Album Review: Mr. Bungle-The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo

 

Ahh Mr. Bungle, a band that has always come and gone through discussions but one that I never quite held onto. Perhaps it was because I used to have hard time getting into their extreme avant garde style but my friend Dan eventually pushed me into digging deeper and finding that they had something I really did dig. Their original "Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny" demo from the 80s became a favorite of mine. The mix of Hardcore, Thrash and early elements of Ska, Grindcore and Death Metal really hit me hard and I can really credit it to helping me get into more extreme music later on in life. Now I did eventually come around to their three epic offerings(and became a huge Mike Patton fan in general) but that demo always really stuck with me. Now in 2020 Bungle has returned and in true weird out there fashion, they decided to rerecord that demo with some songs retooled and a few covers and new originals that never made it to the original tape. 

Now to prepare for this review, I listened to both versions to really get the feel of each and see what new there is to offer. From the start, the addition of Dave Lombardo and Scott Ian add a layer of tightness and flash that the original definitely lacked. The production is really full and bassy with Dunns bass really cutting through all the manic riffing. The vocals definitely are a bit different as Patton has more of a thrash and death metal-esque growl than his shriek on the original recordings. Just about every song works terrifically and carries the ideas from the original even up to Rhea Pearlmans narration at the beginning of "Anarchy Up Your Anus" being totally faithful. It really brings me back to the first time I heard these songs but beefed way the hell up. Really the only song I have a bit of an issue with is "Hypocrites/Habla Español O Muere" where the Ska chorus is dropped in favor of an intense rendition of SOD's "Speak English or Die". I just felt that song as a whole really stood out and chopping off a bit kind of felt needless. The musicianship is really impeccable though as each songs is almost more intense than the last with Patton literally sounding like he's being tortured. Tracks like "Bungle Grind" and new tracks "Methematics" and "Eracist" really are the definition of what a tight band should sound like. The album does get a bit tired toward the end and though "Sudden Death" is a great end, I feel this album started to bleed together a bit by then. I definitely feel the later tracks more if I listen to the album in increments.

Overall though, this is an incredible album and probably the best Thrash record I have heard in at least the past few years. Mr. Bungle is a name associated with a lot of things: weird, experimental, avante garde and now intense great thrash music. Resurrecting an old demo after 20 years of silence and breathing new life into it show how much Patton and co. know what they are doing. This one definitely will be high on the list at the end of the year for me!

4/5

Band Retrospective- Starfighters

 

We take a look back to to 1979/1980 and I guarantee you cannot count how many Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands started poking their heads out especially in the great Metal factory that is the U.K. This was the beginning of what was known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Now like a lot of fans of this period, I will always say it was spearheaded by Iron Maiden, Saxon and Diamond Head as well as helping older Brits like Judas Priest and Motorhead get their time to really shine. However, the band I am talking about today really slugged it out on the club circuit and had gotten a chance to open for a little known band on an extremely prolific tour before releasing two full lengths and then vanishing. That band of course is the Hard Rocking Starfighters from the the Metal capitol of Birmingham. Comprised of Steve Burton, Pat Hambly, Doug Dennis, Barry Spencer Scrannage and most famously Stevie Young. For those who don't know, Stevie is the cousin to Angus and Malcolm Young of ACDC fame. Even if you didn't know that, you could very well tell as his playing is extremely similar to  Mal's sheer hard rhythm attack. This band would go to release two albums of hard rocking excellence that are prime for a reexamination stsrting with their self titled debut released in 1981.

Starfighters(1981)

After being accepted on an opening bill on ACDC's historic Back In Black tour in 1980, the band gained enough notoriety to be picked up by Jive Records for their first full length album. The band was primed and ready as they released a few rough singles beforehand and the album was a perfect culmination of them at that point. The band was rough ragged and going for the throat here. The style is definitely in the vein of ACDC as supercharged blues based hard rock from the sheer attack of opener "Alley Cat Blues" and and the high energy of "Devil's Driving". Like I said before, Stevie's playing is very much like Malcolm Youngs which isn't a bad thing as it shows just how good of a player and time keeper he is as well. Perhaps the most defining feature is the vocals of Burton as they remind me a lot of Algy Ward of TANK with that bluesy punk infused growl. "Don't Touch Me" is another favorite with the schizophrenic hopping rhythms from Young and Hambly. Hambly's soloing is not over the top but just right to give some extra edge. Finally the other other half of the rhythm section from Scrannage's drumming and Dennis' rumbling bass on songs like the live wire-esque "Silver Lady" and "Eye's Telling You" realy shows how tight these guys were. This album really is nearly flawless as I personally never skip a song. From the start they had a formula that was similar but had a more punk infused spark to compete with alot of other acts. However, their next album definitely would be a bit more of a different offering.

In-Flight Movie(1983)

After gaining some ground in 1982 and even having the chance to play in the U.S with Ozzy, the abdn entered the studio again for their sophomore record titled "In Flight Movie". The album we got was actually not what a lot of people expected but in retrospective it is a damn solid effort. The production was a bit more cleaned up and clean and the overall sound was quite a bit more melodic with opener "Working Girl" and the super up beat "Who Cares" (song that is a staple in my hard rock playlists). Songs like "Running From The Gun" and the full bore attack of "Gallows Dancer" definitely play more into their pub rock sound but bigger and better. The guitars are bigger sounding but Stevie's Gretsch cuts through very well and Pat's leads are still damn good with some more melodic touches. Another personal favorite is "I'm Your Nightmare" which has a great build to it. This album should have brought the band more coverage however as fat would have it, the record company lost interest and they folded in 1984. 

As the band folded, the members all went their own ways in various small music projects. Burton joined a multitude of blues rock acts through the years and Scrannage even went to become a club promoter as well. Stevie Young would stay most active in the music scene reigniting the Starfighters name briefly before joining Little Big Horn and filling in for Malcolm on ACDC's 1988 U.S tour. He eventually became a permanent member of the band in 2014. My experience with the Starfighters started in high school when I came across them on youtube. Being the ACDC fan I am I was obsessed from day one. Stevie became a hero as his uncles are to me in terms of guitar playing and this retrospective I felt was the perfect way to reignite my music blog. If you are reading this, please give these albums another shot as these guys deserved that break so long ago and I feel this is the perfect time to give them another shot! The High Vaultage reissues definitely are the way to go if you're a physical collector like I am. Long live Starfighters!

Review- Witchy-S/t

Doom metal to me has always been extremely fascinating as a genre. Specifically, like a lot of black metal, how much really cult stuff there is out there. Groups like Paul Chain, Force and others really hit the nail on the head for being some of the best doom for how strange and different they are. Today's group Witchy really channels that cult energy in their new demo out on Temple of Mystery Records.

Opening with ominous vintage organs of "Wicca" the atmosphere here is set just right giving you the feeling of being trapped in a dark ominous cellar. This leads into "A Flame A Soul" which channels a lot of vintage pentagram and vocals ripped straight from a mid 80's saint vitus album. The song is very simple yet effective as the production really gives a vintage feel with the haunting and alluring vocals. "Death of A Witch" has a lot of good bass heavy riffs and has more of a gallop to it than the last song and is yet again, simple yet effective. Finally, "The Purple Veil" ends this nice sampler with some good mid paced traditional doom grooves. There is even a bit of psychedelia that plays in this track. 

Overall, this is a fun demo that has some nice dark traditional doom done in a very convincing way. I would love to see a full length come from this duo eventually as they have a simple formula but know how to play into it with catchy simple heavy songs. You can grab this cassette over at the bands bandcamp page. However, there are very few remaining copies so act fast!

Album Review: War Cloud- Earhammer Sessions

War Cloud have been slowly rising as a very versatile band in the traditional metal community. Their last two releases had some very catchy stuff on them with sound that seem to combine Thin Lizzy with  mid 80s Tank in glorious hard rockin' fashion. Their newest album "The Earhammer Sessions" definitely has an interesting take to it. It was recorded live at Earhammer studios in Oakland and effectively is the band taking some of their best tunes and putting a more in your face spin on them.

Right away, I can say this album for being live in studio is recorded fantastically, for the most part. The guitars are super in your face and both equally audible. I also have to note the vocals are way more raw and full of grit than on the albums giving a more motorhead-ish vibe to them. The only issue is that the bass seems just ever so slightly low which definitely could be boosted a bit more in the mix .The band opens with the hard rockin "Vulture City" and heads into one of my favorite tunes with "Give'r". This might be the definitive version of that song as well because the extra raw feeling of the band playing it right then and there with little to no polish. "Chopper Wired" definitely has some bluesier hard rock riffing to it and again this version is just as in your face as it gets. The version of "White Lightning" here is pretty damn great as well with the band just going for the throat. It sounds very distinct from the "State of Shock" version which is exactly what this album achieves in making these songs sound even heavier. "Divide and Conquer" has a good balance of heaviness and melody and is done very well in this live setting. "Tomahawk" is pure speed metal excellence as the album ends with the explosions of "Speed Demon" and "Striker" ending a very fun in your face live album.

Overall, War cloud have essentially created a greatest hits sort to speak of their first two albums in a live setting. It works very well as these are essential versions of these songs that really show off the raw and tight nature of this band. These guys are really a hidden gem from Oakland and this album is definitely a good place to start to ease you back into discovering their full lengths.

8/10

Album Review: Cirith Ungol- Forever Black

If someone told me in 2015 that Cirith Ungol would return, stronger than they have ever been, I think I would have laughed in their face. Truth be told this is one of the bands that I figured would never make a return. However, in 2016, they reunited for the first Frost and Fire fest. Next they slowly were headlining fests all around the world, released a new strong single and finally, after 29 years, we have "Forever Black". With this album, the almighty Ungol brings back their weird yet unique style of proto epic doom and it is glorious.

Opening with the quick "The Call" the band launches into the barnstorming "Legions Arise" which just begs to be played live. Tim Baker shows that he is one of the most underrated vocalists in Heavy metal period. His screeching banshee howl is here in spades and shows literally no age. This is one of the best openers I have heard this year as well. The production on the album really fits in their discography especially with how much the bass cuts through. The only minor complain I have is the drums feel a bit too soft but it hardly deters the album for me. Up next is my favorite track: the trudging "Frost Monstreme" which has so many great riffs and has a bit of that early prog/doom mash up feeling on their first album but fully realized here. "The Fire Divine" also calls back to early songs on their debut with a more up beat hard rock feel to it which I dig. One worry I had was this album becoming "King of the Dead II" and that it is not. They effectively take a lot of bits and pieces from their discography and make an album that is just fucking worthy of being one of the best discs they have released. "Stormbringer" opens with some soft interludes and nice clean vocals before going into a full crushing onslaught. Up next is "Fractus Promissum" which hangs on that really vintage 70s proto metal kind of vibe. It has some of the best groove based riffs on the album by far. "Nightmare" has a lot of really good melody along with the mid paced "Before Tomorrow" which could have totally been on Paradise Lost which is my favorite release from the band. Finally we have the title track and it is a really strong way to go out with a nice fist pumping rhythm and crushing riffs. This is definitely the most doom track on the album with the chorus being so insanely heavy and dark. Honestly a perfect album to come out into the world now.

The band has done the impossible with this record. They managed to not only recreate their sound near perfectly in the modern age, but to create new fresh songs with vibes from their previously releases. However these feel like new songs and not just rehashed ideas which creates an album that definitely sits high in their discography which I haven't felt since Diamond Head's come back in 2016. This is Cirith Ungol fully reborn now ready to face a whole new generation of rock and music fans in general. So come on and Join the Legion and become forever black because the kings of the dead are fucking back.

9.5/10

E.P Review: Night Demon- Empires Fall

Anyone who has followed my blog for the past six years knows how big of a Night Demon fan I am. I have been championing these guys since I heard their self titled e.p back in 2014 and especially once their first release "Curse Of The Damned" came out the following year. After quite a few years of touring on their second album "Darkness Remains" and the creation of the stellar live album "Live Darkness", we finally get some new music from the boys. 

Right away, I am already floored by the main single here with stellar production once again. The song is typically high energy, galloping riffs and catchy lyrics. Jarvis' voice right away feels like it has a bit more gruff to it( all that touring I would figure) which I like. The slow mid section works very well especially on a first listen as it kicks literally right into the solo and plays really well on the element of surprise. Having Lars and Matt from Rancid and James from Holy Grail doing gang vocals is a super cool inclusion as well and adds more weight to a straight forward yet stellar and fun track.

The B side is equally awesome as it is a cover of the song "Fast Bikes" by the super obscure band Le Griffe. Basically, pure NWOBHM here done right with some nice double tracked vocals and solo breaks.

Overall, Night Demon have risen once again with a taste of what is to come. While yes, these guys are doing the straight forward melodic speed metal they have been doing for almost a decade, the fact is that they are still putting tons of heart into making catchy massive songs that hopefully continues for a long long time!

Split Review: Hitter/Midnight Dice- Midnight Hits

Splits and eps are always exciting and this year we are getting slew of them! We've seen Road Rash release theirs and Night Demon have their new single "Empire's Fall" being released (I'll get to that one). However, today we have yet another coming from Chicago groups Hitter and Midnight Dice entitled "Midnight Hits". If you aren't familiar with these two bands I highly suggest you check out each bands demo as both are very confident. Each band here puts one song out on each side and they are bangers.

Midnight Dice's track "Precious Metal" goes straight for what their demo showed us with some epic galloping street level heavy metal. The soaring vocals on the chorus definitely are a major highlight. Up next is Hitters "29 Levi Slim" which is a complete different beast as it holds onto a heavier punk vibe these guys are known for. The vocals are jagged as hell and the riffs are simple yet cut through your speakers. 

Overall, this is a fun split that is quick and to the point. It features two awesome up and comers in my city doing what they do best. Also it is nice that both bands play complete different styles which makes for interesting listens for those unfamiliar with both bands. I definitely will pick this one up as you should too if you want a nice slice of Chicago metal in your collection.

4/5

Album Review: Freeways- True Bearings

I remember seeing Freeways at Legions of Metal 2018 and lead vocalist Jacob Montgomery said "We are gonna make this the Legions of Rock n Roll for a bit." and he wasn't lying. Freeways embodies the spirit and soul of 70's hard rock down to its more creative liberties inspired by a time when Blue Oyster Cult. Lucifer's Friend and Uriah Heep ruled the landscapes. After their mind blowing set I picked up their "Cold Front" e.p and was floored by the sound these guys had. Finally a few years later and a whole lotta work, we have their first official album "True Bearings".

Opening fiercely with "Eternal Light, Eternal Night" with a nice melodic yet ominous feeling riff and a real power to it. The guitars really punch you in the gut with that vintage crunch yet almost a psychedelic feel in some parts as well. The chorus is really powerful as well with a nice simple hook to it. The solo's on the album in general feel really smooth and organic with again that nice warm vintage feel. "Sorrow(Love In Vain)" features some nice twin axe attack and is pretty straight forward but the mid section of the song has some really nice almost trippy atmospheric playing that feels definitely like this song came out of the early seventies. The title track is next and is one of the major highlights here with a good streamlined hook yet some really nice twists and turns with a bit of a prog edge in parts especially the verse riff. The guitar playing is top notch on this track with some nice bluesy bits as well as the next track "Dead Air". The dual lead guitar melodies are extremely present here and its really balanced on a nice catchy groove. The chorus also has this nice ominous vintage BOC feel to it that I really dig. "Battered & Bruised" brings almost a ZZ Top feel that I love so much. It is definitely one of the hardest rocking tunes on the album. I also like the acoustic guitar inclusion toward the end it adds a nice layering. "Time Is No Excuse" is total pure Blues Rock with a nice hazy atmosphere layered over it. The playing here is excellent with a lot of feeling in it. Rocker "Just Survival" completes this 37 minute trip with a nice straight ahead killer tune. There are a lot more interesting riffs thrown in here as well that keep the signature sound these guys carved out for them self. 

This album flat out fucking rocks. Freeways definitely put a ton of love to not only make this album sound genuine for the era of music it bases its core sound in, but also for the creativity they put forth. It deserves multiple listens not by just metal heads but also loves of classic rock and blues rock. Freeways new album simply put is a straight jam you need on your playlist immediately, you'll thank me later. 

9/10

E.P Review: Road Rash- S/T

Road Rash are a Canadian speed metal band that have definitely made a name for themselves the past few years with an energetic sound and a great image. There first album "Thunder In Paradise" was a fun time, a pure party metal album to break your neck to. Now with their self titled e.p coming this year, we get a taste what these crazy Canadians are up to next. 

Opening with the punk laced "666 MPH" we see Road Rash come storming back with a simple yet great tune. Hammer's signature Tank like snarl is in full sleazy form here as well. Track two is "Street Guerreiros" opening with an intro that pretty much sums this band up. Chaotic and fun as hell. This song goes straight for the jugular as well and is a fun tune that ends almost as quickly as it begins.

While this E.P is nothing mind blowing, it is a fun time that is also a good way for anyone to get into Road Rash. This is also a smart way for the band to keep their momentum going while we wait for their next full length onslaught. Overall, this is definitely a fun slice of sleazy speed metal!

3/5

Movie Review: Phantom Of The Opera(1989)

Phantom Of The Opera from 1925 is considered not only a classic horror film, but a classic film in general. The ambitious cinematography, memorable scenes and the eternal Lon Chaney as the Phantom will always be the definitive way this tale is presented. However! Today we are looking at possibly the strangest adaptation of the 1910's tale released in 1989, featuring time travel, more blood than before and the man that "was Freddy".

"Phantom Of The Opera" was released in 1989 and was directed by Dwight H. Little who was fresh off of Halloween 4(one of the best in that series). It stars Jill Schoelen as Christine Day and horror royalty Robert Englund as Erik Destler(the Phantom). Now the plot of this film is definitely one of the most intriguing differences as it takes place both in the past and present. In modern day Manhattan, we see Christine discovering this old piece of music written by a composer named Erik Destler which she decides to sing for an audition. Now at her audition, as she sings,she is knocked out after being hit in the head. Now she is teleported back to London in 1885 where the basic plot of the Phantom story we know occurs. So one of the issues I have with this plot is while it definitely is original, it feels a tad disjointed as Christine almost doesn't question why she is here or anything like that. I suppose it is a past life? I don't know it just feels like a whole different movie has started and can confuse people watching. This is also where we get to finally see the Phantom in action and we see Englund play him with ferocity. While he may be compared to his Freddy Krueger parts, this definitely feels different enough besides giving him some one liners and his burned face. This portrayal also definitely is born out of 80's slashers with the phantoms "mask" being made out of human flesh which he must replace as it continuously rots ( a classical leatherface perhaps?). He is also a superficial serial killer who decapitates and skins his victims which really steps up the more slasher aspects of this version. While this sounds awesome for a gore hound, unfortunately the execution isn't quite as good with a lot of the kills off camera. However, the scenes where we see the phantom changing pieces of his face, the makeup is very well done. Another problem with the film is that a lot  lot of the cast also seems extremely underdeveloped as well with a lot of the plot following Christine but more for her interaction with Destler, which also doesn't develop as naturally as it should. The ball scene which is one of the most iconic scenes from any Phantom film is pretty enjoyable though. I really like that the phantoms final scenes are done with the red death costume on because I love how it looks in this film. I also really like how La Carlotta who is the diva singer is killed and her head is thrown in the soup which causes panic throughout. This leads to the final scene where Destler is banished and Christine wakes back up in modern times on stage by Mr Foster, the producer. This part of course is also played by Englund who invites Christine back to his apartment for dinner. This is one of my favorite scenes as his piece Don Juan Triumphant" begins to play over synthesizers revealing he has been alive this whole time which is all kinds of confusing. Christine destroys his music which is the only way to truly kill him and the film ends. 

So overall, while the plot is definitely original and there are some memorable scenes peppered throughout, the whole film doesn't feel like it gives all its got. The kills could have really been spectacular and the characters could have been fleshed out more. Obviously Englund as the psychotic Eric Destler is the highlight of the film and it is a fun watch but definitely one that could have been much better.

6/10

Album Review: Witchtower- Witches' Domain

I first became familiar with Spain's Witchtower through their previous album "Hammer of Witches" which was full on raw NWOBHM worship that you could swear was a lost album from days gone by. With their long awaited and much MUCH anticipated follow up, Witchtower show that they are just as killer as the first time they hit my ears. I mean are you surprised?

Opening with the blistering "A Revelation/The Theosophist" we see Witchtower are back in full form. This song definitely shows off the bands capabilities of making catchy galloping melodic metal still feel fresh. The solo's are full of life with the vocals feeling very much like Paul Dianno in his hey day(which is one of my favorite things about these guys). The production gets more of a metal feel especially in the drums more than previously. Up next is "Over The Top" which has some crisp vintage riffs and a nice catchy call out chorus. I have to also commemorate the bass playing too its super solid and audible throughout the whole album which is always a plus for me. "Night Of The Witch" has that classic gallop to it and feels quite a bit like a more fleshed out version of one of their previous songs "Fast Broomsticks" which retreads some familiar sounds but still a fun tune. The dark neck jerking "Zugarramurdi(Sorginak!)" keeps the energy high with some nice almost prog like interludes in the mid section it adds some nice extra musicianship. We see a more almost doom like intro with "Mrs. Artisson" which gives me some 80's Trouble vibes which quickly switches into fist pumping melodic 80s speed metal. This album definitely has more twists and turns throughout than the previous releases from the band with a darker atmosphere as well. "Love Potion" has some early Tygers and Riot vibes with a little more of a hard rock groove throughout the verse riffs. "Look For The Truth" carries more of that dark vibe with some nice minor riffs thrown in to the madness as well. Continuing this endless metal journey we have the insanely catchy "The World Is Upside Down" which is one of the more simple songs on the album but its also probably my favorite as it got stuck in my head the first time I heard it and has a lot of riffs you can sing to. The title track has some psychedelic elements thrown in as well with some crushing riffs to balance it out. This is definitely the most ambitious song on the album with some almost rush like passages spread throughout which I really like. It kind of catches you off guard as it is one of those songs you can pick something new out every time. The band has also released a bonus track entitled "The Chosen" which is definitely a more mid paced hard rocker and while it is a good song, I can see why it is a bonus track among the other amazing cuts presented here.

Overall, Witchtower have created a magnificent follow up with this album. While most of the songs do retread the sound this band has established, they still have the chops to make it as exciting as it was before. With a heavier production, more prog elements injected and the overall fun hooks this album has, its definitely is one of the best pure Heavy Metal albums to come out this year. 

8/10

Album Review: Solicitor- Spectral Devastation

Oh man have I been waiting to listen to this album. To put this in perspective, I was a huge fan of lead vocalist Amy Lee Carlson's previous band Substratum, who had some of the best modern metal anthems from a lot of new groups out of the last decade. However, with that band going south, Solicitor was born out of the ashes with a fierce demo that had me craving more. While Substratum had more hard rock and almost prog elements to some songs, Solicitor is pure speed metal with influences like Exciter, early Slayer and pretty much anything from the early to mid 1980's and it makes for a glorious time. This album in short  manages to expand on that demo and even more. 

The album starts of extremely strong with "Blood Revelations" absolutely ripping you apart with blistering leads and riffs at breakneck speed. The production is raw as hell but for this it works very well. Carlson's vocals are absolutely full of lethality with her unique high register and pure take no prisoners approach. Up next is "Betrayal" with a lot of melody in the vocals and some of my favorite riffing on the album. Track three, "The Red Queen" has a good build into some awesome melodic double guitar attack. This is definitely one of the most ambitious songs on the album with a bit of an early power metal feel that is built to be played live. This song especially shows the chops Solicitor has and they are firing on all cylinders. Up next is "Leather Streets" which has some strong NWOBHM influences with a heavy early Dianno era Maiden feel in the guitars. "Night Vision" opens with some nice extended acoustics going into full bore speed metal glory with again stellar songwriting. "Terminal Force" has a nice groove to it that continues the really good balance the band has with pure dirty speed and melodic hooks throughout. "Spectres of War" is another great tune that keeps things pretty straight forward but with the same energy the album has presented thus far. Finally, we end the album with "Grip of the Fist" fitting as much brutality in as possible with some nice blast beat rhythms bordering on early thrash, this is easily the heaviest tune on the album and a perfect bang to go out on.

For Solicitors debut, I expected nothing less than sure excellence. This album is Metal for metals sake pretty much and hits you from the first second and really never lets up. The songwriting abilities here are top notch as well. While the sound of the band may seem like familiar territory, they make it their own with a lot of nice twists especially in the middle of the album. The production also hits the mark with the raw feel but multi layered vocals and fluid instrumentation. You can tell a lot of care went into the album sonically. This is also pure riff heaven with a lot of shining examples. For sure Solicitor have come out swinging with another early contender for album of the year!

9/10

Album Review: The Outlaws- Dixie Highway

Southern Rock has always been a big hit for me with how many bands came out of the movement in the 70's. They all managed to sound different from one another as well. Groups like Molly Hatchet, Skynyrd, Black Oak Arkansas and of course today's band, The Outlaws. These guys have always hit hard with some of the best guitar oriented rock tunes to come out of Florida. The three guitar attack they have was always a draw to me and how they always blended that country twang perfect into their songs. "Dixie Highway" is their first album in quite awhile and almost plays like a retrospective to their past in a good way.

Opening cut "Southern Rock Will Never Die" is a staple playing as a tribute to the bands past and their peers name dropping Southern rock icons who have passed on. It is a really catchy track with some good lyrics as well. Next up is "Heavenly Blues" which is an older Outlaws tune brought into the modern day and is just as fresh as the first time I heard the original. The title track comes next with some really bad ass harmonizing leads and a catchy as all hell chorus. This tune especially really hits hard and shows that the Southern Rock sound has never died, it just got drunk and fell asleep for a little while. Up next on this dirt road is "Over Night from Athens" which is full of harmonizing leads and that heavy country feeling throughout. These are the tunes I always felt the Outlaws did best because they really show off the super melodic side of the band. "Endless Ride" is a more mellow tune but just as good with a lot of heart to it and a very bombastic ending in true Southern jam band style. This album definitely keeps up with its consistency where songs that lean less off the hard rock edge still have a big hook to them. These tunes really feel like you're being transported back to the mid 70's and that's almost what the band does with some songs reflecting on their past a lot."Dark Horse Run" is another absolutely great song with a high energy ending as well. It goes for the more acoustic tone but balanced well with some good vocal harmonies. Probably the most straight forward rocker on the album "Rattle Snake Road" still packs a punch with some good riffs combined with another catchy hook. Personally even seven tracks in this album qualifies as one of my favorites for the year but it gets better with the last few songs in the form of the instrumental "Showdown", the awesome "Lonesome Boy from Dixie" and the final one-two punch of "Windy City's Blue" and the great titled "Macon Memories".

Overall, this album shows that Southern Rock sound alive and well with the Outlaws riding high once again. With an amazing collection of tunes here that are very memorable in their own rights, the band definitely hit a stride with an album that will be high on my favorites this year. I hope that this can get a new generation talking about the rock n roll Guitar slingers that are the Outlaws for many more years down the road!

8/10

Pandemic Picks! My essentially quarantine films

      

The world definitely seems like a real life horror film at the moment with everything going on. However, while we are all stuck in our isolation I figure why not have yourself a movie marathon? Well that was my thought exactly and today I am going to give you some of my favorite flicks that deal with pandemics, lock downs and overall being stuck with nowhere to go. So from mall zombies to chest bursters, these are my favorite quarantine flicks!

Dawn of The Dead(1978)


While there are plenty of zombie films to choose from for this occasion, the original "Dawn" has always been my favorite, How the whole situation is handled with a complete frantic sense to society and of course the setting of the mall is done so well. With one of my favorite Goblin scores, a ton of memorable scenes and of course the bombastic end, this flick definitely is my quintessential Zombie apocalypse flick.

Contamination(1980)



This flick of course comes from the obscure corners of Italy and is essentially a rip off of "Alien". However, this flick has some really good special effects with chest bursting scenes left and right. Essentially the plot boils down to an alien trying to take over the world via these weird exploding eggs found all over the place. Cheesy as hell but fun in its own right!

The Crazies(1973) and (2010)


This one is a tie between Romero's original and the remake. While the original 1973 film is less about horror and more a political and epidemic focused film, it still resonates very well in today's atmosphere with a lot of tense moments. The remake goes more to the horror side of things with more focus put on the disease and the monsters it creates. Both however are terrific films in their own different ways.

Doomsday(2008)



Combine Mad Max, Zombie flicks and maybe a little Resident Evil and you get one of my favorite Epidemic films in the 2000's. This flick has some terrific tense moments and a great car chase near the end. There is also some great gore for good measure!

Album Review: Night Flight Orchestra- Aeromantic

Picture this: It's 1984 and you are cruising down the the coast of Miami in your 1986 Camaro Iroc Z with the T top open. Suddenly, a band bursts onto the FM radio that has you jamming all through the neon soaked night. This is exactly how Night Flight Orchestra's music makes me feel anytime I pop one of their albums in. If you are unfamiliar, I have talked about this band before and I honestly haven't stopped loving them. Made up of members of Soilwork and Arch Enemy, this band writes some of the catchiest AOR that never existed in the 1980's. Simply put they do the decade justice. However, with this new album, the band don't get stale but instead stay consistent, piling on even more synthesizers and polish for this album to realize the mid 80's full on.

The band always opens with a straight up rocker and this album is no exception. "Servants of the Air" opens the album with power and hooks galore. The chorus is definitely a lot more atmospheric with the keyboards on full blast. This album definitely features the synthesizers a lot heavier which definitely works considering the more pop flavor the band show off in songs like the insanely catchy "Divinyls" and the incredible "Transmissions". While most of their releases have more of a mesh of 70s and 80s inluences, this album is heavily staked in the 1980's. It isn't a huge change from their established sound but it feels a bit more shimmery and poppy. While this may put some fans off, I feel it works for them very well. There are definitely some short catchy tracks like the upbeat "This Boy's Last Summer" and "Taurus" respectively. The title track features some really nice prominent backing vocals from the Airline Anna's that creates again a great atmosphere to the music these guys have pretty much perfected at this point. "If Tonight is Our Only Chance" is another absolutely catchy and memorable song. Hell, if I am honest this album has hooks in just about every song. This album definitely flows a bit better than "Sometimes the World Ain't Enough". Even with slower songs like the Genesis inspired "Curves" or "Golden Swansdown", the album still feels fully alive and fun throughout. "Carmencita Seven" is definitely one of the more complex written songs on the album and shows just how great these guys craft songs, if it wasn't noticeable already. The album ends with the epic "Dead Of Winter" putting a cap on yet another journey back into the heyday of melodic rock music.

Overall, while "Amber Galactic" will always remain as my favorite NOF album, this album is definitely still extremely strong which is impressive five albums in. Night Flight Orchestra has built on the more pop aspect of their sound without the songs becoming dull or repetitive. The love crafted throughout this release still shows fresh ideas and a band that is having fun with a love letter to a bygone era. If you want fun vintage pop laced AOR, Night Flight Orchestra are still the kings in the modern day!

8/10

Album review: Haunt- Mind Freeze

Haunt are one of the more consistent Heavy Metal acts to appear in the late 2010's. With only a few years under their belt we already have their third full length release entitled "Mind Freeze". Brainchild of front man/guitarist Trevor Williams Church, Haunt combine a lot of late 70's and early 80's traditional Heavy Metal and craft it very well. However, with their third album this may be their best. 

Opening with "Light The Beacon", the bands sound has evolved ever so slightly and also like Midnight benefit from a beefier production. While still retaining the vintage style they play, they sound bigger and badder, which helps the songs carry across even more. The use of synthesizers across the album really works as well especially in songs like "Saviors of Man" and "Have No Fear" where they are used extensively. However, these new sounds do not detract from what Haunt represents but enhances the melody in their songs and creates a more strong and original sound for them. The energy on this album is definitely an upgrade with a lot faster tempos than usual with songs like the epic "Hearts On Fire" and "Divide and Conquer". Really every song has it's own identity and plenty of great riffs to show off as well. Church's vocals which have always given off an Angel Witch vibe to me are as strong as ever especially with the title track becoming one of my favorite Haunt tunes. It features an extremely catchy chorus and lyrics that can be quite close to home. "On The Stage" is another absolute barnstormer and is one of the most powerful songs on the album. It definitely is one of those songs that's made for a live setting. Finally, the album concludes with "Voyager" with some very nice galloping melodies and really ends the album on a high note.

Haunt really knocked it out of the park with this album. This is a modern day metal album done right with a lot of heart put into each track. The momentum this band has seemingly keeps going with every release and honestly I hope they continue to build on this sound as they have really hit a sweet spot with this record. Check it out and you'll definitely see why Haunt should be in your collection!

8/10

Album Review: Midnight-Rebirth By Blasphemy

Athenar, the satanic one man band, has once again graced us with a new Midnight record! I am always down for a band like Midnight as the music is so dark and dingy yet so fun for what it is: Old School blackened punk rock n roll derived from bands like Venom, Bathory and Hellhammer. However, with this record we get the band evolving a bit more. Not to the point of being unrecognizable but building upon the hellish grounded sound we have come to love already.

Open with the barnstorming "Fucking Speed and Darkness", we see that the sound production has gotten bigger and badder. The Midnight I love is still there but it just sounds so much more perfect. One thing this album does expand on as well is the melody in the guitars. Sure we have pure ear slaughtering tunes like "Escape The Grave" and the wonderfully titled "Devil's Excrement" but we also have songs that hang on melody like the ending tune "You Can Drag Me Through the Fire" and even some pure oldschool punk in the form of "The Sounds Of Hell". These are minor changes from the established Midnight formula but enough to make this record feel different and fresh. Even a song like "Warning From The Reaper" that hangs heavily on a groove is just as good on the tenth play through. The only song that sort of drags is "Rising Scum" which goes for a more fist pounding and chant-like tempo that just kind of slows the album down but is still fun nonetheless.

Overall, this is a fun as "hell" metal record that is one every fan of dingy satanic heavy metal will enjoy. The sound is largely the same but even more refined and keeps the energy and interest up all the way through. This definitely shows that Midnight have been on a heavy roll the past few albums and hopefully they keep plowing through!

7/10

Album Review: Kvelertak- Splid

Kvelertak were a band that eluded me for quite some time. They were recommended to me many many times during the cycles of their last three albums but I always just forgot to give them a chance. Finally, when their new album "Splid" was announced, I figured now was the right time to give this Norwegian band a shot. What I found was some of the most unique modern Heavy Metal I have never heard from anyone else. Combining extreme metal, old school punk rock and even the melodic nature of classic rock, Kvelertak definitely sound all their own. However, with new vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, I can safely say this may be their best album yet. 

Opening with the explosive straight forward "Rogaland", this is definitely how you start off an album. Even though the lyrics arent even in English with just about the whole album, they still know how to make it as catchy as possible. This song leads into the main single "Crack Of Doom" which features another catchy chorus and some awesome straight forward sludgy punk riffing. Up next is a song with more high energy "Necrosoft". There is even some Jerry Lee Lewis style piano in the background here in parts which is super cool. This song also shows some of the more prog-like elements of the band while keeping it catchy enough for a casual listener. Honestly just about every song on this album are a home run oozing with concrete songwriting, enough character to be diverse from each other and almost nonstop energy. From the straight hard rocking to full on thrash assault of "Fanden ta dette hull!" to the almost new wave sounding "Tevling", this albums got it all. Their new vocalist really has the charisma to match this bands energy and I'm excited to see future releases with him on the mic. Toward the end of the album, the band starts to go in the heavier prog territory especially with the epic "Delirium tremens" which is the longest song on the album. While it is an ambitious song, it unfortunately gets kind of lost throughout for me. It just drags on a bit too long for how this album is structured. However, the album ends on a very explosive note with the extreme black metal influences on full display in"Ved bredden av Nihil". 

Besides the album getting a little muddy with too much going on in the end, "Splid" is still an amazing output and still sits as my album of the year. The energy this album radiates is something I really haven't felt in a long time, especially from a more modern metal act. If you want an explosive and unique album this early in 2020, then check "Splid" out, you won't regret it.

8/10