Category: All Exclusive

NOW!Great…

In the debut EP  Scotty Dunbar’a, “In A Mellow Mood”, as special guests included the following musicians: Michael Sweet of STRYPER (solo in “Memories Never Fade”), Louis St. August of MASS (duet “Pillar Of Strength”), AMJ (duet “Tears In The City” and “Something So Wrong”), Jeremy Heussi of MASS and FORTUNE (all the piano, keyboards and orchestrations), Jonathan Roketenetz (acoustic guitar ). Exit EP took on the label Down Boys Records, owned by Jerry Dixon and Erik Turner from WARRANT.

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Growing up in and around the West Coast music scene in the 80s and 90s, it’s in my blood to think that the second wave of heavy rock bands naturally comes from the Left Coast. Bands like Van Halen, Megadeth, and, of course, Metallica. Then I heard New-York-based Urbansnake. Until Urbansnake, there was nobody out there, that I had come across, that could throw down a challenge to cornerstone bands like these and walk away intact.

Urbansnake is honest, in your face, balls to the wall, no bullshit rock. The first time I played “Postal” on Sirius Satellite and my companion online show, UC Radio, listener reaction was overwhelming. I had to give in and admit that there was a challenger to the West Coast Metal sound, and that this beast from the East was not only doing it right, but that they were doing it right on every song.

NOW!Day of Color…

Enemynside is an Italian band that now releases their fourth album and generally they were categorized in thrash metal. I think they play more of a metal rock version with somewhat raw vocals and just good songs with some unexpected twists and turns. In ‘Snot’ for example they suddenly use keyboards and that gives the song a more contemporary feel. Unfortunately sometimes they try too hard to find a melody, especially the vocal melodies are a bit difficult. Musically however it is all great and the songs have all been written well. ’Rise Up’ is a nice song with a different rhythmic feel and a fitting vocal melody. And ‘Too Many Times’ has a guest appearance by guitarist Richie Kotzen. Certainly a band that deserves a chance.

NOW!Hammer and Balls…

This is the band’s third album and the first full album with Steve ‘The Banshee’ Bell on vocals. This album has been produced by the band and mixed by their own Steve Beville (guitars). The quality of the album really is a credit to the band, if you didn’t know they had done all the work themselves you wouldn’t guess by listening to it. I have heard albums by long established, ‘big’, bands that don’t sound this good. The band sound tight and the mixing is great. You can definitely hear the band’s influences but without trying to just copy their style. This album is a well worth getting hold of for any metal fan.

Now!Hot Heart Cold …

Regular listeners of 3FM and related stations have through the pleading Dance With Me already acquainted with the unmistakable qualities of Kill Ferelli (consisting of members of the Limburg bands Dreadlock Pussy, Liftid, Viberider and SAT2D), which also have an EP on his name.

A Modern Scenery brings us with any short crackling (of inpluggende instruments?) First in the energetic Devil Zone, but offers with songs like NYC, July and slightly leaning to Lacuna Coil The Messenger also many lyrical moments.

Characteristic of this band are passionate and captivating vocals of front lady Kelly Kockelkoren and compact, appealing directly to the construction of numerous exuberant choruses interspersed songs. Everything, to the occasional guitar solos in Mr.. Niceguy and Blush is as concise as effectively.

NOW!Bloddy…

Blessed are those who know to stay true to the artistic traditions and still manage to create something fresh and powerful. In the field of heavy metal music these kind of artists became scarce over the years, for there were too many new bands emerging from a well of spirit that seems way too small to have enough of anything that would inspire too many minds. But every now and then there is one act doing the same old style but with a different and new song and I can tell you, WOLFSHADE is such a band. They draw their inspirations from the days before the metal, when even the heavier groups were still classified as “ROCK” and when there were a few aspects on which the musicians put an emphasize, such as high level playing skills, a charismatic voice with a strong expression and compositions that were memorable but still solid, with exciting structures. Some of you will remember those days fairly well, others may not but many, young and old, still worship the spirit of the ancient times. Among them the Italian heavy metal / hard rock group WOLFSHADE. They give each of their compositions a different approach while still maintaining their very own direction.

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‘A Broken State of Bliss’, the debut release from London rockers, The Mercy House very nearly didn`t happen as health issues almost derailed the band before they`d even got off the ground. Fortunately such obstacles were overcome with plenty of grit and determination and the end result is well worth the wait.

NOW!Dark love…

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dark Horizon, Underground Symphony publishes the reissue of the symphonic power masterpiece “Dark Light Shades”, released in 2004 and now sold out. The album was re-recorded, re-mixed and re- mastered by Daniele Mandelli and the band at Elfo Studio in 2012, and the new artwork has been realized by the famous French artist Alexandra V Back (Kamelot, Adagio, Operatika). Symphonic and orchestral shades, perfect mixture of melodic and power metal, epic and theatrical suggestions, culminating in “Hannibal The Carthaginian Trilogy”, divided into 3 acts. This deluxe edition, in double – cd, contains live album “Dark Live Shades”, recorded during second Dark Horizon’s German tour in 2007, at the important Headbangers Night. “Dark Light Shades” presents a bonus track (Stratovarius Cover “Hunting High And Low”), while “Dark Live Shades” has two tracks from “Son Of Gods”, first historical album of the band recorded in 2001. “Dark Light Shades – Deluxe Edition” is printed in elegant double digipack and it is an opportunity to rediscover a new version of a must-have for fans of melodic and symphonic power metal, Kamelot, Rhapsody and Masterplan.

NOW!Through the mirror…

As its brooding and ever so slightly clichéd title suggests, ‘Suffering And Passion’ contains all the essential ingredients for eyeliner-flecked, goth metal perfection. Having sparked glowing comparisons with genre titans Within Temptation and Tarja, these fledgling metallers are already causing quite a stir across the continent.

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On the new release TIME ON MY HANDS, long-time Steely Dan guitarist JON HERINGTON steps forward to showcase his brilliant soloing chops like never before… Time On My Hands, the long awaited release by Jon Herington, reflects the bluesy, driving rock that had its gestation in the club scene. Time on My Hands songs The undeniable chemistry of The Jon Herington Band has been built upon a lifetime of collaboration with bandmates Dennis Espantman (bass, vocals) and Frank Pagano (drums, vocals), and is clearly evident in this collection of ten original songs.