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| HARD ROCK SPECIALISTS |
| IN BRIEF 2010 |
| CRAZY LIXX - New Religion (Frontiers) Swedish hard rockers - return with their second album release, that's full to the brim with tasty, tantalizing 'old school' styed hard rock of the excellent kind! This is a MUST for lovers of the following: Danger Danger, Def Leppard, Skid Row, Ratt, etc. First rate rock - all the way! (8/10) |
| OVERKILL- Ironbound (Nuclear Blast) Legend German 'old school' metal masters, OVERKILL - deliver a crushing, 'killer' release that's mean, menacing and mighty with a product that's second to none. Blistering riffs, killer songs, an absolute brilliant metal release - that's equal to Megadeth's last cracker! (9/10) |
| KEEL - Streets Of Rock & Roll (Frontiers) Yet another 'legend' US 80's hard rock act, KEEL - returns with a fairly decent outing that features, all their magic with a tasty selection of cool, rocking anthems that sounds - just like yesterday. A good return, it's only flaw is the 'dated' production, which let's it down slightly! (8/10) |
| TREAT - Coup De Grace (Frontiers) Melodic rock returns with a vengeance, from this 'old school' act from the 80's with a fairly consistent outing that is packed with countless, tasty, catchy first class melodic rock for a whole new generation. 28 years since their debut, TREAT - are back and many older metalheads - will be very surprised with an excellent return! (10/10) |
| BUCKCHERRY - Live & Loud 2009 (Seven/Eleven) What could of been?! Instead we get a lame, at times untogether sounding band - that ambles through some good and unfortunately, some not so good tunes! So many 'killers' are not here and that's the main problem - there's way too many pop songs making the package very disappointing! (5/10) |
| DREAM EVIL - Into The Night (Century Media) These European metallers deliver another set of 'old school' styled metal that should have you banging your head in ectascy?! Unfortunately, it's not up to the standard of their last couple of releases, while it's good - there's nothing here that stands out and that's the problem! (7/10) |
| HIM - Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Sire) What the hell has happened to this band? 5 years ago, I thought they were going to be HUGE?! This is slightly better than their last mundane effort but still a million miles away from their 'peak' material like the 'Love Metal' era! Way too commercial and bland for my liking, they've definitely lost their way! (6/10) |
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| AIRBOURNE - No Guts No Glory (EMI) Australian hard rockers - return with album # 2 and it's basically, more of the same - Acca Dacca riffs plundered to the maxium with a good solid release. It definitely rocks from start to finish and while I like the band, I'm not sure why they seem to be the darlings of some while other AC/DC inspired acts - get crucified for doing exactly the same thing? (8/10) |
| TESLA - Alive Across Europe 2009 (Frontiers) Following up their excellent 2008 'return' release, "Forver More" - one of America's finest ever, melodic rock acts TESLA - serve up a fine selection of their 'hits' including, Modern Day Cowboy, Lil Suzie, Signs, I Wanna Live, Into The Now - among others with a thoroughly entertaining and slick sounding band delivering a near perfect offering! (8/10) |
| CRASH DIET - Generation Wild (Frontiers) Album # 3 for Swedish glam hard rockers, CRASH DIET - giving us some great infectious rock, with numerous tunes that deliver what fans want and crave. Good production, some good songs on offer but suffers towards the end due to a few mediorce tunes that let's it down somewhat! (7/10) |
| SCORPIONS - Sting In The Tail (Sony) Germany's number # 1 rock export, the 'legendary' SCORPIONS - deliver what may well be their last release, capping off over 36 years of rocking the world stage with exactly what we - the fans want and expect! Crunching hard rock with plenty of sting - still in their tale! (9/10) |
| TRIUMPH - Greatest Hits Remixed (Frontiers) Long before Nickleback, Canada produced a 'classic' rock act named, TRIUMPH - who had numerous 'hits' that rocked the world - 'back in the day' and they're all hear in glorious, digital stereo for your listening pleasure! For newbies to the genre, come and discover this 'legend' act that your Mum & Dad probably grew up with. Outstanding hard rock! (8/10) |
| PRETTY MAIDS - Pandemonium (Frontiers) Nothing like a little Danish to brighten up your day, these veteran hard rockers return with a good, consistent package - that should please 'long-time' fans with their unique style of melodic, hard edged rock stacked with killer riffs and catchy melodies. A couple of tunes really have 'hit' written all over them, overall a good return! (8/10) |
| EXTREME - Take Us Alive (Frontiers) Reformed Boston based 90's funk rockers, EXTREME - serve up a double CD of their 'greatest hits' with a cross selection of many of the bands' finest moments, caught LIVE IN CONCERT! Plenty of good moments including, Get The Funk Out, Decadance Dance, Kid Ego, Little Girls, Rest In Peace and of course More Than Words - are all along for the ride! (7/10) |
| KROKUS - Hoodoo (Sony/BMG) Switzerlands veteran hard rockers return with an ass-kicking collection of first rate rock that easily is among their finest work with a plethora of good tunes to sink your teeth into. Often ridiculed as a poor man's AC/DC - the boys deliver a product thats equal to their major inspiration - infact some would say it's far superior?! You be the judge! (9/10) |
| RATT - Infestation (Roadrunner) One of LA's first platinum selling acts from the 80's, RATT - returns after 11 years with an outstanding collection of 'classic' sounding songs that have crunch, melody and class all the way home. Not a dud song within earshot, plenty of tasty hard rock gems are here and it's great to hear 'em doing what comes naturally! Welcome back boys - Ratt 'n Roll! (9/10) |
| VINCE NEIL - Tattoos & Tequila (Frontiers) Motley Crue singer VINCE NEIL - 16 years later finally releases his 3rd 'solo' album, that's basically a collection of very cool cover songs plus a couple of new tunes in tow. Strangely, this is a good, consistent release with Neil picking songs that suit him like a glove! More originals would of been better! (7/10) |
| Y & T - Facemelter (Frontiers) One of San Francisco's finest, Y & T - return after a dozen years to serve up a fresh platter of 'old school' hard rock of the highest calibre. If you're a fan - you gonna be happy, think Ten/Contagious/In Rock We Trust - get the picture?! For newbies - come and listen to a very classy, hard rock band! (8/10) |
| AC/DC - Iron Man 2 (Columbia) The hottest band on the planet - teams up with the new movie sequel to IRON MAN - with a 15 track compilation containing some of the finest moments in AC/DC's history! Talk about choice cuts, featuring both singers - this is a great 'compilation! Now this a lesson in a match made in heaven - sheer genius here folks! (10/10) |
| SLASH - Slash (Sony) There's no denying Slash's guitar style, sound and riffs - are much loved by many! While this is OK and there's some pretty cool tunes herein, complete with numerous name vocalists - it's not that much different to his Snakepit releases. Infact, I prefer them to this, IF Slash had enlisted more ROCK/METAL singers, it would be FAR superior! (5/10) |
| PRIMAL FEAR - Live In The USA (Frontiers) One of our favorite German metal institutions, PRIMAL FEAR - deliver a neck snapping, selection of their most rawkess anthems, for all the world to hear and see! To be released as a LIVE CD and DVD release, this one should be put in everyone's Xmas stocking for this year! Seriously, an excellent product from an excellent band, Top Notch! (9/10) |
| JOHN WAITE - In Real Time (Frontiers) The ex-BABYS/ex-BAD ENGLISH frontman and solo artist - releases a good tight little package that has cool tunes from all his past acts all rolled onto one LIVE package that sounds tight as a drum. It's great to hear some very cool tunes like, Head First, Everytime I Think Of You, Missing You and Zeppelin's 'Rock & Roll' - all with a touch of class! (7/10) |
| TAROT - Gravity Of Light (Nuclear Blast) Following up their excellent 2007 studio release, 'Crows Fly Black' - the lads return with their new studio album that almost possesses the same crunch but unfortunately doesn't contain the substance, in the song writing department. There's a couple of tunes that make the grade but overall, this is a let down after such a cracker last time around! (6/10) |
| OZZY OSBOURNE - Scream (Sony) One of the world's favorite metal singers, Ozzy - releases his latest studio album, "Scream" - the first release not to feature gunslinger guitarist Zakk Wylde! While not reaching the heights of his previous excellent, 'Black Rain' - the new CD has a more mature and at times, interesting groove - more along the lines of 'Ozzmosis'! A surprisingly, good release. (8/10) |
| JORN - Dio (Frontiers) As most of us know JORN have that DIO sound to their music in places - so a 'tribute' to the late, great Ronnie James Dio - is definitely in good taste here! Titled, "DIO" - possesses a dozen Dio tunes, all sounding not to dissimilar to their original counterparts but with enough subtle changes to make them, very cool renditions! A worthy and timely product! (9/10) |
| AXEL RUDI PELL - The Crest (SPV) The German guitar master, returns with his 21st album release, "The Crest" - with the same tenacity, style and great songs that have made the man a 'legend' to his legion of followers. This is first rate, melodic rock with passion, power and this slick offering is as smooth as a turbo Porsche! (8/10) |
| ANNIHILATOR - Annihilator (Riot) A snapping and biting release - with cracker jack riffs, frantic tempos, crushing metal - yes, it's all hear with it's usual charm and swagger with a top notch product. As usual executed to the max, creating a metal masterpiece - to some?! All out a definte winner! (8/10) |
| PEARL - Little Immculate White Fox (Riot) The daughter of Meatloaf - has an equally great set of pipes with a great rock & roll voice, which is used to it's maximum effect on this robust, rollicking release full of good, crunching hard rock. Rocking hard from start to finish including a killer version of Nutbush City Limits - PEARL gives it to you with a good, consistent rock release! (8/10) |
| HELLYEAH - Stampede (Riot) The boys return with their 2nd release - with more of the same, obnoxious southern US flavoured hard rock with a dash of Pantera added to the mix. There's no doubting the boys rock with numerous crunching tunes, a very heavy guitar sound which sounds way too 90's to me and that's what lets this down. It's 2010 not 1990, less Pantera more rock! (7/10) |
| TONY HARNELL & THE MERCURY TRAIN - Round Trip (Frontiers) No denying the wonderous vocal talent of Tony Harnell - both TNT and STARBREAKER have the killer products to prove it but this new project will take some convincing for some people?! Executed to perfection, this middle of the road release will sit well with some but the majority will find it - way too tame for their liking! For fans only?! (6/10) |