 |
| HARD ROCK SPECIALISTS |
| IN BRIEF - 2009 |
| SAXON - Into The Labyrinth (SPV) British metal 'legends' SAXON kick off 2009 and set the standards high - with another excellent, consistent studio album to celebrate their 30th year of ass-kicking! The new CD is equal in both substance and execution to the bands' 2 previous excellent studio releases. Biff and the boys deliver - yet again! (8/10) |
| KREATOR - Hordes Of Chaos (SPV) Vintage German thrash metal 'legends' return with a monster of an album, that definitely will impress most die-hards who hear it. It's chock full of big killer riffs, angry killer songs and tons of ass-kicking attitude - just the way we love it! As above, a very good release! (9/10) |
| INDEX |
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| NICKELBACK � Dark Horse (Roadrunner)
Canadian mainstream 'superstar' act NICKELBACK enlist Def Leppard/Shania Twain/AC/DC producer, Mutt Lange - to oversea a very strong, consistent album that rocks hard most of the way. Full of catchy hard edged melodic rock songs that kick serious freckle making this a very satisfying release indeed! (8/10) |
| DESTRUCTION � Devolution (AFM)
Another 'Old School' metal act doing what comes naturally � kicking and screaming all the way with cracker riffs, killer songs, delivering a crushing release that is quite possibly, their best ever release! (9/10) |
| JUDAS PRIEST - A Touch Of Evil Live (Sony) Priest, Priest - one of the world's finest ever metal 'legend' acts, the mighty JUDAS PRIEST - serve up a decent sounding LIVE album which features numerous 'fan flavoured' songs that sound - truly awesome in delivery! Still one of the best!! (9/10) |
| LORD � Set In Stone (Dominus)
Sydney based 'old school' flavoured, traditional metal band - pulling off the riffs, the melodies and above all else the quality, with an album that's stacked to the rafters with excellent quality metal - a product that is quite tasty indeed! (8/10) |
| BLACK ASYLUM � Truths Of The Blood (Riot)
Australian based metal act that has a thrash metal groove ala TESTAMENT and boys does it work! An excellent and satisfying product that will please many who seek a quality product! (8/10) |
| SECRET SPHERE � Sweet Blood Theory (Dockyard)
Northern Euorpean power metal act's 5th album release - containing all the elements that should please most who love this genre. Lovers of HELLOWEEN, BLIND GUARDIAN, SAVATAGE should give it a listen! (7/10) |
| INK � Black Water Reign (Riot)
Another Australian metal act that showcases an almost punk attitude in places - with a fistful of tough songs that should win fans of balls out style metal that has some interesting tunes on offer. (7/10) |
| VARIOUS � We Wish You A Merry Xmas (Armoury)
A fine collection of metal 'celebrities' grace this compilation CD providing some interesting and at times, quite tasty renditions of Xmas carols. The novelty value alone is enough for some, others will hate it! (7/10) |
| TANKARD - Thirst (AFM) Vintage metal with tons of grunt and solid tunes that should entice heaps of headbanging from the listener. Good songs, good riffs definetly worth a listen! (7/10) |
| BACKYARD BABIES - Self Titled (Spinfarm Import) Cranking riffs, killer tunes and attitude to the max, BACKYARD BABIES deliver a barn storming release that gives the listener exactly what they want with one of the bands' strongest releases in years! (8/10) |
| CROOKED X � Crooked X (Indy)
Lovers of meaty melodic rock should check out this CD that's full of class, melody and some very catchy and good commerical songs that will be appreciated by many. A very good debut release. (8/10) |
| VIKING SKULL � Doom, Gloom, Heartache & Whiskey (
Powerage Import) Tough, tenacious and downright heavy, VIKING SKULL are creating plenty of interest with this, their 3rd album containing a very satisfying sonic slab laced with influences ranging from Black Sabbath to AC/DC! Good, the vocals could be better! (7/10) |
| TESLA � Forever More (Frontiers)
Veteran classy 80's US melodic rock act TESLA return to the world via a very satisfying release that will appease long time fans no end with all the right stuff with plenty to satisfy lovers of the band and the genre. A good consistent return! (9/10) |
| QUEENSRYCHE - American Soldier (Rhino) Well, if you were expecting an album to rival the likes of the 'Mindcrimes' or 'Empire' - then like me, you're going to be disappointed with this fairly lack lustre , meandering effort. Mediorce, is the word that springs to mind, while it's not a total disater it definitely doesn't have enough good/great tunes to pull it through. Listen before you buy is my advise!! (5/10) |
| PRIMAL FEAR - 16.6 (Frontiers) Our favorite German metal merchants return, with another 'masterpiece' that features more power-metal of the highest order with plenty of meaty riffs to appease most metalheads. Musically speaking, it's a cross between the bands' last 2 releases with the same tenacity, drive and above all else, another batch of ass kicking metal! A contender ... you betcha! (8/10) |
| JOHNNY CRASH - Unfinished Business (Sun City Import) Late 80's US hard rockers second album, finally sees the light of day - albeit 16 years later but regardless, it's almost up to the standard of their excellent debut platter with more of the same obnoxious, dirty hard rock 'n' roll. Far superior to the recent GNR disaster! (8/10) |
| HEAVEN & HELL - The Devil You Know (RoadRunner) Eagerly awaited release by HEAVEN & HELL - formerly known the world over as Black Sabbath Mk III featuring the Dio-Iommi-Butler-Appice line-up who deliver a basic 'carbon copy' of their previous 1992 release, 'Dehumanizer'! Full of gloom, doom and dinosaur metal that will be loved by many. Unfortunately, there's nothin here to rival their superior albums, 'Heaven & Hell' or 'The Mob Rules'! (6/10) |
| WEDNESDAY 13 - Bloodwork (DR Records) Sleaze/Goth/Punk exponents WEDNESDAY 13 - deliver a rebel rousing, six-tet of make-up fueled rock songs that should no doubt please their loyal followers. Agnst ridden as always, don't you just love the bands who deliver, dirty, trashy, anthems? We do and again the boys come up trumps!! (7/10) |
| UFO - The Visitor (SPV) The British veteran 'legends' UFO serve up another, good consistent release with all the right stuff, with plenty of 'classic' styled hard rock, delivered by one the craftmans as far as cool, hard rock is concerned. Good songs, good production - all around, a very impressive CD by a very good band. Some, may call it their one of their finest hours - in many years?! (9/10) |
| RICKY WARWICK - Belfast Confettit (DR Records) The former frontman of Scottish late 80's rockers, THE ALMIGHTY - goes semi acoustic with a rousing, rumble through some very good tunes with a light weight groove that's fresh, crisp and above all quite entertaining! Gone are the wall of mashall amplifiers replaced by music that quite easily suits fans of, Bob Dylan, Steve Earl, etc. Mellow compared to the past but with the same damn attiude! (6/10) |
| TIM RIPPER OWENS - Play My Game (SPV) One of the best metal singers on the planet, TIM RIPPPER OWENS - finally releases his first 'solo' album, which is full to the brim with killer songs making it, one of the strongest metal albums released, so far this year! Contender - you betta believe it, killer songs, excellent riffs, soaring melodies, a host of 'guest stars' delivering the goods and that voice! It's dirty, mean and mighty unclean and is impressive to say the least. (7/10) |
| CHICKENFOOT - Chickenfoot (Sony) US 'supergroup' featuring, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Chad Smith - known as CHICKENFOOT deliver an album that sounds like a cross between Van Hagar meets Velvet Revolver - with plenty to please fans of both bands with numerous melodic, radio friendly tunes that will sit well with many. Some media hacks claiming it rivals Led Zeppelin - THINK AGAIN! While it's a good product it's far from being 'legend' status. (7/10) |
| BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Skullage (Shock) Sometimes Ozzy Osbourne guitarist - Zakk Wylde's band BLACK LABEL SOCIETY release a 'Best Of' that captures most of the best the band have offered over the years with some gut crunching metal, some moody pieces and above all else - some damn fine tunes to annoy the parents and neighbours with. Full to the brim with 'classic' songs that help make BLS the popular act they are today! (8/10) |
| HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - Beg For It (Nuclear Blast) Crashing back with album # 6 titled, "Beg For It" - HARDCORE SUPERSTAR again deliver another outstanding bunch of ass-kicking' hard rock songs that easily equals their previous 2 excellent releases. Hard hitting, infectious and thoroughly enjoyable - the boys make some great noize for all the world to hear, showing most within the genre how it should be done! (9/10) |
| LYNCH MOB - Smoke & Mirrors (Frontiers) Former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, re-instates his former Lynch Mob singer, Oni Logan and finally releases the follow-up to their excellent 1st and 2nd releases from the late 80's with an album that definitely delivers the goods. It's been a long time coming for LYNCH MOB fans - but it's definitely been worth the wait as it's crisp, consistent and above all else - it ROCKS! A very welcome return! (9/10) |
| STRYPER - Murder By Pride (Frontiers) US christian hard rockers STRYPER - return with a full bodied, good sounding consistent release that should have their fans - praising the lord, with plenty to satisfy with an album that has all the ingredients that made this band popular in the 80's! Equal to their 'comeback' album 'Reborn' from a couple of years ago. A fairly satisfying return! (9/10) |
| DANGER DANGER - Revolve (Frontiers) US 80's melodic rockers, DANGER DANGER - come springing back with an album that is full of tasty, pop flavoured 'hair metal' of the highest quality - that long time fans will devour! It's catchy and light weight but is as infectious as the swine flu - thankfully though, it's far less deadly! For lovers of Bon Jovi, White Lion, etc! (7/10) |
| SKINTILLA - King Of Kings (Riot) New Australian 'traditional' metal band, SKINTILLA - have plenty to offer lovers of the genre with a CD that features tough riffs, good songs, great groove with an almost vintage Iron Maiden/Lord feel. Excellent soaring vocals, cracker tunes, tight band - all in all, a very good release! (8/10) |
| HOUSE OF LORDS - Cartesian Dreams (Frontiers) Now this is more like it! HOUSE OF LORDS - redeem themselves with a gusty, yet very melodic return that far outshines their bland dismal 'Come To My Kingdom' stinker from last year. Herein, we get tough sounding, great commerical melodic rock of the highest calibre - bristlling with bite all the way home. A very welcome return! (8/10) |
| RHINO BUCKET - The Hardest Town (Acetate Import) US hard rockers, RHINO BUCKET - deliver another swaggering set of near perfect late night, beer drinking songs on their new CD that should keep many fans happy. Full of Acca Dacca style riffs, songs and yes - that groove that will help stomp many a brain cell into submission! George & the boys deliver another satisfying release. (7/10) |
| GOTTHARD - Need To Believe (Nuclear Blast) Just as reliable as a swiss watch, Switzerlands' GOTTHARD - serve up another near perfect example of high class melodic rock, with their usual precission and execution showcasing one of Europe's finest rock acts. Smart, commerical and tasteful all rolled into one, "Need To Believe" is another melodic masterpiece that just delivers! (8/10) |
| IRON MAIDEN - 666 (EMI) Another of the UK's finest ever metal acts, IRON MAIDEN - deliver their usual high class metal, executed to perfection showing their's plenty of life left in the old war horse yet. Another excellent LIVE recording to add to the collection! (9/10) |
| SHAKRA - Everest (Indy) The one that almost got away - released earlier in the year this classy, excellent sounding product by SHAKRA - "Everest" is an album that definitely is up there with 'contenders of the year' - as one of the most satisfying, hard rock releases of the year! Great songs, great sound, great band - displaying sheer 'class' - all the way! A must for all lovers of killer, melodic hard rock - Excellent! (9/10) |
| STEEL PANTHER - Feel The Steel (iNDY) Californian sleaze glam rockers, STEEL PANTHER - formerly known as Metal Skool serve up an album full of numerous 'classic' sounding hard rock songs, complete with outrageous lyrics and plenty of 'cock-rock' to satisfy most who love this style. It's entertaining, humerous and above all else - it actually 'out cocks' BIG COCK - classic stuff! (8/10) |
| MEGADETH - Endgame (Roadrunner) This may well be - 'The Album Of The Year' as far as many are concerned as MEGADETH are firing on all cylinders here folks, delivering a blistering, brutal attack on your senses with an absolute killer product that will impress most who hear it. MEGADETH's "Endgame" (could Dave be telling us something?) really is an excellent release! (10/10) |