ORDEN OGAN - "GUNMEN" (2017)

ORDEN OGAN - "GUNMEN"
(Running time: 56:47 minutes; 10 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, next post is coming up and so if you've read yesterday's post then you now know that this bloody 'cold' didn't fuckin' disappeared as quickly and as suddenly as it came yesterday, damn it, and so I'm sitting this saturday at home and my planned and long awaited concert trip crossing-through-Germany to go and celebrate a christmas in hell with SIX FEET UNDER and a big bunch of other cool bands... nah, no damn bloody fucking option today... and you know what? This sucks!!! Okay, okay, okay, calming down... enough of the senseless bitching-around and instead of this crybaby-shit I can also do something productive with my free time and so here now comes the next review for you up here by me, yes, and this time it's my take on the new 2017 full length album of/by ORDEN OGAN titled "GUNMEN" and released more or less recently via "AFM REOCRDS", yes, and so now here we go one more time again: ORDEN OGAN are a band that I never knew before some-time this very year I visted my parents and my mother played one of their older albums (can't remember the title right now, sorry...) and I was promptly stunned and it was pretty clear that I would need to 'dig-myself-a-further-bit-into' ORDEN OGAN and their discography, yes, and so I did, yes, and I did this as usual as it's my 'habit' with their most-current release and in the case of ORDEN OGAN I did so with their new 2017 full length album "GUNMEN", yes, and what shall I say... this was totally a right decision. ORDEN OGAN are a german Heavy Metal or better Power Metal band and they play it in a pretty modern or maybe better 'fresh'n'up-to-date' as well as epic and all the time truly very powerful and heavy and yet still through'n'through melodic and symphonic style'n'way. I really like this stuff, I mean for sure sometimes I think that the songs could be done tighten up a bit and the sort of 'omni-present' keyboard simply isn't really my 'most-favorite-thing' but this two 'critical-thinking-moments' are only so very few that  with this short sentence already 'everything-that's-wrong-about-it' is now already said'n'done, yes, if you get what I mean and/or want to say. Beside this expect a massive load of really huge guitars that are done simply just great and amazing and are full of fantastic riffs and a huge diversity and that totally shine with being packed up full with singing leads and outstanding solos, delivering fantastic huge, epic, as well as hymnal and catchy melody lines without end, yes, and also with being packed up full with forceful riffs and smashing rhythms and a big diversity in and of the rhythmic structure and Arrangements and the pace-structure of the songs that cover a truly wide and broad distance from modern and yet still organic grooves to fresh strong metallic rocking 'go-and-bang-your-head' parts over hymnal and catchy 'fists-in-the-air' moments in parts surely influenced by none other than almighty and larger than life RUNNING WILD  over symphonic and playful 'silent' elements up to powerful forward storming and pumping Speed Metal parts influenced by for example HELLOWEEN and loud blasting sheer Epic Metal greatness in the tradition of BLIND GUARDIAN we'll find pretty much it all here on ORDEN OGAN's "GUNMEN", yes, and this fantastic guitar work is enriched by mostly (very) good even if sometimes very (to over-)present keyboards and backed up by a stunning, massive, and yet 'greatly' varying rhythm section that's also absolutely tight and precise and without mercy consequent to the point played. On top of it we get strong and (very) charismatic lead vocals, yes, that are here and there nicely backed up by high quality back up chantings and strong female co-lead-vocals delivered by Liv Kristine. The songwriting is very grapping and exciting and also damn fucking rousing, yes, and how the songwriting is 'structured' or what it offers all to you and me or us when listening to ORDEN OGAN's "GUNMEN" I've already described quite a bit some sentences above when desribing the truly outstanding guitar work, yes, at least sort of, so there you find it all and I don't have to repeat myself already here and now. That the guys in ORDEN OGAN are also really strong and skilled musicians I mention here only for the record. A very cool and interesting sort of lyrical concept with really good and exciting lyrics, an absolutely beautiful gorgeous artwork, and a widescreen bombastic production sound then finally round it all up, yes, turning "GUNMEN" definitely into the complete package, period. My personal favorites are definitely the loud'n'proud "GUNMAN" (pure force and power turned into music), "FIELDS OF SORROW" with some of the greatest verse arrangements that I've heard in quite a while, the stunning "FORLON AND FORSAKEN", the everything else totally outshining "VAMPIRE IN GHOST TOWN" with great RUNNING WILD impressions (and my personal absolute über-favorite-hit), the killing "THE FACE OF SILENCE", and the great "ASHEN RAIN" and "ONE LAST CHANCE", yes, so start your discovery of ORDEN OGAN's "GUNMEN" with this masterpieces, oh bloody hell yeahr, but do yourself the huge favour and don't think or anticipate that the not mentioned songs would be weak stuff or so, hell no, the only really let-down is maybe the stereotypical "FINIS CORONAT OPUS", hm, but maybe that's also just me, or what ever, who knows. One last thing that I still (or maybe again) have to mention is the very big to huge strong own identity of ORDEN OGAN, yes, and also the all the time very high levels of energy, dynamics, and absolute power. Yes, really, really great. Anyhow, yes, I can only highly recommend this very one here, ORDEN OGAN's "GUNMEN", to any fan of Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Epic Metal, and maybe also in parts Speed Metal as well as Melodic Metal and Symphonic Metal, yes, so enough of the talking, for sure, so just go out and get it if you still shouldn't call it your own anyway anyhow. Highly recommended and another massively big surprise that 2017 finally brought up to light for me.

(9 of 10 points)

http://www.ordenogan.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

ORDEN OGAN - "VAMPIRE IN GHOSTTOWN" (2017, "GUNMEN")

ORDEN OGAN - "GUNMAN" (2017, "GUNMEN")

STONE SOUR - "HYDROGRAD" (2017)

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

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

(10 of 10 points)

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

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

ACCEPT - "THE RISE OF CHAOS" (2017)

ACCEPT - "THE RISE OF CHAOS"
(Running time: 46:31 minutes; 10 songs)
("Nuclear Blast"; 2017; CD):

Okay guys, again trust your eyes, second post today coming right in aimed at you, yes, so you might could say today there was one pretty early morning post and now there's also a pretty late night post or so (at least in case I'll get this here and now still done tonight), okay, and so now here we go one more time again: Now you get my review on the (brand)new ACCEPT album "THE RISE OF CHAOS" released still pretty recently this very year of 2017 via the german based "NUCLEAR BLAST" label. Three years ago I reviewed the direct precursor release "BLIND RAGE" up here and it got justified very strong nine out of ten points back then and it still stands and holds its ground also today, yes, and so I was very, very curious if "THE RISE OF CHAOS" could live up to its direct precursor, and you know what, I will keep or at least try to keep it short this time, yes, and so: Damn fucking yes, it can and so it does, definitely, hell yeahr!!! This is incredible strong and very high skilled and high quality teutonic rooted and hard rocking real and honest Heavy Metal from pretty much one of the very most important bands in the world of Metal ever and a band that's still around and still delivering the goods. Hard rocking and grooving as well as fast forward sawing, heavy and yet still very catchy guitar work full of fantastic riffs and rhythm workings as well as to the max filled with über-anthemic leads and just brilliant solos, delivering great playful and soulful twists'n'turns all along the ride and shining with fresh surprises as well as just pure intense power and force combined with a phenomenal melodic work to cultivate it all, yes, the guitars really, really shine bright and are really a if not the definite trademark of ACCEPT, yes, and this for all the right and justified reasons. Then we get this sharp cutting and harsh roaring and yet still all the time pretty catchy and hymnal and especially very unique and characteristic vokillz, yes, very mighty, thunderous/thundering, and boneshaking, yes, from harsh throaty singing over melodic and catchy vocals to high screams we get here all what we wish and/or could ask for. And then there's the massive rhythm section, yes, tight, precise, and still pretty varying and all the time absolutely stunning, fantastic, delivering the very loadable and also needed backbone of ACCEPT's top notch Heavy Metal. A very diverse yet damn tight and high skilled songwriting delivering nicely varying tracks, yes, from crushing Hard Rock over hymnal Heavy Metal to bonecracking Power Metal we get here all, yes, and all with great twists'n'turns and cool surprises, fresh ideas, and first class variations and changes in the pace and rhythm structures of the song, yes, and this all along the ride, yes, and the verses and the refrains are all on the same high-quality-level of arrangements. And that these fine gentlemen are absolutely high skilled musicians should need no further explanations here and now anyhow anyway. What also totally speaks for "THE RISE OF CHAOS" is the fantastic tight and pretty militant, yes, and very intense atmosphere that marks the whole record. Very strong and interestingly-varying lyrics, yes, a absolute killer artwork, and a massive bombing and smashing production sound finally round this masterpiece album in sort of a perfect way up. My personal favorites are the massive and sinister opener "DIE BY THE SWORD", the masterpieces of metallic Hard Rock anthems that are the almighty "KOOLAID" and "ANALOG MAN", the heavy smasher "WHAT'S DONE IS DONE", the catchy and melodic and very hymnal "WORLDS COLLIDING", and the asskicking "RACE TO EXTINCTION" that closes the album. This album is a definitely pure gold damn great album , definitely, that any fan of real and honest Heavy Metal simply needs to call his/her own and this best instantly, yes, so just go and get it, yes, it's 'highliest' recommended, point'n'fact.

(9 of 10 points)

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

ACCEPT - "KOOLAID" /live\ (2017, "THE RISE OF CHAOS")

SERIOUS BLACK - "MAGIC" (2017)

SERIOUS BLACK - "MAGIC"
(Running time: 60:28 minutes; 14 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes, maybe more or less as usual, because today now comes a very early post up here for you by/from me. I still have plenty of record reviews to do on 2017 releases and at least I'm still planning and aiming at getting they all still done this year and, oh-oh, best 'them all' still right before christmas, yes... now just let us wait and see if this will work out like planned'n'aimed..., and anyhow that's the or a reason why this one here is now coming up that early today. Yesterday I was to over-done'n'out when I was finally back home at yesterday's evening and today I have not a single clou if I would or will be able to get a post done later the day and to not loose the 'swing' again already so soon now you get an early morning post right before breakfast and before I have to leave to go to work. And what better way to start this day then with a good dose of Heavy Metal, righty right, and so now here we go one more time again, yes, and here's my review on the 2017 full length record release of/by SERIOUS BLACK (en)titled "MAGIC" released by the end of August 2017 via the (I guess) german record label "AFM RECORDS" on CD as well as on LP and this in several different editions, of course, and here I have the 'normal' CD version containing 14 songs in sort of pretty much a full hour of running time. SERIOUS BLACK are sort of a 'german Heavy Metal allstar group' that released sort of two to three years ago their debut record "AS DAYLIGHT BREAKS" and here now with "MAGIC" we get already their third full length studio record output of/by them, yes, and it is anyhow the first of/by them that I finally know with their two earlier releases had been and still being so far unknown to me. Anyway, that's here and now after all not that much important and now 'getting closer' to SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". This is pretty strong and honestly damn good powerful as well as especially (very) melodic Heavy Metal or Melodic Power Metal with a clearly strong german touch with strong melody lines as well as really hymnal verse and especially refrain arrangements that, from my point of view, show clear (for example) HELLOWEEN impressions and influences as well as modern german Power Metal bands like ORDEN OGAN are also not that much far away. This is wide'n'broad'n'loud Melodic Power Metal delivered by skilled musicians that also know how to write and compose, arrange (mostly) grapping, exciting, and interesting songs with a strong rousing and anthemic spirit and identity to it all, and all filled with sharp cutting and heavy hitting, very dynmaic and highly energetic guitars that shine with a strong rhythm and pace work and delivering strong and marking riffing as well as with a really huge melodical lead and harmony work and also offering a big bunch of very strong solos and coming with a nice own toning all along the way; then there's a very present keyboard that gives and delivers very cool playings and also pretty often cool solos as well and also the solo-battles between the guitars and the keyboard are pretty often pretty to damn cool'n'good stuff, yes, even anyhow for my personal taste the keyboard is often by far too present and marking in and for the songs and music of SERIOUS BLACK (on "MAGIC"); next are the very charming powerful as well as first-and-foremost clear and melodic, very skilled sung lead vocals that are also often nicely backed up band chantings or doubled vocal lines and that also own a very nice and also very good own tone and identity; final part then is the very precise and to the point played, heavy and yet very playful rhythm section that's delivering the needed beefy punch to make this all still a Heavy Metal record 'despise' all the very catchy and melodical to open 'poppy' stuff that's going on here on SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". The songwriting is, like already mentioned above, pretty strong and all the songs own a pretty intense atmosphere over all the time. Even it is all sometimes and in some parts for me by far too much 'pop-candy' and for example the keyboard is too present and a too much marking element to really conquer me all the way all the time "MAGIC" is anyhow a damn good album and SERIOUS BLACK really are a damn strong band that you should have on your list if you are into modern melodical Metal and also a lot of the songs shine with a strong Hard Rock note so that also fans of melodic and metallic (modern) Hard Rock should definitely give it a good and fair try. The lyrical concept is also pretty interesting (and nerdy), the artwork is a pure beauty, and the bombastic production sound is a perfect match, yes, rounding it all finally up. My personal favorites are "BURN, WITCHES BURN!", "LONE GUNMAN RULE", "NOW YOU'LL NEVER KNOW", "I CAN DO MAGIC" , "SERIOUS BLACK MAGIC", "SKELETONS ON PARADE", "MR. NIGHTMIST", and "THE WITCH OF CALDWELL TOWN", yes, and so maybe start with this ones because (at least in my book) this are clearly the strongest songs on SERIOUS BLACK's "MAGIC". A really damn strong album that I can calmly and clearly recommend to you, yes, if you are into the described music. Yes, and then that's it and now it's time for breakfast and then I'm up'n'away to work. Soon more, have a great day.

(8 of 10 points)

http://www.serious-black.com/media (-the link to the homepage of the band)

SERIOUS BLACK - "LONE GUNMAN RULE" (2017, "MAGIC")

PAPA ROACH - "CROOKED TEETH" (2017)

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

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

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

DANKO JONES - "WILD CAT" (2017)

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

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

(9 of 10 points)

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

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

RISE AGAINST - "WOLVES" (2017)

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

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

(8,5 of 10 points)

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

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

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

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

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

TOXPACK - "SCHALL & RAUCH" (2017)

TOXPACK - "SCHALL & RAUCH"
(Running time: 51:01 minutes; 16 songs)
("Napalm Records"; 2017; CD):

And back @ work again, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, yes, fourth day and fourth post in a row, yes, so you may could say that I'm in a flow right now... but before you say that or something like that just let us wait how long and far this flow will 'flow-on' before we start a little celebration because of it. ;-) And now straight and right into the action, and this 'action' right now, right here is my review on the current new TOXPACK album titled "SCHALL & RAUCH" released via "NAPALM RECORDS" some few months ago more or less recently in 2017, yes, and so now here we go again: The precursor album "FRISS" (2014) wasn't that high on my personal like-list back then and even it used to grow quite a bit on me since then I still think it is, so in my personal-taste-book, pretty much the weakest TOXPACK album so far... with this in mind it took me some time before I finally decided to simply just get "SCHALL & RAUCH" and stop thinking about the pro's-and-con's, yes, and you know what, I am pretty thankful that I finally did so, oh yes, because "SCHALL & RAUCH" is miles ahead of its precursor album and anyhow a really damn fucking strong album, music- and lyricwise. The days of "DIE ANDERE SEITE" and "AGGRESSIVE KUNST" and even quite a bit of "CULTUS INTERRUPTUS" are long over, for sure, but god-damn-it because who the fuck cares, yes, we have this albums already and there's no need to expect any sort of ripp-off's and especially who are we to expect that bands just run in circles and give us the same old stuff time and time again... hell no, because even if I don't know who we are but this is not who we are, if you get what I want to say. And so, yes, it's all more than only good and fine, and...I have not a single clou if TOXPACK just got stronger again or if it is just me, me and my taste or call it how you want, but "SCHALL & RAUCH" walks straight further on the path of "FRISS" (2014) but really that much stronger and I really, really like it, and this strongly. This is really strong and powerful, high-quality and (sometimes more, sometimes less) slightly metallic german Rock music with fresh and strong own ideas and a strong own identity. You might could call or name it German Rock and this would be anyhow sort of a pretty good match but personally I would prefer to name it Streetrock; but anyhow that's not that important after all. Clearly rooted in Oi!, Streetpunk, and Punkrock, definitely, and of Course Streetcore, yes, but this roots you get today far, far more 'ideational' than via the musical delivery; this is just through-and-through pure hard hitting and sharp cutting, oh yes, heavily by the really bright shining diverse and very, very well-skilled guitars dominated 'german-tongued' Streetrock full of power and honest emotions, marked by strong and exciting songwriting that comes up again and again with fresh ideas and cool surprises and with rousing rhythm structures and verse arrangements and that then on top delivers first class refrains with highly anthemic sing-a-long potential that turns a lot of the songs into real hymns. And all done very stand-alone and nicely clichee-free. The diverse and the songs heavily forward driving guitars and the outshining charismatic lead vocals that are at/in the right moments strongly backed up by widescreen back-up chants, hell yeahr, really mark the songs heavily and the to the point tight and precise played rhythm section then gives the songs a loadable bulky backbone. Fantastic lyrics (very often also damn personal, so my impression, and that lyrics really sort of speak out deeply of my heart here and now in this current period of my life), an absolutely beautiful artwork, and a first class clear and powerful production sound then finally make it all round. My personal favorites are "KOMMERZ (DIE GEIER KREISEN)", "WILLKOMMEN IM CLUB", "AUF ALTE TAGE", "BIS ZUM LETZTEN TON", "REDEN, LÄSTERN, LÜGEN", "DIE LETZTEN, DIE SICH NOCH DAGEGEN STELLEN", "IN TRÜMMERN", "GIB MIR ALL DEIN GELD", "NICHTS GEHT MEHR", "UNBELEHRBAR", and "ALLES AUF ANFANG"; so this would be my ultimate-listening-tips. I can only recommend TOXPACK's "SCHALL & RAUCH" highly to you, and so, yes, if you still don't have it or call it your own then you should as soon as possible change this and simply just go out and get it; and this best right now.

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.toxpack.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

TOXPACK - "BIS ZUM LETZTEN TON" (2017, "SCHALL & RAUCH")

SUFFOCATION - "...OF THE DARK LIGHT" (2017)

SUFFOCATION - "...OF THE DARK LIGHT"
(Running time: 35:22 minutes; 9 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, I'm already back again, oh hell yeahr, like yesterday announced and so here now comes the next dose for you, yes, the third one this weekend, yes, and I think that's pretty decent, yes, and so now without any longer ramblings straight into the action and this action is my review on SUFFOCATION's new album "...OF THE DARK LIGHT" released still pretty recently (or so...) this year of 2017 via the german "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" label. "...OF TNE DARK LIGHT" is the 8th album by/of SUFFOCATION in their nearly thirty years of existence spanning career and the godfathers of Slam Death Metal return once again in an impressive  way, a very impresssive way. Somewhere between 'slammy' Brutal Death Metal and 'proggy' Tech Death Metal varying this U.S. Death Metal roughnecks deliver nine new songs full of intensity and sheer technically very high skilled brutality that's still incredible strong and excitingly diverse in its inner structure and conquers massively with its very strong own flavour and character and that shines with its very grapping and exciting, very strong and also intense as well as atmospheric songwriting that delivers stunning soul- and playful and exciting and rousing surprises and also truckloads of changes in the pace and the rhythmic architecture and structure of the songs as well as in the mood or better the atmosphere of the solitary songs as well as the whole album and turning SUFFOCATION's "...OF THE DARK LIGHT" into one hell of an exciting and interesting as well as simply just overwhelming and rousing ride over the complete (and anyhow too short) running time. Crushing and devastating guitars that deliver outstanding great and often surely 'tricky'n'proggy' leads and stunning solos as well as and especially a absolutely cracking and shredding rhythm work full of brute force and pure power and yet still creating a very strong and 'tight'n'thick' dark, cold, and sinister atmosphere, hell yeahr, and above all it all is very, very intense and this over all the time. Then the harsh and guttural, brutal grunted lead vocals only add up to it all. The massive and every resistance crushing rhythm section then finally backs it all fantastically beefy and bulky up and shines especially when it's all about the blast in an amazing way. My personal favorites are "CLARITY THROUGH DEPRIVATION", "THE WARMTH WITHIN THE DARK", "RETURN TO THE ABYSS", "...OF THE DARK LIGHT", and "SOME THINGS SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE", total killers, but don't make the mistake to think that the not mentioned songs would be anyhow anyway weak stuff, hell no, they also rule massively. Interesting and very well (to) the musick matching lyrics, a cold and dark artwork, and a blasting porduction sound then round it all up. All in all SUFFOCATION deliver with "...OF THE DARK LIGHT" a damn great new album and one hell of a strong Death Metal album that only adds up to the list of superb new very strong and impressive Death Metal albums so far this year of 2017. I can only recommend this masterpiece to you, highly recommend it.

(9 of 10 points)

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

SUFFOCATION - "RETURN TO THE ABYSS" (2017, "...OF THE DARK LIGHT")