Rob Halford -Celestial Album Reveiw

Rob Halford - Celestial (2019)

Players:

Rob Halford - Vocals

*(The rest of the players are covered in the review)

Celestial marks the first Halford solo effort since 2010's Halford IV: Made of Metal. He has released two albums with Judas Priest since that time, 2014's Redeemer of Souls and 2018's Firepower.

First Impression:

More holiday cheer from the Metal God...I'm up for that.

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate most Christmas music (I am a sucker for "Winter Wonderland" though). It's trite and boring and usually kinda pisses me off. However there are those "Special" albums that come along that take those songs and turn them on their head and reinterprets them in a different style. Being a metalhead, metal versions of these tired old holiday classics are a mixed bag but when Rob Halford released his "Winter Songs" album in 2009 I finally had a collection of these songs reinterpreted in a style that I loved plus a couple new ones to boot. Now in 2019 Rob released a new collection of more reimagined classics plus 4 new songs with the help of real family and friends. Rob assembled a lineup of family and friends for this release. Halford's brother Nigel plays drums, while his nephew Alex — who is the son of Judas Priest's Ian Hill — rounds out the rhythm section on bass. Additionally, Robert Jones and Jon Blakely play guitars. And finally, Halford's sister "plays the bells." If it wasn't obvious enough already, "Celestial" is intended to be a very fun album, and to be honest it really is...but how fun is it you ask? Well let's ready the sleigh and trample through this one track by track and find out....Let's Do This!!!

01. Celestial [new song] 1:32

The album's intro, not much more than that. Sets a good tone though and treats this album like a concept album...which leads to....

02. Donner and Blitzen [new song] 3:31

The pitched first single that was out before the album. It's a good mid tempo track about 2 of Santa's reindeer. To be honest this track is just pure magical fun packed into 3 minutes and is a joy to listen to, plus it doesn't get boring at all.

03. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2:46

A ramped up arrangement of a traditional droner. This one keeps up the tempo and keeps you throwing up your fists in pure joy and rocking fun. This is an energetic one that I really like, even if the arrangement sounds a bit like early OZZY...maybe he should make a holiday album too.

04. Away In A Manger 4:03

A traditional slower track....Rob arranged this one to sound like a western/bluesy type track...a kinda "Blaze of Glory" type song. This choice really makes this one pop a bit more than the original and makes it far more listenable.. I really like this one, it really conveys a feeling and makes a boring old traditional song sound far more interesting.

05. Morning Star [new song] 4:14

This is a slower track with a bit of a Eagles feeling. Kinda poppy but not in a bad way, it is pleasant sounding and would be easily enjoyed on a cold winter day with a nice hot coco. It makes me smile just listening to it.

06. Deck The Halls 5:03

Well....let's get heavy again....and this does. This is one of those traditional songs that has been covered by all types of musicians over the decades to some very polarizing mixed results but Rob pulls it off here. It is a well presented and executed high tempo (but not too fast) metal arrangement. The guitars are the stars here though, great riffs and killer solos...and of course Rob's stellar vocals. No complaints about this one at all.

07. Joy To The World 2:48

Well...a Queen sounding guitar intro starts this one off nicely, that flows into a mid tempo arrangement. It's a basic track with more Brian May sounding guitar flair in it. It isn't a bad track at all, just a bit short...great solo in it though. It does directly connect to the next track.

08. O Little Town Of Bethlehem 5:31

A slower track that continues off the end of the last track. A bit of a moody yet oddly hopeful sounding piece which traditionally is a monotone bore fest of a song. Rob brings a bit of life and emotional context to this one, it is executed very well and is as tight as any song can be. This version makes me like it alot, especially around the 3:40 mark when it ramps up in power a bit and really drives things home, only to slow down a bit to wrap this one up...very nice arrangement on this one.

09. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 2:06

A slightly pop punk arrangement of this traditional song...not a bad choice in my opinion and serves the album as a whole pretty well...I have no complaints about this one.

10. The First Noel 4:24

A traditional slow droner and pretty much my most hated traditional Christmas song, It's just so boring. Rob didn't up the tempo on this one but he did infuse more vocal power and character in this one, the background singing isn't overbearing and kept at a distance. It is a faithful arrangement but it has more feeling than the original. I can say this is not a bad version of a song I truly can't stand, I can listen to this version and feel some peace. I hate this song, but not this version...it's very pleasant.

11. Good King Wenceslas 7:28

Get comfy....this is a long one. This is a song I had to solo in elementary school in the 4th grade Christmas show...ugh. Thankfully my version wasn't this long...but this version has an intro on it to build an environment for it to reside in. It has a middle eastern type feeling to it but not an obnoxious one. Rob's voice does a good job here with the phrasing he applies to the traditional lyrics. It picks up around the 4 minute mark which adds a nice dynamic to the song that keeps it from feeling stale. Over all this is another well executed arrangement of an annoying traditional holiday classic. 

12. Protected By The Light [new song] 1:48

The closer to the album, the accordion ads a nice touch to the end of the album...this is a sweet little song that leaves you with a smile. Nice closer to a spectacular album.

Conclusion:

Well Rob did it again. Another great holiday themed album that can serve as a companion piece to his 2009 release "Winter Songs". In all honesty Rob Halford has made me enjoy Christmas songs much more with his arrangements of these stale old songs. He breathes new life into these songs and even adds new classics to the songbook. Over all I really enjoyed this one as much as his aforementioned 2009 album. Guess a jaded old metalhead like myself can do a Grinch too and change my outlook on all things Christmas with the proper motivation...and Rob's holiday offerings is that motivation. Do yourself a favor and get this one in your collection, it's worth every penny and then some.

Score: 5/5

Halford - Halford 3: Winter Songs Album Reveiw

Halford - Halford 3: Winter Songs (2009)

Members:

Rob Halford – vocals

Roy Z – guitar

Metal Mike Chlasciak – guitar

Mike Davis – bass

Bobby Jarzombek – drums

Additional performer

Ed Roth – keyboards

Halford III: Winter Songs is the third studio album by the heavy metal band Halford. It was released on 3 November 2009 in the United States, 9 November 2009 in Europe and 13 November 2009 in Germany.[4] It was written, arranged and recorded between 2008 to 2009.[5] The album is Christmas themed consisting of traditional holiday favorites made into heavy metal fashion along with a few original arrangements by Rob Halford and producer/guitarist Roy Z.

First Impressions:

A whole album of Metal Christmas songs? This could be fun.

Christmas songs are the bane of this overly commercialized holiday season, a holiday full of busy stores, cranky people, and the hollow drone of holiday standard music playing in so many forms practically everywhere you go. In 2009 Rob Halford tried to change that for the better (yes Twisted Sister did it in 2006, but that album is kinda satirical at times). His band Halford released their 3rd album, this one being a holiday themed release called "Winter Songs", produced by Roy Z. I remember getting this album when it came out in November of 2009 at Canterbury records in old town Pasadena, the stark blue cover and calm Rob photo made me really curious. I wasn't a huge fan of the 2006 Twisted Sister holiday album, but being a fan of Rob Halford and all of his bands made me want to listen. Can this album spice up the dismal history of holiday albums? Let's dig in and find out track by track....Let's Do This!!

1."Get Into the Spirit" 5:26

We open with a nice heavy riff from one of the NEW track on this one, and what a track it is. This is how a metal holiday album should sound. The drums are a powerful fury of hard beats, a great keyboard part in the middle, and a great bit of guitar work throughout. Then we have Ron's voice, banshee screams and great clean sound as well. Amazing song to start a great album.

2."We Three Kings" 4:06

An arrangement of a traditional Christmas song that we are all familiar with....but cranked up a bit. Rob using his best Priest voice and keeping it kinda level but still firm. The piano is a nice touch and fills this arrangement out well. The guitar work is great and the rhythm section is tight but not overbearing...I'm not a fan of the traditional version but I like this one....quite a bit really.

3."Oh Come, O Come, Emanuel"4:38

Another traditional song redone by Rob and the guys, and it's also a good one as well. Sonically it does have a Iron Maiden type gallop in its rhythm but for this track it works really well. I enjoyed this one and I have to admit it has been on my Rob Halford/Judas Priest playlist for quite a while now...it really a nice arrangement and is very gratifying to listen to.

4."Winter Song"5:38

This is another of the NEW songs for this album and it is a more somber piece from the mind of The Metal God. It really evokes a bit of emotion and thought from deep inside at times. It is a moving song in a lot of ways, and it brings a bit of much needed peace to a metal heart, and serves as a rest point to this album and that is a nice thing.

5."What Child Is This?" 4:27

This traditional Christmas song received a real nice arrangement as well. It is normal a trademark song used for the holidays in everything from films to store sale commercials. This one maintains its original slower structure but has a more medieval type of feel. It is well executed and sounds very good.

6."Christmas for Everyone"3:06

NEW track number 3 on this album, and it's a nice mid tempo rock song, that starts with church and sleigh bells. This one has an arrangement that reminds me of the song writing style of Alice Cooper. Pure traditional rock n roll with Rob's usual flair...a song that should be added to everyone's Christmas playlist.

7."I Don't Care"3:14

The 4th of 5 new tracks recorded for this album and it doesn't disappoint. It's another straight ahead rocker with fun lyrics and a really earwormy riff in it. It's a good listen, although it does have a phrasing section in the vocals that reminds me of "Smugglers Blues"...odd but cool.

8."Light of the World" 4:13

Number 5 of 5 new tracks, another somber track that musically sounds a bit like a cross between Pink Floyd and The Beatles...and that isn't a bad thing. It's a nice little track that brings about good feelings and even brought back a few good memories of past Christmases to this old headbanger...thanks Rob.

9."Oh Holy Night" 4:09

A traditional song done in a traditional way...well in Rob's version of traditional. It is a normally droning song that when given Rob Halford's treatment is a great version that I can listen to over and over. It maintains its normal emotional delivery but adds a lot of power, but not so much that it's a parody of itself, a tasteful version of a decent traditional holiday song.

10."Come All Ye Faithful" 2:27

I have heard a ton of versions of this song over my life and some were ok and some were abysmal...Rob did what he could with this one as well, it has a more regal feel here and feels musically like an attempt at a Queen song in places. It's a good version that deserves to be heard but it really serves to close out this album and in that it does a great job.

Conclusion:

When this album first hit my ears in 2009 I was a bit thrown off, mostly because I wasn't expecting a Christmas metal album to be this good and well thought out (especially with my experience with the 2006 Twisted Sister disaster). This album has a permanent place on my playlist all year around, it's just that good and it is also my defacto holiday album when I throw any Christmas gatherings. I can't say enough good things about this release and honestly if you are a metal fan, and you don't have this beast in your collection I have one question for you....WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU???!! Rob and the guys did an excellent job with this one and it will always have a special place in my heart. Well done guys....well done.

Score: 5/5

Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas Album Review

Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas (2006)

Members:

Dee Snider – lead vocals

Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals

Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals

Mark "The Animal" Mendoza – bass, backing vocals

A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals

Additional Musicians

Lita Ford – co-lead vocals on "I'll Be Home for Christmas"

Doro Pesch – backing vocals on "White Christmas"

A Twisted Christmas is the seventh and final studio album by the American heavy metal group Twisted Sister, with the band releasing it on October 17, 2006. The album features classic Christmas songs performed in metal versions, often featuring lyrical changes.

Production:

Jay Jay French – executive producer

Mark "The Animal" Mendoza – producer, mixing, mastering

Denny McNerney – engineer, mixing, mastering

George Marshall – assistant engineer

First Impressions:

Huh? A Twisted Sister Christmas album?

The name Twisted Sister brings about nostalgia for the 80's MTV metal scene. This band was one of the darlings of that era and they always bring about memories of oddball lyrics and cheesy videos. This band was one that very few ever took completely seriously. The had a habit of breaking up and then reuniting a ton all through the 90's and it resulted in a very discordant discography...this 2006 Christmas album proved to be their last one ever released officially so far and it is a mixed bag of things all tied together by a mixed up holiday theme. Now I admit, back in the day I loved this band but they haven't aged well in my collection, I still listen to the odd track or album from time to time, but they aren't a favorite of mine, I still respect what they did for metal and hard rock as a whole, but I usually pass on them now if given a choice. Now then, is this Christmas album worth the time invested in listening to it? Or does it need to lay off the spiked egg nog? Let's dig in and find out track by track...Let's Do This!!!

1."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 4:48

Well this is kinda rough to listen to. Sounds like an off the cuff holiday hootinanny....at first anyway. It gets a bit harder with the standard TS sound profile that we are used to. However this particular traditional Christmas song is not really geared to their kinda off kilter arrangement....this is a tough track to rearrange well anyway but they did kinda ok with it by the end.

2."Oh Come All Ye Faithful" 4:40

The "We're not gonna take it" arrangement for this one? Honestly, that's a lazy attempt at being clever with this one. Not really good in all honesty.

3."White Christmas" 3:56

A hard galloping riff for a traditional ballad song. It really doesn't fit all that well. It seems forced to me and honestly could be done far better by this band. The only redeeming part of this one is Doro Pesch doing backing vocals, which I wish were brought forward a bit more.

4."I'll Be Home for Christmas" 4:08

The Dee Snider/Lita Ford duet...well it's another forced sounding track. It just doesn't sound that great to me, and to be honest, I've never been a fan of Lita Ford anyway. This is another track that could have been handled much better by this band.

5."Silver Bells"5:05

This one just "rings" of AC/DC sonically. It's a bit better than the previous 4 tracks but the gang vocals take away from it a bit, all in all so far this band has been pretty bad with this offering.

6."I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"3:39

Well, this one sounds a bit better musically, but Dee sounds a bit out of his range and phrasing style. Sounds like he's struggling a bit. This is still one of the better ones on this album and I can deal with its odd shortcomings.

7."Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"3:09

Well another forced sounding riff, almost Black Sabbath like...just not a good. The meter of this one is a bit problematic and the gang vocals are kinda iffy and out of place sounding. Not thrilled by this one.

8."Deck the Halls"2:52

A standard of TS riffage and more unneeded gang vocals. The riff is good and the break in the middle is pretty cool so this one gets a moderate pass from me based on the musicality alone.

9."The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" 3:40

A standard Co-Written by one of my favorite crooners, Mel Torme. This one is a pretty bad interpretation of this one. Can't say much else without ranting...so I won't....moving on.

10."Heavy Metal Christmas (The Twelve Days of Christmas)" 5:14

How many screwy versions of this one are there? This is an awful one...skip this thing.

11."We Wish You a Twisted Christmas" (hidden track)0:36

Dumb...dumb...dumb.

Conclusion:

Well this album is a loss, and gives a proof why this band ended when it did. It's an uneven mess of a holiday album. Christmas albums are supposed to be fun and the like but honestly this one isn't really fun at all. It's a dumpster fire that just won't burn itself out on so many levels in both execution and production. It could have been done better by this band, who's track record proves they can do and have done much better than this, the best parts are the guitar solos. If this is your goto holiday album, that's fine....but to this reviewer this Christmas album is just a Christmess. In my collection this album really ranks as a 'meh' album at best, and a near audio abortion at worst.

Score: 2/5

Mass Insanity - Maveth Album Reveiw

Mass Insanity - Maveth (2019)

Members:

Hector - Drums

Rafał -Guitars

Mały - Vocals

Viehu- Guitars

Tolas- Bass

MASS INSANITY was formed in October 2003. Maveth is their 3rd full legnth album and was recorded at Antihuman Studio in spring 2018, and mixed and mastered at 666Studio in Ostróda (2018).

Discography:

"In Deadly Silence" Demo - 2004

"99% Rehearsal Promo" Demo - 2006

"Language Of The Dead" Demo - 2007

"Silent Language" Compilation - 2007

"The Hypochrist" LP - 2011

"Antihuman" LP - 2015

"Maveth" LP - 2019

First Impressions:

Never heard of them....but I appreciate what I hear.

When it comes to death metal I have to change my approach to reviewing it. The track by track approach really doesn't work well for this and other deathy and grindy bands, as their music doesn't modulate the same track to track as other genres. So These reviews will be simple and traditional with highlights and subtle critiques on the album as a whole. So with all that said....Let's Do This!!!

Maveth is a modern take on death metal when comes to playing music, which in this case is a mix of brutal and groove oriented death metal songs based on a few interesting riffs in each song, good enough riffs to remember them in the short term but not much else, structurally these songs aren't earworm material. However when the band finds its winning formula it is quite the showstopper, and this album has a few moments of that hiding in here, some of theese stand outs on this are "Control / Manipulate" (intense and powerful guitar work), "Determined To Survive" (aggressive and confrontational guitar passages in the style of Malevolent Creation), and one of the heaviest and most atmospheric tracks on this album is "Cleanseation Course" which contains a heavy use of keyboards to achieve its somewhat brooding atmosphere. And last but not least – in tracks like "Maveth" and "Supported Pathology", the band`s devotion moves towards more traditional and faster death metal styles, focusing more on strong guitar rhythms and classic death metal shreds. The track "When Darkness Cover the World" is a song that can easily identify with the music of Decapitated and there are more moments in this album that remind me of this band as well as a few others. Vocals and drumming on the record sound pretty solid, the guitars and the rhythm section are also well done and don't really dominate the mix, far too many bands in this genre fall prey to far too heavy bottom end mixes. Production of the album is quite good and delivers a realm of death metal at its sonically finest and delivers a sonic landscape that is really a combination of Polish and Swedish death metal sounds.

Track Listing:

Legal Racism 4:43

Maveth 4:47

Control / Manipulate 3:14

Supported Pathology 4:38

When Darkness Cover the World 4:42

Cynical Worms 3:18

Determined to Survive 4:34

Cleansation Course 5:38

Conclusion:

Maveth is an album that definitely deserves to be put in the spotlight, and Mass Insanity as a band certainly need to be recognized and get the attention of the death metal fans everywhere with such good album for this genre. However for me this praise also carries a caveot, even though this album has its high points in song writing and production, in this genre of metal too many comparisons to other bands can make the album sound a bit too similar to far too many other albums out there. Death metal has a big fault because of its extremity, and that is a bad thing. Too many bands release things that sound too much alike, and this one falls in the same trap, it's a nice attempt but in the end its general lack of originality takes it down a couple notches. It's not awful, and most fans of this stuff should hear it, but it's also more of the same.

Score: 3.5/5

Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time Album Review

Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time (1986)

Members:

Bruce Dickinson – vocals

Dave Murray – guitars, guitar synthesizer

Adrian Smith – guitars, guitar synthesizer, backing vocals

Steve Harris – bass, bass synthesizer

Nicko McBrain – drums

Somewhere in Time is the sixth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 29 September 1986 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in North America. (It was re-released by Sanctuary/Columbia Records in the United States in 1998.) It was the band's first album to feature guitar synthesisers.

Producer:

Martin "Masa" Birch – producer, engineer, mixing, tape operator

First Impressions:

Classic maiden with a twist.

When I was a kid and I was getting into metal music my parents created a list of bands that were not allowed in the house, among those bands was Iron Maiden. However in 1986 my dad decided to go against that list and he bought me this album from our local Albertson's grocery store. He knew I really wanted this one and he couldn't say no. My dad was always good at breaking mom's rules for my sake(he was the one who took me to my first KISS concert after all which mom never knew about). He told me to never say anything and he took me to McDonald's for lunch and we both listened to it. I have always loved this album and this review will show that, I'll try to be as nonbiased as I can but with this one it will be very difficult...but enough of this stroll down memory lane, let's just dig into this thing track by track and see what the boys have for us....Let's Do This!!!

1."Caught Somewhere in Time" 7:22

We start here with a fitting intro and a feeling that this isn't going to be "yet another" maiden album. Although all the tropes are there to be one, Bruce is as great as always, Steve is galloping away on the bass, Dave and Adrian are synced up and playing well, and Nicko is playing as tightly as always on the kit. The addition of the guitar synth really adds a spacy touch to this whole album and this track sets this up perfectly. The solos are beautiful and the over all presentation on this one is flawless. Even at over 7 minutes this one flies by leaving you wanting more. A very well done track that never gets old.

2."Wasted Years" 5:06

The first single off the album and the reason I wanted this album. This track made me a life long maiden fan. The intro to the track is as classic as you can get and you instantly know the track from it. The lyrics are great and the over all feeling is just a kinetic rush. This is one of those tracks you catch yourself singing with in front of total strangers when it comes on. It is just so infectious and fun. The message is pretty good too, don't forgo the present by living in the past. It's just another great and classic maiden song that never feels tired....and I love the solo on it, one of the first solos I ever learned on guitar...love it.

3."Sea of Madness" 5:42

Iron maiden is very good at changing the mood of an album without changing the over all consistency of the quality within it. This song kinda departs a bit from the over all feeling of the album as a whole...but somehow it still fits. The chorus is an earworm and will infiltrate your life at odd moments. This is a great track with good production and excellent execution. Can't really complain about this one at all, and the calm mid break is just so cool...even though it does feel very 80's.

4."Heaven Can Wait" 7:24

Another long one from the masters of long songs...this starts with a synth drone as the other sections of the track slowly fill in the open space. Another track that came off as initially unexpected but not uncharacteristically Iron Maiden. Nice pacing, great vocals by Bruce as always and tight musicianship. This is a nice rollercoaster ride of a track that starts slow, ramps up, then trods along in mid tempo chanting, the 80's flourishes are all here sounding a bit like new wave at times, then the track picks right back up. Anyone that accuses Maiden of going piggy with their more recent albums obviously really hasn't been paying attention...this track is proggy, just not artsy proggy.

5."The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" 6:31

I'll admit, I really didn't like this track at first. As I got older and more exposed to other types of music did I start to appreciate it a lot more. This is not designed to be accessible to everyone. It utilizes classic maiden tropes to make it familliar...but it does do a few things that make it more like an experiment in song writing. What this song did back in 86 has become a trope in more current releases. I have really grown to enjoy what this track has to offer, and what it offers they did very well.

6."Stranger in a Strange Land" 5:43

The second single from this album and another favorite of mine. Steve's bass work is the true standout on this one, the rest of the band really add texture to his foundation. Nicko gives this one a great technical groove, and the twin synth guitars of Dave and Adrian just solidify this thing. Bruce tells a great story and gives it a huge feel. But under it all is Steve Harris, giving the track melody, pace, and a direction that just pulls you along with it. An excellent track and among the best this band has ever made.

7."Deja-Vu" 4:55

Another track that took a few listens to really appreciate, but eventually I did. This is a really well executed track that has a good pace and a good over all feel to it. The lyrics convey the definition and the experience of the songs title. It is another very well executed track that I have no real complaints about, and not much else to say...it just is an enjoyable track that leads well to the plus that closes this one out.

8."Alexander the Great" 8:35

"My son, ask for thyself another kingdom, for that which I leave is too small for thee"...a great start for a long track that is pretty much a history lesson set to music...something this band does a lot and does it very well. I can honestly say Maiden is the band that got me interested in history, mythology, and literature...they do it in such a way that really sparks your curiosity. This track goes through the history of this once great conqueror and does it with a great pacing and multifaceted musical changes within that pace. It's one of their best long songs, it is a bit proggy as well but in a very good way, this has always been one of my favorite long tracks. Great production, excellent solos and layering, top notch lyrics, and a rock solid rhythm section all through this beast. It doesn't get much better than this one.

Conclusion:

What more can be said about this album that hasn't already been said in the 33 years of it's existence. It was a daring album that set the stage for the next album, the very ambitious "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". Somewhere in time birthed another iconic representation of their long time mascot Eddie and it contained a collection of iconic songs that may not have aged as well as others but they are still as relevant as everything else in their vast catalogue. This is the definition of classic and it still elicits good memories from a time when metal was a uniformed social class and not a collection of elitist crybabies that have a hard time accepting the original concept of Heavy Metal as a whole. Up The Irons!!

Score: 5/5

https://ironmaiden.com/

Hirax -Immortal Legacy Album Review

Hirax - Immortal Legacy (2014)

Members:

Katon W. de Pena - vocals

Lance Harrison - guitars

Steve Harrison - bass

Jorge Iacobellis - drums

Additional musicians:

Juan Garcia - guitars on "Hellion Rising"

Jim Durkin - guitars

Rocky George - guitars

Fabricio Ravelli - drums

Immortal Legacy is the fifth studio album released by thrash metal band Hirax on February 24, 2014. It is the first since the 1980s to feature a 4-piece band. It is also the last with Jorge Iacobellis on drums.

Produced by:

Bill Metoyer - Recording, Mixing, Mastering, & Producer

First Impressions:

Solid effort that only improves on their legacy.

Hirax is one of those bands that started in the 80's but kinda got lost in the shuffle and to be honest wasn't the best thrash band out there. They released 2 full length albums in the 80's Raging Violence (1985) & Hate, Fear and Power (1986) which were both good thrash albums but they were buried by many of their better selling contemporaries like Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer. They didn't release anything aside from a compilation Not Dead Yet (1987), a split album with the band Spazz in 1997 and a couple E.P.'s (El Diablo Negro (2000) & Barrage of Noise (2001))..however they eventually resurfaced and released the full legnth album The New Age of Terror (2004), followed by El Rostro de la Muerte (2009) (with a few more splits and E.P.'s between them). However, this reviewer doesn't really deal with splits, live albums, and E.P. length albums so even though this band really never truly stopped they have only released 5 full length albums over their whole career. My history with this band started at their 2nd album Hate,Fear, & Power...I bought it at my local Camelot records in 1988 after my 17th birthday when everyone gave me money and I was doing pretty good 1 year into my music career, having recently played my first decent paying gig at a place called Janus Landing. I bought a ton of cassettes and that Hirax album was among them. When I finally listened to it I really have to say I was impressed, but there were some things that kept it from my pantheon of great albums...most notably was the vocal presentation...I wasn't quite used to the tambor and shifts that Katon offered and I found it a bit off putting, but I was 17 and musically stupid. Later I found myself listening to that album even more but for the life of me I could be be get a hold of anything else of theirs. The digital age came in eventually and I can say it helped me with my collection immensely, it allowed me to listen to albums that I could not find. Which brings me to the album I will be looking at here the 2014 album Immortal Legacy. Will this album make me an even bigger fan? Or will it make me hate the genre completely? Well let's find out as we dig into the digital release track by track and see what crawls out from the wreckage...Let's Do This!!

1."Black Smoke" 4:35

Well the budgie like intro was fun then comes the aggression, wasting no time in bludgeoning your ears. Katon's vocals are much better now than they were earlier in his career. They cut through the guitar chaos with a rage and force that is not hard to listen to at all. Sound like he took phrasing lessons from Bobby Blitz Ellsworth though...not a bad thing. This is a very tight track and sounds great. Excellent start to this album.

2."Hellion Rising" 4:05

The video single to this album, and a beast of a tune...nothing bad to say about this one. But commenting on Katon on this one, he offers a couple other techniques that resemble other notable voices of thrash...those being Steve Zetro Souza and Eric A.K.. The guitars are vicious here too, and do not get me going on the rhythm section here...this track just pummeles you like a tank...it's glorious.

3."Victims of the Dead" 3:07

Dramatic intro that would be great entrance music for a wrestler. This is a mid tempo type of thrash in the vein of Metallica's four horsemen. It is heavy and very accurately played, chugging all over your gray matter and really setting a great pace for a large circle pit...good track, no real complaints...could be a touch longer but it does what it does, and it does it well.

4."Thunder Roar, the Conquest, La boca de la bestia - The Mouth of the Beast" 4:54

Well, this is interesting. Arpeggios into a very hungry riff. I would love to hear this thing live. This track lyrically is more of an anthem style track, the way it includes the words we and they. This is simply put a fun track and really worth the 4:54 invested in it. It is full of classic thrash metal tropes but done in some unique ways...the solos are frantic and the drums are relentless. Everything that makes a good thrash track.

5."Earthshaker" (Instrumental)0:44

Well....it's an instrumental, it's short, and it's pretty cool for a guitar only kinda thing.

6."Tied to the Gallows Pole"4:05

Well, this sounds dramatic. The riff is pretty cool, sounds like a Sodom meets Heathen kinda thing. It's heavy and sounds like a theme song to a war. The lyrics are cool and not cliche' at all. This track has a lot of mood in it too, it flows in feeling from rage to almost melancholy in a way...It's a neat track and by far a favorite of mine. It's just so well done.

7."Deceiver"3:42

This starts off sounding like something from Metallica's Ride the Lightning...but it soon turns into it's own thing. Katon is pulling off his best Bobby Blitz impression again, and that is not a bad thing. This track is amazing in its execution and tightness. I really dig this one.

8."Immortal Legacy"4:40

The title track of this one, and by history supposedly the best track on the album...does this one fit that? Well, yes it does. This track is a thrash bulldog, it's got teeth for days, a slobbering beast that just trampled you in every way it can. The rhythm section is like a machine gun nest, the guitars are just relentless and Katon soars above it all like a WWII bomber...it's a thing to experience. I adore this one...a whole album full of stuff like this would make me very happy.

9."S.O.W." (Instrumental) 0:57

Another instrumental, just as good as the last one...just more band members.

10."Violence of Action" 3:36

Love the intro to this thing...the message samples are great. This is another favorite one...it's got a Sacred Reich kinda feel and I like that. This track is more of the same quality and aggression that this album excels at and not much more can be said about it. It's a moshers delight and brutal as hell.

11."Atlantis (Journey to Atlantis)" (Instrumental) 1:30

A third instrumental? But bass oriented this time...these are more like interludes. This is still cool though.

12."The World Will Burn" 2:07

The title alone sells this one to me. But aurally this one sells itself as a plodder and a great pit track. I can picture a group of combat boot wearing thrashers stomping around the pit  to this one. Not as blast heavy as others here but it's good and doesn't overstay its welcome.

13."Mephistopheles"(Digital Edition Bonus Track) 5:16

This is the bonus track on the digital edition, the vinyl got a different track called "Mass Hysteria"...but at 5:16 this is a much more substantial track. [I won't be reviewing the vinyl track until I have a vinyl release and can do it justice...I'll update this review when I do.]. This one starts with a film sample then moves into a very Metallica sounding intro riff before shedding that and moving into a pure rage strewn sonic tapestry. This is just as ferocious as many other tracks on this one, but that comes with a caveat, this one sounds a bit like more of the same all mashed together. However, this track is far from filler, it just suffers from what a lot of thrash does....repetitious soundscapes. Some bands grew past that and incorporated a few more influences and techniques to mixed results. However for this band, it is among their top tier songs and does offer some great neckbreaking opportunities. This is Hirax and this is who they are.

Conclusion:

This album for all its quirks and inconsistencies is still a fun listen. It offers a classic thrash metal soundscape that is fast, aggressive, and forceful. Katon's vocals have gotten so much better over the years and he isn't ashamed to wear his influences on his sleeve. The guitars are  well done and aggressive as hell, but I wouldn't expect any less from Lance, he is an amazing and under appreciated guitarist. Steve and Jorge fill out the rhythm section very tightly and very heavily...even the additional musicians offered up a great mix of feels. All in all this is a well executed traditional thrash album with good production. I have no real complaints and can in all honesty recommend it to any headbanger who needs a good recent thrash fix. One thing however still bothers me....for all my years listening to this band, why don't I own at least a patch for my battle vest?

Score: 4.5/5

Overkill - Under the Influence Album Review

Overkill - Under the Influence (1988)

Members:

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth – lead vocalsl

Bobby Gustafson – guitar, background vocals

Sid Falck – drums

D.D. Verni – bass, background vocals

Produced by:

Overkill, Alex Perialas

Executive Producers:

Jon Zazula, Marsha Zazula

Under the Influence is the third studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, released on July 5, 1988 through Megaforce Records. This was Overkill's first album to feature drummer Sid Falck, who had replaced Rat Skates when the latter left the band in 1987 during the Taking Over tour.

First Impressions:

1988 thrash metal at its best.

As a heads up, this review will be a tad biased due to the fact that this particular album has seen me through some tough times in my life...however I will be as objective as possible in its construction and its sonic presentation. With that said, I received my first of many copies of this album from my aunt Karen as a Christmas present in 1988, one of 3 cassettes I received from her (the other 2 being KIX - Blow My Fuse, and Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan). My aunt was the only family member who stuck to my Christmas list, no second guessing from her. When I saw that this was part of my gift I decided right then to break out my cassette player and sit on the couch and just crank this one, we were at my uncle's place this year and as usual I was kinda shut out of all the conversations that were going on with the family at large (I was always an outcast). Upon hitting play and cranking up my volume, the world faded around me and all I knew was pure aggression and great tunes, this became a goto album for me and was always included in mix tapes I made. But that was in 1988, over the years this album has stayed very special to me but how does it fare now? Let's dig into this 80's thrash gem track by track and see what stays in the gutter and what goes down the storm drain....Let's Do This!!

1."Shred"4:05

Aggression from the start, the trademark DD bass thumping under the catchy riffing by Bobby G. and new drummer Sid showing from the get go that he his far superior to the previous drummer...all capped off by Blitz and his aggressive voice. This track is pure mania at points and enjoyable from start to finish...Shred? Indeed they did here.

2."Never Say Never"4:58

This band isn't short of catchy riffs and good hooks. This track is no exception, it chugs along at a good pace and really keeps it interesting, even when it's being relatively simple. Blitz soars over this one vocally and it just kills. DD is always audible in their songs, but at least he is good and consistant. Bobby G. shows why he needed to be replaced by 2 guitarists when he departed after 1 more album, he really is impressive as a guitarist. Sid is solid as always here...this is a great tune.

3."Hello from the Gutter"4:14

The first song I heard from this album and catchy as all hell. Quite possibly the most commercially viable track on this album as well. Great guitar lead in and really good lyrics in this one too (if this band has a flaw it's in their lyrics, sometimes they're great, and sometimes they are very trite). This track is kinda playful as well in its presentation too, it's a track that kinda exemplifies thrash metal at this time...it never takes itself too seriously. Oh and the solo on this one....Top notch.

4."Mad Gone World"4:31

Typical Overkill intro to this one, leading into a aggressive riff and really tight drum part...spastic micro solos here and there, a chorus that has a punkish feel yet very thrash at the same time. Blitz does a great job mixing up the vocals here and DD is ever present here with his tin fart bass sound(a sound that would be irritating in any other band but here it works). The angst this song conveys is palatable but not overdone, it's still a fun song.

5."Brainfade"4:08

The song of liars, one of my favorite tracks on this one. It's just so snarky and sarcastic in so many good ways. A very moshable song to be sure and the lyrics are brilliant...

"I know you like a book

I know all the lies

I know, that you know

Your mouth is catchin' flies

Blank expression, a burnt out bulb

A thimble full of wit

Endless stories never follow

In short you're full of shit"

Absolutely great track, and very well executed...even the dialogue part in the later part of the track is great. Add a tight solo to it and a very driving drum sound to it as well...this song is perfect.

6."Drunken Wisdom"6:17

Nice little acoustic intro in this one that slides into a very heavy riff for 1988, a real headbanger. Kinda slower pace at the start but it cranks up a bit more later on and that really gives an impassioned feeling to this track that comments on the self importance of others....when it speeds up it is a thrashers paradise of moshing beats and chaotic guitar. Great lyrics and it mentions Beer later on...and that is what thrash is all about to me.

7."End of the Line"7:03

Chugging riffs start this one, goes on a measure or 2 too long but it picks up into a great riff that was formula for thrash at the time...but the chorus is great, kinda shows blitz in a different light...he can actually sing a bit instead of just yelling in key. This one has a mid track slow spot that kinda grounds the track thematically and sets the stage for a very good slow tempo guitar solo, this spot would be at home on any 80's metallica album...it spirals off into other influential nods then after a bit it goes back to trademark overkill. Great track, I wish it was more recognized by the thrash community at large.

8."Head First"6:02

The perverts anthem, or is it...this track is pure tongue in cheek (and anywhere else) fun. Good riff, great rhythm section, fun lyrics. This track was kinda nonsense to me back in the day but it had another great guitar solo and great drumming so I still liked it. Now, I can appreciate the track as a whole. Fun track, and well executed.

9."Overkill III (Under the Influence)"6:33

Not too fond of these "Overkill" tracks they all sound a bit shoehorned in, and this one is no exception. The aggression in it is good but honestly, the lyrics are a bit contrived and sound like they are from a demo by a band of teenagers who just started their band and are trying too hard to sound tough and dark. I think this song would have been an instrumental...when I worked in a recording studio, I filtered the voice tracks out of this one and a couple others and they worked much better...the music is enough on this one. The lyrics were simply put OVERKILL.

Conclusion:

This album along with their next one "The Years of Decay" should have permanently put this band among the elites of the thrash genre but for some reason it didn't. This album did help me through some tough times through its aggressive tendencies and sarcastic lyrics and for that I give this album a ton of kudos but as a reviewer, I can't ignore the shortcomings this album has as well. 1988 was one of 4 very good years for thrash as a whole (86-90) and this album was uppercrust for the time, and I love it still to this day....but in all honesty it hasn't aged as well as some of their contemporaries from the same 4 year cycle. I'll never dislike this one, in fact I will champion it...but for this review it isn't getting my highest rating. Other better albums came out before it, and there are some issues with its production,  especially in the mixing department (does DD really need to be so up front in the mix all the time?). But all in all this is a solid thrash album by 1988 standards, and was a great addition to any headbangers collection. I still thank my aunt for getting it for me, it's what I needed at the time, and still holds its spot in my top 50 albums of all time.

A bit of trivia that slides me still...at this time there were 3 guys named Bob in the band. Bobby Gustafson, Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, and Bob "Sid" Falck...just a side not for those that never really thought about it.

Score:4/5

http://wreckingcrew.com/Ironbound/

BABYMETAL - Metal Galaxy Album Review

Babymetal -Metal Galaxy (2019)

Current Members:

Suzuka Nakamoto (Su-Metal) - Lead Vocals & Dance

Moa Kikuchi (MoaMetal) - Screams & Dance

Metal Galaxy is the third studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal. It was released in Japan on October 8, 2019, with an international release following on October 11, 2019 worldwide. The album was released through BMD Fox Records in Japan, in Europe under earMusic, and elsewhere under Babymetal Records.

First Impressions:

Typical Babymetal fare, creative and very fun...but still kinda weird.

As an overview for those who may not know, this group was assembled in 2010 by Key Kobayashi from 3 members of the idol group Sakura Gakuin (Suzuka Nakamoto, Moa Kikuchi, & Yui Mizuno). Their first single was a track called "Doki Doki Morning" which was released in the same year. They hit it big internationally with "Gimmie Chocolate!" in 2013, a track that was on their debut album in 2014. Their 2nd album "Metal Resistance" was released on April 1st 2016 (Fox Day) and it furthered their popularity greatly, much to the chagrin of the metal elitists who were still up in arms over their very existence...3 years, a couple of missteps in image, and the departure of Yui Mizuno (for vaguely explained reasons) went by and it leads us here, 2019. The 3rd album comes off as an exercise in creativity yet again...especially when you take in the 5 tracks that were released off it over 2 of those years. But how does this album fare in the long run as a whole? I'll be reviewing the Japanese release of this one and notate the differences between it and the international version at the end. So without further babbling let's dive into this one track by track and see where the Fox God leads us....Let's Do This!!!

Japanese Edition Disc 1

1."Future Metal" 2:05

Never really got into these lead in tracks, but this one is interesting in its construction...very synth heavy and a bit spacey...it's an intro, and it's short.

2."Da Da Dance" (featuring Tak Matsumoto) 3:50

Well this one calls up an echo of an earlier track of theirs "Ii Ne". Very EDM at its core and quite an energetic little song. The guitars that were overlayed over this one are at points kinda dream theater (ish). It's a competently composed track with some great performances and production on it. Typical type of track from this little group and it's not a bad thing.

3."Elevator Girl" 2:45

One of the 5 singles from this one, it's a weird hybrid of metal and easy jazz like music. One of the several tracks that are sung in a large percentage of english, something they have been doing more of since their second album. Something far more prevalent than the usual word or two in most Japanese lyrics, when their language doesn't have a comparative. The musicianship is tight as always and Su-Metal's voice is over processed as usual on tracks like this. Her voice as is would serve the track just fine, she is very capable.

4."Shanti Shanti Shanti" 3:10

The latest single released before the album dropped and this is where this group shines. The Hindu inspiration is executed very well, and it gives this track a very pleasant and vibrant feel. This song is just fun to listen to and you can't help but move along with it. A super track and really helps the momentum of the whole album.

5."Oh! Majinai" (featuring Joakim Brodén) 3:12

Well....we are headed into folk metal territory. This track really sounds like it should be on a korpiklaani or alestorm album...and that is fun in its purest form. Songs like this are one of the main reason I love this group, they are not afraid to cross genres and explore the potential...I picture a crowd of burly bearded men in a venue wearing Babymetal shirts and a large mug of beer in their hand chanting along like pirates with this one. It's just so much fun.

6."Brand New Day" (featuring Tim Henson and Scott LePage) 4:08

Well this one is the definition of this band as it was defined earlier, metal fused with J Pop...this is a track that would fit on a perfume album if you removed the metal parts. It's very commercial pop at its very core and it's as catchy as hell in its own way. Not a bad track, but honestly not one of my favorites...but what it does, it does very well. Although the snaps are a nice touch.

7."↑↓←→BBAB" 3:05*

Well, this is interesting. What's with the auto tune? This track is a bit of filler to me, it kinda goes nowhere special but it isn't boring...it just won't be on one of my playlists anytime soon. Can't say much more.

8."Night Night Burn!" 3:40

Back to the metal, a upper tempo one that falls into the experimental arena. It goes from metallic to poppy off and on, but more metal than pop...the pop has a basic 90's style r&b pop type thing, but not exactly. The more I hear live from this band the more I wish they would leave Suzuka's voice alone...she really doesn't need all the post production things they do...she can carry a song very well. The subtle Caribbean vibe towards the late middle of the track is cool though.

Japanese Edition Disc 2

1."In the Name Of" 4:30

Ooohhh....gothic chorus stuff...nice. This is a good way to our some drama back in this album...I approve. Then the track kicks in and we have more of that middle eastern influence creeping in, but this is done in a more war song like thing, it's actually quite epic. The growly vocals on it harken back to their original lead off track on their first release "Babymetal Death". This is quite a cool track, this would be a great track to blast as you lead an army into war. Excellent.

2."Distortion" (featuring Alissa White-Gluz) 3:04

A bit of a recording of the first track they released late last year. Still a great track and really feels like traditional Babymetal...but under all its fuzzy effects and overproduction poor Alissa gets a bit lost in it, you can still hear her, but she's trapped behind a layer of fuzz. But all in all a good track and still one of my favorites.

3."Pa Pa Ya!!" (featuring F. Hero) 3:55

This was the single that really harkened their return. Catchy as hell and fun to listen to....not a bad thing to say about this one...but there is one thing that kinda bugs me, when I listened to the original release and this one side by side, the chanting is a bit slower on this one, not too much but still it's noticeable. The mid song rap by F. Hero is quite jarring at first but it's well done and fits the track quite well once you wrap your head around it...great track.

4."BxMxC" 3:03*

Well it's Babymetal goes urban gangsta tone...but not full gangsta rap, thank god for that. The Bass on this one and the electronic clips really give this a big feeling, and a deep punching low feel. However Su's vocals here are very creative and not her usual fare...they go all over the place in tone and pitch, well done but quite destracting, I would like to hear the raw vocal track of this one without the post production...as a whole this track is very industrial in sound but it really leans more towards the urban and dubstep side of things. A very unique track, and a surprisingly good one too.

5."Kagerou" 3:30

The track that was called "Tattoo" early on by the fans, and the track is one where Su had much looser, if any, choreography live...especially during the dark side era after Yui left, and Su did this one solo. This is a very traditional pop metal type track with very little post production, it's by far one of my favorites on this album. It's a showcase for Su and her voice...it's really what Babymetal should be in a lot of ways. Should Su ever do a solo album, I hope it sounds like this, she just shines on it...this is simply put, her place in the genre. Tracks like this are where I say that she is the logical successor to the Queen of all metal once Doro Pesch quits making music.

6."Starlight" 3:37

The tribute to the late Mikio Fujioka and the second song they released after Yui left the group. A fitting little piece, and it tends to bring a smile to your face. Its high energy and very tight sounding. The vocals in the chorus have an ethereal feeling to them and the song as a whole is packed with Babymetal tropes...it's a great little track and a bit of an earworm after a few listening sessions.

7."Shine" 5:52

A track that has a somber start and fits the mold of a traditional Babymetal epic track in its constriction, much like "The One" on their last album it has slower verses and a much grander chorus section that even shares some vocal phrasing with the abovementioned track "The One". It's a nicely constructed song and it was performed great. I can't say enough good things about this one at all.

8."Arkadia" 5:18

Well this one starts with more chorus type stuff and rolls into a song that more resembles a Dragonforce song. This is a love letter to all power metal bands in its construction, and being a fan of that genre, I love it. This is a great capper to a great album....tight musicianship, great vocal phrasing, and over all a super performance. This is an empowering track that has no dull parts and doesn't overstay its welcome. I just love it.

[*The international version still has a large track list of 14 songs ("↑↓←→BBAB" & "BxMxC" were removed from the international version) but some would still say this album is a bit bloated given the type of album it is.]

Conclusion:

With this being their 3rd album over the course of almost 10 years (typical for Japanese idol groups, a ton of singles followed by a full album) this is pretty much more of the same from this group, but more of the same isn't a bad thing. This group and their writing team is still top notch and not afraid to keep testing the waters with styles and genres, and it usually works out for the better. Now, in all honesty at 16 songs for the Japanese release and 14 for the international release, this album is a bit bloated but all the tracks here have merit(and they say there was more recorded for this one). For all its clever parts and overproduction at its core it's a well performed album and a joy to listen to...I really can't complain too much about this one...it fits their discography and feels like a continuation of their last album. Very well done indeed.

Score: 5/5

http://www.babymetal.com/en