Isn’t it me?” quickly erases the bad taste in my mouth from “Get Stripped” and “Requiem to Innocence” God I love this song! Once again Dmitry growls his way to the darkness with Alena as his co-pilot. No one uses breaks in the music to more effect then VC in my opinion.

“Let it burn” once again returns my faith in VC. It a catchy as hell tune in the vocal duet fashion kind of like “Land Of Lakes” from the first cd.

“Dancing on the Ledge” is cool but in my opinion should have been left on the mini-album and replaced with the better “Divine Contract”

With a name like “Vogue” I expected the same failure as with “Get Stripped”! But in this case VC manage to pull off a cool and aggressive song that fits into the VC mold perfectly, even with DJ record scratches. Kind of comes off as a RAMMENSTEIN vibe, put since I like this song and don’t like them it could be a bad comparison.

“Breathe Of Life” like “Get Stripped” loses me, they are the only two VC songs that I hit fast forward on….this one sounding like a peppy country song. But be warned even though I don’t like this song…I have heard it bouncing thru my head at school, all VC songs are that catchy!

VC turns the reins over to ALENA in “Stigmata” and lets her stretch her vocal cords…between her and the band pure atmosphere is created. I’m mesmerized…too bad the song is so short for the mood they created.

Ok, here comes the hard part. Rating this CD. Since the last CD went off the charts and really changed my mind as to what metal bands can get away with. Firstly this CD is only half as good as “The Unbroken” but that still ends up being a good CD.

“Forbidden Tunes”, “Lost Generation”, “Hurt”, Messiah…isn’t it me” “Let it Burn” and “Vogue” are brilliant.

“Stigmata” is a mood creating pleasure.

“Get Stripped”,“Breath of Life” and “Requiem to Innocence” and “Dancing on the Ledge” …yes they are catchy but they smell of either label pressure to be COOLER or that the main force in the band has fallen badly in love and has kind of wimped out because of it. All three songs are brave experimentations but none really have the VC vibe to me like “Vogue” reeks of. I hope these songs are just experimentations and not the poison that kills what I think is to be one of the most groundbreaking metal bands that I have come across in recent history. No one sounds like VC! They are a truly unique beast that I hope with their dabbling on this cd will make their signature sound even more powerful and not forgotten with experiments!

Rating: 50

Horror Metal!?

Vyndykator
Heaven Sent From Hell

Band:
Bob Mitchell (Vocals)
Steve Ratchen (Bass)
Rob Oriani (guitar)
Bill Peña (guitar)
John Caton (drums)

Death metal and Black Metal have the imagery to be scary but even when the music is eerie and creepy the vocals always seem to screw up the sense of impeding dread and doom.
Isn’t impeding dread a major part of horror? Before super duper special effects, movies made us scared by NOT showing every monster in their full glory, our imagination filled in the blanks and that was what made us piss ourselves. Impeding Dread is exactly what Vyndykator music conveys to me! (Then again trying to spell their name gives me the same sense of impeding dread too!)
This cd is one hell of a mind fuck. Bob Mitchell’s vocals make you really wonder if he should be locked up and the key eaten! The music is half doom and half anger! I didn’t know whether to hide under my bed and pee my pants or go grab my axe and go find a crack head to hack up! Isn’t that the same effect King Diamond has been trying to get from us for years and years but yet rarely seems to do it?? But these wackos did it on the first try! Now that is scary! Like a wise man once said! "Nuff Said!"

Rating: 60

IMMORTAL REALMS

ZANDELLE
"TWILIGHT ON HUMANITY"

Band:
Anthony Maglio - Guitars,
T.W. Durfy - Guitars,
George Tsalikis - Vocals,
Bob Delmini - Drums,

Being a big fan of Zandelle from the "Shadows Of Reality" days (even though the band website ignores the older stuff) I always thought Zandelle's secret was keeping metal simple and very catchy, so when I heard samples of the more complex and mature songs on "Twlight on Humanity" and just not getting into the new songs as much live. I was worried that Zandelles debut on Limb Music Records might end up in discount bins all over the web! But lucky for them, they let me down and put out hell of an album! Songs like "Warlords of Steel", "The Champion" and "Immortal Realms" make the album worth the 15 bucks I had to fork over for it. But the twelve minute epic "Twilight on Humanity" makes it worth another 10-15 bucks! I usally get bored with songs over 7-8 minutes but "Twilight" mixes things up enough to not only keep my attention but I usually sing along with it. Sure the song "Eternal love" usually makes me long for classics like "BRINGER OF DOOM" (one of the best songs in metaldom!) & "Flight of the Dragon" but its doesnt hurt the album that much, neither does the fact that George vocals somethimes seem to fade into the background at times.

Zandelle has taken the finesse of European Power metal and combined it with the aggressiveness of US Power metal to make hell of an album. What other band do you know that sings about Sirens, Centuars, Dryads, Nymphs, Fauns, and Satyrs? Most power metal bands like the MONSTER MANUAL but Zandelle has the damn thing memorized!!! Now thats Fantasy Power Metal!!

Rating:62

Bonedust Demo.

Bonedust

MEMBERS:

Local Metal....for some it means nothing, for others it is the only way to see a concert. Luckly for me I live near the metal kingdom of the USA (Cleveland, Ohio) So when I got the BoneDust demo I didn't have to live in fear of it being a Korn or Mallcore clone band. Maybe live in fear of it being a Hardcore band, but usually local bands follow the traditional metal roots and Bonedust seems to be no exception. Musically they seem to prefer the Morbid Angel path with a bit of musical tid bits from hardcore and grindcore. I don't mind death metal, but I like to be able to understand the vocals at least half the time. Unfortunatly I can't make out heads or tails of the vocalist's grunts,screams and mumbling. I'm sure the production doesn't help his cause, but I could only understand like 6 words on the whole demo. Plus the Phil Anselmo mumbling is annoying at times. Over all it is a very listenable CD (the music carries it) and at times makes me miss my Altars of Madness CD. It almost seems as if the MUSIC wants to be metal and the VOCALS want to be rich and famous.

Rating: 30