The night of the blade

I bet these ones are almost unknown for you. Their name is Tokyo Blade, and i classify them into the samurais ... sorry, nwobhm :-D.

They are interesting, thanks again to internet, or i would not have known them

Heard one song from them: dead of the night, and i become interested in. Intense ballad, full of cries and heavy guitars
heard the warrior of the rising sun, and love them. great and intense melody. Had to get that record, so went on ebay, watch ... watch ... watch ... and finally caught it! 8 songs plus 8 bonus.

Heavy metal from the 80s, when heavy metal was bourning (born & burning), pure and raw, shouts & cries straight from the heart, and good damn melodies! Why did they fail? Did they fail? Well, if they wanted to be famous, maybe yes, if they wanted to make good music and satisfy themseleves, for sure that they did not!!

By the way, it is not easy to find this one. however there is a version a bit less known in which is named the night of the blade before, in which it is featuring the same songs but with the last singer, Alan Marsh, instead the new ones with Vic Wright.

8/10 indispensable if into nwobhm.

Baptizm of fire

Great title. Great cover. What about the music. Well it is Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest. It can not be very bad ;-)
True, it is a good record, but it has its shinning moments.
For me the bests are:
Paint it black, the cover from RS is really really great. Baptizm of fire is an instrumental really good, and you can see who is contributing: Billy Sheehan, Don Airey and Cozy Powell.
Let's go for a real fast: Kill or be killed is the one. With a half demoniac voice it puts a spell on you to fight.
Himalaya is the japanese bonus. This is unfair. It is a magnificient song trying to evoque the gigantic mountains and their feeling. Truly incredible. Why should be bonus?

Hard core, enter the storm, fuel me up ... good songs but nothing special ... for me.

7/10 nice to have

The number of the Beast

If youre feeling down depressed and lonely
I know a place where we can go
22 acacia avenue
meet a lady that I know
So if youre looking for a good time
And youre prepared to pay the price
15 quid is all she asks for
Everybodys got their vice

These verses seduced me since i found them exciting, with the powerful rythm: 22 Accacia Avenue.

Another song for history, hard to believe this was concoted from a 14-years old boy ... what was he thinking of ? ;-)
Hallowed by thy name, probably the best song of the whole record, and mandatory in any concert... Am i wrong?

The number of the beast, run to the hills, are good songs, the rest i really find them a bit weak, so my punctuation will bring Maiden die-hard not to love me very much indeed. Sorry, i have to be honest, and thought i think Maiden is a great group, and has terrible powerful songs, i am not deeply into them. However i appreciate them, and i bought this one.

I have the enhanced version with grey colour instead of the blue one. this is how the band liked it. Why the hell discog. could not respect it?

Yes, and at last i embraced Maiden. It is not still my favourite music, but i do recognise lots of good songs: the trooper, fear of the dark, kill me ce soir, hallowed by thy name, strange world, iron maiden, dance of death...

8/10 deserves a place in your discography. Classic (despite not being into maiden)

re-thought ...

9/10 great to have. Classic status.

Destiny

Stratovarius. I wouldn't say that is speed metal, but neither heavy metal, maybe something in between. It rocks! Great songs, melodic hooks, great arrangements.
Destiny, an epic song nearly 9 minutes, which gives title to the album. goood! now we are talking.
2 great ballads: venus in the morning and years go by. Power ballads, of course.
Anthem of the world is a great song too, but this one, to rock, strong and heavy.
Playing with fire is another favourite from mine, though this one is speed full ahead.

Great songs, great cover, but neither a classic or indispensable, but records like this remind you why do you like heavy metal, and why you can't stand most of prefabricated radio ballads.

7/10 nice to have

Paul Stanley

Once i loved Kiss, i wanted to buy this one. The solo albums, dedicated to each other were a really brilliant idea. So the first one i got was Paul's. and i wasn't wrong. It was exactly what i could expect from Kiss main frontman

Tonight you belong to me, take me away became instant favorites after the first listening.
Hold me touch me was the sentimental ballad touch, that i loved too. I like ballads. And love the good ones. I mean it may be easy to make a slow song, but to really touch your feelings, that is another thing and very different. This one is a precious one, leaded with orchestration. Really nice.

The rest of the songs, and not a filler! are rock songs (maybe with the exception of mid-tempo ain't quite right): move on, funny lyrics again, wouldnt you like to know me, it's alright, love in chains, goodbye.

For me it is a great record, with the always complain of not having the lyrics.

10/10 brilliant

Beyond the Thunder

I do not agree with Jonathan Cain that this record is a solo from Neal Schon. I surely know that Neal is able to compose really nice melodies, but Journey began to write amazing songs with the trio Steve-Jonathan-Neal. So any team from these 3 people deserves my attention at least. For me it is clearly a project Cain-Schon.

Instrumental from 95, i used to use it as a wake up record, i should have heard big moon hundreds of times ...
Big moon as boulevard of dreams are the main pearls of the record. They are absolutely fantastic.
Send me an angel, zanzibar, deep forest ... all nice songs, to relax
the record is delivered by higher octave, so it is kind of 'new age' ... Well i do not mind it is classified this way, the music talks, and you can't get enough to enjoy in a peaceful status..

Nice package too.

10/10 really fantastic

Treasure Chest

Greatest hits from Helloween, or a nice 2cd compilation. I was after 3cd special edition ... :-( but even i caught it in ebay, the description of the item was wrong, and i only got the 2cd. The seller was honest enough and offered me a 50% refund, and that was the deal, so i was not entirely happy, but for 8$ i got a new and sealed compilation that i wanted ... Not bad, i guess. These are the deals in ebay, you can get what you did not expect, and then it is up to seller's honesty, to take responsibility of what they were offering... And this one was a nice one.

The songs: you know Keepers I & II: A tale that wasn't right, i want out, halloween, keeper of the seven keys, dr.stein, a little time, eagle fly free, future world (which was the most successful song from last year's concert), and also: perfect gentleman, power, mr. torture, ride the sky ...

The 3cd that i did not get, had more b-sides and rarities, but you know all that is worth for a collector ;-)

I will not comment the songs but just one word. If you like HM and you do not have the Keepers, go and listen to them, you will remember my 'words of wisdom' ;-)

9/10 nice to have. Quite good compilation, quite complete.

Borrowed Time

2nd record from the trilogy from Diamond Head. only 5 new songs... :-(
Am i evil? and Lightning to the nations, again since they were already in their debut record... why? i would never understand it...
anyway 5 new songs:
Borrowed time, In the heat of the night ... I would said metallic roccoco style ... The final solo of in the end of heat of the night is truly memorable... And i saw it live!!! -last year, supporting Megadeth-
Call me, love song, that was the flirting with radio commercial songs ... Who cares! Pretty good. DH signature. Enough said
To heaven from hell, suggestive title ... More into nwobhm rythm than melody, great song anyway.
Don't you ever leave me ... this song i liked most the first time i heard it, it is a lament-like song, it is very good, but probably has become less favorite ... Damned good anyway.

The lyrics seem to get you into a 'lord of the rings'/sci-fi/magic world, ... I would like to have them commented by the authors...

But love deceived me, and in my despair
I recalled the ring once again
Born of Sorrow my cunning revives me,
And I took them with me enchained

On scorched earth return me to be a simple man
I am destined by the gods to walk this land

Lonely moor, sky is grey
Moon acroos the waves
See the steely shafts of light reflect across the bay
Towards the tower

of course, beyond any classification

brutal planet

alice cooper's follow up to my favorite the last temptation was not easy to keep up the level. instead of lowing it, alice got another record, not so good, but good enough.

brutal planet is rawer, straight to face, and in a modern way. it is not as dirty diamonds, which may seem an attempt back to 70s... anyway, the melodies are there. the hooks are there. and alice is back.
the song is pick up the bones. the song that justifies the bought of the record.

Collecting pieces of my family in an old pillow case
This one has a skull but it don't have a face
These look like the arms of my father so strong
And the ring on this finger means my Grandma is gone

but there are not only one good song, of course, we are talking of alice: brutal planet, gimme,
blow me a kiss -with really strange&funny lyrics-, sanctuary, it's the little things and 2000 ballad remake from the inmortal only women bleed in take it like a woman, pretty damned good

my version is 2CD, european tour edition -numbered, mine is 05173-, maybe that helped to get the record too... ;-)

8/10 nice to have

without you

Today I took his heart and cast it back into the lake
So silently it sank into the depths from whence it came
I fight to find a reason
and those who now remain
Can't let it pass in vain

I thought I'd found the answers but I'll never understand
The why, the how, the wherefore, in this God forsaken land
We raise a man to 'saviour',
we bow to his command,
Then break him where he stands
Life just seems so empty without you

Dischordal, retreating
Fist-broken and bleeding
Defiant, unteeling, a bereft enemy
Immortal, all seeing
His lightness of being
Disciples, we lead him to his Gethsemenie,

Each one has blood on his skin,
Every knife ebbs the life away,
The ice of destiny thins
When we cross, it decides to break
These final hours of daylight turn this tattered heart insane
Extinguishing the candles like the shadows dancer flames
Each friend is like a stranger,
the shallow minds embrace
Disdain upon each face
Life just seems so empty without you

Dischordal, retreating
Fist-broken and bleeding
Defiant, unteeling, a bereft enemy
Immortal, all seeing
His lightness of being
Disciples, we lead him to his Gethsemenie,
Each one has blood on his skin,
Every knife ebbs the life away,
The ice of destiny thins
When we cross, it decides to break
And now my eyes betray me trough this callous twist of fate
Imprinted on the landscape like reflections in the lake
Across the sky at sunset,
with every dawn that breaks
I swear I see his face
Life just seems so empty without you


great music, great lyrics, great friendship ...

cloven hoof

cloven hoof is interesting. satanic metal? well, call it black metal, but it belongs to the nwobhm
come'on. i remember an interview with kiss, in which paul stanley said that they were accused of being satanic and that kiss stood for knights or kids in satanic service... well, he said something that what frightened him more was, not to say that kiss was satanic, but that someone could believe that kiss was satanic... of course kiss and cloven hoof have little in common, except that they are able to do great music... :)
yes, the lyrics are somewhat dark mystical and you can call them black metal, and you can call stryper white metal ... what the hell! we're all in the same side.

aggresive style, straight from nwobhm

cloven hoof, the gates of gehenna, nightstalker, march of the damned, laying down the law, return of the passover. i certainly have not paid much attention to the lyrics but the music is good, "damned" good if you prefer!

9/10 indispensable, if you're into nwobhm

mystica

the best record of ARP. yes, without a doubt. i began liking him in oceans, then, i liked songs from masquerade, i did not like very much shadow zone, but kings and queens was better.
this one is the best. always in my humble opinion ;-)
the melodies are ARP signature. Johnny & Axel. I did not like sincerely pre-Gioeli records. their vocals were not good enough. johnny's are awesome, and axel has been able to improve his songwritting, and the killer riffs, oh, they are really good. disciple of ritchie? it is ok, axel has his own style, and i guess he would team perfectly also with dio, because the themes are somewhat similar ... always the same record? the same style? ... so what!
no chance to live. impressive. what a guitar! what a voice! what a melody! it has been one of my obsessive songs :-) , couldn't help it.
mystica, titles the record, and it is the typical epic song you will always like in an ARP record
serenade, valley of sin, rock the nation, curse of the damned ... great songs, great atmosphere & great riffs
who said hard rock/heavy metal was dead? ;-)

10/10 brilliant

nowhere to hide

i simply hate when japanese versions have more tracks than the one i have :-(
there are some records in which the bonus tracks are not only bonus but really the best song of the whole record, so it is indispensable getting the japanese version. in this case, tables are turned.
naked is one of the best songs praying mantis ever recorded, and the version in this european release is the best. emotinal, powerful, touches your feelings deep inside. it is difficult to express in words what this song is able to show...
few songs have the hability to let your feelings show so much ... straight from the heart. this only song could make the record worth enough, but fortunately there are still 9 more tracks :-D
nowhere to hide deserves also its place on the best songs of the record. strong and powerful.
whenever i'm lost is the ballad, and it is quite nice. cruel winter, clocktower, can't stop the fire, future of the world ... strong songs, melodic, the songs you can expect from praying mantis, high above from average, of course ;-), if not i would be very disappointed.
for me this record is not as impressive as forever in time, but a good follow up. tony sings brilliantly and compositions are praying mantis signature (stratton/troy/troy). enough said!

10/10 brilliant

assault attack

Graham Bonnet + Michael Schenker.
A really aggressive one. Brilliant songs, though short record. 8 only songs. but what a songs!
assault attack, rock you to the ground, dancer, samurai - i always tend to think that graham is somewhat subjugated by oriental culture, mainly japanese (samurai, hiroshima, ohayo tokyo .. )-
but as long as the songs rock and are great ones :-) who's complaining? not me, shame it did not last ... it could have been an incredible team...

I bought the record because i was into Graham Bonnet. Yeah, guilty! I love most of his work. Then i began getting records because there was Michael on them :-), it is always the same old song and dance...
desert song, searching for a reason. desert song was incredible, rock guitar and a very heavy high voice, and the heavy melody around it, makes you feel you are in the middle of the desert

9/10 A must buy. 2 rock.

the journey goes on

the last one from praying mantis... no more tony o'hora on it ... :-(
sad, but as the champions said, show must go on ... and the team troy brothers plus dennis is good enough. 2 vocalist hired: doogie white & john sloman, and the song that i like most (if tomorrow never comes) is not sung by either, but by chris. chris & tino are not new in singing, they sing in time & predator, and their voice is more than acceptable.

tonight, the escape & the journey goes on, are good examples of mantis still rocks. all the songs, nevertheless are very good, though for me can not top the incredible forever in time.
beast within is inspired in james bulger history
Naked was, maybe, the best song that Tino has ever written. When i first heard it in Nowhere to hide, i thought wow!, and after going through the lyrics i wanted to cry too, but this version, thought it seems the authors like it more, i do not. in this one the feelings do not show as they did in the other version. the original was ab-so-lu-te-ly outstanding.
the rest of the songs are real good, so the record is ... really good? though i do not think it will make it as a classic

9/10 brilliant

thank you

Michael Schenker's first acoustic record... and just guitars.
as far as it reads, it can only be acquired through Michael Schenker directly, but i got it in a shop. And it is not the only one that i've seen. Also says that 1$ is donated to a certain foundation in order children get a better life. Well, this is nice... i wonder how many times i've seen things like this ... :-S
Now to the music. The music is good. very good. Not very long instrumentals in which two guitars, as Michael's logo, cross each other...
I would emphasize postive forward, the first song, and also I like very much peace and faith&trust.
The names of the songs are postive feelings, truth, joy, acceptance and forgiveness, harmony, humbleness, love and kindness, a record to listen peacefully. Really nice, but not to rock ;-)
I also got the version 'thank you with orchestra', a very nice one too.

An instrumental acoustic pleasure for the senses.

9/10 for Schenker fans indispensable, for the rest, enjoyable.

red sky

Another one from Saracen, but 22 years after...
Two classics to help the record Heroes saints and fools and horsemen of the apocalypse. these 2 songs justify enough buying this record, the 2 songs are worth enough ... well, this we knew it ;-)
What about the others?
Follow the piper was a classic from the 80s era, and it is strong enough
jekyll and hyde, we have arrived belong to Change of heart, not bad songs, but not strongs as the ones from Heroes.
Two ballads: angel eyes and faith. Really wonderful. Precious. To fall in love with. They help this record to make it.
Menage a trois, an intimate instrumental, nice again.
The other songs are not bad ones, but can't match what i am expecting from Saracen, that is, outstanding songs.
The booklet is really nice and it is what i expect from each record i buy. Also the cd is pictured. this is cool, this is what people like.

Produced by main composer & guitar Rob Bendelow, but also mention to the band.

9/10 brilliant. A must have.

heroes, saints & fools

Thanks to God there is internet... If not, I would not have ever known this band, and I would not know one of the 5 records to bring to a desert island...
This incredible record has just one failure. Tooo short. Really, too short. The cover art is not, i would said brilliant, but is the main theme from the main song of the record... Welll, the main song, not, the title track.
Every song is absolutely incredible. Fillers: 0 songs
Crusader... what a shout to introduce the song!, fabulous... a rock crusader, not to forget his memories!
Rock of Ages, has nothing to do with Def Leppard's, well who knows ... ;-)

a dream we can share ... rock you away ... livin' for each day ...
come and stand on the rock of ages with me

No more lonely nights, a rock songs, very catchy, good lyrics too ;-)

Horsemen of the apocalypse, well this song has nothing to envy to real nwobhm riffs, strong and powerful. Heroes is the song that stands from the others because it is a story of a young boy who has to decide from 3 paths (guess which), and the boy chooses right, at least for me ;-)
Dolphin ride is the instrumental song, a very nice one.
Ready to fly has one of the very best guitar solos I've ever heard, I swear!! the song is tremendous...

But the real force of the record is that composition and arrangements are impressive; All the songs are great and catchy, all the instruments and voice stand together in harmony. This belongs to the elite of nwobhm/hard rock/heavy metal.

I have a 'special' version in which there are songs from the Change of heart record never published on cd. Very special mention to seabird, a face in the crowd and meet me at midnight, but even the others would enhance whatever other record easily.

Criminally underrated, never understood why noone talked me about this.

This is beyond any classification, timeless.

survivor hits

Well, this one is a greatest hits ...
Eye of the tiger, burning heart, do not need any review ... hard rock classics.
The band did not do anything more? ... Wrong! A few pearls were hidden, since these 2 diamonds really shone very much.
The search is over, is this love, high on you, i can't hold back -I was stuck in this one for a couple of weeks, i found it really perfect (the video was funny, by the way)-, american heartbeat, and the song from karate kid, the moment of truth.
In a universe where Journey and Foreigner were the kings of ballads, the real good ballads, Survivor managed themselves to remain in history with 4 or 5 good records in which there was always a couple of pearls in each, at least.
Not to miss the videos too, some funny enough.

Maybe it is not the best greatest hits I would recommend but I do recommend at least having one of it. One Survivor record is absolutely indispensable in a your precious discography ;-)

9/10 indispensable

covenant

Strange cover. This should be an Ufo record ...
This was a nice surprise. Ufo are able to do a normal record or a superb record. This one is between the two.

Love is forever is a good starter, expressing an 'interesting philosophy' this song just rocks! Unraveled is even better, the best song of the record, with an obessive rythm and funny lyrics. This is a Mogg/Way collaboration. Miss the lights is not a bad song, the same as the following, midnight train, but it is not as catchy as the other 3 ... I can not understand why UFO chose that one to begin the concert of my life? Ok, not a marvelous one, just ok.
Fool's gold initiates with a magnific Schenker solo, and the song is mid tempo until nearly the end. Good song again :)
Then i find nothing interesting until Serenade, which is a real good one, very good... comercial? Who cares!.
A live bonus cd makes this package more attractive, and it makes it more valuable.

You will like it if you are a die hard, and you may like it if you are into hard rock/metal.

Ufo is one of my favourite groups, i can't help it.
From all my concerts -and all of them have been really good: Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Acdc, Metallica, Megadeth, Diamond Head, Judas Priest, Mötley crüe, Alice cooper, Scorpions, Helloween, Mr Big, Aerosmith, Dio- i would choose 2 really really specials:
-1997, a kid's dream, original Kiss in make-up :-)
-the concert from Ufo i lived in 2004 was the concert of my life ... it was just perfect, not the ideal set list -for the new songs, basically... hey, half of strangers in the night (the best live album ever!) included :-D -, but just in front, 4th line, bouncing and screaming 'only you can rock me' and all the songs, perfectly executed, no boring drum solos, just the songs as they are, and Vinnie and Jason just fit perfectly, Phil sang really well, Paul was where he had to be and Pete, well, he was the soul of the concert, rockin' & rockin' again :-)

9/10 nice to have

Deep cuts

That is how a greatest hits should be done! This is actually a greatest ballads, and it is how they all should be.
Well, it could had 2cd with a dvd included ;-) but i guess that's out of the question.
All the biggest ballads are here: Promise her the moon, to be with you, going where the wind blows, green tinted sixties mind, just take my heart, anything for you, dancin' right into the flame, wild world, superfantastic, and all are great songs!
Where are they now is the new bonus one, and a good one really :-)
If that's what it takes, had enough, the chain, i guess they should be the deep cuts too.
The booklet is also fantastic, and lyrics are included, yeah, great too. You do not have to be strong is ok.

Some songs are rearranged, frankly they are not very different from the original, so you will not really appreciate it unless you are a die hard.

A nice record, for being in a good company.

9/10 nice to have

Retroactive

Interesting record. B-sides and leftovers from Hysteria & Adrenalize sessions. Though i find it as good or even better than the multiplatinum highly acclaimed Hysteria.
Desert song, they said this one was left over because lyrics had not been find for it ... the song is magic, strong... followed by fractured love, again another song that fits 100%, with hypnotical rythms and dark voices.
Action is the cover song, faster, and it is just ok. But 2 steps behind, as acoustic it brings great melodies and nice arrangements.
She's too tough, faster again, it is ok, again... miss you in a heartbeat, again romantic piano ballad, nice.
Only after dark and ride into the sun are not favourites for me but not bad songs either, but the following From the inside, touched me deeply, what a wonderful song!, I guess it was written for Steve... and then Ring of fire, which with the first one are the true gems of the record..
I wanna be your hero, great song too, and as a bonus 2 different versions of the 2 ballads, great

B-sides & leftovers???

Interesting cover too. The logo is darker as it had never been on the other records, always colourful

9/10 brilliant, a long favourite

lightning to the nations

1980.
Brian Tatler, Sean Harris,
Colin Kimberley, Duncan Scott.

These are the four horsemen creators of the finest record in metal history. Do you really understand? the finest record in metal history. No other metal record can top this one.
This is really 'la crème de la crème'. I do not own the LP, but i of course have the CD.

these four guys were the true successors of Led Zeppelin, if originality and no-compromise are counting factors, always trying to be creative and originals, not following any other style. the band was light years ahead from its time. not enough words to describe it.

Lightning To The Nations, The Prince, Sucking My Love, Am I Evil?, Sweet and Innocent, It's Electric, Helpless

every song is a monstruous achievement, but i enhance as favourite, sucking my love, helpless and the sonf that introduced me in nwobhm: am i evil?
even the worst track will enhance any record just to make it worth a listening.

the compilation, on the right also includes, from their singles:

Streets Of Gold, Shoot Out The Lights, Waited Too Long, Play It Loud, Diamond Lights, We Won't Be Back, I Don't Got, It's Electric (remix)

the sentence 'there are more good riffs in your average DH single than in the first four albums of Black Sabbath' is true 100%, at least for me :-D

criminally underrated

beyond any classification, timeless, forever

Shadow of the Moon

I think it was around 97 that i heard that Ritchie Blackmore was going to do an acoustic record ... well i love Rainbow but i do not like Deep Purple -i can't help not liking Ian's voice :-S-, so when i saw a woman was singing, i said, ok, let's hear ... and the first song play minstrel play convinced me i had to get it...
Shadow of the moon, no second chances, wish you were here, proved me enough i was right! :-)
Yeah! it is not hard rock, not heavy metal ... it is folk medieval style, or something like this, but the real thing is that the songs are great
Candice night has a fantastic voice (please listen to Helloween's light the universe, where she plays a duet with Andi Deris) and composing with Ritchie, it could not went wrong.
An acoustic record, or better said, a non metal album, nor rocker, a mellower and melodic one.

It worths the listening unless you are an only die-hard metal fan, tant pis pour vous...

9/10 brilliant

The last in Line

Another old one ... i remember i still was studying, and it was a present for Christmas. :-)

It is my favourite from Ronnie James

9 songs, not a weak one. In my opinion, it is stronger than their debut Holy diver, though this one seems to be more appreciated. Ok, I love don't talk to strangers and a rainbow in the dark, but this one is much more melodic & epic...
We rock, a strong rocker initiates the record and then we go to the title track,

we'll know for the first time
if we're evil or divine
we're the last in line

Breathless and I speed at night and strong rockers too, and then we go to the precious middle time one night in the city, a long time favourite of mine (time ago my sister helped me to figure out the lyrics, by the way, why the hell the records do not bring the lyrics!!) a nice story, a nice song ...
Evil eyes and eat your heart out are not so awesome to me, but mistery is better, and finally we arrive to the best way to close the record, with a song in the vein of the timeless gates of Babylon: Egypt, the chains are on, in which the hebrew slaves theme is brought here brilliantly, what a song, incredible. It seems that the cover art is based on, isn't it? Doro made a version in the dio tribute quite good.

10/10 brilliant

For a lifetime

Jonathan Cain has been one of my favourite songwriter ever. His name is for me always synonymous of precious melodies and great songs. This can be seen in Esc4p3,Frontiers, Raised on radio, Trial by fire, Arrival Journey discography, Bad english Bad english & Backslash and in Neal Schon's Beyond the thunder.
No matter which record you pick, you will find a high number of songs you will like instantly, instrumentals, ballads -kiss me softly, open arms, faithfully, when i think of you- and rockers -separate ways, message of love, edge of the blade, remember me, ghost in your heart, possession- ...

This record is somewhat interesting since all are songs, piano songs mostly, with orchestration inspired from wedings friends'. So I would say this is a romantic record, in which there is also the instrumental version of the beautiful Open arms.
All songs included here are a feast for your sense, but I particularly like song of calabria, blue nocturne, for a lifetime and china moon...

You can't go wrong with this one for a memorable evening ;-)

10/10 ... perfect for intimate nights

Time tells no Lies

An impressive record, it really does not seem 26 years have already gone ...
From nwobhm roots, Troy brothers with Steve Carroll and Dave Pots entered in music history as Praying Mantis with this piece of vinyl. One only cover song from Ray Davis, and personally i think it is the worst of this record, and it is not a bad one.
But the rest are all classics: cheated -the single-, running for tomorrow, the ballad lovers to the grave, beads of ebony, rich city kinds, children of the earth are amongst the best songs, making the record an indispensable one for all of the melodic metal. It has been also called pomp rock.. Well, I can't say why ;-)
the Mantis style is mainly melodic, there are no many ballads, just one in this record, but are soul touching ones...

As every good record it is impossible to find, except in ebay, and sometimes at really high prices. at least, it is worth. It is not my all-time favourite, which is Forever in time, a truly perfect record, but it is really enjoyable if you wanna rock. I mean, for me melody & composition are indispensable, and good solos make a song to be a memorable one or not. This is only high class.

One of the best nwobhm records from all-time, that is for sure ;-)

10/10 indispensable

Youthanasia

The very first record i bought in cd from Megadeth. Should i say it was also the first collection edition since it was in one pack two records, Youthanasia + Hidden treasures.

This was, I think in '96 or '96. Just heard the soundtrack from last action hero and heard Angry again. It was the first megadeth song that i really really loved. And then i discovered Black Sabbath's cover paranoid, and loved it too... I like also Alice Cooper's version of 'mr nice guy', though I may prefer 'schools out' from HS...


From Youthanasia I discovered A tout le monde -brilliantly sung by the way-, blood of heroes, family tree, train of consequences, i thought i knew it all ... Aso Dave Mustaine was criticised after this work ... Fortunately he did not give a f.. about all of this and has continued making great songs :-D

The cover is also great, well, I would say fantastic, since I think it was very strong at that moment. I think it was banned in some countries... Well, freedom is just a word :-(

Great videos too. :-D

9/10 great to have

Cryptic Writings

A polemic one.
Megadeth's 97.
Oh, it is not holy wars, hangar or peace ...
Ok. True. So what?
Do you like the same record always? ok, i understand that the thing that should be the same it is the "style". Well, bands evolve. if you support them that's great, if you hate them, get out, and let the others enjoy... :-)
I particularly enjoyed it. I love the songs from above, but also trust, almost honest, fff, she-wolf, a secret place, use the man ...

It is not exactly the same style, maybe a softer one, but the melody and the feelin' are great. And it has its weak songs, like nearly every record, but it is a great record. It was my first Megadeth concert (great, by the way :-D) and i enjoyed it a lot. Of course i love symphony, a tout le monde, blood of heroes, tornado of souls, but i still recognise this is the same band -and basically it will be as long as Dave Mustaine is dave Mustaine-, and this is the really important thing for me... at least ;-)

There had been loads and reloads of records in which you could not feel the same band :-S , and there was a clear after and before ... Well, let bands evolve, the way they want, it is their right and it should be respected. Just do not support them if you do not like them...

Just one more comment ... I loove the spanish version of trust, in which he sangs in a very acceptable way ... I have to get the remastered cd one of these days.
It is not the only way where mr. Mustaine has demonstrated he's able to sing in other languages. Also check the promises song from The world needs a hero

Fight for freedom, fight authority
Fight for anything, my country tis' of me

9/10 very good.

Get a grip

A curious limited edition. Furry cow. LTD ed. Having in mind that my aeroconcert was year 94 in the 'get a grip tour', I can be satisfied :-) I won this in ebay by 0.01 cent difference, it was a last minute winning offer :-) Living on the edge, amazing, fever, crazy, cryin', eat the rich ... Some people said that cryin' was ok and crazy sucked ... Well, i like both songs, even i can dislike one or the other but being so straight clasifying the songs into 2 sooo different styles was a bit enough for me ... If you can judge a good song by its style ... come'on! ;-)
I have to admit that i bought it because of the limited edition. I do not pretend in having THE complete collection of everything but i like to have a nice collection and i like the things to be as special as possible, since that is why i like to buy them.

The record was good enough, though i admit that is not the one that i like most from Aerosmith, but it has a handful of really great songs... why do we expect more from some groups than from others, well ... i do not know, but i am really critical with the 'great' groups (Scorpions, Priest, Aerosmith, KISS ...) since i understand that so many sells should make them realize that best songs should be their target...? even the record company send them back to studio when they realized they still had weak songs ;-)

8/10 nice to have

Humanary Stew

A tribute to Alice Cooper.
Well, that's is what i call a kiLler tribute record. Great rock stars paying homage to one of the greatest rock stars on earth. The dirty diamonds tour concert on which I was there :-) was incredible. Alice did not stop at all during the whole concert, and the theater part was incredible...

So, this is under my wheels by Def Leppard, school's out by Megadeth (please understand me, if i say marty friedman and dave mustaine, i mean megadeth's main part), Ronnie James Dio in welcome to my nightmare (impossible to choose a better song), black widow (Iron Maiden, in which bruce gives the intro the atmospherical way), and also we can mention Paul Gilbert, Glenn Hughes, Dokken, LA guns, Dee Snider, Zakk Wilde, Slash, Duff ... and in the rhythm guitar Bob Kulick -one of the mastermind behind this project- ... So if this is not a killer record filled up with stars, what is it?

10/10 shining

Out of reach

This is interesting. Just 8 songs, but great enough.
Belongs directly to nwobhm, and it is really melodic
favorites: out of reach, dance of the crimson lady pt.1, back inside, do it loud
Main figure lou taylor wrote it all, and the result is really good. We are talking about 20 years ago ... And the music is fresh.

I read that it was a project between Kevin Heybourne and Lou Taylor, but when it was released, the band was Satan with Lou Taylor. I personally still do not find many similarities between Blind Fury and Satan, but i guess i need some more listenings, specially to Satan... ;-)
I would classify it between pomp rock and nwobhm, something in old Praying Mantis vein
i had the LP, but when saw the CD in mint condition as a bargain i did not think twice :-D

8/10 indispensable if you are into nwobhm

Wasp

I do not know if it is from year 83 or so, but the version i have it is from 97, and in the liner notes from Blacky Lawless, this was the original intention of the band to release this record, with animal as the first song... Also with a couple of bonus songs, special mention to stones cover version paint it black which competes closely with Glenn Tipton's version to the greatest cover of this song :-) ... In my opinion of course
wanna be somebody, on your knees, sleeping in the fire, hellion, love machine, tormentor, all belong to this debut album, and its full of raw rock in the kiss vein, i would said a little bit more aggressive... yeah... gooodd.
Strong and powerful rock songs
This package comes with a very nice booklet explaining lots of things, so this is a good way to prepare a remastered compilation, not only bonus tracks but also with nice photos & history.
Wasp is one of those records you want to hear when angry, in order to see adrenaline flowing by your veins. And my favorite Wasp song is not included in this great-song-compilation...

10/10 brilliant

Alive II

1977.
KISS.
Alive II.

The biggest record live? Well for me, it has to still happen UFO's Strangers in the night in 79, which is the greatest, but Alive II is really great, great enough, and the feelin' of the songs live is terrific ...

Detroit rock city, love gun, god of thunder, beth, i stole your love, shock me, shout it out loud, makin' love, hard luck woman... not only they had a really high record to top -alive-, but they managed to do 3 more records and make another unstoppable right in the face LIVE record.
Bad tongues said it was not really live ... Well, it looks like it is live... They corrected errors, well ;-) Even better, which is the problem??
From 5 studio songs they made i really love Ace's rocket ride, the others are not bad songs, but not as special as that one.
I own the remastered version from 1997 with the 14 pages booklet. i own also the original 2LP format.
People often prefer Alive to Alive II. Well i love Alive too, but my favorite is alive two.

For kiss fans i would recomemd to take a look at Gene Simmons Family Jewels ;-)

10/10 classic status

Shout at the Devil / The Dirt

The record says it is 1983, but i got the remastered version with 4 bonus tracks. Shout at the devil is the best record from the uniques Mötley Crüe, the most decadent band ever in rock history. Once i thought it was Guns n'Roses which deserved this place, but after reading the dirt, i really doubt it... :-S

I recomend the dirt sincerely, though at first i was sceptical... then i saw it was very well reviewed by the people, so i bought it (guess where? ;-) ) ... Then after the first pages i was so hooked that i could not stop reading...
It is an autobiography about the band (Mick, Nikki, Vince and Tommy), about every member point of view and it is very fascinating to see what was thinking every guy about all that happened to them. Really interesting and worths every cent it can cost you the book. Friends told me what strange things to read? ... well, i've said it a million times, i can't help it, and what i like is always the best :-) ... You do not like it, who cares? :-P

The dirt.
10/10 fascinating reading

To the music: shout, looks that kill, bastard, red hot, helter skelter (beatles cover), danger, 10 seconds to love, the instrumental god save the children of the beast, too young to fall in love (the first song which it really impacted me)
The music is brilliant, catchy (infectious hard rock?) and easy, no great arrangements but raw guitar kerrangs that makes you wanna rock, and i like it :-D

Shout at the devil
9/10 a must buy. a must rock

Back in Black

Last year i bought the ACDC remaster edition of Back in Black. The trilogy of Highway, Let there be Rock and Back in Black, even with different singers is absolutely brilliant.
What new can i discover to you? Except the making of the album in vh1 ultimate albums :) Great programs.
Hells bells, shoot to thrill, back in black, shook me all night long, have a drink on me and the unique acdc pseudo-ballad: let me put my love into you.
A perfect record in the middle of a tragic story, ACDC were back in the saddle with a powerful fist of metal songs which blew the rock scene away... it was magic ... and bets were all against.
But Brian fit in perfectly between the Young brothers.
and the people accepted him. He knew the great responsibility he had over his shoulders and just tried to be him. He made it! :-)
I got as an extra a bonus dvd with 5 songs, and a booklet inside the remaster of 16 pages explaining bits of the story. Yes, that is nice and valuable for a collection :-D
The record was produced by Mutt Lange

after having bought the trilogy i found:
let me put my love into you ... brutal
given the dog a bone ... mindblowing and ... (if you know what i mean ;-) )
hells bells ... to helll

10/10 indispensable

Arrival

Arrival came in the same package than actual size. Brought by a friend from far away japan. A strange thing which i still can not understand. It was released in japan first, and 6 months later in the rest of the world. Please , someone explain it to me...
napster was rising out, internet filesharing was begining ...
There are people who wear a badge in their eyes, and they
do not want to see ... that fans are expecting a record????
why? why? why!!
Anyway, let's go to the music, the important thing here ;-)
Higher place, all the way, to be alive again, signs of life, the incredibles loved by you & kiss me softly. I am killed by the last ballad, it is so exquisite, such powerful ...
People complained ... too many ballads!! ... again ... who cares!!! as long as the music is goooddd.
I only care about good songs, this blog is to write about the records i proudly own, mostly they are aor/hard rock/ heavy metal/nwobhm ... and they have all one thing in common, they are full of good songs, music that make you feel something inside of you, where your soul can fly and feel freedom ...
Maybe i am an idealist ... Well, my problem, my world ... I love to be like i am, i wouldn't mind to change some things ;-) but i love how i think, and i will not like whatever just because other people listen to it ... Sorry, this is my freedom (again)

9/10 very good record. Nice to have.

Actual Size

I remember year '93 . Aerosmith get a grip tour brought special guests who stole the show... Not completely since Aerosmith fans are hard to beat ... ;-) ... But at the end we saw 2 great shows, which was the most important thing ... Yeahh :-D
This record was brought to me from japan from a close friend. It is the korean version and I was very happy. Wake up, shine, lost in america, one world away ... Shine was for me the song for a month, when i first heard it in 2001... shine video was interesting, since it showed the end of a band... sadly, of course ... :-( But the music was good. Maybe bump ahead was the best thing they did, and the record of the ballads which i will review another time.
The cover in their line, nice.
It is not an essential record, but as someone said, the lost a magician when Paul left, but they brought a wizard when Richie came in.

Why they parted ways? Who cares, we still have the music. I love Eric's voice :-)

7/10 nice to have

Slippery when wet

The last record i bought recently. I wanted the remastered cd. I guess programs like vh1 ultimate albums, make you dig more into it. But at least they make you happy. I found interesting that in 86 even Bon Jovi nearly could not change the cover from their own record, the one which was going to make them famous. How and which power still had record companies... :-(
And just a little common sense ... think! ...
which rocker would have liked
that pink cover ???? :-S :-S
Thank god he managed to change it... :)

It was the first K7 i owned -around '92-, so this is always something special. I knew all the songs nearly by heart. Bon Jovi (Jon) is a fine songwriter and you know that, if you buy a record, you will like at least 3 or 4 songs. With this one you will like 9 or 10 songs ... hmmm ... there are only 10 songs! it should be a good one.
I guess i can not say anything more form this record who is 20 years away ... They could have done a special anniversary collector's edition ... :-) which i would have loved it ...
Livin' on a prayer, i'd die for you, without love, never say goodbye, bad name, wanted doa, raise your hands, let it rock ... Hard rock, let it rock, let it go!!

10/10 brilliant

Unbreakable

2004. Scorpions. Unbreakable.
The first record i loved really from Scorpions was Pure Instinct. After it, i went to embrace Love at first sting. But after the strange eye 2 eye, which i did not like it at all, they released this one. I waited until next year when i saw in ebay the japanese version, and got it.

By the way, the concert from the Unbreakable tour was incredible, i finished exhausted since the place was packed and in the middle of the summer it was all screams & sweat, with difficulties in breathing ... I guess i am getting older. :-S Anyway i managed to finish only 4 rows behind the 8th one which was where i began. Just missed comin' home and rythm of love. All the others got inside the set list :-D
New generation, love'em or leave'em, deep and dark, blood too hot, maybe i maybe you and through my eyes... (all inside except the piano ballad, which is very nice, but perhaps does not suit in a concert... ) great, another great record to my collection ... I was really a bit nervous about what could i find, but they managed to give a nice surprise, since the composition of the songs are great. Typical good scorpions stuff.

9/10 a must buy.