Tommy's Rocktrip - Beat Up By Rock N Roll (Frontiers Music Srl)
Tommy Clufetos' will be best known to readers as the man behind the kit for both Ozzy and Black Sabbath on their most recent tours, but he's something of a rock journeyman as a session drummer having played with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and Rob Zombie before hooking up with the Prince Of Darkness. Beat Up By Rock N Roll is his debut album with this band, dedicated to paying tribute to Clufetos' influences and the rock n roll lifestyle itself, what we have here is an album of 70's/80's American rock music from when it was the best around. Bringing on a full band comprised of Eliot Lorengo (bass), Hank Schneekluth (lead guitar), Nao Nakashima (rhythm guitar) and Doug Organ (Hammond B3 - ironically).
Tommy Clufetos' will be best known to readers as the man behind the kit for both Ozzy and Black Sabbath on their most recent tours, but he's something of a rock journeyman as a session drummer having played with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and Rob Zombie before hooking up with the Prince Of Darkness. Beat Up By Rock N Roll is his debut album with this band, dedicated to paying tribute to Clufetos' influences and the rock n roll lifestyle itself, what we have here is an album of 70's/80's American rock music from when it was the best around. Bringing on a full band comprised of Eliot Lorengo (bass), Hank Schneekluth (lead guitar), Nao Nakashima (rhythm guitar) and Doug Organ (Hammond B3 - ironically).
Clufetos handles all the drums but also jumps on the mic for the title track, Make Me Smile and final Power Of Three though the lead vocalist proper is Eric Dover of Jellyfish and Slash's Snakepit, an underrated often over-looked singer, known more a guitarist, who at times is vocal ringer for Steven Tyler. On this album especially the rockers that are born out of the blues are some of the best on the record and Dover croons over them as the songs come across with a mixture of Sunset Strip slickness and Detroit grit. There's a jukebox idea about the record with the overall theme being rock n roll but the Hammond B3 brings some funk, Power Of Three gets some parps of Sax from Tommy C and the other guest is Shooter Jennings guitarist John Schreffler supplying a solo to the title track.
Clufetos' heart must lay in the old school American rock tradition as the songs here veer much closer to early-Alice and Ted Nugent than Ozzy. Beat Up By Rock N Roll is a percussive rock n roll album that digs deep into the history of rock itself. 7/10
Just by reading the press release for this record I could hear in my head what it was going to sound-like. Sonic Haven is a German power metal band fronted by Herbie Langhans (Firewind, Avantasia) who also produced the record with ‘dream team’ of Sascha Paeth & Miro on mixing/mastering/orchestrations. That line up alone was enough to convince me that Sonic Haven were going to be built on the Heaven’s Gate/Helloween foundation so with on listen to the record I was pleased to know I was spot on in my assumption with tracks such as End Of The World not only having that distinct Teutonic metal power to it but delivered with a real energy and a ton of experience. The title track gets things going with speedy metal riffing, understated but needed orchestrations and Langhans unleashing his tonsils right from the off.
Alongside Langhans, whose voice I have praised numerous times, he has brought on guitarist Carsten Stepanowicz (a solo crazed mad man), bassist Dominik Stotzem (more gallops than at the Grand National) and most recognisably drummer André Hilgers who has played with Rage/Silent Force, commanding the songs like the general he is. Vagabond is an 11 track class in slick, anthemic German power metal, a couple of AOR-style ballads thrown in (Keep The Flame Alive and Save The Best For Last) but mostly you get driving, bouncy riffs, plenty of guitar solos and choruses to raise your fist too. The Darker Side is a little more muscular and dramatic, Langhans displaying his vocal range on this shifting centrepiece, sandwiched between the mid-paced mastery of End Of The World and the speedy I Believe.
Vagabond is a predictably great German metal album from Langhans and co, being a part of so many other groups may mean we have to wait a while for a second album but it would be very welcome on the basis of this debut! 8/10
Kintsugi No.21 is the solo project of Maria Owen, who readers may know as the bass player of Grymm, however she has many musical strings to her bow. An accomplished composer/producer Everything In Reverse is a true solo album with Maria playing everything you hear without much computer influence. It's all very hands on and manual as it should be, resulting in a very intriguing yet listenable musical experience. It's heavily influenced by the Gothic/Electronica post-punk sound of the early 80's, explorative soundscapes heavy with synths and pulsing drum loops, the slow burning Persephone reminding me of some modern Gary Numan, a torchlight anthem with electric twitches and a pulsating build.
Vocally Maria reminds me of such powerhouses of Tori Amos, Alison Moyet, Bjork and also the Queen herself Ms Kate Bush at times, using a wide range throughout going from low growl and skyscraping highs. In fact the vocals are reflective of the rest of the album with the strings creeping into the electronic thump that explores the human condition and dreamscapes, thus the Philip K. Dick reference on Fireflies which has touch of Depeche Mode meets Vangelis fight going on, We Know Our Names adds a firebrand thunder of Siouxsie Sioux. Everything In Reverse is dramatic record with broad and colourful palette of music to keep you lost in this dream-like world of Maria's conception. There are a lot of pop and rock acts that could learn from this level of imagination. Dark, experimental and brilliant. 9/10
Zed Motel - Leave With Nothing (Self Released)
Zed Motel are a grungy three piece from Swansea, playing riffy 90's garage rock with dual male/female vocals. The expectation is for punchy riffs and sneering vocals with a sound similar to Band Of Horses where the vocal interplay of Chris Noir and Katie Skilton works very well on top of the bluesy garage rock riffs driven by Noir's guitar and Jonathan Williams drums. As the album shifts between Royal Blood, the White Stripes and other guitar/drum duos, Scratched being particularly reminiscent of these acts. The EP runs at six tracks all of which have strutting riffs prime for getting down to, the choruses ripe for a shout along all the while never letting the heavy fuzz slip from songs such as My Design as Hammerhead and Ramshackle take a bit of punk. Choppy, rocky and a little bit poppy, Leave With Nothing gives you a lot in a little package. 7/10
Zed Motel - Leave With Nothing (Self Released)
Zed Motel are a grungy three piece from Swansea, playing riffy 90's garage rock with dual male/female vocals. The expectation is for punchy riffs and sneering vocals with a sound similar to Band Of Horses where the vocal interplay of Chris Noir and Katie Skilton works very well on top of the bluesy garage rock riffs driven by Noir's guitar and Jonathan Williams drums. As the album shifts between Royal Blood, the White Stripes and other guitar/drum duos, Scratched being particularly reminiscent of these acts. The EP runs at six tracks all of which have strutting riffs prime for getting down to, the choruses ripe for a shout along all the while never letting the heavy fuzz slip from songs such as My Design as Hammerhead and Ramshackle take a bit of punk. Choppy, rocky and a little bit poppy, Leave With Nothing gives you a lot in a little package. 7/10
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