Bob Kulick is a Grammy Award winning producer with credentials that read like a who’s who of music royalty. Bob is also the older brother of ex-KISS/ current Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick, and has performed on stages around the world with groups such as Alice Cooper and Meatloaf. Bob’s newest production project “Thriller: A Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson” was recently released via Cleopatra Records and Media Mikes was fortunate enough to speak with Bob recently about the release and his longtime relationship with KISS.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us what initially sparked your interest in music?
Bob Kulick: My cousin played guitar and during family functions she would often play her acoustic guitar. My sarcastic, Brooklyn mother would always say things like “why can’t you do something like that”. It was sort of a dare on her part. My cousin started showing me the basics and when The Beatles came out the seed was planted. I do recall that even before that when I was a child in school we went on a trip to the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The orchestra there performed Ravel’s “Bolero”. I remember sitting there with my mouth hanging open and I just started to cry. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. The gift I was given was announced that day. That was the birth of my gift and I just couldn’t recognize it initially. That was something special. I went on to college and did all that stuff but I still wasn’t happy. My gift was music and that is what I wanted to do. I knew if I applied myself and gave it the one thousand percent that it needs I would get the result I wanted.

AL: Having worked with everyone from Meatloaf to Alice Cooper at what point did you start to notice your transition from a performer to a producer?
BK: Being a studio musician afforded me the look see at people who I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten the chance to work with otherwise. The stuff I did with Diana Ross was one of those instances. She was dating Gene Simmons from Kiss at the time and he called me from the studio one day to ask if I would come in and play a solo. I went in and ended up playing the solo on her number one hit single “Why Do Fools Fall in Love”. Hanging around with people like that and utilizing my brain really helped. I got to watch guys like Eddie Kramer and Tony Bongiovi work so I just watched everything. I never was really interested in engineering as I was more interested in song creation. When I met my mentor Dick Wagner who worked with guys like Lou Reed and Alice Cooper I really got a firsthand look at somebody who was an arranger and a writer. Dick was also the guy who hired me to fill in for Steve Hunter on the Australia/New Zealand leg of the Alice Cooper tour and to play on Mark Farner’s solo record. I learned all the little tricks from him. It also became apparent to me at this time that the business was changing, as was the music. After being out on the road with Meat Loaf, Paul Stanley and Diana Ross my desire to be out on the road constantly had also started to die down. I said to myself that I wanted to try producing so that’s what I did. I met my first partner Billy Sherwood who had a studio here in Los Angeles and when he got the gig in Yes he handed me the keys and I started getting hired to work on projects which included a series of tribute records I did which included a Metallica tribute album that ultimately won me a Grammy. As of late I have started performing more regularly. I have been doing charity gigs as well as some Kiss tribute band gigs. I was part of the pre-Kiss Kruise kick-off party this year in Miami. I also jammed recently with Dick Wagner and Mark Farner at another event. It’s been nice to rekindle that fire and show myself that I can still dish it out. I even still look the same, as I haven’t lost any hair. (Laughs) It was like getting back on a bike after not riding for a while. It’s a blessing to be able to do both and to see and talk to the fans. I am very lucky, blessed and grateful.

AL: You have been working with KISS on and off almost since the bands inception. What do you think has been the biggest contributing factor to that ongoing relationship?
BK: My visibility with the band has been several fold. I have participated not only as a player on records and as part of Paul’s 1989 solo tour but I also have worked with the band as a writer. Even now I still get up and jam with the guys at various Kiss type events. Because of my visibility with the band I have been dubbed the 5th member of KISS. (Laughs) I have played on a number of KISS tracks like “Nowhere to Run”, “Rockin’ in the USA”, “Partners in Crime” “All American Man” and “Larger than Life”. There is quite a wealth of work there. The band has thought of me enough over the years that they even interviewed me recently as part of a new KISS documentary. It’s great that Gene and Paul acknowledge the times we had together. During the time of Paul’s solo album he was by best friend. People always ask me about that experience and what it was like working on that album. It was great! I got to hang out with my best friend. There was no pressure and it was fun. That’s why it came out so good. Paul would show us the songs and we would play them a couple times until we thought we had it and that was it. It was very organic. Everyone was really professional.

AL: Can you tell us about your work on the recently released album “Thriller: A Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson”?
BK: Michael Jackson even after his death is still one of the biggest stars in the world. The second album I did with Diana Ross he wrote the song “Muscles”. I was always fascinated with him and would often ask Diana what was up with him. (Laughs) After the work I did on Dee Snider’s Broadway album and the Frank Sinatra album we decided to take that same attitude and idea and apply it to this record. We weren’t re-writing or changing any of the songs, as we wanted to remain faithful to the originals while at the same time being different. We came up with a tunings that worked and got some guys that could really dish it out. We got some classic metal guys like Chuck Billy and Paul Di’Anno along with Lajon Witherspoon, Corey Glover and Angelo Moore from Fishbone who did an awesome job! We were very lucky to have such a great group of musicians/singers be a part of this record.

AL: Were you involved with the song selection at all?
BK: We worked in conjunction with the label on that but all of the arrangements are my partners and mine. No one came to us with arrangements ahead of time, as these types of albums don’t generally work that way. We usually will cut the song as a template and then send it out to someone to see if they would be interested in doing it or not. By doing that the artist gets to see maybe not the finished product but they have the framework of what it is.

AL: Having done a number of tribute albums what is it that interests you in these types of projects?
BK: Some projects are harder to do than others. So the idea of putting together a track say for instance the Chuck Berry song “Run Rudolph Run” which we did for the Metal Christmas CD and getting guys like Lemmy, Billy Gibbons and Dave Grohl as the band is just crazy. No one but me is doing things like that. I am the guy who comes up with these creations. A lot of times the creations are what make the people want to show up and be a part of these projects. That’s how Tim “Ripper” Owens got connected with Yngwie Malmsteen. I put them on a track together and Yngwie loved it! For me it’s all about making exciting concepts of these songs through the arrangements and through the combination of people who play and sing on them. The word tribute really is just a title. People have been covering songs for years and I am a guy who likes to stir the pot. It’s just music which is about the fun and I like to push the envelope.

AL: Can you tell us about any other projects you are currently working on?
BK: I worked on a song for Dee Snider and Giuliana Rancic from the E! Channel which available now on ITunes. We did a very unique arrangement of “Silent Night”. This is a really cool version of the song as you don’t know what you are getting until you start listening. I also have a few other projects in the works however I can’t announce any of those just yet. I also have been working with my brother Bruce on some songs that we hope to have out early next year. The idea with these songs is to keep things within the boundaries of our audience. We want to make songs that people who enjoy our work will like.

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Heitor Pereira is a musician who has worked with bands like Simply Red, Elton John, Jack Johnson. He is also a composer who has worked on films like the “Despicable Me” series and and “The Smurfs series”. He is also gearing up to compose the upcoming “Despicable Me” spin-off “Minions”m which is due out in 2015. Media Mikes had the pleasure to chat with Heitor about his work on the “Despicable Me” series and his work with kid/family films.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you approach the score to “Despicable Me 2” and how did it differ if any from working on the first film?
Heitor Pereira: With the first one there was a lot of time spent looking for the right tone and themes. I was also trying to find my way of incorporating some of Pharrell’s material into the score. It worked to a point but I still had to find the right themes for the Minions, the bag guys etc. I got to work together with Pharrell quite a bit on the first film and I would say that there was a lot of influence from him in my score actually. In the second film, for scheduling reasons and other things the job was more divided. He wrote the songs and I completely wrote the score. My goals were to find out how to take advantage of Pharrell’s great energy in the score. The new one was all about discovering the melodies that would go hand and hand with the old melodies for the Gru and the girls. Additional I had to find the tones for Lucy, the purple Minions, El Macho and his three different incarnations. The process I focused on was to try and keep the original themes of the main characters and still at the same time create new music.

MG: Sticking with this franchise, tell us about what we can expect from “Minions” next and how do you plan to approach?”
HP: Coincidentially, I just had a meeting with the directors and it is a completely different project. I won’t say much because the fun is actually the surprise. I also can’t say much about the score because I haven’t written a note yet [laughs]. I saw parts of the movie since it is not yet finished and I know that it is so different and it is definitely going to generate different music, which makes it more fun for me. So I am very excited about getting started.

MG: Besides the “Despicable Me” series, you’ve worked with tons of other kid/family films; what draws you to this genre?
HP: Look, I ask that same question to myself. I am be very dark also [laughs]. It seems like people prefer me smiling [laughs]. I could tell you that soon this will turn around and I will show how bad I am [laughs] but this is a profession and I am sure it will come around. What is nice is that I am a family man myself, I have two kids and I love making this type of music. It is a part of my life right now and I am not neglecting it, I am living it and enjoying the opportunities to the full. I am telling you though that orchestrally it is actually much more demanding than live-action. In terms of composition, because it is animation, the picture changes a few times a week. So that means that the music also changes very frequently. So it is a very challenging world but I love it.

MG: What else is in the cards for 2014?
HP: It’s funny because IMDB lists me as composing “Alvin and the Chipmunks 4″…but I am not unless someone hasn’t told me yet [laughs]. But I am actually have a film called “If I Stay”, which is directed by R.J. Cutler who does TV’s “Nashville”. It is not for little people at all. It is with Chloë Grace Moretz. It is a beautiful movie and very sad but perfect for me. Things are mixing up a little bit, so I am very lucky.
 

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Christina Milian has had such a diverse career to date. She started her singing career at 19 and had hit singles like “Dip It Low”. She has starred in various films including “Be Cool” and this year’s “Baggage Claim”. She was also recently a contestant on season 17 of ABC’s hit reality show “Dancing with the Stars”. Her latest venture is wine, as she recently became part owner and spokesperson for the company, Vida Diva Wine. Media Mikes had a chance to chat wine with Christina and talk about her upcoming bottle signing.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us a little bit about Vida Diva Wine and what made you become a part owner and spokesperson for the company?
Christina Milian: I feel like it was just meant to be honestly. I met Robyn Santiago from Illumination PR at a MTV gifting suite. Robyn was just so sweet and was handing out glasses of their Moscato wine. I tried out the mango and strawberry and thought it was so delicious. Just as a wine lover, I have always thought “One day, I would love to have my own winery”, but you never think in the near future that would happen. She told me that I should do something with this brand and I said “I would love to”. It seemed right because if you look at the name Vida Diva Wine…that is so me. It just screams loud and confident, so personally it says many things to me with its name and brand alone. Robyn was really on it as well since from that point on after meeting it was a really quick turnaround. I signed on as part owner of the company shortly after. I started doing tastings, had meetings with the CEO and learned about where our wines come from. I consider myself a wine connoisseur and I enjoy drinking it and bonding with my girlfriends. So I hope that others can do the same with Vida Diva Wine.

MG: How many difference products are there and what is your personal favorite?
CM: I actually have two but my absolute favorite is our Vida Diva Pineapple Coconut Moscato. It is delicious. It is like a Piña colada but very light. I love that our Moscatos are not too syrupy. You get a nice cool feeling when you drink and not overwhelmed with sugar. The flavor is very tropical and feels like a vacation in a glass. My second favorite favorite is our Pinot Grigio. I love white wine and I think that it has this classic feel. Our Pinot Grigo is paired very well for dinner like a nice fish or something. Also our simple Strawberry Moscato is a favorite of mine, I think that is everyone’s favorite. So I had to add a third favorite as well [laughs].

MG: Where else do you have planned with your nationwide bottle signing tour?
CM: We are doing a bottle signing on December 14th in Miami at Sedano’s, which is very exciting. We have done four other signings and I got to meet some really great fans. I like being able to come to the people. That is what I love most about these signings. Sometimes people feel so far away and not very tangible. To me I am very about my fans and this is a great opportunity for me to get out there and meet them and give them a taste of Viva Diva Wine. So I am so lucky to get a chance to present this to them. We are working additional tour dates right now actually. The next couple of stops we are looking at for 2014 are going to be in New York, New Jersey and California. So I am very excited and I can’t wait.

MG: If people are looking to purchase this where can they do that?
CM: For online and retail, we are currently available in over 27 states. We are in the following retail chains including Walmart, Sedano’s, Spec’s, Rouses, Glory Supermarkets and coming soon to Vallarta’s in California. So we are expanding quickly nationwide and hopefully people can get a chance to try it and spread the word!

Carousel Kings, Better Off, Rust Belt Lights, Ideas, Pilgrims, Take Two
Date: Saturday, December 7th 2013
Venue: The South Side Slammer, Elmira, NY

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

CI Records artist Carousel Kings kicked off their 2013 winter tour on December 7th in Elmira, NY and despite freezing temperatures and one band on the bill not being able to make it things seemed to off without a hitch. The event was put on by Subculture Events one of the few legitimate groups putting on independent shows in the Upstate NY area.

Kicking off the night was a local band buy the name of Take Two who seemed to have quite a following as fans filled the venue early to check out the bands 30 minute set which was a perfect mixture of progressive punk rock. Pilgrims another area band would take the stage next for a brief and somewhat chaotic set which lacked cohesiveness and did very little to excite the crowd. Due to transportation issues Rust Belt Lights were unable to make the show which put Nashville, TN natives Better Off up next and even though the group was fresh off a 17 hour drive they still blasted through their set with ease as they performed songs off their most recent release “(I Think) I’m Leaving”.

Tour headliner Carousel Kings were up next performing songs of their album “A Slice of Heaven” and though I wasn’t very familiar with the group beforehand I was pleasantly surprised as the groups songs were packed with fun, catchy hooks that kept your attention. Closing out the night was the Elmira natives Ideas. Despite crowd numbers dwindling the band played as though it was a packed house. I have to give it to bands that are able to get up there for the smaller crowds and still give it their all. Not only do the fans who stick around appreciate it but in my book it gives the band that extra professionalism that a lot of bands are often missing.

A great night of music and fun was had by all and Subculture Events can mark another great show off in their books. My hope is that they will continue to stick around and provide both local and national talents venues to perform at within the Upstate New York area. For fans wanting to check out Carousel Kings, Rust Belt Lights and Better Off the bands will be on tour together through the end of December so be sure to check them out if they are in your area.

Ben Draiman is a singer-songwriter/pianist who grew up in Chicago, IL. Heavily influenced by a wide variety of music and styles, his music can best be described as strong, emotional, melodic rock, fusing the softness of the piano alongside the intensity and roughness of electric guitar. Media Mikes had the chance recently to discuss Ben’s musical background, his new album and the decision to covers Disturbed’s song “Stricken”.

Adam Lawton: Is music something you have always been interested in?
Ben Draiman: Definitely. As long as I remember, even before I learned piano at age 13 I was a little obsessed with music.  Singing in the shower, raiding my brother’s music collection, and the moment I could play what I heard on the radio I was set!  I’ve been singing and playing ever since. Music has always been a very important part of my life.  It’s where I turn to when I need to work something out, when I need to seek answers, and when I’d like some comfort.

AL: What can you tell us about your debut album, “The Past is Not Far Behind”?
BD: It’s a collection of material that was written over the course of a few years.  Much is based on particular dark periods in my life, which is usually the time I get most inspired. Much of it explores themes of an existential nature.  We are often thrown into painful situations that come all of sudden and for which there doesn’t seem to be much explanation. The more we try to figure it out, the more complicated and often worse things get. It seems at times that the only path to salvation is by accepting the here and now and moving forward as best as one can, clinging to the hope that tomorrow will be better. That is the album in a nutshell. It is some of my most personal material. Some of which I wasn’t entirely comfortable releasing until I did.

AL: Can you tell us about the decision to cover your brother David’s song “Stricken”?
BD: The idea first came about when I was discussing successful covers with my friend and producer, Raz Klinghoffer.  He had said that some of the best covers are ones that change the song 180 degrees and that if I was going to do a slow cover best to choose a fast paced song.  I honestly didn’t think it would work. “Stricken” has long been one of my favorites, something about the hooks and the lyrics that resonate well with me. In fact, from a lyrical standpoint it was exactly the sort of thing I myself would write so it was very easy to connect to.  So that very night I went to the piano and tried it. I play by ear so it didn’t take me long to come up with a basic arrangement. It became instantly clear that the lyrics and the melody lent themselves well to a ballad and I was immediately hooked. I then got together with producer Yuval Kramer and the amazingly talented pianist, Nina Vouraki, both from the Symphonic metal group Reign of the Architect and we began working on it in the studio.

AL: Can you tell us about the video for the song “Avalanche” and why you chose that song as the one to do a video for?
BD: I wrote “Avalanche” in college. I was studying at an Israeli university in a language and culture so different from what I was used to. I had felt incredibly alienated at the time and was having a hard time trying to find my place and make sense of it all.  Following a rather sudden break-up with a girl I had been dating I found myself in kind of a dark place. Around the same time I was also deeply immersed in literature with an existential bent, particularly the works of Franz Kafka. I pretty much read everything he ever wrote, among the more popular pieces was a short story he did called “The Metamorphosis” that deals with a guy who for no reason wakes up as a beetle and spends the rest of the story coming to terms with it. The existential themes he deals with in his work mainly consist of finding a way to deal with an absurd reality. Life can throw all sorts of interesting and rather challenging things your way. The more time you spend trying to figure it out, the more entangled you get in its complex web. The only path to salvation seems to be in accepting things the way they are, not questioning, and in such a way rising above it and moving forward, a task that is never easy.  This was a central focus for the song and ultimately what led to many of the elements for the video, which depicts an absurd reality as indicated by the characters wearing the masks. The only solution was to embrace the absurdity and stop trying to understand or question it. Sometimes wrong is the way things are meant to be, and knowing that and accepting it for what it is can at times be the only path towards salvation

AL: What type of tour plans do you have in place to support the release?
BD: I’m currently still performing locally here in the Middle East but I am planning US shows for February.  The first one that I can officially announce will take place at the BFE Rock Club in Houston, Texas on February 8, 2014.

Lamb of God
“As the Palaces Burn” 10th Anniversary Edition
Razor and Tie
Tracks: 13

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Originally released in May of 2003 Lamb of God’s “As the Palaces Burn” was the bands 3rd studio release. The album was widely received and is considered by many as one of the most influential, modern day metal records of our time. Produced by Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend Project mastermind Devin Townsend the album featured 10 aggressive and brutally honest tracks which conveyed the bands feelings during a very turbulent time in America. The 10th Anniversary edition of “As the Palaces Burn” is being released via Razor and Tie Record and features re-mixed/mastered versions of the original 10 tracks included on the album along with three previously unreleased demo versions of “Ruin”, “As the Palaces Burn” and Blood Junkie”. Accompanying the CD is a DVD featuring a newly filmed “Making of” documentary along with interviews and commentary from those involved with the album.

When an album is re-released I generally don’t take much notice as if it was something I was interested in initially I would have checked out the original version of whatever album it maybe. However I have bought a couple in my day only to be relatively disappointed. Sadly that is exactly the same feeling I had after listening to the anniversary edition of “As The Palaces Burn”. Don’t get me wrong the new mixes are certainly better than the original versions as these re-workings offered a quite a bit more clarity and bottom end but, that was not enough to really warrant buying a second copy of the album. The additional tracks were exactly as advertised “demos” as they sounded as if they were recorded on a boom box in some ones basement. This release wasn’t all misses though as the real gem came in the way of the included bonus DVD. Some great interviews are included on here as well as an hour long documentary about the making of the album. I found these alone were enough to make up for any noted short comings.

Hardcore Lamb of God fans will certainly want to check this out merely for the bonus DVD content however if you have the original version and are content with that then I would say this new release is a necessity. However if your original copy was lost or suffered the fate of being scratched as it slid around on the floor of your Dodge Daytona then the “As the Palaces Burn” 10th Anniversary Edition is a suitable replacement.

Track Listing:
1. Ruin
2. As the Palaces Burn
3. Purified
4. 11th Hour
5. For Your Malice
6. Boot Scraper
7. A Devil in God’s Country
8. In Defense of Our Good Name
9. Blood Junkie
10. Vigil
11. Ruin (previously unreleased demo)
12. As the Palaces Burn (previously unreleased demo)
13. Blood Junkie (previously unreleased demo)

A Day To Remember
“Common Courtesy”
Producer: Jeremy McKinnon, Andrew Wade, Chad Gilbert
Tracks: 16

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ocala, FL natives A Day To Remember are back with their 5th studio album titled “Common Courtesy”. The album which is being self-released consists of 13 all new tracks which run the gambit of sounds and styles which have made the band popular across multiple genres. Produced by vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, Andrew Wade (Close To Home) and New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert “Common Courtesy” could be the bands strongest effort yet.

Though the album was initially slated for release back in October it has basically been in somewhat of a holding pattern due to the logistics of a messy split from the bands previous label Victory records. Well it is finally available and I am pretty confident in saying that it was well worth the wait. Not only does the album include some really great songs such as the explosive opening track “City of Ocala” and the emotional rollercoaster titled “End of Me” but it also include some great artwork created by Mike Cortada along with a bonus DVD containing the bands recent webisodes. Even though I could have done without some of the albums dialogue and the questionable cohesiveness of the albums tracks I found the music contained on “Common Courtesy” to be spot on and I think each piece is more than capable of standing on its own as prospective singles.

The latest from A Day To Remember is more than just another album. “Common Courtesy” is a testament to the DIY attitude which has been present since the early days of Rock and Roll and only further proves that you don’t need a big label to make a great sounding record. Whether you are a hardcore fan, a punk fan or just a music fan in general do yourself and your ears a favor by picking up a copy of this album.

Track Listing:
1.) City of Ocala
2.) Right Back at it Again
3.) Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometimes You’re the Nail
4.) Dead and Buried
5.) Best of Me
6.) I’m Already Gone
7.) Violence
8.) Life @ 11
9.) I Surrender
10.) Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way
11.) End of Me
12.) The Document Speaks for Itself
13.) I Remember
Bonus Tracks:
14.) Leave All the Lights On
15.) Good Things
16.) Same Book But Never the Same Page

Stryper
“No More Hell to Pay”
Frontiers
Producer: Michael Sweet
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Dust off those bibles and stretch out that black and yellow spandex because the boys in Stryper are back with a brand new album titled “No More Hell to Pay”. The new album which is the bands 9th studio album was produced by Stryper front man Michael Sweet and features 12 hard rocking, progressive tracks that are being released via Frontier Records.

When bands from the era of hyper color shirts, stone washed jeans and aqua net are still rocking some 30 years later I have to give it to them. With Stryper they are not only still rocking but they are putting out new material that pretty killer. Vocalist Michael Sweet has only gotten better with age and this is proven on tracks like “Saved by Love” and “Legacy” which features several Rob Halford type screams which could rival that of the man himself. Guitarist Oz Fox does a great job laying down some pretty intricate solos which only add to the progressive rock feel of the album. For those wanting something a little more familiar included on the album is a great updated rendition of the song “Jesus Is Just Alright” which was originally written by Arthur Reid Reynolds and made famous by The Byrds.

Having grown up in the 1980’s I am a sucker for anything that originated from that time period. Good or bad it doesn’t matter I still have to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised during my review of “No More Hell to Pay” because it had elements of a vintage 80’s record but was infused with modern day styling which I found quite appealing. Yes I could have done without some of the over the top biblical references but when you are listening to a band who used to throw out bibles during their live stage shows then it is to be expected somewhat. If you find yourself trolling the isles of your local record store (if it hasn’t closed down yet) or are surfing through iTunes and you want checkout a solid rock record then give the latest from Stryper a listen.

Track Listing:
1. Revelation
2. No More Hell to Pay
3. Saved by Love
4. Jesus Is Just Alright
5. The One
6. Legacy
7. Marching Into Battle
8. Te Amo
9. Sticks & Stones
10. Water Into Wine
11. Sympathy
12. Renewed

Five Finger Death Punch
“The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2”
Prospect Park
Producer: Kevin Churko
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Following hot off the heels of Five Finger Death Punch’s July 2013 release “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1”, “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2”
Picks ups where the previous album left off. The album like its predecessor is being released via Prospect Park and was produced by Kevin Churko.

I always have to question a bands decision when they decide to release multiple albums within months of each other. However after my first listen of “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2” any preconceived notions I may have had were instantly thrown out the window. From the albums opening track “Here to Die” which goes from zero to sixty right out of the gate I couldn’t wait to hear the other 11 tracks. Vocalist Ivan Moody seems to have tapped in to a channel of aggression which seems to be the catalyst for every track. Songs like “Wrecking Ball” and “Matter of Time” rip through your speakers and assaults whoever maybe in the immediate listening area. Even when the band slows things down with the albums closing track a cover of the classic Animals song “The House of the Rising Sun” the band still maintains the consistency of the previous numbers. Producer Kevin Churko continues to show why he is the best producer for the job as he does a remarkable job captured all the nuances of each members playing while elevating their sound with a really great mix that was music to my ears.

If you already have “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1” then “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2” is a no brainer. However if you haven’t yet grab either copy I would recommend starting here with Vol. 2 as the album takes you on a rollercoaster ride filled with raw emotion an energy that keeps your attention from start to finish.

Track Listing:
1.) Here to Die
2.) Weight Beneath My Skin
3.) Wrecking Ball
4.) Battle Born
5.) Cradle to the Grave
6.) Matter of Time
7.) The Agony of Regret
8.) Cold
9.) Let This Go
10.) My Heart Lied
11.) A Day In My Life
12.) House of the Rising Sun

Various Artists
“Thriller: A Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson”
Cleopatra Records
Producer: Bob Kulick
Tracks: 13

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you think of heavy metal your probably not instantly thinking of Michael Jackson however, Cleopatra Records along with Grammy Award winning producer Bob Kulick and a laundry list of metal’s elite musicians are about to change that. “Thriller: A Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson” features 13 reworked versions of some of Jackson’s most memorable songs heard as they never have been heard before.

Being a fan of music there is always room on my playlist for some Michael Jackson. Now I’m not saying I am a fan of everything he ever did however “Thriller: A Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson” has shined a new light on the departed singers catalog. Producer Bob Kulick and a diverse cast of metal maniacs have put together a great sounding metalized pop album. The album hits the ground running or maybe in this case moon walking as it opens up with Testaments Chuck Billy’s grainy rendition of “Thriller” which gives way to Angelo Moore’s spot on performance of “The Way You make Me Feel”. As the album progresses we are treated to performances by everyone from Paul Di’Anno and Doug Pinnick to Phil Campbell and Corey Glover who team up for a great rendition of “Billy Jean”.

Now before all you MJ purists out there take to the message boards only to discredit the albums mere existence I strongly encourage you to take a listen before making any judgments. Yes this is a rather unconventional line up performing however Bob Kulick truly lets his genius as a producer shine as even with the songs being reworked and beefed up they still retain the charm and appeal of the original versions making this album a great listen whether you are a traditional MJ fan or a fan of the artists performing on the record.

Track Listing:
1.) Thriller – Chuck Billy (Testament)
2.) Man In The Mirror – Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria) & Billy Sheehan (Mr.Big)
3.) The Way You Make Me Feel – Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Rudy Sarzo (Queensryche)
4.) Black Or White – Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust), Bruce Kulick (ex-Kiss),Tony Franklin (The Firm)
5.) Beat It – Priya Panda (Diemonds) & Ron Bumblefoot Thal (Guns n’ Roses)
6.) Billy Jean – Corey Glover (Living Colour) & Phil Campbell (Motorhead)
7.) Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – Elias Soriano (Nonpoint)
8.) Rock With You – Doug Pinnick (King’s X)
9.) Dirty Diana – Chris Jericho (Fozzy)
10.) Bad – Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Miaden) & Craig Goldy (Dio)
11.) They Don’t Care About Us – (Icarus Witch)
12.) Never Can Say Goodbye – Lonnie Jordan (WAR)
13.) Smooth Criminal – (Alien Ant Farm)

Saxon
“Unplugged and Strung Up”
UDR Music
Producer: Saxon/Andy Sneap
Tracks: 14

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

British heavy metal legends Saxon are back with a new album containing reworked versions of some of the group’s most popular tracks which span the groups 30+ year career. “Unplugged and Strung Up” is being released via UDR Music and features 14 reworked Saxon staples produced by the band and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.

Lush instrumentation and arrangements are what you will find on “Unplugged and Strung Up” the latest release from the legendary metal group Saxon. The group which formed in the UK during the mid-1970’s has gone through somewhat of a reinvention lately and this offering of 10 reworked classics does a great job of fueling that rekindled fire. The group does a great job mixing up arrangements which give listeners a variety of musical styling’s. Everything from immense orchestral pieces to remixed originals and even a couple stripped down acoustic numbers are included on this album giving the listener a lot to digest. I really enjoyed the track “Call to Arms” which was a perfect blend of melodic vintage metal and rich orchestration. The acoustic rendition of “Frozen Rainbow” was another song that really stood out. Vocalist Biff Byford shows that he is capable of much more than sheering metal vocals as his voice on this track and the 3 accompanying acoustic tracks sits beautifully in the mix.

Longtime Saxon fans will definitely appreciate this reworking of material as will those who are still new to the group. However for the newer listeners I highly recommend checking out the original recordings first and then circle back to “Unplugged and Strung Up”. For those hardcore Saxon-ights wanting a little bit more metal in their musical diet this release is also available in a special digipack version that includes the re-recorded version of the bands 2002 album “Heavy Metal Thunder” which features tracks like “Motorcycle Man” and “Dallas 1pm”.

Track Listing:
1.) Stallions Of The Highway (Remix)
2.) Crusader (Orchestrated Version)
3.) Battle Cry
4.) The Eagle Has Landed (Orchestrated Version)
5.) Red Star Falling (Orchestrated Version)
6.) Broken Heroes (Orchestrated Version)
7.) Call To Arms (Orchestrated Version)
8.) Militia Guard
9.) Forever Free (Re-recorded Version)
10.) Just Let Me Rock (Re-recorded Version)
11.) Frozen Rainbow (Acoustic Version)
12.) Iron Wheels (Live Acoustic Version)
13.) Requiem (Acoustic Version)
14.) Coming Home (Acoustic Version)

Mark Zavon is the guitarist for the hard rock group Kill Devil Hill. The group, which also features former Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Heaven and Hell drummer Vinnie Appice and vocalist Dewey Bragg, has just released their second album titled “Revolution Rise” via Century Media Records. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with mark recently about the creation of the new record and what the band has planned for the coming year.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the new Kill Devil Hill album “Revolution Rise”?
Mark Zavon: The new album is just killer! Jeff Pilson co-produced the album with us. That guy was a huge positive influence on the whole process. He is a great songwriter and had a lot of good input. The album turned out great and we are super proud of it.

AL: What do you feel were the biggest changes made on the record compared to the bands previous release?
MZ: We had a lot more time to spend on this new record. The first record we had to do in about a month. Along with the limited time frame we also had a limited budget so we had to try and get things done as quick as we could. Things are both good and bad that way. This time around we had the time to spend getting things together. We also had a couple breaks in there as well as Rex had his book come out and Jeff plays with Foreigner. Getting everybody’s schedules to line up at times was a little difficult. Even though that part of things was a little bit difficult it gave me time to work more on the songs. We were able to put a little more energy into the writing/recording process this time around. I think it turned out a lot better than the first album.

AL: What type of approach do you guys take when it comes time to start working on a new record being that you all don’t live in the same area?
MZ: Every song is different. Sometimes we work together sometimes we work separate and send ideas back and forth to one another. Some of the songs on this new record were written originally for the first album however we had too many tracks so we held on to them. There was definitely a more collaborative approach to writing on this record as everyone was involved and contributed ideas. It was nice having everyone involved this time around as with the first record a bunch of that stuff was written before Rex even joined the band. There was a lot more of a combined effort this time around and we all demoed stuff in different places and then put it all together. We literally came from every angle when putting this album together.

AL: Prior to the albums released you signed to Century Media. What has that partnership been like thus far?
MZ: The thing that we were really missing on the first record was the promotional aspect of things. We were working with a label from Germany who had no real presence here in the States. That was tough as they didn’t really get behind the release all that much. With Century Media things have been much different. We actually started out by going down to their offices and playing a small acoustic set for everyone there. They are located right in Los Angeles, which is local for me. They came to one of our shows at the Roxy and they have been like family. Century Media is the type of label that likes to get behind their artists and promote them. Combining that with the whole family vibe has been a step in the right direction for us. Something like this is what we have all wanted for a long time.

AL: A lyric video for the song “Why” was released recently, Are there any plans to shoot a full production video for any of the songs of this album?
MZ: I think there will be some more lyric videos to come out for the other songs but we also just shot a video for the song “Leave It All Behind”. That should be coming out soon and is going to be really cool. We shot the video at an old missile silo site north of the San Fernando Valley. It was cool and we all had a good time. We actually worked with the director before on our last video and I think it turned out great.

AL: What other plans does the band have in place for the rest of this year leading into 2014?
MZ: We have plans to take the holiday season off and then start back up towards the end of January. There are some plans in the works for the upcoming NAMM show to do some things with our sponsors. From there the plan is to hit it hard and promote this record through out the coming year. The more we play the happier I am.

Blake Allison is the lead singer/guitarist for the band Memphis, TN based rock band Devour The Day. The group recently finished up a successful tour run with Hinder and has also re-released their “Good Man” EP which features a brand new set of mixes. Media Mikes spoke with Blake recently about the group’s formation, the bands re-release and their upcoming plans for 2014

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the band?
Blake Allison: Joey Chicago and I have been writing songs together for a long time. We got to the point with our old band Egypt Central where Joey and I were writing all the music. When the band started everyone pitched in with the song writing equally. As that band went on and we experienced some member changes it came down to Joey and I putting all the music and lyrics together. We started writing what would have been the third record for that band and during that process our singer left us high and dry. We decided that what we had could be really great material and possibly be used for another band. We loved that band but Devour the Day is really close to our hearts. This music is exactly as we want it. In the previous band we would write the music and other members would perform it. With Devour the Day we can do everything we want and it seems to mess with our musical background better. This music is straight from the heart and for the first time in a long time we can finish a song without outside help as we are creating it.

AL: Can you tell us about the re-release of the bands “Good Man” EP?
BA: We just finished that up pretty recently. We teamed up with Brian Malouf who is legend in the music industry for making great mixes. He helped us take this whole thing on and we actually were working on in while we were still on tour. We started out shooting ideas back and forth over the phone on how we could give the songs a make over. When we signed to Caroline Records we were super excited and we thought that doing this re-release would be a great way to kick things off. Everyone here is super excited about what we have coming up for 2014.

AL: The band recently finished up a tour with Hinder. Can you tell us about that experience?
BA: Those guys are friends of ours from back when we had our first band. They are just nice people. I think a lot of people would assume that people who are famous are jerks but these guys are not. These guys are living out their dreams and are very happy doing that. Those guys have always taken care of us and when we decided we were going to tour Devour the Day I gave the Cody their drummer a call and asked him to put in a good word for us. He did and landed us a tour that has had us on the road for the better half of 2013.

AL: What was the reception like from the fans?
BA: It has been amazing! We kind of share the same audience and can be heard on the same types of radio stations. The crowds may start off looking at us like we are a little bit weird as they have never heard our songs before but by the end of the set they understand what we are about and what we are trying to do. It can be hard to come out of the gat e and connect with a crowd so we get up there and just lose it and act like idiots. (Laughs) The crowds have loved it though and we are excited to get back out there.

AL: Your song “Good Man” is doing really well right now can you tell what made you choose that song to put out first?
BA: When it came time to pick a song to release there really wasn’t much of a dispute when it came to choosing “Good Man”. That song just stood out as something different from the rest of the material. Simply put it was the strongest song on the record. That song really was the catalyst for putting everything in motion. We had a group of songs that we were going to do and once this one was completed and sent out it got a lot of attention.

AL: Can you tell us about the bands Kickstarter campaign that just wrapped up?
BA: We had discussed putting a video together and the first thing that came up was how could we make a video on a small as budget as possible. We started toying with the idea of doing a cheap video, which generally equates to a band playing in an empty warehouse. That’s just not who we are. We wanted to do something different. Joey’s brother Dan handles the non-profit side of a company called Neighborhood Film Company. They put together Kickstarter campaigns for films that help provide jobs to people in need. We thought it would be a good idea to take the same approach and we came up with the idea of doing a video recognizing all of the people who have helped us get to where we are. We are looking forward to starting work on this and the idea is to make people cry and do something different that what a typical rock band would do.

AL: Can you tell us what the band has planned for the rest of this year leading into 2014?
BA: We have some really big shows coming up towards then end of this year. We have some things in the works for 2014 but I can’t really say too much about that just yet. We are really excited though as we will be out with some newer bands that have a similar sound to us. That should be a really great time.

Myles Kennedy is the lead singer/rhythm guitar player for the hard rock band Slash and Alter Bridge. The groups 4 album titled “Fortress” was recently released to rave reviews and the group is currently touring Europe in support of its release. Media Mikes had the chance recently to ask Myles a few questions about the album and what it’s like splitting time between two successful projects.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the new album?
Myles Kennedy: Mark Tremonti and I started the writing process for “Fortress” last year while we were touring with our various projects. We both agreed to meet in Florida starting in January to begin the arrangement process. Things went pretty quickly from there because we didn’t allow ourselves to over think. With that said we certainly tried to challenge ourselves and venture into new musical territory as much as we could.

AL: What do you feel was the most difficult part of working on this record as compared to the previous 3?
MK: Our fall tour and record release date had already been set so it was challenging knowing we had a finite amount of time to get the record done. Another challenge was not allowing ourselves to utilize the same arrangement approaches we had used in the past. It was very important to push ourselves as a band and continue to evolve.

AL: Does having multiple projects and larger time gaps between releases affect your creative process at all?
MK: It liberates us. I feel like our various projects keep the creative juices flowing all the time and benefit the songs at the end of the day. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a writer, singer, guitarist and performer in the last few years.

AL: Can you tell us about the “Addicted to Pain” video which was released recently?
MK: We teamed up with Dan Catullo for this video. He directed our live DVDs which we recorded at Wembley Stadium and Amsterdam. We were definitely on the same page regarding the overall vibe and visual concepts which made the process go quickly.

AL: Can you tell us about the upcoming Alter Bridge tour?
MK: We are currently touring Europe getting the set refined. At this point we are trying to mix up the set-list more than we have in the past. We have a lot of diehard fans that travel all over to see us. Often times they come out and see us more than once on a tour cycle so we are trying to keep them in mind by switching tunes out from the new record in order to keep it interesting. The hard part is when you find a set that has a great flow you have to be careful how much you alter it or the show will suffer. It’s a delicate balance.

AL: Do you have any other projects in the works that you would like to mention?
MK: At this point we are focused on Alter Bridge. I am working with Slash and the guys on new material for the next record and I am sure Mark is chipping away on songs for next Tremonti record as well. We are lucky to have so many musical outlets to keep us busy and it’s definitely something we don’t take for granted.

Devin Townsend
“Retinal Circus”
Inside Out
Tracks: 29

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The always entertaining and energetic Devin Townsend is back with a brand new live performance DVD titled “Retinal Circus”. The one night performance was record in 2012 at London’s historic Roundhouse Theater and features 29 songs spanning Townsend’s impressive solo career as well as few songs from Devin’s previous project Strapping Young Lad. The concert is being released on DVD and Blu-Ray as well as double audio CD’s. For those wanting a little bit more the concert is also being released in a number of special edition formats some of which contain everything from guitar picks and art work to Townsend masks and an LP sized pop up “Retinal Circus” stage.

You just never know what will creep out of the mind of the man who brought us albums such as “Ziltoid the Omniscient” and “Epicloud” however, “Retinal Circus” delves further than we could have ever imagined as the performance is a non-stop assault on your senses. The concert features over 3 hours of music that is accompanied by an impressive visual show narrated by none other than fellow guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. The set list does an ok job of covering Devin’s catalog however fan favorites such as “Deadhead” and “Seventh Wave” did not make the cut. Thankfully Devin made up for this by performing two Strapping Young Lad songs. Both “Detox” and “Love?” are a part of the release and also feature a guest appearance by Strapping Young Lad co-guitarist Jed Simon. Fans will surely want to pick this release up for those two songs alone as it was great to hear some SYL material performed live again.

Jam packed with impressive visuals and sound “Retinal Circus” delivers on all levels. Fans wanting to enhance their experience will definitely want to pick up the Blu-Ray format of the concert and for the real diehard Devi fans getting your hands on one of the limited/Deluxe editions is a must!

Track Listing Disc 1:
• Intro
• Effervescent/True North
• Lucky Animals
• Planet of the Apes
• Truth
• War
• Soul Driven
• Planet Smasher
• Baby Song
• Vampolka
• Vampira
• Addicted
• Colour Your World
• The Grey’s

Track Listing Disc 2:
• Intro
• Hyperdrive
• Ih-Ah
• Where We Belong
• Detox
• Bend it Like Bender
• Life
• Kingdom
• Juular
• Love?
• Colonial Boy
• Grace
• Little Pig
• Credits
• Behind the Masks