Glenn Hughes-Live In Wolverhampton

earMusic/Armoury Records
2013

It was back in June 2009 that bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, who should need no introduction to classic rock fans and hard rock fans alike, played a two-night set in his English hometown of Bilston, Wolverhampton. a history. Over the course of those two nights he played material from throughout his career. The music covered a lot of ground from his time in Trapeze to his days fronting Deep Purple. All of those choice cuts were put onto this 2CD collection. Whether you were there in person or not doesn't really matter as it's easy enough to get caught up in all the excitement of the moment. These songs were enthusiastically embraced by his hometown audiences and there's one clear reason why. The music here, and the man himself, rocked! Whether your a fan of Glenn Hughes or not the mere energy of this live material is enough to catch you off guard and sweep you off your feet! This 2 CD set stands as both a history lesson in rock and a celebration of Glenn Hughe's impressive musical career. The first night saw Glenn Hughes play cuts from his time as lead vocalist of Deep Purple while on the second evening, dubbed "You Are The Music: An Evening Of Trapeze," (an obviously allusion to the Trapeze album "You Are the Music...We're Just the Band"), Hughes performed songs from his early days in Trapeze. It would have really been something if he would have dug even further back in time (as in the 60's) and covered material from his time in Finders Keepers! Sadly for die hard fanatics he doesn't, but this 2-CD collection is still magical and a must-have for fans of either Deep Purple and/or Trapeze. Cuts like "Mistreated" (Deep Purple) and "You Are The Music" (Trapeze) sound amazing and it's obvious how much Glenn loves both the music and those that who made the music-the fans. From the audience reaction to both nights it's obvious that the fans picked up on the love as well. It really is something to hear from fresh the material still sounds. While the Deep Purple material may have been played on night let's start with night number two. Hearing Hughes and company play Trapeze cuts like "Touch My Life", "Medusa", "Black Cloud" and "Good Love" is one thing, but it's the way in which these numbers sound so timeless that is the real clincher. There's a lot to be said about how damn good these tracks still sound after so many years! And the energy level of Glenn Hughes? Wow. Forget Beyoncé, and her artificial attempt at "music", as this album's immense electrical charge is for real!. For you see, as I sat down to listen to this two-night/two-CD collection of classics, with a glass of wine in my hands (and nothing but a pair of headphones separating me from some killer rock), the power ended up being knocked out cold!  It's more then just mere coincidence if you ask me! It just shows the power this bassist/vocalist has! I mean here's a guy who played with Trapeze, Deep Purple and even briefly fronted Black Sabbath! That speaks volumes about how good Glenn Hughes was and still is. If the Trapeze material is really good then the Deep Purple material would have to be considered great! Although it's so close it's hard to tell which one night/band covered here is better. Take a listen to the Deep Purple cut "Mistreated" and then listen to Glenn's cover of it on disc number one. If it was played with this much passion (and skill level) a track like "Mistreated" could easily fit into some young/hip band's set list and the younger generation, assuming they didn't have wonderful parents who schooled them on the greatness of Deep Purple, would just eat it up and never know that this track was older then they were. The material comes alive here and really does sound as fresh as ever! "Live In Wolverhampton" is packed with some amazing gems and the mix, which is rich and inviting, makes you feel like you were right there. So again, whether you're a fan of Glenn Hughes or the bands he was in (or even if you're just a fan of good classic rock/hard rock!) you simply cannot go wrong with this live album. Cheers to you Glenn! May you keep on rocking FOREVER!

Forgotten Gems-Sgt. Roxx-Push and squeeze and Weapon of miss distraction

Frequently I have come across some message boards and blogs where some hair metal fans will claim numerous small budget or self-released albums to be some overlooked gem. Frequently those people are wrong and easily pleased. One band I heard about some years ago on blogs and message boards was Sgt. Roxx who played around the Chicago area. They self-released an EP in 1990 called "Push and squeeze". The few people who had claimed to have heard sang it's praises. There were reports of copies of this CD going for hundreds of dollars of eBay. Well, of course that's just nuts even if it were good it couldn't be worth that much. However eventually Eonian records released Weapon of Miss Distraction which contained the six songs from the Push and Squeeze EP plus 12 other songs from demos and live recordings that were done between 1992 and 1994. I didn't run after it because I still expecting them to be run of the mill, but I was sent a copy to review. Hey, I was wrong those hair metal fans were right for once. These guys were legit, a real solid hard rock act that everything together. The sound is somewhere between Ratt, Cry Wolf, a heavier Poison and maybe a less bluesy Tora Tora. Nothing out of the ordinary, but almost every song out of the 19 are very likable. Particularly when I think of some the bands that got signed back then it's sad that a band who had their act together like this never made it. They recorded a demo for CBS records in the early 90's but didn't get a record deal. My best guess is that hailing from the Mid-west and being a year or two late to hair metal flood worked against them. They sure had the talent to get a deal. I listen to this album quite frequently. When I first heard I expected the song after the EP to be leftovers, but if anything the band got even tighter after the EP. Eonian records also included a booklet with a band biography and plenty of pictures. It's a nice package and you don't have to pay a bundle for six songs.

Forgotten Gems-Titan-Steps

This album came out a little over two years ago. I reviewed it back then and I had forgotten it about for a while until I was moving some CDs around. This disc fell out in front of me as I was moving stuff. I noticed the cover and thought "oh, yeah Titan, I liked that album". So it was set in pile of stuff I needed to give another listen to. Not to be confused with the stoner/prog act Titan, this Titan hailed from Sweden and played 1980's style AOR. I say hailed because even though this just came out in late 2009 I have not been able to find proof that the band has recorded anything since then or that they still exist as an act. Even if they are no longer around they did leave this self-produced EP. These guys looked pretty young, say 25 or younger. However somewhere along the line they must have developed a love for 1980's AOR because they have that sound down to every last detail. Think Treat, Bronze, early Europe and other acts of this style around say 84-87. Everything about this album is done right because the production is slick, the vocals are totally on, the guitars are tight, the rhythm section is on track and even the keyboards manage to add depth without overpowering the other instruments. So we get six songs with one being a short instrumental. The highlights here are probably "When evening falls" and "One more night" which both sound like they would have been radio gold had they come out in 1986. Yet being dated doesn't diminish the fact these guys did an excellent job in creating some instantly likable songs. AOR can be pure bubblegum to some extent, but if correctly constructed as Titan did it can be very enjoyable. Because this was self-produced I think it went largely unnoticed which is a shame. So track it down and give it a listen, if you like AOR you won't be disappointed.

Stone Axe-s/t (Collector's Edition)

Ripple Music
2011

Albums get re-issued left and right these days and frequently they have to receive some label to mark them as different from the original release. The words "special edition" or "collector's edition" get slapped on releases a lot. If you already have the original release then how special this new version is to you definitely depends on the bonus material. In the case of the re-issue of Stone Axe's debut we get the original 2009 album plus eight live tracks and a second disc which is a DVD with 18 videos and live clips plus an interview. So as someone who appreciates a good value that's 147 minutes of music between the two discs. I am getting ahead of myself and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music here so let's get to the quality of the material. If you missed out on 2009's self titled release from Stone Axe then you missed out on of truly one of the best fantastic classic hard rock albums released in recent years. They are not just a retro band or a copy, but rather they truly capture the spirit of late 60's early 70's hard rock early metal. The tones, the pace and every element makes the album sound like a lost gem from yesteryear. Yet they still manage to sound fresh just because they believe so much in what they are doing and they are great at selling it. This is one of those albums that just gets better each time you play it. This time around in addition to the original studio album we get a pile of live tracks added onto the CD. If you like what you hear on the studio recordings then you are really in for a treat on the live songs because the band sounds even more at ease on stage. So hearing Stone Axe live is an experience then seeing them is even better and that's a good lead-in to disc 2 the DVD portion of the set. This DVD includes a pile clips with a few videos, and interview but the majority of the time is made up of live clips from several different shows. What really shines through on all of these clips is how natural these guys sound and easy they make it look. Their approach makes it that much more fun because this is the kind of music you can just kick back and let it soak in. Although most of the live clips are from clubs, but there is a store performance and a live at a radio station performance as well. The quality of the clips are solid, but the atmosphere and the way the band's personalities shine through are really captured on the DVD. So did this album deserve a collector's edition? After listening and watching both discs my answer is a definite yes. This a fantastic set and even if you have the original disc it's still worth getting because all the extras will make you appreciate this band even more.

Votum-Metafiction

Armoury/Mystic
2010



This is the sophomore release from Poland's Votum. There are definite similarities to Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard as they play heavy progressive rock. Although it's instantly obvious that Votum fall into the dark side of the spectrum with a moody approach to their music. They often ride forth on massive waves of gothic blasts or they frequently mix in jazzy bursts. Their songs rarely overwhelm you, but instead they creep up on you at a steady pace. The talent is certainly there as far knowing their instruments, but for my tastes I like a bit more fire and yes, more rock in progressive rock. Votum often get their music up to simmer, but they never push to get it to a boil. I am sure this is intentional and fits in with what they aiming for, but I couldn't help but feel let down and even a little bored at times. They are capable of setting up a mood, but they never beyond it. It's normally just one mood as well, they never get very far beyond one central feeling. I kept expecting them to reach out more and their musical abilities had me thinking they would burst forth any moment and transcend how the songs began. Yet that moment never happened at least not to my satisfaction. To me that makes this album somewhat one dimensional. I admire their skills, but feel like the writing was stuck on one level and that is something will prevent me from remembering this disc very and likely it's not I'll revisit that often. Perhaps in the future they'll explore a little more and push forward.

Proghma C-Bar do travel

Armoury/Mystic
2009

Poland's Proghma C really attempt to bring almost everything to their debut. We have avant garde ramblings, frenzied sounds flying left and right, a small army of twisted riffs and vocals both floating and lofty as well as frothing at the mouth growls. This results in some intense and impressive moments, but unfortunately they are few and far between. Peaking early is a phrase that came to mind while listening to this album. Almost every song has a key early on and almost every song quickly falls into a pit of repetition for the rest of the track as my eyes glaze over as I wait for the track to end. They show flashes of brilliance, but became tedious within seconds on most of tracks contained here. Seriously it's like a long distance runner sprinting with all of their might for the first mile and then jogging the rest of the race because they spent all of their energy so early. The talent is undeniable here as far as playing goes because there are quite a few ideas that made their way into this recoding and I admire the potential. However their lack of creativity as writers is all too obvious. Perhaps it's something they can work out with further practice, but I'd definitely say they need to go back to drawing board and I will be rooting for them to cultivate the sparks I heard on this album.

2009 albums that I missed out on

Now I am fortunate to hear lots of albums each year, but every year that either I don't hear until the next year or they come out in the final weeks of the year after I already have my top albums list prepared. So here are the top five that fall into that category.

Post Mortem-Letters from the dead
I reveiwed this one at the tail end last year, but it arrived days after I posted my top albums of 2009. Fantastic effort and if I had heard it two weeks earliers it would have made it into my top ten of 2009.
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2009/12/post-mortem-message-from-dead.html


Mean Streak-Metal Slave
I read several reviews on this one in the fall of 2009 and should have leapt at it right away, but did not here it until early 2010. Outstanding classic metal.
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2010/01/mean-streak-metal-slave.html


Dawnrider-Two
Fantastic doom that I didn't hear until early 2010.
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2010/01/dawnrider-two.html


Lord of the grave-Raunacht
More great doom.
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2010/01/lord-of-grave-raunacht.html


Behold the monolith
Yes, even more doom.
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2010/04/behold-monolith-st.html

Soul Remnants-Plague of the universe

Self-produced
2009

Hailing from Littleton, Massachusetts this band play a savage variety of old style death metal that is intermingled with plenty of thrash passages. That's not to limit them at all because they do far more than just copy the styles. They are aggressive and tight with plenty of ideas constantly flowing. The riffs are brutal and punishing, but there is also more than enough variation in style and tones to keep the interest of most fans. The vocals are of the growling variety, but they compliment the mood set up by music. The rhythm section provides a thunderous landscape for the other players. I enjoyed every track and actually became more impressed as they went along. On top of all that the production is fantastic and consistent. This isn't just a band showing potential, but rather they are already playing and writing at high level. A number of bands play old style death and thrash, but many lack the talent, skills and even imagination to really make their music count. Not the case with Soul Remnants because they have all the tools in place and they know how to use them.

Honeycomb Love-HCL Style

Cannonball
2009



Not sure about the story behind the band name, but it is a bit unusual. This EP is obviously very rough around the edges. Structure isn't this band's biggest strength as the songs often just move along rather than building up momentum. At times this sounds more like an impromptu jam in someone's basement rather than an album. However the potential is definitely there under the surface. The sheer enthusiasm and energy is present throughout even if all of their songs are not completely fleshed out. The sound is similar to LA Guns, early Guns and Roses and Bon Scott era AC/DC. They have a very mid/late 80's sleaze-glam sound that focuses around very basic riffs. The ideas on these songs are not brilliant, but rather they take what they have and run with it. That's why I think some more experience this band could really be one to watch out for in the future. The songs start out simple and never get more complicated, but Honeycomb Love keep pushing forward with a great of confidence. I get the impression would be great live due to the fact that they just launch into every song. The best offering on here is definitely "Crash 'n burn". This is the one track where they reach beyond a very similar formula. They just seem to playing off the cuff and they stumble a little, but overall it sees the band working it out and showing their most original ideas on the album.These guys need some work for sure, but they are definitely on to something.

DesDemon-The Awakening

Self-produced
2009

New York's DesDemon are a female fronted band who play symphonic metal. This type of band is fairly common in recent years, but this band reaches beyond that to some extent. The vocals of Mistress Tina alternates between goth-type vocals and a strong metal style. This is different from the operatic style of vocals that are often associated with this type of music. This approach certainly helps to expand their sound. The other major difference is that the music starts with melodic metal and then the band adds in passages of symphonic, thrash and power metal.This take on their music allowed the band to branch out and keep the music interesting all the way through. They not only avoided falling into a predictable brand, but they also made the best of the styles that they used. This is only a five song EP, but the amount of style and number of pace changes made the album even more filling which is a certainly a major positive point for DesDemon. They not only show their diverse musical interests, but they used them to their advantage. They proved that symphonic metal isn't as limited of a sub-genre as some people may think. A good effort and I look forward to seeing what this band can do when they get around to doing a full length album.

Stratovarius-Polaris

Armoury
2010

This disc originally came out last year, but now we get a two disc set. Disc one is the Polaris album just as it was released in 2009. I was immediately impressed by this album a year ago and it sounds just as strong a year later. It had been some time since they hit a solid release before this album, but this disc brought back the spirit of their prime and got them back on track. Most fans have probably gotten this album in it's original form, but the real is of course the Polaris Live disc. This disc is listed as having been recorded in various cities in various countries. So we get fourteen songs and if Polaris didn't prove that Stratovarius were back to form then the live disc should certainly convince everyone that there is still plenty left in the tank. The production and overall tone if nothing short of fantastic for their performances. There is no shortage of highlights and some of the best include but are not limited to Speed of light, Kiss of Judas and Father Time. Their songs are all severely tight and impressive. They work up a strong attack that pulls upon equal amounts of power and finesse. The performances not only remind me of this band's overall fine history, but the songs off of Stratovarius fit in just as well.Fans should already have Polaris, but the live disc makes the set much worth the purchase.

Jumping Jack-Cows and whisky

Self-produced
2009

I love it when stoner rock actually rocks instead of just being caught in a heavy fog. French band Jumping Jack not only know it-they could actually give lessons on how to do it. The six tracks on this EP hit you a truck full of hammers and keep pounding all the way through. Think of Fireball Ministry, Sasquatch (the band not the guy who poses for blurry pictures) and Soundgarden all tossed into a blender, chopped together and then poured out for you listening pleasure. Jumping Jack are kind of like that only more direct and maybe even meaner. A lot of bands try to look and dress rough, but these guys have that dirty heavy, nasty hard music just oozing out of the instruments. They probably can't help because it sure sounds like this all comes easy for them. This is stoner rock with genuine grooves which really helps the whole thing move like a single vehicle. A large monstrous vehicle with gigantic wheels crushing all in it's path, but still a vehicle. That is one of their best attributes and that's refreshing because so many stoner rock bands sit there without a direction or very little movement. Jumping Jack know how to be heavy and slow enough, but still keep the ball rolling. When I saw the Jack Daniels inspired logo I was expecting a glam type disc for some reason, but hey it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Of course I can't wait to here what they will do on a full length release.

Mehida-The eminent storm

Bullroser
2009

From the cover I was expecting a much darker offering. However Finnish band Mehida actually play melodic hard rock/melodic metal with some progressive elements and they focus mainly Christian themes. The band features vocalist Thomas Vikström (ex-Candlemass, Therion),keyboardist Mikko Harkin (ex-Kotipelto and Sonata Arctica),Jani Stefanovic (guitars), Markus Niemispelto (drums), Olli Tanttu (guitars) and Toni Mäki-Leppilampi (bass). The Eminent Storm is the band's second release and their first was "Blood and Water" which came out in 2007. Actually this album was recorded between Fall 2007 and Summer 2009. The songs often revolve around thick layers of flowing melodies and the band is competent and creative enough to really get the most out of all that they do. Vikström is really an asset for this band and he not only keeps up with the frequent pace changes, but he leads the way with a magnificent range. The lyrics get the point across without being awkward which doesn't always happen with Christian metal so that's a definite compliment to their writing skills. Almost every movement they make is carefully orchestrated and every step works towards building the whole of the song. The only complaint I may have is that I would have liked to have seen them take a few more risks. There are several moments where the music seems on the cusp of taking off, but then they kind of reel it back in and go in more predictable direction. That may be a suggestion for the future and certainly one they could do skill wise if they chose to. Either way this is a pleasing effort with plenty to offer and I look forward to hearing what they do in the hopefully near future.

Judas Priest-British Steel 30th anniversary edition

Sony
2010

Many fans consider British Steel to be a landmark album of sorts for Priest. That's probably true more with the band's popularity and appeal on this side of the Atlantic. The band obviously think highly of the album since they celebrated the anniversary a year early with their tour in order to have this CD/DVD in our hot little hands when the actual 30th anniversary hit. The first part of the set is the Legacy edition disc from 2001 with the bonus tracks of Red, white and blue and a live version of Grinder. I didn't buy the 2001 version because I already my old copy that I purchased back around 1989 or 90. Oftentimes and album can say it's re-mastered, but you may not hear much of a difference in sound quality. Not so this time around as the quality is remarkably clear. Every beat, guitar lick and word hits harder than ever. The album as a whole took half a step up in my estimation just do to the know fiddling that was done here. This is new, but not to most people. The majority of fans who have this set on their shopping lists are buying this because of the DVD. Recorded live in Florida last year on their British Steel Anniversary tour this disc has the band churning out British Steel in it's entirety plus a few old favorites at the end of their set. The film quality is spotless with steady camera work and a good variety of camera angles. The sound quality is also everything it should be which means it's loud and bone rattling. The music itself is crushing and the British Steel tracks have certainly aged well for being thirty years old. Grinder still crushes, Steeler is a brain melter and You don't have to be old to be wise allows the entire band to attack your senses. My only really problem with this disc is that Rob Halford seems like his just isn't in it. His voice is there for sure, but he just seemed tired and often just goes through the motions. I know he has been at it for a long and perhaps he has some physical pain, but his stage presence seemed sorely lacking on this show.The crowd were certainly wound up tight and ready to explode. Not perfect, but a good way to celebrate a fine album.

Eldorado-Golden

Self-produced
2009


I have this disc for a while and have certainly been meaning to review it for some time, but am just now getting around to it. One spin had me realizing I really should have reviewed this sooned, but it's a keeper. Their 2008 debut En Busca De Eldorado was a good outing, but the new disc surpasses it by a few notches. The vocals are about as strong as I could have asked for on the new disc. To me the biggest improvement is the guitarwork. This time around the licks and riffs roll off the fingers without hesitation. There are no gaps or filler as every track is a heavy hitter. They play blues based hard rock with a great of passion and power. The influences I heard on the first disc are stll present here as Eldorado are still very much influenced by Deep Purple, Zeppelin and AC/DC. After looking back at my review of their previous effort I saw that one complaint I had was that many of the songs seemed to short. This is obviously something they have rectified on Golden. In fact I think their song structure in general is greatly improved. The songs strike your interest right away and never let go. These guys have greatly improved over a rather short period of time. I can't wait to hear what they come up with next.

shEver-A dialogue with the dimensions

2009

ShEver are an all female band from Switzerland who have knocked out a pair of demos and a full length album prior to this EP. After listening to this disc I felt like I had initially been prepared for a roller coaster ride, but in the end the whole four song ride just coasted. There were some heavy tones, but all too often it was the same tone dragging on with little variation in pace, pitch or anything. I kept expecting and hoping for something to raise the intensity level, but it never came except maybe for a brief period on the final track. The vocals are of the low growling variety for most most of the time which is alright, but again there is very little altering of any part so it drones on. I even went back for a second try on this disc and the final song has some bits where the drums have some rhythm going and even the bass thumps in for a while, but even then you have to go through several minutes tedious ramblings to get to some moments of real substance. I can deal with drone when there is building or progress because all styles really need some structure. some way of building up or some momentum to draw the listener in. These four songs lack much in that department and that made reviewing this a difficult chore in some ways. Still I like the heavy, fuzzed out tones and think the production is fine, but beyond that they have a lot of work to do.

Guardian-First Watch

Retroactive
2009

Retroactive records have re-issued Guardian's debut in honor of it's 20th anniversary. Bass player David Bach adds liner notes telling about how the album was actually recorded in 1988. However their label Enigma made them wait until 1989 to release it because they wanted the band to tour hard in their home state of California to build up more interest before putting the album out. Stryper's Oz Fox produced this one and Bach relays some items of interest about that as well. On to the music. Guardian are melodic hard rock and could be compared to Dokken, Stryper and Hurricane. Mostly mid paced tracks with a few ballads tucked in. The best part for me are the guitars as Tony Palacios has a very strong, direct style and several times he pulled me in with just a few opening notes. The hardest part of Guardian for me to take was Paul Cawley's vocals. They are frequently way too high for my tastes. Although he fares better when he sticks to the mid range approach. It's Christian rock so you know that all of the songs center on various themes all dealing with the band's beliefs. The lyrics are perhaps a bit more subtle in their approach than some other bands of their genre. The production overall was decent, but not great. Even though this is supposed to be a remastered version it still sounds low to me in places and the drums definitely sound they needed a slightly meatier sound. Along with the notes and the remastering this anniversary edition also includes two demo tracks from
1987. The re-issue of "First Watch" is a likable offering for fans of late 80' hard rock.

Behold! the monolith-s/t

Arctic Forest
2009

Admittedly when I heard this band's moniker I knew I was going to check them out. Right away it brought up images in my head from 2001 and I intrigued about whether or not this LA band could live up to the expectations they had already created in my mind. I was expecting something huge, heavy and awe inspiring.The disc arrived and I was already absorbed by the cover too. It has heavy written all over it so again my expectations went up even more before the disc even entered my player. The opener "Battlestagg" has the band wound up tight as a cocoon churning out some massively chunky, skull crushing riffs. Like High on fire only with quicker pace changes. Next up was the "Battle for balls deep". This was starts out similar to the opener only slightly slower. So now I thought that I had these guys pegged as being like a cross between High on fire and maybe Sasquatch. At least I thought that until around three minutes into this track then the straight ahead charge gave way to drifts of slow moving sounds spiraling out in different directions. At that moment I knew these guys had much more to offer. "Elders" comes on and it's very much in the old Sabbath style, but wrapped up with more dirt and grit. Then like the previous track they get a few minutes in and their one road dives into several with some semi-spaced out jams tucked in between the thundering wall of sound. The next track is the split "Phantasmata/Waking life". Unlike the previous songs this one the reverse with the dream-like, warped sounds twisting your senses in the first half of the track before giving way to a full throttle, stoner rock stampede in the second half. Like the magician who has you amazed with his warm ups, Behold the monolith seem to be saying "if you think that's something well, you ain't seen nothing yet". That may be true as the closer is a gigantic three headed monster with "Guardians of the abyss/Primal Extenuation/Rise of the brohemoth" (no typo on the last part). The first part is a somewhat affair with stretched out riffs being stretched wit a Zeppelin type groove at it's heart. then the monster wakes up around the middle and a tornado of growls, spitting riffs and killer drumbeats coming crashing down. The final is a mix of unrestrained jams, fuzzed out attacks and odd noises that wraps up one of the best albums of 2009 that I unfortunately missed out on last year.

Aittala-Bed of thorns

Self-produced
2009

Once I saw song titles that included "Another Dirty Whore", "Torture", "Left for Dead" and "Sadistic Charm" I knew this wasn't going to be get up and get happy kind of album. It's fairly downbeat and even harsh in the lyrics and the music follows along with that mood. Eric Aittala handles most of the duties on this album so I am guessing that many of the songs are personal to him or at least his ideas. Now most of the songs are dark and moody, but the musical style very as they include hard rock, metal, doom and others. Aittala handles the vocals well even in the various musical styles. There are times where the music starts to drag, but his vocal melodies always revive the song and keep it going strong. I am not huge on the use of keyboards here, but they don't exactly hold any other part of the music back. The guitars are generally strong and versatile with some splendid solos. The overall sound at times reminds me of mid-70's Alice Cooper and even KISS only far more complicated musicaly and more serious in the overall tone and presentation. The playing talent is obvious and that's the strength of this album and what makes it worth hearing. What holds it back in mind is a mopey feel to several songs that I think holds back what could have been done. I understand the topics are dark and meant to be so, but I think that on several times that the flow of the album is hampered by an overall moodiness. Instead storming ahead the songs sometimes get bogged down. Still there is a great deal here to appreciate and I heard enough to potential to be interested in what comes out next from this band.

Tunnel-s/t

Driver Wild Music
2009

I wasn't too pleased when vocalist Robert Mason went Warrant last year. Not just because it meant that Warrant would continue to make music, but rather because Mason had been with Big Cock and I think that after three albums they had started to gel. The first two Big Cock albums with both raw even clunky at times although the second one definitely showed far more tightness around the edges. Then came "Motherload" in early 2008. Okay, it had all the goofy sexual lyrics just like the previous outings, but what had changed was that the music had jumped several levels in quality. It was if everything had fallen into place and the sound just flowed. Then Mason went to Warrant and I figured that was the end of Big Cock and in a way it was. So what does that history lesson have to do with disc? Well, guitarist David Henzerling bounced back fast, pulled in some help and put together an album that picks up in the same tracks of where Big Cock left off. The cock and roll lyrics of Henzerling's former project are gone, but music, vocal style and overall direction are very similar to Motherload. For influences I hear a mixture of Lynch Mob, Tesla, Van Halen and even Henzerling's early band King Kobra. The rhythms are basic, but smooth. The powerful vocals of Scott Hammons push to get as much out of the material as possible. The solos are normally right on the money with plenty of control and variation in tones. The rhythm section (including Henzerling handling bass duties too) are exactly what they need to be with is loud and providing a great backdrop. There isn't a whole lot here that you have not heard before, but it's played extremely well with a lot of confidence and very little filler. With all of the above going for it Tunnel's debut comes across as a good hard rock album that all involved should be proud of.