Love Might Kill - 2 Big 2 Fail

Love Might Kill is one of those bands that comes up behind you and gives you a wedgie, when you're least expecting it.   It is bands like this that make my day, and make me proud to be a metal head.  Yeah, wedgies aren't cool, unless you are the giver and not the receiver, but that is not the point here.  This band kicks ass and there is no way getting around it.  The band basically came out of nowhere a few years back and now are setting the stage for something that could be great.  There are no real big names in the band, with the exception of drummer Michael Ehre (Firewind, Uli Jon Roth, Metallium), but it doesn't matter, because the music is doing the talking.

Love Might Kill is a mix of melodic hard rock with a metal tinge.  The songs are well rooted in that catchy 80's formula, without coming off sounding dated.  The real star in the band for me is vocalist Jan Manenti, whom is just a stellar vocalist.  His voice is so versatile, coming off sounding similar to greats like, Paul Shortino, Tony Martin and even Ronnie Atkins.  Guitarist's Christian Stöver and Stefan Ellerhorst are no slouches either.  Tasteful solos and incredible melodies.  

Imagine if you will, a band that has the elements of Rough Cutt, Black Sabbath and Pretty Maids, all mixed in one,  and you would be pretty close.  There are a nice mix of mid and up tempo-rockers as well as a ballad.  Just a great CD all around.  Killer tunes, executed in fine form by a very talented band.  Go get this one.

Bottom Line: Great melodic hard rock with some kick.  Well written tunes that will stick with you.  This is one of those CD's, that is so good, that it will have stay power.

Standout Tracks: Perfect Mistake, The One, 2 Big to Fail and Alone.

-Ragman can't get this one out of his CD player.

Scelerata - The Sniper

Brazil definitely carries the torch for NNWBHM, and Scelerata has what it takes to stand out from the crowdEver since I discovered the energetic music of Brazil’s Angra, I’ve had a deep respect for that part of the world as a source of metal music. Bottom line, those Brazilians know their metal and make some damn good music. Following that path are the boys of Scelerata, whose third studio album, The Sniper, easily sits alongside anything I’ve listened to in the last several years as the kind of metal music that bangs your head, brother! Not sure why I just went all Hulkamania on you, but it still stands that Scelerata’s latest album rocks thoroughly.

Like Angra, Scelerata features breakneck rhythms, ripping solos, and powerful vocals, as if someone switched out Iron Maiden’s beer supply for some of Starbuck’s strongest dark roast. But to me, that’s modern metal at its finest: powerful and heavy anthems, replete with guitar shredding, all over a seismic backbeat. The Iron Maiden connection is obvious when you hear this music, but it couldn’t be made more clear than having Paul Di’Anno not only singing but co-writing on the album. Like I said, those Brazilians know their metal roots.

The Bottom Line: Fans of good old fashioned power metal of the South American variety should love this album. If you’re not, but you like modern metal as well as classic NWBHM bands, you should give this a try.

Tracks To Raise Your Fists In Solidarity To: Pretty much the whole record.

- Genghis needs a monitor to put his foot on when he sings along to this stuff…

Podcast #148: Side

It's always a party when ol' boy Tracy G comes to chew the rag. So, LISTEN UP!Is there an artist that has left an established band and been able to make it on his own? There've been a handful, but the odds are generally against them. So, do they do it to express themselves as artist, or are they just looking to cash in? Join Genghis & Ragman as they discuss the artists that have been able to get out from under the shadow or their current or former band. Next, the boys catch up with Tracy G for a long overdue chat, as our third member of the show discusses his new book and his various side projects.

DVD of the Show: Avantasia - Around the World in 20 Days Live

1st Beer of the Show: Gavroche (Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 3.0 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"Named for a character in Les Misérables, this beer will reward your patronage with great flavor."

2nd Beer of the Show: XV (Ommegang Brewery)
	"This anniversary brew from Ommegang is a great Belgian Strong Dark Ale from start to finish!"

Featured Tracks: Thunderstone - Ghost of Youth; Avantasia - The Scarecrow; Steve Harris - These are the Hands; Tommy Lee - Hold Me Down; Seventh Wonder - King of Whitewater; Tracy G Group - Knuckelhead, Little Wing (Hendrix Cover), Into the Void (Black Sabbath Cover); Wicked King Wicker - No God but I; Tracy G Group - On Fire (Van Halen Cover); Goaded - As You Bleed

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Steve Stevens - Atomic Playboys

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Vince Neil - Look in Her Eyes

Genghis’ Sponsor Pick: Paradox - Brutalized

Ragman’s Sponsor Pick: Shakra - The Mask

Genghis Pick of the Show: Solisia - Universeasons

Ragman Pick of the Show: The 69 Eyes - Tonight

- Ragman is likin' what he hears from the G-Man...

Podcast #148: Side

Michael Schenker - Temple of Rock Live in Europe (DVD and CD)

Ever since Michael Schenker made his triumphant return to form, with the Temple of Rock album, he has been on fire.  Though Michael has has some rough times over the years, it seems like the hard times are behind him, because he is once again focused, giving his fans the best music and performances that he can.  

Temple of Rock, and the tour following the release, solidified the return of Michael Schenker, and fans around the world welcomed him back into the spotlight.  Michael's material has been hit or miss over the past few years, but with Temple, it seemed like all the stars aligned and he was back.  Thanks to the folks at MVD Entertainment, now you can witness with your eyes and ears how awesome Michael and Co. are live, with the recent release of Temple of Rock (Live in Europe).  This show has been released in (3) forms, DVD, BluRay and a deluxe combo with BluRay, a bonus DVD and a 2 CD's of the performance.  Pretty Sweet eh?

This live compilation shows Michael and his band in fine form.  The DVD has a complete show from Tilburg as well as an abbreviated set from the High Voltage Festival.  As a bonus, the featured band in the full show in Tilburg features ex-Scorpions Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass). Ex-Rainbow vocalist Doogie White, handles the majority of the vocal duties, with he exception of a cameo by vocalist Michael Voss, on a track from the Temple of Rock record.  Voss handles the majority vocals on the High Voltage footage.  

Temple of Rock Live in Europe, is an excellent show.   It doesn't matter if you get it on CD or DVD, because the both rock.   I would highly recommend both.  Both shows included on the DVD, are spot on and look and sound great.  I have to say, I think Michael needs to make Voss his permanent vocalist, because the guy smokes as a singer, and isn't too bad with an axe either.  This was non stop fun to watch and listen to.  A solid effort by a guitar great.

Bottom Line: Michael and Co. in fine form.  A very enjoyable concert to watch and to listen to.  The band are in fine form.  A definite must for Schenker fans.

-Ragman will keep this one close for awhile.

The Yardbirds - Making Tracks

The Yardbirds have spawned some of the greatest guitarists of our time.  It is hard to believe that Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck all dawned the stage as a Yardbird, at one time or another.  Well it has been many a year since these guys have played with The Birds, but uh..., they've all been a little busy over the past 5 decades. Even though the guitar heroes have been gone for some time, drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Deja have been back at it, since their reunion in 1992.  The current line up wasn't solidified until 2009, but has been going strong ever since.  

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the band, and even though The Yardbirds only have 2 original members, they still have found a way to maintain an audience and rock a venue.  Making Tracks is a compilation of live shows, as well as a documentary from the band from their 2010 - 2012 tour.   The show is shot well and the audio and is spot on.  My only complaint is that you loose some continuity when the band switches from different performances.  It became a little distracting.

I was never really a huge Yardbirds fan, at least I thought, until I saw the video.  This band authored so many songs I had heard before, but not from them, but from other artists.  I gotta say, I had no idea that Dazed and Confused was a Yardbirds song, before it way a Zeppelin tune.  This band has been well covered over the years.  The performance on this DVD was crisp and entertaining.  I really dug this video.  Even though Page, Beck and Clapton are absent, it still doesn't take away from the solid performance, from the current line up.  It would have been cool to see one of those guys do a cameo, but it didn't really matter, because of the solid performance.

Bottom Line: If you're a purist, this one may take some time to get through, due to the fact that the only original members are the drummer and rythim guitarist.  If you're just looking for some coll bluesy classic rock done well, then this is your DVD.

-Ragman was pleasently surprised with this one.