Saturday, January 31, 2009

Gambling with the Devil

Everybody that i know thinks Helloween = Keepers and that the best voice was Michael Kiske. ok. Not true.
Andi Deris has a tremendous voice and although he does not reaches so high, it is great enough.
What about compositions?. Of course keepers are awesome records, but Helloween are able to make good records as well. This one, Gambling with the Devil is, to my surprise a quite strong melodic one. My favourites are As long as I fall, I can do it, fallen to pieces and above them all Heaven tells no lies. Other songs are not bad, just these ones are the ones I like the most.
So it is quite enjoable that in this time in which it is not clear old dinosaurs can survive, Helloween does!




9/10 great to have

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Legacy


How Helloween could top (or even worst, compare) the mythical Keepers of the 7 keys by releasing a part III.
Sure a marketing mouvement. But how the fans were expecting this?
Very reluctant was I. This was my chance to see Helloween live and i had to listen the record. After reading several reviews, it was clear it was not a bad record, though not comparable at all.
However, in my opinion, part III has the best epic song within the whole 3 parts. Sacrilege??? I love Halloween and Keeper of the 7 keys. They are both awesome, really. But king of 1000 years is re-awesome. And they did performe it live the same way. It was incredible.

I know your secrets
I see the hidden without light
I am your sickness
Bitting you right behind your eyes
Don't try to kill me
I cannot die, a death you know
You and I will be
Heaven above and hell below

Soft part comes with light the universe, a beautiful ballad with candice, and the funny part, mrs. god -see the video, it is a funny story :-)

If all the songs were like king of 1000 years it would have been the record of the decade.



8/10 great to have

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Rust in Peace


Megadeth's Rust in peace is quite a strong work. I do not dig in into all the songs, but I recognise Dave Mustaine ability to get instant anthems.
3 songs shine above them all. holy wars...

Brother will kill brother
Spilling blood across the land

Killing for religion

Something I dont understand

Fools like me,who cross the sea

And come to foreign lands

Ask the sheep, for their beliefs

Do you kill on gods command?


Hangar 18, possibly the most known song, and a personal favourite Tornado of souls.

Lyrically intense, sonically powerful.



check the cover as well, you can recognize the world leaders John Major, Joshiki Kaifu, Richard von Weizsäcker, Mikhail Gorbachev, and George Bush.

9/10 indispensable

Monday, January 26, 2009

Good to be Bad


Not a bad record the last one from Whitesnake. I actually expected nothing, nothing really good.
But this is a solid piece of hard rock :-)
From the opener best years, the riff-melodic can you hear the wind blow, the ballad all i want all i need, the more accoustics summer rain and til the end of time.

Mr. Coverdale shows he is not in the best years, but after 20 years from 1987, he still is able to produce good enough material.

8/10 great to have

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Slip of the Tongue


Why 1987 was so much successful -sold over eight million copies in the US-, and this one not, is a mistery to me. Ok, 1987 was teamed with great John Sykes, but Slip of the tongue was brilliantly perfomed by Steve Vai (check video with 3 axe-guitar) and compositions were nearly as brilliants as 1987. I guess it could be similar the comparision from Pyromania/Hysteria... maybe
Slip of the tongue, Now you're gone, Judgement day, Sailing ships -in a quite stairway to heaven structure-,



Fool for your loving, the slow The deeper the love...
the record is solid itself, not a one song-hit an that's all.
Slip of the Tongue sold three million copies and hit #10 in US and UK album charts.

10/10 classic status

Friday, January 23, 2009

Bounce


I confess i bought it for only 3€, because when I first heard it, I did not have paid proper attention, so I guess, here is another chance...
Now I have to say I like it a bit more: everyday, misunderstood, open all night, right side from wrong are good songs... quite different from Bon Jovi style -to my taste- , even Bon Jovi ballads ... but good songs! it is another kind of feeling, but at least I still recognise they are good... just was not expecting them.

And I am glad I did another listening!

Big rock up-tempo song is the title one: bounce!



8/10 nice to have

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New Jersey


New Jersey is for me the most similar you can call a part II for Slippery. that is not bad. Here you can expect high rock anthems and bigger ballads.
side A is perfect:
Lay Your Hands On Me Bad Medicine Born To Be My Baby Living In Sin Blood On Blood
though it begins by the weakest song
from side B, there are 2 great songs worth of mention, Wild Is The Wind & I'll Be There For You
the other songs are fillers.

So it is a bit weaker compared to Slippery but clearly, a winner. i mean I would say there are 5 instant classic anthems in 1 record!! :-)

10/10 brilliant

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Metallica -aka the Black Album-

The record that made Metallica become masive. the first record i bought from them. The first concert in my life. 21st Nov. 92. time ago, and long forgotten, but still I remember the adrenaline shot it was...

This record was a bit comercial, against the wishes from the hard-core die-hard metal-in-the-ears-to-the-limit, but I consider it in my opinion a fine heavy metal record.
Though it is true i prefer for rawness and aggressiveness Ride the lightning and Master of puppets, it is undeniable that songs like enter sandman, sad but true, the unforgiven, wherever I may roam, nothing else matters (the ballad!, Metallica playing a ballad!! with orchestra even!!!... so what ???) are great songs...

... and that night were performed awesome!!

Shame they were the heroes which turned into villians, but, that's another story...

10/10 brilliant

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Ride the Lightning

For me this is the most melodico-aggresive from the SF band. This was a great furious sonic manifesto that stepped in history with capital letters. And only 8 songs!
Creeping death (based on the 10 Commandements film), fight fire with fire, the title track, for whom the bell tols, trapped under ice... and the power'ballad' Fade to black (for me always it has been Metallica's Stairway to heaven, and the escaped from being judged from suicide tendencies? wow :-) ) and the instrumental ktulu...



This is a perfect join of fury with melody, and state the greatness of a then growing band. They had it all to make it. And they made it..

Just to mention that thanks to Metallica i got to know Diamond Head which will become, at least for me, the real heavy metal Zeppelin successors.

10/10 classic status

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Final Vinyl

This one is a compilation. 2LP. And I purchased it because I adored (and I still do) Rainbow.

Disc: 1
1. Spotlight Kid
2. I Surrender
3. Miss Mistreated
4. Street of Dreams
5. Jealous Lover
6. Can't Happen Here
7. Tearin' Out My Heart
8. Since You Been Gone
9. Bad Girl


Disc: 2
1. Difficult to Cure
2. Power
3. Man on the Silver Mountain
4. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
5. Weiss Heim


Bad girl is the only significative b-side version which I didn't have and, performed by Graham Bonnet at vocals and jealous lover performed by Joe Lynn Turner. Some others are live.
absolutely no indispensable.

Strangely enough there is no song from Rising!.

8/10 just nice to have

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Difficult to Cure

The cover is impressive and the record is awesome. As well, the third consecutive one with another different singer and another style, but behind the guitars Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover teamed brilliantly to produce great songs.
I surrender
(from russ ballard), spotlight kid, can't happen here, the instrumental maybe next time, freedom fighter and the magnus instrumental difficult to cure (based in beethoven's 9th). Credit as well to the magnific voice from Joe Lynn Turner. and in following records we'll see he composes too.

Jokers and women they hang round your door
Theyre all part of the scene
Just like a junkie you've got to have more
Its a pleasure machine
And you fly every night
But the dressing room mirror dont lie
They love you but you're in love with the spotlight
You're the spotlight kid


10/10 classic status

Friday, January 16, 2009

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

For me it is the weakest from Rainbow, however i cant give it less than 9 in a 10 scale.

The temple of the king, man on the silver mountain, catch the rainbow, greensleeves...

But lifes not a wheel
With chains made of steel
So bless me come the dawn
Come the dawn

Well, maybe it is a mellower record, and it was basically Elf band without their original guitar player plus Ritchie. The band got 'professional' with their next opus Rising.


9/10 nice to have

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Straight between the eyes


Awesome cover. Great music as well. I do not love it as much as Bent out of shape, but it is very good. The song in this record for me is the ballad: Tearing out my heart.

First time I saw your face
By your side was the only place
That I would wanna be
Sometimes and I don't know why
Love can come or it can pass you by
Now you take all the love you gave to me
(you take it from me)
You're tearin' out my heart


Greatest rocker is Bring on the night -dreamchaser-. There are other great songs too: Death alley driver, power, miss mistreated and the other slow ballad, Stone cold, memorable as well.

9/10 great to have

Long Live RNR


This is a mythical record, as well as Rising.
from Dio era, there are 2 songs which can define it. One was Stargazer and the other one is in this record: Gates of Babylon. this song absolutely blows you away with its oriental styled melody ...

Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think youre ready to see
The gates to babylon

This record is rythmical but very melodic, and you can appreciate Dio's lyrics at maximum.
The intense Kill the king, long live rnr, la connection and the beautiful ballad (yes!, dio performing a ballad) Rainbow eyes.

It is well known Ritchie wanted to become a little bit commercial, or maybe he got tired from epic- fantasy theme... question is Dio went out to join Black Sabbath and the epic Rainbow period finished beginning the more commercial approach with Down to earth

For me, i love all classic Rainbow periods, that is 76-84

10/10 classic status

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Rainbow rising


If you'd select the most significant record from Rainbow, probably you'd take rising. The cover is terrific, brilliant and powerful. And the music follows it.
The song above them all, Stargazer. One of the best epic songs ever done. All the song shines uniquely with Dio's voice and Blackmore's guitar out of this world.
Tarot woman, do you close your eyes, a light in black, run with the wolf and starstruck.
Only 6 songs in the records making history and influencing a whole generation... in 1977!

A very nice rendition of stargazer (Astronomo) is done by Barilari (Rata Blanca) -with lyrics changed to sing in spanish-

10/10 classic status

Bent out of shape.


Strange name, strange cover. Last studio record from Rainbow. Criminally underrated, this is true gem.

Though it is clear it does not follow the pattern from the first one, this one talks about love and it is a 'soft' record -does not talk about magic, dragons or is epic either-, if you want to say it this way. But for the music, it is A1 quality. I always loved the Turner-Blackmore team. Compositions were really fantastic.

Visions of artemis
Goddess of the moonlight
The spell remains unbroken
The lost and wrong now will begin the rite
of the fire dance


Cant let you go, street of dreams, the heavier firedance,
stranded, fool for the night...


I remember buying this lp soo long ago. That time you could not find it in cd.

10/10 classic status

Monday, January 12, 2009

Journey, The Ballade


This is only for die hard fans. A japanese ballad compilation.
I would not recommend this record for any other person who is not: collecting rare items or loves journey at his most.
This compilation can be done in-your-house

However, I can't deny it is nice, very nice and very precious collection item.

Open arms, faithfully, why cant this night go on forever, send her my love, who's crying now, pantienly, the eyes of a woman... all from Perry period, but without the Trial by fire last record.

And Journey will continue making heart feeling songs as long as Cain/Schon team is up and running :-)

9/10 nice to have

Electric eye


This is a fantastic compilation from Judas Priest:
-all the videos until Painkiller,
-the priest ... live tour (1986, Turbo tour), and
-bbc performances from the early 80s.

The Priest live turbo tour it is priest at its best. The performance of the sentinel is incredible... Rob voice extremely acute plus the duel of Glen and KK solos ... :-D

you can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgCe56T4HxU


There is no missing any essential song: electric eye, breaking the law, out in the cold, freewheel burning, screaming for vengeance, hell bent, living after midnight ... but the ripper

I only would miss also some comments from the members of the band. This would had help making the package awesome.

It has a mini booklet of 8 pages... There are dvd with less.

10/10 great to have

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Historia & In the round in your face


I own singles, records, vhs and dvd from Def Leppard. This compilation is great.
Historia is all their video collection until Hysteria. Not as great as Kiss x-treme, since explanation is written on the screen, but nothing else. It could have been awesome, and it is just great.
10/10 great to have
In the round in your face is the concert they did in the Hysteria tour. Pyromania + Hysteria. I saw them in the '93 Adrenalize tour. It was not bad at all, but I liked too much pyromania and they only did 4 songs, forgetting the awesome stagefright.
8/10 great to have

10/10 nice to have

Let's mention as well 'the Def Leppard story' a film which is the story from Def Leppard until Hysteria. Awesome, I think every metal fan should see it. It is a film. It is well worth, really. Thanks to internet I saw it.

10/10 awesome

Saturday, January 10, 2009

These days


After buying Keep the faith I thought Bon Jovi was a safe value. Why was it going to change?
Well, certainly there is an before and after since Keep the faith. Slippery and New Jersey were high anthem rockers. Here we have a more mature Jovi version... And it will continue to all their discs (we like it or not..)
But this record is solid, and it is good enough, but it is nost Slippery II (as it was New Jersey): Hey god, something for the pain, lie to you, damned, this ain't a love song, bitter wine..

Two of my favourite all-time bon jovi songs are in this record: These days and the supperb My guitar lies bleeding in my arms. Man, this song has a strength i have seen in few songs, honestly...

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
And I can't sing no song of hope, I got nothing to say
I can't fight the feelings, that are burning in my veins
I send this song to wherever you are, As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms


Of course it may not please to all fans.

This was a gift from my future wife... thank you love :-)

9/10 great to have

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Fires at Midnight

Third one from Mr. Blackmore and Mrs. Night. And it seems the formula works.
Written in the stars and Fires at midnight are the best tunes from this again 16 medieval oriented tracks.
I do not undestand much the Bob Dylan cover, but, it is the privilege from the artists to choose which tunes do they want to play ...
I will continue buying these records as long as they keep on with the good music ...
They can not do a bad record, they'll just make another record.

8/10 nice to have

Monday, January 05, 2009

Under a violet moon

After shadow of the moon another folk with renaissance features.
It is not as good as shadow of the moon, but certainly does the trick. Under a violet moon and spanish nights are the best ones, but all of them nice tunes.

Silent she rose
From the cold desert sands
Painted in shadows
A dark caravan...

It is not Deep Purple. It is not Rainbow. However it is as good as these 'sacred cows' :-D
16 fantastic medieval-oriented tunes with spanish guitar.
And, of course, as Shadow of the moon, credit to this great voice from candice night, which I find one of the best female voices I've heard, credit also that she composes as well!

8/10 nice to have

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Foreigner, live in germany


What happens when people who love the music make also the package for the music. This is an non-official, made for fans, for the fans. And it is awesome.
Full concert from 81 and 4 tracks from 85. 4 and agent provocateur tour. Indispensable.

My collectible version is DVD+CD, great! :-D

Both performances are pro-shot and the quality is outstanding. Foreginer at its very top.

Tracks for the 1981 show are:
Long long way from Home, Dirty white Boy,
Luanne, Cold as Ice, Waiting for a girl like You,
Feels like the first Time, Starrider, Urgent,
Juke box Hero and Hot Blooded
Tracks for the 1985 show are:
I want to know what Love is, Reaction to Action, Hot Blooded and Juke box Hero

Credit to fan 'sylum. Awesome work, guys!!

10/10 great to have

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Remasters - Led Zeppelin

Some artworks will last forever. This one fits like a glove within misterious-mystical Zepp imagery.
Let's go for the music. I just can't remember when I bought this 2cd, but it is more than 15 years possibly.
Favourites I got then included Babe I'm gonna leave you, since I've been loving you, battle of evermore, stairway to heaven, kashmir, achiles and all my love.
My second coming will like dazed and confused, whole lotta love, rock and roll ...

Cons: again, no lyrics and nearly nothing, just 4 photos... And credits :-(

9/10 nice to have