Freeways-Cold Front

Heavy Chains Records
2017

Freeways is a (N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired) hard rock/heavy metal band from Canada that takes it's cues from the likes of Thin Lizzy, UFO, and Blue Öyster Cult (to name just a few). Back in early September of 2017 the group released the 3-track EP "Cold Front". In addition to the outstanding title cut, "Cold Front" includes the radio-friendly songs "One For The Road" and "New Drag City". Well-written and featuring three songs that could all be considered strong singles(!), "Cold Front" serves as the band's studio debut. It is available in cassette tape, vinyl, and as a digital download. Given how incredible the whole thing is, "Cold Front" would have made my Best of 2017 list had I created one! In fact I feel so passionate album this EP (it's so freaking good!) that I bought it on vinyl and cassette tape!! That is how much I love "Cold Front"!!! Available to buy at the above highlighted link, Freeways first release it one of the greatest hard rock/heavy metal debut recordings out there. This is a catchy EP from a band that has the potential to be the next big thing out of Canada. Hopefully 2018 will bring a full-length album from this incredible band, but in the meantime I am just going to play this EP none-stop!!!

Steel Machine-Purifying Fire

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Lead by vocalist/guitarist Timo Takala (Septure), Finland's Steel Machine previously appeared on this site back in mid-March of 2017 (link). Here it is nearly one year later and this (Motörhead, Tank, and Carnivore influenced!) hard rock/heavy metal/speed metal band is back on the attack and meaner than ever before! Having just loved their 2016 debut EP, "Burning Valves", I jumped at the chance to download this 5-track release. Within the first few moments of opener "Spearhead" I knew that this EP was going to be something really special. By the time the riff-rocking title track closed things out, "Purifying Fire" not only proved my earlier suspicions, but completely blew the hell out of my heavy metal-loving heart!! Whether it is "To the Top" (live Motörhead meets early Tank?) or the almost-Metallica like "Beggars and Liars"*, Steel Machine's second EP is just too damn good to pass up! Released on March 2nd (making it blazing hot to the touch!), "Purifying Fire" is a must have for anyone that loves (raw & real) heavy metal/speed metal, Motörhead, and/or the Belgium band Killer!! With bassist Sebastian Bergman (Chevalier, Decaying, Sodotory) and drummer Juha Forsström (Brainspoon) rounding out the line-up, 2018 should be the year in which some record label realizes just how fucking epic this metal trio is. Until that inevitable moment happens, keep on rocking and rolling Steel Machine.


*As in pre-Black album Metallica.

DMP-1922

Aggressive Rhythm
2017

Formed in 2014 and originally known as Witchtripper, New York hard rock/stoner rock/doom metal band DMP (Death Metal Pope) just released it's second EP last week. The gnarly three-track recording is entitled "1922" and with a run-time of twelve minutes and twenty three seconds it serves as the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2016's "Harvest". For those of you who are keeping count that makes two EPs in the two years that this Long Island-based group has been known as DMP. If you ask me that is a damn good speed rate for these (hard & heavy) occult riff-rockers! Speaking of all things occult, Pentagram's "Forever My Queen" is given the royal treatment thanks to the members of DMP. It's a picture-perfect fit next to the group's two original compositions, "13 Devils" and "Lord of the New Depression". Self-dubbed "Halloween Rock" on the group's bandcamp page, "1922" is the sound of one ghoulish metal group that has it all figured out! From this point forward I plan to follow DMP on their Facebook page.

French Metal Friday: Mystery Blue-Circle of Shame (2016 Version)

Eat Metal Records
2016

Mystery Blue is a French heavy metal band that was formed by guitarist Francis Philippon. Other than a short break in the action between the years 1989 and 1995 this hard & heavy outfit has been fairly active live on the stage and in the studio. Preceded in life by "Mystery Blue", 1986's "Circle of Shame" was the second full-length effort from Mystery Blue and it is has been reissued by Eat Metal Records. Last month I covered Eat Metal Record's reissue of the band's 1984 debut (link). Both CDs were mailed to me by a longtime friend and just like the other reissue, "Circle of Shame" includes additional bonus material. In regards to "Circle of Shame" it is the bonus track "Cries in the Dark". Originally released as a 7" flexi with the title track and an Interview, "Cries in the Dark" was included with the first pressing of "Circle of Shame". The song falls somewhere between late seventies/early eighties AOR and vintage European melodic metal. While it sticks out a bit on this heavy metal album, "Cries in the Dark" does have some appeal and I found it oddly satisfying. Opening with the self-explanatory "Heavy and Loud", Mystery Blue's second album came out two years after their self-debut and it shows the band slowly adapting to the heavy metal sounds of the day. With "Mystery Blue" this French band was part AC/DC and part hard rock/heavy metal. This LP finds Mystery Blue picking up the pace a bit on songs like "I'm in Heaven", "Victim of Guilty", "On the Ground", and "Vicious Game". While none of them are as crunchy as "Heavy and Loud", "Circle of Shame" at least finds these French hard rockers trying to do there own thing. The title cut and "Behind the Blinding Light"* show a ever-evolving band that wasn't afraid to explore other styles. Had Mystery Blue stuck at it, "Circle of Shame" could have been the starting point of something special. By mixing hard rock, heavy metal, AOR, vintage hard rock/heavy metal, and progressive rock (it's a tiny dose but it's there all the same!), Mystery Blue's future could have been dramatically different. They would have needed the support of a proper record label and maybe the help of a good producer, but (post-"Circle of Shame") Mystery Blue just might have been a very cool thing. As it stands now (and I'm addressing this 2016 re-issue more than anything), "Circle of Shame" is an album that should find a home in French hard rock/heavy metal collections. Our everyday readers might want to give this one a listen**, but that is only if you are into the older hard rock and heavy metal scenes.



*"Behind the Blinding Light" falls somewhere between a Dio-lead Rainbow and (seventies-era) Scorpions.

**You can hear this re-issue for yourself by heading here.

Mystery Blue-Mystery Blue (2016 Version)

Eat Metal Records
2016

Mystery Blue is a long-running heavy metal band from France. They were formed in 1978 and this self-titled album was originally released in 1984. It was preceded in life by a 1983 demo and along with the band's second album, "Circle of Shame", it has been re-released by Eat Metal Records. Both CDs were sent to me by a friend/fellow lover of all things French hard & heavy. Chances are good that no one else will remember this, but I originally talked about this group in one of my French Metal Friday features from 2011. If you are interested in checking that out then be sure to click on this link. Otherwise here we go with CD number one.
Formed in 1982 by guitarist and sole surviving original member, "Frenzy" Philippon, Mystery Blue was initially active up until 1989. After a six year break in the action, Mystery Blue reformed in 1995. Since then the band has been active in one form or another. Their last album was released in late December of 2012, but by all accounts they are still playing live gigs. If you want more information about all of that then be sure to check out the group's Facebook page. There you will see new singer Nathalie Geyer (well, she's been new to the group since 1995, but you get the drift!) and the rest of the gang. It's worth a visit if you have the time. Getting back to the topic at hand, "Mystery Blue" was originally released on the cult French label Axe Killer. Much like their fellow countrymen Trust, Mystery Blue's first album was primary influenced by AC/DC. That doesn't mean the whole album is like that, but a sizeable chunk certainty is. It's a hard & heavy take on the Aussie lads that adds in some love for Trust and a few touches of British metal, but there is no mistaking the intention. Seeing as I totally dig the sound of AC/DC gone heavy metal (see: Accept, Krokus, and to a lesser extent Trust), 1984's "Mystery Blue" has always been a jam for me as is. For those people who might be looking for more original hard rock and heavy metal, "Mystery Blue" has that covered as well. Towards the end of Mystery Blue's first album things get switched up big time and you can hear these French rockers reaching for more. With lead singer Michel Torres taking a step or two towards straight-up heavy metal, side B of this 1984 LP helps pave for the way towards Mystery Blue's own sound and it's a solid one! Two years later the band would follow this one with "Circle of Shame" (Dream Records), but this overlooked gem started it all. As noted in my French Metal Friday feature on the group, "Mystery Blue" was (at the time) one of the few hard rock/heavy albums to make an impact outside of France. There is a good reason why it happened. The music on this 1984 album speaks volumes about that subject, but it is best that you hear it for yourself.  This 2016 version tacks on a unreleased demo of the song "Never Surrender". I would take that to mean that it isn't the version that appeared on the band's 1983 demo, but I could be wrong. Whatever the case, "Never Surrender" is a good addition to this updated version. Eat Metal Record's version also comes with a live version of  "Paralysed" (sic). It is a live recording from 1984. As the second song on Mystery Blue's self-titled debut, "Paralysed" sounds better in a live setting, but that might only mean that they couldn't capture the full essence of this band's urgent sound in the studio! If there are any labels that are sitting on live Mystery Blue shows from this same time period then PLEASE release them! I would love to see if this French band had this much raw talent in a live setting or if this was just a random song choice that was captured on tape at the just the right moment. I'm leaning towards the former, but there isn't a lot to go on! Anyway, "Mystery Blue" circa 2016 needs a grade. Normally I don't go that route. I'm not big on grades or numbers, but for some reason I'm down for it today. After hearing this album again for the first time in years it has reminded me about French heavy metal bands and their unsung impact on the scene as a whole. With that "Oh yeah" reflection swirling about in this old brain of mine, "Mystery Blue" gets an admirable B+ and it is well earned! Be sure to keep an eye out for my piece on "Circle Of Shame". And if you're reading this my friend (and you know who you are!), French metal is always welcomed and always appreciated. I cannot thank you enough for this round...

Free Metal Monday: Skell-Skell

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Skell is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Spain. The group's influences include Metallica, Alter Bridge, Megadeth, ZebraHead, Godsmack, Nickelback, and Angelus Apatrida (to name just a few). This self-titled release looks as if it is the band's first recording since forming in 2013 and it is a name your price affair. That's kind of surprising given the quality of it, but seeing as it is in Spanish there may be some naysayers. "Whatever" is my response to that noise, metal being a universal language to these ears. Or should that be (guitar-driven and somewhat commercial) hard rock as a universal language? Truth be told, Skell is a little of both and they are (mostly) at their best when they lean one way or the other (half and half doesn't always cut it folks). Either way, Skell suites me just fine and I have a strong suspicion that others will feel the same. That's of course if they give them half a chance.     

Pretty Maids-Kingmaker

Frontiers Music s.r.l.
2016

Pretty Maids is a (critically-acclaimed) Danish hard rock/melodic heavy metal band that hails from Horsens and was first formed in 1981. Run by longtime songwriting partners Ronnie Atkins (vocals) and Ken Hammer (guitars), Pretty Maids actually started out life as a cover band that (reportedly) played mostly Thin Lizzy songs before making the natural transition over to all original material. Having first made a name for itself with the release of the classic 1984 album "Red, Hot and Heavy", Denmark's Pretty Maids has slowly, but surely built up a nice catalog for itself over the years. In the process this veteran group has seen more than it's fair share of line-up changes and they have witnessed trends come and go. They've also logged a lot of miles under their wheels. Now in it's mid-thirties, Pretty Maids is at that point in their career where they could be forgiven for slowing down a bit. After awhile a lot veteran hard rock bands have this tendency to start phoning in new albums. Staying fresh and relevant came be extremely difficult for anyone...let alone a band that was right there during heavy metal's heyday! Thankfully that's not the case when it comes to Pretty Maids' new album. Actually it's about as far from being the case as one could get when it comes to this Danish hard rock band's 14th studio album. That's right, "Kingmaker" is album number 14(!) for vocalist Ronnie Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer! Obviously this Danish group has come a very long-way since their humble beginnings as a cover band, but who in their right mind could have predicted that they would sound this good some 32 years after their "Red, Hot and Heavy" debut? Exquisitely produced by the one and only Jacob Hansen(!), the forthcoming "Kingmaker" features some of the strongest material of all time from the pair of Atkins and Hammer! Serving as the group's first recording of all new material since 2013's praise-worthy "Motherland", "Kingmaker" finds these talented songwriters/musicians joined by two great musicians in their own right, bass guitarist René Shades (Shades & Peters, ex-!pride!, ex-Sateria, ex-Vegas Vampire) and drummer Allan Tschicaja (Missing Tide, Jane Doe, ex-Royal Hunt (live shows only), ex-Furious Trauma). The end result is a (must-own) album that is chock full of instant classics and all new Pretty Maids' favorites! One song that fits into both categories for me is "When God Took A Day Off". As the album's furious opening track this (heavy rockin'!) song set's the pace for "Kingmaker" and shows just how great it can be when you have a winning combination of strong lyrics and absolutely stellar music. Easily worth the price of admission on it's own, "When God Took A Day Off" is followed by the equally satisfying (and similarly heavy) title track and, in all honesty here friends, it took less than a minute of that song ("Kingmaker") to realize just how special this album was going be! By the album's third track ("Face The World") I was completely hooked, but just in case there was any question as to the overall strength of the "Kingmaker" I kept my ears firmly glued to the speaker and waited for any potential flukes and/or fillers. In-between the hard rock of "Humanize Me" and the heavy metal of "Bull's Eye" there is the timeless ballad  "Last Beauty On Earth" and not one of those three songs failed to bring a smile to my face. Six songs in and "Kingmaker" had  proved my suspicions right. When you get right down to it, "Kingmaker" is Pretty Maids at their absolute best! Whether it's the melodic notes of  "Heavens Little Devil", the AOR-leaning "Civilized Monsters", or the the monster rock of "Sickening" there is not a single miss on "Kingmaker". It's just one good track after another up to and including "Was That What You Wanted". CD-wise the group's new album ends with that cool number. Meanwhile digital copies of "Kingmaker" will supposedly sport an extended version of the killer track. As for what version one should get? Well, that's a tough one, but here's the key thing to remember. Whichever version you opt to spring for you're still getting a Grade A recording from one band that just seems to get better with age. Every song on "Kingmaker" sounds great and so do the musicians involved with this praise-worthy release. At the end of the day not only is this album a must-have for Pretty Maids fans, but anyone that loves (Top of the shelf!) hard rock/melodic heavy metal.