| W.A.S.P. - UNHOLY TERROR (Metal-Is) Well if you enjoyed the last W.A.S.P. release Helldorado then you will really love this one along with the Hardcore Blackie fans of the early 80's. Upon first listen you can really hear the old school W.A.S.P., "Animal (F**k like a beast)" and "I wanna be somebody" type of Shock Metal Blackie brings back on tunes like " Let it Roar" and the title track as well. Unholy Terror a concept about organized religion is a product of Blackie Lawless and Chris Holmes who growing up were christians who went to church every Sunday looking for answers. who would have thought that this is the career path they would choose, anyway W.A.S.P. does not disapoint, old or new fans of the band will know what i mean when you buy this CD, driving around listening to this in your car may not get you as many girls as you hoped for but at least you know you made a good choice if you want something pure that is REAL Metal and worth it at the same time, so ahead crank your CD player because Unholy Terror delivers with great promise, you deserve it. Metal Mike............................................................................................ 8/10 |
| MEGADETH - THE WORLD NEEDS A HERO ( Sanctuary) Mega Dave and the gang are back with changes everywhere, Goodbye: Marty Friedman, Hello: Al Pitrelli (ex-Savatage) as the new Megadeth Guitarist, and some might think that the new album might suffer without Marty but if you believe so you are dead wrong, the band welcomes back (after seven years missing in action) long time Mascot "Vic Rattlehead" as well as a fresh look at the Metal world through the eyes of Dave Mustaine thank god because this Album is much better than anything they have done recently, go back to 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" for an idea of what this record sounds like and you will know what i mean, with a little "Rust In Peace" thrown in here and there and you have vintage Megadeth something we all have been looking forward to. The bands new label Sanctuary Records looks like they are going to help the band get back to where they belong and "The World Needs A Hero" is a good way to start, lead off track "Disconnect" is a perfect start for the Disc as it shows that Megadeth have gone back to their roots since the first 3 tracks on this CD focus on giving us what we want "Riffs" real Meaty riffs unlike what "Risk" had to offer. "Recipe For Hate...Warhorse" starts off just like an old Megadeth tune called "Dawn Patrol" and then speeds up near the end which is fine by us longtime fans "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" released on the "Capitol Punishment" CD sits perfectly on this one "Return To Hanger" is the continuing saga of "Rust In Peace" "Hanger 18" as this is one of the best songs on the Disc (also a great song performed Live) "When" is a return to the "Good ol days" of Heavy Metal even though it runs for 9:13 it is a great way to end this Album. Hats off to Dave and Dave who have been with this band since day 1, they have been through a few band member changes, tried new things here, new sounds there but finally have decided to stick to their old game plan and do what they do best which is make great Heavy Metal, after all Dave does say "Its not just music its a way of life" He is so right. Metal Mike........................................................................................... 8/10 |
| ICED EARTH - HORROR SHOW (Century Media) cover. Second the CD holder is a small hard cover book/lyrics with the CD held in the Inside cover for safe keeping. Third this CD is a Concept of old Horror Movies though the song titles are nothing special with names like "Wolf", "Jack", "Jekyll & Hyde", "Frankenstein", and "Dracula" I guess by now you get the picture, but dont let that fool you its the Music that matters and only Jon Schaffer and Iced Earth could pull off this Concept so damn well. The Disc starts with "Wolf" an awesome speed/thrash tune which has superb kick drums by new skins man Richard Christy (Ex- Death) a perfect choice who compliments this CD so well its like he's been with Iced Earth since the beginning, next is "Damien"which Jon Schaffer calls "The darkest song we ever wrote" great chorus and lyrics not only on this song but all ten songs are so well written you'd wonder why no one ever did this in the first place? When you compare "Horror Show" to "Something wicked this way comes" they both sound like Iced Earth but in a different way with H.S. being far better, track by track you will enjoy every minute of this Monster Mosh (hehe) and as a special added bonus you get another CD which is found inside the back cover, this contains a cover song of Iron Maiden's "Transylvania" and an almost 70 minute Interview with Guitarist Jon Schaffer who tells about the bands history and looks at the future of Iced Earth. A two CD set of Iced Earth Heavy Metal, Interview with Jon Schaffer,Concept about old Horror Movies including fantastic artwork inside, and an Iron Maiden cover song anyone who LOVES Heavy Metal must add this to their collection. one of the best Albums of 2001 so far. Metal Mike......................................................................................9.5/10 |
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It seems that with each CD release Iced Earth gets better and better with everything they do. Music and being very creative goes well together which this time around has produced an almost perfect album in every way. First the CD is Available as a very interesting package which has the now famous Iced Earth/Chaos Comics art work on the |
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| After reading some magazine reviews about this CD months before its release I was just as excited about this one as I was with "High" and "Unnatural Selection" two great F+J albums everyone should add to their colection. The band raved about "My God" probably because from what I heard they were not very happy with the last release "Unnatural Selection" at all, why? I have no idea because I loved that CD. |
| Anyone who knows what Flotsam and Jetsam sounds like will enjoy this Disc from the start as lead off single "Dig me up to bury me" jumps at you with pure F+J style.Other tracks like "Camera Eye" and the title track also have that famous Flotsam bite to it. The awesome thing about this band is that just like Anthrax they have have been doing things their own way for over ten years now and even though F+J may not have become quite the success they had hoped to be they stayed true to Metal, no gimmicks, no flashy or trendy style or sound what so ever. after listening to "My God" the first few times I realized that no one sounds like this in Metal today and no one does it quite like "Vocalist" Eric A.K, without him there would be no Flotsam and Jetsam. I would love to see these guys play here in Toronto, Canada but they have always had trouble crossing the border going back as far as the Megadeth Tour which rolled into town about 5 years ago and from what I have read things have not changed. "My God" may not be as good as the last 2 discs but its worth your time and money to purchase this CD, just another day at the office for the band who after all these years are doing it because they love it, its not always about the money, right? Metal Mike................................................................................7.5/10 |
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| FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - MY GOD (Metal Blade) |
| GREAT WHITE - GREATEST HITS (Capitol) |
| Most of the time if you ask someone in their late twenties to early thirties "Have you picked up the latest Great White CD?" Their response will be "Great White? are they still around?" but its ok, even i didn't know that Enuf Z Nuff were still together untill they started touring with Poison and Quiet Riot this summer. |
| This "Greatest Hits" package the 3rd Greatest Hits release the past eight years by the boys is sure to be their best with a couple of "Live" tracks added to the mix including "Desert Moon" (Previously unreleased in the U.S.) and "House of broken love" which goes back to the 1989 album "...Twice shy". Great White just another one of those L.A. Hard Rock bands who have been around since 1981, have stayed true to form by sticking to their Hard rock/Bluesy sound and also have pretty much stayed together ever since the first release "Out of the night" EP (1982) with Lead vocalist Jack Russell and Guitarist Mark Kendall being the heart and soul of the band whom with out Great white would have not continued their success for 20 years now. Just as you might expect "Rock Me" "Face the day" and "Once bitten twice shy" are all on this CD as well as lead off track "Stick it" a Dokken-ish riff to this song by Guitar Whiz Mark Kendall. Only one minor complaint to this record which is why "Rolling Stoned" from the "Cant get there from here" 1999 CD was not included since this was one of their best songs in years which also received some quality airplay here in Toronto. Either way Great white will continue to Tour, play live, and make records which just goes to show you that Hard Rock/Metal acts like this keep the tradition going for years long after other styles of music have faded away. Metal Mike.............................................................................7/10 |
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| WIZARD - HEAD OF THE DECEIVER (SPV) |
| Before I even picked up this CD i had never even heard of this band but i just got a feeling that I may like this, since most Power Metal Bands have the same type of interesting artwork on the cover of their CD's I thought i should try this out, it only took 2 seconds from the 2nd track to help me |
| decide to purchase this Speed Metal band from Germany. And they are not kidding when they say "True Power Speed Metal Warriors from Germany".This Disc is full of fantastic Speed Metal Riffs and do these guys love Metal or what? just like Manowar they claim to be the "Defenders of Metal" which is the title of track 5. Tons of Melody through out the Disc but its the pure Power Speed Metal that they mix in with the rest of the music that just blows you away. "Magic Potion" should be enough to keep you coming back for more, as well as the title track which will both give you enough Power to recharge your soul and give you that boost you may need each day. It doesn't matter to me if these guys just like Manowar and Australia's Pegazus preach their love for Heavy Metal, because its bands like this that have helped keep the spirit alive by waving the flag of Metal, its bands like Wizard who help keep it real doing what they love working hard for their fans as well as themselves to hope that they one day can get the respect they deserve for playing music that should be noticed for their talent as well as for who they are, Defenders Of True Heavy Metal. Metal Mike.....................................................................8.5/10 |
| INTO THE BLIZZARD...CANADIAN ASSAULT (SKYSCRAPER) |
| This is the best Canadian Metal compilation CD ever released here is a perfect way to show the rest of the world that we mean business, from top to bottom this disc is loaded with a variety of different styles of Canadian Heavy Metal. Anvil brings in that veteran Savy, a band which has |
| been around for more than 20 years "Ball of Fire" is just that, from their latest CD release "Plenty of Power". Blood Of Christ put the women and children to bed half an hour early with "Beneath the Beauty of Darkness" as they sit in the clean up spot on this CD. Lets not forget two of Canada's most popular Metal bands at the present time Cryptopsy and Kataklysm who have been touring constantly throughout Canada, without them this CD would not be complete. Infernal Majesty another Toronto band peirce your ears with "Where is your God"right after Quebec native's Gorguts warm you up for the second half of this disc.The journey ends with Solus Toronto's most Promising young Death/Thrash Band doing "Independent Eye" but this would not truly be called "Canadian" without B.C's own Devin Townsend's Strapping Young Lad and Voivod a perfect way to end this Materpiece from the "Great White North" you cant ask for a better Compilation than this, 17 tracks of the best Heavy Metal this country has to offer. It makes us that much more proud to be Canadian.With this kind of talent, who wouldn't be? Metal Mike....................................................................9.5/10 |
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| JAG PANZER - MECHANIZED WARFARE (CENTURY MEDIA) |
| It's amazing to know that with so many great Heavy Metal CD releases since the new Millennium began bands like Jag Panzer who have already established themselves as Power Metal Icons, have just released their one true masterpeice that will vault them to |
| top of the Heavy Metal Mountain along side such bands as Nevermore, In Flames, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica. "Mechanized Warfare" is easily the bands best work so far, dont get me wrong "Thane To The Throne" and "The Age Of Mastery" are both very good but this is THE album you will not forget. "Take to the Sky" is fantastic with it's exceptional chorus and guitar work gives you an example of what's to come. The track "Unworthy" with it's Choir intact and the unbelievable Dynamic Duo Guitarists Mark Briody and Chris Broderick is an Iron Maiden-ish song which would even make Smith/Murray a little jealous. You can put Broderick/Briody in the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame along side Smith/Murray and Tipton/Downing as one of the best Guitar Duo's in Heavy Metal History. And what about Lead Vocalist Harry Conkiln? He too should be metioned in the same category as Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, And Geoff Tate (a.k.a The Three Tremors) just listen to "The Silent" and "The Scarlet Letter" to see what I mean. I just hope that Century Media has inked these guys to a Muti-year contract because these guys are going in one direction, UP and letting them go would not be wise, Jag Panzer is ready for Super Stardom. Metal Mike.................................................................9.5/10 |
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| ALICE IN CHAINS - GREATEST HITS (COLUMBIA) |
| "Alice In Chains is a Heavy Metal Band "- Scott Ian, Anthrax. For whatever reason most people dont seem to understand that AIC play Heavy Metal riffs that go together very well with every release so far. |
| Here is a nice stocking stuffer for the upcoming Holiday season, you cant argue with this since all the "best of" AIC songs are here starting with "Man in the box" probably their most popular song ever released but not the best. The next four songs are all from the 1992 release "Dirt" and why not? since this was their best ever CD which came out around the same time as the "Grunge" Era, it's no wonder that AIC was being labeled as Alternative/Grunge Music. Fortunatly they kept things real as the years went by. "Agian" a true Metal song from AIC 1995 self titled release with a cool groove to it became one of my fave AIC tunes along side "Them Bones". "Grind" and "Heaven Beside You" also taken from the S/T CD round out this "Greatest Hits" Package. It's too bad these guys are either busy with other side projects, (Jerry Cantrell's Solo career, Layne Staley and Mike Inez doing other things as well) because even though they have probably called it quits already,they still have time to release a quality much anticipated "Greatest Hits" like this one. So keep your fingers crossed because maybe just maybe Alice In Chains might do it all over again. Metal Mike.............................................................8/10 |
| DAVID NEIL CLINE - THOROUGH SCRUTINY (GAZOCHTAHAGEN) |
| David Neil Cline is a name you will one day never forget and this Disc is a must have for all fans of solo artists with true talent. DNC is quickly becoming the next big thing as some might say, "Thorough Scrutiny" released on his own label Gazochtahagen Records is his finest work to date. The tracks "The Fate of Pain" "Life Under Glass" and "Kassie Lane" Groove with total satisfaction as DNC's 70's sound fits perfectly for those who are looking for something truly different, an Alternative to the Alternative. Hats off to David as he will not conform to any rules put forth by Corporate America, by doing his own thing he knows his time will come as hard work always gets you were you want to be if you put your mind to it. For a taste of what else DNC can do check out his cover of Pat Travers "Snortin Whiskey" a true classic tribute by Mr. Cline himself. So keep your eyes and ears open for a Solo Guitarist who deserves a chance to shine. David Neil Cline's time is here. Metal Mike........................................................8.5/10 |
| SLAYER - GOD HATES US ALL (AMERICAN) |
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| If you still dont have this CD by now then what are you waiting for? This is the Best Heavy Metal Album to come out in over 20 years!! this thing is so fast and Heavy it makes Slayer's 1986 Release "Reign In Blood" seem like pop music, it's just that damn good. G.H.U.A. begins with "Darkness Of Christ"/ "Disciple" as Tom Araya screams like never before, this track alone will give you goose bumps. "God Sent Death" will keep you alive and coming back for more and "New Faith" will show you that Slayer has always kept their word and Faith for Metal. "Seven Faces" as well as the first release off this CD "Bloodline" leave you breathless and screaming for more. I promise you that no matter how much money you spend (or how easy it was to steal this CD... j/k) you will thank yourself in the end because if Slayer was able to top "Reign In Blood" you know it will be worth each penny you spend and every minute you listen to it. Now that Slayer has made History releasing one of the Top 5 Metal Albums ever go out and purchase this, you will be Entertained for life. Metal Mike.......................................................10/10 |
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