Orange Goblin: A Eulogy For The Damned (Candlelight)
British metallers Orange Goblin have returned with their first album since their career best Healing Through Fire and it continues in the vein that was set since the bands reinvention on Thieving From The House Of God. Long gone are the psychedelic overtones that were on their early releases, the Orange Goblin of today are a full steam riff machine spewing chugging stoner riffage and sludgy doom (The Fog) on every track on this album. With first track Red Tide Rising they immediately go for the jugular and proceed to bludgeon with every track. There is a brief rest bite with the hippy loving The Filthy & And The Few before more riffage courtesy of Jon Hoare and the unmistakable bark of Ben Ward. This is as good as their previous effort but doesn't surpass however still an excellent album for fans of the band and for those inclined to head busting metal! 8/10
Steelwing: Zone Of Alienation (NoiseArt)
The 80's return in force with Steelwing's second album starting with instrumental 2097 A.D which sounds exactly like an Alan Silvestri score (Google him) and it kicks into the speed metal gallop of Solar Wind Riders unlike their last album which was well produced but seemed to be too much of a copy whereas now they are more of a modern homage. The lyrical content has changed as well with their last album Lords Of The Wasteland featuring speed and traditional metal tracks about post-apocalyptic and action films whereas Zone Of Alienation has more of a sci-fi theme. Nearly all of the tracks are galloping bass lines and helium vocals but they seem much more accomplished on this album than on their previous effort. One of the best tracks is Running Man (based on the ultra-violent 80's Arnie film of the same name) which has a real Maiden vibe to it and is followed by the equally Maidenesque instrumental They Came From The Skies which sounds surprisingly like Transylvania. It's not all super speed with the track Breathless which sounds like Journey (that's a good thing I promise). This is a great trad-metal album from a band that have become one of the genre leaders on this release. 8/10
The Parlor Mob: Dogs (Roadrunner)
The second album from New Jersey rockers The Parlor Mob comes 3 years after their debut And You Were The Crow and takes their sound to the next level. There first album contained elements of Zep-like rock, mixed with funk, blues and more modern influences all tied together with a hefty dose of soul and Dogs continues on this theme but expands it to give them an almost 'definitive' sound. Starting off with How It's Gonna Be they immediately show how they have grown as a band as it starts off slow and acoustic before adding some psych touches and then rocking like a bastard with neat little guitar inflections giving them a sound akin to Wolfmother or even Zeppelin. Much of the Wolfmother link comes from Mark Melicia's voice which has elements of Andrew Stockdale, Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Mr Plant himself, while also covering a hefty dose of Jack White. In fact this is most prevalent on the storming and funky White Stripes/Black Keys sound-alikes FallBack and Take What's Mine. It's not all toughness however the tenderness come from Practice In Patience, the country orientated I Want To See You and Slip Through My Hands. All of which add to an eclectic, rocking and straight up brilliant album from a band soon to be huge, (mark my words). 9/10
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