Monthly Archives: August 2009
GARY MOORE – Victims of the Future
Gary Moore – Victims of the Future [Remastered] (2003, Virgin Records – UK Import)
Original Release: 1984, Mirage Records
1. “Victims Of The Future” … 6:14
2. “Teenage Idol” … 4:07
3. “Shapes Of Things” … 4:14
4. “Empty Rooms” … 6:35
5. “Murder In The Skies” … 7:18
6. “All I Want” … 4:18
7. “Hold On To Love” … 4:26
8. “Law Of The Jungle” … 6:22
BONUS TRACKS
9. “Devil In Her Heart” … 3:29
10. “Blinder” … 2:46
11. “Empty Rooms (’84 remix)” … 4:21
Musicians:
Gary Moore – Guitar, Vocals
Neil Murray – Bass
Mo Foster – Bass
Bob Daisley – Bass
Ian Paice – Drums
Bobby “Prime Time” Chouinard – Drums
Neil Carter – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Noddy Holder – Backing vocals on “Shapes Of Things”
Produced by: Jeff Glixman
With high praise coming in from all sorts of places, this was my first Gary Moore purchase… What a place to start! I’ve read up enough on Gary and his albums to know that the blues is his true passion, but this is one heck of a hard rock album.
Victims of the Future is from Moore’s early ’80s heavy metal period that started with 1982′s Corridors of Power and with songs like “Victims of the Future” and especially “Murder In The Skies”, it’s a shame Moore didn’t become a huge guitar god act in the U.S. Why the United States rock/metal-buying public didn’t latch onto this album and cling tightly to it, I’ll never know.
As soon as I heard “Victims of the Future”, I was hooked. It’s a great piece of hard rock and is followed up by another outstanding rocker in “Teenage Idol”.The ballad “Empty Rooms” is another highlight of the album and I like the ’84 remix bonus track just as much. The album’s real centerpiece is “Murder In The Skies” which features some really amazing heavy metal guitar work from Mr. Moore.
I wouldn’t really say this album is very much in line with what the general definition for “heavy metal” is these days. The only song that comes close to that, well, the only song that actually is that is “Murder In The Skies”. The rest is a nice blend slick rock (“Shapes Of Things”, “All I Want”, “Hold On To Love”) and hard rock (“Law Of The Jungle”, “Teenage Idol”, “Victims of the Future”).
Even the bonus tracks are good. “Devil In Her Heart” is a heavy number worthy of standing alongside “Murder In The Skies”, “Blinder” is a nice instrumental that sounds like something maybe Steve Vai would do, and remix of “Empty Rooms” is a good slab of slick ’80s rock/pop that I happen to like. I’m assuming this remix is the version taken from Moore’s 1985 album Run for Cover, where he rerecorded it.
Anyone who isn’t familiar with Gary Moore and this album specifically is really missing out and I’m extremely happy I decided to purchase it.
Highlights: “Victims of the Future”, “Teenage Idol”, “Empty Rooms”, “Murder In The Skies”, “Law Of The Jungle”
KISS album cover designer Michael Doret interviewed @ Tokyo Five
C’mon, Bob! You gotta LET ME KNOW these things! I had to dig through your site to find this.
Bob (who can frequently be seen in the METAL EXCESS comments section under the name “tokyo5″) was recently lucky enough to interview famed Rock And Roll Over and Sonic Boom cover designer Michael Doret.
Mr. Doret was originally interviewed in April 2009, but now there’s a sequel. Both interviews are well worth your time and congrats to tokyo5 for a job well done!
You can also check out the interviews Bob conducted with Bruce Kulick and KISS tribute band member Fred Bensi while you’re at Tokyo Five.
TESTAMENT – The New Order
Testament – The New Order (1988, Atlantic Records)
1. “Eerie Inhabitants” … 5:06
2. “The New Order” … 4:25
3. “Trial by Fire” … 4:14
4. “Into the Pit” .. 2:46
5. “Hypnosis” … 2:04
6. “Disciples of the Watch” … 5:05
7. “The Preacher” … 3:37
8. “Nobody’s Fault” … 3:57
9. “A Day of Reckoning” … 4:00
10. “Musical Death (A Dirge)” … 4:05
Band:
Chuck Billy – Vocals
Alex Skolnick – Guitar
Eric Peterson – Guitar
Greg Christian – Bass
Louie Clemente – Drums
Produced by: Alex Perialas
As the years go by, I have less and less interest in thrash metal. These days, I’m a rocker and I love the ever so broad genre of “heavy metal”, but once you start cutting it down into some of the heavier heavy metal genres, I tend to lose interest quickly outside of the usual big names like Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax.
Pop metal/hair metal/glam metal/whatever you want to call it was always my first love, so it’s not like I’ve ever been a HUGE fan of the thrash genre in the first place. But… I recent times, I’m making a conscious effort to discover some of the more metallic bands out there. Actually, I “discovered” Testament years ago by purchasing The Very Best of Testament compilation. I liked it well enough, but it never made me feel like searching out their albums, even if my original intent was to use it as a “sampler” and gateway to their albums.
Well, given all the praise 2008′s The Formation of Damnation has received, I decided to give the band another look, and most frequently, The New Order was the recommended album for a Testament newbie such as myself. It’s not hard to see why, the band does a better job of bringing melody to thrash metal than most other thrash bands. The instrumentals “Hypnosis” (as short as it is) and “Musical Death (A Dirge)” and the intros to “Eerie Inhabitants” and “Disciples of the Watch” show the band can do much more than just pound away on their instruments and scream.
The band also scores extra points with me for doing a metalized version of Aerosmith’s “Nobody’s Fault”, which I think is exceptional. I can’t help but think of Ratt when I hear it though because Chuck Billy sounds a lot like Stephen Pearcy on this song.
Consider me converted and their melodic style of thrash metal.
Highlights: “Eerie Inhabitants”, “Trial by Fire”, “Hypnosis”, “Disciples of the Watch”, “Nobody’s Fault”, “A Day of Reckoning”, “Musical Death (A Dirge)”
BLACK SABBATH – Dehumanizer
Black Sabbath – Dehumanizer (2008, Rhino Entertainment)
Original Release: 1992, Reprise Records
1. “Computer God” … 6:10
2. “After All (The Dead)” … 5:37
3. “TV Crimes” … 3:58
4. “Letters from Earth” … 4:12
5. “Master of Insanity” … 5:54
6. “Time Machine” … 4:10
7. “Sins of the Father” … 4:43
8. “Too Late” … 6:54
9. “I” … 5:10
10. “Buried Alive” … 4:47
11. “Time Machine” (Wayne’s World Version) … 4:18
Band:
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Geezer Butler – Bass
Vinny Appice – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
Produced by: Reinhold Mack, Black Sabbath (Track 11 only)
A 2008 re-release of the album, meant to cash-in on and promote the band reuniting with Ronnie James Dio as Heaven and Hell.
I keep reading this is one of Sabbath’s most underrated albums… But how can that be if virtually EVERYONE these days is saying it’s underrated? Maybe it was unrecognized by the mainstream upon its release (the height of “grunge”) but it seems like time has been kind to Dehumanizer. The album has taken its rightful place amongst the rest of the band’s classic material.
It’s no secret that I prefer the “off years” of Black Sabbath: those dark and poorly financed, poorly managed times when the band found itself on death’s door seemingly every month. There’s a lot of charm and high quality stuff to be found on those albums back when Iommi only had compromise with Iommi. After all of that mish-mash, the Dio era comes in 2nd place. I’m honestly having a tough time deciding which is the better Dio release because I have to say Dehumanizer is right up there with Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules (The Devil You Know, released under the Heaven and Hell moniker is good too, but too slow).
This is certainly the heavier album of the three, it’s pure heavy metal. Dehumanizer is angry, pessimistic and dark. That’s something not all of the songs on the two previous Dio Sabbath releases brought to the table.
It’s hard to pick a favorite out of the bunch. All of the highlights I list below I enjoy pretty equally. I really love the sound of “I” though. It’s heavy, but at the same time it’s has a bluesy classic rock vibe too. Ronnie James Dio himself has said it’s his favorite song from the album.
“Time Machine” is on here twice. There’s really not much difference between the regular album version and the version that was include in the movie Wayne’s World. The production is better for the Wayne’s World version, but that’s all I can hear.
Though this is a great Sabbath release, it’s a shame that Iommi so quickly dropped singer Tony Martin in favor of getting Dio back. Supposedly, Warner Bros/Reprise wanted either Ozzy, Dio or nothing at all, but it really seems like it was the also-returning Geezer Butler who got the ball rolling and Dio back in the band as he was the go-between initially for Iommi and Dio. The fact that the entire Mob Rules lineup reunited was pure accident because Black Sabbath’s then-current drummer Cozy Powell was all set to drum, but got injured so Vinny Appice was brought back in.
The night before the band’s final gig of this tour, Dio quit. They were supposed to open for Ozzy at his “retirement” concert, but Dio refused to do it (yes, Ozzy was threatening to retire as far as back 1992). So the SECOND Dio era came to an end. Rob Halford was brought in for the show and Tony Martin found himself back in Black Sabbath again by 1993…
Highlights: “Computer God”, “After All (The Dead)”, “TV Crimes”, “Master of Insanity”, “I”, “Buried Alive”, “Time Machine” (Wayne’s World Version)
www.blacksabbath.com
www.heavenandhelllive.com
www.myspace.com/heavenandhelllive
BON JOVI – Have a Nice Day
Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005, Island Records)
1. “Have a Nice Day” … 3:49
2. “I Want to Be Loved” … 3:49
3. “Welcome to Wherever You Are” … 3:47
4. “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” … 4:40
5. “Last Man Standing” … 4:37
6. “Bells of Freedom” … 4:55
7. “Wildflower” … 4:13
8. “Last Cigarette” … 3:38
9. “I Am” … 3:53
10. “Complicated” … 3:37
11. “Novocaine” … 4:49
12. “Story of My Life” … 4:08
13. “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” [Duet Version] … 3:50
Band:
Jon Bon Jovi – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Richie Sambora – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tico Torres – Drums, Percussion
David Bryan – Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Hugh McDonald – Bass, Backing Vocals
Jennifer Nettles – Lead Vocals (“Who Says You Can’t Go Home” [Duet Version])
Dan Huff – Bouzouki, Mandolin
Johathan Yudkin – Fiddle, Mandolin
Dan Dugmore – Steel Guitar
Produced by: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, John Shanks, Dan Huff, Rick Parashar
I absolutely did NOT like this album when it was released and it quickly was thrown in with the rest of my collection and forgotten. There’s a few songs on here I like, but this album is Bon Jovi’s full-blown descent into mediocrity, soccer mom rock and the land of no hooks. The signs were starting to show on Bounce that the band was becoming content to just be bland, but it’s even more apparent here.
Unfortunately, the album spawned the big crossover hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” featuring country music group Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles. Whether you’re listening to the duet version or not, they’re both pretty country sounding and neither one is good. Sure, if this song was a blip on the Bon Jovi radar, that’s one thing, but I said it was an unfortunate hit because it “inspired” (meaning Jon & Richie saw dollar signs) the band to follow up this album with the Nashville-flavored Lost Highway.
“Last Man Standing” is probably the closest song resembling the band’s harder rocking heyday and a version of it was included on the band’s 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong box set. The song was originally meant to be included as one of two new songs on the band’s This Left Feels Right acoustic album where they covered some of their own greatest hits.
Even long time collaborator Desmond Child could help this album much. He co-wrote “Bells of Freedom” with Jon & Richie (and was executive producer of the album) but the magic just wasn’t there this time.
Highlights: “Have a Nice Day”, “I Want to Be Loved”, “Last Man Standing”, “Complicated”
VAN HALEN – OU812
Van Halen – OU812 (1988, Warner Bros. Records)
1. “Mine All Mine” … 5:11
2. “When It’s Love” … 5:36
3. “A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)” … 4:28
4. “Cabo Wabo” … 7:04
5. “Source of Infection” … 3:58
6. “Feels So Good” … 4:27
7. “Finish What Ya Started” … 4:20
8. “Black and Blue” … 5:24
9. “Sucker in a 3 Piece” … 5:52
10. “A Apolitical Blues” … 3:50
Band:
Sammy Hagar – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Eddie Van Halen – Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Michael Anthony – Bass, Backing Vocals
Alex Van Halen – Drums, Percussion
Produced by: Van Halen and Don Landee
Van Hagar Halen continues their descent into the “adult contemporary” genre, just take a look at that cover and tell me it doesn’t scream “BORING”. Looks like something from the ’60s or ’70s. It started with the band’s debut with Hagar on 1986′s 5150 (which was actually was a really good slick hard rock/pop album), but this time that fun vibe that album continued over from the David Lee Roth era is gone.
Sure, some of the good time subject matter is still here (sex, booze, partying in general), but it seems a bit more grown up and dark, if that’s possible when talking about having a good time. The album is definitely lifted by the great pop ballad “When It’s Love” and the awesome country-picking of “Finish What Ya Started” (two of my favorite Van Hagar songs).
OU812 is a really odd departure for the band that never really gets out of 2nd gear outside of “Source of Infection”, which sounds like the hard rockin’ Van Halen of old. Even more odd when you consider this album is sandwiched in between the two most fun and most Roth-like Van Hagar albums: 5150 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.
Highlights: “Mine All Mine”, “When It’s Love”, “Source of Infection”, “Feels So Good”, “Finish What Ya Started”
HELSTAR – Nosferatu
Helstar – Nosferatu (1989, Metal Blade Records)
1. “Rhapsody in Black” … 0:58
2. “Baptized in Blood” … 4:25
3. “To Sleep, Per Chance to Scream” … 4:37
4. “Harker’s Tale (Mass of Death)” … 4:27
5. “Perseverance and Desperation” … 4:17
6. “The Curse Has Passed Away” … 5:08
7. “Benediction” … 5:57
8. “Harsh Reality” … 3:15
9. “Swirling Madness” … 4:04
10. “Von Am Lebem Desto Strum” … 1:58
11. “Aieliaria and Everonn” … 3:46
Band:
James Rivera – Vocals
Larry Barragan – Guitars
Andre Corbin – Guitars, Keyboards
Jerry Abarca – Bass, Keyboards
Frank Ferreira – Drums
Produced by: Bill Metoyer
Interesting release where the first half of the album is a mini-concept that deals with the story of Dracula. All of those songs have a great creepy vampire vibe to’em, so in theme, I definitely like it.
I’ve held off on talking about this album for awhile because I’m having a hard time getting into it and I really don’t have much to say about it. The album is perfectly “good” and the musicianship is high quality– but it’s just not clicking with me. There’s no personal connection for me to this album, which is the first Helstar album I’ve ever bought and I did so based on the extremely high praise I was seeing elsewhere online.
I enjoy the first half though as I think the gothic atmosphere is pretty cool, but I really lose touch with the album once “Benediction” starts up. What am I missing here? Why is this not working for me? Like I said, there’s nothing I can really point out as being wrong or bad, but I could really take or leave Nosferatu. I do think that the instrumentals “Perseverance and Desperation” and “Von Am Lebem Desto Strum” are beautiful pieces though.
From what I’ve read, Helstar were originally a power/speed metal band and this album helped kickstart the progressive metal scene. There are some thrash-worthy moments though that remind me of Anthrax.
Highlights: “Baptized in Blood”, “To Sleep, Per Chance to Scream”, “Perseverance and Desperation”, “The Curse Has Passed Away”, “Von Am Lebem Desto Strum”
CircleTwitt.com
I came across this site thanks to Metal_Mark on Twitter. It’s a great (and growing) resource to keep updated on the metal scene if you use Twitter a lot!
CIRCLETWITT: FOLLOW ALL YOUR FAVORITE METAL CELEBRITIES,
NEWS SITES, AND RECORD LABELS IN ONE PLACE!www.circletwitt.com Aggregates All Your Metal Twitter Accounts on
One Site So You Can Get Your Favorite Metal News 24/7SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT and Lekberg Enterprises have come up with a way for fans to get all their metal news in one place, as it happens. The solution is CircleTwitt, the internet’s circle pit. Located at www.circletwitt.com, the site gathers the latest tweets from metal personalities, bands, news sites, record labels, and more. Tweets are displayed in one convenient feed making it easy for metal heads to get news directly from the world of metal. Readers don’t need to be Twitter users to use CircleTwitt, although the site allows Twitter users some additional features such as re-tweeting posts.
CircleTwitt lets users find all their favorite metal tweets individually as well. Additionally, users can “throw a metal-head into the pit,” i.e. submit a Twitter account to the site administrators to get added into the main feed on the home page. CircleTwitt already has over 150 bands and industry twitterers listed with more being submitted every day. The site also informs users on the number of daily metal tweets, most active metal twitterers for the week, and has a special section for featured metal twitterers.
“This project is very exciting for me because I’ve always had a hard time keeping up with the numerous metal news sites, blogs, and gossip because of my busy schedule,” explains SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT owner Dimple Thakkar. “With CircleTwitt, users can come to our site and check all the latest and greatest in the world of metal. We are also hoping that we can help drive traffic back to our partners and assist bands, record labels, and other ‘metal heads’ get more exposure through our site.”
CircleTwitt is part of the Twitty 4 Hour News Network (T4HN), a new brand by SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT and Lekberg Enterprises that specializes in building custom-built, brand-centric Twitter Destinations. The official T4HN website is located at www.t4hn.com and plans to release additional niche sites to cover other genres of music and other types of entertainment such as sports, news, and more.
“T4HN is the natural offspring of one of today’s most exciting technologies, Twitter. Real-time information, or as close as we can get to it, has raised its hand as an important part of the future of the internet. The Twitty Four Hour News Network takes the powerful information source created by Twitter and builds brand-centric destinations that help to focus the flood of that information” says Jason Lekberg, founder of Lekberg Enterprises.
SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT and Lekberg Enterprises partnered with professional web designer and photographer Kris Arnold to build www.circletwitt.com. The site is currently working on releasing additional features that will allow users to leave comments on each tweet on the site. Soon, metal heads will also be given the opportunity be a part of the “circle pit” with all their favorite metal celebrities, bands, record labels, and more whenever the #circletwitt or #metal hashtag are used within updates on Twitter.
OFFICIAL LINKS:
www.circletwitt.com
www.facebook.com/circletwitt
www.synhergyentertainment.com
www.lekbergenterprises.com
www.krisarnold.comABOUT SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT:
SYNHERGY ENTERTAINMENT is a multi-faceted company designed to meet the needs of anyone in the entertainment industry. The company features marketing, talent management, publicity, and provides creative solutions to deliver better entertainment within the digital world. www.synhergyentertainment.comABOUT LEKBERG ENTERPRISES:
Lekberg Enterprises is an umbrella corporation that manages all of the endeavors created by or involving Jason Lekberg. www.lekbergenterprises.com
