A Greek band that deserves international exposure. This power quartet featuring guitar slinger Stavros Papadopoulos were known only by name to me. After listening to their latest (fifth) album I feel ashamed calling myself a Southern rock fan. These guys have a great equilibrium of classic Southern rock, blues and early 70's hard rock. Great guitars reminding a lot of Allman Brothers. Leslie West and Jimi Hendrix of course, vocal harmonies in the style of Allman and Skynyrd and some tight, vivid hard rock with tunes lenght usually over 5 minutes.
The opener "Down the road" has all the elements to be in an album by ALLMAN, MOUNTAIN, BLACKFOOT and you can always listen to some FREE influences in their sound. "Southern son" is a song that could easily be at "God and Guns" and make LYNYRD SKYNYRD fans proud.. But the free/jam form is submιtted to the song form and the album is a delight for the listener.
In our days of vintage, retro rock trend such albums are an example of the help by the internet to look out for artists who live and perform outside the formulas and the corporate music. Traditional yes but also inspired, up-to-date Southern rock with balls.
The new ep from Tom Morello, the famous guitarist of RATM, AUDIOSLAVE. So to put it simply I enjoyed these five songs as much as I detest his fake political "left wing" positioning with right pocket ideas.
The opener is an instrumental heavy/psychedelic cover of “Voodoo child” that really blows away the original version of the song, making it a complete new Morello flavor version.
The real standouts are the hypnotic, fusion inspired songs like the “Interstate 80" where Slash is participating in a total guitar dwell/massacre or the RATM political/ sonic inspired instrumental “Suburban guerillas”. The ep also contains a tribute to Eddie Van Halen at "Secretariat" and listening to it, you'll easily find the EDV sonic influences (tapping...etc).
This ep is the real deal, innovation meets the classic and the result is pure sonic delight along some interesting musical ideas from a guitarist extraordinaire
A cover album that combines male and female vocals in well known songs. Hair Force One are a heavy metal sextet from Southampton who exclusively play covers of classic pop songs.The general feeling varies from goth to epic with some pop overtones from 'I want your love' that have the NIGHTWISH feeling to "A thousand miles" that could be easily on a more rocking Cindy Lauper, Lady Gaga,Anastasia album.The opener 'All the things she said ' by rusian duet t.A.t.U and the drum attack, surprises, how easily this song transformed to a modern metal track. Something we hated when it came out as it was too dark for pop lovers and too light for metal fans. It's just a matter of arrangement. The speed up "Everytime we touch' is coming straight from the Rock of ages musical, state of mind. I wonder if MAIDEN had the tendency to 90s -00spop, how different their covers wuld be.In general, you are familiar with the originals, but nothing prepares you for these covers. Speedier, with great guitar solos, i would say (again) that the Nemo period of NIGHTWISH meets the best of 80s in an album that could make your classmates from the 90s, wonder with question marks in their eyes, what their favorite music has become. From Bon jovi to Lady Gaga or Miley Cirus, they give the songs the rock edge they truly deserve (especially "Wrecking ball").
The guys cover GOO GOO DOLLS , t.A.t.U, ABBA, Anastasia, Cascada putting their own touch to the songs. I personally enjoyed "Iris' and the ABBA 'lAY YOUr hand on me " dark, gothic approach with the power metal hints."Patience" cover is not of the GNR song but of TAKE THAT, a nice choice by the way. Anastasia is a cover that could be missed, she is an exceptional rock voice, that this cover doesn't give any more credit, without being bad.On the contrary with 'Wrecking ball" where HAIR FORCE one really gives the emotional boost,the song needed along with some guitars. At the end of the listening, you'll smile ,even sing along with some songs and that is the take away message. Modern pop can give good rock songs, if somebody works on them with love and interest, without making them unrecognizable.
Heavy metal can be quite exciting even when it doesn't break out of its forms. KING CREATURE is a Cornish band that combines the classic NWOBHM sound with some modern elements and gives us a result more than enjoyable. Songs like 'Set the world on fire" could be on the glorious moments of bands like SHIVA and SARACEN. But in their core they are a heavy metal band with love for distortion and weight. Elements of bands like THERAPY are equally important with their metal roots creating this exciting mixture of modern and traditional. Between the modern alternative metal and the traditional heavy of the 80s you have KING CREATURE. Of course the US and Swedish wall of riff models are dominant but this is a band that creates a sonic mayhem that would appeal to almost all metal fans due to their good taste in riffing and melody and their songs crafting.
The new album from Kiko Lureiro (MEGADETH, ANGRA) is an album that has all the elements that made him the profound choice for MEGADETH. Technical, sensitive, improvising, limitless an album of multiple styles and tastes. From the neo classical opener "Overflow" to the metal monster of 'Black ice" , Lureiro creates compositions that stand autonomic and as possible ideas for band songs. Heavy fusion progressive at "In motion", co work with Μαρτυ Friedman at "Imminent threat', the album is full of sonic pleasures if not surprises. Lureiro stands out as a guitarist of many styles, that serves with conviction and creativity. An album that reminds of Tony Macalpine and Vinnie Moore;s golden days at Shrapnel and an album that surely will capτivate its listener.
The term Southern AOR was established by bands like LeRoux and 38 SPECIAL. The combination of laid back melodies, melodic, FM friendly vocals, and smooth rhythm sections are what "One of those days' consists of. Like a bunch of ALLMAN BROTHERS, Greg Allman songs meet TOTO and DOOBIE BROTHERS, the new album of the Louisiana band just takes you down the memory lane of easy livin. Songs like 'Don't rescue me", "The song goes on", "New Orleans ladies" and "No one 's gonna love me ( like you do) are among the finest examples of the old craft of songwriting. A stand out moment with its Southern jazzy style is "Lifeline redux' a landmark for what this band can accomplish out of the limits of the genre. Laid back, get a glass of bourbon and enjoy some sweet melodic Southern AOR. Blues, AOR, Funk,swing are all here in the right amount to make the album irresistible to the listener's ear. A word must be said regarding the album’s producer Jeff Glixman who brings his magic touch to the album's sound. The hiatus is over and LeRoux are back to bring some melody and some smiles to the world.
The spin off bands of MONSTER MAGNET, grew up and took their lives in their hands. ATOMIC BITCHWAX is among them and their sound although may have some similarities with MM, is mainly and clearly a product of their members. An electrical attack on the listener, heavy rock of the highest caliber.
Immense, in your face, heavy but with the kind of melody you find in bands like MOTORHEAD and AMBOY DUKES. Songs that make you ready for the post day apocalypse and especially small masterpieces like "Hope you die', "Action", "You got it' are aiming at the target and hitting it , bullseye. For those who still like their music, heavy, solid and with a touch of melody, to run with it in empty streets and blowing their speakers in the night "Scorpio' is their album
