"Violence isn't inborn, violence is provoked!"

TROOPERS - "BESTIALISCH"
("Core Tex Records" / "Bad Dog Records"; CD):

Okay, my first posting somehow connected to the almighty TROOPERS from the german capitol city of Berlin and this is also my first review of a record of them that I do up here. After the TROOPERS are a pretty lazy band (maybe we shouldn't really talk of the TROOPERS as being a proper band anymore since all what I've heard and read it seems more like the TROOPERS are Atze, the mastermind of the band, and several different musicians he chooses to record and play with under the banner of the TROOPERS) and beside the DVD they've released some-time back in 2010 (or so... hm, or wasn't it already back then in 2009...) this album here is still today their current album release, even it's from 2007, and so you see that there are still enough reasons to review it up here also today. (And even if all the reasons would be non-sense I would do the review of this very record up here anyhow, yes, but you knew it all the time, I know, I know, I know.) My first contact with the TROOPERS was back then when they released some-time during the mid to late 1990's their infamous masterpiece "GASSENHAUER" (I'm currently to lazy to reach behind me, grab the CD and take a 'proofing' look at the release date or year, sorry for that...) and from that time on I became a pretty big fan of this roughnecks from Berlin. This album here isn't a anyhow new album... Hm, okay, okay, okay, I can see your faces and read your thoughts: "It's from 2007, damn it, so how the fuck could it only be a little bit a 'new' album today...?!?" But no, I mean not the release date or year, I mean that this album here is a not a real or a proper or a regular album (a 'new' album by all means) but instead of this it's just a best of compilation record. So you get a 16 song best of comp, and on this disc you find 15 songs and one of them, their total anthem "GEWALT", also in a live version. All the songs cover a large time period from the beginning to the latest proper regular full length album, "MEIN KOPF DEM HENKER", and you just find hymns followed by anthems and then anthems followed by hymns. Here are some songs that you can find on this one here (and this are my personal favorites): "RESPEKTLOS, SCHEIßE UND JUNG", "MÄRCHENPRINZ", "GASSENHAUER", WIE ES UNS GEFÄLLT", "GEWALT", "GELIEBT, GEHASST", "TRITT, KRATZT UND BEIßT", "SCHEIßEGAL", "TAUSENDSCHÖNCHEN" and "KOMM MIT UNS". Okay, would I maybe have wished some other songs on this disc that somehow didn't make it on it? Yes! But is this something oh so bad at all? No! So... If you still don't know the almighty TROOPERS anyhow then imagine a harsh, brutal, bestial (of course also this) and damn angry and pissed off and non-p.c. mixture out of heavy BÖHSE ONKELZ influenced Deutsch Rock (/German Rock), power filled and street charmed heavy Thrash Metal, roughnecked Oi! Oi! Oi! music (especially the german style of playing Oi!) and bulky and massive (Street-) Punkrock, all melted together by Atzes pretty Hardcore styled lead vocals. Very present and marking is especially the guitar work and in particular the stoic and brutal stomping, heavy and massive guitar riffing, as well as the bulldozer pace and rhythm of the songs, not to forget the already mentioned lead vocals. The rhythm section is a devastating artillery machinery that pushes every song again and again onward into the battle zone. Above all we get damn great lyrics, street wisdom pours out of every single line of every single song. The production sound is made round for this album here, so that all songs fit perfectly together, thumbs up for this. The artwork isn't really that much 'creative', pffff, but it looks great and 'stylish' anyway. On top of it we get some pretty cool linernotes written by the mighty Bomml of the legendary "Oi! THE PRINT" fanzine. Ah, and the CD itself looks like a vinyl LP, and that's always pretty cool. Okay, after (beside the "GEWALT" live song) we get nothing new this is maybe not a totally necessary album and maybe more something for collectors or newcomers (and that's also the reason why they didn't get a single point more for this disc up here) but it's still a CD packed up full with damn good and also great songs, point and fact. So, yehp, nothing left to say here and now, but: This is Streetmusic for Streetpeople in its purest form, this is battle scarred and battle proofed reality set to music, yes, so you all should know what we get here and so you should also know that you better get it if you're into Streetmusic that gives a damn about any specific genre clichès. Get it!!! VIOLENCE!!! Cheers & Oi! (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/troopers)

(PS: There are different editions of this disc out, one in a digi-pack- that's the one that I have, bought back already in 2007 when this record came out- and one in a 'normal' jewel case and I don't know if there are any differences existing when it comes to the songs featured on the disc or to the artwork or what ever and I also don't know if it are maybe only different 'release-date-editions' or something like this but so you now just know about the different editions of this album... if it's important or not...)

Now you get the great anthem "GASSENHAUER" of the almighty the TROOPERS, one of my total favorites of them (read through the review and then you maybe know the reasons why - and this song is so incredible strong and it also brings me so many loved and just great memories to my mind), via a more or less 'true' or 'real' little video clip, so just enjoy it and swell down a brew or two. Cheers & Oi!

TROOPERS - "GASSENHAUER"

Walking down that boulevard of broken dreams...

Hey folks,

after doing two 'Videos' postings for or of the legendary and just great STRAY CATS, and then today the review of the still current release of THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA, yehp, now I thought that I could (or maybe should) also do a nice little 'Videos' posting for it and I found the cool video clip of the (yes, damn 'sweet-romantic' but also anyhow just damn great) "BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS" song, and, da-da-da, it's no STRAY CATS and no THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA (and no GREEN DAY...) song anyhow but a solo BRIAN SETZER song. Won't say or write now that much more, it's a great song and clip, even it's really damn close to be your typical 1980's Rock love song, haha;-), but who cares, it's a great song and a cool clip anyhow, so damn fucking just enjoy it. More will come as soon as possible up here from me for you.

(Please don't ask me why I want to write all the way BRYAN SETZER instead of BRIAN SETZER... if I've done it wrong in some of the posts before please 'overlook' this mistake/-s.)

(PS: And, btw, if you're also a fan of the STRAY CATS and all connected to this great band then make sure to check out this great blog here http://straycatscollectors.blogspot.com/ and enjoy reading through it!!!)

BRIAN SETZER - "BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS"

"DEAD MAN INCORPORATED riding on the TROUBLE TRAIN down that LONELY AVENUE and while MR. JAZZER GOES SURFIN' it's like MR. JAZZER GOES JAZZIN', feeling like the KING OF THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD and all the DIMES IN THE JAR display the PASSION OF THE NIGHT and ELENA, yes, MY BABY DON'T LOVE ME BLUES but I don't care 'cause we're LOVE PARTNERS IN CRIME."

THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA - "SONGS FROM LONELY AVENUE"
("Surfdog Inc."; CD):

Here it is, the still current release of the almighty BRIAN SETZER respectively of him and his great THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA. This one was released already back then in 2009 but for all what I know it's still the 'hot & new', the current release of him and his orchestra today and so there are more than only a few enough reasons for me to review it also at this current day here and now on and up here. That BRIAN SETZER is no-one else than the lead singer and guitar player (and maybe some sort of the mastermind of or behind) the STRAY CATS should be clear for everyone of you out there. (As well as that I'm a huge, huge fan of the STRAY CATS.) Many years ago (sounds like a fairy tale or so, doesn't it...) he formed the BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA and pretty much broke out or away of or from the world of (Neo) Rockabilly and moved onwards heavily into the world of Swing, Jazz and in general Big Band music, but without denying his roots, and that's exactly what BRIAN SETZER with his orchestra, THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA, still does (or are doing) today. So, okay, I saw it and never bought it before due to the really pretty high price (something like 18,99 Euro is pretty expensive for a- also even just 'regular'- music CD anyhow everywhere anytime, and 'cheaper' the record isn't normally also today), and also because in all the oh so 'true' Rockabilly and especially Psychobilly fanzines and magazines I do know I've only read 'bad ending reviews' of or about this album. Puh, but what a bunch of stupid nutjobs this reviewers turned out to be!!! But maybe they all proofed to be really 'true' guys... Okay, how-ever: I got aware of it as soon as I bought this album. And what BRIAN SETZER and THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA are showcasing us here is a fantastic and brilliant and, yes, a sheer phenomenal display of heart and soul, emotions and passion, as well as also an incredible display of impressive and unbelievable great skills when it comes to the songwriting abilities as well as also when it comes to the technical skills of the involved and participating musicians when it's about playing their instruments on a level that high that it will truly make you hold your breath. Awesome!!! The three major (hm, let us call it:) trademarks are the following three ingredients: First and foremost the stand-alone and outshining guitar playing of BRIAN SETZER himself, one of the few very, very best stuff I've ever had the luck to listen to. It's incredible how he manages it to melt the biggest and soul- and heartful emotions and the most cool solos and cool to heavy to sweet leads into each other and how he also manages to work some Jeff "ANNIHILATOR" Waters styled damn heavy riffing into a 'floffy' and danceable as fuck Swing anthem like "DEAD MAN INCORPORATED" and how it all flows completly without any kind of 'breaks' , that's all just damn great. Also how much heart, soul, emotions and pure passion you find in his guitar playing, awesome, and that it's all done on a incredible high and great level of skills should latest by now be clear to everyone outta there reading this here and now. The second trademark are the lead vocals of BRIAN SETZER that are really just brilliant and grapping stuff, no doubt about it, and it's just amazing how he delivers so much style and coolness and also heart and soul and just pure passion for the lyrics, the songs, the music, and the topics he sings about with his voice and his style of singing. Again, there's just one word to say about it: Awesome!!! And the third major trademark is the everything outshining Big Band, from Swing to Jazz, from Soul to Surf this guys know it all and they can do it all and they do it all, you really just have to love it if you only have at least some 'few proper taste' in music. Brilliant!!! (To use another word then awesome again.) And all is backed up by a stylish, a cool, a damn well-versed and so incredible rich on variations being rhythm section that's just the hit of the highscore again and again and over and over again. Phenomenal!!! Swing and Jazz are the most prominent music genres that can be found here, but also Soul and Surf, and the Rockabilly and Rock'n'Roll roots of BRIAN SETZER are present also over and over again. From cool to romantic stuff THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA know and do it all, and also the songwriting is just larger than life (as well as the technical skills of the musicians, as already above mentioned one or two times before), and so the album is packed up full of or with grapping suprises, demanding and challenging twists and turns and overwhelming clever arrangements, so that this album is grapping you and holds this grab on you over the complete distance of the full length album. Lyrically there are a big bunch of great little stories told, all done very cool and just great and also on a damn high level, the artwork looks just damn good (even it could have been a little bit more 'creative' and less 'egocentric' after all not at least because hey we are talking here about THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA and not just about BRIAN SETZER so with a look at the cover and all the other photos shown you really start to ask yourself where's this whole orchestra anyhow), and the great clear and clean production sound is just a pure beauty that perfectly fits to the music. If you still don't call this record your own and if you have especially at least only a small faible for Swing and Jazz music (with some Rockabilly and Rock'n'Roll roots to it, and Soul and Surf impressions in it) then you really should change it and get this album here as soon as possible. I love this shit, even BRIAN SETZER also is not the new DEAN MARTIN and will probably never ever become it... so this here is no new "King of Cool" album, nah, be sure that it's not, but it's a great and a truly larger than life album that really and truly everyone with a at least good and better taste in music should call his or her own. Get it!!! And to use this word or term now here for the last time again: Awesome!!! (10 of 10 points)
(http://www.myspace.com/bsoxmas)
(http://www.myspace.com/briansetzer)

"If Shakespeare had a MySpace profile..."

HIS STATUE FALLS - "COLLISIONS"
("Redfield Records"; CD):

That's something pretty cool and also something 'extravaganza', and something really pretty damn good, point and fact. Does anyone outta there remembers ENTER SHIKARI, or does anyone outta there knows about WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER and acts such like that?!? If so and if ya like what comes to your mind then damn it and make sure to check out this guys here, HIS STATUE FALLS. I stumbled across this band and album while I was slendering through the shelfs of the local "MediaMarkt" store and saw this CD for just only 2,50 Euro or something around like this. I decided to take it with me because the artwork, the songtitles, bandname and albumtitle really made me curious about it and for that low price I thought that I only in a very rare damn extreme bad terrible case could only possible somehow do something wrong. So I took it with me without knowing anyhow what would be coming for me... and HIS STATUE FALLS truly blew me away. They play a very 'danceable' and damn exciting, fresh and energetic as well as energizing mixture out of Hardcore, Metalcore, and Emo/Screamo Core on the one side and Techno, Trance and Dance on the other side. What now may sound for ya a little bit weird and strange and 'non-compatible' turns out to be a great and fascinating mix out of the described respectively mentioned music genres and trademarks and it's all floating perfectly into one and another. Hard yet very melodic guitar work, all very soul- and skillful, great diverse lead vocals that cover a pretty wide distance of different styles of lead singing schedules, and a damn precise and tight and heavy and massive rhythm section, all made round by just pure great mentioned electronical styles like soundnotes of Techno and Trance and Dance Keyboard- and Synth-Sounds, really amazing shit. It all is done in or maybe better by a way of a very clever and intelligent and grapping and fascinating songwriting, and all delivered by a bunch of musicians that damn know how to play and work with their instruments, point and fact. Maybe call the music that HIS STATUE FALLS are unleashing at us Trance Core or Dance Core or Techno Core..., how-ever, it's really not that much important at all at the end of the day. Personally I like the more on the electronical side of things playing songs even a little bit more and if you want to know how great HIS STATUE FALLS are in their strongest moments then listen to the phenomenal "GIVE IT UP! GIVE IT UP!" (and especially the final part, and hell yeahr, that's really PUSHING music and nothing else). Check it out some really grapping, exciting, and fresh music is waiting for you - great!!! Also the lyrics are pretty cool and damn good stuff, the artwork looks amazing and the production sound is nearly perfect for the music. So, that's all, if ya searching for something maybe still anyhow 'obscure' that will really suprise you in one way or another then better go out by your own searching this one here and check it out and buy it anyway, maybe you'll find something 'precious' for you or so. I recommend this album highly to everyone out there that's at least only a little bit into 'special' heavy music. Check it out, or better get it anyhow!!! Really damn good stuff!!! (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/hisstatuefalls)

*** "LET THE NEW ERA BEGIN!!!" ***

POWERHÄUS - "LET THE NEW ERA BEGIN"
("Powerhaus Productions"; CD):

Uh, damn it, I've always thought that this record was released back then in 2009 because that's pretty much the time I remember seeing it being reviewed and stuff like this for the first time over here in Germany, so it would have been already a little bit older and I knew it anyhow but taking a good look at it again I got aware of it that it was primarly released already back then in 2007 and so okay you and I do see that it's already even a little bit more older anyway, yehp, but who cares, so just that you know about it. This is a 'new' band (okay, more or less 'new', remember first 2009 and then even 2007) formed by pretty prominent guys that played before or beside POWERHÄUS in such acts like BOUND FOR GLORY, BEFORE GOD, TRI CITY TRASHED, THE OLD SOULS, WESTWALL, CUT-THROAT, BOUNCIN' BETTY, PLUNDER & PILLAGE, TOTAL WAR, and are today also involved in YOUNGBLOOD (if I now completly threw something over then please 'forgive' me my mistake/-s), yehp, and finally again I can see the alarm bells of some (if not a lot of) you guys outside are going "Ring! Ring! Ring!" over and over again and again. But like some other bands of the mentioned ones that are currently active (so no BOUND FOR GLORY and no BEFORE GOD) also POWERHÄUS are a band without any political approach to it for all what I would now (and also back then) say so everyone scared of the 'White Devil' you see there's no reason for you to be anyhow afraid of POWERHÄUS and if you are it still anyhow then you are guys holding their oh so strong and unquestionable ideological believes above everything all and above anything else (like for example real life issues) so damn strong dear to the heart that this is your personal problem you've to deal with anyhow anyway. So okay, after this introduction words straight up and on to the topic, the review of the full length debut (?) album "LET THE NEW ERA BEGIN" of POWERHÄUS. First listened to this album (back then some-time in 2010) and it took me by storm!!! That's just awesome great music somewhere between a big bunch of totally clichè free and very melodic (and in the case of the- Metal- genre we talk about very suprisingly very melodic), traditional as well as modern U.S. Trash and also U.S. Power Metal with a strong impact of NWOBHM classics and also a big dose of melodic somehow Skate styled and 'punky' American West Coast Hardcore Punk music (just listen to the amazing "ONE FOR THE BOSS", a song that bands from PENNYWISE to IGNITE would have wished to have written by themselves once in a band-lifetime). Larger than life and awesome well-versed and amazing rich on variations being guitar work is main character trademark of the music of POWERHÄUS, and it delivers truck loads of power and force and energy and sheer heavyness and harsh aggression and an ultimate brutality that gets along without any oh so brutal music clichès and is mainly caused by the huge, huge dose of emotions and passion as well as the already mentioned sheer force of the music and the songs. The guitar riffing is incredible strong and damn heavy and really just a statement of its own, awesome. The guitar leads then create an incredible tight and intense atmosphere and are giving you showers of healthy goosepimples one after another, and about the phenomenal and fantastic guitar solos we really don't have to talk about anyhow, really just some larger than life stuff that POWERHÄUS are delivering to us. Then there are the great lead vocals that are truly just pure pwerful and charismatic and stand-alone stuff, sometimes here and there at some songs supported and backed up by brilliant and passionated female co-lead vocals that really stand strong and truly shine out through from out of your speakers. The rhythm section then is a well-oiled damn precise and incredible tight and massive and bulky and heavy working rhythm-artillery-machinery that really fills every anyhow maybe blank space, and that's making this whole album even far, far better than it already is anyhow. That's really just an awesome and a stand-alone band and album, point and fact. About the technical skills when it's about playing their instruments we don't need to say anything here and now (just take a list of the mentioned other bands the POWERHÄUS guys used or still use to play in before or beside POWERHÄUS and then you should really know about the deal), and that these folks also are phenomenal songwriters (interesting, fascinating and grapping moments non-stopp in uncountable many variations) and that they do offer us a lot of suprises and great changes as well as some damn clever arrangements I say just for the fact that you know it anyhow and so I just say it for the record even I think that a lot of you guys out there maybe already know about it anyway. Okay, beside all of this we get a big bunch of fantastic lyrics, from great and non-clichè love-songs to stuff with a (for what I would say) pretty metaphysical and philosophical background and approach, and that's also great and even far more. The artwork of this album is also awesome shit, and the production sound is nearly perfect, yes, it is. So you see, this one here was and still is truly and really the complete package, so if you still don't know or still don't own it I highly recommend this album to you and you and also you out there. Awesome!!! I love every single song on this one here but my personal total favorites (musically and lyrically) are "SYMBOLS", "IN TIME" (and make sure you also listen to the incredible 'alternative' version of it that you can find on this very album here as a not listed bonus track), "POWERLUST", "MRS. LIBERTY", "LOST" (incredible!!!), "ONE FOR THE BOSS", and "WALK AWAY", so check them out at first!!! And I really desperatly hope that the follow up of POWERHÄUS will come out asap (and it's already really about time for it). I love this shit!!! Cheers & Oi! (10 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/therealpowerhaus)

Now you get three video clips of POWERHÄUS for your enjoyment and so that you know about this brilliant and great band and that you can asap go out and buy their album from where the hell ever you still today may can get it. And you now get the clips (or what here and now shall be called so) of the POWERHÄUS anthems of the titles of "LOST", "SYMBOLS", and "IN TIME", and hell yeahr, incredible strong and mighty hymns anyway all the way. Check them out, right now, right here, POWERHÄUS in ya face!!!

POWERHÄUS - "LOST"

POWERHÄUS - "SYMBOLS"

POWERHÄUS - "IN TIME"

Rockabilly strikes back!

THE BASEBALLS - "STRIKE! BACK"
(European Top # 5 Double CD 'Celebration Edition')
("Warner Music"; 2CD):

Okay, now some Rockabilly (yes, it's true) for all of you out there. This band and record came up some-time around late 2010 or so for all what I know. This band really hit the market like a bomb and celebrated some sort of a huge success in many (especially european) countries. Especially over here in Germany they grabbed up what DICK BRAVE & THE BACKBEATS kicked off eight or nine years ago with a very huge mainstream chart success, what then BOPPIN' BE carried forth (without that much mainstream success, to be honest) and what today they, THE BASEBALLS, by themselves are doing here in their own way but also comparable to the before mentioned bands. This band played and still plays (still with a lot of success, for all what I know) pretty classical Rockabilly music and it really reminds me from the music, the aesthetic, the spirit, and the style and sound very much of the whole "ESKIMO LIMO" (or, in german, "EIS AM STIEL") movies (maybe you know one or two of them). THE BASEBALLS are a very controversial and heated discussed band in the Rockabilly scene (at least the german part of it and at least for all what I've heard because I don't give a damn about this scene and damn no I'm a part of it), pfff, but I don't care. I don't care if this is a 'true' or just a 'casted' band, if the guys in the band are 'true' Rockabilly folks or just 'casted' fakes, if the guys have a background in dirty Rock & Roll subculture or if they've danced before they've played in THE BASEBALLS in some stupid disco holes to brainless chart mainstream dance pop techno mall music crap, and I don't care if they listen and still dance to it or not in their private lifes still today, nah, I really don't care. It's good music and at least to me today this whole "Keep it true!" bullshit, especially when it comes to this clichè 'arty-gaily' Rocka-/Psychobilly, is just retarded and obsolete crap, there are just more important things in life to think and take care about. If you're a 'hardliner', no matter out of which subculture ever (in this case naturally especially of the Rockabilly and maybe also the Psychobilly scene), you may think different about it, maybe, and if so that's all okay. So, yehp, after this back to the topic: THE BASEBALLS (and even that's pretty cool and funny, but maybe also the only true 'minus point') are just some sort of a cover band. They do cover mainstream chart pop mega hits of today in the above described way of very traditional and 'softy' classical Old School style of Rockabilly and Rock & Roll music, here and there enriched by some cool Barbershop impressions and 'Acapella' music marks. A (btw pretty cool) Stand-Up bass, very full and charismatic and ELVIS PRESLEY like vocals as well as cool traditional CHUCK BERRY styled guitar playing and a very relaxed drum work are the ingredients of this music, and they do play it very well-versed and also with truly a lot of really much heart and soul and passion, yes, and that's  very cool. They do covers of such 'bands' and 'artists' like (if I spell some names not correct then please forgive me this mistake/-s) for example JENNIFER LOPEZ, KATY PERRY, RIHANNA, LADY GAGA (the total bullshit song "POKER FACE", and damn it, they truly make a really great hymn out of it), ROBBIE WILLIAMS, LEONA LEWIS, SQUISSOR SISTERS, THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, etc. pp. and many more of "top" 'bands' and 'artists' like this. No need to discuss the original songs and 'bands' and 'artists', nah, but THE BASEBALLS are doing a damn good job here, they really understand to make damn good versions out of this bunch of originally crap songs, and especially when it's "Party Time!" this whole concept works out great and strong, but also when you're alone just spending a relaxed time, or when you're with your girlfriend/women making yourself together a great evening or when you're driving around with your car making some noise, yehp, THE BASEBALLS will help you having a nice time. It's nothing you should or could take all too serious but who cares (and I think the band itself isn't taking it all too serious and this is making this all pretty sympathic), it's all nothing really anyhow fascinating-grapping new but who cares, it's all truly very 'soft' but who cares, it's just some pretty funny and cool and good stuff and that's the only thing you should care about. This is some sort of a rerelease version with a cool bonus CD, a new artwork (the original one looked way better), and all is coming with all lyrics (don't ask me if they've changed something everywhere compared to the original ones, I could just tell ya that they've changed the lyrics of the THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS song "DON'T CHA" quite a bit) and all in a great production sound. There's also already a new album of THE BASEBALLS out and I think it's again still just filled with cover songs (maybe thinking about changing this in the future, could help to take it all more serious and creating and keeping a own identity... even it would maybe cause some 'back-growing' mainstream success) and what I heard was also again some really cool and funny entertaining stuff so maybe also check their new album (titled "STRINGS'N'STRIPES") already out. If you're looking for some nice, funny and damn cool, not too serious at all Rockabilly of the most traditional way of style and sound then check THE BASEBALLS out and open yourself some brews and have a good time with it. (They would get one point more, but hey, they're just a cover band so come on...) So all in all they get the following rating and I truly recommend them and especially this CD to you anyhow anyway, at least if you like the here delivered and above described music and if ya do not take all too serious... Yes, so if that's the case, then damn check it out!!! (7 of 10 points)

(http://www.myspace.com/thebaseballs)

If it all works out like it should then you should now get the official clip to the THE BASEBALLS version of the KATY PERRY song "HOT'N'COLD" so that you can draw your own picture of this Berlin based Rockabilly band, so yes, enjoy it if you like to, I like to. Ah, and like I've already mentioned one or two times before do yourself the favor and don't take it all (and maybe your oh so beloved and 'true' scene and maybe also yourself like the big 'scene-chief' you definitely are) too serious, then you'll (maybe) have a good time.

THE BASEBALLS - "HOT'N'COLD" (KATY PERRY-cover)

Are you really an Anarchist?!? Then we don't need you around!!! Oi! Oi! Oi! Fuck all you Hippie Punks!!!

HEy folks!!! After my personal total new discovery VENOM (the british Oi! band of this name, great early british Oi! Oi! Oi! music, not the clichè Metal band, but they are also legends anyway) I felt the need to also put the following band up here: CROWBAR!!! Not the Doom/Sludge Metal/Core band from New Orleans (also a damn good and great band and that's also featured up here, to just have it mentioned it here btw for ya), but the legendary great british Oi! champions from the more or less early 1980's. The band was something like more of a (way far too short lived) project than some sort of a proper band (for all what I know anyhow) and for what I know they've released just a short tracked 7'' (two songs, the title track "HIPPIE PUNKS" and a cool THE CLASH cover of their classic "WHITE RIOT") and were also featured (with the same songs) on the legendary "MADE IN BRITAIN" compilation (alongside with THE LAST RESORT, SKINDEEP, and ANTISOCIAL), all released back then in 1983 or so. You now get the larger-than-life anthem "HIPPIE PUNKS" of CROWBAR and maybe some of you also know that the controversy german, hm, okay, let us call it/them: Skinhead Rock band of the name of KAMPFZONE many years ago did a cover version of them, all in german, and they've done quite a good job but they can't beat or even only rival the original one. But the cover version that the almighty german Hardcore legends of BRIGHTSIDE (still know them?!? You should, awesome band!!!) once did also oh too many years ago on the amazing "THE WORLDWIDE TRIBUTE TO THE REAL Oi!"(Volume 2) compilation (great stuff, the two compilation discs) is even greater and while also BRIGHTSIDE didn't beat CROWBAR they came pretty close and you should do anything to know their cover tune of this classic anyhow, point and fact!!! Back to the legends of CROWBAR: It's hard stomping, yet catchy and very anthemic good old early british Oi! music and if ya like this stuff (for fuck's sake: How could ya not?!?) then you will also love CROWBAR and their "HIPPIE PUNKS", so enjoy it!!! I've chosen the version that's to be found on the mentioned compilation due to the far better sound quality, but otherwise it's exactly the same song. So, yehp, now just fucking enjoy it!!! Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

CROWBAR - "HIPPIE PUNKS"

British Oi! made in 1981... VENOM firing the "GUNS OF GLORY"

Hey guys, I've found found this video recently on the web and it's some damn great stuff (even the sound is... hm... very, very 'old school' stuff...) of a band that I didn't know before: VENOM, not the Metal band that's often called the inventors of Black metal music, but an early British Oi! band active sometime around 1981 (or so). Here's the video of their song "GUNS OF GLORY", it's taken from their demo released back then and it's announced to be a very rare track what I would believe without only one single doubt at all. It's great stuff, hard hitting early Oi! Oi! Oi! music from Britain, also fucking good lyrics. Check the clip and song and enjoy it and if anyone knows more about VENOM then please just let me know about it. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

VENOM - "GUNS OF GLORY"

MÖBBEL OIMEL praising the "GLORY BRITISH Oi!" we all hold dear to the heart!!!

Hey folks, I'm currently pretty short at time (can I say it so?!?) and so it's just a 'Videos' posting that I now have here for ya. And finally it's some damn good Oi! Oi! Oi! music again. I have no clue what this is all about but some time ago I stumbled while I was surfing through the web over this band and song. The band is named, so it seems, MÖBBEL OIMEL and even I have no clue what nationality this band is all about (could be some 'spanish rooted' singing or something pretty similiar to this) I hope that I don't 'hurt' anybody but this bandname is one of the most stupid that I've ever heard in my life (in case that this is the name of the band, but that's how it seems... more or less) and why a band that seems not to be from at least somewhere in Britain does a song called "GLORY BRITISH Oi!" might also be a question left open (but maybe it's just about paying tribute to the roots of our music... I know, clever, right?!?) but forget about all this, because this is a great battle scarred Oi! Oi! Oi! stomping anthem. I found this video quite a while ago but just got it now done to bring it up here (don't ask me why... I'm a busy guy;-)...) and I thought I would find something about this band and all but I wasn't lucky with making this ambitions become true, sorry, and that's why I can't tell ya more about it all here and now. So if anyone out there knows more about it just let me know it via leaving a comment (here) or sending me a message (through MySpace or Facebook, for example). I would love to hear more from MÖBBEL OIMEL and if this band got a record out I think I would love to call one copy of it my own. Maybe also this MÖBBEL OIMEL thing is just a profile name for some uploading guy on YouTube, I don't know, I just know that I love this song (despise the stupid "Fuck U.S.A.!!!" chant) and unfortunately I don't know who've done it (somehow I can't help myself that MÖBBEL OIMEL can't be a bandname at all, it's too stupid after everything), so yes, if MÖBBEL OIMEL now is a band (and the band that's done this song) or maybe not, it doesn't matter that much at all right now... If anyone has some proper informations about the band and song featured here and coming now for ya then please just help me out of this mess via above mentioned 'helping-actions'. Thanks a lot!!! And for now just enjoy this great song!!! If you love Oi! (how could ya not?!?), then you will love this one coming now for ya, too!!! Oi! Oi! Oi!

MÖBBEL OIMEL - "GLORY BRITISH Oi!"

Trippin'... Gotta take a trip out of this place... Gotta get away from the human race... Trip at the brain... You know what I'm saying... I'm going insane...

Hey folks, today only a little 'Videos' post for ya, and this one features finally again some good old well-known guys up here on this blog and I'm talkin' 'bout no-one-else than the legendary and almighty SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. Damn it, I love this band!!! Old School yet still damn fuckin' fresh Skate Hardcore music from the Westcoast of the USA, just great stuff!!! You now get the clip (funny stuff, awesome shit) of their immortal anthem "TRIP AT THE BRAIN" (amazing song), the opener of their "HOW CAN I LAUGH TOMORROW... WHEN I CAN'T EVEN SMILE TODAY?" masterpiece (I think it was released in 1988 or something like this, but I'm currently too lazy to grab the album from the shelf and take a look at it, hopefully you'll understand my lazyness...) and I can't tell ya often I still fuckin' listen to this great piece of music even today. That's it for now, I'm tired, so just enjoy the clip and then untill soon!!! Oi!

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - "TRIP AT THE BRAIN"

"I USED TO FUCK PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN PRISON!"

VARIOUS ARTISTS - "WHERE THE BAD BOYS ROCK"

("People Lie You Records"; CD):
Okay, some days ago I reviewed the "TROUBLED GROUND" album of ZEBULON and announced that this would be the last record that gets reviewed of the CD package of old "PLY REC." releases that I'll do reviews of up here... but I was wrong with that announcment because now finally here's the last record of that package that I am about to review for ya up here, and this one was and still is (what else?) the first label compilation CD that used to kick off the today pretty well-know "WHERE THE BAD BOYS ROCK" label compilation album series. This sampler is pretty cool stuff and it really doesn't matter at all that it was released quite a few years ago. This compilation CD really shows how strong this label once used to be and how strong it really could have been. Not that it is or ever was a anyhow 'bad' record label but compared with most of the bands featured on this first one here (like for example THE AWESOME MACHINE, ZEBULON, ABDULLAH, MACHINE GUN, SUNRIDE, THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND, and SPIRIT CARAVAN) all this Punk'n'Roll, Drunka/Rocka/Punka/Psychobilly stuff that fills the ranks of the roster of "PLY REC." so much mostly today is really pretty weak and also somehow 'mainstream' and 'un-original' stuff... okay, but anyhow... We get here a pretty cool and nice mixture out of Stoner Rock, Doom Rock/Metal, Psychedelic Rock stuff, metallic Hardrock & Roll, Punk'n'Roll, Scandinavian Gutter Rock & Roll, and some (Punka)Billy stuff, and all in all the damn most stuff of it all on a high if not very high level of quality. Some bandnames (also already mentioned ones): ZEBULON, THE AWESOME MACHINE, ABDULLAH, THE BONES, THE SPITTS, NEBULA, SUNRIDE, THE GENERATORS, BLIND DOG, THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND, THE FRANKENSTEIN DRAG QUEENS FROM PLANET 13, SPIRIT CARAVAN, LOWRIDER, MACHINE GUN, MANTARAY K.D.; and also some bands more. Even some of the bands are pretty unknown today or at least unknown to some (and maybe also you) outta there don't make the mistake to think this would say something about the quality of the bands, songs and music you get here because this would be a damn big mistake, and you better trust me upon this. You should really check it out!!! (If you don't call it your own already anyhow.) A lot of damn good stuff waits to be finally discovered by you (and also you and you and you, yehp, and you, too). The artwork looks pretty cool and is really a great job that the guys here did back then, to the lyrics I won't say anything (because it's a compilation disc, so what should I say at all, 'light' and 'shadow(s)' grow close to each other, if ya know what I mean with that) and the production sound of all bands and songs is really damn good stuff. Btw, funny to see that once back then the german Metal magazine "ROCK HARD" used to present and sponsor this "PLY REC." label compilation album. You should get it today for damn low prices (maybe at some places- still- for not more- if not less- than one lousy Euro buck) so don't think twice and you all should know by now what you have to do here and now in the case of this disc. Really damn good stuff!!! (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.peolelikeyou.de/)

Introducing TRI CITY TRASHED via a vicious "SUPRISE ATTACK"

Hey folks, another new and the finally the last post for today. I want to introduce a damn great band with that I recently got in contact via MySpace and this band is TRI CITY TRASHED (or TRI-CITY TRASHED). A damn great band!!! In the future more of and about and maybe also with them will come, I'm pretty sure aout it and so you should it be, too, and then I'll write much more so that ya all know more. Btw, to all our self-proclaimed brave 'leftists' out there (which means all you brave virtual warriors out there that give themselves a banner like the 'digital AFA' or so): You can all go and shove your crap up your ass and then leave here and go crying sitting alone somewhere in the dark because your oh so bitter feelings about finding TRI CITY TRASHED up here. A damn great band, that also seems to be compiled/founded/formed by pretty sympathic and 'grounded' guys. Now you get their track "SUPRISE ATTACK" (I hope the title is the correct one), and now just you enjoy this great hymn by this outstanding band. Ah, btw, their current album is still hot and out and the new one shall be already in the making for this year, just that you know about it. Check them out and contact them via http://www.myspace.com/tctoc and enjoy what you get to listen to from this guys. Yehp, and btw: This is Punkrock, baby!!! Cheers & Oi!

TRI CITY TRASHED - "SUPRISE ATTACK"

"I AM WHO I AM, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!!! - NO GODS, NO MASTERS!!! MY TIME HAS COME!!!"

ARCH ENEMY - "DAWN OF KHAOS"
("Century Media Records" / "Savage Messiah Music" / "Metal Hammer Magazine"; CD):

This here is a gratis promotional release that comes (or came) as a free garnish with the (still) current (?) issue of the "METAL HAMMER" titled music magazine and so you should get already a pretty good impression what's now coming for ya (in case you don't know about ARCH ENEMY by now) and this is a dose of Metal music. This shall be a exclusive and non-commercial CD that features two brandnew songs, one KISS cover (that was before solely released as a Japan Edition Bonus song) and a bunch of live songs and some compiled older songs (maybe a fan of the band would call them their classics, I don't know). I never really listened to ARCH ENEMY (to say it precise beside some few songs I know nothing from them, and I mean really nothing) before this one here but I decided to grab this CD anyhow and so I took it with me... A bad guy I am, I know... But you also know that I'm just revolting against the status quo of the capitalistic system we're forced to live in and its rules, haha;-). Founded in the middle of the 1990's as a offspring of the almighty and immortal CARCASS they developed to a pretty impressive successful Metal band from Sverige (?) that pretty soon became pretty famous (on a global level) for being one of the more or less very few female fronted Death Metal bands. Okay, for all what I do hear now I wouldn't label them Death Metal anyhow anymore. It's some sort of heavy and very, very skillful Power Metal between some heavy loads of traditional stuff and also big doses of modern impressions, and yes, with some deep and intense guttural female lead vocals. Big harmonies and melodies, symphonic leads and very gifted solos, the guitar work is really impressive and damn fucking skillful and well-versed, no doubt about it and much respect for that, even I have to say that for me personally it's some huge doses too playful. Anyway, great skills and work at and with the guitar(s). The guttural lead vocals are pretty charismatic and also still pretty 'clear' so that you can really understand what's sung about. The rhythm section is working damn precise and fucking heavy. All is done with a lot of heart and passion, and after (for what I know) the band is around since something like 1996 or so it's all still really damn enthusiastically done. I like it even it's definitly not my favorite music anymore (for at least 15 years or so), especially not that kind of melodic and playful, surely hard but yet damn 'sweet' style of Metal music, nah, I can't really rely to it. Anyhow, that's a good record. The two new songs are good and especially the second one called "NO GODS, NO MASTERS" is really a great anthem, without one single doubt!!! The KISS cover sucks, sounds like your ordinary Power Metal song between MANOWAR and ICED EARTH with some Death Metal drumming and rhythm work to it and not really like a KISS tune anyhow... The live and/or 'older' songs I didn't know before but some are really good and some are not that really good at all, Melodic Death Metal (or better melodic Power metal with guttural vocals) on a very high technical level and with some good songwriting ideas, yehp, and all very 'playful'... Lyrically they deal with issues like freedom and individuality and they seem to use the Anarchy "A" as their (new) band logo. Seems more like a thing of a general meaning and not like a political or ideological agenda, so thank Buddha for that you don't hear any political preachings here on this one by this band. The lyrics are okay and (far) better (again: "NO GODS, NO MASTERS") and the artwork looks really cool, yes, and the production (studio) as well as the recording (live) sound is a damn good one. So, yes, it's a CD for free so if you see it grab it (which way ever;-)...) at least if you like the described music. If you're a (Death) Metal head I would bet that in at least 80 out of 100 cases this CD will make you hungry for more new stuff of or from ARCH ENEMY and you'll be left curious about their new coming full length album (shall carry the title "KHAOS LEGIONS") after listening to this record here and so it's a good done one and you can easily and surely say: "Mission accomplished!!!" (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.archenemy.net/)

(http://www.myspace.com/archenemy)

*** "A LIGHT IN A DARKENED WORLD..." ***

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "KILLSWITCH ENGAGE"
("Roadrunner Records"; CD):

Okay, here's the next one on my list that I want to get worked through finally. This is still the current album of the Metalcore or Modern Metal megaseller(s) of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and so there's still enough reason to do a review of it even today after it was already released back then in 2009. So, okay, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE just convinced me with their precursor release to this one, "AS DAYLIGHT DIES", never before. All their other releases that used to see the light of the day earlier really had never been on my list, not even at the bottom of it. This whole Metalcore and/or Modern Metal stuff, nah, I mean it's not like it would be crap in general, no, but it's just like if you used to grow up with 1990's Neo Thrash Metal (like for example FEAR FACTORY) and 1990's 'New School' (Scandinavian) Death Metal (like for example AT THE GATES) and late 1990's as well as early 2000's Nu Metal (like for example SLIPKNOT) then all this hyped acts like for example THREAT SIGNAL and also KILLSWITCH ENGAGE never really hold that much potential in store for you and you could never ever understand why everyone was (and partly still is) making such a noise when it comes to such bands and genres. And, beside this, (because this wouldn't be that bad at all, despise the hype and as long as it is first-and-formost good music then it's also not that much important if it's all oh so new or maybe not,) especially KILLSWITCH ENGAGE had been a band that I always categorised as one of the most heavily overrated bands out there (even the level of technical skills of the musicians was always damn high, all the records really lacked the most importat thing about music, and that's simply interesting and grapping songs and fascinating songwriting). With the "AS DAYLIGHT DIES" album this changed and as I got my hands on this here for just something like ten bucks I decided to give it a try and even more because I bought it recently. And what you get here is a good dose of that typical melodic Metalcore or Modern Metal style for that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE became pretty or even very famous. Hard yet melodic and very skillful guitar work heavily marked by the great leads and a big dose of exciting solos. Above that there stand the vocals, pretty grapping stuff, all done very well-versed, changing between brutal shouts and grunts and very clean and clear yet powerful lead vocals, and then there's a very heavy and massive rhythm section at work that really fills up every only possible blank space so that it's all a massive wall of sound that's coming directly at you if you listen to it. What's new is the fact that here you find even far more parts that display a huge influence of traditional NWOBHM music (for example IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST) and even some if not a lot classical Stadium Rock marks (think about VAN HALEN and stuff like this) can be recognized when it comes to the guitar riffing and the rhythm structure. The technical skills of the musicians are very impressive (as usual when it comes to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and like on their direct precursor release also this time the songwriting works out again, hm, maybe even a little bit more than the time before. Really a pretty good album that you need to check out if you like the above mentioned bands and genres. On top of it we get some good lyrics, a great artwork and massive production sound. Check it out!!! (8 of 10 points)

(http://www.killswitchengage.com/)

(http://www.myspace.com/killswitchengage)

Marcus Giese, 02. 08. 1969 - 15. 05. 2011 - Rest in Peace man, we'll never forget you!!!

Hey folks,

this post is a very tragic and also a very personal one... It is now a week ago (more or less exactly a week) that a good friend of mine tragically passed away. The night from last saturday to last sunday Marcus Giese died at a 'major heart trouble', his aortae ruptured or cracked while he should be taken from the hospital in Goslar to the hospital in Hannover where he should have been operated... We were celebrating the birthday of Hank this night and I still remember me saying, asking where Marcus would stay after he did not arrived hour after hour... Two days later on Tuesday I knew it... I think from us guys here from more or less out of Golsar I was maybe one of the last guys who knew it (that's one reason why I recently and finally joined 'Facebook' this very day today...) and it hit me really hard (but that was and is nothing compared to his family and closer friends) and I was thinking since Tuesday what to do about it, and pretty soon I decided to do a tribute or hommage or farewell post to honour Marcus and show him some last final act of respect. It took me a while because, to be honest, I didn't know what I should write and I still don't know it... Friday Marcus was buried and it was a very hard and intense day with his burial and then all of us sitting together and talking etc. pp. through the day and night... It was good to see all of the girls and boys who were there to show also their respect and honoured him... And it was really some sort of great 'thing' who were all there... hopefully we will see us the next time because of some far better reasons...

Like I've said; since Tuesday I knew and know that I want to do this post here, but still I don't know (and never really knew) what to write... there's so much I could write and it still wouldn't be enough or it would still miss a lot. So let me say it just short and precise and just on a personal level and not talking about music (you may remember him from the THROAT-CUT interview that I've done with him at the end of the last year) or business or work or what-so-ever, just about personal issues and that are in this time the only important issues that should be mentioned up here: Marcus Giese was one hell of a great guy, a great human with a lot of heart and soul and passion and character for the things he did and that he recognized to be important and necessary, with a open ear and a open eye for all of his closer and not so close friends that could always count on him when they were in trouble which kind ever. A very good friend and an even greater human, a person like you don't find them today that often anymore, and a big loss to everyone who knew him. My thoughts are especially and first-and-foremost with his girlfriend and the mother of his and her just a few weeks old little son Samuel (and that's making it all even moe tragic) and with his family!!! And I think I can say it also in the name of all of his friends: Marcus, we will miss you!!! One day we will see us again!!! Rest in peace man, you'll never be forgotten!!! Farewell, Marcus...

R.I.P. MARCUS GIESE (02. August 1969 - 15. May 2011)

(This is just a short video that I've done in the thoughts of Marcus, the musc is by the great DOGMA IVS, the first (?) band he sung in and it's my personal favorite song of them. He wrote the lyrics something like eleven years back when his and his brothers mother died and maybe I am wrong but I feel that the song, the music, the lyrics, the mood and atmosphere also fit to the current situation and so here comes his short and little farewell video clip, something like a short moment of serenity and a last display of respect...)