Free Metal Monday: Räzerhex-Räzerhex

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Sporting one of the coolest names out there(!), Räzerhex is a rock/metal trio that hails from Gothenburg, Sweden and is lead by guitarist/vocalist Rallylalla. Bassist T-hex and drummer Sigbang round out the line-up for this (damn cool!) band that really knows a thing or two about rocking the hell out of a joint! This self-titled EP appears to be the group's official debut and what a debut it is!! It is a five-track recording that combines elements of garage rock, punk, 70's hard rock, and 70's/early 80's heavy metal. Filled with passion, fire, and a healthy amount of spunk, this highly-recommended EP can be downloaded for free by clicking here. That's a steal of a deal for a feisty and tough as nails release like this!

Hot Coffin-Hot Coffin

Triple Eye Industries
2016

Fittingly enough on sale today of all days(!), "Hot Coffin" is the second full-length release from one of Milwaukee's best kept secrets. This self-titled LP serves as the follow-up to 2013's "LAW" and this refreshingly real album is Hot Coffin's first slab of monster sludge/garage punk rock n' roll with new singer Chris Chuzles (ex-Disguised As Birds). Christian Hansen (guitar), Joe Kanack (bass), and Jon Kraft (drums) round out the rest of the gang and on Hot Coffin's new album you can expect to hear eight smash & grab numbers that cut out the heart of rock and roll and then devour it piece by bloody piece! Sloppy, raw and above all fucking fun, "Hot Coffins" is as geared towards garage rock fans as it older & wiser punks. This one is not to be missed....

You can find "Hot Coffins" by heading here 

The Jokers-Hurricane

SPV/Steamhammer
2015

Rocking and rolling it's way into stores later on in September, "Hurricane" is the latest & greatest release from classic rock/hard rock band The Jokers. This UK band's third full-length album, "Hurricane" serves as the naturally follow-up to the 2013's critically acclaimed "Rock & Roll Is Alive" and this highly-anticipated release finds vocalist Wane Parry and guitarist Paul Hurst welcoming in new members Phil Hartley (bass) and Dan Evans (drums). Formed in 2006 (and veterans of the time honored game, "Good Bands with Bad Names!") The Jokers hail from the North West of England and have made a name for themselves thanks to not only top-notch recordings, but rambunctious live shows! Even still this four-piece band has come a long way since issuing their first album, "The Big Rock 'n' Roll Show" back in 2009. Musically-speaking The Jokers have evolved quite a bit if even between their last release and this forthcoming one. While I can still hear the likes of AC/DC, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Who, Bad Company, Free, Mott The Hoople, and The Faces* here on their new album (and thank the gods of rock and roll for that!) we're also talking about a smooth yet swaggerlicious sound that has been highly enhanced  by way of bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones! So it's seventies hard rock riffs and sixties rock and roll vocal harmonizing to the rescue then? Why yes it is and I'm glad you asked! Well, I mean (obviously) there is a lot more to it when it comes to The Jokers. Don't (for a second) let me mislead you into thinking it's all as easy as that. There's classic rock, boogie rock and the blues. And you'll also find garage rock and even a bit of progressive rock on this LP. But for here and now and with time always being an issue, "Hurricane" really is the best parts of classic rock rock from the seventies and (amazing) vocal harmonizing as popularized by The Beatles! With that said, "Hurricane" never sounds stale or as if it is dated. If anything this new album finds these UK rockers all but taking over the whole modern day retro rock scene. The production helps push this fresh product right up to the front where it belongs and this band's successful ability as songwriters should keep them there. And since this record is every bit a "record" (as in it's a throwback to the days when LPs actually featured great material from start to finish and were not just a few key singles and filler junk!) fans and newcomers alike will have a whole album's worth of cool rock and roll to enjoy and share with others! With albums like this keeping real rock and roll radio alive the scene looks to be in good hands for the foreseeable future!   


 

*Read my review of "Rock & Roll Is Alive" (linked above) for more on this.

Free Metal Monday: CrashDollz-CrashDollz

Self-Release/Independent
2013

They hail from the same bad streets that brought us MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, and the punk band Death. They've played with everyone from Jello Biafra to Great White. They have song titles like "Dumpster Punk", "Bad Taste Barbie", "Female Anarchy", "Sugar Rocket", and "U.S. Punk Bombs". And their lead singer's name is Nikki Darling. Yep, I'm talking about the legends in the making, CrashDollz! Let's all give them a hardy welcome and then be sure to thank the band for this special treat that they have brought for us today. It's called "CrashDollz" and boy is this self-titled affair ever fun! Well, maybe "fun" isn't the right word choice to describe this full-length party in the making. How about "wild"? No? Maybe "crazy"? No? OK, maybe "mischievous"? That's still not enough? Well, I'm stumped for a description then as the truth of the matter is "CrashDollz" is all of that (fun, wild, crazy and most definitely mischievous!) and then so much more my friends! "CrashDollz" serves as my first introduction to this four-piece band and as far as first impressions goes this was truly one of my better first dates! At it's core it's definitely rock (as is R-O-C-K!), but not in the way you might think. It's more rock and roll in the fine traditional of Detroit's previously mentioned greats (MC5, Iggy & Stooges, Death, etc...) or even a band like the Ramones. It's rock and roll the way Motörhead would do it or rock and roll by way of The Runaways if the Sex Pistols had been their greatest source of inspiration! Yes, it's that kind of rock and roll and it is absolutely glorious! But then again, "CrashDollz" is as much about fierily punk rock as it is rock and then it's also about honest to goodness heavy metal! So, you've got rock, punk and heavy metal in an album like "CrashDollz". What more could you possibly ask for? Oh, did I mention how it's available for free on the group's bandcamp page? That's right kids. "CrashDollz" is free for the taking and with a new album planned for sometime later this summer now is as good a time as any to join the party! Recorded at Union City Studios in Flint, MI, "CrashDollz" was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Nikki Darling and her equally awesome bandmates (guitarist Rachel Rekkits, bassist Kevin "Krank" Kekes and drummer Mikk Mannikk) and with nowhere to go but up it's easy enough to see this band going from being one of Detroit's premier punk bands to world-wide favorites in no time flat! Especially seeing as their live show is reportedly ever bit as righteous as this self-tiled album is! I want to thank the band for contacting Heavy Metal Time Machine about their free album and encourage all of our readers to check out CrashDollz's online site for more information about this very cool band!

Stiletto Farm-January Sales

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Here it is boys and girls. Let me be the first to welcome you to the party that is Stiletto Farm's "January Sales"! This eleven track album is the cumulation of everything that is right about the rock and roll scene right now rolled up snugly into 42 minutes and 11 seconds worth of music and for members Stel (bass and vocals) Davyd (guitar) and Newt (drums) all I can say is well done lads, you've more than outdone yourselves! Featuring several numbers that I had previously fallen in love with ("Adrenaline TV",  "Strawberry Sundae Red" and "Decimation Baby") and a truck-load of new favorite moments ("Revenge", "Dead To You", "Covered Bruises" and, well, pretty much every other new song here!), "January Sales" not only continues the fine tradition of drawing upon this band's vast array of influences (everyone from Elvis to The Damned!) it actually one-ups the likes of Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Faster Pussycat and Poison in places! Those particular bands (as well as anyone else coming down the pipeline who might be looking to blend punk's "Don't give a crap!" attitude with classic rock's "It's all about the sweet licks ladies and gents!" outlook!) would do well to take note as this English trio knows exactly how to get it done! This album is a textbook example of how to get the best out your Dead Boys and Cheap Trick influences without resorting to dressing in drag like the twats in Poison! Furthermore there is no way humanly possibly that someone as lame as C.C. DeVille can claim that "Talk Dirty To Me" is the greatest punk rock song of all time when a number like "January Sales" exists! And yes folks, C.C. did at one point in time make that stupid ass comment, but to be fair how could he have possibly foreseen a cool as shit band like this trio? I know I sure as hell didn't! I mean here we are talking about a young band that could be punk's own take on Hanoi Rocks! Need proof? Try on "Charisma" for starters. That one's a real doozy! Wait, what is that you say? That's not enough for you? How about taking a stroll with the slick cut "The Redeemer" then? These two wicked little numbers pay homage to not only G N' R, Hanoi Rocks and Faster Pussycat, but punk bands that dared to break out of the same old song and dance routine. In a very real and very good way it's not just The Damned that a band like Stiletto Farm recalls, but two bands in which the late great Stiv Bators was involved, The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church. If you want to really get down to the bottom of what Stiletto Farms is all about then draw a straight line from those greats to this relativity young outfit. That speaks volumes about what this trio is packing talent-wise! But just in case you don't think this trio can get serious there's the number "Princess". Talk about a sucker punch! Unfortunately we all know that sex is used to sell everything these days and along the way it's selling out our youth. Here on "Princess" the band touches on the topic in sobering fashion. It's only after "Adrenaline TV" kicks in that you are shaken out of this cold brush with reality. Wow.  Anyway, "Strawberry Sundae Red" and "Decimation Baby" we're mentioned earlier and here on "January Sales" it sounds as if they have been given a tune-up as these too numbers rage! Straight-up rock and roll is what we're looking at and along with the album's "attitude is everything" closing cut, "So Yesterday", you're talking about swagger-worthy material that simply must tear the roof off of establishments when performed live! If they sound this good here on tape then why wouldn't they? Band's like Stiletto Farm are made for the live setting as is road-ready punk rock and roll music that explodes out of your speakers once you hit play on first cut "Revenge"! In case I have not been clear enough "January Sales" is a damn fine album and one that I'll becoming back to time and time again! Just as God gave rock and roll to you and I he gave us bands like Stiletto Farm to carry that beautiful message across the landscape for all to hear and absorb. So, if you find that your friends or family can't seem to appreciate the joy of real rock and roll anymore then simply slide "January Sales" out and tell them that they can thank you later!


Stiletto Farm's official website can be found here: http://www.stilettofarm.com/index.html Meanwhile, all kinds of pieces that I've done about Stiletto Farm can be found here:
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=stiletto+farm

Audrey Horne-Pure Heavy

Napalm Records
2014

"Pure Heavy" is album number five for Norwegian hard rock band Audrey Horne. Having loved the band's 2013 album, "Youngblood", I will admit that I was a little worried about being let down by this new disc. Call me a pessimist if you must, but when your first introduction to a band comes courtesy of such a great rock record as "Youngblood" it can be hard to picture any band improving upon that. Thankfully my fears proved to be unwarranted. As it turns out "Pure Heavy" is pure bliss as far seventies & eighties-inspired rock/hard rock is concerned and for Audrey Horne the good times only get better! Now, for those who don't know this Norwegian band, which was formed in 2002 and takes its name from Sherilyn Fenn’s character in the cult TV series Twin Peaks, features musicians primarily associated with the black metal scene. We're talking about a band whose past and present members have played in bands like Enslaved and Gorgoroth so an album like this can come as quite a surprise. A pleasant surprise mind you, but a surprise nonetheless. The thing is the five musicians who are involved in Audrey Horne are such top-notch performers that it all comes across as natural! Up front on the mic you've got Torkjell Rød/Toschie while Ice Dale and Thomas Tofthagen handle guitars, Espen Lien plays bass and Kjetil Greve plays drums*. Each and every part of this band performs at the top of it's game while simultaneously blending together to form this near-perfect rock and roll machine! The individual songs present on "Pure Heavy" compliment each other resulting in this amazing collection of highly-memorable and hook-laden tracks! Favorite moments are too many to count as this is simply track after track after track of cool and buzz-worthy rock! When I reviewed "Youngblood" last year I wrote how the band "has a good sense of melody and knows a thing or two about writing catchy riffs." That is as true now as it was back then. And while I could sit here and roll off the band's influences and try to point out the references to everyone from solo Ozzy to The Sweet let's just say that Audrey Horne has their own vibe going on and leave it at that! Although I will say one last thing. If the slick combination of seventies rock/hard rock and eighties hard rock sounds like something you would want to roll with then you will love this release. Then again, even if you are not all that sure about that sort of combination chances are you'll still enjoy this release. Plain and simple it's fun. It's a fun album from a very cool rock band. And frankly speaking that will never go out of style in my book!

http://www.audreyhornemusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AudreyHorneOfficial

Review of "Youngblood"
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/12/audrey-horne-youngblood.html

*This is the band's line-up as listed on Facebook. As the digital promo did not include any line-up information I am simply going to go by that.

Elegantly Wasted-The Dog Years

Flaco Music
2013


"Keep it loud and stay true". That's the motto of  Los Angeles-based hard rock and roller's Elegantly Wasted and let me just say that wiser words have never been spoken! On "The Dog Years" (the group's 3rd album) singer/guitarists Lenny J and Queen D (founders/top tier musicians) continue their campaign to conquer the world with not just the same kind of killer music that was found on their debut album, 2003's "Greetings from a Strange Place", and its 2007 follow-up, "Desolation Row", but even better material that is rock radio-friendly and (if they still played music videos mind you) custom built for MTV and VH1! And by the gods of rock and roll they might just pull it off! Conquering the world that is or at least all of rock radio! When you're talking about radio-ready rock and roll that is equal parts of old-school hard rock/hair metal (Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Shotgun Messiah, Hanoi Rocks, D'Molls, Enuff Z'Nuff and Shotgun Messiah), classic rock (Alice Cooper, Slade, New York Dolls, The Cult, Sweet and Kiss) and "modern" rock (Foo fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Underground, etc.) it's damn hard not to get excited about the possibilities that could lie ahead for the band if only the mainstream press and the corporate suits that run radio stations these days would just catch up to the band and really LISTEN! There's a damn good reason why Elegantly Wasted still plays all the best clubs in L.A. and has toured toured Europe 5 times and the US twice. Both on and off the stage this band simply ROCKS and on "The Dog Years" Elegantly Wasted has found it's footing thanks to sweet hooks, catchy rhythms, gripping lyrics and highly-addictive song structures! It's track after track of hit singles in the waiting on album number three with not one bad cut to be found among the lot! Released late last year, "The Dog Years" is only now making the rounds online. Had I covered it last year I would have marked it down as one of the best hard rock albums of 2013, but (seeing as it came out in December and all of 2013) I might still cheat a little and add it to this year's Top-Ten as it is just too good to be kept under wraps! Elegantly Wasted might not save traditional rock/hard rock all by itself, but  with an album like this one they are not about to give in and give up! "The Dog Years" is proof-positive that these L.A. hard rock warriors are in it to win it! All that's left now is for the fans and newcomers alike to step up and show Elegantly Wasted that their efforts are not in vain.... 


 https://www.facebook.com/elegantlywastedband

Night By Night-NxN

Sun Hill Production/Cargo Records
2014

Take and mix eighties rock, nineties hard rock and today's modern melodic metal and what do you get? The answer is Britain's Night By Night and their Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead, Bullet For My Valentine, Sylosis) produced album, "NxN". Having already won praise from both the press (Metal Hammer and Kerrang) and fellow musicians such as Rick Savage (Def Leppard), Kane Roberts (Alice Cooper/Kane Roberts), Bill Leverty (Firehouse) and Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem) the members of Night By Night (Ben Christo (Sisters Of Mercy guitarist), Henry Rundell, Tom Daniel, Jonny Thornton & Damien Diablo) look poised to take things to the next level! The only downside for listeners is the fact that this one won't see release until mid-July, but, for those with Patience, "NxN" will be worth the wait! For now why not follow the band via their Facebbok page here: https://www.facebook.com/NightByNightU

Swans-To Be Kind

Young God, Mute
2014

In 1982 multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira (formerly of New York post-punk act Circus Mort) put together the innovative Swans. Three years later Ted Parson joined the group as their drummer. Then in 1987, after a few years spent recording and performing with Gira's experimental rock project, Ted Parson went off and joined Tommy Victor's Prong*. Sometime after that (my best bet would be 1989 or 1990) I happened upon a write-up on Prong (in some long-defunct metal fanzine) where, in the long-awaited wraparound piece where we get to the root of this intro, mention was made of the fact that Ted Parson used to play in New York's Swans. My curiously getting the better of me (a all-too-common problem during my teen years that resulted in one misadventure after another!) I sent away from some Swan material (I want to say it was the group's 1984 EP, "Young God", which, ironically enough, didn't include Ted Parsons!) and from that moment on I had a soft spot in my heart for the band's (then harsh!) take on post-punk. Over time I've picked up odds and ends material from the group** although I can honestly say that I haven't paid much attention to what the group has been up to the last 5-10 years. Now I come to find out that the group is on their 13th studio album(!) with the self-produced "To Be Kind" and it is a dozy! Available as a double CD or a 3LP set (how cool is that!!!!), "Too Be Kind" finds 2014-ear Swans in prime form! Long ago abandoning the harsher side of their sound, today's version of Michael Gira's Swans (or should we call it today's vision of Swans?) focuses on memorizing passages, experimental rock movements and subtle nuances to achieve a broader vision. Over two hours in length, "To Be Kind" is nothing short of an adventure with artificial sounds mingling with strings, brass and "traditional" rock/post-rock instrumentation. There's primitive blues rock notations stacked side-by-side with the band's synth-heavy early work (pointing towards Swans post-Kraftwerk inspirations) and within this man-made masterpiece of experiment rock and roll one can't help but notice how Gira simply is not afraid to take the group's music wherever it happens to please him. That is an admirable quality to have, but unlike far-too-many experimental rock albums (where the message is lost somewhere along the way and said ambitions end up being washed away thanks to an out of control picture of what works well in theory but not necessarily in practice!) a double album like "To Be Kind" actually works as both a statement and a soundtrack! This one isn't just experimental, expanded far beyond the reach and normal expectations of post-rock, it's enjoyable as Gira is a master at creating music with heartfelt sentimentalization. For Swans fans Gira has been building towards a release such as this one, but for those who might be dropping by unexpectedly "To Be Kind" might be a surprise, a real awakening to the awe-struck capability of this long-running New York post rock project. For someone like me, having been exposed prior to "To Be Kind" to both sides of this coin that is the Swans,  expectations that it would be good were squashed early on by the reality that we might just be looking at one of the greatest musical acts to EVER come out of New York! In fact I actually found myself wondering if a band like Swans isn't the real face of modern day rock and roll, illuminating not only New York night sky, but far beyond our boarders and out into the world. What other (currently-active) rock band compares? U2? Not even close. Coldplay? You've got to be joking! No one can touch the brilliance of this act or "To Be Kind", one of 2014's BEST releases! There are a millions reasons for "To Be Kind" to be on everyone's lips, but are we beyond that point as a society thanks to the pure dredge that is broadcast on the airwaves? One has to wonder. You and I though can make a difference. "To Be Kind" is an appropriate title. To be kind to today's generation and save them from themselves we must give the gift that keeps on giving-good music. Purge society of generic pop and silly crap that is passed off as "rock". Take down corporate radio and replace it with a real message of hope. Has today's generation been brainwashed past the point of no return? Only we have the power to find out. So pick up "To Be Kind" and join the fight to save rock music from those who would corrupt it, maybe even destroy it for greed and huge profits.

*Prong also has a new album out for 2014 which I hope to review within the next day or two.

**At one point I had lots of Swans on cassette (both "official" and tapped) as well as on CD (same deal!). If now pressed though I would be in trouble if I had to find it. Somewhere between moving from our old apartment to our first house and then (post-divorce and forced to downsize) moving from our house to my current location I misplaced a ton of music. It's likely still here somewhere, but considering the size of our new place (and by "our" I mean the kids and I) I can't be sure where I put it all!

Steve Weinstein-Last Free Man

Resonator Music
2013

As "Lost & Found" opens Steve Weinstein's late 2013 release "Last Free Man" I took a moment to reflect on the lost art of simple rock and roll. Call it part Bob Dylan part Tom Petty (or Tom Waits with a more keen eye for philosophy or maybe even a smoother take on Eddie & the Cruisers without the sax and way more honesty) or just Steve Weinstein being Steve Weinstein, but whatever it is it certainly sets the mode for this splendid David Baron (Peter Murphy, Lenny Kravitz) produced 10-track release from this part-time rocker/tenured professor of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo. Rewarding tracks such as "Lost & Found" and the title cut are merely the start of this fantastic journey which finds Steve and guests (Bassist Sara Lee of B-52s/Gang of Four, drummer Tony Mason (Al Green, Norah Jones), guitarist GE Smith of Bob Dyan, Tom Waits and Hall & Oats fame, guitarist Adam Widoff (Lenny Kravitz), guitarist Larry Saltzman (David Johansen, Paul Simon) and gospel piano/B3 organist Better Sussman of Whitney Houston fame) drawing from a vast array of sounds and textures so that the music at hand comes of as natural as possible. And that it does. Natural, smooth and organic rock swirls within the likes of "Til I Die", "No Vacancy" and "Seeing Stars" and for those that simply cannot get enough of garage rock and roll "Last Free Man" should be the drug of choice! Lest you think it's all driven by the upbeat early days of rock and roll (specifically mid-late sixties rock!) there's the dark blues rock of "Storm Warning", the gospel-infused "Throw It Away" and a quirky cover of Mission of Burma's "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate". Things finish up with the late-seventies/early-eighties pop punk of bonus number "Girls that Don't Exist" and really I couldn't have been happier with this magical piece of nostalgic rock and roll. Sure enough it could easily fit in with today's hip scene where the likes of Beck and The White Stripes roam about freely and that's a good indication of it's staying power. Still, I'll admit that it's the old-fashioned charm of these numbers that draws me in and will keep me there. Why not join me there then? There's room for plenty on board this pleasure cruise and we could all learn a thing or two about life and love from Steve Weinstein while we're at it!

http://steveweinstein.net/

Captain Black Beard-Before Plastic

Dead End Exist Records
2014

Classic rock and roll from Sweden? And good rock and roll at that? I mean, what are the odds? For Captain Black Beard it's another case of "there's got to be something in the drinking water over there!" as this Stockholm bunch make sweet love to rock and roll on their sophomore release and from the sounds of things it comes as a natural reaction to their environment/hometown. Whether you want to talk about the AOR moments here or the touches of hard rock there (or for that matter the guest appearance of guitarist Bruce Kulick on opening track, "Please Come Home") it all adds up to the same score-Sweden knows how to shape and mold the kind of rock bands that tunnel right in to your heart (you know, down there where good, old fashioned rock and roll still brings a smile to your face and makes you glad that the guitar was finally made electric!) and stay there for times when you just want to let it all go. Captain Black Beard's 2011 self-titled debut album was well-loved by the press and fans alike and this one should follow the same path. So, if it's rock you're after then don't be afraid to give this one a spin as it's the real thing friends!
http://www.captainblackbeard.net/

My Doppelgänger-God is a lie

Self-Release/Independent
2014

"I'm Alex, guitar player with the heavy metal band Lonewolf (https://www.facebook.com/lonewolfdivision). Here is the other project I've joined and I'm playing in: My Doppelgänger". Thus began the e-mail from Alex Hilbert inquiring as to whether or not Heavy Metal Time Machine took submissions from unsigned acts. Of course the answer to that question has been and will always be a resounding "Yes!" with any and all small print as to the matter (if there actually was any!) simply stating "All submissions (from pop rock to black metal!) are welcome whether you are signed or unsigned"! With that, Alex went on to say that the band's sound (unlike the more traditional, power metal leanings of Lonewolf)  is like "Guns N' Roses meeting Metallica with a touch of Lynyrd Skynyrd and with a kind of Hellhamer on the drums ! No musical boundaries , but still very metal...". And from that point on I was off and running, downloading the album and plugging myself into the (D.I.Y.) concept album that is "God is a lie" (http://mydoppelganger.bandcamp.com/album/god-is-a-lie). What's it all about you might ask? Well, straight from their mouth to this page: "The album is meant to describe the degeneracy of a being, lost in a world he can only feel through its violence and its perversion. The unequal fight between the conscious man and his baleful double will bring him to the end of a life that was eventually sauntering on the sinuous road of insanity". Not to far-fetched if you ask me as one only need look out his window to see the truth in it all. But, heavy-message aside, this French is more then words. For this newish (as in 2012 or so from the sounds of things) French band has planted it's roots down deep into rich soil from where their various influences and inspirations* can sprout up and fully blossom! With "God is a lie" the band, gracefully lead by singer Will (or a French James Hetfield disguised in "rock and roll" sheep's clothing!), takes nothing for granted as the whole project, from "the recordings the mix and mastering (with Powerwolf's guitar player in "Studio Greywolf" Germany) to the 16 pages booklet", might look and sound professional, but it is indeed a 100%  D.I.Y. affair. And it's that same sense of self-assured passion that moves these musicians involved and has resulted in a genuine rock record! Sure as the air we breath there's a metal essence to this French collective and there's a real blues mindset to be found within some of the song-construction that appears on "God is a lie". Even so, as you slowly pull away from this album and reflect on the overall riches that it possesses, it's rock, real rock and roll (even classic rock friends) that you end up taking with you. But, don't take my word for it as each and everyone of you is certainly sensible enough to stream this album and take from it what you will. Just remember though that it's not enough to just have ears. No, you have to learn to really listen. And an album like this deserves one's full listening ability so that all of it's riches can be yours! For more on My Doppelgänger be sure to head over to the group's Facebbok page here: https://www.facebook.com/my.doppleganger.official


*For My Doppelgänger it's not just about the obligatory "metal" role models (Metallica, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses, etc.) as the likes of Uriah Heep, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Mark Knopfler, The Rolling Stones and Blackfoot are referenced as well! And yes, it does show in the band's blues-based, hard rock/heavy metal approach to riff-happy rock!

D-A-D "30 Years Of Hits"

AFM Records
2014

If you call yourself any kind of fan of hard rock (especially damn good hard rock!) then the name D-A-D should ring all kinds of bells! With their distinct sound and ability to write absolute ROCKERS ("Sleeping My Day Away" anyone?) this ambitious outfit (from Denmark of all places!) has been going at it now for three decades and this KILLER collection is nothing short of AWESOME! With 30 hits(!!!!!) spread out over 2CDs this one is so freakin' cool that I would even know where to start! Spanning their whole career (from 1986's "Call of the Wild" up to the band's 11th(!) studio album "DIC·NII·LAN·DAFT·ERD·ARK" it's all covered on this sweet-ass collection!) you get early tracks like (nitty-gritty rocker) "Marlboro Man", "Call of the Wild" (the title track from D-A-D's debut album is simply cool!) and "Riding With Sue" (all of which show off the band's earlier, and yet still groovy-like effective, country rock roots!) and later day tracks like "Monster Philosophy" and "We All Fall Down". I'll admit that I haven't followed this band as much as I should or could have (frankly there are a LOT of later day tracks that I was not too familiar with, but this band still has it as evident by the likes of  "I Want What She’s Got" (which was the first single off of  "DIC·NII·LAN·DAFT·ERD·ARK"), and the groovy rocker "A New Age Moving In". Logically this (soon to be released) 2-CD (Digipak) starts at the very beginning with other cool cuts (besides the ones already mentioned like "Marlboro Man", "Call of the Wild" and "Riding With Sue") like "Isn't That Wild", "I Won't Cut My Hair" (sleazy AC/DC-infused hard rock with ever-present lead singer Jesper Binzer doing his very best impersonation of Bon Scott!) and (one of my faves along with the also included "Jihad"!) "Sleeping My Day Away" showing how wicked D-A-D was and (judging by later-day tracks like the smooth "Soft Dogs" and somewhat ghoulish "Scare Yourself") still was up to and including present-day! While this might not be the first compilation album from these Danish rockers it's hard to argue that it's anything other then a great collection given the fact that it really is JAM-PACKED with hit after hit! It's certainly more than a fitting way to celebrates the band's 30^th anniversary and really, if all that you know about this Danish delight is just tracks like "Sleeping Your Day Away", "Jihad", "Girl Nation" and "Point Of View" (all of which appeared on the groups 1989 break-through album, "No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims", which EVERYONE seemed to have back in the day in their personal collection!), this seems like it would be a choice place to start as this career-spanning retrospective album is, above all friends, a blast! And really it is the first "Best Of" collection from this hard rock collective! Given how easily these guys could shift from numbers like "Bad Craziness" (radio rock at it's best this one came from the group's successful forth album, "Riskin' It All" along with represented cuts like the emotional "Grow or Pay" and "Laugh and a Half") to tracks like "Reconstrucdead" and "Naked (But Still Stripping)" (both of which were off "Helpyourselfish" which, as the follow-up to "Riskin' It All", saw the band take their sound in a HEAVIER direction) while also easily making room for numbers as different as "Sleeping My Day Away" and "Something Good". With so much variety it can be a bit mind boggling and all, but really for the reason that D-A-D was able to pull it off as well as they did. There's no real reason why softer/sappier tracks like "Something Good" and  "Nineteenhundredandyesterdaytime" should work, but D-A-D makes these kind of style-changes look simple and even weirder moments like "Evil Twin" seem remarkably in the hands of Jesper Binzer and company! So, what it all boils down to is this. Whether you are looking for an excuse to finally add some more D-A-D to your collection  or you're already a fan and want to get all of the better moments of this Danish act in one neat package then "30 Years Of Hits" looks to be the way to go!
 

Derecho-Coffee & Disruption

 

Derecho/Red Echo Records
2013

Ready to get your rock on? If you answered yes then please allow me to introduce Cambridge-based Derecho. If you answered no then feel free to click your way over to some dreadful Top 40 blog-site. Especially seeing as this female-fronted four-piece, which was formed back in 2010 and sites it's influences as "ranging from 1960's pop to 21st century rock via classic punk", has no intention of taking a backseat to the likes of Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Ke$ha and Lady Gaga! Taking their (fitting) name from a Spanish word meaning "fast moving band of severe thunderstorms" the band, which is featured on the Delinquent Records' compilation "Maidens of Metal" (from the sound of things it was prior to this release), is lead by vocalist/keyboardist/primary songwriter Jo Ash and features within it's ranks well-traveled drummer Mike Ellis. Having worked with artists such as Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix) and Ash Soan (Adele, Billy Idol) this profession drummer adds an extra air of respectability to this UK rock band. Although, realistically speaking and all, it's not as if Derecho needs the extra attention that someone like Ellis would bring to the band as their music speaks volumes about what this versatile band brings to the rock scene. On "Coffee & Disruption" the band, which also features the skilled-playing of guitarist Mike Wheatley and bassist Marc Zyngier, covers a lot of ground from opener "Remembered" (Blondie meets Paramore?) to "Lonely Girl" with it's Fleetwood Mac vibe and even the Dire Straits-infused "Crash & Burn"! All of which is accomplished thanks to the unmistakable talent of guitarist Mike Wheatley. Whether helping Jo Ash turn a number like "Perfect, Like You" into a emotional, pop-driven rock and roll ripper or treading into No Doubt territory like on "Void" (which, trust me on this one friends, is much better in practice then then it sounds on paper with the No Doubt reference and!) he does it all with grace and style! Have no fear though as at it's core this UK-act is still a hard rocking force of nature as is evident on "December". Featuring great lead guitar work, "December", which ended up being a favorite cut of mine of this (late December of 2013) rock release along with "The Silence", teeters on garage hard rock even as the Jo Ash's intoxicating voice keeps the listener snapped to attention! Even on a more laid-back number like "This Mask" there is the undeniable presence of a guitarist who (no doubt) grew up submersed in the sounds of classic British rock. Of course when we're talking about impact-is-imminent classic guitar rock riffs it helps when you have a bass player like Marc Zyngier in place providing phenomenal bass lines! Marc's presence is felt all over this full-length release whether you're talking about a number like the aforementioned "Void" or the dirty rocker "Alibi". On "Coffee & Disruption" it's great to see a band (or for that matter a producer!) that has finally gotten it right as far as recording the bass lines. Here they are clear as day and when you add to that the professional drumming of Mike Ellis you end up with a rhythm section that does more then just hold pace. They are every bit as involved within the process as Derecho's wonderful front-woman and guitarist and as far as what's next for this Cambridge-based four piece rock band? Only time will tell. If more material like we have on "Coffee & Disruption" (from Blondie-driven punk like "Bystander" to the driving rhythms of eighties-vibe rocker "The Silence" this one has it all!) is in store then I welcome the opportunity to roll with this female-fronted rock outfit wherever they may choose to roam from this point out. You can hear the album for yourself at the link below and, as an added bonus, be sure to check out the video to the group's "The Silence" (featuring very cool keys that are splashed against rock and roll garage riffs!) right here (should you wish to see this band live and in living color!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osXiJgv49A0 Speaking of live and in living color, Derecho sure sound as if they keep a busy schedule (as far as playing live in concerned!) so, if you're on that side of the pond and all, be sure to check out this original rock and roll band for yourself. I know I would if I was anywhere near where they were playing! Since I can't feasibly do that I'll just have to be content with keeping an eye out for the further adventures of Jo Ash and her rock and roll cohorts!
https://derecho-rock.bandcamp.com/

Derecho's offical site:
http://derechorock.com/Derecho/Home.html 

Electric Age-Electric Age

Divebomb Records
2013

Last October Divebomb Records, which is a division of Tribunal Records, announced the arrival of a new series called "Divebomb Bootcamp". Initially the Bootcamp series was set-up so that it could "pay homage to seminal record label, Combat Records, and the vinyl 12" releases they originally issued back in the late 80's bearing the same moniker". Translated that means that the series would be used to highlight long thought lost gems of the hard rock and heavy metal underground. We're talking about unreleased albums, lost-sessions and demo recordings from misc. bands. These releases would be strictly-limited to a mere 500 copies and they would include a smorgasbord of cool extras like brand new artwork, full-color booklets with previously unavailable pictures and even new interviews with the bands! All of which is fine by me. Especially seeing as there are more then enough (extremely worthy) "lost" recordings floating around out there to keep a series like this going strong for years and years to come! But, here's the thing. While Divebomb Records might have started off with the notion that they would just unearth lost gems, which again is a damn fine idea all around, somewhere along the way a new idea popped into their heads. Why not use this series as a way to (also) highlight new and exciting, up-and-coming bands that might not otherwise get a chance to step up and shine in the spotlight? Solid idea right? All of which brings us to the aptly-titled Electric Age and this recently released six-track EP. Despite calling Brazil home, and (overall) being from the wrong-time period, this young outfit sounds remarkable British in their approach to seventies rock. Yes, I said seventies rock. Probably the only thing that would give this one away (in regards to it being from the here and now and not the late seventies) would be the more modern production. Otherwise this limited edition CD (we're talking about only 500 copies boys and girls with this sweet EP so you might not want to drag your feet on snagging this one up!) sounds as if it was ripped straight out time and dropped right into the laps of those of us who long for a time when rock and roll was still real and not so "artificial". Lead by the rustic vocals of (rock star in the making) Junior Rodrigues, whose soulful and heartfelt voice sets the stage for what is to come early on with Rainbow meets Uriah Heap rocker "Rise", Electric Age rolls through their Divebomb Records' debut-release with the cruise control set firmly on ROCK! And rock this band does! Cuts like the Rainbow-flavored "Dreamer" and the UFO-inspired "All Night Long" offer up hope real rock and roll is still more then ready and willing to kick down the doors of the establishment and give modern radio rock the old heave-ho that it rightly deserves! Sure, "All Night Long" might also have a bit of (early) G 'N R going for it, but at the end of the day this is a band that is more rooted in the likes of  Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult (bits and pieces of "Echoes Of Insanity" show a clear love for the more straight-ahead rock style of late eighties B.Ö.C and, yes, it is awesome!) and even Sweet (see "Good Times Are Coming") then late eighties/early nineties hard rock! In fact when you hear a track like "Snake Eater" it's not too surprising to find out that the band began life as a Deep Purple tribute act. Besides being custom-crafted arena rockers, meaning AOR lovers should stand up and take notice, both "Snake Eater" and it's follow-up number, "Echoes Of Insanity", sound as if they could be long-lost Deep Purple numbers! A lot of that goes back to the skillful playing of guitarist Luiz Felipe Cardim whose rock riffs make a release like "Electric Age" sizzle! Together with Junior Rodrigues (and let's not forget the lethal rhythm section of bassist Otavio Cintra and drummer Nico "The Boss") guitarist Luiz Felipe Cardim cuts a clear a clear path through the mess that passes for rock and roll these days. The fact is if numbers like "Snake Eater", "Echoes Of Insanity", "All Night Long" and "Dreamer" don't make you believe in the healing powers of rock and roll again then you might want to check your pulse as you're probably dead! This EP, with it's full-color, 12 page booklet(!) serving as nothing short of a spicy addition, is a must for those who love real rock and roll especially the classics!


http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/electric-age-electric-age 

Stiletto Farm-"Bad Reception"/"Strawberry Sundae Red"

Self-Released
2013

"We are the propane kiss, the potent acid spray and we're burning it down, burn it all down. Decimation Baby". Those are the self-penned words of  Stiletto Farm and truer words have seldom been spoken friends. This UK-based 3-piece, having previously made their mark on the Europe's rock scene with their 2012, punk rock and roll/sleazy heavy metal single "Decimation Baby", are said to be "The last wish of a fallen friend...". In this case it's Jason White, the late friend of vocalist/bassist Stel, whose tragic death over a decade ago is still felt by all who knew him. This 2-track release is dedicated to Stel's former band-mate/friend and with the CD's suggestion to "Play Loud" (something you never have to tell me twice!) I sat back and took in what is indeed as fitting a tribute to a departed loved one as they come! Although the current incarnation of Stiletto Farm is relatively new* you would hardly be able to notice given the strength and intensity of this 2-track release. As Stel is up-front let's start with him first and then we'll take a look at the other two pieces of this hard and heavy punk rock(ish) act. Stel's street cred is on full display for all to see and hear on opener "Bad Reception". He comes across as equally qualified in both departments (as both a vocalist and bassist) and with his long time friend/band-mate Davyd (whose guitar playing bridges the same gap between punk and sleazy hard rock that band's like Mötley Crüe and Twisted Sister did back in the early eighties!) standing right by his side Stel gives off a commanding presence. The pair front another "young" band with nowhere to go but up as evident by the shear heart-attack, New York-infused**, rocker "Strawberry Sundae Red"! Together with drummer Newt, whose beats help to keep the pair from going too far off the "Crazy Train", Stel and Davyd take on the challenge of not conforming to life's expectations the only way they know how to. In this case that means keeping it all loud and proud! And on "Bad Reception" they do just that! On "Bad Reception" we find a band of brothers united in their desire to just let go and let it roll! Stiletto Farm, whose bio says that they are all about "Taking the best the past has to offer: Elvis, Twisted Sister, The Damned and everything in between", just do not conform to any set standards in regards to the style of rock music they choose to play. And of course that's a fantastic thing as rock and roll should never be forced to fit into a tiny box. It's supposed to remain dangerous and from the sounds of "Bad Reception" the gentlemen in Stiletto Farm get that! Are they punk rock or are they hard rock? Are they garage rock or are they sleazy heavy metal? Or are they all of the above and then some? I'd argue for the last point there, but whose to say for sure? Everyone will probably pull something different out of these 2-tracks and really that's fine. Actually, that's the way it ought to be when you listen to a band like this that offers up real rock and roll. You can find out more about Stiletto Farm (as well as how you can pick up this 2-track CD for yourselves) right here ladies and gents:

http://www.stilettofarm.com/index.html 

Meanwhile be sure to check out the group's official video for "Bad Reception" at the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMid-elPBkg

* A special thanks goes to Deb over at Knuckle Duster Management for filling in some of the missing pieces in regards to the band's back-story, line-up, etc. 

** Even though we're talking about a band from way across the pond and all (or at least for me folks!) the track "Strawberry Sundae Red" sure sounds as if it was conceived in and then born and raised in New York! It packs the same kind of energy and attitude of bands like Twisted Sister, Anthrax, Kiss and The Rods. It also helps the cause in regards to this group's claim of being "The most pissed off band in the world"!

Sideburn-Electrify

AOR Heaven
2013

On Sideburn's latest release, which features 11 regular tracks on the digital version with 1 bonus cut added onto the vinyl version ("Lazy Daisy Live") and 2 additional bonus cuts ("Never Kill The Chicken Live" and the Beau Hill-mixed "Rockstar") added on to the CD, it takes only a few seconds of album opener "Bite The Bullet" to see where it is this one is going. If the thought of Bon Scott-era AC/DC forming a supergroup with the likes of Rose Tattoo, Krokus and, to a lesser extent, Cinderella and ZZ Top is the stuff that you lay awake at night dreaming about then put down that mouse in your hand and head right here: http://www.sideburn.ch/. Don't ask any questions friends. Just work your way over to this Swiss act's website and you'll be able to find out how to order this CD for yourself. For this is one band that has the whole AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Krokus vibe down pat. Well, mostly it's AC/DC, but you get my drift. If you need a little more then just that description to persuade you though then read on. These Swiss rockers are in no way new to the party even if their latest release sounds new and fresh! Of course there is a reason they sound so "young" as we will find out shorty, but for now a very brief history lesson is in order. The band's story goes way back to the mid-eighties when they were first known as Genocide. Back then it was all about then kind of traditional heavy metal that is born out of a love and respect for bands like Judas Priest. The more "modern" version of Sideburn though is traced back to 1997 or so. Their first album as Sideburn was the aptly-titled "Sell Your Soul (For Rock 'n' Roll)" on which the group began their new life as followers of the almighty rock and roll riff! Fast forward to the here and now and on "Electrify" the group welcomes in fresh blood in the form of three new "young" members. Joining this rock and roll train are guitarist Lawrence Lina & Mike Riffart and bass player Nick Thornton. These younger rockers add extra fuel to the fire that is Sideburn and make an album like "Electrify" sound almost young and hip! Sideburn, which is fronted by the rustic lead vocals of  Roland Pierrehumbert (Roland also plays harmonica here!) and completed by drummer Lionel Blanc, converge on the exact spot on the map where hard rock and classic rock meet and, thanks to the added young blood, they do it in a fashion where it sounds both modern and historical! In addition to the group's mentioned above this is a release that seems like it would be well-suited for fans of  The Godz, The Angels and Airbourne. The leads are terrific examples of a time long passed when honest, old-school rock and roll/hard rock still ruled the radio and group's sung about what mattered most (women, rocking out, partying, etc). The music sizzles with electricity in a way that groups like Kix used to and in their hearts the members of Sideburn sure seem as if they are all about the glory of rock and roll and everything that goes along with that! It's obvious from the get-go that they are having a fun time at what they are doing and they want their fans to have just as good of a time too! Given the album's various song-titles here like "Devil May Care", "Bad Boys, Bad Girls, Rock 'n' Roll" and "Shady Katy" (which is one catchy number!) you know this album caters to the blue jeans and leather jacket crowd, but with it's easily accessible take on barroom blues rock ("Black Powder") there is more to this one then initially meets the eye! This is one band that isn't afraid to try their hand at something "unusually". The band throws a crazy curve ball the listener's way with countrified rockers such as the Kid Rock-like "Bad Reputation" (which is pretty damn fine!) and the near honky tonk number "Destination Nowhere"! Both work in their own right and add an extra (and quite different!) twist to an otherwise near-nonstop rock fest! Other then those two tracks (which end the regular version of this album by the way) it's all about high energy rock and roll folks so if country-tinged hard rock isn't your thing it's not as if it really defines the direction of "Electrify". Much like other bands I've had the pleasure of covering this past year such as AC Angry, 42 Decibel and The Deep End (all of which are equally recommended) Sideburn offer the listener an alternative to modern radio rock/radio metal's stranglehold. This is real, honest to God, (hard) rock and roll which should never, ever fall out of grace!

Lords of Ruin-Life Is A War

1605 Records/ Sullen Musik
2013

If you're a little "older and greyer" like me then odds are pretty good that when you think about it the music of Orange County, California it's punk and hardcore that springs to mind. The O.C. scene was once nothing short of amazing. Is it still that way? I do have to wonder. Or at least when it comes to punk and hardcore. On the other end of the spectrum though everything seems to be in order. From the way O.C.'s Lords of Ruin go about things it sure sounds as if the the heavy rock/hard driving (and even harder living) metal scene is doing just fine. Still, chances are that you may not have heard of Life of Ruin prior to today and I for one wouldn't fault you for that. This California band, whose mission statement and main focus in life is "to bring back honest, powerful & heavy hard hitting rock & roll", didn't appear on my radar either prior to clicking on the link for "Life Is A War" but now I can't help but feel as if I've been missing out! Formed back in the summer of 2010, and with their first show ever seeing them open for Korn (!), the band is currently made up of  lead vocalist Lauren Boquette (Drown, Famous & SiX), lead guitarist Jimmy Craig, rhythm guitarist Travis Dunn, bassist Chico Tovar and drummer Lagarto "Paco" Marley. The three original founding members of the group are Lauren Boquette, Jimmy Craig and Travis Dunn while Chico Tovar and Lagarto "Paco" Marley replaced Eric Dilday & Corey Bush (who both performed on the aptly-titled "Life Is A War"). This 5-track release sees the band channel their various influences such as Pantera, (Black-era) Metallica, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Motörhead, Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath (among countless others) into a fresh sounding beast of a EP! This isn't the first release from Lords of Ruin as that distinction belongs to the group's 2010 self-titled LP. That release, as well as a 2011 EP called "Beehive" and a exclusive new single entitled "Ghost of Finneran" (which you can find on iTunes), helps make up the back-story for this band. The only think is, as the hard-hitting and gritty  "Life Is A War" proves, Lords of Ruin is all about moving forward while doing it loud and doing it right! You can find this EP on iTunes and be sure to head over to the band's website for more information about not only the EP, but their other recordings, etc.


http://www.lordsofruin.com/home.html 

Asomvel-Knuckle Duster

Bad Omen Records
2013

Twenty years have passed since vocalist/bassist Jay-Jay Winter (RIP 2010) and guitarist Lenny Robinson first started Asomvel. Back then the group, which also featured ex-Cathedral/Acid Reign drummer Mark Wharton, could not have possibly guessed all that would happen to their band in the coming years. Before they could even get around to releasing their first demo, "The Blood Eye", which featured a "fitting" cover of a great white shark on the move, they reportedly went through ten or so different drummers in a way that would make even Spinal Tap chuckle! Not so funny though was the tragic passing of Jay-Jay Winter. Killed in a road accident in 2010, Jay-Jay's death would nearly crippled the band. While ex-Deathwing bassist Conan, who also plays/or did play bass in deathcore act Tangaroa (not quite sure if he still plays with them or not as there are conflicting reports online), would step in to handle vocals and bass even he knew that he could never really replace Jay-Jay and to this day both the band members themselves and fans still consider Jay-Jay to be a member of the band. Now, I freely admit that this release was a spur of the moment/impulse buy and prior to receiving it in the mail I had never heard of this British three-peace (which is rounded out now by drummer Jason hope) so I do not know how this one could or would compare to their older material. As I simply did not wish to be bias one way or the other I purposely choose not to listen to any of their previous recordings. That means "Knuckle Duster" is it for me as heck, I didn't even listen to samples of this one before I ordered it off of Amazon! I simply went by a review that I read in some metal mag (or was it online?) and now you will have the same option if you want. Here's the nitty-gritty details of this English heavy metal act. And actually gritty is as good a place to start as any. These English rockers play real, working man blues, drink hard and play even harder rock/metal that sounds as if it was honed by playing in every dive bar, biker hangout and empty parking lot between in Europe and the U.S.! That's a compliment of course as these fine gentlemen play working-clash rock and roll with lyrics that reflect a life that's seen it's fair share of blood, sweat and cold beer. These guys sound as if it's been a hell of journey, leaving behind them a trail of cheap liqueur and "Bad Mojo Rising" women, but we all know that "it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll"! That said, in Conan we find a better then advertised bassist whose gruff, whisky-soaked vocals fall somewhere between Zodiac Mindwarp (the man and not the band) and a certain Lemmy Kilmister (the main man period!). He's able to convey real emotion with his delivery while the rest of the group as a whole, which at times (admittedly) did have me thinking about Lemmy's band, rock the part the freak out with a wonderful blend of sleazy hard rock, raw blues-rock, drunk punk rock and of course heavy metal! On one hand these guys (deservedly so) fit into perfectly into my ideal collection of all things "loud and proud". On the other hand though these English musicians do a good job of playing "cut  the crap all you crazy cats and get down with your bad selves!" rock and roll that wouldn't be too far out of place if served up hot and spicy alongside the likes of Neil Young, Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC or Ted Nugent! So yes, even though I "took a big chance at the high school dance" when I bought this one blind it paid off big time! This is one of those "9 points out of 10 points" or "three and a half stars out of four" albums that's a leap and a (HUGE) bounce better then (and yes, it does make me choke up to say this as I'm a total fanboy for the band!) "Aftershock" (I'll cover Lemmy's latest release tomorrow if I can) from a band that is "shut your mouth I'm just talking about Shaft" epic in magnitude and ready for the big time/primetime baby!

Joan Jett and the Blackhawks-Unvarnished (Deluxe Edition)

Blackheart Records
2013

"Unvarnished" marks the tenth full-length studio album from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. It's also Joan Jett's first studio album in seven years! Her last studio album, 2006's "Sinner", featured a couple of covers from the likes of Sweet and The Replacements while this new one features ten original tracks with contributions from Dave Grohl ( The album's opener, "Any Weather (606 Version)", was co-written by Grohl and while it's a decent enough number the album seems as if it get's better as it rolls along!) and Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!). The "Deluxe Edition" that I have been enjoying was downloaded off of iTunes and features fourteen tracks in all. With the addition of  "Seriously", "Different (Demo Version)", "Any Weather (Blackhearts)" and "Everybody Needs a Hero" the album takes on a different vibe, but you simply cannot go wrong with whatever version you purchase! Especially as the standard release has some really solid material like the pop-rock "Soulmates to Strangers" (co-written with Laura Jane Grace), which works better then you would expect it to (as does the track "Different"), and the insanely catchy "TMI". And speaking of "TMI", only someone like Joan Jett could make a simple chorus like "TMI TMI Too Much Info" sound this freakin' cool! Seriously friends "TMI", which recalls the glam rock days of the seventies (Sweet, Gary Glitter), was stuck in my head for well over a week afterwards! Then there's "Make It Back" which features some great guitar playing as well as the semi-rocker "Reality Mentality". Both "TMI" and "Reality Mentality" take jabs at reality TV (which is anything but reality folks) and this new "Hey everyone look at me!" world we live in where people feel obsessed with sharing their whole lives on Facebook and the like. Meanwhile, given the impact of losing both of her parents, both "Fragile" and "Hard To Grow Up" touch upon more personal and pressing issues for Joan such as loss and facing the reality that time has a way of changing your life in ways you can never truly be prepared for. And of course the Dave Grohl collaboration "Any Weather (606 Version)" was written in response to the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy. While it's not the best studio album to come from Joan and her band-mates it's still a thoroughly enjoyable release that grows on you over time. While my version is a digital deluxe version it does look as if Best Buy's deluxe CD version can with four lives cuts so it's not as if any of the misc. releases of "Unvarnished" would be a bad deal.