TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2015

What a year for heavy metal! So many albums were released this year and putting just 10 on this list was the hardest thing but here it is my list of the ten best album of 2015!

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2015

1.Spillage- Spillage

-And my number one pick is the debut record from Heavy Metal group Spillage from Chicago, Illinois. This record kicked my ass around the world and back when I first heard it. Its raw yet nice production is very pleasant on the ears and Tony Spillmans ability to write these insanely catchy riffs and Chris Martins superb heavy drumming is just what made it my number one album of the year!

2.Night Demon- Curse OF The Damned

-The debut record from these NWOBHM worshipers out of California and damn I was hooked on this record after the first song. These guys just know how to craft amazing sounding “true heavy metal” tunes it’s a great record from a new band to remind us how great 1980-83 was. Also, the production is something I’ll brag about all day.

3.Venomous Maximus-FireWalker

-The second release from these guys and easily their best. It combines melodies from bands like Maiden and the Heaviness of Sabbath for a record that is a force to be reckoned with.

4.Electric Revolution-Character Is power

-This band from Kenosha I have dug for a while and I recently just got to hear their first full length all the way through and wow it exceeded all my expectations. Check em out their 70’s inspired groovy rock is all anyone could ask for.

5.Chris Holmes-Shitting Bricks

-one of my favorite guitarists of all time is back with a dirty as hell, gritty rock n roll release that may not break new bounds but it is damn fun and very spinal tap at points. Either way I love it and so should any old school wasp fan.

6.Pentagram-Curious Volume

-The legendary doom group is back with a new album well newish as it features a lot of older written songs but it is still a great, heavy throwback to the 70s and Bobby Liebling still has a voice that is as heavy and haunting as ever.

7.W.A.S.P-Golgotha

-WASP impressed me with this one. It still has a lot of catchiness to it and reminds me a lot of Headless Children which isn’t a bad thing.

8.Uncle Acid: Night Creeper

-The fourth release from the Psych/Doom quartet and it is still as haunting and heavy as ever. Truly one of the best bands in the rising retro doom genre

9. Motorhead: Bad Magic

-This album another straight great release from the loudest band in the land. Even through their troubles they still manage to crank out great tunes and still show that just because you age doesn’t mean you need to slow down.

10. Iron Maiden: Book Of Souls

-This album really made my list for the fact that Iron Maiden still know what they were doing, even if I wasn’t totally sold on it. There are some great songs on this album and plus its freakin Iron Maiden.

Album Review-Ghost: Meliora

Meliora is the third album by Swedish gothic rock/metal band Ghost and was released on August 21^st, 2015. My history with Ghost goes way back to when their first album hit. I like many others was taken away by how much it sounded like a mercyful fate album with a mellower singer. They also really capitalized on their live stage show and still do as well. Their second album dropped soon after and it had a lot more 60s pop elements that kind of alienated me a bit but the album still had some great songs. Aster their covers e.p I kind of got away from the Ghost craze as they kind of went to a more gothic overtone that I didn’t find enjoyable as much. However when this album dropped I figured I have to give it a try and maybe I’ll be a fan once more.

Track Rundown

1.Spirit- Opening with this very gothic cathedral sound with a sci fi overtone, Ghost open with a very melodic rock sounding feel. Honestly this opener feels really boring it doesn’t feel like it has a lot of power behind it especially when the last two albums had such powerful openers. The vocals feel like they are trying to be too eerie at times where they feel too buried in the mix. An okay opener, but skippable to me.

2.From the Pinnacle to the Pit- I like the bass that opens this song and the eerie guitar melodies as well. The only problem I have is Papa Emeritus’ vocals just don’t really do it for me and I think it is because I have grown tired of the eerie vocal style. The chorus is pretty good but again feels like it lacks some kind of real punch to it. An improvement over the first song yes but lets see what else there is on this album.

3.Cirice- I like the acoustic approach in this track more with the piano behind it in the beginning. I feel this song has more of the appeal that the first album had with more powerful riffing to it as well. But the vocals just annoy me Its just how they are sung.  It just doesn’t feel like it fits to me it feels like it’s trying to be two things at once but it doesn’t work in my opinion. A good track in the Instrumental department.

4.Spoksonat- I like this short piece its actually my favorite thing on the album for how ominous it feels and how melodic it is.

5.He Is- I like this intro it is very catchy and atmospheric and the vocals are very well done here as well. They feel more strong than I feel they did before. This song is great because it fits Ghost’s style the most on this album I feel it is just beautifully done.

6.Mummy Dust- This song immediately turns back into heavy territory and I like the bend in the main riff it feels really strong catchy to me. The vocals try a whispering feel to them and It works great as well. This is the best heavy track on the album in my opinion.

7.Majesty- At the beginning of this song I thought I was listening to Deep Purple with such a strong organ presence it’s pretty kickass sounding. It’s a pretty ok rock song I just can’t really tell where it is going at points like in the chorus it doesn’t quite feel like it got there.

8.Devil Church- A very church choir piece that is very short and I like it but it feels like a filler more than a full track.

9.Absolution- I like the Sabbath-ish riff here and again it reminds me of their earlier material without trying to add more to it. It isn’t very memorable but it is a pretty okay song it’s got some good beats and is pretty catchy during the verses.

10.Deus In Absentia- This is a very pop proggish sounding rock song with a lot of overlapping melody’s and different sounds. It doesn’t have a lot of guitar presents and the keys take more of an up-front approach to it. It’s an okay closer it does some neat things but doesn’t do much for me.

Overall, I give this album a 5.5 out of 10. Really I am torn on this record because I like maybe half of it. I just don’t feel like it is really a “heavy metal” album like everyone keeps classifying it as. It is more of a dark gothic prog rock album with some hints of metal influences. It has some very cool things going for it but I feel like the band I really got into in the beginning is something quite different and it doesn’t do it for me. If you are a fan, then don’t listen to me and keep being a fan they aren’t popular for nothing.

Album review-W.A.S.P: Golgotha

Golgotha is the fifteenth studio record by American Heavy Metal band W.A.S.P and was released on October 2^nd, 2015. Now to be clear I am a huge WASP fan (see my review of Chris Holmes new album) and Blackie is one of those front-men that I admire a lot for their writing and stage presence. Now all drama aside, before buying this album the newest WASP record I owned was Helldorado (Which is a guilty pleasure of mine) so I am very out of date with how the last few records have progressed but I do know how Blackie has become more religiously conscious and I am always afraid that it can sometimes overshadow the music. However, with no experience except maybe a few past songs, will I enjoy this record as much as say Inside the Electric Circus? Lets find out!

Track Rundown

1.Scream- This song starts out with a very melodic riff and then Blackie comes in and I really have to say his voice has lost nothing in the last 30 years. I really think his voice is the highlight on the whole album actually and I like Doug’s little guitar fills all over this song too. The chorus is very reminiscent of “Crazy” from the previous album but I think this track is better represented and has more power to it. The solo is pretty good and full of life as well but it is kind of missing a heaviness that used to be my favorite point of WASP and while I still like a lot of the riffs it feels a bit buried in the mix and has some issues like I had with Book Of Souls. But overall, I think this is a great opening song its super powerful and shows that there is still something left in this band

2.Last Runaway- This song would definitely be a radio song it is just that melodic. It isn’t necessarily heavy in the guitar or even vocals but more in the drums I mean the kick drum really pops with the very clicky bass provided by Mike Duda who is a killer bass player. It still has a very killer chorus kind of like Wild Child but not as heavy. Still a great song and shows me personally a very melodic side I don’t think I have ever felt like I have heard from the band.

3.Shotgun- I really like the finger picking in the beginning it reminds me a lot of 95 Nasty which is one of my favorite WASP songs of all time and I think this is my favorite tune on the album. It has that total rock n roll feel that albums like Inside The Electric Circus focused so hard on. I love Blackies voice on this track too It is just still so damn catchy. The best song yet by far.

4.Miss You- This is a 100% unapologetic ballad, no way around it. It is in a way very cardboard and predictable yet still pretty powerful. It is an odd kind of stop in the album because it is the least powerful song here but it isn’t horrible it just doesn’t fit with a lot of the songs on this album.

5.Fallen Under- As it starts very slow and atmospheric, I really do like the synths that accommodate the backround and it feels very full as it builds with Blackie preaching to “save me” and it is pretty strong and I love the mid-paced chorus it is just so damn powerful. The whole song has a very building feel to it and always pays off to a total fist pumping chorus. The solo at the end is pretty decent as well.

6.Slaves Of The New World Order- This song is very melodic as it begins once again and then it goes into full heavy metal glory and it honestly could be one of the most well written songs that have from this band since Crimson Idol. It has very good musicianship and Blackies lyrics are very very well written as well. It is a song that begs for a live crowd as well. This song also has my favorite solo as well.  The only thing is I would’ve that this would have been the ideal song to end the album on but hey it’s on here so I can be damn happy about that.

7.Eyes Of My Maker- This song has a structure similar to Fallen Under as it is very mid paced and it has a pretty good chorus but is probably my least favorite song because it sounds a bit too much like one of my favorites on the album and follows one of I think the best written WASP songs to date. Blackie still has some excellent lyrics here however.

8.Hero Of The World- This song starts with song very beautiful acoustics with the echoing drums in the back and really builds to the actual meat in the song but revisits the acoustics once again and then into a pretty decent solo. It’s a pretty good song it has some good atmosphere.

9.Golgotha- And finally we have the title track, and I must say it is pretty epic to say the least. I love the build with Blackie really belting it out. Some people think that Blackie Lawless singing how he needs Jesus isn’t metal but It works great and makes for a very catchy song I think would be a great song for a live audience. Even though is very mid paced for a closer, I feel it gets the atmosphere and catch so good that is worth the trip. A great closer to a pretty good album.

Overall, I give this album a solid 8 out of 10. Even though some of my favorite members and biggest influences are no longer with the band, Blackie manages to write some great very powerful songs that show how WASP are no LA glam band but are and always have been a straight Heavy Metal band. Even though the production had sort of the same problem as Iron Maidens Book Of Souls and the solos didn’t shock me as much, the songs still drag me in because they are fresh to me and not super drawn out which is why this is a pretty good listen for any WASP fan. Long live W.A.S.P \m/

Album Review-Spillage:Spillage

Spillage is the self-titled debut record from Chicago based Hard Rock/Heavy Metal group Spillage and was released on June 30^th, 2015. Now I have heard of this band for about two years but never really focused a lot on them for the reason that I didn’t have a lot of material to work with besides some live videos which showed me they are a very cool live act. However, I wanted to see what a full length from these guys would sound like and if it really would a defying record that I could listening to until it was too worn out. Well I finally have a copy in my hands so let’s turn this baby up and see what is in store for us.

Track Rundown

1.The Darkness- The opening track starts with this ominous organ opening that I really like because it feels like just such a build up to what is to come and not to mention there is some cool Deep Purple vibes as well. Right away there are some crushing riffs and I really admire the guitar tones exhibited here as well they really have a unique NWOBHM-ish sound to them. I really like the vocals as well because they feel doomish in parts and then go for this Halford like soaring style which I love. I love the cut before the solo as well it feels unexpected and makes it exciting as well. Fantastic fucking opening track.

2.Live In Fear- This track has more of that bluesier edge in its riffing yet is still heavy and groovy. The solo is one of my favorites on the album as well. Just a really catchy tune and another must listen on this record.

3.The Road- Chris Martine’s drum fill in the beginning I have to just say is really awesome he has a lot of solid grooves in his playing. The main riff to this song is very vintage Priest sounding but is still full of originality. Tony Spillman in particular really rips up the solo in this tune and its just one of those solo’s that totally sticks with me til no end. Everything in this song and even the slow exit of this song is just great. Definitely my favorite song on the album.

4.Call It Freedom-The groovy bass intro is really cool and the chugging guitars really build up to the main riff that has a thrashy feel to it but it isn’t thrashy at all and still retains that bluesy groove. The chorus is pretty catchy as well in this tune it is different I can’t really explain it but it sounds good and I like it haha. Another killer tune!

5.In Hell- This song has more of that straight Stoner Rock feel to it and the vocals are a bit lower than they were the past songs with a bit more of grit in them. It is heavy as hell and is another tune on the album that I can really get behind. There is a bit of double bass here as well which I don’t recall hearing before which still sounds incredibly heavy. I also love the keys in this tune as well it creates a cool evil atmosphere.

6.Insomnia- The opening has a Sabbath-ish feel to it(more of the Dio era than anything). The riffing has these cool melodic breaks in it that im a total sucker for. It has a really catchy chorus as well and is a cool tune all around. I also like when it picks up as well it really adds to the tune and I didn’t see it coming when I first gave it a listen.

7.Devil Woman- This song has been covered by a couple notable artists including the legendary Riot from New York City. However this version is my favorite because this band plays it in not a super heavy way but it has kind of a more pop kind of sound with it especially with the organ taking over more than the guitars in the verses. I feel that Spillage has captured this song perfectly.

8.Land Of Opportunity- The opening always reminds me of U2 for some reason im not sure but this tune is another awesome rocker. Tony really knows how to write catchy tunes as this is another killer one and I love love the verses but the chorus with the (I can feel it!) thrown in it really is awesome.

9.We Are- This tune is a bit more mid paced and has  catchy nasty riff that carries it with the organ clicking in and out, it is really cool. A pretty god foot tapping tune to end the album with and I can’t complain at all.

Overall, I give this album a 9.7 out of 10. I was really blown away how much I was going to love this record. To me, this is a modern hard rock/heavy metal masterpiece because it blends some really cool sounds together and is easily my record of the year, no denying it. Seriously though, pick this record up, support this band cause I sure as hell will. Horns up for Spillage! \m/

Album Review-Iron Maiden: The Book Of Souls

The Book Of Souls is the sixteenth studio record by English Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden and was released on September 4^th, 2015. Now anyone that is even remotely into Heavy Metal knows who Iron Maiden is. They have made some of the most popular records of the genre as a whole and are major influences even still today. Their last record The Final Frontier was released five years ago and was pretty good but felt a bit stale in a few parts. Two huge world tours followed and then this record was announced just as fast as it came out. This record also clocks in at 92 minutes easily being their longest yet. However, does this mean just a long boring album full of proggy classic Metal or a new milestone for Maiden? Let’s find out!

Track Rundown

1.If Eternity Should Fail- the beginning of this song really sets up quite an epic atmosphere and I really like that. However, as soon as the song starts it kind of trudges through and I may be the only one that feels that way but it just feels like the band is just going through the motions, it does pick up a little but I don’t love it as an opening track. The chorus however I find pretty catchy.

2.Speed Of Light- The first single of the album, this song sounds like typical Iron Maiden which isn’t bad and it would probably make a pretty cool live track on the next tour. The only problem that I start to see is the production feels a bit muddy. This is a problem mainly with the bass levels counter acting with the rhythm levels and it feels it pushes too much bass.

3.The Great Unknown- I really like the intro of this song because it sets up a great mood. The main section is pretty good as well and Bruces lyrics through the whole album are still ace and I also love the chorus on this song more than the first two as well as it has a lot of melody within it.

4. The Red And The Black- This is by far my favorite song on the album for its sheer epic feel and the tight catchy writing around it. The mix still irks me in spots but on this track it really does not bother me that much. The only flaw I have here is it is 13 minutes long and has that epic feeling of a true album closer, however, its placed almost right in the middle actually a bit too early. However this song is amazing to me and definitely a big highlight.

5.When The River Runs Deep- This song picks up the speed a bit more and has a Somewhere In Time feel to it which I like, there are also some interesting riff choices in parts as well. I kind of get lost in the solo at points because it actually runs for quite long in this track and I get kind of blindsided.

6.The Book Of Souls- This is my least favorite song on the album because it is just too trudgy for me and feels predictable by Maidens standards to me as well, it just feels boring. The beginning I really like however but I usually skip this track it doesn’t do much for me.

DISC TWO

7.Death Or Glory- This feels like it should have been the album opener, for me anyways. It is just such an epic song a la The Trooper. The verses are extremely catchy as is the chorus. Another standout song.

8. Shadows of The Valley- This songs opening sounds just like Wasted Years, however, the rest of the track takes a life of its own thankfully and is pretty catchy and another song I really like. I also love the chants placed at the end as well.

9.Tears Of  A Clown- This is a different sounding track for sure and I really like the lyrical content as well. This song feels a bit boring to me unfortunately and the production also kind of hurts this song in parts as well. A so so song.

10.The Man Of Sorrows- This is another so so song for me as well it kind of just feels again like the band are going through motions and isn’t really a track to keep me interested long enough and the soloing feels a bit flat as well but I do like the use of keyboards in parts.

11.Empire Of The Clouds- This last track is pretty good musically wise. For the record it is eighteen freaking minutes long and has a lot of meat and really stretches beyond being a heavy metal song and I applaud it for that. My favorite part is the lyrics because of the rich tragic story the song tells. This being Iron Maidens longest song ever, it feels like a track or two could’ve been dropped for this behemoth.

Overall, I give this album a 6 out of 10. Really this album for me felt all over the place and didn’t feel like it flowed as good I had hoped. There are some real great songs on here as well which is why it gets such a high rating but I felt that there were points that were too long and drawn out too much and the production hindered certain parts from really shining to me. It is an okay effort but not without its problems. Also, sorry this review took so long as I had to listen to all 92 minutes to get the full effect and in this world that’s not easy to do.

Show Review- ACDC at Wrigley Field

On Tuesday, September 15^th 2015, ACDC played a sold out show at Wrigley Field in Chicago Illinois. To me, this was a show that was long overdue. In 2009, I was a sophomore in high school and ACDC came through with perhaps their biggest tour ever…and I missed it. I had no money at the time and it was a week night. Now flash forward six years later and they have a new album and they were coming back to Chicago. It was a week night but I wasn’t taking any chances and it was unfortunate that Malcolm and Phil were not there but I was still hopeful.

Wrigley Field as a venue was a place you either loved or hated there is no in between. I really like the field as a whole being one of if not the oldest ball field in America with its shades of America way back when. I have heard that the sound was garbage but its ACDC they are a loud band I didn’t think I had to worry. Opening act Vintage Trouble really were great with their style of Mississippi styled 50s funk rock. Their singer had a very strong James Brown feel and he really got down with the crowd even crowd surfing toward the end of their set. As the sun came down, a helicopter ominously flew above head and the camera posts were all set. The news was that Wrigley was being shot for the DVD of the tour which got me super excited. As the intro on stage began you could feel the anticipation of the crowd. Then as the meteor hit the ground and the stage exploded the band came out in fine form opening with the strong “Rock Or Bust”. The stage production for this tour was more toward the lighting than the sheer scope of the stage although the rustic shed look was pretty killer.

As for our band, Stevie Young carried himself greatly all the way to his foot tapping like a metronome. He swung a bit looser than Mal but still had that precise picking that his uncle had. He even brought out Malcolm’s signature beatup gretsch as well. Chris Slade was amazing and the guy is almost 70 years old, yet he plays like a 20 year old drummer with extreme ADD and he still is my favorite drummer ACDC ever had. Cliff is still a rock solid bass player and his backups mesh with Stevies pretty well
even though Stevies voice is a bit lower than Mals. Brian Johnson still has that voice and I really cannot believe how he can still carry himself. Angus who is now the ringleader still packs a punch live. He wore his red school boy uniform and although he didn’t do his strip this tour, he still had some shining moments like in Sin City when he literally tried to choke his SG with his tie or his badass no holds barred solo in Let There Be Rock. I was afraid with Wrigley in such a public place that they would have to que down the fireworks and not be able to sound as loud as normal. Well they really let loose and their finally was huge as well. Also, a fun little fact was that Angus brought out his black SG with the white pickguard that he recorded back in black with for the last two songs. So after the smoke cleared I realized that ACDC, although at this point they have nothing to prove, can still dish out the greatest show you will ever see. Seriously if anyone is reading this review, go see ACDC, you will not be disappointed.

Album Review- Motorhead: Bad Magic

Bad Magic is the 22^nd studio album by British Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal band Motorhead and was released on August 28^th, 2015. Now I am no stranger to Motorhead and in fact, they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Lemmy is the main reason I play bass guitar today and ive always looked at him as one of the most badass musical figures ever. Unfortunately lately his health has been showing some negative signs and it has made fans like me worried that this might be his last outing. However, does this album lack the power of every other album? Let’s find out!

Opening with “Victory Or Die” This album has a better and more balls out opening than “Aftershock” did and the production feels more balanced either. This track and “Thunder And Lightning” show that Motorhead has literally lost none of its lethal speed and easily could fit around on the Inferno album. Lemmys voice overall has very little change to it. It has more of a groggy feel but its still great and projects greatly. Songs like “Fire Storm Hotel” and “The Devil” have feels from the Orgasmatron record as well. “Shoot Out All Of Your Lights” has some fantastic drum work from Mikkey Dee as well and shows that he as well has lost none of his chops. Phil Campbell still plays as good as when he joined in ’84. Lemmys lyrics I think really shine on this record as they do on every other one. Tracks like “Electricity” shows this as being simple but still pretty catchy. "Till The End" really is the most calm track here and it kicks ass and has a really atmospheric feel to it especially in Lemmys voice. Perhaps the most interesting piece from this record is the cover of “Sympathy For The Devil”. I really really like this cover and like all the covers Motorhead have done, they really make it their own. Lemmys voice really fits these lyrics more than Mic Jagger ever did as well (when I hear Lemmy snarl “Please to meet you, hope you guess my name” It still gets me.).

Overall, I give this record a solid 8.5 out of 10. It’s Motorhead doing what they do best and I even think this record focuses more on more punk and speed elements than blues even though their blues roots still show. So many good tracks that try some new rhythm styles and leaves you satisfied. Overall, if you know Motorhead, you’ll like this record.