Podcast #183: Tech

Technology and heavy metal aren't necessarily mutually exclusive terms, ya know.In the thick of the holidays, as the lads work on their Kicks and Kisses lists for the end of the year show, join Genghis & Ragman for their last little chat of 2014. As usual, the conversation gets a little weird from time to time (read: John and McCheese are involved), but somewhere in there is a discussion about technology and its connection with metal. There's a popular assumption that metalheads aren't the smartest people in the crowd, with metal having no appreciable effect on the sciences, but Genghis begs to differ.

Video Of The Show: Blind Guardian - Imaginations Through The Looking Glass

Beer of the Show: Xocoveza Mocha Stout (Stone Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.0 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"Brewers, take note: This unique, delicious milk stout shows how important it is to balance your ingredients."

Featured Tracks: Blind Guardian - Into The Storm; Allen/Lande - Down From The Mountain; Stratovarius - Kiss Of Judas; Lacuna Coil - I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name); AC/DC - War Machine

Ragman's Classic Of The Show: Vanishing Point - Forgotten Self

Genghis' Classic Of The Show: King's X - Lost In Germany

Ragman's Pick Of The Show: Planet Hard - Play Harder

Genghis' Pick Of The Show: A Sound Of Thunder - Udoroth

- Genghis is looking forward to recording the next G&R show...

Podcast #183: Tech

Kiko Loureiro - The White Balance

It goes without saying, that Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro, is a monster, on the guitar.  His last solo instrumental release, Sounds of Innocence was phenomenal.  So what more can fans expect, you ask?  Well a live DVD, of course.  Kiko has recently released a live solo performance, called The White Balance.  The show was filmed, last year, in Sao Palo Brazil.  The set list was broken up into 3 different styles: Rock, Acoustic and Brazilian fusion. 

This DVD is simply amazing.  It is shot well and gives you a sense of being in the front row.  The rock portion of the set, blew me away.  It was awesome seeing Kiko perform much of his last album live.  The acoustic section of the show, demonstrates another side to Loureiro's playing, which was very entertaining.  And lastly the Fusion part of the show, is pretty amazing as well.  Being a rocker, I have to say, I really dug the rock portion of the set, the most, but it was also cool to see the other aspects of Loureiro's playing, because it shows how versatile this guy is.  This is a must for any guitar geek.

 

Bottom Line: Kiko showing off the many sides of his virtuostic playing.  A very well shot DVD that will keep you entertained throughout.

-Ragman is salivating for the new Angra record.

soul sign - Life in the Dark

Ain't it great when you discover some cool new music, which isn't that new anymore.  If you think about it, it is new, if it is the first time you've heard it.  Right?  Well my latest, late, discovery is a band called soul sign.  Soul sign is a supergroup of sorts, featuring members of members of Yngwie Malmsteen (bassist Bjorn Englen) and Leatherwolf (vocalist Michael Olivieri) as well as some well renown studio musicians (guitars - Rob Math and drums Mike Taylor).  I gotta tell ya, I was pretty pumped when I heard Olivieri was singing with the band, because I'm a huge Leatherwolf guy.  Spoiler Alert - Michael is no longer in the band and has been replaced by Ex-Yngwie vocalist Mark Boals.  Also, Math and Taylor have been replaced as well.

Soul sign's sound, is heavy with a modern edge.  I have to say, this is a strong CD, which gets better with each listen.  Most of the songs are mid-tempo, with a dark vibe to them, while keeping a nice melody.  The beginning of the CD starts off with the track I'm Bleeding, which is a mid-tempo track, that is catchy, but won't fully sell you on this band.  It is the latter tracks, like the melodic Life and Human Evil, that make this one a keeper.  Like I said, the beginning of the CD is not as strong as the mid section, to the end of the disc.  I just think the songs get stronger as you go through the album.

As excited I was to hear that Olivieri was in the band, I felt he struggled on some of the slower darker tracks.  He has not lost anything vocally, but it seems like he is straining at times.  I think Boals may be a better fit, due to his higher vocal range.  It will be interesting to see how they do on their next studio release with Boals at the helm.  Another thing that struck me, was the musicianship.  It is stellar.  Bjorn has a nice heavy sound and style, which reminds me a little of Tony Franklin.  Math is a monster on the guitar, delivering killer riffs, every time he gets the chance.  All and all not a bad debut.  Strong songs with great musicianship.  What more can you ask for?

 

Bottom Line:  One of those albums that gets better with each spin.  Solid modern edged rock with an edge.  Well constructed songs that will stay with you.

Standout Tracks: Life, Human Evil, You (Control) and Out of Obsession

-Ragman can't wait to hear what these guys do next.

Not Another Celebrity Movie

Not Another Celebrity Movie is a spoof film, about some of the biggest names in Hollywood.  This film takes a jab at all of the Hollywood blockbusters containing multiple big names, just to get a draw at the box office.  Not being a fan of these type of films, I thought this spoof, might be good for a laugh or two.  A laugh or two is about what I got.  Unfortunately, the laughs are few and far between in this flick. 

NATM centers around Charlie Sheen and his dilemma.  Of course, the filmmaker prey's on Charlie's most recent escapades,with a few added twists.  Long story short, Charlie, for some reason, thinks Justin Beiber is his illegitimate love child, and he goes on a quest to find him.  He is also heartbroken, because the love of his life, Paris Hilton, no longer wants anything to do with him.  Throw in a bit of Ocean's 11 and you got the movie.  In theory, this could be funny, but unfortunately, due to the poor writing, there aren't a lot of laughs.  The acting and impressions are done well, but the writing is just not that funny. 

Bottom Line: A moview with potential, but falls short due to some lackluster writing.

-Ragman thought he would be laughing throughout, but instead caught a few zzz's.

Jon Lord – Celebrating Jon Lord: The Composer and The Rock Legend

Jon Lord was one of the greatest keyboardist's, of our time.  When people think of Deep Purple, many think of Ritchie Blackmore or Ian Gillan, but it is hard to deny the impact that keyboardist, Jon Lord, made on the band.  His Hammond organ drove many of the band's biggest hits.  Unfortunately, Jon passed away a few years back, after losing his battle with cancer, but his music lives on. 

The latest release to spotlight the works of Mr. Lord, was a concert done in his honor, at Royal Albert Hall, as part of the Sunflower jam.  The concert is broke up into to two sections.  One section celebrates his classical works and the other his rock accomplishments.  It was a star studded event, featuring the likes of Deep Purple, Bruce Dickinson, Glenn Hughes and several more.

The classical CD will be for fans of his classical work.  The other CD, featuring his rock music, will probably get more attention, due to his affiliation with one of the most iconic rock bands, Deep Purple.  The sound quality of the CD, is okay.  It is a live CD, so what do you expect.  Some of the performances are spot on, and some, unfortunately don't quite hit the mark.  The person that stole the show for me was Glenn Hughes.  This guy is unreal.  He sings so well, and for me stole the show.  All in all a fitting tribute for a rock legend.

Bottom Line: For Jon Lord/Deep Purple die hards only.  It is fun to hear once, but after that it falls a little flat, unless you are a die hard.

-Ragman thinks the riff from Perfect Strangers, is one of the heaviest ever.