 by Matman
In 1988 I was first introduced to Impellitteri through the amazing album, STAND IN LINE, their debut album that featured Graham Bonnet on vocals. Bonnet may have been the reason I got it, but once I heard guitarist Chris Impellitteri play.... I had a reason to stay. Impellitteri (the guitarist) was at the beginning of the shredder movement of players, guitarists who were blazing fast, sometimes fast for the sake of playing fast. But Chris, his band and his songs used the speed and velocity to help the songs, not build songs around the soloing. And now Impellitteri is back with their first new album since 2015's VENOM... called THE NATURE OF THE BEAST! As I start to write my review, having listened to this album a few times from start to end, I am struck by how much is going on in each song. Lyrically and musically each one has its own identity! Sure Impellitteri's playing is the focal point , but vocalist Rob Rock is the perfect partner, being able to match whatever comes his way. Songs like the album opener Hypocrisy, Fire It Up and Gates Of Hell come out with guns of blazing, but it is now, and never was, speed for the sake of speed. Longtime bassist James Amelio Pulli and drummer Jon Dette are amazing, having so much to keep up with and still finding spaces to add their styles and sounds, especially on Wonder World and the cover of Black Sabbath's Symptom Of The Universe. Speaking of Black Sabbath, there is so much of that heavy riffing vibe to this album as well as an almost thrash feel that I don't think I ever heard before in their music. But the album isn't all rippin' and head banging, my favorite song on the album, Man Of War has moments of Dokken and Van Halen in the verses and bridge, then gets real thumpin' in the chorus.. then a trademark guitar solo. The last song on the album, Shine On has some amazing harmony vocals sounding a bit like Stryper... and that is a good thing, especially with its positive and empowering message. THE NATURE OF THE BEAST may be driven by guitar, but that isn't the only thing there... there is so much amazing stuff going on. Chris Impellitteri has always been one of the best guitarists out there and certainly one of the best of the shredders out there, but his true talent lies in being able to make the leads and solos fit the songs. This album has also made me reevaluate Rob Rock as a vocalist, because this guy is amazing and I never really gave him the credit he deserves. If you have never heard him before, he is a cross (at least in my ears) of Kip Winger and former Black Sabbath vocalist, Tony Martin. THE NATURE OF THE BEAST is an album that offers metal fans so much, especially when you least expect it. MATMAN RATING - 4 OUT OF 5 THE NATURE OF THE BEAST will be released October 12th on Frontiers Music s.r.l.
0 Comments
 by Matman When I get a new album from a band I have never heard before, I will always give it a few listens straight through in order. After that I will look for pictures and hit YouTube for some videos to see the band and get a feel for their visual presentation. WOW!!!!!!! Hearing and seeing Manimal are two completely different experiences; the music is amazing and their image is so cool!!!!! Their latest offering, PURGATORIO (AFM Records) begins with the cinematic Black Plague, a song that is heavy, full of power and surprisingly melodic with some some amazing musical moments. I could make this review very easy by saying that about every song because it is true!!!! BUT... that wouldn't give Manimal credit for crafting nine incredibly complex music that all have their own feel and identity. If you want just straight heavy there is Spreading The Dread and Traitor that rocks as heavy as most bands out there, but vocally Samuel Nyman adds so much to the music. Nyman has a voice that soars high above the music with the power of Rob Halford or Geoff Tate, but with a quality all his own. On this album alone he has become one of my favorite singers.... he has all the skills./ Musically, drummer André Holmqvist and bassist Kenny Boufadene are a solid rhythm section that don't just drive the songs, they add so much to them. In many heavy bands, the drums and bass just give the guitarist a backdrop to solo and riff, but not these two. Listen to Denial and Edge Of Darkness and you will hear so much thumpin' and crashin' as they hold it all together. Finally we have guitarist Henrik Stenroos who is so versatile and seems to be able to play it however the song needs it! He can play the Black Sabbath riffs like on The Fear Within and the title track, but when he needs to be Michael Schenker or Wolf Hoffmann (the two influences I hear), he can do it without ease. As far as their image goes, there is a bit of a theatrical element and uniform to their pictures and videos that for me is icing on the cake. Nothing too over the top, but enough to separate them from everyone else. As a music fans who appreciates the showmanship of KISS, King Diamond and Ghost... i LOVE what Manimal is doing! PURGATORIO is an incredible album that allows you to listen from beginning to end because there is no filler... just fantastic music that really contains everything I love in my music; a heavy rhythm, amazing vocals and lightning fast leads... all within a melody. Not a lot of bands can pull all that off, but on this album they do... NINE TIMES!!!! MATMAN RATING - 5 OUT OF 5 PURGATORIO from AFM Records will be released on September 7th. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS3tQiFRnLE - video for Purgatorio www.facebook.com/manimalofficial/ - on Facebook https://www.afm-records.de/en/m/69-manimal-2.html 
Opening Act:
King’s X Making New Album New George Lynch Project Has a Name Alan Parsons Signs With Frontiers Shout out to Kansas fans Ear Candy: Greg Kihn Band: ReKihndled (2017) Ultraphonix: Original Human Music (2018) Six Degrees of Frankie B. Comin Atcha Live: Kansas at Tarrytown Music Hall in NY (8/17) Rockversation: Robert Barry Matt recently spoke with the musician and producer about 3.2 and the Greg Kihn band. You can follow Robert’s projects at http://www.robertberry.com. Bonus Track: Metal Souls by Destinia From the album of the same name, which is out now. Get it at http://radi.al/DestiniaMetalSouls. 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 About 6 months ago, Frontiers Music announced the formation of Dream Child, a band made up of some of my favorite players from some of my favorite bands! The problem with having an all-star band is the expectations and I was expecting a lot from these guys... putting a lot of pressure to deliver. Well... one listen and Dream Child lived up to my expectations... and then some!!! Dream Child is guitarist Craig Goldy (Guiffria and DIO, bassist Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, DIO and everyone else awesome), drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, UFO and DIO), guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay (Michael Schenker Group) and vocalist Diego Valdez (Helker). Drawing influence from their previous bands, Dream Child is heavy, melodic and a throwback to a time when music was a full sensory experience, not just listened to. Musically the album is full of amazing riffs, thumping bass, dancing keyboards and crashing drums that hearken back to classic Deep Purple, Rainbow and Whitesnake with some moments of Black Sabbath and UFO thrown in for good measure! Goldy has always been one of my favorite players because he can play it heavy but also incredibly emotional when the song needs it. Vocally is where UNTIL DEATH DO WE MEET AGAIN really takes on a whole new level of excitement. Argentinian vocalist Diego Valdez is amazing... and sounds very much like Ronnie James Dio... a crap ton like Dio, but he also has a lot of originality and depth in his tones. Add to the fact that everyone in the band played in DIO, you kinda get a feel for where the album gets its feel. Album opener, Under The Wire is classic DIO with an incredible build up and fast energy. My favorite song on the album You Can't Take Me Down, Playing With Fire and Game Of Shadows are pure HEAVEN AND HELL/MOB RULES era Sabbath that just rock. For old school Rainbow fans, It Is What It Is sounds like something recorded during the RISING sessions with a hint of Michael Schenker in the solo. The rest of the album is just as solid and is nicely unified and quite balanced. As someone who doesn't just 'listen' to music I am so pleased by this albums overall feel. The production by Goldy and Alessandro Del Vecchio brings out the best in the members and the songs and just has so much open space, never feeling limited, Among the traditional and expected influences there are some progressive King Crimson moments that just make me love the album that much more. The album also has a few 'creepy' moments that give it some theatrics for good measure. UNTIL DEATH DO WE MEET AGAIN is the album we fans of real music and classic rock have been waiting for!!! It's one thing to pay homage to a particular era and style, but it is another to pull it off and Dream Child have not only pulled it off... they have made it fun and exciting again. MATMAN RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 UNTIL DEATH DO WE MEET AGAIN will be released on september 14th on Frontiers Music S.R.L. https://www.facebook.com/DreamChildRock/
 by Matman As I sat in my seat at the Tarrytown Music Hall in New York I was struck by the beauty, elegance and history this venue has. As the hall filled in and the house lights went down I realized the adjectives I used to describe the hall can also describe Kansas... beautiful music, elegance on stage and a history that we were all going to enjoy and revisit together. Billed as the RADIO CLASSICS AND FAN FAVORITES tour, Kansas were stepping away from the full album celebrations like last year's LEFTOVERTURE and upcoming POINT OF KNOW RETURN tours to make it simple... play the hits and only the hits... with some suprises!!!! In my interview with guitarist Zak Rizvi (available now on this site or ITunes), I told him how the last time I saw the band I didn't get to hear my 3 favorite Kansas songs; All I Wanted, Play The Game Tonight and Fire With Fire to which he replied... "come see us on the current tour because you will get all three." Zak didn't lie!!!! On stage Kansas play as one and are the tightest band I have ever seen live. Considering their songs like Carry On Wayward Son, Dust In The Wind and Hold On are so ingrained in our music brains, any change in style, tempo or presentation may have a negative effect, but they play it close to the originals. This is not saying they are cookie cutter in any way because that isn't the case at all. I see many bands go through the motions when they perform... and Kansas isn't one of them. In the three times I've seen them live, each show is better than the last one and that isn't an easy thing to do, because they have set their own bar so high. The lights, the music and the personalities in the band all add to the magic that is Kansas. Kansas treat the stage as sacred, the audience as family and the time together as very precious. As I mentioned above the set list is a run through their history; all songs that are favorites of their fans from their debut album KANSAS (that featured drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams), 1986's POWER (bassist Billy Greer's first with the band) right up to 2016's THE PRELUDE IMPLICIT that introduced vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist Dave Manion and guitarist Zak Rizvi to the legacy that is Kansas. Helping to bridge it all together was violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale who since 1991 has been providing the most recognizable and unique element to the bands music. There is something about Kansas and their music that keeps people coming back. My three times seeing the band is laughable compared to other 'Wheatheads' who have seen the band over 100 times. In the audience were a lot of teens who were drawn to the band by their cool parents or the show SUPERNATURAL. What impressed me about these kids (and gave me hope for the future) is that not only were they singing along to Carry On, they were also singing word for word What's On My Mind and The Wall. That is good parenting, folks! As the show began to wind down I found myself thinking how I couldn't wait to see them again in Worcester, MA in November. If you scroll down on this site you will find two other reviews of Kansas shows I wrote and you may find a similar tone... because I'm struggling to find another way to say that Kansas is the best band I have ever seen live, and this show was the best of all of them. Do yourself a favor, check the website for a show near you... and go!!!! You will thank me later, I promise. http://kansasband.com/tour-dates.php
Opening Act:
Jill Janus dead at 43 New Suicidal Tendencies album and tour drop September 7th Stryper’s Oz Fox Suffers Seizure Is AC/DC working on a new album? Ace Frehley’s new album details Glen Hughes tour Ear Candy: Badlands (1989) Primal Fear: Apocalypse (2018) Six Degrees of Frankie B. Top of the Pops: Top 30 Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs--August 19, 1989 Rockversation: Zak Rizvi Matt recently spoke with the musician and producer about joining Kansas and his work on The Prelude Implicit. You can follow Zak’s projects at www.facebook.com/Zak-Rizvi-Music. Bonus Track: Primal Fear--King of Madness 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. PRESS RELEASE After more than 40 years in the business and with a renowned breakthrough in the early 80’s with ACCEPT behind him, as well as several million records sold worldwide, Udo Dirkschneider from Solingen/Wuppertal, Germany, is one of the biggest rock legends in the business. U.D.O. has enjoyed well over two decades in the spotlight. Regardless of changes in the metal scene or the U.D.O line-up,the band has never deviated from Dirkschneider’s vision of serving up traditional balls-to-the-wall, no-nonsense heavy metal. After honoring the classic ACCEPT songs live with his other project DIRKSCHNEIDER in the last couple of years, it’s definitely about time to release a new U.D.O. studio album. Steelfactory will be out on August 31st 2018 via AFM Records / Soulfood Music. The songs on Steelfactory are clearly influenced by the past DIRKSCHNEIDER shows - the simple straightness of the anthem-like songs make it a timeless record. With its earthy handmade sound – with the help of danish producer Jacob Hansen (e.g. Volbeat) - Steelfactory catches the spirit of the age perfectly. The album title is a hommage to both Udo’s nickname (German Metal Tank) and his down to earth attitude as well as his powerful stage presence. The current (core) band line up is working and playing together successfully for many years, like a good family business: Udo,Udo’s son Sven Dirkschneider (drums), bass player Fitty Wienhold and guitarist Andrey Smirnov. Watch the video for ONE HEART ONE SOUL by clicking here Band Line-Up: Udo Dirkschneider (Vocals) Andrey Smirnov (Guitars) Fitty Wienhold (Bass) Sven Dirkschneider (Drums) www.udo-online.com www.facebook.com/udoonline/
Opening Act:
New Armored Saint album could arrive in 2019 Red Dragon Cartel drops new album in november Nordic Union releasing their second album Dio auction Overlord trailer (https://youtu.be/USPd0vX2sdc) Ear Candy: Saxon--Crusader (1984) Graham-Bonnet Band--Meanwhile...Back at the Garage (2018) Six Degrees of Frankie B. Rockversation: Graham Bonnet--Part 1 Matt speaks to the legendary singer about his 50+ year singing career. The new Graham Bonnet Band album “Meanwhile, Back in the Garage” is out now! Follow band news at www.grahambonnetband.com. Comin’ Atcha Live: Armored Saint and Act of Defiance 7/14 @ Brighton Music Hall in Boston, Ma Bonus Track: Mr. Big “Undertow” from the new “Live in Milan” album, 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 Brian LeTendre
Wow. What a night. When Armored Saint announced a summer tour where they would play 1991's Symbol of Salvation in its entirety, I was already in. Then I found out that Act of Defiance was the supporting act, and it became one of my most anticipated shows in a long time. Expectations were high, and both bands exceeded them by a mile. I saw Armored Saint a couple years ago on the Win Hands Down tour, and they were fantastic, so I knew we'd be in for a great show from them. As far as Act of Defiance, I had been wanting to see them since former Megadeth members Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover formed the band in 2014. I've loved the two albums Act of Defiance has put out so far, and couldn't wait to see them live. This was my first time seeing a show at the Brighton Music Hall in Boston, and it instantly became one my favorite venues. The place is tiny, but has great acoustics, and that's a great combination. I got a chance to meet Chris Broderick outside before the show, and he was super nice, which pretty much made the night a success before we even got inside. Little did I know it would get much, much better. Act of Defiance came out and played a great set that featured a great mix of songs from both albums, including M.I.A, The Birth and the Burial, Rise of Rebellion, Reborn and more. Seeing Chris Broderick's guitar wizardry up close was a mind-blowing experience. He is one of the all-time greats. Bassist Matt Bachand and drummer Shawn Drover provided a brutal foundation for Broderick's fretboard gymnastics, and singer Henry Derek brought a ton of energy that the crowd gave back twofold. It was a great set, and solidified Act of Defiance as one of my favorite bands of the last several years. Matt and I ended up chatting with Bassist Matt Bachand at the merch table after the set, and since he's a Massachuetts guy, we reminisced about hanging out at our local music shop Music Outlet,a s well as some of the local places we all used to catch shows when we were kids. We also got to meet Shawn Drover, and caught back up with Chris Broderick again, which was great. And them Armored Saint came out and put on one of the best shows I've ever seen. First, they warmed up the crowd with March of the Saint, Long Before I Die and Chemical Euphoria. And then they launched into Symbol of Salvation in its entirety and it was perfect. John Bush provided some insight about different songs as they went, and the crowd ate up every word. The place as packed with Armored Saint fans, and the crowd sang along to every song. The energy was just huge. As if hearing that landmark album from front to back wasn't enough, Armored Saint played four more songs before they wrapped their set, including Can You Deliver and Win Hands Down. It was amazing. If this tour is coming anywhere near you this summer, GO SEE IT. Armored Saint is a legendary band, and this a legendary show. And Act of Defiance is a sight to behold evil as well.  by Matman With my ears still ringing so much I can't do anything but write a review of the show I just left a few hours ago, Armored Saint performing their classic album SYMBOL OF SALVATION in it's entirety. I will admit I am late to the Saint party, picking up my first A.S. album in 2015, the brilliant WIN HANDS DOWN! Following that I took a crash course in their entire catalog and thought "why wasn't I into these guys in the 80's - 90's ?" Without beating around the bush (a little pun intended), Armored Saint absolutely delivered on the stages at the Brighton Music Hall just a bit outside of Boston, MA. Musically they just brought it, song after song and electrified the audience who singer John Bush had in his hands from opener to closer. The set was made up of the full SYMBOL OF SALVATION album, played in it's running order, too which created a nice balance in their attack. The set sandwiched this with classic and beloved material from their entire past including March Of The Saint, Can U Deliver and Win Hands Down. The band played a total of 20 songs that also featured the expected and crowd favorites, the emotional Last Train Home and the cruncher Reign Of Fire. On stage the band; John Bush (vocals), Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval (guitars), Joey Vera (bass) and Gonzo Sandoval (drums) are as tight and heavy as most bands out there! They attack without being just heavy and loud, they play with heart and soul without changing things all up and despite the over serious image I thought they have, they have fun on stage and let the crowd have fun, too. Bush took the time between songs to tell some amazing and some very emotional stories about the songs, the process, past tours and the sad loss of original guitarist, Dave Prichard to leukemia in 1990. The venue, Brighton Music Hall in Boston is a small and incredibly intimate venue with a crystal clear sound system, perfect acoustics and built for a band like Armored Saint. The audience was made up of folks like us who just wanted to listen and see some live music at its best, chat with others about the music we all love and just share a collective experience. Mission accomplished!!! Following the show all Brian LeTendre and I could talk about was how, as a live band, Armored Saint may be one of the best bands we have seen live. I'm sure we weren't the only ones saying it. Sorry boys I was so late to the party!!!!! SET LIST
|
Powered by
