Opening Act:
Krokus Retiring in their 45th Year Sammy Hagar reveals final album title Saxon celebrating 40 years in 2019 Warrant Oct 18th at the Wolf Den House of Lords upcoming dates Ear Candy: Warrant--Louder, Harder Faster (2017) Dream Child--Until Death Do We Meet Again (2018) Six Degrees of Frankie B. Comin Atcha Live: Helloween at the Worcester Palladium 9/14 Rockversation: Craig Goldy (Part 1) Matt spoke with the Giuffria and Dio guitarist about his career in music as well as his new project, Dream Child. Keep up with Craig at www.facebook.com/craig.goldy, and with Dream Child at www.facebook.com/DreamChildRock. Bonus Track: Uriah Heep--Knocking at My Door From the new album Living the Dream, 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 [email protected].
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 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.
 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  |
