Record Reviews
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  | BLACK SABBATH ~ BLACK MASS (EP)
NMC 49 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
4 songs EP, includes the all time greatest from the first 2 albums (Black Sabbath & Paranoid) recorded live in 1970. Total 17+ minutes of the most authentic Black Sabbath ever recorded. Includes also the video footage of the songs. A must to all BS collectors.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | BLUE OYSTER CULT ~ THE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION
SONY 886919363425 (Barcode: 886919363425) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock
Recorded: 1971 - 1988 Released: 2012
This excellent Box Set includes remastered and expanded versions of the fourteen albums released by the American Rock band Blue Oyster CultFind albums by this artist for the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label between 1972 and 1988 and adds a whole CD of rarities and another CD of live radio broadcasts and finally a DVD capturing the band in 1978 at the peak of their popularity.
Although initially considered as the American answer to the British Hard Rock / Heavy Metal pioneers Black SabbathFind albums by this artist, the band proved to take a direction of their own, which initially was closer to Progressive Rock than Heavy Metal. Fronted by a charismatic singer Eric BloomFind albums by this artist, who also played guitar and featuring a double lead guitar (Donald RoeserFind albums by this artist and Allen LanierFind albums by this artist, who also played keyboards) instrumental capacity with a support of the excellent rhythm section consisting of brothers Joe BouchardFind albums by this artist (bass) and Albert BouchardFind albums by this artist (drums) the band was at the time one of the strongest and most ambitious American outfits on the scene. This steady lineup kept together for almost a decade and proved to be prolific and highly attractive as a live act.
The band´s first three albums, often called the "black and white trinity" (due to the album´s covers) are absolute classics of American Rock with ambitious excursions into Zappaesque territory and other quite adventurous ventures.
The next period, which lasted until the end of the 1970s, saw the band to turn into a Hard Rock outfit, producing a series of solid album, which brought them huge commercial success and as a result also tumultuous endless touring.
The last period, which continued into the 1980s, saw first personnel changes in the group´s lineup and produced several more albums, which failed to achieve the same level of musical excellence as before, gradually turning into pretty mundane output.
In retrospect this Box Set is a splendid document of the American Rock scene during the 1970s and 1980s, spotlighting one of the best bands active at the time. It is both worth revisiting by old fans and discovered by younger listeners, who never heard about the band in real time. Recommended!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD+DVD 17 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | DEEP PURPLE ~ PERFECT STRANGERS
POLYDOR 731454604529 (Barcode: 731454604529) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1984 Released: 1999
This is a reissue / remaster of the 11th studio album by iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which was also the first album recorded by the first reunion of the Mk II lineup with vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. Blackmore and Glover arrived from RainbowFind albums by this artist, Lord from WhitesnakeFind albums by this artist, Gillan from Black SabbathFind albums by this artist and Paice from Gary MooreFind albums by this artist’s band, which emphasizes the omnipresence of these musicians on the British Rock scene at the time. The album presents eight original songs and this reissue adds two bonus tracks.
The album offers an excellent collection of songs, which resulted in turning it into one of the most successful albums in the band’s history. The instrumental performances are as perfect as always, offering impressive solo parts. Despite the fact that the Rock music in the 1980 was already completely disintegrated, Deep Purple firmly hold on to the formula forged over a decade earlier, and were simply way above any other Rock group active at the time.
Overall, this is a superb Classic Rock album, which despite the continuous attempt to classify it as Heavy Metal, has absolutely nothing to do with that genre. Forty years later this still sounds better than everything you can hear these days in what remains of the media. Definitely worth to be re-visited!
| | Updated: 16/06/2022Posted: 16/06/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROCKRESSIO ~ ROCKRESSIO
SVART 169 (Barcode: 6430065585268) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2018
This is an archival release presenting the entire recorded legacy of the Finnish Rock / Prog group RockressioFind albums by this artist, which included vocalist Hans DalmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Kalervo KaarreFind albums by this artist, bassist Tapio MattlarFind albums by this artist and drummer Matti EverhallFind albums by this artist. It includes eight original pieces, all composed by Mattlar or co-composed by him and Kaarre with lyrics in English. Four of these pieces were released on an EP, three are YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company) recordings and one is an instrumental outtake of one of the EP tracks.
The music is a delightful nostalgic reminder of good times when Hard Rock / Prog and other ambitious attempts of the kind ruled the earth. The English lyrics are a bit out of place but they can be forgiven considering the fact that singing in English was almost universal for young Finnish Rock groups at the time.
Rockressio were basically a power trio plus vocalist, which was the most common Rock lineup at the time. All three instrumentalists were surprisingly gifted and their soaring riffs / guitar soloing / pulsating bass and excellent drumming are all worth being remembered.
Sadly the group disappeared almost immediately after recording the EP and kudos are due to SvartFind albums on this label Records for bringing this music back to circulation. For Heavy early Prog a la Black SabbathFind albums by this artist debut, this is an absolute must!
| | Updated: 09/10/2020Posted: 09/10/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | TRAJZEGA ~ DEFICYTY MILOSCI
GAD ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock
Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024
This is the debut album by Polish Trash Metal band TrajzegaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bassist Marcin AdamczewskiFind albums by this artist, vocalist / drummer Pawel BogaczewiczFind albums by this artist, guitarists Rafal KszczotFind albums by this artist and Bartlomiej ZerekFind albums by this artist and drummer Radoslaw MencfelFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all co-composed by the band members with lyrics by Zerek. The music lasts for just under half an hour, so actually this is rather an EP than a full album.
I admit that by the time the so called innocent “Heavy Metal” of the late 1960s and early 1970s, i.e. Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist, Black SabbathFind albums by this artist and Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, transformed by the late 1980s into Trash Metal (i.e. MetallicaFind albums by this artist, MegadethFind albums by this artist and worse), I completely lost touch with Rock, lamenting its tragic demise. Therefore, I am probably the least competent person on this planet to write about this music. However, since the album landed on my desk due to some convoluted circumstances, I decided to give it a spin, and then another one and ended up quite liking it, against all odds.
Yes, the music is LOUD and rowdy, but when played at a very low volume (in proportion to the expected volume) I discovered a lot of things I can identify with. This music does have coherent melody, albeit well-hidden beneath the dense guitar riffs and the condensed rhythm ruckus. The most surprising element, however, are the lyrics, which actually make a lot of sense and express the anger and frustration, which basically are shared by every generation, going through a certain age bracket. These guys are ANGRY, as I was, when I was their age – actually to think about it I am still angry at the world around me, so why shouldn’t they be. And these guys certainly can play, sing and weave a song like pros and I certainly agree with their basic assumption about the fact that there is never enough love around.
Overall, this is a rather surprising and promising debut outing by this band. I hope they will explore somewhat less aggressive musical paths in their future ebdeavors, simply because I believe they are definitely able to do so, and a more relaxed output will probably do them good. But hey, whatever they decide to do next I will be very happy to listen to.
| | Updated: 29/06/2024Posted: 29/06/2024 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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