Kattah - Lapis Lazuli

This Kattah makes some good Brazilian metal with a unique Middle Eastern twist. Sweet album cover too.It's no secret to metalheads that Brazil is a hotbed of genre talent; they clearly take their music seriously and know how to rock a casa. And one of the cool aspects of metal in other countries is how their local musical influences make their way into what becomes a new permutation of the metal formula. Kattah is a great example of this, as heard on their sophomore release, Lapis Lazuli.

Not only do they incorporate traditional music in their writing like fellow metallers Angra (who was impressed enough to ask Kattah to join them on their 2011 tour), but lead singer Roni Sauaf proposed the idea of adding Arabian aspects to the band's style to founders Victor Brochard (guitars) and Cristian Alex (drums). The name itself is supposed to represent an Arabian aura. In any case this is some great Brazilian heavy metal in the aforementioned Angra vein, replete with chugging Iron Maiden style riffage, great melodic solo shreddage, and some of that Arabian influence that adds a nice flavor to the formula. What more do you need?

The Bottom Line: If you're a fan of that South of the border metal sound that is so perfectly embodied in the music of bands like Angra, you'll probably want to check out this album. Not saying they're a rip-off, just that they take what's become a regional sound and added their own unique something to it that's really worth a listen.

- Genghis would have loved to see that tour (Angra/Kattah), you betcha...

Saga - Sagacity

Saga is back with a great album that sounds old and new at the same time and in the best way. Now about that album cover...Ever since I first heard Saga's 1982 classic On The Loose on MTV back in the day (apparently they used to play music videos, like a lot), I've been a fan of their progressive sound - even when I didn't know what the hell progressive rock even was. My interest was no doubt due in no small part to Michael Sadler's distinctive voice which was - and, thankfully, still is - truly one of a kind and an integral part of Saga's sound. Equally important though was Jim Crichton's songwriting abilities as the band had elements of fellow proggers Rush, Yes, Genesis and Kansas in a very radio-friendly package.

Admittedly, I haven't kept up with them since Worlds Apart, so I was quite thrilled to hear their latest studio album Sagacity (their 22nd album, by the way) and that it was a double CD release with new material as well as live material from their recent performance at the SWR1 Rockarena festival last year. Bonus!

First off, the new stuff sounds fantastic, as the opening track Let It Slide kicks in (0:39) with a heavy riff that has a slight Celtic lilt to it that's echoed in the chorus. There's so much energy in this music, and Sadler's voice hasn't lost a note in the nearly forty(!) years of his career. It's a great preview of the first disc of all new material, letting fans know this is their Saga and they've still got it. Oh, and for a nice bit of guitar work, you have to check out Ian Crichton's [Ed. note - Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I couldn't find any info regarding any guest artists on this album, so I assume it's Ian] amazing solo on It Doesn't Matter Who You Are (2:16) which sounds like a tantalizing cross between Reeves Gabrels and Adrian Belew. I just couldn't be more pleased with this band, man, I mean it. Bravo!

The Bottom Line: One of the unsung bands of the golden age of prog rock, Saga has come back in fine form with a double CD that sounds relevant while echoing the beloved past. This album is just fantastic - and there's live stuff from their vast catalog to boot!

- Genghis would LOVE to see these guys rock the House of Blues here this year...

Xerath - III

Wow, lady, you're sure gonna have a hard time getting that dress clean again.Holy crap, Xerath. I've confessed before that I often will stop and check out a new metal band based solely on its album cover. And UK metallers Xerath's latest album III has a classic apocalyptic theme going for it with fiery reds on one side and icy blues on the other, and a lone woman standing amongst (or, perhaps more accurately, submitting to) all hell breaking loose. After listening to this album I feel like this is exactly what's happening sonically here.

Taking their metal assault on the senses (à la Meshuggah) in a new direction with a bonafide string quartet in the mix, Xerath lays down grooves like it's been personally put in charge of writing Armageddon's soundtrack (the biblical event, not the movie, kids). But there's a great sense of melodicism to be found here that many extreme metal bands lack, for my tastes. I'm also impressed with Irish newcomer Conor McGouran (replacing exiting Owen Williams) and his guitar solo work. Nicely done, lad. It's all pretty epic sounding, even if some of the songs seem to blend into each other after a while, but you won't lack for heavy, monster grooves here. Count on it.

The Bottom Line: Xerath's latest studio effort accomplishes the rare feat of laying down heavy as shit, complex rhythyms while still sounding melodic and...well, musical. Good on ya, boys.

- Genghis is itchin' for some serious new live heavy metal action...

Evergrey - Hymns For The Broken

Them Swedes are at it again making great metal with a message, after a near break up. Whew!I will be happy to admit, right off the bat, that Rags is the bigger, long-standing fan of Swedish power metallers Evergrey. I've heard him extoll the band's virtues for years, in fact, tirelessly carrying their torch in the face of my obliviousness. And true fans no doubt know that after their previous studio album, Glorious Collision, was released the band's future was actually in jeopardy despite some pretty good reviews. So insert "darkest before the dawn" metaphor here as we delve into their latest effort, Hymns For The Broken.

In 2011, singer/guitarist Tom Englund was apparently disenchanted enough with the band - after the much publicized (albeit friendly) departure of guitarist Henrik Danhage, drummer Jonas Ekdahl, and bassist Jari Kainulainen - to consider throwing in the towel altogether. But an unplanned collaboration saw Henrik and Jonas playing with the band once again and realizing that they still enjoyed making music together enough to want to write and record Hymns For The Broken replete with the band's trademark mix of traditional power metal with progressive elements. Balls and Chunk saves the day again!

And it shows on tracks like A New Dawn, with its bouncy piano interlude (2:37), giving way to a powerful solo section. Meanwhile, Archaic Rage amply illustrates Evergrey's ability to bring the heavy (1:15) amidst pensive, more quiet moments, as heard in Black Undertow's powerful (1:40) rhythyms. But for me, it's all about the proggy underbelly that shows itself like a snake slithering behind the grass, revealing just enough of itself to assure you of its presence as in The Grand Collapse's (3:08) Dream Theater-esque time signature interlude. Masterful.

The Bottom Line: Having now reviewed my first Evergrey album, I can see why people get excited for this band. These guys know their metal, and conjure up some melodic, proggy, and just plain bad-ass sounding music for the teeming throngs of metalheads all over the world. Hail Evergrey!

Tracks To Fish Out Your Best All Black Clothes For: A New Dawn, Archaic Rage, Black Undertow and The Grand Collapse

- Genghis is Googling for any possible Evergrey tour dates in Texas...

John Garcia (self-titled)

Next time you and Mr. Goat are itchin' to ride, you'll want to take this album with you, yessir.Erstwhile Kyuss and current Vista Chino singer John Garcia has come out of the desert like a rock and roll shaman to groove you with tales of obsession and danger on his debut solo album. Need I say more?

Yeah, okay. Those of you (myself included) not familiar with his genre pedigree may be unaware of Garcia's ability to craft genuine down and dirty hard rocking tunes, covered in dust and sweat, and brimming with effortless swagger and attitude. And that's just what his eponymous debut delivers in spades, due in part to assistance from folks such as The Doors' guitarist, Robby Krieger (His Bullets Energy), and Kyuss co-hort, [bassist] Nick Oliveri to name just a couple. This is the jam to crank on your next cross-country drive, top down and cigarette (or whatever you may prefer to smoke) dangling from your mouth.

The Bottom Line: Stoner metal fans who like a little more bluesy rocking than psychedelic tripping to their tunes should enjoy the hell out of this solo album. You dig?

Tunes To Never Take Your Sunglasses Off While Listening To: Rolling Stoned, The Blvd, His Bullets Energy and Saddleback

- Genghis wonders if it's really so bad to legalize it...