Triumph - Live at Sweden Rock Festival (CD/DVD)

Well Triumph fans have been clamoring for some time, for new material from the band and they have finally delivered, well kind of.  Triumph have just released their live performance from the Sweden Rock Festival, which was recorded only a mere 4 years ago.  The show is a document, of one of the select shows the band did on their brief reunion tour.  After 20 years apart, the band put their differences aside and did a string of festivals around the world and Live at Sweden Rock is a document of this occasion.  Being a major Triumph fan, I was extremely bummed the band didn't make it to my town, but now. at least I have a document of this reunion.  The band is still on good terms, but is not going to do more until the musical economy gets a bit stronger.

Live at Sweden Rock, as you might of guessed, is a greatest hits set done live, with a few twists.  Very surprised to see Blinding Light Snow/Moon Child in the set.  Killer tune!  Yes the guys look a bit older, but man can they still rock.  After being apart for so long, it was really cool to see the band playing together and having a good time.  The band were firing on all cylinders and sound amazing on this set, with only a few exceptions.  Rik Emmett had a little bit of a rough time, vocally, with Fight the Good Fight, but take into account it has been 20 years since he has sang the tune, and he ain't getting any younger.  Overall it was impressive to hear how well Emmett and Gil Moore sounded vocally.  Apparently they haven't lost too much over the years.

The bonus of this release, is that you not only get a CD, but you also get a DVD as well.  It doesn't get much better than that.  The visual portion of the package, is your standard festival live footage.  It looks like it has been remastered, but it looks like typical festival concert footage.  The audio is solid, just like you would expect.  As usual Mike Levine does a nice job putting these things together.  My only critique is that the band did a cover of Rocky Mountain Way, in lieu of playing their own material.  Though it sounds good, I would have preferred one of their own tunes.  I mean they have been gone for 20 years, why are they doing a Joe Walsh cover?  I would have much rather heard Spellbound, Hold On or anything from their catalog.  All is all a solid release. 

Editor's note: I've corrected the mispelling of Mr. Emmett's name. Sorry, Rik.

Bottom Line: Triumph proving that 20 years apart didn't change a thing; they still kick ass.  A great live set from one of the best power trios of our time, even though they have a little help now and again.  A great live package giving you the best of both worlds - CD and a DVD combo pack.

- Ragman hopes to one day hear a new Triumph studio album...

Unisonic - Unisonic

When I heard that Michael Kiske (Ex Helloween, Place Vendome) and Kai Hansen (Ex-Helloween, Gamma Ray) were teaming up for a new project called Unisonic, I got pretty geeked.  Yeah, I know the first thing we all thought was Helloween re-union right?  But if you have followed both of their careers over the years, it was pretty obvious that was not what we were going to get.   What we got is melodic hard rock with a metallic edge.  Joining Kiske and Hansen is bassist/producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69) and guitarist Mandy Meyer (Ex-Krokus).  Seeing all the pieces in this puzzle, it was pretty obvious the musical direction of the band. 

The CD Unisonic is a nice collection of hard rockers, ballads, with a little bit of metal thrown in for good measure.  The title track may give you some false hope, because it teeters on the metal edge and slightly hearkens back to the pumpkin days, because it definitely has a bit of a power metal feel to it.  The second track Souls Alive follows suit with a bit of a power metal feel, before the lads settle into more of a straight ahead hard rock vibe.  This is not a bad or unexpected thing, due to the track record of Kiske, since leaving Helloween.  This album is full of strong melodic tunes, with only a few clunkers.  I have to say I was really happy with this release.  Definitely the best thing Kiske has done in some time.  Die hard Helloween fans may have a hard time with this one, but once they accept this isn't Helloween and it is Unisonic, they should dig it.

Bottom Line: Unisonic is definitely a suprgroup that will hopefully be more than just a one off.  Solid tunes, that are melodic but still contain a metallic edge.

Standout Tracks: Souls Alive, Unisonic, Renegade and Never Change Me.

-Ragman recently tried to fit in his Keeper of the Seven Keys Tee, but it just didn't work out.

Podcast #138: M3

An amazing show, and the boys had the best seats in the house.What is the next best thing to being at an all day festival? Watching it at home on your flat screen, of course. Join Genghis and Ragman as they review the M3 Festival from Nightmare Studios. Offering up some critiques like only they can, the boys discuss the bands that played that day as well as what they think of their current line-ups. This show was so big there wasn't an interview included, but they'll catch ya on the flip-side, dig?

Beer of the Show: Saint Landelin La Divine (Les Brasseurs de Gayant)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"Saints be praised! This little bière de garde is a glorious find."

Optical Illusion of the Show: M3 Festival

Featured Tracks: Jorn - A Thousand Cuts; Enuff Z'Nuff - Heaven or Hell & We’re All Right; Van Halen - Honey Baby Sweetie Doll; Ritchie Kotzen - My Messiah; LA Guns - Rip N Tear; JK Northrup - Wired In My Skin; Great White - Feelin So Much Better; Stryper - Calling on You; Lynch/Pilson - When You Bleed; Loudness - Let it Go; Fastway - Say What You Will; Warrant - Life’s a Song; Lynch Mob - Bed of Roses; Giant - In My Dreams; Patrick Hemer - Edge of Insanity; Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation

Classic of the Show: Dokken - Into the Fire

Ragman Pick of the Show: Burning Point - In the Night

Genghis Pick of the Show: Barn Burner - Dark Side of the Barn

- Ragman gave himself 40 lashes for being so late with this post...

Podcast #138: M3

Saga - 20/20

I gotta say I was never a big Saga fan, until their last release The Human Condition.  I always thought of them as a pop band, because of their video, from back in the day, for On the Loose.  It wasn't until 3 years ago, that realized what a great prog band Saga is.  I really dug the last album as well as the vocals of (previous) new vocalist Rob Moratti.  Moratti was in the band for about a second (3 years), until original vocalist Michael Sadler announced his return to the band.  Not being a long time fan of the band, I was kind of bummed, because Moratti delivered so nicely on their previous effort.  20/20 is the result of the band's reunion, and it is promised to be return to form for the band, let's see if they delivered.

Like the previous record, the musicianship on this CD is incredible.  I still can not believe I came to the party so late.  It is easy to hear where Dream Theater got some of their influence, at least from a melodic side.  The band is not over the top progressive, because they stay very melodic and somewhat commercial, while still holding onto a nice edge.  The first 4 tracks on the CD are stellar.  It is one killer tune after another, which get better with every listen.  Out of the 4, my favorite, at the moment, is Spin it Again.  It is a killer mid-tempo rock with a sweet ass groovin riff which drives it.  The CD is well balanced and has some nice ballads included like the memorable Lost for Words.  All in all a very solid CD.  A very nice platter of music here. 

Bottom Line: The band come back with a nice re-union record.  The band prove they still got it.  Solid songs that get better with each spin.

Standout Tracks: Six Feet Under, Spin it Again, Lost for Words and Anywhere You Wanna Go.

-Ragman thinks he likes the last record just a little more. 

Slipknot - (sic) nesses (Live at Download)

Slipknot is one of those bands, that not a lot of old school metal fans get.  I'm not sure if it is due to the intensity of their music, or their over the top stage show, that frightens some us off, but there is just something about them that doesn't jive with some older fans.  I happen to dig them, and have been a fan since Iowa.  For newer fans this is their band, and they are loyal.  Out of all the bands out their today, from the newer generation, I think Slipknot is probably the biggest.  This band, unlike many others, can command an audience and a fanbase that is unheard of today.  Many people ask me which band will carry the torch when Maiden, Priest and Scorpions hang it up, and I always say, for my money it's got to be Slipknot.

The Knot have just released their killer set from the 2009 Download Festival on Blu-Ray (Previously released on DVD), and oh what a treat it is.  The band are in top form and kill live.  The picture and the sound on this Bluray are amazing.  It is one of those live show, that you catch on the big screen, which makes you feel that you're in the front row.  I've seen this one on DVD, but the Bluray is far more superior.  The show was filmed in Hi-Def and it shows on this Bluray.  This show also marks one of the last performances from late bassist Paul Gray (RIP).   This show is a great representation, as to why this band is going to take the torch and convert into a flame thrower.  Slipknot rock and this Bluray is the evidence.

Bottom Line: Slipknot proving why they are worthy to take the metal torch from the veterans.  A killer show in which the band man handles Download.  If you're not brave enough to see these guys live, then this is a good alternative.

-Ragman was wondering how Michael Myers got to Download.