Monthly Archives: April 2011
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light (2011, RCA Records/Roswell Records)
1. “Bridge Burning” … 4:47
2. “Rope” … 4:19
3. “Dear Rosemary” … 4:26
4. “White Limo” … 3:22
5. “Arlandria” … 4:28
6. “These Days” … 4:58
7. “Back & Forth” … 3:52
8. “A Matter of Time” … 4:36
9. “Miss the Misery” … 4:33
10. “I Should Have Known” … 4:16
11. “Walk” … 4:16
Band:
Dave Grohl – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Pat Smear – Guitar
Chris Shiflett – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nate Mendel – Bass
Taylor Hawkins – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Bob Mould – Guitar, Backing vocals (“Dear Rosemary”)
Krist Novoselic – Bass, Accordion (“I Should Have Known”)
Rami Jaffee – Keyboards, Mellotron, Organ (“Bridge Burning”, “Rope”, “I Should Have Known”, “Walk”)
Producer: Butch Vig & Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl has got to be one of the hardest working guys in music. If he isn’t recording or touring with Foo Fighters, he’s got some other side project going on. I’ve always felt Foo Fighters were a good band. One of the best to spring out the ’90s in fact, but alternative rock isn’t even close to being a much-loved genre of mine so despite owning There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999), One By One (2002) and the exhausting double disc In Your Honor (2005) I was never a HUGE fan. Though they weren’t bad albums, I began to lose my interest with the two albums following There Is Nothing Left to Lose so I didn’t even bother to pick up 2007′s Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.
So why did I pick up Wasting Light? Purely by chance I caught the music video (YES — music video) on VH1 (YES — VH1) for “Rope” the Monday before the album’s release. I’ve always felt FF did a really good job at writing quirky yet catchy hard rock songs and “Rope” was no exception. I couldn’t get it out of my head so I ran to the computer to check out some reviews where I ran across one of my usual review sites and they said it was their best and most focused album yet. High praise considering their first three albums were all very well received.
While there are a few songs that fall flat with me (“Dear Rosemary”, “White Limo”) for the most part this is the catchy alternative hard rock that the Foo Fighters are known for. “Rope” is classic Foo, “Back & Forth” is one of the band’s better commercial sounding songs and “Arlandria” is near and dear to my own heart since I am a Virginia boy just like Grohl and “I Should Have Known” is a ballad that has got to be one of the band’s better songs.
If you’ve never been impressed by the Foo Fighters, this album won’t win you over. But for the already converted? This is a much welcome return to form, so to speak. It certainly has reaffirmed my faith in the band and has got to be one of 2011′s best releases.
Highlights: “Rope”, “Arlandria”, “Back & Forth”, “Miss The Misery”, “I Should Have Known”, “Walk”
http://www.foofighters.com
http://www.facebook.com/foofighters
http://www.myspace.com/foofighters
Mike Tramp & The Rock ‘N’ Roll Circuz – Stand Your Ground
Mike Tramp & The Rock ‘N’ Roll Circuz – Stand Your Ground (2011, Deadline Music)
1. “Don’t Let Them Put It On You” … 4:12
2. “Alright By Me” … 3:38
3. “Distance” … 4:05
4. “Gotta Get Away” … 4:14
5. “Straight From The Look In My Eyes” … 4:50
6. “Got Me Crazy” … 4:31
7. “Wish You Well” … 4:23
8. “The World Is Changing” … 4:51
9. “Prettiest Girl” … 4:51
10. “Say What You Will” … 3:55
11. “The Soldier Never Started A War” … 6:59
Band:
Mike Tramp – Vocals, Guitar
Soren Andersen – Guitar, Keyboards
Claus Langeskov – Bass
Morten Hellborn – Drums, Percussion
Producer: Soren Andersen & Mike Tramp
I’ve been a casual White Lion fan for as long as I can remember but in the last two years or so I’ve become an even bigger fan. I think they are one of the most underrated bands to spring from the hair metal era. Because of this, naturally I was interested in Tramp’s solo material. He’s kept pretty steady in music even after the original White Lion broke up. I am not sure if White Lion even exists anymore (the latest album, Return of the Pride, was released in 2008) but this is the second album since 2009 from Tramp’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Circuz group. Though a few of Tramp’s solo/side project albums are out-of-print, I have heard a bit of what he’s done outside White Lion and liked it all well enough to go as far a pre-ordering Stand Your Ground from Amazon.com
True to form, I have not been disappointed. This album definitely still falls under the “rock” category but it seems like Mike Tramp has taken on a more low-key and mellow vibe compared to what White Lion played in the ’80s. In other words, there’s no “Lights and Thunder”, “Hungry”, “All You Need Is Rock ‘N’ Roll” or “If My Mind Is Evil”. Mike seems to have put all those heavier in-your-face kind of rock songs to bed and is content to play good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll like “Alright By Me” and “Gotta Get Away” (probably the hardest rocking song of the bunch).
There is one thing that Mike has not changed though: the serious subject matter and emotional subjects brought up in the lyrics. “The Soldier Never Started A War” is pretty obvious by the song title alone, “Wish You Well” is a song about a father seeing his son grow up, “Distance” is about being separated from a loved one (perhaps even having lost a loved one), then there’s the love lyrics of “Prettiest Girl” and “Straight From The Look In My Eyes”.
Anyone who is a White Lion fan, or more specifically a Mike Tramp fan, should enjoy this album. Mike Tramp never really seems to get much press but he’s been active since the ’80s cranking out one good album after another and it’s time people start recognizing that!
Highlights: “Don’t Let Them Put It On You”, “Alright By Me”, “Gotta Get Away”, “Distance”, “Wish You Well”, “The World Is Changing”, “Prettiest Girl”
http://miketramp.dk/home
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Tramp-Official/130186350354989
http://www.myspace.com/miketramp
Concert Review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – 4/27/11
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
4/27/11
Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida
My second time seeing TSO and understandably the show was a bit scaled back compared to what they do on their winter tours. Oh, don’t worry, they still have the full orchestra and band, smoke, fire, lazers, video screens, etc. It was just a smaller stage than when I saw them back in 2009 and that’s not because the Civic Center couldn’t handle a full show. As far as I know, the “Beethoven’s Last Night Tour” is the group’s first non-holiday tour so while they can pack ‘em in during the holidays, they were probably just being cautious as to how well this tour will be received. I was actually a bit surprised to see them only making use of about a fourth of the arena. It was packed though so I would estimate around 3,000 people were there since the entire arena holds up to 12,000.
Obviously, being called the “Beethoven’s Last Night Tour”, the majority of the evening was devoted to the Beethoven’s Last Night album that was released in 2000 (which was their first non-holiday album). I have never heard that album in its entirety but I think anyone who is a fan of their holiday shows would also enjoy the music here. It’s all done in the same rock/metal/classical style, it just isn’t about Christmas.
I knew Beethoven’s Last Night probably wasn’t going to be the whole show and luckily it wasn’t. For the encore, things got a bit heavier as the band played a few numbers from Night Castle and also a few Savatage songs as well (“Sleep” and “Chance”). The Beethoven was filled with tons of great songs but I really like all the encore numbers just because they were much heavier and darker. That’s when TSO really showed their heavy metal roots and reminded you that without Savatage, TSO may have never existed.
As for the performances, of course everyone was spot-on all night long. The core of Trans-Siberian Orchestra is Savatage so there was Al Pitrelli & Chris Caffery on guitar, Jeff Plate on drums and Johnny Lee Middleton on bass. I gotta say it was great seeing Pitrelli live, that guy is a monster (as one point during the Beethoven part of the show, he stopped to play a little Hendrix). The last time I saw TSO it was Caffery & Skolnick. Also, another highlight was seeing THE Jeff Scott Soto in person. He played the part of Mephistopheles and what a voice! He also came out for the encore and sang “Another Way You Can Die”. Two other great vocalists I should point out are Rob Evan (who played Beethoven) and Andrew Ross. Narrator Bryan Hicks did a tremendous job as well.
All the other musicians were fantastic like violinist Roddy Chong and all the female vocalists were mind-blowingly good (and sexy!) as well. Everyone is worth mentioning by name but you must forgive me because I can’t seem to find any tour credits at this moment.
While the entire Beethoven album is littered with many great songs, I have to say the encore is what I liked best. I love it when TSO gets fast and furious and heavy and that did definitely that. And it’s a good thing they chose to close the show with a cover of Savatage’s “Chance” because that song is an absolute show-stopper. Everyone came out on stage and it was a great way to cap off the night.
Set List:
Overture
Midnight
Fate
What Good This Deafness
Mephistopheles
What Is Eternal
Mozart and Memories
Vienna
Mozart / Figaro
The Dreams of Candlelight
Requiem (The Fifth)
The Dark
Für Elise
After the Fall
A Last Illusion
This Is Who You Are
Beethoven
Misery
Who Is This Child
A Final Dream
Encore:
Toccata – Carpimus Noctem
The Mountain
Sleep
Better Listen To This
Another Way You Can Die
Carmina Burana
Chance
Vains of Jenna – Reverse Tripped
Vains of Jenna – Reverse Tripped (2011, Deadline Music)
1. “Fuck You” (Cee Lo Green) … 3:05
2. “Electric Avenue (feat. Frukwan)” (Eddy Grant) … 3:03
3. “Get Back” (The Beatles) … 4:04
4. “Smoke On The Water” (Deep Purple) … 4:51
5. “She’s Not There” (The Zombies) … 2:25
6. “California Dreaming” (The Mamas & The Papas) … 2:34
7. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John) … 3:01
8. “Mississippi Queen” (Mountain) … 2:29
9. “The Letter” (Box Tops) … 2:35
10. “Blowin’ In The Wind” (Bob Dylan) … 5:10
11. “I’d Love To Change The World” (Ten Years After) … 4:08
12. “Hey Hey, My My” (Neil Young) … 4:06
13. “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd) … 4:21
14. “The Sound Of Silence” (Simon and Garfunkel) … 4:37
15. “Forget You” (Cee Lo Green) … 3:04
Band:
Jesse Forte – Vocals
Nicki Kin – Guitar, Vocals (“Wish You Were Here”)
J.P. White – Bass
Jacki Stone – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Frukwan – Rap break (“Electric Avenue”)
Jimmy Wallace – Keyboards (“Get Back”)
Anton Sevholt – Guitar (“Get Back”)
Producer: Adam Hamilton
When I first read VoJ was going to do a covers album, I thought “yeah, okay that’s cool just give us some original music soon”. Luckily, that’s the plan for 2011 with a brand new studio album set to follow Reverse Tripped later in the year. Though I was looking forward to both albums, Reverse Tripped‘s release date somehow slipped by me and Amazon politely reminded me of its existence by recommending it to me.
I didn’t look at the track listing, I just saw the album and said “Yeah! New Vains of Jenna!” and ordered it. It was a nice surprise when I realized the album was the covers album and an even nicer surprise is just how much I love it. Lots of great tunes here that are making me appreciate the originals even more. I must have listened to this album 7 or 8 times since buying it. Just a great summer cruisin’ album much like I thought Def Leppard’s YEAH! covers collection was.
For a sleaze band from Sweden, I’m really surprised by the song choices. I would’ve thought they’d do more ’80s rock/metal with some classic rock thrown in but for the most part they cover ’60s/’70s folk/rockpop acts, which is a cool swerve. “Smoke On The Water” and “Mississippi Queen” are commonly covered but I really like the fact that VoJ made the Deep Purple classic their own… they slowed the song down and that guitar riff is missing. Yes, THAT guitar riff. Who wants to hear that song played straight for the millionth time anyway? Not me. Throwing another curve ball into the mix, the band takes time to cover Cee-Lo Green (in edited and unedited form) and “Electric Avenue”! I guess none of this should be too surprising since on their Facebook page they list their influences as “everything from Elton John to Slayer”.
It’s worth pointing out that this is vocalist Jesse Forte’s debut with the band. Lizzy DeVine left in 2010 and he had a great voice for sleaze but I can’t imagine him pulling off these songs as well as Jesse has. Maybe this album and Forte’s vocals will push the band into less sleazy areas and I’m completely fine with that.
All told, this is a really fun album to listen to. There’s much love and care given to these songs, most don’t stray too far from the originals but at the same time I felt the band made them their own. Well worth picking up especially if you’re already a Vains of Jenna fan.
Highlights: “Fuck You”, “She’s Not There”, “California Dreaming”, “The Letter”, “Blowin’ In the Wind”, “I’d Love to Change The World”, “The Sound Of Silence”
http://www.vainsofjenna.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VAINS-OF-JENNA/77210915994
http://www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna
My thoughts on K.K. Downing “retiring” from Judas Priest
The world of metal was rocked (no pun intended) on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 when Judas Priest issued this statement:
It is with regret that Judas Priest announce that K.K. DOWNING has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming EPITAPH Tour.
The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well.
There’s a more fleshed-out (and rather upbeat & casual) press release linked with that statement that basically states the band plans to continue on with the Epitaph world tour (for those that don’t know, it is being hyped as the band’s final major world tour) and also still has plans to record and release a new album next year. Oh yeah, and the replacement is 31-year-old Richie Faulkner from England. I had never heard of him before but his most noticeable credit is playing in Lauren Harris’ (the daughter of Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris) band.
The whole thing with Priest has been weird for a while. First, there was the vague announcement that they were retiring and that the 2011 Epitaph tour would be their farewell tour. Weeks later, they backtracked and said “No, this is just our last MAJOR world tour and we’re still going to make new music”.
Which is fine. I think most people realize these guys are 60-ish and deserve the break from the rigors of the road. They are legends and deserve to sit back and relax for the rest of their lives if that’s what they want.
But who exactly in the band wants that? Here is the press release issued by K.K. on April 21, 2011:
Dear friends,
It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am O.K.
There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band’s management for some time.
Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans.
However I would urge you to please support the Priest as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.
All my love and respect,
K.K. Downing
For a while, it seemed like K.K. was the only one issuing updates on the Epitaph/recording plans, so you would think he was all for it. Perhaps Downing, and Downing alone, was the one pushing for a slower pace for Priest? Obviously, when K.K. mentions the band’s management there are some money factors at play. I’m guessing management (and perhaps the rest of Priest) have decided they want to continue full-steam ahead while K.K. is still wanting to operate at a slower pace. I think at some point all members were on board with some type of reduced schedule but money talks so it appears some members are more willing to keep up the pace than others. Perhaps this is similar situation to what Dream Theater recently went through.
Not that either side is wrong. No matter who wants to continue, who wants a reduced schedule or who wants it to all just be done — no one is really wrong. All of those options have their positive and negatives and while we certainly don’t know the full story (yet), I don’t begrudge Downing, Halford, Tipton or Hill for their choices in this matter.
I will continue to support Priest. Will it be the same band? Of course not. It’s going to be a different beast (especially when it comes to the new album) but I am not going to write them off. Who is to say the music still can’t be good? Priest isn’t just going to bring in any ol’ guy. The fact that they announced K.K.’s “retirement” from Priest and Richie’s joining in the same press release just means this is NOT something out of the blue and I know Richie had to have been carefully picked by Rob & Glenn. So in that regards, I think in a live setting the band will do just fine.
What I’m actually quite anxious to see is how the new album will turn out. The Halford/Tipton/Downing songwriting team has been responsible for some all-metal classics. Are we down to Halford/Tipton? Is Faulkner a hired gun like drummer Scott Travis or will Rob & Glenn let Richie flex some creative muscles? It will be very interesting either way and I hope K.K. will not wash his hands of music at this point. I would love to hear what he would offer up on a solo album.
Certainly, any way you slice it, this is very sad news. I’m hoping even if they have decided they cannot be business partners that the guys are still going to remain friends. You’d think even if Downing and the band had a difference of opinion on the future they could at least work through this final major tour but apparently not.
My feeling is that at some point Downing will be back. My fear is that it will be too late to really make a difference. These guys are not getting any younger and at this point in their lives they should be cherishing every moment they can have together as a band. For a veteran band, losing such a vital member this late in the game this can really set them back a ways. At least I was able to see the group in 2009.
Thank you, K.K., for all the decades of great music. I wish you the best.
Modern Superstar – Under My Skin
Modern Superstar – Under My Skin (2011, JamSync Music)
1. “Hollywood Dirty” … 3:59
2. “She Likes Girls” … 3:23
3. “Txt U Gud’Bye” … 5:18
4. “Grow’n Old” … 4:30
5. “Love/Hate” … 3:38
6. “You” … 2:50
7. “Blue” … 3:56
8. “Devil’s Playground” … 2:52
9. “Generation Star” … 3:06
10. “We All Die Young” … 4:00
Band:
Jamie Fletcher – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Danny Watts – Guitar
Bill Carpenter – Guitar
Jordan Dirty – Bass
Ryche Green – Drums, Backing Vocals
JamSync Music is quietly becoming one of the better rock-oriented independent labels around. With acts like Steevi Jaimz, Asphalt Valentine and Mama Kin all having solid releases in the last year or two, I’m constantly keeping an eye on any new release or band that the label is putting out on the market. The streak of quality releases continues with Modern Superstar’s debut album Under My Skin.
“Hollywood Dirty” starts off the album leaving no question in anyone’s mind that this band’s sound has roots in the Sunset Strip. It’s a sleazy rocker that is one of the better songs on the album. The hair metal connection is even stronger than I realized. After doing some research I discovered vocalist Jamie Fletcher sang lead and played rhythm guitar in Britny Fox back in 2008 and 2009. In addition to that, the band also doubles as a cover band under the name Nurse Ratched.
Let us not forget the band is called Modern Superstar though. The group does not try to pretend that’s 1985. While there’s no denying the roots of this band, they are not going for retro. If it’s even possible, it is a contemporary ’80s had rock sound the band employs. “Hollywood Dirty” is the only mean ‘n’ dirty sounding song on the album with “Devil’s Playground” coming in a close second place. The rest of Under My Skin is made up of laid back rockers like “Grow’n Old” & “Blue” and upbeat sounding numbers like “You” & “Generation Star”. Of course, what kind of album would this be without the ballads? The acoustic driven “Txt U Gud’Bye” is a real pleaser and “Love/Hate” really sounds like something a Jani Lane-fronted Warrant would have done.
And yes, “We All Die Young” is a cover of the Steelheart song that made it’s way into the movie Rock Star. The band plays it pretty straight forward and Fletcher does a great job on this one and doesn’t shy away from showing off just how powerful his vocals are.
Modern Superstar doesn’t try to go for the sleazy sound or try to sound all that metal. They are a hard rock band that keeps it fun and simple. Sometimes that’s all you need!
Highlights: “Hollywood Dirty”, “Txt U Gud’Bye”, “Grown’n Old”, “Generation Star”, “We All Die Young”
http://www.modernsuperstar.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modern-Superstar/115545495166195
Rainbow – On Stage
Rainbow – On Stage [Remastered] (1999, Polydor Records)
Original Release: 1977, Polydor Records
1. “Kill The King” … 5:31
2. Medley: “Man On The Silver Mountain/Blues/Starstruck” … 11:15
3.”Catch The Rainbow” … 15:36
4. “Mistreated” … 13:07
5. “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves” … 7:37
6. “Still I’m Sad” … 11:05
Band:
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Jimmy Bain – Bass
Cozy Powell – Drums
Tony Carey – Keyboards
Producer: Martin Birch
This seems to be one of those live albums that everyone likes to point to as a live-album-gone-wrong. Not really sure why. I can understand some of the bitching about the track listing but Ritchie has always done whatever he’s wanted to — fans be damned. So I’m sure he had his reasons for not including “Stargazer”, probably just to tick people off. Whatever the case was, with only the debut and Rising under their belt, I think the collection of songs here is just fine. Especially when you factor in the band debuts “Kill The King” from the forthcoming Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll album, plays Deep Purple’s “Mistreated” and basically plays an extended version of the songs.
I’ve even read some state this album is boring, that is lacks energy. I just don’t see it that way. I’m one of those guys that LOVES going to a concert and watching guitar solos and drum solos and all of that stuff. I don’t see how anyone who truly appreciates rock music or music in general can say stuff like that is boring. Just listen to Blackmore and keyboardist Tony Carey as they duel together in the middle of the medley. Listen to that bit of blues played in that medley as well. That’s great and classic stuff. I love it whenever a band stretches out a song in concert and segues in and out of different songs and solos. The crowd obviously was having a blast because they started clapping to a beat while Ritchie fiddles around in the middle of “Mistreated”.
This is one of the grandest and most epic live albums I have ever heard and not for one second was I bored with it. It’s like actually being there in concert. This is what you would have heard. Extended versions like these are where you really get to see a band act like a band and play off each other. It’s amazing. This a true classic featuring Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore — two of the most legendary figures in the world of rock and metal. Essential listening as far as I’m concerned because the Dio era of Rainbow can really do no wrong.
Highlights: ALL!
Cauldron – Burning Fortune
Cauldron – Burning Fortune (2010, Earache Records)
1. All Or Nothing … 3:55
2. Miss You To Death … 3:43
3. Frozen In Fire … 4:20
4. Tears Have Come … 4:24
5. I Confess … 3:13
6. Rapid City/Unchained Assault … 4:39
7. Queen Of Fire … 4:21
8. Breaking Through … 4:56
9. Taken By Desire … 4:53
Band:
Jason Decay – Vocals, Bass
Ian Chains – Guitar
Chris Steve – Drums
Producer: Jameson Ellison
The biggest gripe I still have about this band is Jason Decay’s vocals. He just doesn’t have the vocal power or charisma to really do the music justice. That is a shame because I think Burning Fortune is quite an improvement over the acceptable but kinda boring Chained To The Nite. I know I’m not the only person saying this either so someone in Camp Cauldron needs to step up and admit it’s time for a new vocalist (and maybe even time to add a 2nd guitar player). From what I understand, this is Decay’s baby, so it’s not like I’m expecting, asking or wanting him to leave the band. Keep playing bass — just get a new singer!
Anyway, the band is still chugging along playing no-frills NWOBHM-inspired heavy metal but this time they are a bit more melodic about it. Heck, “Tears Have Come” borders on acting as an ’80s glam anthem. So it’s good to see the guys are still expanding ever so slightly past the traditional heavy metal sound. They covered Black ‘N’ Blue on the last album but this time they’ve taken another unique route and have covered “Detroit’s Heavy Metal Horror Show” Halloween with “I Confess”. Is it wrong of me to think a cover song is the best song on the album? I’m thinking more about checking out Halloween than I am about listening to the rest of this album! But credit where it’s due, “Miss You To Death” is probably my favorite song the band has written so far.
I don’t mean to bash the band because as I said, I’m enjoying this disc a lot more than the band’s debut. But in addition to the lackluster vocals, I really think the band needs a second guitarist. I’m not knocking Ian Chains at all, does a great job. He pulls off some awesome solos but for a band playing this style of music? I think two guitars would sound better, I like hearing two guitars playing off each other. If three guitarists are good enough for Iron Maiden surely Cauldron can have two?
So while Cauldron hasn’t quite yet delivered a KO in my book, they are continuing to improve. Their debut was fine but bland whereas I actually enjoy Burning Fortune quite a bit. After nearly giving up on them with Chained To The Nite, Cauldron is slowly winning me over (and I’m sure they’re very pleased about that).
Highlights: All Or Nothing, Miss You To Death, I Confess, Queen Of Fire
http://www.facebook.com/CAULDRONmetal
http://www.myspace.com/cauldronmetal
Black Sabbath – Dehumanizer [Deluxe Edition]
Black Sabbath – Dehumanizer [Deluxe Edition] (2011, EMI Records – UK Import)
Original Release: 1992, Reprise Records
Disc One
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
Disc Two
1. “Master Of Insanity” (Radio Edit) … 4:08
2. “Letters From Earth” (B-Side Version) … 4:42
3. “Time Machine” (Wayne’s World Version) … 4:18
4. “Children Of The Sea” (live) … 6:23
5. “Die Young” (live) … 2:16
6. “TV Crimes” (live) … 4:23
7. “Master Of Insanity” (live) … 7:39
8. “Neon Knights” (live) … 5:34
Band:
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Geezer Butler – Bass
Vinny Appice – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
Produced by: Reinhold Mack
Yet another Black Sabbath deluxe edition release and yet again, it was a must have when I learned of its upcoming release. Dehumanizer is one of Sabbath’s best albums (for my original album review, click here) so it’s great to see it getting remastered and an extra disc of goodies.
Compared to the extras on the deluxe editions of Seventh Star and The Eternal Idol though this collection falls a bit short. The first three tracks on Disc Two are merely alternate versions of the songs from the album. While I don’t think the radio edit of “Master Of Insanity” or the B-side version of “Letters From Earth” have appeared on disc before (I may be wrong), the Wayne’s World take of “Time Machine” was on the original release of Dehumanizer. Here, it’s now considered a bonus track.
Nonetheless, what really interested me with this reissue were the five live tracks. All were taken from a show on July 25, 1992 at the Sundome in Tampa, Florida. I mean, it’s Sabbath live. You really can’t go wrong, especially with Ronnie on the vocals. I don’t think this would be an essential pick up for most Sabbath fans, but for the hardcore fans of Dio/Dehumanizer, it’s a good purchase. You get the typical nice packaging that comes with these deluxe editions, a booklet featuring some backstory to the reunion with Dio, plus the extra disc of bonus tracks.
CellOut – Superstar Protoype
CellOut – Superstar Prototype (2010, Nuerra Records)
1. “Dark Days” … 4:30
2. “All My Demons Inside” … 3:20
3. “The Gift” … 3:50
4. “Flooded” … 5:12
5. “Set Things Straight” … 3:45
6. “Blow” … 3:58
7. “Breathe” … 3:33
8. “As I Fall” … 3:31
9. “Fake” … 3:52
10. “In My Arms” … 4:06
11. “The Tragedy In You” … 3:55
Band:
Percy Mejhagen – Vocals, Guitar
Robert Monegrim – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Anders Sevebo – Bass, Backing Vocals
Martin Karlsson – Drums
Producer: Cellout & Michael Phelan
Sweden’s CellOut is a band that I think could really achieve some success in the United States if given half the chance. The band finds a great balance between being melodic and being heavy. That’s a product of vocalist Percy Mejhagen’s early influences such as Korn, Pantera & Sepultura and guitarist Robert Monegrim’s melodic rock influences. The album was mixed by Ulrich Wild (who has worked with Pantera, Deftones & Static-X). So CellOut are most certainly a band for modern times (I would place them under the broad “alternative rock/metal” category) which is why I think they tons of potential stateside.
While songs like “Dark Days” and “Flooded” have plenty of radio appeal, “Set Things Straight”, “Breathe” and “Fake” are heavy and brutal enough to please those they might be jaded by such commercialism. Personally, it’s the albums more melodica moments that I like best. And for my money, the band puts their best foot forward at the beginning of the album. “Dark Days”, “All My Demons Inside”, “The Gift” and “Flooded” are prime examples of GOOD catchy modern rock/metal tunes. See, this is the kind of stuff that would happily keep me listening to the radio.
You know how I know I’m really liking an album? I check out the lyrics. That is, if they are provided and luckily they are (lyrics should be a standard part of album packaging, get it together people): “I never wanted you to say ‘I’m sorry’/Hell no, dark days are far from gone/I never wanted you to say ‘I’m sorry’/Hell no, it’s all around/You can’t escape it”. Perhaps a bit emo if coming from one of Hot Topic’s favorite bands but when it’s coming from the pummeling and hooky opener “Dark Days”, I found yourself energized and singing along.
Superstar Protoype is a “must listen” for fans of Disturbed, Linkin Park, Korn, Static-X, etc.
Highlights: “Dark Days”, “All My Demons Inside”, “The Gift”, “Flooded”, “As I Fall”
http://www.celloutonline.com
http://www.facebook.com/CellOutband
http://www.myspace.com/cellout
