Category Cd Reviews

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Qumran/Dark Star

Since 2005 SACRED DAWN has been a force to reckon with in Chicago´s metal scene according to the info sheet. They are also described as innovative and unique, as they deliver the most original progressive metal experiences since the dawn of true prog metal. Influences such as DREAM THEATER, NEVERMORE and IRON MAIDEN are listed. They have debuted, years back, with “Gears of the Machine”. So, prepare to be swept off yer feet.

Opener “The Untold Story” is not much of a beginning. I wished for more of almost everything, better drive and something inspiring to start with. Now I may sound very disliking but that is not true. There are better openers, the title track for instance, but also “Demon Lover” or “Summer of Treason”...

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BLP/Border

A Hungarian band…with…Björn Lodin (SIX FEET UNDER, BALTIMOORE, etc.) on lead vocals. Now we’re getting somewhere. HARD have cut two previous albums, this is the second with Björn on vocals. They have recorded with Beau Hill and played with KISS; that sounds interesting. Joining bassist Gábor Mirkovics, Björn, and drummer Zsolt Borbély is new guitarist Zsolt Vámos.

Opener “Truth or Dare” has most of the trademarks of WHITESNAKE, sound and lyrics. Not bad but there is more to come. Björn´s vocals are suited to “Bitten by You”, but it´s the groovy “Pretty Little Liar” that really stands out. It would have been a better opener and a better album title. The album ranges from bluesy and whining to groovy...

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Skindred are a band with a unique sound. Its a bizarre sounding idea, a mix of heavy metal, punk and reggae – what the band have dubbed ”Ragga metal”. It sounds like something that shouldnt work, but somehow it does and it sounds great.
The band are famous for their energetic live shows, but to write them off as purely a live band would be to miss out on some great music on their albums (although I have to admit they are at their best live).

”Union Black” is the fifth album from Skindred. The tracks vary from almost pure metal to ”Guntalk” which is almost pure reggae, with most beign somewhere between these two extremes.

Skindred are a band with the potential to widen a lot of people’s musical horizons...

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”Doctor faith” is Christopher Cross’s first album of new material for 12 years. Christopher Cross is a singer-songwriter from Texas with a career spaning over thirty years. He is best known for his top ten hits ”Sailing”, ”Ride like the wind”, and the theme from the movie Arthur (the original starring Dudley Moore), ”Arthurs theme (best that you can do)”.

The gentle melodies and the thoughtful lyrics combine to make a very good album and unlike many albums of this genre, the lyrics are not just about love and other sickly sweet subjects. ”I’m too old for this” for instance has quite cutting insightful lyrics and is definitely my favourite track from the album.

The album features guest appearances from Michael McDonald, Eric Johnson and David Mann.

Tracklisting:

1. Hey Kid
2...

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”Road dog” is the second album from Glasgow rockers, Attica Rage. Their brand of heavy uncompromising old-school hard rock is refreshing – straight to the point music you can enjoy rocking out to. After self releasing their first album, this is their first release since signing with Rocksector records.

The album kicks off with ”36 Insane” – a track that straight from the start blows you away with its power and energy.
”Road dog forever” kicks off with the sound of a motorbike engine starting, which then seamlessly merges into some blues slide guitar before the rest of the band join in and kick it up a gear.
”Contradictions” has a superb crushing riff running through it which really makes this song stand out.
”Altea” in a slow delicate instrumental featuring acoustic guitar and believe it...

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Limb/Sound Pollution

Wow! The keepers of the grail of the NWOBHM strike back! German band ROXXCALIBUR surprised me, not totally since I´ve heard most of them in another band, but still enough in 2009. Their debut, “NWOBHM for Muthas” sruk me like lightning, carrying the legacy of bands like CLOVEN HOOF, DARK STAR and JJ´S POWERHOUSE like their lives depended on it. After a lot of festivals spots, not least with quite a few NWOBHM luminaries; have contributed to spreading the word. Today, I guess they are back by demand, at last!

The intro “London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a childrens´ rhyme, but, alas, so arch-British. It sets the stage for faithful interpretations of MORE, CRYER, OXYM and SPARTA...

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Earache/Sound Pollution

Scots are aggressive people, that´s for sure. ceRebral bore may look harmless, but they have a reputation as crushers. With a name pilfered from a video game, everything is possible. With Simone “Som” Pluijmers at the mike backed by guitarist Paul McGuire, bassist Kyle Rutherford and drummer Alan “McDibet” MacDonald they mean business with amazingly heavy death metal.

Opener “Epileptic Strobe” Entrapment” is not for the faint at heart. Drums and bass bellow, the guitar work is faithful to the death metal bands of earlier ages. The voice sounds as if “Som” only had metal down her throat… plus a dist pedal. Her machine-like growl is not to be forgotten and heavy ladies from before feel really soft and cozy...

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Frontiers/BAM

Ujuj, nu växel pudelfrillan ut! 1989 debuterade WARRANT med ”Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich”, och plötsligt visste alla vilka som gjorde ”Down Boys”, ”Sometimes She Cries” och ”Heaven”. Detta plus turnerande och dominans på MTV gjorde bandet till världskändisar. Och det kom mera! ”Cherry Pie” minns varenda kille, inte minst minns man videon. Sedan mjukade de till det med ”I Saw Red” också. Några år senare kom grungen och WARRANT blev hårdare med ”Dog Eat Dog” – tyvärr. Sedan vart det ganska tyst, förutom fyra ganska okända plattor och några samlingar, till 2008. Sedan återförenades originalen Joey Allen och Erik Turner, gitarr, Jerry Dixon, bas, och Steven Sweet, trummor. Jani Lane var inte intresserad sp in på sång kom Robert Mason (LYNCH MOB)...

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Frontiers/BAM

BLACK ´N BLUE var riktigt stora i USA mellan 1984 och 1997. ”S/T”, ”Without Love”, ”Nasty Nasty” och ”In Heat”, varav de senaste producerades av Gene Simmons (KISS), gick hem hos både fans och kritiker. Härhemma visste man vilka de var, men de stora succéerna uteblev. Men utomlands turnerade de friskt, med bl.a. AEROSMITH och KISS. Sedan var tiden ute och det blev tyst, ett tag. 2003 återbildade sångaren Jaime St. James bandet, och tillsammans med gitarristen Jef ”Joop” Warner och basisten Patrick Young påbörjades arbetet med denna skiva. Men 2004 blev det stopp i maskin när Jaime fick ett erbjudande om att gå med i WARRANT. Först 2008 kom de igång igen, och den färdiga lineupen kom att innehålla nästan alla original, inkl. trummisen Pete Holmes...

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After loading up the disc, if you have the Blu-Ray, and have 5.1 surround sound then the first thing you need to do is go to the Settings option on the menu and select that for the option to turn 5.1 sound on (standard stereo is enabled as the default). I thought this was rather disappointing – a lot of people will ignore the settings and just play the disc, and in that case they’ll miss out on the improved sound that Blu-Ray allows. It would have been far better if the sound options were displayed clearly on the menu screen so people don’t miss it.

The main part of this Disc is the concert...