Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts

6/24/2015

Twisted Sister's Dee Snider Featured On New CD By Dual Female Fronted Power Trio TANG


“TANG Rocks!” - Dee Snider

NYC - One of the hottest releases of 2015 is undoubtedly the new album by dual female fronted alternative metal power trio TANG featuring a guest appearance by legendary Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider! Titled “Blood & Sand”, TANG's new CD features a duet with Dee Snider on the track “Reign of Blood”!

Says guitarist Denny Colt, “Bonnie knew Dee from back in the day when they both did the club circuit...I hooked up with Dee when I was in Van Helsing's Curse with him..so we have quite the connection. He's a really nice guy & did such a great job on the duet with Bonnie on 'Reign of Blood.'”

Hailing from New York, TANG features Bonnie Parker on Vox & Bass and Denny Colt on Vox, Lead Guitar & Keyboards, and have been trading phrases back and forth in their own ripping style since 1999. Mark Edwards, formerly of Criss Angel & Burning Star, now brings skull-splitting drum beats and a monster attitude. TANG has toured Europe, Canada and the US opening shows for such artists as Crucified Barbara, Girlschool, W.A.S.P., Dokken, Hammerfall, Helloween, Dee Snider, Symphony X and many, many other cool bands.

Denny played guitar, toured & recorded in Dee Snider's “Van Helsing’s Curse”, the gothic rock orchestra. Bonnie & Denny have currently played, toured & recorded, with Corky Laing from Mountain in his new band “Corky Laing & The Memory Thieves”. They are also working with Corky in Finland, writing, recording & performing on a rock opera called “Playing God” which was presented in Helsinki in 2014. The opera was presented in the US in April 2015 at Yale University & Hunter College.

“I love the total rock vibe of the new TANG CD! It’s real, it’s vital - it’s brilliant.” - Corky Laing

TANG is featured in the new Fred Carpenter film, “Charlie Mantle”, performing their song “Crashing”. The film debuted summer of 2014 and stars Armand Assante, Sean Young and Robert Funaro. Says Bonnie, “TANG was in the film performing the song in a Russian mob club as the lead character, Robert Funaro (of The Soprano's), is at the end of his dirty cop career & everything is 'crashing' down around him. Great concept by director Fred Carpenter!”

Watch TANG's new video:


Now much to the excitement of their fans worldwide, on September 1, 2015, TANG is releasing their new CD “Blood & Sand”!

Says Denny, “TANG is currently promoting the release of 'Blood & Sand' doing shows in the tri-state area. We are talking with promoters in Europe, Scandinavia & the US about setting up a tour. Our first CD, 'Mental Pollution' was on a Swedish label, Raw Power UK, and we toured Scandinavia to support it. The tours were very successful culminating with TANG performing at the Sweden Rock Fest.”

TANG:
Denny Colt - Guitar, keys & vocals
Bonnie Parker - Bass & vocals
Mark Edwards – Drums

To purchase TANG's “Blood & Sand”:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blood-sand/id978043771
http://www.tangnyc.com/merch

www.tangnyc.com
www.reverbnation.com/tangnyc
www.facebook.com/tangnycusa

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

Twisted Sister's Dee Snider Featured On New CD By Dual Female Fronted Power Trio TANG


“TANG Rocks!” - Dee Snider

NYC - One of the hottest releases of 2015 is undoubtedly the new album by dual female fronted alternative metal power trio TANG featuring a guest appearance by legendary Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider! Titled “Blood & Sand”, TANG's new CD features a duet with Dee Snider on the track “Reign of Blood”!

Says guitarist Denny Colt, “Bonnie knew Dee from back in the day when they both did the club circuit...I hooked up with Dee when I was in Van Helsing's Curse with him..so we have quite the connection. He's a really nice guy & did such a great job on the duet with Bonnie on 'Reign of Blood.'”

Hailing from New York, TANG features Bonnie Parker on Vox & Bass and Denny Colt on Vox, Lead Guitar & Keyboards, and have been trading phrases back and forth in their own ripping style since 1999. Mark Edwards, formerly of Criss Angel & Burning Star, now brings skull-splitting drum beats and a monster attitude. TANG has toured Europe, Canada and the US opening shows for such artists as Crucified Barbara, Girlschool, W.A.S.P., Dokken, Hammerfall, Helloween, Dee Snider, Symphony X and many, many other cool bands.

Denny played guitar, toured & recorded in Dee Snider's “Van Helsing’s Curse”, the gothic rock orchestra. Bonnie & Denny have currently played, toured & recorded, with Corky Laing from Mountain in his new band “Corky Laing & The Memory Thieves”. They are also working with Corky in Finland, writing, recording & performing on a rock opera called “Playing God” which was presented in Helsinki in 2014. The opera was presented in the US in April 2015 at Yale University & Hunter College.

“I love the total rock vibe of the new TANG CD! It’s real, it’s vital - it’s brilliant.” - Corky Laing

TANG is featured in the new Fred Carpenter film, “Charlie Mantle”, performing their song “Crashing”. The film debuted summer of 2014 and stars Armand Assante, Sean Young and Robert Funaro. Says Bonnie, “TANG was in the film performing the song in a Russian mob club as the lead character, Robert Funaro (of The Soprano's), is at the end of his dirty cop career & everything is 'crashing' down around him. Great concept by director Fred Carpenter!”

Watch TANG's new video:


Now much to the excitement of their fans worldwide, on September 1, 2015, TANG is releasing their new CD “Blood & Sand”!

Says Denny, “TANG is currently promoting the release of 'Blood & Sand' doing shows in the tri-state area. We are talking with promoters in Europe, Scandinavia & the US about setting up a tour. Our first CD, 'Mental Pollution' was on a Swedish label, Raw Power UK, and we toured Scandinavia to support it. The tours were very successful culminating with TANG performing at the Sweden Rock Fest.”

TANG:
Denny Colt - Guitar, keys & vocals
Bonnie Parker - Bass & vocals
Mark Edwards – Drums

To purchase TANG's “Blood & Sand”:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blood-sand/id978043771
http://www.tangnyc.com/merch

www.tangnyc.com
www.reverbnation.com/tangnyc
www.facebook.com/tangnycusa

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

1/15/2015

Classical/Heavy Metal Review: McCormick Percussion Group-Between Rock and A Hard Place

Release Date: January 13, 2015
Label: Ravello Records

The McCormick Percussion Group is headed up by Robert McCormick, who is the Director of the group and Corey Harvin plays guitar while Ciro Scotto, John Cage and Dan Senn are the composers. It is an interesting collaboration and the music they create on Between Rock and A Hard Place (Plugged & Unplugged) is fascinating.

The idea of classical music meeting heavy metal is nothing new however I felt listening to this purely instrumental take on that expression to be quite attention getting. The focus is more on the percussive side of the equation however, the use of the guitar and other instruments make for some thought provoking soundscapes, it’s like listening to a movie rather than watching it yet different things jump in and out of your mind while it’s playing.
The only track under 5 minutes is “Composition for Three Voices” then at the opposite end of the spectrum is “Unplugged” clocking in at a beefy 16:24. They never bite off more they can chew regardless of the time invested into any one track.

This is very progressive music, not progressive like legendary groundbreaking bands like Yes or ELP but with the same idea and goals of intermingling two genres to come out the other side with a digestible end product for the ears. The lead off track is titled  “ I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night” It is a good warm up for what is to come. It serves as a strong introduction for a suite of compositions that have you listening over and over at first out of curiosity then that turns into awe and pure enjoyment. This will not be for everyone but what progressive music is? It depends on your taste, mood and personal preferences, just like purchasing any other product, the choice is yours. I choose to explore and expand my listening experiences and this was the perfect album to engage my senses and push me forward, to be more progressive with my ears.

“II. On Death Ground” is a bit more moody and intense, kind of like the soundtrack you would hear during a suspenseful segment of a movie. It jumps back and forth and flows like an effortless stream down a mountain. Nothing sounds forced or difficult although it may sound like cacophony at times it does all come together and make sense but it may take a few listens to get to that point of understanding. This is why I feel the first three tracks are the most important. This is the foundation to the fortress of sound being built before the story coalesces then comes to an end.

“III. Onryõ” takes you down a different road and combines some lighter parts with the hard edged guitar sounds in a much different way in that the pace is like a musical stutter step. The percussive back end holds it all together and keeps a steady rhythm so everything else seems to fall into place somehow. Trying to explain what you hear is not always the easiest thing to do but in the end it’s all dependent on the listeners view and personal aural filter if you will.

If you like progressive, fusion, experimental and or metal this is something you need to hear then decide for yourself if it is something you want more of or if the journey should be over after one trip. I took more than one trip and expect to take some more. There is a lot to process here and that is the beauty of it. 

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night, II. On Death Ground, III. Onryõ

Tracks:
 

1. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night”  (Ciro Scotto)
2. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “II. On Death Ground”  (Scotto)
3. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “III. Onryõ  (Scotto)
4. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “IV: Mjölnir (Crusher)”  (Scotto)
5. Five  (John Cage)
6. Rivus  (Dan Senn)
7. Between Rock and a Hard Place-Unplugged  (Ciro Scotto)
8.Compositions for 3 Voices  (John Cage)


Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

January 15, 2015

Review Provided By Write A Music 
 

Classical/Heavy Metal Review: McCormick Percussion Group-Between Rock and A Hard Place

Release Date: January 13, 2015
Label: Ravello Records

The McCormick Percussion Group is headed up by Robert McCormick, who is the Director of the group and Corey Harvin plays guitar while Ciro Scotto, John Cage and Dan Senn are the composers. It is an interesting collaboration and the music they create on Between Rock and A Hard Place (Plugged & Unplugged) is fascinating.

The idea of classical music meeting heavy metal is nothing new however I felt listening to this purely instrumental take on that expression to be quite attention getting. The focus is more on the percussive side of the equation however, the use of the guitar and other instruments make for some thought provoking soundscapes, it’s like listening to a movie rather than watching it yet different things jump in and out of your mind while it’s playing.
The only track under 5 minutes is “Composition for Three Voices” then at the opposite end of the spectrum is “Unplugged” clocking in at a beefy 16:24. They never bite off more they can chew regardless of the time invested into any one track.

This is very progressive music, not progressive like legendary groundbreaking bands like Yes or ELP but with the same idea and goals of intermingling two genres to come out the other side with a digestible end product for the ears. The lead off track is titled  “ I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night” It is a good warm up for what is to come. It serves as a strong introduction for a suite of compositions that have you listening over and over at first out of curiosity then that turns into awe and pure enjoyment. This will not be for everyone but what progressive music is? It depends on your taste, mood and personal preferences, just like purchasing any other product, the choice is yours. I choose to explore and expand my listening experiences and this was the perfect album to engage my senses and push me forward, to be more progressive with my ears.

“II. On Death Ground” is a bit more moody and intense, kind of like the soundtrack you would hear during a suspenseful segment of a movie. It jumps back and forth and flows like an effortless stream down a mountain. Nothing sounds forced or difficult although it may sound like cacophony at times it does all come together and make sense but it may take a few listens to get to that point of understanding. This is why I feel the first three tracks are the most important. This is the foundation to the fortress of sound being built before the story coalesces then comes to an end.

“III. Onryõ” takes you down a different road and combines some lighter parts with the hard edged guitar sounds in a much different way in that the pace is like a musical stutter step. The percussive back end holds it all together and keeps a steady rhythm so everything else seems to fall into place somehow. Trying to explain what you hear is not always the easiest thing to do but in the end it’s all dependent on the listeners view and personal aural filter if you will.

If you like progressive, fusion, experimental and or metal this is something you need to hear then decide for yourself if it is something you want more of or if the journey should be over after one trip. I took more than one trip and expect to take some more. There is a lot to process here and that is the beauty of it. 

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night, II. On Death Ground, III. Onryõ

Tracks:
 

1. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “I. Hard Light-Hybrid Night”  (Ciro Scotto)
2. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “II. On Death Ground”  (Scotto)
3. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “III. Onryõ  (Scotto)
4. Between Rock and a Hard Place: “IV: Mjölnir (Crusher)”  (Scotto)
5. Five  (John Cage)
6. Rivus  (Dan Senn)
7. Between Rock and a Hard Place-Unplugged  (Ciro Scotto)
8.Compositions for 3 Voices  (John Cage)


Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

January 15, 2015

Review Provided By Write A Music 
 

1/12/2015

Featured Track: McCormick Percussion Group-Between Rock and a Hard Place I-Hard Light-Hybrid Night


The McCormick Percussion Group is an intriguing prospect for music enthusiasts looking for something different and challenging. The featured track is "Between Rock and a Hard Place I-Hard Light-Hybrid Night." 

It's where classical meets heavy metal and although it is very percussive in nature I think that metal fans will find interest in hearing this interesting composition. It clocks in at just over nine minutes.

The intent is clear here, to present classical music with a different twist to garner interest from a large cross section of listeners. That mission is accomplished and the track will challenge and inspire aspiring and expereinced musicians alike.

Give it a good listen and judge for yourself!



More About The McCormick Percussion Group:

htmlhttp://mb3creative.com/mccormick/McCormickPercussionGroup/McCormickPercussionGroup/About_Me.html


The McCormick Percussion Group was formed for the purpose of recording new classical music in the percussion ensemble idiom.  The  McCormick Percussion Group has received world wide recognition in Fanfare Magazine, Gramophone, American Record Guide and other leading journals. They have recorded over 2 dozen CDs, many available on Capstone Records and Ravello Records. (Ravello is distributed by Naxos)  Their latest CD on Ravello Records (published 2014) titled: Soli for Soprano with Percussion Orchestra (with Jamie Jordan) received three Global Music Awards! Many of our CD’s are also available on iTunes and major internet sites. Often our CD’s feature well known non-percussion artists  to provide the best available contemporary literature at the highest performance level. The McCormick Percussion Group uses Grover Pro Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals and Encore Mallets. Please contact us for a list of CD’s and upcoming projects.

Percussionist and conductor Robert McCormick is a Professor of Music at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He has won many awards for his teaching and percussion composition.  He served as Principal Percussionist of the Florida Orchestra for 20 seasons, and is a former member of the Harry Partch Ensemble. He is also a member of the McCormick Duo, a well known flute/percussion chamber group.  Bob is available for concerts as conductor, percussionist or clinician. His email: bobpodrum@gmail.com


Featured Track: McCormick Percussion Group-Between Rock and a Hard Place I-Hard Light-Hybrid Night


The McCormick Percussion Group is an intriguing prospect for music enthusiasts looking for something different and challenging. The featured track is "Between Rock and a Hard Place I-Hard Light-Hybrid Night." 

It's where classical meets heavy metal and although it is very percussive in nature I think that metal fans will find interest in hearing this interesting composition. It clocks in at just over nine minutes.

The intent is clear here, to present classical music with a different twist to garner interest from a large cross section of listeners. That mission is accomplished and the track will challenge and inspire aspiring and expereinced musicians alike.

Give it a good listen and judge for yourself!



More About The McCormick Percussion Group:

htmlhttp://mb3creative.com/mccormick/McCormickPercussionGroup/McCormickPercussionGroup/About_Me.html


The McCormick Percussion Group was formed for the purpose of recording new classical music in the percussion ensemble idiom.  The  McCormick Percussion Group has received world wide recognition in Fanfare Magazine, Gramophone, American Record Guide and other leading journals. They have recorded over 2 dozen CDs, many available on Capstone Records and Ravello Records. (Ravello is distributed by Naxos)  Their latest CD on Ravello Records (published 2014) titled: Soli for Soprano with Percussion Orchestra (with Jamie Jordan) received three Global Music Awards! Many of our CD’s are also available on iTunes and major internet sites. Often our CD’s feature well known non-percussion artists  to provide the best available contemporary literature at the highest performance level. The McCormick Percussion Group uses Grover Pro Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals and Encore Mallets. Please contact us for a list of CD’s and upcoming projects.

Percussionist and conductor Robert McCormick is a Professor of Music at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He has won many awards for his teaching and percussion composition.  He served as Principal Percussionist of the Florida Orchestra for 20 seasons, and is a former member of the Harry Partch Ensemble. He is also a member of the McCormick Duo, a well known flute/percussion chamber group.  Bob is available for concerts as conductor, percussionist or clinician. His email: bobpodrum@gmail.com


10/18/2014

Judas Priest In Concert At The Tsongas Center At UMass Lowell

Judas Priest In Concert At The Tsongas Center At UMass Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts

October 14, 2014



Priest, Priest, Priest…the familiar battle cry from an anxious crowd rings true whenever you attend one of their classic heavy metal concerts. This is the third time I have attended a Judas Priest concert over the last nine years. I can honestly say that every show was fantastic and the band has not lost a step in presenting the old and the new tracks from their enormous catalog.


This tour celebrates their recent release Redeemer of Souls album. After checking out their previous set lists I could see a definite pattern and knew what to expect. So much for expectations…what happened was they decided to mix it all up and provide a hungry audience with a diverse set list spanning the last 40 years of heavy metal. It was a nice surprise to hear songs I never expected to.


The warm up band Steel Panther kicked things off with their over the top “porn rock,” for lack of a better term. I was a bit surprised that Judas Priest would have a band like that open for them. I fail to see the connection to their music as there is a lot more to it than it being just metal. They are talented musicians but their lyrics and in between song banter I could do without. I was glad to see them leave the stage.


The traditional pre-concert song “War Pigs” only ran for a few minutes, not the usual full length before we could hear the Judas Priest guitars bursting out of the speakers. A huge curtain covered the stage while the band played and then it eventually dropped as they got the crowd into a metal fanatic frenzy with “Battle Cry.” 

I was a bit surprised at the subpar turn out for this show. I expected a packed house however there were many empty seats around the venue and even more surprising were the gaps on the main floor where all the head bangers reside. We sat to the left of the stage looking down with an excellent view of all the proceedings.

“Dragonaut” introduced their new material in a live setting and it sounded fantastic as anyone would expect from a seasoned band. Richie Faulkner has stepped up to become the featured guitar player (in place of K.K. Downing) and his youthful energy is like a rock double cappuccino to get your blood pumping. His guitar playing is excellent and Glen Tipton seems to feed of that energy as they do the call and answer guitar licks throughout a show. 


What can one say about Rob Halford?  It is beyond my comprehension how the man continues to sing like he does. His patented screams are legendary and as the night wore on I never heard him falter once, not even after repeated screams within one song. Who would have thought he would still have these abilities at 63 years old? He is a true star and phenomena of the metal scene.


As these heavy metal gods made their way through an impressive range of songs it reached a fever pitch between the audience and band. With Halford stalking the stage from side to side and Faulkner egging everyone on to clap in unison, it was a true team effort as band and audience became one huge wall of sound. It’s a beautiful thing to witness if you are a metal fan.


Old favorites such as “Hell Bent for Leather” and “Breaking the Law” drove everyone crazy with excitement and glee prompting those in attendance to sing along as requested by Mr. Halford. It was great fun and those are can’t miss numbers on any night. The song selection was excellent and well presented as I would have expected from this great band. It was well worth the trip for this music fan.


Halford and this band show no signs of slowing down at this point and that is good news for heavy metal fans worldwide. They are the keepers of the flame right now and continue to burn bright as ever.


Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Founder of Write A Music Review, Rate The Tracks, Prog  Rock Music Talk and New Age Music Reviews



9/15/2014

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. 
 

8/23/2014

Heavy Metal Review: Judas Priest-Redeemer of Souls

Release Date: July 8, 2014
Label: Epic

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



5/06/2014

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

3/14/2014

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