Alice Cooper - Paranormal : I've always preferred the earlier stuff - 18, Elected, Billion Dollar Babies, Under My Wheels etc. I'm so into this album because it is just good solid straightforward stuff. I love it.
★★★★★
Cage the Elephant - Unpeeled : I'm not generally a fan of live albums, and CTE aren't the kind of band that I'd usually give much listening time to (2000's indie rock) but there's something about this album that's had me putting it on more than a couple of times. Specifically, I think it's the lyrics. I don't usually pay much attention to lyrics but there's something a little haunting about some of these songs.
★★★☆☆
Jackyl - 25 : This is what I'm talkin' about. I was so excited to see a new Jackyl album in the new releases. If the songs sound pretty familiar then that's because it's a compilation, a celebration of their 25-year anniversary. It's a little disappointing not to hear new material (other than a live track and a cover) but hey. It's a collection of their best songs complete with chainsaw solos. Excellent.
★★★★☆
Shadowside - Shades of Humanity : As clean-vocal power metal goes, this is an enjoyable listen.
★★★☆☆
Shaman's Harvest - Red Hands Black Deeds : A lighter listen, but musically excellent. There are some bluesy / slide elements but it's much more than that.
Shaman's Harvest - Red Hands Black Deeds : A lighter listen, but musically excellent. There are some bluesy / slide elements but it's much more than that.
★★★☆☆
Accept - The Rise of Chaos : Undoubtedly one of the top albums of the year. For me they put on an outstanding performance at Wacken. What makes a memorable performance? A big name isn't enough, neither is performing classics that everyone knows and loves. If last weekend's experience is anything to go by, pumping out fantastic new material and performing it all extremely well with an accomplished confidence is a large part of the formula. I've never been fond of Udo's voice before now. Has it matured? Am I hearing it in a new context with some great new songs?
★★★★★
Seven Spires - Solveig : I am loving this. It's female-fronted, somewhere between power and epic. Adrienne Cowan uses her voice magnificently, ranging from a clean head sound to shouted to growled. The music has a symphonic sound, with theatricality (eg fairground sounds in 'Cabaret'). The purchases this week are mounting up a bit.
Accept - The Rise of Chaos : Undoubtedly one of the top albums of the year. For me they put on an outstanding performance at Wacken. What makes a memorable performance? A big name isn't enough, neither is performing classics that everyone knows and loves. If last weekend's experience is anything to go by, pumping out fantastic new material and performing it all extremely well with an accomplished confidence is a large part of the formula. I've never been fond of Udo's voice before now. Has it matured? Am I hearing it in a new context with some great new songs?
★★★★★
Seven Spires - Solveig : I am loving this. It's female-fronted, somewhere between power and epic. Adrienne Cowan uses her voice magnificently, ranging from a clean head sound to shouted to growled. The music has a symphonic sound, with theatricality (eg fairground sounds in 'Cabaret'). The purchases this week are mounting up a bit.
★★★★★
As usual, all of the new Rock and Metal releases that I find that meet my criteria go into the New Rock and Metal Releases playlist. I've also recently begun a new playlist called 'Radio Shiela' into which I put my favourite track (or two) from my favourite new albums each week.
