Opening Act: 
Slayer announces final tour
Saxon Release New Song Dedicated to Motorhead (album out 2/2)
Megadeth planning 35th Anniversary celebration
Former Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland passes
Michael Schenker Fest

Ear Candy: 
The J. Geils Band--Freeze Frame (1981)
Asia--Asia (1982)

Six Degrees of Frankie B

Comin Atcha Live:
Graham Bonnet Band

Rockversation: Moriah Formica
Matt recently chatted with the 16-year old phenom about competing on The Voice and playing with Michael Sweet. Moriah also lets us play her single “Slave.” Keep up with Moriah on Twitter at twitter.com/@moriahformica. You can also see Moriah’s blind audition (Heart’s “Crazy on You”) from The Voice here: https://youtu.be/mxOySQFatSw. 

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 hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at [email protected].

by Matman

Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde has a well deserved reputation for being extreme in everything!  During his time as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist, Wylde became a guitar hero with a difference.  With his trademark bullseye Gibson, he could play as fast as anyone, but could also create some incredibly heavy, dark riffs.  As the guiding force behind Black Label Society you always know what you are gonna get... music to pillage a village too.  But on their latest, GRIMMEST HITS, the music is less aggressive and more melodic with a whole lotta doom put in.

​From the first track, Trampled Down Below to the last acoustic notes of Nothing Left To Say, this album will shock everyone who listens to it.  depending how you go into it, this could be a great shock (like it is for me) or a bad shock, because you were expecting something different. I have already read and heard the shock as people expected SHOOT TO HELL or SONIC BREW, but if you give this one a listen with an open mind, you will love this album.

The first thing you should hear is the bands obvious Black Sabbath influences.  Zakk sounds just like Ozzy especially in the multi layered vocals of Seasons Of Falter.  Musically, A Love Unreal has the Sabbath trademark tempo change and heavy riffing by Wylde and new guitarist Dario Lorina.  The drums by Jeff Fabb contain the spirits of Bill Ward and John Bonham and add another level to the music.  Bassist John DeServio is rock solid, keeping it all together and giving the music a path to follow. 

Not just heavy, GRIMMEST HITS has some slower songs like The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away that wears its Lynyrd Skynyrd influence proudly.  Others like the fantastic Nothing Left To Say and The Only Word are just beautiful and some of the best work ever recorded by BLS. 

You could say this album is mature or a drastic change of direction, but I say it is an album by a band looking to have fun and make music, nothing else.  I know longtime fans are going to struggle with this one and maybe only be able to relate to a few songs on the album, but look at it as VOL. 4 or SABOTAGE from Black Sabbath. Both those albums were a heavy band trying to expand their sound and grow as musicians.  Give BLS a chance to do the same!!
​
MATMAN RATING - 4.5 out of 5 sweet tones!    

by Matman

Those who know me understand what a huge Michael Schenker fan I am.  Since the first time I heard him play I became obsessed with his style; heavy and fluid with a ton of passion and melody.  As someone who follows vocalists, I have a love for everyone of the guys who were part of the Michael Schenker Group lineups over the years. As singers have come and go i was always sad with the fact that I never got to see them live, and thought I never would. 

Until NOW!!!!  Welcome to Michael Schenker Fest! 

Hitting the United States for a one month run is Michael Schenker Fest, a celebration of the man and his music.  Surrounding himself with many of the talented musicians who were part of his career, fans will be treated to a true event!  In a cynical time when bands tour with lesser musicians to present their music, this is the polar opposite of this.  Joining Schenker on stage will be the first three singers who defined Schenkers post UFO career;  Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley.  How many bands have ever done this or would do this?  If that wasn't enough... add the talented Doogie White who has been the vocalist for Schenker's Temple Of Rock!  On this tour you will be getting the guys who sang the songs!!!!

Joining Michael Schenker will be...
Chris Glen - bass (played on the first 4 MSG studio albums and 2 live ones)
Ted McKenna - drums (played on 2 MSG studio, 1 live album) 
Steve Mann - guitar/keyboards (played on one of the best MSG albums, SAVE YOURSELF)     

PLUS
Gary Barden - the first vocalist for MSG, sang on 3 studio albums and 2 live ones
Graham Bonnet - sang on my first purchased MSG album, the brilliant ASSAULT ATTACK!!!
Robin McAuley - recorded three studio and two live acoustic discs and brought out the best in Schenker!
Doogie White - the current man and the voice of Temple Of Rock!

This is a show I have been waiting for my entire life!!!  I have never seen Schenker live and have never owned a MSG shirt, but on March 9th this will all be taken care of when I will be there at the Berkley Center in Boston!  And i have never been more excited about a show in my life!

For information about the tour and ticket information, please go to www.michaelschenkerhimself.com 

And if that wasn't enough... March 2nd will see the release of RESURRECTION, from Michael Schenker Fest on March 2nd on Nuclear Blast Records. 

And if that wasn't enough ENOUGH... listen for my interview I did with the amazing Robin McAuley.  Here we discuss his time in MSG, the upcoming album and some amazing stories... like being one of 12 people in a pub watching a very early Thin Lizzy.  

watch the new song, Warrior. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2VtSdZHKbE

 Matman

I never thought I would ever get a chance to see the legendary Graham Bonnet live!  What I saw last night was not just a dream come true, but one of the best live experiences I have ever had.  Considering the amount of concerts I attend, you know this show must have been AMAZING!

With a legacy like the one Bonnet has there was fear that the voice wouldn't be what I remembered, but a few lines into the Alcatrazz classic, Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live, it was apparent 'the voice' was not only there... but maybe better than it ever was.  Bonnet has always had a powerful and very BIG voice with lot of range and when he hit the very high second verse of Impellitteri's Stand In Line, it was still there!!! I think I teared up a bit, no lie.  And it's not just the voice, Bonnet on stage is funny, very charming and has a story for everything. some less embarrassing than others.

As solid as Graham was, it was the band that really made this a true event. Joining Bonnet was bassist Beth-Ami Heavenstone who not only provided a solid foundation for everyone to shine, she added some great textures to the backing vocals. Former Alcatrazz partner Jimmy Waldo was a wizard on the keyboards and really added color to the songs, especially on Islands In The Sun and Desert Song. Behind it all, keeping the beat was drummer Mark Benquechea who was every bit the showman as his frontman, playing hard and keeping the spirit of Cozy Powell alive.  But, it was guitarist Joey Tafolla who had the hardest job... and delivered the goods every time. Having to play songs made famous by Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Chris Impelliterri is a tough task, but Joey did a fantastic job

How about the songs?  There was every song from every project Bonnet was involved with that I thought I never would hear live; Michael Schenker Group's Desert Song, Samurai and Assault Attack.  Alcatrazz was well represented with six songs including my favorite, God Blessed Video.  There were the classics from Rainbow's DOWN TO EARTH album; Since You Been Gone, All Night Long, Lost In Hollywood and Eyes Of The World, the songs Bonnet was probably best known for. What I thought was so impressive is the newer songs played, Into The Night and California Air fit perfectly into this set list of some of rock's greatest songs. We also got forgotten gems, S.O.S and Night Games from his underrated solo debut, 1981's LINE UP.

The venue, Daryl's House (yes, THAT Daryl's House) could be my new favorite place to see a show.  A classic look, great sound system and overall 'feel good vibe' made this the right venue for this show.  Granted, Pawling, New York is a two hour drive for me, but I will be back... be warned!

The night ended with some very time spent with the band.  Here I found out a great many things; Beth-Ami HATES the Pittsburgh Penguins, Joey played in a UFO cover band, Jimmy and I have the same birthday, Mark loves UFO (and wants a book) and Graham is as cool a guy offstage as he is on.

Thank you guys, and lady for an incredible night of music, memories and fun!      

by Matman

One of music's best kept 'known' secrets is Kings X!  Since 1988 King's X has been releasing some of the most mind blowing music around. Categorising their music is near impossible... much like the latest solo effort from the bands guitarist /vocalist, Ty Tabor.

ALIEN BEANS is a double disc; the first featuring new material and the second one featuring remixes of songs from previous solo albums.  The overall flavor is ... well... all over the place, but in a good way.  The title track finds Tabor playing the role of guitar hero and leads into the bluesy Freight Train.  The next song, Johnny Guitar sounds like classic King's X and So Here's To You (my favorite song on the album) is a slow and very psychedelic song with dancing lyrics and very heady vocals.  Back It Down is a heavy riffy track that has some incredible playing and a very driving beat with some guitar hero playing. 

That is the first five songs that are all different!!! Different styles, sounds, textures and delivery.  The rest of the firsat side follows the same eclectic tone with heavy songs as well as melodic ones, but all have the same rich voice of Tabor and some very powerful guitar playing, like the solo in Heavily Twisted.

The second disc is a run through the solo history of Tabor with songs that have been remixed and remastered.  Since I have never listened to any of his previous solo efforts these songs are all brand new to me and create a great listening experience. 

Named after his recording studio, ALIEN BEANS is fun to listen to and takes nothing but an open mind to enjoy the experience, no matter your taste in music.

MATMAN RATING - 4 OUT OF 5 broken TV's


​http://www.tytabor.com/

https://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/

by Matman

I have always been a fan of Rick Springfield, even when I shouldn't have been!  As a five year old I first heard 'Talk To The Sky' and fell for the charm of the song and the tone of the voice.  In 1978 Springfield played Zac, the first casualty in the Cylon's treacherous sneak attack on my all time favorite show, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!  In the early 1980's when my music taste was bit heavier, I loved the melodies, the voice and the overall presentation of songs like 'What Kind Of Fool Am I?' and the ultra cool, 'Honeymoon In Beirut'. I was also fortunate enough to catch Rick Springfield in concert and found him to be the consummate showman, filling a setlist of hits, great stories and fantastic memories. 

So here we are 2017 and in three weeks (January 26th) Springfield will release his latest album, THE SNAKE KING on Frontiers Music SRL  Let me start off by telling you, this is not 'Jessie's Girl' Rick Springfield, this is a musician that is embracing his influences, his roots and challenging himself as an artist.  I don't know how anyone else will feel about this album, but after one listen, thank you!

The album kicks off with 'In The Land Of The Blind', a song that has an amazing Bob Dylan/George Harrison feel to it; featuring expressive lyrics and a driving beat with some great playing that makes you just feel good all over.  The feel and theme of THE SNAKE KING is very blues based, some of it very 'old school' like 'The Devil You Know' and 'God Don't Care' and others like 'Judas Tree and 'Little Demon' that have that modern feel very much like Joe Bonamassa with a touch of John Mellencamp.  THE SNAKE KING will not have a lot of boy/girl relationship songs, those here have been replaced with songs about soul searching and knowing there is something bigger out there. 

My favorite song on the album is the last track, the 10 minute epic, 'Orpheus In The Underworld'.  The song is a adventurous tale in the tradition of the music my dad introduced me to all those years ago, deep thinking music from the likes of The Band and Arlo Guthrie and of course Mr. Dylan.

Rick Springfield is taking a risk with this album.  His name and reputation doesn't lend itself to anything other than melodic pop songs, and that isn't a bad thing for the listeners.. For  the artist, it can be stifling, controlling and very restricting to the creative process.  I admit that I don't like my favorite artists veering too far off their tried and true path, but I also don't want my favorite artist making anything other than the music they want to make.  THE SNAKE KING is the album that Rick Springfield wanted to make and I hope his fanbase will accept this and I want those who know him only from the  hit singles and thin tie image will give this album a chance. 

MATMAN RATING - 4 OUT OF 5


THE SNAKE KING
Full Track Listing

​In The Land Of The Blind
The Devil That You Know
Little Demon
Judas Tree
Jesus Was An Atheist
The Snake King
God Don’t Care
The Voodoo House
Suicide Manifesto
Blues For The Disillusioned
Santa Is An Anagram
Orpheus In The Underworld
​    
• Official Website: http://rickspringfield.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickspringfield
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickspringfield
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickspringfield/

Opening Act:
Europe Wearing influences on Their Sleeves
Stryper’s new album is heavy
Knighted musicians
Gibson Guitars suing Funko
Ace Frehley plays the Winter Classic
Upcoming albums in 2018

Ear Candy:
Frank Zappa--Joe’s Garage: Act 1 (1979)
Sister Sin--True Sound of the Underground (2010)

Top of the Pops:
Top tracks and albums for the week of January 16, 1982

Homework:
The J. Geils Band--Freeze Frame (1981)
Asia--Asia (1982)

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 [email protected].