tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70774138942509133372024-03-13T15:00:51.750+00:00chesyrockreviews.com (GO TO WWW.NEEDLE-IN-THE-GROOVE.COM)The site is moving. Please redirect to
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Rock Reviews - Classic. AOR. Prog. Metal.
Album Reviews - Interviews - Live Reviews
A blog dedicated to followers of Rock music.
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Now on Facebook! 'Chesyrockreviews'aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.comBlogger439125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-33396363168343626642023-12-30T19:16:00.001+00:002023-12-31T10:27:17.489+00:00Top 10 Albums of 2023 (and a few extra)<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV1LBzkku6O0SjiDVy7lv95L1kfsAm8N02IXAqTxiWm71RrR-4WqNsKGNTO2dFRrOELtICbuduM7dhHmxMm0xSUoCZs08N5N-VTA64W9UR5OugZLHJutFZF4LpZdnN1lKkZYsyyC922LJ79DLVv5SsnE3RoQdNMgxrpGzkpBmoaR8xB5-_6_-BZ5sBHYg/s1018/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%2018.07.37.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="1018" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV1LBzkku6O0SjiDVy7lv95L1kfsAm8N02IXAqTxiWm71RrR-4WqNsKGNTO2dFRrOELtICbuduM7dhHmxMm0xSUoCZs08N5N-VTA64W9UR5OugZLHJutFZF4LpZdnN1lKkZYsyyC922LJ79DLVv5SsnE3RoQdNMgxrpGzkpBmoaR8xB5-_6_-BZ5sBHYg/s320/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%2018.07.37.png" width="320" /></a></div>Well dear reader its that time of year again. I appreciate the number of visits to this site that you made (well over half a million now). It’s much appreciated for a one man band of a site. It’s been a bit of a restricted year, with not many albums reviewed at all, so the Top 10 in this list are all albums I have purchased in 2023 and all come highly recommended.<p></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C5pi5mRzkwAAFPxuGJr2WNJfhpRIZE4H5PFmYsbBlSRzV0RenCV-vChl0O9CXshaauAn68sVujZ2_pFHgoAPnB32kH5XpDWfj7ujWofb4b17szDOsmNFvCrAhGwXZSiXsc_Qlm5lx1YTcnsrDQMGqBA8cCnPiQEs6tDmVnCisR9-soOEC-kv56AtTP99/s2500/5D6F8700-3EC7-4260-972F-D9D82367287D.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="2500" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C5pi5mRzkwAAFPxuGJr2WNJfhpRIZE4H5PFmYsbBlSRzV0RenCV-vChl0O9CXshaauAn68sVujZ2_pFHgoAPnB32kH5XpDWfj7ujWofb4b17szDOsmNFvCrAhGwXZSiXsc_Qlm5lx1YTcnsrDQMGqBA8cCnPiQEs6tDmVnCisR9-soOEC-kv56AtTP99/w177-h177/5D6F8700-3EC7-4260-972F-D9D82367287D.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">1. Rival Sons - Darkfighter/Lightbringer</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Darkfighter just shaded it for me out of the 2 offerings in 2023. Rival Sons has seen each album getting better than the last. I’m not 100% sure that Darkfighter is better than Feral Roots (yet), but I would have also preferred this to be a double album. To quote the Fuzzlord, Darkfighter is ‘cinematic’ which is a perfect description, and Lightbringer ‘watching the same film’. I have been watching these guys since 2011 and few bands can match them. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Hot Track - Nobody Wants To Die / Mosaic</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAoqB_oRRHa2mz6EzacUEONnxKQEVTD7QJCAofgp5GQ_Coo0T_8DCCaSQobEL8JJ3R8rSLokMz61Udmr2MCRPdYQai6wmkFQvxqVIco2gRFf-Ucazz9Z0Wlj41p73i9GV15UlzAcIM3hQI5_LIu3FoBJL8LvCgy9w8a0Sti4Vl4MRuNSP3XP_mc6n4Id/s750/6BA1C0DD-8D91-444F-BDBD-6455D67012D9.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAoqB_oRRHa2mz6EzacUEONnxKQEVTD7QJCAofgp5GQ_Coo0T_8DCCaSQobEL8JJ3R8rSLokMz61Udmr2MCRPdYQai6wmkFQvxqVIco2gRFf-Ucazz9Z0Wlj41p73i9GV15UlzAcIM3hQI5_LIu3FoBJL8LvCgy9w8a0Sti4Vl4MRuNSP3XP_mc6n4Id/w177-h177/6BA1C0DD-8D91-444F-BDBD-6455D67012D9.jpeg" width="177" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>2. Romeos Daughter - Slipstream</b></span><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Romeos Daughters first release in 8 years since Spin makes Guns ’n' Roses look prolific in their output. But….give me time over prolific any day of the week. You see, RD have never made a duff album and with Craig Joiner pulling the strings together with Leigh Matty's sultry and velvety vocals enveloping you like a warm blanket - it (Slipstream) really is Heaven In the Back Seat</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Hot Track - Over You</span></b> </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAHRzSPPpLNI2HsknBwZDQ3SerWFStNQ49DcBSWnmcRbG5mxls0gfgU5_on0XluLXsKye0faIEqoTFoTuWCiommdFhXT1eJupemX2uru7aLQKxl-93Vh9vanevY6l2Lk4MnZaFt21aF7aRVbroG1rdeyFRfRqyFaIfhMAUmaKWzXUCr02EtuO_48rSclA/s700/7C682D47-7143-46EA-8162-51EC9DCD19CF.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="700" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAHRzSPPpLNI2HsknBwZDQ3SerWFStNQ49DcBSWnmcRbG5mxls0gfgU5_on0XluLXsKye0faIEqoTFoTuWCiommdFhXT1eJupemX2uru7aLQKxl-93Vh9vanevY6l2Lk4MnZaFt21aF7aRVbroG1rdeyFRfRqyFaIfhMAUmaKWzXUCr02EtuO_48rSclA/w177-h159/7C682D47-7143-46EA-8162-51EC9DCD19CF.jpeg" width="177" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br />3. Dirty Honey - Cant Find The Brakes</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Dirty Honey have been conquering the UK and Europe for the last two years. Similar to Rival Sons, Alter Bridge and now Dirty Honey, these bands are more appreciated on this side of the pond than their homeland. Their sophomore album carries on where the EP and debut album left off. In Mark LaBelle and John Notto they have one of the best rock pairings since Jon Bon and Ritchie</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>Hot Track - Won’t Take Me Alive</b></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM5P-tly_cJQdDSKiRNXh0ugixcpjjcs3MXvO2mUBYo8OJeAyGRCTHIU-QvmU_GkbV09CDZrIKVTnF4r4b-1XhOr_NCvzOhid1c-0bbq5CaSciPvQh7gUICEsf5Qfh7n3_8KEvlX59L1E78QaoX-53M340_cMqlnj4Z_haX1t6l5MymdkvhyphenhyphenorTLnpFtC/s1280/CF804769-F2D3-40A3-B0FE-E87AE8C2D03D.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM5P-tly_cJQdDSKiRNXh0ugixcpjjcs3MXvO2mUBYo8OJeAyGRCTHIU-QvmU_GkbV09CDZrIKVTnF4r4b-1XhOr_NCvzOhid1c-0bbq5CaSciPvQh7gUICEsf5Qfh7n3_8KEvlX59L1E78QaoX-53M340_cMqlnj4Z_haX1t6l5MymdkvhyphenhyphenorTLnpFtC/w266-h266/CF804769-F2D3-40A3-B0FE-E87AE8C2D03D.jpeg" width="266" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br />4. Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Whilst SWs ‘The Future Bites’ didn’t light much of a fire for me personally, its what makes Steven Wilson one of music’s great artists. He doesn’t stand still. All albums sound different, he is always pushing the envelope and rightly so. Just when you think you have the measure of him, he releases something completely different. Impossible Tightrope sounds like it’s from a 70s soundtrack to a Dirty Harry movie and then just adds more sublime layers - a choir, true prog rhythms, and seagulls. Yes, seagulls. Its 10 mins of pure unadulterated joy. Its YYZ for the twenties.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Hot Track - Impossible Tightrope </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQ3h98Dw5SRVLrrxN7kJgxRV3Q3Ptc8TCnF1iiPtu3fs2CPHg_snjTQkxc6qdomd0Mfv2qpmZRm3RBYY0Vv0ZSYfcKTVBUgtP6vEX0ut2_YsymBty_az_Ueg5kkh2ngTRDEEQ-rukSh5em2NfstWnYVTU4NSmTCjMGXQXKQ3DjLxY2wnnTpFa5YM4QEPP/s1000/A83AE8EF-774B-4151-B3EF-D200AAA5021A.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQ3h98Dw5SRVLrrxN7kJgxRV3Q3Ptc8TCnF1iiPtu3fs2CPHg_snjTQkxc6qdomd0Mfv2qpmZRm3RBYY0Vv0ZSYfcKTVBUgtP6vEX0ut2_YsymBty_az_Ueg5kkh2ngTRDEEQ-rukSh5em2NfstWnYVTU4NSmTCjMGXQXKQ3DjLxY2wnnTpFa5YM4QEPP/w164-h164/A83AE8EF-774B-4151-B3EF-D200AAA5021A.jpeg" width="164" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br />5. Chris Stapleton - Higher</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Higher is CS’s fifth album, and bugger me its a great one. He started off in a rock band and did what is now known as a Michael Bolton, switching sides and became a songwriter and then performer. His top 5 songs on Spotify have a total (as of time of writing) of 1.8 Billion listens. No wonder his UK tour next year sold out quicker than….well, Chris Stapleton tour tickets</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Hot Track - White Horse</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdoSDW5g7QafU6b5LH4IEqxgByDrQwFzvpEiI_fBrbWRYlVlT3lIFyomaNB4XskKJz25cictwlQB1Yq-Zbh6181kQkWC_zKAUIOBmCFxzly_FsEJmEy_vEIi1QH_eWP9fHhL3vcrou_WGZj7U49PoDJ4uQN7cT_C0ZmOtED4KWYuL1ggVPUlOQo3AaOO3/s1200/E0CDC524-1152-4F42-A376-64565C07AED9.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdoSDW5g7QafU6b5LH4IEqxgByDrQwFzvpEiI_fBrbWRYlVlT3lIFyomaNB4XskKJz25cictwlQB1Yq-Zbh6181kQkWC_zKAUIOBmCFxzly_FsEJmEy_vEIi1QH_eWP9fHhL3vcrou_WGZj7U49PoDJ4uQN7cT_C0ZmOtED4KWYuL1ggVPUlOQo3AaOO3/w164-h164/E0CDC524-1152-4F42-A376-64565C07AED9.jpeg" width="164" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br />6. Crown Lands - Fearless</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Got a Rush sized hole in your life? Look no further than fellow Canadians, Crown Lands. Only in this instance they are only two. Drummer Bowles has a range every bit as high as Geddy Lee, and in Comeau multi talented doesn’t do the guy enough justice. Starlifter:Fearless Pt.II has its roots firmly planted in Hemispheres and 2112.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Hot Track - Starlifter:Fearless Pt II</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9Fjy4GuVPCx_HYgF8GXpBb2mIOyFfljr_XuvmNfhJVElLMI9Mbbkh9XjY_u3SGro4aWHu7ZuDxPYAEzTN_ec82NNu5QzIEjVhcU40ZE3npEu7UWzqnzBIXyXtoHSGcbVMI97deCzunbdkcszhuA-W-4KwFj3v-H80j_gGMT1JVR4BP8Molbux44aX2i_/s1280/40901F76-4002-411A-A182-41E7ABB47FFA.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9Fjy4GuVPCx_HYgF8GXpBb2mIOyFfljr_XuvmNfhJVElLMI9Mbbkh9XjY_u3SGro4aWHu7ZuDxPYAEzTN_ec82NNu5QzIEjVhcU40ZE3npEu7UWzqnzBIXyXtoHSGcbVMI97deCzunbdkcszhuA-W-4KwFj3v-H80j_gGMT1JVR4BP8Molbux44aX2i_/w237-h237/40901F76-4002-411A-A182-41E7ABB47FFA.jpeg" width="237" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br />7. WVH - Mammoth II</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As talented as Comeau is, Wolfgang Van Halen takes it up a notch. The Van Halen name means that he will always be compared to his dad. With Mammoth II WVH has levelled any such comparison. II is more accomplished than the debut and shows he isn’t a flash in the pan and living off the name. He has even inherited the knack of making a stand out video to accompany his songs in a time when bands aren’t doing this anymore. Check out the 8minute ‘Another Celebration At The End of The World’. If this doesn’t bring a smile to your face, nothing will.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Hot Track - Another Celebration At The End Of The World</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q75-95ywkkxGuXgm7BpFRknioDf9T191PsA85dJS1XR3jvBnHvbotd4S1JDtP2vRljszleOr0d-ruLzYcGBFePEog9dDmscLIVb5eMUY3S6Hhr3Cm2ZhaxoRkGuCmnMuqieAEICB68GNziKsE445qfJNQpagpsMG7GdaHDV8umAifz_5X663qfcZ7zUx/s960/5FFDFCF1-7CBF-46D7-BA56-4D56FE4E4E14.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q75-95ywkkxGuXgm7BpFRknioDf9T191PsA85dJS1XR3jvBnHvbotd4S1JDtP2vRljszleOr0d-ruLzYcGBFePEog9dDmscLIVb5eMUY3S6Hhr3Cm2ZhaxoRkGuCmnMuqieAEICB68GNziKsE445qfJNQpagpsMG7GdaHDV8umAifz_5X663qfcZ7zUx/w181-h181/5FFDFCF1-7CBF-46D7-BA56-4D56FE4E4E14.jpeg" width="181" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br />8. Ayron Jones - Chronicles Of The Kid</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thanks to my mate in the US, Gene I might never have come across AJ. Only been a fan for 2 months and his 2020s output has blown me away. He really deserves to be massive, and not in an obese way. He is probably the best solo artist you have never heard of…yet after Steven Wilson. I think 2024 is going to change that. ’Chronicles….’ is peppered with great songs. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Hot Track - Blood In The Water</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RPrDsWoJtbqOXUKJvBk0hdoiYjx5ryPf_oBI_ZEBa7twNhqVsiCzk6W5f22qJ2EQt5Fa4UF_CZQVgK8G-B1finouvHdPyBPjh_isfQIMSdWcX7La-elb4RIn-U3nLngNgOj9mjb3TH-EjGulWjtq4TABfvJSynH18MnkloXXVOs9_YoYOzNoA3oED2U/s700/5B2B39B5-8DA2-4161-A352-322847159999.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RPrDsWoJtbqOXUKJvBk0hdoiYjx5ryPf_oBI_ZEBa7twNhqVsiCzk6W5f22qJ2EQt5Fa4UF_CZQVgK8G-B1finouvHdPyBPjh_isfQIMSdWcX7La-elb4RIn-U3nLngNgOj9mjb3TH-EjGulWjtq4TABfvJSynH18MnkloXXVOs9_YoYOzNoA3oED2U/w192-h192/5B2B39B5-8DA2-4161-A352-322847159999.jpeg" width="192" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br />9. Those Damn Crows - Inhale/ Exhale</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In late ’22 TDC supported Monster Truck. It was my first time seeing and hearing TDC and completely became a fan as they levelled The Ritz in Manchester. I/E is clearly their best album yet and are a band quickly going places. TDC dip into Alter Bridge territory with This Time Im ready, a song about the loss of Greenhalls father that resonates to everybody who has lost a loved one</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Hot Track - Takedown</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiKh8Ydy7N8yYeL-u8jKwbI2T6S08Uu0av29gb_G8tJRwhH1j6rTsaGp_LYS5HvexmjoqBp5D7vPes62tQtks6RVphAgLvf9qrLxawuVhZLNj1_2k44GQF6me-5buIuSXTCOUwaEpV7GFRDnghJtSPpgxTbMBkjzPXU0RDmVeNvSrelA8o0wy7Zr-Q2WZ/s1000/CC5EFB18-2492-4026-9CE4-F75BF09F9F75.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiKh8Ydy7N8yYeL-u8jKwbI2T6S08Uu0av29gb_G8tJRwhH1j6rTsaGp_LYS5HvexmjoqBp5D7vPes62tQtks6RVphAgLvf9qrLxawuVhZLNj1_2k44GQF6me-5buIuSXTCOUwaEpV7GFRDnghJtSPpgxTbMBkjzPXU0RDmVeNvSrelA8o0wy7Zr-Q2WZ/w155-h155/CC5EFB18-2492-4026-9CE4-F75BF09F9F75.jpeg" width="155" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><br />10. The Answer - Sundowners</span></b><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I saw The Answer early on in their career supporting Alter Bridge and they blew me away. They petered away with a flicker, but returned seven years later with all guns blazing. Neeson is one rocks finest vocalists. They deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Rival Sons, just give it time and they will hopefully</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Hot Track - California Rust</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">A few more lists....</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Best Gig(s)</span></b> - Overland Kirkpatrick, Romeos Daughter, The Sheepdogs, Marcus King, Larkin Poe, Dirty Honey</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Best Support Band</span></b> - Those Damn Crows, Ida Mae, The Sheepdogs, The Damn Truth </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Best Reissue/Box Set</span></b> - Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Top 5 AOR</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1.Romeos Daughter - Slipstream</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">2.Nitrate - Feel The Heat</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3.Steve Overland - Six</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">4.Streetlight - Ignition</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">5.The Defiants - Drive</p><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-54922984527744517462023-02-22T18:20:00.002+00:002023-02-22T18:20:43.534+00:00Steel Panther - 'On The Prowl' Album Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTusiLkWj5nVJBybmgB7egWnofy3GOt08V8-9QMQPLWcojGiUHtOK8McSeea9qT5g8tleAr3dAFEYM5yR4-85JNjBrNjWYOByZack5cXdcRlgps5-QasUNyrWKLoO8yUiEvMBFMBb119lLsaZEHIWBUcsTJxuCNCn_0j82RapcTdwfrs94yX4I2sipw/s425/576166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTusiLkWj5nVJBybmgB7egWnofy3GOt08V8-9QMQPLWcojGiUHtOK8McSeea9qT5g8tleAr3dAFEYM5yR4-85JNjBrNjWYOByZack5cXdcRlgps5-QasUNyrWKLoO8yUiEvMBFMBb119lLsaZEHIWBUcsTJxuCNCn_0j82RapcTdwfrs94yX4I2sipw/s320/576166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">Steel Panther - On The Prowl</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(4, 255, 0);">By Paul Chesworth</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Amongst the rock fraternity, no one divides the rock fans more than Steel Panther. Oh, and Nickleback. Although one website who clearly know fuck all about rock and metal have named Sabbaths Heaven and Hell as an example.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">There are some people out there who think that Steel Panther are a parody band and shouldn’t exist. These people are WRONG! The other half, like me, think that Steel Panther are coming up with some of the best riffs and songs this side of Tony Iommi’s moustache. Dont get me wrong, these guys can do comedy, and take it to another level, but my learned friend, I would also like to submit Exhibit A (Tomorrow Night), Exhibit B (Gloryhole), Exhibit C (Gold Digging Whore) and my latest Exhibit, Exhibit D, the new (Friends With Benefits) as songs that are just as good, if not better than a lot of glam/sleaze/hair metal bands produced in the heyday of the 80s and early 90s. Parody my arse!</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I wasn’t overly enamoured with the last two albums ‘Heavy Metal Rules’, and ‘Lower The Bar’. Thankfully the guys have used lockdown as the perfect opportunity to get their act in order and snorted their weight in nose candy and have come back in glorious style with ‘On The Prowl’. Apparently they all worked from home, and it has paid dividends. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">The nucleus is still there - Michael Starr, Stix Zadinia, and Satchel. If you have been living in a case for the last few years, Lexxi has gone, and after a porno version of American Idol and a few temporary solutions, the guys announced Spyder into the fold in September 2022.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">In today's cancel culture where you tread on eggshells on what you can say without offending anyone, Steel Panther come right out of the blocks and set their stall with ‘Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight). In an uncertain World its good to know that some things stay the same. ‘Friends With Benefits’ is the first cut above track. It has LAs Sunset Strip threaded through it like a stick of rock with Satchel delving deep into his bag of 80s riffs. They go mushy with the social media ballad ‘On Your Instagram’, ‘why can’t you look like you do on your Instagram’ telling you everything you need to know in a simple rhyme about todays state of affairs. ‘1987’ is another stand out track with Starr proclaiming ‘Coverdale banging Tawny Kitaen and the World just felt alright’, and ‘the music scene will never be the same, but I didn’t realise that things would get this lame’. Its one of the best songs they have ever written. Thankfully we have Steel Panther on a one man (band) mission to rectify all that was great about the 80s and then some.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">If you think that the song titles are a bit ‘normal’, they revert to type (Yay!) with Dweezil Zappa sining up to shred on ‘Is My D**k Enough’, and the wonderfully titled ‘Magical Vagina’, I’d like to know what a magical vagina does? Card tricks? Levitation? Pull a tiger out? </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">’Pornstar’ is a song that only Steel Panther could write, AND get away with. ‘If Harvey Weinstein was still free he wouldn’t care if you resisted’. Oof! ‘Aint For Dead’ is a biographical song about getting old and lamenting about times past, but they still have a part to play, and party.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">‘On The Prowl’ is an album that gets Steel Panther back on track after the last couple of ‘Panther by Numbers’ albums. Theres nowt wrong with music by numbers, but its back on a par with early Steel Panther music when they were on fire (and I’m not talking about Michael Starrs chlamydia!!)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">If you love Steel Panther then this is everything you want from a new SP album. If you are a naysayer then there’s nothing here for you whatsoever, and I don’t think the guys give a flying fuck either way. In an uncertain world, its good that some things never change. All hail Steel Panther.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">7/10</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Tracklisting - </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Friends With Benefits</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">On Your Instagram</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">1987</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Teleporter</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Is My Dick Enough (Featuring Dweezil Zappa)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Magical Vagina</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">All That And More</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">One Pump Chump</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Pornstar</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Ain’t Dead Yet</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Sleeping On The Rollaway</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Steel Panther</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Michael Starr - Vocals</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Satchel - Guitar</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Stix Zadinia - Drums</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Spyder - Bass</p><div><br /></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-50269518870273920402022-11-20T12:50:00.001+00:002022-11-20T12:50:26.023+00:00Live Review - Sweet Crisis with support from Electric Black at The Eagle Inn, Salford, Nov 19th 2022<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-size: x-small;"><b>Sweet Crisis with ~support from Electric Black, The Eagle Inn, Manchester, November 19th 2022</b></span></span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a bit of fun finding a parking space close to The Eagle. The reason? It shits in the shade of the mighty AO arena. It just so happened that there was a gig on tonight with N-Dubz providing the entertainment. I would like to think though that those in the know were descending upon The Eagle Inn to see what would be (as it turned out to be) one of my favourite gigs (and venue) of this year.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Where the AO has a capacity of 21,000, The Eagle Inn has just 80. The 30-40 that did show, got one hell of a gig to tell their friends about. I was already in the know as I got to hear both do a quick sound check and couldn’t wait for the gig to get underway</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOIZNxupDuPBpezIpDbdHtZhPlleYiuJ93G5U7yOyrndcVRabPYJBaO0sVx_d6VJ2WRIwzxeyMz4slHbhZu7UANCfvu3q-U4UKhcTBLSEn8xXcVsO1r_Iyslpi8X4uyEGVpK2h-pAIkmC73AjyiB5CCh5KFvgBy8rA0GCRC8yp3WxlhUhgVfl_NJqAA/s4080/PXL_20221119_204712428.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOIZNxupDuPBpezIpDbdHtZhPlleYiuJ93G5U7yOyrndcVRabPYJBaO0sVx_d6VJ2WRIwzxeyMz4slHbhZu7UANCfvu3q-U4UKhcTBLSEn8xXcVsO1r_Iyslpi8X4uyEGVpK2h-pAIkmC73AjyiB5CCh5KFvgBy8rA0GCRC8yp3WxlhUhgVfl_NJqAA/w182-h242/PXL_20221119_204712428.MP.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>Firstly we have <span style="color: #01ffff;">Electric Black</span>. Coming all the way from Hitchin for a 45 min set takes some doing, but these guys wouldn’t like it any other way. Opening with a working title of ‘Led Hendrix’, it really was a song born from the annals and foundations of rock history, and in singer Ali they have a guy who can sing ANYTHING. This was highlighted on the excellent ‘Love Is A Light For The Lost’. Also Electric Black have their ‘go to killer moment’ with ‘Homecoming', a song that is their own ‘Heaven and Hell’ and ‘Holy Diver’ all rolled into one. Finishing up with ‘Not Afraid To Die’ it is the heaviest song on the album and absolutely is the cream on an already excellent set. Electric Black have been doing this for some time and was evident as they were as tight as a nut. From the mayhem of Animal influenced drummer Matt, and the playing in the pocket of bassist Ryan, to the superb Jonny on lead guitar, Electric Black are going places. If I’d have known they played my nearest venue last week I’d have been there. I am a week late, but the end result is now the same. Catch these guys if you can, as you will not be disappointed. I guarantee it.</span><p></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Onto headliners <span style="color: #01ffff;">Sweet Crisis</span>. I absolutely love it when you see or hear a band the first time and your breath is taken away. Just like EB, my moment was getting ho hear Sweet Crisis debut a few months back. It was a case of being better late than never, but I was blown away by their collection of songs on ‘Tricks Of My Mind’. The band is built on the friendship of singer Leo Robarts and guitarist Piers Mortimer, but more of that later. Opening with ‘Loosen Up’ the quality is immediately there for people to see. Leo is part Paul Rodgers, Glenn Hughes and Steve Marriott, and that is some amalgamation of talent right there, with his best mate at his side these guys are unstoppable. ‘Black Magic’ has some nice 3 part harmonies and is the first highlight of many. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGpAZ-tLA3pBFLwHysuRrQqXM9uIti08qVO0YStDHfRLt67rlPaOfBKflx7kc41PR_K6SnAStQ3HxtBUbh_sF8O7Kab8iJzhWSkrYNXxYOQV3sNoOQnJcHHD6SoN4tMUNOv3znjZoH9agf2Xe-1MQ2CyGuoXgYs1TTxdgFUIyJpmKpom7aK7WNvK7BQ/s4080/PXL_20221119_214536740.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGpAZ-tLA3pBFLwHysuRrQqXM9uIti08qVO0YStDHfRLt67rlPaOfBKflx7kc41PR_K6SnAStQ3HxtBUbh_sF8O7Kab8iJzhWSkrYNXxYOQV3sNoOQnJcHHD6SoN4tMUNOv3znjZoH9agf2Xe-1MQ2CyGuoXgYs1TTxdgFUIyJpmKpom7aK7WNvK7BQ/w299-h398/PXL_20221119_214536740.MP.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For ‘Love Me Like Sugar’ if B.B.King and Paul Rodgers (OK, bear with me) had a love child then ‘LMLS’ is the end result. ‘Aint Got Soul’ is one of my favourite songs from their album and hearing it live took it to another dimension, never mind new level. Theres a back story behind ‘I'll Be Creepin’. Leo was into Eminem and Jamiroquai when is dad gave him a copy of Free’s 'Fire and Water' when he was 14. (Yay for dads!) Right there a spark was ignited, which changed young Leo’s life and has never looked back. Leo isn’t keen on covers, but let’s face it, when you have a voice like he has, then it makes for one of the best covers you will hear of a Free classic. Hot of the press was a new song, ‘The Warning’ and it was smooth as fuck (insert better simile here____).</span></p><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This next song was my favourite of the whole set. Written when Leo and Piers were just 17, it proves that age is no barrier when writing songs. Leo becomes a baptist preacher, and its a quality of song that many a Southern Rock/Nashville band would crawl over their dead granny to get hold of. It was stunning live. ‘Dont Start Now’ was pure blues heaven, and was the shit. At the and of the song one bloke shouted “Fuck yes!” It shows that you can write a review in just two words. I couldn’t have put it better myself. ‘Living “Life On The Edge” had then jamming on a powerful groove and takes me back to the era of bands like Cream and Jefferson Airplane. SC finished strong with the title track ‘Tricks On My Mind’, and a powerful single from 2020 in ‘Rolling In It’. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s hard to vacate the stage for an encore when it is the size of a postage stamp, so they stayed put. Sweet Crisis will probably drop the covers as their song list gets bigger, but when you cover Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’ as well as they do, then its good to throw in a crowd pleaser for us old farts. The guys finished off with a song that got them started and recognised back in 2019, ‘Misty Haze’. I know it’s me repeating myself but this has blues and soul in abundance, and echoes Pink Floyd and Jeff Buckley. The guitar tone was beautiful. What a song to end a gig with. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx5fQnkNRwH2xXOxciruz1ERTl1L-lIgG9pgV3EXlS3L6ht7fGGX9UXCJcSDkRFR-LyvsefibDCgGvLbfMzRtou-iWsTSolc2EswWmPzSQ1lgC6V2NS5qapDAylrXu6u9XdEmHqiwPTAr9X8l9y1ec_XaRhUJ1GO55fjgRlsdE33yJaqdmxLYYxQcoA/s4080/PXL_20221119_220907442.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx5fQnkNRwH2xXOxciruz1ERTl1L-lIgG9pgV3EXlS3L6ht7fGGX9UXCJcSDkRFR-LyvsefibDCgGvLbfMzRtou-iWsTSolc2EswWmPzSQ1lgC6V2NS5qapDAylrXu6u9XdEmHqiwPTAr9X8l9y1ec_XaRhUJ1GO55fjgRlsdE33yJaqdmxLYYxQcoA/w203-h269/PXL_20221119_220907442.MP.jpg" width="203" /></a></span></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Theres a tendency for bands to play their whole album in the early days of their gigs. That may be the case here, but Sweet Crisis have a foundation of stunning songs already that will be a staple of their live gigs for years to come. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have witnessed some great fledgling bands this last 12 months since gigs have opened up again - Cardinal Black, The Karma Effect, and now Electric Black and Sweet Crisis. Add the likes of Scarlet Rebels and Florence Black into this mix and British rock music is in very safe hands indeed.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on tonights performances I hope that they both continue to record and gig as they both deserve to be heard by much bigger audiences than current. The numbers did not detract, in fact it enhanced it as it felt like a gig in your own living room. We can all say that when they do make it, we were there almost from the beginning. I can’t wait to see what Sweet Crisis (and Electric Black) do next.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sweet Crisis Set List -</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loosen Up </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One Way Traffic</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Black Magic</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Haunted</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Love Me Like Sugar</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ain’t Got Soul</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Great Big Steps</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This Guitar</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll Be Creepin’ </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Warning</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Treading In Deep Water</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Don’t Start Now</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Living Life On The Edge</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tricks On My Mind</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rolling In It</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In The Dark</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh Well</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Misty Haze</span></p><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-15377571388785374072022-11-13T12:22:00.000+00:002022-11-13T12:22:38.329+00:00Kira Mac - 'Chaos Is Calling' Album review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK-t97nRDBt5vkv8VdW77OWZgkI_pB0PwR14kl5Y89oQQIFqbxXxzvzAz1aOq129HXI-5WsyHERCRtqDZUzMcvSI3R41iZ-XRzBu9CAVTZWi6Q3BeRQz2mt6fMuqxp6EIzM-caGe1YBi0iOLs2s-dB9gC3p262_mFYIC7cvwKqaJ7u_YzcfV_-oFMGg/s800/766326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK-t97nRDBt5vkv8VdW77OWZgkI_pB0PwR14kl5Y89oQQIFqbxXxzvzAz1aOq129HXI-5WsyHERCRtqDZUzMcvSI3R41iZ-XRzBu9CAVTZWi6Q3BeRQz2mt6fMuqxp6EIzM-caGe1YBi0iOLs2s-dB9gC3p262_mFYIC7cvwKqaJ7u_YzcfV_-oFMGg/s320/766326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: inherit;">Kira Mac - Chaos Is Calling</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Review by Paul Chesworth</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every now and again YouTube throws me a bone to a band `I’ve not encountered before. OK, to give them credit, it does it quite often, but I have a short attention span. Im not a kid where it has to grab me by the bollox in the first 10 seconds, I’ll give it a listen at least until I get to a chorus.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t tell you what I was listening to in the first place, but Kira Mac appeared and it was an occasion whereby I my bollox were well and truly grabbed (so to speak). I will tell you why shortly.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Any who, Kira Mac are making little gains that seem to be gathering momentum - </span></p><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Steelhouse created a spot for them</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>BBC Radio 2 play</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Rock n Blues appearance</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>17k organic vires on YouTube in 6 months</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>25k streams on Spotify in 6 month</span></li><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Playlist on Planet Rock for all 4 singles</span></li>
</ul><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am 100% certain that all of this achievement will be well and truly eclipsed 6, or 12 months from today. I am that convinced, Ive put a reminder in my calendar to check out the stats!!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kira Mac are mainly based in and around the North of the UK. Vocalist and reason for the band name Kira Mack along with guitarist Alex Novakovic and bassist Bret Barnes all hailing from Manchester. Joe Worrall (guitar) is from Hull, and new drummer (and doesn’t appear on the album Max Rhead is from Newport. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Firstly Kira Mac is an unsigned band. This can be for a couple of reasons. Is it because labels won’t entertain anyone unless they have one million straws on Spotify, or is it because it is feasibly possible that an unsigned band can be profitable without the support of a label of any size. If one of my favourite bands (Dirty Honey) can do it, so can Kira Mac.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NgKDyOcjcV8" width="320" youtube-src-id="NgKDyOcjcV8"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right from the off you can tell that Kira Mac have been plying their trade for some time. I really have a soft spot for female vocalists - Leigh Matty, Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson, and the one I want to make particular reference to is one Dorothy Martin. 'One Way Ticket’ is Dorothy. I just wish everyone knew about Dorothy as they are bloody brilliant. So to compare Kira to Dorothy is very high praise indeed. Searing guitars? Check. Sumptuous chorus. Check. Instantly singable. Check. What a start! ‘Hit Me Again’ is in similar vein, and ‘Chaos Is Calling’ has a bone crunching riff that heavier bands whose band logos I can never read would crawl across broken glass for. It still has melody in spades. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/btGg-L0ORF8" width="320" youtube-src-id="btGg-L0ORF8"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Back For More’ (not that one) is a song that’s bluesier and still pushes the right buttons. You would swear that these guys are American. ‘Mississippi Swinging’ is without doubt joint best song on the album. With an opening line like ‘Mississippi swinging got a whiskey sipping honey on my left hand’ you know it's going to be a belter. It's a song whereby if you heard this in a pub, you’d stop drinking and start had banging. The other two highlights being ‘Hell Fire Holy Water’ and massive closer, ‘Dead Man Walking’. It's almost as if Kira Mac have a random song title generator. ‘HFHW’ will go gown a storm live as a singalong moment (I guarantee it), and ‘DMW’ is the song that started it for me. Its based on a massive chunky riff, Kira Macs vibrato vocal styling and tasty guitar solo. “Downfall’ ups the ‘heavy’ to 11 and ‘Never Going to Stay’ is the king to Downfalls yang. ‘Never…’ definitely has a Nashville country influence and is probably the most mainstream sounding song on the album</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wMUXIAXNCJE" width="320" youtube-src-id="wMUXIAXNCJE"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What Kira Mac have delivered is extraordinary. It is ten songs of pure quality, that after one listen will make you ride that rollercoaster and pay to take the ride again and again. Its not perfect, but it is 35 minutes of absolute enjoyment. I really think that Kira Mac deserve to be going places. The debut album is out at the ned of this week (18th November), and a UK tour follows hot on the heels, starting in Edinburgh two days later (20th November)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: inherit;"><b>9/10</b></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tracklisting - </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One Way Ticket</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hit Me Again</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chaos Is Calling</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Back For More</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine What Could’ve Been</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mississippi Swinging</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hell Fire Holy Water</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Downfall</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never Going To Stay</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dead Man Walking</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Album Line Up</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joe Worrall - Guitar</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alex Novakovic - Guitar</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bret Barnes - Bass</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cal Casey - Drums</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kira Mac - Vocals</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kiramacmusic/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.facebook.com/kiramacmusic/</span></a></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.kiramac.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.kiramac.com/</span></a></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/kiramacband"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/kiramacband</span></a></span></p><div><br /></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WqGlGluCt8oTjv578MVKCod8dNrsEKc94htBKYwtTrMcgey3sIt0XgvpiDx4Li3wboSeL7mJX-ZeCB_MqgATEwAzouufcbaGi-gKk1RfkYjB1EPBncbyp6O_I_LH42aw3hfYzoKqUTElA7fOOIcGv7mjGvmRiUI4Y_n4TbMyLnoZX4uufmUApfcjpw/s1731/499105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="800" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WqGlGluCt8oTjv578MVKCod8dNrsEKc94htBKYwtTrMcgey3sIt0XgvpiDx4Li3wboSeL7mJX-ZeCB_MqgATEwAzouufcbaGi-gKk1RfkYjB1EPBncbyp6O_I_LH42aw3hfYzoKqUTElA7fOOIcGv7mjGvmRiUI4Y_n4TbMyLnoZX4uufmUApfcjpw/w209-h453/499105.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-26838166670865303002022-06-18T10:41:00.002+01:002022-06-18T10:41:16.672+01:00Sweet Crisis - 'Tricks On My Mind' review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtq84BsTngIWxjOW4jBwYSwRfmuyh_Wx5GH9TTKVYFKj4gsQjqDijklB3_YDrE9Z9HxGWDA3kuC_jVShgWyUmnlDHwtCuRBAj8CWp509PGUje0iXWALBJyGz7_kAxZUaic_dBWJaWtbVKwyyzrM0OcVS0RBLbNoVDBIHWDuIyy9iYMJNWfYuLwunmZQ/s225/sweet%20crisis%20album%20cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtq84BsTngIWxjOW4jBwYSwRfmuyh_Wx5GH9TTKVYFKj4gsQjqDijklB3_YDrE9Z9HxGWDA3kuC_jVShgWyUmnlDHwtCuRBAj8CWp509PGUje0iXWALBJyGz7_kAxZUaic_dBWJaWtbVKwyyzrM0OcVS0RBLbNoVDBIHWDuIyy9iYMJNWfYuLwunmZQ/w282-h282/sweet%20crisis%20album%20cover.jpeg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Sweet Crisis - Tricks On My Mind</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I like a good natter with people, both online and in person, especially if said natter is about music. I was friended on instagram by a nice bloke who works with touring bands doing Merch and set up. He suggested I give Sweet Crisis a listen. They was weeks ago so I apologise for the delay. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The bumf that come with the link states that Sweet Crisis seek to balance all their inclinations and influences - like Free and Lenny Kravitz, nothing is off the table if music sounds right. Their key influences run through their debut album like a stick of Blackpool rock. There is everything from Fleetwood Mac to Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones to The Verve. Thats your appetites well and truly whetted then. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">For the lover of upbeat rock, there is the opener ‘Loosen Up', 'One Way Traffic', and 'Living Life On The Edge' (which has some cracking guitar playing courtesy of Piers Mortimer, and it is wonderfully trippy and exhilarating all in one song. The title track, 'Tricks On My Mind' is snappy and punchy and delivers in spades and reminds me a bit of Rival Sons</span></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qf_p3KkaVxE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Qf_p3KkaVxE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For blues rock aficionados there is a magnificent 'Love Me Like Sugar' (my fave track along with ‘Living…’; 'Misty Haze' (great name for a porn star), and is an equally great song; 'This Guitar', and 'Black Magic'. </p><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">Whilst it's not bluesy or rock, there is also the enticing and somewhat mesmerising ‘Ain’t Got Soul’, which I feel should be a darling of the airwaves on Radio 2 if it isn’t already. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As debuts go, 'Tricks On My Mind' is a little belter. In a saturated market where blues rock seems to be the go to music of choice, I think that Sweet Crisis have enough diversity, quality and wide ranging influence in their armoury to rise above the majority.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-0v3jSaDF1w" width="320" youtube-src-id="-0v3jSaDF1w"></iframe></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The best compliment I can give about Sweet Crisis and 'Tricks On My Mind' is that if these guys had a time machine, you could drop this album into most decades from the 1960s up until the present day and it would fit in neatly like peas in a pod.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">8/10</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tracks -</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Loosen Up</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One Way Traffic</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ain’t Got Soul</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This Guitar</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Karma Will Come</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tricks On My Mind</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Misty Haze</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Black Magic</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love Me Like Sugar</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Living On The Edge</p><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-26205794514302674142021-10-20T18:43:00.002+01:002021-10-20T18:43:56.744+01:00Plush - 'Plush' Album review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrz5Qr5_NTYtHiWzP4cKpTxYVbLiihHs_CZXy35MRrajV9lFXAHZPHKEIUJaxPjmfSq86CTACgvQyJ91ItL8ecvtInAEEdVBcdq8MGXDJ9bMJN8TJITo-S3rUb2BeG2LYZNIUedhf2Lp_/s425/Plush+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrz5Qr5_NTYtHiWzP4cKpTxYVbLiihHs_CZXy35MRrajV9lFXAHZPHKEIUJaxPjmfSq86CTACgvQyJ91ItL8ecvtInAEEdVBcdq8MGXDJ9bMJN8TJITo-S3rUb2BeG2LYZNIUedhf2Lp_/s320/Plush+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I first came across Moriah Formica (not that way you perv), a couple of few years back when she duetted on a Michael Sweet solo album, ‘One Sided War’. Back in 2016 I predicted great things for her even back then. I’ve kept a distant eye on her career and have been hotly anticipating this debut Plush album after seeing some of the covers they have been releasing. My appetite was completely whetted when they posted their ‘shit-hot’ version of Alter Bridge’s ‘Isolation’.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">‘Plush’ is composed of four talented women, under 21, whose accomplishments and talent eclipse their age. This female rock force is fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Moriah Formica. Drummer Brooke Colucci, guitarist Bella Perron and bassist Ashley Suppa round out the lineup.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I said hotly anticipating, I thought it would be a good debut, but I wasn’t expecting it to be THIS. FUCKING. GOOD. If anyone was thinking fluffy girly metal, then you couldn’t be more wrong. After stating recently that Nestor’s debut was one of the best I’ve heard in a long time, along comes Plush with an equally superb debut album. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">‘Opening with “Athena” Plus ready do set their stall out early. It has a really heavy, dirty riff from Bella Perron that Mark Tremonti would be proud of punches you like Bruce Lee only wearing an iron glove. Harmonies are a-plenty, and the rhythm of Brook Colucci and the pulsating bass of Ashley Suppa drive this on to stand head and shoulders in the pack. Throw in Moriah Formica’s stunning vocal range and it make for one sumptuous recipe. Think Ann Wilson or Kelly Clarkson singing for Alter bridge and you will get where I’m coming from. “Champion” “Found A Way” and “Hate” are more melodic, but still pack a hefty punch. Perron has a great guitar tone and Formica’s vocals are crystal clear. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5jx1cpNY6v0" width="320" youtube-src-id="5jx1cpNY6v0"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Sober” is a powerful anthem, moving from acoustic to electric and is an emotional ride digging into the lyrical content. “Better Off Alone” is a song where Formica is wearing her emotions on her sleeve, and if auto-biographic, has drawn on some life affirming decisions. Bella Perron earns her weight in salt with her guitar playing. “Sorry” is nicely paced, branding from stripped down to a strong phrasing of ‘Sorry’ for each line of its chorus. “Why Do I Even Try” uses Formica’s instrument (her voice) and interplays with Bella Perron guitar licks. The Princess of Pound (Colucci) and Suppa are up front and centre on the dynamic “Bring Me Down”. “Don’t Say That” is the true ballad on the album, and shows that Plush have a lot of strings to their bow. If this was the late 80s, Plush would be sitting on a Top 10 Billboard song, and playing arenas within weeks of its release. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Will To Win” matches ‘Athena’ for its heavy riff and these songs sit really well in Plush’s wheelhouse. All 4 are on top form here, and Formica’s vocals shine. This is a nice composition and Perron lays down some understated riffs. I just with she was given more slack to let rip with her talent. It’s only on Closing track “Walk Away” where she has anywhere near an extended solo. Moriah wails ’I’m gonna walk away, walk away from all the pain’ and you know she means it. At 13 songs and 50 minutes it flew by. There’s not a duff song on here and that is something else. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Plush have clearly done their homework. In Formica they have a singer songwriter that is a shining light in modern metal now, and hopefully for years to come. It easy to over sing when you have an instrument like Formica’s voice. She knows when to be subtle, when to let loose and when to emote. Add the undoubted quality to Colucci, Suppa and Perron, and its delicious. The four women complement each other perfectly to become Plush. They have avoided the pitfalls to be a ‘saccharine-coated-look-great-but-no-substance’ band and come out all guns blazing. If they are doing this now, then I cannot wait for what’s to come in the future. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">To write and perform an album that is so contemporary, mature, and with a wink to the past, with all band members at a (relatively) young age is remarkable. Ok maybe not remarkable as I’ve seen their videos leading up to this release so it shouldn’t be a total surprise. They have lived up to my expectations, and gone way beyond it. ‘Plush’ is a simply marvellous album. Look out boys, the girls are here to kick your asses!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I haven’t been this excited about a band since I found Rival Sons, Alter Bridge and Coheed And Cambria. Plush sit in great company</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">For fans of Alter Bridge, Shinedown, Red Sun Rising</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: georgia;"><b>Score - 9/10 </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: georgia;">Review by Paul Chesworth</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Plush are - </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Moriah Formica - Vocals & Guitar</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bella Perron - Guitar</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brooke Colucci - Drums</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ashley Suppa - Bass</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tracklisting - </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Athena</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Champion</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hate</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Found A Way</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I Don’t Care</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sober</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Better Off Alone</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sorry</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Why Do I Even Try</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bring Me Down </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don’t Say That</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Will Not Win</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Walk Away</span></p><p><br /></p>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-77161250203656522372021-10-03T12:57:00.000+01:002021-10-03T12:57:08.644+01:00Nestor - 'Kids In A Ghost Town' Album review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPfFyUFZDnnKoh9HW1xmYLSCdLJ4X0fkfcpzU2UFDpwUq6HtZMpeEmCdiCan2Yp2btVreHkwsplM9x2KhBA7pQVdYWXRQot-R_4cP0BLxchwCh3E9aKShY7AOw0dqwIvVq7Ub1TOD6_Ny/s480/Kids+In+A+Ghost+Town+Cover+Low+res-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPfFyUFZDnnKoh9HW1xmYLSCdLJ4X0fkfcpzU2UFDpwUq6HtZMpeEmCdiCan2Yp2btVreHkwsplM9x2KhBA7pQVdYWXRQot-R_4cP0BLxchwCh3E9aKShY7AOw0dqwIvVq7Ub1TOD6_Ny/s320/Kids+In+A+Ghost+Town+Cover+Low+res-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>NESTOR - KIDS IN A GHOST TOWN</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’ve been reviewing albums for almost 15 years now, and occasionally an album is sent to me that completely blows me away. Usually its from an unknown band or artist. In this instance the band is called Nestor. Its not just me who knows this fact, with three previously released singles this year and close to a million plays combined for the songs and music videos, the hype is enormous for the upcoming album ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ which is due to be released on the 22nd October.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I asked Nestor’s vocalist Tobias on the band name as I thought it might be taken from Greek mythology, “Exactly, the name comes from Greek mythology and refers to an elder, a wise old man and all that, but us in the band are all big Tintin fans so the name is taken from Captain Haddock’s butler in the comic books, his name is Nestor and he’s a really cool character, haha!” I thought I’d heard that name before as I used to own about a dozen Tin-Tin books myself. Nestor was formed back in 1989 by five childhood friends in their hometown of Falköping, Sweden. But like most dreams of becoming rock stars, theirs faded away with time - but their friendship remained, as did their love of music. Now over three decades later the members have taken the opportunity to reunite the band! I for one am bloody glad they did as ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ will sit at the top of the best album list for many a melodic rock fan come the end of this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B1PkYFv76LA" width="320" youtube-src-id="B1PkYFv76LA"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">‘One The Run’ is one of the best opening stacks I’ve heard in quite some time. A dainty piano opening before a battering salvo of guitar riff and drums beats you into submission. The accompanying video is a true homage to 80-s vidz and would happily sit in the soundtrack to Turbo Kid. You have to check out the stripped back piano version on YouTube which is absolutely brilliant. I immediately fell in love with the tone and warmth of Tobias Gustavsson’s vocals. Even a song with a corny lyric like ‘she’s got eyes like Demi Moore and a body like Sharon Stone….she’s a perfect 10!’ can’t detract from the quality. It still hits the mark. Samantha Fox proves to be an inspired choice for the duet ‘Tomorrow’. As I’ve got older I steered away from ballads but this one is an absolute knockout. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aY5X748vG1U" width="320" youtube-src-id="aY5X748vG1U"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apart from the aforementioned songs the other suggests are the glorious anthem ‘1989’; It Ain’t Me’ has the orchestration that could put in on a Bond movie; the galloping title track ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’; the chorus of ’Stone Cold Eyes elevates a good song into a great one; and These days would have been a big hit in any year beginning with ‘Nineteen-Eighty-Something’.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S-owkVR5PPI" width="320" youtube-src-id="S-owkVR5PPI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Melodic Rock/AOR is the poor relation of probably every musical genre on the scene today. It wasn’t that popular when it was popular! That said, those like me that love it have been hit with many a pretender these last 30 years who promised much and faded away or just didn’t deliver. These guys are the real deal. I hardly give away top marks for an album (13 times in 14 years), and this gets top marks. Everyone gets credit - the keyboards are high in the mix, guitar solos are shredding, harmonies are to die for, a wonderful combination, and the vocals are crisp, warm and clean. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2021 Nestor’s ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ will be as coveted as Red Rackhams Treasure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>10/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tracklisting - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fanfare For The Reliable Rebel (Intro)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On The Run</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids In A Ghost Town</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stone Cold Eyes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perfect 10 (Eyes Like Demi Moore)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These Days</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow (Feat. Samantha Fox)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We Are Not OK</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Firesign</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1989</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It Ain’t Me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nestor Are -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jonny Wemmenstedt (guitar)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mattias Carlsson (drums)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tobias Gustavsson (vocals)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Marcus Åblad (bass)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martin Frejinger (keyboards)</div></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-649047336839069322020-09-23T10:05:00.008+01:002020-09-23T10:05:50.050+01:00Stardust - 'Highway to Heartbreak' Album Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqA16NbsTtbFoYX8OyRhpdQ7_W0veHSWlKX5iZWODEZqmaE0VfEdvzTpl1cYAVWRkjTEX8-95TKn0L-S60cAKb1eQ5hhSDfYtMH0SyX9Fw0DRZfMwqM2Xwv-ud61nNXHSApAy24_15OCR/s800/Stardust_800x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqA16NbsTtbFoYX8OyRhpdQ7_W0veHSWlKX5iZWODEZqmaE0VfEdvzTpl1cYAVWRkjTEX8-95TKn0L-S60cAKb1eQ5hhSDfYtMH0SyX9Fw0DRZfMwqM2Xwv-ud61nNXHSApAy24_15OCR/s320/Stardust_800x800.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>Stardust – Highway to Heartbreak</b></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lockdown has been a bitch eh? For me cancelled gigs and no Solid Rock in Glasgow has been the hardest part of the “new normal”. Let’s be serious it is not the new normal, it’s a temporary state. Anyway music for me has been a lifeline but despite that I’ve wallowed in nostalgia and not reviewed anything new for months. I couldn’t be ar*ed and when I gave myself a massive kick up the butt I was too late for the new Perfect Plan album, I was a bit in despair and then Frontiers via Gary Levermore sent another chance.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well let’s just say the wait for me personally was worth it and I was intrigued by the first album by a Hungarian band called Stardust.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As an enthusiastic amateur I review bands by just listening to the tracks, will read the Frontiers blurb but do nothing else than just listen rather than a forensic search which will undoubtedly influence my listening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well thank you Gary (and Paul Chesworth for nagging me to actually write something). Stardust is the AOR/Melodic album of the year, name a year it will be still be up there. A stunningly wonderful piece of music.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Frontiers promo said “hooky choruses, beautiful keyboards and vocal harmonies”. Hooky to me reminds me of Only Fools and Horses as meaning “dodgy, not quite legal”. Well I would describe the choruses as being sublime, pristine and more catchy than a disease off a hooker. I played the album the first time working from home to drown out my wife doing her contact centre job. Headphones in, sound turned up and BANG. What the actual fu*k was I hearing? I was blown away and after 3 or 4 songs thought that this has to bottom out but no, it just kept coming and I repeated it numerous times. My wife took the huff, “Would you rather spend your lunchbreak listening to that stuff rather than talk to me?” – Er yes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So don’t feel the need to read my clumsy attempts to describe each track, just buy the bloody thing, you will not be disappointed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m left with a few questions and thoughts:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Since when did Hungary name kids: Adam Stewart, Ben Martin, Dave Legrand, Facey and Tim Keeley?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- After finally tracking the band on Google how are they not better known?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Also I now understand how good the sound is, they’re basically classically trained musicians. Every one of the band contributes to make this album a classic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- I also now get the Toto vibe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Ben Martin the bass player’s first album was ACDC – Black Ice, I have underpants older than that album.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Oh and my wife saw the promo pics and now thinks she might want to visit Hungary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway my thoughts on the tracks are as follows:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Runaway</span> – A dramatic intro of atmospheric haunting sci-fi effects launches into classic melodic rock vocals over a heavier than expected bass and guitar although the keyboards are used to great effect to layer the song nicely. And we’re off, a touch of multiple melodic sounds and it’s better than decent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_MqxjDcGXSc" width="320" youtube-src-id="_MqxjDcGXSc"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Heartbreaker </span>– Yes, that ‘Heartbreaker’ by Pat Benatar. Its got nice drum intro, menacing “Heartbreaker” chant and again a heavy guitar and bass line with the drum intro setting the tone, with drum driven vibe. “Heartbreaker, Dream maker, love maker, don’t you mess around with me”.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Bullet To My Heart </span>– wow by now I’m getting seriously into this band, the screaming guitar note reminiscent of a Van Halen guitar scream before the song slams into some AOR layered sounds, the vocals wouldn’t be out of place on a Journey track and the chorus is as catchy as f..k. The vocals of Adam Stewart sit nicely and rule the roost.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Perfect Obsession</span> – Acoustic sounding guitar with a wonderful jangle to the riff and smoky vocal that would sit comfortably on any melodic masterpiece, I’m racking my head to link it to other bands, it certainly has the 80’s US AOR vibe and I’m loathe to mention the likes of Toto, Age of Reflection, Poison, Warrant etc but I will.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">2nd Hand Love</span> – a lovely gentle guitar solo beginning and then we’re away again. I still think of Don Henley and Bryan Adams feel especially the lead into the chorus. The lyrics are cleverly written not clichés. Another guitar solo that compliments the song and doesn’t take over.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYO4E4QWkoo" width="320" youtube-src-id="qYO4E4QWkoo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Shout It Out </span>– rockier but with a classic chorus as if a title like Shout It Out could have anything else, catchy with the backing vocals pure class. It did remind somewhat of Myke Gray and his track Shout which is no bad thing in my book. It will be a classic played live.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Can’t Stop Loving You</span> – a solid ballad with Stewart’s vocals just perfect. The harmonies again, are spot on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Eye To Eye</span> – let’s rock. A full on blast of rock, keyboard and guitar solo and a real quirky vibe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Hey Mother</span> – Styx/Toto feel with the real melodic feel of the guitars in the background. Top guitar solo and to me it reminded me of Work of Art as the keyboards are superb. “Hey Mother can you rescue me”, well sorry Mum, that ship has sailed. It as if Lars Safsund, Tommy Shaw and Steve Lukather had a ménage a trots and the resulting baby would be this!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">Blue Jeans Eyes</span> (Bonus Track) – I always wonder what a bonus track is. To me it fits in nicely, “time after time” as a lyric reminds me of Cyndi Lauper but that’s where the comparison ends. The guitar sound is punchy and the chorus is nearly as good as the wonderful guitar solo. Blue Jeans Eyes is a great description to use</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;">The River Is Rollin’</span> – As there is no “G” on Rollin you know this gonna have a real Americana vibe, it doesn’t disappoint. A great end to what is a wonderful piece of AOR/melodic rock. If you close your eyes you are back to Boys Of Summer and the lyric of a young girl growing up with the attention of jerks in leather jackets who just want to jump her bones but she’s independent and is uninterested is wonderful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stunning stuff and cap doffed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>10/10 – it’s a classic.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Review by Lawrie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Track list:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Runaway</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heartbreaker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bullet To My Heart</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perfect Obsession</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2nd Hand Love</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shout It Out</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can’t Stop Loving You</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eye To Eye</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hey Mother</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blue Jeans Eyes (Bonus Track)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The River Is Rollin’</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Line-up:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Adam Stewart - Vocals, rhythm guitars</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ben Martin - Bass</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dave Legrand - Keyboards</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facey - Guitars</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tim Keeley - Drums</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-34042455950122188902020-09-03T19:13:00.000+01:002020-09-03T19:13:10.433+01:00Landfall - 'The Turning Point' Album Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93le7lVAVRuNtLGOY77om5M5wHO-UpF136hyPAOg2xt58ghHoYYCNrrgUTWStaoFUL17pMfIbv3Pii5C-m8EQEbdf3xh7X-QMccOsm-Fgppb96MnYm0T1IQm8hmmKDuPbGrJdbg4CXJB0/s425/243992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93le7lVAVRuNtLGOY77om5M5wHO-UpF136hyPAOg2xt58ghHoYYCNrrgUTWStaoFUL17pMfIbv3Pii5C-m8EQEbdf3xh7X-QMccOsm-Fgppb96MnYm0T1IQm8hmmKDuPbGrJdbg4CXJB0/s320/243992.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Landfall - ‘The Turning Point’</span></b></span></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">According to the PR bumf that comes through, Landfails singer, Gui Oliver (ex-Auras) is a ringer for Steve Perry. You know the people that you hear about in the news that get a knock on the head which causes anmesia, then when they come around, speak in a French accent. Well this fella got a right pounding and come back round with Steve Perrys clothes but Eric Martins voice, if Eric was singing in the bathroom next to you with the bathroom door shut. Its Eric, but not quite Eric if you see what I am getting at. This is the Trumpness that you sometimes having to contend with when emailed a press pack.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SegA08vJNRA" width="320" youtube-src-id="SegA08vJNRA"></iframe></div><p style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“I’m really glad to be back with Frontiers with a new band and new songs in a new perspective. I believe this is my best album so far. I was really impressed when I met the band for the first time. They are truly amazing, gifted and very prepared to do this with me,”</i> says Gui Oliver.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Landfall was originally started by drummer Felipe Souzza and guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke, who are childhood friends and have been playing together since they were about 15 years old. Some years later, bassist Thiago Forbeci joined up with them, adding new musical input and influences and the band decided to go in a new direction. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">They began writing their songs and creating their own music repertoire to work off of and it was during this period that they recorded a few albums together and performed several concerts around Brazil, including opening for acts like Glenn Hughes and Mike Vescera. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Opening track ‘Rush Hour’ certainly gets ‘TTP’ off to a cracking start. It’s a pace number that skips along and had a decent crunchy riff and an instantly singable chorus. ‘No Way Out’ ticks some boxes and is catchy enough. ‘Jane's Carousel’ follows a similar path. ‘Across The Street’ shows Landfall at their best and reminds me of early Ten, and ‘Don’t Come Easy’ is one of the more pleasant ballads Ive heard recently, considering I’m not a massive fan of ballads any more.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UG28Iss0L4c" width="320" youtube-src-id="UG28Iss0L4c"></iframe></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Its basically ‘wash-rinse-repeat’ from here on in. ‘Roundabout’ and ‘Sound Of The City’ stand out in the second half of the album, and ‘Hope Hill’ offers up a singalong moment for the listener. Beyond that, its bang average, in a sort of an half decent way. The songs are pleasant, a couple are very decent, but there’s not enough here to tempt me in for a second or third listen. Some people will think Im talking out of my Covid-larger-than-normal arse, but I just feel it has all been done before, and in a lot of cases, much better</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Half of the album is good, but the balance is basically melodic rock by numbers. The production is good though, the playing for all is what I’d expect from a Frontiers AOR signed band.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I jest when I say that Oliver doesn’t sound like Steve Perry, but really, he doesn’t. Ok, maybe a few notes here and there, but he is not in the same sounding universe as Hugo Valenti or Arnel Pineda. Now those two are Perry ringers. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">Score 6.5/10</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Review by Paul Chesworth</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Landfall </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Gui Oliver - Vocals</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Felipe Souzza - Drums</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Marcelo Gelbcke - Guitars</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thiago Forbeci - Bass</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Tracklisting - </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rush Hour *</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No Way Out *</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jane’s Carousel</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Across The Street*</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Don’t Come Easy </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Taxi Driver</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Distant Love</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Roundabout *</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Road Of Dreams</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hope Hill</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sound Of The City *</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">* worth a listen</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-35694541316117899502020-09-01T21:40:00.006+01:002020-09-01T21:40:57.500+01:00Perfect Plan - 'Time For A Miracle' Album Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU2gVg3Rv2fg-Zi0D8wHIJB_yGfBuUaMfNfrd2fL5-RvzE7K1L0mx4Mi8DCrRbK0F_sJUQeMWwmCnPZzsFZwYvfx5oI2niXrij7LF5dV2xnXaUm3e_YeUEkNGbjI8G20FitQMDIE3wnOi/s425/530207-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU2gVg3Rv2fg-Zi0D8wHIJB_yGfBuUaMfNfrd2fL5-RvzE7K1L0mx4Mi8DCrRbK0F_sJUQeMWwmCnPZzsFZwYvfx5oI2niXrij7LF5dV2xnXaUm3e_YeUEkNGbjI8G20FitQMDIE3wnOi/s0/530207-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">Perfect Plan - Time For A Miracle</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Blummin’ ‘eck. Two years have shot by since the delights of the Perfect Plan debut, and in ‘In And Out Of Love’ it was one of <b>the </b>melodic rock anthems of 2018. So has two years done anything for them? Well, its No.2/sophomore album/2nd album syndrome, where you can soon tell if the songs on the second are not as finely tuned or honed as the originals as they (the debut songs) could have been in development for years. I'm a firm believer that cream rises to the top, and with a singer like Kent Hilli on board, that Perfect Plan will have no such problems. So. fingers crossed, eh?</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Well, if you’re going to rip off a band, then you might as well take a song from 1985 and hope the likeness isn’t remembered due to bands and fans either being dead now, suffering from early onset dementia, or just punch drunk because of Covid. Well you can’t fool me, you pesky Scandinavians! If you think you’ve heard the drum into to ‘Time For A Miracle’ it’s because you have. It’s pretty damn similar to the Scorps ‘Crossfire’ and nearly sent me round the twist thinking where I’d heard it before. The similarity ends there though, as beyond the drum intro is a finely executed song with single written all over it. ‘Better Walk Alone’ is upbeat and raids Lou Gramms note book (almost) for ‘When we make love you know it’s all understood’. OK so I’m a bit picky, but ‘BWA’ is Giant, Steelhouse Lane and Survivor all rolled into one. The sound is great considering its probably on a shoestring compared to budgets of the 80s. Two songs in, its heavier than the debut, and that for me is fooking great!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ujuFpvgieOw" width="320" youtube-src-id="ujuFpvgieOw"></iframe></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: left;">‘Heart To Stone’ evokes memories of Bon Jovi’s ‘Runaway’ and that dear reader, is no bad place to pitch your tent. ‘Fighting To Win’ is the inevitable ballad. Piano and vocals kick it off, before everyone wades in for the chorus. I’m getting less tolerant of ballads as I’m getting older, but its part and parcel pretty much of most melodic bands so I admit its my problem. It's like Dave Bickley got the call. ‘Every Time We Cry’ gets PP back on track with more pace and some decent vocals from Hilli. More guitar, less parpy-ness. ‘What About Love’ again follows a music by numbers and is good, but I’m looking for ‘great’ And half-way through I don’t yet have a stand out or goose-bumpy moment. That is until ‘Nobody’s Fool’ it’s a blues tinged number that is more rock n roll than anything so far, and rocks more than it rolls. ‘Living On The Run’ picks up the torch from ‘Nobody’s’ and had these two been on ‘Side 1’ to use an analogy, my appetite would be well and truly whetted!! ‘Just One Wish’ evokes Robin Beck and Signal to good effect. ‘Don’t Blame It On Love Again’ is anthem enough to make another single choice and Hilli’s vocals are superb. ‘Give A Little Lovin’’ is energetic enough and Hilli again sings his arse off. Let’s face it, when doesn’t he? ‘Don’t Leave Me Here Alone’ has more vim and vigour and is more of a stirring ballad with a nice guitar solo. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">To be honest, Hilli sounds great, the production excellent, and its because of the heavier songs in the latter half of ‘TFAM’ that make it for me. Its polished AOR by numbers, and it will easily make lots of fans Top 10 lists come the year end. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">To make a comparison, if you currently have a Survivor/Jim Peterik sized hole in your life, then Perfect Plan have the shovel. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">8.5/10</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Tracklisting-</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Time For A Miracle</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Better Walk Alone</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Heart To Stone</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Fighting To Win</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Every Time We Cry</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">What About Love</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Nobody’s Fool</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Living On The Run</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Just One Wish</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Don’t Blame It On Love Again</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Give A Little Lovin’</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Don’t Leave Me Here Alone</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Perfect Plan - </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Kent Hilli - Vocals</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Rolf Nordström - Guitar</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Leif Ehlin - Keys</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Frederik Forsberg - Drums</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Mats Byström - Bass</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-4519099445949398132020-08-29T13:48:00.005+01:002020-08-29T15:43:19.209+01:00Stryper - 'Even The Devil Believes' Album Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFliFJ0MiiihXlv3G-AjsY4Mn8YIRafLW6Qf92Tm-spGO5En8LO6neVwY1xXrFByeQHskf8r-2EOGW2jy-cq8HbDJNkUubPcvsG-bWtgizX58ZF7fPYO8uPv71yeQryb2b32vg_kanF_Pz/s425/565853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFliFJ0MiiihXlv3G-AjsY4Mn8YIRafLW6Qf92Tm-spGO5En8LO6neVwY1xXrFByeQHskf8r-2EOGW2jy-cq8HbDJNkUubPcvsG-bWtgizX58ZF7fPYO8uPv71yeQryb2b32vg_kanF_Pz/s0/565853.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>Stryper - Even The Devil Believes</b></span></span></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Back in the mid 80s a good friend of mine used to go to a good friend of his (who back then had a stellar record collection, and still does) to make me some mix tapes. It was his attempt to get me into what was basically hair metal. Ratt, Tesla, Loudness, TT Quick, Fifth Angel, Cinderella, Joshua, etc., etc., Its a long list of bands! It took me years to track down the albums of these bands for myself. I loved all the bands, and I particularly liked Stryper. The cassette tape introduced me to ‘Make Me Wanna Sing’, ‘Battle Hymn Of The Republic’, and ‘Loud And Clear’. I have been a fan ever since. Few bands to this day from that 80s period are making new music, even less are turning out good stuff. In fact I think Stryper are on a (rock that makes me) roll as their last 3 albums have been some of their heaviest, most consistent and dare I say it, some of their best. They would even make the hardiest of fans give up lent in favour of these three (now make the four!)</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Its always been a hard sell to your peers that you like Stryper. I don’t know why. I’m not religious, though I would like to have faith. Is it because of the religion? The wardrobe? Or some of the ballads that graced MTV back in the day? I don’t know, and I don’t really care. I’ve never been one to be taken in my a lyric. I do have a few, but this is where I probably sell myself short as I go for melody, riffs and how a song makes me feel rather than delving into the meaning. Whilst I don’t go for the faith aspect, I have however absorbed their music almost religiously. I’ve bought every album, I read Michael’s book (we both have a best way of having toilet roll presented), and that was a honest and open story. I saw them in Italy, something I never thought I would ever do, and sang the first three songs in a harmony with Rob Evans and Sweets wife (!) and have interviewed Michael and his dog a few years back.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1DkLHDWGkV0" width="320" youtube-src-id="1DkLHDWGkV0"></iframe></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">Anyway, I am in the camp of Stryper maintaining the heaviness of the past few albums. I’m not against the ballads, but they were always on the sugar sweet side for me, too sugary. The recent 3 albums have kicked some serious balls, so I’m hoping for the trend to continue here with ‘Even The Devil Believes’. What can I say? Well, my hope and wish is well and truly granted. Like the four horsemen of the apocalypse Stryper come galloping over the horizon ready to conquer with a gut wrenching riff and banshee wail courtesy of Michael Sweet. As you would expect, harmonies are a thankful given, and there’s added welly from the prince of pound and the new bass groove in Perry Richardson. Its a sterling opening track and is 80s metal personified. ‘Make Love Great Again’ should be subliminally played across the US to combat the hate and division that seems rife, without getting too political. We all need some love in our lives, right? Sweet (M) has his feet firmly planted in the 80s as the guitar work is worthy of this period when bands like Stryper ruled the waves - both FM and UHF!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">‘Let Him In’ is short and snappy and gets to the point, sharply with its simple but effective chorus. ‘Do Unto Others’ is the lightest song so far in, but even this rocks, and I particularly like the guitar solo. If you’re going to go big, then it should be on the track that the album bares its name, and ‘Even The Devil Believes’ almost gets there. The guitar tone ifrom Sweet and Fox s great and has some fab harmonies as you would expect, but I just wanted more, going for the jugular in length and scale. It’s still a good song, but I want them to deliver a ‘Heaven And Hell’ moment for me. ‘How To Fly’ dips its toes into the 70s for a section that is very ELO/The Beatles inspired and delivers in both its modern and past sound. ‘Divider’ is a cool song, and brings all the best parts of Stryper into one song. I know that’s every song, numbnuts, but very much so here. ‘This I Pray’ goes very Bon Jovi/Poison, with the stirring cowboy ballad. As Stryper ballads go, this one goes to eleven. Give me a song like this over the syrupy ones every day of the week. In fact, for ‘This I Pray’ Micael Sweet out-Jovi’s Bon Jovi!!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/id28Zepqh2c" width="320" youtube-src-id="id28Zepqh2c"></iframe></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;">‘Invitation Only’ is bright, and ‘pop-py’ and its the chorus and harmonies that bring this up to what could have been a bit standard affair. ‘For God - Rock ’n’ Roll’ makes me want to dig out my spandex, foil covered cucumber, leg warmers and guy-liner as this would be welcome on any of their 80s output. It’s a little belter. In fact, I think it’s my favourite, and it should be an immediate addition to their live set. ‘Middle Finger Messiah’ is fast and frenetic and is I great title and a great song to finish off the album with. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">With ‘Even The Devil Believes’ if this were the last album, then it would be some way to finish off as I/we can’t really expect our 80s heroes to be producing music some 35-40 years later. The fact that Stryper are, and are doing so at such a level, and absolutely kicking arse is a (new) testament to their being. If they do continue then I look forward to being in the front seat and preaching from the hilltop as to how great they are.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Michael Sweet cant hit the high notes as regular as he did in the 80s and that suits me. The voice has mellowed, it’s still one of the best in metal and he can pick his battle (hymn of the republic) when he goes high. When he does, it still makes me go all goosebumpy. He still remains one of my favourites. I’m a firm believer that a lot of the output from 80s bands hasn’t been as good as it was back in the day (thats nostalgia for you), but even the blind, and deaf can see/hear that Stryper are in the best period of their career. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After listening to this, I get it. Even The Devil Believes.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>8.5/10</b></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tracklisting</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Blood From Above</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Make Love Great Again</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let Him In</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do Unto Others</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Even The Devil Believes</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How To Fly </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Divider</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This I Pray</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Invitation Only</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For God - Rock ’n’ Roll</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Middle Finger Messiah</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Stryper are - </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals / Lead & Rhythm Guitar</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Robert Sweet - Drums / Vocals</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Oz Fox - Lead and Rhythm Guitar / Vocals</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perry Richardson - Bass / Vocals</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Also</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Paul MacNamara - Keys/Moog/Organ</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Keith Pittman - Additional Background Vocals</p><div><br /></div>aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-78070509857027592342020-06-25T19:57:00.000+01:002020-06-25T19:57:12.110+01:00Read Out Loud ' 'Read Out Loud' Album Review<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dzntbSZM0_xNF56BS_i2bezDpsbk5OCb9J5ScLtjlYyIB1cUXiXBa0Tr1OxjQBCp_plFPfd-UBoyvthnNJngtZ9l_BDHoCGjpoHq4yxrdPToQrr0sRzU2mcaHDXmVPCozriwrQ48Soa6/s582/Album+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dzntbSZM0_xNF56BS_i2bezDpsbk5OCb9J5ScLtjlYyIB1cUXiXBa0Tr1OxjQBCp_plFPfd-UBoyvthnNJngtZ9l_BDHoCGjpoHq4yxrdPToQrr0sRzU2mcaHDXmVPCozriwrQ48Soa6/s320/Album+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><font color="#00ff04">Read Out Loud</font><p></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you’ve ever been to gigs across the North West, and especially the wonderful venue that is Eleven, there’s usually a guy in attendance that you know is a bit of a kindred spirit and looks the part like he should be in a band. Tim has had his talons into some very decent bands, such as Demon, Chrome Molly and probably the best tribute band I’ve ever witnessed, Limehouse Lizzy. The bloke has got some serious chops….and a black book to kill for.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you’re going to do a debut album then why not drag in some great mates to join the party. First to be in on the act was Demon drummer Neil Ogden, then they enlisted the services of producer and Demon member Paul Hume (owner of Eleven), and the three laid down the basic tracks for the album. Once completed the final pieces of the jigsaw were made, with FM’s keyboard tinkler supreme, Jim Davis joining the ranks. And last, but by no means least the band is rounded out with Josh Williams. Before I’ve heard the album (apart from the live launch), I’m excited to listen to it as I’m expecting harmonies to die for as all the guys involved in Tim’s band can certainly sing.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Surrender’ opens up as bit like FM’s ‘Tough it Out’ with police sirens wailing, before an ‘ever so 80s’ sound that makes me go info a comfort zone of wonderfulness of bands like Only Child, Blue Murder et al……and as expected there’s harmonies a-plenty. Read has a gravel and gruffness to his tone that does not detract from the songs. I was expecting more polish in his style, but its a good contrast. Read delves deep into his musical influences - from the Valley Of The Kings/Kashmir/Judgment Day influenced ‘Nowhere To Run’, to Down To Earth era Rainbow (oooh I love me a Hammond organ) ‘Close To You’, Theres a full red blooded high octane Malmsteen like ‘The Girl Is Trouble’, ‘Playing With Fire’ has undertones of April Wine’s classic ‘I Like To Rock’, only with more menace and thunder, and there’s the classy ‘In My Heart’. Six songs in and Read is cooking with gas!</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you ever wondered what it would sound like if Phil Lynott made a band with Steve Harris (Iron Lizzy?), the outcome is ‘Are You Out There?’ A good homage to a great guy. ‘Staring At The Sun’ is the ‘big’ track on the album for me, it has that Blackmore, Kotzev guitar with the underlying organ. As a big rainbow fan, it ticks a lot of boxes for me, and it is fab. ‘Talk To Me’ opens up like it could be metalised Abba! ‘Take No More From You’ pulls everyone in for a highlight of their talents. ‘You’re My Angel’s’ piano sound evokes Styx, and is the poppiest sounding song on the album. ‘Don’t Go’ is apt for a final song, as I found I wanted to listen to it all again. This shows another side to Reads persona, it’s a ballad that screams ‘class’ from high and Read plays like one of his Lizzy cohorts Brian Robertson on the solo. Its a great ending for a great debut. I’ve changed my mind. THIS is the big song on the album!</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I was VERY pleased with this cracking debut from Read. A mix of influences but with both his feet firmly planted in the golden era of rock. Unless Ive got it all wrong of course! Read has himself some great songs, pulled together one hell of a blackmail list of participants, and plays his part like any leader should. It’s not called ‘Read Out Loud’ for nothing. In fact it does exactly what it says on the tin. Only sing it loud!</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the current Covid-19 crisis it’s a difficult time for everyone, musicians in particular. If you can spare the money I can think of no better way of supporting the music we love and send some of it Read’s way. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><font color="#00ffee">8/10</font></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Surrender</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Waiting For The Sun</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Playing With Fire</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In My Heart</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Are You Out There?</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Staring At The Sun</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Talk To Me</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Nowhere To Run</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Take No More From You</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">You’re My Angel</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Don’t Go</span></p>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Wicked Smile - EP</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Australian heavy rock band <b>Wicked Smile</b> will release their debut ep titled <b>‘Delirium’</b> on July 1st. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The band is fronted by charismatic powerhouse lead vocalist <b>Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear)</b> with <b>Stevie Janevski (The Radio Sun, ex Black Majesty)</b> on guitars. The four song ep is <b>produced by Paul Laine (The Defiants) </b>who also plays bass and sings backing vocals on the ep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Danny and Stevie are no strangers to the world stage, having both toured around the world with their respective bands and performed at prestigious festivals such as <b>Wacken Open Air, Masters Of Rock, Metal Universe, Hard Rock Hell, </b>and <b>Screamfest</b> amongst others. The boys have released a whopping <b>twenty- five full length albums combined</b>. Match fitness? - Absolutely!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Guitarist Stevie Janevski goes on to say, “because we’re a new band, we released our debut single ‘<b>We Fall’</b>, an in your face uptempo song to give everyone a taste of what we are about. It received such a fantastic response worldwide that people wanted to hear more right away. This was particularly pleasing to both Danny and I. We were both overwhelmed by the positive response. It was also fantastic to have so much support from Internet Radio who got behind us by playing our song, with some stations putting us on heavy rotation”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Vocalist Danny says “I’ve really enjoyed putting my stamp on these songs. It’s allowed me to put my heart and soul into them and really capture the emotion of the lyrics. We cover important issues such as government and decision making in the song ‘We Fall’ and discuss the human state of mind in ‘<b>Daze Of Delirium</b>’. Another talking point is the track ‘<b>Stronger</b>’ which was written by Stevie to highlight the issue of bullying in schools and in society as a whole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We can’t wait to get out there and launch things in a live setting. Songs like ‘<b>Love’s Got A Hold On You</b>’ are going to sound huge. We’re going to be loud and proud!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">From the first few bars of ‘We Fall’ it’s what Ive been wanting (occasionally) from Stevie’s other band The Radio Sun. I knew he had ‘more metal’ in him, it just needed a likewise parter to bring it out. It blazes with an 80s style riff, and oh my God has he got a fine singer to deliver the vocals in Danny Cecati. Ive only heard a didgeridoo once on a record and that was Cryptex, but fair play in opening with an Aussie musical instrument. The chorus on the other hand is very European, like Avantasia. It’s a very good start. ‘Stronger’ digs deep into a Judas Priest vibe only with better harmonies. Its driven foremost my Janevskis metal riff, and its a song about Steves daughter Cassidy getting bullied. Well I guess they have both stuck two fingers up to the bullies, and is a great message for anyone you use for their armour. Stevie and myself both have a love of Rainbow, and I wonder if there’s a bit of ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’ coming into play for the riff of ’Love’s Got A Hold On You’ ? It’s a bit lighter than the other two but that doesn’t mean its any less effective, and have a very catchy and immediacy remembered chorus. Well done Ritchie, I mean Stevie! Finally, it’s ‘Daze Of Delrium’ again delivery a driving, pulsating beat, with some great backing vocals (all courtesy of Paul Laine). Laine also weighs in with bass on all four songs , and produced it, with catering by Bruno Ravel</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I wasn’t too sure what to expect as Im so used to The radio Sun, but Stevie and Danny have definitely pulled a massive rabbit out of the hat. Its four infectious songs all delivered in an 80s vibe that RAWK. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If this is an entree for what’s to come, then my appetite is well and truly whetted! Bring it on</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Score 8.5/10</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Wicked Smile Are </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Stevie Janevski - Guitar</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Danny Cecati - Vocals</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Paul Laine - Bass and BVs</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">TBR - Drums</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Contact Wicked Smile </b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>: </b></span></div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-15574385892214706872020-06-06T11:46:00.004+01:002020-06-06T11:46:53.652+01:00Cryptex - 'One Upon A Time' Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: lime;">Cryptex - Once Upon A Time</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">You know that feeling you get when you go and see a band, but have no idea who the support act is, then get completely blown away by said support band. Well Cryptex was one such surprise back in 2012. A very nice surprise, in fact. I was reviewing and interviewing Pain Of Salvation for another site, and thankfully made it just in time to see Cryptex perform. There was nothing ‘normal’ about these three guys, and it made for one the best gigs of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">To describe them is like trying to decide which one of your two children is the favourite! As a bit of a broad example, think Meat Loaf, crossed with Jethro Tull and they made up the threesome with Queen, or Coheed and you might be getting somewhere close. They also look as if they might be the offspring of Fraggle Rock and a Tim Burton movie. Even with all this comparing, there’s still no one quite like Cryptex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">To call Cryptex a rock band is like calling Queen a bit ‘glam’. Like Queen, there’s a lot more going on with Cryptex than a run of the mill band. Sure, there are couple of downright heavy songs in ‘Reptiles‘ and ‘The Promise Keeper‘, where Mertens lets rip with some serious riffage. Most if not all of the ideas come from Simon Moskon. And it’s his vocals, and piano playing that come right to the fore. It's a big smorgasbord of ideas all clashing and colliding like the CERN particle accelerator, sometimes in just one song. How he puts it all down into a song only he knows, but the songs range from progressive (but not in a snotty prog rock way), but in pushing the envelope, to theatrical, to pomp. It took me about four songs to realise that there is hardly a guitar solo in sight, I was swept up in the storytelling and emotion to care about a traditional guitar solo. That’s what I like about Cryptex. Theres no ‘ tradition’, theres no formula. Rules, formulas and tradition are ripped up and spat out, and are all broken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Once Upon A Time’ is a belting opener, with a pulsating bridge, before a gospel/choral choir style chorus. ‘Because The Reason Is You’ is folky at the off before expanding outwards into porosity and grandeur. ‘Bloodmoon’ is one of my favourites. One of the few 5min plus songs it really shows Cryptex at their finest moments, Moskon builds the tempo from his piano, with some wonderful harmonies and a great riff from Mertens. Also I feel that Simon Schroders drumming is carefully placed, and intricate. It is fair to say that Cryptex throw in the kitchen sink with regularity, but in this instance, it’s the sink, fridge, washing machine, and the mix coming out the other end is lovely. Mid ‘Body Language’ we get a bit of Moskon’s narrative, and it’s not on the side of parody, but Tenacious D almost came to mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Two Horned Crown’ errs on the side of bands like Epica, Avantasia and Nightwish, again with some great layered vocals and harmonies. Greta Leona Hasenberg adds contrast to Moskon’s vocals on the middle eastern sounding ‘Haunted’. ‘Reptiles’ is the other long number, and it opens with a Tremonti style riff. It also highlights why the Cryptex harmonies are so good as also taking on lead vocals is Mertens, a pretty useful singer in his own right. Andrejkovits weighing in with BV prove Cryptex are not to be messed with. It is probably the closest to the term ‘prog’ as they come. I tell a lie, its the one song with a guitar solo, a song where you don’t know where exactly it is going, but that make it part of the fun. ‘I Dont Know Why’ is where musical theatre meets Jethro Tull, with a nice electric piano refrain, and is another example of their diversity in a single song. ‘The Promise Keeper’ is an out and out rock song for the guys, and prove they can rock it out when the desire takes them. </span></div>
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‘I See It In Your Eyes’ is mainly Moskon and his piano. Its a reflective, and sombre piece. It even ends with whistling, which in itself is haunting and poignant. Who’s have thought it? ‘Leaving’ is the final track, and it’s a spoken word that Simon Moskon narrates with dramatic effect. It builds into a crescendo over the second half, and is quite atmospheric. Then ends. Suddenly. It leaves you wanting more, so I'll add the bonus track which isn’t on my vinyl, ‘Closer’ which is definitely in the realm of bands like Porcupine Tree and Pain Of Salvation. It would have been a highlight of a (excuse the pun)….’Closer’ had it been included.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Once Upon A Time’ isn’t the most accessible album you will hear this year, but if you open your ears and your mind to these guys then a world of delights await you. I promise you. Cryptex are my favourite three piece this side of Rush.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="color: cyan;">Score 9/10</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Review by Paul Chesworth</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Cryptex are </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Simon Moskon - Lead Vocals / Piano & Keys</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">André Jean Henri Mertens - Guitars and Background Vocals</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Marc Andrejkovits - Bass & Background Vocals</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Simon Schröder - Drums & Percussion</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Once Upon A time</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Because The reason Is You</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Bloodmoon</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Body Language</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Two Horned Crown</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Haunted</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Reptiles</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I Don’t Know Why</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Promise Keeper</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I See It In Your Eyes</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A Mo(u)rning</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Leaving</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Bonus track - Closer</span></div>
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<a href="https://cryptex1.bandcamp.com/album/once-upon-a-time">https://cryptex1.bandcamp.com/album/once-upon-a-time</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cryptex.band/">https://www.facebook.com/cryptex.band/</a></div>
aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-91907838846491872942020-05-28T12:47:00.003+01:002020-05-28T12:51:18.357+01:00Vega - 'Grit Your Teeth' Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;">VEGA’s sixth album, “</span><b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: lime;">Grit Your Teeth</span></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;">” will be released on June 12th, 2020 and according to the PR bumf, is set to “blow the roof off”. Working with “The Graves Brothers” (Asking Alexandria, Funeral for Friend, The Family Ruin), they’ve pulled out all the stops, disconnected the brakes, and produced their biggest songs for their biggest sounding album yet. Theirs is a brand of music that is as rewarding as it is challenging. This is not the end, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of Vega.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">They’ve toured over the years with Skid Row, Last in Line, FM, Magnum, Joe Elliott’s Down and Outz, Dan Reed Network, and have had festival appearances at DOWNLOAD, Planet Rockstock, Steelhouse, HRH AOR, Rockingham, and the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, that have all gone into shaping them into one of the UK’s finest melodic rock bands. The fact that they are not more widely recognised is more down to bad luck than anything else, as anyone that has witnessed them live recently will testify.</span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: -1.0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">VEGA’s members have a rich history, including stints with Kick, Sugartown, and Paul Dianno, but it was their meeting of musical minds back in 2009 that would lead to the melodic rock genre receiving one of the finest releases of that year in the form of their debut album, “Kiss Of Life”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think Vega are a bit of a marmite band. I asked recently if one of the other guys would like to review them as it’s always been me, and I wasn’t exactly met with enthusiasm from any of them. After many cracking albums, I must admit that I’ve expected them to kick on a bit. But even gigs the last few years have been poorly attended, and I cant put my finger on it as when faced with an audience like HRH etc, they go down a storm. And rightly so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So what do we have with ‘GYT’?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Well, on first inspection I’m met with a certain amount of moistness in the nether regions. I don’t know if it’s a concerted effort from the Vegaboys, or if it’s a combination of the partnership with the brothers Graves. Although for me, not knowing who they are at all (Graves Bros - sounds like a removal firm!), I will put it down to a combination of efforts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">With ‘Blind’, Vega jump out of the starting blocks like a stabbed rat with a fire cracker shoved up its arse. There’s a certain amount of vim and vigour that’s being applied, still maintaining the strong melody, but with a bit of welly. ‘(I Don’t Need) Perfection’ proves that the opener is not just a one off. There’s a substance and style here that shows that Vega mean big business with a capital B.I.G. The melodic sensibilities are still there for the fans that expect the anthems, but they are proving that this crocodile definitely has bite! In fact its probably the best Nick Workman has sounded (and he always sounded good!). Title track ‘Grit Your Teeth’ is a stormer, and Jon Bon Jovi should be getting on the phone begging to cover this. No one does anthems like Vega! ‘Man On A Mission’ has a southern drawl opening line before evoking latter day Shinedown, and that’s not a bad comparison to make. ‘Don't Fool Yourself Again’ is probably the best song on the album. It’s a very infectious number, and I strongly suggest you check out the video below, because if you don’t like this, then there is no hope….</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Consequence….’ Digs deep into the 80s for a Tears For Fears ‘Mad World’ influenced section that I’m sure people of my age will pick up on instantly. ‘This Ones For You’ is yet another positive track, and ‘Battles Ain’t A War’ is a ballad of sorts and is nicely layered and assembled. It’s a very cool track, and I particularly think Thurston’s playing on this is exceptional. Before you know it we are at the sharp end, and there’s still no slack on the horizon - ‘Save Me From Myself’ airs on the side of pop and deserves mainstream radio play; the positive and uplifting ‘How We Live’, and finally ‘Done With Me’ is short, snappy, punchy and rounds of a sterling performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’m not going to single anyone in particular out as all the guys are on VERY top form. A new bar has been set for 2020 and any competition to the Vega throne will need to up their game. ‘The Vega is dead. Long live the Vega’</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Could this be the one? I’d certainly like to think so. It’s all anthems and I expected nothing less. It’s such a great listen, that I needed a good old rest at the end as I got cramp in my hand for singing into Gills hairbrush for the whole album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For me, it’s mainly about the melody, then the lyrics, but without the melody you have nothing. Thankfully Vega get their melody delivered by the truckload. With previous albums not being embraced as they probably should be a (much) wider audience, I was wondering what the next chapter would be in Vega’s history. In the case of ‘Grit Your Teeth’ the new chapter is a blockbuster. If you hanker for the glory days of Leppard and Bon Jovi, look no further, as this is the album JBJ and Elliott would love to be able to make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>9/10</b> </span> The best album of 2020 so far. I’m leaving room for further listens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Blind</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">(I Don’t Need) Perfection</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Grit Your Teeth</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Man On A Mission</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Don’t Fool Yourself</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Consequence Of Having A Heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This One’s For You</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Battles Ain’t A War</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Save Me From Yourself</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">How We Live</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Done with Me</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Released - 12th June</span></div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-12905321030867753772020-05-26T21:37:00.002+01:002020-05-26T21:37:47.122+01:00McStine & Minnemann - 'S/T' Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: cyan;"><b> McStine & Minnemann - S/T</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>McStine & Minnemann</b> is a new band consisting of Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) and Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats). Pre-orders for their debut album began on </span><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Friday May 1st</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">, along with the release of their first single “Program” and its brand new music video. See further below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The duo initially met in 2018 while working with other artists, but as they discovered their shared passion for an assortment of Rock, Pop, and Punk artists, they decided to embark on a collaborative project together. Although McStine and Minnemann initially set out to record an EP, they quickly shifted to making an album as their musical ideas and chemistry flourished. </span></div>
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Im a (sort of) fan of both people here. I first came to notice Minnemenn when he auditioned for the vacant Dream Theater position - I thought his was the best audition; and I love the Lo-Fi Resistance album ‘A Deep Breath’ (I know that there are more. ADB is my favourite of them). I never thought a collaboration of the two would be on the cards, as I think Minnemann is more of a technical drummer and think of him more of a proggy kind of member in bands like The Mute Gods, The Sea Within, and Levin Minnemann Rudess. And his splendid work with one of my all-time favourite artistes, Steven Wilson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let just say that both of these guys have a bit of form, therefore I suppose it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they got together, should it, Paul?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If ‘all over the place’ is a musical style, then opener ‘Program” falls into this style, in a good ‘all over the place’ kind of way. It chops and changes from rhythmic drumming, clanging guitar work, and overlaid with McStines vocals, ranging from prog to pop in a matter of a single line. Its part Queen, Rush, ELO and everything in-between. They certainly won’t get pigeon-holed, that’s for certain. ‘Falling From Grace’ kicks off with a drill, clanging, and a pulsating bass and guitar riff, with some eclectic, and choppy vocal phrasing. It's the kind of song people won’t be having as a first dance at a wedding, put it that way. Its a strange listen at first, but it definitely plants seeds as there’s a hell of a lot to take in with just a single listen. I'm sure at one point, someone is playing a 1960s boiled egg slicer! ‘Your Offenses’ (thankfully) gives my mind and ears a rest, and it is more of a ‘standard’ song, if that description applies to McStine & Minneman. It’s a very prog/pop song with some cracking drumming and guitar work. ‘Catrina’ gets us back on the ‘eclectic’ road. It’s definitely a challenging listen so far, but there’s enough going on to make me think ‘WTF?’, and I really like the tone of McStines vocals. ‘Top Of The Bucket’ again is more of a ‘sensible’ offering from Marco and randy, as in it is not that mental. ‘Tear The Walls Down’ is traditional, as in its Pantera jamming with Rush, but with Dream Theater's singer (it isn’t by the way, it just sounds like LaBrie). It is my second favourite of the album so far after ‘Your Offenses’ (I’m offended by the non English spelling of ‘offences’).</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘Fly’ pulsates along on a grabbing base and synthesiser and is definitely an ear worm in the making. ‘Activate’ is another song that makes the album worthwhile for my more melodic sensibilities. ‘The Closer’ starts like a ballad, piano and layered vocals. I’m expecting a change in tempo, and the change is…..nothing, just a piano, lap steel guitar and vocals. Its rather nice. Quickly we are onto the final track ‘Voyager’, a darker song that only Minnemann and McStine can meld dark and dirty riffing with Beatles/ELO style harmonies! This typifies the album in one song.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In conclusion…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you remember that period that Tom and Jerry’s studio did when they tried to save money and went to Gene Deitch in the Czech Republic in 1961/62? Well the music is like that. Its two blokes with a love of time changes, ambient sounds, progressive boundary pushing, with some pop/pock melody interspersed with some great (and strange) playing! And a bit of noise thrown in for good measure.I am sure they will think different to me (a heathen).</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The songs are all quite short which is something I found appealing, because if they were in the ‘prog’ mould of being 10-15mins long, I think I’d have given up the ghost long ago. I think that if you love the outer reaches of prog then you will love this. Or if you’re off your tits (or anywhere in-between the two come to think of it). I have to admit that I found it challenging, but Ive still ordered it, if that makes any sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">OK, all those bands that brought me here - Lo-Fi, The Sea Within, Steven Wilson, The Mute Gods, well…most of it is nothing like any of that. But….for ‘Your Offenses’, ‘Program’, ‘Activate’, ‘Tear The Walls Down’, ‘The Closer’ and ‘Voyager’ alone are worth the 7.5 score. The rest I am hoping will grow on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: lime;"><b>7.5/10</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Program</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Falling From Grace</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Your Offenses</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Catrina</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Top Of The Bucket</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fly </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Closer</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Vogager</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Pre-Orders for McStine & Minnemann are now available on Bandcamp with several packages to choose from - <a href="http://mcstineminnemann.bandcamp.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">PRE-ORDER HERE NOW</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">$8 Digital Download</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">$13 CD + digital download (shipping exc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">$25 ‘Deluxe Version’ CD + digital download (shipping exc.) with exclusive bonus content -</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Private stream release of 1 new song per week (every Friday) from May 1st to July 3rd (in order of album sequence), as well as a Randy/Marco commentary track and Marco drum playthrough video per song</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">A Limited Edition Vinyl version is also available - <a href="https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/227577/mcstine-minnemann-mcstine-minnemann"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">PRE-ORDER HERE NOW</span></a></span></div>
aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-31016862788486062242020-05-22T08:40:00.002+01:002020-05-22T08:40:50.287+01:00Dennis DeYoung -‘26 East: Volume 1’ Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">It was the novelty of the world’s first laser etched single, “The Best of Times”, which first drew my attention to Styx. From the moment the needle hit the record, I was well and truly hooked. The singer of that song was Dennis DeYoung, who together with his band mates, made up of one of the most successful American rock bands of the era.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">There are, therefore, two ways to approach a new album by Dennis DeYoung – the first is as a solo performer and the second is as a former member Styx. DeYoung is rightly proud of his legacy of Styx music, and his solo work is faultless to a tee, but there is always bound to be some crossover in the subconscious mind unless you have no prior knowledge of the history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">So, what was I to expect from DeYoung’s first studio offering in 13 years: “26 East: Volume 1”?</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The opening cut, “East of Midnight”, is a promising start to the album with a fanfare most beloved by the Pomp Rock brigade! The chugging autobiographic verses lead into a trademark Stygian chorus and an instrumental section which includes dual lead guitars, a church organ and synth solos! This is prime-time DeYoung!</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">“With All Due Respect” continues the theme of “Turn off CNN” from his previous album “One Hundred Years From Now” although the vitriol this time seems more evenly matched against both left and right-wing media channels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">DeYoung’s ear for effective light and shade gives us some of the album’s best moments, notably with the superb “A Kingdom Ablaze” with its eerily atmospheric introduction morphing into a dynamic rocker with a memorable hook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The inevitable romantic ballad comes in the form of “You My Love”, and as much maligned as he has been for the likes of “Babe” and “First Time”, you have to give the man credit - he really does write a great love song!</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">“Run For The Roses” and “The Promise Of This Land” showcase DeYoung’s versatility as a songwriter and performer, harking back to theatrical style and vocal delivery employed on his mid-nineties “10 on Broadway” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” albums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Opening in a light mood, “Unbroken”, lopes into an uplifting harmony-laden chorus while “Damn That Dream” exhibits a series of attractive musical facets and clever lyrics as it runs its course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The infectious, celebratory tone of “To The Good Old Days”, a duet with Julian Lennon, is a big highlight. The more you listen, the more you enjoy and appreciate what’s going on here! It will never replace “Come Sail Away” in the concert set-list, but be sure that your lighter is fully loaded with fuel, or at least that your cell phone battery now has enough power to last for two songs! It’s almost forty years since he toured on this side of the pond - let’s hope European audiences get the opportunity to witness this great performer again before he calls time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The album’s closing song, “A.D. 2020” retreads old ground using a familiar musical theme from the “Paradise Theatre” album but this time it’s far more impacting. Knowing that DeYoung said that this was going to be his last album, this becomes far more personal, and it’s sad ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This album brings his career full circle. The album title “26 East” is the address in Roseland on the south side of Chicago where the genesis of Styx began in 1962 with a band called Tradewinds which he formed with twins John and Chuck Panozzo who lived just across the street. At the group’s inception, Dennis played the accordion. When you know the history, hearing him play one on “A.D. 2020” this song makes it all the more poignant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Thankfully, so much material had been written, Serafino Perugino, CEO of Frontiers Music, suggested splitting it between two albums, hence “26 East: Volume 1” – so we can now all anticipate what Volume 2 holds in store – personally, I can’t wait to hear it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">8.5/10</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">East Of Midnight</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">With All Due Respect</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">A Kingdom Ablaze</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">You My Love</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Run For The Roses</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Damn That Dream</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Unbroken</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The Promise Of This Land</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">To The Good Old Days</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">A.D. 2020</span></div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-32232092150926352352020-05-21T19:02:00.001+01:002020-05-21T19:25:48.191+01:00Room Experience - 'Another Time And Place' Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><span style="color: lime;">Room Experience - Another Time And Place</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">This Friday sees the release of the sophomore album from Room Experience, more of those pesky Italians single handedly (as a nation) trying to keep melodic rocks flame burning - not as a flicker, but a full on Gas Mark 9. It’s still the brain child of Gianluca Firmo, who again plays keys, BV’s and has one song of his own to sing (Euro bonus track), and he has blackmailed his friends for another outing of melodic mayhem. Back in the hot seat is David Readman, and he is a fine choice of vocalist for any project. Also along for the ride again are Davide Barbieri (keys and BVs), Steve De Biasi (guitars), Pierpaolo Monti (drums) and noob to the set up, Simon Dredo (bass)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">There’s also a hosts of guest itching to get involved, such as Ivan Gonzalez, Sven Larsson, Stefano Zeni, Chitarra Matteo Serra, Lorenzo Fodda, Marcello Sperra, and no Italian project would be complete without the addition of Alessandro Del Vecchio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think the title of the album (Another Place And Time) is obviously a nod to days gone by where an album project like this would probably have been lapped up had it been 1986, but unfortunately those days are long gone. Even now (May) and the rest of the year will be a completely different time to what it was in February. We are in strange times indeed. Thankfully people are still producing music even if gigging is off the table for the time being. At least more of us are sitting at home able to listen and discover bands like Room Experience. A couple of years down the line, the name still hasn’t grown on me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Take note other bands to up your game, the PR info that was issued with this album states that Room Experience is powered by Blåkläder Workwear. (I wonder if spandex and leg warmers are considered as workwear?). I expect Vega to respond and announce a deal with ‘Betty’s’</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Anyway, onto the frivolity that is ‘APAT’. I’ve only had the chance to listen to it a couple of times and there’s some good stuff going on here. ‘Hear Another Song’ is a powerful opener. I was expecting to be overladen with layered keyboards, but its not the case here as is very much a pulsating rocker. ‘Wild Heart’ goes very much for the 80s keyboard style opening intro and settles into its groove. There a good enough mix of songs to keep the listener entertained - from the power ballads ‘The Distance’, ‘A Thousand Lands’ and the closer which is very Gary Moore guitar influenced, ‘Your Voice Inside’; uplifting ‘The Night Goes On’; strong choruses in ‘Disappointed’, and ‘The Miles That Make A Road’, and my personal favourites the 80s style powerful rockers ‘A Thousand Lies’, Another Place And Time’, ‘Shout’ and ‘Hear Another Song’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">All in all its a good album, the paying is strong, Readman is a good choice for handling vocals, the guitar playing is excellent, and production polished, but not overly. Theres not a great deal to cheer us all up presently, but albums like this certainly can lift your spirits. Its nice for them to include a European bonus track for once, instead of the Japanese hogging the market!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">7.5/10</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tracklisting</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Hear Another Song</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Wild Heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Disappointed</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Strangers In The Night</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Distance</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Shout</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Another Place And Time</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Miles That Make A Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Night Goes On</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A Thousand Lies</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Your Voice Inside</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Distance (Lead Vocals Gianluca Firmo - European Bonus Track)</span></div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-23243074895159227032020-05-16T16:46:00.000+01:002020-05-16T16:46:25.732+01:00McStine & Minnemann new single “Program”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">MCSTINE & MINNEMANN</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">“PROGRAM” – THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM – VIDEO NOW ONLINE</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW – OFFICIAL ALBUM RELEASE <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" style="text-decoration-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.38);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">ON JULY 3</a><sup><a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" style="text-decoration-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.38);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">RD</a></sup><a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" style="text-decoration-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.38);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true"> 2020</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">McStine & Minnemann</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> is a new band consisting of Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) and Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats). </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pre-orders for their debut album began on <u>Friday May 1st</u>, along with the release of their first single “Program” and its brand new music video.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The duo initially met in 2018 while working with other artists, but as they discovered their shared passion for an assortment of Rock, Pop, and Punk artists, they decided to embark on a collaborative project together. Although McStine and Minnemann initially set out to record an EP, they quickly shifted to making an album as their musical ideas and chemistry flourished. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />The result of their self-titled debut, <i>McStine & Minnemann, </i>is a high-energy collection of ten compact, yet expansive Rock songs that sit well next to the likes of XTC, Mr. Bungle, The Knack, Queen, and Frank Zappa. As both men are prolific multi-instrumentalists and writers, they have created a space for each other to showcase their incomparable instrumental talents, while infusing them with an incredible mix of melodic and lyrical depth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><b style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/9Ut9Zo1A60A" style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">WATCH THE “PROGRAM” VIDEO HERE</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The first single from the album “Program” explores the impact of technology in the modern world, and the duo worked closely with videographer Christian Rios (who has also directed videos for Flying Colors and Sons of Apollo) to create an unique music video to represent the concept. Randy remembers: <i>“I sent the song to Christian to gauge his interest in doing a music video for it, and he came back with a concept to have the whole thing feel as if our phones are communicating and directing us. The lyrics are somewhat abstract, but he picked up on a theme of tech addiction, which is something I think about often.”</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">“I first recorded ‘Program’ in 2013 but only started playing it again with my trio about a year ago” </span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">continues Randy. <i>“And I thought this would be really great to do [with Marco] if we kick up the energy a bit and take it to a Devo-esque sound. I’m super excited about how it came out! The way Marco approached the instrumental section completely took it to a new level, making it very tight and rhythmic.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Marco adds: <i>“The whole track has a real driving energy to it and I think, as an album opener, it sets the stage for most of the musical elements that are to follow.”</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">McStine & Minnemann </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">was produced by the duo, and mixed by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, SikTh). </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">McStine & Minnemann </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Tracklist:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">01. Program</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">02. Falling From Grace</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">03. Your Offenses</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">04. Catrina</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">05. Top Of The Bucket</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">06. Tear The Walls Down (No Memories)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">07. Fly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">08. Activate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">09. The Closer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">10. Voyager</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pre-Orders for <i>McStine & Minnemann</i></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> are now available on Bandcamp with several packages to choose from -</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="http://mcstineminnemann.bandcamp.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">PRE-ORDER HERE NOW</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">$8</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Digital Download</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">$13</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> CD + digital download (shipping exc.)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">$25</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> ‘Deluxe Version’ CD + digital download (shipping exc.) with exclusive bonus content -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Private stream release of 1 new song per week (every Friday) <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://11" style="text-decoration-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.38);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="11" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">from May 1st to July 3rd</a> (in </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">order of album sequence), as well as a Randy/Marco commentary track and Marco drum </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">playthrough video per song</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">A Limited Edition Vinyl version is also available -<b> </b></span><a href="https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/227577/mcstine-minnemann-mcstine-minnemann" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">PRE-ORDER HERE NOW</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">$25</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Special limited 140 grams Collectors Vinyl Album, only 100 pressed</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Follow McStine Minnemann:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Website: </span><a href="http://mcstineminnemann.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">www.mcstineminnemann.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Bandcamp:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="https://mcstineminnemann.bandcamp.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">https://mcstineminnemann.bandcamp.com</span></a><span style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook:</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/mcstineminnemann/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">www.facebook.com/mcstineminnemann/</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Instagram: </span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/mcstineminnemann/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">www.instagram.com/mcstineminnemann/</span></a><span style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">YouTube:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2u9GLs3z2VCLxwrmKdcMoA" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2u9GLs3z2VCLxwrmKdcMoA</a></span></div>
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10 MINUTE SAMPLER OF THE NEW ALBUM (Below)</div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-45152497418307075692020-05-05T17:38:00.003+01:002020-05-05T17:38:33.809+01:00One Desire - 'Midnight Empire' Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaFkfJsh0gSMUaMWyqa9_hxf8Zkb5FrJ3QjxROOODdma2Q5P1nzPykx_rt7uv-DeqpG9Q18QcgK8xYMdr8iw3qNAfajv2WrAGVDsojD6iXhiaCRFVCOtEQjob127bq4U6yUavxEC8ehrn/s1600/OneDesire_800x800_600x600%25402x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaFkfJsh0gSMUaMWyqa9_hxf8Zkb5FrJ3QjxROOODdma2Q5P1nzPykx_rt7uv-DeqpG9Q18QcgK8xYMdr8iw3qNAfajv2WrAGVDsojD6iXhiaCRFVCOtEQjob127bq4U6yUavxEC8ehrn/s320/OneDesire_800x800_600x600%25402x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">One Desire – Midnight Empire</span></b></div>
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I was first aware of One Desire a few years ago and was lucky enough to see them in The Cathouse in Glasgow supporting Eclipse. Word was they were decent and the first album imaginatively called One Desire was superb, I loved it and loved them playing live. <br />
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A couple of things struck me, they were called One Desire just as some band called One Direction were still making it big in the world. Luckily they were nothing like One Direction. The second thing was that lead singer André Linman could not only sing well but had hair that a shampoo advert would die for.<br />
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Their 30 minute set was superb, tight and I was left well impressed. Sadly I missed out when a few mates went to see them in Finland, I’d have loved to see these lads on home soil.<br />
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And so I was lucky enough to get a link to the new album Midnight Empire. Actually lucky doesn’t cover it, I was blessed!<br />
Shadowman – starts with a haunting recorded intro with crackles from the record it’s taken from before the music kicks in and it kicks in with style. A thumping driving beat, the vocals clear and the backing vocals full of menace as it builds to a great chorus. It’s full of energy, keyboards and atmosphere, it sets a standard. “The Shadow in the window hiding”…..<br />
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After You’re Gone – what a tune, it’s catchier than a pandemic (too soon?), it just drags you along with a massive smile on your face. Simply WOW! One Desire for me was this track not to end (see what I did there……). It’s definitely nods towards Eclipse which can never be bad thing in my opinion, totally love it, no wonder it was released to highlight the album. <br />
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Down and Dirty – completes a hat trick of 3 catchy melodic tracks of real style. Rather than Down and Dirty it’s more “Upbeat and Clean”. It’s got another great chorus and layered backing vocals that just simply work.<br />
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The vocals of André Linman complement the solos of Jimmy Westerlund superbly. The talent of both for me matches if not exceeds the original CD. I say CD because I’m old and still love a CD mainly to blast out in the car.<br />
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Godsent Extasy – Even though the title sounds like a dodgy porn channel it’s another track that hits you with another full on melodic rock cracker, key changes and continues the feel of the preceding tracks nicely.<br />
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Through the Fire – acoustic guitar start, vocals exposed and wonderfully haunting. What a beautiful slow burner this is. It grows into a magnificent atmospheric track, One Desire certainly aren’t a one trick pony. This takes them to another level. There’s a touch of Rush, a bit of Eclipse and the guitar solo at the end could only sound more magnificent if backed by an orchestra and choir. Sublime.<br />
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Heroes – another gentle build up that bursts into life. It fits in with the previous songs seamlessly. Again the musicianship is top.<br />
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Rio – a cracking ballad, the piano intro sets the tone, the vocals of André lead into a slow builder, by slow I don’t mean bad, they just let the song build and let the guitar solo take over in a note perfect way until Andre’s vocals end it beautifully.<br />
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Battlefield of Love – the way OD use an acoustic guitar to lead into a full-on electric high tempo piece makes their sound well, well just their own. A clever use of keyboards (which are across a lot of the tracks) just adds to the feel. <br />
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Killer Queen – another superb full on piece of Scandinavian rock – it zips, it’s not Queen but it’s still a royal song. Sorry, I’ll get my coat.<br />
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Only When I Breathe – the rain fall backdrop leads to a classic finish to what is a bloody decent album. Again it starts showcasing the vocals of Andre on top of a gentle guitar. A superb ballad again and the vocals are stunningly good. “Now it only hurts when I breathe”.<br />
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If you love melodic rock and especially with the Scandinavian feel then you won’t be disappointed, it’s a belter and the best I’ve had the pleasure to hear this year. I’ve not mentioned Ossi Sivula on drums and Jonas Kuhlberg on bass guitar but they are just as important to the sound because they just do their bit, no frills but 100% behind the whole sound. Also the use of keyboards just works perfectly.<br />
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In conclusion Midnight Empire is a little gem, the band deserve a much bigger audience. They were superb live and I can’t wait to see these songs with a large appreciative audience. Totally loved it with so many earworms in the CD. The faster stuff is immense but for me “Through The Fire” just hits every button although my favourite will always be After You’re Gone, up there with the best of Eclipse, HEAT and Perfect Plan, it is simply that good.<br />
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I would say check the band out live on their European tour with The Night Flight Orchestra in March 2020 but that won’t happen, instead buy this, dream and wait until they play Scotland, I’ll see you there, I’ll be big idiot with a smile on my face. They won’t disappoint.<br />
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One Desire – take a bow lads. Magnificent.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">9.5/10 Easy. </span></b><br />
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*Tracklist:*<br />
1. Shadowman<br />
2. Heroes<br />
3. Down And Dirty<br />
4. Godsent Extasy<br />
5. Through The Fire<br />
6. After You’ve Gone (Separate Ways)<br />
7. Killer Queen<br />
8. Was It Love?<br />
9. Battlefield Of Love<br />
10. Rio<br />
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*Line-up:*<br />
Jimmy Westerlund – guitars<br />
André Linman – lead vocals<br />
Ossi Sivula – drums<br />
Jonas Kuhlberg – bass guitar<br />
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-7288058203786586292020-05-01T14:19:00.002+01:002020-05-01T14:19:23.768+01:00FM - 'Synchronised' Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FM - Synchronised</div>
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In what currently seems like a pre-cursor to an impeding real-life zombie apocalypse where a strain jumps from animals to humans and mutates to kill 98% of the worlds pollution, its a bloody good job I can rely on certain things to comfort me - such as a new release from my all time faves, FM!<br />
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Its been a good 12-13 years since they returned for a headline gig at 2007s Firefest, and after the second-life release of ‘Metropolis’ in 2010 its been steady ahead and a consistent team for those onboard HMS FM. In fact, the output has been more prolific than it was and they are probably more in control of their destiny that at an other point since 1984, and has seen them grace stages they probably never thought was possible (Donington, Sweden Rock, and a long awaited debut in the US), and tours with luminaries such as Foreigner, Heart and Lizzy. Its a good time to be a fan!<br />
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For FM Part II, ‘Synchronized’ is this lines ups seventh studio release, their twelfth in total. It’s some going. If you’re a fan already then there’s a lot to like. ‘Synchronized’ is rightly the first song to be picked as a single, as its in the same vein as a ‘Blood and Gasoline’, ‘Tough Love’, ‘Tough it Out’ and fires along at a strong pace, led by Kirkpartick’s guitar and Davis’ keyboard. All of which is enveloped in Overlands vocals and the ‘gang of fives’ harmonies. It’s a cert for addition for the live shows. ‘Superstar’ is almost a departure for FM, its a mellow, pop-fuelled number that is certain of coverage on Radio 2 I suspect. I found it a bit too bland at first, but after a few spins it’s a definite grower, and more ‘one for the ladies’? I can already visage the video - filmed in Arizona (Blackpool) with a sweeping shot, (drone, not helicopter), followed by a top down Jag racing across Route 66 (A6). ‘Best Of Times’ follows on from ‘Superstar,’ and has a bit more vim and vigour, and without Overland singing his arse off, it would be average in any other hands. ‘Ghosts Of You And I’ is the first ballad, and its still very un-FM like. It’s not a bad thing, Im just taken a bit aback by the first few numbers being a shift from the norm. ‘Broken’ is upbeat and akin to what hit the Billboard charts mid-80s, and is ear candy of the highest order.<br />
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‘Change For The Better’ is a classy number and definitely channels Don Henley’s ‘Boys Of Summer’. ‘End Of Days’ goes for a ‘BIG’ sound from the off, with a nice ‘choppy’ guitar sound running through the whole song. ‘Pray’ sees Overland channeling his inner Sam Cooke and has all the hallmarks of a soulful/Blues STAX record from the 60s with a modern twist. It’s only missing a horns section and Steve ‘The Colonel’ Cropper, and it is a firm favourite for me. I.Loved. It. ‘Walk Through The Fire’ is bound to bring comparisons to Mr. Misters ‘Broken Wings’ thanks to Jem Davis’ ivory tinkling. It’s as 80s as a pair of Coverdale’s leg warmers and its all about the bridge and chorus, thus proving that the second half of ‘Synchronized’ is definitely on a roll.<br />
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‘Hell Or High Water’ is one of the heavier songs (in FMs world), it is built around the infectious chorus. ‘Angels Cried’ has a slide opening riff before settling into a bluesy, almost gospel ballad, with a side of Bon Jovi thrown in. Only, when BJ was good! Finally we are on to ‘Ready For Me’ is like FM of old, when every album or single had a B side like a Bad Company cover or BC inspired dong, and RFM is no exception and it finished the album on a positive.<br />
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Basically I take away my comment at the top of this review. Yes its a comfort for a new FM album, but it’s very different to anything they have put out before. That has thrown me a bit, which is both good, and also slightly puzzling to me. That in itself I think is a good thing, and that deserves a round of applause. It’s definitely a stronger period for me in the second half, as a few of the first half made me question if there was a pattern or new sound they were going after. It’s almost akin to when I heard SO for the first time. However, I’m positive that after many more listens, it will be a big hit with me. One thing is certain, Steve Overland never sounded so good.<br />
<br />
No doubt Dave Ling will wank himself into a frenzy.<br />
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8/10<br />
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Tracklisting<br />
Synchronised<br />
Superstar<br />
Best Of Times<br />
Ghosts Of You And I<br />
Broken<br />
Change For The Better<br />
End Of Days<br />
Pray<br />
Walk Through The Fire<br />
Hell Or High Water<br />
Angels Cried<br />
Ready For Me<br />
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<br />aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-3744577882493503062020-04-30T19:46:00.004+01:002020-04-30T19:46:38.089+01:00Sam Millar - 'Radio Gouda' EP Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsjAVksqIjl3Fx4rW7NW-IrudgCSPZKjYaPIDcS6N3h5pVEcfSh5LmVinzeL1tBnZz1opjGKZrWAvZX8lGR_BIGa7NQRFnlPjxxgLsdGBvC_LtpxhaArCeVhII3rD0vy-vshueba9CrZY/s1600/Sam-Millar-Radio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsjAVksqIjl3Fx4rW7NW-IrudgCSPZKjYaPIDcS6N3h5pVEcfSh5LmVinzeL1tBnZz1opjGKZrWAvZX8lGR_BIGa7NQRFnlPjxxgLsdGBvC_LtpxhaArCeVhII3rD0vy-vshueba9CrZY/s320/Sam-Millar-Radio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Sam Millar – Radio Gouda EP</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I loved Sam Millar’s first EP Holy Sass, for me it was one of the best releases last year with a fresh sound and a break away from the heavier Bigfoot sound. With this in mind I was looking forward to hearing the second EP immensely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sam’s Facebook page – “Sam Millar – Music” has clips of Sam playing various covers and basically being, well, just Sam, mental, funny and well worth checking it out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Radio Gouda – the intro is the sound of a radio being tuned with music fading in and out as the dial is turned before DJ Dairylea is found. He’s not right in the head I tell ya.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Human kicks things off in earnest, it starts with a staccato kind of guitar riff which leads up to Sam’s vocals kicking in. What has become clear is that Sammy can sing, he has a distinctive voice suited perfectly to the music he writes. Human is a great piece of soft rock, a catchy chorus and the obligatory Sam guitar solo. Again Sam’s guitar sound and solos are distinctive, the lad can play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Forbidden is the first track to be released and it would have fitted in perfectly on the first EP in the sound and structure of the song (hark at me talking as if I’ve actually got a clue about music), the chorus is catchier than a STI and it’s 4 and half minutes of quality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Let it Rain is a slower moodier track and leads with the vocals full of angst with keyboards providing a mellow undercurrent before the guitars come in and take over nicely. The choral middle section is a smart touch and complements the overall sound. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sober kicks off with a guitar riff that definitely nods in the direction of “Why Can’t This Be Love” by Van Halen. It’s a sad song about trying to stop a break up “If it’s over say it’s over, I’ll believe it when you’re sober”. The chorus is haunting and the guitar solo is a belter, cool and considered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Levi’s brings the EP to a rocking end, the most energetic and hi-energy track with a bit of Sammy humour chucked in for good measure singing about a cold shower at midnight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">So Radio Gouda is another belter from Sam, I loved the first one and this is as good if not better. It’s a lifetime away from the Bigfoot songs and cements Sam’s style as a solo artist. When you have a 5 track EP you can’t hide weak songs, well there aren’t any so that’s a result.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">For a self-written and home produced EP it really is superb stuff, it’s melodic, thoughtful with a well-considered guitar solo on every track. I would hope that a label will pick this up and invest in giving the songs just that little bit of a polish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I’m gutted that this bloody virus has stopped the Sam Millar and the Sass Bandits tour. I was going to Newcastle to see him and can’t tell you how much I was looking forward to seeing Sam do his thing with his own band. I didn’t ask for a refund, not because I’m kind but because it was free gig. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">My advice is simple – Check out the Sam Millar – Music page and invest a couple of quid on a young talented artist who also happens to be a nice guy, you won’t regret it…..probably.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">9.5/10</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Track list:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">1. Radio Gouda</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">2. Human</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">3. Forbidden</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">4. Let it Rain</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">5. Sober</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">6. Levi’s</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">REVIEW BY LAWRIE</span></div>
aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-86283519147358753202020-04-13T11:46:00.001+01:002020-04-13T11:46:36.540+01:00Jase Old - Hemisphere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjot0BnnKic7YSIrspQkj0_ZzIIuS7lwKcIXD4z6Z5v2XeAIodfIWhSYKNmtICOyOSJUUfOtvGFZ9HwTLrOUqcuLuDO9O0gEI-t1JhR5ut-YRA3AP0fUId-UTjJLqOLv6tFv6uFEAubwR/s1600/jasonold-hemisphere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="913" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjot0BnnKic7YSIrspQkj0_ZzIIuS7lwKcIXD4z6Z5v2XeAIodfIWhSYKNmtICOyOSJUUfOtvGFZ9HwTLrOUqcuLuDO9O0gEI-t1JhR5ut-YRA3AP0fUId-UTjJLqOLv6tFv6uFEAubwR/s320/jasonold-hemisphere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jase Old –
Hemisphere</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Hemisphere’ is
the debut solo album from Jase Old. He of prolific Aussie rock band
The Radio Sun and also Starchase. Its TRS where I first clapped eyes
on them appearing at HRH AOR for something like 4 years on the trot.
In case you’re wondering, he’s the one who usually wears pink and
tells jokes.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some bands have a
definite ‘sound’ because of their vocalists. Jase is one such
fellow. His voice is pretty distinctive. However, with Hemisphere,
thats about to change. Take opening track ‘I Hope You Find The One’
which is a broody, and more emotional song to what you would hear
from his day job. The phrasing is different with a bit of Richard
Marx rasp and Myles Kennedy (YOTT) going on. It makes for a pretty
good start. ‘Tell Me How To Mend A Broken Heart’ follows suit.
Despite the jangly keyboard and synth, its honest songwriting
wrenched from his experiences. ‘Take Me As I Am’ is a lighter
number that is something you would hear on mainstream radio. The
reins are off for Jason to roam into different styles.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘And You’ is
definitely from the Marx school of performing arts. Think emotional
ballad, and its where we find Jase, opening up and bearing his soul
for these songs. ‘Breaking Down The Lie’ is the Jase Old I like
best, a song that has a good melody and is more pulsating and
menacing. ‘You’re A Star’ is one of the stars on Hemispheres,
anyone who rhymes ‘beautiful’ with ‘irrefutable’ gets my
vote. ‘Love Is What You’re Looking For’ is old school pop-rock
with a nice layered chorus that’s ELO-esque. The title track
‘Hemisphere’ has a lot going on. Its mainly acoustical with a
prominent synth beat, but still with a drive and power, that picks up
and leaves you wanting more, which is never a bad thing. On ‘One
Life’ he sings ‘just give it all you’ve got, you may not get
another shot, because there is only one life’. Quite apt.
‘Sometimes’ is on the heavier side of Jase’s style, and is a
favourite. ‘Like It Used To Be’ is the closest Jase comes to TRS,
which finishes the album on a positive and high note.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say that
there’s a lot to like on Jase’s debut. He has certainly mixed it
up a bit, as there’s different styles, emotions, and more depth to
the subject matter. The songs are varied enough and come at you thick
and fast. Its something I want to see developed further as Jase Old
definitely has something to say and a solo artist suits him.
‘Hemisphere’ is a very pleasant surprise. Obviously it will
attract fans of The Radio Sun, but that’s where it ends. There’s
only one song that didn’t resonate with me. The album gets better
as you work your way through it, and deserves repeat playing. There’s
certainly a few songs here that will end up on my ipad and that’s a
tough selection process!!
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A solid 7/10</span></div>
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</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Hope You Find The
One*</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell Me How To Mend
A Broken Heart*</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take Me As I Am</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And You</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breaking <span style="text-decoration: none;">Down
The Lie*</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">You’re
A Star</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Love
Is What You’re Looking For</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Hemisphere*</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">One
Life</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Sometimes*</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Like
It Used To Be*</span></span></div>
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</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Released
Friday 18</span><sup><span style="text-decoration: none;">th</span></sup><span style="text-decoration: none;">
on all major streaming platforms</span></span></div>
aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-71266611829097122662020-01-07T20:19:00.000+00:002020-01-07T20:19:38.188+00:00Top 20 Albums of 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRXBH1dhIM5eyagKmpRGZC5yJ7isVS0XqmGPBs17xaF37pDwL9d4epXFO4tfbinigrqL5GgmBQpja5O9pNNubxfT5aD6tE93WF4FxREgETnbsbaj1tUXBO-NQEI4bwbC42MjdkTwh7pnd/s1600/5EA66BE8-0B62-4E27-9C09-27F09FFC6476.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1004" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRXBH1dhIM5eyagKmpRGZC5yJ7isVS0XqmGPBs17xaF37pDwL9d4epXFO4tfbinigrqL5GgmBQpja5O9pNNubxfT5aD6tE93WF4FxREgETnbsbaj1tUXBO-NQEI4bwbC42MjdkTwh7pnd/s320/5EA66BE8-0B62-4E27-9C09-27F09FFC6476.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>Albums of 2019</b></span></span></div>
<span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Hello there dear reader, thanks for all your support in reading my blog. You know who you are you special little dude. I'm a bit late in compiling my fave album list, it's the first time I've ever posted it in the following year. I'm slacking, and I apologise for it. I've been unwell you see, and had some tricky kidney stones removed. I wouldn’t wish them on my own worst enemy is what I want to say, but I have 7 people who I'd love to pass the pain on to. They know who they are!!!</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Anyway I digress. I've enjoyed 2019 over other recent years as I felt it was a particularly strong year for rock music. Proper rock music, and not the shite that the like of X factor call rock music! A couple of my favourite bands released albums that feature in my list, and there’s also a superb debut album, and the album that most of the rock community waited almost 10000 days for. So here you have it, my slightly biased list of albums that I thought were great, and some brilliant.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">But first, here's a few albums that didn’t quite make the list but are definitely worth listening to - </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Puppy - Sabbath vs pop metal</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Hardware 86 - as 80s as a pair of David Coverdales leg warmers</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Notorious - Scandi hair metal that deserves to be heard by many</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">20 - Dream Theater Distance Over Time</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Probably the post Prog named album of the last decade, 'DOT' sees Dream Theater return to form from the somewhat lacklustre 'The Astonishing' (in hindsight one of the worst names). Its an 'almost' return to DT factory settings, producing an album that the likes of DT only can do.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">19 - Hollowstar - S/T</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Hollowstar cite the likes of BSC, Thunder and Slash as influences and they all flow through the album like a stick of Blackpool rock. Old school / modern rock that delivers in spades. I expect these guys to deliver on their promises.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">18 - Grand Slam - Hit The Ground</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Laurence Archer revives this gem of a band with a mix of old and new tunes. The king may be dead, but Grand Slam prove that they are very much alive and kicking</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">17 - Airbourne - Boneshaker</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">In an uncertain world, its good to know you can rely on some things to stay the same and offer comfort. Airbourne are one such band. Not ones for ripping up the rulebook, they have a method, and it works. If you're fed up of seeing AC/DCs cousins and nephews performing then there’s no better Aussie DC fix than Airbourne</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">16 - John Diva and the Rockets Of Love - Mama Said Rock Is Dead</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">On first inspection JDATROL make Steel Panther a credible 80s band, but look beneath the surface and you see a band with a mission (just like Steel Panther) in taking us back to the 80s and party like its 1986. They have the looks, the persona and thankfully the sound. Its not a perfect album, but Diva has raided the iSpy book of Hair Metal Cliches, but when they get it right they do it oh so well. Diva's Mama was wrong!</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">15 - The Spectre Beneath - The Downfall Of Judith King</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Paz, the person behind TSB is fairly prolific, in fact this was his second album of the year (his other outfit - The Plague and the Decay). Its TSB that just pips it to make my list, and its a belter. Combine Sharon Den Adel, Devin Townsend, Symphony X and Biomechanical, and you might have an idea of where Im coming from. Like footy, its an album of two halves. The first is a metal fest, and the latter more of a classic rock vein and its these distinct two halves that come together to make for a cracking album</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">14 - Opeth - In Cauda Venenum</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Ok, they are not the Black Metal darlings of old, and Mr Åkerfeldt makes no apology for their shift to a more 70s prog sound. They made a bold move in recording the album in their native Swedish and English, and both versions delight the listener (well, this listener anyway). They mix it up considerably with country, rock, and Baroque all playing a part and I for one loved it.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">13- Nitrate - Open Wide</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">With all the Vega and Midnite City involvement you would expect Nitrate to hit all the right places, and that is correct. Most of the songs are anthems with more riffs than Mark Tremontis hard drive (he’s got thousands!).</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">12 - Alter Bridge - Walk The Sky</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">This for me was their best album since Blackbird. They introduced keyboards and electronica and it paid off. The foundations are still there - industrial grade riffing, bone stuttering bass, and spleen moving drumming, but there’s more shorter, snappy numbers this time around, but its the lengthier Dying Light that's the highlight of the album </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">11 - Royal Republic - Club Majesty</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Just one song from Download on TV was enough for me to go out and get this album. An infectious album of disco rock. It's riff meets pop meeds disco, and the outcome is glitterball chock full of frolicking fun.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">10 - Black Star Riders - Another State Of Grace</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">I think BSR have just about broken the shackles of being another Thin Lizzy with this their fourth album. Personnel changes have further weakened the Lizzy DNA and a couple of songs still make reference to the legacy. Its becoming less of a theme, and now 'ASOG' puts them firmly standing on their own two feet. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">9 - Work Of Art - Exhibits</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">A new WOA album is always going to be hotly anticipated and 'Exhibits' make no exception. With Survivors Jim Peterik weighing in with help, their provenance is undoubted as being the finest modern exponents of AOR in the vein of Toto, Giant, et al. Only one other has done it better this year (See No.5)</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">8 - Whiskey Myers - S/T</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">If you liked 2017s Mud, then you’ll absolutely devour this one like Dracula at a haemophilia convention. Taking the best of Lynyrd Skynyrd, gospel vocals and Southern American music, they proved themselves right to self produce for the first time. With lyrics like ‘I was raised by wolves in the woods, not the streets’ you know its not the usual bunkum. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">7 - Rammstein - Untitled</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Bloomin’ ‘eck! Its been ten years since 'Liebe Its Fur Alle', and all focus was on Tool's equally long awaited opus, but this was worth every bit of the wait as ‘Fear Inoculum’ was. Few bands can bugger off for so long, and just carry on where they left off, and then there's Rammstein, the masters of industrial metal. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">6 - The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">The Darkness seem to have had more comebacks than Rocky Balboa, but one thing they do is make consistently cracking albums. Hawkins has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek with song titles like the hilarious ‘Rock and Roll Deserves To Die’ and the title track, but he has not lost his knack for an ear splitting riff and ball tightening wail like only he can (without the aid of anything other than a scrotum chafing onesie and raw talent). Its the type of album that should be on a school curriculum.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">5 - The Defiants - Zokusho</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Their debut was an absolute belter, so what did they do? Bettered it! Comprising of current and former members of Danger Danger - this doesn’t make a difference, but they rock firmly like they are in their 20s and its 1989 not 2019. Aptly named, Zokusho means ‘sequel’, but it should mean ‘one better’. Big hooks, big hair, big choruses, and Paul Laine sings his arse off. What more do you want.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">4 - Scarlet Rebels - Show Your Colours</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Ive been shouting off to anyone that will listen about previous outfit V0id, and after a great set at HRH AOR in March, I was hotly anticipating ‘SYC’. Its melodic rock tunes at their finest with a mix of hard melodic rock, three emotional ballads, and not a single duffer in sight. The whole thing is catchier than a baseball glove dipped in UHU, and I hope these guys go as far as their talent lets them.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: lime;">3 - Leprous - Pitfalls</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Prior to this, I’d never come across Leprous before so I had no other benchmark to fit them to. But bugger me, 'Pitfalls' was one of those moments that makes reviewing albums worthwhile. Its both haunting and compelling and I half expect Solberg’s falsetto to appear on a Scandi thriller. Its a bit of a side step to anything they have done before. Its a bold move, but boy did it pay off.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: cyan;">2 - Rival Sons - Feral Roots</span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Along with AB, RS are my fave bands formed this side of the Millennium. Where 'GWV' was great, 'Hollow Bones' stalled the development a little for me, but 'Feral Roots' puts them back at the top of their trade and put them in the big leagues (hence their two Grammy nominations). Everything on here is a belter, its their first album that you will not skip a single track. Greta Van Fleet seem to get the plaudits, but Rival Sons have been doing it better and longer, and don’t need to be clones of Messers Plant and Page. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">1 - Tool - Fear Inoculum</span></b></span><div>
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /></span></b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">OK so it took a long time in coming, but it was worth the wait. Right? Totally! It wasn’t a totally fulfilling listen at its first attempt. Its needed multiple listens to fully appreciate the scale and magnitude of ‘FI’. Typically it is hypnotic, mesmerising and absorbing. Six songs weigh in at over 10 mins - hence why they didn’t fit it all on the CD! Some said it was all the same as before, but even if that is the case, it still makes for a compelling album, it is Tool after all. And they don’t do anything by halves.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;" /><div>
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aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077413894250913337.post-59088854378999962682019-10-24T12:33:00.000+01:002019-10-24T12:41:15.639+01:00Airbourne - 'Boneshaker' Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">Airbourne - Boneshaker</span></b></div>
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Me and Airbourne have a bit of beef. (Ok I know its not grammatically correct). Not serious beef, more like beef substitute. I’ve been to lots of gigs since I was 15 years old. I’m 52 now, so let’s just say that its ‘lots’ of gigs. But only one band got me admitted to A&E, and that’s Airbourne. Manchester Academy, near the front, 2011. It was unnoticeable at first, but when we left the venue, my son who was about 15 at the time sounded like a Smurf. We laughed all the way home. After an uncomfortable sleep, it was no longer funny, I thought I was fucked. I could hardly hear a thing and was relying on lip-reading. Four days passed before it came back, and I was shitting myself. Today it’s more of a badge of honour, because very few bands crank it like Airbourne and sadly missed Motorhead, and mainly because there is a legal limit. I’ve forgiven them. I am sure they can now rest, in knowing I no longer hold that grudge.<br />
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Enough of my problems. Let get onto the review. I loved the first two Airbourne albums, and clearly saw them as a methadone replacement for AC/DC should they ever jack it in. (At this rate, AC/DC will still be touring in 2043, only it will all nephews of the originals!). Their star rose very quickly, playing the likes of the big Academy in Manchester etc. in a short space of time. Nine years later sees them still playing the same venues, and I was seriously tipping them for much bigger audiences. At least they haven’t gone backwards!<br />
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Bands give 100%, and then there's Airbourne. Their effort feeds into their high-octane songs. Title track Boneshaker opens up and typically, it’s in their inimitable style. Let’s face it, who wants them to do an Opeth and see Airbourne go left field all of a sudden. It’s AC/DC by any other name, and the title falls right into TNT, or Thunderstruck territory. I can see others criticising the format, but ITS WHAT AIRBOURNE DO! ‘Burnout The Nitro’ follows suit in wanting to rip your head off and piss down your throat, with its ferocity. ‘This Is Our City’ slows the tempo down a bit, it that’s possible of Airbourne. It’s also quite simple and minimalistic. I just noticed that its been produced by Dave Cobb, which is didn’t expect, but so far into Boneshaker I can immediately feel his impact on the songs.<br />
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'Sex To Go' sees O’Keefe going to the David Coverdale ‘iSpy Book of Saucy Lyrics’, <i>"Gotta get me a bit of meat on the bun; Supersize, cheese and fries, all I really want is your apple pie"</i>. ‘Backseat Boogie’ is their go to bar-room, spit and sawdust, beer-swillin’ number – fun, sweet, and neat. I immediately wanted to connect to ‘Blood In The Water’ thinking they had written a song about my kidney stones, but it’s no such thing unfortunately, as Airbourne have more than enough liquids in their diet, unlike me! Instead I’m certain it’s about ‘Jaws’. It has a growling riff, and pounding base. You don’t need a chiropractor to realign your bones, just crank and let the power of the riff do its work.<br />
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‘She Gives Me Hell’ follows the ‘You Shook Me…’ beat as being a close a dance track as Airbourne could possible do. ‘Switchblade Angel’ is a 100w, raucous number that these guys can now write in their sleep. Simple and effective. ‘Weapon Of War’ mixes it up a bit with a slow and menacing riff, which builds to a crescendo of sound – riffage, thunderous bass, powerful drumming, melodic and fist pumping energy. It’s on to the last track all too soon (I think I’ve had longer dumps! The running time is a short and sweet shy of 31 minutes), the Airbourne random name generated ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll For Life’, a song that will no doubt be coming to a tattoo parlour soon. It is out of the blocks like a stabbed rat. Fast, frenetic, and LOUD. You need to take a breather, just listening to it.<br />
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If you’re a fan already, its rinse, repeat, enjoy. It’s what they do best. Airbourne probably make no apologies for what they do, and rightly so. You can only listen to this album at full volume, anything less and you’re a Jessie. The closest you can get to a gig without being there in the flesh. Dave Cobb has done a good job with the production. It’s rawer than anything previous and he has managed to catch that live feeling that few can on an album. It has more grit than McAlpines quarries.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">8/10</span></b><br />
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Review by Paul Chesworth<br />
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Tracklisting –<br />
Boneshaker<br />
Burnout The Nitro<br />
This Is Our City<br />
Sex To Go<br />
Backseat Boogie<br />
Blood In The Water<br />
She Gives Me Hell<br />
Switchblade Angel<br />
Weapon Of War<br />
Rock ‘N’ Roll For Life<br />
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Airbourne –<br />
Joel O’Keefe – vocals/ lead guitar<br />
Matt Harrison – guitar<br />
Ryan O’Keefe – drums<br />
Justin Street – bass<br />
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Produced by Dave Cobb<br />
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<br />aorwxmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06440252118140466666noreply@blogger.com0