Monthly Archives oktober 2011

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

1989 marked the debut of HOUSE OF LORDS. The big sounding hair band sported the vocals of James Christian, guitarist Lanny Cordola (ex. FIFTH ANGEL), keyboard wizard Gregg Giuffria (ex ANGEL, ex.GIUFFRIA), bass profile Chuck Wright (ex QUIET RIOT) and drummer Ken Mary (ex.ALICE COOPER). One thing lead to another, changes and break-ups and the end in the early nineties was inevitable. The band resurfaced in 2001 with the most controversial of their all in all eleven albums (lost tapes, live etc), “The Power and the Myth”. After that excursion James Christian brought the band back into arena rock, backed by JImi Bell, guitars, BJ Zampa, bass, and drummer Chris McCarvill...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

I actuallt had my doubts about how SEBASTIAN BACH would return, and if. Former SKID ROW vocalist has seen it all, fame, fortune, decline, and now, some sort of rise again. He still knew how to handle a crowd last time around at Sweden Rock, but his output was modest, or disheartening. Now he is back with an album that has caused a stir. Is it that good?

Looking for hair metal? Star somewhere else, the title track is more modern and edgy. The style of old is somewhat gone, but the song still packs a punch. The same goes most of the album. “Tunnelvision” is like a modern take on “Youth Gone Wild”, the soothing “Caught in a Dream” proves that Sebastian can still charm the ladies, at least those over 35...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

Austrian Old School death metal ghouls ZOMBIE INC. debut with “A Dreadful Disease”. The band feature former PUNGENT STENCH vocalist Martin Schirenc and guitarist Wolfgang Rothbauer of DISBELIEF et al. fame. The rest of the band is guitarist Gerald Huber (COLLAPSE 7), bass player Daniel Lechner (ex. LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE) and drummer Tomasz “Nefastus” Janiszewski of BELPHEGOR and DEBAUCHERY. The band will boost a new verion of nineties death metal says the info, and will appeal to fans of Swedes like CARCASS and DISMEMBER, as well as well as Americans such as AUTOPSY and OBITUARY. Not a word about the IN FLAMES track they could be named after… Let the zombie attack begin…

Zombies again, they are more common nowadays in death metal than in Italian films in ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Napalm/Sound Pollution

VAN CANTO, the vocal mainstay of later years return with their fourth album in five years. No doubt boosted by their chart entries and attention from penalty shot covers of carefully selected top hits they steer clear of most instrumental parts, except Basti´s drums. This time around they opt for an eyebrow-raising cover of big shots SABATON, but old-timers like me get our share of nostalgia with ALICE COOPER`S “Bed of Nails”, MANOWAR`S “Master of the Wind” and, the digi-pack bonus, RUNNING WILD`S famed “Bad to the Bone”. So, do they still attract after so many good years?

Well the barbershop MANOWAR antics of opener “If I Die in Battle” mixes vocals and use the traditional power metal features to maximum advantage...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Det första jag hör när jag kommer in på Kulturbolaget är vakten som utbrister ”De kunde ha spelat på en mindre scen med tanke på hur många biljetter de har sålt!” När jag kommer in i själva lokalen så är det väldigt glest, det är mest äldre människor som sitter ner och minglar med varandra. På scengolvet är det helt dött, scenen däremot är full av instrument. Min första tanke som dyker upp är; Hur ska de få plats på scen? Ett band som består av nio personer, ett band som annars spelar för över 10000 människor, ett band som har en gigantisk scenshow får nu banta ner för utrymmets skull.
Jag kommer att tänka på vad vakten sa och publikantalet ikväll ligger på ungefär 200 personer.

Om det inte redan framgår tydligt på bandnamnet så är Brit Floyd ett co...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Escape/Border

Brit band SHY has been around for a s long as I can remember. From their Ebony Records debut “Once Bitten …Twice Shy” I followed them closely until 1989´s “Misspent Youth”. The band was on the verge of becoming a household name in 1987, releasing “Excess All Areas” for MCA. That album is the one most people associate them with, a true landmark in the melodic hard rock genre. After their attempt at hair metal in 1989 there was silence until 1994, when they resurfaced with “Welcome to the Madhouse”, now featuring OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON and ex MADAM X vocalist John “Wardi” Ward. They seem to have soldiered on until their less exciting 2005 album “Sunset and Wine”, before attempting to call it a day. Can´t keep a good man down… SHY are back...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

First up tonight are L Sol Tace. As is so often the case for the first band on a bill, the crowd is pretty sparse but the band don’t seem fazed by this. Their music is good heavy stuff with screaming/growling vocals and plenty of power. The band’s drummer reminds me of Animal from The Muppets with his long hair and arms flailing in all directions as he pounds the hell out of his drums. A decent choice as an opening band.

Next up are Stuka Squadron – the self styled Nazi vampires. They are head and shoulders above L Sol Tace in my opinion in terms of both performance and music. Their vampire teeth, leather coats and nazi caps create a good theatrical image and the band play up to that. Musically too they were excellent – a band I look forwards to seeing again.

Tonight though belongs ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Lifeforce/Sound Pollution

Marios Iliopulos & Co., also known as NIGHTRAGE, sure have made their mark in metal history. Since their formation in 2000 they have released five studio albums, filled with melodic death metal, thrash, progressivity and some serious guitar work. Once sporting ex AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas Lindberg, the band now consists of Marios and Olof Mörck on guitars, bass man Anders Hammer, vocalist Antony Hämäläinen, and drummer Jo Nunez. This new album has been much anticipated, no more guessing, here goes…

The sixth album (including a compilation), that surely means they are past the most difficult stages. They seem a relaxed band as they commence with an intro of ok style. But “Delirium of the Fallen” is the sign of greatness...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Tyskarna krossar allt i sin väg!

Udo Dirkschneider. Den lille mannen med den stora rösten!
59 fortsätter att imponera med sin speciella röst som är lika rasslig som alltid.

Den nya turnén som är baserad på senaste släppet REV RAPTOR har nått Sverige. Först ut för att smaka på tyskarnas artilleri är KB i Malmö. Tyvärr bemöter vi inte tyskarna med en fullsatt lokal, som de utsålda spelningarna i Finland i veckan. Istället får UDO nöja sig med en halvfull lokal men får en energirik publik istället. De ca 350 personerna som var där visade att de kan stå upp för Malmö i alla fall.

Första låten, albumtiteln Rev Raptor var en kick-ass låt att köra över publiken med. Klassiskt UDO-tyngd med en djupt tuggande melodi...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Music Buy Mail/Sound Pollution

HOLY FORCE may sound pretentious, but why not? Behind the moniker stand; Mark Boals (ex. YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex. ROYAL HUNT), Mike LePond of SYMPHONY X and SEVEN WITCHES, Kenny (Rhino) Earl (ex. MANOWAR, ANGELS OF BABYLON) and Taiwan hot shot guitarist Ango Chen, most known for his work with MIKE VESCERA. This experienced lot has joined forces to play something melodic. So, impress me!

After a somewhat inauspicious start with the self-titled opener and “Flying”, the non-descript instrumental “Breathe” leaves me with a lot more to desire. And that is exactly what will happen. “Seasons” is the logical continuation to the previous instrumental, providing meaning to the latter. The pace quickens and Mar´s vocals seem to be right there when the tough gets going...