Saturday 30 July 2011

Stone Soul Foundation - Electric Valley



Genre - Hard Rock
Label - Stone Soul Foundation (independant)


Track listing -

01. Sidewalker
02. Christian
03. Electric Valley
04. Aint No Mystery
05. Song About You
06. Window
07. Mountain of Time
08. Next Flight
09. Gonna Try
10. They Are Me
11. I Master
12. Song About You (Radio Edit)
13. I Master (Radio Edit)

"Black Sabbath, Zeppelin, and Grand Funk Railroad meets Metallica, Wolfmother, and Queens Of The Stone Age" is how Stone Soul Foundation have been described, all I can say is that Electric Valley, the third release from Stone Soul Foundation, delivers first class hard driving blues groove riff-heavy rock with the vocals to match.
Theres plenty of variation on offer here, but there is also an underlying quality that keep all the songs moving along, its no wonder that these guys were picked out by Classic Rock magazine to be amongst the ones to watch for 2011.
A great band with solid songs performed to perfection, A very solid release that captures all the right elements from the late seventies hard rock giants, mixes them up a little and releases them with a contemporary edge.

A great album, well worth checking out!

Website - Stone Soul FoundationRating - 9/10

The Itch - Spreading Like Wildfire



Genre - Hard Rock
Label - Rambo Music


Track listing -

01. Calling Me Back
02. Action
03. The Catalyst
04. Propaganda
05. No Friend Of Mine
06. Pain
07. Bring In The Wine
08. Sold My Soul
09. Mother (Acoustic)
10. If You Could See
11. Losing My Mind

The Itch hail from the south of Sweden, a country that has given the world a huge amount of talented rock bands over the past few years!
They consists of lead singer (and former Tenebre guitarist) Lukas Landerö, Magnus Wahlberg on guitar, Johan Helgesson on the drums and Tobbe Skogh on bass, and deliver an infectious blend of hard rock and blues!
from the opening track you know that you are going to enjoy the ride, with the bands sound being a in the same vein as bands like The Answer, Electric Mary, Roadstar and Heavens Basement with a few punk elements thrown in here and there.
Spreading Like Wildfire is a very infectious album, a pretty diverse album ranging from straight ahead rockers to heavy riffsters and the acoustic interlude.
Well worth checking out!
Highly recommended!

Website - The Itch
Rating - 10/10

Nightvision - Consequence Of Sin



Genre - Hard Rock / Metal / Sleaze
Label - Rocksector Records

Track listing -

01 - So Many Lies
02 - Sob Story
03 - Words Like Bullets
04 - Long Way From Home
05 - Nowhere To Hide
06 - Find Me
07 - What Makes You Bad
08 - Enter Escapism
09 - Nothing To Lose
10 - Petrol & Practise
11 - Mirrors & Smoke
12 - Post Tour Blues

"Nightvision are a four piece hard rock band from Lincolnshire, UK. They formed in 2003. Nightvision have played with bands like Diamond Head, Fozzy, The Imperial Vipers, IwasACubScout, New Generation Superstars, Sweet Seduction, Patchwork Grace, Forever Never, From Almost the End, Kid Ego, Disarm and many more. Nightvision, now signed with Manchester label, Rocksector Records released their debut album ‘As The Lights Go Down’ on 6th April 2009 followed by a series of gigs across the UK to promote the album and raise the profile of the band."

Consequence of Sin is the bands follow up album and its solid on all fronts. With this album the band have really raised their game, pushing eveything up a notch from the songs to the performancies, the band has refined their performance and it shows through in their sound as it comes together and meshes a lot better this time around. The songs are also quite a bit heavier than the previous offering, which may delight the metal fans out there! Opening track, So Many Lies is a good example of how their style has changed as it really sets the pace for some of the future songs.
There is some truly blistering guitar work on display here too, just check out the riffs on Sob Story!

Consequence Of Sin is a great album that should appeal to many rock and metal fans, its has the harder edged rhythm's that can hold their own alongside any contemporary band, the hard rock melodies and lyrics should keep the band accessable to fans of rock as opposed to metal.

I dont think that there is a bad track on this cd, and once again Nightvision along with countless other Uk bands prove that there is plenty of life in the Uk rock and metal music scene!!

Highly reconmended

Website - Nightvision
Rating - 10/10

Exit State - Black Veins


Genre - Hard Rock / Metal / Pop / Indie
Label - Rocksector records

Track listing -
01 - Enough Already
02 - In That Place
03 - Tonight Be Free
04 - Check Out The Crazy
05 - Circles
06 - Ten Years Later
07 - Stay
08 - Black Veins
09 - Wasted
10 - Out In The Rain
11 - All For You
12 - This Life

"The past 2 years has been a whirlwind for East Lancashire (UK) rockers Exit State. With a successful debut album, a tour in Finland, a video playlisted on Kerrang TV (Lost Beyond Beleif), support slots with Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden/Wolfsbane), Dave Evans (AC/DC), The Black Mollys, Witchfynde & Black Spiders you could be forgiven for thinking the band has been around for years. However, the early success of their high octane sound has been almost immediate, not least due to their crossover appeal to rock, metal, pop, punk, indie & alternative crowds alike…."
Balck Veins is the lads second full length album, building upon the solid foundations they set with 2010's Death Of A Rockstar debut. It feels like the songs have a slightly harder edge to them this time around, yet I dont see the band loosing any of their crossover appeal. the riffs come thick and fast, the lyrics are excellent, and the melodies really shine here, making Black veins a difficult album not to like!
There is plenty of variation here too, from the riffage of the opening track, Enough Already and Check Out the Crazy, to the gentle melodies of Ten Years Later, the quirky Indie rock feel of Stay and the grinding riffs of the title track Black Veins.
All in a great album from a very promising band, whi I beleive are going to be huge.
The Guys are planning a extensive Uk tour in October to promote the album, Id suggest you get yourselves along to a show and check them out for yourselves!

Very Highly Reconmended!

website - Exit State
Rating - 10/10

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Head Cat - Walk The Walk . . . Talk The Talk



Genre - Psychobilly / rockabilly
Label - Niji Entertainment Group



Track listing -

01. American Beat
02. Say Mama
03. I Ain't Never
04. Bad Boy
05. Shakin' All Over
06. Let It Rock
07. Something Else
08. The Eagle Flies On Friday
09. You Can't Do That
10. Trying To Get To You
11. It'll Be Me
12. Crossroads

"The Head Cat is an American rockabilly supergroup formed by vocalist Lemmy (of Motörhead), drummer Slim Jim Phantom (of The Stray Cats) and guitarist Danny B. Harvey (of Lonesome Spurs and The Rockats).
Head Cat was formed after recording the Elvis Presley tribute album Swing Cats, A Special Tribute to Elvis in 2000 to which the future band-mates all contributed. After recordings were finished they stayed at the studio and Lemmy picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing some of his old favorite songs by Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran.[1] The rest of the guys knew them all and joined in.[2] The name of the band was created by combining the names Motörhead, The Stray Cats and 13 Cats, which resulted in The Head Cat, similar to what Lemmy did in 1980 with Headgirl, a collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool."
Walk The Walk . . . talk the Talk is the bands second album, the first one being released some eleven years ago, (although it was re released in 2006)and its a corker!
Its great hearing Lemmy sing his way through these songs, and this different style really suites him too. I'm loving every track here, not a duff track in sight.
This album is fantastic, just do yourself a favour and check it out!

Website - Head Cat
Rating - 10/10

Rival Sons - Pressure and Time




Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock
Label - Earache

Track listing -

01 - All Over the Road
02 - Young Love
03 - Pressure and Time
04 - Only One
05 - Get Mine
06 - Burn Down Los Angeles
07 - Save Me
08 - Gypsy Heart
09 - White Noise
10 - Face of Light

My God I have stepped back in time to the mid - late seventites, but in a good way. American Blues rockers, Rival Sons, produce the kind of music that wouldnt have sounded out of place along side the likes of Free, Bad Company, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix and the like.
The music is great, classic sounding with a band upto date production, and the songs well, as I said they could easily hold their own against any of the classics.
Rival Sons are being touted as the next big thing at the moment, and I wouldnt be suprised if they do manage to break through to the mainstream, as they have all the right ingrediants to be huge.
Stand out tracks for me have to include, Only one, Save Me, Pressure and Time and Face Of Light.

this is an essential release for fans of the classic rock genre, these guys could be huge!

Website - Rival SonsRating - 10/10

MYSLEF -Ill Get Better B4 It Gets Worse



Genre - Indie / Alternative Rock / Pop
Label - GLASSTONE RECORDS

Track listing -

01 - I'll Get Better B4 It gets Worse
02 - Do the Zombie Walk
03 - Baby You Drive Me Crazy

Myself are an interesting mix of musical styles. There's a laid back feel to the songs and the vocals yet they're full of energy and groove.
I'll Get Better B4 It Gets Worse, though interesting does start to get a lil repetitive towards the end, Do the Zombie Walk has an almost Ska feel to it, again with some very laid back vocals whilst Baby You Drive You Me Crazy is the most rockin track on here, even if a little simplistic.
this Ep is interesting, and shows a lot of promise, check it out if you fancy something a l little different.

Rating - 6/10

Halestorm - ReAnimate EP



Genre - Hard Rock
Label -

Track listing -

01 – Slave To The Grind (Skidrow Cover)
02 – Bad Romance (Lady Ga Ga Cover)
03 – Hunger Strike (Temple Of The Daog Cover)
04 – Out Ta Get Me (Guns 'N' Roses Cover)
05 – All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You (Heart Cover)
06 – I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (The Beatles Cover)

Halestorm serve up a covers Ep and by God its a corker!
Opening with a stunning version of Skidrows metal classic, Slave To the Grind, the scenes set. Quickly follows a rockin cover of Lady Ga Ga's Bad Romance, and by God, Ive fallen in love with this track, this is destined to be a classic!
Next we get Hunger Strike, a good cover of the Temple Of The Dog classic, which is quickly followed by a great version of the Heart classic All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You, before a rocking version of the Beatles classic I Want You.
This is a great Ep,Lzzys vocals are top notch throughout, with all the songs lending themselves perfectly to a female vocal!
The only fault lying in the fact that its too damn short.
Well worth checking out!

Website - Halestorm
Rating - 10/10

Queen - Deep Cuts Volume 2 (1977 - 1982)



Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

01 – Mustapha
02 – Sheer Heart Attack
03 – Spread Your Wings
04 – Sleeping On The Sidewalk
05 – It’s Late
06 – Rock It (Prime Jive)
07 – Dead On Time
08 – Sail Away Sweet Sister
09 – Dragon Attack
10 – Action This Day
11 – Put Out The Fire
12 – Staying Power
13 – Jealousy
14 – Battle Theme

The second volume in the Deep Cuts series, in effect a sampler of the latest batch of remastered albums released by the band. A great a fair tracklisting, and a good intriduction to this era of the bands music.

Highly reconmended

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 9/10

Queen - Hot Space (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)



Genre - Classic Rock / Pop / Disco
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Staying Power
02 – Dancer
03 – Back Chat
04 – Body Language
05 – Action This Day
06 – Put Out The Fire
07 – Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)
08 – Calling All Girls
09 – Las Palabras De Amor (The Words of Love)
10 – Cool Cat
11 – Under Pressure

CD2:
01 – Staying Power (Live at Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)
02 – Soul Brother (B-Side)
03 – Back Chat (Single Remix)
04 – Action This Day (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)
05 – Calling All Girls (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)

Hot Space, originally released back in 1982 and arguably Queens least popular album, and with understanble reasons. Hot Space saw Queen in effect turn their back on their hard rock roots and completly embrace the disco pop sound that was popular at the time. saying that there are a few gems on here still, like Under Pressure, which features the mighty David Bowie on co-lead vocals. Again the remastering is excellent, but this time the bonus tracks are a tad disappointing in my opinion. We get a few live tracks, an excellent B-side, and a single remix, yet there is so much more the band could have put on here. To start with the entire album exists in demo form, with notable differences, mainly being the tracks having a harder rocky sound, plus there is the demo of Cool Cat which also featured vocals again from David Bowie, and then there is the demo of Under Pressure, without David Bowie, all noticable by there abscence.
An un popular album with a dissappointing selection of bonus material.
Sorry, again for completists only.

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 6/10

Queen - Flash Gordon Soundtrack (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)



Genre - Classic Rock / Pop / Soundtrack
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Flash’s Theme
02 – In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme)
03 – Ming’s Theme (In The Court Of Ming The Merciless)
04 – The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction Of Dale)
05 – Football Fight
06 – In The Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)
07 – Execution Of Flash
08 – The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash)
09 – Arboria (Planet Of The Tree Men)
10 – Escape From The Swamp
11 – Flash To The Rescue
12 – Vultan’s Theme (Attack Of The Hawk Men)
13 – Battle Theme
14 – The Wedding March
15 – Marriage Of Dale And Ming (And Flash Approaching)
16 – Crash Dive On Mingo City
17 – Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)
18 – The Hero

CD2:
01 – Flash (Single Version)
02 – The Hero (October 1980… Revisited)
03 – The Kiss (Early Version, March 1980)
04 – Football Fight (Early Version, No Synths! – February 1980)
05 – Flash (Live in Montreal, November 1981)
06 – The Hero (Live in Montreal, November 1981)

Hmmmm, this album was recorded as a soundtrack to a guilty pleasure of mine, The 1980 flim Flash Gordon, which I love. It features some interesting soundscapes and musical ideas but only a couple of full blown songs, mainly beiong the theme track, Flash and closing track The Hero, both classics in their own right. The bonus tracks are intesting, a couple of demos, a single mix, a couple of live tracks and an alternate take on The Hero.
Again the remastering is excellent, but this album is album really is only for completists.

Website - www.Queen-online.com
Rating - 8/10 (for the bonus tracks)

Queen - The Game (2011 Deluxe Edition Remaster)



Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Play The Game
02 – Dragon Attack
03 – Another One Bites The Dust
04 – Need Your Loving Tonight
05 – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
06 – Rock It (Prime Jive)
07 – Don’t Try Suicide
08 – Sail Away Sweet Sister
09 – Coming Soon
10 – Save Me

CD2:
01 – Save Me (Live in Montreal, November 1981)
02 – A Human Body (B-Side)
03 – Sail Away Sweet Sister (Take 1 With Guide Vocal)
04 – It’s A Beautiful Day (Original Spontaneous Idea, April 1980)
05 – Dragon Attack (Live at Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)

This album has always been one of my favourite Queen albums, originally released in 1980, and featuring some wonderful songs from the title track, Play the Game, the world wide chart buster's, Another One Bites The Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love, to the quirky Dont Try Suicide and Sail Away Sweet Sister and power ballad Save Me. A Great album. A great thing about this release is that includes the original spontaneous idea that became Its A Beautiful Day, and an early take of Sail Away Sweet Sister, plus the Roger Taylor sung B-side A Human Body and a couple of live tracks.
Production once again is top notch with this remaster, a truley great album very highly reconmended.

website - www.Queen-online.comrating - 10/10

Queen - Jazz (2011 Rematered Deluxe Edition)





Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – Mustapha
02 – Fat Bottomed Girls
03 – Jealousy
04 – Bicycle Race
05 – If You Can’t Beat Them
06 – Let Me Entertain You
07 – Dead On Time
08 – In Only Seven Days
09 – Dreamer’s Ball
10 – Fun It
11 – Leaving Home Ain’t Easy
12 – Don’t Stop Me Now
13 – More of That Jazz

CD2:
01 – Fat Bottomed Girls (Single Version)
02 – Bicycle Race (Instrumental)
03 – Don’t Stop Me Now (With Long-Lost Guitars)
04 – Let Me Entertain You (Live)
05 – Dreamer’s Ball (Early Acoustic Demo)

Originally released in 1978, Jazz continued to give Queen hits and anthems in the form of Bicycle Race, Dont Stop Me Now and Fat Bottomed Girls as well as continueing to show case the bands experimental side with tracks like Let Me Entertain You and Mustapha.
A Great album and once again the remastering really brings every sound to life. Bonus tracks are pretty interesting too, An acoustic demo of Dreamers Ball, I different mix of Dont Stop Me Now, an Instrumental, a Live and single mix.
Well reconmended, especially as an introduction to some of the bands lesser known classics such as Jealousy,Dead On Time, Leaving Home Aint Easy and Dreamers Ball.

Website - www.Queen-online.comRating - 9/10

Queen - News Of The World (2011 Deluxe Remaster)




Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Glam / Pop
Label - Island Records

Track listing -

CD1:
01 – We Will Rock You
02 – We Are The Champions
03 – Sheer Heart Attack
04 – All Dead, All Dead
05 – Spread Your Wings
06 – Fight From The Inside
07 – Get Down, Make Love
08 – Sleeping On The Sidewalk
09 – Who Needs You
10 – It’s Late
11 – My Melancholy Blues

CD2:
01 – Feelings Feelings (Take 10, July 1977)
02 – Spread Your Wings (BBC Session, October 1977)
03 – My Melancholy Blues (BBC Session, October 1977)
04 – Sheer Heart Attack (Live in Paris, February 1979)
05 – We Will Rock You (Fast) (Live in Tokyo, November 1982)


Originall released back in 1997 hot on the heels of A Day at the Races, News of The World was probably the last all out 'Rock' album produced by Queen. Featuring future anthems such as We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions along side true classic such as Sheer Heart Attack, Its Late and My Melancholy Blues. News Of the Worldd truley is a great album, and this 2011 remaster just makes it sound even better! A great sound that seems to breathe life into every song, allowing every single sound to make itself heard. The bonus tracks here are interesting, demo version of Feelings Feelings, a song probably rather familar to hard core collectors, a great little rock track, and great to hear such a great sounding version at last, we also get two of the era's BBC session tracks and two previously unreleased live tracks. Again I'd rather have had a few more demo's from the archive but on the whole this is a great re-release.

Website - www.queen-online.com
Rating - 9/10