Do you remember Rock? Did you were there in the 80’s headbanging? Everything were simple, straight and much more honest then it is now. Listen to the French Blacktrack Lane just remembered those days. This is Rock. (Very) Hard Rock with groovy Heavy Metal taste, killer like Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society at the end of the 90’s, or as Skid Row were grinding on their second album in 1991. Not too many bands deliver that kind of powerful, still melodious, heavy, classic Rock/Metal. Although they also mention as influences bands such as Papa Roach, Avenged Sevenfold, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, and Megadeth, this is definitively the best and the strongest kind of Rock and it feels great to listen their songs. And it’s not only nostalgia, but it’s about real, breathing and alive music. It’s kind of shame that a band like this is still looking for a label!!! Read more Backtrack Lane – Black Truths & White Lies (2012)
heavy metal
Fear Factory – The Industrialist (2012)
At two year distance, following “Mechanize”, Burton C. Bell and Dino Cazares are back, they still using the Fear Factory name although the other former half of the band, drummer Raymond Herrera and bass player Christian Olde Wolbers still did not give up on their right of using the name and still pretend they are, legally and morally, still part of the band, so, there are – at least – some “legal complications”.
“Mechanize” was a very intense one, but not the best Fear factory album so far, this time Burton described the new material to be another concept album “sonically, conceptually, and lyrically”. And getting through the album for two-three times only confirmed that they definitively delivered an excellent product this time, and this is the perfect mixture of everything what Fear Factory have been. Read more Fear Factory – The Industrialist (2012)
Ugly Kid Joe – Stairway To Hell, EP (2012)
I have hundreds of albums to listen and eventually write a review, but when a band are back from the dead almost literally after 16 years, and this band really rocks the socks off once upon a time, I leave everything aside and focus on their release. This is only a six track teaser, probably the guys want to know if there are still headbangers out there interested in real Rock and worth the effort to come back full force. 16 fucking years! It was like yesterday when half of the rockers love them, the other half hate them for their success in 1992 with the single “Everything About You”, which peaked at #3 in the UK Singles Chart and made it into the Billboard Top 10. Later in the year the song was used in the movie “Wayne’s World.” “As Ugly As They Wanna Be” went on to sell over 1,000,000 copies in the U.S. alone becoming the highest selling debut E.P. of all time. But this mixture of satirical humor and Heavy Metal really got me back then, and till they disbanded in 1997, Ugly Kid Joe actually proved they are quite a serious and heavy band, well, keeping a good sense of humor is songs such as “Sandwich” or “Bicycle Wheels”. “Stairway To… Hell”? Are you kidding, don’t you? 😆
Their current line up is the last line up of the band crystallized in the mid 1994. Read more Ugly Kid Joe – Stairway To Hell, EP (2012)
Corrosion Of Conformity – Corrosion Of Conformity (2012)
Ladies and gentlemen, Heavy Metal! After a hiatus of over five years, the eponymously-titled eighth studio album by Corrosion Of Conformity will be released on February 28, 2012 by Candlelight Records. It is their longest gap to date between studio albums – seven years, Reed Mullin is back behind the drum kit after 12 years, but also the first to not feature Pepper Keenan on vocals and guitar since 1989. Pepper joined Down in 1991, although it has been disputed whether Keenan has left the band or he is still officially member.
Formed in 1982, in Raleigh, North Carolina COC came a long way from crossover thrash and punk metal, through heavy metal down to Southern metal. And the three knight of metal, Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin delivered 11 solid tracks to go on further. Read more Corrosion Of Conformity – Corrosion Of Conformity (2012)
Van Halen – A Different Kind Of Truth (2012)
Ladies and gentlemen, put your seatbelts on, we’re in a time capsule and we’re gonna landing back right to the 80s just as you close your eyes and push play! Our guides for this precious ride are the Van Halen family, Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums and the young refreshment, Eddie’s son, Wolfgang on bass and not at least, the restless lead singer, Mr. David Lee Roth. Although the twelfth studio album by the band it’s the band’s first album of completely new material since 1998’s disastrous “Van Halen III” featuring ex-Extreme singer Gary Cherone, as well as the first since 1984’s to feature David Lee Roth on lead vocals, the long awaited new Van Halen album, “A Different Kind Of Truth” just right fits in between “Women and Children First” and “Fair Warning”.
I am the first to admit, I was 101 % skeptical about this reunion and album. Don’t misunderstand me, I love Lee Roth, some of his bluesy solo releases are absolutely killer cuts, but definitively the best moments of this band were with Sammy Hagar. And well, Hagar teamed up with guitar-God Joe Satriani, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and classic Halen bass player Michael Anthony to form Chickenfoot, one hell of a successful hard rock supergroup. So, “the other half” already proved vitality, the expectations were pretty high about this and the comparison – unfortunately for both sides – is almost unavoidable.
And “A Different Kind Of Truth” rocks like s*it, eventually this is one of the best Van Halen albums ever released. Read more Van Halen – A Different Kind Of Truth (2012)
Monarchy – Hysteria (album teaser)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXphJZwOsQw&w=540&h=396]
Formed in the early 90s, Read more Monarchy – Hysteria (album teaser)
Venom – Fallen Angels (2011)
“Welcome To Hell”, their 1981’s debut album influenced literally thousands of bands, and while Venom were one of the first incarnations of extreme metal their giving the name of a brand new sub-genre of metal with their 82’s, second album: “Black Metal”. Although lending its name to the latter genre, today the album is often regarded as thrash metal rather than black metal. Venom’s music contributed to shape the style and to the development of many metal bands and numerous bands copying styles, themes and imagery from the band. Although even Metallica had opened for Venom on an early ’80s tour, Venom were regarded by many critics and some metal fans as “a trio of buffoons”, but also they had several conflicts with other musicians. In his Black Flag tour diary, Henry Rollins wrote about a 1986 performance when Black Flag opened for Venom and he mentioned that Venom was hilarious, with mediocre playing. Venom replayed by saying: “his band was useless and that’s why he writes books now”.
As teenager back in the 80’s I was quite fascinated by the epic 20-minute title track of their 1984’s “At War with Satan”, but honestly I never took too seriously their Satanic references. But also I have to admit that I wouldn’t bet back then that in 2011 I will listening – and really like it – a brand new Venom album. Read more Venom – Fallen Angels (2011)
Megadeth – TH1RT3EN (2011)
This might be the last opportunity for Born again Christian, Mr. Mustaine to claim the crown and the throne of Metal. Metallica with “Lulu”, the controversy collaboration with Lou Reed left their throne unwatched and the crown can be stolen. Anthrax already delivered a pretty strong release, “Worship Music” on September 12, and Mr. Mustain response is “Thirteen”, the thirteenth studio album consist of thirteen brand new songs. Regarding the “Big Four” thrash metal acts, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, still, my money is on Slayer even if it’s quite uncertain they will release new material this year due Jeff Hanneman’s health condition.
Although, “TH1RT3EN” might be the best Megadeth album in decades. Since 1992’s “Countdown to Extinction”, Megadeth wasn’t this kicking and biting. “TH1RT3EN” also marks the return of Dave Ellefson who left Megadeth back in 2002 having a severe disagreement over royalties. Canadian drummer Shawn Drover joined Megadeth back in 2004 while guitarist Chris Broderick (ex-Jag Panzer and ex-Nevermore) joined in 2008 replacing Glen Drover. Read more Megadeth – TH1RT3EN (2011)
Maylene And The Sons of Disaster – IV (2011)
Released in June 2009, the band’s third album called “III” was one of my favorite albums of the year and their tasty southern metal had some unique, fresh breath. The album debuted at #71 on the Billboard 200 and they performed the entrance theme for the former Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho and The Big Show, entitled “Crank the Walls Down”. Also, their song “Step Up (I’m On It)” was the theme for WWE Bragging Rights.
Lead vocalist Dallas Taylor is the last original member of the band left, although he took some time off from touring to deal with some things in his personal life from September 2009 to February 2010 and the band recruited their good friend Schuylar Croom,vocalist for He Is Legend, to fill in for touring and in that period no original members of the band were present onstage.
Formed in Alabama, in 2004, the band name and concept are based on the legend of the criminal gang of Ma Barker and her sons, noting that evil lifestyles will be met with “divine justice”. Maylene And The Sons of Disaster are back. Read more Maylene And The Sons of Disaster – IV (2011)
Mastodon – The Hunter (2011)
Developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, heavy metal, a genre of rock music was declared dead and buried since in each and every decade. Formed in 1999, in Atlanta, Georgia, Mastodon with roots back in blues rock and psychedelic rock, with raw sludge riffs and powerful post-grunge flavors, delivering complex, multi-layered songs, but also memorable and cutting riffs, merging progressive elements with pure rock energy, prove once again that the heavy metal in its purest essence remains strong and fresh, capable of reinventing itself. Mastodon managed to sound classy and traditional being modern and creative, looking further.
Moved to Atlanta from Victor, New York, drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher teamed up with bassist/singer Troy Sanders and guitarist/singer Brent Hinds and formed the band in late 1999. They recorded their first demo in 2000, which featured the band’s first lead singer, Eric Saner on vocals, but he left the band for personal reasons after just a couple of months and Troy Sanders take over most of the vocal duties. Read more Mastodon – The Hunter (2011)
