Clearing out the New Trash

Im happy to say my music is sorted and tidy.
I can now begin going through the music I have saved and relisten with fresh ears and decide if these new bands can make the cut second time around.

Metallica's St. Anger - Retro Review

I decided to give it a go. 11 years after they released the album, I decided to give St Anger by Metallica another go. They deserve all the divisive reviews they got when they released this album, and Im here trying to break it down just what they got wrong and right.

Firstly the sound. I know they went for a stripped down sound with no dubbing or mixing but at the very least they could have made it sound less like jamming in a garage and closer to a stage / soundcheck quality.

Lars Ulrich has always tried to innovate his drum sound, but on this album his drums grate in your face constantly. It sounds like his drum kit consists of a cow bell and a trash can. It takes a immense effort to overcome this.

Guitarwise (and bass wise too) it sounds fresh, energetic and raw. It sounds like a band working out the demos just before they enter the studio proper and the final practise sessions before they move in and begin recording. I think the rejection of wanting to have guitar solos for any of the songs is a brave move, but closer to what a band would sound like in the raw. It wouldnt have hurt for Kirk Hammet or James Hetfield to have improvised a guitar solo jam over the top now and then. Surprisingly for a album with no solos, some of the songs can go on for a considerable amount of time, over 8 minutes in places.

The time between Reload and St Anger was a long time, time enough to have worked out 2 albums worth of material including solos and mixing, so to my ears and many other Metallica fans this sounds unfinished incomplete and unsatisfying. But look beneath the rough exterior and you will find some solid guitar work and more.

The more in this instance is an incredible improvement with James Hetfield's vocal ability. He sings now with far more emotion that he has done, and is closer to the style from the Load and Reload albums, especially on the title track.

Metallica (i.e. Lars and James) have done some dickhead things in their career, drugs, tattoos, alcohol, pro-gun lobby, Napster but to quote James "I'm madly in Anger with you.". But we, the fans are mad because deep down we really do love them, care about them and want them not to make arseholes of themselves.

Lets see how my opinion of Death Magnetic changes and then I may feel brave enough to try Lulu.

Adventures in Music Part 3 1980s Part 2

At some point I was given a old mono record player by someone living in our house. The record player was so old and useless that should really have been thrown away, it barely managed to screech out sounds and most likely ruined the few vinyl albums I played on it. It wasn’t long before I was bought a better stereo/record player. I used it to mainly play the 7inch singles that were lying around and the vinyl albums that both my mum and step-dad owned. We actually had three of these record players at one point in our house. My brother had one in his bedroom, so did I, and my parents had one in the lounge.

I remember the first vinyl record I was able to influence being bought was ADAM AND THE ANTS’ Kings of the Wild Frontier. The only reason I got to choose this album was on the proviso my brother also got to choose an album too. He choose the soundtrack to the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was the start of a luckily short-lived career of bad decision making purchases by him that thankfully ended with A-HA. My parents bought the Pickwick Records version of the film Grease soundtrack that I later failed to trade for the Cluedo boardgame, but thats another story.

I listened to my new album purchase over and over again, and I began to discover music shops as being a place to explore new music. Most of the music I wanted to explore wasn't mainstream. I tended to visit the independent record shops as none of the main shops stocked this kind of music. I discovered that ADAM AND THE ANTS had back material and bought some of their 7inch singles and their Dirk Wears White Socks album showcasing music from their punk beginnings. It was their earlier material I enjoyed rather than the mixed banquet that was Prince Charming that they released after Kings. Only a couple of the songs were decent from Prince Charming, the title track and Stand and Deliver made a mockery of the music and it became embarrassing to admit to liking glam punk and such a “popular” song. They went from a punk to new romantic to ridicule in a matter of weeks.

I didn't identify with punk music, even though it had its roots in the 1950s and 1960s rock and roll. Punks had a reputation that was far worse than rockers and mods. Punks in Ipswich were notorious for causing trouble at birthday parties.

I found myself getting into anything that wasn't mainstream, including SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK, which was more electro-punk, and one of the few times I didn't buy a good album. I bought it because it was recommended to me from the same friend who got me into ADAM AND THE ANTS, without any other reliable music source I bought the album.

Jeff LaBar - Cinderella Guitarist Solo Album

I love Cinderella, and I love Jeff LaBar, I think he is an under-rated bluesman, but after watching this video Im prepared to reverse my opinion of him.

He plays a tedious blues song that is of his own composition and manages to get a woman to co-star in the music video with who (and Im sorry for saying this) but your a-typical prostitute - I though Jeff would have better taste in women...

Enjoy or not as the case may be.

Judas Priest's Redeemer of Souls Follow Up

So I have been listening more to his new album by Priest, and can safely say this is vocally and musically as close to a new Iron Maiden album as you can get without Bruce actually singing and Harris writing the material.

Adventures in Music Part 2 1980s Part 1

My mum and dad divorced and she later remarried and moved in with our new step-dad in Ipswich. My step-dad rented out rooms in the house we now lived to people, including American airbase service personnel which was common as we lived near several American Airbases. One month one of the American men couldn’t pay his rent and was heading back to the States and left an 8-track behind as payment. 8-track was considered to the the best quality sound recording at the time in the 1970s. There was limited availability of the 8-track format in the UK, so I was confined to listening to only what he left behind. I listened to the comedian and folk singer RICHARD DIGANCE and several albums by THE EAGLES other other country rock bands the names of which I’ve forgotten. Despite the limitations of the media (availability of new music and the inability to rewind the tapes), I did adopt the 8-track in my bedroom and played all the tapes it until it just stopped working. Being limited to just a few albums was interesting, but I started to crave for more diversity.

I dabbled with lots of different music types during the 1980s, helped in part by the fact that in the UK at least, the diversity of music that occupied the charts was incredible. It wasn't uncommon for every song on the top ten to be from a different genre. I listened to some punk, ska/two-tone, and mod music (again I was unaware of these genres at the time), none of which I liked or enjoyed. Everyone at school seemed to like pop music or MADNESS in the first and second year of secondary school. I still hadn't yet found the music I liked to listen to. A classmate was heavily into Star Wars and ADAM AND THE ANTS because of their punk and new wave romantic sound, although I was unaware of what they were classed as that until many years later. Music is music, I wasn't aware of genres, only music I liked and didn't like. I think the only reason I got into them was because a kid in my class who was a loner as well as me got me into them. I think from that point onwards I seemed to enjoy liking music that very other people knew about. I listened to the charts like every other kid, and was glued to the radio on a Sunday afternoon to listen to the Top 40 charts, something that in the 21st Century has almost become meaningless.

My parent’s taste in music was based in the 1960s and 1970s bands such as THE MOODY BLUES, MAMMAS AND THE PAPAS, THE CARPENTERS, THE HOLLIES, THE BEACH BOYS, and my step dad’s personal obsession, THE BEATLES. He also had folk rock from the 1970s too such as THE EAGLES and CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG’s Four Way Street live album was a regular to be played in our house. Despite my best efforts these albums would influence my musical tastes, and become my guilty pleasures later in life reminding me of my youth.

I went on holiday one year with my parents and the only device I brought along was my tape-player. I brought along several cassettes to listen to but found myself playing ABBA’s Arrival album on continuous loop.

Along with QUEEN’s Greatest Hits was also played. This was the first of three greatest hits albums they would release. At this period in my life, while I listened to a lot of my parents music, but, I rejected it on of the principle that anything my parents liked must be rubbish. The only exceptions to this attitude was THE MOODY BLUES and THE HOLLIES.

Jason "Newboy" Newstead

I think everyone who likes rock and heavy metal considers themselves an "outsider" in the real world, so when you are an outsider and not considered one of the gang in terms of a metal band, you really do have to wonder whats going on.

Jason Newstead had joined Metallica in the wake of Cliff Burton's death, and after they had just come off the back of a trio of albums that culminated in the release of "Master of Puppets", an album that is considered to not only be Metallica's best album, but also the best album released in the genre of metal and thrash. The biggest challenge for Jason Newstead would be

1. whether the fans would accept him,
2. the band accept him, and
3. would he fill such a huge void left in the wake of Cliff Burton.

My initial experience of Metallica was on the eve on the release of their "...And Justice For All" double album, which was Jason's first appearance on a record. I read all the music press, Kerrang and Metal Hammer and he was referred to often as Jason "Newboy" Newstead by both the press and his fellow band mates. I can take a little humour, but when even a decade later he was still being considered the outsider, the newboy, it leaves a psychological scar that never heals.

The politics within the band are well known. Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield are Metallica, and everyone else are there for the ride. Its common knowledge that when each new album is released, that Lars and James have already created the songs in near complete/demo form, and the rest of the band just play their part. I always got the impression Kirk Hammett was happy being in a band/playing with Metallica and hence was happy with his involvement and reward, but I didnt get that from Jason. When their hugely and deservedly successful album "Black" album was released with it came two videos (videos then, DVDs now) entitled "A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, Part One and Part Two". They were a companion set with the first video documenting the recording process of the album and the second video documenting the subsequent tour. Whilst I could review both videos here, I wont, suffice to say they are essential viewing by any Metallica fan and a window into the whole world of recording an album from start to finish.

The section I want to focus on is the part two, the tour around the world. We are often shown the various backstage antics common amongst a band on tour slowly going crazy from months of touring. There is a scene in which Jason is seen with a paper plate collecting food from a buffet after a show, and the rest of the band are making fun of him. (We later/earlier see Kirk Hammett acting like a child playing his guitar in his hotel room at 2am, rather childish). Jason just laughs off the insults and jibes with a comment. "I've got plans for these millions and it aint for fucking sandwiches." He's a smart guy, his feet on the ground without letting fame and fortune go to his head. Whilst Lars and James most likely earnt more money than the other two by dint of writing credits, but also tour earnings, Kirk acted more like a child who was happy with whatever James and Lars did, and Jason was just too smart for the band. He knew the bubble would burst, that fame and fortune is fleeting, and that once you have easy money its spent easily. Not wasting his money on room service when there was a perfectly good (and already paid for) buffet to eat from is a smart move.

Much is made of the bass mix with ...And Justice For All, which has been corrected somewhat in subsequent remixes, but by Jason's own admission you cant hear the bass because its integral with the drums and guitars. Either by design (he was told what to play) or the nature of the sound that JH and LU were looking for meant there was no room in the mix for a bass player.

I often wonder what Metallica would sound like today if Cliff hadnt died (and no I wouldnt prefer Kirk to have died instead, Id have preferred if no one died), and Im certain their fourth album would have been heavier and harder.

Edit

Yes 2014 Heaven and Earth

Its not often I pull a CD out of the CD player before Ive finished a listen through, but listening to this was one just incident.

This album sounds tired and unimaginative and a poor version of Yes.

Ive read that people have issues with this album and see good reason to dislike it as well. Considering that the guitarist and keyboard players are both from Asia is enough to tell you what this album sounds like.

While the new vocalist adds some interesting melodies, it is the music itself that leaves you feeling morose, apathetic and just bored. Most of the tracks exceed five minutes, with a couple of longer pieces, but some of these are just long keyboard intros that are unrelated to the song itself.

Yes have had their glory days, and with a band at this stage in their career and life, its time to call it a day on new material.

2/10 - only because I'm not a huge Yes fan.

Electric Citizen 2014 Sateen

I have discovered a new psychedelic/stoner rock band with a female vocalist. An American band with a Californian rock sound that just seem to find grooves in all their music. My first few listens through I got a sincere feeling that these guys love playing together and that infectious energy comes out in their music.

Bandcamp is where you'll find them, and this Sateen album is their 3rd release.

Monobrow 2014 Big Sky, Black Horse - Stoner Rock Instrumental Band

I had been dreading listening to this band for several reasons;

(1) the recent deluge of stoner metal bands has been very disappointing - halfway through the most of the second songs of new bands and I'm already clicking delete. Normally the vocals kills it for me, as they are either average, typical, inappropriate or growled which is a total turn off for me.

(2) Monobrow is hardly a name that inspires confidence, and seems to be foreboding on this album being sub par.

(3) Monobrow gave me the impression with their name choice that they were a joke/comedy band that doesnt take itself too seriously.

(4) instrumental music has to have that something extra which replaces the missing lead singer and this normally means a lead guitarist who plays too much over the melody, or uses a lead guitar to emulate where a singer would "sing".

I'm therefore very happy to annouce that I am wrong on all four counts. Their third album Big Sky, Black Horse is a terrific find and is available on Bandcamp. Their previous two albums are definitely going to be on my want list. 2010 Monobrow and 2012 Bennington Triangle Blues.

Here is a band that knows how to groove, how to get your head banging and your body moving. Groove stoner metal is enjoyable and a great way to demonstrate to all our non rock friends just how good music can be.

Choosing to release this without a vocalist enables the band to focus on the music which is mostly fast songs which catch you at the first riff and drag, push and delight you along the way. The opening track, Cicada is over 6 minutes long and afterwards I felt I could have listened to that for another 6 minutes. A galloping song that is as close as you get to groove stoner rock.

I highly recommend their album and give it a

7.5/10 mighty work indeed.

I have now sourced their first two albums and look forward to listening to their earlier material.

Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls - First Listen

I have been dreading this album for some time. I actually enjoyed the prog rock metal opera that was Nostradamus. I enjoy concept albums and even more so when established bands create them too. I enjoyed listening to the other styles of music the members wanted to create as well as discovering new sides to the band and their playing and vocal style.

It was released on the back of a huge reunion and whilst afterwards they released good heavy metal albums, they werent great.

Well Redeemer of Souls falls into that same, not great category, that has plagued the band since its reunion with Rob Halford. And the only shining light in the last 10 or so years has been Nostradamus.

Ive listened to the first 3 tracks and have nothing amazing to report. Good guitars, heavy riffing, great vocals and the second track almost an Iron Maiden sounding song, but one thing that rings true on every song on every listen is how average the music is.

I found nothing new in their music, and maybe it will grow on me, but I found myself wanting the record to end.

More Music Cleared

I burnt through and discarded about 20 albums on Sunday.
I managed to hook up my speakers to my laptop to give me a better sound, and tested them by playing my favourite Iron Maiden album, Somewhere in Time.
I was surprised that after a listen through I discarded Quiet Riot seeing as Im both a huge fan of Randy Rhoads and Frankie Banali. I guess greatness came after QR disbanded.
Most of the music I listened to was Psychedelic and Stoner rock in style.
I also updated my Motorhead discography and got rid of a couple of duplicate albums, and also ensured the music I did have was 320 bit rate.

World Music Musicians and Why I Hate It

More of an observational rant rather than anything serious.

There was, and still is, a trend for 1980's musicians to engage and adopt world music styles into their own music or change musical direction and become world musicians themselves. In their eyes it is the equivalent of their maturing musical identity, to the rest of us its either an interesting reworking of their sound, or utter rubbish.

Im going to name names, and these are normally good musicians who have become worse in my view rather than better.

Paul Simon - while I don't think he has done anything better since his days as a duo with Garfunkle, his Graceland album (which I detest) has many world music elements that it doesnt quite gel as a pleasurable listening experience, and seeing him in concert now is akin to watching an Africaan Dance music festival.

Sting - I tolerate his world music as he is one of the few who has made it work, but he does go overboard on his concerts.

Peter Gabriel - Im no fan of Genesis with or without him, but his solo work is almost deliberately world music.

Robert Plant - Its sad to see Mr Plant being dragged down with the world music scene. Yes both he and Jimmy Page have both used middle eastern influenced music in songs such as Kashmir, but they did a live album together called No Quarter which has many world musicians playing as well. But to be fair that have stolen a lot of first world music as well as third world music roo.

Why do they do it? Ego perhaps, but they are also products of their own experience, as they have (Sting and Peter Gabriel) been involved with travelling, poverty and Amnesty International

Dragging half an African tribe onto the stage is not the equivalent of world music.

Adventures in Music Part 1 1970s

My first introduction to music was the same I’m sure for most people, listening to my parents records. I never heard my parents play any of their records, but then I never saw them read any books, but they had plenty of those as well. Not having any knowledge on how record players worked, I was only able to look at the album covers and was curious about their cassette tapes. Their music collection seemed to be mostly Country and Western albums and I distinctly remember them having collections of MARIO LANZA, and the West Side Story Musical stage show.

Beyond that limited music collection I didn’t pay attention to any other music, other than bits and pieces I saw on Saturday morning television, but that was nothing more than music that got in the way of the cartoons I was more interested in.

The first 7inch single I was ever bought was SARAH BRIGHTMAN AND HOT GOSSIP’s I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper. A dire and average disco pop record. I’ve no idea why it was bought for me, I didn't have or know how to use a record player. That wasn't the first record I bought, but was only one of two records my mum ever bought for me. The other was much later, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’s Born in the USA 7inch.I remember being invited to a friends birthday party and I brought the record along to be played. I don't think they bothered. The dad of my friend was heavily into Jazz music and had collections of the stuff and listened to it constantly. I'm pleased I never got into that style of music.

I eventually learnt how to use my parent’s record player and was also able to play my parent’s music as well as my own 7inch. I spent countless hours learning how to queue up singles on a record player. I think I experimented with albums to see just how many I could balance on record player at once without ruining them rather than playing them.

One year later for my birthday I was bought a radio cassette recorder, and to go with it was THE BOOMTOWN RATS’ A Tonic for the Troops, containing the songs Like Clockwork and Rat Trap. I listened to this album many times, along with a couple of audio-books and found a few other tapes my parents owned, including the soundtrack to the film Exodus which was incredibly moving, inspiring and probably explains my deep love for soundtrack albums, the main theme was beautiful. I was too young to be trusted with my parents vinyl records.

The following year I was bought a Bontempi organ that had numbers on each of its keys, making it easy to follow and play music specially written for it. It came with half a dozen books allowing you to play common melodies, but I remember my mum buying a special book; SIMON & GARFUNKLE’s Greatest Hits. I’d never heard of either of them (Simon or Garfunkle), and oddly could play their music well even though Id never heard them played properly. So for almost ten years the only version I knew was my crappy cover versions.

Removed Several Stoner Rock Albums - Update

Just a short update to say Ive cleared out half a dozen albums that I liked, but just never felt the need to listen to again. One of these was the new Hell Yeah! album. I really enjoyed the groove metal of Pantera although I didnt care too much for the screaming vocals, in fact they are one of the only bands I have that screams (okay 2 if you include Trivium but they sing with clean vocals). I have dimissed all of Opeth's albums because of this very fact. I just don't get black or death metal at all.

While Hell Yeah! had decent drumming, I felt the songs were quite weak and the vocals nothing special, so although it got good reviews, I didnt think it was a stand out enough album to keep.

I have now brought my download list right up to date, meaning any new albums that are listing on the website I dont need to queue up. I am still left with a weekends worth of music to listen to whilst also listening to some of my older classic albums. It doesnt help that the car Im driving to work at the moment doesnt have a CD player, and the mechanics involved in getting music from my PC to my mobile phone are too cumbersome. Im hoping to land a new job before September and I will migrate my music listening back to a dedicated MP3 player, maybe an iPod or 2nd hand iPhone.

Saturn 2013 Naya Din

I want to give a massive shout out to Saturn's little heard 2013 release Naya Din. Modern hard rock mixed with progressive and acoustic elements and vocals that sound very suited to the style of Indian music a la Kula Shakar.

 

Pakistan's very own answer to Dream Theater sees a very experienced and tight band performing really catchy melodic progressive metal.

 

One element I like is that while both the vocalist and guitarist feature prominently in every song, each of the musicians in the band is allowed to shine. Solid keyboard bass and drums really propel this album along so it sounds shorter than it is

 

Be warned that this is a hard to find gem of an album and that the singer sings exclusively in his mother language.

 

A promising 1st release and I will be looking forward to their 2nd album.

 

6.5/10. I know the score is quite mean but its open to be revised.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(band)

 

Music Listening Update - How I Listen

My current music set up is as follows. All my music lives on a 1TB external hard drive (Western Digital) and is backed up routinely to a RAID 1 Mirror hard drive at home. Music that is downloaded but not yet listened to sits on my laptop until I decide if its good enough to be kept permanently or deleted as dross. Im fully aware that I may well be discarding music I will like if given a chance, but I am genuinely only looking for new albums by artists I already enjoy and music by bands Ive never heard of but really catch my ear, and the only way they can do that is to blow my socks off from the opening tracks.

After spending most of 2013 catching up with almost 500 albums worth of new material I have become far more discerning as to the kind of music I try out.

Previously I would have downloaded anything that was in the following music category;

Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Metal, Power, Symphonic, Folk, Prog Rock, Psychedelic, Space and ambient. But after having listened to all and sundry I've limited it down to just Stoner, Psychedelic and Space. I've listened to far to much power and speed metal to know it all sounds the same, and have decided to (unless I read a good review elsewhere) to focus on those few power/speed metal bands I currently enjoy.

The main problem with so much music is that I rarely get to listen to old music I still enjoy.

I've almost caught up with my downloads of albums I've bought but not yet put onto my laptop, but now have a laptop full of music that must be listened to.

Tributes? Covers? No Thanks

The very first tribute album I bought was Apocalyptica plays Metallica. A four-piece cello group that recreated Metallica's music (specifically the Black era and earlier) and made it sound new and fresh. Whilst Apocalytpica would create new music in later albums, they would expand their covers and renditions with their own sound and style. While I have fond memories of the first album music, I havent listened to it for years. It was a novelty which sadly wore off quickly.

Oddly it was by accident that I bought my next tribute album, Metallica Blackest Industrial Tribute to..., and my third was Abba Metal, a Metal Tribute to Abba.

I noticed a growing trend of tribute albums, and then later covers albums (Garage Days Revisited/Garage Inc started the revival) and really saw them as cheap cash ins. Essentially a tribute album is done one of two ways. Either a perfect rendition (pointless when you can listen to the original) or a (for example) a Jazz swing version of Enter Sandman. I started seeing these tribute albums as a good purchase, who doesnt want to hear new versions of the same songs, but then the bubble burst. It seemed every band was producing a covers album (Id say its hazy ground on par with a compilation album) or allowing tribute albums of its material to be covered.

Ive stopped buying Tribute albums because they no longer have anything useful to say musically, and cover albums no longer satisfy me when Id rather the band be creating new music. Sure, bands can play cover songs at live concerts etc...but dont sell me an album full of covers. Please.

Devin Townsend Again & Metroid Metal

I was again listening to Devin Townsend's Biomech album and still finding it fresh and full of energy.

I also tried a new band who should have been right up my street. I enjoy movie soundtracks, and especially game soundtracks. I heard of a band called The Black Mages who are a Japanese rock band who play Final Fantasy music in the style of power/progressive rock metal. They have released three albums and a live DVD/CD which I have as well. I enjoy the soundtrack to the Metroid Prime games on the GameCube/Nintendo Wii and have both on CD as well. Metroid Metal is the name of the band, and they play heavy metal versions of Metroid game soundtracks. I got their third album and began to listen to it. I was disappointed for several reasons.

(a) I know the original music very well, and the tracks they covered on this album I could not recognise.
(b) There was none of the energy and beautiful etherealism that was in the music that was present in the game soundtrack, i.e. the cover versions added nothing to the music at all.

If I stumbled across their first two albums I may accidentally buy them, but I wont be expecting much.

Devin Townsend

I spent a few hours on Saturday and Sunday listening to some of the early music by Devin Townsend. Its amazing to see how progressive he was, but equally to see how little he has evolved as a musician during his musical career.

Yes he has different "modes" black metal, progressive/industrial rock, ambient/down tempo and even recently "country rock" (although I'd debate that its country), but he manages to delight me still with producing complex and layered walls of sound and vocal that has yet to be equalled. He is one of the few musicians for whom I hope he continues writing the same style of music.

My first introduction to him was as the vocalist on Steve Vai's VAI album. I remember being totally struck by his vocal range that went from screams and howls to heights that he reminded me of Cher. I never heard of his music after that, until I stumbled across Napster and saw his name again. The album was Physicist and whilst its considered to be his weakest album, it was enough to make me want to follow his music and enjoy each of his releases.

Ghost - Late to the Party

There was only one band that caught my ear in 2013, and that band was Ghost. A Swedish band labeled as Doom/Heavy Metal, but I’d say closer to the quality Heavy Metal riffing of Black Sabbath mixed with Lordi. Their debut album can only be described as a difficult album to break into. It took three listens before his voice (weak, but perfectly suited to this genre) melded with the simple guitar riffs. But lets go back to the beginning. I'm used to the heavy metal tropes of a keyboard intro, and this album delivers that, but the organ sound seems meandering and disorganised but does give a little hint of what is to follow. Despite the band having two guitarists and a keyboard player the music never drowns each of the other instruments out. You can clearly hear the simple effective drums leading a perfect bass, and as for the two guitars, one plays the rhythm parts perfectly, whilst the slightly distorted lead takes control from the lead singer perfectly. Yes there are guitar solos here, but you're hearing not epic shredding solos, but almost extended riffs which complement the song in the same way that a Twisted Sister guitar solo would.

The Devils Blood

So far its been a lean, “download and delete” kind of year so far, with very little new material surviving the recycle bin.

But one band has or did survive, and despite their 3 album output before their demise and ultimately the death of their lead guitarist ensured they would never output again, I present to you The Devils Blood. Mixing psychedelic guitars, Jimi Hendrix and a modern retro take on Black Sabbath, this female vocal led band surprised you with every song. I'll be the first to admit I dont always enjoy female metal/rock singers, but thats because of the handful out there, very few fit the bill perfectly. What you have with this band are two genuine full length albums, a handful of EPs and a posthumous release of a half finished third album before they split up. Very much like Kingston Wall before them (also released three albums before the untimely death of the lead guitarist and singer) they made a retro sounding music sound modern.

Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls

After their interesting Nostradus concept album last time around, and considering Judas Priest's track record ever since Painkiller, I have always been worried and concerned about any new release they make. It was Halford's solo albums that really set the bar for what a hard sound JP should be aiming for, but equally I miss the style of metal sound they had on such albums as Defender of the Faith and British Steel. Hard hitting music without too much production and embellishment.

Here's hoping all the excitement and media push on this is worth the hyperbole.

Uncharted

I enjoyed the game and the main theme that I just had to get the soundtrack. One of the few main themes that really lends itself to the adventure genre.

 

It was created by Greg Edmondson who had written all the music for Firefly and Serenity - so that would explain it then.

The Dark Crystal - OST - Trevor Jones

I was in the mood for some movie soundtracks on Sunday while clearing up the loft, and happened up Trevor Jones' beautiful and ethereal composition for The Dark Crystal.

He manages to meld such diverse sounds that one could say he is an equal to John Williams in the range of styles, from folk, to epic strains on brass and string.

There are several versions of this soundtrack, all of which are worth acquiring if you have no other choice. The music is uplifting, sad and haunting all at the same time, and whilst the movie can be scary for the younger viewer, the music manages to capture that suspense to perfection. My only wish is that the movie stayed closer to the book which had a far sadder ending than that which was presented in the film.

Along with Last of the Mohicans and Dinotopia, this is Trevor Jones' finest work.