tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18200615157333946922024-03-14T01:00:15.471-07:00ROCKS NATIONmcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-81626166913355938582019-05-12T06:13:00.001-07:002019-05-12T06:13:25.585-07:00NTH ASCENSION - STRANGER THAN FICTION (2019) UK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Surprise, surprise, surprise! NTH Ascension are back with a new record. Guys, I have to tell you that if you still don't know about them, now it's the time to get acquainted with the band's work. <br />They're from Fleetwood near liverpool, the keyboard player also does his best in the humongous outfit TEN, Gary Hughes' brainchild. <br />This is the time, they can no longer be ignored, the quality is so immense that you have to be foolish not to give them a try.<br />The human is a multitude of functions, electric impulses that makes us move, breath, love, hate,... there are humans made of numbers, humans made of words, humans made of an array of habilities,... me, i'm a human made of music. i feel music, rhythm, beats, like on that movie TRON, i'm an infinite world of music, and so when i tell you you're missing something true and amazing, believe me, you are.<br />England is a hive of prog music, since the 60's hundreds of bands emerged and took the world by sound engeneering, giving images to our senses that lived for so long in darkness, From Pink Floyd to Marillion, Yes to Genesis, King Crimson to ELP, Asia to It Bites, Alan Parsons to Threshold, Barclay James Harvest to Arena, etc,... they all made life more clearer, and still do, and now we have the likes of NTH Ascension holding the flag of prog rock.<br />I started this review with the word surprise 3 times, and it was not about the fact that there's a new record in stores, it's because i am really surprised with the work these Fleetwood boys just presented us. Michael Alan Taylor – Vocals; Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards (TEN); and the walker family, father and sons, Craig Walker – Drums & Percussion, Gavin Walker – Bass Guitar; and Martin Walker – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, come together as a tigh outfit and were we in the golden era, and the record companies would be fighting for their signatures and give them the final push towards stardom.<br />In one of my early reviews, i commented that they needed someone from the outside to take hold of the tables and somehow it happened. Darrel and Martin did the engeneering but the famed Eric Gillette did the rest in the USA. The job went so far that they stepped the ladder so high and now there's no turning back. They entered the realm of the holy, and now there is the big responsability to keep doing better and better each time; big task ahead. The quality is that good!<br />Let's talk about the surprise. Eight tracks, around 70 min. of music and lots of great moments to enjoy.<br />This time the quality just baffled me. Throughout the record there's a multitude of things to enjoy so well crafted that we can only find in the elite bands. From jazz fusion to eighties more happy moments, theatrical rock, power riffs bordering highest plains of metal, the force is strong in this one. just read the following:<br />The Opening- An instrumental stormy weather in the highlands slowly clearing for the take off with flutes from afar telling us there is life in the greens before the guitar floats side to side, leaving the grounds clearer...<br />True Identity- ... for this majestic piece that seems to come right out of a broadway show. Very heavy and dark, there's a lot of theatrical and vocal games, stints of Marillion\Fish. This is something done by very accomplished musicians, and with this tune i rest my case, only the good ones can do this. A favorite.<br />Fire in the Sky- The pounding on the keyboards is really powerfull, a complete rhythm section, i can imagine the keyboard player as a maestro driving the band throughout space and beyond, i just don't know how but there's something here that drives my senses to Asia and Geoff Downes in this one. you can't no longer ignore this keyboard player, he studied the best and he turned in to one. this tune has a lyric that shows the band's misfortunes in the last months ending up creating their own label; graciously turned into a up tune. Another favorite. <br />Reconciled- And now we have our 80's moment perfectly combined with subtle prog movements in order not to be displaced from the record alignment. Very well done!<br />Following tracks 5,6 and 7 are a continuation of the conceptual work started on the first record of the band the "Clanaan Chronicles", a fictional story in the vein of lotr\narnia, about the battle between good an evil beings an the subsequent hero that emerges to put the balance back again. So, musically it's a movie with lots of moods and ambients, very accessible and melodic were you can lay back and hipnotize yourself in deep worlds. There isn't a dull moment in these almost 30 min. of musical fiction.<br />Sound to Light- And for last we have another 80's moment starting in the form of an acoustic ballad and growing to a power riff driven movement. from there to another dimension far and beyond space, very keyboard driven. Then turning to some fusion jazz with pounding keys and finally back again to the 80's power moment. 18 minutes of pure delight. what a voyage!!! <br /><br />
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There's no weak song on this record, no bad leg, this is really good, ultra professional. You have to be that good to produce such a wine, full of flavours and yet all combined make a powerful liquid that really fills you up inside. <br />For a prog rock album, it's very strong, melodic and melodie driven, it's a formidable job! Darrel Treece-Birch is an amazing keyplayer, alongside now with the best of the best, wakeman, emerson, downes, etc...<br />But the rest of the band don't came after him, they complement each other perfectly, even the vocal performer goes further in his job this time, daring higher fields. <br />I am really surprised and thankfull for this amazing album. congratulations to the band, they nailed it good!<br />The best i've heard in a long time among lots and lots of fish and chips. I just wish them that someone comes and gives them the push they need to become noticed by the masses in order to enjoy this superb work.<br />In stores 31th of may 2019! Don't miss it!<br />mcLeod has spoken!<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/NpQwuZYU5pU">https://youtu.be/NpQwuZYU5pU</a><br /><br /><br />
mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-72980919615146273982018-12-23T16:11:00.000-08:002018-12-23T16:11:25.846-08:0047 de FEVEREIRO - LUTA PELA MANUTENÇÃO (2018) PORTUGAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello dear brothers of this fascinating world we call music. Long time no see. I'm so sorry but after a long time unemployed a ton of work came my way, so,... <br />A few days ago i came across something that caught my attention. Being portuguese i have to say that in this small piece of land fronting europe against the trump feud, it breaks my heart to say that Portugal doesn't have a rock scene, everyone who attempts it, has to live underground, so it was with enormous joy that i received a copy of a new rock project called 47 de FEVEREIRO. (47 of February; the same is to say 19th of march). The name of the band says it all, or better yet, says nothing. Eheheh. I like this, i truly do. Uncompromised rock with a lot of everything and then again a lot of nothing. Nonsense with humorous play, but... there is a lot of maturity in it, everything was made with a purpose, so if you start to listen to this collection of pieces of irresponsible music i might just take your fun right now and spoil it for you, these 4 boys know exactly what they are doing, and they are very hardcore, (on the attitude towards life and society, not the music itself, allthough,...). <br />As musicians they have been around for a long time in several well known projects in the portuguese music scene, and now they came together like a "buzz" on a sunday night, saying i don't want to go to work tomorrow, man ...<br />This is a street fight statement on society. Random acts of inglorious lives that instead of being captured by a camera were captured on musical statements; a true exhibit for the Casa de Serralves. <br />The record then. Songs build upon slogans and football metaphores, with some very higly regarded passages of people like Gunter Grass or George Orwell. "stayed for the intention, in extremis, la favorita, infiltrated, vagabond, pigs in the attic, outside the law, extra time"; are a bouquet of fabulastic musical arrangements, flute, portuguese guitar, vocals that sang in italian or in medieval expressionism; what do you say to some doom metal played with portuguese guitar melodies and arrangements in fresh and captivating theme called "á margem da lei"? Or some psycho prog in "la favorita". And again some misterious flute played on first take as if on a jam in a dark prog ambient of Gunter Grass. who is Jon Anderson? Jethro Tull on a heavier tuxido.<br />This record was made under no influence, that means, no record company pressure, in fact there's non what soever, this is an independent effort and if you dont like it, the band says; "that's cool, bro! we do! and that's enuff". For the record companies, well, some "green mint". As for the other kind of influences, only the band can confirm or deny.<br />Before listening to this record, i was adressed to the new effort of the swedish outfit Freak Kitchen in wich i find a lot of resemblances with this 47 de Fevereiro's debut. I believe they don't know of each other but the influences could very well be the same, Rage Against the Machine, Body Count, Motorhead, Metallica, or some electric jazz fusion; this is what some people call "a Trip". Let's take one? So what are you waiting for, go listen,... <br />For the rest of the world, this record might seem a frustrating journey, but music is universal and "gUgle" translator might help you surpass some of that disapoitment. For the latin boys and girls, this will be an amazing treatment, or as my dear friend Roque Xandeiro used to say, espantástico!(a mix word of amazing and fantastic); remember this, old friend?<br />This record was edited on the 19th of march 2018, that saying, 47 of february, cool, hah?<br />Glad to be here for all of you!<br />McLeod has spoken!<br />mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-81156007285829180152018-12-23T16:07:00.000-08:002018-12-23T16:07:40.338-08:00GEISHA - PHANTASMAGORIA (1987) DENMARK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a Very Rare gem long forgotten in my dusty vinyl trunk, that i've rediscovered again while taking some time to clean up. Does any one know who Peter Jacobson is? or Tony Niemistö? Or Micael kiriakos Delaoglou? Hal Patino? Joewall randall? Yenz Cheyenne?<br />Well, let's see if i can remember it all. Peter Jacobson, aka Pete Blakk, was the axeman for King Diamond from 1988 to 1992. Tony Niemisto aka Tony Reno aka Tony Lace, was the first drummer for the ginormous band Europe, from 1979 to 1984, in wich he played on the first two albums and subsequently substituted by Ian Haugland. Micael k. Delaoglou aka Mikkey Dee, also needs no introdution, is currently the basher for the teutonic champions, Scorpions, and also played with king Diamond, Don Dokken and Motorhead, as on Helloween and Thin Lizzy. Hal Patino, another King Diamond employee; joel Starander formerly on Blakk Totem, and finally Yenz Cheyenne, who was also the bass player for Piet Sielk's Iron Savior, among others. <br />So given the premisse, the band. Geisha were a hard sleaze metal band from Denmark. They were quite known in scandinavia and after few line-up changes and demos edited, they recorded an album in 1987 baptized "Phantasmagoria". The line-up for the record was Yenz Cheyenne on vocals, (this one afterwards formed the band Y with Tony Lace; yes, the one and the same Tony Reno); Pete Blakk on guitars, Tony Niemisto on drums and Joel Starander on bass<br />This is amazing hard'n'heavy with not one bad cut, with lots of "tilsentown" influences. For the year 1987, this is a great rock album with only 7 songs but catchy enough to put you banging your head, but with a not so good production. It's good enough, believe me, but this could have been big. They tried to play it by the book, and that they did, but the result wasn't the one that was expected. Never-the- less, for that year, when bands like Guns'n'Roses were emerging it was a good thing to hear, i really did enjoyed it, and i'm enjoying it again. they were on to a good thing but... strange ways parted them to other projects. it was fun finding this again because they were full of potential and i recomend you to give it a go, but please do it with an open mind and not like if you were to find the holy grail or you'll miss something very interesting. For this 31 year run i thank my good friends herr Olli making his way in the swiss alps and Joe aka DEV, who were the ones that presented me to this rare gem.<br />McLeod has spoken! <br />
mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-18984968428296331682018-12-23T15:59:00.000-08:002018-12-23T15:59:41.557-08:00WARKINGS - REBORN (2018) "ANCIENT ROME"?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Who knows anything about this misterious new heavy metal outfit? Well, i don't, but if you pay attention you'll see that the frontman is non other than Niklas Itsfeldt from Dream Evil and i'm not 100% sure but the axeman is the hellenic Gus G. from the same band as well as ozzy's guitarrist. Another commercial coup? I wouldn't like to think so, but... you see, the songs are Dream Evil "Book of Heavy metal" era, and inspite the record cover this is not Manowar. To keep doing the same thing in another set of clothes i just don't see the point, or maybe i do...<br />Good songs? Well, if you like Dream Evil revisited, yes they are. If Dream Evil went separate ways i think this could be a very good new restart for some of the ex-members, but the KISS era is dead and buried and as for Crimson Glory, well time speaks for itself. In todays world of digital transcendence, anonimacy has no place in public life, I like it but "big brother" doesn't; and in this case BB is all of the interested parties this game, so,...<br />Heard, seen and done. for the newcomers to the genre this might be amazing, has for me...<br />McLeod has sopken!<br />
mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-72670659170401311242018-12-23T15:52:00.000-08:002018-12-23T16:00:28.732-08:00TEN - ILLUMINATI (2018) UK<div style="text-align: center;">
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It had to be this way. Sometimes when we follow something or someone's life or evolution, even if we don't pay much attention, we came to a point were we know almost exactly what's going to happen. Ins't the powers of the mind amazing? <br />
A few weeks ago, i was informed of the new record about to be released by the fabulous TEN. For the ones new to the hard 'n' heavy music world, TEN are an english supergroup wit a few million albums sold and if this doesn't open your appettite to discover more about the band, well, there's three out of two, either you're lazy, or you don't care or you're in the wrong page. Just to tell you that they have a fabulastic record named "Babylon" wich is a masterpiece and a reference in rock, a conceptual album about a not so futuristic love story in a digital world. Is it good enough now? <br />
Moving on; my first thoughts about the new recordings were: what it will be like? heavier, with a lot of class? a strong theme? more direct and yet in your face atittude? Yes to all! You see, i've been following the bands career for decades now, inclusively my first record was "The Robe" in the distant year of 1997. The times when Gary Hughes was enjoying a status of the new british rock sensation artist, then accompannied by the british guitar hero Vinnie Burns, and well deserved for that young boy back in the last century, when he had a lot more hair, sorry Gary, couldn't resist the joke while i take the time to remember those videos again as i write, don't worry, i don't have that much too, sign of the times my friend...<br />
Concerning the new times, i just bought this new record and it's a nuke ready to radio-active you to air-guitar or whatever...<br />
"Illuminati" really is a powerful theme. For the ones acquainted with history or Dan Brown's books, you'll understand it. Heavier? well, when the acoustic prelude of the first theme ends and the main introduction riff starts, the heavy-speed german outfit Running Wild, came to mind, and from here you can imagine,... eheheheh, no, this is not speed power metal, but the power of the riff is really in your face, you lazy monks.<br />
"Shield walls" is a battle tune with a triumvirate of screaming shred guitars, can't get enough of this, it's really powerfull to the core, well done Gary! not to forget the keyboards that set the pace to the holy taking of Jerusalem, courtesy of Darrel Treece-Birch.<br />
"Esoteric ocean" is a first world class tune. Reminding me of past tunes from bands like Pretty Maids when metal was uprising and taking the world by storm. The dark environment given by the dark-noir set of keyboard playing sets the way for another fiercing guitar moment. A fantastic evolution of the band is the voice game in the songs, several chorus in falsetto, even i who can't sing a note feel like a first class singer, eheheh, really an amazing and fun album so far...<br />
"Jericho" comes to me as a prologue, a direct rock tune but with a voice-off feeling, like in a history tv documentary, a bit too long, but then again...<br />
This time they dare to enter the field of prog metal with a classic rock feeling, ideal for the main theme, a timeless tune, "illuminati"; just like history itself.<br />
This is a concept record, not so direct like a story of sorts but history like, a journey through time.<br />
just love it, and i'm pretty shure you will like it too. It's money well spent and one of 2018's best records so far; stil there's a lot to listen, i just couldn't find another 24 hours in the day to listen to them all, but i'll try.<br />
McLeod has spoken!<br />
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<br />mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-87861244559185106742017-09-12T12:15:00.000-07:002017-09-13T13:14:03.314-07:00DARREL TREECE-BIRCH - HEALING TOUCH (2017) UK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wouldn't everybody like to be healed by touch? I most certainly would! But then again, i think i'd rather be the healer, because sometimes by healing others we heal ourselves. Just like Darrel Treece-Birch does with is new opus, fresh from the mixing tables;<br />
He manages to give us a natural treatment of sounds that we can't stay indiferent to it. Darrel's new idea is to give us a healing touch through music; it's not new, but not many can acomplish that. He reached inside and with the help of that little particle of god that each and everyone of us has inside, in that place where we call our soul, he redacted a speech of musical notes transforming it in a conceptual manifesto for a better human being.<br />
The 23rd of september 2017, will be the official premiere of the new work from blackpool's son, Darrel Treece Birch. For the less understood in the music business, Darrel is non other than the key player for the british top hardrock band TEN. As a musician,<br />
he also drives a solo career were the prog ambients are is nature. Being a son of the senventies, Darrel explores his roots in that amazing era when the explosion of the prog, art, psychadelic and sympho movements aroused. ELP, King Crimson, YES, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons, Manfred Mann, Pink Floyd, JM Jarre, Vangelis and many others reached the top of the music scene, were they still stand high and will keep on being acknowledge for their capacity of touching inside of us until the end of times, because they didn't made music for the masses, they made music for the soul. Are you indiferent to Alan Parsons' "Sirius", or Vangelis' "Conquest of paradise", Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells", ELPs "Fanfarre"? No you're not! And Why? Because it's fuel for the soul. And today, giving the pleasure of pre-listening the new collection of themes that DTB produced; and as a matter of fact he also did everything else on this record, inclusively he painted the cover; once again i vow to the fact that this new record is in fact music for the soul.<br />
Ambient, art, prog, a bit psychadelic a times, and a little vanguard, why not; also with some good guitars, i believe we can place this new record among prog rocks' best moments. I must tell you all in advance, that this is a collection of musical moments that will come to you as hard work. I sincerely think not, but unless you think that opening one to himself is that much of a trouble, or you're tired and bored and many other stupid excuses, well, i work too, but good things come first, so let's give it a good spin.<br />
Healing Touch is a conceptual record. It's a humongous task to do it without words, but, guess what, Darrel did it!<br />
"God's prescription" is a nice way to start. a wanderer tune that implies HE is everywhere soothing our souls and telling us to be happy. But then, HE becomes serious and warns us to live within boundaries or a road to an oblivion in pain will be our prize. A 12 min. theme that send us on the path of introspection.<br />
"From the mouth" comes straight from that era where psycadelic rock ruled. A power tune that connects the default of loud mouth to the non sense alter ego that so many times we succumb to. Too much words, not so much work. Can you hear it? Well, not yet, but you will.<br />
"Cast it out" comes as a mass to take the evil from you. Like an exorcism. not so dark, but anyway, tubular bells also wasn't a dark tune. Love this one.<br />
"Re-boot" is just it, start all over. New hopes, new ways to follow... if only you could feel it too.<br />
"The fruits of the spirit" is like giving birth. Sorry guys, i'm man enough and i don't have any issues with my manhood, but to give birth isn't just making babies. When you create something of your own, your giving birth to something. Heavy or confusing terms? No. Just lack of use and fear of others ignorance. <br />
"The stand". Can you take one? Don't fear, your time is now, your time is here! Protect yourself and stand for what you created. This is my favourite tune of this record. A "light up your mood" tune with voices from a guitar. Amazing.<br />
"The release" is the follow up of your stand. Grow wings and fly, go where you've never been before and release your life among equals.<br />
"The expanse" as the intro of the theme plays, it's a command for spreading your seed, and that being everything you intend it to be. Life, art, good will, whatever you want, it's up to you...<br />
"No fear here" will be your follow up stage of life. when we create, give birth, we expand, we enter a new almost supernatural stage of life, we know it all, been all over, seen it all, heard it all, and it's time not to fear but to teach, to leave a legacy not of ours but of life itself through our own experiences.<br />
"God's medicine" is the prize of the accomplishment. if you hear this record and execute the same exercice that i made writing this considerations about what i felt by doing it, i'm pretty sure you'll be amazed with the final result; and that's God's medicine.<br />
In a declaration of interest, i must tell you that i haven't spoken with the artist or anyone else about what was that he intended with this conceptual trial to our brain capabilities. The presentation of this pre-listening said that this is a conceptual instrumental record, and from there i started my journey. I don't know if what i wrote about this new DTB opus is near, on the spot or far away from the artist's intended to present us, but one thing i can tell you with exact assurance, music talks! I Listened, i felt it, i incorporated it and then i spoke my peace. And That my friends, is the prime goal of the artist, to get to you! If we make this exercice with his creation, he will be an accomplished human being; as will we; a medicine man with is own method of God's medicine, just like HE wants us to, by diferent ways, the same result, and that is to enjoy the majesty of life! <br />
Darrel is no longer a stranger, a very acomplished composer and musician, as i said before, he played all the instruments; and now he rightfully owns his spot among the best. maybe nxt time he will amaze us with a record for the soul that will reach the masses, like the classic and top musicians did. <br />
This isn't a record to top the charts and fill stadiums, although he deserves it, and like JM Jarre or Mike Oldfield he will get there most likely, this is a record for the ones that "will be the seed". The others don't mind, don't care, just want to live fast and always receiving and never giving, they won't ever feel the "healing touch", poor things. And just because they don't want to learn it.<br />
This is a ten out of ten because it does what it is meant to, get inside and talk to us. It doe to me, will it do the same with you? It most certainly will!<br />
By McLeod!<br />
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mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-71660364682219353692017-07-05T15:28:00.000-07:002017-07-05T15:28:11.666-07:00ANTHEM - ENGRAVED (2017) JAPAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These sons of the setting sun never cease to amaze me. A few days ago i came across with ANTHEM's new release, the "Engraved" new album and i must say, if you're in the neoclassical genre with lots of classic rock influencies, well you'll love this one. Graham Bonnett and Don Airey were at one time part of this japanese band, so if you're suspicious about their quality, well you've got another thing coming. Akio Shimizu is a hell of a shredder, one of the best around the world, so expect the unexpected, melody, speed and insanity until you drop. This new album brings not much of novelties, some bad boy songs, again a trend among the big acts; such a waste; and a follow up on their sound, still heavy has hell. Again the only problem is,... they sing in japanese with some english words here and there. I've said it many times and i'll say it again, why not 2 versions of the record, one in their mother language and another in english? The vocalist sings the english phrases with a very good pronounce, so there's no excuse there. Damn, i'll sing them if they want it, this is to good just to be confined to japan, but it's their choice, maybe the expansion experience with Graham Bonnett wasn't very well succeeded around 2000, like other japanese acts such as EZO (Produced by Gene Simmons), LOUDNESS (with Mike Vescera), VOW WOW (with Neil Murray), ...<br />Okay, this is heavy metal at it's best and worthy of at least a listining and "Far Away" deserves at least more than ten listenings. Very well crafted songs, excelent musicianship, and still their trade mark of writing songs with verse, bridge, verse bridge, chorus, solo; is still captivating. Again an instrumental song like in many of their past albums shows Akio at his best. "Sacred Trace" delivers a very eighties sound, like Impellitteri or MSG, a must for the hard and heavy fanatics. No ballads this time, just full frontal attack.<br />Lov'em or leav'em, but don't hate them, their too good for that.<br />By Mcleod!<br /><br />
mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-81501930479584652562017-07-05T15:24:00.001-07:002017-07-05T15:24:56.187-07:00STYX - THE MISSION (2017) USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Straight out of the 70's! Pure and simple. I could swear they still used those old mixing tables to do this new record. There could be a lot to say about this new record by the acclaimed american band STYX, with 45 years on their legs, a classic rock institution, not only rock but also with prog elements but more of a theatrical brand of rock. They were pioneers of the genre mixing literally theater music with rock. The late 70's and early 80's were their best times as a top chart band. Iconic songs like "Mr. Roboto", "Blue Collar Man", "Don't Let It End", Too Much time On My Hands", "Boat On a River", Great White Hope" or "Come Sail Away" will forever be a part of the rock history and not only, but also a part of many ones who love music.<br />This New record, for the fans of the band is amazing, more rock and roll but with all the things that made them big. although we won't find those iconic hymns but if you want to know about this band or if you're a die hard fan, songs like "For The Greater Good" or "Red Storm" will certainly make you push the repeat button several times. "The Mission" is just it, a mission to make you wonder with their music, although it almost is a conceptual record about space travelling, the music is really the best part, after all these years they still have it. There are lots of bands that resurfaced by these nostalgic days that have nothing to ad, and for that they should follow Styx's example, if you want to still carry your legacy, please do what you like most and forget about the money, because if it's good, the money will come afterwards. And if you don't believe in yourselves for that, well, enjoy your retirement.<br />Remarkable record, a mandatory purchase for this rock school institution!<br />By McLeod!<br />
mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-56884292982571409962017-07-04T14:55:00.001-07:002017-07-05T15:28:45.684-07:00TEN - GOTHICA (2017) UK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Seven musicians! Seems like a plattoon. 3 guitar players, but not new, Maiden is on the prowl with this formula for several<br />
years now, so is Primal Fear. And since 2014 so does TEN. But am i complaining? Not at all, i'm rejoycing; the more the merrier. <br />
Whenever i hear\read the word "gothica" on the hard\metal scene i always think The Sisters of Mercy or The Mission. I can explain it but don't want to. You see, gothica is a romantic view of the dark ages and so Gary Hughes decided to go that way this time. This is not new, Gary's epic musical composing often refers to the middle ages, dragons, wizards, the supernatural, and that is as good as everything else to present one's emotions, so everything's great so far.<br />
Thirteenth album in 21 years of existance, deserves a celebration. TEN is one of my fovorite bands. Since the record "The Robe", 20 years ago, the first one i came across, that i never letted go of this british band. By those days, times of to much teenage stupidity, i couldn't understand why "the robe" for the title of an hard rock album, was it a bathroom rock album? Well, it was the name that called me to hear and apreciate the band, because curiosity killed the cat, and after i heard the title song i discovered that the Robe referred to the mantle that wrapped Christ following his cruxifition. Today i'm not such an ignorant idiot, well i try no to, eheheh; and if you're not acquainted wit TEN, well, there you have a good reason to start. Inspite this, my TEN's favorite album is of course "babylon". But, this new one is becoming pretty fast a favorite. And speaking of pretty, the song "in my dreams", that i am listening at this moment, has some resemblances to the danish metal band Pretty Maids, in the musical construction i mean. Because the PMs always go for a melodic pop song in the middle of the record. Given this, let's talk a bit about this new record. <br />
One thing that is unmistakable is the melodic lines, it's TEN alright, it fool's no one. Now, by this time i've heard enough to comment about what i like less and that is the production. it's more than good, don't get me wrong, gary did an amazing job, and so did Dennis Ward, the producer of the moment, that co-produced and mixed the album; but there's to many instruments in the way and sometimes it sounds a bit crowded, it should have been treated like an orchestra. Someone must have decided this way because in other way it could have muffled the power of the sound, but there's always a solution. Never-the-less it sounds great because the main man comes to us in crystal clear sound. The other thing, is not a complaint nor a default but rather a theme of discussion; The bad boy idea is now a trend, and has become a cliché to a very crowded scene at the moment. It's too much for my 70's mind, but, i still love it, damn! (The bad boy movement is the the way that i refer to the classic hard rock of the seventies, portraited by bands like Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, with loud les paul gibsons and a bad boy atittude, by the likes of misfists such as John Sykes, that everyone is trying to recover, but in this case, we can't deny our roots, right?)<br />
Well, this new record starts with "the Grail", that comes as a monastery mass an quickly crosses from an atmospheric ambiance to a melodic hard rock punch, epic as TEN is, very in your face and worthy of many repeatitions. Don't forget the screaming guitars. This song is a work of art, the structural keyboard lines travel lots of ambients; classical, acoustic, modern; each time i hear this song there's something new to discover.<br />
"Jeckyl & Hyde" hits like a ton of bricks with a very hollywood-gothic ambient on the background. it recalls me something familiar,... and a bit of prog maybe,... and again piercing guitars, this guitar ensemble is unleashing hell, just phenomenal. Another work of art.<br />
"Travellers" comes out of the dark wave of the 80's, and then hits the pace to the classic melodic rock epic lowtempo. not a ballad but then again,...<br />
A folk ring enters through this musical forest in the form of "man for all seasons", a reference to king Henry VIII. After this prog melodic rock intro lashes a powerfull riff that unfolds the way to an epic road and when the solos come, well there's a mix of a prog and a neoclassical showdown worthy of gary's favourites' Yngwie Malmsteen, guitars versus guitars versus guitars, very ingenious, a favourite.<br />
"In my dreams" is a melodic pop song worthy of your car radio after a days work, as i said before, reminds me a bit of Pretty Maids, and a seventies felling like the Sweet on the initial riff.<br />
the "wild king of winter" is a powerfull cut with a heavy alternative\industrial riff, like Marilyn Manson; very catchy and addictive, but the best part is the key solo, a very pleasant homage to the late members of the ELP, courtesy of the majestic keyplayer Darrel Treece-Birch. One of my favorite cuts so far. (the chorus of this song made me get back the "Babylon" record and listen to it all over again, sorry guys, can't help it)<br />
"Paragon" is an epic ballad that rocks the moment.<br />
"Welcome to the freak show" another favourite cut, an 80's number with lot's of references like Kiss and a very pleasant seventies flavour courtesy of Darrell's key melodies.<br />
"La Luna Dra-cu-la" is the only song that i can't relate to. The blood thirsty moon might be a folklore tale of the british islands but call it dracula puts it out of place because we always relate to that bloody romanian count that folklore legends says turned into a vampire. but that's not the point, i can't relate the music to the theme, a very british melody against a eastern and cold to the bone europe folklore. Never-the-less a huge tune that reminds you of classical songs by Thin Lizzy, Dare or Gary Moore.<br />
"Into darkness" is the final cut of this album, and so a ballad. Has a vocal melody to sing hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder and yet riff lines to put you standing waiting for something else, a very good music gameplay, bravo! <br />
Well, now come the final notes and i really must say this new record comes as a rendez-vous to the past, a modern approach to 17 years ago, i definitely love it. Very accomplished musicians and a phenomenal guitar ensemble directed by the keymaster, and just for this, this record is all worth it. This is from a band that is no longer just "a" band, what i see\hear in here is a consumation of a status, a musical institution tha can open the books of music to many new musicians, a scholar monument. This is university of music my fellow brothers of rock, in here we can find many things, epic, rock, classic, modern, prog, pop, and although we can identify many similar plays, one thing is for sure, Gary Hughes has is own identity and a standing place among the best. He wrote this magnum opus and setted it motion, and that, is an extraordinaire accomplishment given the musical quality. Hail Gary!<br />
A ten out for TEN! The best of the year so far. just buy it! (although you only will have the opportunity to hear in next 7th of july, the date of it's official release. isn't that nice to be ahead of you? Sorry, what a pretensious ass web leak finder i am.<br />
By McLeod (ROCKS NATION) mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-9651441802000737132017-03-29T14:47:00.000-07:002017-03-29T15:22:59.672-07:00SAMMY BERELL - PASSION DREAMS (2017) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is Yngwie Malmsteen dead? I don't suppose so. as a matter of fact i truly hope not, he is my favorite guitar player, and i wish that when i'm gone i could take his music with me, ....<br />
So who is Sammy Berell? A katcopy of Yngwie? Many would say so. But if were Sammy to be Yngwie's son, i believe he would be legitimated. Well, the things one must try to understand. But let's talk about this newcomer to the world stage of metal.<br />
Sammy Berell is the new sensation swedish guitar hero, and for hid musical guidance he decided that to pick up were Yngwie stopped in the late 90's was a good idea. If i presented you this record without you seeing the cover or credits, you would surely say that Yngwie was back to his old form with his old bandmates, such is the perfection of this eximious guitar shredder. I don't know if Yngwie allowed Sammy to use some of is melodies and riffs on this set of songs, but YJM records "fire & ice" and "seventh sign" are the reference in here. (midnight flyer = teaser; and with the same vocalist too)!!!<br />
But Sammy went a bit further, less classical and more melodically comercial, expansive and catchy, he delievers a powerful and yet refined work.<br />
Remember Mike Vescera and Goran Edman? That's right, they are the voices in this record, and my friends, they still have it, and i'm not fovouring neither one of them, powerful voices after more than 20 years. They deliever a nuclear assault on your ears! A voice explosion. <br />
This record, "passion dreams", is complied of 13 songs, with one instrumental. "War", the last theme is an instrumental cut in the vein of "perpetual or eclipse". The record starts like Yngwie's "seventh sign or magnum opus"; taking on the world by storm with Vescera delivering a tsunami. Them comes Goran Edman with his trademark performance on his time with Malmsteen. Ten songs with Vescera and only two with Edman, means that Vescera's time with YJM is the orientation of this record.<br />
From the beggining to the end, everything is Malmsteen copied, but in the kid's defense, he nailed it! If YJM gave up, Sammy Berell, pick up the flag an kept on going. Congratulations, hoping to hear your next job like, yesterday!<br />
Daniel Flores, was the producer, drummer and keyboardist on this record with Sammy as his wingman behind the control table.<br />
It´s Heavy, powerful, melodic and neo-classical enough to take you back to the future. That's right, taking on the past to re-write the future. This year's revelation as guitar players is concerned, an amazing shredder!<br />
P.S.: Sammy copies YJM for a fact, can't deny it, but not in everything, everyone has his own trademark and YJM is more than unique. He is sharp and insidious, insolent, classy and almost snobiest, and that can't be copied. On his side, Sammy is more commercially driven an plays by the book, and i believe it's more than enough to do the job, because others tried to do it just to crash and burn.<br />
for the Neo-classical maniacs a true acomplishment, for the rest, well, give it a go, you'll like it the end.<br />
McLeod Has Spoken!<br />
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Track List:<br />
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Judgement day ---------- (Vescera)<br />
Midnight flyer ------------- (Edman)<br />
Memories never die ---- (Vescera)<br />
Little sinner -------------- (Vescera)<br />
Red light Eyes ---------- (Vescera)<br />
Passion dreams -------- (Vescera)<br />
Star ------------------------ (Vescera)<br />
Crown of thorns --------- (Edman)<br />
King of Kings ------------ (Vescera)<br />
Drakkar ------------------- (Vescera)<br />
Sacrifice ------------------ (Vescera)<br />
Starlight ------------------- (Vescera)<br />
War (Instrumental)<br />
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Musicians:<br />
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Sammy Berell - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Co- Producer<br />
Mike Vescera - Vocals<br />
Goran Edman - Vocals<br />
Daniel Flores - Drums, Keyboards, Producer<br />
<br />mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-27223457238731187412017-03-28T15:23:00.000-07:002017-03-28T15:26:12.763-07:00SINNER - TEQUILA SUICIDE (2017) GERMANY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So sorry, Matt! If i have favorite bands, well, Sinner is absolutely one of them. Back in the 80's and 90's, few songs had a huge impact on me as "concrete jungle" or "respect", among a few others. But today it's another story. I am sorry to say that i take this new colection of songs as absolutely unnecessary. Thin Lizzy and Phill Lynott are reincarnated in this record. The 70's are back and with a bang, i give you that, and dont take me wrong, i'm loving it, but there's to much of it to have such a naive record like this on the stands. As a friendly jam among old acquaintances it's a hell of a party, and if this came out as a live recording on a saturday night show, i believe this could be huge among us, rock desperados, but the formula has become scratched, there's a lot of this going around. Matt, you're the one that deserves a tribute, please stay out of that path. Bad production? Bad musicianship? On the contrary, everything is great, it's just that Sinner is a different kind of stuff, powerful songs, even if they are a bit poppy, but these ones don't capture almost anything, at least with me, no mojo!<br />
Let´s wait for a Primal Fear or a Voodoo Circle new recordings.<br />
McLeod has spoken!<br />
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Due on March 31 via AFM, "Tequila Suicide" was produced by Mat Sinner, and co-produced, mixed and engineered by Dennis Ward. <br />
The album features:<br />
Matt Sinner - Bass, Vocals<br />
Tom Naumann (PRIMAL FEAR) on guitars <br />
Alexander Scholpp (TARJA) on guitars<br />
Francesco Jovino (PRIMAL FEAR) on drums <br />
plus special guests Sascha Krebs, Kolinda Brozovic, Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE), Ricky Warwick (BLACK STAR RIDERS), Pete Lincoln (THE SWEET), Neil Witchard and Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR).<br />
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"Tequila Suicide" track listing:<br />
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01. Go Down Fighting<br />
02. Tequila Suicide<br />
03. Road To Hell<br />
04. Dragons<br />
05. Battle Hill<br />
06. Sinner Blues<br />
07. Why<br />
08. Gypsy Rebels<br />
09. Loud & Clear<br />
10. Dying On A Broken Heart<br />
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Digipack bonus tracks:<br />
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11. House Of Rock<br />
12. Monday Morning<br />
13. I Ammcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-51862875796491236542016-09-26T15:08:00.000-07:002016-09-26T15:10:02.624-07:00DARREL TREECE-BIRCH - NO MORE TIME (2016) UK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Simple! To simply put it, simple but effective! it's so ... simple and pure that it feels like it walks with you, it's part of you and you feel confort in it. Wow, i'm amazed!<br />
The task of composing, or to simply put it, to create, is fabulous. When inspiration comes, it's a frantic world, we just fly over the world, and Darrel must be on the verge of gaining is own wings.<br />
Who's Darrel Treece-Birch!? Darrel is a Fleetwood (Blackpool) born, a sailor. And today he rides the waves with the multi-million seller TEN, playing keyboards; and as a side project he has a prog band called NTH Ascension. Now that you have directions let's keep talking about this new solo project by Gary Hughes' wingman. Intimist? No. Keyboard Driven? No. Sometimes we find our days white, sometimes blue, and today is green. Greener was Darrel's inspiration for this record. "No more time" is the slap in the face, the end of the line for our abuse to mother earth. Melodic prog music, very ambient and space age in several themes, but most of all, guitar driven. There are here a few vocalized themes with an effective message to us all, so please pay attention to them.<br />
I have a few cuts that became a must in my day's journey. Earthbound is an ELP kind of overture that sets the guidance for the rest of the record. This is not a nostalgic record, is simply the way it should be, and if this feels to you otherwise, just remember who you were, what you are to find out what you'll be, and then you'll feel it too. allthough being a classic rock orientated album, this is a simple way of showing that the prog classic rock didn't died or went belly down by the new tendencies, it really means that the highlights of the 70's and 80's have someone to carry the heritage. <br />
The next highlight is "Requiem Pro Caris (for the ones i most care about)". Those strings sound like arrows, they really pierce. a real cry of love. "Freedom Paradigm" goes among the sounds that i enjoy most, it's guitar driven, heavy meaning and goes along the guitar heroes like Vinnie Moore, Tony Macalpine, Satriani and many more,... a stellar cut! It starts with a arabian strong melody, inmediately giving us the paradigm, that feel of slavery in egypt building the pyramids, great theme and great guitar work.<br />
There are 15 pieces of real quality music for you to discover. when i first heard them, one of my first conclusions was that some of this tracks could very well be the soundtrack for a movie, a bbc wild life program, something. Earthbound could have been the overture for the para-olympic games, such is the strengh that the theme brings, a force of life, that runs in those athletes that with their incapacities they have the will and the power to do it, and they do it better than the most of us, without any inhability. You'll figure it out too. Also this conclusions only reinforce the idea of the higher quality of this work. A must have not only for prog people but for the good music connainseurs. Darrell is quickly becoming a reference in the music world, as a composer he is very much a complete writer. here's a name to follow very closely.<br />
A mandatory album!<br />
by McLeod (ROCKS NATION)mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1820061515733394692.post-68379563242333054802016-09-26T15:03:00.001-07:002016-09-26T15:03:22.653-07:00NTH ASCENSION - IN FINE INITIUM (2016) UK<br />
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<i>Ambitious! Very ambitious this tipically british sound brought to us by the guild of NTH Ascension. this is their third release in five years. Working between other projects that can only mean that they are very serious about it, and that, also means commitment and also an assurance of an excellent quality final product. "In Fine Initium" is a monster record! "You might say, this guy is crazy! how much did he get for saying this things?" -My friends, when we no longer have Genesis, Pink Floyd, and some others are saying farewell like Yes; having in our hands an opus like this, is not to be taken lightly, in fact it's a question of life and it's perpetual existence, one goes, another borns from their genes and prospers until,... you know, In Fine Initium. But to simply put it, someone has to progress, right? nice one! </i><br />
<i>I could say that Roger Waters stroles in here, like wise Arena or John Wetton's vision of Asia, Fish, but i believe that this is not fair comparing this musical project with their influences - if you take the time to read my first review for this project; (by the way, originally posted on roxx2download blog, roxx2metal); that will take a load out of me trying to repeat myself, nevertheless, i have to repeat something ...-</i><br />
<i>Hailing from Blackpool, Darrel Treece-Birch, aka wingman for the most notable Gary Hughes in the band TEN, is the light of this musical cuts; then there is the Walker family that takes the boat safely to the light; and finally, Alan Taylor the voice beyond the light that guides you through this space endeavour. This very experienced musicians; that in my respectful way, i don't believe should deserve comparisons; have studied and learned their lesson well, and are now ready to take the reigns and progress from where others have stopped.</i><br />
<i>Given this, lets talk about the music. Almost 70 minutes of things to say in form of music divided in seven parts, may appear to you as excessive, but if you are a real connainseur of prog music, that may come to you as a bit short. heavier than their last work, comes also with lots of classic\blues rock flavours, just listen to the instrumental "so that was apocalypse" and you'll feel like you're in the 70's. By the way, two exceptional instrumental tracks in this record. This one is not a conceptual recording, but there are three songs that follow another three from their last record "ascension of kings", that all together combine a story called the "Clannan chronicles", that goes in the likes of LOTR or Narnia, courtesy of Darrel. So, a reason more for get you in the mood to take this record and give it a good run. In Fine Initium, latin for beginning from the end, is a nice way to put things, has i've been explaining, picking up where others left is a nice analogy, although the band meant something else related to the ideas they offer us in this new record and wich i deaffy you to revealed them. Darrel as established himself as a new leader working the black and white keypads. JM Jarre, Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman have in him a great follower, a flag bearer. In truth, listening to this new tracks i feel that he is on a verge of exploding with so much inspiration. He wants to give us all at once, but as an experienced musician he knows how to measure just the amount of sweet we need. but NTH Ascencion isn't just Darrel, there is a top class guitar player, Martin Walker, that delivers far and beyond. Sons to Martin, the rythmic section Gavin and Craig Walker are a real force of life. I really found in Gavin's work a secret, the bass was so well played that unnoticed, it takes the lead of the spaceship like it was the hand of the universe guiding it to other parallel universes, it really pounds. And Alan Taylor that belongs to a class of vocal expressionists like Roger Chapman, Fish or Bernie Shaw, delivers a fearful but yet daring approach to the full circle that is beggining from the end and the end of the beggining (no, it's not Status Quo, eheheh); it's really what "in fine initium" means.</i><br />
<i>The first track of this record says it all, starts with an classic rock overture, and then develops to various states of mind, driving around lots of landscapes and space dimensions in a very elegant and melodic way.</i><br />
<i>Prog music is the ultimate expression of our minds, it can reach the psychadelic state without corrupt</i><br />
<i>our integrity with stimulants and chemical formulas, because our body is perfect enough to stimulate itself in a pure way without any external help, like this In Fine Initium, remarkably pure. I'm more of a heart and soul follower, but when i come across of something of this caliber, it's like that movie TRON, i just pass to the other side in a flash. </i><br />
<i>I'm going to end this text the way i started, but with a progressive idea- this is no longer a project for fun or to stay within doors. It's very ambitious and perhaps a major producer to make this brilliant compositions rise to a stellar condition is in order, maybe to start it's own ... big bang. wouldn't you agree?</i><br />
<i>Congratulations are in order, a 10 out of 10! But unfortunately for most of you, you'll only have the chance to confirm all of this presumably in october 14, 2016; the annouced releasing date. Until then you have NTH Ascension earlier releases to familiarized yourself to this superb prog band.</i><br />
<i>By McLeod! (ROCKS NATION)</i>mcleodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10705848043232013979noreply@blogger.com0