Reviews

Artist: King Buzzo featuring Trevor Dunn Album: Gift Of Sacrifice Genre: Alternative Rock Label: Ipecac Release Date: August 14, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron   Review: Wow! This is a really cool acoustic album from King Buzzo of the Melvins with vocals by Mr. Bungle's Trevor Dunn, who also plays in Fantômas and with the Melvins as Melvins Lite. It's strange, dark, and moody reflecting our current times and brilliantly done.  The jangly acoustic styling gives this a creepiness that is also somehow reassuring and comfortable at the same time. Standout tracks for me are "Housing, Luxury, Energy", the folksy "Delayed Clarity", Science In Modern America, and I'm Glad I Could Help Out, which I can only describe as a song that should be featured...

Well, I have to hand it to Udo Dirkschneider.  He's managed to create a totally unique concept in metal music after being in the business for over 40 years!  So a lot of metal bands have tried making albums with an orchestra backing them, but Udo has the full concert band of the German armed forces backing him up here.  I'm not going to lie to you.  When I heard about the concept of this album, I though it sounded like a horrible idea.  But color me wrong.  Udo pulls this off and it's actually quite interesting.  It has a sense of charm to it while still being full on metal at the same time.  Not only is this a complete surprise to me, but...

Review: After the band released their first single "Criminal Masterminds" several months ago, I have been eagerly awaiting this release. The album kicks off with the title track which is a high energy rocker with a melodic chorus.  It's a great track to start off the album and it's also one of the stand out tracks.  However, nothing on this album is better than "Criminal Masterminds".  It's simply a modern classic and one of the best hair metal anthems that I've heard in years. It's worth the price of admission (or the price of the album) just to get "Criminal Masterminds".  The band slows it down a little with the beginning of "No Matter", but it kicks it up and rocks hard as it builds....

Artist: Pretty Maids Album: Maid In Japan - Back To Futureworld Genre: Melodic Metal / Hard Rock Label: Frontiers Music Srl. Release Date: May 22, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: The Pretty Maids prove that they still have it with this live release more than 30 years after their iconic Future World album was released.  This is simply an incredible live performance from start to finish as the band plays the entire Future World album in its entirety,  plus a set of extra songs that showcase the bands' later songs.  Future World was the album that made me originally take notice of Pretty Maids.  Afterward, I was hooked as a fan and bought all of the band's previous albums and have continued to purchase...

Artist: Triptykon Album: Requiem (Live At Roadburn 2019) featuring The Metropole Orkes Genre: Metal Label: Century Media Release Date: May 15, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Thomas Gabriel Fischer is one of the few metal performers that can make a project like this work.  The former Celtic Frost frontman has unleashed his vision that has been 30 years in the making and it is incredibly haunting and beautiful at the same time.  I'll be the first one to admit that avant-garde metal is not everyone's thing.  Truthfully, it's not my thing very often, but this live album is on a whole other level.   Its metal, it's gothic and it's brilliant.  Imagine if Pink Floyd did a gothic metal opera and you're getting close to...

Artist: Lucifer Album: III Genre: Label: Century Media Release Date: March 20, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Imagine the late 70's, early 80's Heart made a pact with the devil himself.  Now add a little bit of Black Sabbath to that sound and a little dash of traditional heavy metal in the mix and you've got a formula that's really damn close to the band Lucifer.  I can't get over how much fun this album is to listen to.  The beautiful vocals of Johanna Sadonis set over the top of a gritty, down and dirty rock soundtrack that perfectly complements one another.   This album is seriously contagious and I absolutely love it!  The album is damn near perfect from start to finish and has...

Artist: Cherie Currie Album: Blvds Of Splendor Genre: Rock / Hard Rock Label: BLACKHEART RECORDS Release Date: April 28, 2020 Reviewed by: Angel Alamo Review: Former Runaways singer Cherie Currie is back with a new album Blvds of splendor. The album which will be released on April 28, 2020, via Blackheart Records showcases a surprise mix of heavy rock songs and blues style songs on the record that showcases how diverse the record is. The album was produced by former Guns N Roses/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum who did an amazing job in making Blvds of splendor one of the best new albums. This is one of those albums that takes you on a musical journey where every song is important. In the age of...

Artist: Bleed From Within Album: Fracture Genre: Modern Metal Label: Century Media Release Date: May 29, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Hailing from Scotland, Bleed From Within have returned with a powerful album and sound that's anything but fractured.  Starting out with the first single, "The End Of All We Know", the band is here to prove that there is plenty of room left for great metal bands in the modern era. "The End Of All We Know" already has over 3.3 million streams on Spotify and with good reason.  If this song doesn't get your blood pumping, nothing will.  As we move through the album, it continues its brutal assault on your senses and demands that you pay attention. Songs like "Pathfinder", "Into...

Artist: Hellgarden Album: Making Noise, Living Fast Genre: Metal Label: Brutal Records Release Date: April 10, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: This really caught me off guard.  Why? Because it's so damn good compared to most of the stuff that I've heard recently.  These guys sound like the closest thing you're likely to hear to a second coming of the mighty Pantera.  Not a straight rip off of Pantera, but with some similarities in sound and seriously raw and brutal metal.  The title is as awesome as the songs on the album Making Noise, Living Fast.  It explains what they're all about it a single line.  I love the passion these guys are bringing to their sound and with song titles like "Spit On...

Artist: Dio Album: The Studio Collection 1996-2004 Genre: Metal Label: BMG/Niji Release Date: March 20, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: The late great Ronnie James Dio is now a legendary figure in the Heavy Metal genre.  His untimely death in 2010 from stomach cancer was a loss that was felt worldwide in the metal community.  Listening to these newly remastered albums, it's easy to see why he's considered one of the most important figures in heavy rock history.  The sound quality of these albums is really top-notch. Being a huge fan of Dio's work, I already had the original versions of these albums, but the remastered sound is really great.  But for me, the bonus material was the main point of interest.  Being a...

Artist: Ross The Boss Album: Born Of Fire Genre: Metal Label: AFM Records Release Date: March 6, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: It's refreshing these days, to hear an album of full-on, raw, metal music in all of its glory.  That's exactly what you get with the latest album "Born Of Fire" by Ross The Boss.  Ross Friedman has a special place in both metal and punk history as one of the founding members of both Manowar and The Dictators.  Throughout his career, whether it be more punk based or metal sounding, he's brought the blazing guitar sound that fueled the fire for these bands.  Starting with the opening song "Glory To The Slain", which I find similar in style to metal thrashers Overkill,...

Artist: Neaera Album: Neaera Genre: Metal Label: Metal Blade Records Release Date: February 28, 2020 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Brutality unleashed! That's what the latest album by Neaera is like. I for one, love it.  The blackened metal style vocals over the furious sounding drums and ripping guitar and bass make this album a metal masterpiece.  While the guys have been AWOL for a while on the scene, they've returned bolder and better than ever before.  I was lulled into a false sense of questioning with the opening instrumental track, but all of my questions were soon answered when "Catalyst" starts to really open the record and practically rip the skin from the face of the listener. I simply can't put into words how...

Review: So, none other than the Prince Of Darkness himself has returned with a brand new solo album called "Ordinary Man".  Pay close attention to the title... because it does an adequate job of describing a lot of the songs on this album.  "Ordinary" is what I'd call most of this album.  That's really unfortunate for me because I've always been a big fan of Ozzy's solo work as well as the legendary Black Sabbath. The album starts off fairly strong with "Straight To Hell".  It's a solid rocker that embodies a lot of what we've come to expect from Ozzy's sound.  Slash adds some nice guitar work to push it over the top. However, on the rest of the album, as good as Andrew...

Review: Most of you will know lead vocalist Zak Stevens from his stint with Savatage. And those same fans should be right at home with "Archon Angel".  Yes, there is a lot of similarity to the later work of the mighty Savatage, but it also treads new ground.  I simply can't get enough of the song "The Serpent", which is the second track on the album.  The drumbeat is heavy and uncompromising with a guitar sound that adds a menacing element. While it's definitely my favorite track on Fallen, there are lots of great songs to choose from. For instance, the song "Fallen" has a really memorable sound and lyrically is just as appealing.  Other standout tracks include "Hit The Wall", "Under The Spell", Twilight...

H.E.A.T are one of the finest melodic rock bands to have come out of Scandinavia. It was way back in 2012 when the talented Swedes released their third album, Address The Nation, their first with singer Erik Grönwall. ATN took the genre by storm and still stands in my opinion as one of the best of its kind. After follow-up, Tearing Down The Walls, the band released Into The Great Unknown in 2017 which had a different feel and is widely regarded as H.E.A.T's most controversial release. Now the band are back, returning to their roots and set to unleash H.E.A.T II. Picture: Steven Christie I’m never a fan of long albums, it often signals filler material, so I was pleased to see that H.E.A.T II...

Artist: Edge Of Paradise Album: Universe Genre: Melodic Metal Label: Frontiers Music Srl. Release Date: November 8, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Edge Of Paradise continues to impress with their latest release entitled "Universe".  I've had the opportunity to watch the band move up the ranks from being an unknown independent band to gaining serious notoriety by charting on iTunes, Billboard and Amazon Music.  Singer Margarita Monet has a powerful yet gentle sounding voice.  With "Universe" the band expand on what they have done in the past and move into the same modern metal territory as Halestorm, Within Temptation and In This Moment. This album features a little more electronic sounds and industrial style keyboards than previous albums, but never loses the heaviness or...

Artist: The Dark Element Album: Songs the Night Sings Genre: Symphonic Metal Label: Frontiers Music Srl. Release Date: November 8, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Sweeping and epic, The Dark Element has returned with a brilliant new album called "Songs The Night Sings".  Anette Olzon's vocals are as beautiful as ever and Jani Liimatainen has some incredible blazing guitar solos throughout. Musically, these songs are really strong and lyrically they are the equivalent of brilliant story-telling.  This time out the band has a really mature sound and it's easy to tell that they were riding an incredible wave of creativity throughout the recording process.  The title track is simply outstanding, but to be perfectly honest, I was completely hooked after "Not Your Monster", the...

Artist: Pretty Maids Album: Undress Your Madness Genre: Melodic Metal Label: Frontier Music Srl. Release Date: November 8, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: The Pretty Maids have been making consistently great albums for several decades now.  Their latest, "Undress Your Madness" is no exception to that rule.  Reviewing this album is bittersweet though because lead vocalist, Ronnie Atkins recently announced that he had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer.  According to a statement by Ronnie, his prognosis is good and I certainly wish him well in battling this illness. It certainly did not affect his vocals on this album, as his voice sounds stronger than ever.  While Pretty Maids have always been one of those bands that should have seen a much larger audience, they...

Artist: Tyketto Album: Strength In Numbers Live Genre: Hard Rock \ Melodic Metal Label: Frontiers Music Srl. Release Date: November 8, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Strength In Numbers is one of Tyketto's best albums so it only makes sense to cover it live.  And though Tyketto fans may be familiar with the studio album, there is something to be said for this energized live performance.  The production quality of this live concert is outstanding, which really matters to me. When I'm listening to an album, live or studio, I want it to sound great.  Tyketto has a great interaction with the audience introducing the songs and giving a little history about them along the way.  Strangely enough, the live album tracklist is not...

Artist: 7 Miles To Pittsburgh Album: Revolution On Hold Genre: Hard Rock / Melodic Metal Label: A67 Records Release Date: October 19, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron   Review: So if you've ever wondered what happened to Andrew Elt, the lead singer for Sleeze Beez....wonder no more.  While this is the second album for 7 Miles To Pittsburgh, it's my first exposure to the band.  I am actually quite a fan of Elt's former band.  Sleeze Beez came into the mainstream at what could be only called the very end of the sunset strip/hair metal hard rock scene.  They scored a big hit with the single "Stranger Than Paradise" on their 1990 album "Screwed, Blued, and Tattooed", in part thanks to a heavy rotation of...

Artist: Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper Album: At The Gates Genre: Metal Label: Dissonance Productions Release Date: November 1, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper has returned with a fantastic follow up to "Walking In The Shadows".  For those unaware, Steve Grimmett battled through some very serious health issues after the last album was released, which ultimately resulted in the amputation of one of Steve's legs.  Opening with the title track "At The Gates", which references the gates of Hell, is a triumphant return for both the band and personally for Steve Grimmett following his life-threatening health scare.  The entire album is filled with great classic sounding metal songs that continue to delight and do justice to the Grim Reaper name and...

Artist: Airbourne Album: Boneshaker Genre: Hard Rock \ Metal Label: Spinefarm Records Release Date: October 25, 2019 Review by: Bobby Caughron   Review: Airbourne has returned with another spectacular album, filled with the sweaty, alcohol-soaked sound that we've all come to expect.  If you're not familiar with Airbourne, where the hell have you been?  These Aussie guys don't mess around and get right to the point with this straight-forward rock album called "Boneshaker".  Although people often compare their sound to that of another Australian band, AC/DC, Airbourne have been doing this long enough to claim their own stake in the rock-n' roll game.  Make no mistake, "Boneshaker" is a top-notch, nitro-fueled rock n' roll rollercoaster ride from the opening riff.  This is exactly what I...

Review: BlackRain channels the best of the 1980's hair metal style with their debut album, "Dying Breed".  The vocals are often reminiscent of W.A.S.P. singer, Blackie Lawless and musically it's a mixed bag of influences of everyone from Kix to Motley Crue.  Basically, they sound a lot like everyone from the 80's Sunset Strip scene without really sounding like a rip off of any one of them.  The songs are catchy as hell while covering the spectrum lyrically that you would expect with this type of music.  These guys have done their homework and have a really great retro feel that transports back to the time of hair metal greatness.  The title track is a great opener and it puts the bands' talents on full...

Artist: Blacktop Mojo Album: Under The Sun Genre: Hard Rock Label: Cuhmon RecordsRelease Date: September 13, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron Review: Texas rockers Blacktop Mojo have returned with their third album, entitled "Under The Sun".  The band shows a much more mature side with this album.  The band sounds tighter, leaner and meaner than their last outing, which coincidentally, I thoroughly enjoyed.  It seems the members have defined their sound and developed stronger chemistry as a cohesive unit over the last two years.  Tracks like the infectious "Lay It On Me", It Won't Last"  and "Can't Sleep" make "Under The Sun" an outstanding rock album that should tear the charts on active rock radio.  I caught the band on tour last year and their...

  Review: To say that I'm blown away by KXM's new album "Circle Of Dolls" is an understatement.  Each album by the band has shown a musical progression and the willingness to take chances.  But this new album is simply the best of the output to date.  From the first few notes of "War Of Words," you know this one is going to be a banger.  Hell, why shouldn't it be?  The combined members of the band have had phenomenal success with their respective bands.  I mean, come on, you've got one of the best living rock guitarists in the world with George Lynch, an incredible bassist, and vocalist with King's X's Dug Pinnick and Korn's hard-hitting drummer, Ray Luzier. Anytime that you bring musicians...

Review: Liv Sin, featuring the former vocalist for "Sister Sin" has come out swinging with their sophomore album "Burning Sermons".   Wasting no time, "Blood Moon Forever" kicks it all off with an in-your-face, full-on metal track with a catchy chorus.  If you were a fan of Sister Sin, this album will remind why you were.  While I thoroughly enjoyed Liv Sin's debut album, this one is absolutely spectacular and far superior in every way.  One reason is that the band sounds like they now have real chemistry, playing together.  The sound is tight and heavy, which has provided both whiplash beats and catchy melodic musical phrases that allow Liv Jagrell to really give these songs the star treatment.  You'll find riffs that would make Judas...

Review: The Black Star Riders have done it again and might I say, even better this time around. With their new album "Another State Of Grace" the band are firing on all cylinders.  And let's be honest, if you're a Thin Lizzy fan, this is right line with the rest of their outstanding discography, as well.  Ricky Warwick's vocals are incredible and powerful throughout this whole album.  These songs have all of the energy, plus a lot of heartfelt emotion in the lyrical content.  One song that's bound to be controversial, depending on your political leanings, is "Why Do You Love Your Guns?"  It's an emotionally charged song that's timing is more than relevant, considering the number of recent mass shootings in the U.S. lately. ...

Artist: Death Angel Album: Humanicide Genre: Metal Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: May 31, 2019 Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron   Review: If the new Death Angel album Humanicide was your opponent in a boxing match, you'd be pummelled into unconsciousness before you even knew what happened.  This an exceptional dark, brutal outing that demands to be heard.  Aggressive doesn't even begin to cover the tone of this album. Death Angel goes straight for the kill with the opening song and title track 'Humanicide".  If this isn't a modern day thrash metal masterpiece I don't know what would be. This album is all the proof you'll ever need to prove that metal is alive and well.  I absolutely love this album!  With standout tracks like...

Artist: Whitesnake Album: Flesh & Blood Genre: Hard Rock / Classic Metal Label: Frontiers Music Srl. Release Date: May 10, 2019 Review By: Bobby Caughron   Review: It seems like it's been an incredibly long wait for an album of new material from Whitesnake.  While their last release 2015's "The Purple Album" wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it also felt more like a David Coverdale solo album, with David paying homage to his past with the almighty Deep Purple. Flash forward four years and Whitesnake has blasted back into action with an incredible new album called"Flesh & Blood".  When I heard the first single "Shut Up And Kiss Me", I was intrigued.  It was only after hearing "Trouble Is Your Middle Name" did I start...

Review: Extra! Extra! Read all about it....The latest news headlines should read Stephen Pearcy releases great new Ratt album, on his own!  Why? Because the material on Pearcy's latest release "View To A Thrill" sounds so much like Ratt, that only the names differentiates them.  Yeah, I know....A bunch of you are going to jump in and say it's not Ratt without Warren, Juan or Bobby performing.  But, I'm going to argue otherwise.  First of all, Stephen Pearcy is Ratt! I love the original band and the new breed of Ratt sounds really good as well, but nothing sounds like the Ratt sound without Pearcy on vocals.  Oh sure, the other band members tried to replace Pearcy with Jizzy Pearl once, but let's be honest,...