Album Reviews

[Jitway]

Can a Mod pin this thread. I would like to review some albums and would like to keep them in one place instead of starting a new thread each time. Much thanks appreciated.

[BlackKnight]

Just testing the waters here- would sub-sections in Reviews & Rants dedicated to music / non-games reviews be something people would be willing to contribute to?

[Skythe]

I think a thread on each album reviewed would be alot better and benificial.

[Jitway]

This is my first album review of Metal and Rock albums. There will be many to follow and if you want another genre of album reviewed just pm that album and I will try to review it.

 

Avantasia - Scarecrow

Release Date January 25th 2008

 

 

Here is a wikipedia page of Avantasia if you are not familiar with them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avantasia

 

1 Twisted Mind (6:14) - Tobias Sammet, Roy Khan (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitar)

2 The Scarecrow (11:12) - Tobias Sammet, Jorn Lande (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitars)

3 Shelter From The Rain (6:09) - Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Henjo Richter, Kai Hansen (lead guitars)

4 Carry Me Over (3:52) - Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitar)

5 What Kind Of Love (4:56) - Amanda Somerville, Michael Kiske, Tobias Sammet (vocals)

6 Another Angel Down (5:41) - Jorn Lande, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth, Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

7 The Toy Master (6:21) - Alice Cooper, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth, Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

8 Devil In The Belfry (4:42) - Jorn Lande, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

9 Cry Just A Little (5:15) - Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitars)

10 I Don’t Believe In Your Love (5:34) - Oliver Hartmann, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Rudolph Schenker (lead guitar)

11 Lost In Space (3:53) - Tobias Sammet, Amanda Somerville(vocals)

 

When Tobias Sammeth announced that he had been working on a new Avantasia album again after five years, he shook the metal world awake and immediately drew everyone's attention to himself. With 'The Metal Opera' he released two fantastic power metal albums with vocal contribution of giants like Kai Hanse, David DeFeis and Rob Rock and the press and the fans all over the world received this project with open arms. So the first question regarding the new Avantasia was if Tobi would succeed in making an album of the same level, let alone make a better one.

 

Well what do you know? The new Avantasia album is a fact and goddamn, WHAT AN ALBUM IT HAS BECOME!!! From the very first tunes of the opening track 'Twisted Mind' you find yourself on the edge of your chair and stay there for the coming 64 minutes. The song starts rocking almost immediately and has everything that makes Avantasia so special: powerful riffing, beautiful melodies, beautiful singing, excellent arrangements, catchy choruses, clear and powerful production and especially the genius combination of it all. The following title track is an absolute breath taker. The song starts with a magnificent Celtic intro and grows into a diverse and expansive masterpiece and grabs you by the throat from the beginning to the end. I can easily name any other song on the album, because the eleven compositions are all of the same high quality and are piece for piece musical treasures.

 

This album is almost totally different than 'The Metal Opera' and is fortunately not a typical power metal album; something that 'The Metal Opera' was a bit. This time Tobi has chose for a more traditional rock approach. Of course the power metal influences are still present, but in general the music has become more progressive and to the point at the same time with a Celtic and even a bit oriental touch from time to time. The vocal contributions of Jorn Lande, Kain Hanse, Michael Kiske and Bob Catly among others should not stay unmentioned and see to a high dosage of goose bumps regularly. But one of the most remarkable singers on this album has to be Alice Cooper, who put his stamp on 'The Toy Master', a role that no other could have done. Musically Tobi had help from Sascha Paeth (a.o. known from Luca Turilli and Aina), who has taken the guitars for his part and none less than Eric Singer (Alice Cooper, Kiss) on the drums. Besides that, Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions) has also played a couple of solos.

 

With 'The Scarecrow' Tobi has made a musical treasure and masterpiece, which will blow away all the doubts with a single shot. The album has become quite different than what we are used fro this musical genius, but is from the same high quality and in my opinion from an even higher quality. The new year has just begun and I already have a candidate for my top five, because I can't honestly believe that were will be many releases this year that will top this!

 

This is a much have to listen to album to appreciate it fully and has many talented musicans on it.

 

Current line-up:

 

Tobias Sammet - Vocals, Keys, Orchestration, Bass (Edguy, Nuclear Blast Allstars)

Sascha Paeth - Rhythm Guitar (Heavens Gate, Luca Turilli, Virgo (Matos/Paeth), Redkey, Luca Turilli's Dreamquest, Rhapsody (Session), Aina)

Eric Singer - Drums (Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Stream (US), KISS)

 

Guest musicians:

 

Vocals:

Michael Kiske (The Metal Opera I & II, The Scarecrow) (Helloween, ex-Ill Prophecy)

David DeFeis (The Metal Opera I & II) (Burning Starr, Exorcist (US), Virgin Steele)

Ralf Zdiarstek (The Metal Opera I & II) (Amitav)

Sharon den Adel (The Metal Opera I & II) (Within Temptation, Voyage (Guest), Orphanage (Guest), Delain (Guest))

Rob Rock (The Metal Opera I & II) (ex-Angelica, Axel Rudi Pell, Driver, Impellitteri, Joshua, M.A.R.S., Warrior (US))

Oliver Hartmann (The Metal Opera I & II, The Scarecrow) (At Vance, Empty Tremor)

Andrй Matos (The Metal Opera I & II) (Angra, Looking-Glass-Self, Shaman (Bra), Viper (Bra), Virgo (Matos/Paeth))

Kai Hansen (The Metal Opera I & II) (Gamma Ray, Helloween, Iron Fist (Ger), Iron Savior)

Timo Tolkki (The Metal Opera I & II) (Stratovarius)

Bob Catley (The Metal Opera II & The Scarecrow) (Magnum)

Alice Cooper (The Toy Master)

Amanda Somerville (The Scarecrow) (Aina)

Jшrn Lande (The Scarecrow) (Allen / Lande, Ark, Beyond Twilight, Masterplan, Mundanus Imperium, Vagabond (Nor), Wild Willy's Gang, Yngwie J. Malmsteen)

Roy Khan (The Scarecrow) (Conception, Kamelot)

 

Guitars:

Norman Meiritz (The Metal Opera I & II)

Timo Tolkki (The Metal Opera II) (Stratovarius)

Kai Hansen (The Scarecrow) (Gamma Ray, Helloween, Iron Fist (Ger), Iron Savior)

Rudolph Schenker (The Scarecrow) (Scorpions)

 

Give it a listen too you will not be sorry you did.

 

And thanks GC for finally pinning this thread.

Edited January 12, 2008 by Jitway

[GodPigeon]

Im going to Review Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool" Soon.

[Devia Eleven]

Im going to Review Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool" Soon.

 

Looking forward to it, better be good..

[Lucandrake]

Im going to Review Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool" Soon.

 

You better not kill it or I will kill you.

[Wizard]

Should of just put up a different thread for your review jit.

 

Speaking of which, The Good, The Bad and The Queen's selftitled shall be reviewed in a few days time.

[Jitway]

Sebastian Bach's Angel Down

 

 

The Former Frontman of Skid Row releases a new solo album.

Release date 11/20/2007

 

For those who do not know who Sebastian Bach is here is a link to wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Bach

 

1. Angel Down

2. You Don't Understand

3. Back In the Saddle

4. (Love Is) A Bitchslap

5. Stuck Inside

6. American Metalhead

7. Negative Light

8. Live & Die

9. By Your Side

10.Our Love Is A Lie

11.Take You Down With Me

12.Stabbin' Daggers

13.You Bring Me Down

14.Falling Into You

 

Coming into this, I was very skeptical. Sebastian Bach has done a lot lately that has made me question my love for him.

 

The anticipation for VH1's Super Group was almost too much for me to take when it first aired. I had heard countless rumors about Sebastian being a jerk, a diva, and a douchebag, so I was depending on this show to prove all the nay sayers wrong. No one could possibly be a bigger jerk than Ted Nugent...could they? Unfortunately, Sebastian fulfilled every word of those rumors. I hope and pray that it was bad editing on VH1's part that made him look so ridiculous, but it was one of the most heartbreaking moments in my life. Sounds silly, I know, but Skid Row and Sebastian Bach are my idols and one of my all-time favorite bands. It sucks to find out that your idols aren't as cool as you thought they would be.

 

Then Sebastian went on to do MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar. Why don't you just put another knife in my heart and twist it around? I couldn't even bring myself to watch that show, not one single episode. Although I did hear that Sebastian actually did pretty well, for some reason, that was no consolation to me. I understand that he probably did all this for money and to promote his new album (and I'm sure it worked), but it still sucks.

 

All of this was foreshadowed by his first solo album, Bring'em Bach Alive. I stole a copy of it from a local college radio station a few years ago. As much as I hate to say it, I'm glad I didn't waste any money on it. It was terrible. Not only were his new songs bad, but he shoved quite a few Skid Row songs on the album. If I wanted to hear Skid Row, I'd throw one of their CD's in, but I wanted to hear new, solo Sebastian Bach. That's not what I got at all. The quality of the photos on the CD were terrible as well; it looked like the band put on costumes, ran outside in Sebastian's back yard, and had someone snap a picture of them with a disposable camera.

 

 

So needless to say, I wasn't expecting much from Angel Down.

 

 

Luckily, I happened to catch Sebastian on my local radio station last week. I think he was doing a radio tour to help promote the album. Thankfully, he came off sounding like the old Sebastian that I had enshrined in my head: funny, thoughtful, and charismatic. I was relieved. Maybe his new album wouldn't be so bad? They played "Love Is A biatch Slap" and...it was actually really flocking good. Whew!

 

Then I was able to listen to Angel Down in its entirety. Wow...Sebastian redeemed himself for all his wrong doing with this album; he blew me away.

 

 

I've only listened to it once when I first did this review but have since come to love it and listen to it once a week now. The music is heavy and dirty. Slave To The Grind resonates throughout the album, but Sebastian does a great job of making it his own. After hearing him sing on Super Group, I was a little worried about how his voice would sound on this album. Not to worry. His voice sounds just as youthful and strong on Angel Down as it did on Skid Row's debut album. There is also a guest appearance by none other than Axl Rose who lends his voice to a couple of the songs on the album, which is a nice added touch.

 

 

Sebastian has shown a lot of growth and maturity with Angel Down. It just goes to prove that the less he focuses on Skid Row, the better he sounds. I'm thankful he took his time and worked hard to put out a quality album.

 

Moral of the story: Never doubt your idols.

[Jitway]

Brainstorm Downburst

Release Date 01/25/2008

 

 

Here is their hompage or those who have never heard of Brainstorm http://www.truemetal.org/brainstorm

 

Andy B. Franck - vocals

Torsten "Todde" Ihlenfeld - guitars

Milan "Mille" Loncaric - guitars

Toni Ieva - bass

Dieter Bernert - drums

 

 

01. Falling Spiral Down

02. Fire Walk With Me

03. Stained With Sin

04. Redemption In Your Eyes

05. End In Sorrow

06. How Do You Feel

07. Protect Me From Myself

08. Surrounding Walls

09. Frozen

10. All Alone

 

After the celebrations of the 10 years of the band with the re-release of the first two albums and the release of their first DVD titled "Honey From The B’s", the new album of the German band Brainstorm is now a fact and it is titled "Downburst" by Metal Blade Records. Their previous album "Liquid Monster" had left me with mixed feelings since there were tracks which I liked a lot but there were also tracks that I found a little bit disappointing. In "Downburst" things are obviously better since Brainstorm offer us an excellent album of pure Heavy / Power Metal that every fan of the genre should have. Before the release came the single "Fire Walk With Me" which was certainly a good start and a good first idea for what would follow, but personally I’ve imagined things differently.

 

Firstly we should mention that responsible for the production of the album is Sascha Paeth (Angra, Rhapsody (Of Fire), Kamelot) fact that gives a more positive side in this work. In "Downburst" there aren’t any new elements concerning the music of Brainstorm. The only difference is that everything about this album is done with more loyalty and attention than any other time and the result shows a maturity that didn’t exist at the desirable level till now. It looks like Brainstorm within their 10 years of existence managed to have their own unique identity since when we hear a Brainstorm song we cannot think of another band. Their music, for those who may not know, is based upon Heavy parts which consist of many rhythmical riffs and mid tempo tunes. The times that the speed rises are not few, thing that adds an attitude more influenced by the European Power Metal scene. Melodies have the main role and at some points the result is more epic, something that I personally liked a lot. For one more time there are some parts consisted by electro-acoustic guitars which remind Iron Maiden but yet they have completely blended and they’re not boring or tiring. Keyboards in this album don’t play much of a role, yet they exist, giving their own tone and making the tracks sound even more atmospheric and melancholic (like in End of Sorrow). Within all this, the beautiful vocals of Andy Frank come to be added, vocals which are a must for every Heavy / Power Metal album.

 

"Downburst" is the best album of Brainstorm till today, album that hides a maturity when at the same time uses in a unique way all the elements that every album of this genre should have. I guess that it is time for all those who haven’t heard Brainstorm to do so.

[Jitway]

Kingdom Of Sorrow Debut Album

Release Date 02/19/2008

 

 

Here is more info on the band

Jasta (HATEBREED, ICEPICK) and Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) came together some three years ago to create KINGDOM OF SORROW, and in that time put together an album's worth of crushing American metal.

 

Here is their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/kingdomofsorrow

 

01. Hear This Prayer

02. Grieve

03. Piece It All Back

04. Led Into Demise

05. Demon Eyes

06. With Unspoken Words

07. Free The Fall

08. World

09. Ghosts

10. Begging

11. Buried In Black

 

Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) – Vocals, Guitars

Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, ICEPICK) - Vocals

Steve Gibb (CROWBAR, ex-BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) - Guitar

Derek Kerswill (SEEMLESS, UNEARTH) - Drums

Matthew Brunson - Bass

 

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about KINGDOM OF SORROW! There's been two and a half years of questions, rumors and speculation surrounding this and finally it is here!

 

I can't wait for the world to hear this record. It crushes!! The vocals and wrote and lyrics are totally different in the Down style that Kirk is from. Kirk has never sounded better! His tone is like a 747 filled with tar crashing into a lead mountain. I think everyone is going to be really surprised!

 

It seems they had a great time putting it together and you can tell just by listening to it from start to finish it is a masterpiece. Its super heavy, man, it just crushes! Everyone I play it for, their jaws drop. And after three years in the making, it feels good to know now everyone can hear it.

 

There is not a track on this ablum that I do not like. Most supergroups you like some songs but not all. This is an exception to the rule.

[Jitway]

Deja Vu Decibel Disease

Release Date 01/18/2008

 

 

 

Here is their hompage http://www.dejavu-metal.de/

 

1. Under Fire 4:58

2. You Will Know My Name 3:38

3. Children Of The Eighties 4:36

4. Metalhead 4:20

5. Die For The Tyrant 4:06

6. Face Down In The Dirt 4:52

7. Decibel Disease 4:03

8. Here I Stand 4:50

9. Slave To The Gods 5:17

10. Never Get Away 4:38

11. On My Own 4:31

12. Walls Of Sleep 4:37

 

Werner Kerscher - vocals / guitars

Timo - guitars

Wolpo - bass

Stephan Morro - drums

 

This their second album. The first being Bullets to Spare released in 2006. Unlike that one this is a much harder and more speed in the riffs style of metal.

 

Little is know about this German Metal band. Their musical style is like Judas Priest and vocals that of the Bruce Dickerson style. I found this ablum very enjoyable to listen too. My favorite track on this album is Metalhead not only is the musical part very good but the lyrics as well speak to all metalheads out their. The next great listen is Slave To The Gods which is very heavy in the riffs. Also Decibel Disease the title track is a good listen as well. Give this album a turn on your playlist you will not be sorry.

[Jitway]

Sixx A.M.

The Heroin Diares

 

 

Release Date

08/21/2007

 

1.X-Mas

2. Van Nuys

3. Life Is Beautiful

4. Pray For Me

5. Tomorrow

6. Accidents Can Happen

7. Intermission

8. Dead Man's Ballet

9. Heart Failure

10. Girl With Golden Eyes

11. Courtesy Call

12. Permission

13. Life After Death

 

Here is a first single release on YouTube

 

Sixx:A.M. is a new band built around former Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. Sixx wrote a book titled “The Heroin Diaries” (Amazon Link), and the album is actually a soundtrack which tightly follows the memoirs, with each track coinciding with a chapter from the book. Aside from Nikki, the lead singing and rhythm guitarist duties are handled by multi-platinum producer James Michael. Working with such artists as Motley Crue, Saliva, The Exies and the Scorpions, it is no surprise that the album is produced and mixed very well. The band also has a great musician in DJ Ashba. I personally had never heard of this guy before, but his first solo album, an instrumental ASHBA: Addiction to Friction earned 6 Best Guitar Player awards.

 

After listening to this, the first thing I did was go online and find out where I can see these guys play. Here was a response I found from Nikki himself:

 

We just formed the band. We didn’t plan on that. We didn’t plan on being on the radio, and at this point we’re really not planning on touring. I know we are planning on playing some television shows and maybe doing some intimate small stuff. There seems to be a lot of desire. It would have to be something quite spectacular. The idea of going out and playing clubs isn’t that exciting. It has to be more than that. There is more out there. With all these multi-media platforms and portals to creative stuff, it is very exciting. Opportunity, I’m sure will arise, and we’ll make a decision then.

 

So, apparently the band has no plans of touring at this point, which is a real shame. Check out the first single, Life is Beautiful:

 

Overall, as an album its very average, average not good. As a soundtrack, the lyrics become so much more powerful, pushing this album into the “good” level. The songs become moving and more meaningful. James Michael’s voice might not have the vocal range of some, but not to overuse the word, but it’s powerful. “Life is Beautiful” is clearly the best track, with all the essentials of a great song. I haven’t heard much radio play of this song which is a real shame.

 

The rest of the album really bounces all over the place, fitting many different sounds to the many different chapters of the book. On one hand, this is a good thing, it keeps the listener off-balance, not knowing what to expect. On the other hand, some of these different sounds come off cheesy or done. “Pray For Me” sounds like it comes off the latest Killers release, with your typical staccato chords over super-monotone vocals. The ballads on the album are many, and similar.

 

You must realize that this is not an album which tries to please the many. This is a brutally honest, exposing self-portrait painted by a man who almost died. Because of this, the songs may be bland in some sense, but retain their ability to move, as in “Tomorrow.” This, while not the best song, still moves the listener as Sixx describes how his past is catching up to him, how his bridges have been burned.

 

“Dead Man’s Ballet” got bad reviews as a song, some comparing it to Meatloaf (who I think James produced). However, I really dig this song. This is one of the few songs on the album that ebbs and flows. It builds nicely into the chorus, then transitions well out of it. Oh well, say what you will, I liked the song.

 

So, overall, this is definitely not the best song of the last year, but it’s worth a listen. I have read the book and it is outstanding, and together I bet they complement each other very nicely.

Edited January 30, 2008 by Jitway

[Wizard]

 

Released: 22/01/2007

 

The Good, The Bad and The Queen

by The Good, The Bad and The Queen:

Damon Albarn - Lead Vocals & Keyboards

Paul Simonon - Bass and Backing Vocals

Simon Tong - Guitar

Tony Allen - Drums

 

1. "History Song" - 3:05

2. "'80s Life" - 3:28

3. "Northern Whale" - 3:54

4. "Kingdom of Doom" - 2:42

5. "Herculean" - 3:59

6. "Behind the Sun" - 2:38

7. "The Bunting Song" - 3:47

8. "Nature Springs" - 3:10

9. "A Soldier's Tale" - 2:30

10. "Three Changes" - 4:15

11. "Green Fields" - 2:26

12. "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" - 7:00

 

All songs written by Damon Albarn.

 

Singles Released:

 

"Herculean" "Kingdom of Doom" "Green Fields"

 

Lead by Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) with Paul Simonon (The Clash), Simon Tong (Verve) and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti). The Good, The Bad and The Queen is certainly a super group for the modern listener. The album itself is a concept album of living in London. With it's light riffs played by the crew together with Albarn's song writing, shows how well several generations of artists can be put into a room and make wonderful, beautiful music.

 

I put an emphesis on Albarn's writing as it's certain matured greatly since his days with Blur and expanded upon with his time fronting the Gorillaz. While it seems easy listening at first, it becomes completely something by introducing a more funk~reggea tone and at times going completely acoustic. The soft bass lines by Simonon and the excellent guitar work by Tong are also a highlight. While not something out of left field with madening solos, it harmonizes perfectly with Albarn's ghost-like featherish vocals. Finally, to top it off, with everyone's background, there is at least one defining track. That track is The Good, The Band & The Queen. In a punkish manner, it puts everything into prespective from what the listener just went through.

 

After listen through and decoding what Albarn is saying. Living in London doesn't seem that great anymore.

[Jitway]

Zimmers Hole - When You Were Shouting at the Devil

 

 

Release Date March 11 2008

 

01 When You Were Shouting at the Devil.. 05:15

02 We Rule the flocking Land 03:51

03 Flight of the Knight Bat 02:41

04 1312 02:53

05 Devil's Mouth 03:19

06 The Vowel Song 02:00

07 Fista Corpse 03:15

08 Anonymous Escophagus 03:00

09 Alright 03:11

10 Hair Doesn't Grow on Steel 03:52

11 What's My Name... Evil! 06:33

 

Genre: Speed | Thrash | Death Parody Metal

Label: Century Media

 

Chris Valagao - Vocals (session for The Berzerker)

Jed Simon - Guitar (Zimmer's Hole,Strapping Young Lad, Tenet, Armoros, ex-Devin Townsend, ex-Front Line Assembly)

Chris Stanley - Guitar

Byron Stroud - Bass (Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory, ex-Devin Townsend, ex-Caustic Thought, ex-Unit: 187)

Gene Hoglan - Drums (Zimmer's Hole,Dark Angel (US), Tenet, The Almighty Punchdrunk, Death, Testament, Devin Townsend, Old Man's Child, Phantasm, Wargod, Daemon (Dnk), Just Cause, Naphobia, Meldrum, ex-Unearth, Dethklok)

 

For those who have never heard of Zimmers Hole here is their myspace page

http://www.myspace.com/zimmershole

 

I was never a big fan of Stapping Young Lad but this Band here is nothing like them although it has many of the members of same said band.

 

Started as a side project of Strapping Young Lad members Jed Simon and Byron Stroud. When SYL was put on ice in 2007 they decided to make Zimmer's Hole their main band and signed with Century Media

 

Although THE HOLE was dug before the formation of Strapping Young Lad, this is the first time Simon and Stroud have had the time to devote all their attention to the band, resulting in a more focused, streamlined effort. The inherent insanity in a project like THE HOLE is still there, but traditional metal influences abound in the epic, fist-pumping feel of songs like “We Rule the flocking Land” and “Flight of the Knight Bat.”

The track the vowel song is very extra ordinary as they use the voice of Nathan Explosion of Dethklok reading a message about illiteracy if a very illiterate way, very funny and good.

 

I was well pleased with the album as a whole all tracks are great in their own. Give it a try all you metalheads out there this is their best album yet.

Edited February 6, 2008 by Jitway