Emerald-Voice for the Silent

Metal On Metal Records
2017

Dutch heavy metal band Emerald, originally known as Warrior (under which name a four-song demo was released) and not to be confused with the handful of other Emeralds out there (both active and defunct), is a four-piece group that was initially active between 1984 and 1989. During their first run the group released one LP. That album is entitled "Down Town" and it came out in 1985. It's taken the band some thirty plus years to offer up a follow-up, but as they say, it's better late than never! Having reformed in 2002 and with all four of the original musicians responsible for "Down Town" appearing on this epic comeback (vocalist Bert Kivits, guitarist Allard Ekkel, bassist Essie Zagers*, and drummer Rudy Marissen), "Voice for the Silent" is Emerald's long-anticipated sophomore release. With the additional help of co-lead guitarist Paul van Rijswijk, "Voice for the Silent" is also a nod and a wink to the old school. For anyone that loves eighties heavy metal and the better aspects of the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene, "Voice of the Silent" is a real testament to the glory and power of traditional heavy metal!! Since much of the material was actually written back in the eighties, "Voice of the Silent" has the feel of a long lost classic of yesterday. Of course the analogue production goes a long ways towards making this album sound like a lost gem of the eighties. To that end, "Voice of the Silent" makes for a must-have CD if you are into heavy metal's glory days. It is a nice blend of melodic material and raise your fists in the air METAL! Lead vocalist Bert Kivits sounds as energetic and enthusiastic as he did in 1985 and (musically) Emerald is just so smooth and rock-steady when it comes to delivering the metallic goods. Available on CD and as a digital download (click here for more info), "Voice for the Silent" is geared towards anyone that just loves real, honest to goodness heavy metal. Mad thanks to Emerald** for keeping that flag waving!




*Sadly Essie Zagers passed away in 2016. This album is dedicated to his memory.

**As of this writing the group is rounded out by bassist André Wullems.

Lord Volture-Will To Power

Mausoleum Records
2014

Wageningen, Gelderland (The Netherlands) is the stomping ground of heavy metal warriors Lord Volture. "Will To Power" is the group's latest full-length release and the band's third overall since forming in 2010. Lead vocals are handled by David Marcelis (a fine singer whose style falls neatly into line with the likes of Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio) while guitars are taken care of by Paul Marcelis and Leon Hermans. Simon Geurts and Frank Wintermans (bass and drums respectively) round things out. On each of the group's three full-length albums this N.W.O.B.H.M. (Saxon, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden)/traditional heavy metal (Dio, Megadeth, Savatage) band has featured "special guests". Lord Volture's debut album, "Beast Of Thunder" featured the one and only Jeff Waters of Annihilator fame while the follow-up, "Never Cry Wolf", featured Sean Peck of Cage. Here on "Will To Power" the group managed to acquire the skills of ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. It's worth noting that both "Beast Of Thunder" and "Never Cry Wolf" received high marks. As does this one. So, is it a case of added guests equals added points for this Dutch heavy metal outfit? Not really. I just found it interesting that all three albums have featured highly skilled guest guitarists. Truthfully I enjoyed this album as a whole unit and wasn't really paying attention to where guitarist Chris Poland stepped in. That sounds bad. It's not that I wasn't paying attention to the music. That I was! It's just that this Dutch five-piece has a sweet sound going on overall so it was one of those deals where I was like "Hey, I just listened to this kick ass heavy metal album and all but was I supposed to listen closely enough to try to figure out where this ex-Megadeth shredder appeared or can I just enjoy it for what it is?". Oh, what is it? Why, "Will To Power" is A) My first introduction to this band that also sounds somewhat like a classic metal version of Iced Earth and B) A reason for me to hunt down the rest of Lord Volture's catalog! This stuff kills! While the band Picture will most likely always be my favorite Dutch treat (in regards to killer heavy metal from The Netherlands) I may have just found the scene's second greatest outfit ever! Everything I love about good heavy metal is here! From the high-pitched vocals to the screaming guitars to that certain feeling that cool traditional heavy metal leaves in it's wake it's all here and it's all so fabulous! "Will To Power" is for fans of bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Accept, Iced Earth and even Grim Reaper. 

Ear Danger-Warrior Soul

Emanes Metal Records
2014

When it comes to my love of Dutch heavy metal band Ear Danger and their new sophomore recording I feel the need to thank a fellow blogger and friend for guiding me their way. That individual happens to have a sensation site which everyone should check out here:  http://strappadometalblog.blogspot.com/#axzz37jnrjpa8. Of course that is AFTER you read through this brief write-up on Ear Danger's powerhouse of a release! And when I say powerhouse that is exactly what you get with "Warrior Soul"! For a band whose origins trace back to the early part of the eighties and whose founding members (bass guitarist Matt Verschoor and drummer Dick Vijgen) are (likely) old enough now to be grandfathers this new release isn't just "loud and proud" it's EPIC! With vocalist/guitarist Leon Lohmann (Schraapstaal, Blackbird (Nld), ex-Knights of Insanity) and guitarist Ivo Metz on board the two founding members cranked things up a notch or two and with a renewed sense of youthful energy laid ten power metal tracks down on tape. Of the ten tracks found on "Warrior Soul" eight are brand new while the remaining two tracks look to be re-recordings of older numbers ("Bound by the Law (Of Heavy Metal)" comes from 2007's "Shock and Awe" demo while "City of Fire" appeared on Ear Danger's "Demo 3" from 1983). All ten numbers gel together seamlessly and with the group obviously focused on improving their songwriting fans will be treated to track after track of majestic rockers! This one starts off with the title cut and from that point forward it is on with new cuts like "I Am Your Enemy", "On The Run", "Crusader" and "To Live Is To Fight" making me fall in love with this classic heavy metal band all over again! I first covered this Dutch outfit back in 2011 with their last album "Full Blast At Last" (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Ear+Danger-Full+Blast+At+Last) and on "Warrior Soul" it's the same great band only better! The metal on display here is relentless with lead solos that simply rip the fabric of time and space in half! I can't say enough good things about Ear Danger's new disc as this album perfectly represents everything that I love about heavy/power metal. The vocals are gripping and the guitars really do fizzle. And naturally the rhythm section is tight. With those two fine veterans (Matt Verschoor and Dick Vijgen) not only anchoring everything in perfect fashion, but providing a HEAVY backdrop to this whole affair an album like "Warrior Soul" should find plenty of respect and admiration with the metal community. For Ear Danger it's all suddenly becoming a reality and for this band who were criminality overlooked the first time around "Warrior Soul" is a full-on statement that you're never to old to start over! "Warrior Soul" is available to purchase here: http://www.emanesmetalrecords.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=7590 and for more information on Ear Danger be sure to head here:  http://www.facebook.com/eardanger

Picture-Eternal Dark + Heavy Metal Ears (2014 CD Re-Issue)

Tribunal Records/Divebomb Records
2014


Having just reviewed the other Picture CD re-release on Wednesday of this week I will know turn my attention to "Eternal Dark + Heavy Metal Ears". Up front let's clear up one thing. The cover album is not a  proper reflection of the album artwork for this re-issue. Instead it's the same deal. It's only posted to highlight the fact that these two albums, which were released in 1983 and 1981 ("Eternal Dark" and "Heavy Metal Ears" respectively), appear on this one CD. Now, someone (on the side) asked me about bonus material. No, there is not any bonus material on either of these sets. Instead the "bonus" features that are attached to these two separate sets, which can be picked up at the link below, include: 1) Improved sound 2) A fabulous booklet with bio, (what are most likely to be exclusive) pictures and lyrics and 3) They are being made available on CD for the first time ever in North American! Tack on the fact that they are reasonably priced at $15.00 a set and you could actually stretch that out to 4(!) bonus features folks! For someone like me, for whom the previous CD re-issues are wildly out of reach (price-wise) and, as a result, have (admittedly) only had the (slight) comfort of second-hand burned copies, the previously mentioned items are bonus enough! Especially when hearing "Eternal Dark" (for what seemed like the first time despite having this one in my possession for well over 10 years!!!) is all of it's crystal-clear, heavy metal glory! But, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves so we will get to that aspect in a few as, unlike last time around, I'm going to cover "Heavy Metal Ears" first. On the CD said album is actually on the tail end of "Eternal Dark" which means that these particular numbers run 11-19. Still, giving the huge jump (style-wise and sound-wise) between 1981-era Picture and 1983-era Picture it's probably best to cover "Heavy Metal Ears" and then move forward. In hindsight, having "Diamond Dreamer" to break up the flow and all (what with it's Ronnie James Dio fronting Judas Priest-like vibe), "Eternal Dark" was probably a (somewhat) logical step style-wise. But, "Heavy Metal Ears" (which, although being released back in 1981, still remains a relevant release/modern source of inspiration as bands such as Serpent and Spikes have covered it's title-track!) sees this legendary Dutch heavy metal act not only hearing the battle cry that came from Saxon's 1979 debut, but also acting upon it a if following the same path that lead their British comrades from an album like "Saxon" all the way to "Denim and Leather"! It shouldn't be seen as all that much of a surprise then that Picture actually toured Europe with Saxon in 1981! Opening with the classic title cut, "Heavy Metal Ears" moves effortlessly through numbers like "Spend the Night with You" and "Unemployed" (a surprisingly heavy cut even for an album like this!) before truly hitting it all out of the park with cuts like "Night Tiger" and "No No No"! By the time the album's closer comes calling (the 7+ minute epic "Rock & Roll / Under Your Spell") you've been treated to Saxon-style rockers like "I'm Just A Simple Man" (Motörhead and AC/DC influences anyone?) and even the oddity of a track like "Funky Town" (No, it's not a cover song!)! For classic heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. fanatics Picture's "Heavy Metal Ears" should be a given! So, what of "Eternal Dark" then? By 1983 Picture was leaning on yet another new lead vocalist Pete Lovell. On the plus side this one would stay the course and even appears on 2012's excellent exceptional "Warhorse". The downside though would seem fairly obvious to anyone paying attention to the band dynamics of Picture during those early eighties years. With Pete Lovell the band was on the third lead singer in as many albums. Not only that, but guitarist/keyboardist/backing vocalist Jan Bechtum, whose distinct style of playing had anchored the previous three albums, was suddenly gone as well! In his place came Henry van Manen and Chris van Jaarsveid. Two guitarists to replace the one lone guitarist/keyboardist who had made Picture into the band they were? It could never work right? And yet it did! Maybe it's not as well-loved and worshiped as "Diamond Dreamer", but in it's own right it's a damn fine heavy metal platter especially for when it was released! While the early Saxon-vibe can still be found on album number four with two guitarists in the fold the band went all in! Along with the Saxon (and Judas Priest/Dio experimentation of "Diamond Dreamer"!) the band's latest sound seemed ripped straight from the pages of N.W.O.B.H.M. 101! Listening to "Eternal Dark" now, with more then a few years of musical experience behind me*, I can pick up on the Blitzkrieg elements as well as how bands like Chariot and Chateaux influenced Picture's new direction. Toss in the likes of Dio-lead Black Sabbath, Manowar, solo-Ozzy, Accept, (early) Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden and some cult bands of the day like Faithful Breath (try on "Hard Breath" and "Gold 'n' Glory" if you are looking for new titles to add to your eighties hard rock/heavy metal collection), Heavy Load and Dark Wizard (who actually came about, or at least released their first, highly-recommended mind you, EP, "Devil's Victim", in 1984!) and you've got a decent idea of what "Eternal Dark" has to offer! Of course it wasn't just the band's style that changed with album number four or even their line-up. With "Eternal Dark" the band dove head first into fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons territory as evident by "Griffins Guard The Gold", "Battle For The Universe" and "Flying In Time"! No doubt there were more then a few of the Picture faithful who were scratching their heads when this album was released! For 1983 though it's fairly typical theme-wise. Music-wise it is also fairly typical as this was the dawning of eighties metal (stylized by all things Priest/Maiden in nature) when bands were suddenly applying dual lead guitar solos and the distinct "galloping" song-structures that made for many a great classic!  Still, "Eternal Dark" seems to be the one early Picture release that people either love or loathe. While the band gets (unfairly in my mind) knocked for the sudden change by a lot of modern day metal fans I've always had a soft spot for this album and, as a stand-alone piece, I find it charming. It's heavy when it needs to be (the soul crushing "The Blade") while it also features great Iron Maiden/Dio-like like rockers in "Flying In Time" and "Into The Underworld" and "Tell No Lies". Meanwhile that (early) Mötley Crüe reference point (as well as the solo-Ozzy bit and Accept mention) shines through in the likes of "Power Of Evil" and "Make You Burn". Listening to the album again (as I type this review) brings up another "interesting" reference point that I never noticed until now (and yes, I'm well aware of how crazy this one sounds!). Could there be a little bit of the punk-vibe of (early, as in first two full-length albums with Paul at the helm) Iron Maiden and even a bit of the sleazy/street-wise attitude of early-Twisted Sister running wild through "Eternal Dark"? Quite possibly yes! All of which means that album number four in Picture's back catalog needs to be heard to be fully appreciated for what it has to offer! Again, I simply cannot express how refreshing it is to hear these early Picture releases presented like this. With improved sound (and the bonus of a killer booklet with bio, pictures and lyrics!) both "Eternal Dark" and "Heavy Metal Ears" come off as fresh and vibrant! For fans of this killer Dutch heavy metal outfit I cannot think of a better way to celebrate these early albums than with this set as well as the "Diamond Dreamer + Picture 1" offering! Samples to both sets can be found by going through the Tribunal link below and it is worth noting that, while supplies last as there were only 100 of these made available, if you buy both sets at the same time you can receive a rather nifty Picture logo magnet! Of course that is only while supplies last and, seeing as there were only 100 of these made and all, I can't imagine they'll last long!      .


http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/picture-eternal-dark-heavy-metal-ears

Review of "Diamond Dreamer + Picture 1" Set:
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Picture-Diamond+Dreamer+%2B+Picture+1+%282014+CD+Re-Issue%29+

*When I first heard "Eternal Dark" some 13 years back I was in my late twenties and had not yet rediscovered the joys of the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene. I had a young daughter and a job, working in a (now-closed) screen printing shop, that required long, tiring hours. Many early hour mornings (three or four AM) were spent (working by myself in the screen-prep area) listening to this album and marveling at it's raw, early eighties metal appeal and it's fantasy elements. As I worked with the motto of "Do it for her", with the her being my (then) young daughter Haley, "Eternal Dark" allowed me a measure of escape from a job that I had found broke my spirit as much as my body!

Picture-Diamond Dreamer + Picture 1 (2014 CD Re-Issue)

Tribunal Records/Divebomb Records
2014

With 2013 having been such a banner year for re-releases (can you say Nitro and Mox Nix my friends?) one would have to wonder just how 2014 could possibly hope to stack up. With this recently released double album* (1982's "Diamond Dreamer" and 1980's "Picture 1") from Divebomb Records, which (incidentally) is a division of North Carolina-based Tribunal Records (an independent label which has been going strong since 1999!) the answer would seem to be "Just Fine, Thank You Very Much"! Combining Dutch heavy metal band Picture's first and third full-length albums onto one re-mastered CD, with a nice glossy booklet filled with pictures, a bio and lyrics serving as the icing on the cake, this re-release is nothing less than a thing of beauty for fans and collectors alike! Now, this isn't the first time that Picture's "Diamond Dreamer" has been re-released on CD. In 2001 it was re-released with the band's forth full-length release, 1983's "Eternal Dark". That said, this is the first time that these two classics (along with 1981's "Heavy Metal Ears" and 1983's "Eternal Dark") are seeing a North American release and in such grand fashion to boot! Kudos to Tribunal Records/Divebomb Records for that! Now, seeing as I first discovered Picture some 13 years or so back (thanks in no small part to a former co-worker of mine/long-standing friend Tim) I'll all too familiar with both "Diamond Dreamer" and "Picture 1". For my money though they have never sounded as good, or for that matter as clean and as clear, as they do on this one collection! Of course my copies were not originals as these releases have been out of print now for something like 15 years! As the CD starts off with "Diamond Dreamer" album I think that is where I will start things off. By that point in their career Picture had enlisted a new lead vocalist in Israeli-born Sammy Avigal. In hindsight Sammy, known in Picture at the time as "Shmoulik" Avigal, would go on to have quite the career playing with, amongst others, Dutch bands Horizon and Hammerhead as well as briefly fronting The Rods and being involved with the Jack Starr project/one-off, Guardians of the Flame. On the excellent "Diamond Dreamer" we find that Avigal, who shared a love for the band Rainbow with Picture guitarist/keyboardist Jan Bechtum, ends up sounding a lot like a certain Ronnie James Dio while the band (rounded out on both of these albums by bassist Rinus Vrugdenhil and drummer Laurens "Bakkie" Bakker) channels the spirit of bands like Judas Priest and UFO as well as some of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene with a dash or two of Saxon! Speaking of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene, "Picture 1", which featured Ronald van Prooijen handling lead vocals, very easily could have been mistaken for a N.W.O.B.H.M. product, but not in the way most people would automatically think! On their first album the very talented Picture play a simple (and yet legitimately effective!) blend of heavy rock and seventies hard rock that is, besides being a bit bluesy in places, down to earth and remarkably charming! On the N.W.O.B.H.M. side of things there are more then a few songs on "Picture 1" that could have easily fit in well (side by side) with the likes of Sledgehammer, Toad the Wet Sprocket, E.F. Band, Nutz and Praying Mantis on the the first "Metal For Muthas" compilation! Additionally fans of  N.W.O.B.H.M. acts like White Spirit, Chevy, Stampede, Trespass and Weapon would probably get a kick out of  a lot of the material on "Picture 1" as would anyone who enjoyed Hammerhead's collection, "Will To Survive"! Of the two release "Diamond Dreamer" has the better production although, seeing as they have both been touched up here for these re-released sets, that's really not much of an issue. As far as which one would I consider to be the better album? That's a real toss up as they both offer different and distinctive sides of Picture while they also showcase a Dutch heavy metal act that had the ability to not only roll with the changes but effectively adapt with whatever curve-ball was thrown their way. It's probably a cop-out, but I enjoy both of these releases equally on their own terms as they both have plenty to offer! And, even if I have had the pleasure of listening to these two releases over the years, time and time again in many states of mind, when they are presented in this format (with the nice booklet and improved sound) it's almost as if we are talking about a brand new version of Picture! These are definitely fitting re-release for this classic Dutch band! Both sets of releases can be purchased at the link below. Hopefully I'll get around to covering the "Eternal Dark"/"Heavy Metal Ears" set by the weekend. At $15.00 a piece** they are quite reasonable especially considering the fact that (as of the last time I checked mind you) previous CD re-releases of Picture's first four full-length albums are going for well over $100 a piece ! While I wouldn't say that these albums are not worth such change (as these are every bit the classic albums we're talking about here friends!) I would say that $15.00 per CD set (plus shipping of course!) is more then reasonable! Whether you are looking to replace your older, worn-out copies of these albums or you are new to the band this two-album set, along with the other (soon-to-be reviewed) one, is a must pick-up!
  
http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/picture-diamond-dreamer-picture-1

 * The CD artwork pictured above is simply used to demonstrate that both albums are on the one set. On both CD sets you can use whichever piece of album artwork you prefer (in this case it could be "Picture 1" or "Diamond Dreamer") by simply flipping around the booklet!

**If you buy both sets there is a reduced shipping option for international orders. Also, while supplies last (as there are only 100 99 of these things on hand!), if you buy both sets at the same time you can get a free Picture logo magnet! As this is a limited time offer (or until they are all gone!) it would probably be a wise idea to act fast folks!

Forgotten Gems: Hardware-Heavy Nights

In 1988 the Dutch band Hardware released their lone-album, "Heavy Nights". Issued on Polypoeka, which was a Spanish label, it featured only six tracks but given that it runs 30:35 ("Foreign Skies", for example of a track on this beauty, is seven minutes long!)  it leaves nothing to be desired! Track after track of gem-worthy heavy metal with a gent named Wim Landers acting as the lead vocalist. Leave it to the a place like the Netherlands to give us such a simple and yet brilliant affair and then make it a one and done release! What gives? Here we have a Dutch band that had to sign with a Spanish label? Why? Seems odd right? I mean considering that Holland (supposedly) had more then it's fair share of in-country labels at the time why was a a cool band like this left to fend for themselves? Whatever the case the effect this album has had on collectors and fans alike speaks volumes as to it's lasting impact. The guitarists  for Hardware were Rob Van Lierop and Hans Heeregrave and what's (also) odd in regards to "Heavy Nights" is the fact that it looks as if none of the guys involved with this release did anything else. Metal wise and all. If someone has information about what happened next for any of the five members of this band I would love to hear from you. And speaking of the members, the other two gentlemen present on this release are Erwin Van Turnhout and Rob Hendriks (bass and drums respectively). Otherwise the only another thing I could dig up was this album was recorded at Chateau Studio's Tilburg. That's it. Seeing as I have yet to see a vinyl copy of "Heavy Nights" I can only go by the brief bits of information that I stumbled upon online. You can get a digital copy of this traditional heavy metal gem from Vibrations Of Doom while my personal copy (acquired in a trade) is a bootleg on Hot Metal Records and is packaged with the 1986 self-titled LP from Belgium's Breathless. the downside of my copy is that it's a less-then-desirable rip and yes, it's a bootleg. I'd much rather have a legit release so the band members could get their proper-due.
Get a digital copy here:
http://vibrationsofdoom.com/test/test2/Hardware2.html

You can listen to the album here:
http://www.metal-samples.com/2012/01/hardware-nld-heavy-nights-1988.html

Jackal-Cry Of The Jackal

Pure Underground Records
2013

It was back in1989 when Dutch band Jackal, which shouldn't be confused with Denmark's Jackal (or for that matter  "The Lumberjack" one which I actually saw live about a billion something  years ago), released this (initially) 6-track album. Unfortunately back then (in the late eighties/early nineties) anyone that dared to play "heavy metal" faced an uphill battle.While this Dutch band was quite popular in the home-country, and even managed to pick up cult followers outside of their native country,  they ran into the same roadblock that far too many other bands of the era did. As the glam metal obsession gave way to the grunge obsession it was bands like this that got squeezed out. Falling somewhere between Iron Maiden/Judas Priest-like true heavy metal and the early power metal appeal of  bands like Queensrÿche and Scanner, Jackal released a few demos and this EP before folding up shop in 1992. It looks as if the last time anyone heard from this bunch (That is before the band was re-formed in 2007 by original members guitarist John Bouman and drummer Rick Waalewijn) was the 1991 demo, "The Secret Inside". Three of the five tracks from that demo are actually attached to this limited-edition, remastered, re-release as are the two tracks from the group's 1987 demo, "Demo 2". As only 500 copies are being released, which is the same amount of copies that were released when this album was first self-released on CD, this is one of those re-releases that I can easily see selling out. It was bands like Jackal, Vault, Emerald and Black Knight, along with both Picture and Ear Danger (two bands I totally love), that made the Dutch metal scene so freaking cool in the first place. Now thanks to this re-mastered, limited-edition re-release a new generation of heavy metal fans just might get a chance to experience this album. With original lead singer Erwin Siereveld now back in the band as well it does look as if new material is on the horizon. That should make fans of old and new quite happy! In the meantime though (especially if you've never had the chance to hear this album for yourself) why not experience "Cry Of The Jackal" all over again (and with improved sound to boot!) so you can hear how this band started out and why so many of us considered this to be a cult album!