Category Cd Reviews

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Lion Music/Warner

Lion Music have announced their plans to rerelease the entire back catalogue of CONSORTIUM PROJECT, following their success with their recent, and final, album “Species”. This album dates back to the late 90´s, when Ian Parry wanted to do something new and ambitious. The project has become famous for having great musicians on board, and this was no exception. Or how about Patrick Rondat (ELEGY), Staphan Lill (Vanden Plas) and Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot) on guitars, Arjen Lucasen and Jan Bijlsma (VENGEANCE) on bass, and Dirk Bruinenberg (David Readman, Adagio, Fergie Frederiksen, among many others). And of cause Ian´s voice and keyboards on top of that. Let the story of the select few rising to power after the assassination of President Kennedy begin… and its consequences...

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Massace/Sound Pollution

German true metal merchants MESSENGER return for a second shot at stardom with “See You in Hell”. With such a MANOWAR 82 image they have of cause played Keep It True and Headbanger´s Open Air, plus supported RUNNING WILD and ROSS THE BOSS. The leather clothing must be pretty hot in southern Germany, but they mean business and stay true to their aim at playing catchy metal with hooks and energy. How true are they really?

Opening intro “Flames of Revenge” is a like a declaration of independence. The cover opts for more children´s cartoon TV style, but MESSENGER head straight into the title track instead. The folky guitar work hints at some new ideas, and the song ought to go down well in the right (magic) circles...

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Angel Air/Border

Just about every charitable issue gets a music project, or a single these days. But here ROBIN GEORGE has gathered no less than 50 artists of various genres for a good cause. Members and ex.members of bands like URIAH HEEP, UFO, DIAMOND HEAD, QUIREBOYS, and ASIA, to mention but a few, have all contributed. The main material comes from Robin´s back catalogue, but there are also added specials, and specially written songs. As further evidence of dedication all profits will go to BCAT, Haven House and the Compton Hospice.

Those who expect only hard rock or thereabouts will have to reconsider, the main object here is musicianship, and not distorted guitars...

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Thirteen (written as Th1rt3en on the album cover) is the latest album from Megadeth. Their previous album, Endgame was released two years ago in late 2009. Since then Dave Ellefson has rejoined the album making this the firs album for ten years to feature him alongside Dave Mustaine. The album title, Thirteen reflects the fact that this is the bands thirteenth album. The album also has thirteen tracks.

After a career of almost 30 years and a dozen albums released so far, you could understand it if the band had lost some steam, but as soon as you listen to the album you’ll hear that this is definitely not the case – this album is hard and heavy and has all the agressive rebellious lyrics that we’ve come to associate with Dave Mustaine.

As you’d expect from a Megadeth album there’s some f...

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Escape/Sound Pollution

In the mid-seventies Childhood mates Richard Lowe, vocals, keyboards, and Rob Bendelow, guitars, formed LAMMERGIER. The line-up was completed by Steve Bettney on vocals, former folk rock guitarist Barry Yates on bass, and drummer John Thorne. The band was so successful that Polygram Records took them under their wings, but line-up changes followed, and ultimately, after a change of direction into commercial waters, the band folded in 1985. A slow reunion was in the cards in the late nineties, but, the comeback album, “Red Sky”, took until 2003. Today the band is back, now featuring the founders, backed by keyboard player Paul Bradder, bass player Richard Bendelow and drummer Paul Gibson...

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Frontiers/BAM

1989 marked the debut of HOUSE OF LORDS. The big sounding hair band sported the vocals of James Christian, guitarist Lanny Cordola (ex. FIFTH ANGEL), keyboard wizard Gregg Giuffria (ex ANGEL, ex.GIUFFRIA), bass profile Chuck Wright (ex QUIET RIOT) and drummer Ken Mary (ex.ALICE COOPER). One thing lead to another, changes and break-ups and the end in the early nineties was inevitable. The band resurfaced in 2001 with the most controversial of their all in all eleven albums (lost tapes, live etc), “The Power and the Myth”. After that excursion James Christian brought the band back into arena rock, backed by JImi Bell, guitars, BJ Zampa, bass, and drummer Chris McCarvill...

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Frontiers/BAM

I actuallt had my doubts about how SEBASTIAN BACH would return, and if. Former SKID ROW vocalist has seen it all, fame, fortune, decline, and now, some sort of rise again. He still knew how to handle a crowd last time around at Sweden Rock, but his output was modest, or disheartening. Now he is back with an album that has caused a stir. Is it that good?

Looking for hair metal? Star somewhere else, the title track is more modern and edgy. The style of old is somewhat gone, but the song still packs a punch. The same goes most of the album. “Tunnelvision” is like a modern take on “Youth Gone Wild”, the soothing “Caught in a Dream” proves that Sebastian can still charm the ladies, at least those over 35...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Austrian Old School death metal ghouls ZOMBIE INC. debut with “A Dreadful Disease”. The band feature former PUNGENT STENCH vocalist Martin Schirenc and guitarist Wolfgang Rothbauer of DISBELIEF et al. fame. The rest of the band is guitarist Gerald Huber (COLLAPSE 7), bass player Daniel Lechner (ex. LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE) and drummer Tomasz “Nefastus” Janiszewski of BELPHEGOR and DEBAUCHERY. The band will boost a new verion of nineties death metal says the info, and will appeal to fans of Swedes like CARCASS and DISMEMBER, as well as well as Americans such as AUTOPSY and OBITUARY. Not a word about the IN FLAMES track they could be named after… Let the zombie attack begin…

Zombies again, they are more common nowadays in death metal than in Italian films in ...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

VAN CANTO, the vocal mainstay of later years return with their fourth album in five years. No doubt boosted by their chart entries and attention from penalty shot covers of carefully selected top hits they steer clear of most instrumental parts, except Basti´s drums. This time around they opt for an eyebrow-raising cover of big shots SABATON, but old-timers like me get our share of nostalgia with ALICE COOPER`S “Bed of Nails”, MANOWAR`S “Master of the Wind” and, the digi-pack bonus, RUNNING WILD`S famed “Bad to the Bone”. So, do they still attract after so many good years?

Well the barbershop MANOWAR antics of opener “If I Die in Battle” mixes vocals and use the traditional power metal features to maximum advantage...

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Escape/Border

Brit band SHY has been around for a s long as I can remember. From their Ebony Records debut “Once Bitten …Twice Shy” I followed them closely until 1989´s “Misspent Youth”. The band was on the verge of becoming a household name in 1987, releasing “Excess All Areas” for MCA. That album is the one most people associate them with, a true landmark in the melodic hard rock genre. After their attempt at hair metal in 1989 there was silence until 1994, when they resurfaced with “Welcome to the Madhouse”, now featuring OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON and ex MADAM X vocalist John “Wardi” Ward. They seem to have soldiered on until their less exciting 2005 album “Sunset and Wine”, before attempting to call it a day. Can´t keep a good man down… SHY are back...