Dynazty - Titanic Mass

These Swedish metalheads are firing on all cylinders like it's for a world's record. Check them out.Swedish melodic rockers Dynazty are back with a new studio album, Titanic Mass, which clearly tries to live up to its name through 11 tracks of fast and furious power metal tinged fury. This is some great stuff from a band that's been tearing through Europe for nearly a decade culminating a couple of years ago with their album Renatus and an evolution in their more traditional hard rock sound to something more akin to the current state of metal. Works for me!

The best part of Dynazty is their sense of melodicism, something that never goes away no matter how heavy the riffage on Titanic Mass becomes throughout this 47 minute headbanger's ball. The framework of which is supported by the twin powers of vocalist Nils Molin and guitarist Rob Love Magnusson. Nils has vibrato for days as he belts out anthemic chorus after chorus while Rob's fluid, melodic leads weave about like a lit fuse that burns through the solo sections with an urgent energy. But the meaty rhythms being laid down by the rest of the crew (George Egg on drums, Jonathan Olsson on bass, and Mike Lavér on guitar) are still a bedrock upon which any metal band would do well to stand. This is top quality melodic power metal, people, and no mistake. It's pretty hard for me to hone in on any one song as they're all pretty well balanced throughout the album. I plan to be cranking this in my car for a while, so would-be passengers be warned.

The Bottom Line: This is grade A prime, melodic power metal from a seasoned band that knows how to write a killer jam. Dynazty has made a classic of the genre that should be played loud and long. Kudos, guys.

- Genghis hasn't liked music like this since Nation...

Podcast #205: Elders

Today we talk to Mark Tremonti. *pinches cheeks* Such a sweet boy!Crimeny, we did it! The lads have returned from their self-imposed exile to give you a brand spanking new podcast about what a lot of us may be already thinking: who among the musical elite may be next to pass on to The Great Beyond? Join Genghis & Ragman as they wax philosophic about aging rockers and the frailty of life.

Then, the boys talk to the one and only Mark Tremonti about his new solo album, Dust. Mark dishes about the music biz, Alter Bridge, and tour plans of the near future. So, pop some corn and belly up to the bar. And HORNS UP!

Video Of The Show: Judas Priest - Battle Cry

Beer of the Show: Apis IV (Elevation Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"This quad from Colorado has some great fruity flavors to compliment its Belgian history. Kudos to Elevation."

Featured Tracks: Red Tide Rising - Writing On The Wall; Judas Priest - March Of The Damned; Extreme - (Mutha) Don't Want To Go To School Today; The Ramones - Pet Cemetery; Tin Machine - Under The God, Alter Bridge - Addicted To Pain, Tremonti - Dust

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Scorpions - Animal Magnetism

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Ark - Feed The Fire

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Gygax - World Breaker

Ragman's Pick of the Show: Cheap Trick - Heart On The Line

- Genghis really needs an assistant...

Podcast #205: Elders

Bride of Re-Animator

Bride of Re-Animator has never received the same accolades as the first film.  I'm not sure why, because it is was a damn fine sequel.  Yeah I get it, it wasn't as strong as the first one, but what sequel is better than the original film?  Not many, I can assure you.  The film was released in the early 90's, and for its time, had some of the better special effects for the era.  The film has been sort of forgotten, but has just gotten the royal treatment from Arrow Video, which has given it new life.

If you never caught, Bride of Re-animator, but have seen the prequel, then you won't be too lost.  The film follows characters Herbert West and Dan Cain, eight months after Re-Animator.  The two have recently returned home after experimenting on corpses during the Peruvian Civil War.  The boys are back, at their day jobs, working in a hospital, doing their doctorly deeds, whilst experimenting on the dead.  the two are experimenting on joining various body parts and re-animating them.  Things go south when they re-animate Dan's girlfriend.

Bride of Re-Animator, looks great and has been transferred to high def.  The video looks fantastic and the sound is great as well.  This one is not groundbreaking, but fairly impressive it's time.  The special effects alone, are worth the watch.  I kind of reminds me of the Sam Raimi special effects from the Evil Dead.  The acting is solid and will keep you interested from start to finish.

Bottom Line: A forgotten gem, that has been given a second chance.  A sequel that wasn't give a chance to make it, due to the enormity of the prequel.

-Ragman is wondering if they'll start selling the re-animation fluid as an energy drink.

Irata - Sweet Loris

I'm always interested in rock trios, and Greensboro apparently is too.You know I'm always intrigued to find heavy bands that include female musicians. And North Carolina trio Irata blends a bit of grunge, doom metal, and psychedelic rock into a potent groove-heavy mixture that works well. Their sophomore effort Sweet Loris is a great entry in the growing (some would say overgrown) American doom/psychedelic/sludge movement if only for their sense of melody that is sorely lacking in the dour, too-stoned-to-care meanderings of most modern doom metal.

Right off the bat, with opener Lion Slayer, you get an almost proggy vibe with its bass riff as pedal tone that gives way to a wall of turgid distortion. This is fairly indicative of the overall pattern to the album's seven tracks of groove-heavy tunes - with Daisy being my favorite for its intense, monster chorus riff. And there's a kind of grungey sense of indie angst meets OG heavy metal feel to it all, like a Tool-meets-Soundgarden thing going on here that I really dig. This is the kind of band that will never be "huge" (if such even exists any more) but will absolutely rock the shit out every club they play, and I can't complain a bit about that.

The Bottom Line: It's amazing how bands can strip down to minimal members yet still make a sound that feels monumental. And when such a thing happens in small venues it can become practically a religious experience (altered states of consciousness may be involved, of course). I believe Irata is such a band, and if you're looking for great bottom-heavy groove metal, you may want to check these cats out.

- Genghis imagines this album playing in Greg Brady's bedroom in the den...

Judas Priest - Battle Cry

Hey, if you didn't get to see Judas Priest on their last tour, then now you can, with their latest DVD Battle Cry.  Battle Cry was filmed at Wacken in 2015.  The band was in support of their latest record Redeemer of Souls.  The set list was a retrospective of the band's career, but also includes 3 new tracks, from the latest record.  I have to say the newer material sounded better live than in studio.  I do enjoy their new material, for the most part, but it doesn't have the punch, that they used deliver in the studio.  Call me old school, but I would like to see Tom Allom at the helm again, I'm just sayin'.  That said, I think the newer material comes off better live, than in the studio.

Battle Cry does not look as slick as some of the past Priest videos.  It is a little more grainy and the lights at Wacken, sometime distort the images on the screen.  I'm not sure if that is what they were going for, but I generally like a clear picture, which puts you in the front row.  I love concert videos, that make you feel like your at the concert.  The band sound great and put on one hell of a show, just as you would expect they would.  Ritchie Faulkner steals the show though.  This guy does not act like he has been in the band for just 5 years.  He walks around the stage like he owns the place, and proves it with his shredding.  I was a huge KK guy, but have totally accepted Ritchie as his replacement.  This DVD will make you a believer.

All in all solid Priest from start to finish.  The only thing is, and I hate to say it, is that there are a few kinks in the armour.  Though the show is great, and the band display a fair amount of energy, it appears they are showing their age a bit.  Glen sits back and does not command the stage like he once used to, but I think Ritchie compensates for that.  The other thing, is that you can clearly hear Halford struggling, at times, to hit some of the high notes.  In songs like Painkiller and Halls of Vahalla, the Metal God, has trouble sustaining some of the notes.  Hey, these guys are in their 60's, so I acknowledge that this is getting tougher.  That said, this is still solid performance and entertaining to watch.

Bottom Line: Priest still showing the new school, how it is done.  More than 40 years in, these guys are still going and rocking audiences around the world.  Another great Priest DVD to add to you collection.

- Ragman is still pissed that Priest skipped H-town on their last tour...