Scheepers - Scheepers

The Primal Fear vocalist serves up some good meat and potatoes metal. Yes, I just said that.Ralf Scheepers has just released his first solo CD, via Frontiers Records, and it rocks.  We all know him as the voice behind power metal giants Primal Fear, and as one of the most powerful vocalists in metal today; and this new solo CD just re-inforces what a great vocalist this guy is.  When I first heard that this CD was coming out, I was pretty geeked.  Having been less that satisfied with the past couple of Primal records, I was hoping the Ralf would mix things up and kick our ass.  For the project Ralf has enlisted many bing names from the genre to give him a hand.  The list of guests reads like an issue of Metal Hammer.   Featured guests are former bandmate Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Tim "Ripper" Owens (Charred Walls of the Damned, Malmsteen), Victor Smolski (Rage) and Metal Mike (Halford).

Scheepers starts off like a feared, with the first of track sounding like his day job - not shocking considering his back up band is primarily made up of Primal Fear bandmates.  Don't get me wrong, it's okay, but not what I was hoping for.  The next track, Remission of Sin, is a mid-tempo rocker that has an Accept/Sinner feel to it.  This is what I was hoping for.  Cool track.  What really shined for me were the mid-tempo, classic metal tunes like The Fall and Dynasty; killer tracks that encompass an old school feel.  Meat and Potatoes metal, if you will.

There's a nice variety of rockers and dark type ballads on this release.  I really dug the latter in the form of Doomsday, a great heavy ballad.  All in all, a solid effort which comes off stronger than what the PF guys have been doing over the last couple of releases.  There're a couple of dingers on this one, but the good totally outweigh the mediocre.

Bottom Line:  Scheepers spreading his wings and going solo (sort of).  Straight ahead hard rock/heavy metal, but well-written songs that are melodic and heavy.

Standout Tracks: The Fall, Doomsday, Back on Track and Dynasty

- Ragman is going for the Scheepers look; just add about 40 lbs of beer gut...

Stratovarius - Elysium

The boys have made a more guitar-driven album than they've done in years. And I likes it!After the somewhat disappointing Polaris release, Stratovarius have regrouped and recently released their second post Tolki release Elysium.  Elysium is the second CD the band has done, since the departure of original guitarist Timo Tolki.   As many of you know, Tolki had a mental breakdown in 2008, which led to his departure from the band.  Stratovarius, like Tolki have continued to release new material in regular fashion.  An interesting point, is that both bands release new product about the same time as one another.  As stated earlier, Polaris was disappointing and veered too far from the original sound.  Polaris was much more keyboard oriented than previous efforts, so hopefully Elysium with go back to a more guitar driven sound.

Elysium starts off with a little more of the same, average power metal songs that don't grab you.  It wasn't until track 4 that the CD came alive to me.  Fairness Justified is a killer slow tempo track that oozes with the classic Stratovarius sound.  It is a slow, heavy melodic rocker, which will get the fist flying and the head banging.  Great melodies and a catchy chorus.  Elysium is a mix of uptempo power metal rockers and slow heavy melodic tunes.  I would say that the record is split between the good and the mediocre.  The good out way the bad on this one, principally based on the (3 part) title track, which frigging rocks.  It is a blend of classic metal and hard rock all mixed into to one.  All in all, a nice CD which signals that the band is on their way back.  The next one should rock balls!

Bottom Line: This album is more guitar driven than the last record and also hearkens back to the classic sound.  I wouldn't say they're there yet, but they are getting closer.  This CD is less reliant on the keyboards and more dependent on the guitars, which is a good thing.

Standout Tracks: Fairness Justified, Lifetime in a Moment, Elysium

- Ragman has renewed faith in Stratovarius

Evergrey - Glorious Collision

After some hits and misses, the remaining lads go back to their roots.Evergrey records have been hit and miss over the last couple of years, so when a new one is released I'm a little nervous because I don't know quite what to expect.  Since 2008's Torn, the band has gone through some significant changes.  In May of last year it was announced that the majority of the group were leaving due to personal conflicts.  After the smoke cleared, only founding member Tom Englund and keyboardist Rikard Zander were left to carry on the Evergrey name.  The result of their labor is their 8th studio album, Glorious Collision.  Let's see how they did.

Glorious Collision brings back the classic Evergrey sound, which die-hard fans have longed for since The Inner Circle.  The opening track Leave it Behind leaves the listener without a doubt that Evergrey are back and they mean business.  This track is classic Evergrey; heavy, melodic and slightly proggy.    Actually, the first 3 tracks on the CD are flawless.   These songs are heartfelt and bleed with passion.  That being said, the whole CD doesn't follow this formula because there are some hints of the modern sound that the band has flirted with over the last couple of records.  The classic sound reigns! Thank You!  It is always scary to hear what a band will sound like after so much turnover, but apparently it was just the shot in the arm that Evergrey needed.

The songs on Glorious Collision are catchy and full of big riffs.  If I had to critique one thing, it would be the lack of prog elements incorporated into the songwriting; I think the band shines when they get proggier.  One other thing lacking was the production.  The sound is kind of empty and the drums sound like empty 55 gallon barrels at times.  Had this been better produced, it would be flawless.  Solid CD and a welcome return to form.

Bottom Line: Evergrey getting back to their roots.  Even though 3/4 of the line up is gone, the band has regrouped and created one of their best offerings in years.

Standout Tracks: Leave it Behind, You, Wrong and The Phantom Letters

- Ragman is please to see one of his favorite bands is back with a vengeance...

Marco Mendoza - Casa Mendoza

Marco Mendoza, is a journeyman bassist that has played with some of the biggest names in the hard rock/heavy metal arena.  Mendoza has been a member of the Ted Nugent (Group), Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy, Lynch Mob and Whitesnake.  Marco has recently release his second solo CD entitled Casa Mendoza.  On the surface, you would think that this would be a straight up rock release, especially considering that bands that Marco has played in over the years, but to the contrary this CD much, much more.  Casa Mendoza showcases Mendoza and his band exploring several different genres of music, like jazz/fusion, funk, Latin, world and rock.  This CD gives you a tastes of several styles of music, while still rocking you.

Casa Mendoza is a mix of original music and covers.  The first track on the CD is a cover of the Stevie Wonder track Living for the City.  This track is funky, as you would expect, and rocks.  The highlight on this track as well as with most of the CD is guitarist Rafael Moreira.  Moreira has a great tone and his style is flashy which adds to all of the tracks on this CD.  The musicianship on this CD is top notch.  the only downfall would be the vocals of Medoza.  He's okay as a vocalist, but a much better bassist.  Many of the vocals are styled like James Brown.  His best vocal is probably on the track Kingdom of Paradise, to where he emulates Glen Hughes.  Other than that the vocals are just average. 

Out of all of the covers, my favorite is Suzie Q.  The band has totally rearranged the tune and made it their own.  It is unrecognizable until the chorus, and that is not a bad thing.  They have slowed it down and given it a Latin type vibe.  All in all not a bad CD, but not a great one either.  This one might get better with more spins, due to all of the variety.  Who knows?

 

Bottom Line: Mendoza showing that he is more than a one trick pony.  A CD full of variety, played to perfection.  Had they brought in some guest vocalist, this one might have been more solid.

Standout Tracks: Suzie Q, Kingdom of Paradise, Betty Joe and Get Ready.

-Ragman is bringing out the funk.

Bison BC - Dark Ages

Doom/Thrash/Stoner metal that just goes on and on and on...I can't say I knew too much about Bison BC before I put in their new CD Dark Ages -but there was probably a reason.  To be fair, I have read some positive things about the band, hence checking out this CD, but after a few listens, I'm not quite sure what all the hype was about.  Bison BC is a concoction of Doom, Stoner and Thrash all mixed into one.  Confusing, I know.  I think if the band were to focus on one sound, then this might of worked a little better.  The songs are long and really didn't take me anywhere - except the to the FF button.  There were only 2 tracks that kind of grabbed me:  Stressed Elephant and Two-Day Booze.  This first track is heavy and incorporates some melody, unlike many tracks on this disk, while Two Day incorporates a cool riff at the beginning, but then doesn't go much further from there.   Most tunes are slow and droning, and do not contain much substance.  Not impressed with this one.

Bottom Line: Music that doesn't take the listener anywhere.  The songs on this CD drone on and leave the me bored.

Standout Tracks:  Stressed Elephant and Two-Day Booze

- Ragman is thinking this Bison should be grilled...