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

TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2016

What a year for Heavy Metal and Rock in general. As much new and very talented bands have sprouted up over the year, we have seen some bands that have been gone for years and putting out some of the best albums of their careers. With this list, because I could not narrow it down to ten albums, I had to make this a top twenty because I wanted to mention all these albums. Also, yes some of these I was not able to review this year but they get their chance to shine now. Just too many good albums this year and I will first begin this list with the top 20 sort of "runner up" albums of the year.

20-11


20.Artillery-Penalty by Perception

A terrific thrash album by a band that never quite got their due. This album really shows their true abilities to craft very well done songs.

19.High Spirits-Motivator



A very catchy NWOBHM influenced album with probably some of the most positive messages from metal in recent years. Definitely recommend it because you'll be humming these songs for weeks.

18.Wo Fat- Midnight Cometh



A great stoner metal release with some big riffs and very drawn out songs. Definitely recommend it because it is an absolute jam.

17.Sumerlands- Sumerlands



I always think of Witchfinder General with this album because it has the doom metal aspects but also has hints of early 80s metal like early Ozzy material. A very well written album that i keep coming back to and a heck of a debut.

16. Savage Master- With Whips And Chains



Part of the New Wave of Traditional Metal from the recent years, Savage Master have a minimalist yet catchy approach to their songs. Where the solos and rhythm may be simplified, Stacey Savages raw as hell voice is what really keeps you holding on til the last note.

15.Davie Allan/Joel Grind E.P



Cheating a bit with an EP but these four songs represent the awesome fuzzed out garage surf rock that practically inspired what heavy rock would become. Definitely one that has made constant trips to my record player in the recent months.

14.Testament-Brotherhood Of The Snake



A triumphant return for thew thrash legends with a good amount of catchy songs to it.

13.Hellfire- Metal Masses



The album cover says it all, catchy, raw speed metal from the early 80s and these guys pull it off well with the early Metallica influences shining all throughout. However, the musicianship is very tight and I still await for this sucker to be on vinyl.

12. Airbourne-Breakin Outta Hell


The fourth album from the aussie rockers and bringing more of their no holds barred rock n roll with possibly some of the sharpest production to date. I really love this album and has slowly become my favorite of theirs since I saw them live and wow, easily the best live band I've ever seen.

11.Seven Sisters-S/T



These guys are another traditional Heavy Metal band that came out this year and are one of my favorite new bands to debut this year. This album is epic in all sorts of ways, with amazing hooks, solo's and riff after riff, this album delivers a style of heavy metal that is almost long forgotten.


TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2016

10.Duel-Fears Of The Dead



What a great 70s rock revival album. Just some of the best riffs off any album this year. Basically if you mix a bit of Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and a dash of early KISS, you get this monster of a rock album.

9.Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper- Walking In The Shadows

An amazing return of one of the most epic vocalists out of the NWOBHM-era. Steve Grimmett returns with an all new band and delivers a traditional 80s heavy metal record and I think this one deserves to be called the comeback album because it easily can stand against Grim Reapers past three albums.

8.Blood Ceremony- Lord Of Misrule

An awesome album from the cult rockers with some heavy psychedelic thrown in the mix. I like the different directions some tracks take where it isn't all about being all doom but has more emphasis on the organ. A killer, haunting album from start to finish.

7.Demon Bitch- Hellfriends



Cult 80s US Power Metal done right in 2016. From the muddy bassy production tothe incredible falsettos, this album has some of the best crafted epic speed metal I have heard in a long time.

6.Tygers Of Pan Tang-S/T

A great comeback even if the band is a lot of new musicians. I think this added to Tygers viability because they sound as lively as ever on this album with a lot of great very big hooks as well.

5.Metallica- Hardwired...To Self Destruct



I know some people will get pissy for me putting this album so high on my list but I genuinely really like the album. I like the mix of basically all era's of Metallica and even though the second half gets bogged down a bit by too many slow numbers. the last track really makes up for it with one of the best songs they have written in thirty years.

4.Quartz-Fear No Evil



A band that has comeback at a perfect time and with undoubtedly one of their most solid albums. With a raw production and some awesome arrangements, Quartz are back roaring to life and I hope they have at least one more album in them because they definitely still have the chops and their new singer definitely holds his own as well.

3.Blues Funeral- The Search


One of the most creative releases of the year and for good reason. This album has 70s heavy rock mixed with jazz and slight hints of classical music as well  making for some amazing crafted songs. This band should be more well known especially for releasing such an amazing debut because this is what a creative band should sound like in the public eye to me.

2.Anthrax- For All Kings

Anthrax hit it out of the park again with an extremely focused, solid, well written thrash metal album. Their are some great melodies peppered throughout the album as well and I find it very rare for a lot of these older bands to write records still this good with this amount of musicianship and creativity.

1.Diamond Head- S/T

My number one album of the year by a band that should have been as big as Metallica. Brian Tatler has always been a very skillful guitarist in knowing how to make riffs that are just right and is one of my all time favorites as well. After losing Nick Tart, newcomer singer Rasmus Andersen who I believe is the best singer the band has ever had as well joined the band and created what I think is the true third Diamond Head album and really embodies what the band is about(granted I dig Canterbury but it isn't a Diamond Head album). Seeing them on tour for this album and meeting them really will always be one of my most treasured memories as well.

Well there is my top 20 albums of the year. This year is easily one of my favorites and shows that heavy metal is still alive and well. Here's to making 2017 just as fucking good thank you everyone for the support!

Album Review- Judas Priest: Redeemer Of Souls

Redeemer Of Souls is the 17th studio album by British Heavy Metal band Judas Priest and was released on July 8th 2014. Ok.... FINALLY!!!! looking back from last year i am very grateful to have witnessed a Black Sabbath album in my time and now im happy that i get to witness my first Judas Priest album. Granted, Nostradamus came out in 2008 when i was starting freshman year of high school, however, i was not a music freak as i am now. Ever since i heard the title track i knew i had to have more. Now before i get to the actual review of the musical content, i want to go over the packaging. Now i dont normally do this with alot of albums but this one is just unique to me. When i received my deluxe edition in the mail the day it came out, i was shocked to see that the whole album was made holographic which just made me amped to listen to the album. I like the short paragraph that they wrote about the "Redeemer Of Souls" character like they did with albums Screaming For Vengeance and Defenders Of The Faith (which is my favorite Priest album). I could tell that they really captured that classic 80s vibe with this album even with new guitarist Ritchie Faulkner, i was still excited to see what they could bring to the table. However, since it is my most anticipated release for 2014, does it even hold up to their classic albums or even their most recent releases?

Track Rundown

1. Dragonaut- Starting off with what Guitarist Glenn Tipton describes as a " Fucking Clap of Thunder", The track leads into a cool heavy riff with the whole band firing on all cylinders. When Robs vocals come in singing "Welcome to my world of steel/master of my domain" I cant help but head bang my ass off. the pre chorus and chorus are more than worthy of a Priest opener. Ritchie and Glenn really blend with their tones. Ian Hill is really audible on this album as well which i like it adds more bump to it. Near perfect opener and just makes me go crazy for whats up next.

2. Redeemer Of Souls- The first single off the record, and the one that got me pumped for the album. The pure 80s guitar tone is what makes priest i think and this track has plenty of it and Robs epic vocals make the track even more enjoyable. The chorus is really fist pumping and i even hear faint synthesizers in the song which i feel was a bold move. It is a more simple track but i feel it to be really enjoyable.

3.Halls Of Valhalla- Wow just wow. The epic riffs a just ooze out of this one. i absolutely lose my mind at the beginning when Rob screams "VALHALLLLAAAAAA!!!!" and it kicks into a solo. I believe Ritchie solos here and i think its good i cant tell the solos apart because he meshes so well with a band this far into their career. The chorus is really strong as well and anyone that says Rob cant scream anymore. He does it all through this track and the scream before the main solo is just so amazing. This is like the new Sentinel and my favorite track on the album.

4.Sword of Damocles- An equally epic track, this one has more of a prog feel with it and even i think has a tinge of sad wings era Priest to it. I really think this would work as a live track and Scott Travis' drumming really shines here as well. Another home run for me. Robs lyrical content here is nothing short of an epic feel to them. Pure traditional heavy metal here.

5.March Of The Damned- The new Metal Gods. This song is. Like Redeemer Of Souls, a more simple Priest song but nothing short of being Badass. Rob does peel back a bit here but i think it works for this kind of track. It even has the loud marching sounds like Metal Gods did and even though this song is a bit more of a rip off than original, i still find it enjoyable and fits into what Priest was going for with this album.

6.Down In Flames- this track has a bit more of that "pop" flavor from Priest and honestly without changing anything, i would throw this on Defenders along with songs like Rock Hard, Ride Free and JawBreaker. I find the chorus really infectious too this one is definitely one of my favorites.

7.Hell & Back- This song starts with the first acoustic guitars we hear on the album but quickly turns into another 80s sounding Priest track. I think they really captured their British Steel-Turbo era brilliantly on this record. This is a more mid paced song and not one of my favorites but its still pretty good.

8.Cold Blooded- This sounds like a song that could be on Turbo (an album that i actually didn't mind) or even an album like British Steel with the end being heavy but not too heavy. This song has a more ballad tone to it but its a nice change up but keeps it consistent with some nice riffs and a pretty good solo.

9.Metalizer- Now stepping into Painkiller-esque territory, this song is really reminiscent with Metal Meltdown off that album in which rob sings in a robotic way during the chorus. I really like is kind of laid back scream in the mix in the beginning. It s a pretty good track definitely the most thrashiest so far.

10.Crossfire- This track is very unique as it centers around the blues with more groovy riffs than heaavy riffing. Its another one of my favorites and the beginning reminds me of the intro riff to Black Sabbaths I off of Dehumanizer. It even sounds like it has a Hendrix feel to it. Robs vocals are awesome too and its cool to hear him sing to a more bluesy hard rock song ever since Rocka Rolla came out. I feel they were channeling that album more here. Definitely a stand out track.

11.Secrets of the Dead- I like how this one opens with the echoing guitars it really sets the mood. This one harkens a bit back with Halls of Valhalla with more epic riffs on it however its got more chugging going on than a full blast metal song. It reminds me of something off of Ram It Down like a Blood Red Skies kind of song with less synths laid over it. It's still pretty good. there are some interesting guitar synthesizers over the solo which i thing adds another layer of character to this track.


12.Battle Cry- While its still a good song, It sounds like the most traditional priest song you can get which is never a bad thing. I really like, the intro to this song and it fits the mood very perfectly and the fast riffing is really catchy and the chorus is actually quite strong with Robs vocals escalating to a steady wail at the end. This song would work very well live and is just an anthemic tune for hard rock and heavy metal fans.

13.Beginning of the End- This is a very 70s Priest sounding acoustic song at least to me. It really ends the album on a really beautiful yet very depressing note. Rob voice still is just as powerful as ever especially during the chorus. Its also possibly a telling of the future of one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time. well...lets hope not.

Normally, i would end here, but im going to include the bonus tracks. why? cause i can!

Bonus Tracks

1.SnakeBite- Right away, this track just sounds like pure 80s Judas Priest. I could throw this on Screaming For Vengeance and couldnt tell that it was from an album 30 years later. I would throw this on the original record because its one of my favorite songs in both discs. I even like the backround vocals which reminds me of Devils Child alot. Also, i shouldve mentioned this before but i can hardly tell that KK is missing even though Ritchie has a more somber guitar tone in his solos he still works very well.

2. Tears Of Blood- Another song you could throw on one their old records and it reminds me alot of the Sentinel again but also with a style all its own. Another pure classic sounding Priest track.

3.Creatures-I like the riff here but it is a bit less developed than their other tracks. it sounds more like a jam they were working on. Its not bad but but again its not the greatest.

4.Bring It On- This starts out really fist pumping and with a pretty good riff and sounds like a more radio friendly song off Defenders which i could do with. I feel alot of Defenders Of The Faith on alot of the songs on these to discs which is a very good thing for me at least

5.Never Forget- This song reminds me alot of a more rare Priest song which is Last Rose Of Summer off of Sin After Sin (Check out that review) and its another beautiful song that i really admire to end both discs. The guitars sound really beautiful here too.

Overall, I give this album a 9.5 of a 10. Hands down this record is my top of the year. Alot of people will probably give me shit about giving not alot of "negative" comments here but listen i review things i either really like or dont understand why people like it. This album just shows Priest going over their whole discography and writing songs from each era. sure they didnt rewrite anything in Metal but they dont need to since they have multiple times. Im also happy they didnt just stick to the Painkiller sound there is much more to them. id even put this in my top 5 Priest albums as well. However, i do think hands down this is their best release since Painkiller and i may not get to see them this year (damn venues 21 and up) but i will bask in this fresh slab of classic heavy metal over and over again.