Battle Beast - Unholy Savior

"Welcome to the Limit"


Finnish Battle Beast recently released their third album in the likes of Unholy Savior. It's without a really special record and the band is shaping up to be something to keep your eye on. And allow me to explain why...

Let me start like this. Do you love the 80's? And when I say love, I mean LOVE the 80's. If you do then this album is for you. There's more reasons than that, but I'll save that for the end! I am not that well acquainted with Battle Beast, as in I've never heard anything by them before listening to this record. The first track I heard was Touch in the Night a couple of weeks before the release of this album. To be honest I thought that Nuclear Blast had uploaded the wrong damn track. I could not believe they had a bad signed that was so fucking 80's. I can however say that, that song is the one that sounds the most like it was actually done back then. Throughout this record I catch myself laughing from time to time. It's not a demeaning laugh, but pure joy. This album makes me so happy and it's just filled with good vibes. I dare you not to smile when suddenly some 80's Roland drum machine toms suddenly break into a heavy metal album. I dare you!

But let's get into the real meat of the album! From the very beginning of Lionheart the album simply just takes off and it just continues. The title track is one of the best on the album and you'll have to struggle to contain yourself from singing along. Suddenly you're greeted with a sample featuring Al Pacino in Scarface in the tribute to the movie, I want the World... and Everything In It. The middle section of this album is plain and simple amazing. It's where the variation of the album starts to kick in for good and keep everything fresh. That certain middle section contains three tracks and starts out with Sea of Dreams which is a more mellow song and shows that Noora's vocals fits every track they throw her into. That brings us into the fastest song on the album, Speed and Danger which isn't necessarily the best track on the album but the variation is spot on as it leads to Touch in the Night. That track reigns among some of the best from this album as well. The last couple of minutes of the album features the most guitar-driven metal track on the album Far Far Away, and then it ends with one more laid back song. Unless you got the digipak version... Battle Beast took the freedom to cover an 80's anthem in the likes of Paul Engemann's Push it to the Limit (from the Scarface soundtrack). I'm always skeptical about covering of anthems but they actually nailed it. Fucking nailed it.

I took the liberty to listen to a couple of tracks from the band's self-titled release to compare the production a bit. The electronic elements has been dialed down on this album and that's very good in my opinion. The keyboards are still busy though and they sound great throughout the entire record, but they sound way better this time around. Production-wise this whole record has a really big sound with a majestic touch. There's a lot going on the tracks, a lot of instruments and nothing gets lost but goes hand in hand and sounds terrific. Overall on every front, I think it's a step forward from their last album. And the vocals of Noora are fucking great. She's definitely one of the best female vocalists I've heard as she has a wide range and can fit her vocals into all the songs whether it's rough and edgy or she has to hits some higher screams.

I'm not into power metal at all. However Battle Beast is really, really accessible. I've been truly amazed by this album. It's modern production and numerous 80's sounds together with the variation and overall songwriting, together with the great vocals from Noora that doesn't come off as girly, but powerful is just a winner all the way. I hope this album will bring Battle Beast forward in the game as I think they are worth much more than a band such as Sabaton. 2015 just got one of the best starts possible with Unholy Savior.

Rating

8.5

Bandemonic - Fires of Redemption

"Fires of Ambition"


The Greek heavy metal band, Bandemonic is ready with their debut album after the well performed 2012 EP, Chains. This time around the band aimed high and have put a lot of effort into their first full-length and now it's time to see how that went.

The album starts off with what many albums from newer bands starts off with these days. Some kind of instrumental track to make it sound exciting, big and like it has a big production. I think those kind of intros are as redundant as can be, and Fires of Redemption (the track) would have fitted perfect as a mid-section in a song. The album takes a turning point when The Awakening comes on because that's just a fantastic song. It's well written, sounds awesome, great solo and it has the harmonic guitars that the old school heavy metal is known for. I'm happy to see that survive on this album as it also features more power metal influence than their EP, and power metal is not something I'm into at all. After three good songs we reach my second highlight of this album, Guardians of Time. Bandemonic fucking shines when it comes to ballads, which they showed already on their Chains EP. The song is not a minute too long or too short, and it manages to raise the hair on my forearms. It manages to stay fresh with some harder moments in the song and they balanced it out just the way it's supposed to be. I hope they can continue to bash out more beautiful songs like this in the future. The closing track, The Seeker, is a re-recording and I definitely don't mind that at all. It's probably their best track so far, so it's a joy to listen to it with better production and better vocal delivery.

The album is without a doubt more ambitious than their EP. The production is definitely better than earlier but it was a mixed bag for me in the beginning. Sometimes I just thought it sounded too clean and modern but after a few listens it mellowed out. All of the instruments are really clear, audible and kicking. It's good to see a young new band with the production on their side. The vocals of George Manthos is much better this time around as well and he lays down a better performance than he did on the EP. But what doesn't thrills me on this record is the more present power metal elements. It's one of those genres that I'm just not into and probably never will be, so I hope it won't take over their future music. Even though it's not really a decision of mine, a fella is allowed to hope.

Despite the production there's still a couple of songs that doesn't strike through and sticks with you. That being said there's still some really good highlights on this album even though one of them is a re-recording, it's still one hell of a track. If you even gained the slightest interest in Bandemonic I'd strongly recommend you get your hands on their Chains EP. At the end of the day Fires of Redemption manages to retain my excitement for this band's future and I'm looking forward to see what these talented young Greeks comes up with next!

Rating

7.7

Triumphant - Herald the Unsung

"Herald the Triumphant"


Triumphant is a brand new band (more or less) from Austria. They've been appearing under a couple of monikers over the years but without releasing a full-length album. But 2014 saw the release of Herald the Unsung, which is a fantastic and diverse record, so we got a lot of ground to cover here!

Before digging into the record, I would like to bring up why I simply love this band. They don't restrict themselves to one genre and then stay inside that box, whether it's thrash metal or black metal. The band themselves refer to their genre as evil metal, and that fits the record quite well. You will hear the smashing influences from thrash metal, with the atmosphere and riffing from black metal. If you want a perfect example of that, then listen to the song Devotion. You'll also get a chunk of the 80's thrown into your face, all delivered with a great and diverse vocal. However it's still hard to pin down the overall sound of this record. Triumphant is a versatile band, they explore and mix everything they love about metal. And that's what makes this band so fresh and exciting! It's something you have to hear and explore yourself. Don't judge the record on just one track, but go through the whole thing, as I said, these guys love to mix everything they love about metal.

I guess it won't surprise you when I say the production this album is crisp and it brings forth the best aspects of the record. It fits the atmosphere and the hard hitting moments perfectly, and I really don't have many griefs when it comes to the production. The only thing is the rapid fadeout on the last track, Triumphant. Staying on that subject, it is actually one of the best, if not the best song off the album. The song will take you straight back to the 80's with its out of mind guitar harmonies, which simply sound outstanding. However the band put their own touch onto the 80's style with this song, as lead singer Bekim Leatherdemon's vocals varies from the black/thrash oriented vocal style to a clean vocal. But does it sound good? Yes, it sounds amazing, and I didn't really notice it because it seems so natural and fits the song perfect. And it only adds to the possibilities Triumphant has making music. Returning to the sound, every instrument is moulded well together in an old school way, so it doesn't sound too modern, and yet it doesn't sound too raw and unproduced either. The two introduction tracks, Triumfator and Nightfall are filled with great atmosphere and add a lot of depth to the record, plus they each lead up to a great track. To sum it up a bit, this album has been put together perfectly.

From the beginning and till the harmonic end of this album, it's and amazing experience. The three winners on the album is Life Under the Inverted Cross, Devotion and Triumphant. In a time where you can record a full-length album in your bedroom and countless bands keep popping up, it's hard to set yourself apart. That is something a lot of bands fails to do, but Triumphant is not one of those bands. With their self-proclaimed "evil metal" they set their music apart, and I'm excited to see what the future brings from this band. Herald the Unsung is definitely a strong contender for one of the best albums of 2014. So if you're in for a batch of evil metal, then I suggest you get your hands on this masterpiece!
 
Follow Triumphant on Facebook and get a taste of this album on their Bandcamp profile.

Rating

9

Rider - Streets of Nowhere

"Streets of 1983"


Hey! Do you feel like going back to 1983? Then join the nostalgia with Brazilian heavy metal band, Rider. Streets of Nowhere is the first EP by the band and introduces a new singer, and what a record this is!

Rider's first demo was recorded live with their old singer and Streets of Nowhere seems to be their first experience in a studio and introduces César Caçador on vocals. This EP brings you 4 tracks with a total of 20 minutes, and boy, are you in for a treat! The production and overall sound of this release is so old school, that I just can't stop listening to it. Not only that, but the songs are fantastic, with great solos and what a voice! I haven't heard Rider with their old lead singer but César sounds outstanding and fits the band perfect, so hopefully he'll stay on board. However sometimes it sounds to me that he is out of key, but it is very briefly on a song or two. On a side note the choruses, harmonies and solos will get you humming along, and it won't take long until you're screaming along.

Visiting the band on Facebook and watching some of their photos also gives me the nostalgia feeling, and it seems like Brazil got a thriving underground scene. Rider is just pure old school traditional heavy metal! It is such a pleasant listen and I can't spin it just once. The guitar harmonies is just outstanding and the production of every single aspect of this EP just reminds me of an 80's album and I am crazy about it. I won't pick out any tracks, as every track offers something amazing, so you should check out every single track! All the instruments are knitted well together, and nothing is drowned out. The vocals are nice and clear, the bass is always present and not interfering with the amazing sound of the guitars. Last but not least the dreams also sound terrific. All I can say is that for a first time in the studio, this is a job well done!

So... what's left to say? Not that much, actually. If you like heavy metal, and if you like it old school, I cannot recommend Streets of Nowhere enough. The songs are filled with great choruses, harmonies, solos and that 80's feeling. The only drawback is that lead singer César sometimes is out of key. It is nothing major, at least not to me, so if you can get past that then you're going to have a great time listening to this record. Get your hands on this and keep your eyes on Rider as they're going to release more fantastic music later this year!

Follow this magnificent band on Facebook, and listen to some of their material on YouTube. (Bandcamp coming soon!)

Rating

9

Steel Inferno - Demo 2014

"Come to the Red Sabbath"


Steel Inferno is a female fronted heavy metal from Denmark but also features members from France, Greece and Poland. And this demo which is unattractively named Demo 2014 is their debut release.

"Congregation of the righteous"

Starting off with the name of the release and the cover, I think that this release should have some kind of name. I don't find it intriguing when a release is just named "Demo" and then just features a black cover. Of course many bands these days want to be old school, so that might be the case. Getting past of the visuals, this release features some very, very promising material. When I first heard this band it was the track Red Sabbath and instantly I thought that vocalist Karen had similarities to Nicole Lee of Znowhite. Bringing up vocal similarities is not something I practice that much, but in this case the thought just stayed with me all the way. So expect a more angry female vocal, and not a standard female vocal or something ranging towards symphonic female vocalists style.

"The cadres summoned"

The production and overall sound of this release does not really scream out demo, as it could very well have been released as an EP. However the music itself is to me a demonstration of what is to come from this band. The tracks is mostly carried on the shoulders of vocalist Karen and the guitars as the bass and drums doesn't really add anything to the picture and can be quite dull. The five tracks on the demo spans for just about 21 minutes, and every track offers a little something, however I must say the star of the demo is Red Sabbath. Tracks like War Anthem and Merciful Slayer are also great, and I can only recommend going through the whole release. Besides just heavy metal, the band is without a doubt inspired by some of the German heavy/speed metal bands from the 80's, so you'll get a little speed here and there. The lyrics is something I have to point out as well, as they are well written, intriguing and fits the music very well.

"...Red sabbath!"

I would like to hear the band playing something faster and more aggressive, as it would really suit the vocals. Merciful Slayer is a great example for just that, and more of it would definitely be welcomed. I must say I look forward to hear what Steel Inferno will come up with next, and I hope that they'll make some tweaks here and there to make their music even better. So if you're looking for a promising female fronted heavy metal, then you should get your hands on this demo and keep your eyes peeled for Steel Inferno in the future!

Support the band on Facebook, and listen to their demo on Bandcamp. You can download it for free by pressing on "Buy Now" and typing 0. Or if you feel like it, support the band with a couple of bucks!

Rating

8.5

Iron Spell - Heavy Metal Witchcraft

"A Chilean Revelation"


Iron Spell is a brand new heavy metal band from Chile. Yeah, I said Chile. Personally I don't got any experiences with bands from that country, other than every time I see a new band from Chile it's most often black or death metal bands. Heavy Metal Witchcraft is the band's debut release and it has been released as a demo for some reason. 

Why do I say "for some reason"? Because the quality of the material is pretty good, and it sounds more like an EP than a demo. However it's just that trend that keeps on living, release it as a demo so you can put it on tape and be old school. When you first look at the band, from their band photo to the demo cover and production, everything is just high quality. Their band photo hasn't just been taking at the nearest scrapyard but in front of some spotlights with a pretty good camera. Together with the quality of this release it is clear to me that Iron Spell is a band that wants to go places and achieve something. But does this demo live up to that?

I would say yes, to a certain point. After all the demo only contains four tracks that spins for fifteen minutes, so don't expect a masterpiece. But as mentioned, this is high quality old school heavy metal. When the title track kicks off, to me it sounded like something Enforcer could have written. Together with the track Revelation, those two are my favourites, but you should go through the demo anyway, because it only lasts for fifteen minutes. However the end of Revelation really bothers me because of the very rapid fade out, which the track definitely doesn't deserve. That is actually the only production grief I got when it comes to the demo. And just take a quick scope at the cover. A woman in leather, spikes and bullet belt. I'm pleased!

The release sounds great, and you're not missing out on any of the instruments, nothing is drowned out. The vocals are not really distinctive, but they're not bad either as they fit the music. Sometimes there's a backing vocal with a more high pitched vocal, but whether that is the voice of lead singer, Merciless K.co or another member, I do not know. About the Enforcer comparison, don't expect a Chilean version of Enforcer. Iron Spell leans more towards traditional heavy metal than speed metal. That being said, this is a really solid piece of material, and it will probably pave way for the band! If you like traditional heavy metal, then you gotta check out Iron Spell, and keep your eyes on them in the future, it definitely smells like something big is cooking in Chile!

Join their masses at Facebook and they've put up the entire demo on Youtube!

Rating

8.2

Bandemonic - Chains

"I'm Here to Make You Remember..."


Greece is really gearing up with metal bands and one of the latest bands to make an appearance is Bandemonic. They're a heavy metal band from the city of Ioannina and they have made their first impact with Chains which features songs from their 2010 demo plus two new tracks. And you are in for a treat!

I really hope this EP is an example of the way the band will continue in the years to come. It is a trip back to the 80's as soon as you put on "The Seeker", that song is easily the most catchy one on the album together with "Nightmare", and that actually leads me onto the album itself. As I already said it is a trip back the 80's and that is clear as soon as the thunder clears from the short intro in "The Seeker" and continues into the title track. Though it is modern times we live in, the EP's production is not clumsy or overproduced in any way. George Manthos' vocals are brilliant and fits the music perfectly, from the ballads to the up-tempo songs his vocals, the music, the production is like a puzzle that has been perfectly assembled.
Though this is a six track album there is actually two ballads on the album in the likes of "Don't Regret... Just Regret" which actually a beautiful song. The other ballad is "Sail to Heaven", and the song that comes after that is "Hunting Illusions", which also starts out with a ballad feel to it. On my first listen that was a lot to take in, as the EP is not that long I thought it was a lot of ballads to pack on one EP. But "Hunting Illusions" breaks into a heavy metal double pedal drumming menace in the halfway through the track, and that was just what I needed!

What really sprung into my eyes was the cover and the logo. Now that it is the centre of attention, the cover actually describes the album pretty good. On one half we got the ballads and on the other half the... non ballads. I've been using that word a lot already in this review but make no mistake. The other songs on the album "makes up" for it. Personally I don't mind the ballads, it is all about being in the right mood. However songs like "Nightmare", "The Seeker" and "Chains" is bound to get you in a old school metal mood, and they will not let you down.

So how to sum up this experience? For many I guess it will be a 50-50 album since there is the slower songs and the heavy metal frenzy. But all the songs fit each other well, so it is far from a dull experience. Personally I don't adventure much into heavy metal, I usually keep to some sub-genres. I guess that it what makes Bandemonic so refreshing, together with the quality of this release of course. To be honest I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this band and their next releases, plus I must admit this band has together with War Device opened my eyes for the Greek metal scene, and I sure as hell will keep my eyes on it! So if you want a quality piece of heavy metal with excellent sound and a great vocalist, then get your hands on Chains!

"Roll the dice, don't be afraid!"

Be sure to support these old schoolers on Facebook!

Rating

8.3

Saxon - Sacrifice

"Wheels of Repetition"


I guess it is not really a surprise that Saxon already got a new album thrown out into the streets, as they more or less have been keeping this 2 year span between each album for quite some time. Is that a good thing that we keep having all this brand new material or is it a bad thing...?

The album contains the usual ingredients that you would find on a Saxon album. Good production, solid band performance and the usual topics you would expect from Saxon.
Biff's voice is still going strong and I do not doubt he will be able to perform on a high level for a couple of years in the future, though he has reached into his sixties. Through the first two or three listens the album doesn't really offer much but then it grows on you a bit, and that is pretty much how it goes with a lot of Saxon albums post their "glory days". I was however from the looks of the cover hoping that the Aztec theme would shine through and bring some diversity into their discography. Since that is not the case you can always hope for some new smashers, which there of course is. But besides that, it is actually not that different from previous albums. Some fillers and decent songs and then some tracks you can add to your Saxon play list. Other than that, there is really not that much to blow up about this album, as it has been done countless times before by the band. 

"Sacrifice" also offers us five re-recorded songs. 'Just Let Me Rock', 'Forever Free', 'Crusader', 'Frozen Rainbow' and 'Requiem (We Will Remember)'.
The orchestral version of 'Crusader' is decent. Sometimes the orchestra is a little misplaced and doesn't quite fit the rest of the music. But it isn't really as orchestral oriented as it could be, but without hesitation I would always listen to the original, though the normal re-recording from "Heavy Metal Thunder" is an okay fresh take. Adding these re-recordings definitely was a wise choice, at least for my taste. I love some good re-recordings, of course the band already released "Heavy Metal Thunder" in 2002 which only featured such tracks. The two standards 'Just Let Me Rock' and 'Forever Free' are funny enough fresh takes as well. Though 'Just Let Me Rock' never really got through to me and is rather forgettable, and that goes for the original and new version. 'Forever Free' however is a really solid take on an already good song and is easily a re-recording I would play some more in the future!

Normally I don't really want to listen to acoustic versions of tracks, I can't really come with any explanation. I just can't see the use in some way... But the first version 'Requiem (We Will Remember)' which have been cut down in length which suits the song a lot, is actually pretty good. As the song already was a kind of a ballad but maybe a little to long in duration, this acoustic version serves the track a lot of justice and it definitely something I will listen to again! Now, 'Frozen Rainbow' is one of my favourite songs by the songs so I really feared for this song's awesomeness in acoustic "mode". But... They actually didn't ruin it. As the previous song, it has been cut down in length, not that much though. It is nice and calm, and originally it also had a ballad feel to it. I really applaud Saxon on those acoustic songs. It really shows the skills of the band that they can "transform" some old tracks like that and not making them doll. It's like they have gotten and overdose of breath mints. Totally fucking fresh. Now I got two versions of one of my favourite Saxon songs. Perfect! Normally I don't do track by track reviews but to me it just seemed like something good to do, for old and even new fans so you know about the quality of these new recordings. If you of course care about re-recordings, and if not... Oh well!

Oh the cover... Well it is a typical Saxon cover with the logo taking up a big space of the cover and then some sort of badge or illustration. But unlike "Into the Labyrinth" it just got a boring black background and it kind of kills it... The man behind the cover is Paul Raymond Gregory who has worked with the band before and created covers like "Unleash the Beast" and "Rock the Nations", so he is capable of more, just a shame the band chose this as the final cover. From the core of the track list with means the ten new tracks I would highlight 'Sacrifice', 'Made in Belfast' and 'Guardians of the Tomb'. It is not much but they are the only tracks that really stand out, but if you want to make the three track span a little bigger then add the re-recordings of 'Requiem (We Will Remember)', 'Frozen Rainbow' and 'Forever Free'.

Instead of dishing up with these albums within a 2 year span I think they should take some more time off to write better material. A real fucking smasher, which the band really need, to get some more success which they deserve. Personally I prefer Saxon over Iron Maiden (oh yea I said it), but that is just me. Saxon got so many hidden gems, you just got to find them. But I really think they deserve a real breakthrough, it almost makes me sad that they are so under appreciated. So when reflecting "Sacrifice" doesn't really add anything new to the table that the band haven't already released. However it was a nice surprise with the acoustic versions of some old songs, maybe they should incorporate acoustic songs more on their albums, because they really got a nose for it!  It is not a bad album but not a great one either, just a decent performance, though some of the re-recordings really pulled this album up in rating.

Rating

7.9

Newsted - Metal

"Risen From the Flames"


So Jason Newsted is back. To be honest I haven't really been following him since he left Metallica and he has been abroad in various bands since then. He played with Ozzy and Voivod for example and he also recorded a single with Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan in WhoCares. I am actually not that surprised that Jason formed his own band where he would be leading the massacre. Even way back in the day with Metallica he definitely had the energy to front a band and his vocal duties live was not that bad either!

There is so many influences on this EP. Motörhead for once. Then some Black Sabbath. It is all blended in together over the course of the four tracks. Of course there is more to it than those two bands just mentioned. It just sounds old school, and I really mean old school. There is definitely also some 70's stuff in there besides Sabbath and though this might scare some people of, groove. But that is in there too, it doesn't shine through to much though which could be why it becomes so interesting. To kind of sum it up simple, it contains what probably has inspired Jason for all of his career and also what he played himself. What bothers me the most is the annoying filter which is applied to the vocals from time to time. Hopefully that idea will be scrapped for a future album where it is just more raw and non-filtered... The tone is very different as well sometimes. When the groovy parts hit in you are assured that it is heavy as fuck, but if you take the main riff of 'Soldierhead', it sounds more rock oriented so to say, with the "right" tone it could had a killer thrash tune. But it is not that bad and reflects the already mentioned mixed bag principle of this EP.
Some people might...well no, some people ARE going to say this EP is better than anything Metallica has released since Newsted left them is just... well it depends on your taste, and many people hate the new Metallica. I used to do that too, but this EP is not even close having its claws into St. Anger (yes I said it) or Death Magnetic. Lulu however... Yea, the EP is better than Lulu.

Metal... When I first saw the title I almost facepalmed. It is so unimaginative that it hurts. It's not like we expected this release to be a Jazz album. But to be straight forward with it all I think it was just something that was put together to really announce that Jason is back for good and here to stay. That goes for the cover for this release as well, not really that much to it, more or less just a "I'm back bitches" statement. Maybe the band don't want to be labelled as thrash, speed, groove, heavy and whatnot. Just metal, and that actually makes sense since this is release is such a mixed bag of goodies.

Though I stand with some mixed feelings towards this EP, I am actually looking forward to the debut whenever it comes out. The band have a really solid base to build upon and I am really looking forward to see what they come up with, and hopefully they will drop the vocal filter. If you like Jason from the Metallica times or some other times then check it out. If you would like some solid metal with a bunch of different influences hidden in each track then get your filthy hands on this album.

Rating"

7.7

Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears

"The Road Leads to Ozzy"


Thank you Rockstar Games. An odd way to start a review, but is about time I throw a thanks out to them. When I got Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and listened to V-Rock, a whole new world opened up to me, besides the music my father introduced me to in the likes of older metal. Ozzy's Bark at the Moon was featured and it is one of my favourite songs by him up to this day. So I sat out to explore more of his music among the other bands from the V-Rock station, but after cruising on the internet I stumbled upon the song Hellraiser.

Though it was released in 1991 it has retained the sound of the 80's which is a fortunate thing for the album, had it been released in '93 I think it would have sounded a lot different. From the start of 'Mr. Tinkertrain' and till the end of 'Road to Nowhere' or 'Party With the Animals' if you got the 2002 remastered version this album is completed in a perfect way. It definitely is different to his more known works, with the works of Zakk Wylde the sound has gotten a little more heavy. To be honest I think Mr. Wylde is an overrated guitarist, but he certainly gets the job done on this album.

No More Tears is a mixed bag of goodies, and so has some of Ozzy's previous albums also been, and that is necessarily not a bad thing. There is a really good balance if you look at the way the album has been structured. Instead of going full throttle there is three slower songs on the album in the likes of 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', 'Time After Time' and 'Road to Nowhere'. In between these tracks you will find the ass kickers and when you reach a peak, some steam is let off in when you reach the slower songs only to be picked right up again with more kick ass songs! And that is what really is striking about this album. The balance. You reach a max, then picked down, and then kick started again. No doubt about it that it has been put together like that well knowing the effect it would have, instead of putting all three slower songs at the end of the album. I smash my palms together.

When it comes to the bonus tracks 'Don't Blame Me' and 'Party With the Animals,' they don't really add that much to the album and they don't really bring it down either. The first track 'Don't Blame Me' is actually quite good and would have fitted well into the track listing on the original release. 'Party With the Animals' is however rather forgettable, there is a feel of old school rock 'n' roll over it but it doesn't really add anything to the spin. Originally released on the No More Tears single they are not totally vital for your listening of this album. 'Don't Blame Me' however would be nicely placed somewhere in the middle but 'Road to Nowhere' is an excellent song and the ending of the song serves this album amazingly good.

Cover wise I always thought this album looked weird. Ozzy with a blurry upper body and the strangest kind of little wing on the back. He might didn't want to change the world but he definitely changed is choice of covers. Though through time the cover has actually grown on me and it isn't as horrible as the cover for "Down to Earth" for example... Originally I only bought this record because 'Hellraiser' was on it and I was new to Ozzy's music and just wanted something in my comfort zone. When it comes to the track recommendation just go through the whole album. It is hard to pick out single tracks as they each supply each other. On the bright side you're in for about an hours worth of more than solid heavy metal!

I would describe No More Tears as the last masterpiece released by Ozzy, by that I don't mean that his later albums aren't worth anything because there is some gems hidden here and there. But No More Tears definitely is his last work of art and could easily be his best album. Maybe that is too much? Not really. No doubt that some of my favourite songs are from the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman albums but when it comes to consistency, this album just got something else. It is simply amazing, astonishing and a lot of other nice words. It definitely is up there with his earlier works and it depends on the musical mood you're in which album you choose from but don't give up on this fantastic album!

Time after time, the road leads to Ozzy!

Rating

9.5

Yngwie Malmsteen - Spellbound

"From a Thousand Solos"


This is the first album to feature Yngwie on vocals and I sincerely hope that it will be the last, even though only three songs feature vocals I'd really wish he had chosen a lead singer. I am however thrilled that Tim Owens is not the vocalist any more as I do not really think he fits Yngwie's music and throughout the course of an album I get tired of his vocals. Even before I heard this album and it was announced that Yngwie was doing the vocals I got some ticks, since he has done vocals on some tracks in the past like 'Look At You Now' from 'Relentless'. When I heard that song among others I must say I really crossed my fingers for that he would never release an album with himself doing the vocal job. But he did and as mentioned the vocals are only featured on three tracks, but I really hope that Mr. Malmsteen will realize by listening to this album that he need to step it up. Big time. No doubt he like listening to himself play, and it is impressive, no doubt, but we got it already. You can play guitar pretty good, but it really becomes a drag to listen to ten instrumental tracks because 'Relentless' was also filled up with instrumentals and I really had hoped that Yngwie soon would return to writing some good album oriented music if I can put it like that. Build the music around the vocals with some good guitar work instead of leaving us for dead listening to countless solos.

The title track actually sounds catching with a really good opening riff and then instead of vocals which would have fitted this track perfect as long as it isn't Yngwie's and Tim Owens'... Then it would have been a striking track. In a way that goes for the whole album, there's potential but instead of taking advantage of that it has just been filled up to the brim with solos... solos and solos. I must admit when listening to this album the first time I turned it off when I came to track number ten, because it was such a drag, and would probably only be interesting for people who want to play guitar like Yngwie Malmsteen. Besides all that, Yngwie does yet again play bass, and since he took that and the production over the bass has been sounding really good. But since this album is so solo oriented you can't really enjoy it to the fullest and a good showcase for that is the track 'Requiem for the Lost' where the solos just kicks the bass performance out of the picture even though specially on that track it gives a kind of atmospheric feel. If you are into blues then you might want to check out tracks like 'Let's Sleeping Dog Lie' and 'Iron Blues' which really were to my surprise as I wasn't really expecting blues to appear on this album. It doesn't really increase my opinion for this album, neither does it decrease it.

What bothers me most about the vocals is that they seem to have some sort of filter applied, I don't know if it autotune or something, but it really doesn't sound good, and in some choruses the backing vocals just sounds like five Yngwies at once. If you liked his vocals on some previous songs like 'Magic City' from 'Perpetual Flame' then I am almost certain you are going to disappointed when listening to this album. A lot of fans have been wanting some old vocalists back in the band, and that is understandable. Though it would be nice with a new vocalist that could swoop our legs away, and to be honest the only vocalist I would like to come back is Michael Vescera. Not saying that all the other vocalists are bad, but he is my definite favourite. Something I want to mention briefly is the drums because when there's some double pedal hammering or some other fast drumming with the pedals then the snare kind of drowns and fades a little.

I must say the covers that Yngwie has chosen for his albums the recent years have been really sloppy even though 'Perpetual Flame' had an okay cover, 'Relentless' looked like something a fifteen year old kid could have done in Photoshop. But when looking at covers like 'Attack!!' and 'Unleash the Fury' then you're bound for a facepalm. Spellbound obviously doesn't look like it has been painted but unlike the predecessor it has been structured a lot better and ended up looking really good!

I don't even know how the hell to sum up this album because I'm so torn. Yngwie's music has earned a huge place in my life, and I look forward to each album he releases with excitement, and I probably will again despite the disappointment. Which it really is, there is not that much I want to point out and recommend besides the title track 'Spellbound', 'Nasca Lines' and 'God of War'. Though the last mentioned track is a little too long it got some really good potential.
At the time I think this album is unnecessary and maybe The Rising Force should have waited releasing this album until late 2013. This album needs a proper vocalist and it could have been a lot better and musically the focus has been aimed way too much at the solos. Which was something Yngwie kind of got away from at least when looking at the albums with Owens so it definitely is a step down. Hopefully Yngwie will use his brains some more the next time and advance were he left off with 'Relentless' and 'Perpetual Flame' which focused more on the music, vocals and good song making instead of only solos. Those albums just needed a better vocalist, maybe there's some hope in the future.

Rating

6.1

Kreator - Phantom Antichrist

"Phantom Mainstreamist"


A return to form is what this album should have been. When the title track was released as a single, I bet many Kreator fans was high on excitement, and apparently it stayed that way for many people. But not me, I don't understand all the praise that has been given to this album. The first two times I listened to this album I had to turn it off when I was half way through it. I was really looking forward to Kreator "returning to form" that I pre ordered the album on vinyl, and that is something I really regret.

After the first three tracks, one of them being the intro, the album has already peaked, and from here it goes downhill until the record is done. If you heard the main single of the album, it contains an Iron Maiden cover. Despite a laughable scream in the start of the track the band covers The Number of the Beast quite well. The only problem... That style continued on the full album. I guess Kreator wants people to sing along and wave back and forth because this album feels like a melodic thrash metal tribute to Iron Maiden. There is only two tracks that I would shine some light on from the album, and that is Phantom Antichrist and Death to the World. These two tracks is the only ones I would describe as being worthy of being on a Kreator album. Because the main problem for this album is the band is trying to be something they are not. And when that doesn't ruin the songs, then it is the incredible bad lyrics...

The thing I however want to praise is the album cover. There are two versions, one awesome and one shitty. The awesome cover, which was made by Wes Benscoter who also has been employed by bands like Slayer, Autopsy and Cattle Decapitation. Wes' version of the cover is the red one that could remind you of the artwork for Pleasure to Kill and definitely is their best cover in many, many years. The shitty cover however looks so photoshopped that it hurts, and just doesn't look good. It was made by Jan Meininghaus who also has been working with bands like Falconervane Bolt Thrower.

If you, like me, expected Kreator to return to the tunes of Violent Revolution and Enemy of God, then you are in for a surprise. The phantom that appears on this album is what I would call melodic thrash metal, and a tribute to Iron Maiden. I really want to like this album but it just don't have what it takes. Even though I like some other melodic genres, this one does not please my ears, specially not when it has been kreated by a band that brought me albums like Pleasure to Kill and Extreme Aggression.

Rating

6.2

Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning

"The Epitaph of Thin Lizzy"

Thunder and Lightning was released one year before the break up of Thin Lizzy, and merely three years before the tragic death of the iconic frontman, bassist and songwriter, Phil Lynott. It is very sad, that this was the last Thin Lizzy album, but they sure went out with a bang.

Immediately when the title track begins you can hear the sheer power from John Sykes' guitar expertise, who replaced Snowy White after he left because of Lynott's drug addiction and the unorganized schedules. Sykes really helped bringing renewed energy to what else seemed the remains of the wrecked Thin Lizzy, especially on the track 'Cold Sweat' which he co-wrote. Scott Gorham's riffing or solo skills never gets boring, that man is one of most talented musicians of all time. This album is quite different from all previous Thin Lizzy albums, it is very diverse through out the whole album, like all the other records even though they have a more pummeling sound. Downey is just pounding the life out of the drums with his veracious beats and opening the hi-hat at the end of each bar (seriously, that man is obsessed with it), and by the way, the fill in the beginning of 'Someday She Is Going To Hit Back' is quite astonishing. Phil's vocals have become a little rougher and he seems to yell a bit also, his drug abuse probably had something to do with it, but needless to say they still sound amazing. The bass aren't very audible (except on 'The Holy War' and 'The Sun Goes Down'), which is a shame because we all know that Phil can produce some fantastic bass-lines. Now we come to the most disappointing part of the album, the keyboards. Now I ain't saying that Darren Wharton is bad at playing keyboard, he did a great job on Renegade. But on this record they just seem worthless and cheesy, to be honest. The only track they gain any atmosphere on is 'The Sun Goes Down', and the synth solo on the title track is kinda interesting, but that alone can't save no-good and foolish sound of the keyboards.

Now there ain't much to say about song structure on this album, it is definitely the most straightforward, hard-rocking record they ever did. The only song that comes to mind that's even remotely as rocking is 'Jailbreak'. Every song on this record is build to sound catchy, it is NWOBHM to the bone (even though they are Irish). The title track and 'Cold Sweat' are definitely the most heavy metal sounding tracks of the album, they just pound and pummel with heavy verses and catchy choruses. 'The Holy War' is a song that mostly resembles Thin Lizzy's earlier days but still brings something new to the table. 'Someday She's Going To Hit Back' and ' Baby Please Don't Go' are fast beat rocking songs with great harmonies. 'The Sun Goes Down' is a very slow and moody song, unquestionably a song thats stands out from all of Thin Lizzy's catalogue. The last song worthy to mention is 'Bad Habits', an up-tempo song with blistering solos and a heavy breakdown.

Needless to say, this album is very close at heavy metal perfection and its too bad that Thin Lizzy did not survive to further this more, simple and hard rocking version of themselves. The album is very coherent with no experimentations, it is very dark (at some points) with no jolly and funky songs. And that is why it is a first-class heavy album.

Rating

8.5