“A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993”
Dio
Rhino
Producer: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Platt, Mike Fraser
Discs: 6

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio may have passed away in 2010 however that has not stopped his legacy and music from living on. Thanks to Rhino Entertainment fans of the former Elf, Rainbow and Black Sabbath front man can experience “A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993”. The six album collection focuses on the first 10 years of Ronnie’s solo career which he embarked on in 1983. Remastered and packaged in a sleek box set featuring brand new artwork from Marc Sasso, the artist who was responsible for many of the band’s iconic covers.

The latest offering from Rhino Entertainment “A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993” isn’t just a collection of greatest hits. Instead you get the first 6 albums from Ronnie James Dio’s solo career in their entirety. Remastered and repackaged complete with replica inserts “Holy Diver”, “The Last In Line”, “Sacred Heart”, “Dream Evil”, “Lock Up The Wolves”, and “Strange Highways” all sound just as good as the originals. However I was a little disappointed at the remastering process as it didn’t seem to add anything to mix. If anything the remastering added a layer of thinness that was a bit shrill on the ears at time. Thankfully Ronnie and his bands performances are so strong on the included albums that you can easily get past the sonic shortcomings and enjoy the track for what it is. Tracks like “Last In Line”, “Egypt (The Chains Are On)” and “Gypsy” were some of my personal favorites while classics like “Stand Up and Shout”, “Holy Diver” and “Rainbow in the Dark” are always a fun listen.

If you already have these albums then there probably isn’t enough offered in this package to warrant purchasing them again. However for those looking to bolster their Dio collection then this set is worth its weight in gold. The recreated front and back album art and inserts is nice little feature as when you open up the main box it’s as if your getting 6 miniature LP’s. I think it would have been nice if the set came with a book providing background info/photos on the releases as I feel that would have given a little incentive to those who already have some of these albums to pick up this package. None the less still a cool offering, the set is available now on CD and will be released on vinyl October 4th.

Disc 1: “Holy Diver”
1.) Stand Up And Shout
2.) Holy Diver
3.) Gypsy
4.) Caught In The Middle
5.) Don’t Talk To Stranger
6.) Straight Through The Heart
7.) Invisible
8.) Rainbow In The Dark
9.) Shame On The Night

Disc 2: “The Last In Line”
1.) We Rock
2.) The Last In Line
3.) Breathless
4.) I Speed At Night
5.) One Night In The City
6.) Evil Eyes
7.) Mystery
8.) Eat Your Heart Out
9.) Egypt (The Chains Are On)

Disc 3: “Sacred Heart”
1.) King of Rock And Roll
2.) Sacred Heart
3.) Another Lie
4.) Rock N’ Roll Children
5.) Hungry For Heaven
6.) Like The Beat Of A Heart
7.) Just Another Day
8.) Fallen Angels
9.) Shoot Shoot

Disc 4: “Dream Evil”
1.) Night People
2.) Dream Evil
3.) Sunset Superman
4.) All The Fools Sailed Away
5.) Naked In The Rain
6.) Overlove
7.) I Could Have Been A Dreamer
8.) Faces In The Window
9.) When A Woman Cries

Disc 5: “Lock Up The Wolves”
1.) Wild One
2.) Born On The Sun
3.) Hey Angel
4.) Between Two Hearts
5.) Night Music
6.) Lock Up The Wolves
7.) Evil On Queen Street
8.) Walk On Water
9.) Twisted
10.) Why Are They Watching Me
11.) My Eyes

Disc 6: “Strange Highways”
1.) Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost
2.) Firehead
3.) Strange Highways
4.) Hollywood Black
5.) Evilution
6.) Pain
7.) One Foot In The Grave
8.) Give Her The Gun
9.) Blood From A Stone
10.) Here’s To You
11.) Bring Down The Rain

“Love and Other Crimes”
Masked Intruder
Pure Noise
Tracks: 6
Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Wisconsin based punk rockers Masked Intruder recently released a new EP titled “Love and Other Crimes”. The six track ep which is being released via Pure Noise is the follow up to the band’s 2012 self titled debut which was released via Red Scare and then re-released by Fat Wreck Chords in 2013.

Despite the band being somewhat mysterious due to their identities being hidden behind brightly colored ski masks one thing is certain, These guys know how to have fun! With six songs clocking in at just under fifteen minutes Masked Intruder’s “Love and Other Crimes” wastes no time getting to the point. Each song is brimming over with Ramones like rhythms and comedic lyrics which instantly make the release a fun listen each and every time. Tracks like the albums guitar fueled opener “Take What I Want” the super catchy “Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt” and the tongue and cheek filled “Running from the Cops” are all songs you can listen to time and time again. Even after multiple listens the songs still remain fun and fresh.

Don’t let the bands comedic look and nature fool you as each of the 4 members (Blue, Yellow, Green and Red) show tremendous disciple at their instruments making “Love and Other Crimes” a solid testament to that statement. If you’re a punk rock fan looking for something light and new grab yourself a copy of this release.

Track Listing:
1.) Take What I Want
2.) First Star Tonight
3.) Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt
4.) Running from the Cops
5.) Still Always on My Mind
6.) If Only

“Clean Your Clock”
Motorhead
UDR Music
Not Rated

Our Score:  CD: 3 out of 5 stars    

                    DVD: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

“Clean Your Clock” is the latest live release from the heavy metal band Motorhead. The release captures the bands November 20/21, 2015 shows at the Zenith in Munich Germany and is the bands very last live recorded show. The release captures the natural sound of one of heavy metals most astounding bands and serves as a solid send off to the one and only Lemmy.

Having followed Motorhead’s last tour pretty closely due to the almost daily updates of front-man Lemmy Kilmister’s diminishing health I was a bit skeptical of a release that was going to showcase a show from this run. Would a sickly looking Lemmy be the way I wanted to remember the band? Most definitely not. Having experienced the band live on a couple different occasions and knowing the amount of energy the band exuded during their performances I initially wasn’t expecting a lot out of this release. Thankfully within minutes of putting the DVD portion of the CD/DVD combo in my player I could tell the performance was going to be top notch. The lighting elements of the show look great and include a moving plane which hovers at varying heights through out the performance adding uniqueness to the rather straight forward staging. I’m not going to say Lemmy looks or sound amazing in this because he does not however, for a 70 year old man dealing with what he was dealing with at the time he sounds damn good! Classic tracks like “Bomber”, “The Chase Is Better Than The Catch” and “Ace of Spades” rip through your speakers with reckless abandonment and showcases Lemmy’s signature attitude and sound while fellow band mates Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell hold down their ends and in my opinion really carry the band throughout the performance. Both the DVD and CD portions of the release sounded nearly identical however the CD seemed to have a little bit more treble present in the mix. This did add some clarity to the tracks but at times the added frequencies were a bit too bright for my liking.

If you’re a devout Motorhead fan then you already know that “Clean Your Clock” is a must have. The release is available in a variety of formats including Blu-Ray, CD/Blu-Ray, CD/DVD and Vinyl however; you will want to check your video player setting as this is a European release which due to its encoding can play havoc with some players. Bottom line “Clean Your Clock” is a sleek, good sounding release that fans of the band will appreciate but, if your newer to the band or are a more casual listener you may want to skip over this one and check out one of the bands older live or studio releases.

Track Listing:

1.) Bomber
2.) Stay Clean
3.) Metropolis
4.) When The Sky Comes Looking For You
5.) Over The Top
6.) Guitar Solo
7.) The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
8.) Lost Woman Blues
9.) Rock It
10.) Orgasmatron
11.) Dr. Rock
12.) Just ‘Cus You Got The Power
13.) No Class
14.) Ace Of Spades
15.) Whorehouse Blues
16.) Overkill

Related Content

• Album Review: Poison Headache “Poison Headache”
• Album Review: Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy “Songs From The Garage”
• Album Review: Pierce the Veil “Misadventures”
• Album Review: Hatebreed “The Concrete Confessional”
• Album Review: Rob Zombie “The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser”

“Poison Headache”
Poison Headache
Metal Blade Records
Producer: Phil Sgrosso/Taylor Young
Tracks:

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Poison Headache” is the self titled debut album from the band of the same name. Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Andy Kukta, drummer Kyle Rosa and vocalist/guitarist Phil Sgrosso Poison Headache are releasing their 10 track album via Metal Blade Records. If Sgrosso’s name sounds familiar you may have recognized him as the former guitarist of As I Lay Dying and/or from his current band Wovenwar. Along with Taylor Young, Sgrosso also produced the album which is a unique blend of heavy metal stylings.

Infuse early 80’s NY hardcore with guitar driven modern heavy metal and you have the foundation for the debut album from Poison Headache. The group which originally formed and started writing material several years ago after the demise of the band Internal Affairs was initially just for fun however, over time the idea of doing a full album became more real. Over the course of the album you can clearly tell that the records tracks are sort of a meeting of the minds so to speak as both Kukta and Sgrosso’s signature styles shine through at various points. The albums opening track “Sin Eater” along with tracks like “Rot With Me” and “Never Again” lean more to Kukta’s hardcore roots while tracks like “Grey Skies” and “Death’s Design” showcase Sgrosso’s heavy metal back ground. Though the albums cohesiveness is a touch off it was because of this that I kept listening. You never know what is in-store with each subsequent track. This not only made the album fun to listen to but also added to its over all appeal.

Fans of the trio’s previous works and various groups will certainly want to pick up a copy of “Poison Headache”. The album not only showcases the member’s musical roots but blends each member’s uniqueness and what it may lack in cohesiveness it makes up for in raw energy and power.

Track Listing:
1.) Sin Eater
2.) Pity the Backseat
3.) Rot with Me
4.) Conspirator
5.) Gray Skies
6.) Benumbed
7.) Death’s Design
8.) Hail, Colossus
9.) Never. Again.
10.) Discloser

“Songs From The Garage”
Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy
Metal Blade Records
Producer: Rob Caggiano
Tracks: 11

Our score: 2 out of 5 stars

Accomplished comedian Jim Breuer has been mixing his love of heavy metal into his stand up acts for years. Be it through real life stories, impersonations and even adding a live band to portions of his comedy shows. “Songs From The Garage” is the debut music album from the actor/comedian who was a staple on “Saturday Night Live” during the late 90’s. Produced by former Anthrax and current Volbeat guitarist Rob Caggiano the album features 11 tracks which combine in your face guitars and drums with Breuer’s off kilter comedic stylings.

From his portrayal of “Goat Boy” on SNL to his role as the lovable stoner Brian in “Half Baked” Jim Breuer’s comedy is something that I have grown up with so, when I heard he was going to put out an album of actual metal music I couldn’t wait to check it out. Sadly what I found on the albums 11 tracks was a mediocre comedy album with a band playing your typical 80’s style metal in the back ground. There really was just nothing spectacular here. Not even a guest appearance by long time AC/DC front man Brian Johnson on the track “Mr. Rock n Roll” could turn this around for me. Knowing Jim’s love of heavy music and the fact that his backing band consists of Mike Tichy, Joe Vigliotti and Metal Mike Chlasciak (all great players) the two just didn’t mesh well and came off as stale and forced. Aside from a few fun titles like “Raising Teenage Girls” and “Be a Dick 2nite” I just couldn’t find anything that I would listen to more than once.

When a performer crosses mediums it can go one of two ways, either really well or in the case of “Songs From the Garage” really bad. I appreciate the attempt that Breuer and company made on the record however I was torn between the mix of comedic tracks and those that were more serious as it caused me to question the direction of the album. Was it meant to be a serious attempt at a metal record or just another comedy record with musical elements? I think the album would have come off as way more cohesive if that common element was defined clearly. Yes I understand Jim Breuer is a comedian so there will undoubtedly be comedic elements to his works but, knowing his level of musical fandom especially when it comes to rock and heavy metal music it makes me question why he did this the way he did.

Track Listing:
1.) Thrash
2.) Raising Teenage Girls
3.) Old School
4.) Be a Dick 2nite
5.) My Rock n Roll Dream
6.) Mr. Rock n Roll
7.) Who’s Better Than Us?!
8.) Family Warrior
9.) Sugar Rush
10.) Wannabe
11.) The Unexplained

“Misadventures”
Pierce the Veil
Fearless Records
Producer: Dan Korneff
Tracks: 11

Our score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Post-hardcore heart throb’s Pierce the Veil are back with a brand new studio album titled “Misadventures”. The album which is being released via Fearless Records consists of 11 tracks produced by Dan Korneff (Breaking Benjamin, Paramore) that dig deep into a variety of topics such as self-worth, an individual’s ability to shine and dreams of leaving everything behind for love.

“Misadventures” combines Pierce the Veils energetic, genre blending sound with internal struggles that the bands fan base can surely all relate to. From the albums opening track “Dive In” a track which ungulates back and forth between tempos while a somewhat sinister sample plays in the back ground all while acting as the foundation for what’s to come. Upbeat radio friendly tracks like “Texas Is Forever” and “Circles” were among personal favorites of mine while tracks like “Gold Medal Ribbon” and “Songs For Isabelle” show the band stretching their musicality while not drifting too far from the sound which has made them a common name spoke between cafeteria lunch room tables.

For fans who have worn out their copies of 2012’s “Collide with the Sky” the wait is over as Pierce the Veil’s latest offering showcases the bands progression both personally and professionally while staying true to the sound that got them to where they are today. “Misadventures” is even a great starting point for newer fans of the band as the album is solid incorporation of a number of musical styles which only adds to the albums over all appeal.

Track Listing:

1.) Dive In
2.) Texas Is Forever
3.) The Divine Zero
4.) Floral & Fading
5.) Phantom Power and Ludicrous Speed
6.) Circles
7.) Today I Saw The Whole World
8.) Gold Medal Ribbon
9.) Bedless
10.) Sambuka
11.) Song For Isabelle

“The Concrete Confessional”
Hatebreed
Nuclear Blast
Producer: Chris “Zuess” Harris
Tracks: 13

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The kings of Connecticut hardcore Hatebreed are back with their first new album in three years titled “The Concrete Confessional”. The album which is being released via Nuclear Blast was produced by Chris Harris features 13 brand new tracks from the New Haven natives and serves as the follow up release to the bands 2013 album “The Divinity of Purpose”.

Hatebreed come out swinging with their latest offering “The Concrete Confessional”. Packed with crushing guitar riffs and brilliant break downs there’s very little (if anything) missing from this release. Front-man Jamey Jasta sounds as powerful as ever while the rest of the band consisting of Chris Beattie, Wayne Lozinak, Matt Byrne and, Frank Novinec provide equally impressive performances over the course of the albums 13 aggressive tracks. Songs like the albums opening track “A.D.” and “Us Against Us” hit you square between the eyes pummeling your senses while tracks like “Seven Enemies” and “Slaughtered In Their Dreams” feature a slightly slower pace yet still retain the bands ferocity and drive. From a production standpoint the album has a solid mix that does a great job showcasing the bands signature sound. Despite a lot of the songs being in lower tuning registers tones sound equally audible and lively on both headphones and larger speakers.

If you are looking for something to kick start your senses grab a copy of “The Concrete Confessional” and go to town! From start to finish the album is pure intensity as it will quickly take your adrenaline levels to the extreme. Any fan of hardcore/metal music will want to check this album out as it is truly a solid piece of musical work.

Track Listing:
1.) A.D.
2.) Looking Down the Barrel of Today”
3.) Seven Enemies
4.) In the Walls
5.) From Grace We’ve Fallen
6.) Us Against Us
7.) Something’s Off
8.) Remember When
9.) Slaughtered in Their Dreams
10.) The Apex Within
11.) Walking the Knife
12.) Dissonance
13.) Serve Your Masters

“The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser”
Rob Zombie
Zodiac Swan
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Master of the macabre Rob Zombie is back with his 6th studio album titled “The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser”. As the follow up to his 2013 release “Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor” the new album features 12 tracks from the former White Zombie front man which blend his unique brand of 70’s tinged rock and roll with eerie b-movie samplings which seem to permeate from every crack and crevice.

With an album title like “The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser” one would hope for the music to be equally as impressive. Sadly this is not the case as the new album from Rob Zombie is an uneven blend of chaotic, multi layered samples that lack any real musical substance. Over the course of the albums twelve tracks which only clock in at a measly thirty one minutes Zombie’s once unique blend of horror infused rock comes off as stale and tiresome. Despite a few shining moments in the way of tracks like “Well Everybody’s Fucking in a U.F.O.” and “The Hideous Exhibitions of a Dedicated Gore Whore” the album seemed to be absent of any real hook or catchiness and, instead comes off as a scattered mess. Even with such an impressive band behind him consisting of bassist Piggy D, guitarist John 5 and drummer Ginger Fish there still just wasn’t enough musical appeal to warrant a second listen.

Some impressively wordy titles are about all you will find in the latest release from Rob Zombie. With a three year lapse between albums I was certainly hoping for more and, in the case of “The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser” I needed a lot more. The albums lack of focus and its brief runtime really left me unfulfilled. This is easily Zombie’s weakest release however if you’re a long time fan and want it for your collection go for it but, if you are just know checking out Rob’s work I highly recommend skipping this and going to his impressive back catalog.

Track Listing:


1.) The Last of the Demons Defeated
2.) Satanic Cyanide! The Killer Rocks On!
3.) The Life and Times of a Teenage Rock God
4.) Well Everybody’s Fucking in a U.F.O.
5.) A Hearse That Overturns with the Coffin Bursting Open
6.) The Hideous Exhibitions of a Dedicated Gore Whore
7.) Medication for the Melancholy
8.) In the Age of the Consecrated Vampire We All get High
9.) Super-Doom-Hex-Gloom, Pt. 1
10.) In the Bone Pile
11.) Get Your Boots On! That’s the End of Rock and Roll
12.) Wurdalak

Related Content

• CD Review: 3 Doors Down “Us And The Night”
• CD Review: Ace Frehley “Origins Vol. 1”
• CD Review: Zakk Wylde “Book of Shadows II”
• CD Review: Brian Fallon “Painkillers”
• CD Review: Steel Panther “Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage

“Us And The Night”

3 Doors Down
Republic
Producer: Matt Wallace
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Grammy Award-nominated 3 Doors Down is back with a brand new album titled “Us And The Night”. The album which is being released via Republic Records is the first album to feature new material from the chart topping Mississippi natives in five years. Produced by Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, O.A.R.) the album features 11 tracks chocked full of the groups signature rock

With five years between the bands last album “Time of My Life” and “Us And The Night” is was certainly more than anxious to see where the band would take things with their most recent release. The 11 tracks which make up the groups sixth studio album all have potential to be hits as the album is spilling over with pop like hooks which are set nicely against a rock and roll background making for a great listening experience. From the driving bass lines of “In The Dark” to the chugging solo infused “Believe It” the band does a good job revisiting their hard rock roots while expanding on their musicality with tracks like the expansive “Inside of Me” which blends piano and acoustic filled verses with huge crescendoing choruses while the track “Pieces of Me” is on the other side of the spectrum featuring a scaled back arrangement that despite less instrumentation is an equally powerful performance.

Time away certainly did not hurt 3 Doors Down as their latest offering has everything fans have come to expect from the band who brought us hits like “Kryptonite” and “Here Without You” and maybe a little more. “Us And The Night” is packed with an even blend of pop appeal and edginess which harkens back to the band’s debut release. Though there are a few slower moments on the records I could have done without with as I much more prefer the harder side of this band however the album mixes things up nicely and is an enjoyable listen.

Track Listing:

1.) The Broken
2.) In The Dark
3.) Still Alive
4.) Believe It
5.) Living In Your Hell
6.) Inside of Me
7.) I Don’t Wanna Know
8.) Pieces of Me
9.) Love Is a Lie
10.) Us And The Night
11.) Fell From the Moon

“Origins Vol. 1”
Ace Frehley
eOne Music
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The one and only Ace Frehley is back with a brand new album of reworked hard rock classics titled “Origins Vol. 1” The 12 track album is being released April 15th via eOne Music and accompanying the former Kiss guitarist is a slew of hard rock notables ranging from Slash and John 5 to Lita Ford and Kiss front-man Paul Stanley. Yes you read that correctly! “Origins Vol. 1” will take you on a rocket ride through some of Ace’s influences while also paying homage to several songs from Ace’s own groundbreaking career with Kiss.

When an artist chooses to release an album of covers it usually ends up being a love or hate relationship for myself. Even before listening to the album I am thinking things like “will the artist do the original songs justice?” And, “will the artists own performance be on point?” among a few other things. Despite being a diehard Frehley fan since my early teens I still had to ponder those thoughts just before checking out “Origins Vol.1” as I was a touch skeptical. Right out of the gate the latest offering from the original and only “Space Man” came out swinging quickly erasing any doubt I may have had lurking around my brain. Tracks like Cream’s “White Room” and The Troggs “Wild Thing” which features a guest appearance by Lita Ford hold true to the original versions however with an immense amount of added grit and bite courtesy of Frehley’s signature playing style. Other notable tracks are a crushing version of Thin Lizzy’s “Emerald” (probably my favorite of the 12 tracks) an in your face rendition of Kiss’s “Parasite” featuring Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 and a really cool version of Free’s “Fire and Water” featuring none other than Paul Stanley on vocals. (This is the first time in 18 years that Paul and Ace have appeared on a track together)

It doesn’t matter how dedicated of an Ace fan you are “Origins Vol. 1” is a must have for any fan of hard rock music. Great song selection and performances make this an album you can throw on anytime and be treated to a great listen. No its not new original material but it is literally the next best thing as Ace continues to shine with his latest offering.

Track Listing:
1.) White Room (Cream)
2.) Street Fighting Man (Rolling Stones)
3.) Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hendrix) feat. John 5
4.) Fire and Water (Free) feat. Paul Stanley
5.) Emerald (Thin Lizzy ) feat.Slash
6.) Bring It On Home (Led Zeppelin)
7.) Wild Thing (The Troggs) feat. Lita Ford
8.) Parasite (Kiss) feat. John 5
9.) Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf)
10.) Cold Gin (Kiss) feat. Mike McCready
11.) Till The End of the Day (The Kinks)
12.) Rock n Roll Hell (Kiss)

“Book of Shadows II”

Zakk Wylde
eOne Music
Tracks: 14

Our Score: 4 out 5 stars

Black Label Society front man Zakk Wylde is back with the second installment of his acoustic fueled fret board wizardry “Book of Shadows II”. Stripped down and incredibly raw the new album not only picks up where the previous 1996 album “Book of Shadows” left off but the former Ozzy Osbourne axe man shows immense growth as an artist while forging new ground with his signature blend of doom crew infused melodic shred.

Don’t let the fact that “Book of Shadows II” showcases the softer side of the berserker as each of the 14 tracks that make up this release are signature Zakk Wylde through and through. Yes missing are the signature laser like pinch harmonics and the thunderous dirge Wylde is most closely associated with however, what the album lacks in ferocity it makes up for it by creating its own unique power through impressive vocal and instrumental performances. Tracks like “Tears In December” and “Darkest Hour” strike deep as they overflow with emotion while tracks like “Lost Prayer” and ”Sleeping Dogs” feature upbeat rythms and bluesy instrumentation giving the album a solid balance.

For long time fans of Zakk dating back to the old “Pride and Glory” days this is a no brainer to pick up as it will be right at home with Wylde’s subsequent releases. For newer fans it’s just as equally worth checking out but be sure to also check out Zakk’s electric work before hand as it will only make you appreciate the range and musicianship found on “Book of Shadows II” that much more.

Track Listing:
1.) Autumn Changes
2.) Tears of December
3.) Lay Me Down
4.) Lost Prayer
5.) Darkest Hour
6.) The Levee
7.) Eyes of Burden
8.) Forgotten Memory
9.) Yesterday’s Tears
10.) Harbors of Pity
11.) Sorrowed Regrets
12.) Useless Apologies
13.) Sleeping Dogs
14.) The King

“Painkillers”
Brian Fallon
Island
Producer: Butch Walker
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Gaslight Anthem front-man Brian Fallon steps into the solo spotlight with his debut release titled “Painkillers”. The album which is being released via Island Records features 12 brand new tracks from the Springsteen esk front-man which were produced by Butch Walker (Weezer, Fall Out Boy).

Brain Fallon’s first attempt as a solo artist comes off completely genuine and harkens back to the singer/songwriter era of the early 60’s but with a modern twist. Tracks such as the albums opener “A Wonderful Life” and the title track “Painkillers” are similar enough to Fallon’s previous work with his band The Gaslight Anthem that they will appeal not only to long time fans but also usher in a new fan base for the charismatic singer. Other tracks worth mentioning are the gravelly voiced “Smoke” with its jangly guitars and sing-a-long choruses to the upbeat “Rosemary” which is one of the few songs on the album to feature electric guitar and provides a nice break up mid way through the album which is almost entirely acoustic. Along with Fallon the album features some great performances by Brian’s backing band consisting of Mark Stepro-drums, Catherie Popper-bass, Alex Rosamilia-piano, Josh Keller-pedal steel guitar and Butch Walker who along with his producer duties lends his hand playing a variety of different odds and ends instruments.

When a debut solo album comes out and is as strong as one such as “Painkillers” it makes me wonder if the artist left any ground to cover for future albums. With the diversity shown by Fallon and company that question was quickly answered as the album runs the gambit of music styles which will certainly help pave the way for future releases from the seasoned front man.

Track Listing:


1.) A Wonderful Life
2.) Painkillers
3.) Among Other Foolish Things
4.) Smoke
5.) Steve McQueen
6.) Nobody Wins
7.) Rosemary
8.) Red Lights
9.) Long Drives
10.) Honey Magnolia
11.) Mojo Hand
12.) Open All Night

“Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage”

Steel Panther
Open E
Mixing: Jay Ruston
Tracks: 13

Our Score: CD- 4 out of 5 stars
                       DVD- 3 out of 5 stars

The raining kings of spandex metal are back with something a little different this time around. “Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage” is the bands first full length feature film which includes a live 10 song acoustic concert mixed with comedic scenes that show case the bands over the top sexually fueled high jinks. The dual CD/DVD is being released via Open E and features 10 tracks that will have you instantly reaching for the aqua net and eyeliner.

Right of the bat “Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage” was a hit for me. The band wastes no time getting right down to business as the album is a spattering of songs from the bands 3 comedic tinged albums but with an acoustic flavor. Songs like “Party Like Tomorrow is the End of the World” and “Glory Hole” sound as good if not better than the original records. Despite the fact that acoustic instrumentation can be a bit unforgiving especially in live situations the band does an impressive job with each performance. Combine that with a great mix provided by Jay Ruston and you have an album that’s not only fun to listen to because of the songs tongue and cheek subject matter but also because it’s pleasing to the ears and you get to a hear new track from the band titled “That’s When You Came In”. Yes the album is a bit polished for a live album however, keep in mind that very few live albums are truly live making this a moot point. Along with the audio version of the CD fans get a video version of the show which only adds to the entertainment value of this release. Though I found a couple of spots where the audio seemed to be a touch out of sync the brief skits every few songs were funny enough to where you could look past any short comings. Throw in a couple special appearance of 80’s video vixen Bobbi Brown in the role of Lexxi’s mom and you have yourself a pretty killer package.

Yes some of the sexual innuendos used in “Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage” have started to become a bit tiresome however the catchiness of Steel Panthers songs are what keep me coming back time and time again. For long time fans of the band picking up this release is a given. For those new to the group despite having three studio albums under the bands belt I recommend starting here a working your way backwards as the songs just sound so good played acoustically. For those wanting this for just the video performance be warned that that is all you will get on the DVD there are no behind the scenes or bonus footage here. Knowing the bands comedic nature I would have thought there would have been tons of outtakes and gag reels from this shoot that could have been included but when you are already getting both the audio and video version of the show for the price of one you can’t really complain.

Track Listing:
1.) Show Intro/ Say Yeah!
2.) Party Like Tomorrow is the End of the World
3.) Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)
4.) If You Really, Really Love Me
5.) Gloryhole
6.) Bukkake Tears
7.) The Burden of Being Wonderful
8.) Weenie Ride
9.) That’s When You Came In
10.) Michael Don’t Know
11.) Community Property
12.) Grindy and Sexy
13.) Death to All But Metal

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“For All Kings”
Anthrax
Megaforce/Nuclear Blast
Producer: Jay Ruston
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

NY thrash legends Anthrax are back with a brand new full length studio album titled “For All Kings”. The album which is the bands 11th studio release and the first to feature lead guitarist Jon Donais features 11 blistering tracks produced by veteran producer Jay Ruston. “For All Kings” is being released in the states via Megaforce Records and internationally via Nuclear Blast and is available in a variety of formats.

As soon as I hit play “For All Kings” dominated my speakers. The albums opening track “You Gotta Believe” features the bands same signature in your face riffing which cemented them as one of the pillars of the Big 4 of Thrash on the early 80’s while the genre was still developing. The opening track sets the stage perfectly for what is to come and is immediately followed by another great track titled “Monster at the Gate”. Catchy sing along choruses, thunderous drum fills and a blazing guitar solo by new comer Jon Donais made this easily one of my favorites. This is not Donais’s only shining moment as the addition of the former Shadows Fall guitarist seems to have taken the bands already aggressive thrash sound and infused it with some heavy metal virtuosity. If you don’t believe me check out tracks like “The Battle Chose Us” and “Zero Tolerance” they are perfect examples of what I’m talking about.

If you are looking for heavy, the latest offering from Anthrax will certainly fulfill that need. Probably one of the bands most vicious sounding albums to date “For All Kings” is a near perfect testament from a band that has been waving the flag for heavy music since the early 80’s. Yes there were one or two tracks which for me personally missed the mark however the remaining 9/10 tracks easily outweigh anything negative and quickly pushed those short comings into the back of my mind. With such a solid release this early in 2016 Anthrax have certainly set the bar high.

Track Listing:
1.) You Gotta Believe
2.) Monster at the End
3.) For All Kings
4.) Breathing Lightning
5.) Suzerain
6.) Evil Twin
7.) Blood Eagle Wings
8.) Defend Avenge
9.) All of Them Thieves
10.) The Battle Chose Us
11.) Zero Tolerance

“Soundcheck”
Leslie West
Provogue
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Soundcheck” is the newest solo offering from legendary Mountain front man Leslie West. The album is the much anticipated follow up to West’s 2013 release “Still Climbing” which featured guest performances by Mark Tremonti, Jonny Lang and the late Johnny Winter. “Soundcheck” follows in the same suit as “Still Climbing” while taking things to the next level with brilliant performances on all 11 of the albums tracks by West and company.

From start to finish Mr. West and his assembled group of musicians are in top form as they blast through a variety musical styling’s covering everything from gritty rock ‘n’ roll to heart wrenching acoustic tinged ballads that echo to the inner most points of the listeners musical soul. The albums opening track “Left by the Roadside to Die” works perfect in its placement by setting the stage for what the listener is in store for. Mixed in with a handful of original tracks are a plethora of re-worked covers including Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” a rawkus rendition of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For the Party” an eerie instrumental version of the Beatles track “Eleanor Rigby” and a one of a kind rendition of “You Are My Sunshine” featuring Peter Frampton. Other guest performers include Queen’s Brian May on the track “Goin’ Down” and the late great Jack Bruce on the live recording of “Spoonful” a recording which until now has never been released.

If you are a long time Mountain/Leslie West devotee then “Soundcheck” will fit perfectly in to your music collection. For the more casual listener you will be hard pressed to find a track on here you won’t like. The production on each of the 11 tracks is really on par and even though the last track is a live track recorded in 1988 it still sounds crisp and in line with the previous 10 tracks making this a great album to listen to over and over.

Track Listing:
1.) Left by the Roadside to Die
2.) Give Me One Reason
3.) Here for the Party
4.) You Are My Sunshine
5.) Empty Promises/Nothin’ Sacred
6.) A Stern Warning
7.) People Get Ready
8.) Goin’ Down
9.) Stand By Me
10.) Eleanor Rigby
11.) Spoonful