Saturday Singles: Wishing Well-"Children Of Paradise"

Inverse Records
2018

The brainchild of guitarist/primary songwriter Anssi Korkiakoski, Wishing Well is a hard rock band from Helsinki, Finland that is currently fronted by Rafael Castillo. The recently-released single, "Children Of Paradise", comes from the group's upcoming album, "Rat Race". Due to drop on in early March, Wishing Well's new album sounds as if it will be something special. I am basing that assumption on not only the strength of this particular single, but the promo worksheet that accompanied it. While there are really no guarantees in life, I am hoping to review that album in the next week or so. In the meantime, "Children Of Paradise" is the object of focus and it serves as my first introduction to this hard & heavy rock band from Finland. Among many other nice considerations, the well-crafted number features a children's choir and a vintage vibe. It is a smooth track that makes you think fondly about the hard rock music of yesterday. In a world of artificial and fluffed-up hard & heavy (you know the kind of groups that I am talking about) I'll take this style of hard rock any day of the week! Along with the aforementioned promo sheet, "Children Of Paradise" gives me hope that "Rat Race" will light a spark under the tired old scene. Be sure to keep your eyes out for my review of "Rat Race" to see if that ends up being the truth.  

N.W.O.B.H.M. Wednesday: Salem-Attrition

Dissonance Productions
2018

Formed back in 1980 and initially only active until 1983, Salem is a N.W.O.B.H.M./hard rock band that is lead by Simon Saxby (ex-Deep Fix). The forthcoming "Attrition" is Salem's third full-length album since reforming in 2010. Opening by way of the incredible title track (a real rock and roll gem that is as modern as it is vintage!), "Attrition" is the highly-anticipated follow-up to "Dark Days". Including the aforementioned title track, there are eleven tracks in all on Salem's new release. Having first covered this majestic metal/rock band back in late November of 2011, Salem has had some awesome material to be sure. Honestly all it took was one listen to the group's 2010 compilation, "In the Beginning...", for me to fall in love with this group's sound. With that long history in mind, "Attrition" is the best thing that I have ever heard from this veteran band! Thanks to the contributions of all of Salem's band-members, "Attrition" also holds the distinction of the being the most care-free and versatile release to date from Simon Saxby and company!! Speaking of which, Salem is rounded out by Paul Macnamara (guitars), Mark Allison (guitars), Ade Jenkinson (bass), and Paul Mendham (drums). While it is true that everyone has helped out in the past, Salem's new album shows a older band that is not afraid of growth. Wisdom comes with age and Salem seems to understand this more than any other band their age. Now more than ever Salem has evolved to fit the times. Overflowing with catchy hard rock numbers and mature AOR/melodic rock tunes, Salem has taken up a sound and style that could rule modern day rock radio. For some that might sound like a sell-out, but they would be greatly mistaken about Salem's new approach. There is nothing artificial about this album and Salem are not claiming to be anyone but themselves. When it comes to the hard rock smashers, heavy rockers and beautiful ballads on this album it is all Salem and all good! Times might be changing around them, but that hasn't stopped Salem from stepping up to the plate and knocking things out of the ballpark!! Amazingly enough Salem does all of this while still maintaining that core essence that first made people take notice of this talented act. As great as their new studio album is, Salem should be on every top ten list from Europe to here in the U.S. That might seem like a long ways off, but I simply cannot see a whole lot of heavy & heard rock albums being as golden as this release is. With a due date of February 23rd, "Attrition" is a must-have for fans of Salem and anybody that loves hard rock/melodic rock. The album runs over fifty minutes, but with one great track after another it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Between this perfect album and Robespierre's latest release, 2018 is going to be one hell of a year for N.W.O.B.H.M. fanatics!

Badmotorfinger-Heroes

Logic(il)logic Records / Andromeda Dischi
2016

 "Heroes" is a brand new EP from Italy hard rock/heavy metal band Badmotorfinger. It follows the 2013 album "It's Not the End" (which you can read about here) and finds Luigi "Sange" Sangermano (Sange:Main:Machine, Old Flame, ex-Tarchon Fist) taking over lead vocals for the departed  Il Reverendo (Stefano Altobelli). Named after the classic Soundgarden album, Badmotorfinger also includes guitarists Federico "HeavyRico" Mengoli (ex-ex-Tarchon Fist) and Alessandro "Alex" Mengoli as well as bassist Massimiliano "Tommy" Tommesani and drummer Fabio "Barra" Bussolari. On the group's new EP there are three new tracks ("Hidden Heroes", "Needle In My Vein", and "Badmotorfinger") as well as three tracks that originally appeared on the group's debut album, "It’s Not The End" ("No Second Chance", "Afterlife", and "Rebel"). The three old tracks have been "carefully reworked, re-recorded and rearranged". As far as the old tracks go, "No Second Chance" is a new and improved version that is razor sharp(!) while "Afterlife" and "Rebel" are acoustic takes on what were original electrified numbers. "Afterlife", which features a duet between Sange and Viviana "LaViv" Cappelli, is arguably the better of the two acoustic tracks, but "Rebel" (with it's country rock vibe!) is a solid enough number that closes this EP up on a quite pleasant note. Those are the "old" tracks though so what do we make of the "new" ones? Starting off with the HEAVY-hitter "Hidden Heroes", Badmotorfinger's latest material shows off the group's natural growth as metal band ("Needle In My Vein") while still retaining that familiar (and much loved!) hard rock and roll sound ("Badmotorfinger")! Both tracks are over the four minute mark, but whereas "Needle In My Vein" is raw heavy metal with some (old-school) thrash touches, "Badmotorfinger" is pure hard rock love and joy! Much like their early material, "Badmotorfinger" pays homage to the one and only Motörhead! As a longtime fan of Lemmy and company I can't help but LOVE that fact, but then again there is plenty of love to go around when it comes to this Italian band's latest recording!! With the exception of the two acoustic songs, each number on "Heroes" offers a slightly different take on true heavy metal. You've got classic metal ("Hidden Heroes"), heavy metal thrash ("Needle In My Vein"), hard & heavy ("Badmotorfinger"), and even some punk-infused metal ("No Second Chance"). Each and every number here works (including the two unplugged tracks!) and that ultimately leads to a new recording that should make people stand up and notice this five-piece band. For an act that originally started out in 2006 as a cover band, Badmotorfinger has come a long way from it's humble beginnings. One would think that this band would be bigger than it is right now, but things happen for a reason I guess. Hopefully the EP "Heroes" sets some good things in motion for Badmotorfinger as they really do deserve a bigger and better fan-base as well as way more press than they are getting now!

Lizzies-Good Luck

The Sign Records
2016

Formed back in 2010 by Patricia Strutter (guitars) and Motorcycle Marina (bass), Lizzies is a on-the-rise  heavy rock/heavy metal band that hails from Madrid and is (fittingly enough!) named after one of the street gangs from the cult film "The Warriors" (1979). Lead singer Elena Zodiac and drummer Saray Sáez (The Screamin' Fish, Them Autumn Bones) round out this four-piece band that first made the scene with "Heavy Metal Warriors". The nine-song "Good Luck" is this Spanish band's unreal debut album and it was preceded in life by not just the aforementioned 2012 demo, but a 2013 EP entitled "End of Time" and last year's (stone cold killer!) single, "Viper". Skillfully-produced by Ola Ersfjord (Dead Lord, Tribulation, Primordial) at Moontower Studios in Terrassa and Cuervo Studios, "Good Luck" clocks in at just over thirty minutes and it features the amazing sounds of one young and enthusiastic band that wasn't just raised on classic rock and traditional heavy metal, but the whole N.W.O.B.H.M. scene! In addition to "Viper" and my personal favorite, "666 Miles" (which you can check out by clicking on it's official video below!), "Good Luck" is full of hard & heavy gems like "Night in Tokyo", "Speed on the Road", and "Russian Roulette". The album opens up strong with the really cool "Phoenix" (a gritty hard rocker that blends together Iron Maiden, Raven, and Girlschool!), and thanks to it's slick combination of catchy material and clever lyrics it keeps the momentum going until the very end! Available in digital format and on CD and vinyl, "Good Luck" is a fantastic debut from a hot new band that knows what's it's doing and where it wants to go. Ultimately I give this one a perfect 10 out of 10!!
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Sweet Creature-The Devil Knows My Name

Dïet Records
2016

Self-described by it's front-man as "old school hard rock with gloomy lyrics and melodies", Sweet Creature is a brand new hard & heavy quartet that hails from the capital of Sweden (Stockholm) and is made up of musicians from Crashdïet, ToxicRose, This Ending, and Gemini Five. The full-length "The Devil Knows My Name" is this band's (self-produced) debut offering and it is the end result of a side-project that was first dreamed up back in 2014. Founded and lead by vocalist/guitarist Martin Sweet (Crashdïet), Sweden's Sweet Creature seemingly exists in a upside down version of our world where Guns N' Roses, Cheap Trick, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., and Enuff Z'Nuff were Jane's Addiction's primary sources of  influence as they headed into the studio to record "Nothing's Shocking". It's a "crazy" world where the classic hard rock scene of the eighties was more substance than fluff and all the best bands were more concerned about the quality of their music than they were the size of their artificial hair. And finally it is a world where the band Sweet Creature has become a household name. Thankfully that version of reality slipped up BIG TIME and allowed the group to not only escape unharmed, but with "The Devil Knows My Name" in it's possession! Otherwise how do you explain away an album that is as good as this one is? Seriously though, Sweet Creature's first album, "The Devil Knows My Name", is a real gem. In addition to the reflective "Purpose In Life" (my absolute favorite moment on Sweet Creature's debut!) and the album's melancholy title track, "The Devil Knows My Name" features such standout numbers as "Time To Move On", "Away From You", "Our Moment", and "Perfect Day". From the opening moments of "Not Like Others" the lucky listener is treated to a full album's worth of expertly prepared hard rock numbers that are highly-memorable and custom-built for repeated spins. 
As good as "The Devil Knows My Name" is it was difficult at time to believe that Sweet Creature is such a relativity new band. Therefore credit must go to all of the veterans involved with this project. Let's start with this band's driving force and move back from there. While primarily known for his stellar guitar work in sleazy/glam rockers Crashdïet, front-man Martin Sweet excels in his new roll as lead singer for Sweet Creature. So much so it ultimately makes you ask the question whether or not that is where he rightfully belongs! Lord knows this Crashdïet shredder sounds like a natural born front-man on "The Devil Knows My Name", but Martin Sweet isn't the only voice you'll hear on Sweet Creatures' studio debut! Putting in his share of overtime, second guitarist Linus Nirbrant (This Ending, A Canorous Quintet ) not only helped produce this steady-rocking affair, but he also took a turn on the mic!! That means he pulled double duty and helped bring Martin Sweet's dream to life. With Martin's brother Michael TxR (ToxicRose) on drums and Tin Star (Gemini Five) on bass this album is that dream in all it's brilliant colors! Hopefully it is also just the first of what will be many Sweet Creature recordings to come....