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Monthly Archives: December 2010

OVERDRIVE – ANGELMAKER (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 30, 2010

Released January 21st 2010 on Lion Music The Overdrive reunion seems to be an ongoing concern. And that’s a good thing.  “Let The Metal Do The Talking” was a great album, and “Angelmaker” continues in the same vein. Solid, traditional heavy metal. Not power metal, not neoclassical, not medievalinspiredprogfolkspeed metal. HEAVY METAL!! Opening track “Signs [...]

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HURTSMILE – HURTSMILE (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 29, 2010

Released 21st January 2010 on Frontiers Records Even with the Extreme reunion in full swing, Gary Cherone has found time to release this album with his new band. Gary has an instantly recognizable voice. Love him or hate him, he always sounds like he’s having fun. Musically, there are definitely parallels with Extreme (“Jesus Would [...]

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MR BIG – WHAT IF… (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 28, 2010

Released 21st January 2011 on Frontiers Records After last year’s excellent “Back To Budokan” Mr Big now present us with the first studio album since the reunion. Opening track “Undertow” has all the typical Mr Big ingredients and sets the mark for the album. “American Beauty” is more up-tempo, referencing “Addicted To That Rush” if [...]

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ELVENKING – RED SILENT TIDES (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 28, 2010

Out now on AFM Records For your weekly dose of sword & sorcery, look no further than Elvenking. Power metal with light medieval and folky overtones. Yes, there’s the endless rolling bass drum, the guitar fills that come straight from Spinal Tap’s “Stonehenge” and the busy arrangements. But there’s also strong melodies and harmonies and [...]

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THUNDER – THE MAGNIFICENT SEVENTH (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 24, 2010

Formed in 1989, from the ashes of the pop rock combo Terraplane, Thunder went on a hugely succesful run in Europe and Japan on the back of the albums “Backstreet Symphony“, “Laughing On Judgement Day” and “Behind Closed Doors” in addition to these albums the band had excellent b-sides for singles with “No Way Out [...]

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IRON MASK – SHADOW OF THE RED BARON (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 22, 2010

Out now on Lion Music Back after 4.5 years from the scene are neo-classical merchants Iron Mask.  However, whilst the sound is firmly rooted in a neo-classical basis there is a stronger than ever melodic vibe throughout the album makes this a versatile and accessible album for more discerning straight metal fans.    Led by guitar [...]

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JAYCE LANDBERG – GOOD SLEEPLESS NIGHT (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 22, 2010

Out Now on Escape Music Jayce Landberg is a guitarist hailing from Sweden who released the Yngwie wannabe neo-classical tinted release ‘Break The Spell’ in 2008 which saw former Malmsteen vocalist Goran Edman on vocals. Now the follow up ‘Good Sleepless Night’ has just been released on Escape Music and whilst Jayce has spread beyond [...]

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JOE BONAMASSA – BLACK ROCK (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 22, 2010

Out now on Provogue Records Yet another bold, confident, masterful release from “the future of blues rock”. Joe and Kevin Shirley retreated to Santorini Greece to seek new inspiration and to break in a brand new studio set in the cliffside. The result is the very mature “Black Rock” which comprises 5 Joe penned originals [...]

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PRETTY MAIDS – PANDEMONIUM (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 22, 2010

Out now on Frontiers Records While their debut “Red Hot And Heavy” was something of a cult classic, I remember Pretty Maids from the quite good but rather commercial “Future World” album. Keyboard heavy, with a clear nod to Europe and other bands of the time. Pretty Maids always retained more of a metallic edge [...]

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EXTREME – TAKE US ALIVE (REVIEW)

Leave a Comment Posted by on December 22, 2010

Out now on Frontiers Records I have to say I wasn’t impressed with Extreme’s comeback album, the rather bland “Saudades De Rock”. Of course, Extreme is one of those bands that shine in the live arena, and they have a barrel full of classic songs to choose from, so how does this new live recording [...]

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