Thin Lizzy-Are you ready?

Eagle Rock
2009

This concert was filmed in Lorely, Germany in 1981 for the German TV series Rockpalast. The set includes a whopping nineteen tracks and runs just a little under two hours. From the moment they take the stage cranking out "Are you ready?" you can tell they are in control. The set is actually very spread out with songs from a number of different albums. They only performed one tack from from Renegade which is kind of surprising as it was the album they were touring to support at the time. I was a little surprised that "Cowboy Song" and "The boys are back in town" are played towards the middle. However it all works out and "Emerald" may have been a slightly surprising choice for the closing track, but it's brilliantly played. Nonetheless Thin Lizzy are steady as they churn out song after song. One of my favorite things about this band was just how most of their songs just so familiar after absorbing just a few notes. I have always found their music to be comfortable in a way and that's great feeling to just be able to automatically take to so many songs. Phil Lynott seems cheerful and partakes in occasional banter between songs. Scott Gorham and Snowy White tow the line and work off of each other. Drummer Brian Downey has his arms flailing as he brings out non-stop beats. Due to the fact that it was recorded for TV almost thirty years ago the picture quality is slightly fuzzy and has some lines, but it's still decent enough. The sound quality is very sharp and consistent. A fine presentation that quickly reminded me why I liked this band so much.

What's coming up?

Hope to have reviews of ...
Thin Lizzy-Are you ready? DVD
Slayer-World painted blood
and maybe one other out this week

I have a lot of homework this week so that may be the most I get to. I am also going to start working on narrowing down albums from this year so I can prepare top 25 albums of 2009 list and have that up in about five weeks.

Take care!

Clash of the album covers

Here you go.


Seputura-Chaos A.D.

VS.


Testament-Low

Which cover do you choose?

Sgt Roxx-Weapon of Miss Distraction

Eonian
2009

Sometimes eBay can be a place for people with more money than sense. So on result from that mentality is that some people pay hundreds of dollars for rare hair metal CDs. One such disc has been Push n' Squeeze an EP from Chicago's Sgt Roxx. It has been fetching high dollars even earlier this year. Well, Eonian records has paid it easier on the wallets of people who want to Sgt. Roxx, but did't want to shell a few hundred books for a CD. This disc includes a remixed version of the songs from Push n' Squeeze plus another 14 songs. All the tracks were done between 1990 and 1994. Despite the quantity of songs, the real question still remains is it any good? Believe it or not the answer is mainly yes. Now these guys were a lost gem, because there are very of those. However I think it's reasonable to say that Sgt. Roxx were better than many of the bands that were getting signed to major labels around 1990. They remind me a lot of Ratt only with less raspy vocals and a stronger rhythm section. They certainly are not going to overwhelm anyone with grooves or power, but they play a tight catchy style of glam that is highly influenced by 80's Sunset Strip bands. If I had heard them back in 1990 I would have been into them for sure. This disc also includes a band biography and photos in the booklet. A fine job by Eonian records in putting this together.

Wizardry-s/t

Self-produced
2009

From the band name, moniker and cover art my first thought about Brooklyn's Wizardry was that they would be a doom band. The opening instrumental "Nigh Invincible" supported that idea as it's a long winding passage along the medium slow pace. It's just quirky enough to be interesting. After this the style changes and the pace picks up with "Drink from the chalice" There is much more of a NWOBHM with an early Iron Maiden sound to the guitars. After this they wander around with style with various influences including some more early Maiden, Mercyful Fate, early Queensryche and even Pentagram. Although they rarely blend influences as one song will sound like one band and the next like someone else. Their sound and even the production makes this album seem like it could have been between 1983 and 1985. That's not to say it's dated because they are active enough to keep the music appealing. There are a couple of songs that limp along with not quite enough direction. All of the songs have a magic/witchcraft themese which didn't bother me, but it may not appeal to everyone. As a whole this album's slightly stripped down sound and classic metal sound hit with me. It took a couple of plays for me to really get into it, but it did click. They take time building up a precense in their songs, but it's an approach that Wizardry are skilled. This one will likely be in my stereo for a while and I will probably continue to find more reasons for enjoying it.



www.myspace.com/wizardrylives

Clash of the album covers

Here you go.


Possessed-Seven Churches

vs.

Venom-Possessed

***Which cover do you prefer?

Update

Hello,
I have been busy with school work and regular work. Then the images on my blog went down last week because the person that designed it for me hasn't used her account in months. So I switched it over to a plain design. I don't know if I will be writing much soon, but there are some CDs I would like to review. I have been listening to the new Slayer a lot and should review that. I also still have to do the new Rammstein. Got a package from hard rock re-issue label Eonian last week with some goodies including Sgt. Roxx so I may review some of those as well. I also got one from a band called Wizardry who I am still trying to figure out. So if I can get some time I may review a few of these, but the reviews will be few and far between until the end of the semester. I will likely try to do five things in metal I am thankful for and the big turkey of 2009 award in a week or so. May get to a Clash of the album covers this week maybe even tonight as time allows.
Thanks,
Mark

Clash of the album covers

Here are two new covers to choose from.


KISS-Sonic Boom

vs.


WASP-Babylon

***Which cover do you prefer?

Greensleeves-The elephant truth

Self-produced
2009


Brazil's Greensleeves were founded in 1993 and they have persevered and evolved on their way to creating this disc. Now they are liked to be lumped under the progressive or progressive- metal label and that might be the most appropriate category if I were forced to choose one. However they bring more to this album as there is classic metal, melodic metal, melodic rock and even thrash. What's more is the fact they are quite competent at all of the above forms. To top it all off they can slap these styles together that may seem like pieces of a puzzle that don't fit, but they manage to make the parts fit. The results is 70 minutes of very honest and intriguing metal that busts ahead and takes your attention along with it. Not every part is going to be accessible to everyone, but there is a lot to enjoy. The album has a concept to it based on a poem by John Godfrey Saxe. The lyrics follow the life of a man in a coma and put in parts from the poem. The idea adds to the slightly offbeat approach of the album. If there is a complaint it's that although they mix up the pace and styles they don't always change the tones as much as I was expecting. Still there is certainly more than enough here to please fans of this genre.