Sebastian Bach - Kicking and Screaming

Genre - Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Track listing -
01. Kicking & Screaming

02. My Own Worst Enemy
03. TunnelVision (featuring John 5)
04. Dance On Your Grave
05. Caught In A Dream
06. As Long As I Got The Music
07. I'm Alive
08. Dirty Power
09. Live The Life
10. Dream Forever
11. One Good Reason
12. Lost In The Light
13. Wishin'


Former Skidrow vocalist Seb Bach returns with his latest offering, Kicking and Screaming, an apt title for one of rocks wildest characters.
Opening with lead single and title track, Kickind And Screaming, Seb really sets out his stall. Great riff driven songs dripping in melody. Seb seems to be in fine voice here, with his vocals showcasing his range, from subtle soft melodies, to rough growl to full on metal scream.
Now here we have 13 well written, finely crafted songs, performed by a very talented band, but to me it just seems that something is missing. please dont get me wrong, I have always loved Seb Bach, ever since back in the MTV hey day with Skidrow's 18 & Life and Youth Gone Wild, through Skidrows highest point todate with Slave To The Grind, and I loved Sebs last solo effort Angel Down, but this album is more Youth Gone Mild than Kicking and Screaming. I just cant put my finger on it, the songs are great, the band sonds great, and as I have already said, Seb is in fine voice, so maybe its the production. Everything is just a little too polished for my liking, robbing the tracks of that raw edge, that energy that was so apparent of Skidrows Slave To The Grind.
Again, please dont get me wrong, this is a fine album, with stand out tracks like, My Own Worst Enemy, As Long As I Got The Music, Dirty Power and Tunnel Vision, it just lacks a little something for me.

Rating - 8/10

Jorn - Dio

With the sad passing of a legend like Ronnie James Dio I guess it is inevitable the we'll get a flood of tribute albums, starting with this one by Jorn Lande, and to be honest, this is going to take some beating.

Opening with the only original track on the album, 'Song For Ronnie James', Jorn manages to set the perfect tone, with the aforementioned song being finely crafted very much in the Dio vein, and it fits well amongst the other 12 Dio classics.
The really smart thing here is that Jorn has not gone for the obvious song choices, instead choosing some of the more obscure album tracks.
'Invisible' follows 'Song For Ronnie James', with Jorn staying faithful to the original in both the arrangement and feel of the song. Jorn Lande's voice lends itself well to the songs too, with his Dio mixed with Coverdale vibe. An absolutely brilliant version of 'Shame On The Night' follows, and I have to say, I may even prefer this to the original!
'Push', originally from Killing The Dragon is up next, followed by a rawking version of 'Stand Up And Shout' A great version of the Dio classic 'Dint Talk To Strangers' is up next, again with Jorn putting in a stunning performance. 'Lord Of The Last Day', 'Night People' and 'Sacred Heart' follows before we get to possibly the albums highlight, 'Sunset Superman'. Here n and the guys really do find the heart and soul of the song, absolutely stunning!
A short Black Sabbath medley is up next, with Jorn managing to combine 'Lonely Is The Word', with 'Letters From earth' and the ending of 'Sign Of The Southern Cross', and by god, it works really well.
Next up is a breath taking version of Rainbows 'Kill The King', before the album closes out a live version of 'Straight Through The Heart'.

If ever Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler are considering a tribute concert of some kind for the late Ronnie James Dio then they simply have to ensure Jorn is involved in some way!
This is the very first tribute album for Dio, and will probably remain the best for some years to come!

website - http://www.myspace.com/realjorn
rating 10/10

Cemetery Superfly - Ghost In the Radio

Cemetery Superfly began life back in 1994, in ARLINGTON, Massachusetts

United States. Over a period of time the 'experimental noise' that the guys were toying with started to sound more like songs, now fast forward 16 years and we have their latest release, Ghost In The Radio, which is a 6 track Ep. The Ep is crammed with heavy, melodic music featuring plenty of screaming vocals and three part harmonies, off-the-wall guitar solos and deep, dark brooding melodies with explosive guitar riffs that a 70's era Sabbath would be proud to call their own.

All 6 tracks (well 5 really as the opener is a 1 minute instrumental intro) are all of the highest quality. This is a great enjoyable album in the classic rock / alternative mould, with 'Mad Woman' and 'World Without End Part II' being the picks of the bunch for me.

website - http://www.myspace.com/cemeterysuperflyband

Rating 9/10

M.A.D. - For Crown and Ring

With an album title that bring to mind Manowar, this should be interesting!


M.A.D. come from Germany and were formed in 2003. Since then they have released an EP called "Ready To Stop?!" (2006) and a full-length album called "M.A.D. (Maniacal Area Damage)" (2007). "For Crown And Ring"is their second album.

The lead vocals from Jochen S. Bach bear more than a passing resemblance to the legendary late Bon Scott (ACDC), which is great.

The album comprises of 10 songs that sound like a mix of MANOWAR, ACCEPT, HAMMERFALL and AC/DC, which is an interesting mix. All the songs are brilliant and fun, especially the title track, even if the lyrics are at times a little cliched. A great album whose hearts hark back to a time when men were men and metal was fantasy fuelled METAL!

An absolutely brilliant album!



rating 10/10

Avosetta - Of Our Lives

From the first opening bars of track one (Of Our Lives), Avosetta not only set the mood for latter tracks on this EP, but also set a standard for how music should sound in this current climate. They ooze worldwide potential with every wild guitar riff, spiralling through thunderous drum passages, all complimented with stunning vocal performances. 'Of Our Lives,' the debut EP from Norwich-based five piece Avosetta is one of those frustrating releases where each song has so many good points, but for some reason they just never quite come together right if you know what I mean.


Some times it can be just that the band try to through in a little too many tempo and time changes, but they just don't get the interchanging piece's quite right as on title track 'Of Our Lives'. Its a pity really as the song boast some great guitar lines, and for the most part settles in to a great heavy rock groove which is spoilt by the tempo changes and genre mixes as the band try to mix in some emo punk sections, but as i said they just don't quite pull it off.

It does get better, the last two tracks on this ep, 'Syncopated Heartbeat' and 'Warship Lanterns', are much stronger, especially the closing track 'Warship Lanterns' with its melodic meandering which is spiked with dewy falsetto vocals; the second half of the song is a swaggery, more rock-orientated section, and this time the band pull off the tempo changes perfectly!

This debut EP from the Norwich based quintet, showcases four songs that between them, boast many fine moments, from a band that just ooze potential, maybe if they could get the help of a good producer just to help them refine their ideas a little more then this ep would be getting top marks.

Check em out, they're on their way to World Wide Stardom, they're young talented and ambitious, and as Ive already said the songs are brimming with great ideas!



rating 8/10