CD of the Month
  • Mudvayne
    Mudvayne
    by Mudvayne
Inspiration
  • Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground New Edition
    Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground New Edition
    by Michael Moynihan, Didrik Soderlind
  • Retribution
    Retribution
    by Shadows Fall
  • Brutal Legend
    Brutal Legend
    Electronic Arts
Wednesday
Aug072013

House of Shakira sign to MelodicRock Records

House of Shakira wants to come out and play again.

It´s not yet 18 months since their critically acclaimed album "HoS" hit the market, but the band has been working on a sequel ever since. It´s about time to let the new opus "Pay to Play" see the light of day. And MelodicRock Records is going to be the label to deliver this new classic to the masses.

The upcoming seventh studio release marks the second CD with lead singer Andreas Novak, and is accordingly their best album so far. The band chose a small label, in order to maintain highest priority throughout the process, instead of falling between the lines in the hands of a bigger label.

Says frontman Andreas Novak:

"MelodicRock Records is our weapon of choice, whose enthusiasm we trust with our lives. I'm proud to say this is by far the best release I've ever been involved in. This album has been a true pleasure and walk in the park to compose, since we're immune to pressure. It´s all for the love of good music. Fame and fortune should not be anybody's goal - then it becomes an obstacle instead. We just wanna play."

 

Label CEO Andrew McNeice:

"I've had the pleasure of working with Andreas over a number of yeas now as well as a long standing friendship with the rest of the HoS guys. When they came together I pitched to them immediately. Well, I might have had to wait one album, but I've got them now! I'm as excited about this release as I could be. I've been going back and forth with the guys over the last few months deciding upon which songs had to make the cut and organizing the perfect sequencing so this album flows like a fine wine. They guys have outdone themselves and I think the songs, the passion and the energy of this record rival their classic debut."

 

House Of Shakira are a Swedish rock formed by guitarists Mats Hallstensson and Anders Lundström that started out in Stockholm around 1991 under the moniker The Station. The mid 1990s saw the band change their name to House of Shakira, named after a London bordello. In their 22 year history the band has released six previous studio albums, all of which have left their mark, making the band one of Sweden's best known musical exports as well as hometown heroes. Their famed debut album Lint remains a genre classic. For the band's second album with singer Andreas Novak, the guys collectively concluded that it was time to give the debut a run for its money. The House Of Shakira line-up of Mats Hallstensson (guitars), Anders Lundström (guitars), Andreas Novak (vocals) and the blistering rhythm section of Basse Blyberg (bass) and Martin Larsson (drums) locked themselves away in the studio for several months, not immerging until the songs of their new release "Pay To Play" were completed and a perfect addition to the band's legacy

House Of Shakira’s "Pay To Play" will be released worldwide via MelodicRock Records/Cargo Records on CD September 23 and via Digital outlets two weeks later on October 7. Copies will be available for purchase at the MelodicRockFest event in Chicago, September 27-29. Full details, album artwork, track listing and that all important preview will follow shortly.

Saturday
Jul132013

Death Dealer - War Master

Who said there aren't such things as super-groups?  Not sure, but whoever it was, didn't know what the hell he was talking about.  The latest super-group to grace my CD player, is Death Dealer.  Death Dealer is comprised of vocalist Sean Peck (Cage), guitarist Ross the Boss (Ex-Manowar), drummer Rhino (Ex-Manowar), bassist Mike Davis  (Halford/Lizzy Borden) and are rounded off by guitarist/producer Stu Marshall (UDO).  Together, these guys have created some molten metal, hot enough, to give you sun burn from 10 miles away.  This band is heavy, and they aren't afraid to give you a swift kick in the shorts, with their brutal style of music.

The band's debut, Warmaster, blends thrash, power and progressive metal, all into one sound.  The CD begins with the pummeling track, Death Dealer, which brings back memories of Painkiller era, Judas Priest. It is just as intense as the Priest classic, but with a more modern vibe.  A standout on the record, is the guitar playing of Ross the Boss.  Boss' guitar playing, on this CD, is phenomenal.  I knew the guy had chops, but he really shows them off on this release.  Another strong presence is Sean Peck.  Peck has pipes of steel, and sings his ass off on this record.  To be fair, all of the guys involved lend a stellar performance to the album.

The CD is full of fast and midtempo tunes with the exception of the ballad, Children of Flames.  I do like the variety on this disk.  It is a nice mix.  One minute you're banging your head and the next your are singing along with the band's anthem, Hammer Down.  Solid tunes executed to perfection, by some metal veterans.  Go get it.

 

Bottom Line:  The songs on this disk are brutal and over the top, but there is enough melody to keep them interesting.  Peck and Boss shine on this record.

Standout tracks: Never to Kneel, Children of Flames, Hammer Down and Curse of the Heretic.

-Ragman is wondering if these dudes were in to D & D.

 

Saturday
Jul132013

Pamela Moore - Resurrect Me

Stepping out of the shadows of Queensryche, Pamela Moore (Sister Mary), is set to release her own brand of hard rock, to the masses.  Moore has just released her 4th solo record, titled Ressurrect Me.  The CD has a very metal vibe, thanks to guitarist Michael Posch (Raddaka).  As one would guess, the vocals are strong and the songs are heavy and melodic.  Moore and Posch make a good team, and deliver some high octane rock n roll.  The songs on the CD have a bit of a dark vibe, which is a good thing, but the real surprise, well sort of, was the classic Queensryche vibe, that is heard in the title track and Awakening.   It's funny, because these songs are stronger than anything the Ryche has put out in along time, well at least, until this year.  A solid platter of melodic metal tunes, with only a few misteps.

Bottom Line:  Solid, memorable, melodic metal.  Moore proving, that she is more than just Sister Mary, from Operation Mindcrime.  A heavy edged disc that leave you wanting more, no pun intended.

Standout Tracks: Melt Into You, Paranoia, Wide Awake and Awakening

- Ragman was quite surprised with this one.

Wednesday
Jul102013

dUg Pinnick - naked

dUg Pinnick's latest solo album is appropriately titled, Naked, because dUg lets it all hang out, on this one.  Okay, don't get the wrong idea, his junk ain't out on the cover, what I'm talking about, is that he is very transparent with this release.  dUg apparently has a lot of demons, which he has released, on his latest CD.  Lyrically dUg bears all emotionally on this disc.  I'm not a guy that pays that much attention to lyrics these days, but it hard to ignore what he is singing about on this record.  dUg sings with so much emotion, so it is hard to ignore what the guy is singing about.

Naked is a bit heavier than his last solo effort Strum Sum Up, which was more groove oriented.  The CD is heavy is sound and emotion.  As I mentioned before, dUg lets it all hang out on this record.  The CD is not that much different than what you expect from Pinnick.  It is heavy groove ladened  rock with a major edge and killer melody.  dUg brings back a lot of the killer harmony styled vocals for this album, which I have been diggin on.  As you would guess, their is a bit of soul on the album, and the track Ain't That the Truth is a perfect example.  I really dug the first part of the CD, but some the latter tracks, I have been having a harder time getting into.I think this one is one, that will get stronger with each spin.  

Bottom Line:  dUg Pinnick exposes himself emotionally, on this release.  Songs that are moody and uplifting, at the same time.  I don't think I have heard his bass ever sound this heavy.  Soulful, melodic, grooving tunes.

Standout Tracks:  If You Fuk Up, What Ya Gonna Do?, Courage and I Hope I  Don't Lose My Mind.

-Ragman will not be getting naked for the next podcast.

Wednesday
Jul102013

Dio - Magica (Deluxe Edition)

To be honest, when Magica came out originally in 2000, I was thoroughly disappointed.  Not only had Tracy G left the band, but they had brought back Craig Goldy.  No knock against Goldy, because he is a talented guitarist, but I just never thought he fit into the band that well.  Though talented, he just came off a little boring.  Take Goldy out of the equation, and I still, back 13 years ago, thought the album was stale and tired.  It wasn't until the best of release, The Very Beast of Dio 2, that I decided to check this CD out again.  The song As Long As It's Not About Love, struck my ears and made go re-visit this now cult classic.

Recently Magica has been re-released in a deluxe 2 CD edition.  The first CD contains the re-mastered album and the second "bonus' CD contains some interesting gems.  The bonus CD, has Ronnie James Dio, narrating the Magica story line, how cool is that?  Next there is the bonus track, from Japan, Annica, as well as one of the last recordings by the great one, Electra, which was to be featured on Magica 2 or 3.  Unfortunately Mr. Dio passed before he could finish his story.  There are also 5 bootleg live tracks included.  These could have been left off in my opinion, but I guess they need to fill up the rest of the disk.

Looking back, I'm not sure why I didn't get this CD the first time around.  Though it is not Dio's best work, it is definitely a strong effort.  There is a nice variety on the CD, from the slow brooding track Lord of the Last Day, to the Rainbow inspired Fever Dreams to the dark ballad, As Long As It's Not About Love, this album pretty much covers the gamut.  I'm not sure if the re-mastering had anything to do with how punchy this record sounds now, but I have a new respect for this album.  If you love Dio and do not have this one, then you should pick it up in it's deluxe form, because it is the shit!

Bottom Line: A Dio cult classic re-discovered.  A solid performance by the man and his supporting cast.  Hopefully some of the lesser known Dio CD's will get this sort of royal treatment.

Stand Out Tracks:  As Long As It's Not About Love,  Lord of the Last Day, Fever Dreams and Eriel

-Ragman wants to see the expanded version of Strange Highways....Please....