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".

HEAVY LOAD - "STRONGER THAN EVIL" (2018; Re-Release)

HEAVY LOAD - "STRONGER THAN EVIL"
(Running time: 68:25 minutes; 14 songs)
("No Remorse Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, after my work day starts later this day I decided to try to come up with the next load for you already this morning (we will see if this will work out like planned) and this means here'n'now that here comes my record-review on the 2018 re-release of the HEAVY LOAD classick "STRONGER THAN EVIL" released via "NO REMORSE RECORDS" in a drop-dead-gorgeous and ultra-premium digi-pak-edition. HEAVY LOAD's "STRONGER THAN EVIL" was if I am now correct the 3rd full-length-album of this Heavy Metal Vikings from Sweden and was originally/primaly released in the October of 1983. I stumbled upon this release due to the gorgeous artwork that instantly draw my attention and finally led me to purchase it. HEAVY LOAD played a mixture out of Heavy Metal and (especially) Epic Metal with a strong battle-scarred spirit and a Conan & Cimmeria like vibe to it all and fueled by a often pretty strong and also pretty dark Hard Rock or Heavy Rock influence. The birth-date being in the 1980's and this also pretty early in this decade you surely regognize clearly but due to a nicely very own note'n'timbre and a pretty unique own tone of the guitars as well as of the nicely present and clearly to hear loud'n'proud strutting bass and a 'golden-hand' in arranging the vocal lines as well as the overall damn high quality of the musick HEAVY LOAD and especially here their "STRONGER THAN EVIL" absolutely holds its ground and remains damn relevant also today. This is also due to the very strong and also by today's standards still nicely fresh and especially damn alive-lively and asskicking songwriting that bridges a wide area of different approaches and directions from stunning and harsh power pumping, anthemic and fist-in-the-air Hard Rock/Heavy Rock slashers like "FREE" or especially the nearly divine "SATURDAY NIGHT" over escalating very intense drama-and-tension-rich highly emotional and atmospheric Epic Metal hymns like "STRONGER THAN EVIL" or "ROAR OF THE NORTH" to massively heavy hitting and hard onwards into battle stomping Heavy Metal thunderstrikes like "THE KING" or "SINGING SWORDS" and with "RUN WITH THE DEVIL" the album opens up with a prime example of the supreme Heavy Metal majesty HEAVY LOAD were able to create, and all is marked by intense and grapping and damn rousing songwriting that for damn sure still today in 2018 offers a lot of pure excitment for/to anyone into the described musick. All done by well-skilled musicians. Powerful clear sung and full lead vokillz, sharp cutting and harsh slashing guitars, a powerful bass, and thundering drums are the ingredients out of which HEAVY LOAD created their loud'n'proud and battle-scarred hymns of war. A big load of bonus tracks that really all totally conquer, a drop-dead-gorgeous and very 'nutritious' artwork, and a beautifully dirty and original 1980's production-sound as well as very strong lyrics then finally round it all up. Clearly recommended to anyone who's into Heavy Metal and Epic Metal as well as into heavy hitting and epic Hard Rock/Heavy Rock. Make sure to discover HEAVY LOAD's "STRONGER THAN EVIL", a really great masterpiece.

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Heavy_Load/113 (-the band @ the "Metal Archives")

HEAVY LOAD - "SINGING SWORDS" (1983/2018, "STRONGER THEN EVIL")

THE DEAD DAISIES - "BURN IT DOWN" (2018)

THE DEAD DAISIES - "BURN IT DOWN"
(Running time: 45:51 minutes; 11 songs)
("Spitfire Music"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes because here'n'now already the newest article/post is coming up here for you already (again) and this time it will be or respectively it is my record-review on the brandnew THE DEAD DAISIES full-length-album "BURN IT DOWN" released via "SPITFIRE MUSIC" very recently this year in 2018, hell yeahr, the 'supergrouped' Hard Rock Monsters from the States and the land Down Under are finally back again delivering us finally again one hell of a load of awesome and amazing through'n'through heavily by/with testosterone fueled, high octane, everything downtearing'n'demolishing, no prisoners taking, and no bullshit accepting, pure Hard Rock/Heavy Rock with any crappy 'fancy'n'trendy dingle-dangle' and this all  of the very damn highest grade of skills and qualities and with a very strong own timbre and note to it all that is here on full-length-album no. # four a bit more modern and with this also more slightly metallic than before. With incorporating a bit more of this modern metallic aspects into their very own sound'n'style THE DEAD DAISIES enrich and also cultivate their music even more than already before and so they also add a new and fresh facett to their music that's goes perfectly hand-in-hand with the strong Blues marks that for example and also especially shine very bright through in the phenomenal guitar work as well as with the stunning heavy fresh and organic/natural Rock & Roll grooves and the dustdry and boneshaking 'relentlessly' asskicking dirty Hard Rock Thunder pushing onwards without mercy. Any comparisions? Really? If you are into Hard Rock and you have missed out on THE DEAD DAISIES so far: Where the bloody hell did you spend your last years? A fresh, up to date, headsmashing heavy, absoultely alive/lively and totally stand-alone breed out of AC/DC, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY, MOLLY HATCHET, and GUNS'N'ROSES should maybe tell you for the start quite a bit and the rest you should really finally discover by and for yourself, yes, and "BURN IT DOWN" is a perfect starting-point for doing so. Very independently and stand-alone, pretty diverse and multi-layered and especially very rich songwriting full of really, really high intensity and countless amounts of forceful pushing and punching high octane energy and really damn big dynamics that carry the songs forward and without any regrets down the dusty and dirty desert-highway that's massively studded with a lot of grapping curves, exciting variations of diverse and different paced sections, and grapping twists'n'turns all along the ride, hell yeahr, and all really excels with a very strong own and highly rousing character and with a all the time very hymnal and anthemic approach full of fresh and cool approaches and ideas, yes, that's how it should be done, point and fact. Here is really and truly anything'n'everything damn outstanding intense and so far away from anything only slightly boring or ordinary that it is nothing else and also and especially nothing less than sort of a pure nearly groundbreaking pleasure to listen to THE DEAD DAISIES' "BURN IT DOWN" time after time again and again. The smoky and crisp intoned, full and pretty heavy and yet all the time melodic and clean and just really outstanding sung lead vocals and the phenomenal and rich and really in all departments incredible excelling guitar work surely are the biggest trademarks of THE DEAD DAISIES and this also here on "BURN IT DOWN" but the loud and powerful mighty strutting bass playing and the very mighty and forceful thunderous punching drumming are in no way inferior. Strong'n'cool lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, a thundering production-sound, and a great "REVOLUTION" cover round it all up finally and perfectly up. Like the right before this one up here by me for you reviewed new BLACK STONE CHERRY masterpiece titled "FAMILY TREE" also the new THE DEAD DAISIES album "BURN IT DOWN" right here is also a damn fucking total masterpiece and it is not only another new milestone in the world of Rock & Roll, Rock and Hard Rock/Heavy Rock released this year in 2018 but also another one that will definitely end up very well-placed/well-ranked in my personal best of 2018 list and I'm pretty sure not only in my list. The whole album is definitely and absolutely purest platinum and so I spare me here'n'now any listening recommendations but instead of this I highly recommend THE DEAD DAISIES' "BURN IT DOWN" to you and by any means you should definitely make sure to get it and then play it damn fucking loud, again and again, period.

(10 of 10 points)

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

THE DEAD DAISIES - "DEAD AND GONE" (2018, "BURN IT DOWN")

BLACK STONE CHERRY - "FAMILY TREE" (2018)

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

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

(10 of 10 points)

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

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

THE OBSESSED - "SACRED" (2017)

THE OBSESSED - "SACRED"
(Running time: 43:25 minutes; 12 songs)
("Relapse Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey folks, yes, next load'n'dose is already aimed and is now being fired @ you and here'n'now this means that my record-review on the still current full-length-album of/by no one else than the almighty THE OBSESSED is leaving the barrel for you. It's titled "SACRED" and was released via the great "RELAPSE RECORDS" (on CD and it wouldn't make me wonder if not also on LP) and this already in 2017. Last year I somehow always missed out on it... why ever, don't ask me any questions… but in my vacation-week this March of 2018 in Amsterdam I finally got my hands on it and took it with me - and this was definitely long, long overdue how I should soon came to realize it. And, yes, you know the story, sometimes life gets in the way of certain things and so it took me again… hm... 'some time' before I now finally come/came to doing this record-review on it and finally bringing it up. But anyway and anyhow and it don't matter if a 2017 or a 2018 release and so now, yes, let's roll: THE OBSESSED were formed back then already in 1979 with their first demo dating back from 1980 and here and now with "SACRED" we have their 4th official full-length-album and the first since "THE CHURCH WITHIN" from 1994, okay, I won't retell their very moving and changeable history over the last 39 years here and now simply because this would definitely demand a proper own tribute post to do them justice anyhow'n'anyway and so just let me state that THE OBSESSED definitely were and still are godfathers of Doom Metal and Doom Rock as well as Stoner Rock and Stoner Metal even they maybe themselves never sort of really used or maybe even never really liked that term(s) to sort of describe themselves, yes, and what I always especially liked and loved and still do so @ THE OBSESSED is the fact that THE OBSESSED always did their completly own and unique thing and maybe term(s) like Doom (Rock/Metal) or Stoner (Rock/Metal) truly never weren't and still aren't of that proper use to sort of describe THE OBSESSED in a proper and just way because they always had tons of, hm, let us name it: good old and Punk(rock) fueled Rock & Roll in their musick and they totally own their absoultely independent(ly) and unique position in the world of Doom (Rock/Metal) and Stoner (Rock/Metal) and standing proud, tall, and strong on this their very, very own position like also for example BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS, and CANDLEMASS did and/or do so, too, yes, and THE OBSESSED's "SACRED" is sort of another manifest of/for this thesis and proof of/for it, oh hell yeahr, and so expect absolutely authentic and honest, heartfelt and also damn sympathic and boneshaking delivered dustdry and heavily 'punky' dirty rocking and grooving high energy and highly dynamic, nasty and snotty high octane and full throttle Rock & Roll with a totally no prisoners taking mindset, varying the pace of the songs and the rhythmic architecture as well as the playful arrangements and the in general breathtaking multi-layered soulful compositorial work of the songs very smart and skilled and smooth and this all the time and keeping it all so incredible fresh and damn  exciting and grapping, yes, so some really, really fantastic songwriting is a massive trademark of THE OBSESSED's "SACRED" and is in its very unique approach and with this amazing powerful and clichée-free and just totally dustdry unique 'desert-sand' tone only a further proof for the total autonomy of THE OBSESSED in the cosmos of Rock and Metal musick, yes, no matter if you now like to call it Doom or Stoner or how the hell else ever, ah, and really anthemic hymns that make you instantly clench your fists and fling them into the air and sing-a-long to THE OBSESSED created and placed also en masse here on "SACRED". Ah, and that THE OBSESSED here on "SACRED" do/did with the larger than life "IT'S ONLY MONEY" a phenomenal THIN LIZZY cover-tune should tell you also already quite a (bigger) bit. And so expect tons of high skilled and very independently and sheer full force dirty guitars, absolutely fantastic and charismatic vocals, a powerful gruff bass, and loud thundering drums that will make you take to highway full-throttle and with full-volume instantly. Thought-provoking and very strong'n'good lyrics, a true beauty of a gorgeous artwork, and a perfect snotty and heavy production-sound then round this absolute masterpiece perfectly up. Any favorites I won't name you because it simply wouldn't make that much sense after this album is completly on the same highest levels of skills and quality, oh yes, even "BE THE NIGHT", "PUNK CRUSHER", "COLD BLOOD", "STRANGER THINGS", "HAYWIRE", "SODDEN JACKAL", and "IT'S ONLY MONEY" probably have to spend the very most time here on heavy-duty rotation, if they want to do so or not, yes, I simply don't let them any other chance or choice. Okay, I think I've said already by far enough, yes, and so I will right now and right here close this very record-review and I can only very clearly recommend THE OBSESSED's "SACRED" to any of you into real and honest and authentic hard hitting metallic and punky Rock & Roll and to any of you into this target-group that why the bloody hell ever still really don't have or maybe even don't know it here's my clear and precise advice: Get it finally as soon as possible and best finally right now, period.

(10 of 10 points)

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

THE OBSESSED - "BE THE NIGHT"/// live \\\ (2017, "SACRED")

AXEL RUDI PELL - "KNIGHTS CALL" (2018)

AXEL RUDI PELL - "KNIGHTS CALL"
(Running time: 58:12 minutes; 10 songs)
("Steamhammer"/"SPV"; 2018; CD):

Oh boy, is this little piece here'n'now now already long, long overdue, yes, for a really damn pretty long while now already anyhow'n'anyway but, okay, finally here it is, yes, my record-review on the new AXEL RUDI PELL full-length-album "KNIGHTS CALL" released at the 23rd of March of 2018 via "STEAMHAMMER"/"SPV" on CD and LP, yes, and it is in sort of 30 years of the band's existence now already the 17th album released by AXEL RUDI PELL in sort of in a 'straight row'. Two years ago in 2016 AXEL RUDI PELL released "GAME OF SINS" and conquered me pretty much completly with it and so I was more than very happy and damn curious when I finally got "KNIGHTS CALL" in my mailbox the day it was finally released and, yes, again AXEL RUDI PELL conquered me massively and this time in 2018 even more than with the fantastic "GAME OF SINS" back then in 2016. (I did my review on it up here last year in August of 2017, so why not read it as well.) On and with "KNIGHTS CALL" AXEL RUDI PELL deliver us again a huge dose of this/their very unique style of heavily by crispy and cutting Heavy Metal fueled hard hitting, sharp whipping, heavy thundering and yet at the same time and especially and above all absolutely majestic, melodic, symphonic, and hymnal Hard Rock (or Heavy Rock) with a strong epic note to it all and that's still breathing here'n'there a fresh and very independently delivered and whirring and scenting RAINBOW vibe and this bred on huge doses of a nutritious honest and authentic Heavy Metal diet and all enriched and/or cultivated with that typical and very unique 'totally own' AXEL RUDI PELL identity that especially shines through, and this very bright and clear, in that special and unique guitar tone, vibe, and playing and in the rich and multi-facetted as well as multi-layered arranged and composed songwriting with that certain unique vibe that grants AXEL RUDI PELL's songs also and maybe especially even more on "KNIGHTS CALL" a very own chracter, note, and dynamic as well as a surely larger than life and epic identity, yes, and so any sort of 'further-going' comparisions to/with any other bands/artists would be and simply are nonsense and so I will spare me anything like this here and now. What is also total nonsense is the bullshit talking of 'If you know one AXEL RUDI PELL album you know them all.' because just by looking at "GAME OF SINS" from 2016 and "KNIGHTS CALL" in 2018 the differences are pretty clear, take for example just the much stronger focus on fresh and very alive-lively done impressions of 1970's Vintage Rock or Classic Rock and the very strong and present Hammond-Organ here on "KNIGHTS CALL" or that far more playful arrangements of the songs here on "KNIGHTS CALL" in contrast to the much more straight ahead metallic onwards rocking and herad-banging approach of "GAME OF SINS" to name just this two or three pretty obvious differences between just this two albums. Also, just by the way, a specific and own 'musical-character' and sticking true to/with it is not the same as repeating your own work again and again, yes, and I always thought that would be clear to anyone anyhow… or shoul be, at least. Beside this expect with AXEL RUDI PELL's "KNIGHTS CALL" an album that's nothing less'n'but incredible rich on/in facets and heavily diverse and filled with great and multi-layered rhythmic arrangements and stunning varying pace work and much, much more, yes, and all really, really fresh and alive-lively done and delivered and full of exciting and grapping twists and turns all along the ride from start to finish and that's packed to the max with huge and honest emotions that blissfully shower you in goosepimples again and again withpout end or stop, oh hell yeahr, very diverse and masterly skillfull on all levels. Brilliant and highly rousing guitar work delivering fantastic riffs and in general absolutely larger than life and massively forceful rhythm arrangements as well as absolutely breathtaking leads and truly majestic-masterly solos absoultely to the max and all with a fantastic epic approach to it all, yes, surely the biggest trademark again here on and with AXEL RUDI PELL's "KINIGHTS CALL". The fantastic and highly skilled and charismatic lead vocals surely are next to be named, as well as here on and with "KNIGHTS CALL" especially the fantastic Hammond-Organ. The punch- and powerful bass and the smashing drumming then only back it all massively up and this in a damn fantastic way, yeahr, and all pushed onwards by very forceful galloping rhythmic accentuations. Strong and thoughtful as well as interesting lyrics and a pure gorgeous beauty of an artwork, and a truly heavy bombing hard and clear widescreen production-sound then finally round it all up. AXEL RUDI PELL delivered with "KNIGHTS CALL" not only one of the very strongest albums in their already 30 years spanning career but also one of the clear highlights of and in and for 2018 and this without the slightest single doubt and so to any Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fan out there I can only calmly, clearly, and enthusiatically recommend this fantastic and brilliant, masterly album, yes, and so if you are into the above mentioned target-group and really still don't have or even know AXEL RUDI PELL's "KNIGHTS CALL", why the damn fucking bloody hell ever, you should change this finally as soon as possible, point and fact.

(10 of 10 points)

https://www.axel-rudi-pell.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

AXEL RUDI PELL - "THE CRUSADERS OF DOOM" (2018, "KNIGHTS CALL")

STRYPER - "GOD DAMN EVIL" (2018)

STRYPER - "GOD DAMN EVIL"
(Runninmg time: 44:40 minutes; 11 songs)
("Frontiers Records"; 2018; CD):

Yes, all you dirty and filthy sinners repent because judgement day is finally one more time again here and judgement aims its blood dripping spear at you while silver shining swords cutting off your heads and in golden shields the last you see is the reflection of your painfilled face screaming out loud in silent anger and misery… okay, maybe this all lead me a bit too far… ahm... okay, in other words: The mighty STRYPER are back in 2018 with their newest full-length-album "GOD DAMN EVIL" released still more or less pretty recently in 2018 via "FRONTIERS RECORDS" (on CD, but probably also on LP). STRYPER, the grandfathers of Christian (Hard) Rock (or so to say), have sort of always been a guilty pleasure of me, myself, and I (even without being a Christian myself) and so I was pretty excited when I finally saw STRYPER's "GOD DAMN EVIL" in my local media store and this even more after it sort of came out of nowhere for me. Ah, and btw, anyone who really (still) ticks out'n'off because of their religious agenda just stop reading, no problem, anyone else go ahead: For all what I would say STRYPER are (much) harder and definitely a bit more modern up here on and with "GOD DAMN EVIL" working with more stunning Heavy Metal marks to enrich their Hard Rock/Heavy Rock quite a bit and also they manage to work a bunch of more groovy and modern rhythm arrangements and structures into their songs with a stronger focus on tension-building rhythmic accentuations to bulk up their anthemic and melodic yet heavy hitting and stomping Hard Rock quite a bit and this in a pretty stunning and massive way. Best example surely is the opener "TAKE IT TO THE CROSS", a fantastic song, harsh and groovy thrashing Metal that will please any fan of bands from PANTERA over DAMAGEPLAN to SHADOWS FALL and that showcases even some few Death Metal grunts (as backings, so to say), surely one of the if not the heaviest songs STRYPER ever did to date. But also massively heavy and stunning songs like "GOD DAMN EVIL" (even being totally fist pumping hymnal STRYPER-esque Hard Rock par excellence), "THE VALLEY", "OWN UP", and "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME" (brilliant composed refrain, just btw) are prime examples for STRYPER going more heavy and modern in 2018 then even before, yes, and are also absolutely first class songs. I go even so far and say that I would have wished that STYRPER would have taken this even a bit further, yes, but maybe that's just me, who knows. But calm down, because STYPER still know how to do and deliver absolutely top notch melodic (and again and again pretty much all the time also nicely metallic) Hard Rock here and there maybe slightly also flirting with some AOR and that's marked by very strong songwriting full of rousing dynamics and energy and grapping moments from start to finish and that's all the time very nicely multi-facetted and so offers a lot to discover, and that's filled to the exploding maximum with fantastic guitar playing that delivers majestic riffing and rhythm works as well as and especially top notch leads and goosepimple-giving solos, amazing and gorgeous and highly charismatic vocals, and a massive stunning rhythm section consisting (out) of a great and really walking'n'talking bass and thundering drumming and all full of sheer power and full force, and also some nice backings and some few atmospheric organ moments we get on top of it all, yes, and all done on a very high level of quality by truly high skilled musicians (and songwriters). My personal favorites would be or surely are "TAKE IT TO THE CROSS", "GOD DAMN EVIL", "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME", "THE VALLEY", "SEA OF THIEVES", "OWN UP" and "THE DEVIL DOESN'T LIVE HERE", yes, so maybe check this heavyweight gems out first. Some good and surprisingly pretty subtle lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a very heavy production-sound (I would just wish that the sound would be a bit more cleaner and clearer, but maybe that's just my personal taste, again: who knows) finally round STRYPER's "GOD DAMN EVIL" up and this in a pretty good way. Yes, all in all a very nice and welcomed breath of fresh air and a damn strong album that I can calmly and clearly recommend to anyone into Hard Rock (and Heavy Metal as well).

(8,5 of 10 points)

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

STYRPER - "TAKE IT TO THE CROSS" (2018, "GOD DAMN EVIL")

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" (2018)

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED"
(Running time: 40:44 minutes; 11 songs)

("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, next dose right here for you and this means next record-review is coming in. This time you get my record-review on the 10th full-length-album titled "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" of/by the german Power Metal band MYSTIC PROPHECY released this January at the beginning of 2018 via the very-well-established "MASSACRE RECORDS" label from Germany on CD and on digipak-CD as well as LP and both of the latter feature eleven songs of which one is an exclusive bonustrack and after my copy is a CD and it features eleven songs you should know that I call the digipak-CD my very own. To be (one more time) completly honest then I have to admit that I have not a single clou why (also one more time again) this (by the way or so it seems incredible great) band right here'n'now, MYSTIC PROPHECY, were completly and absoultely and totally unknown to me before I first listened to their "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED", yes, but anyhow time to change this finally more 'intensely' in the soon future. MYSTIC PROPHECY's "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" is a cover-album and a damn great one, too, that features fantastic cover-versions of original-songs from/of artists and bands like PATTI SMITH and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, T-REX, ELTON JOHN, CCR, DONNA SUMMER, KIM WILDE and THE SUPREMES, MONSTER MAGNET, LENNY KRAVITZ, TOKYO, MIKE OLDFIELD, and BILLY SQUIER and MYSTIC PROPHECY while always preserving or 'securing' the original-character of each song also manage at the same time to really and truly create for each single song a new and very own identity in the context of their hard-hitting, hymnal, really thundering-heavy and yet all the time damn catchy and melodic and in (huge) parts pretty hard-rockish  Heavy Metal or better Power Metal completly filled to the maximum with fantastic, smok(e)y and hard while at the same time and all the time very hymnal sung lead vocals with a special own tone'n'flair to them and at all the right moments nicely enriched with good healthy portions of loud'n'proud widescreen backings, crushing heavy as well as bright shining and loud, clear, and melodic singing guitars, a fantstic and really crushing rhythm work, and a forceful bombing and kicking rhythm-section and also a bunch of great ideas of 'upfreshing' the arrangements of the covered tracks all the bit a nice bit. This is really nothing else or nothing less just damn great, period. The covered tracks are "YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON", "HOT STUFF", "SHADOWN ON THE WALL", "ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY", "I'M STILL STANDING", "BECAUSE THE NIGHT", "SPACE LORD", "GET IT ON", "TOKYO", "PROUD MARY", and "THE STROKE" (the bonussong) and each single one is just damn great done and sort of like on the same level of quality and so it's really damn hard to pick any favorites but maybe I've listened to "BECAUSE THE NIGHT", "SHADOW ON THE WALL", "I'M STILL STANDING", "GET IT ON", "TOKYO", "PROUD MARY", and "YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON" the very most and the very loudest so maybe I should name this über-gems here and now. A really stunning beautiful and fantastic artwork and a really heavy smashing production-sound we get on top of it all. Btw, I always like cover-albums that are done good and feature songs of artists and bands of another style'n'genre then the covering band itself is home in, if you get what I mean, and MYSTIC PROPHECY's "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" is exactly one of that kind and it is a damn great one and an album of that kind that I not only like but really love, point and fact. So, yes, highly recommend to anyone out there with a delicious metallic taste in musick. If you still don't know or have it you should finally change this really, really soon.

(9 of 10 points)

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

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "SHADOW ON THE WALL" (2018, "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED")

JADED HEART - "DEVIL'S GIFT" (2018)

JADED HEART - "DEVIL'S GIFT"
(Running time: 51:01 minutes; 11 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes already the 2nd post for today… don't ask me when this happened up here for the last time... and here and now the next dose of record-reviews is aimed at and coming for you. Here now you'll get my record-review on the (brand)new JADED HEART full-length-album "DEVIL'S GIFT" released still very recently via the well-known german veteran-label (of) "MASSACRE RECORDS" on CD. JADED HEART, before "DEVIL'S GIFT" somehow total strangers to me, (but) are anyhow absolutely long-runners in the german (Hard) Rock and (Heavy) Metal scene and active for (far) over a decade or so with already plenty of releases under their belt and today with very close ties to Sweden. Anyway and anyhow and how-ever, yes, now we have and we are in 2018 and here we get the "DEVIL'S GIFT" served to us by JADED HEART and finally they serve it also to me and so I now deliver you my record-review on it. In a little about 50 minutes JADED HEART deliver us here a good dosed load of modern-up-to-date and metallic, hard hitting and tough grooving , and above all highly melodic and damn anthemic as well as pretty much for all the right reasons through-and-through truly very catchy Hard Rock/Heavy Rock with some flirtings with Heavy Metal and Power Metal. The energy-levels are really very high and the songs are strongly marked by really pushing and powerful and also really 'differing-from-each-other' and exciting and pretty huge dynamics, smashing the songs forward in a very fresh and surprising manner and the songwriting in general is pretty much as well as this and so also a truly nicely fresh and often surprising affair with a very nicely clichée-free modern and/or up-to-date approach to it all, freshin' it all even more up, the same is to say in general about the grapping and rousing compositorial work with forceful arranged verses and truly mighty refrains as well as about the in parts really fantastic rhythmic arrangements and the amazing and also, like above already mentioned, damn clichée-free grooves that really pound their way forwards and this in a the songs mercylessly ever-onwards pushing manner. Really, and I mean really strong, damn strong and personally to me due to the fact that JADED HEART were before "DEVIL'S GIFT" totally unknown to me a big and highly welcome surprise. Sometimes personally for me and my gusto the songs are carrying just a bit too much pathos in them but that's maybe just me, who knows, and that's also so far my only bigger or major 'point of critics' I have to address. The biggest trademark of JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT" are without a single doubt the metallic heavy and very diverse guitars that shine or maybe better sound in a very unique and own tone and that are delivering asskicking rhythms and really fresh, exciting, and sort of mostly 'ever-changing' riffs as well as singing and highly melodic leads and catchy solos and this all sort of without end and this all on a damn high level of quality. Backed up by a through-and-through fiery and powerful rhythm section that delivers the strong and 'ever-twisting'n'turning' rhythm arrangements in a truly 'all-breaks-off' manner, and then all is crowned by the (at the right moments also powerful backed up) forceful delivered clear and melodic sung and hymnal and catchy intoned pretty charismatic lead vocals. Here and there you'll also find some electronial/'keyboardical' elements thrown for good into the mix as well. Yes, this very one here, JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT", is really damn strong stuff that is completly made round by very good and also surely thoughtful and then also nicely varying lyrics, a really cool artwork, and a very heavy and yet all the time very organic and clear production-sound. If you are into above named/described music then I can really calmly and in/with all honesty only recommend this album to you, yes, the next time just maybe cut a bit of the above already mentioned pathos and add a true 'über-hit' to the 'roster' and all will even better if not greater. Anyhow, JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT" is a damn strong album that I, like already said, clearly can only recommend to you and so give it a try or best just get it promptly.

(8,5 of 10 points)

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

JADED HEART - "WASTELAND" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")

JADED HEART - "ONE WORLD" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")

JADED HEART - "THE ENEMY" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")