Agent Fresco - Destrier

When you wondered where to find some killer new prog rock, you didn't think Iceland, did you? Big mistake.Holy shit I love to be amazed by bands I've never heard of. It's like hearing music in a new way even after all of my years listening. And such is the case with the incredible musicians known collectively as Iceland's Agent Fresco and their sophomore album Destrier.

Billed as a progressive art-rock band, their sound is an exhilarating mix of progressive rock, metal, alternative, post rock and even jazz. But the whole listening experience is far greater than the mere sum of its parts. What this band has put together is an album of universal emotional struggle as interpreted through their masterful use of different musical textures. Dark Water is an excellent example of how this is done with lead singer Arnór Dan Arnarson's voice laying a fragile narrative over an aggressive rhythym in a deft counterbalance that captures the complexity of human relationships good and bad. The rest of the album follows this basic template, but the sound is anything but basic.

This is some of the freshest music of the genre I've heard in a long while. Arnarson is fantastic and sings with the earnestness of a young Freddie Mercury. And the rhythms are complex without veering into that music-for-sound-engineers-and-calculators territory that prog can sometimes go. Drummer Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson has a wonderful light touch to his playing that reminds me of guys like the criminally underrated Stewart Copeland that I never get enough of. Proggers should dig this.

The Bottom Line: Agent Fresco is a band that deserves to have its name out there being heard. They have the uncanny knack for mixing seemingly disparate rhythyms and sounds as though they belong together in a way that's catchy without losing depth. Fans of Spock's Beard or The Custodian should really dig this.

Tracks I Wish I Could Listen To On My Old Beloved Sony Walkman WM-F20: The whole damned album

- Genghis really did own a lot of Sony Walkmans in his time...

Podcast #194: Shredder

The lads continue their post-summer sabbatical cleaning as they check in with two veterans of the guitarhead crowd, Chris Impelliterri and Joe Stump, for some lively conversation about all things metal.

Chris Impelliterri (Impelliterri, AniMetal USA) sat down to chew the fat about his new album, Venom, as well as his work with AniMetal and upcoming tour plans with his solo band.

Joe Stump (Exorcism, Raven Lord, Reign of Terror) is another solid shredder who sat down with us to discuss his decades long career including his latest projects and touring plans.

Video Of The Show: Van Halen Live: Right Here, Right Now

Beer of the Show: Black Raz Stout (Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"Buffalo Bayou Brewing describes this excellent cigar beer as 'dessert in a glass' and we're inclined to agree..."

Featured Tracks: Van Halen - Fire In The Hole; The Firm - Radioactive; Van Halen - Summer Nights

Ragman's Classic Of The Show: Diving For Pearls - Gimme Your Good Lovin'

Genghis' Classic Of The Show: Queensrÿche - I Don't Believe In Love

Ragman's Pick Of The Show: Eclipse - Stand On Your Feet

Genghis' Pick Of The Show: Cyrax - Cockroach

- Genghis is cleanin' up this one horse studio...

Podcast #194: Shredder

Lynch Mob - Rebel

Lynch and Logan are back at it with some down and dirty hard rock sure to please.Being guitar fans, we're always excited about new product from our favorite guitarists like the venerable George Lynch and his latest studio album with Lynch Mob, Rebel. At this point George has made more albums with Lynch Mob (yeah, I know about REvolution, but it was a studio album, so bear with me) than he did with Dokken, making this an interesting and expected point to make comparisons in terms of songwriting and longevity, if I may.

There are probably two general camps within the base of Lynch Mob fans; Oni Logan versus Robert Mason. Both are great vocalists, and both appeared on what are probably the two best albums of Lynch Mob's career, but getting back to Rebel, it's definitely great to have Oni return on vocals, as he's my favorite of the two.

Testify, with it's swampy Zeppelin trudge is a perfect example of how Logan's clear and steady tone layers nicely on top of the heavy bottom beat. And it's always nice to hear those more adventurous tunes that Lynch pulls out since leaving Dokken like the funky Pine Tree Avenue and Jelly Roll. It's gotta be obvious to anyone by now that so much more was brewing in that coiffed head of his than that former band allowed.

The Bottom Line: Long time Lynch Mob fans will no doubt be pleased at this raucous new outing, but old fans that left when the Mob got a little too experimental (Smoke This) just know that this may not be the old Lynch, but he's still making some damn fine modern rock music.

Tracks To Play While Packing Your Old Leather Pants For The Salvation Army: Between The Truth And A Lie, Pine Tree Avenue, Jelly Roll & The Hollow Queen

- Genghis has been air guitarring relentlessly for hours to this album now...

Beauvoir Free - American Trash

I have been a fan of the Beauvoir-Free pairing, since these guys first joined up forces, in Crown of Thorns, back in the early 90's.  Believe it or not, but Beauvoir, used to be in the iconic punk band, The Plasmatics, before exploring his more melodic hard rock side.  The guy has worked with Kiss, John Waite, and many others. 

Beauvoir and Free just have a great chemistry together, and I was really geeked, when I heard, that they had gotten back together, to do a project, for Frontiers.  Much like their other band Crown of Thorns, the songs are melodic and catchy as well.  Beauvoir's voice is as solid as ever, and so are Free riffs.  This could be the best thing either has done, since the first Crown of Thorns record; it is that good.

American Trash is solid from start to end, without one clunker.  The first track to really grab my attention was, strangely enough, the opener Angels Cry.  It is a mid-tempo rocker, oozing with melody, as well as one hell of a catchy chorus.  It is one of those choruses that stays in your head for days.  There is a nice mix of rockers and ballads on this one.  The bonus is that each tune with packed with killer riffs from Free.  Check out the tune, It's Never Too Late, to hear what I'm talking about.  It has one of those classic 80's style riffs, that just makes the hair's, on your arms, stand up to pay respect.  If you're looking for some solid melodic hard rock with attitude, then this one is for you.

Bottom Line:Beauvoir and Free proving that when they get together, they make musical magic.  Another killer release, from this duo.  Hopefully this is not a one off, because this one is a killer release.

Standout Tracks: It's Never Too late, Angel's Cry, Cold Dark December and Never Give Up

-Ragman likes when friends get back together.

Earth - Primitive and Deadly

Earth is a band, that just came on my radar, with their 8th release Primitive and Deadly.  I'm not sure how I keep missing some of these bands, but I am thankful, when I discover, like this.  To be honest, Earth isn't one of those bands, that I would typically appeal to.  They have this slow droning, doom metal-ly, thing going on, which for the most part, bores me.  The cool thing about these guys, is that they infuse some nice melodies, into their tunes, to keep the ears perked up.

Primitive and Deadly is a 6 track CD, that clocks in just under 60 minutes.  The tracks are slow and brooding, but have nice melodies.  The only track, I was not very stoked about, was the instrumental, bonus track, Badger's Bane, which went on and on, with the same chord progressions, just being played over and over again, which clocks in at about 12 1/2 minutes.  I'm thinking Bill Zebub, could use this track, for one of his flicks.  All joking aside, this band does have a very melodic and creative side.  I actually think they excel, when they add in vocals.  Check out the track From the Zodiacal Light, featuring vocals from Radia Shaheen Qazi, and you'll know what I mean.  If you like your music slow and droning, with melody, then check these guys out.

Bottom Line:  Not being a big fan of droning or doom metal, i really found this one appealing.  The melodies that these guys come up with, become infectious and will stick with you.  Even though they are better know for their instrumentals, I think they are better with vocals, especially with Rabi.  That song rocks.

Standout Tracks: From the Zodiacal Light, Even Hell Has it's Heroes, Torn By the Fox of the Crescent Moon

-Ragman is branching out.  Who am I kiddn', this is pretty friggin metal dude!