...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

This shit is like fucking candy. Exxplorer's unknown classic "Symphonies Of Steel" is filled to the brim with metal goodness. Perhaps maybe a little bit "too full". This album is like those beakers in high school that you filled with water and then tossed a little weight in and watched as the water over flowed. This beaker must be filled with a bizarre liquid, because if my facial expression was the meniscus, I would be frowning at one moment and smiling the next. I go from loving every note that comes from Ed Lavolpe's twittering fingers to hanging my head in shame at other moments as Exxplorer try too hard, make amateur mistakes and/or mock the very song they are so intimately involved with.

While Ed Lavolpe's guitar playing is nothing to frown at, his tone could use a small kick in its bony ass. Fellow axeman Kevin Kennedy is in tow with talent and a general lack of heaviness. The guitars have a vintage sound to them that anyone could enjoy but a slight tonal adjustment would leave one to face a slightly angrier bear. Both rip through a scattering of dual leads and solos across the album. Lenny Rizzo's vocals are decent though varied throughout the album. His vocals in "Going To Hell" are prepubescent. He could be singing this song while having his braces adhered to his front teeth. He makes up for this in the "Objection Overruled" duo where he sounds like Paul DiAnno on the mellow songs on Iron Maiden's self titled. Rizzo's vocals have a natural reverb to them that fills in some of the space they lack. He has the range but the power isn't there at times. Jimmy Gardner's bass playing is fantastic throughout the album and really helps the album matter. He has that 80's bass style down pat. He has a really good tone and is tight throughout the album. Mike Moyer's drums are typical and nothing special but he lays a strong foundation and pounds out some noticeable fills.

The album's songs are generally awesome. Opener "City Streets" is a memorable and standard metal tune with a great solo and those old school riffs that no one can live without. It's got plenty of headbanging moments and will make you want to romp around your room while being careful not to make the phonograph skip. "Run For Tomorrow" is, for me, the album's highlight with a great flow after the intro, which, as far as I'm concerned, is a few measures too long, and a powerful essence which leaves me wishing the song was just slightly longer. The band's namesake track chugs and gallops though never amounts to much - a let down because the opportunities were there. Cool solo though. "Metal Detectors" is stuck in my mind as the finest example of metal's acknowledgment of its own image. It's a song we've all heard before, talking about all those things metal talks about. You know...metal, steel... With lines like these, Manowar can sit proudly and smile at their disciples. "I'm hungry for metal, I'm searchin' for steel" or "The power of metal, is driving you near" and "Our numbers are growing, like a metal storm" And my favorite... "Don't let them tell you that metal is dead, they listen to Springsteen, it's gone to their head." Eric Adams would be enthralled with this track.

The two tracks / segments which form the "Objection Overruled" section of the album are no lackluster pieces of crap. The the first part is mainly slow, raunchy and doomy until the last two minutes. Basically, I would compare this entire track to "Strange World" or "Remember Tomorrow." I also get a hint of Geddy Lee in the vocals along with DiAnno. Rizzo's vocals are on full display here and they are wearing a fucking full patch covered tuxedo (damn I want one of those!). While the track picks up pace in the second half, It still maintains a general mid paced tempo and has the albums best solo section as well. This is as good as any of Fates Warning's B-sides. It ain't "Fata Morgana" or "Guardian" but I like it just as much as "Giant's Lore" or "Orphan Gypsy."

The field has some stumps though. The only-piano second track "Prelusion" is placed terribly and really doesn't prelude anything. It shares a theme that returns at the end of "Run For Tomorrow" though I'm left wondering who had the idea that a four minute piano piece as the second track on the album would help pacing and move the album along. Granted, the piano piece is really good, it just doesn't belong there. Fourth track "World War III" is a ballad. Yeah, they were all the rage at the time and the lyrics really aren't entirely about people dying, machine guns and German bombers dropping their payload on England's Anderson shelters but the song just drags. "Going to Hell" is the album's weakest track by more than a longshot. Rizzo's vocals sound stolen from Jane's Addiction. The song's lacks much drive and though a generally good riff appears once or twice, it is lost amidst awkward chord choices. A skipper if I ever heard one.

Still, of all the traditional metal that came out of New Jersey or the USA in general, for 1985, this was out there and tried to stand apart from the pack of NWOBHM imitators. If you're still skeptical that this is really that good, take note that this was originally released by the same label putting out the classic Manilla Road albums. That should be word enough that this is a worthy forged piece of metal. And Exxplorer is still fucking exxploring! Check these guys out if you get a chance, I have a feeling you will feel like it was 1986 again. Don't forget your denim and leather though, or you won't be allowed to enter.

... or raise your fists in the air and shout "The metal detectors are losing control!!!!"

Orionmetalhead



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD X - Album Remastered By Achim Koehler:
1. City Streets 3:45
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

2. Prelusion 1:54
Piano - Jennifer Sakowski

3. Run For Tomorrow 4:55
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

4. Exxplorer 4:19
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

5. World War III 4:26
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

6. Going To Hell 5:13
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

7. Objection Overruled : A) Guilty As Charged 7:11
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

8. Objection Overruled : B) Phantasmagoria 4:50
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

9. Metal Detectors 4:33
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

10. X-Termination 3:33
Vocals - Armondo Diaz



CD XX - Symphonies Of Steel Bonus Tracks (2000) + The Flying Dutchman Demo (1985):
1. The Magic Hills (Demo 2000) 5:47
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

2. Man From Nowhere (Demo 2000) 5:49
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

3. The Cycle (Demo 2000) 4:59
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

4. You Made Me Live (Demo 2000) 6:11
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

5. The Flying Dutchman (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 6:05
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

6. Forgotten Warrior (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 6:20
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

7. One (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 3:32
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo



..::OBSADA::..

Mike Moyer - Drums
Ed LaVolpe - Guitars, Guitars (classical)
Kevin 'Koncrete' Kennedy - Guitars (12-string), Guitars
Jimmy G. - Vocals (additional), Bass
Lennie 'Big Daddy' Rizzo - Vocals




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgg2FXe5ZQE



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

This shit is like fucking candy. Exxplorer's unknown classic "Symphonies Of Steel" is filled to the brim with metal goodness. Perhaps maybe a little bit "too full". This album is like those beakers in high school that you filled with water and then tossed a little weight in and watched as the water over flowed. This beaker must be filled with a bizarre liquid, because if my facial expression was the meniscus, I would be frowning at one moment and smiling the next. I go from loving every note that comes from Ed Lavolpe's twittering fingers to hanging my head in shame at other moments as Exxplorer try too hard, make amateur mistakes and/or mock the very song they are so intimately involved with.

While Ed Lavolpe's guitar playing is nothing to frown at, his tone could use a small kick in its bony ass. Fellow axeman Kevin Kennedy is in tow with talent and a general lack of heaviness. The guitars have a vintage sound to them that anyone could enjoy but a slight tonal adjustment would leave one to face a slightly angrier bear. Both rip through a scattering of dual leads and solos across the album. Lenny Rizzo's vocals are decent though varied throughout the album. His vocals in "Going To Hell" are prepubescent. He could be singing this song while having his braces adhered to his front teeth. He makes up for this in the "Objection Overruled" duo where he sounds like Paul DiAnno on the mellow songs on Iron Maiden's self titled. Rizzo's vocals have a natural reverb to them that fills in some of the space they lack. He has the range but the power isn't there at times. Jimmy Gardner's bass playing is fantastic throughout the album and really helps the album matter. He has that 80's bass style down pat. He has a really good tone and is tight throughout the album. Mike Moyer's drums are typical and nothing special but he lays a strong foundation and pounds out some noticeable fills.

The album's songs are generally awesome. Opener "City Streets" is a memorable and standard metal tune with a great solo and those old school riffs that no one can live without. It's got plenty of headbanging moments and will make you want to romp around your room while being careful not to make the phonograph skip. "Run For Tomorrow" is, for me, the album's highlight with a great flow after the intro, which, as far as I'm concerned, is a few measures too long, and a powerful essence which leaves me wishing the song was just slightly longer. The band's namesake track chugs and gallops though never amounts to much - a let down because the opportunities were there. Cool solo though. "Metal Detectors" is stuck in my mind as the finest example of metal's acknowledgment of its own image. It's a song we've all heard before, talking about all those things metal talks about. You know...metal, steel... With lines like these, Manowar can sit proudly and smile at their disciples. "I'm hungry for metal, I'm searchin' for steel" or "The power of metal, is driving you near" and "Our numbers are growing, like a metal storm" And my favorite... "Don't let them tell you that metal is dead, they listen to Springsteen, it's gone to their head." Eric Adams would be enthralled with this track.

The two tracks / segments which form the "Objection Overruled" section of the album are no lackluster pieces of crap. The the first part is mainly slow, raunchy and doomy until the last two minutes. Basically, I would compare this entire track to "Strange World" or "Remember Tomorrow." I also get a hint of Geddy Lee in the vocals along with DiAnno. Rizzo's vocals are on full display here and they are wearing a fucking full patch covered tuxedo (damn I want one of those!). While the track picks up pace in the second half, It still maintains a general mid paced tempo and has the albums best solo section as well. This is as good as any of Fates Warning's B-sides. It ain't "Fata Morgana" or "Guardian" but I like it just as much as "Giant's Lore" or "Orphan Gypsy."

The field has some stumps though. The only-piano second track "Prelusion" is placed terribly and really doesn't prelude anything. It shares a theme that returns at the end of "Run For Tomorrow" though I'm left wondering who had the idea that a four minute piano piece as the second track on the album would help pacing and move the album along. Granted, the piano piece is really good, it just doesn't belong there. Fourth track "World War III" is a ballad. Yeah, they were all the rage at the time and the lyrics really aren't entirely about people dying, machine guns and German bombers dropping their payload on England's Anderson shelters but the song just drags. "Going to Hell" is the album's weakest track by more than a longshot. Rizzo's vocals sound stolen from Jane's Addiction. The song's lacks much drive and though a generally good riff appears once or twice, it is lost amidst awkward chord choices. A skipper if I ever heard one.

Still, of all the traditional metal that came out of New Jersey or the USA in general, for 1985, this was out there and tried to stand apart from the pack of NWOBHM imitators. If you're still skeptical that this is really that good, take note that this was originally released by the same label putting out the classic Manilla Road albums. That should be word enough that this is a worthy forged piece of metal. And Exxplorer is still fucking exxploring! Check these guys out if you get a chance, I have a feeling you will feel like it was 1986 again. Don't forget your denim and leather though, or you won't be allowed to enter.

... or raise your fists in the air and shout "The metal detectors are losing control!!!!"

Orionmetalhead



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD X - Album Remastered By Achim Koehler:
1. City Streets 3:45
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

2. Prelusion 1:54
Piano - Jennifer Sakowski

3. Run For Tomorrow 4:55
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

4. Exxplorer 4:19
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

5. World War III 4:26
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

6. Going To Hell 5:13
Vocals - Armondo Diaz

7. Objection Overruled : A) Guilty As Charged 7:11
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

8. Objection Overruled : B) Phantasmagoria 4:50
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

9. Metal Detectors 4:33
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

10. X-Termination 3:33
Vocals - Armondo Diaz



CD XX - Symphonies Of Steel Bonus Tracks (2000) + The Flying Dutchman Demo (1985):
1. The Magic Hills (Demo 2000) 5:47
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

2. Man From Nowhere (Demo 2000) 5:49
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

3. The Cycle (Demo 2000) 4:59
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

4. You Made Me Live (Demo 2000) 6:11
Vocals - Jim Abbiati

5. The Flying Dutchman (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 6:05
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

6. Forgotten Warrior (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 6:20
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo

7. One (The Flying Dutchman Demo) 3:32
Vocals - Lenny Rizzo



..::OBSADA::..

Mike Moyer - Drums
Ed LaVolpe - Guitars, Guitars (classical)
Kevin 'Koncrete' Kennedy - Guitars (12-string), Guitars
Jimmy G. - Vocals (additional), Bass
Lennie 'Big Daddy' Rizzo - Vocals




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgg2FXe5ZQE



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

This was Virgin Steele’s debut album, the self titled release which is so far away from their current sound. Virgin Steele sees the band in their most basic of forms, far from the mighty warrior they would become over their career. Here the band is like an adolescent squire, with nothing but the vest and briefs. It would take years for the band to amass their armour, put manly hairs on their collective chests, and manage to unleash the great sword of fire from its sheathe. Before pressing too deep, I must clear up that, in the interest of the rewind, I’m going to be reviewing the original ten tracks, though from the re-issue of the album (good luck finding an original). Now that that’s out of the way, let me unlock the door to the past and take a look at Virgin Steele.

The album opens up with the double track “Minuet in G Minor/ Danger Zone”, which was a quite common practice in the early eighties in particular, and basically it’s an intro and a song in one track. The intro part is something of a prelude to the bombast that would continually worm its way into the bands sound. After this long part, the band kicks into some traditional eighties heavy metal riffing, and David DeFeis begins cooing all over. His youthful voice is quite different to the more rip-roaring style he would develop and hone over the band’s nineties releases. He shrills and shrieks all over Virgin Steele, which is what the eighties were all about, and if I had to draw any comparison I could only really mention Crimson Glory’s late, great Midnight.

Vying for the spotlight we have Jack Starr, who would go on to play one more album with Virgin Steele. Jack Starr’s playing is good, and particularly virtuosic, almost neoclassical in places. He spews leads forth as often as he can, and the album feels largely like Jack and David are pushing each other out of the way to show the world what they can do. It works though, and gives the album its main charm, which is the youthful energy. The music contained is quite far from the heavy/ power metal Virgin Steele would later become renowned for. Here their sound is pure vintage eighties metal, and early eighties metal at that.

For all its charm, Virgin Steele is a very uneven album, and possibly the band’s most uneven release. Between standard heavy metal numbers, hair metal style cringers, and a ballad which would have even your mother rearing; Virgin Steele is that embarrassing first year at school, or first day at work where you confuse the bathrooms and end up in the ladies room (anyone?) The closest we get to glory here is “Children Of The Storm”, which shows the band taking their first, shaky steps into more epic territory, or in the band’s namesake track, which has some of the heavier riffs on the album. However, taking the album as it is, and discounting everything they would later do; the first three songs are actually pretty cool early eighties style metal. Jack Starr’s guitar work is definitely the highpoint of the album, and even when they’re squeezing out the shocking ballad “Still In Love With You”, he always nails a sweet lick to keep from cheese poisoning.

Despite its shortcomings, for a debut early-eighties album it definitely has some merit in some of the riffs and arrangement, particularly “Virgin Steele” and “Children Of The Storm”. Jack Starr’s guitar work also helps in spades keeping interest. I’d say this one would appeal to those curious of the early metal scene, as well as eighties metal fans in general; provided they can stomach their fair share of cheese. As for Virgin Steele fans, you should probably leave this one until late in your exploration of the band, if at all. Pitted against the rest of their discography, it isn’t a great representation of what the band is about. Plus David DeFeis’ vocals are almost too much here, and that’s saying something.

Andromeda Unchained


Virgin Steele's first effort is no "Ample Destruction" or "Burning Star". It is neither a USPM classic nor a grand glorious affair like many a Virgin Steele album. In fact, it has aged rather horribly and sounds all the more bashfully archaic for it. Thankfully, it knows its place. It may have no standing in the wider spectrum of things, but boy, does it rock with all its might. It doesn't pretend anything and it perfectly depicts the sound of a band operating on purely primal thrills.

Most people know Virgin Steele for their fiery front man David DeFeis at the helm of things but on their first album, underground guitar hero Jack Starr was the center that held everything together. His riffs sound layered and admirably dynamic-never lazy! He uses up a lot of licks in every song that you imagine he won't have any left but he surprises with these constantly chiming blues-based solos delivered so effortlessly and with such finesse. The only downside is that after a while you realize there isn't much variation and they all sound a bit similar.

DeFeis, by comparison, is the ultimate picture of variation. If the monotony of Joey Ayvazian's drumming was designed to drive you away then David DeFeis was intended to make you stay awhile. He'll charm his way through the most ridiculous of statements yet come out with his sheen of sophistication all intact. Even when he plays the part of pleading romantic as on "Still In Love With You" he still maintains a leery note in his voice. The Robert Plant influences really run deep. On the best cuts of the album-the title track and "Children Of The Storm"-he really comes through like a champ. On the other "party-over-here" 80's crap slabs, he dose tend to nag.

This was their first album of course, and he had yet to master the higher end of his voice. As a consequence, meant to be powerful falsettos came out in a rapid shrillness and the lack of a more manly lower end that he exhibits on later works gave us silly baby-talking vocals instead. Remember Percy's studio cooked shrill delivery on "The Song Remains The Same"? That's pretty much how Dave sang on half this record. The teasing lyric on "Pictures On You" that goes; "stop that nagging noise" sums up my feelings just right. "Danger Zone" on the other hand sounds like it was stolen from Savatage's "Sirens" but rocks awesomely nonetheless.

By "Guardians Of The Flame", Virgin Steele were beginning to show some epic skin and no influences from their debut carried on to any later albums making it all the more forgettable. A good thing, perhaps? Surely even purists regard it as only a relic if they feel so desperate as to treasure every Steele album. For me it is simply a sign that better days were coming.

VirginSteele-Helstar



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Minuet in G Minor
2. Danger Zone
3. American Girl
4. Dead Ends Kids
5. Drive On Thru
6. Still In Love With You
7. Children Of The Storm
8. Pictures On You
9. Pulverizer
10. Living In Sin
11. Virgin Steele

12. The Lesson (Demo - Bonus Track)
13. Life of Crime (Demo - Bonus Track)
14. Burn The Sun (Demo - Bonus Track)
15. American Girl (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
16. Dead End Kids (Remixed - Bonus Track)
17. Drive On Through (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
18. Living In Sin (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
19. A Token Of My Hatred (Live - Bonus Track)

VIRGIN STEELE 'I' CD includes the debut album (originally released in 1982) re-mastered and selected tracks with new mix. 2018 CD version comes with 24-pages booklet including lyrics, photos, liner notes by David DeFeis and 8 bonus tracks.



..::OBSADA::..

David DeFeis - vocals, keyboards, producer
Jack Starr - all guitars
Joe O'Reilly - bass
Joey Ayvazian - drums




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwVoSj2ChZM&list=PLBV4zVUrI5diGU0v0mWwnISCySTCikrsJ



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

This was Virgin Steele’s debut album, the self titled release which is so far away from their current sound. Virgin Steele sees the band in their most basic of forms, far from the mighty warrior they would become over their career. Here the band is like an adolescent squire, with nothing but the vest and briefs. It would take years for the band to amass their armour, put manly hairs on their collective chests, and manage to unleash the great sword of fire from its sheathe. Before pressing too deep, I must clear up that, in the interest of the rewind, I’m going to be reviewing the original ten tracks, though from the re-issue of the album (good luck finding an original). Now that that’s out of the way, let me unlock the door to the past and take a look at Virgin Steele.

The album opens up with the double track “Minuet in G Minor/ Danger Zone”, which was a quite common practice in the early eighties in particular, and basically it’s an intro and a song in one track. The intro part is something of a prelude to the bombast that would continually worm its way into the bands sound. After this long part, the band kicks into some traditional eighties heavy metal riffing, and David DeFeis begins cooing all over. His youthful voice is quite different to the more rip-roaring style he would develop and hone over the band’s nineties releases. He shrills and shrieks all over Virgin Steele, which is what the eighties were all about, and if I had to draw any comparison I could only really mention Crimson Glory’s late, great Midnight.

Vying for the spotlight we have Jack Starr, who would go on to play one more album with Virgin Steele. Jack Starr’s playing is good, and particularly virtuosic, almost neoclassical in places. He spews leads forth as often as he can, and the album feels largely like Jack and David are pushing each other out of the way to show the world what they can do. It works though, and gives the album its main charm, which is the youthful energy. The music contained is quite far from the heavy/ power metal Virgin Steele would later become renowned for. Here their sound is pure vintage eighties metal, and early eighties metal at that.

For all its charm, Virgin Steele is a very uneven album, and possibly the band’s most uneven release. Between standard heavy metal numbers, hair metal style cringers, and a ballad which would have even your mother rearing; Virgin Steele is that embarrassing first year at school, or first day at work where you confuse the bathrooms and end up in the ladies room (anyone?) The closest we get to glory here is “Children Of The Storm”, which shows the band taking their first, shaky steps into more epic territory, or in the band’s namesake track, which has some of the heavier riffs on the album. However, taking the album as it is, and discounting everything they would later do; the first three songs are actually pretty cool early eighties style metal. Jack Starr’s guitar work is definitely the highpoint of the album, and even when they’re squeezing out the shocking ballad “Still In Love With You”, he always nails a sweet lick to keep from cheese poisoning.

Despite its shortcomings, for a debut early-eighties album it definitely has some merit in some of the riffs and arrangement, particularly “Virgin Steele” and “Children Of The Storm”. Jack Starr’s guitar work also helps in spades keeping interest. I’d say this one would appeal to those curious of the early metal scene, as well as eighties metal fans in general; provided they can stomach their fair share of cheese. As for Virgin Steele fans, you should probably leave this one until late in your exploration of the band, if at all. Pitted against the rest of their discography, it isn’t a great representation of what the band is about. Plus David DeFeis’ vocals are almost too much here, and that’s saying something.

Andromeda Unchained


Virgin Steele's first effort is no "Ample Destruction" or "Burning Star". It is neither a USPM classic nor a grand glorious affair like many a Virgin Steele album. In fact, it has aged rather horribly and sounds all the more bashfully archaic for it. Thankfully, it knows its place. It may have no standing in the wider spectrum of things, but boy, does it rock with all its might. It doesn't pretend anything and it perfectly depicts the sound of a band operating on purely primal thrills.

Most people know Virgin Steele for their fiery front man David DeFeis at the helm of things but on their first album, underground guitar hero Jack Starr was the center that held everything together. His riffs sound layered and admirably dynamic-never lazy! He uses up a lot of licks in every song that you imagine he won't have any left but he surprises with these constantly chiming blues-based solos delivered so effortlessly and with such finesse. The only downside is that after a while you realize there isn't much variation and they all sound a bit similar.

DeFeis, by comparison, is the ultimate picture of variation. If the monotony of Joey Ayvazian's drumming was designed to drive you away then David DeFeis was intended to make you stay awhile. He'll charm his way through the most ridiculous of statements yet come out with his sheen of sophistication all intact. Even when he plays the part of pleading romantic as on "Still In Love With You" he still maintains a leery note in his voice. The Robert Plant influences really run deep. On the best cuts of the album-the title track and "Children Of The Storm"-he really comes through like a champ. On the other "party-over-here" 80's crap slabs, he dose tend to nag.

This was their first album of course, and he had yet to master the higher end of his voice. As a consequence, meant to be powerful falsettos came out in a rapid shrillness and the lack of a more manly lower end that he exhibits on later works gave us silly baby-talking vocals instead. Remember Percy's studio cooked shrill delivery on "The Song Remains The Same"? That's pretty much how Dave sang on half this record. The teasing lyric on "Pictures On You" that goes; "stop that nagging noise" sums up my feelings just right. "Danger Zone" on the other hand sounds like it was stolen from Savatage's "Sirens" but rocks awesomely nonetheless.

By "Guardians Of The Flame", Virgin Steele were beginning to show some epic skin and no influences from their debut carried on to any later albums making it all the more forgettable. A good thing, perhaps? Surely even purists regard it as only a relic if they feel so desperate as to treasure every Steele album. For me it is simply a sign that better days were coming.

VirginSteele-Helstar



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Minuet in G Minor
2. Danger Zone
3. American Girl
4. Dead Ends Kids
5. Drive On Thru
6. Still In Love With You
7. Children Of The Storm
8. Pictures On You
9. Pulverizer
10. Living In Sin
11. Virgin Steele

12. The Lesson (Demo - Bonus Track)
13. Life of Crime (Demo - Bonus Track)
14. Burn The Sun (Demo - Bonus Track)
15. American Girl (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
16. Dead End Kids (Remixed - Bonus Track)
17. Drive On Through (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
18. Living In Sin (Re-Mastered Original Mix - Bonus Track)
19. A Token Of My Hatred (Live - Bonus Track)

VIRGIN STEELE 'I' CD includes the debut album (originally released in 1982) re-mastered and selected tracks with new mix. 2018 CD version comes with 24-pages booklet including lyrics, photos, liner notes by David DeFeis and 8 bonus tracks.



..::OBSADA::..

David DeFeis - vocals, keyboards, producer
Jack Starr - all guitars
Joe O'Reilly - bass
Joey Ayvazian - drums




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwVoSj2ChZM&list=PLBV4zVUrI5diGU0v0mWwnISCySTCikrsJ



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI



Zdecydowanie pozycja obowiązkowa dla wszystkich zagorzałych fanów Accept!!!
Świadectwo tego wspaniałego zespołu i szczytowy moment w historii ich osi czasu!



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD 1:
1. Metal Heart 5:25
2. Breaker 3:40
3. Screaming For A Love-Bite 4:22
4. Up To The Limit 4:45
5. Living For Tonight 3:35
6. Princess Of The Dawn 7:49
7. Neon Nights 8:17
8. Burning 7:29

CD 2:
1. Head Over Heels 5:48
2. Guitar Solo Wolf 4:27
3. Restless And Wild 2:34
4. Son Of A Bitch 2:35
5. London Leatherboys 3:54
6. Love Child 5:01
7. Flash Rockin' Man 5:08
8. Dogs On Leads 5:52
9. Fast As A Shark 4:09
10. Balls To The Wall 10:19
11. Outro (Bound To Fail) 1:09



..::OBSADA::..

Udo Dirkschneider - vocals
Wolf Hoffmann - guitars
Jörg Fischer - guitars
Peter Baltes - bass guitar
Stefan Kaufmann - drums, producer



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8QWSKgf2pQ



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI



Zdecydowanie pozycja obowiązkowa dla wszystkich zagorzałych fanów Accept!!!
Świadectwo tego wspaniałego zespołu i szczytowy moment w historii ich osi czasu!



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD 1:
1. Metal Heart 5:25
2. Breaker 3:40
3. Screaming For A Love-Bite 4:22
4. Up To The Limit 4:45
5. Living For Tonight 3:35
6. Princess Of The Dawn 7:49
7. Neon Nights 8:17
8. Burning 7:29

CD 2:
1. Head Over Heels 5:48
2. Guitar Solo Wolf 4:27
3. Restless And Wild 2:34
4. Son Of A Bitch 2:35
5. London Leatherboys 3:54
6. Love Child 5:01
7. Flash Rockin' Man 5:08
8. Dogs On Leads 5:52
9. Fast As A Shark 4:09
10. Balls To The Wall 10:19
11. Outro (Bound To Fail) 1:09



..::OBSADA::..

Udo Dirkschneider - vocals
Wolf Hoffmann - guitars
Jörg Fischer - guitars
Peter Baltes - bass guitar
Stefan Kaufmann - drums, producer



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8QWSKgf2pQ



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...( Info )...


Artist: Reog
Title: Reog
Year: 2024
Genre: Hard, Heavy-Metal
Country: USA
Duration: 00:45:49
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Daily Grind 04:48
02. Where You Wanna Go 05:22
03. Island Of The Gods 04:22
04. Indecision 05:35
05. iBrainless 04:26
06. New Light 05:00
07. Not My Way 06:07
08. Head West 04:15
09. Against The World 05:50

...( Info )...
Title: Vissza sose nezz
Artist: Pokolgép
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: Hungary

Duration: 00:48:58
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps

...( TrackList )...
01. Vissza Sose Nézz
02. Tilos Csillagon
03. A Hatodik Nap
04. Tiszta Hitem
05. Szabad, Aki Szólni Mer
06. Ég Veled
07. Áldomás
08. Neked
09. Fogadj El
10. Utolsó Szívdobbanás
11. Nem Ért Engem A Világ [bonus]
12. Amíg A Tűz Tombol [bonus]

...( Info )...

Artist: Transylvania
Title: Windrider
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: USA
Duration: 00:52:26
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps

...( TrackList )...

01. Pale Horse
02. The Battle in the Air
03. 12 O'clock High
04. Black Dawn
05. Revenge
06. Vanguard
07. The Floating Palace

...( Info )...

Artist: Fire Action
Title: Until The Heat Dies
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Finland
Duration: 00:40:50
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Storm Of Memories
02. No Drone Zone
03. Hard Days, Long Nights
04. Survive
05. Under The Gun
06. Dark Ages
07.13 Arrows
08. Incitement Of Insurrection
09. Until The Heat Dies
10. Curse The Day
11. Midnight Avenue

...( Info )...

Artist: Salem UK
Title: Outer Limits
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: UK
Duration: 00:44:37
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Prologue: The Fairground
02. Rock You
03. Red Light
04. Silverback
05. Miss Fortune
06. Outer Limits
07. Overrider
08. Meteorite
09. Fire Fire
10. Present from the Past
11. Oblivion
12. Epilogue: The Fairground

...( Info )...

Artist: Torchlight Parade
Album: Children of the Night
Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Source: deezer
Duration: 00:35:35
Codec: FLAC
Bitrate: Lossless|WEB-DL
Rip type: tracks


...( TrackList )...

01. Children of the Night (01:52)
02. Howl'n Wolf (04:13)
03. Frankenstein of Death (04:37)
04. Shadow Run (01:42)
05. Vampire Night (04:26)
06. Haddonfield's Revenge (05:08)
07. I'm Not Dead... Yet! (05:38)
08. Mortician's Never Cry (04:00)
09. I Call Her Mausoleum (05:33)
10. Danc'n with the Dead (05:24)

...( Info )...

Artist: Demon Bitch
Title: Master Of The Games
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: USA
Duration: 00:45:54
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

1. Beyond the Pillars 01:26
2. The Quickening 05:23
3. Master of the Games 06:11
4. Not of the Cruciform 05:30
5. Protector and the Horse 05:29
6. Into the Archway 04:54
7. Sentinel at the Spire 06:59
8. Tower of Dreams 05:01
9. Soliders of Obscurity 05:01

...( Info )...

Artist: Raptore
Title: Renaissance
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: Argentina
Duration: 00:33:19
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

1. Ecclesia 01:07
2. Satana 04:39
3. Abaddon 03:54
4. Darklight 03:54
5. Requiescat in Pace 03:50
6. Into the Bowels 03:47
7. Kingdom Come 04:16
8. Imperium 03:29
9. All Fires the Fire 04:24

...( Info )...

Artist: Onyxgate
Title: I
Year: 2024
Genre: Progressive, Heavy-Metal
Country: Germany
Duration: 00:42:49
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Mother Willow 06:03
02. Sandstorm (Snowflakes In The Desert) 03:06
03. Nightmare 04:37
04. Us Is The Universe 05:20
05. Crystal Dimension 03:31
06. Angel Of War 03:54
07. Mountain King 05:20
08. Onyxgate 04:43
09. Goddess Of The Ocean 06:10

...( Info )...

Artist: Skol Bandit
Title: Resurrection
Year: 2024
Genre: Hard, Heavy-Metal
Country: Germany
Duration: 00:48:26
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Claymore Strike 04:16
02. 20th Century 04:09
03. Nevermore 05:27
04. Lovebreak 05:29
05. Defiance 04:05
06. Prisoner 06:24
07. One Part Of Me 05:22
08. The Last Descent 04:30
09. Squadrons Of Eternity 04:38
10. Symphony Of Destruction 04:06

...( Info )...

Artist: Voltstorm
Album: Break The Silence
Genre: Heavy Metal
Source: deezer
Duration: 00:43:54
Codec: FLAC
Bitrate: Lossless|WEB-DL
Rip type: tracks

...( TrackList )...

01. Stormchaser (02:17)
02. Judas (03:37)
03. Wake Me Up (04:06)
04. Lambs (04:03)
05. Eye Of The Storm (05:13)
06. Evil Eyes (04:30)
07. Rise Above (06:53)
08. Break The Silence (04:41)
09. Black Cage (04:28)
10. Destroyer (04:00)

...( Info )...

Artist: Mystyc Blade
Album: The Master Is Inside
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Edition: Label: 2024 Wormholedeath Records
Source: qobuz
Duration: 01:03:57
Codec: FLAC
Bitrate: Lossless|WEB-DL
Rip type: tracks


...( TrackList )...

01. Don’t Forget to Live 5:40
02. Feel Invincible 4:08
03. Stay Away... Last Warning 4:34
04. Pyramids and Mystery 7:39
05. My Shield 5:13
06. Lies 6:08
07. Later is too Late 5:13
08. Song of Butterflies 6:56
09. Turn the Page 4:28
10. Forever Alone 6:24
11. The Master Is Inside 7:41

...( Info )...

Artist: Beast
Title: Ancient Powers Rising
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: Germany
Duration: 00:44:19
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Behead the Dragon
02. In the Name of the Horned One
03. Ancient Powers Rising
04. Kingdom of Steel
05. Ride the Tempest
06. Shadows from the Arcane Tower
07. Swords are Burning
08. Mystery of the Lonesome Rider

...( Info )...

Artist: Gauntlet Rule
Album: After the Kill
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Edition: Label: Fighter Records
Source: link
Duration: 00:48:09
Codec: FLAC
Bitrate: Lossless|WEB-DL
Rip type: tracks


...( TrackList )...

01. Usurper [00:04:19]
02. Exception to the Rule [00:04:35]
03. Drumhead Trial [00:05:10]
04. Bite the Hand That Feels [00:03:45]
05. Vengeance [00:05:26]
06. The Zero Crag [00:03:53]
07. Empire Maker [00:04:06]
08. The Night Wind [00:04:28]
09. After the Kill [00:03:45]
10. The Scythe [00:08:38]

...( Info )...

Artist: Circles Of Illusion
Title: Lionheart
Year: 2024
Genre: Hard, Heavy-Metal
Country: USA / Norway
Duration: 00:50:15
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Bridge to America
02. Raise the Flag
03. Ringing Bell
04. Escape
05. Doom
06. From the Words
07. Lionheart
08. Drowning
09. Where Dragons Fly
10. Mystery of Time

...( Info )...

Artist: Sophia Mengrosso
Title: Unforgiven
Year: 2024
Genre: Symphonic, Gothic, Heavy-Metal
Country: USA
Duration: 00:48:39
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

01. Dream (03:50)
02. Under (03:19)
03. Demonizer (04:00)
04. Unforgiven (04:03)
05. Sweet Sacrifice (04:17)
06. Taking What You Want (04:07)
07. Medicate Me (04:17)
08. Another Dose (03:45)
09. Mind Splits In Two (03:15)
10. Sank In The World (03:36)
11. Down (03:04)
12. Haunted (03:49)
13. Ship Of Shattered Dreams (03:12)

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

'Budowniczowie Grozy' to sludge metal brudny, uliczny i chamski, jak zawsze.
Cel jest niezmiennie ten sam: wpędzić słuchacza w dyskomfort używając dobrze już znanych środków - tłustych riffów, mięsistych refrenów, niebanalnych tekstów. No i kija baseballowego, oczywiście.

PM


Album 'Budowniczowie Grozy' to podróż w głąb najczarniejszych odmętów ludzkiej natury i demonów, jakie w niej drzemią. Las Trumien po raz kolejny udowadnia, że z miłością do mocnej muzyki pięknie opisuje śmierć.

Michał D


Wiele mówi się o tym, jak skuteczna i przyjemna jest nauka poprzez zabawę. Taką zabawą może być na przykład słuchanie muzyki, jednak nie musi być ona łatwa, o przyjemnej tematyce. Na warsztat możemy wziąć przecież historie zwyrodnialców, których nosiła Ziemia, ale o takim, dajmy na to, Josefie Mengele utwór napisać może każdy (to oczywiście odniesienie do "Angel of death" Slayera). Polski zespół Las Trumien podchodzi do tematu w sposób bardzo profesjonalny i przedstawia historie zwyroli "drugoligowych", którym (mimo "zasług") nigdy nie udało przebić się do mainstreamu. Wyraźnie widać, że już na starcie tej ekipie należy się duży szacunek za wysiłek w poszukiwaniach, a nie pójście na łatwiznę.

"Budowniczowie Grozy" to trzeci longplay w krótkiej, ale intensywnej karierze zespołu. Grupa powstała w 2020 roku i w dorobku ma jeszcze dwie EP-ki, jednak patrząc na skład, od razu zauważymy muzyków z doświadczeniem z innych ekip o zdecydowanie dłuższym stażu. W każdej z nich przewijają się różne odsłony metalu, zatem nic dziwnego, że Las Trumien również obraca się w tym gatunku, kierując swoje brzmienie w rejony stonerowo-sludge'owe.

Na przestrzeni czterech lat istnienia styl ten raczej mocno nie ewoluował ani nie zmieniał się wyraźnie. Zmiany słychać natomiast w warsztacie i zgraniu muzyków. "Budowniczowie Grozy" wydają się być albumem najbardziej zaawansowanym i dojrzałym muzycznie w dotychczasowej dyskografii. W zasadzie wszystko się tutaj zgadza - szybkie, stosunkowo krótkie utwory doskonale wpadają w ucho i świetnie współpracują z tekstami o historiach różnych zwyrodnialców i ich ofiar. Tutaj wachlarz jest szeroki zarówno pod względem lokalizacji, jak i czasu. Mamy też polskie akcenty, w tym te z rodzimego, szczecińskiego podwórka.

Mimo specyficznej i bardzo ciężkiej tematyki Wojtkowi Kałuży udaje się wpleść w teksty sporo gierek słownych oraz wysublimowanego poczucia humoru (szczególnie w refrenie "Pokaż Ząbki"). Do tego dochodzi wiele fragmentów od razu wpadających w ucho, które świetnie sprawdzą się na koncertach. Gwoździem programu są tutaj "Trupie Rozmówki" z tak charakterystycznym tematem, że ciężko przez długi czas pozbyć się go z głowy.

Wisienką na torcie (trumnie?) tego wydawnictwa jest bez wątpienia "Długa Droga Do Piekła", czyli dowód na to, że nawet dla tak specyficznej tematyki da się skomponować balladę. Wojtek Kałuża udowadnia tutaj również, że poza krzykiem i wrzaskiem potrafi też zaśpiewać czysto i całkiem nieźle mu to wychodzi. Na plus wydawnictwa działa również jego poligrafia, po raz kolejny wydana bardzo porządnie przez Patryka z Piranha Records. Poza tekstami utworów znajdziemy tutaj również rozpisane historie "bohaterów" utworów.

Dużej części reprezentantów nowego materiału miałem okazję posłuchać na koncercie. W tej odsłonie Las Trumien również wypada bardzo dobrze - brzmi ciężko i mięsiście, porywając ludzi do zabawy pod sceną. W zasadzie jedyny zarzut można mieć do czasu trwania. Repertuaru nazbierało się już sporo, można by koncert pociągnąć jeszcze z 10-15 minut dłużej, zwłaszcza że publika była głodna kolejnych dźwięków. Niecierpliwie czekam na dalszy rozwój wydarzeń, czyli kolejne wydawnictwa.

Karol Otkała



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Budowniczowie grozy 01:13
2. Pokaż ząbki 03:42
3. Nienasycony 03:58
4. Kandydat numer jeden 04:00
5. Rusałka jej grobem 02:26
6. Czerwony sędzia 03:49
7. Długa droga do piekła 04:22
8. Trupie rozmówki 02:03
9. Listonosz puka 03:19
10. By poczuć się lepiej 04:38
11. Kilka godzin 04:56
12. Serca samotne, serca nieszczęśliwe 05:16



..::OBSADA::..

R.J.M. - Bass
W.Ś. - Drums
B.D. - Guitars
W.K. - Vocals



https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=NyhiDFPjlyc



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...( Info )...

Artist: California Villain
Title: Saints & Sinners
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: USA
Duration: 00:43:13
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

1. Saints & Sinners 05:14
2. Dark Sky 04:31
3. The Gladiator Song 04:38
4. Fire And Stone 04:43
5. Walk Again 05:21
6. Distant 03:15
7. Me 04:03
8. The Other Side 04:06
9. My Machine 04:15
10. Iron Fist 03:02

...( Info )...

Artist: Hammerfall
Title: Renegade
Publisher: Irond CD 00-12
Source: Disc from personal collection
Year: 2000
Genre: Melodic-Metal, Heavy-Metal, Power-Metal
Country: Sweden
Codec: FLAC
Audio bitrate: Lossless
Format: tracks+.cue+.log
Duration: 00:55:03



...( TrackList )...

01. Templars Of Steel
02. Keep The Flame Burning
03. Renegade
04. Living In Victory
05. Always Will Be
06. The Way Of The Warrior
07. Destined For Glory
08. The Champion
09. Raise The Hammer (Instrumental)
10. A Legend Reborn
11. Run With The Devil (Bonus Track)
12. Head Over Heels (Bonus Track)

...( Info )...

Artist: Motörhead
Title: We Take No Prisoners [The Singles 1995-2006]
Year: 2024
Genre: Heavy-Metal
Country: UK
Duration: 01:11:12
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

1. Sacrifice (3:16)
2. Order / Fade to Black (4:03)
3. Over Your Shoulder (Live) (3:41)
4. I Don’t Believe a Word (Single Edit) (3:27)
5. Overnight Sensation (Live) (4:17)
6. Love for Sale (4:53)
7. Take the Blame (4:04)
8. God Save the Queen (3:20)
9. One More Fucking Time (6:47)
10. Shut Your Mouth (Single Edit) (4:12)
11. See Me Burning (3:00)
12. Whorehouse Blues (3:53)
13. Killers (4:14)
14. God Was Never on Your Side (4:21)
15. Trigger (3:53)
16. R.A.M.O.N.E.S. (2006 Version) (1:21)
17. Devil I Know (3:01)
18. R.A.M.O.N.E.S. (Live) (1:35)
19. ‘Inferno’ Interview (Bel Age Hotel, California, April 2004, Pt.1) (2:13)
20. ‘Inferno’ Interview (Bel Age Hotel, California, April 2004, Pt.2) (1:50)

...( Info )...

Artist: Wildheart
Title: Music to Survive
Year: 2024
Genre: Melodic, Heavy-Metal
Country: Germany
Duration: 00:59:18
Format/Codec: MP3
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps


...( TrackList )...

1. All About You (04:35)
2. Time to Move (04:12)
3. Boss Ass (05:02)
4. Music to Survive (04:51)
5. Same Ol' Fuckin' Game (05:24)
6. Buddy (05:11)
7. Red Shoes (05:23)
8. Waiting for My Love (05:27)
9. Closed Eyes (05:26)
10. Trouble (05:00)
11. Bad Manners (04:57)
12. All We Are (03:44)

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.



..::OPIS::..

Boks zawierający trzy płyty klasyków brytyjskiego metalu, znanych z kapitalnego, debiutanckiego LP "Son Of Odin", z 1985 roku. Zestaw zawiera następne dokonania: "Lethal Potion" (wydaną w 1990), "Sovereign Remedy" (nagraną w 1988 i będącą pierwotną wersją poprzedniej, wydaną dopiero w 2004) oraz "Elixir Live" z 2005. Na pierwszych dwóch na perkusji grał nieodżałowany Clive Burr - znany z pierwszych trzech albumów Iron Maiden.



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD 1 - Lethal Potion (1990):
1. She's Got It
2. Sovereign Remedy
3. Llagaeran
4. Louise
5. Shadows Of The Night
6. All Together Again
7. Light In Your Heart
8. (Metal Trance Intro) Visions Of Darkness
9. Edge Of Eternity
10. Last Rays Of The Sun



..::OBSADA::..

Drums - Clive Burr
Bass - Mark White
Guitar - Norman Gordon, Phil Denton
Vocals – Paul Taylor




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8J6s1ZQ2JI



SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.



..::OPIS::..

Tokyo Blade originally formed in 1982, releasing their self-titled debut in 1983 (CD 1 of this release). Formed around guitarist Andy Boulton, he was joined on their debut by Alan Marsh on lead vocals, John Wiggins on guitar, Andy Robbins on bass and Steve Pierce on drums, making a significant impact on the burgeoning NWOBHM scene that had been popularized by Iron Maiden, Saxon, Tygers Of Pan Tang and Def Leppard, as well as finding support in the pages of Kerrang! magazine. By 1984, they’d developed enough of a reputation to appear alongside Metallica and Venom at Holland’s Aardschock festival.

By by the time of the second full-length album, 1984’s “Night Of The Blade” (CD 2 of this release), Boulton had been joined by Vicki James Wright on lead vocals, who ended up replacing Alan March’s vocals that had already been recorded for the LP, with Andy Wrighton replacing Andy Robbins on bass. This was also their first album released on Powerstation Records, the British independent HM label that also released records by Little Angels, Chrome Molly and Pauline Gillan (sister of Ian Gillan).

In 1985 they released their third full-length LP, this time for their own (slightly consumptive sounding) TB Records. “Black Hearts & Jaded Spades” saw a move away from the more NWOBHM and melodic hard rock flavour of their earliest releases towards a more glammed-up, radio friendly, keyboard augmented sound, aimed more towards the US and Japanese markets. This in turn led to shows with shows such important 80s rock and metal names as Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Mama's Boys, Dio and Slayer.

This part of the story is rounded off by a fourth disc collecting together many rare EPs, singles and non-album cuts from the early 1980s, including tracks from “The Cave Sessions”, “Undercover Honeymoon” 12”, “Midnight Rendezvous” EP and “Madame Guillotine” EP. Also features lengthy and detailed liner notes from note NWOBHM and Tokyo Blade expert John Tucker.



..::TRACK-LIST::..

CD 1 - Tokyo Blade (1983):
1. Powergame 4:13
2. Break The Chains 5:08
3. If Heaven Is Hell 6:05
4. On Through The Night 7:30
5. Killer City 5:48
6. Liar 5:36
7. Tonight 4:03
8. Sunrise In Tokyo 5:48
9. Blue Ridge Mountains Of Virginia 1:11

Track 9 not listed on the original tracklist on cd sleeve.



..::OBSADA::..

Vocals - Alan Marsh
Bass - Andy Robbins
Drums - Steve Pierce
Guitar - Andy Boulton, John Wiggins




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3pt_lpcXbU



SEED 14:30-23:00.
POLECAM!!!

...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI.



..::OPIS::..

Można by się długo spierać co do tego, czy GRAND MAGUS to zespół doom metalowy, czy heavy/doom metalowy, czy grający tradycyjnym oparty o najlepsze wzorce lat 70-tych i 80-tych heavy metal bez speed manii. Można by też przypinać łatkę epic, może też i inne. Nie można jednak zaprzeczyć, że w tym, co robią są od lat bardzo dobrzy, niezależnie od tego, jaki styl w danym okresie i na jakiej płycie ma znaczenie dominujące.

Album "Iron Will", nagrany po kilkuletniej przerwie z nowym perkusistą i wydany przez kilka wytwórni, w tym Rise Above w czerwcu, jest płytą z dominacją klasycznego heavy metalu. Jest też zdecydowanie nawiązaniem do tradycji takiego grania, zbudowanej w latach 80-tych na bazie doświadczeń dekady poprzedzającej, a wszystko złożone w jedną całość w sposób niemal perfekcyjny. Tego, że JB jest wokalistą wspaniałym udowadniać w żaden sposób nie trzeba, i o ile wcześniej prezentował także akcenty typowe dla wokalistów z kręgu szeroko pojmowanego doom, to tym razem pokazał się jako śpiewak heavy metalowy w najczystszej postaci. Jego występ jest tu niesamowity i chwilami ma się wrażenie, że muzyka jest tylko tłem dla niego stworzonym. Jak śpiewa? No tak jak JB, bo jego podrobić się nikomu nie udało, on sam nikogo też nie naśladuje i jeśli wskazać inne tak heavy metalowe gardło, przesycone stylem prapoczątków metalu, to trudno znaleźć odpowiednik.

Oprawa oprawą, ale przecież te kompozycje są tu wyśmienite same w sobie. Jeśli na samym początku "Like the Oar Strikes the Water" i "Fear Is the Key" są po prostu więcej niż bardzo dobrymi numerami, granymi w średnio szybkim tempie i z solami, jakie stanowiły sól metalu w latach 80-tych, to po instrumentalnej miniaturce "Hövding", GRAND MAGUS sieje zniszczenie kruszącymi riffami i morderczymi zwolnieniami, jakich przedsmak daje już to w "Fear Is the Key". "Iron Will" chyba jako numer tytułowy przypadkowo wybrany nie został. To esencja heavy metalu w dumnej i niezłomnej postaci z refrenem, jaki wchodzi do panteonu hymnowych refrenów classic heavy i w nim też ujawnia się siła wokalu Christofferssona. Jego gitara wyczarowuje sola proste i jednocześnie genialne w tej prostocie, będącej sumą doświadczeń 40 lat heavy rockowego grania. "Silver Into Steel" to metal skonstruowany na tym, co był najwcześniej i te lata 70-te wypływają tu z każdym dźwiękiem tej mocnej epickiej kompozycji. Harder, Faster... to "The Shadow Knows" i tu JB rozpruwa głosem i gitarą, zagrywając co jakiś czas morderczy, pełen metalowej pychy, kapitalny true motyw i do tego dochodzi wspaniałe solo gitarowe pełne rocka. W specyficznie akcentowanym basem "Self Deceiver" dokładają nieco tego swojego rozumienia doom metalu, tyle że to wszystko jest po to, aby jeszcze bardziej wyeksponować ten niesamowity heavy metal refren, a atmosferę zagęszczają chórki i niemal chwilami bluesowe solo. Ciężko i mrocznie jest w "Beyond Good and Evil" z sabbathowymi riffami i uporczywym powtarzaniem głównego motywu wzbogacanym, urozmaiconym basem i gęstą, fantazyjnie grającą perkusją.
"I Am the North" na koniec, choć teoretycznie trwa dziewięć minut, to w rzeczywistości oferuje jej tylko pięć, a reszta czasu to okres ciszy i coś na kształt instrumentalnej miniatury na koniec. Trochę szkoda, że nie mamy tu epickiego kolosa, ale i te pięć minut to kawał tradycyjnego heavy metalu na najwyższym poziomie, rozłupującego czaszki tych, którzy uważają, że metal się skończył. Jest tu i patos, i przestrzeń, i wgniatające w ziemię riffy, i oczywiście kolejny, wyborny popis wokalny JB, przypieczętowany następną piękną solówką gitarową.

Brzmienie? Takie jak powinno być. Mocna gitara, przyginający do gleby bas i głośna perkusja. Klasyczne, tradycyjne, staroszkolne, true, a równocześnie bardzo starannie zrealizowane.
Mistrzowski album, a bezcenny także dlatego, że wśród "fanów metalu" oddziela natychmiast chłopców od mężczyzn.

Memorius



Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Iron Will.
Iron Will who?
Iron Will kick your ass.

How much do you like your 70s hard rock and 80s metal? If you're like me and consider them the best thing that ever happened, here's some good news. JB, the vocalist/guitarist of the Swedish band Grand Magus is with you on that too. What started as a phenomenal blues heavy riff based doom on the first album kept evolving over the next two, becoming heavier, at times faster, and overall more epic metal. While Monument is probably still going to be my favourite album of theirs, Wolf's Return is the one for you metalheads.

The fourth album, Iron Will continues to see the band evolve. As far as lineup goes, Seb is the new man in since the old drummer quit back in 2006. But sonically, there's more than a passing resemblance to Dio's matchless recordings with the Blacker and Iommi, and many of these vocal harmonies are completely droolworthy if your favourite Deep Purple albums include the Mark III ones at the top. 80s metal is another influence on this but what completely signals the chequered flag for me are the Michael Schenker influenced leads by JB. The flying V and the half-cocked wah should be enough to imagine how big a disciple of Schenker's he is, but JB's phrasing and vibrato on this album are his best yet. Every solo is a song by itself and every solo is fucking awesome.

The Shadow Knows begins like Scorpions' one-chord-riff masterpiece Blackout, but also goes on to sound like a classic Dave Mustaine song on the verse. By the time Beyond Good and Evil, the second last song is on, you're absolutely convinced about a few things. The band is even capable of writing a metal anthem with just one riff, with the power of the heavy motherfucker of a groove, the unmatched singing, the solo and not to mention the greatness of that single riff itself. The album closes with just the enviable sounding drums pounding, joined a little later by the bass, almost sounding like something on the latest Riverside. The song in question is I am the North, and it is again a lesson in writing heavy, catchy and groovy epic doom with a load of That 70s Sex. As always with the band, this album has the perfect runtime of 38 minutes (without including the short hidden track). Classic stuff.

Olo


..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Like The Oar Strikes The Water 3:13
2. Fear Is The Key 3:31
3. Hang 0:39
4. Iron Will 5:01
5. Silver Into Steel 4:15
6. The Shadow Knows 5:35
7. Self Deceiver 4:49
8. Beyond Good And Evil 5:15
9. I Am The North 9:01

Iron Will was recorded during midwinter 2007-2008 at Ramitam, Stockholm, Sweden.



..::OBSADA::..

Bass - Fox
Drums - SEB
Guitar, Vocals - JB

Additional Acoustic Instrument - Oneman (tracks: 1, 5)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj5o00Q4FB4



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