SACRED LEATHER - "ULTIMATE FORCE" (2018)

SACRED LEATHER - "ULTIMATE FORCE"
(Running time: 41:27 minutes; 7 songs)
("Cruz Del Sur Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back at it again, trying to deliver some more stuff this month then I did deliver over the last month, and so here now comes my newest post and this means again in this case my newest record-review for you. Some general words before I will carry on respectively really start with this very post here and so just let me tell you that beside a bunch of new record-reviews and of course the next ''CLASSICK OF THE MONTH'' post I think in March 2018 we will probably also finally see new different stuff and not only new record-reviews coming up here, two 'big ones' I have already in the work and to/of two 'smaller ones' I am currently drawing the outlines and it could be that also this two will see the light of the day this month. More I won't already tell you right here and right now, won't spoil the ''entertainment'n'enjoyment'' for you and also and especially don't want to make any 'big plans' and so I'll rather be a bit more 'silent' about this all from right now on, again. But if you ask yourself if I will ever do new interviews as well again then let me tell you that I am definitely figured out that I will do finally also new interviews again and I have also already some pretty good and concret ideas of the bands I would like to do new interviews with, yes, but just give me some more time and let me work out some proper questions and I think from next month on or so 'things' should be realistic to come up with more precise informations in the case of new interviews. Okay, and this now should have been enough ''words-in-general'' I would say and so now let us start this post here probably. Here and now it will be all about a to me so far totally unknown band and this band is the (U.S.) American Heavy Metal band of the name (of) SACRED LEATHER and this guys have (just very) recently released their for all what I (think to) know debut-album "ULTIMATE FORCE" via the sympathic "CRUZ DEL SURE RECORDS" label and so now here and now it will be all about this bright shining and deadly piece of real Heavy Metal, yes, and so now here we go: SACRED LEATHER are another one of the surprisingly strong going new wave of fresh and real Heavy Metal bands hailing from the United States of America and were absolutely unknown to me before I saw and listened to their "ULTIMATE FORCE" titled album released still very recently last month and for all what I (think to) know "ULTIMATE FORCE" is the debut full length album of/by SACRED LEATHER this young roughnecks roaring out of the dungeons of the city of Indianapolis in Indiana/U.S.A. and SACRED LEATHER serve us a damn strong and really great mixture out of classic and harsh smashing U.S. Metal and strong rocking and with fantastic and slightly stoic delivered leads and melody lines shining NWOBHM and maybe to describe them as an already pretty to very self-contained/stand-alone mixture out of OMEN and JUDAS PRIEST really comes damn close to describing SACRED LEATHER so far in a nearly perfect way and if you maybe add some few early SAVATAGE (somewhere between "POWER OF THE NIGHT" and "HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING") impressions as well you sort of have a pretty to very complete picture drawn, and especially when you keep in mind that SACRED LEATHER are no ripp-off and also definitely no retro crap band but a very fresh and alive/lively and also already pretty 'independently' band. SACRED LEATHER conquer on and with "ULTIMATE FORCE" with a fresh, strong and rousing songwriting that also offers again and again a strong epic approach to it all and that convinces with tension-filled arrangements and grapping rhythms and a big bunch of forceful riffs to kick you in the ass without any mercy or regrets, very strong composed verses as well as 'highly-mighty' refrains and true and real hymns they hold also already in store. Biggest shining trademarks are the sharp cutting 'air-raid' siren lead vocals and the impressive heavy and powerful hitting and smashing guitar work first class riffs, absolutely boneshaking and sometimes nicely speed filled rhythm work, and high skilled leads, singing melody lines, and storming solos. The rhythm section is backing it all with powerful strikes and bonesmashing slashes and adding tons of force to the songs'n'music and this for all the right reasons. A very strong and sympathic basic'n'old-scoolish artwork a big bunch of cool lyrics, and a heavy and yet dirty and very oragnic production sound round it all finally perfectly up. My personal favorites are "PROWLING SINNER", "ULTIMATE FORCE", "THE LOST DESTRUCTOR/PRIEST OF THE UNDOER", "WATCHER", and "POWER THRUST" and so maybe try this Heavy Metal Monsters out first. If you ask me then you need to have SACRED LEATHER's "ULTIMATE FORCE" in your collection if you are anyhow anyway only slightly into Heavy Metal and so here and now you get my clearest recommendation(s) and now I think it's enough of the talking and so you better just go out and get it best promptly and then praise the SACRED LEATHER, all hail!!!
(9 of 10 points)
https://sacredleather.bandcamp.com/album/ultimate-force (-the link to the bandcamp site of the band)

SACRED LEATHER - "POWER THRUST" (2018, "ULTIMATE FORCE")

MAGNUM - "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" (2018)

MAGNUM - "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY"
(Running time: 66:51 minutes; 11 songs; Bonus CD: 24:39 minutes; 4 songs)
("SPV"/"Steamhammer"; 2018; Double CD):

Hey folks, yes, time to get back to work again up here and so I now do and so here now comes my review on the (brand)new 2018 masterpiece that the British AOR legends MAGNUM (titled "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY") released at the 19th of January of 2018 via "SPV"/"Steamhammer" and I have the (limited?) Double CD that I bought recently when it was released this January and that so is up now for being reviewed here by me for you. Back in 2015 MAGNUM took me by storm with their fantastic "SACRED BLOOD, 'DIVINE' LIES" longplayer (my review on it I finally did last summer up here) and so I was very hungry and curious for their new album to finally see the light of the day and enthusiastically I cheered up loudly when it finally was to be found in/on the shelves of the local record/media store here where I live and I took it promptly with me. And what shall I say, MAGNUM's "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" conquered me massively and 'overwhelmingly' and this even more than "SACRED BLOOD, 'DIVINE' LIES", yes, even more. "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" is filled to the max packed up full from start to finish with larger than life monsters of songs that will manifest and establish an overwhelming and exciting grip on you and won't let loose of you again even when the nearly 67 minutes are over and the goosepimples run down your neck and back without an end so that you can't do anything different then just simply press the 'play-button' one more time again- and again and again and again... This is fantastic and in all and every ways and manners highest skilled and highly authentic as well as 'engagingly' sympathic AOR (or name it Melodic Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Rock, what-ever term suits your gusto better) in absolute perfection filled with an incredible hugh amount of manifold biggest and mightiest honest and heartfelt emotions, full of rousing passion and bursting with life due to a bright shining heavily beguiling soul that breathes life and fresh-alive/lively air into the whole album so that it 'formally' comes fiery hopping out of the speakers sheer exploding (be)for life and it completely takes over with an adorably fresh and high amount of highly dynamic energy so that it will nothing else but take you by storm and maybe even as much as it took and conquered me. The brilliant songwriting that this fine gentlemen and highest skilled formidable musicians in 'persona-union' that form MAGNUM deliver us here on "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" is just mindblowing and breathtaking and so incredible rich and multi-faceted, multi-layered and highly diverse, packed up full of/with an amazing amount of awesome fresh ideas and exciting and grapping twists'n'turns all along the ride, while at the same time and over the whole time being so massively stunning and intense and highly atmospheric as well as full of gifted melodies and unobstrusive and yet so even more 'conquering triumphantly' hymnal/anthemic catchyness, yes, it will leave your mouth wide open, your eyes shining, and your ears sounding and clinging for/of joy, yes, and the instrumentation as well as the variety of 'musical influences' (for example enrich gifted Folk arrangements and great slightly Medieval melody lines as well as a ton of dreamlike fantasy impressions the brandnew MAGNUM compositions here on "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" heavily and massively and even more than before) is just stunning and so wide'n'broad and all is at the same time so perfectly flowing and highest skilled 'inter-woven' into the AOR music that it only furthermore prevents your mouth from closing again. Something that also definitely needs to be mentioned here explicit and precise are the just sheer fantastic and heavily rousing pace arrangements and the almighty forceful rhythm structures that mark all the songs and the whole album in a just sheer fantastic way'n'manner. That's perfect, nothing else, period. 'Instrumentation-wise' the biggest trademarks are surely (at least so in my book) the highest gifted and incredible soulful, passionate, heartfelt, and playful, rich, varying, and diverse as well as above all else highly characteristic guitar work, the mighty and powerful vocals with a very own and strong character of their very own, as well as the fantastic paino/organ/keyboard arrangements, yes, and this is all 'just' absolutely amazing and totally fantastic. The powerful and precise, tight and yet also very diverse, playful, and nicely and refreshing 'airy-loose' rhythm section is the perfect and much needed backbone of it all. Ah, yes, and the title-track also offers first class guest vocals by no one else than AVANTASIA's very own Tobias Sammet, yes, just that you know it. Fantastic, thoughtful and throughtprovoking, expressive and interesting lyrics, a drop-dead gorgeous artwork (I'm totally in love with it), and a very warm and natural, round and yet still nicely heavy production sound then round it all (perfectly) up. My personal favorites? Ha, the whole album, period. (Even the absolutely amazing larger than life and incredible powerful "STORM BABY" is my total love affair up here on MAGNUM's "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY".) The Bonus CD features a bunch of fantastic older MAGNUM opus' in a formidable live quality and is a very welcome nice bonus goody. Even we now have just reached March of 2018 I am pretty sure that you will definitely find MAGNUM's "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" in my 2018 top ten list, and so I think I've said it all and I can now only leave you with my highest and honest recommendation(s) and so in my book every fan of honest and passionate Rock music simply needs to call this giant of an album his/her very own and so you better get it way earlier than any later in case you still don't have it. A masterpiece of one of a kind. Cheers.
(10 of 10 Points)
www.magnumonline.co.uk/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MAGNUM - "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY" (2018, "LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY")

SAXON - "THUNDERBOLT" (2018)

SAXON - "THUNDERBOLT"
(Running time: 47: 47 minutes; 12 songs)
("Silver Lining Music"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back from the fantastic TANKARD gig yesterday and somehow holding the infuenza a bit 'on distance' today or so it seems at least currently I decided after an easy-going day today that will thankfully and very smoothly move over into an easy-going night tonight I could also do something new up here and come up with a new post one more time again, yes, and so I now do with my record-review on the brandnew SAXON album "THUNDERBOLT", yes, the 22nd SAXON (pushing on since 1979) full-length-album that was released @ the 2nd of February 2018 via "SILVER LINING MUSIC". Last year I did my review on the predeccessor "BATTERING RAM" from 2015 and if you know this then you pretty much know that I love "BATTERING RAM" and also and especially SAXON in general, right, and so it was instantly clear for/to me that I would grab a copy of "THUNDERBOLT" as soon as it would be out, yes, and so I did. "THUNDERBOLT" is purest and best Heavy Metal through and through, SAXON are still NWOBHM in perfection, and... "THUNDERBOLT" is just damn great, period. It's not exactly that strong as "BATTERING RAM" but it comes pretty close and it is anyhow one hell of an asskicking Metal output of the highest quality grade. I still think it's amazing how fresh, how powerful, how strong and how enthusiastic these fine gentlemen still sound after now almost 40 years of delivering the goods and still they deliver fresh ideas and surprising sprinklings in and with their songs and albums like the (Viking/Pagan) Death Metal marks in "PREDATOR" or the operetta-like dramaturgy'n'arrangements in/of "NOSFERATU (THE VAMPIRE'S WALTZ)" up here on "THUNDERBOLT", yes, that's really great and makes SAXON at least in my book stand-out quite a bit with (maybe even only in little steps) ever 'ongoingly' enriching and cultivating their sound'n'style even after nearly 40 years of playing Rock & Roll. And it's also amazing and just heavily and massively rousing how high the dynamics and energy levels still are that SAXON serve us again and again and "THUNDERBOLT" is no exception to this, hell no, but rather the complete opposite as it stands in the best tradition of high energy Heavy Metal that SAXON are so well known (and loved) for. Also in 2018 SAXON deliver hard rocking, sharp and heavy slashing, and yet very melodic and catchy respectively hymnal/anthemic Heavy Metal with great atmospheric intensity and marked by a fresh, powerful, rousing, and nicely varying and diverse songwriting that offers nice little surprises and very alive/lively twists and truns all along the road and that shines with an immense own character/identity and some damn strong arrangements and compositorial tricks so that "THUNDERBOLT" stays from start to finish and also again and again and time after time 'thunderous' like it should be with a title like that. Really strong and forceful onwards pushing guitars, that deliver first class riffs and smashing rhythms all the way and yet especially shine with atmospheric melody lines, singing leads, and brilliant solos, mark the songs heavily as well as the razorblade like sharp cutting and 'highliest' charismatic vocals, and the heavy roaring bass work and the thunderous drumming reliable pouring the loadable concrete of SAXON's "THUNDERBOLT" and making sure that this Heavy Metal warhorse one more time again rides gloriously into battle bringing destruction to All False Metal outta there... or so to say. My personal favorites are the heavily forward pushing titletrack "THUNDERBOLT" himself/itself, the epic "THE SECRET OF FLIGHT", the highly dramatic "NOSFERATU (THE VAMPIRE WALTZ)", the heavy rocking and hard rolling MOTÖRHEAD tribute "THEY PLAYED ROCK & ROLL", the fantastic SAXON/AMON AMARTH mash-up "PREDATOR", the 'epicly paganized' and 'worn-intoned' hymn "SONS OF ODIN", and the catchy as fuck and highly hymnal anthem "ROADIES' SONG". A gorgeous artwork, very strong and diverse, interesting lyrics, and a powerful and heavy smacking production sound finally round it all up and turning SAXON's "THUNDERBOLT" finally and one more time again into the real deal and the complete package. To any Heavy Metal/NWOBHM fan I can nothing but give my honest and highest recommendations and so make sure that the thunder strikes and so that SAXON's "THUNDERBOLT" will become a (prominent) part of your record collection and this by far better much sooner than any later. And don't Forget: Heavy Metal is the law.

(9 of 10 points)

www.saxon747.com (-the link to the homepage of the band)

SAXON - "THEY PLAYED ROCK & ROLL" (2018, "THUNDERBOLT")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018: RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018:

RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL" (1988)
(Running time: 46:20 minutes; 9 songs)
("Metal Blade Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(1.) "THUNDERSTEEL"
(2.) "FIGHT OR FALL"
(3.) "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM"
(4.) "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR"
(5.) "ON WINGS OF EAGLES"
(6.) "JOHNNY'S BACK"
(7.) "BLOODSTREETS"
(8.) "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE"
(9.) "BURIED ALIVE (TELL TALE HEART)"

Hey guys, yes, I know that this post was meant to come up @ the last day of February 2018 or so but after it seems like I was sort of too enthusiastically last week and that this fucked up influenza that I've mentioned last week gives its comeback this days and is playing ping-pong or hide'n'seek with my immune system and so I'm currently struggling a bit to just keep going and that's why this post is just now coming up, not as the last February 2018 post but as the first March 2018 post. And this post is all about the next load of the newest posting series up here, the "CLASSICK(S) OF THE MONTH", yes, and so now here we go. And this month I will introduce you all to the album that was "PAINKILLER" before there was "PAINKILLER". And of course I am talking about JUDAS PRIEST's larger than life masterpiece "PAINKILLER", yes, and the album that I will no introduce to you pretty much was/is all what "PAINKILLER" was/is but just sort of two years before. So, yes, you see that's all more than justified to finally pay tribute up here to this outstanding album of divine might that was and is and always will be "THUNDERSTEEL" the 1988 masterpiece of/by New York City legends RIOT. The aggression, the energy, the attitude, the high octane songwriting, the full force songs, the sheer heavyness, the high skilled musicianship, yes, that's all totally on "PAINKILLER" levels and also the compositorial ways hold steady similarities and are also totally 'on-balance' and that alone is impressive enough and also a statement of its very own. So if you are searching or looking for maybe sort of the blueprint that JUDAS PRIEST (maybe... sort of) had and used to compose and arrange "PAINKILLER" or maybe at least used to draw some inspirations from them, just maybe, then don't search or look any further because here you finally have it. And now enough of the lifechanging "PAINKILLER" of/by JUDAS PRIEST, here's the groundbreaking one that came before, here's RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL"...

I discovered RIOT first in the 1990's via some compilation-albums back then and then my first ever album of them that I knew and had was their evergreen classic "BORN IN AMERICA" and then later on their smasher "SONS OF SOCIETY". RIOT were (or as RIOT V still are) roughnecked Hard Rock and Heavy Metal veterans that were (and, again, as RIOT V still are) around since the late(r) 1970's and they pretty much always held a somethimes more stronger, sometimes less stronger (1970's) Hard Rock influence in store... at least before and after 1988... and then "THUNDERSTEEL" came and conquered with relentless and mercyless speed and power filled full force Heavy Metal with incredible high octane levels and harsh heavyness non stopp. I love earlier RIOT albums (especially for example "BORN IN AMERICA" and "FIRE DOWN UNDER") as well as later RIOT albums (like for example "SONS OF SOCIETY" and "ARMY OF ONE") but "THUNDERSTEEL" always held and still holds and will forever hold a special place in my heart but not only there because (from my point of view) also in general in RIOT's very own discography because never before and never again after this very one here  RIOT sounded like on "THUNDERSTEEL", on this earthshaking monster they've created and unleashed in 1988. No what-so-ever Hard Rock influences to be noticed on "THUNDERSTEEL", no THIN LIZZY marks or what the hell else ever, but instead of this full power Heavy Metal with biggest loads of Speed Metal in it and thundering heavyness as well as some good loads of hymnal and hard hitting MANOWAR styled Power Metal and this all delivered in a very own way with a strong own character and a very uniqie tone/toning to it all. "THUNDERSTEEL" was and is not just an absolutely fantastic but also an 'amazingly' impressive and also just sheer outstanding album and definitely sort of truly 'one of a kind'. I currently have it or finally have it here in form of the damn great 2015 rerelease edition done by the (al)mighty "METAL BLADE RECORDS" that I desperately wanted to have because I simply really, really like this re-release editions.

"THUNDERSTEEL" takes off going out all guns blazing with the damn phenomenal title-track "THUNDERSTEEL" itself/himself, sharp hitting, sharper cutting, heavy hitting, a deadly strike full of huge tension and power with lightning riffing and larger than life amounts of intensity. One mighty hellblazing monster of a song. "FIGHT OR FALL" then is a hymnal fist in the air anthem with high impact guitars and above all the everything and everyone else outshining vocals. Like MANOWAR going all out attack in a sheer Speed Metal way. "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM" then is one of my personal über-hits here on "THUNDERSTEEL", a smooth and yet incredible heavy forward galloping smashing hymn full of hugest amounts of power and attitude and with brilliant arranged verses and outstanding refrains. "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR" follows and storms forwards'n'onwards without taking any prisoners driven into the fight by stunning drums, shredding guitars, and brilliant and expressive vocals to kneel down to. Then "ON WINGS OF EAGLES", another pure platinum full throttle and full force slasher rages on like a wild-fire that simply bruns down'n'out everything with boneshaking drums, alarm siren lead vocals and dirty rocking and even dirtier rolling guitar riffs. The 'masterly' arranged "JOHNNY'S BACK" with a forceful smacking bass work on top of it all then takes a little bit the pace out and slows a bit down and shines with superb songwriting and 'imploringly' vocals that just make showers... sheer floods... of goosepimples run down your neck and back. "BLOODSTREETS" then is an atmospheric masterpiece full of dramatic tensionbuilding and a really huge dramaturgy and another 'simply' perfect song here on "THUNDERSTEEL". Then follows the almighty "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE" and this is forward pushing pure Heavy Metal with biggest melodic arrangements in perfection. Then this masterpiece album is closed by the epic'n'dramatic "BURIED ALIVE (TELL TALE HEART)", one hell of an outstanding atmospheric longrunner. And all and each song(s) shine in an absoultely unique and characteristic and very bright light. Totally self-conatined and stand-alone.

The whole album is marked by the totally bright shining, diverse, clear and clean sung melodic, soulful and highly charismatic lead vocals that enrich and cultivate "THUNDERSTEEL" in a damn very, very massive and sheer impressive way and that deliver the brilliant verses as well as the fantastic refrains just perfect(ly). Then the heavy and yet highly melodic guitars also really shine as well and this in all ways'n'manners, no matter if we take the riffing work and the rhythm structure or the highly melodic and really singing leads as well as the sheer pyrotechnical solos, yes, this is all nothing but purest platinum and (again) nothing but perfect. The massive rhythm section is then all backing it up with strong muscles and heavy loads of beefy'n'bulky meat to the backbone and is stunning as well as highly diverse, too. Diversity, perfection, an own identity, and pure(st) platinum, yes, all this terms also lead us to the passionate, soulful, and playful songwriting that is not only intense, atmospeheric, tight, and to the point as well as totally on point but that's also multi-layered, highly diverse, nicely varying, and multi-faceted and offers so many surprising moments, rousing elements, and grapping twistsn'turns all along the ride that it just conquers again and again and again time after time after time. Yes, and that RIOT were (andof course still are as RIOT V) absolutely high(est) skilled musicians should here and now definitely need no further explanation anymore anyhow anyway. First class and interesting lyrics, a very cool comic artwork styled artwork, and a smacking production sound we finally get on top of it all, turning this all into the complete package and this still today.

RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" is a timeless classick and a perfect album, a turly larger than life masterpiece... and sadly somehow an album that time sort of forgot about; and in general if this world would be a better and a more just place to live then RIOT (or today RIOT V) would be anyhow far bigger than they are and were anyway. However, okay, maybe (and just maybe) I can help to change this a very little bit with this very post here and now and if you really should not know RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" so far then by any means make sure to change this finally as soon as possible and also make sure that this groundbreaking piece of perfect (Heavy) Metal finally becomes a part of your record collection and this best right now. Also RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" was, is , and will always be one of the most precious gifts of the Metal Gods high above and now: "BANG THAT HEAD THAT DOESN'T BANG!!!"

RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL"

RIOT - "JOHNNY'S BACK"

RIOT - "BLOODSTREETS"

RIOT - "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR"

RIOT - "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM"

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - "GRIMMEST HITS" (2018)

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - "GRIMMEST HITS"
(Running time: 55:56 minutes; 12 songs)
("Spinefarm Records"; 2018; CD):

At the 19th of January of 2018 Zakk Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY releasesed their newest and also already 10th full-length-album via "SPINEFARM RECORDS" titled "GRIMMEST HITS" and here and now you finally get my record-review on it. I always thought that the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY does sound like a bastard out of OZZY OSBOURNE (surely also especially vocal-wise), CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (think about their "DELIVERANCE" period), LYNYRD SKYNYRD (for the huge guitar driven Southern Rock taste), and a bit of DOWN, BRAND NEW SIN and also aslight bit PANTERA (due to that very special grooving guitars with that singing 'southern flair'), and then all mixed through with some good dirty 1970's and also a bit 1980's inspired Classic Rock or Vinatge Rock with some very slight Blues notes in it and here and there some old/early ALICE IN CHAINS reminiscences and all served very self-contained, yes, and that's exactly the way how their "GRIMMEST HITS" rock and groove in a really heavy and (sort of) 'down-tuned' but still and nowadays first-and-foremost always very smooth and also nicely melodic way out of the speakers. And while I sit here and having listened to BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "GRIMMEST HITS" for nearly countless times since last month (I bought it right when it was finally released) and again listen to it one more time and probably for many more times to come, yes, Ireally haven't that much to say and with what I have said so far and with what I'm going to say adding to it with the next three or four sentences it will be all what I have to say to/about it and not because this would be anyhow anything like a weak album or anything like 'unspectacular' or what the hell else ever, nah, it's just... I really damn like this album a lot but beside saying this and pointing out that this very one here will be probably one of the heaviest and deepest but yet all the time also one of the smoothest and one of the most soul- and playful and also one of the most hymnal (in a pretty much absoultely clichee-free way) albums in Hard Rock we all will experience being released in 2018 I haven't that much more to say simply because BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "GRIMMEST HITS" simply completly speaks for its own and this in its own tongue'n'tone. But maybe you now already all that you have to know? Maybe there's no need to 'extend' this very one here and now? In this particular case here I feel so. And so let me close this review with pointing out that the songwriting is very intense and atmospheric and filled with so much honest emotions and being 'music-wise' extremly playful and also soulful that you will nothing but sink deep and deeper into this fabulous songs; with pointing out that the damn charismatic heartfelt vocals really shine bright, the guitar work is one of the very best you will ever experience, the (hammond) organ adds a lot of special flavour to it all, and the rhythm section is a just very damn massive and decent force; and with pointing out that this album will give you goosepimples again and again. If there would be maybe only one or two a bit 'faster paced' songs to shake it one or two times maybe a little bit up then my rating would maybe be even a bit better... but after I especially love the ballads "THE ONLY WORDS", "THE DAY THAT HEAVEN HAD GONE AWAY" and "NOTHING LEFT TO SAY" I am maybe also not so sure about that after all... how-ever, strong lyrics, a fantastic (and also sort of pretty ironical or humouristic) artwork, and a perfect warm, dirty, earthy, and heavy production sound round it all finally up. Nothing left to say, if I would be you, I would make sure to get my hands on a copy of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "GRIMMEST HITS" (finally) as soon as possible.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://blacklabelsociety.net/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - "THE ONLY WORDS" (2018, "GRIMMEST HITS")

VICTORIUS - "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" (2018)

VICTORIUS - "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS"
(Running time: 21:16 minutes; 6 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, seems like I hopefully managed to leave my influenza behind and after a long walk in the bitter cold but incredible sunny weather out there I just came back home recently and decided why not give you a new record-review load and so now I am about to do right now; respectively so I (will) do right now and so so here's now my review on the brandnew VICTORIUS Mini-CD "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" and it's been recently released via the legendary "MASSACRE RECORDS" label and it offers in shortly 22 minutes six new songs of/by the german Speed Metal 'nerds'. 'Nerds'? Why 'nerds'? Well, that's simple: If the albumname for you isn't already saying it all then let it be known that this is sort of a concept-album about the 'holy war' of the Dinosaurs against Alien Invaders from outta space and it reminds me quite a bit of the glorified and glorious "Dino Riders" and the (al)mighty "Power Rangers", thematically and lyric-wise, and so, yes, 'nerds'. And after I am (my)self a damn huge 'nerd' that by me is definitely sort of a huge compliment. And also the glorious and just gorgeous artwork that's designed in the tradition of old "Streetfighter" and "Mortal Kombat" video games only adds up to the 'nerd' character and also only adds up to my enthusiasm. And with in-working in a just brilliant way the undying great "Power Rangers" title score into their smasher "LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" is just a totally mindblowing element and a huge surprise and if I imagine how damn even greater the "Power Rangers" movie would have been with this Mini-CD as its soundtrack, whoooaaa, my hearts beats faster. And what about the music, the most important 'thing', you now rightfully may ask. Makes the music my heart also beat faster and what do we get anyway? What do we get, like already above mentioned, is Speed Metal. Melodic Speed Metal with healthy portions of Power Metal in it, carrying really huge refrains to us, and with some sprinklings of Symphonic Metal in it as well. This is, so you may can say, symphonic and melodic and very powerful Speed Metal of the german kind and so maybe German Speed Metal or Teutonic Speed Metal are pretty good terms to describe VICTORIUS pretty accurate. If you now may don't know what this in particular means then let me say that VOCTORIUS rage on full throttle somewhere in the metallic realms (in)between GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN, and (earlier) BLIND GUARDIAN and they do it already very strong (already because for all what I've read this Mini-CD is so far only their second release with their debut being released last year in 2017, correct me if I am wrong, and before you ask, yes, VICTORIUS were unknown to me before this mini-album) and what I personally like a lot is that VICTORIUS push straight ahead forward and that they cut off the by times too 'out-swallowed' epicness of especially BLIND GUARDIAN and maybe (to surely) also GAMMA RAY and so VICTORIUS come without any circumlocution straight to point and this in combination with the pretty high pitched and fast yet very clear, melodic, and forceful sung lead vocals and the often pretty surprising fresh and 'nerdy' guitar leads and melody lines helps VICTORIUS a lot to build momentum and to create an already pretty strong own character that will hopefully only grow on and on and get/become even far more 'prominent' (so to say) in (the) future. The songwriting also offers a lot that will surely entertain especially any fans of (so to say) (Teutonic) Speed Metal instantly but I am pretty sure that the full-throttle fast paced songs with the rousing arranged verses and the huge anthemic refrains, the loud widescreen 'power-choirs', the quick delivered and forceful changes in the rhythm structures and the compositorial arrangements of the songs, the in parts already pretty fantastic melody work, and the fresh and naughty ideas will also heavily please most to any Heavy/Power/Speed Metal fans in general. Expect swift as an arrow delivered symphonic singing and powerful onwards pushing full throttle and no breaks guitars, huge lead vocals and widescreen backing choirs, and a 'weasel-nimble' rhythm section with a lot of force behind it all, yes, and expect this all to be done on a surely high qualitylevel by strong musicians. This Mini-CD only leaves me hungry for me and I think I will also check out their last year's debut (?) release that carries the title "HEART OF THE PHOENIX" in the future. VICTORIUS deliver us here on "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" also great lyrics, cool and entertaining and so far very unique (and if you don't take everything and anything including yourself all the time oh so bloody serious then I see no reason why you shouldn't enjoy the lyrics here as well anyway), an absolutely amazing and beautiful artwork with that I fell in love right at first sight, and a very powerful production sound to back it all up impressively. So, yes, if you are anyway anyhow into the above mentioned bands and genres then by any means I would definitely say that you need to check out VICTORIUS' "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" or better get it promptly and instantly. If VICTORIUS keep 'this thing' going then I am pretty sure that we can expect something really big in the (soon) future. And anyhow, yes, here and now you have my clear recommendation in terms of this little gem here.

(8 of 10 points)
www.victoriusmetal.net (-the link to the homepage of the band)

VICTORIUS - "LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" (2018, "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS")

HEAVATAR - "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION" (2018)

HEAVATAR - "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION"
(Running time: 58:53 minutes; 12 songs)
("EAR Music"/"Edel Germany GmbH"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, right back again and so here now comes my latest/newest record-review for you and we will also stay for/with this very one here in the department of Heavy Metal with this very one here and now being on the second full-length-album of/by HEAVATAR titled "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION" released very recently via "EAR MUSIC"/"EDEL GERMANY GMBH" at the 16th of February of 2018. Yes, normally it takes me quite a bit longer before I feel prepared enough to do a respectful record-review on an album (no matter if I like it or not) but after I'm currently a bit struck down by this damn influenza I have a lot of time and so I can't really tell you how often I now have already over the last days listened to HEAVATAR's second born "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION" since it's out and so now my record-review on it will now be up very soon after the album was released only a few days ago, hm, maybe also not that bad after all. First of all HEAVATAR were totally unknown to me before (as quite a bit of bands lately how I realized over the last months... just too damn many music out there to know it all) and the predeccesor album so is (also) unknown to me. For all what I understand this is sort of a ''project-band'' that Stefan Schmidt who otherwise is a member of VAN CANTO (what-ever-band that may be) formed with three other guys of whom the probably best- or most-known is Jörg Michael at the drums who you might know from RUNNING WILD, GRAVE DIGGER, AXEL RUDI PELL, RAGE, STRATOVARIUS, and many more. And by looking at the title of the album that carries the word/term 'opus' in it and this also at a very prominent position you might already got the correct impression that Classical Music plays a pretty important role in and for the music of HEAVATAR, yes, and by all my other ramblings so far you should already know that we talk here about (Heavy/Power) Metal, yes, and so this is definitely sort of a Metal meets Classic affair. If you now think "Whooaaa, what the fuck...?!?" then that's your problem and just wait for the next record-review and skip the rest of this if you think you should 'need' to... but you would be missing out on something really damn good if you would do so, point and fact. This whole Metal meets Classic stuff (just to name it this way) is normally also not really my sort of proteinshake and it's been a while since I put my last Classic Music record on but I fell in love with the cover artwork and so I decided to risk an ear and after here and now you get my record-review on it you may already guess that what I listened to really surprised and convinced me and so I took the album with me home and so now here we are. The classic instrumentation and orchestration is clearly there as well as in general 'classy' composed arrangements are surely to be noticed but this is all worked into the whole flow of the songs in a damn great way so that it not only turns out to be a very strong and organic 'symbiose' that also 'not the biggest fans of Classic Music' (like me, myself, and I) can enthusiastically enjoy with much pleasure but also it flows all nearly perfectly together and it all sounds very natural and in now way forced and artficial and this is just all damn fine with me. So HEAVATAR deliver us powerful and forward pushing Heavy Metal or Power Metal that draws inspirations from BLIND GUARDIAN as well as MANOWAR and also some HELLOWEEN and so you see that the whole Classic Music 'stuff' aside the Heavy Metal or Power Metal definitely is the order of the day and HEAVATAR also offer here and there slight flirtings with Epic Metal and also here and there maybe some (very) few Speed Metal and it also shines with a huge and sort of bombastic approach and also with very strong and also cool fresh rhythm'n'groove-work and some sort of modern tones especially to the guitars and their rhythm work so that probably also fans of bands like SERIOUS BLACK or ORDEN OGAN should definitely become instantly fans of HEAVATAR, hm, and just to mention it the songs are also structured very rousing and arranged in a damn strong hymnal way with a bit of medieval marks and 'folkloristic' elements in it all and even sweetest female co-lead-vocals are worked in it in an amazing strong way at one part. And don't get any wrong impressions because even with clear to notice and proudly shown influences (like with the honestly very good MANOWAR cover "METAL DAZE", not that it comes any close to the original but who would have thought or even expected that) HEAVATAR offer a pretty big and very own character and not only because of the Classic Music influences in it all but also due to a very own guitar tone, the fantastic, multifaceted, and charismatic vocals, and the general compositorial approach to put tons of huge epicness even in a four minute song. And so you may have already guessed that the songwriting is very rich, multi-layered, and like the vocals multifaceted, too, and offers a huge load of greatness to be discovered by us the listeners while at the same time it's all incredible well flowing so that you won't find any breaks or holes or blank spaces in it all, hell yeahr, and all is delivered and done by high(est) skilled musicians. The biggest trademarks are for sure the amazing lead vocals, the very diverse, heavy and yet damn melodic guitars, and the fantastic drumming, all enriched by the classic orchestration and a beneath the surface power adding bass work. Pretty good and cool, mostly (at first look) Fantasy lyrics and a gorgeous and beautiful artwork we get on top of it all, yes, as well as a very sadly only semi-optimal too clinical production sound that especially takes too much power away from the drumming. If that wouldn't be my rating would probably be even a bit higher. Don't ask me for any listening advices because the whole album comes without any fillers even surely "PURPOSE OF A VIRGIN MIND" is (from my point of view) probably the biggest hit and is also meant to be exactly that. So, okay, I really think that now you should know all what you have to know about HEAVATAR's "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION" and I will now leave you here and now with my honest and clear recommendation(s) and so best stop thinking and just go out and get it, period.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://heavatar.net/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

HEAVATAR - "PURPOSE OF A VIRGIN MIND" (2018, "OPUS II: THE ANNIHILATION")

WHITE WIZZARD - "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" (2018)

WHITE WIZZARD - "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE"
(Running time: 61:04 minutes; 9 songs)
("M-Theory Audio" & "Riffs of the Rose"; 2018; CD):

Damn it, February 2018 is really damn silent and quiet... and not only up here... starting off stressful and work-intensive and culminating in a fucked up influenza currently that's striking me down since last Wednesday. I hate this crap. But it seems that 'things' starting to get finally better again and so I decided to finally leave the bed one more time this day and start finally on working some new stuff again up here and so here now comes my or the next post which means the next new record-review is now aiming at you and this time it takes us all back into the world of Heavy Metal and/or Power Metal and so here's my record-review on the (brand)new WHITE WIZZARD full-length disc "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" released (still pretty/very recently) via "M-THEORY AUDIO" in cooperation with "RIFFS OF THE ROSE" (the two labels were totally unknown before this CD to me). "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" was and/or is my first experience with the American Heavy Metal powerhouse WHITE WIZZARD from Los Angeles, California/U.S.A. and so don't expect any comparisions to their earlier works and also don't expect any notes about their (so it seems) ever-changing band members, yes, and with that out of the way here we go: Here we get very crisp and sharp'n'heavy hitting and yet very melodic and very, very playful and definitely sophisticated and (sort of) 'proggy' Heavy Metal with here and there a clearly epic approach to it and with really strong NWOBHM influences namely especially IRON MAIDEN had a huge impact on WHITE WIZZARD's "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" and also JUDAS PRIEST here and there a good and heavy bit (especially the very strong and harsh and stunning opener and title-track "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" rages on with nice "PAINKILLER" reminiscences). What I really love is that WHITE WIZZARD also manage to 'in-work' a bunch of nice'n'strong modern notes and influences in their own way and so they keep it nicely fresh and also they maintain a pretty good'n'strong own character/identity. A very diverse and rich songwriting that really offers one hell of an exciting ride with ever varying paces/tempi and rhythms, good to fantastic songarrangements with mostly damn strong verses as well as mostly really mighty refrains, formidable riffs, good to great fresh and pretty 'modern' grooves and a lot of grapping twists'n'turns all along the ride and all is very fresh, playful, and soulful, yes, and all is delivered by very skilled musicians, hell yeahr, that's all marking WHITE WIZZARD's "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" heavily and strongly. Sometimes I would just wish that they would cut some of the all to 'epic'n'proggy' parts so that the songs would 'come more to point' and that the absolutely amazing and outstanding lead vocals would have (even) more room to shine. But that's mostly or basically my only concern here with WHITE WIZZARD's "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE". The absoultely amazing sharp and powerful, clear and melodic, highly charismatic lead vocals I simply love and the multi-layered and diverse guitar work is just pure platinum (even sometimes a bit 'rampantly' arranged'n'done), the truly walking'n'talking bass is very present and the drumming is just stunning and adding a lot of heavy weight to the songs. My personal favorites are "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE", the damn catchy and true anthem "STORM THE SHORES" that's a true through'n'through hit , the massive and epic "VOYAGE OF THE WOLF RAIDERS", the sharp cutting PRIEST-like Banger "CRITICAL MASS", and the epic masterpiece "THE ILLUSION'S TEARS". This is a demanding and sort of challenging album (in all the right ways and for all the right reasons - or mostly) and definitely not your ordinary run of the mill Power Metal album, yes, and so give it more than one try if it may not convinces you right from the get-go. We also get very strong and 'suprisingly fresh' lyrics, a very cool artwork, and a hard hitting production-sound on top of it all. Not all is gold, but a lot is gold, pure gold. I can only recommend WHITE WIZZARD's "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE" to anyone of you into Heavy Metal and so I will now leave you with my, yes, clear recommendations to give it a try or better buy it promptly. And more soon again up here, yes, trust me and take my word(s) on it.

(8 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteWizzard (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

WHITE WIZZARD - "STORM THE SHORES" (2018, "INFERNAL OVERDRIVE")

WATAIN - "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" (2018)

WATAIN - "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE"
(Running time: 34:43 minutes; 8 songs)
("His Master's Noise" & "Century Media Records" / 2018 / CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally the first new post for February 2018 is right here and right now aiming @ you and coming for you, so far and so good, and in this case this means that here'n'now the next load'n'dose of record-review(s) awaits you and here and now it will be all about the new WATAIN full-length-album "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" released very recently this year last month in sort of a 'collaborating way' (in)between the to me unknwon "HIS MASTER'S NOISE" label and the veterans of "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS" and it is released in various different formats and I have the normal CD edition and so my review right now and right here will also be solely on the standard version of the CD release, just that you know that, and btw this was the first brandnew 2018 release that I bought last month and so this very one here is now also my first record-review on a 2018 release so far (more I have also already in store). Before we will dive into the new onslaught delivered by/of WATAIN just let me say one or two general things, yes, because I have not a single clou how I much I will get done up here this very month (it's a very stressful month so far with a lot of work to do in 'real life' and so it's currently pretty hard to find the time'n'space to get new proper stuff up here) but anyhow I've already started working on some 'new projects' up here so that I think latest from some day next month on also other stuff than 'only' record-reviews will find their way up here again, finally. Okay, and now straight into the action a.k.a. finally straight and direct to WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE": Straigt and direct is sort of the perfect opening line of/to/for this very record-review here'n'now and this simply due to the fact that this is fast and harsh, stunning and aggressive, ice-cold-blistering and screamingly rattling staright and direct into your face threshed Black Metal probably of the most pure and true kind you will get delivered by such a 'big' band these day'n'age right now. After the experimental and probably for a lot of oh so trve Black Metal die hards very controversial predecessor these days in 2018 on "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" WATAIN deliver aggressive and extreme, raw and violent Black Metal that's damn pure and of course pretty to very true and that also comes with some healthy doses of chaotic raging disorder right from the get-go. WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" is filled with ice-cold-blistering blizzard guitars that really shine with their bitterly and icy, nihilistic aggression and the deadly and life-denying atmosphere that they create especially with their raging leads and their pure chaos solos as well as with a lot of very melodic and (sort of) 'folkloristic' parts, yes, and for sure they offer also pretty strong and harsh riffs and a such rhythm work and they also don't shy away to deliver pure 'moshy' Thrash Metal parts (even this patrts are painted anyhow very black anyway), and if you ask me that's all pretty to very good. The rhythm section is backing the guitars very strongly up and especially the crushing and devastating drumming really adds tons of bulky and beefy meat to the backbone of WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" (and like sort of in best Black Metal tradition there's mostly really anyhow no need to talk about or even of any bass work in general, if you get what I say). The vocals are bestial and diabolic, harsh and nasty and extreme screams that reach from high pitched hysteric screeches to a more deep and 'shouty' delivery and deliver pretty much as many variations that one can probably only get this days from a pure and true Black Metal band and album. Despite the over-all very straight forward(s) and onwards into war charging approach the songwriting is anyhow still pretty diverse and anyway decent and the songs really offer a lot and also a big bunch of pretty impressive twists'n'turns all along the ride and nice little surpsises and even really catchy arranged vocal lines worked into it all if you work yourself only a little bit deeper into the hellish raging pure hate set to musick, yes, and that the guys in/of WATAIN are also very strong'n'skilled musicians anyhow should probably need no further explanation here and now. So, yes, it's all good and fine... but... yes... but I have a very serious but concerning or affecting WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" and this is: This very album leaves me damn cold. It simply don't moves or touches or straightens'n'errects and arouses me like it should and this due to the fact that despise all its hellish atmosphere and the chaotic, aggressive, violent, bestial'n'diabolical, and hatefilled, life-denying, and extreme approach of this shredding wrath and blasphemic/satanic nihilisim set to musick it lacks some good to huge doses of intensity so that a bunch of the songs turn despite all the blast speed and all 'the stuff' to sort of a 'easy-listening-music' playing in the background - and by any means but probably especially Black Metal was never meant to be something like this, point and fact. Don't get me wrong with songs like for example the nearly perfect "NUCLEAR ALCHEMY" or "A THRONE BELOW", "TEUFELSREICH" and "THE FIRE OF POWER", to name this four ones, an album can never be bad but with songs like for example the totally lame and stale "TOWARDS THE SANCTUARY" I really catch myself thinking about how I may structure my tomorrow-day and what food I may buy on Saturday for the next week instead of listening or being anyhow or anyway aroused or excited by the music... and, okay, I think you get what I am trying to say. With all this said maybe don't believe blindly all the hype wafting around WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" and give it a good try before you buy it blindly expecting the newest majestic masterpiece spitted out of hell directly by the horned one himself. But if you don't expect something 'instantly-legendary' and just look for a new and (very) decent, pretty good Black Metal album then the "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" of/by WATAIN should serve your needs very, very well. Some 'nice' Black Metal lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a rough and yet anyhow very powerful production sound round it all finally up. If you are into Black Metal or if you currently work yourself into Black Metal and if you have a faible or start to develop a faible especially for acts like MAYHEM, DISSECTION, MARDUK, and maybe also some BURZUM then WATAIN's "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE" should also make you pretty to very happy. A decent album, yes, definitely worth checking out, yes, even I miss 'something' to/about it... but maybe that's also just me, who knows... anyhow and anyway, okay, you now know 'the deal' so that I can now calmly close this very one right now and right here. We will read us again, sooner or later.

(7,5 of 10 points)

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

WATAIN - "NUCLEAR ALCHEMY" (2018, "TRIDENT WOLF ECLIPSE")