ALEXX CALISE – Morning Pill

Posted in Alexx Calise with tags , , , , , on November 28, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Alexx Calise – Morning Pill (2007, Phantom Records)

1. “Give It to Me” … 3:39
2. “My Song” … 3:02
3. “Throw Your Words” … 3:12
4. “Nothing Feels Right (The Godlike Song)” … 2:44
5. “This Is Me” … 3:29
6. “Falling” … 3:51
7. “Touch My Hey” … 2:21
8. “Shake Dem Bones” … 2:40
9. “C’mon You” … 3:14
10. “Pull It (Bullet)” … 3:44
11. “Morning Pill” … 4:26

Immediately upon listening to this album, vocal comparisons between Alexx and Lzzy Hale from Halestorm come to mind. Alexx does not wail as much as Lzzy does but the similarities are there. With a beautiful and (dare I say) sexy voice, Alexx could have easily tossed her hat into the pop music realm and competed with a bunch of “divas” but luckily, she chose to ROCK the world with an album that is a blend of modern rock and good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll (and okay, there’s a touch of pop to it, especially with the stellar production values).

Seemingly on the cusp of major success, the career of Alexx Calise seems to be going nowhere but up with recent uses of her music by VH1 and The CW’s One Tree Hill and it’s easy to see why she’s in demand. Alexx is charismatic and full of rock & roll swagger. As for the music, there’s a definite sexy edge to it. This is the type of rock music that could easily get play on the mainstream pop stations.

Granted, I’m not much of a modern rock/pop guy so I would never have initially sought this album out, but with edgier hard rockin’ moments like “My Song”, “Touch My Hey” and “Pull It (Bullet)” how could I not enjoy this album? In recent months, I’ve been trying to look outside my usual circle of preferences and with this release, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

The album is enjoyable listen all the way through but it is the harder rocking moments that are my favorite. With her second solo album on the horizon, I hope to hear more of those moments. So get in on the ground floor, kiddies, because as VH1 might say, Alexx Calise is an artist “you oughta know”.

Highlights: “Give It to Me”, “My Song”, “Touch My Hey”, “C’mon You”, “Pull It (Bullet)”, “Morning Pill”

www.alexxcalise.com
www.myspace.com/alexxcalise

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SCORPIONS – Crazy World

Posted in Scorpions with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Scorpions – Crazy World (1990, Mercury Records)

1. “Tease Me, Please Me” … 4:44
2. “Don’t Believe Her” … 4:55
3. “To Be With You in Heaven” … 4:48
4. “Wind of Change” … 5:10
5. “Restless Nights” … 5:44
6. “Lust or Love” … 4:22
7. “Kicks After Six” … 3:49
8. “Hit Between the Eyes” … 4:33
9. “Money and Fame” … 5:06
10. “Crazy World” … 5:08
10. “Send Me an Angel” … 4:34

Band:
Klaus Meine – Lead Vocals
Rudolf Schenker – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Matthias Jabs – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Herman Rarebell – Drums
Francis Buchholz – Bass

Additional Musicians:
Jim Vallance – Keyboards
Koen VanBaal – Keyboards

Producer: Keith Olsen & Scorpions

One of the band’s best moments in my opinion is this album which spawned the massive international hit power ballad “Wind of Change”. 1988’s Savage Amusement was slightly disappointing, but Scorpions fired back in 1990 with one of their most infectious albums (it is also their second best-selling release). I can get into every song and sing along each time I play this one.

Scorpions were still in a very polished hard rock mode, but so what? Except for their earliest oddball releases, they’ve always been a commercial hard rock band. Nothing is quite as heavy as “No One Like You” or “Rock You Like A Hurricane” but “Don’t Believe Her” and “Crazy World” come close. The band has always done great ballads as well and the case is no different here — “Wind of Change” is of course an all-time classic and I’ve always been a huge fan of “Send Me an Angel” which is an even more commercial take on the haunting ballads Scorpions are known for.

All told, this is one of my favorite Scorpions albums and definitely light years better than anything else they released in the ’90s.

Highlights: “Tease Me, Please Me”, “Don’t Believe Her”, “To Be With You in Heaven”, “Wind of Change”, “Restless”, “Lust or Love”, “Crazy World”, “Send Me An Angel”

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RIOT – Thundersteel

Posted in Riot with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 26, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Riot – Thundersteel (1988, CBS Records)

1. “Thundersteel” … 3:49
2. “Fight or Fall” … 4:25
3. “Sign of the Crimson Storm” … 4:40
4. “Flight of the Warrior” … 4:17
5. “On Wings of Eagles” … 5:41
6. “Johnny’s Back” … 5:32
7. “Bloodstreets” … 4:39
8. “Run For Your Life” … 4:08
9. “Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)” … 8:55

Band:
Tony Moore – Vocals
Mark Reale – Guitar
Don Van Stavern – Bass
Bobby Jarzombek – Drums

Additional Musicians:
Mark Edwards – Drums (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7)

Producer: Steve Loeb, Rob Hui and Mark Reale

What was I thinking ?!?!?! Never judge an album by its cover because then you miss out on some great music! That’s a lesson I’ve learned quite well with Riot. Despite reading for years that they were a great American NWOBHM-style band, I never bothered picking any release up. The main reason? Those awful album covers. I can’t think of any other band that has had so much terrible cover art. It really put me off and had me thinking these guys were cheap, cheesy metal that was not worth my time. How wrong I’ve been proven with Fire Down Under and now Thundersteel!

Out of the two Riot releases I’ve heard so far, Thundersteel is definitely my favorite. Fire Down Under saw the band in fully entrenched in New Wave of British Heavy Metal coming off like Diamond Head, but Thundersteel has a blend of NWOBHM, power metal and a more traditional ’80s metal sound that brings to mind Helloween, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

This was Riot’s “comeback” album after not having released any music since 1983’s Born In America. The band has continued to released albums every few years, but it’s a real shame this one wasn’t a huge success for them and that this band and album are fully appreciated like they should be.

While I had no problems with Guy Speranza on vocals, I much prefer Tony (his first album with the band), but I think each one was perfect for the type of metal the band was playing at the time. Tony has greater range though and that shows on “Run for Your Life”, which is actually my favorite song on the album. It sounds like the band was going for a Judas Priest vibe, right down to Moore’s vocals and the song would fit in well on Ram It Down.

A definite classic metal album well worth any headbanger’s time.

Highlights: “Thundersteel”,  “Sign of the Crimson Storm”, “Johnny’s Back”, “Bloodstreets”, “Run For Your Life”, “Buried Alive (Tell Tale Heart)”

www.officialriotnyc.com
www.myspace.com/officialriotnyc

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L.A. GUNS – L.A. Guns

Posted in L.A. Guns with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 23, 2009 by Metal Misfit

L.A. Guns – L.A. Guns (1988, PolyGram Records/Vertigo Records)

1. “No Mercy” … 2:47
2. “Sex Action” … 3:42
3. “One More Reason” … 3:07
4. “Electric Gypsy” … 3:25
5. “Nothing To Lose” … 4:14
6. “Bitch Is Back” … 2:53
7. “Cry No More” … 1:18
8. “One Way Ticket” … 4:20
9. “Hollywood Tease” … 2:52
10. “Shoot For Thrills” … 4:30
11. “Down In The City” … 3:56

Band:
Phil Lewis – Lead Vocals
Tracii Guns – Lead Guitar
Mick Cripps – Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Kelly Nickels – Bass, Harmonica, Whistle, Backing Vocals
Steve Riley – Drums (credited but did not play)

Additional Musicians:
Nickey “Beat” Alexander – Drums
Alan Jones – Sax
Paul Kaufman – Washboard

Producer: Jim Faraci

I’ve seen some critics call L.A. Guns a combination of Guns N’ Roses and Poison. That’s a pretty good description of them, though I think there’s a dash of Motley Crue as well. The Guns have always seemed to straddle the line between the seedy, sleazy life that GNR wrote about and the sex & party world of glam metal poster boys Poison. It makes for some good rock ‘n’ roll and L.A. Guns have never fully gotten the respect, success and credit that they should have despite having two platinum albums in their catalog (this one and Cocked & Loaded)… They should’ve sold more!

Anyway, this a really good debut. Phil Lewis rocks, guitars are great (Tracii also does not get the respect he should), there’s plenty of sleaze and fun for everyone! But the band has a softer side — there’s “Cry No More”, a pretty instrumental, to break up the album and it leads into the ballad “One Way Ticket”.

“Sex Action” was a small hit for the band, but I tend to think that’s an overrated song. It’s a good song, but I’ve often seen it mentioned as a LAG fave but I think there’s plenty of other songs here that overshadow it. “One More Reason” is my favorite from the disc. Cocked & Loaded is regarded as the quintessential L.A. Guns release. That album is a bit more catchy and melodic, but this one is heavier. I like them both equally.

Original LAG drummer Nicky “Beat” Alexander played on the album, but it was Steve Riley (coming over from W.A.S.P.) who got the album credit and his face in the band photo as he joined the band just before the album was released. Most of these songs were written with L.A. Guns’ previous singer Paul Black. Maybe that’s why Phil was able to get “Hollywood Tease” (from his previous band Girl) on the album?

Picked this up online for about $6. Definitely worth the cash. The cover is really cool too — you’ve got guns, a skull and a Hollywood night in the background. The art was done by Tyler. I wonder if he’s ever done anything else in the hair metal arena?

Highlights: “No Mercy”, “Sex Action”, “One More Reason”, “Electric Gypsy”, “One Way Ticket”, “Shoot For Thrills”

www.laguns.net
www.myspace.com/lagunsofficial

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ENDEVERAFTER – Kiss or Kill

Posted in Endeverafter with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 23, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Endeverafter – Kiss or Kill (2007, Razor & Tie Records)

1. “I Wanna Be Your Man” … 3:06
2. “Baby Baby Baby” … 4:14
3. “Gotta Get Out” … 4:04
4. “Poison” … 4:14
5. “Next Best Thing” … 5:18
6. “Tip of My Tongue” … 4:06
7. “Road to Destruction” … 5:41
8. “All Night” … 3:35
9. “Slave” … 3:44
10. “From the Ashes of Sin” … 4:09
11. “Long Way Home” … 6:14

Band:
Michael Grant – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
Kristan Mallory – Guitar
Tommi Andrews – Bass
Eric Humbert – Drums

Additional Musicians:
Butch Walker, Grace Sims, Tom Jane, Azeron, Skye Nicolas – Backing Vocals
Jessica Catron – Cello

Producer: Stacy Jones with Bill Lefler

Here’s a strange album for ya! Endeverafter are a fairly recent band that seems be torn as to what kind of rock that they want to play. Are they the next Fall Out Boy? Do they want to be the next generation of pop metal? Or would they rather play nu-metal or NWOBHM or post-grunge? Well, they aren’t sure yet and neither am I because this album waffles more than John Kerry, but I’ll get back to you as soon as they decide!

Don’t let the band’s looks and touring credentials fool you either — sure, they have opened for KISS, Poison and Cinderella but I have no idea what songs they would have played to win over those types of crowds when sound their sound has much more in common with Fall Out Boy than the previously mentioned bands. In addition to that, they’ve performed on ’80s rock packages like Motley Cruise and ShipRocked which makes their primary choice of music even more puzzling.

FOB is one of the worst bands to come out in the past decade. I have heard a lot of their stuff and it’s terrible and they’ve spawned countless (and equally terrible) copycat bands. The songs here with the FOB are just as bad as the real thing. Now, they did try to spice things up a bit. It’s not all alt rock/pop. A handful of songs break out of alt. rock/pop mode and get a bit heavy or at least bit more spirited than the majority of the album.

There is potential here. The band is totally Michael Grant’s show. He wrote all of the music and lyrics. He sounds way too much like Patrick Stump, but I hear bits of good hair metal (and good metal in general) within some of these songs. He just needs to decide what kind of band Endeverafter is. It’s too bad American Hi-Fi’s Stacy Jones, as producer, couldn’t straighten these young chaps out and tell them to pick a sub-genre and stick with it.

I totally took a chance on this band. Classic Rock magazine was hyping them up as the second coming of Poison and Motley Crue and that’s just not the case at all. Hm… Do you think it has anything to do with the band’s UK label being the Classic Rock-owned Powerage Records? Shame on you, CR!

Luckily, the album can be found fairly cheap so it wasn’t a huge loss. I would be interested in new music from this band, but I’d have to hear some samples first before buying.

Highlights: “I Wanna Be Your Man”, “Baby Baby Baby”, “Poison”, “From the Ashes of Sin”

www.endeverafter.com
www.myspace.com/endeverafter

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SGT. ROXX – Weapon of Miss Distraction

Posted in Sgt. Roxx with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 22, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Sgt. Roxx – Weapon of Miss Distraction (2009, Eonian Records)

1. “All You Need” … 3:20
2. “Why’d You Lie” … 3:28
3. “Movin’ On” … 4:06
4. “Push & Squeeze” … 3:48
5. “Million Dollar Girls” … 3:56
6. “Wrap Yourself” … 4:22
7. “Don’t Cry” … 4:26
8. “Rockin’ Horse” … 4:14
9. “Decisions” … 4:37
10. “Alright” … 5:31
11. “Without You” … 3:20
12. “Thinkin’ of You” … 4:29
13. “Ransom” … 2:41
14. “(Don’t Do) What Your Mama Sayz” … 3:37
15. “4th Time Out” … 4:57
16. “I Don’t Know” … 4:36
17. “Psycho In The House (live)” … 4:31
18. “My Lady (live)” … 4:08
19. “Bread & Water” … 4:37

Band:
Jack Adams – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Rob Briles – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bob O’Connor – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals (Tracks 1-5, 11-16)
Scott “Grover” Weatherspoon – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals (Tracks 6-10, 17-19)
Darrin Laszlo – Bass, Backing Vocals
Kevin Cora – Drums, Backing Vocals (Tracks 6-10, 17-19)
Scott Wilson – Drums (Tracks 1-5)
Gabriel “Gabie” Anthony – Drums (Track 11-16)

Sgt. Roxx are a Chicago-based melodic hard rock outfit that was active in the early ’90s. Though they never had a major label deal, there were able to release an EP called Push N Squeeze, which apparently has gone for big bucks on eBay. I couldn’t find a listing for it though… Maybe the few copies that exist have all found happy homes or maybe people just aren’t interested now that they can own the full EP plus tons of more songs on this remastered collection of songs recorded by the band from 1990-1994. Can you imagine shelling out $200 or so for the EP then finding out a few months later that that EP and so much more was getting a proper CD release? OUCH!

But let’s get to the music — it’s enjoyable, but nothing earth-shaking. Sgt. Roxx definitely treads on the lighter side of hair metal (though there is a slight Ratt influence) on the first half of the disc. They aren’t as slick & poppy as Danger Danger or Enuff Z’nuff, but I am constantly reminded of those two bands throughout that first half because the rockers just fall short. I have to admit, they do have a knack for writing ballads. “Movin’ On” and “Don’t Cry” are worthy additions to power ballad compilation.

When the band finally does muster up some quality hard rock, sometimes the lyrics themselves fall flat. On “Alright” we have a pretty good rocker but then one of main lyrics is “would it be alright if I made love to you?” What kind of lyric is that for a hair metal song ?! You don’t ask! You say you’re going to do it and that you’re going to be the best she’s ever had! Don’t be so sheepish!

What’s funny is once we get to the later songs, despite being recorded in 1994 when grunge and alternative was all the rage, you get to hear Sgt. Roxx digging their heels into glam metal and cranking out some really cool hard rockers like “Ransom” and “(Don’t Do) What Your Mama Sayz”.

Overall, the album is a mixed bag. First handful of songs are light, the ballads are good and second half really rocks like hair metal bands should (despite the less than perfect audio quality). Definitely worth looking into for anyone tired of pulling out their old Cinderalla, Poison or Ratt albums for millionth time.

Highlights: “All You Need”, “Movin’ On”, “Don’t Cry”, “Thinkin’ of You”, “Ransom”, “(Don’t Do) What Your Mama Sayz”, “I Don’t Know”

www.myspace.com/sgtrox
www.eonianrecords.com

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ICED EARTH – Days of Purgatory

Posted in Iced Earth with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 20, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Iced Earth – Days of Purgatory (1997, Century Media Records)

1. “Enter the Realm” … 0:54
2. “Colors” … 4:50
3. “Angels Holocaust” … 4:53
4. “Stormrider” … 4:47
5. “Winter Nights” … 3:55
6. “Nightmares” … 3:42
7. “Pure Evil” … 6:33
8. “Solitude” … 1:44
9. “When the Night Falls” … 9:01
10. “Desert Rain” … 6:56
11. “The Funeral” … 6:15
12. “Cast in Stone” … 5:59
13. “Reaching the End” … 1:11
14. “Travel in Stygian” … 9:32
15. “Iced Earth” … 5:30

Band:
Matthew Barlow – Lead Vocals
Jon Schaffer – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Randall Shawver – Lead Guitar
James MacDonough – Bass  (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 21)
Dave Abell – Bass (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 10-20)
Brent Smedley – Drums (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 21)
Mike McGill – Drums (Tracks 10, 11, 13, 16)
Richey Secchiari – Drums (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 14, 18, 19)
Rodney Beasley – Drums (Tracks 12,15,17,20)

Days of Purgatory is a compilation featuring many songs from Iced Earth’s early career that were re-recorded in order to have definitive versions featuring Matthew Barlow on vocals (who joined in 1994).

It was the very first Iced Earth album I ever purchased and I did it because it was recommended to me as a starting point for the band. Iced Earth was a name I kept coming across online as a great metal band and I wanted to sample them. Despite this album’s purpose to be showcase for Barlow’s vocals, it’s his vocals that have deterred me from ever becoming an Iced Earth fan. I just don’t like his sound.

I bought this album in either December ‘98 or ‘99 and I remember listening to it with a friend and we both remarked how some of the music was really cool (“Angels Holocaust” especially) but the vocals were holding it back. Truth be told, looking back, even some of the music isn’t up to snuff for me but there are a few great thrash moments.

I’ve always loved the cover though. It features the comic book character and vampire goddess Purgatori with art provided by the late Steven Hughes.

A two-disc edition was released at the same time. Too bad I didn’t know anything about it when I bought this one disc version!

Highlights: “Angels Holocaust”, “Winter Nights”, “Nightmares”, “Desert Rain”, “The Funeral”

http://www.icedearth.com
http://www.myspace.com/icedearth

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KISS – Alive 35: Live at Cobo Arena – Detroit, MI – 9/25/09

Posted in KISS with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 17, 2009 by Metal Misfit

KISS – Alive 35: Live at Cobo Arena – Detroit, MI – September 25, 2009 (2009, Concert Online)

CD I
1. “Deuce” … 4:52
2. “Strutter” … 5:13
3. “Got To Choose” … 4:43
4. “Hotter Than Hell” … 4:31
5. “Nothin’ To Lose” … 4:32
6. “C’mon And Love Me” … 3:29
7. “Parasite” … 3:59
8. “She” … 11:09
9. “Watchin’ You” … 4:10
10. “100,000 Years” … 15:40
11. “Cold Gin” … 5:25

CD II
1. “Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll” … 9:49
2. “Black Diamond” … 5:39
3. “Rock And Roll All Nite” … 10:24
4. “Shout It Out Loud” … 3:07
5. “Lick It Up” … 10:37
6. “I Love It Loud” … 4:39
7. “Modern Day Delilah” … 5:32
8. “Love Gun” … 6:46
9. “Detroit Rock City” … 6:41

Band:
Paul Stanley – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Gene Simmons – Bass, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Tommy Thayer – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eric Singer – Drums, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals

From the 9/25/09 Cobo Arena show in Detroit, Michigan, which I was lucky enough to attend live for my first ever KISS show. It was the kickoff show to the North American leg of the Alive 35 world tour. My initial thoughts can be found here in my concert review.

As I said in that review, Paul’s voice was a little rough in the early going, but he got better after the first couple of songs. His voice is a bit weaker than what it used to be, but he’s still doing a great job, so it’s not like he’s out there embarrassing himself. Gene’s voice is as strong as ever though and Eric’s got a great voice that’s a dead ringer for Peter Criss. As for actual musicianship, everyone was on all night long. These guys are true professionals.

I LOVED getting to hear “Love Gun” in person (my favorite KISS song) and “C’mon And Love Me” has become another favorite of mine over the years. It was a real thrill to hear “Modern Day Delilah” performed live as well. Too bad we didn’t get “Say Yeah” from Sonic Boom as well (they added that to the set list a few weeks later).

I had been meaning to get this album for awhile, but at $30, I kept putting it off. I really wanted it the night of the concert, but was low on cash by that point in the week. I can safely say this is the most I’ve ever paid for an album! But it’s a great memento from the show and well worth the money. It’s a real treasure and a very personal album from my collection that means a great deal to me.

I was pretty impressed with the shipping process. I got the CD within only a matter of days of my order being processed.

Highlights: “Strutter”, “C’mon And Love Me”, “Parasite”, “Black Diamond”, “I Love It Loud”, “Modern Day Delilah”, “Love Gun”, “Detroit Rock City”

www.kissonline.com
www.myspace.com/kiss

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FELONY – Helltown Hotel

Posted in Felony with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 16, 2009 by Metal Misfit

Felony – Helltown Hotel (2009, Eonian Records)

1. “Cat Daddy” … 3:07
2. “Dancin’ On My Grave” … 4:05
3. “Heist In Helltown” … 3:50
4. “Street Fight” … 3:43
5. “Well Of Souls” … 3:31
6. “To The Core” … 4:27
7. “Lost In The Closet” … 4:53
8. “Yank That Chain” … 2:49
9. “Days Of Disease” … 4:12
10. “Another Hero” … 3:48
11. “F.I.T.H.” … 3:17
12. “Shake The Faith” … 3:22
13. “Heist In Helltown ‘93″ … 4:00
14. “Heist In Helltown (live)” … 4:07
15. “Mississippi Rollin’ (demo)” … 3:59
16. “Shattered Innocence (demo)” … 4:04

Band:
Tommy Lee Lords – Lead Vocals
Dale O’Brien – Guitar (Tracks 1-4, 15, 16)
Michael P. Smiley – Guitar (Tracks 5-13)
Jeffrey A. Parker – Guitar (Tracks 5-13)
Shawn C. Nugent – Bass (Tracks 1-13, 16)
Rich Grillo – Bass (Tracks 14, 15)
Johnny Hustler – Drums (Tracks 1-4, 14-16)
John E. Williams – Drums (Tracks 5-13)

Indianapolis, Ind.-based Felony is another band from the late ’80s that never broke through past the local club scene for various reasons but luckily their music has been preserved by Eonian Records with this compilation of various recording sessions from 1989-1993.

With downright evil looking cover art, I was hoping this wouldn’t be another fluffy glam metal band and they’re not, especially once getting past the first four tracks (which were the band’s first recorded offerings). While the band never gets into full-blown heavy metal, later tracks are heavier, meaner due to a changing band line-up and I even hear a bit of alternative metal in some of these songs (Lords seems to be channeling Layne Staley a bit on “Days of Disease”).

For the first four tracks, there’s a strong Motley Crue influence. “Heist in Helltown” sounds like it could be a lost early Motley song and Tommy Lee Lords vocals are similar to Vince Neil with these songs as well.

One gripe I have is the inclusion of three different versions of “Heist in Helltown”. Seems a bit excessive, but then again, then band probably doesn’t have a whole lot of recorded material in the first place.

This isn’t a great album, but it is still a fun ride that shows Felony had some real talent at writing songs and were getting better at it as time went on. Would’ve been really cool if the band was able to soldier on in through the lifeless alternative-infested 1990s.

I’m still waiting for the day The Police, Warrant, Sheriff, Sentenced and Felony all share a bill together.

Highlights: “Dancin’ On My Grave”, “”Heist in Helltown”, “Street Fight”, “To The Core”, “Lost In The Closet”, “Days of Disease”, “Shattered Innocence”

www.myspace.com/helltownhotel
www.eonianrecords.com

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AC/DC – For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

Posted in AC/DC with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on November 15, 2009 by Metal Misfit

AC/DC – For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) [Remastered] (1994, Atco Records)
Original Release: 1981, Atco Records

1. “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” … 5:44
2. “Put the Finger on You” … 3:26
3. “Let’s Get It Up” … 3:54
4. “Inject the Venom” … 3:31
5. “Snowballed” … 3:23
6. “Evil Walks” … 4:24
7. “C.O.D.” … 3:19
8. “Breaking the Rules” … 4:23
9. “Night of the Long Knives” … 3:26
10. “Spellbound” … 4:30

Band:
Brian Johnson – Lead Vocals
Angus Young – Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Cliff Williams – Bass, Backing Vocals
Phil Rudd – Drums, Percussion

Producer: Mutt Lange

I know the 2003 remastering is available at Walmart for $7 or $8, but besides having a digipak, I don’t really see what the difference would be from this 1994 remastering. I saved a few bucks at a used record store and picked this one up for $5!  I’ve had my eyes on this album for years. I’ve always thought the cover was very interesting as well as song titles like “Inject the Venom”, “Evil Walks” and “Night of the Long Knives”.

Though I burned myself out on AC/DC years ago, since the release of Black Ice I’m slowly coming around again and I’m interested in picking up their post-Back In Black offerings. Though I didn’t plan it this way, what better place to start than with this album, the follow up to Back In Black?

Though Back In Black will always and forever be viewed as AC/DC’s masterpiece, For Those About to Rock is more than up to the challenge of following that legendary release. This isn’t an album that stands in the shadow of the previous release, this is an album that casts its own shadow, in my opinion. I find it really funny not many critics at the time of this release agreed though. There are a few entertaining reviews floating around online (like the one from Rolling Stone) where this album is trashed as an uninspired effort. I just don’t see it that way at all!

It’s really hard for me to compare this album to Back In Black just because that album has lost all impact for me, but certainly the concert staple title track can compete with anything from that album. The rest doesn’t reach out and grab immediately, there’s a slower groove throughout the album, but it’s all still very satisfying. “I Put the Finger on You” is another one of my favorites from this album. Mutt Lange was back in the producer’s chair for this album (his last with the band) and it is not hard to imagine “I Put the Finger on You” or “Spellbound” as Def Leppard songs, with a few tweaks here and there.

Essential AC/DC and I’m glad I have some new (to me) AC/DC music to listen to!

Highlights: “For Those About to Rock We Salute You”, “Put the Finger on You”, “Let’s Get It Up”, “Inject the Venom”, “Evil Walks”, “Breaking the Rules”, “Spellbound”

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