| BLAZE - BLOOD & BELIEF (SPV) |
| Ah yes, Blaze Bayley is back with the release of "Blood & Belief" after the fantastic 2 CD "As Live as it gets" in 2003 recorded in front of just a few of his hundreds of thousands or more fans worldwide. Blood & Belief took me a few spins to get used to right away. I'm not sure this is his best release since his split with Iron Maiden, but it is something that will grow on you with each listen. Blaze will always have that magic that comes with his releases since going solo. At the time of this review guitarists Steve Wray and John Slater have since left Blaze due to personal reasons after over 4 years of blood sweat and Heavy Metal. Blaze may find replacements in the future but none may have the same impact that Wray and Slater ever had together with the band. Blood & Belief kicks off with the riff hungry "Alive" which I'm sure will be or already is a favourite among all Blaze fans worldwide. Blaze never misses a note and has not since going solo. Being quite the icon it seems over in Europe with the many Blaze fans who can agree to this, I feel that Blaze Bayley has a certain dedication and passion that you don't really hear when you listen to other bands or solo artists. The only other in this category would be Iron Maiden. As much as I like this record I thought it could have been a little faster/heavier at times but maybe I'm wrong, it could just be that after time this CD may just grow extremely well on me. I'm sure Blaze fans who pick this up will have no regrets, I guess my expectations were set a little higher and this caused me to not be blown away upon first listen. Overall this release from Blaze, just like his others is very much worth your purchase. Let's hope the new additions to the Blaze camp will be just as good in the future as it has been in the past. Metal Mike..............................................................7.5/10 |
| SAXON - LIONHEART (SPV) |
| This is a band that needs no introduction. Saxon who are one of the founders of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, bring us Lionheart the latest release by these British Heavy Metalers who have been around for 25 years now. Lionheart gives us not just vintage Saxon which fans love to hear but they offer a fresh Metal sound on a few tracks not quite heard on many early Saxon releases. "Beyond The Grave" and "Searching for Atlantis" will truly raise some diehard Saxon fans eyebrows worldwide. This CD has less epic Manowar type anthems (Denim and Leather, Rock The Nations) as the band has evolved perfectly after all these years into 2004 yet still producing that Saxon sound of old. Saxon has the Power and Glory today just like they did back in the 80's as they led the crusade of British Heavy Metal bands such as Diamond Head, Def Leppard, Angel Witch, Praying Mantis and more into next generation of this ever popular genre. Lionheart is one of many gems this band has recorded over the past 25 years and this kind of British Steel I salute and will always honor. Something classic to acknowledge as part of history ready to make things even better in the future. Metal Mike...............................................................8.5/10 |
| SHATTERPOINT - CONSEQUENCES (Indie) |
| What's that poll a local Canadian TV station had been running lately? "Who is the greatest Canadian of all time?" Well I would like to introduce you to the four Greatest Canadian Metalheads of all time! If Canada had a contest called something like "Canadian Metal Idol" Shatterpoint would blow them all away. No contest! forget about even trying! Consequences may be their debut release, but they play, and sound a lot like one of the bands big influences known worldwide as Annihilator. Greg Wright (Lead Guitar) must be Jeff Waters in disguise. The guitar riffs/ solo's on "Crashing Down" and "Ended By Silence" are so Indentical to that of Jeff Waters it's just uncanny. I say wake up to those in the music industry who hesitate to have these great Canadian Metalheads signed to a Record deal! Fans also must pay attention! SHATTERPOINT IS THE REAL THING! Any fans of Thrash Metal with superb Solo's performed by such a tight group will agree with me from the start of this review that Shatterpoint is the Four Horsemen of Canadian Heavy Metal! Moshing to the same Thrash as Kreator and Exodus as the ride to the top may not take that long for them. Trust me on this one. You will not be disappointed. Metal Mike.................................................................10/10 |
| HEAVYCORE - CORE TIL DEATH 3 (Heavycore Records) |
| Heavycore.net which is known to Legions of fans worldwide releases it's 3rd Compilation CD from this diehard Heavy Metal site. Heavycore's founder and Chief Disposer Of Posers Pete Altieri has brought together some of the most intense, brutal and sick Indie Heavy Metal on one CD! This is 20 tracks of pure hate and destruction, leaving nothing in it's path! You'll be hard pressed to find a more diverse and enjoyable Compilation CD anywhere. This is exactly how a Comp. CD should be as this has just about everything to offer us. Osmium kicks things off with it's killer riffs and vocals which kind of resembles that of Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God) and a fierce rhythm section! I can see the Pits now! Skitzo also gives us their brand of Sick vomit metal early on. The band Chainsaw Homicide sound like Mortician/Cannibal Corpse rolled into one as things take a bit of an experimental death metal ride. The Beverly Beer Bellys fit right in with it's hardcore/punk action. Pete Altieri, Heavycore's founder and his band Low Twelve attack us all with the track "Kill Everything" along with a little extra vocal help from Gary Meskil of Pro-Pain. Chainsnap and Self Inflicted blow up the end of this disc with Malevolent Creation left to tear through the rubble. When the smoke has cleared you will see things much better. Production is great, and most of all musically, this is something all Metalheads of the past 3 decades can appreciate. Heavycore.net is a true leader in the Metal Indusrty as they proudly give support to bands like these on this CD as well as hundreds more worldwide. Something like this will not go unnoticed. Raise your horns high for Pete Altieri and his total commitment to Heavy Metal. Just like I've said before, we're all in this together as we wave the flag of Heavy Metal for all to see. Metal Mike.................................................................9.5/10 |
| FATES WARNING - FWX (Metal Blade) |
| Being the veteran's or grandfathers of Progressive Metal, Fates Warning return with an album simply titled FWX. With Joey Vera of Armored Saint fame on bass and founding member Jim Matheos on Guitar and Keys, and Ray Alder (who came on board 4 years after the band formed) on vocals we await to see just what the band that started back in 1984 will give us this time around. To start with they've added a few things which I admit I wasn't really expecting since I'm not a big Fates Warning fan but when I think of albums such as "No Exit" and "A Pleasant Shade Of Grey" which are both a very important part of the bands history with the latter album being as important as anything the band has released, yet I'm not totally up with this release. WIth the addition of different styles of programming and stuff done by Jim Matheos the album falters and not enough Prog Rock/Metal or groove for my taste. Yet we get decent rockers with tracks such as "Simple Human" and "Stranger (With a familiar face)" I'm not getting the same feeling as I did with "No Exit". After a successful tour with Dream Theater and Queensryche (Every Prog Metal fans dream Tour) Fates Warning needs to look again at this effort and maybe add some changes before the next Fates Warning album hits stores. Metal Mike................................................................3/10 |
| QUO VADIS - DEFIANT IMAGINATION (Skyscraper) |
| Quo Vadis has to be the most underrated band in Heavy Metal. Being Canadian it's hard to find a Melodic death metal band that sounds this good. Quo Vadis who come from the province of Quebec, part of the Canadian French Metal movement along with bands such as Hanker, Kataklysm and Soul Of Darkness, release this highly anticipated CD Defiant Imagination with the only real negative being the fact that it's only 39:22 in length. Track by track Quo Vadis, with the ever noticable vocals from Stephane Pare, burst open the flood gates as some of the best technical solo's and guitar riffs rip through your speakers reminding us that you can be creative with death/speed punishing riffs packed into one 9 track CD. If the first 4 tracks don't convince you, the rest of the album will no doubt leave you more than satisfied with this purchase. Quo Vadis, when they gain more recognition world wide will be a true force in Heavy Metal just as the rest of the Quebec metal scene should be. In many ways the rest of Canada does not compare to Quebec and the scene there. If Montreal was looking for a leader for it's province wide metal scene, Quo Vadis would be that band to lead them into 2005 and beyond. Metal Mike......................................................................9/10 |
| THE IRON FORCE - METAL COMPILATION VOLUME 1 ( Risestar) |
| Risestar Promotions is an Indie label from South America which deals with all types of Heavy Metal including 80's style hard rock all the way up to brutal Death/Progressive Metal. This Compilation CD is a brilliant yet diverse 18 track first edition to the Risestar family. Technically sound melodic Death Metal in the style of the European Metal invasion from bands like In Flames, Sentenced, Lacuna Coil and Soilwork stand out through this CD. Risestar puts forth bands such as "No More Fear" "Enforce" and "Arum" as they unleash The European style fury upon us. Enforce throws on the killer chops and drums with the vocals changing from deep to aggressive from riff to riff, Heavy Metal to Hardcore. Stillbirth is a band who's doom like riffs sound even better along with the growls and howls by the vocalist. Tracks 12-18 focus on even more diversity. Steel Attack's Power Metal opens the bottom group of this Heavy Metal Iron Force proving that you dont have to play Death/Black Metal to be on this Compilation CD. Guitar solo's from here on shred in 80's like fashion with a little heart and soul to go along with it. I'm sure by now you get the picture, as The Iron Force will please more than just the average fan. Contact Risestar Promotions for more info on this CD and the rest of bands on its roster as well. Metal Mike.......................................................................8/10 |
| MILES BEYOND - MILES BEYOND (Rock Revolution Records) |
| Here comes the revolution! Hailing from Flint, Michigan and ready to turn some heads and listening ears comes Miles Beyond. This 4 piece power metal band has some incredible catchy solo's and powerful vocals. But this isn't just an ordinary band, no way. Miles Beyond is strongly influenced by Iron Maiden, Manowar and Judas Priest. Maiden being the most obvious of all ranging from vocals to guitar solo's as heard on the title track as well as on "Take me back home". There may be hundreds of bands out there that say Iron Maiden is a big influence, but not many can brag that they sound as much as the british icons as Miles Beyond does. Tim Moody's spectacular Bruce Dickinson like vocals breathe from track to track and Rhythm and lead guitar riffs/solo's from Tim and Paul Owsinski just burn in the vein of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Epic type lyrics on some tracks just like the kings of heavy metal Manowar yet even better is the harmonic background vocals by the entire band. You'll be hard pressed to find a better sounding American/British influenced band with today's Metal genre dominated by Black/Death Metal. Miles Beyond gets high marks overall doing things Miles Beyond the competition and it's enough to get noticed more than enough. Metal Mike.......................................................................8/10 |