With many tribute compilations out there paying tribute to one artist, it's very rare that we have one band paying tribute to some of their favorite acts, well
Iced Earth did it with their 2002 release Tribute to the Gods and
Great White paid tribute to
Led Zeppelin with their 1999 release Great Zeppelin.
Paying tribute to more of the hard rock acts of the seventies and eighties that stayed away from the whole schlock rock scheme with their own identity, bands like Thin Lizzy, Montrose, Nazareth, Hendrix, and of course some of the metal mainstay acts such as AC/DC, Rainbow, MSG, and Black Sabbath, Baltimore brings some cuts to the table that have been otherwise rarely heard.
With all these covers played out in more of a stripped down hard rock/metal style, combining the guitar work of Thomas Larson and the gravely vocal style of Bjorn Lodin who sings out his own style and range without trying too much to sound like, say,
Dio on their cover of Rainbow's
"Kill the King," or Brian Connolly on their take of Sweets
"Solid Gold Brass;" however his vocal power really fits in with the covers of Nazereth's Beggar's Day (a highly underrated song in the first place), Montrose's
"Rock Candy," (the song that helped Sammy Hagar get started), Deep Purples
"Love Child," able to sing out Coverdales style, and Mountain's
"Mississippi Queen" (also covered by W.A.S.P.), yet another great anthem, even if it had been too aligned with the hippie generation.
Also showing the strength is Larson's axework, who brings his own take to the style of players such as Hendrix (Freedom) and Tony
Iommi (Never Say Die), and the Iron Maiden-ish take on MSG's
"Samurai," brining the melodic metal perspective to the style of blues driven players to dark riff progressions, showing that he goes completely beyond just speed metal picking.
For the most part it makes for a good album to crank up, through and through it rock hard, just guitar, bass, and drums, no jamming filler, it's straight ahead songs, with no bullshit attached.
Written by
Hashman Thursday, January 29, 2004
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