Podcast #188: Fantasy

Over 40 years in the metal business and Udo is STILL rocking the shit out of us. Sehr gut, Herr Dirkschneider!Ever thought about actually going to one of those Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps? You know, the ones where you get to meet famous rock stars and hang out with them like they're old pals of yours? Well, that's just what the boys discuss in this episode, including their idea of what the ideal fantasy camp situation would entail.

Then the boys sit down for a tête-à-tête with the one and only Udo Dirkschneider as he talks aboutthe making of U.D.O.'s latest album, Decadent, and what it was like to sit in the producer's chair this time around.

Video Of The Show: U.D.O. - Live In Sofia

Beer of the Show: Date Night Saison (Clown Shoes Brewery)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.0 Overall: 3.5	"The lads think one of their favorite breweries has done it again with Clown Shoes' first foray into the Saison arena."

Featured Tracks: At The Gates - At War With Reality; Sweet and Lynch - Dying Rose; Ten - Alone In The Dark Tonight; Thin Lizzy - Hollywood (Down On Your Luck); Kane Roberts - Dance Little Sister; U.D.O. - Like a Lion, Speeder, Untouchable, Words in Flame, Pain and Black Widow

Ragman's Classic Of The Show: Warrior - The Rush

Genghis' Classic Of The Show: Skid Row - Quicksand Jesus

Ragman's Pick Of The Show: Sonic Syndicate - The Long Road Home

Genghis' Pick Of The Show: Level 10 - Soul Of A Warrior

- Genghis is amazed at the number of live shows next month...

Podcast #188: Fantasy

Sylvan - Home

Prog rock fans will find lots to like in Sylvan's latest, impressive, concept album.It's not always the heavy music that attracts us here. And when the mellow comes in the form of European art rock, we're down with it. North German band Sylvan tends to fit the progressive end of the spectrum in terms of lyrical and compositional sophistication, weaving an emotional concept album with their latest, Home.

There's a great dichotomy to this album, at once sprawling and majestic, but also intimate and humbling in its treatment of the album's protagonist who journeys through life's brutalities to find the titular place of safety and belonging that she desires. The music here, like a lot of progressive music, ranges from soft and mellow (Not Far From The Sky) to heavier and aggressive (In Between), and interestingly, it sounds more German in the latter moments, with a definite European sound a la Rammstein or even Vanden Plas. Ultimately, it's that sense of dynamics that elevates this music, and I would love to see a full video presentation of this album should it ever come to fruition.

The Bottom Line: European progressive music is some of the best of the genre, with Germany's Sylvan ably demonstrating some of the most sophisticated composition to be found without threatening to bring the house down around themselves with the weight of excess. Wunderbar!

- Genghis always get nostalgiac when he hears Ronald Reagan soundbites...

Podcast #187: Box

They don't come much more rocking than the legendary Metal Queen, Doro Pesch. Horns WAY up!The lads are hitting their stride with the second full show of the year as they discuss the topic of the CD boxed set. Does it have the same relevance it once enjoyed in this digital era? Tune in as Genghis & Ragman discuss what they consider the best ones and what they like to see in an official boxed set of their favorite artists.

Then check out an interview with the Metal Queen herself, Doro Pesch, who discusses her plans for 2015 and what it's like being one of the few female metalheads who've been rocking as long and hard as she has.

Video Of The Show: IQ - Stage (Dark Matter Live in America and Germany 2005)

Beer of the Show: Ignis Fatuus (The Bruery)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 2.5 Taste: 2.5 Overall: 2.5	"This last pumpkin beer in our cellar was good, but the sour finish was a bit off-putting..."

Featured Tracks: Black Stone Cherry - Magic Mountain; Impellitteri - Answer To The Master; The Custodian - The Man Out Of Time; IQ - Ocean; Gotthard - My Belief; Rage - Down; Doro - Long Lost For Love, Coldhearted Lover, Raise Your Fist in the Air, Hero and Something Wicked This Way Comes

Ragman's Classic Of The Show: Aldo Nova - Monkey On Your Back

Genghis' Classic Of The Show: Scorpions - Can't Live Without You

Ragman's Pick Of The Show: U.D.O. - Speeder

Genghis' Pick Of The Show: My Brother The Wind - Songs of Innocence Part I

- Genghis is gettin' that live show itch...

Podcast #187: Box

Brant Bjork And The Low Desert Punk Band - Black Flower Power

If you're wondering where these guys' heads are at just check out that album cover. I mean let's not be coy, shall we?You may remember the name Brant Bjork as founding member of stoner rock legends Kyuss. And now he's on his own with his Low Desert Punk Band looking to give genre junkies a fix of his blend of stoner rock, blues, and doom prescription with new album Black Flower Power.

I've stated many times that while intitially on the fence about it (leaning to shunning it), I've since come to really dig this stoner rock/metal revival business - and Bjork's band rocks the shit out of some tunes, man. There's the traditional Sabbathy plodding of songs like Controllers Destroyed, but things can sometimes pick up into fast grooving jams as on Stokely Up Now or even turn into ballsy blues riffage as on Buddha Time (Everything Fine). And during it all, Bjork's Gene Simmons-like growl becomes its own instrument, like a second lead guitar wailing through the din. In any case, if you just wanna get high and have your fave fuzzed off, this is the joint for you, my man. Just stock up on the munchies.

The Bottom Line: This is, like, classic stoner blues rock, man. So don't hassle it.*laughs*

Tracks To Jam To While Motherfucking Stoned To The Bone: Shit, all of 'em, man.

- Genghis knows that's a dog and that's a cat, but wonders where the potato chips are...

Revolution Saints (self-titled)

You ready for some classic melodic hard rock? Well, Revolution Saints has what the doctor ordered.Thirsty for that classic melodic hard rock sound? Well, so were the boys at Frontier records when they put together a dream team of rockers including the likes of drummer Deen Castronovo (Bad English, Journey), bassist Jack Blades (Night Ranger, Damn Yankees) and bad-ass guitarist Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio and Burning Rain). The result is a pretty sweet release of ballads and rockers showcasing each artists road-honed talents, the self-titled debut album of Revolution Saints.

So in so far as that classic melodic hard rock sound, there's no great surprises here. But don't dismiss it as just another such album in a long line. What makes this music more impressive than usual are the tight, bouncy arrangements and notable guest stars (Arnel Pineda and Neal Schon, no less), but if pressed to identify the secret sauce, I'd have to hand it to Doug Aldrich whose solos are just nothing short of amazing.

The Bottom Line: Classic melodic hard rock is a unique genre all its own and these guys are some of its best practitioners, ably displaying all of its hallmarks from soulful ballads to upbeat rockers. The guest stars make a nice touch, but ultimately, this genre is all about the guitar work and there's few better than Doug Aldrich. 'Nuff said.

- Genghis will never play this well...