Striker - Stand in the Fire

This is one of those bands that caught me by surprise. I had never heard of them before acquiring a copy of their 2014 release City of Gold - and I was blown away. Anyone who knows me or has read many of my previous reviews, knows that I have a love for the 80's commercial metal scene. I was not a huge fan of the 90's, nor of very much mainstream hard music since then. People asked me what I listened during the 90's and 2000's since 80's commercial metal was "dead," and I always point to the large growing scene of commercial metal over seas and in the underground. I was more than busy during the past few decades with excellent material. Well, it is still growing, and bands like Striker are proof. 

I love discovering amazing bands like Striker - and come to find out there have a few other previous releases (2012's Armed to the Teeth and Eyes in the Night). It is like finding a gold mine with enough gold to keep me busy for a while. Now do not get me wrong, this is not the glam, poppish sound metal some think of when mentioning the 80's - this is balls to the wall fast riffing powerful metal with a big vocal anthem feel at times. As their own site says:

Striker is an Edmonton-based recording and performing heavy metal band that has grown immensely through their years in the industry. A classic mix of heavy metal, hard rock, and 80’s hair metal, their music features powerful, clean vocals, catchy choruses, vocal harmonies, and impressive guitar leads. Audiences are often floored by the energy of their live show, and their recorded material has been met with fantastic response by both fans and industry across the world.

Grave Digger - Exhumation: The Early Years

Grave Digger date back to a time that is very fond to me. Having cut my teeth on early 80's metal as a kid, especially the kind of material coming out of Europe, Grave Digger have a sound very near and dear to my heart. Germany metal - ah so sweet. Grave Digger got their start in 1980, coming up through the ranks with other great German metal bands like Accept, Running Wild, Rage, Sinner, and early Helloween, and  are not only still going strong today, but are often ranked as one of the top German metal bands around. Following up last year's amazing release "Return of the Reaper" this 2015 release finds the band joining the ranks of the numerous other bands who have done a re-record project of this nature.

Exhumed - The Early Years finds the band breathing new life into some of their early classics and sets the stage for what is to come in 2016 with the inclusion of two new tracks. The title track from their iconic debut 'Heavy Metal Breakdown', as well as “Headbanging Man” were some the first anthems showcased in their groundbreaking new era of Metal, and now they can be heard anew. Charismatic front-man Chris Boltendahl, core and figurehead of the band since the very beginning left his mark with his unique vocal style on each and every release since. 

Deep Purple - Long Beach 1971

Here we have another release from "The Official Deep Purple (Overseas) Live Series" of a concert that was previously available  for quite some time as a poor sounding bootleg. This new "official release" comes from original tapes, though not a multichannel recording.

This show was recorded for a radio show on July 30, 1971 in Long Beach (California) with the permission of the band. Deep Purple was on tour promoting the album "Fireball" in the United States and give us this amazing set that is only four tracks long but that clocks in at over 70 minutes of music. "Speed King" opens, followed by"Strange Kind Of Woman" (unique theme of the album "Fireball" promoted with that tour),"Child In Time" and traditionally lengthy edition of "Mandrake Root" as has been presented on previous live recordings.

Soto - Inside the Vertigo

Jeff Scott Soto is BACK! And with a metal vengeance. He has always had a metal edge, but this new band release feels bit heavier than we normally think of when thinking of Soto's work.

His excellent melodic vocal style is here, but with an edge and heaviness that in places reminds me of Chad Kroeger (Nickelback - eeek). And I guess I am not the only one to think so, as after thinking this I read another reviewer who stated "There are songs that sound heavy like Metallica, progressive like Dream Theater, commercial like Nickelback, and funky like Talisman."

All of this to say, we have one amazing release here and should appeal to most any melodic metal/hard rock fan. While there may not be anything really new offered here style-wise, in the overall catalog of Jeff Scott Soto release, this one stands strong as one of his best, and could easily capture much attention on hard rock radio. I for one will be spinning this disc over and over for some time.

Starbynary - Dark Passenger

I am a sucker for a few things: progressive metal and cool album artwork, and this has both. (I will admit, I have bought releases based on cool artwork and have been disappointed, but not so when it comes to Starbynary).

Starbynary is a Progressive Metal trio founded by some of the most talented musicians in the scene. ‘Dark Passenger’ is the band’s debut album, and it is an exciting concept inspired by Jeff Lindsay’s ‘Darkly Dreaming Dexter’ (as the highly successful TV series ‘Dexter’), a musical journey in the vein of classic Progressive bands of the Seventies with a modern touch and outstanding technical abilities displayed throughout the record. ‘Dark Passenger’ was produced by Peter Pahor in Trieste, Italy, and features a very special guest appearance by Mike LePond (Symphony X) on bass. The beautiful artwork was handled by renowned artist Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rage, Secret Sphere)

Nightglow - Orpheus

In past reviews I have mentioned how I often pick up and try bands based on their cool cover artwork. Well, at first, this artwork was not impressive enough to make me give it a look, it just seems kind of remedial, and yet at the same time kind of eerie.The artwork was blah, but the color scheme and content was a bit captivating.

Then I read a little of the band's style and the term "Classic Heavy Metal" appeared, which is one of my fave styles, so I read on.

Nightglow saw the light of the day in 2003 and soon established themselves as a Classic Heavy Metal band devoted to the great English acts of the Eighties. After many years of live performances (also as the official Manowar Italian tribute band), collaborations with many international acts such as Lizzy Borden, Eric Martin, Kiko Loureiro, Fabio Lione, Jack Starr to name a few, and a critically acclaimed debut album, Nightglow are ready to come back with a new effort combining all their past influences and projecting them to the future. ‘Orpheus’, this is the title of the new work, sounds heavy and refreshing, delivering great melodies, powerful guitar riffs and groovy rhythms like there was no tomorrow. The album was recorded at B-Demolition Studios, with mixing and mastering by Tuvo (Shake Well Before) at Try Studios. The artwork was handled by Alessandro Conti (Trick or Treat, Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody). A special guest appearance by Sara Ciucci from folk metal band Artaius has also been announced.

Book Review: Paul Stanley - Face the Music: A Life Exposed

People usually write books about themselves in order to put themselves in a good light, and tear down other around them. Paul's band mates Ace and Peter did that (more so in Peter's case). So I expected that from Paul's side here. Well, there is a little of it, but not near as much as I expected.

When I read the Peter Criss biography, at times I felt sorry for him and the way he was treated by Gene and Paul (at least from his perception of things), but for the bulk of his book I just shook my head thinking what a total loser he was to continue time and time again to screw things up in his self-destructive life. He was an addict and abused drugs, and let it screw up his career. Understanding how his self-destructive lifestyle was in his own words, it has to make you wonder just how much of his "stories" about band abuse are remembered clear enough to be accurate.

Book Review: Peter Criss: Makeup to Breakup

Okay, I am a pretty huge Kiss fan. They were the first band I got into as a young kid of 11 years-old. I discovered the band in 1977 right around the time Kiss Alive II was released, and I heard it at a friend's house. I promptly went out and purchased their latest studio album Love Gun, and became an instant fan. Prior to that, it was music like the Grease soundtrack, and the Bee Gees, and other poppy disco stuff of the time. So, Kiss was my first taste of hard rock, and I consumed all they had.

They were my first concert experience, seeing the Dynasty tour in 1979 and many times after that. The only thing I really knew about the band was what I saw. Not an avid reader, nor a real follower of the latest tabloid/magazine world, I did not spend much time following the behind the scenes publicized dirt. They were super heroes to me - amazing musicians who put on a great show.

Now, 35 years later, I am still a big fan. I have all of their albums, I have a bunch of merchandise too. I follow them religiously to a degree. Obviously I like hundreds of other bands now, but still Kiss ranks up their as a key player in my eye. I have followed the solo stuff, I have followed the former members (Ace & Peter), but still, only paid a small amount of attention to the publicized dirt.

Book Review: Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath - Tony Iommi

Biographies have never really been my reading preference in the past. I have always rather chosen to read books that would broaden my understanding, education, or worldview. However, a couple of years ago I read a biography of someone musical that I was a fan of more or less. At first I was thinking, why read this, it is about the life of someone else, and dealt with things that are not directly affecting me. However, I found it to be really enjoying. As a musician myself, and with so many years being so involved in following the music scene in general, and with such a wide range of musical likes, I guess musical related biographies appeal to me a bit more than other types.

I chose to read this one on Tony Iommi at this time for three main reasons. One, I had heard good things about it from other music fans; two, I have never been much of a fan or follower of his music and wanted to learn more; three, it had just been returned to the library the day I went in looking for a book, so I grabbed it.

Seven Kingdoms - The Fire is Mine

Track list:
01: Beyond the Wall
02: After the Fall
03: Forever Brave
04: Flame of Olympus
05: Symphony of Stars
06: The Fire is Mine
07: Kardia
08: Fragile Minds Collapse
09: In the Twisted Twilight
10: A Debt Paid in Steel
11: The King in the North

Release date: 9 October 2012
Label: Nightmare Records

I discovered this band through their 2010 self-titled release - Seven Kingdoms, which was a solid piece of power metal splendor. I later went back and discovered the first release Brothers of the Night, which was very different due to the male singer and rougher vocal style. I had gotten a small taste of that vocals style on the few songs containing it on the second album, but did not realize their roots were so different. Female vocalist Sabrina Valentine took over the vocals on album number two, driving the band into a different direction with their sound, and for release number three, she remains solely at the helm of this fine-tuned power metal machine.

Burning Point - The Ignitor

01. Eternal Flame
02. In the Fires of Myself - Made Hell
03. In the Night
04. The Ignitor
05. Silent Scream
06. Heaven is Hell
07. Losing Sleep
08. Demon Inside of You
09. Eversleep
10. Lost Tribe
11. Holier than Thou

Release date: 19 June 2012

The band is back, and ready to set the world on fire with album number five - ‘The Ignitor’ - which sets new standards for the band, combining all the best elements of its predecessors and throwing them into Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Heaven!

Book Review: No Regrets - Ace Frehley

I really enjoyed this look into the darkness and trials of one of rock's great guitarists. The band KISS was the very first band I ever bought an album of back as a little tike; I am guessing I was probably about 12 years old or so. I was hooked, and from that time on, they were always one of my favorite bands.

Last year I read through a fairly major biography on the whole band, with sub-sections on each member's history (see KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography), but that was based on a series of band interviews back from the late 70's when they were just starting to peak. I also have read through a detailed history of drummer Peter Criss in Sealed With A Kiss.

So, when Ace's book came out I marked it to read, and thanks to a friend who bought and read it first, then loaned to me, I got the chance.

House of Lords - Big Money

01. Big Money
02. One Man Down
03. First To Cry
04. Searchin'
05. Someday When
06. Livin' In A Dream World
07. The Next Time I Hold You
08. Run For Your Life
09. Hologram
10. Seven
11. Once Twice
12. Blood
13. Someday When (video clip)

Release date: 27 September 2011

I have been a fan of this band since way back. The band (originally brought to the market by Gene Simmons) has had many line up changes, and over the years has had some of my favorite musicians in the ranks (Tommy Aldridge, Ken Mary, Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright), and have consistently put out solid commercial hard rock with an edge. All along the way, the one constant was the powerfully beautiful vocals of James Christian. This band for me, is always just the perfect balance of commercial radio rock and hard rock, and album after album have never let me down from that expectation. And even with the change of personnel, the music has not suffered, and each release is as pleasing as ever.

Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare

1. I Am Made Of You
2. Caffeine
3. The Nightmare Returns
4. A Runaway Train
5. Last Man On Earth
6. The Congregation
7. I’ll Bite Your Face Off
8. Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever
9. Ghouls Gone Wild
10. Something To Remember Me By
11. When Hell Comes Home
12. What Baby Wants
13. I Gotta Get Outta Here
14. The Underture

Release date: 13 September 2011

The master of macabre is back with what is to be considered part two of one of his most famous works, 1975's Welcome to My Nightmare. Joined by Bob Ezrin, who was the producer of the original 1975 multi-platinum seller, they again weave together another story from within the mind of the Alice Cooper character.

"This is Alice's nightmare 35 years later," explains Alice, "Bob and I created this character and we know how to write for him. I play the part but we're not writing for me, we're writing for Alice. We kept the first 'Nightmare' album very personal to us, on this one we found more humor and we were more open. This was our world and we want to present it to the fans. The original album was my first solo album after all those huge hit records with the original band and now that nightmare is exposed, this one can be a little bit more open. The music crosses all sorts of boundaries; we went where the lyrics took us."

Riot - Immortal Soul

1. Still Your Man
2. Riot
3. Crawling
4. Wings Are for Angels
5. Sins of the Father
6. Fall Before Me
7. Majestica
8. Immortal Soul
9. Insanity
10. Whiskey man
11. Believe
12. Echoes

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Release date:
Germany 28.10.2011
EU October 31st
USA Canada November 22nd

Ok, I will admit upfront that I have not followed Riot's career for the past 20 years. I am an old school Riot fanatic, and cut my teeth on Fire Down Under and Restless Breed; I love the Rhett Forrester years the most, and just as much, the early Guy Speranza years. When Thundersteel came out in 1988 with new vocalist Tony Moore, I listened to it, and it was good, but the band "felt" different to me, and eventually got lost in the huge amount of 80's bands that were around at the time. Tony recorded two albums with the band before leaving in 1992, and over the years I have revisited a few releases here and there, but again, they just never grabbed me and held me (I guess I listen to way to many different bands).

The band has went through many line-ups, and different vocalists over the years, but now, with 2011, after more than 20 apart, they have come back around to the Thundersteel line-up consisting of Tony Moore (vocals), Mark Reale (guitar), Don Van Stavern (bass) and Bobby Jarzombek (drums) plus live guitarist Mike Flyntz, and I am again listening...and enjoying.

Y & T - Facemelter

Well, after 13 years of studio album silence, one of my favorite hard rock/metal bands has made it back into my stereo with a a supply of new tunes. In 2003/2004 they released a bunch of unreleased songs on the two volume Unearthed releases, which was great in itself, as it was basically equivalent to have new music from the band; but 2010 brings us the real thing. The boys are back, and they still have the chops, even after 35 years of making music.

Singer/guitarist Dave Meniketti has released a couple excellent blues rock albums over the years, but this is a band effort, with original members Dave and Phil Kennemore, and long time members John Nymann (guitar) and Mike Vanderhule (drums). The band has been doing this since the 70's and the talent sure shows.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Mojo

OK, it has been eight years since the band has put out a new album. The last one was The Last DJ in 2002, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since that last album, Petty popped up in 2008 up with a resurrection of his original band Mudcrutch, and released an album of interesting tunes and jams, which I also enjoyed. And in 2006 he released a solo album,  Highway Companion (yes, I also really enjoyed it), which found Petty laying out an album way more laid back and smooth than previous releases. So, what does 2010 give us from Tom and the whole band? Well, it is kind of a combination of of his last two musical ventures; with the laid back mellower feel of Highway Companion, and the classic and looser jams of Mudcrutch.

This album is totally unlike anything the band has put out in the past, and gone are the big hits we're used to hearing, and instead it is almost like Mudcrutch album two, except it does have a more Heartbreakers feel to it than that release did. There are some good tunes on here, and some great musicianship, but the looser jam feel could be a turn off to many. Some of the reviews I have already read online seem to knock the album for that very reason - while others love it. I have mixed feelings. It is good, but it is a far cry from the greatness of am used to from these guys.

Ozzy Osbourne - Scream

It has been three years since the Oz man released his last studio album, Black Rain. Reviews were mixed on that one, but many thought the reign of Ozzy was over. Enter 2010 and the 61 year-old Ozzman cometh back with a new slab of metal.

I will admit right up front, as many of you out there, I am an early era Ozzy fan. I was there when Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman hit the racks. I was there in the glory days of Bark at the Moon. I never got to see Randy Rhoads live in concert, but I was there shortly after to see the short-lived Brad Gillis tour, as well as seeing and meeting Jake E. Lee during the Bark tour.

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live From Freedom Hall

Yay, just what the world needed, another live greatest classics hits release by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Look, I love Skynyrd, have for decades, but I am getting tired of people keeping Skynyrd stuck in a box from the 70's.

With the exception of three songs ("Travelin' Man" from 1997's album Twenty, "Workin'" from 1999's Edge of Forever release, and "Red, White and Blue" from 2003's "Vicious Cycle) this is 12 songs from the early days of typical classic they always play. I love the classics, but how many live albums of them do we need?