OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS" (2018)

OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS"
(Running time: 40:30 minutes; 12 songs)
("Sunny Bastards Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes - I'm back again, once again. Time to set the new month which is October 2018 in motion, oh yeah', and so now let's roll on again: Here and now I have something really… fuck it... I love OXO 86 and here's my review on "RIEN NE VA PLUS" their (brand)new and still pretty-to-very recently this very year of 2018 via "SUNNY BASTARDS" released full-length-record, and this is a damn strong one finally one more time again. OXO 86, a damn sympathic and authentic, real and honest band, melting SKA and Oi! and Punkrock in one hell of a rousing way together and their sound simply graps you and then… what can I say... you simply start to skank around immediately without a second thought and this from start to finish, yes, and they are one of the very best live bands I've ever seen and thinking about their gig at the this year's "THIS IS SKA 2018" I promptly feel the rush of that gig already again. Damn it, it was so damn great. Okay, and what does this all tell us now 'bout "RIEN NE VA PLUS", the latest offering of/by OXO 86?!? If this all not already told you so then let me tell you that OXO 86 serve us here on/with "RIEN NE VA PLUS" their newest offering of their highly energetic and nicely uncouth naughty and nasty and always thirtsy and cheerful SKA-Oi!-Punk and this really damn strong and, truly, incredible massively rousing. A very nicely dirty intoned guitar-work pushs the songs forward with a formidable powerful rhythm work and also spices up the songs with some fine melody lines and highly danceable SKA licks from start to finish on which the pretty to damn fantastic trumpet in collaboration with the smart organ further on put the icing on the cake, so to say, and they also incorporate more or less pretty often some good healthy doses of Reggae into it all as well and all is backed up by the snotty and frivolous play-to-the-dance rhythm section consisting out of the powerful strutting bass and the loud popping drums, while very loud and hymnal background-choirs only add to it all and above all shine the incredible charismatic lead vocals giving it all only even more of an unique and own tone, yes, a pretty damn stand-alone band that's what OXO 86 definitely are. All is delivered via/by strong songwriting with highest levels and amounts of grapping energy and rousing dyanmics in it, turning "RIEN NE VA PLUS" from the first tones to the finishing ones into one hell of an exciting and entertaining and all the time very hymnal and damn anthemic ride that should please all true or real fans of punky SKA and dirty (German) Oi! and snotty (German) Punk all at the same time and pretty much to the same amounts, yes, and this all without currying any favor but instead of this rather prefering being thru'n'thru real, authentic, honest, and heartfelt sympathic all the time. My personal favorites are for sure "RIEN NE VA PLUS", "FESTIVAL", "SPÄTVERKAUF", "ZEIT DIE NIE VERGEHT", "EIN GUTER TROPFEN", "KAISERFAHRT", and "WIE VAMPIRE", all pure gold, so maybe check this total highlights out first. Nicely diverse lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a perfect rough production-sound then finally round OXO 86's "RIEN NE VA PLUS" very strong up and make it all round. Only to "AUF GEHT'S" and "SCHADE" I somehow don't find a way to, why the bloody hell ever. Anyhow, because to anyone into SKA, Oi!, and Punk I can only and highly recommend OXO 86's "RIEN NE VA PLUS", yes, so make sure to get your hands on a copy of it finally as soon as anyhow anyway possible. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://oxo86.blogsport.de/ (-the link to the band's own blogsite)

OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS" (2018, "RIEN NE VA PLUS")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018: LUNGBRUSH - "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018:

LUNGBRUSH- "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" (1999)
(Running time: 38:55 minutes, 14 songs)
("Pavement Music Inc."; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "URBAN TRIBES"
(02.) "LOST"
(03.) "SOMETIMES"
(04.) "EXIT"
(05.) "BOUND"
(06.) "FOR A MINUTE"
(07.) "HEROIN SUICIDE"
(08.) "HINDSIGHT"
(09.) "CORPORATE BULLSH#T"
(10.) "CLOZARIL"
(11.) "JANIE"
(12.) "SYNTHETIC"
(13.) "I QUIT"
(14.) "SOILED"

Oh boy, it seems like freaky fuckin' ages and like I've totally forgot about this very article here which is in fact the next and newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article in its AUGUST 2018 edition, yes, and you know what, it's true, I sort of forgot about it so that it now nearly a full month too late comes up... and so here and now without any further ramblings, yes, let's go… Here we have a for all what I know today very much unknown and truly heavily forgotten album and that's the "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" slasher of/by LUNGBRUSH that used to hail from Chicago, Illinois/U.S.A. and it was released in 1999 via "PAVEMENT MUSIC INC." (on CD) and for all what I know it was and still is the only proper release of/by them and it is an album that heavily breathes the spirit of the late 1990's but this like fresh air still today. This is metallic Hardcore or early Metalcore with a huge curious and searchingly mind(set) and a special tone or vibe to it all like you only got it back then in the late 1990's on but this all so strong and grapping, exciting and energizing so that it is even also today nothing but incredible fresh, strong, and alive/lively so that it still today stands its ground and this tall, brave, strong, and proud. Unfortunately I haven't found that much more informations on/to LUNGBRUSH beside the fact that they toured together with the likes of FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, and MACHINE HEAD back in the days, yes, and so now onwards to the next chapter of this article and this is a closer look on LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL".

Especially FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD are good cornerstones to describe LUNGBRUSH and what they are doing here on "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL". Imagine a devastating and highly dynamic full throttle and full force mixture out of mid to late 1990's metallic Hardcore like for example STRIFE, TURMOIL, DISRESPECT, and SURFACE, throw some good portioned healthy doses of SICK OF IT ALL for some more raging Old School Hardcore vibes into the mix, and combine this all with 1990's Neo Thrash Metal like especially MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA/SOULFLY, KILLINGCULTURE, and also some FEAR FACTORY and then add a damn strong and big own identity to it all and you pretty much have the greatness that LUNGBRUSH had delivered in 1999 with their "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" masterpiece and I really have no clue why the band didn't become bigger back then. Anyhow, we have this great asskicker here marked by fantastic songwriting with a tricky and imaginative approach to it all, with strong exciting moments and full of grapping and rousing elements and truckloads of energy and dynamics, and with a lot of especially great and nicely diverse and multi-facetted rhythm arrangements. All is delivered by pissed off raging and throaty delivered very hard shouted vokillz, crushing and devastating guitars, and a pure thunder rhythm section. Add it to all 1990's MACHINE HEAD like screaming guitars and 1990's SEPULTURA/SOULFLY like percussive tribalistic drumming and some sort of "proggy" compositorial 'playthings' like especially KILLINGCULTURE also did them back then, yes, and you should know the deal. Strong and outspoken lyrics, a very sinister artwork, and a smashing production-sound round it all finally up. To anyone into metallic Hardcore and (early) Metalcore I can only and nothing but highly recommend LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" so do yourself the damn huge favour and make sure to finally (and desperately) get your hands on a copy of it. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

Check them out on ''Bandmine'': http://www.bandmine.com/lungbrush

LUNGBRUSH - "SOMETIMES" (1999, "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016)

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX"
(Running time: 17:46 minutes; 6 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2016; CD):

Hey guys, late evening post today respectively tonight for you and this time on an album that's now already a little bit older and this very one here and now is the "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" Mini-CD of/by the legendary KOMINTERN SECT that was released two years ago in 2016 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label. Don't ask me why but two years ago this album flew completly under my radar and I just bought it this very year in June 2018 at the "THIS IS SKA 2018" festival and that's the reason why you just now read and haven't read earlier about it up here. KOMINTERN SECT like also a lot of other French Oi! bands I discovered pretty late, so to say, earliest from the late 1990's or early 2000's on, can't remember it now correctly, but especially KOMINTERN SECT I hold very close and dear to my heart and so I really want(ed) to bring this very one still up here for you, yes, and so now let's go: KOMINTERN SECT play a very destinctive style of very brickwall styled heavy and hard and yet all the time incredible melodic and catchy/anthemic Oi! driven especially forward by a fantastic mixture of stoic and heavy and yet still nicely 'fluffy'n'diverse' onwards stomping rhythm work and bright shining and loud singing very melodic leads and above all flying 'hooky'n'hymnal' mighty melodic sing-a-longs delivered by a loud'n'proud crew choir. And as well as the songs are all damn powerful and battle-scarred they also carry due to the above described heavy melodic focussed approach also all the time a somewhat somehow slightly melancholic and pensive very intense atmosphere that not only gives you goosepimples en masse but that also gives KOMINTERN SECT a damn strong very own unique identity and character. Expect a fresh and rousing songwriting full of power that graps you immediatly and simply won't let loose again, and all is delivered via strong stomping guitars, great nasty delivered lead vocals and damn strong crew chants, a proud strutting bass, and crashing drumming and also their larger than life classick "POUR LA GLOIRE" you find on this one. Please, just give me finally more new stuff. Good lyrics (as far as I could translate them), a gorgeous artwork, and a stunning production sound then round it all finally up. So, yes, don't make the mistake and think this (very) short review would be because this would be a only anyhow weak album, hell no, it's just simply a Mini-Album and so I think I've said it all what I had to say and if you maybe still don't know or have it then you should finally change this as soon as possible and best get it promptly. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/Kominternsect2014 (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

KOMINTERN SECT - "LA BELLE VIE" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER" (2018)

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER"
(Running time: 43:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, I'm once again back again and this time it will be another early morning post and this one more time again simply due to the fact that I don't know how much time I will maybe be able to spend on doing some stuff up here later this day and after over the last week this always failed I decided to bring this very one here up just right now this early morning. So, here we have the new AGGRESSIVE slasher "STICK TOGETHER" released (if I am now not completly wrong) this very summer of 2018 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label on CD and on LP and for all what I know it's now the second full length album of/by this (very) strong going band from Germany. This is first class top notch roughnecked and battle-scarred Oi! with a huge amount of Old School (and especially on NYHC raised) Hardcore marks in it and roaring full throttle and full force ahead with plenty of Hardcore Punk impressions in it, too. Somewhere between DISCIPLINE, WARZONE, THE 4 SKINS, and some THE CASUALTIES you will find AGGRESSIVE and this on a fresh and strong pretty own independent(ly) position with a strong own character that shines especially through in the pretty unique warm and ingratiating yet harsh sawing and dustdry bonecracking shredding guitar tone and the sharp cutting and nasty roaring heavy shouted lead vokillz with that nicely done own form of accentuated delivery. And beside the above mentioned bands respectively fans of them I think that also everyone who back then cheered up to the mighty DOWN THE DRAIN and/or loved the unforgotten and almighty WARFARE 223/WARFARE will definitely also love AGGRESSIVE and their "STICK TOGETHER" slasher, yes, even especially WARFARE 223/WARFARE still rise above but not that this would matter that much at the end of tha day. Expect no holds barred and no prisoners taking high energetic and full throttle songwriting with still a plenty of strong and fresh twists'n'turns all along the road that excites and graps and massively rouses you and all is filled with harsh and sharp roaring guitars that deliver beside some fantastic rhythm work also absolutely singing and shining leads and melody lines, very charismatic and angry and nasty forceful shouted lead vokillz, loud gang shouts, a bunch of cool guest singers, a heavy pounding and loud'n'proud bass, and heavy hitting and hard smashing thundering drumming, yes, and all is done very dynamic, too. Fantastic lyrics, diverse and often socially aware and outspoken, a drop dead gorgeous artwork, and pure power production-sound then round it all finally up. I think I have enough said, because if I now would ramble on I would more or less only repeat myself in one way or another and so I will now close this review with stating that "DEEP INSIDE", "STICK TOGETHER", "BLACK, RED, GOLD", "DEINE LIEBE", "FOR THE WILD ONES", "PARASITE", and "HIPSTER" are my absolute favorites on this one and so maybe check this ones out first, and, yes, a damn fantastic and really impressive and so in this way at least by/of me pretty unexpected top notch album that you simply need to have, period. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.contra-net.com/de/aggressive-stick-together-12-lp-lim-212-blk-pre-order.html (- best get it right here)

AGGRESSIVE - "DEEP INSIDE" (2018, "STICK TOGETHER")

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU" (2014)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU"
(Running time: 39:54 minutes; 12 songs)
("K.B. Records"; 2014; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally back again with the next dose and so now here comes my newest record-review for you and after somehow the last two months turned out to be absolutely dominated by Metal, Hard Rock and Rock I decided that it is really finally by far about time that finally the direction is being changed again and I really feel like especially Oi! and Streetpunk but also Hardcore and Punkrock in general finally need again to take the order up here (and I have quite a bit of new Oi!, Streetpunk, etc. pp. albums here that are only waiting to be finally reviewed up here by me for you) and I decided that I will start this sort of the "changing of the direction" up here with a record-review on a damn fantastic Oi! album from good old Germany even it is now already a bit older but so far I haven't managed to get a review on it up here and I anyhow really want to and this best before the band releases their brandnew one (I think) later this very year, yes, and this very band are the mighty DURSTIGE NACHBARN and this very album is their fantastic "ICH ODER DU" released already four years ago from now back then in 2014 via the top notch "K.B. RECORDS" label and I have it since back then and I celebrate and praise it since then and so now finally and by far too long overdue here is now my review on it for you, okay, and so enough of the introducing smalltalk, yes, let's go: So, yes, I heard you're looking for Oi!, yes, for first class and especially absolutely real Oi! straight from Germany, yes? Well, perfect, don't look any further, hell yeahr, because here you've found what you were looking for. This is honest and authentic, no bullshit accepting and no prisoners taking, heavy and hard onwards stomping Skinhead Oi! Oi! Oi! musick raging directly from the cold concrete in the glorious tradition of harsh brickwall styled German Oi! and for example old KRAWALLBRÜDER come to mind even DURSTIGE NACHBARN play it tighter and heavier, more versatile and at the same time more to the point and also with a stronger harsh forward storming old school Punkrock/Hardcore Punk background than the almighty KRAWALLBRÜDER back then. So expect massive amounts of very, very fresh and massively rousing and highly dynamic energy wrapped into damn strong and convincing, conquering songwriting that flows in a masterly way without any breaks or blank spaces and with a big bunch of strong ideas, nice surprises, exciting twists'n'turns all the ride down the road, and a grapping and tension fueled intense approach from start to finish that just makes your fists go automatically up while your throat and mouth sing without a second thought the top notch loud'n'proud very 'hooky' sing a longs with full power and this also from start to finish, yes, DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" is a supreme explosive, destructive warhead that ignites right in your ears and sets your whole mind and body a-light. All is filled with very gruff and heavy guitars that deliver a fantastic, high energetic and nicely diverse and above all damn intense  rhythm work that simply conquers supremely and in every way and also every moment and then also the guitar work really shines with very concise melody lines and leads, too, yes, that's how I like it. The two lead singers, one gruff and one more higher pitched (so to say) and both damn powerful, then stunningly whip ahead the songs massively and mark them all heavily. The very present and heavy huming loud'n'proud bass is strutting around like he owns the place and together with the damn heavy and stunning drumming backs it then all first class up. And as this all together wouldn't be already great enough, yes, but also expect anthemic hymns from start to finish and this all the time. My personal favorites (still) are "ICH ODER DU", "IM HAUSFLUR BRENNT NOCH LICHT", "EURE KINDER", "KURZ UND SCHMERZLOS", "SCHEISS AUF EURE WELT", "NIEMALS BEREUT", and the almighty "SKINHEADS", yes, so maybe check this pure platinum tracks out first. Very strong and good and also nicely diverse and also very often damn outspoken and critical/socially-aware lyrics, a great artwork, and a harsh sawing production sound then round it all finally up. This is pure, solid gold and still today I can nothing but highly, highly recommend DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" to anyone into real (German) Oi! and I am incredible curious for their new album and until then "ICH ODER DU" will simply remain on heavy rotation. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
http://durstige-nachbarn.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "SKINHEADS" (2014, "ICH ODER DU")

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER" (2018)

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER"
(Running time: 58:24 minutes; 14 songs)
("Sony Music"; 2018; CD):

Hell yeahr, hey guys, yes, already back again and this time again with a record review that's for far too long overdue up here nowadays and it is finally on the new JUDAS PRIEST masterpiece "FIREPOWER" released via "SONY MUSIC" this year's March of 2018 on CD and limited CD and also, at least I would bet so, also on LP and currently it is also out again in a brandnew special tour edition, yes, just that you know it, but (so far) I own only the normal CD version, since the day it was released, and so, of course, my review will just be on this very one. So, yes, 2018 and JUDAS PRIEST unleashing their supreme "FIREPOWER" and with doing so they pretty much annihilated all maybe-potential as well as all openly wanna-be rivals in the world for 2018 within the blink of an eye and so 2018 saw with JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" the return of the pretty much best and greatest of them all ever. With 14 songs in nearly a hour of play-time with "FIREPOWER" JUDAS PRIEST constructed and build-up a sky-towering monument from scratch that truly is absolutely on par with larger than life divine masterpieces and lifechanging groundbreakers like for example immortal ones like "KILLING MACHINE", "BRITISH STEEL", "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE", "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH", "TURBO", and "PAINKILLER" and this, oh hell yeahr, this is an absolute statement of its very own and it is nothing less and nothing but totally conquering and this again and again time after time without end. And, in fact, JUDAS PRIEST created with "FIREPOWER" a soon-to-be-a-classic if not an instant-classic album that while combining in a totally relevant up-to-date way the best ingredients and elements of the above mentioned immortally divine JUDAS PRIEST classicks to create a true larger than life masterpiece of totally own of a kind like one in a million also manages to be so incredible fresh, independently, stand-alone, and alive-lively that it is nothing else and especially nothing less than absolutely breath-taking and the biggest and purest pleasure to listen to this phenomenal Heavy Metal thunderstruck and it showcases and this seemingly so easy how truly great Heavy Metal was, is, and always will be and this in all its lifechanging glory. Combine the clenched fist stoic marching Hard Rock fueled harsh stomping early Heavy Metal of "KILLING MACHINE" and the sharp cutting "BRITISH STEEL" with the pure by high octane energy fueled melodic and still mercylessly heavy forward storming and by huge and highly multi-facetted tension-arcs marked masterly supreme Heavy Metal of "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE" and "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" with the anthemic and hymnal catchyness of the hard rocking and even harder rolling "TURBO" and the all and every resistance devastating and annihilating absolutely no prisoners taking and still incredible diverse and multi-layered sheer thundering heavyness of "PAINKILLER" and imagine this all done incredible fresh and independently and filled to the maximum with new, fresh, and spirited ideas and you probably should have a pretty good idea of "FIREPOWER" to start with - just in case you really shouldn't know (or own) it, why the bloody hell ever. The very multi-layered and diverse songwriting full of overwhelming many and great facets is phenomenal, the fantastic songs are packed up full to the absolute maximum with unbelievable massive amounts of total high octane energy and really headspinning and massively rousing and moving dynamics, the songs (each single one as well as the whole album which means the 'songs in their completness') 'brightly' shine and really massively and strongly excel with overwhelming amounts of ever-changing different moods and strong emotions while being marked by fantastic arrangements and brilliant arranged verses that very 'flowingly' run into truly larger than life 'fist in the air' refrains while all being 'stunningly' studded with gifted hooklines to kneel down to, exciting moments and grapping elements are everywhere to be found here on JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", the rhythm structures and the pace work are very diverse and pretty much ever-changing over the whole album and every song owns its very own approach and identity, and in general is the ingenious fresh, alive-lively, rousing and very multi-facetted compositorial work of the songs nothing but totally and absolutely 'gifted-divine'. The guitars are literally the album-title taken from words and set (in)to musick which means absolutely all-guns-blazing sheer and pure "FIREPOWER" and really excel with their overwhelming and all and everything and everyone conquering power with fantastic riffs as well as abrilliant rhythm work and when we look at the divine solos and the brilliant leads and melody lines that's where they really, really shine and this like the brightest star you'll probably will ever see. Rob Halfords lead vokillz truly massively enrich and cultivate it all and this just from start to finish on a totally supreme and masterly level of skill, quality, and personality and also live he sings so strong and brilliant today that you could think he would be at least three decades younger than he really is. Much, much respect for this!!! The forceful and proud strutting bass and the crushing thunderous drumming then beef and bulk up the songs massively and perfectly, giving them their needed and very valuable backbone. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" is a nearly if not a truly through and through perfect piece of art and musick and every single song is the purest and most precious platinum you only can find and so every song is truly an incredible precious gem but if you ask for my personal favorites then this would be "FIREPOWER", "LIGHTNING STRIKES", "EVIL NEVER DIES", "NEVER THE HEROES", "CHILDREN OF THE SUN", "RISING FROM RUINS", "SPECTRE", "NO SURRENDER", and "SEA OF RED", hell yeahr, and so maybe start your discovery of JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" with this über-divine gems. Very strong, interesting, and throughtful lyrics, an amazing and just 'overwhelmingly-conquering' artwork, and a frist-class powerful and transparent and still warm production-sound then finally round it all perfectly up. Be sure or be prepared to find JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" on a very prominent position in my personal-best-of-2018-list and I'm pretty sure this will not only in my case that/this way. I think I've said so much all I had to say and I think you now know the deal and what you should do or have to do in case you really still don't own or even know it and now bang your head and rock hard and rock free. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", an immortally divine and larger than life masterpiece forged in iron by fire, flame, and will and a proud, powerful, spirited, gifted, and bright shining monument for the future delivered and gifted to us by the Metal Gods themselves. Perfect!!!

(10 of 10 points)

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

JUDAS PRIEST - "NEVER THE HEROES" (2018, "FIREPOWER")

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" (2018)

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN"
(2CD: Running time - CD 1: 52:19 minutes; 13 songs /// Running time - CD 2: 55:33 minutes; 14 songs)
("Rookies & Kings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back again, once again, yes, next load'n'dose already again coming for you. Here and now it will be all about my review on the new FREI.WILD album "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN", finally, and this was and is a double CD album that was released in the March of this very year of 2018 and latest since May 2018 I wanted to bring this up… please, don't ask me why it took so long, I have no clue. Anyhow, I wasn't aware that FREI.WILD were still active or were active again before I saw "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" in my local record store and at first I wasn't too enthusiastic… it left me totally and completly cold, to be honest... after the last FREI.WILD album I really cheered up to was "GEGENGIFT" from 2011 but after some time one day I decided in sort of an ad-hoc-decision to just take it with me and so I did and then… yes... I was heavily surprised and truly convinced by it and so, I mean this being-convinced-of-it, it is still so the state today. And, before you ask, no, just no, I mean I could imagine that FREI.WILD still today trigger a lot of guys outta there who see in them some of the most Evil Nazis and one of the most evil Nazi Rock or Fascist Rock bands outta there ever and all sort of this stuff. Fuck it, in my review on "GEGENGIFT" I pretty much wrote all what I had and in one way or another still sort of have to say about this stuff so just read it there if you really want to my opinion on or to this all and one last or two or three last words to it then just listen without any panic sirens in your head with attention to a lot of very outspoken lyrics of songs here on "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and you should finally get it straight that patriotism and conservatism doesn't equal being a Nazi or Fascist and in fact maybe, just maybe if you can get this straight, even means the total opposite. And now, finally, enough of this stuff and back to the topic, yes, and that still is FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN". Hm, how to finally not only trying but succeeding in keeping it short(er) this time... I doubt that this will work out... anyway, hm, where and how the hell to start? Maybe here'n'there: If you are looking or searching for a really damn strong through and through really hymnal and anthemic and truly hard rocking and slightly metallic rolling Rock album, a German Rock album owning a huge very own identity and with still a pretty present street spirit or Streetrock flair and that incorporates a lot of Offbeat and/or SKA elements into it all in a damn strong way and with, so it seems, a lot of big heartfelt personal authentic emotions in it all as well and/or on top of it all, musicwise and lyricwise, yes, then don't look any further and don't search anywhere else, yes, because here with and in FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" you've definitely found what you were looking, searching for. Strong songwriting that really offers beneath its all too open lying surface a lot of suprising multi-layered facets and strong surprising diverse ideas and often great twists'n'turns with exciting song and verse arrangements and grapping compositorial kick-offs and that all really hit me by surprise and it all nicely breaks out of the all too well known stale formula of the last albums. While on the surface all sounds very well known underneath the surface waits a lot of fresh and cool stuff to be discovered by you. And all is done very independently, yes, FREI.WILD still have their very own tone and unique identity and they conserved and even cultivated it all here on and with "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and I definitely cheer up to it or them for this. Very charismatic and accentuated vocals, loud backings, sharp cutting heavy guitars, a proud strutting bass, and harsh and hard stunning drumming are the cornerstones of FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and in-between this all on the one side very often one hell of an intense and also pretty atmospheric entertaining and valuable, nutritious intermezzo breaks loose as well as on the other side there's also even way more waiting to be discovered by you. Okay, maybe a double CD album is or was at the end of the day still a bit too much and when we have 27 songs in nearly two hours of play-time then in all 'normal cases' it's maybe or surely pretty clear and 'normal' that we have also some fillers and not only killers on it here but anyhow and anyway, yes, FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" is a damn strong album that I can still very calmly and clearly recommend to you outta there and so maybe just forget all the hype as well as all the bullcrap talking maybe still surrounding this band and so also this album and just risk one or two ears on it or better get it instantly in case you really still should not have or even know it. Strong and surprisingly multi-layered lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a nice bombing production-sound then finally make it all very round. Like already more or less said, yes, best just get it.

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.frei-wild.net/ (-link to the homepage of the band)

FREI.WILD - "ANTIWILLKOMMEN" (2018, "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN")

(my absolute personal favorite one)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE" (2018)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE"
(Running time: 41:47 minutes; 10 songs)
("Loma Vista Recordings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, here's my next dose'n'load aimed at and coming for you and this time it will be my record-review on the new GHOST full-length-album "PREQUELLE" released very recently this very year of 2018 via "LOMA VISTA RECORDINGS" on CD in a normal and in a digi-pak-version of which the latter one I call mine (but don't ask me 'bout any differences beside the packaging) and I would bet that there's also officially released vinyl of it floating around outta there and this pretty much also in various forms which here and now means various colours. This is my very first GHOST record and also more or less my first reallly proper 'meeting' with them after before "PREQUELLE" I always thought it would just be another overly hyped act but after a good friend of mine (also very trustworthy in all things musick) told me that they would beside all the hype in fact be very good band and also their newest record despise all the controversy surrounding it would be very strong I decided to finally give GHOST a try as well and also decided to start directly with their newest offering "PREQUELLE" and so now here we are. After this introduction please don't wait for any comparisions with their earlier work and just expect me to do my review solely on this very one here, GHOST's "PREQUELLE". What GHOST deliver us here on and with and via "PREQUELLE" is a damn fascinating and very independently done metallic mixture out of Rock and Gothic and this in a very 'freshly delviered' way with some very cool and very catchy Pop appeal to it all, yes, and this very open (how I liked and still like to call it) Pop appeal I mean in every sense and way positive even it is (for all what I understand) one of the if not the biggest point of criticism the majority of critics is or gets vocal about, hm, how I see it even without knowing GHOST so much before "PREQUELLE" they were anyhow never that much the band of and for all the 'metallic trueness warriors' outta there or at least I never perceived them that way and so I don't really understand the discussions I got and am aware of surrounding GHOST's "PREQUELLE" but who am I too judge, so to say… For all what I can say is that if you are looking out for a damn strong and very Fresh nicely metallic Gothic Rock cocktail full of a very own identity and strong and grapping ideas that combines easily and very charming flowingly Gothic ingredients and Gothic Rock marks with loads of melodic Hard/Heavy Rock impressions and a good amount of stunning Classic/Vinatge Rock ideas and wraps it all together with head-banging studded Heavy Metal leather as well as some good healthy doses of anthemic 1980's Stadium Rock impressions while all is marked by a gigantic 'catchy poppyness' (again, in all sense positive meant) and all interwoven by a tight and nicely intense atmosphere then you will find in and with GHOST's "PREQUELLE" pretty much exactly what you are looking and searching for. GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is heavily marked by a very atmospheric and intense aligned songwriting that's filled with grapping hooks and a very dynamic and rousing, exciting and very energetic approach to it all with a big bunch of strong arrangements and a great flowing nicely diverse rhythm structure work of the songs in general and stunning compositorial ideas so that it pretty much all shines with a strong 'freshness' and it's pretty much all showcasing a pretty own character as well as damn convincing quality. The very urgently and imprloringly delivered, very intense and top notch clear and clean vokillz really shine above all with their massive power, their many facets, and their very own tone and character. Then the very strong and highly diverse and the songs definitely massively enriching and marking fantastic and highly melodic while yet being all the time also pretty powerful guitars then dominate massively, while being backed up in an ultra-precise and also damn diverse way by the powerful rhythm section and 'some other instruments' (so to say, and to make it short and easy for me here) also perform their duties in a damn strong to great way. And in our day and age delivering two instrumentals on one album as a 'chart breaking band' like GHOST do/did here on "PREQUELLE" with "MIASMA" and "HELVETESFÖNSTER" is also a damn strong statement. Not all is gold, okay, for example I miss a bit of dirt and danger and GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is for my taste a bit too secure and there are a bit of too many too pathos-pregnant-balladesk songs on it but after all I guess that's which means the latter is just part of the deal known as Gothic and Gothic Rock and so at the end of the day I guess it's all good and fine especially after I am not that 100% into that target group, so to say. My personal favorites are "RATS", "FAITH", "SET THE LIGHT", the absolutely fantastic "MIASMA", the stunning "DANCE MACABRE", and "LIFE ETERNAL", yes, so maybe check this ones out first. Pretty interesting and cool lyrics, an absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a heavy smashing production sound then finally round GHOST's "PREQUELLE" very befittingly up. Well done, very well done.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://ghost-official.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

GHOST live @ the "DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL" in 2018, playing "GHOST CIRCLE" and the masterly "MIASMA".

RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT" (2018)

RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT"
(Running time: 55:30 minutes; 12 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, new load'n'dose is incoming aimed at and heading for you and this time it is or it probably will finally be another early morning post again (if I get it done now before heading off to work) and this here'n'now will be all About one hell of a brilliant and breathtaking, stunning and overwhelming album and I am talking about nothing else and nothing less which means none other album than the absolute smasher titled "ARMOR OF LIGHT" by/of the (al)mighty RIOT V released still pretty recently in this year of 2018 via the ominpresent "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" on CD and LP. RIOT V are in fact sort of the almighty RIOT in sort of their current reincarnation, so to say, and with "ARMOR OF LIGHT" they pretty much did what is maybe best described as (even maybe just pretty roughly or 'superficially') the "THUNDERSTEEL" of their new era as RIOT V and without copying this immortal'n'divine classick from back in the days (I did a tribute post to/on RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" as the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018" edition earlier this year up here, yes, so read it if you are interested in it - and you should be interested in it, definitely) but instead having created and mastercrafted with their "ARMOR OF LIGHT" a totally superb masterpiece of an album massively in the tradition of their "THUNDERSTEEL" and with delivering a damn fresh, unique, and alive'n'lively load of it straight into 2018. This is high octane full throttle no holds barred no breaks using power metallic and by at the same time damn harsh sawing and sharp cutting yet very symphonic and catchy Speed Metal fueled (U.S.) American Heavy Metal of the most supreme kind and marked by fantastic songwriting that not only makes sure to provide massive amounts of highly explosive energy and highly ever movable'n'moving dynamics ongoingly all the time but that also shines and excels completly and all the time with a huge amount of great very fresh and highly exciting ideas and twists'n'turns all around the time and all along the ride down the road from start to finish and that grabs you with a very tight atmosphere and with an incredible high intensity non stopp so that this albums just kicks your ass, smashes your bones, grabs you by the throat and slaps and beats your face and head all the time from the opening tunes of "VICTORY" to the closing seconds of "RAINING FIRE" and this really over truly all the time and makes you enjoy every single speed fueled heavy power metallic hit you take second by second and enjoy this in every sense overwhelming beating really and to point it out one more time again all the damn time, yes, and RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is above all also a damn stunning heavy and harsh album, sharp cutting and precise aimed and yet also all the time so incredible symphonic, melodic and just damn catchy and filled with fantastic hooklines that it will only leave your mouth open while your breath is taken away and this all also only adds up to the 'highly atmospheric tightness' and the über-stunning intensity of this ultimate masterpiece of a damn brilliant and fucking fantastic album that's filled with all and everything and everyone overwhelming anthemic hymns from start to finish. All is then massively marked by a highly diverse and a (like also the whole songwriting in general) very multi-layered and multi-facetted guitar work that shines with brilliant riffs and a phenomenal arragened rhythm work in general while it then totally excels with loud and singing symphonic melody lines, catchy leads, and brilliant highly dynamic and energetic solos as well as absolutely amazing top-notch first-class highly charismatic and fantastic clear and clean and yet very powerful sung lead vokillz, while the massively powerful strutting and the place owning bass work and the devastating and also highly dynamic and multi-facetted drumming together with some very cool loud'n'proud 'doubled' backings really round it all up in a it all very much and strongly cultivating way. My personal favorite choices probably would be "VICTORY", "END OF THE WORLD", "MESSIAH", "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN", "BURN THE DAYLIGHT", "ARMOR OF LIGHT", "HEART OF A LION", "SAN ANTONIO", and "CAUGHT IN THE WITCHES EYE" but after the so far not mentioned "SET THE WORLD ALIGHT", "READY TO SHINE", and "RAINING FIRE" are in no way anyhow weaker attempts I can name them calmly as well, yes, simply because the whole album is filled from start to finish all the time with fantastic masterpieces of songs, point and fact. A drop-dead gorgeous artwork, strong lyrics, and a heavy bombing production-sound finally round it all up. So, okay, I think I've said enough and told you all you have and need to know and so before I now eat my breakfast and then drive to work let me close this record-review with saying that RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is an album you will definitely find in my personal best of 2018 list and if you are into the described musick and still don't know or own it then you should by any means finally change this as soon as possible. An amazing album, period.

(10 of 10 points)

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

RIOT V - "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN" (2018, "ARMOR OF LIGHT")

SUICIDE SILENCE - "SUICIDE SILENCE" (2017)

SUICIDE SILENCE  "SUICIDE SILENCE"
(Running time: 44:17 minutes; 10 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, next load is in-coming for you and this time it is a or better my record-review on a now slightly already a bit older release namely the so far still current self-titled SUICIDE SILENCE full-length-album released via "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" some time last year in 2017. I was never the biggest SUICIDE SILENCE fan even their damn strong "THE BLACK CROWN" from 2011 really ruled and still rules but other than that particular album all in all SUICIDE SILENCE never really were that far up high on my personal-faves-list, so to say, and this combined with the very mixed reactions this very one here, SUICIDE SILENCE's "SUICIDE SILENCE" received more or less everywhere last year I never felt that much of the need to get my hands on it. This changed just recently this year when I saw it for less than 5,00 Euros and then so finally took it with me because, to be honest, what could go wrong for a that low price. And now I have it here and am listening to it for… far too often… to get this record-review here finally done and... where to start and this all with keeping it short… Okay, SUICIDE SILENCE as one of the by any means biggest Deathcore acts outta there really wanted to change their game quite a bit, so to say, and this they anyhow anyway did. But... and I'll really try to keep it truly short this time… if this 'changing of the game' and this 'reinventing of your own identity' means nothing else and even less but that you deliver nothing but miserable and pitifull lukewarm together boiled infusions of what bands like (the fantastic) DEFTONES and (the in their glory days absolutely overwhelming) KORN did when they were sixteen and smoked up high and tight on weed in their daddy's garage and this all then rewarmed sort of over two decades later in 2017 in a lousy and dirty cooking pot that was used before to sizzle some garbage crystal meth together then, yes, then you surely missed the point of anything and everything what 'changing the game' and 'reinventing your own identity' could and should mean. Throw some late 1990's and early 2000's Nu Metal of the more (wanna-be) psychotic and dark, (also wanna-be) depressiv and sinister kind like imagine a mixture out of the DEFTONES, KORN, and SLIPKNOT (minus all identity, quality, and/or rousing ideas) together with some 201X's Deathcore and also Metalcore and pull off any focus or any related ideas or any real grapping or exciting songwriting and you have, yes, SUICIDE SILENCE's "SUICIDE SILENCE", an album marked by an unbelievable huge artificially inflated nothingness of all and everything and delivered via pseudo-proggy gadgetry wrapped in a terrible sterile and dull cardboard production-sound and with not much to, in all honesty, nothing else. Deathcore breakdowns and Nu Metal grooves in combination with a lot of pseudo-desperate and in self-pity bathing downpaced and pseudo-atmospheric parts, a truckload of dull struming guitars, terrible vocals that are by all the effects packed on them only even made far worse, and a lachrymatory uninspired scrubing rhythm-section then are the tools via which the… hm... ''songwriting-ideas'' are carried out. And self-pity is a good keyword beside some others that I have already used to describe the lyrics in a proper way, too. Anything positive to end this review on? Not really and not that much but "DYING IN A RED ROOM", "CONFORMITY", and "DON'T BE CAREFUL YOU MIGHT HURT YOURSELF" (minus the crappy outro) are pretty decent, okay to maybe good songs even maybe only or at least especially in the context of this total ass birth of an album and minus the lame bandphoto cover I like the whole artwok of the album quite a bit, yes, and then that's it. Incredible less that this album delivers despise the high-skilled musicians that gave birth to it. And so, yes, we finally got reminded one more time and this also in a pretty impressive way that sometimes even less than 5,00 Euros can be by far too much for an album…

(3 of 10 points)

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

SUICIDE SILENCE - "DORIS" (2017, "SUICIDE SILENCE")

GATEKEEPER - "EAST OF SUN" (2018)

GATEKEEPER - "EAST OF SUN"
(Running time: 57:33 minutes; 10 songs)
("Cruz del Sur"; 2018; CD):

Back on track and up here at work again, yes, and to kick this very one here and now off let me begin with just one word, okay, and so now here it comes: Wow!!! Yes, and with that said let us now start this very one here properly: Hey guys, oh yeahr, this very one here totally overwhelmed me and it massively conquered me and, yes, it continues to do so again and again and time after time. GATEKEEPER - hailing from (then) Edmonton and (now) Vancouver over there up from Canada - were total unknown strangers before their "EAST OF SUN" album to me and this very one here, GATEKEEPER's mentioned "EAST OF SUN", is their- for all what I know- proper full-length-debutalbum, and it was released still pretty recently this year via the mighty "CRUZ DEL SUR" record-label like already mentioned in this very year of 2018. I'll try to keep it... hm... again (?) shorter this time... at least a bit or so... and so now enough of the introducing and smalltalking stuff and finally right and direct and straight into the action, yes, and so now one more time again let's roll: This is absolutely brilliant and fantastic Epic Heavy Metal of the absolute masterly supreme kind with a strong own character and identity born and bred through old/early SAVATAGE, old glory MANOWAR, a good dose of MANILLA ROAD, and OMEN and raised by these giants to become a very independently, stand-alone, and high skilled battle scarred Epic Heavy/Power Metal bastard that would make Conan massively proud and that would be the perfect soundtrack for riding axe-swinging over the wide fields and through the hot jungles of Cimmeria. This almighty album kicks off with the phenomenal harsh slashing and deadly sharp cutting through and through on purest Speed Metal raised "THE BLADE OF CIMMERIA" filled with and marked by an impressively intense and heavily stunning, massively tension-building and really huge and despise the precise and fast cutting and raging character of it nicely diverse and multi-layered guitar work delivering everything destroying riffs and all heads off-cutting rhythmic arrangements and, standing above all, singing and screaming leads and intoxicating solos, hell yeahr, and also filled to the max with and marked by powerful and clean, clear, and very sharp and still pretty harsh sung lead vocals that are cultivating it all, while bonesmashing and harsh thundering drumming and a grim and evil sawing powerful bass back it all up in a stunning and massive way. After this absolutely overwhelming kick-off of the album the ingredients pretty much stay the same even the Speed Metal gets sort of omitted and the really larger than life and by a breathtaking and goosepimples-non-stopp-giving dramaturgy marked Epic Metal or Epic Heavy Metal really takes the all and everything commanding lead, yes, but the stunning, high-skilled, diverse and multi-layered, very atmospheric and intense, sharp cutting and harsh slashing and above all really singing and with fantastic melody lines excelling guitar work, the highly charismatic and very forceful and very imploringly and urgently delivered air-raid-siren vocals, the brutal smashing and stunning drumming, and the massively heavy sawing bass still make and mark the songs and the musick and this in all the fucking right ways and for all the damn right reasons. And above all GATEKEEPER's "EAST OF SUN" is marked by diverse and very rich, due to many differents facets and layers nicely and in a damn high-skilled way very multi-layered and sort of ever changing songwriting with tremendous amounts of massively tension building drama and an incredible amount of really exciting moments and grapping, rousing changes and twists and turns in it all that conquer and overwhelm all and everything in a damn stunning and drastic and massive way, yes, and it is incredible how huge and how 'gloriosuly grapping' the tension arcs of each and every single one of the songs (that are also very often brilliantly enriched with amazing acoustic sprinklings) are, yes, really damn bloody fucking fantastic. This is, to get this straight and say this clear and precise, an absolute and total supreme masterpiece and a really larger than life and an outstanding album and it is one of the very best ones in and for 2018 and this without a single doubt, yes, and I can only and clearly and calmly recommend this to everyone outta there who's into the described musick and if you are in this target-group and really should not have or even know it so far then you should really and by any means change this as damn soon as only anyhow possible and best promptly right now and instantly. Absolutely fantastic lyrics, an outstanding fucking gorgeous artwork, a clear and still heavy and sharp cutting production-sound as well as two brilliant and phenomenal cover-tunes of the omnipotent mastepieces that are OMEN's "DEATH RIDER" and SAVATAGE's "HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING" finally round the supreme masterpiece that is GATEKEEPER's "EAST OF SUN" finally and in a perfect way up. Epic Metal in perfection. Get this immortal beast of an album, just get it. 

(10 of 10 points)

https://gatekeeper.bandcamp.com/ (-the link to the bandcamp site of the band)

GATEKEEPER - "BLADE OF CIMMERIA" (2018, "EAST OF SUN")