Journey - Live in Manila

I have to admit, that since Jeff Scott Soto was asked to leave Journey, I have not followed the band as closely as I had.  I felt betrayed, by the band, because of the way that Soto was dismissed.  The only thing that would have kept me cheering, would have been the return of long time front man Steve Perry.  I dug the Steve Augerie (ex-Tall Stories) era, and was pumped when they announced that Soto would be fronting the band.  Being an established fan of both of these vocalists, it was a no brainer, that I would stay on board, but when they replaced Jeff with a guy on Youtube, I was pissed and checked out.  Well it wasn't a total check out, I still bought what they put out, but it still bugged me that they basically had a Steve Perry, sound alike, fronting the band.

My opinion of the band has not really changed over the past 9 years, since Arnel Pineda joined the band, until their latest live release Live in Manila.  This concert was filmed in 4K resolution and looks amazing.  Not only does it look amazing, but the band is firing on all cylinders.  Schon and company rip through their greatest hits, as well as a few new tunes.  The band look like their having fun and have a nice dynamic with now ex-drummer Deen Castronovo handling some of the vocals.  I have to admit, that I enjoyed Pineda's performance, even though he seemed little too giddy to be a rock star.  He comes off a little goofy, but who wouldn't if you were fronting one of the greatest rock bands of all time.  This one was thoroughly entertaining and is a must for Journey fans.  If you are skeptical like I was, then give this one a shot, and I would bet your opinion would change.

Bottom Line:  A well shot DVD that gives you a great live experience, from your couch.  The band shows that they can still rock hard after 40+ years.

-Ragman is ready for the reunion with Steve Perry, that will probably never happen.

Podcast Interview: Titus Hjelm

Ragman chats with Titus Hjelm of Thunderstone who clearly needs to replace some light bulbs at home.Ragman chews the fat with Mr. Titus Hjelm of Thunderstone who discusses the band's latest album and tour plans this fall with Stratovarius. It's some good stuff with some great music as well, so check it out.

And if you dig their music as much as we do, show the band some love by purchasing their lastest album, Apocalypse Again, from your favorite online store, won't you? HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Thunderstone - Ghosts of Youth, Fire and Ice, Through the Pain, The Path, and Holding on My Pain

Titus Hjelm Interview

Podcast Interview: Harry Hess

Ragman chats with Harry Hess of Harem Scarem and First Signal for the four-peat!!Ragman welcomes back the one and only Harry Hess (Harem Scarem, First Signal) for a little one on one with his fourth chat with The Right To Rock. Will he get a prize? Maybe a beavertail? How about a beavertail?

In any case, be sure to check out First Signal's latest album, One Step Over The Line, available now in all the usual places. HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Harem Scarem - Karma Cleansing; First Signal - Broken, One Step Over the Line, and Love Run Free; Harem Scarem - Voice of Reason

Harry Hess Interview

Imminent Sonic Destruction - Triumphia

On the plus side, I hear this album cover is getting accolades. Sweet.I stand by my statements regarding Imminent Sonic Destruction's debut album, Recurring Themes, a few years ago. That said, Tony and company seemed to have doubled down on the prospect of writing epic progmetal with touches of death and doom in spite of some overly ambitious decisions in the vocals/guitar department. And boy am I glad for that because, while still not quite up to the heights I'm still convinced they're capable of, they've honed their skills yet keener and resulting in Triumphia, their sophomore offering.

Tracks like The Fog and its gothic-tinged opening exemplify the raw power metal bedrock upon which the more progressive, deathy ornamentations are built. Lead singer/guitarist Tony Piccoli is toned down (vocally) on this album while the arrangements have become more impressive, so that's great to hear. But while the solo work seems a bit improved, I'm still longing to hear some great legato phrasing à la Simone Mularoni. That said, there are still some great songs on this album as with its predecessor. The grungy, low-end riffing of The Knife is a great tune that adds a doom-style edge to counter the proggy structures of other parts of the album like Something In The Way's midsection.

The Bottom Line: Imminent Sonic Destruction is making strides towards being a really good progmetal band with interesting elements of other genres thrown in for a different take on the aging genre. With a powerful vocalist and a melodic shredder, I really think this band could take off. In the meantime, it's interesting to watch the evolution.

- Genghis is looking around for Mularoni's phone number...

Steve 'N' Seagulls - Brothers In Farms

Their sense of humor is a big part of Steve 'N' Seagulls' appeal.Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, them country boys from Finland, Steve 'N' Seagulls, are at it again with their eagerly awaited follow-up to last year's Farm Machine - which I personally enjoyed mightily. Their sophomore entry into the small subgenre of bluegrass metal, Brothers In Farms, picks up where the last one left off and takes it all to whole 'nother level. This stuff is solid gold, people.

In a land famous for its metal fervor, it's gratifying (and perhaps most appropriate) to see a few farmboys offer their take on some of the most memorable metal tunes of the last 20 years. Running the gamut from Nirvana to Nightwish to Megadeth - to Deep Purple, The Seagulls know their way around a metal tune and handle solos and progessive-tinged interludes with tongue planted firmly in cheek. When it all comes together it can be practically sublime, as the band's unique perspective gives Nirvana's In Bloom a major key upgrade and peppy beat that may fit the tune's lyrical wryness even better than the original. Similar results apply to the lads' rendition of Foo Fighters' The Pretender - though I still prefer the more metal songs as potent examples of how classic heavy songs are cross-genre goldmines in the hands of talented performers. While each musician is proficient in their instrument(s) of choice, the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts largely due to the obvious enthusiasm the lads have for the source material and their own reimaginings of it.

The Bottom Line: The real bottom line is that heavy metal works in pretty much any genre, but Steve 'N' Seagulls are worthy pioneers of this particular (and hopefully growing) sub-genre of bluegrass-y jamming. Sallllllute!

- Genghis looks forward to seeing these cats' outstanding live show again...