holy dio

actually this is the best way of giving the fans what they want. a real tribute record, double one. paying tribute to 'the voice' metal talkin', in elf, rainbow, black sabbath and dio 'the band'
performers are people who love his legacy, and it is the way it should be...
blind guardian, doro, catch the rainbow, gamma ray, hammerfall, stratovarius, axel rudi pell, enola gay, primal fear and yngwie malmsteen are amongst the performers, so quality of the songs is amazing.
booklet is nice with words from all the bands are cds are nice too.
amongst the favourites, heaven and hell, kil the king, egypt, rainbow eyes and don't talk to strangers.
few more words are really needed...

9/10 for attitude and quality obtained. nice to have.

The Elder

Although it is acclaimed as the worst Kiss record, I wouldn't say so. It is clear that it is not a RNR record, but it is not a ballad neither. It is a conceptual, and it is not the best of the conceptuals I've ever seen (The Last Temptation would be the greatest), and it has its shinning moments.
The most memorable tune is a world without heroes. It is a fantastic song which arrives deep within. Under the rose, dark light and just a boy are great songs too. And only you, which has been covered by Doro shines with bright light also. And the opener, the oath is great too.
I do not like mr blackwell, and odyssey and escape from the island are just average, but then the record finishes with I, which is a duet Paul/Gene and it is great too. So, why the worst? Because it is not heavier? Well ...

Strange cover, since it is the first the make up is not in there ...

8/10 nice to have

Starkers in Tokyo

Why I bought this record is a mystery to me ... but I guess this was because Whitesnake is a great group. The price did not helped, but I wanted to make sure the guitars & the voice how they sounded. And they did it pretty good. Sailing ships, the deeper the love, love ain't no stranger, is this love, here I go again sounded really good, even the faster ones as give me all your love tonight.
The new ones was 50/50, Too many tears and Don't fade away were great, but can't go on was a bit boring for me. Anyway the stars in my opinion are don't fade away from restless heart, which is superb and the Deep Purple rendition, soldier of fortune which is absolutely great too.
The record is enjoyable, not to rock, but to relax with great music and great performance too.

9/10 nice to have

Metal Crusade 99

This one was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of some of the best groups of NWOBHM.

Praying Mantis
Tank
Trespass
Samson

It is a live record, japanese one, of course, who are the countries who has always supported this kind of music, and make them feel as the real rock stars they are ?

Praying mantis offer a set list based in the timeless time tells no lies.
Trespass set includes the 2 great songs: one of these days and stormchild. Though I liked very much Visionary Dreams.
Tank and Samson are still a bit unknown to me, musically speaking, i need to heard them a bit more. But This Means War is included.

8/10 indispensable for nwobmh fans

Dangerous Games

A great record. Almost impossible to find. I have the japanese version.
Graham Bonnet vocals are awesome and composition is good. Not Malmsteen, nor Vai. But Danny Johnson gets criminally underrated. Ok, the guitar does its job and lets the voice shine, and maybe that is why this record may be so overlooked. But trust me, it is great!
It's my life, Ohayo, Tokyo, undercover are great songs
only one woman is the ballad that despite being a cover is absolutely brilliant. That song put Graham into rock map, and got Ritchie Blackmore to call him (because he had such a voice to replace -Dio's-, and he managed to get a real well deserved substitute).
And songs as blue boar -explaining night life rock star style- and dangerous games -drug addiction perils- are really great too.
Double man and the witchwood, a rocker and a mellower one. Great.
So this record kept forgotten because the guitar did not have such a name, or so anxious to get solo. This is my vision :-D

9/10 brilliant, a nice surprise

Time3

This one was my first 3cd box. And I had it ordered. And I found it not very expensive, and when i opened my eyes were shining :-D
All Journey's history in a 56 pages booklet and 3 great cds. I have to say that the first period (pre-Perry) was unknown to me. The fusion-rock style was not my cup of tea, but i found some songs really brilliant. A little story from each song was available, and these are the things fans love :-)
Of a lifetime was the tune that i found it shone above the rest. but the rest were not bad.
Talking about the second period (pre-cain). The band seemed to reach popularity, but not massive. There are interesting songs as patienly, little girl, wheel in the sky, too late and lights. Most of them are not great songs but good. The Captured record was a disappointment when i wanted to see how the band was live. I prefer the studio, but also the songs were not great great.
And then we come to the third period in which Jonathan Cain joins the band. A string of awesome songs made Journey shine as they never had to. Esc4p3, Frontiers and Raised on radio are the trilogy that made them unstoppable. Don't stop believin, who's cryin' now, open arms, still they ride, mother father, separate ways, send her my love, faithfully, after the fall, the eyes of a woman, why can't this night go on forever, happy to give, be good to yourself... These are not great, all are awesome!! :-)
Also added ask the lonely, only the young, only solutions, la raza del sol, a couple of instrumentals and a live rendition of i'll be alright without you.

Journey has been the combination of Perry, Cain & Schon songs. Quality trademark.

10/10 for journey fans. Awesome.

The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper

And this one you have to love it too. Alice Cooper is a legend and this box pays tribute to one of the most charismatics rock stars, and the one which combines to perfection music and theatrics.
4cds. Almost 80 songs. Nice and cool booklet. Is this so hard to understand what fans do we like?

I'm 18, is it my body, ballad of dwight fry, undermy wheels, be my lover, desperado, dead babies, killer, school's out, elected, billion $ babies, muscle of love, teenage lament ... All the songs when this was 'Alice, the band'.
Welcome to my nightmare, only women bleed, department of youth, -oh, Steven's not in here :-( -, I never cry, go to hell, you and me ... from when it was 'Alice, solo'.
Pain, from the inside, see me in the mirror ... These ones belong to his dark part, his songs here were darker and stranger :-S
And finally we go to his second coming: he's back, freedom, poison, only my heart talkin', lost in america, it's me ... And finishes with stolen prayer...
I saw finally last year Alice in concert, and if you missed him, better watch out live at montreaux, and see how your jaws are on the floor.
And I still think Alice has not said his final word, since he has made since this box, Brutal planet, Dragontown, The eyes of alice and Dirty diamonds ... so be prepared for more :-D

10/10 for alice fans.

Too hot to handle

This is a best of compilation from one of my best beloved bands ever.
Ufo concert in 2004 was the concert of my life

The songs here featured are:
only you can rock me, doctor doctor & lights out from strangers in the night (live), and the rest:
long gone, profession of violence, let it rain, this time, lettin' go, let it roll, shoot shoot, blinded by a lie, natural thing ...
It is a 18 songs compilation with a very interesting 8 pages booklet (as all should be and always are not!)

Anyway, it is a magnific compilation.

After getting all their records, i went for the dvd. The story of Ufo. Absolutely briliant and recommended since the footage appearing si from 78/79/80s and it is just in-cre-di-ble. you ought to be a fool not to get it :-) but, I am a fan-atic :-). Steve Harris & Def Leppard comment the dvd, as well as the band, Mogg, Way and Michael mainly.

10/10 both brilliant.

Frontiers

What happens when you find a record with so many outstanding songs?
These days it is soo difficult... Journey released this masterpiece in 82 or 83.
Separate ways (worlds apart) is not brilliant, is outstanding. send her my love & faithfully are 2 of the most beautiful ballads in history.
Faithfully, open arms, wh0's crying now, separate ways, don't stop believin, only the young, why can't this night go on forever, the eyes of a woman, happy to give are all perfect songs, all penned by the trio Cain-Schon-Perry. I will talk about them in time3.
After the fall is another brilliant song.
Edge of the blade is one of the most powerful songs in metal. Who said journey only wrote ballads??

This record is to listen, the songs become instantly classics in your mind. The addition of Jonathan Cain to the couple Perry-Schon made them enter into stardom. Some say that esc4p3 is the finest aor record in history. Well, this was heavier and as good as that one. Raised on radio finishes the trilogy which has to be in any discography, in my opinion.

Well, with these songs, who cares about the normal ones ...

10/10 absolutely brilliant. classic timeless songs.

Freight train heart

With self titled Wasp first record were the ones I first bought by mail.
Why this one? just one reason. Jonathan Cain & Neal Schon contributed, so it could not be very bad.
Well, it is not really indispensable, but it has a couple of great tunes: Waiting for the heartache and the one that logged into my head Last frontier, a great one, with feelin', which would have made a better title... :-)

Driving wheels and too much ain't enough love are not bad ones. Even walk one with Joe Lynn Turner... but the rest are really forgetable. Desmond Child collaborates too.
Jimmy Barnes has a good voice, but maybe the weak point is composition, or maybe I am on another phase...
Anyway it is not a bad record, for which I could be disappointed (as few others I have ... :-( ). even I bought Jimmy's compilation ...

6/10 nice to have

Def Leppard singles

Being a Def Leppard's collector is hard... so I gave up after taking in mind that it would be expensive, and not always ... (hardly ever) would find what I was looking for. At least I have some cool stuff. Here it is:

Have you ever needed someone so bad is the typical ballad it will always please your girlfriend. Sorry girls ;-). It is nice.
But the one that I like most is the slow From the inside, in which I guess the band was thinking in Steve Clark ...
You can't always get what you want is a nice RS cover, and Little wing, a Hendrix cover is not bad at all.


10/10 expensive, but pleasant

Heaven is, as the last one are Adrenalize songs. Good one too.
She's too tough will come in Retroactive, as well as From the inside.
the other 2 songs are live renditions, from alice elected and the first track from adrenalize, let's get rocked.



9/10 expensive, but nice


Tonight is the ballad from Adrenalize, so it deserves its own single.
Now i'm here, Queen song and the excellent Photograph, live versions both.




8/10 expensive, but nice

Here it ends Adrenalize singles

Two steps behind. A nice song from last action hero OSB and from Retroactive record. about the picture, well, we'd better forget ;-)
also included tonight and a little instrumental, absolutely worthless s.m.c.



6/10 expensives, just nice to have


when love & hate collide. a great song. A real power ballad. Of course I can get blamed from hm ... but, who cares ;-)

Excitable, rocket, armaggedon as Hysteria remixes ... absoultely forgetables.



6/10 expensives, just nice to have

Slang. from Slang, not a bad song but a really strange one. At least for Def Leppard. A total change of style.

A nice couple of ballads: Can't keep away from the flame and When love and hate collide (piano & string version). Neither indispensable.


8/10 expensive, but nice

Dynasty

1978. Kiss was about to break, so the master play to keep them together was to release all 4 Kiss solo albums. After those ones, it came an interesting surprising record.

Is this pop? Is it disco? May it seem a bit danceable?

This record did not please to the die hard heavy metal fans. But it pleased to most of Kiss die hards, since this is why they call themselves Kiss die hards.
I was made for lovin' you had nothing to do with love gun or detroit rock city, but it is so classic that it takes part of the live set.
2000 man, the RS cover is really good, and Ace's voice is great. Sure know something is really good, but it is soft and mellow. I love the video.
Dirty living has nothing to do with great Peter songs as hard luck woman or Beth... :-(
charisma. Well, what can have always Gene in mind? Guessed! Absolutely brilliant. The lyrics just fit in. Magic touch, another incredible tune, why so underrated?
Hard times and x-ray eyes are above average and save your love is another time for Ace to shine.
Great record.

10/10 brilliant

Captured Alive in Tokyo City

This is Praying Mantis official live album from 96.
It was not easy to get this one since it is a 2cd limited japanese edition, and it is a nice one since it comes in a slip case with several booklets and cards.
It also was released in dvd, but in this one the content is cut. At least it has 6 bonus videos, including borderline, can't see the angels, only the children cry, letting go, this time girl. These ones justify the dvd alone. And it was even harder to get than the 2cd.

Well, let's go to the music. The singer is Gary Barden. I really think he did not fit (his voice) very well in Mantis legacy, and probably To the power of ten is the worst Mantis record. And this live record is based on TTPOT tour, so ...
Anyway, the majority of the songs here are great. Victory, Cry for the new world, Can't see the angels, Only the children cry, Welcome to my hollywood, turn the tables, Cheated, Letting go, Lovers to the grave ... and Captured city.
Just seeing that the tour recorded would have been from the following record ... That would have been incredible.
Anyway, anyhow, it is a nice package.

10/10 for the video, mantis fans only.

8/10 for the record, again mantis/nwobhm fans only.

Love it to Death

Bought it by the wrong reasons... or not?
I loved poison, i think it was the first Alice song i heard. Found this one and say, ok let's try.
Freaky cover, isn't it? :-)
The style was very different (nearly 20 years in between), but it was a record that after few listenings, I couldn't help but to love it .. to death.

I'm eighteen, caught in a dream, black juju, long way to go, is it my body, second comming, hallowed be thy name, ballad of dwight fry... this is timeless, this will stand the test of time ever. Just a word to describe it: incredible

In 2005 Dirty diamonds tour, 3 songs still played from there, and since 71, Alice has done lots of records. The ones elected were 18, is it my body, and of course, for the theatric part, dwight fry.
This is a greatest hits record anyhow anyway

Maybe you do not like since it is ooold... Well, it may seem old, listen to Alice live playing this songs, and check if you still do not like it ... nevermind!

10/10 classic timeless

A sultan's ransom

... Once i've read this was the finest record in hm ever. Something as absolute timeless except the stupid cover. I agree for the cover, and the quality of what is behind is quite good. It is real good. Not the finest, but good enough.
One of the pearls of nwobhm? well, maybe i would find the self titled debut album more shining, but i really can't deny that this is good enough.
The version i have is a bootleg -try to get the original!!, and advise where- , but nicely packaged with 4 bonus songs and lyrics, but it really lacks great sound inside. Shame! Made by the fans, maybe?
Anyway for the songs i really find outstanding: 1001 nights, forgotten heroes, astral riders and mistress of the forest. The last one, really nice intro. And also it is a record you can listen from begin to end wihtout disliking very much any song.
The imagery is not the same as the first record, even it only last lee payne from original Cloven Hoof line up, and the sound it is clearly not the same but the metal spirit lives on, the music is good and this is what it worthes.

9/10 for nwobhm fans mainly and also heavy metal ones :)

Ballads & Blues

Gary Moore's ballads and blues. I love Gary Moore's hard rock. I hate his blues. I like his ballads. This could be more or less the summary. After hearing Wild frontier, I bought this one, just to find that here is featured the weakest song of the mentioned record. But let's go for the winners of it. Always gonna love you, empty rooms, still got the blues and Parisienne Walkways. These 3 songs are outstanding, except that the version live from Walkways is not the one I would have picked ... :-S ... the perennial parisienne song has only one voice: Phil Lynott. I do not have words to describe this song. Just listen to it. However I discovered another great song. One day. The other songs with the exception of Johnny boy are very weak for me. I do not need them rockers or ballads or bluesier, just good ;-) Still got the blues is not a great song for me. As i always thought, it is a kind of variation from the loner, a song I really love. I miss Spanish guitar too.

 7/10 nice to have

The last temptation

1994. The new record from Alice. Just a look to the cover art... wow, nice!
Could you believe the music is the follow up to Trash or Hey stoopid? ... no ... even better!

The last temptation is a real concept album whose main character Steven deals with the devil, who is trying to capture him for his purposes... (guess who plays the devil!) Based on a Neil Gailman comic, the lyrics follow the comic which follow the music brilliantly.

Not a weak song. Not a real classic one, as Billion dollar babies, School's out or Welcome to my nightmare, but 100% good damm songs, which, without reaching the classic status are worth of a perfect alice cooper record... Perfect hard rock melodic.

You, me
Understand
Shake my hand
Last chance, little man
Ain't it grand
It's a bargain, it's a steal
30 pieces of silver
And a deal's a deal
Sign upon the dotted line
I'll be yours and you'll be mine
Nothing's free

Nothing's free, cleansed by fire, you're my temptation, the ballad it's me, bad place alone -in which there is an interesting definition of the characters as explained in the comic, so the music follows-, stolen prayer, and the one who makes the show lost in America.

I also got the comic years later. since i only had part 1 and 3.
To read and listen ... on Halloween ;-)

Comic
9/10 great reading for Alice fans

music:
10/10 absolutely brilliant

Am i evil? The anthology

Diamond Head is a band i know thanks to the am i evil? song that Metallica -credit to them, they deserve it- have sworn to play it at every gig. and when I heard the original one, I said, listen this is not a good voice but a great one. Sean Harris.
Sucking my love became instantly favorite, despite its 9 minute long, this song is just incredible, a real sonic orgasm ;-) . Great and intense solos. Brian Tatler.
Helpless was another song Metallica used to cover. And I could talk and talk about the songs of my beloved band and I would not be fair or partial, 'cos I love them.
Borrowed Time brought them less raw and more maturity, the songs became maybe more complex. Listen to In the heat of the night solo, it is one of the best ever. Canterbury was one of the first epic records, and as i read it was light years ahead its time. Ishmael, to the devil its due ... Sadly it does not have master track Canterbury. Did it had love songs too? One more night, well, it is not necessary to talk always about drugs, death and whatever all the time!

Led Zeppelin successors?. Absolutely yes. They were creative, innovators and made not good music, but some of the best I can hear anywhere anyhow. They did what they wanted, with no compromise attitude. Sadly the band was poorly managed, so poorly ... And a good manager made some groups to reach stardom in an easier way, and when money is welcomed ... Well, it is true, in other cases, money leads you to destruction, but it is mainly your fault if you are not able to manage your success, I would say you sadly deserve it, I won't name any, but surely you can bring to your mind 2 clear examples ... :-S

Well, this is an anthology of my favourite group.

28 songs, makes a good route around DH career.
Good booklet. 16 pages, with photos & comments from various reporters.
It does not contain the lyrics, as most of them -except if they are japanese - with a nice slipcase.

Just bought it for pleasure since I had all the songs except the acoustic ones, the Acoustic EP.
I had many opportunities to buy it in ebay for a fixed price, and even i have enough DH collections i did not want to buy it. why? i just heard such was my love instead of sucking my love, and can't blame the group but i did not want to keep that one in memory so I just forgot it ;-)

10/10 am i evil? yes i am :-D

Unmasked

This record is interesting. Dynasty showed Kiss through not pop music but near to disco. A thing Kiss was never meant to be. Sacrilege! So what?
As always, heavy metal fans have always thought that 'their' bands never must be sold. They need to be loyal to their fans & style ever... well, a band has its right to evolve. Take it or leave it. Only they decide.
This record is not bad at all. It does not have much in common with Destroyer, but the hooks and melodies are there.
Is that you? funny lyrics, I think that was part of the live set when kiss did the 80s tour in Sydney?

Your reputation's in the bathroom,
it's on the wall and down the hall
I hear you're cheatin' with my teacher after school,
tell me what you do
When you know, you always get the boys you like
Play nice, then stick them with your knife,
take off your insecure disguise

Shandi, a classic love song. Even a video was shot.
Talk to me. Ace continues to sing and he can do it well. Love the video, a tv appaerance.
Naked city. Gene, a mellower song but with great melody.

Street vampires in the night,
young lovers and love at first sight
This is my flesh and my fantasy
Older women with younger men,
I've got a feelin' I'm in trouble again
But I've got to live my destiny

Classic Gene style ;-) great!
What makes the world go round, tomorrow , classic Paul's. You've got to love them.
Two sides of the coin, is ace again, and quite good.
She's so european and easy at it seems are great songs too. I can forget about the rest.

So, 9 songs out of 11 that are really good. Yes, no love gun, Detroit rock city or hard luck woman. True, but great ones. The worst Kiss record? No! Indispensable? No, but worth a listening, if you are not looking for aggresive style as unholy, deuce, god of thunder or psycho circus

8/10 nice to have

Predator in disguise

I remember buying this record, as it was yesterday... Why? It was friday, after my first work week. And this record was my first gift i made myself for my first job.
Can't see the angels is a great melodic anthem to begin with. a classic. she's hot, i do not like it, and can't wait forever is somehow weak... but then it comes this time girl, and the great time slipping away. 2 great rock songs which will give way to a real nice ballad, listen what your heart says. this ballad got me haunted for some time. i found it really fantastic and beautiful.
still want you and the instrumental the horn are good enough, and then we will finish with 2 more gems: battle royal and borderline. you can guess their theme.
i read in an interview with chris troy that one main theme that is always present in mantis is death. no matter is love, no matter is death, no matter is whatever, as long as the songs are good, no matter what. and praying mantis signature for me is always i can trust at.

it is a solid record, not super-rocker, not extra-softer, but something in-between. great hard rock

9/10 great to have

Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels

I do not have any Lizzy record... but ... :-)
I have this box. Well, I lie, I have a miserable best of, a discography piece of crap, in which there are 19 songs with a f**king booklet of 4 pages, with no photos, nor lyrics which cost many euros long ago... :-(

But this box ... this is something great. Nearly 80 songs. All Lizzy great songs. I would have included John Sykes collaboration Please don't leave me, and this would have been perfection. All classics, all unreleased, all are here, every song with its details (I would have preferred an explanation of the heroes...), and a little story from the beloved Phil Lynott, one of the greatest songwriters of the century, and author of such gems as Parisienne walkways, old town, the sun goes down, don't believe a word, still in love with you, whiskey in the jar, hollywood, chinatown, nineteen, the rocker, dear miss lonely hearts, waiting for an alibi, bad reputation, renegade, the boys are back in town ...

There is a demon among us
whose soul belongs in hell
Sent here to redeem us,
she knows it all to well
He comes and goes, he comes and goes,
she knows it all too well
But when all is said and done ...
The sun goes down

This is how a discography can pay tribute to the people who have made them earn so much money.

He's just a boy that his lost his way
He's a rebel that has fallen down
He's a fool been blown away
To you and me he's a renegade

we can talk also of the guitars here -which they great job, by the way-: Gary Moore, John Sykes, Scott Gorham, Snowy White, but truth is that Thin Lizzy was Phil Lynnot

Think I'll just fall to pieces
If I don't find something else to do
This sadness never ceases
I'm still in love with you

My head, it keeps on reeling
It's got me in a crazy spin
Darling, darling, darling
Is this the end?

Still in love with you

10/10 outstanding for Lizzy fans

Catch the Rainbow

A tribute band, for a tribute record for one of the most influencial bands from all-time.
Ritchie Blackmore teaming up with Ronnie James Dio, for the first part, Graham Bonnet, for the second part, and Joe Lynn Turner for the third part of the history of the band made a unique trademark. Rainbow was perhaps the ultimate band. They evolved from Dio's mystical magical songs to Joe Lynn's love romantic songs.
Guys from Gamma Ray, Helloween and Primal Fear mainly, somehow commanded by Uli Kusch pay a real nice tribute.

Kill the king, 16th century, stargazer, lost in hollywood, catch the rainbow, I surrender, spotlight kid, man of the silver mountain, rainbow eyes, eyes of the world, still I am sad ... all great versions from the original songs, great perfomed...

I have all Rainbow records in LP except for down to earth which I will speak for in short.

10/10 brilliant

Pump

I always loved this one. 1989 Pump from Aerosmith. I mean, I like Aerosmith oldies, but when I heard Pump this was too much!
this was a perfect record to rock.

This one was my last ebay adquisition limited edition. Do you remember the cow limited edition from Get a grip. Well, this is in leather, and it really looks cool. COOL!. A friend told me I was a bit freaky ... :-D , can't help it. For 10$, a new record limited edition ... :-) ... and sooo coooool
The only issue is again, the lyrics ... Well discographics are not too popular nowadays, but they have earned it enough, so they deserve it :-S
Young lust, F.I.N.E. great starters. Then we go to love in an elevator, and to finish the a side: Janie's got a gun, which is absolutely not great, but outstanding.
Monkey on my back, hoodoo voodoo, my girl are just alright.
The other side, another to rock, and what it takes the nice ballad which was the follow up to Angel in Permanent vacation.

10/10 brilliant

Slave to the grind

Second record for Skid Row. 1991. Heavy metal.
Seb Bach's vocals are great and compositions just seem to perfectly fit in. However I would say that are the mid tempo ones the ones that i appreciate more.

Monkey business opens the record, after a soft guitar accords, the songs gets heavier and heavier. Slave to the grind begins and finishes heavy. Both songs great ones.
Then I become interested in Quicksand jesus, strange title isn't it?. A mid tempo, but with the vocals intensity becomes great.
Get the fuck out just reminds you how to think in a person you do not specially like ;-)
Riot act, and then the greatest In a darkened room, a great power-ballad which help to make Skid Row a name amongst the biggest.
Wasted time another great mid tempo which was favorite of mine time ago.

Skid Row are not indispensable as some books may say. I can't even think they are amongst the 50 greatest HM bands from all history, but they could have been if the band would not have done a really horrible third record, nothing to do with first and second, and later to part ways. Shame! It was a great young promise.

8/10 nice to have

Disturbing the peace

The follow up for No parole from rnr. Graham Bonnet teaming up with the still unknown Steve Vai.
Good record, but very different from the other axeman, Yngwie Malmsteen.
God blessed video, wire and wood, mercy, heavy but melodic.
a softer one comes with will you be home tonight. Anyway the unique vocals from Graham are the trademark in all Alcatrazz records, so no matter who is playing the guitar. ;-)
Desert diamond, again slow one.
Stripper and painted lover, are not as good, but then we come to Sons and lovers, the best one, a great one. Great hook and melody.
Skyfire & breaking the heart of the city are not bad at all.

I have the japanese version, since I've never seen any other version, and it is time it was a lot of money out of my pocket. Indispensable? well if you love Graham's voice, yes ...

Interesting to watch Powerlive '85 with Steve, and Metallic live '84 with Yngwie. Both edited in Japan, but i guess you can find easily the dvd in ebay ;-), for example

8/10 nice to have

From the gutter to the stage

The best of Savatage.
Interesting group this one too. First records were heavy metal. But since Gutter Ballet, the band managed to make themselves a name because of the classical music influence.
Gutter Ballet is the first track i heard from this record in which you can see the heavy/classical arrangements. Really impressive. The track before 24 hours ago was interesting but not so much for me.
And its follow up, When the crows are gone I would say it is the perfect example of a power ballad, a mixture soft but heavy, exquisite, with great lyrics too.
Then we go to another favorite, Edge of thorns, and believe, a classic track since it is said the most mentioned song in fan mail ...? but a great one, anyway.
Chance is quite different, since it is a five part harmonized counter point, and it wants to mix the opera moment, something similar maybe to Bohemian Rhapsody to metal. It is dedicated to Chris Oliva, the main guitar from the band who lost his life because of a drunk driver. Main composer Jon Oliva is the soul of the band.
Rock Opera? listen to Mozart and madness, this instrumental is really heavy and with the classical arrangement it sounds fantastic.

A bonus disc with four songs more ... I wonder if it was too expensive to add some more ... :-S

A nice record hits all together, which came also with a patch, a nice bonus :-D
Savatage style is original, from their own, they made their own path, and they succeed.

9/10 a must have.

1987

A black cat moans
when it's burning with the fever
A stray dog howls
when he's lonely in the night
A woman goes crazy
with the thoughts of retribution
But, a man starts weeping
when he's sick and tired of life

With these words begins Crying in the rain, one of the multiple million-dollar songs this record is filled with.
Bad boys, children of the night, straight for the heart, fast pure hard rock songs.
give me all your love, still of the night, here i go again, a softer one, all these songs got videos, for MTV.
is this love, the infamous song every girl fell in love with. Hey, watch the video ;-)

Two bonus songs: looking for love, you're gonna break my heart again

This record is quite intense, quite uniform, and it is a real record to rock on. I really could not enhance one song over the other, you can hear it everytime from beginning to end, and when finished, you will say ... already?

John Sykes and David Coverdale entered in history with this album, teaming with Gun's Appetite and Lepp's Hysteria, to top sales in 1987.

For the 1987 versions japanese version that i have -the black one- i would like to enhance Standing in the shadows, another hypnothical version, how i love them!

10/10 brilliant

Pure Instinct

Scorpions from 1996. It is a great record. The one which turned my faith in the Scorpions, as i only found them a good group but just above the average.
But as Unbreakable in 2004, Pure Instinct is complete. Sadly :-( no songs from this one where in 2004 Unbreakable tour, one of the concerts i remember with great joy.

Wild child opens the album, and as all the songs in this one it is filled with great hooks and melodies. Great start. Also continuing with But the best for you.
Does anyone know is the first mid tempo semi ballad. Very nice one.
Stone in my shoe is maybe the hevier, but not necessarily the best for me, maybe it would be the worst song in the record.
Soul behind the face and Time will call your name are soft mid paced songs, and then we come for the big ballads. When you came into my life. Instant hit which i liked since first listening.
You and i is the other one, and was my by then girlfriend who liked more than i, a great song anyway.

Are you the one was another heart soul ballad as only scorpions know how to do it. I agreed with one friend, long time ago, this was areally nice one. Es la bomba! (Marticorena said :-)

My favorite song maybe is When the river flows, in which i do not know why, but it touches me very deep. :-)

Kiss of borrowed time is a bonus song which comes in the single when you came into my life.

The Scorpions had their sting back with this one.

10/10 brilliant.

Best of Witchfynde

Witchfynde. Find the witch? Satanic messages going backwards?? :-D :-D :-D

Another interesting group from nwobhm. Did a first record give 'em hell and was a classic. Try to find it 2 years ago, japanese versions in ebay left you the pocket out of money! The reissue, from this year was more economic. But i had before the best of, a safe collection in which, lyrics did not appear and the booklet was not the nicest you've ever seen ... but 16 songs were the deal.
6 songs out of 7 from give'em hell, in which leaving nadir and give'em hell were the standout tracks. I read in a review that one guy thought Nadir was the name of a girl ;-P, well that was funny ...
Moon magic was a bit commercial, come'on! I can't stand this sh*t ever! if a song may become popular, some people say it is commercial, instead of how good could it be the riff that you can like it instantly. It is one of those songs you can not stop listening, hypnothic. In the stars, stage fright -which gave title to the second record, even more complicated to found than the first one ... :-S -
The third record Cloack and dagger is represented by its title track too, I'd rather go wild, cry wolf, devil's playground...

It is a more than average good heavy metal from early eighties.

8/10 indispensable NWOBHM

Stand in Line

I was somehow obsessed by this voice -Graham Bonnet's-, and i had to complete his collection. Stand in line however is a fine record. Short, but good anyhow. I could not understand the philosophy from Chris, in which the solos need to go faster and faster ... :-S ... the music has to be good, faster or slower, i do not care!
Stand in line, secret lover, goodnight & goodbye are instant favourites. Fast songs, but what is important, great songs.
Tonight i fly is slower, and it is good, but it is not a ballad as you may expect, just slower.
Somewhere over the rainbow is instrumental and a cover from Rainbow since you've been gone, I would say i prefer the original :-/
white and perfect & leviathan are ok. The other instrumental playing with fire, is not for me ...

8/10 great to have