dio

(8/10) Three years after having unveiled the “Notes from the Shadows”, Swedish metal outfit Astral Doors comes back with a new longplayer. The eighth studio album is entitled “Black Eyed Children” and features eleven new songs.

It’s no secret that the Swedish quintet is heavily influenced by classic rock and metal. Bands like Rainbow, Dio and Whitesnake are sources of inspiration and sometimes even a bit more. Astral Doors embeds these references into their sound and it’s the voice of singer Nils Johansson that strengthen them even more. He’s a great singer that comes with a vocal range that covers a width from Ronnie James Dio to David Coverdale.

If you liked the bands earlier releases you can also looking forward to this album because it will lead you to another state of euphoria. The guys from Borlänge loaded the album with eleven metal songs of which each them lives up to the typical Astral Doors sound.

The up-tempo “We Cry Out” marks the first peak on the album. Johansson sings at his best, enriching a song that reminds of the good old Dio days. A more silent beginning introduces you to “Walls” which is slowly building up to a well-done melodic rocker. Astral Doors cherishes classic rock and metal without just copying things. They add their own touch to songs like the wild and furious “Good vs. Bad”.

I mentioned David Coverdale earlier in this review and if you listen to “Suburban Song” you know what I’m talking about. Especially the verse sounds very much Whitesnake inspired.

The longest tune is also the album’s name giver. “Black Eyed Children” gives you seven minutes of nicely done heavy metal that includes a bombastic expression too. It’s a powerful track in more mid-tempo, climaxing in an awesome chorus. For me the best track on the album.

To conclude: Astral Doors added an album to their discography that reflects exactly what’s expected - traditional fine-crafted metal that finds it’s roots in the 80’s, with all the glory that comes with it.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. We Cry Out
2. Walls
3. God Is the Devil
4. Die on Stage
5. Tomorrow’s Dead
6. Good vs. Bad
7. Suburban Song
8. Lost Boy
9. Slaves to Ourselves
10. Black Eyed Children
11. Jesus Christ Movie Star

Label: Metalville

Genre: Heavy Metal

Release Date EU: April 28^th, 2017

(7/10) Oh man, there are some albums which are very tricky to write about. One of those records is "Heavy Crown" from Last In Line. There are two major things that make it that hard for me to write about it.

The first thing is the fact that "Heavy Crown" was Jimmy Bain's last album. The iconic bass player passed away in January this year and which means that the Last In Line album can be almost seen as a tribute to the great bassist. Rest in peace, bro.

Secondly it's strange in one or another way to hear 'Dio-like' music without the legendary singer. On the other hand Last In Line are, except Dio, the original members of the "Last in Line" session, so why not using the album title as the name for the band? Still, it feels strange.

Talking about the position of a singer, Vivian Campelly, Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain had to find someone that fits to this sound. Not an easy thing, knowing that, whoever it will be, he will have to face Dio-comparisons.

Andrew Freeman was the final choice for the job behind the mic and he does a pretty good job on "Heavy Crown". He has the profile of classic hardrock singer without sounding too much like Dio. That helps.

These four guys together created with "Heavy Crown" an album that sounds very professional and revitalizes the mentioned earlier Dio days.

I like the faster songs the most. "Martyr" is one of them and the straigh-forward "I am Revolotion" is another one. Esp. the latter is great since Bain's bass got quite some focus. Also the title track belongs to the smasher and the rocking "Already Dead" makes alive.

Unfortunately tracks like "Curse the Day" aren't that thrilling, at least when it comes to me.

In the end I think that "Heavy Crown" is a really good classic metal record, done by guys that are highly experienced. However, it also feels like they want benefit a bit from previous successes. Maybe it would have been an option to 'reunite' under a new banner, but in the end it's the music counts and that's good stuff.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Devil in Me
2. Martyr
3. Starmaker
4. Burn This House Down
5. I Am Revolution
6. Blame It On Me
7. Already Dead
8. Curse the Day
9. Orange Glow
10. Heavy Crown
11. The Sickness

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Heavy Metal

Release Date EU: February 19th, 2016

(7/10) What do you expect when Craig Goldy, Chas West, Sean McNabb and Vinny Appice team up to start a new project? At least my first thought was a Dio and Dokken hybrid. In case you had the same idea, not too far away from reality I must say.

The four guys founded Resurrection Kings. Actually it was again Serafino Perugino, the president of Frontiers Music, that came up with the idea of such an all-star band. Perugino contacted Goldy and presented the thought. That was the beginning of Resurrection Kings, the band that releases end of January the self-titled debut.

The songwriting was partly done by Craig Goldy while some of the tunes on this debut have been written by Alessandro Del Vecchio, the well known keyboarder and producer.

I think you can hear this approach on the album. Some of the songs are very close to Dio's sound while some others have more a melodic and almost AOR expression, like "Never Say Goodbye".

In the end all numbers together sound homogeneous but I personally like the Dio references more. The opener "Distant Prayer " is such a song, or "Path of Love" which also comes with a bluesy Whitesnake vibe.

"Resurrection Kings" is a good debut with some well done songs. But it feels also a bit torn apart due to the mention songwriting process; something that gives the longplayer a real project expression. It would be great if Resurrection Kings would either take the one or the other road. The more Dio-like one would be my preference.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Distant Prayer
2. Livin' Out Loud
3. Wash Away
4. Who Do You Run To
5. Fallin' For You
6. Never Sat Goodbye
7. Path of Love
8. Had Enough
9. Don't Have the Fight No More
10. Silent Wonder
11. What You Take

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Melodic Metal

Release Date EU: January 29th, 2016

(8/10) 'Lugnet' is a Swedish word and it means 'serenity'. And I must say that the debut album of Lugnet, the Swedish band, has this ease in each of the eight tracks.

Lugnet is Roger Solander (v) Marcus Holten (g), Danne Jansson (g), Lennart Zethzon (b) and Fredrik Jansson(d). The five guys get support on the record by Bruno Erminero who added the warm hammond sound to each of the tasty tracks. 

The five piece plays classic rock that is deeply rooted in the late seventies and early eighties. I would compare their sound with Rainbow during the "Long Live Rock & Roll" days. And even though Blackmore, Dio and Co. played in another league I was impressed by "Lugnet", the debut of the Tungelsta based band.

The first thing that stands out is the voice of singer Solander. This man sounds like a mixture of Dio, Coverdale and Tony Martin. The way he interprets Lugnet's tunes is impressive. It makes fun to listen to this guy. 

But also each of the track itself sound pretty cool. Lugnet could gain already some attention in their homeland and listening to the debut also explains the 'why'. Songs like the faster "Vein" or the galloping "In the Still of the Water" are all in one - catchy and hard. Heavy downtuned guitars meet melodic vocallines embedded in organic hammond sound waves. The guys have a sense for good hooklines and I must say that each of the songs is a small highlight for classic rock fans.

Maybe Lugnet might not re-invent the wheel, but they are hungy for rock'n'roll and they have the right attitude. This is worth a lot.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. All the Way
2. Sails
3. Veins
4. Tears in the Sky
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Gypsy Dice
7. In the Still of the Water
8. Into the Light

Label: Pride & Joy Music

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: January 15th, 2016

(3/10) Tom, Nailz and Joe, better known as Mandowar, have a new album in the starting box. "Hellboys from cow" is the title and it is number three already. So far so good.

If you have missed Mandowar so far, don't worry; you haven't missed a lot. What the trio does is to take hardrock-/metal songs and put those in new dresses. It's a kind of folk and polka mix, based on guitar, mandoline and bass. The result is something that was hard to stand for me. 

The first thing is, that such an idea isn't something new. My first reaction was, that this is a The Bosshoss clone, since those two guys also started with covering songs in a country syle way too. However, maybe the music is good. No, it isn't. AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and "You shook me all night long" ended up in a version that is renamed into "Alexander Strack" and is awful. I guess Angus would never come back to Germany if he would hear this. The same goes for the mighty "Master of puppets" from Metallica. "Engel" that starts with Kindergarten-like recorder isn't much better either. And I'm very happy that Dio doesn't have to hear the "Holy diver" version.  

Where it works best is with Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here" and "(Ghost) Riders in the sky" from Stan Jones, very well known in Johnny Cash's version.

I'm aware that this album should be seen as a fun interpretation. The bad things with humor is, that everybody has a different one. I couldn't smile in these 39 minutes and was happy when the last note was played.

2 points for being brave to do something like this and 1 point for "Wish you were here" - means 3 points in total. There is better stuff to spend the hard-erned money for.

(3/10)

Tracklist:

1. Alexander Strack
2. Engel
3. (Ghost) riders in the sky
4. Hellboys from cow
5. Holy diver
6. Kashmir
7. Master of puppets
8. Radar love
9. Wish you were here

Label: Singalongsongs

Genre: Folk Rock

(7/10) Name-dropping always creates curiosity. Either a band is not good enough to convince with their music. Or they are that good that a lot of well known names want to join in for a guest appearance.

The first thing I heard about the new Thomsen was the guestlist. Udo Dirkschneider, Mathias Don Dieth, Vinnie Appice,... had a guest appearance on "Unbroken". And last but not least even David Vincent from Morbid Angel dicovered the German gang. He supported with his bass on the opener "Draw the curtains" which is a typical pounding heavy metal hymn.

The music on the album is typical German heavy metal - somewhere between Accept, Grave Digger and Gamma Ray. And I can state that Thomsen is probabaly somewehre in the middle of the above mentioned statement. They have good, but not really outstanding songs, which are enriched by some well know musicians.

"Unbroken" is the second Thomsen album and has 12 songs on the credit side. Most of the songs have been written by band founder Rene Thomsen and Fair Warning guitarist Helge Engelke, who also produced "Unbroken". The tunes are really good, eventhough the originality is missing here and there.

Thomsen 'borrows' a few parts and pieces from bands like the Scorpions ("New horizon"), Dio in "Break the spell" and U.D.O. ("We made it"). The parallels in the last mentioned one are not a big surprise since Udo contributes with a guest appearance.

Eventhough there are a lot of cross-references it seems that the album was a matter of personal importance to Thomsen. The songs have a high entertainment factor and it's fun to hear some straight-forward German metal again.

Passion rules over commerce

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Draw the curtain
2. In steel we trust
3. New horizon
4. Break the spell
5. Dream
6. Fools for fortune
7. Into the unkown
8. Unbroken
9. Six thirteen 64
10. We made it
11. One
12. Tears of the sun (Live from the rehearsal stage)

Label: Artist Station

Genre: Heavy Metal

(8/10) Nothing new with the Classic Rock fans from Astral Door. I can't say if this is good or bad, but I liked them from the beginning and the new record "Notes from the shadows" is a good one too.

The new album follows the 2011 release "Jerusalem" and comes with 11 hardrock/metal tracks which spread the classic feeling from the early 80's. A crucial factor in this is doubtless the voice from frontman Patrik Johansson. Eventhough he sounds like some icons from 80's hardrock I never had the feeling that the guy consciously copied. He has just such a voice. That's it.

As the title says already "Notes from the shadows" is a bit darker than the earlier releaes of Astral Doors. The lyrics take a closer look into the black bible which fits pretty well to the classic heavy metal they are playing.

A fave of mine is "Disciples of the dragon". A song which underlines why Dio is mentioned so often in context with Astral Doors. But I see the band, as said earlier, not as a copy of the mighty rock singer. For me it's more that they involve his sound into their music and keeps the thought alive. "Wailing wall" might even brings this more up to surface.

That also Whitesnake belongs to the group of crucial influencers of the Swedes becomes obvious with the phantastic "Walker the stalker". The song is a real bad-ass headbanger.

What is a new thing is the bigger impact of blues. "Shadowchaser" is one song that reflects this pretty well. The tunes is also pretty close to Coverdale & friends which due to the vocal lines, the bluesy beginning and the hammond organ supporting the track. For me one of the best tracks on the album. 

The highlight of the disc is the 9 minutes long "Die alone". It's a midtempo tune with a massive rhythm line.  

"Notes from the shadows" is an album which will be loved by fans from the band and supporters of heavy rock should check the album.  I like it since it is powerful, it rocks, it has its charm and it rocks. Well done.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. The last temptation of christ
2. Diciples of the dragon
3. Wailing wall
4. Shadowchaser
5. Die alone
6. Hoodoo ceremony
7. Southern conjuration
8. Walker the stalker
9. Desert night
10. In the name of rock
11. Confession

Label: Metalville

Genre: Heavy Metal

German teutonic band Thomsen released video to promote the upcoming album "Unbroken". The album will be released on 19.09.. "Unbroken" contains songs with guest apperances from different well known musicians:

Udo Dirkschneider
Dr. Mathias Don Dieth (U.D.O.) 
Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath – Dio – Heaven & Hell)
Bobby Jarzombek (Halford – Fates Warning – Sebastian Bach – Riot)
David Vincent (Morbid Angel) 
Andre Hilgers (Rage – Sinner) 
Helge Engelke (Fair Warning – Dreamtide – Thomsen)

(8/10) It was a sad moment four years ago when the news spread around the world that one of the most talented singers in Heavy Metal died - Ronnie James Dio. 

Now, almost four years after the exact date of death, a new release with the small Italian rooted singer is out there in the stores. It is another live recording. This time it is the show in 1993 which took place in the legendary London Hammersmith Odeon. It was the last night on European tour for promoting Dio's "Strange highways" record. This is also reflectd in the setlist. The live album contains with "Strange highways", "Pain", "Evilution", "Hollywood black" and the closer "Here's to you" already six tunes from the album. This gives the DVD an extra since these tracks aren't on many other live releases and Dio hasn't played them afterwards very often either in his shows. From this standpoint the DVD is pretty unique. These tunes compete with the old classic from Dio, Sabbath and Rainbow. Songs like "Heaven & hell", "The last in line" and "We rock" are crucial parts in rock history and it's always a pleasure to listen to them. The setlist also shows the  discrepancy between the new and the old material. The "Strange highways" material was written after Dio's first reunion with Black Sabbath, which led to the "Dehuminizer" disc in 1992. After this release and the following split, Dio had to re-activate his own band and the result became pretty dark and complex. It reflects the period in the band's history very well and shows the difference to the older stuff.  The line up for the album and the tour included next to the extrovert singer also guitarist Tracy G., ex-Dokken bass player Jeff Pilson and drum legend Vinny Appice. This line-up was pretty much discussed and it was guitarist Tracy G. who actually a hard time in this period.

The DVD also contains a section with behind the scene material, which of course always entertaining to look at. It contains interviews with all band members - funny enough during they get their make-up - and also some backstage sequences. Not revolutionary but fun. And listening to Dio is always a pleasure.

All in all I have to say that this release is for Dio the fans. It is already number three after Ronnie's death and they are not that different from each other - expect partly in the setlist. Since this disc focus on a newer and less captured period of the band I think that this DVD is a good additional item for all die-hard Dio fans and collectors of the band.

(8/10) 

Tracklist:

01. Stand Up And Shout
02. Strange Highways
03. Don’t Talk To Strangers
04. Evilution
05. Pain
06. The Mob Rules
07. Children Of The Sea
08. Holy Diver
09. Heaven And Hell
10. Man On The Silver Mountain
11. Drum Solo
12. Heaven And Hell (reprise)
13. Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost
14. Hollywood Black
15. The Last In Line
16. Rainbow In The Dark
17. We Rock
18. Here’s To You
 

Label: Eagle Vision

Genre: Heavy Metal

It was on December 12 in 1993 when Dio played a show in the legendary Hammersmith Apollo in London. This show was filmed and was so far unreleased . Eagle Vison will now release this concoert on CD/DVD/Blu-Ray in May this year.

Line-up:

Ronnie James Dio (vocals)

Vinny Appice (drums)

Jeff Pilson (bass)

Tracy G. (guitar)

(*/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

(10/10) Almost four years after Dio's passing Eagle Vision re-released the great Heaven & Hell DVD "Radio City Music Hall - live". It's so good and refreshing  to see Dio (R.I.P.) again, eventhough it's just on tape. And it makes aware again about the big loss. 

The core of this DVD is of course the Heaven & Hell show in New York, which was recorded in 2007. It was this show and the connected tour which led to another album of the band - the 2009 release "The devil you know". I don't want to focus too much on the show since this is already well known due to the earlier release - at least in Europe. Of course the show is perfect filmed, the sound is excellent and it makes fun to watch and listen to one of the biggest bands in heavy metal.

Next to the concert the DVD/Blu-Ray comes with some extra features. The longest part is the road movie. It is a 20 minutes documentary from the tour and the show. The band (Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice) give extra insights and tells some anecdotes in smaller interview sequences. Next to this the road crew explains the stage build up and the ideas for the backdrop. It's a nice view back in time with one of the biggest bands in rock history and with the best rock singer. The road movie finds a continuation in "Hail the Gods of metal". Those extras are also known already from the first release.

The highlight and big extra is the "The wisdom of Dio" which pays some extra attention to the greatest singer and gives him the reverence he deserves. Dio talks about his life, his ideals and his respect for the fans and the audience. I wish more poeple would have this apporach. 

Next to that the DVD contains a 4 minutes documentation of the Radio City Music Hall. Last but not least there are also 3 minutes reserved for the fans.

The re-release is also coming as a Blu-Ray and is available world wide.

This re-release is the heritage of a great band which will never play together in this line-up. Based on all the extras the DVD is a must for all Heaven & Hell fans, Black Sabbath fans and for everybody who thinks that Dio is the best singer in metal ever. Hats off to Heaven & Hell.

(10/10)

Setlist:

1. E5150 / After all
2. Mob rules
3. Children of the sea
4. Lady evil
5. I
6. Sign of the Southern Cross
7. Voodoo
8. The devil cried
9. Coputer Gods
10. Falling off the edge of the world
11. Shadow of the wind
12. Die young
13. Heaven & hell
14. Lonely is the world
15. Neon knights

Bonus features:

1. Road movie
2. Hail to the God of metal
3. Meet the mob
4. Radio City 
5. The wisdom of Dio

Label: Eagle Vision

Genre: Heavy Metal