Saxon - Heavy Metal Thunder (The Movie)

Well, the holy grail for Saxon fans is once again available, with a proper release.  Yes, the once unattainable Heavy Metal Thunder (The Movie) is once again available for consumption.  The release came via Cool Head Productions, a few years back, and was basically just a BBC documentary on the band.  Cool Head got Saxon's blessing to release it, but the band had no real control over the initial release.  The initial release was put out in limited quantities, I believe, to gauge how well it would do.  The movie quickly sold out on the Cool Head website, which made it virtually impossible to find.  Fast forward a few years, and now the DVD is readily available again.  Hallelujah!

Heavy Metal Thunder is a well done biography on one of the founders of The New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.  The movie is similar to the Sam Dunn style of film making, but not quite as good.  Don't get me wrong, this thing is awesome, but had Sam done this, it might have been incredible.  The movie mixes in interview footage of the band, past and present, as well as some choice concert footage.  I really enjoyed how in depth that the film dug in to the history of the band.  It was interesting to hear the back stories of former members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson, and what led to their exits from the band.  HMT is a must for Saxon fans.  It is packaged in a 2 disc set that includes the movie on 1 disc and a ton of extras on the other.  The 2nd disc is especially nice, because it includes a full show from the band in 2008 as well as some additional footage including praise from their peers.  All in all a solid watch.  Go get it, before it sells out again.

Bottom Line: A well done documentary of one of the founders of the NWOBHM movement.  Nice to see the band finally getting their due.  A great story about one of the most underrated bands in heavy metal history.

-Ragman thinks he hit the lotto.  He has been waiting for this film for years!

My Soliloquy - The Interpreter

I gotta give mad props to Pete and company for this sweet steampunk album cover.Having been with Threshold since 2007, and perhaps itchy to be in a recording studio since then (last year's long-awaited March of Progress notwithstanding), guitarist Pete Morten has branched out with a progmetal album of his own from his erstwhile project (which actually did several high-profile gigs before he joined Threshold apparently), My Soliloquy, called The Interpreter.  And having played all the roles on this recording, save for drums, it makes for quite an impressive debut.

The Interpreter runs the gamut of influences while staying squarely in the progressive metal milieu; from the Images and Words era Dream Theater vibe of opener Ascension Pending, to the metalcore tinged Flashpoint, to the slight funk edge of Corrosive De-Emphasis, and the more mellow Marillionesque Inner Circles and Star. This is damn fine bit of heavy prog, people.

The Bottom Line: Prog metal fans should find a lot to like in this debut album from Threshold's Pete Morten, which easily proves that he's the real deal when it comes to prolific, multi-instrumentalist artists with ideas beyond their more high-profile gigs.

Tracks to Make You Sigh at Your Dusty Tascam: Ascension Pending, Flashpoint and Corrosive De-Emphasis

- Genghis actually wishes he could've rated this one higher...

Solisia - UniverSeasons

Another female fronted symphonic/power metal band that really knows how to headbang? Nice!With bands like Denmark's Within Temptation and Finland's Nightwish flying the flag of symphonic/power metal bands fronted by powerful female vocals, it's no surprise that Italy's Solisia should come vying for their place in the genre. And make no mistake, they're not just going through the motions; these guys are good.

The most striking difference between Solisia and its sonic brethren is its more varied style. Culling different bits from thrash, progressive and symphonic/power metal, and combining it with the voice of new singer Elie Syrelia, these crafty Roman metalheads have forged a unique sound that comes together nicely on their ambitious concept album, UniverSeasons. Having not heard their debut album, I can't truly speak to their dodging a sophomore jinx, but after listening to it, there's no way they can't have topped it. This album kicks ass.

There are moments of brilliance where their use of dynamics breaks up monster grooves, showing a masterful sense of tension. And in fact, you'll find a great many moments of metal inspiration calling to mind the works of bands as varied as Dream Theater, Megadeth, Evanescence, and Anthrax. There's no question that this band is well set with talented musicians and I look forward to their next work.

The Bottom Line: Solisia takes a cue from the female-fronted sym-power metal playbook while adding their own heavier leaning influences from thrash and prog metal to make a gothic sound with a more throughly metal edge to it. The result is very impressive. Fans of Lacuna Coil who want more heavy grooves should check this out.

Tracks to Headbang to While Applying Your Heavy Eyeliner: UniverSeasons, Mind Killer, Dirty Feeling and Symbiosis

- Genghis was really impressed with this one...

Podcast #146: Cane

And we heard him exclaim as he emptied his cup, "Merry Christmas, podcasters, and a big ol' Horns Up!"It's that time of year again: Merry Belated Christmas!  It's time for Genghis & Ragman to pull out their annual Kicks and Kisses lists, so join G & R while they discuss the hits and misses of 2012, recapping one of the strongest years in metal in quite some time.  So grab a cold one and get by the fire, because it's gonna be a long night.

DVD of the Show: Twisted Sister - A Twisted X-Mas (Live in Las Vegas)

1st Beer of the Show: Lupulus (Brasserie Les Trois Fourquets)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.0 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 2.5 Overall: 2.5	"A tripel that has everything going for it, but strangely fizzles out on the taste."

2nd Beer of the Show: Tröegs Mad Elf (Tröegs Brewing Company)
	"An incredible holiday beer made with cherries, honey, and chocolate malts that craftily hides its 11% ABV in rich taste."

Featured Tracks: Bad News - Cashing in on Christmas; King Diamond - No Presents for Christmas; Halford - Come All Ye Faithful; Twisted Sister - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; Tracy G - White Christmas; Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache; Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers; Riot - Heavy Metal Machine; Geoff Tate - Take a Bullet; East of the Wall - The Apologist; The Magnificent - Satin and Lace; District 97 - Open Your Eyes; Wildestarr - Transformis Ligea; Mystic Prophecy - Hollow; Jeff Scott Soto - Damage Control; Jorn - The World I See; Teenage Casket Company - Cocaine; Love Might Kill - Perfect Mistake; Danger Danger - Naughty, Naughty Christmas

- Ragman is burning the mistletoe...

Podcast #146: Cane

Pelican - Ataraxia/Taraxis

Who knew that Chicago is a hotbed of interesting new metal? Well, NOW you know!Stoner Metal has an appeal that's a bit inexplicable. That's not to say there's no reason I should like it, not at all. In fact, there's something almost comforting in allowing it to carry you along its lumbering groove much like a good buzz (however you may get yours). 

What I find most fascinating about listening to good stoner metal is the imagery it conjures. There's always a very clear mood that it sets for me, like a soundtrack to a movie that's writing itself in my mind as I listen to it; I'm always intrigued by what my mind's eye conjures for me with each instrumental session.

In the case of Pelican's Ataraxia/Taraxis, I am whisked away to a science fiction western where cowboys roam an alien landscape. Okay, maybe I'm crazy, but as it concerns this Chicago quartet, Pelican has wisely eschewed the pigeon-holing that can come from having a singer. The focus is on the music and the mood that it sets.

The Bottom Line: Call it stoner, sludge, or post metal, but you can't deny there's some good heavy and atmospheric grooves all over their latest EP, from the industrial Tangerine Dream opener, Ataraxia, to the dobro-flavored cadence of Taraxis, this is 18+ minutes of trippy jams for a lazy Sunday of gettin' your mind right, dig?

Tracks to Enjoy While You Break In A New Vaporizer: Ataraxia, Lathe Biosas, Taraxis

- Genghis is intrigued by the Ploom Pax...