Before you begin reading these reviews, we have a rating system to tell you just how good or bad a CD is & here's the breakdown on how it works:

1 Star - You'd rather vomit than own this music!

2 Stars - This is a cd you don't want your friends to know you have

3 Stars - It's okay

4 Stars - This is a good one, it lacks a little something, but it's a keeper

5 Stars - You should consider buying this...it's a good one!

6 Stars - Do what you have to do by any means to get this disc, it's a MUST HAVE!!

---

---

WARNER DRIVE K-GO EP Track Listing: OK K-GO!, Faking Smiles, Miles Away, Hey Mister, The Scarecrow

Rating: 5.4 stars!

I love it when independent bands put together really tight packages to promote their brand...Warner Drive is a Cali based rock band that's got a fresh new approach on modern rock that's part punk, part hard rock, there's elements of Irish folk in "OK K-GO!" which is a song about a pirate radio station if I understood the lyrics correctly, then you have a song like "The Scarecrow" that's got a horn section in it, but "Hey Mister" is probably the song I dug the most because it's a song most guys can relate to...as you listen to the song you realize it's about a guy messin' around with the singers girlfriend & it's slightly reminiscent to the Darkness song "Get Your Hands off My Woman" in theme alone. Overall Warner Drive is a kick ass modern rock band & I think they could fit on the Warped Tour with no problem at all! For more info on the band go to www.warnerdrive.com

---

---

HEAVEN BELOW s/t Track Listing: Dying Vicariously, When Daylight Dies, Heartbreaker, King of Nothing, Hollywood, Above the Satellites

Rating: 6 stars!

I first met Patrick Kennison back when he was in a band called the Union Underground. I hung out with & became friendly with both Patrick & John Moyer, bassist for Union Underground & current bassist for DISTURBED, the year of 2001 was a fun one & Patrick spent most of that year on the road supporting Marilyn Manson, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park & many, many more!

Patrick also played guitar for Rob Zombie on one of the new tracks off his greatest hits record. When the Union Underground split the bands 4 members all went their separate ways. Patrick moved to California & had a "make it or die trying" attitude & after quite a few years Patrick is back finally with HEAVEN BELOW which features Patrick not only playing guitar but also handling the vocal duties as well!

"Dying Vicariously" opens the cd with an interesting twist...the song starts off kinda mellow but then when the chorus kicks in the pace of the song goes into overdrive & I just love it!

There's a cover of the Pat Benatar classic "Heartbreaker" that's amped up & faster than the original yet it still maintains the same vibe that the original had with the simple distinction that it's a guy singing it instead of a girl.

"King of Nothing" is the token ballad & it's a tear jerker.

"Hollywood" is a loud one that's got attitude & a trashy vibe which kinda sums up Hollywood in all honesty..."right here is the future & it's f**king you & me!" is my favorite line from the song because it's oh-so-true!

When you put this cd into your computer you see a slew o' bonus stuff including a few extra songs NOT included on the audio portion of the cd! The highlight is a cover of the Golden Earring classic "Twilight Zone".

---

---

HALFORD Made of Metal Track Listing: Undisputed, Fire & Ice, Made of Metal, Speed of Sound, Like There's No Tomorrow, Till The Day I Die, We Own The Night, Heartless, Hell Razor, Thunder and Lightning, Twenty-Five Years, Matador, I Know We Stand a Chance, The Mower

Rating: 5 stars!

When I ripped open the new Rob Halford solo cd I kinda knew what to expect, BUT, what I'll admit is that his latest release is definitely my favorite & it's because the songs just really sound good, the dynamics are rich, Rob's vocals sound strong & the guitar solo's are perfect!

"Undisputed" is pure metal music but the chorus almost reminds me of a musical...it's interesting & the theme of the song is about celebrating the metal lifestyle!

"Fire and Ice" is one of the shortest songs on this cd & it's not even 3 minutes long, YET, it delivers the message, the energy & the punch much like a punk rock song would....fast & to the point with no filler!

"Speed of Sound" reminds me a bit of classic Judas Priest & I could see the band performing this song live & mixing "The Sentinel" in part of the song because that's kinda what it reminds me of just a little & I think it's cool!

"Till The Day We Die" is a mix of blues & acoustic...I've always though Rob's vocals would sound good on a song like this & it's kinda what "A Little Crazy" was back when Rob was doing Fight...the slide guitar adds a southern vibe to the song & this song has a shit kickin' vibe that I enjoy.

Rob might hate me for saying this, BUT, "Thunder and Lightning" reminds of of a Bon Jovi song & I mean that in a good way too!

"The Mower" is the closer for this cd & it's definitely the hardest & heaviest thing on this cd....it reminds me of King Diamond almost & that's a pretty cool thing in all honesty!

Rob Halford is probably one of the few guys left in Heavy Metal who can say he kept his voice his entire career....most metal singers lose their voice after a certain point & Rob's managed to maintain the same amazing voice from day one...honestly, I think he might sound better today than he did back when he started!

---

---

THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO OUR HOME PAGE!.

---

TWISTED SISTER Live at Wacken - The Reunion DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

Dee Snider & Twisted Sister were one of the biggest metal bands in the 80's due in part to the bands over the top, borderline transvestite looks, the fact that most of the bands songs were angry anthems ("We're Not Gonna Take It", "Stay Hungry", "I Wanna Rock!") & the push that MTV gave the band definitely made the band a household name!

Personal issues & the business of rock n roll eventually broke up Twisted Sister but the band would eventually reunite for a one off concert to benefit the victims of 911...this would lead the band to do a full on reunion tour that's pretty much continued up until the present day!

This dvd captures the bands impressive set at Wacken but the best part of this dvd is the between songs clips of the band talking about their rise, fall & reunion. You get to hear Mark telling how he hated Dee Snider, you get to see & hear why Jay Jay French burnt out on rock n roll & probably the most interesting thing Jay Jay says on this dvd is that back in the day there was no distinction between Jay Jay onstage & off..he was the same 24/7 & these days the Jay Jay French onstage is JUST an act because offstage he's someone totally different!

The bonus features on this dvd include the Mendoza Choir which is Mark re-recording pieces of the "Stay Hungry" record with all his & the bands friends singing back up vocals & then there's a cool photo gallery.

As an extra special added bonus there's a free audio cd included with this set that features songs from 3 different eras of the bands carreer...I dug the bands cover of "Born to Be Wild" from back in the beginning, BUT, the stand out track is "You Can't Stop Rock N Roll" from '82 & it's simply because that song kicks serious ass!

This is a really sweet package for the heavy metal fans out there & I'd highly recommend it as a good x-mas gift for all the 80's rockers out there!

---

---

MADDAM INK. Inklination Track Listing: Carry Me Home, Believe, Falling, Touch, Innocence, Jaded, Speak, Coletrane, Save The World, Special

Rating: 6 stars!

Maddam Ink. are a band that plays radio friendly rock, they have clean vocals on every song, the guitar tone is clear with just enough distortion to make it a little scuff & the rhythm has lotsa hooks & groove, especially in the song "Jaded" which really had a good breakdown with groove!

"Speak" is a ballad & it's got hit potential if it got the right exposure.

I wanna describe this band as Sponge meets Bad Company meets The Knack...they are kinda hard to lump into a description because they have elements of alot o' things before them but they also have their own style that's unique to the band.

---

---

WE LIVE IN TRENCHES Modern Hex Track Listing: White Knuckles, Vatican Strap, Deported, I Owe My Soul, Modern Hex, Black Friday, After Dark, People vs. People, Male Damage

Rating: 6 stars!

Swedish based Hardcore rockers We Live In Trenches have a record out called "Modern Hex" that sounds like a proper mix of Helmet, Unsane, Black Flag & to a lesser degree Pro-pain.

The music is simple power chords played ultra loud & ultra angry!

"Deported" features female backing vocals which add a little variation to the usual male screaming on most tracks featured on this cd but the female backing vocals are throughout the entire cd, they are just more pronounced in some tracks like "Modern Hex" which is probably my favorite song on this cd too I might add!

"I Owe My Soul" actually slows the pace down a bit yet the vibe is just as heavy as anything on this cd just it's played a bit slower.

I might describe this band as the hardcore version of THE WHO!

---

HEAVEN & HELL Neon Nights - Live in Europe DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

Ronnie James Dio will always be a heavy metal icon & he's a guy who lucky enough to have had a very successful run as both a solo artist & as the singer for Black Sabbath.

When Ronnie & the members of Black Sabbath decided to give a 2nd try to a reunion tour there was one very noticeable difference in the band...they no longer went under Black Sabbath, they called the band Heaven & Hell which was the name of the bands most powerful & respected album.

The concert footage on this dvd is chilling at times to watch & I saw that simply because even in his later years, Ronnie James Dio could still belt out his vocals with passion, power, & fury!

RJD was a tiny man with the pipes of a giant, & his backing band of Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer on bass & Vinny on drums...there was no way this band could suck!

I always wondered if some fans were upset that there were no Ozzy Osbourne era Sabbath covers performed during the last Heaven & Hell reunion...I commend Dio for sticking to his guns & NOT performing Ozzy covers. There's an interview clip with Ronnie on this dvd & Ronnie details why he left Sabbath during the 1st reunion.

Basically, Ronnie felt like opening for Ozzy's farewell tour was an insult & Ronnie detailed that he didn't want Tony & Geezer to do it because Ozzy had said some mean things in the press & Ronnie felt like Ozzy had disrespected Tony, but Tony agreed to do the opening gig & they ended up recruiting Rob Halford to be their singer for that show!

There are interviews with all 4 members of Heaven & Hell and it's interesting to see where all the power lies in the band...Tony IS the band leader, Geezer seems quiet & kinda does what Tony says, Dio was a leader but it seemed like there was a power struggle at times, while Vinny was Bill Ward's replacement & did what he was told.

"Mob Rules" is one of my favorites off this dvd, but "Heaven & Hell" is probably the highlight of this dvd & there's a really long jam in the song that kicks ass.

The concert portion of the disc ends with "Neon Nights" which is a great closer because it's an upbeat rocker that kills!

Watching this dvd I will simply state that I'm glad Dio did one last tour with Tony & the boys, this was probably the last pro-shot concert Dio did before his passing & this dvd kicks serious ass!

---

---

GG ALLIN & THE AIDS BRIGADE Live in Boston 1989 DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 5 stars!

Rock N Roll Experience is based out of Maryland & here in Maryland we are all pretty familiar with John Waters. John Waters is known for his gross out humor & his artistically sick/odd movies. What John Waters does is NOTHING compared to what GG Allin did onstage though!

GG Allin died of a drug overdose many years back but his legacy still lives on because the bulk of his concerts were filmed to document all the chaos both on & off stage.

The latest GG Allin release is a video of a side project he started called The Aids Brigade. This band only played one show & it was for a reason.... GG was banned from most venues & in order to do a concert he had to create a "new" band & all the members dressed in full drag...I'd describe the bands look as old school Twiggy Ramirez just ALOT less glam!

The music on this video....it's chaotic punk rock, the visuals are what you really wanna see!

Actually, the highlight of this disc is all the bonus footage!

There's 2 super long bonus clips that feature GG concert footage where he sets the stage on fire, he takes a crap onstage, he's naked & he gives himself an enema onstage!

I truly believe GG was an angry man because of his small penis! It's really funny because GG is naked onstage in most of his concert videos, yet his manhood is so tiny that it's like a mound of pubic hair with a small gummi bear buried under it...where GG's anger came from I will never know, but watching this concert footage I can't help but wonder why anyone would go to see GG perform. I say that simply because GG would toss feces at the crowd, he'd punch his fans in the face, you had to avoid his naked body as he tried to wrestle fans & it just seemed so dangerous on every level.

When you see Marilyn Manson or Iggy Pop atleast you know the danger was onstage...when you saw GG Allin though the danger was EVERYWHERE!

This is a dvd NOT meant for young children, I'd say it's something every rock fan should see once so you know what GG was about.

---

---

SCREAM QUEENS Swimsuit Sensations / Knockout Workout DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 3 stars!

I'll explain why I gave this dvd a "3" rating before I start the review...the quality on this dvd is like someone dubbed a 3rd generation vhs tape onto a digital format...it's watchable BUT very annoying at times if you like clean, sharp video.

This dvd is a double feature, it's 2 separate videos on one dvd & the premise of both is simple....scream queen actresses doing aerobics!

The girls on this video are slightly outdated, the hair styles & clothing give that away!

The liner notes on this dvd detail the fact that the master copies of these 2 releases were lost & the best possible copies were used to make this dvd...there are some audio & video crops & drops, but if you love schlock b-movies that have camp value & are goofy with b-movie horror chicks then this dvd will make you laugh.

Again, the premise is simple, b-movie horror girls doing exercises!

---

---

SCREAM DREAM DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 3 stars!

As with the review above this, I gave this dvd a "3" rating based on video quality...it's like a 3rd generation vhs copy!

The devil, horror, heavy metal & out-dated looking people...this campy horror movie is a fun drunken watch for those who love b-movies.

Bad acting, bad plot, no stars, no theme other than death & sex, this is low budget cinema at it's best!

---

---

HORNO DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 5 stars!

After reviewing 2 bad quality horror flicks I get to finally review a good quality b-movie that's actually funny, interesting & quit enjoyable!

HORNO is a funny horror flick that's basically a "Horror Porno". It's a movie inside of a movie because the premise is that a porn director wants to make a horror porn movie but what happens is his movie becomes real life.

The Zombie outbreak kills most of the people in this movie & the movie's main "male porn star" is a funny guy who pretend to be "straight" while he openly admits he did gay porn & can't get hard when he's with women.

There's a giant fake penis that's displayed alot in the movie..it makes the fake prick in Boogie Nights look tiny!

The acting is hit or miss at times, but the theme, the visuals, the audio, the video, even the plot...it's all kinds o' disgusting, it's goofy b-movie crap & it's a fun watch from start to finish if you remember that you're watching a b-movie, it is what it is & it's meant to be slightly goofy!

I think each actor in this movie tries to be really over the top & out there...that's what makes the movie fun too, the lack of stars is not detectable simply because the actors give it their all & they make the movie fun!

This is a fun movie, if you like crazy Horror flicks filmed on a low budget then you'll dig this....I might add too that there's no major over-the-top nude scenes either, which is odd considering this is supposed to be a "horror porn". The only real nudity you see is a huge fake penis!

---

---

PHIL COLLINS Going Back - DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

The new Phil Collins dvd is an ALL covers release & for me personally it's like a trip back to when I was a little boy & I'd hear all those classic motown songs my Mom would play in the car.

Phil Collins band is huge, he has back up singers, horns, & some of the Funk Brothers are even there!

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" kicks off the disc & Phil does the vocals justice while the band delivers a solid musical performance.

"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is a really strong song & the performance on this one is damn strong!

The Smokey Robisons classic "Tears of a Clown", when performed by Phil, it almost sounds like a Phil original in all honesty & it's because Phil sings this song with amazing conviction & it really comes from the heart!

There's some cool bonus footage on this disc that includes an interview with Phil where he details his love for these songs & why he chose to do this concert & my favorite bonus clips are the rehearsal footage which is accompanied by commentary from Phil...Phil is a class act & it's interesting to realize he started out as a drummer in Genesis, then became one of the most recognizable singers of the 80's with a flurry of hits, yet, when you see the man & really analyze him looks wise, Phil is an average, every day man...there's no rock star cliché's, no rock star attitude & you can just tell when you watch this dvd that Phil is a down to earth man who's true passion is in music.

---

FRANK ZAPPA The Torture Never Stops DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 5 stars!

The hype of Frank Zappa was hard to explain...even to this day I still never understood what Frank Zappa was about other than he wanted to make you question things & he liked to make abstract music with no bounds.

"The Torture Never Stops" is a new dvd in stores that features a concert from Halloween night in 1981 from New York. Some of this show was broadcast on tv but remained unreleased for many years till now!

Frank takes the stage for the first song, "Black Napkins", playing guitar & jamming with the band, but his guitar playing moments on this video are limited & he's more of a frontman who croons on every song & he allows his vocals & his persona to be his instrument for this show.

A very young Steve Vai is also onstage with Zappa & It's funny to see Vai playing Fender guitars since he's known for his Ibanez guitars!

It's a hoot to watch this dvd, look at the Halloween crowd from 1981, Frank's clothes were hard to explain, his lyrics often times make no sense & the music on this video had NO real direction, no real genre, there's funk, there's rock, there's country, there's new wave...musically Frank did what he did & that's all you can really say about his music!

There's a hand full o' bonus tracks that didn't make the initial airing of the show which are included, as well as a full discography & videography of Zappa's work.

On a personal level, Frank Zappa actually grew up in the same exact town & area that I grew up in & in downtown Baltimore they recently constructed a bust of Frank's head to show respect for the man & his music since he was a Maryland boy!

I guess the best way I can describe what I saw on this dvd is like this: This disc, like Zappa himself, is weird, wild & wonderful from start to finish...you have to leave your mind open, expect the unexpected & be cool with experimentation!

Overall this is a fun concert for music lovers.

---

INXS mystify DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

I made a comment recently that when I saw the movie "Get Him To The Greek" that I thought the main "rock star" character was based after Michael Hutchence & watching this dvd I am 100% my feeling IS correct!

This dvd captures INXS on Rockpalast on what would be the bands last tour right before Michael passed away.

The bands set was good, they played all the hits, a few new ones & what you realize when the concert starts is that the band was really in their prime at this point..."Elegantly Wasted" was the bands new single from their last studio record with Michael, there was a great slag on the band Oasis in that song, then the band went right into "New Sensation" which was a pop hit in the late 80's that helped to propel the band to rock superstardom!

Michael's performance is interesting...he actually talked through many of the bands biggest hits while mixing his actual singing in as well...I think the sultry talking parts are what made the bands sound really because there was a dark sexiness to the bands music & I'd describe Michael's take on singing as him being the "White Barry White" if that makes any sense.

"Devil Inside" loses a bit of the darkness that the studio version had & when the band plays hit after hit you can tell that they kinda gloss over the playing & production a bit & I think that just happens when a bands been around a long time & they play the "hits" for years & years....what I'm trying to say is that the performance of the older hits comes off like a "hits" medley basically because those songs are performed over & over & over again.

"Suicide Blonde" closes the bands set out & the band were in great spirits for this show, they played with passion, Michael went to the front row & shook hands with the fans, the band smiled & seemed to genuinely enjoy their set, then sadly a few months later they lost their singer & have never been the same since.

The bonus clips on this disc are from a rare 1984 performance the band did for Rockpalast & it's interesting to see how the band changed over time...they all had mullets, pompadours or rat tails...bad hair cuts a plenty!

"Don't Change" is the only hit performed from the '84 set & it shows the bands potential & what I got from the bonus clips was, I didn't realize just how much the band started out in a new wave direction, then they changed to a more modern pop/rock sound that made them famous!

---

---

QUEENSRYCHE Empire - 20th Anniversary Edition Track Listing: Best I Can, The Thin Line, Jet City Woman, Della Brown, Another Rainy Night, Empire, Resistance, Silent Lucidity, Hand on Heart, One and Only, Anybody Listening?, Last Time in Paris, Scarborough Fair, Dirty Lil Secret

BONUS DISC: Live @ Hammersmith Odeon 1990: Resistance, Walk In The Shadows, Best I Can, Empire, The Thin Line, Jet City Woman, Roads To Madness, Silent Lucidity, Hand on Heart, Take Hold of the Flame

Rating: 6 stars!

p> It's hard to believe but "Empire" by Queensryche is 20 years old & to celebrate the anniversary of that landmark release the band has unveiled a new 2 cd box set which contains the entire "Empire" record with 3 bonus cuts on the "studio" disc & the 2nd cd is a live concert from 1990 @ the Hammersmith Odeon.

The interesting thing about the live disc is that it clearly states on the disc that there are NO overdubs & that the ENTIRE cd is totally live! That is a rarity for the mere fact that most live records are "fixed" up in the studio & essentially NOT real live records.

The live disc sounds superb, the band makes no mistakes, Geoff's voice sounds great, Chris & the boys play their asses off & there's a few older selections included on the disc as well!

Packaging wise, the box not only includes the 2 cd's but also has a fold out pushead created poster & I'll admit it, pushead will ALWAYS be affiliated with Metallica & YES, the poster is very Metallica-ish! Also included in the box is a set of 5 cards that join together to create a poster of the band...each card has one band member on it & they join together to make a cool mural!

"Last Time In Paris" has always been one of my favorite Queensryche b-sides & it's cool to have it finally be a part of the full record, alongside the Simon & Garfunkle cover "Scarborough Fair" & "Dirty Lil Secret".

Logistically, this set came out towards the Holiday season & makes an idea gift for any metal fans who enjoy classic metal from Queensryche!

---

---

JOHNNY WINTER Live Through The 80's Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

Johnny Winter epitomizes Texas blues & I always find it sad how so few people really know of this guitar great because he's inspired countless players over the years, yet he still goes unrecognized for the legend that he truly is.

The first release in this set was "Live Through the 70's" & now we get "Live Through the 80's" which is essentially a killer compilation of pro-shot footage of Johnny Winter & his band from the 1980's.

The Massey Hall 1983 footage features a younger Johnny rippin' through rockers & his drummer for this footage is a kick ass hard rock player...personally, I think the drummer for this concert pushed Johnny to play alot harder than he usually does & therefore that guy made the band really tight with excellent fills & intense rhythm!

The Roskilde 1984 footage is great up until a rowdy fan in the crowd decides to throw something at Johnny...when Johnny gets hit with the object it pisses him off & he stops the song & tells the crowd that he came there to give them some music & if they are gonna throw things he won't play & with that Johnny walks off the stage & bass player John thanks the crowd as they exit the stage!

"Please Come Home For Christmas" is a rare forgotten gem & it's quite touching in all honesty.

The set is closed off with a performance from 1988 from Italy that rounds out the set very well. Included in this set are 2 promo music videos which are absolute rarities & the fans will love to see...in one video Johnny makes fun of Jimi Hendrix & ZZ Top if you watch closely!

Johnny is a master of slide guitar & Texas blues...this is a must have dvd for ALL guitar enthusiasts!

---

---

LIZ PHAIR Funstyle Track Listing: Smoke, Bollywood, You Should Know Me, Miss September, My My, Oh Bangladesh, Bang! Bang!, Beat Is Up, Satisfied, And He Slayed Her, U Hate It

BONUS DISC: "Girlysound": Miss Mary Mack, White Babies, Elvis Song, Valentine, Speed Racer, In Love With Yourself, Wild Thing, Love Song, Don't Hold Your Breath, California

Rating: 5 stars!

Liz Phair is back!!

Initially this record was leaked on her website almost totally unannounced & fans were downloading it for a few dollars way ahead of the actual street date/physical release.

The thing about this record is, it's artistically unique, quite the weird record for indie princess Liz Phair, this record delves heavily into sampling, layering, the songs are less about being proper & more about being artistically outspoken.

"Smoke" starts the cd off & I'll come out & say it...it's a weird art rock song!

"Bollywood" is next & it's also a sample heavy song with no real direction & the story is interestingly weird!

"You Should Know Me" is the first REAL song on the cd & it's a cool acoustic ballad, but the next song, "Miss September" is the one that I feel is the strongest on the record & possibly the best song on the entire disc!

"Oh, Bangladesh" has a great Motown styled groove & "Beat Is Up" has weird samples through it. "Satisfied" is a solid rocker that I dig alot, then "U Hate It", which happens to be the closer for the record, closes the entire record like it started...sample heavy & uniquely weird with no overall direction.

As an added bonus, Liz included the "Girlysounds" record which is a highly traded record that Liz recorded prior to being signed back in the day...the sound on this is excellent compared to some versions in existence that have been heavily duplicated.

---

---

THE LAST ROYALS EP Track Listing: Backseat Lovers, Crystal Vases, Always To Belong, Come Take My Hand (demo), Backseat Lovers (Crayon Remix)

Rating: 4 stars!

Musically, this record is all over the place, it's got elements of pop, rock, alternative, New Wave & more! This band is essentially 2 guys, Eric & Mason, and they created a unique EP that's got no real radio singles, yet it's more expressive than any other record I've heard this year!

---

---

JULIE THE BAND Wild As The Sky Track Listing: Working For The Wind, Memories In My Head, Wild As The Sky, Big Boned, Perfect Match, Free As A Cowboy

Rating: 4 stars!

Lazy country rock with tinges of alternative & Americana....Julie the Band is an interesting country rock outfit & every song comes off slow paced & groovy for the most part & the best song on the disc is "Free As A Cowboy" because it's a bit faster than all the rest & it has a great vibe to it. This 6 song EP sums up the band pretty well, they are a country/rock hybrid that's all about the vibe rather than the aggression.

---

---

CHROMATIC BLACK s/t Track Listing: Scream and Shout, Alright, Do You Wanna, Under Pressure, Human Animals, Asshole In The Mirror, Stay on Holiday, Night Time, Cos We Are All Spiders caught In Our Own Web, Too Primitive For Intelligence, No Reason

Rating: 6 stars!

Holy Crap Bat-Man, Chromatic Black kicks ass!

Chromatic Black is a modern day Sex Pistols, they mix AC/DC chunk with Sex Pistols power & the opening cut, "Scream and Shout" is part "Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC & part "God Save the Queen" by Sex Pistols!

"Alright" is one of my personal favorites off this disc and you have to love the song "Night Time" simply because it starts off with cowbell...any song with a chunk of cowbell is cool!

Musically, this band is loud, fast & pissed off...they have a really aggressive sound, yet they don't overdose the guitar tone with super heavy distortion which I really like about this band.

The songs are loud & fast, yet they keep the sound simple & not too cluttered...ideally the record has an old school feel & I appreciate the fact that the main emphasis in on the vocals more than a band just beating up their instruments in order to express a point!

The artwork for this record is quite cool too, if you know anything about the printing process & color breakdown you will appreciate what the band did with the art direction!

---

CHAD KICHULA Killer Track Listing: Killer, Still Around, Over Me, Miner Road, Mothers Cry, Bar Fly, King of Despair, Listening, Few Dollars More, Miles and Miles

Rating: 3.5 stars!

The post modern revolution is alive & well with artist Chad Kichula & his new record "Killer". I like the art that's got an old connect the dot gun on the cover...musically "Still Around" is punchy, "Over Me" has an interesting rhythm, "Mothers Cry" is just a little boring to be honest, "Bar Fly" has a ska swagger with just a touch of country & overall this record has a folky & organic feel to it.

---

LINWOOD Just Seconds Before Track Listing: Roman Candles, Accused, Part of Me, Mercy Killing, Scar, Human Celebration, Right or Wrong, Clarity, How To End This, Hillside, Breaking My Silence, Sold Our Secrets

Rating: 3 stars!

I hear alot o' slick sounding records on a daily basis & this is NOT one!

Vocally, the singer has a weak voice & as much as I hate to admit it, the weak vocals make the songs suffer in quality. "Roman Candle" is prime example of that....the music isn't horrible but the vocals just do nothing to take the song further.

"Part of Me" is a good mellow song but again, the vocals add nothing to the mix.

"Mercy Killing" would be the best song on the disc if the guitars were just a little heavier.

What I will say about this cd is, the band is not that horribly bad, the worst part of this cd is that it's easily forgettable.

---

---

NOAH Immortal (single) Track Listing: Radio Edit, Live from Abbey Road, Acoustic

Rating: 6 stars!

I admit that I rarely review singles, BUT, this one caught my attention & here's why:

There are 3 mixes of the same song...version #1 is the studio version & features members of Wu-Tang but don't let that fool you..there's elements of hip hop but this is more of a guitar driven song ala Everlast!

Version #2 is a longer version of the song done live at Abbey Road & it starts out with just piano & midway through the song the band kicks in & rocks hard on this version!

Version #3 is simple & just acoustic, BUT, I have to emphasize that the vocals of Noah are what made EACH version so memorable & good...he has a soulful croon that is very easy on the ears!

---

THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO OUR HOME PAGE!.

---

---

A DAY TO REMEMBER What Separates Me From You Track Listing: Sticks & Bricks, All I Want, It's Complicated, This is The House That Doubt Built, 2nd Sucks, Better Off This Way, All Signs Point To Lauderdale, You Be Tails I'll Be Sonic, Out of Time, If I Leave

Rating: 6 stars!

p> I was pleasantly surprised to hear the new A Day To Remember record because the first track, "Sticks & Bricks" starts off like a freakin' Hatebreed song, it's hard as nails & heavy as f**k, then the pace of the record changes with "All I Want" that's more melodic, still heavy, but more punk than hardcore for sure!

The band is on fire with tracks that range from heartfelt love songs to distressed anthems of angst & depression.

I really have to give the band props for their artwork on this record...the packaging is complex, it folds out in numerous directions & the animation inside the packaging is really cool comic book styled art...then the actual CD booklet is laid out to look like handwritten lyrics in a notebook; the person in charge of art direction gets a wealth of thanks from me because I appreciate the detail & obvious work that went into the packaging of this cd.

The songs you need to check out are: "2nd Sucks", "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" & "Out of Time" which I feel really represent the best parts of this cd.

I think the best way I could describe this band is if you took Blink 182 & Bad Religion & blended the 2, then added a better element of songwriting..that's what the new record "What Separates Me From You" by A Day To Remember is like. Again, I want to commend the band for putting out an amazing cd complete with amazing artwork!

---

---

IMMOLATE Ruminate Track Listing: Heathen, Hot Heat, Live By (Knife & Gun), Kill Your Idols, Trap Me, Tune Out, Ruminate, Broken, Intergator, Seven Heads, Code

Rating: 5 stars!

Immolate is a muddy sounding metal outfit that's got a new record out entitled "Ruminate" which mixes old school metal with lo-fi punk energy.

One part Dead Milkmen, 2 parts Nirvana, the solo's have an amateur sound, the vocals are rough, the riffs are hard...this is a rarity in the world of pro-tools & pitch correction music!

"Heathen" kills from the first notes of the song, "Hot Heat" is sludgy riff rock & "Trap Me" really reminds me of Nirvana on a musical level & I mean that in a good way!

"Broken" has that Nirvana sound as well with a garage meets basement jam vibe.

"Seven Heads" is my personal favorite & almost reminds me of Soundgarden in various parts.

"Code" is an 8+minute jam that closes out the disc & overall I dug this record, it's nothing like the crap you hear today, it's got an older sound & feel & if you like The Melvins I think you'll dig this band!

---

---

JOHN EYE Cannonicus 3.14 Track Listing: Ride, Cannonicus. Sun Dance, Cannonicus. Ra Dub-Step, Cannonicus. BTM Noise Mix, Sun Dance (Traditional), Song of Cannonicus, Cannonicus. Rivetburn Mix, Cannonicus. DJ Osheen House Mix

Rating: 6 stars!

THIS IS NOT A METAL RELEASE! I had to tell my metal readers out there so you guys didn't freak on me...this record is a full on dance/ambient/trance/dub-step remix record that's all over the place, yet it makes perfect sense when you open your mind to new shit & explore different ways to make music.

This 8 track disc is mostly remixes that mix hard rock & heavy guitars with bass & drum beats, synths, dj mixes galore, this record is brilliant for all the different styles of music it melds together.

Dance music on acid, club music for creeps...just 2 phrases that come to mind when I listen to this cooler than thou record.

Cannonicus is the main song that's remixed to death on this record & track #5 is actually a traditional indian song that's in the middle as a nice breather to the non-stop beats on this disc!

I actually saw a friend DJ recently at his club he runs on Tuesday nights here in Maryland & after watching him & the DJ's that spin I definitely have a large amount of respect for the beats & mixes I hear on this disc...thx Sean!

As an added bonus, next to each song on this disc they list the BPM!

---

---

THE OPEN FEEL EP Track Listing: Strength, Stillhere, Transition, Detach

Rating: 4 stars!

The 4 songs on this disc go just over 16 minutes in length & make the listener yearn for just a variation...the overall tone of the music is shoegaze, it's got female vocals that sound pretty yet never really take it to the next level like a good singer should.

"Strength" starts the record off & it's almost as if each song blends into each other with no variations...not bad if you like repetitive shoegaze, but what I think would make this band interesting is if they made an up-tempo song that kinda rocked as opposed to making brooding tunes that come off moody.

What I will say about the artwork though is that I really dig it, it's all pink & purple & really pretty..it reminds me of my lovely girlfriend Chelsea!

---

---

noMOREdolls Another Way of Living Track Listing: The Boxeur, Wrong Direction, Another Way of Living, Longer, Soul Is The Way, Revelation (trip one), Awakening, Lie, Red Lines, Suddenly

Rating: 4.9 stars!

After listening to this record I am reminded of Concrete Blonde & late Souxie & The Banshees...the music is lo-fi, dark at it's core & deep, yet there is an element of hope & happiness which is mixed in with the darker elements.

"Another Way of Living" is my personal favorite off this cd & it's got a good rock swagger that's part 80's new wave, part 80's rock...it's a song you can dance to because the bass line & beat moves, the guitar tone has a heavy echo on it & the vocals are layered over it all so it moves like 2 lovers in a bed for the first time.

"Soul Is The Way" has an interesting tone & almost garage band appeal to it, yet the vocals add that dark feel to the sound.

"Revelation" is an epic & moving 6+ minute song that moves, shakes & makes the world around you crumble...it's hard to explain how the song makes you feel, it's complex yet simple & I would bet it's more or less the band just experimenting with sounds rather than creating art, BUT, what works on this track is the experimentation & the art of it all!

"Lie" is bitter yet sweet & "Suddenly" closes off the disc with a somber yet soothing tone that almost reminds me of The Killers.

---

---

VELVET REVOLVER Live in Houston - DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars!

The band needs no intro, it's Scott Weiland from STP, Slash, Duff & Matt from GNR & that other dude no one really knew...Velvet Revolver released 2 full length records & were the ultimate hard rock supergroup that toured the world for a few years, then sadly fell apart due to turmoil within the band.

This new DVD captures the band in high-def on their last world tour, you get a killer set list that covers both Velvet Revolver records as well as a few GNR & STP covers to boot.

"Sucker Train Blues" is a rock n roll freight train that the band used to open their set on this night & 4 songs into their set "Crackerman" is pulled out & what I will admit is that Slash's solo's are sloppy & not really as tight as the one's played by Dean from STP...Slash adds his own stink to every cover & some are good, some are so/so. "Sex Type Thing" sounds killer, but I think Weiland sounds better singing GNR covers than Slash does playing STP covers.

"It's So Easy" lost the angry, pissed off energy that it once had way back when AXL was young & hungry, but "Used To Love Her" sounds killer & authentic!

"Fall To Pieces" is probably the song that is the best standout moment on this disc...it's honestly beautiful & spliced in between every song or so are random band interviews, footage of the band looking for a singer, a girl who's talking about random things that really don't pertain to the concert & overall the mix of videos & interviews flavor the concert well, but seeing the bands onstage energy makes you wonder if Scott Weiland will break down, talk to the guys & get back together with Velvet Revolver at some point, because watching this dvd it's clear that the band had an amazing stage presence, great energy & probably what DID work to the bands advantage was that you had 3 BIG egos on that stage who all carried the brunt of the "rock star" vibe as if it were a prized possession.

This dvd is a kick ass rock n roll show & that IS the bottom line, if you like Stone Temple Pilots & Guns N Roses this is a dvd you've gotta have!

---

THE BIG 4 Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax - Live in Bulgaria Blu-Ray Track Listing:

Rating: 5 stars!

The hype of the overseas "Big 4" concerts...Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth & Anthrax all playing shows together, then at the end jamming on "Am I Evil"...it's an interesting billing, it captures the 4 big San Francisco thrash bands from the mid 80's who went on to change the face of popular music, YET, I find the show to have faults & here's why I say that.

Anthrax did impact the heavy metal scene back in their day, but the band basically went long enough to lose their relevance in the rock world essentially & Scott Ian became known for hosting VH-1 shows more than playing guitar in Anthrax, PLUS, Anthrax were NEVER on the same level as Slayer or Metallica.

Megadeth has always been Dave Mustaine, BUT, Mustaine lost his crown as metal king when he started putting out bland records & changed band members more times than Paris Hilton changes boyfriends & dogs.

Metallica sold out after the black album & lost their spot in the hearts of the die hard metal community, they put out "Load" & became trendy radio rock that got played every hour on modern rock radio...gone was the anger, the edge & the relavence...what they eventually wound up doing was releasing a video of the band going to an over-priced therapist & they showed the world that the Monsters of Metal were really yuppies, weird art collectors & cry babies.

To their credit, Slayer are the only band who managed to maintain their credibility & the only significant thing to note is that Tom Araya admitted that he was a Christian & NOT the anti-christ he once claimed to be.

Ok, I purged that from my system, so here's the scoop on this blu-ray disc...it's a kick ass show that features the 4 bands I mentioned above, Anthrax starts the show off with a decent but fairly short & sweet set that's followed by Megadeth.

Chris Broderick helped to save Megadeth as far as I'm concerned, but it's still the Dave Mustaine show. It is nice to see David Ellefson back in the band now.

Slayer played directly before Metallica & for what it's worth, Slayer's energy is more intense than Metallica's!

Slayer is the only band on the bill to feature the original line up still in tact & although the guys are much older these days, they still kill it live!

Metallica play last on this bill & pull out all the hits as well as some newer tracks off the Death Magnetic record.

The highlight of this disc is the jam where everyone EXCEPT Kerry King played onstage for the song "Am I Evil?"

All in all, this is a killer 6 hour disc that will leave you exhausted if you try to watch even 1/2 of this disc in one setting! Well worth the $$ for sure!

---

HEALING SIXES Blue Jay Track Listing: Bluejay on the Wrenhouse, Fine Time, Superhot, Move On, System, Walked Away, Grass and Gasoline, You Want It?, That's Alright

Rating: 6 stars!

This cd starts off with an acoustic track that's quite beautiful with it's clean guitar playing, the soulful southern vocals of Doug Henthorn melt like butter in your ears & when "Fine Time" kicks in you hear a more "rock" sound to the band with a very 70's styled vibe to things.

"Move On" is probably my favorite song & it's simply because it's got a cool riff rock beginning that's slightly lazy in overall vibe yet the laidback feel is what makes it such a groovin' rocker!

"System" has a Led Zeppelin styled hook to it & the song starts off with just a bass lick.

"You Want It?" is a smokin' rocker as well that's got an ass shakin' groove to it & overall this is a very retro sounding rock record that borrows from all the great riff rock bands of the past & that's not a bad thing either because there's not many bands out there doing what Healing Sixes are!

---

STAN BUSH Dream the Dream Track Listing:

Never Hold Back, I'm Still Here, Don't Give Up On Love, Two Hearts, In My Life, Love Is The Road, If There Is All There Is, Dream The Dream, More Than A Miracle, Your Time, All That I Am, Sam's The (The Touch)

Rating: 4.5 stars!

Inspirational lyrics, good production & overall the music reminds me of 80's rock...Stan Bush's new cd, "Dream The Dream" is a fun listen, form & function alike, this cd has some powerful writing, the guitar riffs are catchy & the keyboards flavor each song appropriatly.

Richard Marx, Eddie Money, Y&T, Bryan Adams & even a little Journey...that's what I hear when I listen to this cd, style wise & that's an impressive list of hit makers!

"Your Time" is my personal favorite off this cd & it's got a good pop hook.

For more info on Stan Bush go to www.stanbush.com

---

---

Home | Contact | About Rock N Roll Experience | Advertising Inquiries |
Content is © 2010 Rock N Roll Experience. All Rights Reserved.
All Content by Bob Suehs.