Twisted Sister - Under the Blade (Remastered - Special Edition)

Twisted Sister have just completed remastering their entire catalog, with the latest and last being their ground breaking record Under the Blade.  Now that the band have completed re-mastering their back catalog, maybe we can get some new material from the band.  Well, I'm not going to hold my breath for that one, but a man can dream can't he?  That being said, the band re-released their debut, with a bang up package.  Not only does the CD sound better sonically, it includes all sorts of cool extras.

The newly re-mastered Under the Blade comes with the orignal recording as well as their orignal EP Rough Cutts (Available for the first time on CD).  The re-mastered version of this classic is a major improvement, from the original recording.  The sound is more in your face, and the songs sound more potent than ever.  This CD was the blue print for what Twisted Sister became.  It is a great CD.

The highlight of this package is the bonus DVD, which is a show the band did at the Reading Festival back in 1982.  This show was a defining moment in the band's career and it was captured on film.  This show was recorded just prior to the release of the Under the Blade, and it conveys how hungry these guys were.  I used to hear so many stories about how great these guys were back in the day, and now the proof is available in this package.  Another bonus on the DVD, is a current retrospective from each band member, recounting the festival as well as the recording of the first album.  A solid package from start to finish.

Bottom Line: A must for TS fans everywhere.  This is also a must for newbies wondering where metal came from.  TS at their hungriest.  A must buy.  Also, spoiler alert, make sure you watch the whole DVD to see a piece of metal history.  Nuff said.

-Ragman loves the vintage stuff; Now will someone properly release the US 83 festival in a box set.

Bad Company - Live at Wembley (Blu-Ray & CD)

Hard to believe that a band that's been around as long as these guys still sound this good. Check 'em out!From time to time, I like to go back and listen to bands that help shape this great music we call Rock n Roll today.  There were so many great bands from the 70's that had an impact on the music we hear today, but unfortunately some of them get lost in the shuffle.  One band that wasn't forgotten is Bad Company, and believe it or not, they're still kicking ass today and the proof is with their latest release, Live at Wembley.  Bad Company with the help of Eagle Rock Entertainment have just released their performance at Wembley from last year.  The show is being released in (3) formats, DVD, Blu-ray and CD.  All sold separately.  For the purpose of this review, I will only address the Blu-ray and CD.

Live at Wembley is a 16 track set on Blu-ray and 15 track set (excluding Burnin' Sky) on CD, of the bands return home to the UK.  The show is packed full of hits as well as some hidden gems, for the real fans.  I have to say I thought this was a very enjoyable show to watch and listen to.  The show is shot in HD and the audio on the Blu-ray is supreme as well as on the CD.  The show is no frills, just the band and their amps essentially.   You get a bit of a light show and the fog at the end, but that is about it.  Bad Company let the music do the talking.  The band itself do not blow you away with the exception of vocalist Paul Rogers.  Not sure how old Paul is these days, but he is not showing his age.  The pipes are still strong and he can still command the crowd as he did 40 years ago.  All in all a solid watch and listen.

Bottom Line: One of the veteran bands showing the newbies how its done.  They may not move around like they did back in the day, but they sound as good if not better.  An essential purchase for all Bad Company fans.

- Ragman forgot how many killer tunes this band has...

Motörhead - Grind Ya Down (Live in Canada 1988)

For die-hard fans only. Cool wannabes who get their Motörhead shirts from Hot Topic can fuck RIGHT off.Looking for some classic Motörhead to get your evening started?  Well look no further, because a vintage show has recently been released for your viewing pleasure.  Grind Ya Down is a vintage show of the band, from Canada in 1988, in support of their Rock N Roll album.  The show appears to be from a TV broadcast.  The clarity and sound of DVD are good, but not great.  What would you expect from an old TV recording?  The show is good, but omits lots of the classic hits from the band.  The show was obviously edited down from it's original cut, because there are some blatant cuts in the video.  All in all not a bad DVD.  It is a cool show, in which the band is firing on all cylinders.  The only thing missing were a few of the classics.

Bottom Line: For die-hard Motörhead fans only.  This DVD contains some lesser known classics performed live.  The casual fan will not enjoy this one, because they won't recognize a majority of the material.

- Ragman can't get over how much this band gets better with age...

Podcast #123: Missed

Seriously, this guy is one bad motherfucker on keys and guitar. And he knows how to wear a "show me your tits" hat like no other.Do you ever think you have missed the boat with a classic artist?  There are several classic artists that have had successful careers and are staples in the hard rock/heavy metal genre, but do you own any of their albums?  Join Genghis and Ragman as they discuss some of the artists that they never really got into, and why.  Next, guitar virtuoso Tony McAlpine joins the guys for a heart to heart, discussing his first solo CD in almost 11 years as well as what he has been up to since leaving the Steve Vai band.

Featured DVD: Crue Fest - Vol.1

Beer of the Show: Scaldis - Refermente  (Beer Rating: 3)

Featured Tracks: Coldspell - Heroes; Papa Roach - Hollywood Whore;  Ratt - Scene of the Crime; Yes - Miracle of Life; Deep Purple - Knocking on Your Back Doorl; Dream Theater - Stargazer; Black N Blue - Wicked Bitch; Yngwie Malmsteen - Déjà Vu; Judas Priest - Devil’s Child; Tony McAlpine - Peruvian Power Layback, Fire Mountain, Serpens Cauda, Dream Mechanism, The Dedication, and Tears of Sahara

Classic of the Show: Probot - Century to Sin

Ragman Pick of the Show:  Glamour of the Kill - Dying from the Inside

Genghis Pick of the Show:  Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever

- Ragman is feeling instrumental...

Podcast #123: Missed

Thick Lizzy

Our own Turtlehead put a spin on an old favorite by marrying the smoky, malted flavor of Guinness Draught with the creamy indulgence of Häagen-Dazs' Java Chip ice cream to create a fantastic milkshake for a horrible Texas summer.  Praise his Southern ingenuity - especially the brilliance of topping it off with alcohol-infused whipped cream 

• 1 (14 oz.) can of Guinness Draught
• 1 (28 oz.) carton of Häagen-Dazs Java Chip ice cream
• Amaretto Whipanol Whipped Lightning
• Chocolate shavings

Blend Guinness and ice cream, top with Whipanol and dress with chocolate shavings.  Arm self with baseball bat in case women are around. Or don't.

- Genghis could sure go for another one of these as the temperature reaches 100°+ again...