Black Sabbath - "God is Dead?" Cover

When I first heard this song last year, I couldn't contain my excitement. Black Sabbath ended their Ozzy-era discography with the rather dissapointing Never Say Die!, but this song provided hope for a fitting end to Black Sabbath's catalog over 30 years later. 
 

Heavy Metal Review: Judas Priest-Redeemer of Souls

Release Date: July 8, 2014

Label: Epic

Website

It’s hard to imagine that 6 years has passed since Judas Priest released their double album Nostradamus. Some fans found that a tough one to swallow because they tried something different. I applauded it and thought it was a true masterpiece. Then K.K. Downing retired and we thought what now? Then another live album arrived titled A Touch of Evil a year later introducing their new guitarist Richie Faulkner. Again I thought this was another good move for the band to keep things rolling and Faulkner seemed to be a good fit. Once Faulkner got his chops down and did some touring with the band it was time to step back into the studio to see how that worked without Downing for the first time.

So now we have Redeemer of Souls which by all accounts is a return to form and I could not agree more. There are three editions of this release available, the regular one CD package, the deluxe two CD set and the double vinyl LP version. I decided, as I always do, to go for the gusto and get the deluxe CD version. I was glad I did as I found out the bonus CD is like an entirely different album, not some out takes or unreleased live material (like most bonus tracks are). I also received the LP version for review which was another added bonus that I welcomed. 

The album art by Mark Wilkinson is eye catching and prolific and very “metal” so we are off to a good start. As the album begins then explodes with the onset of the opener “Dragonaut,” Halford belts out “Welcome to my world of steel, master of my domain, cower as the pain’s unsealed, disasters where I reign.” You get the idea; the heavy metal music that goes hand in hand with the lyrics is a guarantee. How else would we want it? This music is like a battering ram straight between the eyes, perfect!

How many metal albums have 5 tracks that nearly reach the 10 minute mark? You will be hearing one if you pick this up. The first CD is powerful set with some excellent musicianship and being a long time Priest fan and one of their biggest supporters I was not disappointed in one track. The title track is amazing, sweeping, energized heavy metal; it does not get any better than that track. “Halls of Valhalla” is another beast, an epic track with all the glory of a warrior’s promise to reach the place of their calling after doing what they were destined to do, die in battle. Halford remains a wonder at his age and his ability to sing a song just as he always did. Priest would be a shadow of itself without him at the helm and we all know that.

The interplay of Faulkner and Tipton is quite the pairing and every bit as satisfying as the previous lineup. You cannot deny how strong this release is. Let us not forget the rock solid bottom end of this lineup with Ian Hill (bass) and Scott Travis (drums). Perhaps one of the best examples of that powerful duo on display is the hammer of the gods coming down in “Sword of Damocles.” If you were wondering, that phrase is a figure featured in a single moral anecdote, an allusion to imminent and ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power.

“March of the Damned” continues along the same lines as the preceding tracks. Its thunderous bass lines and juggernaut drums followed by beefy hard rock guitars are well suited to the doom and gloom of the lyrical content. And so it goes throughout the first disc, like a steamroller on mission, wave after wave of heavy metal comes at you. It is classic Priest jugging along at their very best. The first CD is relentless in its power and scope. This is a showcase of a heavy metal band hitting its stride and shining at all positions. By now I am wondering when I will hear a weaker track or one that I can say I don’t really like but that time never arrives. “Cold Blooded” and “Metalizer” continue to hammer away at your consciousness shaking you down inside and out. If you turn up the stereo with this music you are subject to shaking walls and shattered ear drums so heed the warning my metal head friends…or just go ahead and crank it and enjoy, I did.

What may come as a big surprise to fans are the bluesy roots in “Crossfire.” It is Priest because you have Halford on the vocals but if you had a different vocalist you would not know it was the same band. I have to say I thought the change was welcome and I loved the song. Some of it has the patented heavy riffs entering the mix but this one is real different and it shows how talented and diverse these musicians can be. This band is certainly not one dimensional.

The bonus CD was intended to be enjoyed as an entirely different album and it sounds that way. This is more of the classic Priest during the earlier years such as British Steel. The energy and power does not subside a bit so don’t worry. What you get is another side of Priest but the volume does not get turned down one iota.

As I made my way through the second disc, I became even more exhilarated by what I was hearing. “Snakebite” is excellent with Halford spewing out the venom of the past, giving the new fans a taste of where this band came from so long ago. It’s only four tracks but they pack a powerful punch and it’s well worth the additional investment to add them to your collection.

I also listened to the 180 gram vinyl edition of the album (minus the bonus tracks) and it sounds fantastic. You won’t be missing anything here; there is no sacrifice for quality of sound. Judas Priest sounds good in any format however this type of music is well suited to vinyl and it always was. 

This heavy metal carries on the tradition of Judas Priest and it will surely bring in more fans by the masses once they hear this music. It is one of their strongest efforts since the release of Screaming for Vengeance in 1982. If you love metal just make sure you get this!

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Redeemer of Souls, Sword of Damocles, Crossfire

Tracks:
Disc: 1

01. Dragonaut
02. Redeemer of Souls
03. Halls of Valhalla
04. Sword of Damocles
05. March of the Damned
06. Down in Flames
07. Hell & Back
08. Cold Blooded
09. Metalizer
10. Crossfire
11. Secrets of the Dead
12. Battle Cry
13. Beginning of the End

Disc: 2

1. Snakebite
2. Tears of Blood
3. Creatures
4. Bring It On

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

August 23, 2014

Review Provided By Write A Music

Metal Warriors THOR Return To Hollywood For An Exclusive Show, Celebrate The Deluxe Re-Issue Of ONLY THE STRONG!

Los Angeles, CA - Muscle-bound superheroes THOR are set to fly to heavy metal’s very own Valhalla, Hollywood CA, on Saturday, May 24th, for an explosive performance at the Loaded club on Hollywood Blvd. This Vancouver outfit originated in the early ‘70s with body building champion and former Mr. USA Jon Mikl Thor, and quickly gained a devout following thanks in part to the band’s elaborate and supremely entertaining live shows, which frequently featured Jon performing not just outstanding anthems of metal but also astounding feats of strength - bending steel bars with his teeth and exploding water bottles with his lungs!Jon would go on to appear on the Merv Griffin Show in 1976, which led to a licensing deal with RCA and the release of THOR's debut album Keep The Dogs Away the following year.

But it wasn’t until the group’s 1985 album, Only The Strong, that Jon Mikl & Co. really began to flex their muscles. Recorded in the UK, the album produced two British chart-topping classics, “Let The Blood Run Red” and “Thunder On The Tundra,” and earned the band a truly international following. Now, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of its release, Deadline Music will offer a special deluxe CD/DVD edition of this metal masterpiece! Billed as the COMPLETE THOR experience, this set includes the entire Only The Strong album along with several rare and unreleased bonus tracks PLUS an incredible 60 minute concert DVD capturing the band in live performances during their early ‘80s heyday, performing stunts and ripping through their best songs - all packaged in a gorgeous 8 panel digipak with a full color 16-page booklet!

Jon Mikl Thor enthuses, “I am ready to take the THOR visual and sound experience to the entertainment capital of the world! What better place to launch the Only The Strong CD/DVD deluxe edition! As the Superhero Thundergod of Rock N’ Roll, I promise a night of startling metal and entertainment for all!”

For venue information, visit: http://www.LoadedHollywood.com
LOADED Hollywood
6377 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

To pre-order the CD or vinyl on Amazon: http://georiot.co/lzs

To pre-order the digital album on iTunes: http://georiot.co/38MC

For the latest information on Thor, visit: http://www.thorcentral.com/

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

New Judas Priest Track "Redeemer of Souls"

FROM HELL Presents Epic Horror Concept Album 'Ascent From Hell' Featuring Metal Icons Paul Bostaph of Slayer, Damien Sisson of Death Angel and Steve Smyth of Nevermore, Testament, and Forbidden - To Be Released April 8th, 2014

"A corpse wakes up in Hell and finds out he cannot rest and must return to the land of the living to find his soul that still lives on inside the body of a priest and drag it back to Hell. When the moon turns red, you must walk with The Walking Dead."

Oakland, California - FROM HELL is a new horror concept heavy metal band. Their debut release on Scourge Records on April 8th, 2014 is called Ascent From Hell and it is as heavy as it is epic! FROM HELL is the brainchild of George Anderson aka Aleister Sinn, the live narrator of this horror story. This project began in 2007 after his previous band Down Factor with then drummer Ramon Ochoa, Brooks Rocco on guitar and Waylon Ford on bass broke-up. Interested in putting a different type of band together that was not involved in politics, George formed FROM HELL to tell horror stories in the vein of King Diamond. Every song is in some way linked to all of the other songs and when each album starts, they don't stop until the very end.

After several line-up changes, during the recording of the first album, George enlisted some amazing players to record with him in FROM HELL. For this debut recording, metal icons Paul Bostaph from Slayer on drums, Steve Smyth from Nevermore on lead guitar and Damien Sisson from Death Angel on bass were recruited to make this record happen. This recording is diabolically epic, and heavy as Hell! Every song is different from the next covering many genres of metal from thrash metal and black metal to death metal and doom metal. This album is as dynamic as metal can be! Also participating in this recording is Phil Bennett of the iconic rock band Starship, playing piano on the track Dead Reckoning and a 22-piece choir, The Pacific Mozart Ensemble on four other tracks. Establishing new ground, this record has the first recorded blast beat by Paul Bostaph, orchestrated with shredding guitar solos from Steve Smyth and heavy melodic & syncopated bass by Damien Sisson.

Produced by George Anderson and Steve “Snake” Green, guitar player from Skinlab, a Century Media recording artist, this recording is a theatrical 70 minutes long with segues in between each song to give additional detail to this horror story. With songs like The Walking Dead, Soul Crusher, Nun With A Gun and Ascent From Hell, this record will take you on a heavy metal horror ride to Hell!

As one can imagine, with so many legendary players in its ranks, it is hard to schedule live performances. There is a CD Release/Listening Party and signing event scheduled for early April 2014 in Oakland, California. FROM HELL will tour the West Coast and select East Coast markets to support the release of Ascent From Hell in the summer and fall of 2014. FROM HELL’s show will include a few different guest performers and members of the band who play in other bands will perform as their touring and recording schedules allow.

Visit the band’s website www.fromhell.net or www.scourgerecords.com for more information and future tour dates.

FROM HELL Ascent From Hell to be released Physically and Digitally worldwide on April 8th, 2014

Physical Distribution Inquires please contact Steffen Franz or Ben Lang at Independent Distribution Collective at 415-292-7007 or via e-mail sales@independentdistro.com

Digital Distribution Inquires contact Jerome Forney at IDCDigital at 415-292-7007 or via e-mail jerome@independentdistro.com

For booking contact Scourge Records scourgerecords@yahoo.com

Press and Radio Inquires contact Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Radio Inquires please contact Munsey Ricci at Skateboard Marketing Ltd.Ph 516-328-1103, skatebmkt@aol.com