Cozy Powell : Tilt and Octopussy
Legendary rock drummer, who played in Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group, Jeff Beck Band, Deep Purple etc etc.
Somehow or another he found time to cowrite, coproduce and record some fascinatingly eclectic rock music, incorporating jazz, rock and prog, as well as epic orchestral pieces.
These are his second and third releases.
Powell died in a car crash in 1998, aged 50.
Stryper : Murder By Pride
My God, this band just get better and better. Maybe it's down to Michael Sweet's stint fronting Boston on tour this last year.
That at least explains why the band covers Scholz's 'Peace Of Mind'.
They're tight as a drum on 'Murder by Pride'. The band's beautifully measured and carefully weighted metal is brimful of aurally adhesive hooks and thoughtful lyrics, in a powerful and moving look at faith and a world descending into chaos.
Crash Kings : Crash Kings
An amazing debut album in which the ubiquitous rock guitar is usurped by loud and forceful piano playing.
It's a heavily rhythmic recording - drums and bass play a crucial role. Surprisingly though, it's not at the expense of good tunes, of which there are many.
The pretentious may think they've seen the future of melodic hard rock.
Big Elf : Cheat The Gallows
'Cheat The Gallows' is the work of a band whose music has moved past derivative and onto a more challenging vision. A recording with the musical sweep and grand ambition to deconstruct the rock'n'pop of the sixties and the seventies, then reconstruct these two decades of music with full on 21st century, state of the art studio sonics.
Sound interesting?
It most certainly is.
Elias Viljanen : E:vil : Fire Hearted
Forget Sonata Arctica, the opening and title track sounds like Gary Hoey audititioning for the lead axeman role in Van Halen. Me, I'd give him the gig.
With the help of Tony (SA) Kakko, Marco (Nightwish/Tarot) Hietala, Jari (Evergrey) Kainulainen on bass, Mikko (Apocalyptica) Siren on drums and Henrik (SA) Klingenberg (who nearly steals the show) on Keys, Viljanen shoots off tangentially into a world where power metal, symphonic rock and melodic hard rock merge into one colourful, adrenaline pumping noise. Marvellous stuff.
Sinner - There Will Be Execution
Sinner - Judgement Day
Sinner - The Nature Of Evil
Three more appetising, digitally remastered reissues from the enterprising Polish label, Metal Mind. These folk clearly love their metal.
These are relatively recent albums to be getting the renovation and rerelease treatment, but when you hear them again you realise that maybe they didn't quite get the recognition they deserved first time round.
All 3 come with bonus tracks.
Hybrid Ice : Minds Eye
In a Lazarus type scenario, this legendary band are back with a cracking new batch of songs.
We all know that "legendary" status is often bestowed on bands and albums unjustifiably. The passage of time dims the truth and nostalgia clouds our memory. Result : a mystique is created.
Not so with this abnd. I still play 'No Rules' on a regular basis. It captures a moment, and very possibly could be claimed to symbolise an era.
'Minds Eye' doesn't ignore the past. Neither does it seek to repeat past glories. The band have moved on and so has the music but, thankfully, there's a jetstream of unique eighties' pomp rock trailing in its wake.
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