BULLETRAIN - What You Fear The Most (2016)

Genre - Melodic Rock

Label - AOR Heaven Records

Track listing:

01 - Memory Lane
02 - Love Lies
03 - Can't Get Away
04 - Fight with Me
05 - We Salute You
06 - Feed the Fire
07 - Wet, Tired & Lonely
08 - Old Lighthouse
09 - Fear
10 - Far Away

Swedish melodic hard rockers BULLETRAIN unleash their second album in the form of What You Fear The Most. Their Skid Row-esque meets Crazy Lixx rockin' music is filled in with big & heavy guitars, high-pitched vocals and choruses to sing-a-long for days. The band's new lead singer Sebastian Sundberg has an incredible vocal range and takes the final result to a higher level. The guitars are, as mentioned above, huge and pretty heavy at places but still melodic, while the rhythm section is a blast (brings to mind Eclipse's sound).
Much of the success to Bulletrain's second album should be credited to the mix and overall guidance of Grammy Award winning producer Tobias Lindell, the brain behind the music from bands like Hardcore Superstar, Europe and H.E.A.T to name a few.
Opener 'Memory Lane' kick-off things in an '80s fashion and brings back the golden era of US Hair Metal but with a modern, punchy production. 'Love Lies', that reminds me a bit of Guns N' Roses, is yet another 'ballsy' rocker that takes no prisoners, then the fast-paced 'Fight With Me' is even more aggressive with a thunderous rhythm section and a Skid Row attitude.
'We Salute You', is an anthemic tune fuelled by a superb catchy hook and a memorable chorus line.
The AOR-ish 'Wet, Tired And Lonely' is a personal favourite, a Scandi hymn in the typical mold of the genre but updated 2016, and the moody / modern 'Far Away' is another highlight out of this new record.
"What You Fear The Most" is one of these kind of albums that you fall in love at once and leaves you hungry for more!

Rating: 9/10

Cat Southall - Call Of Distress (2016)

 

Genre - Pop / Rock / Concept

Label - Art Head Records

Track listing:

01 - Hospital Scene (feat. Dr Bernard John Kane Jr)

02 - Hello

03 - Call Of Distress

04 - 8 Years Previously (feat. Dr Bernard John Kane Jr)

05 - Look at Me (feat. James Kennedy)

06 - Advertisement (feat. Dr Bernard John Kane Jr)

07 - One Day at a Time

08 - Scream My Thoughts

09 - Telephone Call (feat. Dr Bernard John Kane Jr)

10 - If I Tell You

11 - Angels (feat. Dr Bernard John Kane Jr)

12 - Cruel to Be Kind (feat. James Kennedy)

13 - Me and You

14 - Go to War

15 - Creation of Man (feat. James Kennedy)

16 - Superheroes (feat. James Kennedy)

Cat Southall has most recently come to my attention through her involvement with Ginger Wildhearts Hey! Hello! project, with in which she has put in some rather stellar live performances and contributed some of the strongest lead vocals on the Hey! Hello! Too! album. Cat Southall's professional vocal career has spanned several decades, working in all genres of Music. Cat spent 12 years fronting popular rock band Sal, gigging and touring nationally and internationally sharing stages with Saxon, Dodgy, Ocean Colour Scene. Cat has also worked as a session artist backing name bands such as 'Gun', 'John Cale', 'Catatonia' and  the legendary 'Tom Jones', she joined forces with local legends The Manic Street Preachers, arranging and performing gospel vocals on their hit album 'Postcards from a Young Man', which also led to Cat performing with the band on the legendary 'Later With Jools Holland' show and Strictly Come Dancing where she worked with Dave Arch and the Strictly Come Dancing band.
Cat wrote and recorded this solo concept album, working with Sal band mate Noog and Kyshera front man James Kennedy,
'Call Of Distress' is an album of soaringly anthemic theatrical pop/rock, complete with superheroes, evil villains, comic style artwork, spoken narrative & sound FX. She fuses influences from David Bowie to Queen; Kate Bush to The Beatles. Through her music you’ll find beautiful melodies, dramatic rock, huge choruses and lyrics, sincere and affecting. Building on the vocal and performance dynamics learned through operatic training, a love of musical theatre and rock music, Cat’s performance is as affecting, fun and memorable as her songs.

As mentioned above, 'Call Of Distress' is a concept album, where after waking up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there, Cat, Having suffered massive head trauma starts experiencing unexplainable powers which can only be described as Super-human. The more she believes, the more she begins to express her latent super-abilities. To keep her secret, Cat creates an alter ego known as Nancy Neuron and uses her powers to save humanity from the evil Dr Lukas Vent and his Army of Robots.

Now releasing a concept album in today's world of the ever decreasing attention span is rather a brave decision to make, but one that Cat and crew pull off really well. The albums sixteen tracks clock in at around the forty five minute mark, and trust me that time just flies by. Cat's vocals are awesome, as she sings her way through the characters adventure, journeying through various musical genres and landscapes along the way, from the gentle and subtle piano led tracks suck as 'Hello' and 'Scream My Thoughts' to the rocking 'Look At Me'  and ' Me To You'. In places 'Call Of Distress' brings to mind some of Meatloafs better moments, but always maintains its own distinct identity.

This is a really enjoyable album and one that I really do recommend that you check out. Plkus Cat has an awesome set of pipes on her too!

Rating: 9/10

Hey! Hello! - Too! (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Pop / Punk

Label -  Round Records / Pledge Music

Track listing:

01 - All Around The World

02 - This Ain't Love

03 - Glass Of champagne

04 - Kids

05 - Forever Young

06 - Loud And Fucking Clear

07 - Can't Stand You (Hurting Me)

08 - Lets Get Emotional

09 - A History Of Lovers

10 - Body Parts

11 - Perfect

Its been a rough ride for Ginger Wildheart's Hey! Hello! project. Originally conceived around the time that he was working on the Mutation projects as a noisy pop project that was to release a couple of  pledge exclusive singles. recorded with Victoria Liedtke on co-vocals and Ginger pretty much handling everything else, the project ballooned up into a full album that Ginger eventually released commercially in 2013 to great critical and fan acclaim and a few selected live dates including a trip to Japan. Just when things were looking like they were really going to take off there was a falling out between Ginger and his then manager and boyfriend of Victoria and for all intents and purposes it looked as the though Hey! Hello! were dead in the water. Then all of a sudden Ginger enlists the services of Love Zombies vocalist Hollis Mahady for some live dates and then the next thing you know there is a tour book for late 2015 and an album in the bag. Unfortunately disaster would once again strike and the album and tour had to be postponed as Ginger was hospitalised with depression. Then just as the band are set to release the album and embark on some rescheduled UK live dates, Hollis decides that shew no longer wants to be apart of the band and relocates to LA! The album is immediately pulled (but not before it had released it to some lucky pledgers) and once again things begin to look dark for Hey! Hello!. The band decide to hold some auditions to find a new female vocalist but when the online fan community voice some rather cruel and negative opinions Ginger announces that he will re-record the album with him singing all the parts. Then the wait begins!
Now the wait is over, the album is here and Ginger and the band have pulled a fast one, or several to be honest!
Firstly the track listing has been rejigged, Three tracks have been outed Automatic Love, Don't Stop Loving The Music and Little Piggy are gone and replaced by All Around The World, A History Of Lovers and Perfect, but wait that's not all. The guys have also enlisted the help of various guest vocalists! The sly buggers them!
The album opens with the blistering melodic pop rocker, All Around The World featuring Vicky Jackson on lead vocals. Things are off the a great start! Next up we have the re-worked version of This Ain't Love, featuring Emily Lee on lead vocals. The arrangements been tinkered with when compared to the initially released version, but only serves to highlight Emily's powerful lead vocal. Great song!
The cover of Sailor 1976's Glass of Champagne follows, this time with drummer Ai and Laila K singing in harmony. I have to say that I think that I prefer the original Hey! Hello! cover of this with Ginger and Hollis vocally sparing through the verses. Still a good solid track. Next we have another of the re-worked tracks in the form of Kids. Now Kids is still one of the best songs on the album all the stronger for the stunning vocal delivery of Cat Southall!
Christina Maynard tackles the emotional vocal for Forever Young and does a sterling job of it to!
Long time co-conspirator Givvi Flynn provides the snarling duelling lead vocal with Ginger for the awesome Loud And Fucking Clear, that is after Ginger provides an verbal update on what's been going on....The songs lyrics have been completely re-worked and they pull no punches trust me!
Can't Stand You (Hurting Me) sees Cat Southall taking the lead vocal again on this fantastic melodic song. Next we have another of the albums highlights in Lets Get Emotional. The Rev and Ginger provide some blistering guitar work whilst Eloise Kerry provides a sneering angst filled vocal. Next we have the second of the new songs, A History Of Lovers, which sees Ginger handling the lead vocals. Another slab of Gingers melodic genius! We then have the albums quirkiest track. This time its the re-working of the Albion track, Body Parts. Here we have Ai and bassist Toshi singing the verses in Japanese whilst the chorus stays in English. Somehow this feels a little out of place and breaks the albums momentum. Closing out the album is the last of the new tracks, Perfect. This is a blistering song with The Rev delivering a great lead vocal!

So despite a little stumble towards the end, Too! is a fantastic album and proof positive that there is something truly magical about Hey! Hello!

Rating: 10/10

Zug Izland - The Promised Land - Nebula (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Modern Rock / Alternative

Label - Zug Izland (Self Released)

Track listing:

01 - Lies

02 - Twilight Zone

03 - My Disease

04 - So Perfect (feat. Any Body Killa, Fisty Cuffs & Mike P)

05 - Chemical Girl

06 - Promised Land

07 - Sunny Day (Lucas Larry Jesus Pieces Remix)

08 - Cry (Acoustic)

09 - Idiot

10 - Lick The Flames

11 - Everything (Remix) [Re-mastered]

Zug Izland were originally put together way back in 2003 so the horrorcore rapper Violent J of Insane Clown Posse could record and release the rock album that he had always dreamed of doing. He soon realised that his vocals weren't quite up to the job and enlisted Syn. The result was 2003's Cracked Tiles album which featured all lyrics written by Violent J but performed by Syn. The album went down really well both the critics and fans alike and remains to this day one of the best rap rock cross over albums that I have ever heard. The band went on then to write and record 2004's 333 album that was once again very well received. Then the line up changes started and band started to loose their way. They managed to write and record a further album that was to be titled The Promised Land but the band split and the album was shelved and remains unreleased. Although a version of the album did leak back in 2009, but only a few songs from that leaked album have made this the final long awaited release of The Promised Land - Nebula.
The album opens with Lies, a great song that did featured on the 2009 leaked album, but it has been massively reworked here. Driven along by a great riff that slows down to a real chugger of a track. Always loved this song! Next up we have a new one, Twilight Zone. This a great song that see's the band mix up their musical stylings a little, mixing in some great keyboards, pop / dance beats and some great riffs throughout the chorus. A great song. My Disease is up next. Once again this is a survivor from the original leaked album, but once again they have toyed with the arrangements a little. Yet again a great song. So Perfect follows, this one is more of a rap track and features the rapping talents of ABK (Any Body Killa),Fisty Cuffs and original Zug guitarist / producer Mike P. I have to say that personally I find this one to be the weakest track on the album!
Next we have a re-working of another track from the leaked album, Chemical Girl, which gladly sees the guys getting back on track, with a great acoustic and string arrangement driven ballad.
Promised Land follows, which sees the guys rocking out again. No doubt destined to be a live favourite! Next we have a remixed version of Sunny Day that originally appeared on the bands debut album, 2003's Cracked Tiles. I have to say that I prefer the original, this remix feels disembodied somehow. An acoustic rendition of Cry follows, another song that first appeared on the bands debut album. You may recognise it as the classic track from the cult classic movie, Lost boys. The song works just as well in this stripped down acoustic version as it did in the full blown production back in 2003. Idiot is up next and is quite a fun song that manages to lighten the mood a little after the heavy lyrics of the previous two tracks.
Lick The Flames is the albums penultimate track, a great rocker that first saw the light of day on last years compilation album Toxicology: Zug Izlands Dopest Bangers! The album closes out with a remixed and re-mastered version of the song that opened the bands second album, Everything, which works quite well to close the album.
On a whole, The Promised Land - Nebula, is a good solid album from a great band that are just starting to find their feet again after a long absence, its just a pity that, How Doe's It Feel, Next To Me, Woke Up Screaming and the awesome cover of Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall from the 2009 leaked album  didn't also make the cut too, as then, this album would have really been something to be reckoned with!

Rating: 8/10

Zen Motel - Choking On The Chrome (Part 2) EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Sleaze

Label - Corporate Records

Track Listing:

01 - London Is Dead

02 - I Want Your Drugs

03 - Shatterproof

Brit rockers Zen Motel return with the second instalment of their "Choking on the Chrome" series of EP's  (they have decided to release their new album a series of EP's instead of a single album release!) and the follow up to Choking on the Chrome Part 1 that was issued back in April.

There have been a few delays to the release of this Ep, but what the hey sometimes life crops up and fucks the plans of the best of us, but by God was it worth the wait!

Choking on the Chrome Part 2 delivers three instant Zen Motel classics in the form of London Is Dead, I Want Your Drugs and Shatterproof.

London Is Dead opens things up and it could have quite easily been lifted from the track listing of the bands first two albums, 2003's Transform and Escape or 2007's Stations Of The Dead. Opening with a town crier calling "bring out your dead" before launching into a great riff that subsides to a great melodic and atmospheric verse before the riffs kick back in for the bridge and chorus. Great song! I Want Your Drugs is up next, this ones a little bit different, but awesome non the less. Opening with what could be a dance beat and bass line, before exploding into riffs that merge with some kind of New Wave keyboards. Bloody brilliant!

Shatterproof closes the Ep out. This one has a more laid back feel to it, but still rocks like a mother fucker!

With Choking on the Chrome Part 2 Lee and the guys deliver three diverse and brilliant songs that when added to the four tracks that made up Choking on the Chrome Part 1 give us almost an albums worth of new material, and what an album it would have been!

I'm hoping that there is at least one more instalment to this Choking The Chrome adventure!

Rating: 10/10

Juan Pablo Mazzola - Dave (Charity Single) (2016)

Genre - Power Pop / Acoustic

Label - Self released

Track listing:

01 - Dave

Released to help raise money for the Marie Curie Charity via the Music4Charity website. The  Music4Charity  website, and the donations made from it,  are
In Memory Dave, in appreciation of the care he received from the Marie Curie nurses  (the Halifax night team were so lovely!) 

Now the song Dave is a beautiful and touching both in feel and sentiment, song, delivered with a sincere heartfelt passion by Juan Pablo Mazzola (Baby Scream)
A great cause to support and a great song too

Grab it here

Rating: 10/10

THE Quireboys - Twisted Love (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka Recordings

Track listing:

01 - Torn & Frayed
02 - Ghost Train
03 - Killing Time
04 - Twisted Love [Album Version]
05 - Breaking Rocks
06 - Gracie B (Part II)
07 - Life's a Bitch
08 - Stroll On
09 - Shotgun Way
10 - Midnight Collective

The Quireboys return with their tenth studio album in the form of Twisted Love, once again opting to record in the Swedish town of Klippan, where they recorded the previous CD and again  choosing to produce it themselves along with the aid of Martin Ekelund.
One of the first things that becomes evident upon listening to Twisted Love is that despite there only being two original members in the band,  front man Spike (Jonathan Gray) and guitarist Guy Griffin, there is a focus and chemistry that really brings the best out of the guys. Boasting a line-up which has been in place since 2013, there’s no denying that it’s benefiting them massively, you can see it in their live shows too. It’s strengthening them and allowing them to turn in some of their best songs of their career.
Songs like “Stroll On” and “Shotgun Way” sound like they could have come from their early '90s efforts. Meanwhile, tracks such as “Ghost Train” and “Breaking Rocks” sound much more akin to the more modern sensibilities of recent albums. But all of them are dripping in that classic Quireboys sound!
The dual guitars of Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin complete with their backing vocals tie in neatly with Keith Weir’s keyboard melodies, really outdoing himself this time around. Title track “Twisted Love” also features blues powerhouse Lynne Jackaman on backing vocals, trading barbs with Spike, the sultriness lingering in the background yet notably obvious. "Killing Time" is reminiscent of Aerosmith’s Eat The Rich only much more earthly. “Gracie B”, originally from the previous, acoustic-driven album St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul. It was given a full electric outing on their tour this year and it sounded massive. Re-worked based on that and included here, the standout of its original album, it’s been transformed into a new beast, even more dangerous than its original form.
Meanwhile the engine room of Dave McCluskey on drums coupled with Nick Mailing’s bass has helped propel the band to a new level of quality, the years of playing and recording together is obvious, something you can only get with a regular line-up. There’s a deft hand involved for the pair of them, Dave’s drums especially featuring more prominently this time around due to the harder edge Spike had promised this time around.
As before, the band have produced the album with Martin Ekelund of Bonafide and once again, he’s managed to get the best out of them.
Promising “no ballads” this time around seemed like a weird prospect for a band like The Quireboys, especially when some of their best songs fall into that category but at no point do you wish they’d drop a gear and include a sequel to I Don’t Love You Anymore.
Their raucous singalong anthems are at the forefront in "Twisted Love" and it’s easy to pick out which will be the live favourites

Twisted Love is very highly recommended, and there has never been a band more deserving of their renaissance than The Quireboys. Constantly putting out brilliant albums, relentless touring and a band you can never accuse of turning in a bad performance, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a band to beat their consistency.

Rating: 10/10