b,y Matman

​In the 1970's  and 80's, live albums were HUGE! For KISS, Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick, the live album gave their careers a serious kick and for RUSH, Iron Maiden and Scorpions... it was a showcase of the rock experience, and a way to get all the hits in one package.  It seems that after a bit of a hiatus, the live album/concert experience is making a comeback and I've got two awesome ones to share, both amazing in their own unique way! 

Up first is the metal band who in 1983 struck gold (and platinum) with their album METAL HEALTH and in 2017 released their 13th studio album, ROAD RAGE. Last year Quiet Riot played the Frontiers Rock Festival last year and the result is a killer album that proves the band still has what it takes to put on an amazing show.  ONE NIGHT IN MILAN (Frontiers SRL) contains 16 songs guaranteed to make you remember why you first loved this band, the amazing catalog! Cum On Feel The Noize, Run For Cover, Party All Night and my favorite, The Wild And The Young all sound amazing and feature longtime members Frankie Banali (drums), Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar). On vocals is James Durbin, the American Idol contestant who sings these songs with the passion and fire of the late Kevin Dubrow in his heyday. ONE NIGHT IN MILAN is a celebration of everything good about Quiet Riot who prove here (and on the live DVD/Blue-Ray from the show) that they are at their best onstage, making fans happy.

On the other side of the metal spectrum is Raven, the British trio that for me was my introduction to the world of speed metal!  Playing with power, danger and a sense of humor, Raven release this week their latest, SCREAMING MURDER DEATH FROM ABOVE, LIVE IN AALBORG! from SPV/SteamHammer.  To know Raven is to understand what you will be getting on this live album; controlled chaos with a "what the hell" attitude.   Led by founding members, the brothers Gallagher; Mark (guitar) and John (bass/vocals) and new drummer Mike Heller, Raven attack with an in your face collection of 11 songs covering their incredible history.  From album opener Destroy All Monsters to the closer Crash Bang Wallop, this recording made me remember what a Raven shows was like, despite the fact I haven't seen them live since 1988. 

Two amazing live albums from two bands that are so different in their approach... but the same in what they give to their audiences.    
   
  

by Matman

Listeners of the podcast and people who know me will tell you what a HUGE fan I am of vocalist/ bassist Glenn Hughes!  Since I first heard the Deep Purple classic, Burn and knew what part he sang, I've been a fan.  I loved his work with Hughes/Thrall, his brief stay with Gary Moore, his underrated album with Phenomena and of course... he sang on my favorite Black Sabbath album, SEVENTH STAR. 

Sadly, Hughes missed the chance to capitalize on those works because of heavy drug use that destroyed his reputation and almost killed him.  For me, as moving as his music is, his story of faith, survival and regeneration... becoming the musician and the man he was destined to be. 

Recently, Hughes has had a prolific solo career as well as work with Black Country Communion, California Breed and (for me) the recently discovered Voodoo Hill.  He has also worked in the past with my dear friend, the late John Wetton and my kinda friend, Geoff Downes.  

Last year Hughes and his solo band took part in an incredible tour celebrating the amazing music of Deep Purple with CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE LIVE. Unfortunately I missed his New England appearances last time due to my work promotion and training in Arizona... but the time is already taken off to enjoy this show in Norwalk, CT on April, 24th. 

For dates near you click the link here TOUR DATES and get ready for an incredible evening with the Voice Of Rock himself!!

For more information on Glenn Hughes click here

Opening Act: 
Ratt's Pearcy has knee surgery
Foreigner donates song proceeds to Shriners
Overkill debuts first episode of new documentary series
The return of John Sykes

Ear Candy: 
Ratt: Invasion of Your Privacy (1985)
Flotsam and Jetsam: The End of Chaos (2019)

Six Degrees of Frankie B.

Liner Notes:
Best of 2018 episode feedback

Rockversation: Ken Mary
Matt recently spoke with the drummer of Flotsam and Jetsam after a stop on their tour with HammerFall.

Bonus Track: Johnny Gioeli--Drive
From the album One Voice, which is out now!

Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at powerchordspodcast@gmail.com.

by Matman

On December 9th, 1980, I heard the shocking news about the death of John Lennon the night before.  As a 12 year old Beatles fan, this destroyed my world.  The previous summer I began to really get into music and the Beatles were my obsession, an obsession that has never left me.  Until that night in December I never experienced a death of anything and this was my introduction to how crappy the world could be. 

For the next week I buried my sadness and pain in the world of the Beatles and of course, John Lennon's solo work.  I would listen to everything; the albums, the radio specials... everything.  I wanted to know everything about Lennon's life and over the span of a month or so, I would become inundated with every part of his life.  At the time of his death, Lennon's single (Just Like) Starting Over and the album DOUBLE FANTASY were marking the return of Lennon to the world of music.  I was incredibly frustrated because as a 'little kid' I didn't know what to do or how to channel my feelings.  Sure my parents helped me work through it but I wanted to do more.  I would see fans gathering at John's home in New York City, The Dakota and I wanted to be there... with everyone else hurting. 

At the time of his death I was living in Broad Brook, CT, a small town about 2 1/2 hours from New York, but in 1980, it might as well have been a million miles away.  As the years went on and I started making trips to New York City I never wanted to go to the Dakota, because I wasn't ready.  I walked around Strawberry Fields with my family and saw the Imagine mosaic, but standing near or on the site where John Lennon was shot was a hard one. 

Yesterday, on another trip to New York City, I decided it was time.  As I walked towards the building with my wife Amy, daughter Rebekah and her fiance Lucas, we walked by the infamous gate and just stopped to soak it all in, the place where so many lives changed back in 1980.  I've never been one to hide my emotions and I am incredibly in tune to peoples feelings but as I stood there, I couldn't think or even speak.  As I tried to focus my thoughts and prayers, all I could hear was Elton John's amazing and passionate Empty Garden in my head.  My feelings; sadness, optimism, happiness, depression, confusion, clarity all hitting me at once.  For the next few hours I kept trying to figure out why so many emotions all at once and as I sat to type this I realized I was just feeling everything I felt as a 12 year old who wanted to be there in 1980.  It seems so weird in  2018 to now feel like i'm finally at peace with this.               

 the last episode of 2018, we recap our favorites of the year! And the categories are:

Favorite Albums of 2018 
Favorite 3 Songs of 2018
Favorite 3 Album Covers of 2018 
Favorite 3 Concerts of 2018 
Favorite Live Album
Favorite Reissue

Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at powerchordspodcast@gmail.com.

​​by Matman

It is mind boggling that THE END OF CHAOS is lucky album '13' for Flotsam And Jetsam.  The band made their debut in 1986 with the classic album DOOMSDAY FOR THE DECEIVER and for most of their career have been lumped in and pigeonholed as a thrash band. To me there has always been so much more to the band than that and here, the band get to prove it!

Following up 2016's self titled album is going to be tough, considering I look at that album as the best in their career... until now!  THE END OF CHAOS is a non-stop barrage of heavy riffs, pounding rhythms and amazing vocals that set a new standard. 

The songs are all amazing... not a clunker in the bunch!  From the double bass drum attack of Prepare For Chaos, the chugging of Architects Of Hate or the the brilliance and balanced Prisoner In Time, THE END OF CHAOS is the perfect album for anyone who considers metal 'their music'.  Vocalist Eric 'AK' Knutsome's voice just keeps better and better and has an aggressive quality to it, yet is very pleasing to the ears especially on Demolition Man.  The guitar duo of Steve Conley and Michael Gilbert are amazing!!!  The duo match heavy riffs and leads that give the music a new dimension on every song and are given that freedom by bassist Michael Spencer and new drummer Ken Mary who are just brilliant.  I compare this album to Iron Maiden's classic POWERSLAVE, one of the first metal albums that seemed to rise above the norms of the day and created an experience, not just a record. 

Over the past few years I have felt a few bands have put out their most complete and satisfying albums like Armored Saint with WIN HANDS DOWN and Metal Church's latest DAMNED IF YOU DO.  Like Flotsam and Jetsam, these bands have the freedom to make the music they want to make and who wins? We do!!  

After a few solid 10 to 12 listens front to back, Flotsam And Jetsam prove that heavy metal's best days are not in the past, but in the future.  THE END OF CHAOS will be a great way to welcome in 2019!     

Thanks boys... y'all did real good here!

THE ORDER OF CHAOS on AFM records will be released on January 18th 2019 on AFM.

Flotsam And Jetsam hit the road in May. For more information go to their official site, www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com  

Look for interviews wit Flotsam And Jetsam's 'AK' and Ken Mary in upcoming episodes of Power Chords.    

by Matman

As I try to catch up on my albums to review I decided to pick one based on its title and cover art.  For those who don't know, I am a 46 year comic book collector who gravitates towards anything superhero or comic book related... so why not listen to an album called SUPERHERO? WOW... i'm so glad i did!

Not knowing anything about State Of Salazar I didn't know what to expect at all, but just a few minutes into the albums first track, If You Wait For Me and I was hooked... and hooked bad! The band have a sound that combines the best of commercial hard rock and the pop aspects of progressive rock.  From song to song, State Of Salazar takes the musical pedigree of ASIA, the ear candy of Journey, the grooves of Toto and combines it with the hard rock push of Europe and UFO. What you get is an album full of amazing songs and brilliant performances. 

The band; Marcus Nygren, guitarist Johan Thuresson, keyboardist Kevin Hosford, bassist Johannes Hansson and drummer Kristian Brun are amazing and certainly wear their influences on their collective sleeves. The danger of a modern band making AOR style music is that the material and performances can be at times cringe worthy, but here, everything is just... perfect.  A perfect example of this is the ballad, Lie To Me, features a duet with Kristina Talajic and it just melts your heart with its passion. 

Now for the bad!!!!! I am a week away from presenting my Top Ten albums of 2017 and with the late release of SUPERHERO, my list is all screwed up!!!! Good for State Of Salazar... bad for me.  As I listen to the album over and over (x20) I just fall in love with the brightness, clarity and very clean production.  With each pass I keep hearing elements of Kansas, Kate Bush, Shooting Star, GTR, Meat Loaf, Survivor, Chicago, Phil Collins, A-ha... this album is so good! 

Sweden has been the home for some of the best new music in recent years and State Of Salazar has found a nice spot with bands like Ghost, Manimal, Palace and Perfect Plan.  If you love your rock with a certain bit of sophistication, sweetness and 'pomp',  SUPERHERO is your album.  it's my album!!!!

Matman Rating - 5 out of 5 

Opening Act:
Extreme Working on New Album
Ace Frehley to Tour With Alice Cooper
Judas Priest Announce 2019 Tour
Accept loses founding member
New Geezer Butler forms Deadland Ritual

Ear Candy:
Black Sabbath--Heaven and Hell (1980)
Metal Church--Damned If You Do (2018)

Six Degrees of Frankie B.

Rockversation: Chris Impellitteri
Matt spoke with the founder and lead guitarist of Impellitteri about the history of the band and their new album Nature of the Beast.

Bonus Track: Fiction Syxx--Monster in the Mist
From the upcoming album THE ALTERNATE ME, which you can preorder now at melodicrock.com/artist/fiction-syxx

Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at powerchordspodcast@gmail.com.​

After that hat trick of an opening, the album is in full stride and never lets up. Kurdt Vanderhoof takes advantage of singer Mike Howe’s vocal abilities, giving him plenty of opportunities to mix both melody and raw power. My favorite song on the album is number five, “Revolution Underway” which is the perfect blend of metal, melody and emotion. It brings everything together in the best way, and it lets you know this album is not just a straight shot, but a winding road of different experiences.

​Speaking of Mike Howe, he just absolutely kills it on this album. He sits in that special category for me of vocalists like Dee Snider and Blackie Lawless. He can bring the gravel, the heft and the melody. And he does it all on this record.

Kurdt Vanderhoof brings killer riffs and great solos as usual, and I really like the sense of momentum he builds in a lot of these songs. There is a motion to them that makes each one memorable. He and  Rick Van Zandt provide a great dual attack and some wonderful flair, giving songs like “Guillotine” an almost Queen-esque epicness. Former W.A.S.P. drummer Stet Howland and bass player Steve Unger bring the thunder and create the foundation for Howe, Vanderhoof and Van Zandt to spring off of.

As I’ve talked about on the podcast many times, there is nothing I love more than veteran bands putting out some of their best music at this stage of their careers. Bands who know what they’re doing, and doing it the best they ever have. That is what we have here in Metal Church’s Damned If You Do. I feel like their legacy in metal history was already secure, but if there was ever a doubt, this album cements it.

You can hear me raving about this album on the next episode (31) of the Power Chords podcast, which will be up this weekend.

 by Matman

Last weekend legendary vocalist Brian Howe made his return to the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.  This was a thrill for me because I have never saw Brian Howe live and always considered hs voice one of the best and most recognisable of the 1980's and 90's!

For those who may not know his history, Howe hit the music scene as the vocalist for Ted Nugent on his PENETRATOR album, featuring the radio hit, Tied Up In Love.  From there he became the voice of Bad Company, recording four studio albums with the band, selling millions and having a handful of hit singles. 

...and here we are now!

Hitting the stage, Howe and his band kicked it off with his latest song, Hot Tin Roof, a rocker full of hooks and magic and got the crowd ready.  From there Howe took us through the musical history of Bad Company; the hits he recorded and the songs that made the band a household name in the 1970's.  From Ready For Love, Good Lovin' Gone Bad, Bad Company and Can't Get Enough, Howe and his band treated the songs with respect and presented them the way fans wanted...  lose and free flowing.  The set shuffled in the song's Howe recorded with the band like Holy Water, One Night and If You Needed Somebody and proved not only they are part of the same history, but Howe sings them all with heart and soul. 

In an era where our singing heroes still try to hang on, Howe's voice is still as strong as ever, despite not feeling well.  He hit all the notes he had to and made every song get you right in the heart.  As a performer Howe tells stories, jokes around with his band and the audience and has a lot of fun on stage and that is all you can ask for in your performers.  We want them to enjoy what they are doing and you could tell Howe and the guys in the band were having a good time, because the audience was as well.      

The show would not have been what it was if it wasn't for his amazing and talented band!  Guitarists Paul Warren and Christopher Turnbow traded off classic riffs and leads while commanding their sides of the stage.  Bassist Abe White was rock steady, holding it all down and giving everyone a solid foundation to play and show off. Finally, drummer Rick Brothers was a powerhouse behind the kit, laying down a solid beat, backing vocals and adding some nice fills here and there.  Despite the individual personalities and styles, the band kept the songs almost exactly as we remember them and that was very important for everyone. 
 He has found a n
Prior to the show I spent some time with Brian and wow... what a down to earth guy he is.  You'll hear the interview in a future episode of Power Chords, but let me tell you this...as nice a guy as he is talented... and he sure is talented!   

SET LIST
Hot Tin Roof
One Night
Ready For Love
Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy
Feel Like Makin' Love
Holy Water
Walk Through Fire
Movin' On
Good Lovin' Gone Bad
Can't Get Enough
If You Needed Someone
Bad Company
Hot Tin Roof - again!!!!

For more information on Brian Howe go to www.brianhowe.com

For information on shows at the Wolf Den go to                                                          mohegansun.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events.mohegansun@venue_wolf-den.html