I hereby declare August 2007 "The Stan Bush month". Without a doubt the best discovery I've made recently. All three discs mentioned here are worth investing in. Other albums have had a hard time to get through all the Stan Bush goodness but a few did make it.
On the concert front my ninth
Wacken Open Air was an entertaining experience. This weekend I will be easing gently out of the festival summer by chilling out at the "Lidenlund Seafestival" in my hometown with a bunch of obscure Danish bands. Should make a nice closure.
The playlist...
Stan Bush - In this life (Melodic Rock)
Tender, emotional and filled with infectious melodies this is a fantastic album. "I'll never forget", "This moment", "Waiting for you", "The first time" and "Southern rain" are all perfect sculptures in the land of melodic rock. One of this year's highlights.
Stan Bush - Dial 828 888-8638 (Melodic Rock)
Another great discovery. Superb melodic rock with a fantastic voice. Not particularly original, but with songs as good as these it doesn't matter.
Favorites at the moment include "Are you over me" (the way he sings those words is amazing), "Come to me" (What a sublime chorus) and "Total Surrender" (Summer sweetness of the Meat Loaf variety).
Stan Bush - Shine (Melodic Rock)
Solid album. Straight to the point songs with strong choruses all around.
Amaran's Plight - Voice in the light (Progressive Rock/Metal)
Highly promising concept album featuring DC Cooper (Silent Force/ex. Royal Hunt), Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), Nick D'Virgillio (Spock's Beard) and Kurt Barabas (Under the sun)
Circus Maximus - Isolate (Progressive Metal)
First impression is excellent. Sounds like these guys are finding their own ground.
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos (Progressive Metal)
Very promising so far but needs more time to settle in.
Fates Warning - Parallels (Progressive Metal)
Read the review.
Turisas - The Varangian Way (Symphonic Viking Metal)
Read the review.
Allen Lande - The Revenge (Hard Roik)
Still getting regular spins. Outstanding all around.
Eyefear - A world full of grey (Progressive Metal)
Solid album. Recommended to fans of progressive metal.
Lizzy Borden - Master of disguise (Hard Rock)
Another interesting discovery with a singer that sounds like a mutation of Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche) and Midnight (Crimson Glory).
Bon Jovi - Lost Highway (Soft rock)
Very good album, but not quite up there with my four favourites Keep the faith, New Jersey, Slippery when wet and Have a nice day.
Hanoi Rocks - Another Hostile Takeover (Hard Rock)
A varied album with songs ranging from terrible to fantastic. Luckily only one in the first category and several in the latter. "No Compromise, No regrets", "Center of my universe" and the Phil Lynott penned "Dear Miss Lonely Heart" are favorites at the moment. A great album overall.
Cage - Hell Destroyer (Heavy Metal)
Pure Metallic joy. Album of the year so far.
Dionysus - Sign of Truth (Power Metal)
A quick listen to the extremely melodic opening track "Time will tell" was all it took to peak my interest. Strong Power Metal album.
Domine - Ancient Spirit Rising (Power Metal)
The fifth Domine album continues their "Epic Power Metal" style with a touch less epicness than usual. Doesn't sound like it will reach my favourites, "Dragonlord" and "Stormbringer Ruler". Approach with caution.
Doomsword - My name will live on (Viking Metal)
First impression was not too good, but slowly the album has grown. "Deathmaster" sings in a different way this time and his voice is very low in the mix. It takes some time getting used to. The music has also evolved along a speedier but still massively epic path. There is something primal that keeps drawing me to this album.
CD purchases of the month
Bon Jovi - Lost highway
Alice Cooper - Brutal Planet / Dragontown
HIM - And love said no... 1997-2004 (Some nice songs here. "Join Me" had me at the first piano note)
Iron Maiden - The X Factor (A hard one to get into)
Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding (Expanded Edition)
Cage - Hell Destroyer (Superb packaging with this one. A detailed and beautifully visualized booklet that complements the story well)
Domine - Ancient Spirit Rising
Doomsword - My Name Will Live On
Hanoi Rocks - Another Hostile Takeover
Harem Scarem - Weight Of The World (3 euros at the Wacken Metal Markt. Great album. What a find.)
Heaven's Cry - Food for Thought Substitute
Poverty's No Crime - The Chemical Chaos
Quireboys - A Bit Of What You Fancy (Japanese edition) (The two bonus tracks are nice but nothing special)
Stan Bush - Dial 828 888-8638
Stan Bush - In This Life
Stan Bush - Shine
Turisas - The Varangian Way
Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse (Disappointing)
