BLACK STONE CHERRY - "FAMILY TREE" (2018)

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "FAMILY TREE"
(Running time: 52:54 minutes; 13 songs)
("Mascot Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, already the next record-review is here and now aimed at you, yes, and this sort of like again after one more too sweaty and too heated night… hot time, summer in the city, I guess… and here and now you get my record-review on the (brand)new BLACK STONE CHERRY full-length-album titled "FAMILY TREE" released still sort of pretty recently this year in 2018 via "MASCOT RECORDS" on a beautiful desgined digi-pak CD (and pretty much also on LP I would guess). I discovered them sort of just last year or two years ago or so with their phenomenal 2016 full-length-album masterpiece "KENTUCKY" and so I was more than only a bit curious when I finally got aware of that "FAMILY TREE" was released and, oh hell yeahr, that huge curiosity of me, myself, and I was far more than justified because with "FAMILY TREE" BLACK STONE CHERRY in 2018 absolutely remained on the fantastic and incredible high level of skills and qualities they have reached and conquered with "KENTUCKY" and they even enriched and varied it all even more. Compared to/with "KENTUCKY" the first impression that you get from/of "FAMILY TREE" is that it's far more colourful and that it shines in a by far more warm(er) light (at least that was my first impression) and this first impression only grows stronger when you then finally listening to it. A real monster, a true beast of an album with a very huge own identity, filled with huge and big valuable loads of nutrious fresh ideas and that's massively bubbling over with life. The Classic Rock and/or Vintage Rock influences grew very big this time and are massively enriched with very strong (also sometimes tribalistic arranged) Soul marks and cultivated with very strong and damn cool and very present Gospel inspired (or so it seems to me) passages that give the songs and the whole album not only a very special and damn own and unique character and identity but also a pretty different and with that also a very colourful and soulful timbre and all is melted together by phenomenal songwriting full of exciting twists and turns and filled with tons of ironclad-like grapping moments and filled with very diverse arrangements and an in general highly multi-layered and multi-facetted compositorial approach of writing and delivering songs with a very 'rousing mind-set' and filled to the maximum with high octane energy and marked by very strong and alive-lively dynamics as well as the incredible huge ability to write and create with each and every song a through'n'through damn hymn and each as exciting, grapping, rousing, touching, and interesting as the other, oh boy, fantastic, and all done'n'delivered by masterly skilled musicians (as well as songwriters). All is marked by highly charismatic lead vocals, highly diverse and really bright and loud singing guitars, a warm and yet perwful and loud walkin'n'talkin' bass, really powerful punching drumming, and all is enriched by very intense and atmospheric backing choirs and brilliant keyboard and organ parts, various horns, and a breath-taking percussion section. It's just absolutely larger than life and damn groundbreaking and just a damn rich and a highly diverse total masterpiece of an album, one of the strongest of and in and for 2018 for sure, with a totally unique character so that any band comparisions are at the end of the day sort of nonsense, yes, but if you really need some other names then you can loosely find BLACK STONE CHERRY's "FAMILY TREE"  standing on a very independently position somewhere between LYNYRD SKYNYRD, the BLUES PILLS, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, and BRAND NEW SIN as well as we all probably won't get an album like "FAMILY TREE" that soon again with bringing Alterantive/Modern Rock and Classic/Vintage Rock so perfectly and easy flowing together so that fans of for example NICKELBACK will love it as well as also fans of for example LED ZEPPELIN will also love it anyhow, too. Nothing but an incredible fantastic and an absoultely outstanding album, an amazing one, yes, that's it what BLACK STONE CHERRY's "FAMILY TREE" is and all is then at the end of the day made round by great lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a perfect warm and earthy production-sound. This is 'highliest' recommended to any fan of true and real and just amazing and outstanding Rock/Rock &  Roll music outta there and if you are in that target-group you should know what you have to do by now and right now, point and fact.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.blackstonecherry.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "SOUTHERN FRIED FRIDAY NIGHT" (2018, "FAMILY TREE")

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" (2018)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "AND JUSTICE FOR NOW"
(Running time: 47:20 minutes; 13 songs)
("Prospect Park"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, due to this incredible hot weather… god damn it, I'm sweating my inner organs out, day by day a bit more, I swear… I don't see a chance to sleep anytime soon this night… not that this would be any different to all the nights over the last weeks… and after this weather steals day by day also a lot of my energy and so I haven't done again far less up here the last days then I wanted I thought, yes, I'll now get at least this one here finish'n'ready done and bring this up as a late night post and so without any further ramblings here we go finally one more time again: Here and now you get my anyhow already too far long overdue record-review on the (brand)new FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH full-length-album "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" released pretty to very recently via "PROSPECT PARK" in this year of 2018 on CD and also on limited CD (as well as on vinyl, too) but after I so far still only own the regular-CD-version my record-review here'n'now will be or better is solely on this one. I will spare me any words about all this… hm... hype'n'farce'n'stuff that's sort of always surrounding FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, yes, I like their musick, their songs and albums, so more and some less like mostly always, and live they totally convinced me and this is all I have to say and you need to know right here and right now. Their precursor release "GOT YOUR SIX" was still sort of okay but at the end of the day simply too dull, too constructed, too predictable, too forced-hard, and simply too flat and too one-dimensional, too boring to really be grapping for more than a few spins and this macho-like rebel-attitude simply too crappy delivered and too superficial done and too unauthentic embossed to be to anyone who's older than eighteen a serious 'thing'. In my book their by far weakest release to date. So I wasn't really that excited when I finally saw "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" in my local media-store but due to a very 'consumer-friendly' price I finally anyway took it with me anyhow even without having that huge expectations. But, yes, the 'things' thankfully and finally changed again with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE", hell yeahr, because the guys created finally again a really good and a damn strong album that's very emotional, melodic, anthemic/hymnal, and in a sort of very often symphonic-melancholic way very heartfelt and soulful and this for all the right reasons and it's finally and thankfully again pretty to in parts also very multi-facetted and variation(s)-rich marked by strong and exciting and especially all in all really pretty grapping songwriting that takes you on an intense ride with a bulldozer-like onwards plowing pick-up-truck down a dirty and dusty highway through some desolate landscapes but with a bright and powerful shining red-flaming sun finally again dawning at the horizon with huge and honest emotions shaking you all the ride again and again, all pushed forwards by fantastic multi-facetted and really larger-than-life vokillz, brilliant done and very diverse guitar playing, and a stunning and heavy rhythm section, all driven forwards by very skilled musicians and songwriters in the driver-seat(s), yes, and so expect a very strong bastard-child born and bred in nearly equal parts by PANTERA, BRAND NEW SIN, and NICKELBACK, yes, some great cover-versions and suprisingly strong lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a broad and fat widescreen production-sound then round it all nicely up, yes, and I have clearly to say that I am really in love especially with the sort of more 'balladesk' tracks and so I would and do recommend you especially "SHAM PAIN", "BLOODY", "WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE", "STUCK IN MY HEAD", and "WILL THE SUN EVER RISE" to you and also the more harder and harsher and heavier hitting "TOP OF THE WORLD" and "ROCK BOTTOM" really conquer massively and I have also to say that you won't find a real weaker or truly weak song on this album, yes, just that you know it. Okay, that's it, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH seem to be finally back on track again with "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" and I can calmly and how-ever clearly recommend it to you, yes, and then that's it for now again.

(8 of 10 points)

https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "BLOODY" (2018, "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE")

CKY - "THE PHOENIX" (2017)

CKY - "THE PHOENIX"
(Running time: 30:45 minutes; 8 songs)
("Entertainment One" & "SPV"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, me again, next post, next record, next review, yes, and this time on the new album of/by a band that I also just recently discovered this very year of and in 2017, for what the damn bloody fuck reasons ever, and here and now it is all about the brandnew CKY full length release "THE PHOENIX" released still pretty recently in 2017 via "ENTERTAINMENT ONE" and "SPV"; and eight years that passed by since its proper actual full length precursor album "CARVER CITY" from 2009 the albumtitle is maybe pretty 'programmatic' or sort of. After CKY were (without any kind of justification) more or less (beside some cool shirts back then) totally unknown to me I will spare me any band introduction and will jump straight and direct into the action, yes, and I will do so this time with naming you the probably biggest "What's wrong with it? That's wrong with it!" part of the whole album... it's simply by far too short, its running time is way too damn short, point and fact. Beside this... damn it... this is a damn strong and really fresh and exciting and mostly nicely varying and diverse metallic as well as grungy modern Alternative (Hard) Rock album that leaves you truly demanding for more. Beside this there aren't really negative points. Surely not all is gold but really pretty much and it is all on a strong and really fucking good level of quality and with the lead voacls, hell yeahr, the singer is so incredible strong with his very cool and smooth and yet very forceful style and way of singing and intonation, oh yes, this is really, really damn very, very strong and a pretty unique and a the songs and the music very strong marking feature of CKY's music on "THE PHOENIX", bloody hell yeahr, with such a singer and such lead vocals delivered by such a singer you already have one hell of  a huge plus already from the get-go on your side and so do CKY here on and with "THE PHOENIX" and this without a single doubt. Beside the really outstanding vocals we get a big and strong guitar work that's really stunning and dustdry boneshaking heavy and yet very sensitive and melodic and above all really grooving as hell and wafting with smoothe and chilled tones and that's packed up full with grapping playful elements and shines with a lot of passion and soul in a really just nothing but cool (and also pretty unique characteristic) way and this with the riffing and in the rhythm department as well as and maybe even especially with some bombing lead and solo work, yes, also the guitars are a true trademark of the sound and music of CKY (at least here on "THE PHOENIX"). Then there is the strongly present walking and talking bass and the stunning and nicely massive drumming adding beefy meat to the bones of "THE PHOENIX" as well as a cool organ that's really enriching the songs in most parts heavily. The songwriting is also pretty fresh and focusses beside some nice surprises and play- and soulful moments especially on the strong arrangements of the rhythmic structure with their strong organic grooves and their in most parts strongly rousing alignment. And here definitely a bunch of skilled musicians is at work, yes, just for the record. Maybe imagine a very self-contained mixture out of AUDIOSLAVE, DANKO JONES, DEFTONES, some new METALLICA, a bit of CREED, and some PUDDLE OF MUDD, hm... maybe, and you get a good first impression of where to start with your imagination of what is waiting here for you with CKY's "THE PHOENIX". At the end of the day a bit more variations and a bit more diversity to the grooves and the rhythm structures and "THE PHOENIX" would be even more better but also so anyhow CKY delivered a really damn strong album here with it that also comes with strong lyrics, a beautiful artwork, and a pretty natural and yet fat'n'heavy production sound that's a perfect match to/with the music and my personal favorites are "REPLACEABLE", "DAYS OF SELF DESTRUCTION", "UNKNOWN ENEMY", "HEAD FOR A BREAKDOWN", and "BETTER THAN GET EVEN", yes, so maybe start your listening sessions with this most precious gems. CKY delivered with "THE PHOENIX" a really damn strong album that I can only recommend in a very sure and calm way to you, point and fact.
(8 of 10 points)
https://www.facebook.com/ckyalliance/?fref=ts (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

CKY - "HEAD FOR A BREAKDOWN" (2017, "THE PHOENIX")

STONE SOUR - "HYDROGRAD" (2017)

STONE SOUR - "HYDROGRAD"
(Running time: 65:21 minutes; 15 songs)
("Roadrunner Records"; 2017; CD):

Okay, back at it again, and it's like 'ordered', damn it, the weekend's finally here and a long planned concert trip with a bunch of good old friends is up... and now I feel a damn fucking strong 'cold' breaking pretty massively through - I can't eat how much I want to puke right now... wish me the best that tomorrow things will look somehow pretty different again so that I will be able to go on that trip and clebrate SIX FEET UNDER and a big bunch of other bands live. If this turns out to happen that way then this very post here will be for this weekend pretty much the only post, yes, if not then you will get more new stuff from/of/by me to read up here over this weekend. So, yes, now enough of the introducing smalltalk and of me bitching around and now straight into the action again, damn it, and this time here and now you get my record review on the new STONE SOUR album titled "HYDROGRAD" released this very year in 2017 via the almighty "ROADRUNNER RECORDS" label. I pretty much always liked SLIPKNOT, some of their albums more, some of their albums less, and some of their albums I totally loved and still love, definitely, but somehow STONE SOUR always were a band that I never cared that much for... or that I never cared anyhow for so far, to be honest. This sort of 'rockish' Alternative Metal or Modern Metal with that somehow always slightly sinister edge to it all never really appealed to me all this gone and passed me and us by years, hm, and now in 2017 with "HYDROGRAD" today I am not so sure if I maybe never ever gave STONE SOUR a real, fair, and proper chance and try in the past or if STONE SOUR somehow that much changed or became that far better than before over all the years or if it is simply just me who changed quite a bit over the last decade or so or if it is a combination of several of this possibilities or a combination of all of them... I really don't know it... but I know that STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD" is a truly and really damn strong and incredible fucking great album of Alternative Metal/Modern Metal or maybe also metallic Alternative Rock/Modern Rock that really surprised me a heavily and massively this very year. And it all started with their phenomenal catchy and anthemic single "SONG #3", a true and real hymn, that I listened to first, hm, I think this summer (or at least anyhow in the earlier half of this very year of 2017) when it was played on my favorite radio station over here and this pretty much back then on heavy rotation, yes, and STONE SOUR conquered me supremely, definitely, and it was pretty clear that I definitely need to get my hands on "HYDROGRAD", hell yeahr, and so I then finally did one sooner or later beautiful day, yes, and since then STONE SOUR simply sort of own me with this monster that is "HYDROGRAD", yes, and this also for all the right reasons. This album is so incredible rich and exciting and so full of different influences, musical impressions, emotions, moods, and so much filled with a very strong own identity and an unique character and this all on such a high level of skills, quality, songwriting, and musicianship, yes, no matter how hard I try I will not probably but definitely never do it justice anyhow (and I do always my best and try my hardest to do the bands and records I do reviews on as much justice as only possible for me and with not being an native-english-speaker that's even harder for me to do and especially in a case like this here and now), yes, but I will anyhow try my (very) best possible to do a proper review anyway on it, yes, and so further on here and now, for sure, but keep in mind that this will probably to definitely be just a (very) general description of what's going on here on STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and one thing that I have to mention right here and right now is that this very one here is one of the most atmospheric and intense albums in its very own right and style that I have listened to in a (very) long while. Expect one hell of an exciting and grapping guitar work that is massively marking the music of STONE SOUR on "HYDROGRAD" and that combines imressions from very harsh and in parts even 'deathy' Alternative Metal/Modern Metal to heavy and yet very emotional and sort of slightly 'grungy' Alternative Rock/Modern Rock adding up very fresh done (sort of 1970's) Classic Rock moments, truckloads of slightly 'punky' forward pushing and driving Rock'n'Metal riffing, yes, and also Country and Gospel and totally (and in an all positive sense) reduced 'ambient sounds' to the whole mix, yes, and this all done first class, highest skilled, and all platinum styled; and expect also that the guitars shine in the brightest ways and colours in all 'sectors of playing' which means that no matter if we look at respectively listen to the very stunning and fantastic varying rhythm arrangements or the just larger-than-life (out)shining leads, or/and the high skilled and very diverse done solos, yes, and this all in every positive way absolutely over the top, yes, and the guitars also have a very unique special flavour and tone of their very own, yes, and that's only adding up to their larger than life greatness. Then prepare yourself for one of the most charismatic and unique-in-tone as well as most intense and strongly diverse lead singing voices that's around today, oh hell yeahr, and the delivery on "HYDROGRAD" is just absolutely outstanding phenomenal, from screaming outburtsts to cleanest singing we get here all and this all on the most supreme levels of skills, identity, and quality. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. That the rhythm section then finally is just a totally stand-out diverse and tight as well as just sheer forceful and intense affair should need no further explanation here and now, bloody hell yeahr. The songwriting is just incredible as well as 'amazingly' play- and soulful (in all positive senses) and I think you already could or should have a (very) good impression of the high(est) quality and the high(est) skilled intensity and diversity as well as stunning heavyness that's breathing powerful as well as atmospheric life into STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and this in an impressive, in a very impressive way. And, just for the record, yes, the fine gentlemen in/of STONE SOUR are truly high skilled musicians as well. The whole album is a total larger-than-life masterpiece and also for sure one of the very strongest albums of/for/in 2017 (an anyhow very strong year music-wise), yes, here's all purest gold to pure platinum, definitely, but if you should really like to know my personal favorites then here they now come for you, yes, and this would be (in no particular order... maybe) "SONG #3", "TAIPEI PERSON/ALLAH TEA", "HYDROGRAD", "ST. MARIE", "WHEN THE FEVER BROKE", "FRIDAY KNIGHTS", "WHIPLASH PANTS", "ROSE RED VIOLENT BLUE (THIS SONG IS DUMB AND SO AM I)", "THE WITNESS TREES", and "MERCY", purest platinum, period. On top of it all we get absolutely awesome lyrics, very diverse, unique, interesting, and thoughtful, as well as pure beauty artwork, yes, and a very heavy and smashing production sound, oh god damn hell yeahr, turning STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD" into the real deal and to the complete package, point and fact. Okay, even I could go on and on, yes, I think so far for here and now I've said it all what there was to say so far to/about STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and so I will close this anyhow already very, very long review with just saying that any sort of open-minded Rock and Metal fan desperately needs to call this outstanding amazing larger than life masterpiece of an album his or her own, for sure, and this best sooner than later or, the very best, go out and get it as soon as possible and this best instantly right now, hell yeahr, this here is one of the very best albums of 2017, yes, so much I can tell you already right now right here, yes, so go and get it and this best right now, period. And now, of course, cheers and good night.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.stonesour.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

STONE SOUR - "SONG #3" (2017, "HYDROGRAD")

PAPA ROACH - "CROOKED TEETH" (2017)

PAPA ROACH - "CROOKED TEETH"
(Running time: 34:02 minutes; 10 Songs)
("Eleven Seven Music"; 2017; CD):

And already back again, yes, and so now here comes the next dose for you and in this particular case here now you get my record review on the 2017 PAPA ROACH album titled "CROOKED TEETH" released via "ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC" earlier this very year. "CROOKED TEETH" is the 8th full length studio album of/by PAPA ROACH in their pretty impressive career that once started way back then in 1993, yes, that's quite a while now. I would bet that "LAST RESORT" from (and together with) their "INFEST" full length record from back then in the year 2000 was and so far perhaps pretty much still is their very, very biggest hit and even it feels now-a-days sort of like centuries ago with that much water went and still going down the river since then, yes, but still PAPA ROACH are around and so now here in 2017 we are today and they are still rocking out new tunes and records, yes, and their newest one is their current new 2017 full length record "CROOKED TEETH" and it is my first experience again with them since their "GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER" release from years ago back then in 2004, yes, and so you see that before "CROOKED TEETH" PAPA ROACH were pretty much completly off-my-radar-screen for many, many years and for over a decade now already, yes, and I would probably never have thought that this would change any day again - and then finally one day I listened to their phenomenal outstanding new track "HELP" on my favorite radio station and instantly I needed to get my hands on their new record, yes, and so I did and so now here we are. So, okay'n'yes, we have 2017 and PAPA ROACH are (finally) back again with "CROOKED TEETH" and the once Nu Metal and/or Alternative Metal (or maybe also heavy Nu Rock and/or heavy Alternative Rock) 'spitfires' are hitting the scene one more time, hell yeahr, and they have a damn strong new album on board that they carry with them bringing it to us. Maybe we do seek any new larger than life and/or über-surprising total(ly) 'Whoooaaa!!!' moments without that much success after all but after nearly twenty-years of existence and cultivating their (especially today pretty much) very own style'n'music and delivering it today through'n'through on a damn high quality-level that's maybe also not that important anyhow anyway after all, however, and or but especially it's after all not that much important then when we get a big bunch of more than only decent but really damn good'n'strong new tunes, yes, and so PAPA ROACH did with "CROOKED TEETH", point and fact. PAPA ROACH's "CROOKED TEETH" is massively filled with heavy crunching and powerful forward smashing guitars that also offer and deliver a wide variety of catchy, anthemic, and in all positive sense 'poppy' melody lines that shine through in a bright way via great guitar leads and in general a mostly very strong melodic work that really add(s) a lot to the anyhow really damn strong, and forceful, and rousing rhythm work and grooving arrangements that in combination with a pretty cool and nicely varying songwriting really mark the songs strongly and heavily and in the very most parts for all the good and right and justified reasons. Then we have the strong and bright shining and very diverse lead vocals that cover a wide distant territory of different styles from hard shoutings and loud aggressive tonings over clean and clear, melodical singing to very competent and charismatic Rap parts, yes, and all done and flavoured with a strong own unique identity to it and all done very, very and 'highliest'skilled. All is then backed and fired up by a massively stunning rhythm section, full of sheer force as well as 'fluffy' diversity. Hip Hop styled grooves'n'beats and 'poppy' electronical rhythms and beats and melodies then round it all finally up, yes, and this in a convincing fashion'n'manner. The songwriting is in most parts also pretty strong, varying, and diverse as well as powerful, and full of highly energetic dynamics. That this fine gentlemen also know damn good how to play their instruments which means that they are very skilled musicians should be clear anyhow but for reasons of completness I do mention it here anyhow. Very strong and heartfelt and soulful and touchin'n'movin' lyrics and a first class loud blasting production sound then round it all up, yes, as well as a very 'unattracting' artwork, okay, but that's after all anything but very important. My personal favorites are the highly energetic "BREAK THE FALL", the smashing title track "CROOKED TEETH", the stunning and very massive grooving "BORN FOR GREATNESS", the über-catchy "AMERICAN DREAMS", the highly sensitive and very melodic "PERISCOPE", and the über-anthem "HELP", oh hell yeahr, all definitely pure platinum stuff. The not mentioned songs are mostly gold, precious'n'shiny, even some silver is there to find as well, hm, but anyhow PAPA ROACH's "CROOKED TEETH" is a damn good and a really strong album, definitely, that I can calmly and clearly recommend to you, yes, so best just go out and get it promptly.
(8,5 of 10 points)
http://www.paparoach.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

PAPA ROACH - "HELP" (2017, "CROOKED TEETH")

DANKO JONES - "WILD CAT" (2017)

DANKO JONES - "WILD CAT"
(Running time: 38:35 minutes; 11 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2017; CD):

Next round already coming up, oh yes, trust your eyes... even if we will see if I will get it done before bedtime needs to finally begin tonight. And after all this harsh hard'n'heavy stuff taking the lead lately up here I felt like it is finally really about time that some good old Rock & Roll blasts on through again up here, oh damn fuckin' hell yeah, and so now here comes my review on DANKO JONES' 2017 album "WILD CAT" for you. DANKO JONES were before "WILD CAT" mostly under my radar so far... and thinking about it today I have really no clue why the bloody hell ever...!!! Always knew a handful of songs, hm, always liked them, yes, and especially when partying hard on through the nights, hell yeahr, but somehow never really cared that much more... and then "MY LITTLE ROCK & ROLL" was played on my favorite radio station and it was instantly clear to me that I definitely would need to have that "WILD CAT" with me at home, yes, and so it happened. This is high energy Rock & Roll on full octane levels with a very special flavor to it all and with a strong own identity that is maybe best to be described as first class modern & alternative (hard) Classic Rock with a nice and cool fresh somehow modern approach to it. Forceful guitars with a very own and unique tone delivering impressively exciting and grapping rhythm arrangements and just stunningly beautiful shining leads and singing solos, all done heavy, yes, melodic, diverse, and full of skills, oh yes, and marking the single songs as well as the whole album as well as DANKO JONES' music in general in a just very strong way and this for all the right'n'good reasons. Then we have the stunningly charismatic snotty and nasty yet very melodic and powerful lead vocals, fantastic, at the right moments supported by some few loud back up chantings, yes, as the next strongest marking element of DANKO JONES' "WILD CAT". The very present and just absolutely to the point played, very diverse and stunningly heavy pushing rhythm section finally gives the songs the needed final punch and drive, yes, so that this turns out to be pure Kick Ass Rock & Roll and this the first class way. Grapping songwriting, exciting ideas and fresh twists-and-turns all the way, high energy levels and rousing dynamics, yes, it's all here what I want (and need) from my up-to-date and still somewhat classical Rock & Roll, hell yeahr, and DANKO JONES deliver definitely with "WILD CAT" and this in a totally conquering way. Very cool lyrics, a perfect to the title and the music matching artwork, and a forceful smashin'n'kickin' production sound then round this all up in a sort of perfect way. My personal favorites are "I GOTTA ROCK", "MY LITTLE ROCK & ROLL", "GOING OUT TONIGHT" (the über-hit), "YOU ARE MY WOMAN", "DO THIS EVERY NIGHT", "SHE LIKES IT", and "REVOLUTION (BUT THEN WE MAKE LOVE)", yes, so start your listening sessions with this monster-anthems... yes, this would be my damn fucking recommendation... but don't make the mistake to think that the other not mentioned songs would be anyhow bad or weak, oh no, because also this ones damn fucking rock in a total kick-ass-way anyhow anyway. What shall I say more here and now, not much... just... yes... if you still don't have it and if you are into Rock & Roll and Rock then simply finally make sure that DANKO JONES' "WILD CAT" finally finds its way to you and then it's time to set your town alight. Cheers, fellas!!!

(9 of 10 points)

http://www.dankojones.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DANKO JONES - "REVOLUTION (BUT THEN WE MAKE LOVE)" (2017, "WILD CAT")

RISE AGAINST - "WOLVES" (2017)

RISE AGAINST - "WOLVES"
(Running time: 40:10 minutes; 11 songs)
("Virgin Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, I am back again - finally... and the flow of the last weekend and the start of this now already pretty much over'n'out week didn't last that long at the... hm... at the end of the week... but that's simply what happens when 'real life happens'... but anyhow now finally back straight into the action; and so now here you have the next dose, yes, the next record review on the next 2017 album  and this time it is all about RISE AGAINST and their "WOLVES" titled 2017 album released this summer (or so...) via "VIRGIN RECORDS", yes, and so now let's go: I know now RISE AGAINST already quite a while and also already a bit longer and I pretty much like(d) all of them that I knew/know and so don't ask me now why the bloody hell I never followed them 'closely' so that their 2011 masterpiece album "ENDGAME" that totally conquered me back then (and still continues to do so) is or was since then my 'last encounter with them'... and then "WOLVES" was released and caught instantly my attention and so without thinking twice I got it, yes, and now here we are and here you get my review on it, finally. Very melodic, highly catchy, massively rousing, and very well-skilled Modern Punkrock with good healthy doses of melodic (Modern) Hardcore and maybe also some very few Emo impressions in it as well we get of/by/from RISE AGAINST and this all on a (very) high level of quality and all with owning a through-and-through very strong own identity. Maybe still to be located very loosley somewhere between BAD RELIGION and SICK OF IT ALL and maybe with some very few NOFX in it as well, more-or-less, all melted together with great fresh, modern, strong, melodic, and pretty often surprising and especially grapping ideas and elements, yes, and I am pretty sure that also fans of alternative 'Modern Rock' acts like for example BILLY TALENT will or do already cheer up loudly, heavily, strongly, and massively to RISE AGAINST - and this for all the right and justified reasons. Melodic and rousing yet heavy and pushing'n'driving guitars, first class (lead) vocals, a diverse and stunning rhythm section, hymnal refrains with strong sing-a-long potential, rousing verse arrangements, exciting rhytm structures, shining melody lines, and a high dynamic are the main ingredients of the music of RISE AGAINST (also on "WOLVES", what-else) and all is melted together via (very) strong songwriting and all is delivered by very (high) skilled musicians, yes, delivering with "WOLVES" an exciting ride through the world of Modern Punkrock. My personal favorites are without a doubt the über-hit "HOUSE ON FIRE" as well as the just absolutely fantastic "THE VIOLENCE", the totally beautiful "MOURNING IN AMERICA", "POLITICS OF LOVE", "PARTS PER MILLION", and "HOW MANY WALLS", hell yeah', and so start your discovery of "WOLVES" maybe with this bright shining gems. The not mentioned songs are also damn good stuff, for sure, but are really no rivals to/of the mentioned ones. Fantastic diverse lyrics, a beautiful artwork, and a loud blasting production sound then finally round "WOLVES" in an impressive way up. Even "WOLVES" is (in my book, at least) definitely not as strong as "ENDGAME" it is still one hell of an album and RISE AGAINST are still for sure one of the best and most important Rock and Punkrock bands around these days and if you are into this kind of music and you really still should not have RISE AGAINST's "WOLVES" (why the fuck ever...) then it is really about time that you finally change this, yes, and so go out there and get this damn strong album, oh hell yeahr, and this definitely as soon as possible.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://www.riseagainst.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

RISE AGAINST - "HOUSE ON FIRE" (2017, "WOLVES")

RISE AGAINST - "THE VIOLENCE" (2017, "WOLVES")

RISE AGAINST - "WOLVES" (2017, "WOLVES")

RISE AGAINST - "MOURNING IN AMERICA" (2017, "WOLVES")

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "KENTUCKY" (2016)

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "KENTUCKY"
(Running time: 52:37 minutes; 13 songs)
("Mascot Records"; 2016; CD + DVD):

Hey guys, here we go again, (relatively) late night, (relatively) late post, first saturday post (we will see if more will follow later today), and also first November post in general. And after the last posts were sort of 'exclusively' reviews on 2017 releases, yes, I now felt like doing finally again a review on an already a little bit older album, yes, and so now here comes my review on the 2016 absolutely masterpiece album titled "KENTUCKY" that the almighty BLACK STONE CHERRY delivered to us last year. Before "KENTUCKY" BLACK STONE CHERRY were somehow pretty to totally unknown to me... shame on me... and then they came and conquered and they conquered in an incredible supreme and absolutely overwhelming way with their absolutely brilliant and just fantastic hard and heavy, massively grooving and powerful-punching, yet very hymnal and melodic, play- and soulful, anthemic and catchy, and all the time very intense and atmospheric and also filled with emotions to the max damn honest, authentic, fresh, suprising, grapping, and sympathic surely real Rock music somehwere between definitely by Blues and also even Soul and Gospel as well as Country influenced and inspired Hard'n'Heavy Rock & Roll, strong deep down dirty Southern Rock, and strong fresh Modern'n'Alternative Rock marks and impressions; maybe to be best located on a very stand-alone position somewhere between BRAND NEW SIN on the one side, PUDDLE OF MUDD on the other, NICKELBACK on the next, and LYNYRD SKYNYRD on the final side, and a bit BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN floating around somewhere in the middle of it all, and if/when you throw some LED ZEPPELIN and some AC/DC and here and there some few GUNS'N'ROSES as well as some few ALTER BRIDGE in the mix, hell yeahr, and then (definitely) keep in mind that BLACK STONE CHERRY play their very own style of (Hard) Rock music, yes, then you will have a pretty good starting point of what to expect what a monster they what means BLACK STONE CHERRY have unleashed on us all with this masterpiece named "KENTUCKY". And, btw, I don't know for sure if 'Christian Rock' is here and now a or the proper term to describe BLACK STONE CHERRY properly, hm, maybe not, but for all what I got BLACK STONE CHERRY, rocking from out of the so called 'Bible Belt', are a very open religious (christian) band and for me that's all good and fine - so if you have a problem with it then maybe check your head one or two times or as many times as needed, yes, because then the Problem maybe 'simply' lies within you. Okay, back to the topic: Expect an incredible and totally asskicking and boneshaking, heavy and forceful and yet very, very melodic and symphonic, really singing and bright shining, very unique and characteristic, highly diverse and all the time multi-layered guitar work (no matter if we take the riffs and rhythms or the leads and solos, it's all just really larger-than-life), backed up by a diverse and precise, asstight and just beauitfully composed and arranged rhythm section,and above all really fantastic full and powerful lead vocals with a strong own flavour and identity, oh yes, and all is massively enriched with various backround choirs and singing(s) and various diverse different other instruments, flowing and melting all perfectly together. And, yes, this is really perfect. So, yes, then all is melted together and made whole by absolutely rousing, grapping, exciting, diverse, and also pretty self-contained songwriting. And that this guys are very skilled musicians I do only mention here and now for 'reasons of completness'. The whole "KENTUCKY" album is completly filled with just pure platinum hits, from start to finish, but if you want to know my absolute favorites then currently I would name you "LONG RIDE", "THE RAMBLER", "SHAKIN' MY CAGE", "IN OUR DREAMS", "THE WAY OF THE FUTURE", the damn great covertune "WAR", "CHEAPER TO DRINK ALONE", and "DARKEST SECRET". But the (anyhow only few) not mentioned songs are also purest gold and platinum, so at the end of the day it really doesn't matter what song(s) you pick they all 'simply' totally rule. So, yes, I can only recommend this absolutely amazing and fantastic album and if you still don't know it, why the damn bloody hell ever, then make finally sure to change this and go out and get this masterpiece of an album as soon as possible.
(10 of 10 points)
http://www.blackstonecherry.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "LONG RIDE" (2016, "KENTUCKY")