Thundermother (self-titled)

Thundermother is back, baby. Now run out and get me pack of smokes and some whiskey, would ya?Sweden has been in the throes of retro rock for a decade or so - and they're damned good at it, let me tell you. Case in point, Thundermother. Their last album, Road Fever, was a raucous, beer-swilling soundtrack that heralded a band succeeding on its musical merits rather than the novelty of being a woman-fronted hard rock band. Chalk that up largely to the fertile mind of lead guitarist and founder, Filippa Nässil. And the all new band's new self-titled album continues that thought with more ass-kicking rock and roll than you can shake a stick at.

After the previous album, four members of the band left, leaving Filippa to put together a new lineup with Guerinca Mancini (vocals), Emlee Johansson (drums), and Sara Pettersson (bass). Mancini's smoky vocals are perfect for the raw energy of Nässil's beefy riffs, sounding like a cross between Pink and [the criminally underrated] Suze DeMarchi by way of Doro Pesch. Having conquered the Wacken festival despite only playing together for a few months, they hit the studio. Recording everything live, they laid down 15 tracks in just 10 days, most of which made the new album. And that raw energy is present in the atmospheric mix captured by award-winning producer Thomas Plec Johansson. This album sounds fantastic, like an old vinyl gem you might come across in a forgotten record store. Imagine Angus Young doing a side project with Pink and you sorta get an idea of what to expect - but don't let that decide for you. Check this band out for yourself, ya hear?

The Bottom Line: Sweden isn't done with the retro rock thing, but that's not a bad thing. Especially if you're in the market for some classic bar-rocking tunes that sound old[-school] and fresh at the same time.

- Genghis would like to be up front stage for this band if they come to town...

Podcast #228: Frozen

Light the fire and grab a brew, it's Kicks and Kisses time! Art by Krankenkatz. Buried in the frozen wastes of...Texas, the lads have busted out of their igloos to bring you their annual end of the year Kicks and Kisses List for 2017. Rejoice, rejoice, and join Genghis & Ragman, and all the Whos down in Whoville, as they crack wise about a year that may have sucked outside of music, but was actually a pretty good year for metal.

It's been a lean year to be honest. Harvey was a stone cold bitch. But we're looking forward to more output in 2018 with some improved equipment - hell, we even got a present from one of our fans (yes, that's "fans" plural)! So, keep them fingers crossed - but also keep those HORNS UP!

Video of the show: The End - Black Sabbath

Beer of the Show: Bourbon County Brand Northwoods Stout (Goose Island Brewing)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"Goose Island has outdone themselves with a fantastic sipping beer that begs for cigars by the fire."

2nd Beer of the Show: Black Crack (Southern Star Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"This is easliy one of the best bourbon barrel-aged stouts we've ever had. Delicious!"

Featured Tracks: Amon Amarth - Viking Christmas; Black Sabbath - War Pigs; Sons Of Apollo - Coming Home; AC/DC - Hells Bells; Aerosmith - Shapes; Bad News - Cashing In On Christmas; Sweet & Lynch - Bridge of Broken Lies; Dayshell - Car Sick; Miss May I - Shadows Inside; Persefone - Prison Skin; Mr. Big - Forever and Back; Without Waves - Poetry In Putrid Air; Kobra and the Lotus - Light Me Up; Jinjer - I Speak Astronomy; Gov't Mule - Revolution Come, Revolution Go; Nova Collective - Cascades; Lynch Mob - Main Offender; Harem Scarem - Bite The Bullet; Pink Cream 69 - Man Of Sorrow; Tracy G Group - P.C.H.; Steel Panther - Wasted Too Much Time; Ten - The Travellers; Harem Scarem - Sinking Ships; Persefone - No Mind Faceless; Mr. Big - She's All Coming Back To Me Now; Lynch Mob - Miles Away

Podcast #228: Frozen

Podcast #226: Friday

The lads stay in to watch a favorite horror movie and things go predictably awry. Mwuahaha!Genghis & Ragman once again try to spend a simple quiet Hallow's Eve watching a favorite horror movie on Blu-Ray without incident, but things never seem to go as planned at the Nightmare Studios campus, amirite? Taking a little trip to pop music hell would normally be a reason to want to end it all, but the lads manage to survive the ordeal with a little help from their friends...

'Cuz luckily, the boys run into the one and only Tracy G whose refreshing candor about the music industry is always as welcome as his amazing guitar work - which can be found on his latest CD, Tramp (read: GO GET IT!). So, kick back and enjoy this Halloween flashback to a couple of weeks ago when the lads literally went to hell and back for you listeners. Now get ready for tricks, treats, and HORNS UP!

DVD of the Show: Friday the 13th (2009)

Beer of the Show: Cellared 2016 Pumpkinator! (St. Arnold's Brewery)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"Cellared for a year, St. Arnold's annual Imperial Pumpkin Stout produced amazing results. Out-bloody-standing!"

Featured Tracks: Steve Vai - Erotic Nightmares; Alice Cooper - He's Back (Man Behind The Mask); The Birthday Massacre - No Tomorrow; Night Ranger - Sister Christian; Black Sabbath - Trashed; The Bloody Hammers - Gates Of Hell; Grim Reaper - See You In Hell; Tracy G Group - Arrogant Prick, Brokenness, and Evil Is Good

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Lizzy Borden - Red Rum

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Dream Evil - Creature Of The Night

Ragman's Pick of the Show: GWAR - If You Want Blood, You Got It

- Genghis dreads editing these shows but likes the results...

Podcast #226: Friday

The Tracy G Group - Tramp

Oh, it's a tramp - I see what they did there...At this point we shouldn't have to mention that Tracy G is one our good friends, which may imply a bias in our review. But give a listen to his band's latest release, Tramp, and try to tell us we're wrong about it. The man has been steadily putting out music for years, collaborating with like-minded individuals with whom he feels a strong musical connection and the results speak for themselves.

Firstly, I have to give props to vocalist Michael Beatty whose cultivated hard rock chops belie his rough, biker bar bouncer look. What I'm saying is there's a momentary disconnect when you hear the vocals on, say, Fireball and picture a 20-something, shirtless, 80s hair metal band lead singer type, and then you see the guy on camera in the Leech video. In any case, this guy sings his ass off and he's perfect for Tracy G's dirty guitar sound. His vocals are a satisfying mix of Bruce Dickinson's authoritative bellow and Ozzy's serpentine serenade. Great choice.

The tunes themselves are classic examples of the G Man's penchant for somewhat unusual riff-based music; you think the melody is gonna zig and he zags every time, leaving you with something much more than just another metal song. And while The Tracy G Group doesn't necesarily always make you bang your head - Tracy loves a good, slow, bottom-heavy riff like The Revolution's mighty chorus - it will definitely rock the shit out of you with serious grooves. One of the standout jams is Leech, with an aggressive riff that's reminiscient of Tracy's time with Ronnie James Dio circa Angry Machines. And dig that System Of A Down style break before the solo. Instrumental fans - and those who may question Tracy's range - will surely dig tracks like P.C.H., a tasty driving groove over which he dives and wails in a shreddy, spiritual homage to [one of his idols] Jeff Beck's Freeway Jam, and The California Country Jamboree Funkfest, a nearly 6-minute jam that starts out like a classic Iron Maiden historical epic that suddenly kicks into a sweet riff that calls to mind the effortless fluidity of Blues Saraceno or Buck Dharma. Two thirds of the way in to that track there's some really great funk rhythm action that showcases Tracy's ability to pull out an unexpected style (including some banjo-style licks) and make it seem totally organic to the song. I'm telling you he's got the goods.

The Bottom Line: Fans of Tracy G know what to expect from his latest album, but if you're new to his solo work you're in for a treat. He's simply one of the most criminally underrated artists consistently putting out original, guitar-based music that deftly blends old and new school techniques. 'Nuff said!

- Genghis would love to see the G-Man play live in a small club some day...

Podcast Interview: Buggy

Ragman recently sat down with newcomer [13 year-old] Buggy, vocalist of Alarm For War, to talk about how he got started so early in the business and what his plans are for his musical ambitions.

And if that weren't enough, through an exclusive promotion with the band, you can click on the link to the left to register for a chance to win a prize package chock full o' swag, as well as a look at the first video single, Day Turned To Night.

Make sure to catch these guys on tour now with Powerman 5000 - and if you're in the Houston area at that time, they're playing the Scout Bar on November 4th. Don't miss it!

Featured Tracks: Alarm for War - Love and Not Hate, Day Turned to Night, Justified, Control of My Mind, and Sooner or Later

- Ragman was very impressed with Buggy and his band...

Podcast Interview: Buggy