Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited II CD Review

Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited II
http://www.hackettsongs.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589
InsideOut Music
http://www.insideoutmusic.com/

Tracklist:

Disc 1

Chamber Of 32 Doors
Horizons
Supper’s Ready
The Lamia
Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
Fly On A Windshield
Broadway Melody Of 1974
The Musical Box
Can-Utility And The Coastliners
Please Don’t Touch

Disc 2

Blood On The Rooftops
The Return Of The Giant Hogweed
Entangled
Eleventh Earl Of Mar
Ripples
Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers…
…In That Quiet Earth
Afterglow
A Tower Struck Down
Camino Royale
Shadow Of The Hierophant

Band:

Steve Hackett
(vocals, guitars, lyrics)
Nick Beggs
(Bass guitar, Chapman stick)
Dick Driver
(Double bass)
Roger King
(keyboards, programming)
Ferenc Kovacs
(violin)

Guest vocalists include Steven Wilson, Mikael Akerfeldt, Simon Collins (Phil Collins’ son), Conrad Keely, Francis Dunnery, Neal Morse, John Wetton, Nad Sylvan and Nik Kershaw

There are also two other guitarists apart from Hackett, namely Steve Rothery of Marillion and Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings and Transatlantic.

Review:

I almost jumped out of my chair when I was presented a chance to review the new STEVE HACKETT CD, “Genesis Revisted II.” There are precious few bands that I hold in GODLIKE status but Genesis is one of them.

Steve has long been one of my favorite guitarists and songwriters. When I seen the track list for this, I was even more excited. Five of my very favorite Genesis tunes are included here.

“Genesis Revisited II”  is a massive 21 song, two CD set that runs a whopping 2 hours and 24 minutes. With a slew of guest vocalists throughout, including Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth, Steven Wilson of Storm Corrosion, Phil Collin’s son, Simon, and Nad Sylvan among many others.

There’s good news and then great news about this. The good news is that Steve has literally taken the original songs and reworked them in unimaginable ways. The great news is that each and every tune works in a majestic, brilliant way. His playing is as razor sharp as ever and there’s a reverence to these songs that shows just how much Steve loves these tunes. That reverence aside, he lets the music flow where it may, allowing the guest musicians to really shine.

While I understand that the pure scope of this may discourage some people from liking this, anyone that calls themselves a fan of prog rock or metal should absolutely have this in their collection. This has immediately jumped to the top of my list for this year and it’s going to take one hell of an effort to unseat this.

Rating

10/10

Ruinside – The Hunt CD Review

Ruinside – The Hunt
http://www.ruinside.com
https://www.facebook.com/Ruinside
Mighty Music
http://www.mightymusic.dk/

Tracklist:

1. The End (intro)
2. Shower of Accusations
3. Beware!
4. Hunters of Divine Society
5. Witch Hammer
6. Hide-And-Seek
7. Labyrinth of Silence
8. Wounded And Defeated
9. Within Hammer And Tongs
10. Beleaguered
11. T.O.R.T.U.R.E.
12. Forced Confession
13. Burst Into Flames

Band:

Toni Salminen – Vocals
Kimmo Jankkari – Rhythm Guitar & Growling
Erno Tarvainen – Lead Guitar
Lauri Aitonurmi – Bass
Timo Anttonen – Drums

Review:

Hello, my name is Music God and I am a thrash metal addict. Now that we have that out of the way, let me introduce you to the newest gem in my collection, RUINSIDE.

RUINSIDE has a new cd, “The Hunt” that is a fabulous, raging dose of old school thrash mixed with just a few hints of modern metalcore. The first time that I heard the CD, I was struck by how much the band reminded me of older Sacred Reich. Upon further listening, I also noticed a touch of Testament in their sound. This is a great thing in my book as I am a huge fan of both bands.

With songs like “Hunters Of Divine Society”, “Wounded and Defeated”, and “T.O.R.T.U.R.E.”, this band delivers a direct punch in the face. “The Hunt” is just huge sounding. It rips through your speakers like an freight train. This is just one bad ass album.

If you’re looking for a band that has re-written the music playbook, you won’t find that here. What you will find is superbly crafted tunes that rip your face off and satisfy that itch to just break stuff. There’s just nothing about this CD that does NOT work for me.

Rating

10/10

Bad Boy Eddy – Over The Top Review

Bad Boy Eddy – Over The Top
http://www.reverbnation.com/badboyeddy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bad-Boy-Eddy/153869637967774
Demon Doll Records
http://www.demondollrecords.com

Tracklist:

1. Fever
2. She’s Gives Me A Feeling
3. I Don’t Want You
4. Super Sonic Freak
5. Living Lies
6. Funky Monkey
7. Rad Ruby
8. Teenage Sacrifice
9. Fly Away
10. Maker of Dreams

Band:

Eddie Vega – lead vocals
Dave Saker – lead guitar/vocals
Eddie Nixon – guitar
Tim Sanders – bass
Larry Bernal – drums

Review:

I’ve been telling people for a while now that hair metal is making a comeback. BAD BOY EDDY is a perfect example of the new wave of hair bands that are coming out and kicking ass. This band just out and out rocks. PERIOD.

BAD BOY EDDY harken you back to the hey days of Skidrow, Kix, and Steelheart. “Over The Top” embodies everything that was great about the hair band era: monster riffs, huge drums, thunderous bass riffs, and vocals that could melt the skin off your face. BAD BOY EDDY has hit a definite home run with this. This CD was named on a number of people’s Top 10 lists for 2012 and I couldn’t disagree with that at all.

Demon Doll Records has worked hard at building a roster of the best in Glam, Sleaze, and Hair Metal bands from both the past and present. They’ve acquired the rights to some of my very favorite artists from this genre and I’m extremely happy to see others working at keeping this music alive.

This one is a no brainer. Everyone needs that band that they can stick on at a party and just rock the rafters, this is THAT BAND! Break out the smoke machine, Aqua Net, and strobe lights!

Rating:

10/10

Asylum Pyre Fifty Years Later CD Review

Asylum Pyre – Fifty Years Later
http://www.asylumpyre.com/en
https://www.facebook.com/asylumpyre
Massacre Records

Tracklist:

01 – Will you believe me?
02 – Dead in Copenhagen
03 – The Frozen Will
04 – These Trees
05 – The Herd
06 – Fisherman’s Day
07 – Against the Sand
08 – Any Hypothesis
09 – Just Before the Silence
10 – Fifty Years Later

Band:

Vocals: Chaos Heïdi
Guitars/Vocals: Johann Cadot
Guitars: Hervé Schiltz
Bass: Julien Peuch
Keyboards: Tony Decaillon
Drums: Vince Kreyder

Review

As a HUGE fan of Symphonic influenced metal bands, I was very pleased to discover ASYLUM PYRE. Immediately you get the comparisons to Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, and After Forever. ASYLUM PYRE is so much more though. The singing of Chaos Heidi takes “Fifty Years Later” to another level.

Tracks like “Dead In Copenhagen”, “These Trees”, and “Just Before The Silence” have dynamics not heard in any of the previously mentioned bands music. The tunes combine sweeping vocals with amazing guitar playing. What really stands out on “Fifty Years Later” though is the production. Bruno Gruel at Elektra Mastering has done a brilliant job with this. The sound is huge, crisp, and has all the right high and low ends. Hands down one of the best produced CD’s I’ve heard this past year.

If you’re a fan of music in this genre, this is a must have for your collection. If you’re not, this might be the CD that changes your mind. This is a masterful set of tunes that really showcase the band in a great way.

Rating

9/10

Adrenechrome – Hideous Appetite CD Review

Adrenechrome – Hideous Appetites

http://adrenechrome.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Adrenechrome

Tracklist:

1. Titans Fall (3:18)
2. Six Guns (6:17)
3. The Horror (5:26)
4. Hymn For The Heathens (4:17)
5. Winds of The Void (5:01)
6. Locust Wings (4:26)
7. Hobbled (4:58)

Band:
Chris Friesen – Guitar, Vox.
Tim Kehoe – Guitars,
Matt Copeland – Drums,
Mike Van Dyke – Bass

Review

After listening to ADRENECHROME for the first time last night, I let it set in my head over night to get the full weight of what they were doing on this CD. Upon a second listening, noticed lots of things that I missed the first time. The first thing you notice are the classic thrash elements that the band brings to the table. There’s a definite old school thrash feel here. Listen further though and you will also hear plenty of doom and stoner metal elements throughtout as well.

ADRENECHROME are a highly skilled and technically proficient band musically. The songs rage with great breakdowns yet are also layered with lots of crunch and have some tasty, jazz influenced solos throughout. The only thing that strikes me as a weakness here is that the vocals do not always work in places. Not to to take anything from the vocalist, he more than carries the record overall.

Overall, this is a great set of tunes that will go a longways towards establishing ADRENECHROME as a name to remember in the future. I highly recommend picking up a copy of “Hideous Appetites” and giving your speakers the workout they so rightfully deserve.

Rating

7/10

Black Veil Brides – Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones CD Review

Black Veil Brides – Wretched and Divine: The Story of The Wild Ones CD Review

Black Veil Brides get the honor of being the first official CD review of the year for Auditory Slam. I was passed a review copy of the new CD so as to write a review of the new material.

I first became aware of this band when they released Set the World on Fire. I then went back and listened to their previous material. One thing that became very obvious was that this was a band that was getting better with each release. You could hear the maturation in their sound and style.

So, how does Wretched and Divine stack up? Pretty damn well, in my personal opinion.

The dynamics of this CD are incredible. It’s a perfect balance of old school 80’s inspired glam rock mixed with lots of modern rock production and flare a la Avenged Sevenfold. Singer Andy Biersack sounds incredible here whether it’s on the faster, heavier tunes or the more laid back cuts.

I Am Bulletproof, Wretched and Divine, and Nobody’s Hero rock with abandon. Done For You and Lost It All have a more emotional, stripped back feel. The guitars are sharp, the songs are filled with giant hooks, and the overall production quality is flawless. I particularly love the guitars on this. The solos just cook.  The drumming is also exceptionally good.

CONCLUSION: Black Veil Brides are the band that Motley Crue wishes they could STILL be.  If you’re looking for a band that’s going to lead the charge into the next generation, look no further. These guys are the real deal. Now, turn this on, turn this up, and ROCK OUT!

SCORE: 10 out of 10

STANDOUT TRACKS: I am Bulletproof, We Don’t Belong, Nobody’s Hero, In The End

RUNNING TIME: 51:05

THE PRIME EIGHTS – FOREVER

You ever find one of those bands/artists that can seem to do no wrong? You know the ones, they could basically sing the phone book over music and make it sound like the best song ever recorded. Well, let me tell you, The Prime Eights are one of those groups.

These guys have been around for the better part of a decade delivering hip hop oriented jams of the highest degree. What started out as Abstrakt Intellekt evolved into The Prime Eights.

Last year they released their first CD, So You Say You Want An Evolution. I reviewed that CD here a while back and gave it high marks. The guys are now in the studio working on their new CD and have allowed me a sneak peak of one of the tunes, Forever.

It’s a jazzy sounding little jam with some serious kick in the bridge. It combines old school rhyming patterns with new school beats. It may be cold outside but this tune is guaranteed to heat up any party.

Bottom line, once again, The Prime Eights have delivered a smoked of a hit! If this is what’s in store for the new release, then get ready to once again have your head rocked!