| CLOVEN HOOF - EYE OF THE SUN (Escape Music) |
| Cloven Hoof is a band who formed way back in 1979 in England, around the time the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was taking over worldwide, while doing so it seems as the years have passed they have gone through some changes in their overall image but I'm not sure how much of that has to do with the bands sound as well. I'm sure when you compare today's technology and recording techniques to 1979, the band will certainly have a slight change in sound/production to go with today's type of more modern heavy metal, yet not to forget the bands old school roots. New York/New Jersey thrash experts Overkill did it without selling out in the process. Cloven Hoof, with it's history in tact, release their latest album Eye Of The Sun which displays some very good art work on the cover, something that at first look you'd never guess this is a british heavy metal band from back in the days of diamond head and praying mantis. Musically, Cloven Hoof seems to have a variety of tracks, some offer the style of heavy metal the band was always known for, while others seem to give us more modern harmonies and melodies with every chorus, as the bands tends to sound very much like Dokken on the overall guitar sound. Stand out tracks on the CD include the title track which lead vocalist Matt Moreton does an awesome job as his voice takes over this track. Other notable songs include "Kiss of evil" "Eye Of the Zombie" and the riff monster "Absolute Power". Some songs surprise the listener considering Cloven Hoof's past as they seem to ride down another path of it's own, taking a temporary leave from the NWOBHM. The album does deserve more than a few listens, and quite often. Solid release, from these vets, who just seem to love what they do no matter what change may come. Metal Mike............................................................7.5/10 |
| TYPE O NEGATIVE - SYMPHONY FOR THE DEVIL (SPV) |
| Being one of the world's most unpredictable and unique bands of all time isn't an easy reputation to keep up, but Type O Negative has always been able to keep things in the camp of the Brooklyn, New York monsters of musical drama very interesting since the band formed back in the early 90's. On this DVD release you catch Type O Negative live on stage at the Bizarre Festival in Germany 1999. Even though it dates back 6 years earlier than the DVD's release, you still get a look at some pretty good concert footage of 16 songs along with plenty of bonus material in between, here and there and extra clips of the band on tour doing what they are (almost) famous for, crazy immature yet hysterical type o antics only they can dish out upon each other. It ranks up there with a couple of those Pantera DVD's as well but not nearly as graphic. Included in this package is a bonus CD (just to get you in the mood before the long awaited 2007 album release) of the band covering Carlos Santana, doing a Santana medley of evil ways / oye como va / Black magic woman classic bit for Type O to cover something like this in their own goth like, odd rock/metal tribute. Symphony For The Devil is just what your mother would love from Peter Steele and company, typically rude, arguing, disgusting, explicit words, tour bus travels and band mate hazing-like situations from a group who starts their own rumors and are damn proud of it. This is a complete package for the die hard Type O fan as we see the best of both world's from this unit. Overall it's more for the serious Type O Negative fan as average heavy metal fans will enjoy it but just not as much as the long time fans. Always remember, it's Type O Negative's world and your part of it, whether you like it or not. Metal Mike............................................................7.5/10 |
| QUIET RIOT - REHAB (Chavis Records) |
| One of the world's most popular hard rock/metal bands to come out of nowhere and take over the 80's is Quiet Riot thanks to the #1 album Metal Health. Though the band has had some up's and plenty of downs throughout it's career ever since the 1983 release of Metal Health, one thing's for sure, like all those bands to come out of the 80's with great success, they will never again taste that era of stardom due to the change in the business today, over twenty years later. Kevin Dubrow and Frankie Banali the bands only remaining original 80's members recently added Guitarist Alex Grossi and Bass player Chuck Wright to the bands roster (even though Tony Franklin and Neil Citron are heard on the recording). The band who refuses to lay down erupts with an incredible new album titled Rehab, which shows that Quiet Riot can take a shot at the classic 70's style of play adding a blues charged sound as well. Some nice variety is on this new QR disc as well as some killer classic drum sound and guitar riffs that would make The Who and Led Zeppelin envy each note, beat and guitar riff. This is the bands best work since the Metal Health/ Condition Critical years, but QR has stayed away from the days of headbanging heavy metal 80's and instead has composed a brilliant 11 track foot stomping classic hard rock late 70's album which has to be heard as Kevin Dubrow has finally made this something worth waiting for. Stand out's include tracks "Strange Days" "South Of Heaven" and "Beggars and Thieves". This is a huge return for Quiet Riot who tried hard to fit in and remind people who they once were. No more should they be overlooked as they have found the correct ingredients that will help people see just who this band is today, mainly 80's free. A little Rehab helped them cure what's been ailing them for years. Quiet Riot is back, in a big time way. Metal Mike.............................................................8.5/10 |
| BLINDED COLONY - BEDTIME PRAYERS (Pivotal) |
| Blinded Colony are a band from Sweden who have now released their sophomore album titled Bedtime Prayers which when you consider where they are from, you will know that they have some big shoes to fill if they intend on treading water with other swedish melodic Death Metal bands who have made a name for themselves throughout the 90's to present. When you first listen to Bedtime Prayers you'll never guess that the band members are all just under the age of 25. Blinded Colony does a lot right in their young careers and with this release including some solid production and great cover artwork they are truly on the right track and know exactly where they are going as the future of aggressive melodic Death Metal has a new saviour, a band that offers plenty of harmonic vocal styles as well as some healthy guitars sounds which definately remind us of current bands In Flames & Shadows Fall. Blinded Colony can learn more as they mature together as a group, but before they can be known as the young lions of the Swedish Metal Genre they will need a few more releases with a little less repetitiveness which is presented on a few tracks. Keeping the ideas fresh will be a challenge especially with such a competitive swedish heavy metal market that grows each year along with todays ever popular metalcore type scene. Blinded Colony are a band to look out for in 2007 and beyond. A band who is well ahead of their prime as the future of heavy metal takes a real hard look at themselves and they like what they see. Metal Mike.............................................................8.5/10 |
| GROSS MISCONDUCT - THE PROCESS OF INDOCTRINATION (Indie) |
| With the Canadian heavy metal scene and it's always growing hardcore/diehard fanbase it's not hard to see that a band such as Vancouver, B.C.'s Gross Misconduct would be such a great fit within the music itself and it's culture. Gross Misconduct tear into your flesh right from the opening track "The War Breeds on" with it's break neck speed and killer solo's. This is not just a typical Speed metal band looking to write songs just for their love of Heavy Metal, they are a band who is many years ahead of their game and it shows as they blend a unique arsenal of technical death/Thrash metal with an open melodic style to boot. Some may agree that they also seem to feed off of the montreal metal scene or just the swedish heavy metal scene over seas but they definitely stay true to their roots as early Metallica, Megadeth, Testament and Slayer were heavy on the bands mind when they decided to put together this soon to be next 'big thing' in Canadian Death/Thrash metal. Gross Misconduct will be seen and heard around the globe someday soon on that metal mountain top shared by bands such as Napalm Death, Carcass, Obituary & Death and when they finally reach their potential lookout for headlining worldwide tours at a sold out arena near you. Metal Mike.................................................................9/10 |
| ARMORY - THE DAWN OF ENLIGHTENMENT (Indie) |
| With the lack of intelligent and diverse Power metal bands in North America today, one would think that the scene seems non existent since not many american bands of this genre have been able to break free and have the success of say Iced Earth or Jag Panzer. Trends like this never stay the same and some band will one day reach that powerful status. Amory is a band who come from Townsend, Massachusetts who decided to release their debut album, a true blend of power metal full of speed, blistering solo's, melodies and hooks to go along with a good range of vocal styles. Armory reminds you a little of everything European/American power metal has to offer from Edguy to Blind Guardian to Steel Prophet and more as they focus on creating their own sound. Guitarists Joe Kurland and Chad Fisher along with Peter Rutcho on keyboards take the bands sound to another level unlike what you tend to hear from a band like dragonforce who really rely heavily on guitar solo's that go over as predictable in it's overall music. Armory tends to get a little repetitive at times early on but as you go further into The Dawn Of Enlightenment songs like "Warrior Forlorn" "Forged In Dragon Flames" and the title track all show what Armory has to offer along with Adam Kurland on vocals they could just have a shot at doing what some of the other bands mentioned above have already done in their careers as Armory gains a little experience in the years to come with more releases on the horizon. You never know who will be next. Armory has the talent to put it all together. Metal Mike...............................................................8.5/10 |