Scorpion Child-Scorpion Child

Nuclear Blast Entertainment
2013

Some while back I found myself pleasantly surprised by the fact that iTunes, of all people, had featured a rock band for their free single of the week. That particular track was an edit of "Polygon of Eyes" and it was a showcase for this Austin, Texas 5-piece known as Scorpion Child. Fronted by Aryn Jonathan Black, whose vocal delivery can best be described as being in the neighborhood of Robert Plant, and featuring twin guitar solos from the hands of (skilled) musicians Chris Cowart and Tom "The Mole" Frank, Scorpion Child ends up strolling down that same very same highway that countless other "retro" bands have tried to navigate over the years.With bassist Shaun Avants and drummer Shawn Alvear rounding out the band, and all eyes set on classic rock and 70's hard rock, this group rolls back the clock to a time when bands like Uriah Heep, Nazareth, Grand Funk and Humble Pie could be found dominating the airwaves. What's most interesting about Scorpion Child though isn't so much who they draw from, but rather who they stay clear of. Most retro bands that can be heard these days covet bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy. Listen in on Scorpion Child though and it's less about Led Zeppelin and more about group's like B.T.O., Ram Jam, Boston, Free, Ted Nugent, Mountain, Molly Hatchet, Rainbow and Free. For a band that features a Robert Plant-like lead singer the fact is these guys have more to do R.E.O. Speedwagon and Supertramp then they do with Led Zeppelin. Even so this self-titled album should easily appeal to fans of Zed Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy and the like. As these cuts start-up and then finish you're left with a feeling that Aryn Jonathan Black, who really does have the perfect set of pipes to lead a band like this, and company could have been transported right from the seventies to our front door. And, as they do steer clear of the usual retro-loving influences, this self-titled debut album is much more enjoyable. The way this Austin act flat-out rocks they should easily secure a spot in the personal music collections of heavy rock/hard rock fans.

Free Fall-Power & Volume

Nuclear Blast Records
2013

More Swedish hard rock? You better believe it! Stockholm, Sweden-based Free Fall are just the latest group to come rocking out of this Northern Eurpean country. Much like their fellow-countrymen Vanderbuyst (who I've covered in the past) Free Fall, which was formed by ex-The Soundtrack Of Our Lives guitarist Mattias Bärjed, plays hard rock the old fashioned way. By that the influences are on the older side of things (AC/DC, Uriah Heep, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, UFO, The Stooges, the Who and Judas Priest) while the actual music that comes rumbling out ends up more fresh feeling. Kim Fransson's vocals are perfectly suited for Free Fall in that he sure does seem as if he was plucked right out of some obscure 70's hard rock act and transported to the here and now! The rythm section is filled out by bassist Jan Martens and drummer Ludwig Dahlberg (International Noise conspiracy) which fits the goal that Mattias had going into this project. While playing in his previous band, which was rock-based, but also integrated other elements such as punk and psychedelic rock,  guitarist Mattias Bärjed felt a calling to form a classic four piece act. In other words he wanted the tried and true band setup of lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Free Fall is the result and this full-length debut album is every bit a classic rock/hard rock outing. It's also a joy to those of us who love all things classic rock and classic hard rock. Though it might come off as too-retro to some there's little doubt as to the talent behind this new 4-piece outfit and the enthusiasm they have for all things late sixties and seventies. In that regard this one's a surefire winner and worth checking out for those folks who still cherish their old LPs of groups like the above mentioned as well as Deep Purple, Kiss, B.O.C, Saxon and B.T.O.

Goldsboro-Goldsboro

Independent/Self-Release
2012

Most bands that undergo radical style-changes almost always seem to go from "hard" to "soft". Metal to mainstream. Rock to pop. You get the gist. Not so with Goldsboro. This power-trio was formed by ex-members of California's Orson. Don't know the name? Don't fret it. Chances are if you're reading this blog you're not likely to be into some Top 40 bullshit. If you are I'm not going to judge. Thing is Orson were one of those "Top of the Pops Mom!" bands with a hit single to their name. Seems though that at least three of the members of Orson figured it out. It sounds strange I know, but these guys found the likes of Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains ("Headline Pigs" is heavy metal meets grunge) and made something of that discovery. In short time their music showed up on shows like "Sons Of Anarchy" and it's not too surprising why. Tracks like "Great White Buffalo", "Redemption Man" and "Angels" are the missing link between classic rock and heavy metal. Of course "Angels" (just like "Headline Pigs") showcases the band's apparently love for older Soundgarden and the like. This is one of those bands that is sure to get a little bit of press, have their music appear on a few programs and have a loyal following of fans who get what it is their aiming for. Unfortunately it also seems as if this band could also slide right into oblivion if more people don't support their sincere take on heavy metal by way of classic rock.

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!

Hatriot-Heroes Of Origin

Massacre Records
2013

Well folks get ready for here it is. Finally. This was a long time coming so it was indeed a pleasant surprise to find this album hidden amongst the promo at Haulix. It's funny as I was just thinking about Hatriot the other day. Weirdly enough I had just about made up my mind to try to drop Hatriot's founder a note to see what's what. Said founder of course is the one (and truly only with that voice!) Steven "Zetro" Souza. With time spent in some of the greats ( he's had stints in Legacy, F-Bomb, Testament, Dublin Death Patrol and Tenet as well as his two stints in Exodus) Steve Souza is truly a legend in the eyes on many. You can count me in that group. His work with Exodus alone is enough to place him amongst the best of the best when it comes to thrash metal vocalists. His fame is already cemented for all time so a band like Hatriot can only add to that legacy. Before we get into the who's who of  Hatriot and the band's sound it's worth noting that the album was produced by Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios (Testament, Heathen, Exodus, Skinlab). Juan Urteaga has worked with some great bands. Far too many to count. So his expertise comes into play on Hatriot's debut album. In his skilled hand's Hatriot has unleashed a great-sounding album with an almost classic thrash production job. It's not overly slick which I like. At the same time it chives it's goal of letting all the pieces fall together in place. It allows the band room to breath while keeping everything in check. While it has nothing to do with the product inside the cover art and booklet was designed by Mark Devito. Again the band choose to work with someone who has been there and back with some choice bands like Motörhead, Lääz Rockit, Ruffians and Exodus. Yes, Exodus. That brings up one point about "Heroes Of Origin". If you are like me and you grew up with those first couple of Exodus albums then Steven "Zetro" Souza will always be the voice of the band. As such you can't help but draw a line between Exodus and Hatriot. That is no knock on Hatriot though. If they can pull off something as killer as early Exodus then you know you are on to something. I'd thus argue that Exodus is the first point of reference, but there are other bands that come to mind. Bay Area thrash is a good place to start. Keep in mind that these bands I will talk about next should all be classified as "early". You know, early Bay Are thrash. Early Heathen, early Metallica, early Testament, etc. Early Bay Area thrash like Forbiden, Vio-lence, Sadus and Death Angel are essential points of reference as is early Anthrax and Lääz Rock (especially around the time of "Know Your Enemy" and the absolute classic "Annihilation Principle"). If you can imagine it Hatriot are a little of all those bounds with a nice chunk of prime Exodus as the main ingredient. By that I mean that this is one fantastic thrash album. It's as simple as that. Love classic thrash? If you answered yes then that is all you need to know about this album. Even so it wouldn't be right if I didn't mention the background players in Hatriot. Steve is aided by four very talented musicians-three of whom are fairly young. You have the young guitar wizard Kosta Varvatakis. I assume he does the lead work on this album and, if that is indeed the case, he is a truly excellent guitar player. Helping him out is guitarist Miguel Esparza. These two guys know their stuff. The guitars are everything you love about classic thrash. They are fast, furious and above all fun! Just like the thrash bands of old! So, that is the guitars which brings us to the rythm section. Here we find the other two young players. The rhythm section is filled out by Steve's sons! Yes, Steve's son's (Cody and Nick) handle bass and drums and they do a damn good job at it! Cody takes care of the bass duties while Nick takes the drums. Talk about a great family activity! What is it they always say? Oh, now I remember! The family that thrashes together stays together! Yes, that it about as cheesy as it comes, but this music is anything but cheesy. With two great guitarists and an excellent rhythm section to aide him this heavy metal legend has created an album for thrash fans young and old. "Heroes Of Origin" is a great new start for Steve Souza and a sign that he still has plenty left in the tank. With his sons thrashing away at his side Hatriot is a new band to keep an eye on. Welcome back into the spotlight "Zetro". You've been sorely missed!

Snakecharmer-Snakecharmer

Frontiers Records
2013

Usually I would start off a review by running down the who, what and where. In a way this review won't be too different then as I'm just going to throw out the line-up first and foremost:
Micky Moody - guitar, slide guitar, vocals
Neil Murray - bass
Laurie Wisefield - guitar, vocals
Harry James - drums, vocals
Adam Wakeman - keyboards, vocals
Chris Ousey - lead vocals

The band (which came together in 2011) is very much a super-group. Those first two names might ring a bell for some as they both played with Whitesnake. Meanwhile guitarist Laurie Wisefield was in Home and Wishbone Ash as well as playing with Tina Turner, Joe Cocker and Roger Chapman. He was also part of the cast of We Will Rock You. Drummer Harry James played with Magnum and Thunder. Keyboardist Adam Wakeman (the son of Yes' keyboardist Rick Wakeman) has worked with quite a few artists ranging from Atomic Kitten to Black Sabbath! And finally, in addition to a solid solo career, Chris Ousey spent time with Virginia Wolf and Heartland. So, there is a TON of talent behind this project. For once all that talent actually amounts to something! I know, crazy right? This self-penned/self-recorded project only gets better as it goes along and better with each new listen. It's a swirling blend of blues rock, melodic rock and classic rock. Musically it all comes together in a way in which this record sounds like a well-loved LP of old. Almost as if it were something your parents would have pulled out and played when you were younger (or at least younger and having grown up in the seventies/early eighties). If you can't picture the beauty of this old-school charmer then fear not. For a point of reference it's a mixture of early Whitesnake, early Foreigner (in a good way!), Bad Company, Led Zeppelin and Gary Moore. It's timeless as well as modern and it's a real home-run for both Snakecharmer and Frontiers Records. This one is going to get plenty of listens in my household.
 

Sammal-Sammal

Svart Records
2013



Is it to early to be talking about "Best Of" lists for the year 2013? It probably is as I haven't even posted this year's list yet. Even so, please people, someone needs to remind about the exquisite nature of this self-titled release next December. This captivating album is a thing of beauty. While Sammal's eponymous debut album will be issued on both CD and LP this release begs to be experienced on a turn table. This is the kind of album where you want to turn the lights off, light some candles and just sink down low into a state of spiritual relaxation. Sammal's debut album might be sung entirely in Finnish, but the bands smooth blend of classic rock, southern rock and progressive rock is a universal language. Especially when you have a vocalist who sings in such an authentic fashion. Sammal are another band that not only looked to the past for inspiration, as retro-rock is all the rage these days just as retro-metal is, but found a way to bring the past into a modern setting. It's amazing how such simple elements (classic rock riff-age, prog keyboards and a little southern twang) can translate into this beautiful and complex sound. It looks as if I'll be adding another LP to my collection soon enough!

Witch Cross-Fit for fight (re-issue)

Hell's Headbangers
2012

This is a classic for sure and that's certainly enough of a reason for me to listen to it and I do regularly. Now it has been re-issued so I get another chance to give it a listen and I sure can't complain about that. Formed in 1979 in Denmark this band knocked out a number of demos both before and after this 1984 LP. What an album this is. It often gets some Mercyful Fate comparisons due to the high vocals and the rambling musical style and the frequent pace changes.  That's a fair enough idea and there is a definite NWOBHM sound too, but Witch Cross had enough of their own style to set themselves apart as well. For 1984 this actually may have sounded a couple of years behind the time likely due to five years of playing before getting a record deal. No matter because what matters is Witch Cross stepped up and positively killed on eight tracks are pure metal on this album. They never stop moving on tracks like "Face of a clown" and "Fight the fire". Songs like "Light of a torch" and "Alien savage" just have the band throwing open the gates and going at it with everything they can bring. It's just constant notes and beats and they change it up whenever they want to, but it also sounds like it's fits perfectly. They really had a knack for getting the most out everything they put into their songs. There is certainly no wasted space. That's a large part of why it's such a great album. For this re-issue the cover is slightly different, really it's the same cover only without the border. Some of the running times are different that on the version I heard before I can't hear much difference in the songs themselves. Still any chance to hear this album again is very welcome. This version will be out on CD, LP, Picture LP and tape.