| CD REVIEWS - 2004 |
BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION �Here Comes The Brides� (Sanctuary Import) Motley Crue bassist - Nikki Sixx & L.A. Guns guitarist - Traci Gunns' new band, Brides Of Destruction release a pretty good debut CD titled, �Here Comes The Brides� which reeks of metal, punk, glam & pop all played with that down �n dirty style that is attributed to L.A. Glam bands of the late 80�s. The production on HCTB is very basic, almost demo like in quality. There�s plenty of good songs on offer, Shut The Fuck Up and I Don�t Care having a punk attitude. A couple of fillers spoil the plot so we'll deduct a couple of points . All around - BOD deliver a pretty good modern rock record that should entice both the younger and older rock fans. - Mervin Tipping (8/10) |
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MONSTER MAGNET �Monolithic Baby� (SPV) Well, it�s certainly been a while, hasn�t it? Six years in-fact since the last Monster Magnet product graced our CD decks! Attitude soaked stoner rock played to perfection and the songs � let me tell you there�s not a dud amongst the whole CD. No shit � every song has its very own groove with plenty of rawkess rock for everybody. Songs like, Slut Machine, Super Cruel, Radiation Day, Master Of Light are all rippers oozing with guitar driven rock. �Monolithic Baby� by Monster Magnet could quite easily be their most consistent CD ever?! It�s definitely one of their best � that�s for sure. It rates so highly for me it�ll be included in my best albums for 2004 along with Brides Of Destruction and Fireball Ministry � yep it�s that good! - Mervin Tipping (9/10) |
SCORPIONS - Unbreakable� (Sanctuary Import) Long-time hard rock fans could have been under the assumption that one of Germany�s biggest rock exports - the SCORPIONS had indeed called it a day! Truth is � they haven�t but they�ve been very quite over the last decade and that�s been the main problem. Three well below, average studio CD�s haven�t helped their cause and long-time fans gave up on the band long ago and have deserted the sinking ship like lemmings. Well, the good news is the Scorpions are back with their best CD since 1995�s �Face The Heat� and while it�s no �Blackout� - luckily for them the boys reinvent themselves with a CD full of their trade mark type songs. �UNBREAKABLE� could quite possibly re-establish the band in a major way both in Europe and in the US � which is where they hit pay dirt back in the mid eighties � only time will tell?! All the ingredients that made them so popular are here, good, catchy, melodic, commercial, hard rock tunes with plenty of hooks that would even keep self opinionated fishing expert, Rex Hunt happy. The sound is full but not over produced and when given a decent amount of volume the memories come flooding back � oh yeah! Seriously, there are plenty of songs that should wet your appetite with the CD�s opener, New Generation setting the mood very well. The up tempo groove of, Love �Em Or Leave �Em should get that foot taping while, Deep & Dark is exactly as the title suggests with a nod towards today and is a �classic� SCORPIONS song that should/will be a single � a great radio song. Pint sized vocalist Klaus Meine is in fine voice � as always and the ever dependable rhythm guitarist Rudolph Schenker and lead guitarist Matthias Jabs do what they do so well. Original drummer & bassist are not involved and their positions are filled adequately by two new boys. The almost classical sounding, Maybe I Maybe You starts off like a ballad then jumps into a strong chorus. Most of the songs are out and out rockers like, Borderline, Blood Too Hot, Someday Is Now, Through My Eyes, Remember The Good Times, Can You Feel It and My City My Town � all containing different grooves that should make you smile and remember what good rock songs with melody sound like? If you we�re once a Scorpions fan and jumped ship � maybe it�s time you climbed back aboard, because �UNBREAKABLE� is a great rock record from a great rock band who thank fully have remembered how to rock. - Mervin Tipping (9/10) |
VELVET REVOVLER �Contraband� (BMG) The build up to this release has almost reached biblical proportions! O.K. - I may be overstating it a bit but the fact that 3 ex-members of GUNS & ROSES, Slash, Duff & Matt Sorum are involved certainly carries alot of weight. Add to that the singer from 90�s grunge stars, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS � one Scott Weiland and it definitely creates an almost mythical collaboration. The fact that Axl hasn�t released the long overdue GUNS & ROSES �new� product; �Chinese Democracy� (7 years in the making so far) has only helped create the interest in VELVET REVOVLER�s debut album, �Contraband�. The bottom line is � the best elements of GUNS & ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are here with a debut CD that has all the right ingredients to satisfy most GNR fans and I reckon a few STP fans will also take a listen. Musically speaking it�s has that Gunners feel with a bit of modern essence thrown in and singer Weiland has a good if not distinct, unusual rock voice. The biggest problem I see will be keeping Weiland away from his substance abuses and out of jail. Hopefully, he�ll keep it together enough to actually tour as the CD rocks from start to finish with some excellent songs that definitely get the old foot tapping along in time. I don�t mind Weiland as a singer; I always thought he was great in STP especially their brilliant debut CD �Core� which still gets the occasional airing at my place. The list of singers who tried out for the job was huge, 2 guys who I thought would have been snapped up were SKID ROW�s Sebastian Bach and BUCKCHERRY�s Joshua Todd � surprisingly neither got the job for whatever reason. Best songs are hard to pick as they all have their moments but personal favourites are, Sucker Train Blues, Do It For The Kids, Big Machine and Illegal Song are some of the strongest cuts on offer. The two singles, Set Me Free (the first recording by the band featured in the HULK movie) and current single, Slither are both great modern rock songs. The STP influences surface on a couple of tracks, Spectacle which charges like a raptor while, Headspace could have been lifted off the �Core� album. The radio friendly, You Got No Right has FM play-list stamped all over it and I imagine it�ll be a single in the future. The overall sound on this CD is solid and well produced, the performances by all involved is very slick as you would imagine. Slash�s unique style is the foundation throughout and when the boys crank it well - hey this sucker rocks! Despite some negative reviews by certain critics, the fact is VELVET REVOVLER fill a void that hasn�t been properly filled in nearly a decade. Sure a number of good hard rock bands have tried, namely � BUCKCHERRY, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, to name but two - both of whom released good CD�s but the masses just didn�t take to either band. The most recent attempt by the Nikki Sixx/Tracii Guns collaboration, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION are the only real serious threat to Slash & his mob with their equally excellent debut still being a very strong contender � only time will tell to see who sells more. If you loved the Gunners and didn�t mind the crunch of early STP then this will definitely satisfy you. If you�re looking for a �NEW� band to rock your socks off then VELVET REVOVLER do what is asked. I foresee many satisfied customers! - Mervin Tipping (10/10 - yes FULL marks!) |
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HIM �And Love Said No� - The Greatest Hits 1997- 2004 (BMG) Finland�s finest HIM � release a 16 track �Greatest Hits, "And Love Said No"� package that contains all of their hits from their homeland and to a lesser extent Europe. The 2 new songs added to the CD are, And Love Said No � a commercial �classic� HIM song with heaps of melody and enough bite to make it palatable. The other is the new single, Solitary Man is in-fact a cover of the Neil Diamond song and like HIM�s other excellent cover of the Chris Isaac tune, Wicked Game (also included in this package) it comes up trumps sounding, modern and fresh with enough of a spark to keep most fans happy. There are plenty of the bands� solid rock songs here, Right Here In My Arms, Your Sweet 666, Poison Girl, Buried Alive By Love and the above mentioned, Wicked Game - showing that the lads can crank out good songs as well as any other new rock band. HIM has a large female following and as shown by their hits, Join Me, The Funeral Of Hearts, The Sacrament, Heartache Every Moment, and In Joy & Sorrow the softer side to their music is equally enthralling. If you�ve seen or read about HIM and weren�t quite sure about them then this �Greatest Hits� CD is the best way to discover the band. If you like what you hear then you�ll buy their other products. The 6 track �Live� DVD bonus that accompanies this package is worth the money alone. - Mervin Tipping (8/10) |
L. A. GUNS "Rip The Covers Off" (Mascot) After their last disappointing release - the aweful, "Waking The Dead" (which was voted one of the worst albums of the year by the Killawatts staff!) - Phil Lewis having lost guitarist, Traci Gunns to - Brides Of Destruction has decided to 'play it safe' with a new guitarist and a new CD full of cover songs. As the title cleverly suggests LA GUNS - nearly pull it off with 8 songs out of the 13 contained here coming up pretty well. There's great versions of, Rock & Roll Outlaw (Rose Tattoo), Nobody's Fault (Aerosmith), Custard Pie (Zeppelin), Wheels Of Steel (Saxon), I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Foghat), Until I Get You (Hanoi Rocks), Marseillies (Angel City) - The Angels (Australian Readers) and Tie Your Mother Down (Queen) - all sounding pretty good! Unfortunately, the other 5 songs just don't make the grade - Phil, you should of /could of picked more hard rock band tunes to cover - then the CD would of received FULL MARKS!! A more popular Bowie cover would of been far better also, having said that this CD is a vast improvement over their last dismal effort. - Mervin Tipping (5/10) |
MOTORHEAD " Inferno " (Sanctuary) It's great to see some things - never change! After 30 years MOTORHEAD still rock - and rock hard as this new CD, "Inferno" demonstrates. There are some good strong songs here, Terminal Show, Killers, Life's A Bitch, In The Black, Fight and In The Name Of Tragedy. Lemmy & the lads give us what we've come to expect from this fine British, 'ICON' Metal band. Good to see the sense of humour - is still in place with the excellent tunes, Smiling Like A Killer and Whorehouse Blues - rounding off the best cuts on a pretty good CD. A few songs tend to drag a bit - which is a shame and it detracts from the overall package but at least Motorhead haven't dipped their toes into the 'DARK SIDE' (Nu-Metal!). Not as good as 'Bastards' ('94) which to me is still their bench-mark. All in all, a good effort from Lemmy & the lads - it should please their long time fans. - Mervin Tipping (7/10) |
UFO �You Are Here� (Sanctuary) Another of the UK�s premier �classic� hard rock bands � the �legendary� UFO delivers a fine slab of vinyl/plastic in the form of �You Are Here!" Despite line-up problems of the last couple of years, all the elements that have made this band great are on display here. There�s plenty of catchy songs, good chunky riffs and that marvellous voice of Mr. Phil Mogg - as he leads the band through their most consistent blast through the rock jungle in a while. Gone is troublesome guitarist, Michael Schenker - replaced by the very talented, Vinnie Moore who gives us some very tasteful playing with some of the tastiest solos I've heard for quite a while. Some of the best are, Daylight Comes To Town, The Wild One, Give It Up, Call Me, Slipping Away and Me Freeze � all possessing that magic UFO sound we've all come to appreciate over the years. With a year that�s seen a number of 'old school' bands� releasing �new� CD�s it�s great to hear another �classic� band serve up what made them popular in the first place. It�s not a killer but it�s damn close and most efinitely solid enough to win back some old fans and it�s certainly way better than their last effort. - 7/10 (Mervin Tipping) |
| Reviewed Below: TWISTED SISTER, KROKUS, JOSH TODD, METAL CHURCH, SAXON, DOKKEN, MEGADETH, UFO, VELVET REVOLVER, SCORPIONS, MOTORHEAD, L.A. GUNS, HIM, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, GENE SIMMONS, MONSTER MAGNET, |
MEGADETH "THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED" (Sanctuary) Megadeth are back in action after front man Dave Mustaine ended the band in 2002 due to personal injury to his arm. Many people had come to accept that the band was finished, however Dave has gone through rehab for his injured arm, learned to play guitar again, and is back in action. Notable absentee on this album is bassist Dave Ellefson whose relationship with Mustaine has been strained to the point that he is suing Mustaine for around 18 million dollars. Notable inclusion however, is that original Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland returns to supply lead guitar on the record. Former drummer, Nick Menza has also returned for upcoming live shows, however he did not record on this album. Considering the turmoil the band has been through, this is a pretty good album. Whilst the song structures have changed, the re-inclusion of Chris Poland makes many of the guitar solos sound like they have jumped from 1988�s �Rust In Peace� album. I�ll stop short of saying that this album could match that classic, however it is certainly the most �metal� album that Megadeth have produced in the last 8 or 9 years. There are a few political references amongst the tracks, which seems to be the trend these days, however Megadeth have been doing this since day one, so it comes as no surprise. Opening track �lackmail The Universe is one of my favourites, it sounds like it belongs on much earlier albums, as does Kick The Chair, Back In The Day� and Of Mice and Men. The guitar work on this album is so much better than Megadeth�s past few albums, and takes a step back to days past when it was acceptable to rip out the solos and crunch out quality riffs. Sadly, "The System Has Failed" will probably will not be well received in today�s music culture, but I would strongly recommend that disillusioned old fans come back and have a listen. Megadeth are forever going to be battling uphill to win back the fans, but this might just be enough to get a few returning. - 9/10 - Craig Shepherd |
SAXON �Lion Heart� (Steamhammer) The year 2004 is shaping up to be one the healthiest years in nearly a decade for out-standing hard rock metal releases! I for one am extremely thrilled that the resurgence of hard rock is - finally in full swing! With a couple of new bands - namely: Brides Of Destruction and Velvet Revolver releasing excellent debut platters, the flood - gates have finally opened up as a number of �Legend� metal acts have thank-fully made a - welcome return with some of their best product since their glory days! Metal �Icons� such as, UFO, Motorhead, Scorpions, Krokus and Monster Magnet have all released brilliant � �come back� albums that are up their with their past, better efforts. Well, it pleases me no end to report that one of my all-time favourite �Legend� bands, SAXON have also come up �trumps� with their brand new CD, "Lionheart�. This is Saxon�s 21st album release � which also marks the bands� 25th anniversary! Yes, their first �self-titled� album was way back in 1979! Pretty amazing - isn�t it?! There will be people reading this who�ve never even heard of SAXON asking themselves, who? 25 years? 21 albums � but I�ve never heard of them? Well you can�t help bad luck � seriously, in Australia SAXON have had very little exposure of any kind in the mainstream media with the exception of a few film clips on late night T.V. and that was in their mid 80�s hey-day. With vocalist, Biff Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn being the only original members left in the line-up the now veterans of 10 years, bassist Nibbs Carter and guitarist Doug Scarrett have earned their stripes. Now we�ve had a little history � let�s get down to business. So does this new album live up to expectations? Does a bear shit in the woods? The answer to both these questions is a resounding � YES! Biff & the boys have released their most consistent, fluent, fired up studio release of their lives � no shit! While their last CD, �Killing Ground� ( 2001) had it�s moments it was last year�s 2 disc DVD, � The Saxon Chronicles� (2003) which features the band filmed �live� on stage at Germany�s Wacken festival in 2001 that really proved what most of us already knew, SAXON are a great hard rock metal band. While never ascertaining the heights in popularity or mega sales of their fellow country men - Judas Priest or Iron Maiden who also exploded from the NWOBHM era � Saxon, to their credit have hung in their, delivering their brand of rock regardless. The biggest difference that strikes you when you first listen to the new CD is the drumming. New skins-man, Jorg Michael - ignites the band with an energy and fire that they haven�t had in ages. His ability is up there with, Scott Travis (Judas Priest drummer of 14 years) � this boy can double kick like a demon. He has given SAXON an adrenalin shot in the arm, the exhilaration can be heard in the songs and in the band as a unit. The production is great with everything sounding, sharp, crisp and most definitely heavy � in overall feel. There�s plenty of meaty riffs that would satisfy even, Jabba The Hut and there are numerous tasteful solos by Scarrett and Quinn who have become a formidable team. The CD features 11 songs and I can�t fault any, best tracks are also hard to pick but personal favourites are the blistering, Witchfinder General and Live By The Sword both featuring breakneck speed double kick drums. Big riffed gems are, Man And Machine, Justice, English Man O War and the standout song for me is, Beyond The Grave � a fuckin� masterpiece! The title track starts out like DIO�s �Holy Diver� then picks up tempo and is a modern day �Crusader� epic. Rounding out this package, Justice and Flying On The Edge also contain excellent riff-a -rolla. Like the above mentioned bands who�ve released great records this year, SAXON - too deliver a very fine CD that is worthy of being included in this year�s TOP 10 - 'albums for the year'! If you never heard of them then this album is a very good introduction to one of the world�s finest hard rock acts. - 10/10 (Mervin Tipping) |
DOKKEN �Hell To Pay� (Sanctuary) 80�s LA metal act DOKKEN is back with their latest CD which serves up their usual dose of rock �n� roll. There�s some meaty riffs, good guitar solos, tight proficient playing by the rhythm section � which is to be expected and of course good old Don Dokken is in fine voice. Basically, the band don�t stray too far from what their fans expect and this new CD, �Hell To Pay� is just like the latest GM car to come off the production line � that is you know what you�re going to get for your money. DOKKEN are now down to 2 original members, Don and drummer Mick Brown with the new boys doing a fine job. Both perform their tasks admirably, as far as the execution herein � it�s first rate with Pervis doing an excellent job pulling off licks to perfection. For a minute you could almost think that long-time guitarist George Lynch had indeed returned but as good as Pervis is he�s not quite up to Lynch�s calibre. He�s definitely a better replacement than Reb Beach turned out to be - so only time will tell if he hangs in there? Song wise we have 3 distinct groups � ballads; Care For You, The Last Goodbye, Still I�m Sad, I Surrender and Letter To Home � all up to the usual standard. Mid paced rock make it�s appearance via; Haunted, Escape, Better Off Before and Can You See. The best two songs on offer are; Prozac Nation and Don�t Bring Me Down which are out and out rockers but unfortunately there isn�t enough of them to satisfy me. Personally, there�s too many ballads which definitely detracts from the overall good package. Compared to last years fairly consistent project, �Wicked Underground� by ex-Dokken members Jeff Pilson and George Lynch � well it leaves this new Dokken CD trailing in its wake. - 5/10 Mervin Tipping |
JOSH TODD �You Made Me� (Independent) For those of you who have no idea who JOSH TODD is let me enlighten you. Mr Todd was in-fact the former lead vocalist for one of America�s finest rock & roll bands to emerge in the last 5 years � BUCKCHERRY. Word first filtered out from LA via the net in the late 90�s that a hot new rock band was making plenty of noise in the then stagnant LA music scene. Not long after, �Buckcherry� the excellent self-titled debut surfaced in early �99 and thanks to their anthem, �Lit Up� and the accompanying video clip the band finally burst onto the scene. Helped along no doubt by ex-Sex Pistols guitarist, Steve Jones contributions, the band had a very consistent release in their hands. At long last a band from the US who didn�t sound like the run of the mill Nu-Metal acts that record companies were trying to push down everyone�s throat. Shit, BUCKCHERRY even made it �Down Under� in late �99 for 4 shows and I was most impressed with their barn-storming approach that definitely delivered the goods live! 2001 saw the release of their second album, �Time Bomb� and unfortunately the band that promised so much simply didn�t deliver on the second outing. It wasn�t a total disaster with good songs like, Ridin�, Time Bomb and Porno Star - being the standouts, equally measuring up to the calibre of songs from their debut but the rest of the album was mediocre to say the least. The band sadly missed Jones input � that was obvious. The band disbanded a year later and Josh Todd was rumoured to be rehearsing with Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum for a new �super-group�. Well, we all know now he didn�t get the gig with Velvet Revolver so Josh has released his first post Buckcherry release. So the BIG question is - does it live up to expectations? Yes it does. It has some elements of his former outfit, that is attitude to the MAX but musically speaking there are many different shades of rock and metal incorporated within the music. Todd�s unmistakable voice sounds great as he rips through the songs like a man possessed. Highlights are difficult to pick as there isn�t a crap song here, well O.K. the last tune (a ballad) but every tune has its own groove and individual identity. Personal favourites are, Mind Infection, Flowers & Cages, Broken, Shine, Slave and Wasted � seriously this is a really good rock album. It takes a couple of listens as it�s not BUCKCHERRY MK II but it does have what it takes to make it a good consistent rock release. There�s plenty of crunching guitars, cracker riffs and some damn good songs too. In a year with so many good releases, �You Made Me� by JOSH TODD can easily sit up there alongside the debut of Brides Of Destruction. While it may not equal the heights of Velvet Revolver it�s has to be considered as one of this years� best debut releases. - 8/10 (Mervin Tipping) |
METAL CHURCH "THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD" (SPV Import) Metal Church are back with a brand new record, 20 years after the release of their debut album. The new album, "Weight Of The World" features a new bass player in Steve Unger, and a new vocalist in Ronnie Munroe (the 3rd in their 20 year career). This is their 7th studio album, and it certainly delivers with plenty of pace, grunt, and quality guitar work. The first track, �Leave Them Behind� is an absolute ass kicker, fast, furious, and has some great riffs. It is probably the best track on the album, however there are plenty of other standout tracks. Hero�s Soul is another fast paced belter of a track with a great chorus, while other tracks such as Madman�s Soul, Wings Of Tomorrow and Sunless Sky are more epic, darker offerings. What these tracks lack in pace, they make up for in melody and haunting guitar work. Vocalist Ronnie Murphy sounds like a mix of Ronnie James Dio and Rob Halford, and for mine, he sounds great. He shows he�s got plenty of variety in his voice, hitting high notes and carrying all the melodies with ease. Being their first album since 1999, this is a welcome return to form for Metal Church, and they are by no means worse off with a new singer. Munroe nails this album, all the musicians sound polished, and the production is extremely good. The sound could be compared somewhat to Iced Earth, with a very true metal style. Thumbs up for this one � yet another great release for 2004. - 8/10 (Craig Sheppard) |
KROKUS �Fire & Gasoline (BMG Import) One of Switzerland�s biggest exports next to the obvious � chocolate, is an 80�s rock & roll band called, KROKUS who happen to have released a double live CD titled, �Fire & Gasoline�. Like countless 80�s bands who have over the last couple of years re-formed, KROKUS got it back together in 2002 and released an excellent �come-back� CD in 2003 titled, �Rock The Block�. It showed the band were still a serious rock outfit and a number of new songs on offer still had that �old magic� that propelled them to great heights during the early 80�s. A little known fact in today�s world was that KROKUS vocalist, Marc Storace was in the running to replace AC/DC�s Bon Scott after his untimely death in February 1980! A number of critics at the time considered KROKUS to be a poor man�s imitation of the Seedies � a reputation that was unfair as the Swiss boys had some very good songs from that time and I�m pleased to announce that nearly every one of those gems surfaces here on this very good live outing. After returning last year with a wallop courtesy of their first CD in nearly a decade, - Swiss rockers, KROKUS now release a new double live CD titled, �Fire & Gasoline� and again it�s a corker! While their last live album, �86�s �Alive & Screamin� was a worthy record the new one easily eclipses its predecessor with a band really firing on all cylinders, something that wasn�t quite present on the above mentioned release. Recorded last year on KROKUS� tour to promote �Rock The Block� it captures the boys in their �home town of Zurich, cranking out memorable hit after hit � in-fact it�s probably best described as a �Greatest Hits Live� package. Four songs from the above mentioned release make it here, Mad World, Rock The Block, Throwing Her China and I Want It All. The two biggest selling albums for KROKUS were, �One Vice At A Time� (82) with six offerings, Down The Drain, Rock City, Long Stick Goes Boom, Bad Boys Rag Dolls, Backseat Rock & Roll and American Woman. Three tunes turn up from �83�s, �Headhunter� � Screaming In The Night, Eat The Rich and Stayed Awake All Night. The album that made people sit up and take notice, �Metal Rendezvous� (80) is represented here by, Heatstrokes, Bedside Radio, Tokyo Nights and Fire. The albums, �Celebration� (81) and �To Be Or Not To Be� (95) have one track each here, Easy Rocker and Flying Through The Night. As you can see the 2-disc set has just about every song you could possibly ask for and all sound great. The sound quality is excellent and for older readers it�s a trip down memory lane � every song still has that something that made you like them in the first place. For young readers who have never heard of KROKUS � then think Bon Scott era AC/DC with a little license to go outside the boundaries of acca dacca and that is what you get with KROKUS. While I hate making comparisons, KROKUS were one of a few bands that played AC/DC style rock better than the original band after Scott died. I know what you�re thinking � that�s blasphemy, no it�s the truth. While many people, back in the 80�s and possibly now still dismiss KROKUS as a genuine rock act due to the fact that they did indeed sound very close to the original Bon Scott era of AC/DC this new double CD showcases a band that can deliver many a good tune and on an equal playing field can cut it with first division rock bands of today! KROKUS did and still rock hard and this double live CD, "Fire And Gasoline" will please many long time fans and hopefully will win some new ones as well. Crank & enjoy! - 9/10 (Mervin Tipping) |
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TWISTED SISTER �Still Hungry� (Spitfire) For any head bangers approaching their late 30�s, early 40�s there is one name most would remember from the 80�s hey day, TWISTED SISTER! Yes � 20 years later, they�re back with a total re-recording of their mega successful 1984 album, �Stay Hungry� cleverly re-titled, �Still Hungry�. For those of you who�ve never heard of �em, shame on you! Seriously, these hard ass New Yorkers kicked some serious butt for a couple of years, from �82 � 85 courtesy of three very good hard rock records that were well received around the world. �Under The Blade� (82), �You Can�t Stop Rock & Roll� (83) and �Stay Hungry� (84) which made the band a household name were real statements � as far as hard rock from the US was concerned. The LA explosion in the early 80�s had already given us, Motley Crue, Ratt, Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P. among others so now it was time for an east coast bands to stand up and be counted and Twisted Sister among others were more than able to take up the challenge. The new re-recording, �Still Hungry� features all 9 songs from the �Stay Hungry� Lp as well as 7 new songs recorded over the last couple of years. First up the old songs sound meaner, dirtier and with a very crunchy sound that really has dirt under its fingernails. Most of the songs are actually longer in length compared to the originals and a few are at a slightly different tempo but overall the songs really do sound very good in this updated model. Whether it�s the title track steamrolling along or the menacing, Captain Howdy or the sheer �blast from the past� appeal of, I Wanna Rock and We�re Not Gonna Take It � all sound very tough indeed. One of �all-time� cool rock ballads, The Price sounds just as good today as it did in 1984! The Beast is still a nasty song, while the rollicking, Don�t Bring Me Down sound even tougher today. The chestnut is still, Burn In Hell a song that has all the elements for a �classic� hard rock song, great intro, tough riff, catchy chorus, great guitar � everything � a fuckin� classic song! Sadly, all the new songs just don�t have that, what it takes to match the calibre of the old songs. That�s not to say they�re not good tunes, Heroes Are Hard To Find � being the best on offer here, the others well, they don�t possess that certain something that makes them stand up against the old material, which unfortunately is rather disappointing. The up side is, �Still Hungry� definitely works for a number of reasons. It shows Twisted Sister in 2004 can still kick some serious freckle, the re-recording of their �classic� album does do it justice and it�s kinda cool to play them back to back to see the little changes that give it it�s own identity. It�s also great to here Dee and the boys letting it rip like they used to. The down side is the new songs are good but not great, maybe if the band are serious about their come-back then they need to get down to some serious song writing and show us they�ve still got what it takes!! - 7/10 (Mervin Tipping) |
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