(9/10) It was in July 2013 when this DVD was filmed. Queen's guitarist Brain May played a show in Montreux, Switzerland together with musical star Kerry Ellis. In the Stravinski Auditorium the duo played a set full of Queen classics, ballads and cover version. 

The whole show as well as the earlier concerts in 2012 and 2013 have been named as the Born Free tour. 'Born Free' is the conservation and animal rescue organisation founded by Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers. Brian May is supporting 'Born Free' and by having the shows he together with Kerry Ellis created a bigger awareness for the organisation and animal welfare. It's good to see that people like May and Ellis use their popularity for these kind of social engagements. My respect.

The acoustical show is just May and Ellis supported in the background by keyboards. The songs are well chosen and are a good mix between silent and rockin ones. There are the Queen anthems like the awesome acoustic version of "'39" and "Love of my life". This just timeless music and it's always a pleasure to listen to these songs. The stripped down "Tie your mother down" got a totally new dress which makes the song even more attractive. "We will rock you" is the hymn which we know for so may years. Great to hear the tune with female vocals. Kerry does this in a perfect way and it shows the range of her voice.

Than there are other tracks like "The kissing me song" which was written by May shortly before the 2012 shows. It's a song with a faster pace, an awesome hookline and a chachy chorus. Ellis' voice fits perfect to this 'rocker'. With "Something" the duo interprets a song which George Harrison wrote for the Beatles and with "Last horizon" May wants to find out "how much noise he can make with this little baby", which his guitar. A cool instrumental moment showing the capability of the famous Queen six stringer and also how much noise he can make.

Kansas' "Dust in the wind" became a beautiful acoustic version which makes you dreaming. It's an wonderful interpretation of the classic rock ballad. "Born free" is a tune which is specially written for the 'Born free' foundation. The video in the background emphasis the importance of wild life and animal rescue. Thumbs up.

"Crazy little thing called love" rounds off an awesome evening in Montreux. I hope that this duo will do a few more shows and maybe even releases a album. There seems to be a magic between the two of them which is difficult to describe, but you can feel it.

I could continue writing about the DVD, but it's much better if you stop reading and watch this show. Great music performed by experienced and passionated musicians. This is a pleasure for your ears and eyes. Enjoy the show.

(9/10)

The CD, which is part of the package, was recorded already earlier. This concert happened in autumn 2012 and also contains a slightly different setlist, which makes the entire package exciting.

A nice package from the legendary Queen six stinger and the "first lady of West End". Beautiful music which is the perfet soundtrack for a relaxed Sunday.

Tracklist DVD:

1. I who have nothing
2. Dust in the wind
3. Born free
4. Somebody to love
5. Nothing really changed
6. Life is real
7. The way we were
8. '39
9. Something
10. Last horizon
11. Love of my life
12. The kissing me song
13. Tie your mother down
14. We will rock you
15. No one but you
16. Crazy little thing called love

Tracklist CD:

1. Born free
2. I love a butterfly
3. I who have nothing
4. Dust in the wind
5. The kissing me song
6. Nothing really has changed
7. Life is real
8. The way we were
9. Something
10. Love of my life
11. I'm not that girl
12. I can't be your friend
13. In the bleak midwinter
14. Crazy little thing called love
15. No one but you (only the good die young)

Label: Eagle Vision

Genre: Rock 

New Yorks thrashers Overkill revealed the cover from their coming record "White devil armory". In addition - here is the tracklist:

Tracklist:

01. Freedom Rings 
02. Where There's Smoke...
03. Pig
04. Amorist
05. Down To The Bone
06. Bitter Pill
07. King Of The Rat Bastards 
08. Another Day To Die
09. It's All Yours
10. In The Name

Hardcore legend Sick Of It All is on tour in Europe this summer. Here are the dates:

18.07.14 (D) Dieburg - Traffic Jam Open Air 
19.07.14 (B) Dour - Dour Festival 
20.07.14 (B) Cuxhaven - Deichbrand Festival
22.07.14 (H) Budapest - Budapest Park 
23.07.14 (A) Graz - P.P.C. 
25.07.14 (D) Essen - Nord Open Air 
26.07.14 (D) Bausendorf - Riez Open Air 
27.07.14 (D) Paaren - Greenville Festival 
29.07.14 (F) Bartenheim - Caf'Conc des 3 Fronti貥s
01.08.14 (E) Viveiro - Resurrection Fest 
02.08.14 (F) Biarritz - Atabal
03.08.14 (F) Albi - Xtreme Fest 
05.08.14 (I) La Spezia - Spazio Boss 
06.08.14 (SLO) Tolmin - Punk Rock Holiday
07.08.14 (D) Munich - Free & Easy 
08.08.14 (D) Torgau - Endless Summer Open Air 
09.08.14 (CZ) Jaromer - Brutal Assault Festival

(8/10) While eveybody is waiting for the new album "Ruining lives" from Prong, the groove metal guys from New York released via Bandcamp a kind of "best of..." official bootleg which deserves to be mentioned.

The band recorded this album in Berlin in the Trixx Studio in a break between two summer festivals in 2013. The entire album is recorded live and hasn't got any filters. The whole session didn't take longer than three days. That means that you have to do it with a raw and basic sound in a very good bootleg quality. 

From the songlist point of view nothing could have been done better. All the band's highlights and classics are on the list. The playlist is also very similar to the current tour setlist of the band. Therefore it's a good souvenir for all fans who have seen the trio live this spring.

Cool stuff which bridges the waiting time till the new album which will be released in April.

(8/10)

The bootleg was recorded in the line-up:

Tommy Victor - guitar and vocals

Jason Christopher - bass and backing vocals

Alexei Rodriguez - drums and backing vocals

Tracklist:

1. For dear life
2. Beg to differ
3. Unconditional
4. Lost and found
5. Cut-rate
6. Rude awakening
7. Broken peace
8. Another worldly device
9. Power to the damager
10. Close the door
11. Dark signs
12. Prove you wrong
13. Third from the sun
14. Steady decline
15. Snap your fingers, snap your neck
16. Whose fist is this anyway?
17. Irrelevant thoughts

Label: via bandcamp

Genre: Groove Metal

(8/10) Layment is a German heavy metal band which releases in these days their third album called "Of Gods & goats". You haven't heard about them earlier? No problem, we change this right her and right now.

Since their last album "Traces" the band had a change in their line-up and brought with Matthias Schweiger a new drummer into the band. The band from Herne, Germany has already a longer history. Starting in 1996 the band went through several line-up changes, released a few demos before they had their real full-length debut in 2007 up and running. 

What music are the six guys playing? I would describe it as classical heavy metal with catchy melodies. Songs like the real heavy and melodic "The seafarer" makes fun to listen to. The song is a bit in the tradition of Blind Guardian. "I am Kolossos" is a power metal tune per excellence which combines riffs and hooks to a great result. "This convenant" is another song you should check. Starting slow and acoustic the track builds up to a heavy beast with a very fast soli, doublebass parts and a great melodic chorus. The fastest track "Rejected son" hits you right into your face with a wall of guitars and a pumping beat which pushes the song on and on and on.

The production, done by Christian Köhle in the Sound-Of-Steel Studio, is heavy and strong, eventhough the drums could have been done better. But however the album got a real dense sound.

Also remarkable is the voice of singer Marosh Schmidt. This guy has an impressing range by doing the vocals. 

Hopefully this album will not be drowning in the sea of new all the new releases. I'm curious if we will hear more from the band in the future. They deserve it. Thumbs up!

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Another road
2. To the ravens
3. The seafarer
4. This convenant
5. Beauty beast
6. Rejected son
7. I am Kholossos
8. Of Gods and goats
9. Homewards
10. Long lost forever

Label: Yonah Records

Genre: Heavy Metal

(8/10) The new album of hardrock 'satirist' Steel Panther is called "All you can eat" and continues the journey which was started two records ago in 2009 with the debut "Feel the steel".  Steel Panther always remind me to a song from the earlier Whitesnake which is called "Wine, women and song". This goes actually very much for the band from L.A.. It could be their motto.

(*/10) Time is flying. It was already four years ago when one of the biggest voices in heavy metal lost the fight against f**king cancer. A sad day for all real metal fans and friends. Dio was not only a singer with an awesome and unique voice, he was also one of the most honored musicians in the entire scene. How big the impact of the small man with Italian roots was shows the list of musicians on this tribute album. The list of contributers sounds like the who is who of heavy metal - new and old.

Songs which are known from earlier releaes already are "Egypt (The chains are on)" performed by Doro Pesch, Killswitch Engaged's version of "Holy diver" and Adrenaline Mob, who take care about "The mob rules".

Next to those known tracks there are really cool new interpretations. Anthrax recorded a very impressing version of "Neon knights". The mosh kings stick very much to the original version - and Joey's voice fits perfect to this song. Also Corey Taylor's more modern version of "Rainbow in the dark" is a cool track. 

But the real exciting songs are from the 'old' guys. The Scorpions recorded a beautiful version of "The temple of the king". And the same goes for Glenn Hughes emotional interpretation of "Catch the rainbow". The are slightly different from the original by spreading the old magic.

The real highlight is Metallica's medley. They combine "A light in black", Tarot woman", Stargazer" and "Kill the king" to a nine minutes long super song which is just outstanding. They managed to bridge the gap between 'stick to the original' and 'make it yours'. The songs are from Dio, but they sound Metallica. This is professionalism, passion and experience.  It's the best thing I have heard from the thrash veterans since years. Guys, please take this energy and make use of it while recording the next studio album.

Songs which are OK, but don't reach the other covers are "Straigh through your heart" from Halestorm. This was a surprise to me since they had already two excellent EP's with cover songs. The desaster in my point of view is Tenacious D with "The last in line". You might say that this is a special version of the classic, but for me it just awful - with a flute solo part. OMG.

But however, the album contains 14 excellent tunes (expect the mentioned "The last in line" version) and is a MUST in your collection. And last but not least you are doing also something good with buying this record, since you directly support the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout fonds. A real 'win-win'.

(*/10)

PS: "This is your life" also makes one thing obvious. Dio stays Dio and the songs sounds best when they have been sung by the master himself with his charismatic voice. The album shows how big the loss was and is.

Tracklist:

1. “Neon Knights” – Anthrax*

2. “The Last In Line” – Tenacious D*

3. “The Mob Rules” – Adrenaline Mob

4. “Rainbow In The Dark” – Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci,

                                        Jason Christopher*

5. “Straight Through The Heart” – Halestorm*

6. “Starstruck” – Motörhead with Biff of Saxon*

7. “Temple Of The King” – Scorpions*

8. “Egypt (The Chains Are On)” – Doro

9. “Holy Diver” – Killswitch Engage

10. “Catch the Rainbow” – Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo,

                                       Scott Warren*

11. "I” – Jimmy Bain, Oni Logan, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy*

12. “Man On The Silver Mountain” – Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson,

                                                    Scott Warren*

13. Ronnie Rising Medley – Metallica*

14. “This Is Your Life” – Dio

15. "Buried alive" - Jasta*

* unreleased versions

Label: Rhino (Warner)

Genre: Heavy Metal

(6/10) Doom metal from the US. Rhode Island based Pilgrim released their new album "Void worship" which is their second release. 

The album opens with an intro before the first real songs starts. Slow riffs are the base for this 10 minutes long epical track. The tune is kept on a very slow pace and has an almost hypnotic beat. The "repetitive hypnosis-including dirges" (statement from the band) are planned but for me the song is a bit too long . Or in other words, there are too little surprises. It's a tough thing to pay attention to "Master chamber" all ten minutes long. Happy enough the speed increases with "The paladin". Down tuned guitars blow out of the speakers and remind to the earlier Sabbath days. For me the best song on "Void worship". There are two other pretty long songs on the record. The title track and the closing "Away from here" are tranferring 9 minutes full of sadness and depression. From the structure the songs are similar to "Master chamber". Heavy doom guitars are the base for both songs. But also hear a bit more varation and surprises would have been good in order to break the pattern of the song. 

"Void worship" is not a bad record. The production is powerful and the songs OK. For me the weak point of this album is, that I constantly had the feeling that I have heard all that stuff already earlier. What are the typical trademark of Pilgrim and how do they differ from bands like e.g. Pentagram? I haven't found the answer on this album. Maybe next time.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Master chamber
3. The paladin
4. Arcane sanctum
5. In the presence of evil
6. Void worship
7. Dwarven march
8. Away from here

Label: Metal Blade Records

Genre: Doom Metal

Setlist Prong:

1. For dear life
2. Beg to differ
3. Irrelevant thoughts
4. Unconditional
5. Eternal heat
6. Lost & found
7. Ruining lives (new track)
8. Third from the sun
9. Cutrate
10. Rude awakening
11. Turnover (new track)
12. Revenge best served cold
13. Broken piece
14. Another worldly device
15. Whose fist is this anyway?
16. Snap your fingers, snap your neck
17. Power of damage

Encore:

1. Carved into stone
2. Prove you wrong

​

Location: Patronaat, Haarlem, The Netherlands

Date: 27.03.2014

(9/10) The pre-conditions for the new Gamma Ray album haven't been really good. You all heard about the disaster which happened in Hamburg. In November last year a fire destroyed the entire Hammer Studios in Hamburg. What a shock. And I guess it was even a bigger shock for the band being on tour in South America at that time.

The only good thing was that the first recording for the new album haven't been destroyed. The same goes actually for most of the equipment and Hansen's guitars. Since the own studio wasn't existing anymore Gamma Ray decided to record in the Chameleon Studio in the Hansestadt. In the end Kai Hansen's reflection is that all the sad experience made the band even stronger.

Let's have a look into the new songs. The beginning is already a surprise. Not that many bands are brave enough to open with a more than nine minutes long epos. But Gamma Ray don't care about those details and have with "Avalon" an excellent first song. An tune which is convincing. I was reminded in some part to the band classic "Heading for tomorrow". The contrast to "Hellbent", which is also the first single release, could be bigger. Tune number two is a straight to the point speed metal track which includes all trademarks of the band like heavy riffs, fast soli and an awesome melody. The chorus reminds to Judas Priest "Hell bent for leather" which is not only based on the fact that the songtitels sound similar. "Pale rider" follows another pattern. The track grooves like hell, is kept on midpace and reminds from the guitars to Accept. "Master of confusion" is another fave of mine (actually I like all the songs). It's a song Helloween never wrote again after the famous "Keeper..." records. It also shows how important Hansen was for the songwriting of the pumkins gang. "Empire of the undead" just blows you away. High speed metal with exciting riffs and screaming guitar. It's like a tornado of tones. The first moment to breath is when you reached "Time for deliverence". After all those smashers also a needed break. The song is a beautiful half ballad which builds up along the way and becomes more rocking towards the end. The last three songs are also pretty good, but stand a bit back behind the earlier mentioned tunes. Most of the other bands in this genre would wish to have those songs on their albums, but for Gamma Ray it almost feels a bit like standard stuff. But those songs can't limit the very positiv impression of this record. Not at all.

"Empire of the undead" proves again that Gamma Ray doesn't get stuck in stereotypes. The album convinces with great songs and a big variety of styles by not denying the trademarks of the band. Gamma Ray has it's own identity and strengthen it even more with "Empire of the undead".

I'm very happy that after all the difficulties in the last weeks and months Gamma Ray managed to create a really strong record. "Empire of the undead" shows that Hansen was right when he said that the distaster made the band stronger. They are championsleague. An album which will end up in a lot of Top 5 albums charts in 2014 polls.

Just one aish in the end: COME TO HOLLAND ;o)

(9/10) 

Tracklist:

1. Avalon
2. Hellbent
3. Pale rider
4. Born to fly
5. Master of confusion
6. Empire of the undead
7. Time for deliverance
8. Demonseed
9. Seven
10. I will return

Label: ear Music

Genre: Speed Metal

(6/10) This album is difficult to describe. If you want to have a first indication I would say that you should compare it with e.g. Ghost Brigade, Opeth and Shining. We All Die (Laughing) plays a mix between art rock, black metal, prog metal and death metal. It is this mix which is pretty unique. But it's also the track(s) on the album. Actually the entire album is one track with 33 minutes plus a cover version from an Amy Winehouse song.

"Thoughscanning" is a half hour long journey through all seamy sides of life. Dark and mean the growls express all the aggression which lead to doublebass instrumental parts before clean vocals take over, supported by melodic soundscapes. Fear, sadness, melancholy, depression and anger rule on this album.

For me it's a bit too much of everything. I don't want to say that it is not good music. It just feels like the band wrote several parts and put them together into one extremly long song. It feels to me a bit unfinished and the link between the different parts doesn't fit. If this was meant to settle the listener it worked with me. 

As an add on We All Die covered with "Back to black" an Amy Winehouse songs, which they better would not have done. This has nothing to do with the band. To cover a song from such a unique person with an incredible voice just can go wrong. Unfortunatelly this cover version proves the theory.

I appreciate the willingness of Arno Strobl and Déhà to experiment and express pure emotions. But it's not really my cup or tea. Maybe it's because spring is coming.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. Thoughtscanning
2. Back to black

Label: Kaotoxin Records

Genre: Progressive Black Metal

(6/10) In German "be placed in a certain drawer" means that you literally place something in a drawer for storing it. But there is a second interpretation which means that you catagorise something. This was the first thought when I heard about Drawers ... actually a quite strange name for a metal band. But that's my own reflection. So in which drawer do we place Drawers? They play a mix of stoner, sludge and doom. 

After an EP and a full-length debut the band released their new album called "Drawers". If I look into the info sheet of the record company it says that Drawers songs have "heaviness, catchiness and a killer sense of groove". I wish I could agree with this statement. After I listened to the album I can confirm, that the band is heavy. Down tuned guitars play massive riffs, supported by pounding basslines and drums which creates a raging rhythm. 'Catchiness' I can't agree. Of course we are talking about sludge and not AOR, but still. With the groove it is similar. The good production creates a massive wall of sound but most of the songs aren't really grooving compared to what I read on the info sheet.

Songs I liked on the album are "It's all about love" with its almost Machine Head part in the middle and "Words", a song which IS grooving. Those are really cool tracks.

I could imagine that "Drawers" will be liked by sludge fans. For all the others it's probabaly better to check bands like Masterdon and Crowbar first.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. Once and for all
2. Mourning
3. It's all about love
4. Bleak
5. Take stock
6. Shadow dancer
7. Words
8. Detour

Label: Kaotoxin Records

Genre: Sludge- / Stoner Metal

(8/10) It's always a pleasure to listen to a new album from Swabian power metal institution Brainstorm. This has for me mainly two reasons. First of all the band released always excellent records with straight forward heavy metal tracks. Secondly Brainstorm has its origins in my hometown - Heidenheim. 

"Firesoul" is the name of the new album from five guys and I think that the title couldn't have been chosen better. It seems to me that the metal flame is still burning in the heart and soul of the Swabian metal band. They managed to keep the fire burning through the 25 years history of Brainstrom.

"Firesoul" is record number ten in the bands discography. As we mentioned earlier, discs from Brainstorm have been always very relevant. This continues also on the new album. "Firesoul" takes care about the typical Brainstrom trademarks. Massive riffs from the guitar duo Ihlenfeld/Loncaric, great vocal lines by Andy B. Franck and a solid rhythm foundation by Bernert and Ieva are the guarantor of powerful metal songs.

To use an old cliche: 'the album has no fillers, just killers'. The ten tracks are real aural treats.

Tracklist:

1. Erased by the dark
2. Firesoul
3. Descendants of the fire
4. Entering solitude
5. Recall the real
6. Shadowseaker
7. Feed me lies
8. What grows inside
9. The chosen
10. ... and I wonder

Label: AFM Records

Genre: Power Metal