Random thoughts and viewpoints on great bands and their music. I am a huge fan of classic metal and hard rock. It's what I grew up with, and what I continue to grow with. Feel free to post or comment, I really dig chatting with fellow music snobs. MUYA!
There was alot of great music released this year, so it wasn't a problem gathering a list of 15. Here's the next batch of my picks of the year. #12. Unisonic - S/T
If you were ever a fan of Helloween (which you must be), you will remember the original classic lineup had a brilliant vocalist in Michael Kiske and a uber guitarist in Kai Hansen. There was a falling out many years ago, and fans were waiting for some form of a reunion. Well, here it is. This full length is the follow up to their Ep, which was also released this year. Is this Keeper Of The Seven Keys? No. But it does have some of the elements of the early Helloween classics, with a more modern hard rock approach,and occasionally pop rock elements. There is not a bad track on the album. Lots of chugging guitars, great solos and choruses, and Kiske proves he still has the pipes. Kai Hansen, along with guitar partner Mandy Meyer (Krokus),play to their strengths on tracks Never Too Late, Star Rider and the title track. I like this album, mainly because I wasn't expecting them to take the more AOR/Hard Rock approach they did. Lots of great stuff...buy it.
#11. Hardline - Danger Zone
In 1992, Hardline released what is one of my all time fave Hard Rock albums in Double Eclipse. The album, which featured Journey's Neal Schon, was a perfect slab of American hard Rock with an AOR vibe. At the time grunge was ruling the airwaves, and kept bands like Hardline from reaching the top. The band carried on the past 20 years (in one form or another, without Schon), and have arrived with another great album in Danger Zone. Like the debut, it's all melodies and great vocals. The songs are all well written, and Johnny Gioeli's vocals are still leading the way. Classic tracks like Stay, Fever Dreams, and What I'd Like carry the melodic torch high, and are a reminder that if you are a fan of melodic hard rock, that there are still lots of bands producing great music if you look for them. Already looking forward to the next release from Hardline. Highly Recommended.
11. Testament - Dark Roots Of The Earth
If you're a fan of Metal, you are probably a fan of Testament. One of the more underrated American thrash bands who would fit along nicely with The Big 4, if they ever made it The Big 5. The past two releases are some of Testaments best work, and this one keeps up with it's predecesors. Dark Roots Of The Earth is heavy, fast, and catchy. Testament plays to their strengths, the guitars of Peterson and Skolnick, along with the bellow of vocalist Chuck Billy. The headbanging starts right off the top with the opener Rise Up, and first single, Native Blood. Skolnick and Peterson have never sounded better, as the album is filled with blistering, yet melodic guitar work. The bonus edition contains covers of Scorpions, Maiden and Queen, so you can see where some of their influences lie. Another great album from Testament.
I might be the worst blogger ever. I listen to music everyday, mostly the classic stuff, but I don't seem to find the time to put in a new post for you all. I promise I'll be better in the new year ;). There was a ton of great new music as well this year, and I've put together a little list of albums and bands that I played a ton over the past 12 months. Some bands you may recognize, and there are some cool new bands that hopefully I'll turn you on to. I'm going to do them in groups of three or four this year, so I can finish the list by New Years. I hope you enjoy this years list! #15. Propagandhi - Failed States
I've always been a fan of punk, mostly the classic UK and US stuff. Here is a band who's back catalog I need to check out. Propagandi are a four piece from Portage la Prarie, Manitoba, and this is their 6th(!!) album...I have to pay more attention, because these guys are brilliant. Manic, yet somehow controlled, Failed States owes more to Canadian legends Rush and Voivod than it does to The Clash or Sex Pistols.Lets call it metallic punk, firmly rooted in the left. Great musicianship (killer guitar work) and vocals, with progressive tendencies. Opening track, Note To Self, is six minutes long (which is about 4 minutes longer than your average punk track). The title track is a stormer, along with Cognitive Suicide and Duplicate Keys Icaro (An Interm Report). My surprise of the year. An excellent record.
#14. Huntress - Spell Eater Huntress are a band from Oregon/California, who look like a bunch of hippy bikers fronted by a platinum blond model, and they sound like 1982 was last year. This is a good thing. Classic sounding metal, with hints of classic Priest and Maiden, along with the Thrash giants of the 80's. This album is thrashy and modern, and will appeal to fans of older metal. Songs like Eight Of Swords, Snow Witch and The Dark show where the bands roots lie, but it is done in a refreshing manner with lead vocalist Jill Janus powerful style. It seems the metalheads are split on this release; some love it, some not so much. Any band that embraces what metal was about back in it's heyday is ok with me, and I'm pretty sure Huntress with continue to do so. Here's the vid for Eight Of Swords. Check it out!
#13. Steelwing - Zone Of Alienation
The past few years have seen a resurgence of retro-styled bands. Like Huntress, Steelwing are flying the classic metal banner high. From
Sweden (who have always produced some great hard rock and metal), this
is Steelwing's followup to their fantastic debut, Lord Of The Wasteland.
Tons of guitars, great melodies, catchy choruses and soaring vocals are all here. Along
with influences like Maiden and Manowar, I hear some Dokken and Crue in
Zone Of Alienation. Flat out rockers like Full Speed Ahead and Solar Wind Riders sit nicely along more lengthy epics like Lunacy Rising. I've said it before, I'm happy there are bands that still put out music like this. If you liked metal in the 80's, you need to give Steelwing a spin. Check out the vid below!
I'll be back soon with my next batch of albums that made up my soundtrack for 2012!
If you're a fan of Metal, you are probably a fan of Testament. One of the more underrated American thrash bands who would fit along nicely with The Big 4, if they ever made it The Big 5. The past two releases are some of Testaments best work, and this one keeps up with it's predecesors. Dark Roots Of The Earth is heavy, fast, and catchy. Testament plays to their strengths, the guitars of Peterson and Skolnick, along with the bellow of vocalist Chuck Billy. The headbanging starts right off the top with the opener Rise Up, and first single, Native Blood. Skolnick and Peterson have never sounded better, as the album is filled with blistering, yet melodic guitar work. The bonus edition contains covers of Scorpions, Maiden and Queen, so you can see where some of their influences lie. Another great album from Testament.
