Leaves' Eyes - Stone Axe - The Rods - Twisted Sister - Iron Maiden - Shakra
Leaves' Eyes - Meredead
Napalm Records
By Bubbs Harris
“Spirit’s Masquerade” starts the new LEAVES’ EYES album off with a funeral march that turns quickly into a powerful symphonic blast and sets the stage for one hell of an epic ride. Liv Kristine still has the most beautiful damn voice in all of heavy metal, female wise, and I will say that loud and proud. Her sweet, sultry melodies over masterfully crafted folk inspired metal with those fantastic symphonic waves far surpasses much of her work with THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, (Maybe not Aegis, though. That record is like a sore dick; You just can’t beat it.), and having the entire ATROCITY unit behind her seriously ups that ante. This is not the run of the mill “verse, chorus, verse“ procedure, ala EVANESCENCE and LACUNA COIL. This is a solid female fronted band with infinite talent and the wisdom to know how to harness their gifts. Sure, one can go and make several comparisons to THERION, but I really don’t see too much of a thin line between the two. LEAVES’ EYES are deeper rooted in traditional Scandinavian folk music, while the other relies far more on the symphony aspects. What LEAVES’ EYES does is take the best of both and toss in a little more spice here and there to make something unique and enjoyable for years to come. I have been spinning this one for a week straight and I haven’t yet grown tired of it in the least. If you know my reviewing style, you’ll know that I don’t usually give track by track breakdowns, and Meredead is a good reason why. A record like this can’t be picked through and skipped around. It was meant to be played all the way through and many, many times. I hope you all dig this as much as I do, because I think it rules!
Buy Meredead
By Bubbs Harris
“Spirit’s Masquerade” starts the new LEAVES’ EYES album off with a funeral march that turns quickly into a powerful symphonic blast and sets the stage for one hell of an epic ride. Liv Kristine still has the most beautiful damn voice in all of heavy metal, female wise, and I will say that loud and proud. Her sweet, sultry melodies over masterfully crafted folk inspired metal with those fantastic symphonic waves far surpasses much of her work with THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, (Maybe not Aegis, though. That record is like a sore dick; You just can’t beat it.), and having the entire ATROCITY unit behind her seriously ups that ante. This is not the run of the mill “verse, chorus, verse“ procedure, ala EVANESCENCE and LACUNA COIL. This is a solid female fronted band with infinite talent and the wisdom to know how to harness their gifts. Sure, one can go and make several comparisons to THERION, but I really don’t see too much of a thin line between the two. LEAVES’ EYES are deeper rooted in traditional Scandinavian folk music, while the other relies far more on the symphony aspects. What LEAVES’ EYES does is take the best of both and toss in a little more spice here and there to make something unique and enjoyable for years to come. I have been spinning this one for a week straight and I haven’t yet grown tired of it in the least. If you know my reviewing style, you’ll know that I don’t usually give track by track breakdowns, and Meredead is a good reason why. A record like this can’t be picked through and skipped around. It was meant to be played all the way through and many, many times. I hope you all dig this as much as I do, because I think it rules!
Buy Meredead
Stone Axe - S/T
2 Disc Expanded Edition – Ripple
By Jeffrey Easton
So you are burned out on the screamin, the growlin and so forth that is inundating todays metal and rock? Do you wish you could go back to those simpler, darker times of heavy fuzz and thick grooves that dominated the airwaves of the early70’s? You miss stuff like Captain Beyond, Cream, Sabbath, Hendrix etc? Then miss that sound no more as Stone Axe has come to your rescue. Having released two records so far, this is the reissue of their debut S/T album with a bonus edition featuring eight tracks recorded live in front of a rabid audience as well as a bonus DVD of live performances, in studio for radio, in stores, videos etc. There is a trove of visual material that is a feast for the eyes. The record itself is a jaw dropping affair as the band plows through 10 tracks of demonized fuzz that Tony Reed lays down hard. Dru Brinkerhoff’s vocals make me think of a Hendrix mixed with Clapton and Rod Evans. No matter what you want to call it, doom, stoner rock, classic rock, it’s just good, solid hard rock that dulls the senses and takes you to another place. This reissue is worth it with the bonus live tracks even if you have the original CD and the bonus DVD makes this package even so much better. A true gem for the eyes and ears for the musical connoisseur . This is also available as a vinyl package as well.
BUY STONE AXE!
By Jeffrey Easton
So you are burned out on the screamin, the growlin and so forth that is inundating todays metal and rock? Do you wish you could go back to those simpler, darker times of heavy fuzz and thick grooves that dominated the airwaves of the early70’s? You miss stuff like Captain Beyond, Cream, Sabbath, Hendrix etc? Then miss that sound no more as Stone Axe has come to your rescue. Having released two records so far, this is the reissue of their debut S/T album with a bonus edition featuring eight tracks recorded live in front of a rabid audience as well as a bonus DVD of live performances, in studio for radio, in stores, videos etc. There is a trove of visual material that is a feast for the eyes. The record itself is a jaw dropping affair as the band plows through 10 tracks of demonized fuzz that Tony Reed lays down hard. Dru Brinkerhoff’s vocals make me think of a Hendrix mixed with Clapton and Rod Evans. No matter what you want to call it, doom, stoner rock, classic rock, it’s just good, solid hard rock that dulls the senses and takes you to another place. This reissue is worth it with the bonus live tracks even if you have the original CD and the bonus DVD makes this package even so much better. A true gem for the eyes and ears for the musical connoisseur . This is also available as a vinyl package as well.
BUY STONE AXE!
The Rods - Vengeance
Niji Entertainment Group
By Jeffrey Easton
It has been 25 years, 1986, since we last heard from The Rods and after spinning this CD I wish it was a lot longer. This record was written and record in a recent span of time but it sounds like it was recorded in , yes, 1986. The songs lack any kind of direction, originality or spontaneity. Songs like I Just Wanna Rock, Raise Some Hell, Ride Free Or Die and Runnin Wild, it has all been done before, over and over again. These clichés are right out of the early 80s which is where I think this entire record is lifted from. There is nothing here that you have not heard before and done possibly better than this in a far off decade. The album is titled Vengeance. What vengeance are you taking out? I believe that after any right minded metal fan listens to this he will be taking vengeance to the CD he just bought. The sole standout, the sole decent song is The Code, with vocals from Ronnie Dio. This song is quite good actually as Dio usually did not partake in crap and certainly did not here. My advice is to go to iTunes or Amazon, buy this Track and leave the rest of the album alone. I wish I had not listened to this record, I warned myself when I read the song titles but I did anyway and here we are. Listen at your own risk.
Buy Vengeance
By Jeffrey Easton
It has been 25 years, 1986, since we last heard from The Rods and after spinning this CD I wish it was a lot longer. This record was written and record in a recent span of time but it sounds like it was recorded in , yes, 1986. The songs lack any kind of direction, originality or spontaneity. Songs like I Just Wanna Rock, Raise Some Hell, Ride Free Or Die and Runnin Wild, it has all been done before, over and over again. These clichés are right out of the early 80s which is where I think this entire record is lifted from. There is nothing here that you have not heard before and done possibly better than this in a far off decade. The album is titled Vengeance. What vengeance are you taking out? I believe that after any right minded metal fan listens to this he will be taking vengeance to the CD he just bought. The sole standout, the sole decent song is The Code, with vocals from Ronnie Dio. This song is quite good actually as Dio usually did not partake in crap and certainly did not here. My advice is to go to iTunes or Amazon, buy this Track and leave the rest of the album alone. I wish I had not listened to this record, I warned myself when I read the song titles but I did anyway and here we are. Listen at your own risk.
Buy Vengeance
Twisted Sister - Under the Blade/Special Edition CD/DVD
Armoury
By Jeffrey Easton
Twisted Sister officially launched their career with Under The Blade and what a massive fucking intro that was. Under The Blade was, and still is, a snarling, disturbed piece of metal that took no prisoners and left many for dead. This Armoury reissue includes the record, completely remastered with the four cuts from the Ruff Cuts EP plus a DVD of the 1982 Reading Festival, a stunning package if I may say so. If there was a metal record to define the hard edge glam world, it was this record. I know you may say it was the first two Motley Records or The early RATT material but no, it’s this. What You Don’t Know(Sure Can Hurt You), Shoot ‘Em Down, Under The Blade, Destroyer, all could crush your speakers, and did, like no other record out at the time. This remastered version is stunning in sound, absolutely bringing out the best of the record to new heights. Also, the fact that fans still want this album after almost 30 years is a testament to great it was. The DVD is a great watch in itself as one of their first gigs at a major festival and even though their set was in the day and they could not take advantage of their full show did not detract from how well they were received. This is the perfect package for this album and it will burn my CD player for a long time to come.
BUY UNDER THE BLADE!!!
By Jeffrey Easton
Twisted Sister officially launched their career with Under The Blade and what a massive fucking intro that was. Under The Blade was, and still is, a snarling, disturbed piece of metal that took no prisoners and left many for dead. This Armoury reissue includes the record, completely remastered with the four cuts from the Ruff Cuts EP plus a DVD of the 1982 Reading Festival, a stunning package if I may say so. If there was a metal record to define the hard edge glam world, it was this record. I know you may say it was the first two Motley Records or The early RATT material but no, it’s this. What You Don’t Know(Sure Can Hurt You), Shoot ‘Em Down, Under The Blade, Destroyer, all could crush your speakers, and did, like no other record out at the time. This remastered version is stunning in sound, absolutely bringing out the best of the record to new heights. Also, the fact that fans still want this album after almost 30 years is a testament to great it was. The DVD is a great watch in itself as one of their first gigs at a major festival and even though their set was in the day and they could not take advantage of their full show did not detract from how well they were received. This is the perfect package for this album and it will burn my CD player for a long time to come.
BUY UNDER THE BLADE!!!
Iron Maiden - From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 2001 - 2010
UMe
By Jeffrey Easton
Iron Maiden have doled out the goods for over 30 years now and the last two decades have given us some of the heaviest Maiden yet. Over the past 20 years they have delivered eight studio albums, two of which were detours with Blaze Bayley and overall there was some amazing material there. They kicked off the 90’s with No Prayer For The Dying and it seemed as if Maiden were going to own the 90’s as they did the 80’s and with a lead off single like Holy Smoke it was a definite measure. Holy Smoke is one of the strongest Maiden tracks and it certainly did not let up with Fear Of The Dark and its stunning title track, possibly the best Maiden track to date but that is just my opinion. That’s where Maiden started off in the 90’s and they would surge, as they always do, through the decade with enough power to light a huge city. The Blaze albums are represented here with tracks like The Clansman, Sign Of The Cross and Man On The Edge to name a few but they are live with Bruce on vox to retain a continuity, I suppose, throughout the CD. With the departure of Blaze, the band came out of nowhere to score a tremendous metal radio hit, something they had not had in a while, with The Wickerman and of course a gargantuan tour followed witch reestablished their dominance in the metal world. So with the 2000’s, haven been catapulted back in the higher echelons of metal with Brave New World, they continued to rack up gold and platinum status with albums like Dance Of Death and last years The Final Frontier as well as A Matter Of Life Or Death. Those albums are well represented with The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, These Colours Don't Run, Paschendale, Rainmaker as well as El Dorado and Different World amongst others. This is a well put together collection with the typical amazing artwork that you know you will get from Maiden. The only drawback is the live version of Fear Of The Dark. It is my preference to have that as a studio track as it is a stellar track and it’s at its strongest in the studio. Besides being a two CD release, it will be available as a digital download and a three LP set.
BUY FROM FEAR TO ETERNITY!
BUY IT ON VINYL!
By Jeffrey Easton
Iron Maiden have doled out the goods for over 30 years now and the last two decades have given us some of the heaviest Maiden yet. Over the past 20 years they have delivered eight studio albums, two of which were detours with Blaze Bayley and overall there was some amazing material there. They kicked off the 90’s with No Prayer For The Dying and it seemed as if Maiden were going to own the 90’s as they did the 80’s and with a lead off single like Holy Smoke it was a definite measure. Holy Smoke is one of the strongest Maiden tracks and it certainly did not let up with Fear Of The Dark and its stunning title track, possibly the best Maiden track to date but that is just my opinion. That’s where Maiden started off in the 90’s and they would surge, as they always do, through the decade with enough power to light a huge city. The Blaze albums are represented here with tracks like The Clansman, Sign Of The Cross and Man On The Edge to name a few but they are live with Bruce on vox to retain a continuity, I suppose, throughout the CD. With the departure of Blaze, the band came out of nowhere to score a tremendous metal radio hit, something they had not had in a while, with The Wickerman and of course a gargantuan tour followed witch reestablished their dominance in the metal world. So with the 2000’s, haven been catapulted back in the higher echelons of metal with Brave New World, they continued to rack up gold and platinum status with albums like Dance Of Death and last years The Final Frontier as well as A Matter Of Life Or Death. Those albums are well represented with The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, These Colours Don't Run, Paschendale, Rainmaker as well as El Dorado and Different World amongst others. This is a well put together collection with the typical amazing artwork that you know you will get from Maiden. The only drawback is the live version of Fear Of The Dark. It is my preference to have that as a studio track as it is a stellar track and it’s at its strongest in the studio. Besides being a two CD release, it will be available as a digital download and a three LP set.
BUY FROM FEAR TO ETERNITY!
BUY IT ON VINYL!
Shakra - Back on Track
AFM Records
By Bubbs Harris
Swiss rockers SHAKRA are back after the uber-rockin’ Everest (2009), but they are a tad different than the band you hear on Everest. Shortly after the release of the last album, singer Mark Fox departed and took much of the talent along with him. I don’t mean that to be a dick, but his voice was one of the things that didn’t make me toss previous releases into the fire, seeing as how I’m not all too big on commercialized sleaze rock. New fish John Prackesh has a decent voice, but he doesn’t have that Klaus Meine-ish accent and delivery. Don’t get me wrong, the dude has chops, but I could just easily see this dude at the helm of any mediocre cover band the world over. That aside, I’m not sure who wrote all of the lyrics on this one, but they are cheesy as all hell. These guys were never known to have the most well written material, but I picked up a massive NELSON, NICKLEBACK (shudder. Ugh) or MR. BIG influence, whereas a lot of previous stuff reminded me of SCORPIONS and SKID ROW. The sweet filthy riffs are still here though. These dudes love those palms on their strings, and I love them for it. The music is finely tuned and perfect for rock radio, but this could be the downfall of the record. While the band maintains a solid status in their home land and beyond, I can see America chewing these guys up and spitting them out like so many before them. A hit is one thing, but were talking album sales, and I just don’t see it happening over here. These guys even talk about this stuff on one of the tracks, which made me chuckle a bit. If you are looking for a good rock record with pop sensibility, this may be for you. However, if you are in the market for an album with the aforementioned qualities and a whole lot more, give the new album from DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED a spin or twenty. I fucking LOVED Everest! I’ll leave it at that.
Buy Back On Track?
By Bubbs Harris
Swiss rockers SHAKRA are back after the uber-rockin’ Everest (2009), but they are a tad different than the band you hear on Everest. Shortly after the release of the last album, singer Mark Fox departed and took much of the talent along with him. I don’t mean that to be a dick, but his voice was one of the things that didn’t make me toss previous releases into the fire, seeing as how I’m not all too big on commercialized sleaze rock. New fish John Prackesh has a decent voice, but he doesn’t have that Klaus Meine-ish accent and delivery. Don’t get me wrong, the dude has chops, but I could just easily see this dude at the helm of any mediocre cover band the world over. That aside, I’m not sure who wrote all of the lyrics on this one, but they are cheesy as all hell. These guys were never known to have the most well written material, but I picked up a massive NELSON, NICKLEBACK (shudder. Ugh) or MR. BIG influence, whereas a lot of previous stuff reminded me of SCORPIONS and SKID ROW. The sweet filthy riffs are still here though. These dudes love those palms on their strings, and I love them for it. The music is finely tuned and perfect for rock radio, but this could be the downfall of the record. While the band maintains a solid status in their home land and beyond, I can see America chewing these guys up and spitting them out like so many before them. A hit is one thing, but were talking album sales, and I just don’t see it happening over here. These guys even talk about this stuff on one of the tracks, which made me chuckle a bit. If you are looking for a good rock record with pop sensibility, this may be for you. However, if you are in the market for an album with the aforementioned qualities and a whole lot more, give the new album from DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED a spin or twenty. I fucking LOVED Everest! I’ll leave it at that.
Buy Back On Track?