CEM KOKSAL (feat. Mats Leven) - Vigilante Episode One (2011)

Guitar virtuoso Cem Köksal hails from an atypical land for Rock 'n Roll; Turkey.
He is a well and respected name between musicians and geetar aficionados, and since the last decade Cem has been trying to break his country boundaries hiring occidental vocalists to sing on his albums.
In 2006, a successful tour with Joe Lynn Turner on vocals was shot through 11 province-wide concerts and subsequently published on DVD and CD; 'Cem Köksal Live feat. JLT'.

His new conceptual project -four years in the making- "Vigilante", consists of 3 separate five-song EP to be released at short intervals, featuring international and local vocalists.
For "Vigilante Episode One", monster pipes swede (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen / Treat / Swedish Erotica) Mats Levén was chosen.

"Awakened One" is a melodic neo-classical track with good harmonies. Unusual thing with this song is that the guitars isn't all over the instruments shredding all the time. There's a fire solo of course, but also room for the keyboards and especially the harmony vocals. Mats Levén proves he can sing anything, from ballads to furious metal. But this is a very melodious track.
"Don Quixote" ups the tempo a little. This is a much better arranged track where the vocal part is the star. Great backing vocals / chorus too.
"Stalkers In The Night" is a more ahead, direct hard rocker with a commercial, infectious chorus where Levén feels at home. The riff has a little eastern vibe and the solo is pretty intrincate yet melodic.

Supposedly, "Vigilante" will be released later as a full-album including only the tracks from the 3 EP sung in english.
So, the remaining two tracks on "Episode One" seems to be exclusive, bonus tracks.
Despite of being performed in turkish, this does not affect the essence of both.
"Askina Elveda" is a slow paced epic ballad that ups the tempo during the melodic chorus. This song features a mix of calm, clean guitars with an intense soloing at the end. Mehmet Kaya has a deep vocal register, with a nice color.
On "Var Olmazsan" the vocals are shared between a female vocalist (which has a warm voice), and a male. This is a neo-classical ballad in the Yngwie style. The track has a very nice intro and we can hear an atypical chord instrument (similar to violin). The guitar solo is very classy with tons of sustain.


"Vigilante Episode One" is a very interesting work featuring a slightly different approach than the usual western style.
Koksal is a good guitar player, very classic and vintage. As said, Levén can sing anything and he's still in top form.
The only problem with this recording is the tech department. Koksal himself has produced & mixed all the tunes. Production is good, but the mix fails in a couple of tracks to bring on front all these songs' potential.
Anyway, "Vigilante Episode One" has an attractive concept, good songs and a monster vocalist.
This should appeal to any early Yngwie / Rainbow fan and electric guitar aficionados.


01 - Awakened One
02 - Don Quixote
03 - Stalkers In The Night
04 - Askina Elveda (bonus track)
05 - Var Olmazsan (bonus track)


Cem Köksal - Guitars
Mats Levén - Vocals
Cagatay Ates - Bass
Bulent Guven - Keyboards, Guitar
Mert Alkaya - Drums

Mehmet Kaya - Vocals (4)
Misafir Sanatcilar - Vocals (5)
Zeynep Casalini - Vocals (5)
Nurhat Sensesli - Bass (5)






www.cemkoksal.com
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KINGDOM COME - Rendered Waters (2011)

When you think to back in the day and remember bands that made an impact right from the start with kick-ass music and stunning vocals, one band comes to mind and that is KINGDOM COME.
Yes, you heard the claims they are Led Zeppelin clones but people found out differently as time went by. Ever since that self-titled debut in 1988 fans still to this day go back to that release and reminisce.

With many releases under their belt since then KINGDOM COME return in 2011 with their new offering “Rendered Waters” which includes eight older and three newly-recorded songs.
All eleven tracks were cut at Lenny's Two Square Noise Factory Studio in Hamburg, Germany.
At first thought you would think this is just a compilation album but to the contrary, the eight past tracks are newly recorded with an updated feel of today’s music.
One thing for sure if you only listened to the first couple releases by the band and thought their time has past, you’re completely wrong.

“Rendered Waters” completely smokes and what I like most is that lead vocalist and founder Lenny Wolf did not cherry-pick hit songs but he went to the well and rejuvenated tunes that could have been forgotten by past by fans. That gives you the fact this isn't a cash-in release.

The CD opens with “Can't Deny” and captures the atmospheric vibe that many artists look for. Wolf is so amazing that chills run down your neck. It’s hard to believe that some fans lost track of a phenomenal vocalist like Wolf. The guitars by Eric Förster shreds with astounding presence.
Once music lovers hear the newly record material, new and old fans will flock with enjoyment and bring new excitement to KINGDOM COME. I’m going to tell you I am one who was a fan of that first release and moved on after that but to tell you the truth these tracks to me are fresh and the sound and production blows me away.

Next up is “The Wind” another track that’s off the hook and truly shines. If you like classic rock with a bit of spice “Rendered Waters” will set fire to your ears. Track after track explodes with exciting guitar work and vocally, Wolf is stunning.

You want a brand new track? Well here it comes in the form of “Blue Trees”. Now if you think there is a change in direction or thought this could have been a track from the past how can you differ the past tracks on “Rendered Waters” to the brand new tracks? That’s what happens when you have top-notch musicians and writers in a band. New or old the songs kick ass and have a fresh sound.
Check out “Should I”, it's amazing! You’ve got to sit back and enjoy these tracks and think; ' man I miss those past days when music like this was King '.
So many bands wish they could scratch the surface of a release like “Rendered Waters”.

With a heavier tone “Pushing Hard” takes the band to another level and the astounding vocals by Wolf once again tear it up. Check out the guitar work and bass lines, which are sultry yet powerful. I just love it!
“Is It Fair Enough” is another brand new track that moves away from the typical KINGDOM COME style. The song meshes different guitar techniques and has a softer tone at times yet jams to a classical guitar vibe and I liked the changing style.
The third brand new track “Don`t Remember” is my favorite because it really shows Wolf's vocals at his best and once again KINGDOM COME as a unit will shine.
Wolf even selected a song such as “Break Down The Wall” from his pre-KC days back in 1985 when he played with L.A.-based band STONE FURY, which just goes to show how timeless the material is. This re-worked version is one of the highlights of the album.


Honestly, I don't remember much of Kingdom Come after 1993. But Lenny Wolf has kept the band alive and recording albums to this day.
Kingdom Come's current recognition seems to be in Wolf's native Germany and surrounding European continent.
However, with this year's "Rendered Waters", Wolf does not want to dwell upon the past. He wants you to hear what Kingdom Come is all about in the current day.
And they sound terrific.
Recommended


01. Can't Deny (newly recorded version)
02. The Wind (newly recorded version)
03. Blue Trees (brand new song 2011)
04. Should I (newly recorded version)
05. I've Been Trying (newly recorded version)
06. Pushing Hard (newly recorded version)
07. Seventeen (newly recorded version)
08. Is It Fair Enough (brand new song 2011)
09. Living Out Of Touch (newly recorded version)
10. Don't Remember (brand new song 2011)
11. Break Down The Wall (newly recorded version)


Lenny Wolf – Vocals
Eric Foerster – Guitar
Frank Binke – Bass
Nada Rahy – Drums and Percussion


www.lennywolf.com
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WITHIN TEMPTATION - The Unforgiving [Special Edition] (2011)

3 bonus tracks

For a band that forged a major international reputation on the basis of sweeping gothic melodrama – all drop-tuned guitar riffs, massive orchestral/choral backgrounds and vocalist Sharon den Adel's pure, angelic soprano – Within Temptation's new album "The Unforgiving" is a major step in their departure from that sound.
Some slight changes were already underway in their album 'The Silent Force', their first tentative steps from so-called 'ethereal metal' to more mainstream rock, and continued into their 2007 release 'The Heart of Everything'... but they hadn't made a truly daring creative leap until now.

"The Unforgiving" is their first-ever concept record and the strict comic commitment of the plot with a movie campaign -all the way down to the music itself… which is, to say the least, far different from everything we’ve heard.
Casting aside the refined sound of its predecessors, "The Unforgiving" preserves the bombastic side from 'Black Symphony' thanks to musicians from the same Metropole Orchestra. Despite being blurred at times, the symphonic parts score many effective points and allow the album to finally get to that 'guitar–driven opus' status we’ve all been waiting for.
This can also be said for the rhythm section, which is new for Within Temptation‘s sound, thanks to a session Swedish musician who took responsibility filling in for the ex-drummer Stephen van Haestregt.

Co-founder/guitarist Robert Westerholt has explained how the band was interested in tapping into the more straight-forward rock styles of the '80s for inspiration, since that was also the period when their love of music and comics began to intertwine; much of this new stylistic shift is probably based on that musical nostalgia.
It's also interesting that the band would incorporate more pop-rock rhythms and song structures for this particular album, since the concept spans such an epic supernatural tale of revenge and a centuries-old team of evil-fighters, but weirdly enough it actually works in the story's favor.

Not that the band completely abandoned the colossal sound that their fans have come to expect: some of the tracks on "The Unforgiving" are as hugely cinematic as anything they've turned out in their career – they're just built more on a traditional hard rock/pop core, all the way down to arena-friendly guitar solos, ballads and danceable beats.
This approach "reflects one of the many musical roots we have," Westerholt said. "Combined with the modern influences on our new album, it's like the past and future created the present."

The storytelling aspect of the album is set up immediately with the brief opening track "Why Not Me," a dialogue excerpt from the title character of Mother Maiden – the first short film in the series – establishing the connection between the music and the comic book storyline.
The first clear sign of their new sound comes straight-away in the first song "Shot In The Dark," the first time the band relies on keyboards for rhythm lines and not just sweeping orchestral passages. This song sounds like Roxette on steroids. Weird? No, it actually works.
Not that they don't hang onto the symphonic elements: in fact, they incorporate a real orchestra on this record, which plays a key role in the massive, high-energy cut "In The Middle Of The Night". Believe it or not, this is a Heart-like (yes, the Wilson sisters) song, specially in the vocal part.

But when the single "Faster" steps up, the band's '80s-era influences really come into play, marking the biggest split from their early sound. This track blatantly rips off Chris Isaac’s ‘Wicked Game’ (but ends up bearing more resemblance to HIM’s abhorrent cover than the original). I don't like this one.
But the moodier ballad "Fire And Ice" and the mighty guitar riffs & higher-range vocals of "Iron" (great track) still remind you of their roots, and they're also shining examples of how the band expertly handles epic-scale arrangements.
The mid-tempo "Where Is The Edge?" packs a solid hook and the chorus is nice and melodic.
"Sinéad" is the theme song of the album & comic's title character – as well as the second single – is significantly different in style and tone with its clubby dance beat, but it's actually a lot more fun than "Faster." It also shares a title with the grim & creepy second film in the series – which doesn't contain the song, but sets up more of the character's backstory.

"Lost" is an emotionally powerful ballad that showcases Sharon's vocal range, before the band ventures down a much more sinister path for "Murder" – a dark and complex song with goose-bumpy harmonies and a vast cinematic feel.
"A Demon's Fate" is a 50/50 split of the band's older and newer styles, with all the grand-sounding instrumentation & backing vocals of their earlier efforts, plus some of lead guitarist Ruud Jolie's most interesting work (check the 'Phantom of the Opera' tribute chords that close the song).
The melancholy "Stairway To The Skies" ends the album on a dreamlike note, with simple but climactic instrumentation forming the perfect accompaniment to Sharon's otherworldly voice.
Three bonuses in this 'special edition': "I Don't Wanna" has a very '80s feel with a poppy aura, "Empty Eyes" is cool and melodious but lacks some punch, while in "The Last Dance" the band experiments with celtic sounds and arrangements.


For a band that helped push female-fronted light symphonic metal into the mainstream (along with Nightwish, Tristania, The Gathering, Epica and dozens more), it's a daring but ultimately savvy move for Within Temptation to bust free from that model... it took them a little while to get there, but they finally achieved the transition with "The Unforgiving".
In a way, they're not only re-defining themselves, but the whole genre as well.


01 - Why Not Me
02 - Shot In The Dark
03 - In The Middle Of The Night
04 - Faster
05 - Fire and Ice
06 - Iron
07 - Where Is The Edge?
08 - Sinead
09 - Lost
10 - Murder
11 - A Demon’s Fate
12 - Stairway To The Skies
13 - I Don't Wanna (Bonus Track)
14 - Empty Eyes (Bonus Track)
15 - The Last Dance (Bonus Track)


Sharon den Adel (vocals)
Stefan Helleblad (guitar)
Ruud Jolie (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Robert Westerholt (electric guitar)
Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards, programming)
Jeroen Van Veen (bass guitar)
Nicka Hellenberg (drums)






www.within-temptation.com
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TIGERTAILZ - Bezerk; Live… Burnin' Fuel (2011)

UK, Welsh rabble rousers TIGERTAILZ are back with their first new album in three years.
2010 saw the band touring and revisiting the crazy days of 1990 -celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album 'Bezerk'- playing the entire album in sequence, plus two surprises for the faithful.
The resulting live CD, recorded in Cardiff, Newcastle and Stockholm, is a two-pronged return, something that will both cement Tigertailz' place in glam metal history, and act as a springboard for the band's future.
It celebrates both the old - classics such as 'Love Bomb Baby', 'Heaven', 'Noise Level Critical' and 'Sick Sex' - along with the new, heavier twist that the more musically evolved band of today inevitably bring to the music.

This 12-song live set also gets to the flaming heart of how Tigertailz originally envisaged the songs on 'Bezerk' before studios and record companies took their pound of flesh.
That said, the birth of "Bezerk; Live...Burnin´" Fuel wasn't always straightforward, as frontman Kim Hooker explains:
"We wanted to do something for the 20th anniversary of Bezerk, but in our infinite ignorance we thought we could record a gig and just put it out.
Our longtime friend and producer Tim Lewis reminded us that any live album must stand up to repeated listening - no one ever puts out such an album without spit and polish. So, we've worked extra hard on getting this band's live sound to shine through."

Capturing their unique brand of intensity - the clash of melody and mayhem that defines any Tigertailz show - is a tall order. That's why Lewis and Tigertailz took their time to get things right, ensuring that the live vibe, the spark, and the rage for perfection shone through in every track.
They wanted, as Kim says, to 'bring you the best possible live headbanging experience.'
"The album sounds fantastic," he enthuses. "The songs leap out at you, just like we always wanted them to. You'll be amazed at how exciting these songs sound in 2010.
We were inspired by albums like 'Kiss - Alive' and 'Judas Priest - Unleashed In The East'. What we've created is the nearest thing you can get to a Tigertailz concert in your front room"

"Bezerk; Live...Burnin´" features all ten songs from the Bezerk album, performed in order, culled from three European shows in 2010.
Additionally, the band adds on an encore of two killer cover tunes, a ripping version of The Osmonds 1972 hit "Crazy Horses" as well as Motorhead's classic anthem "Ace Of Spades".
These twelve songs sound stunning, and the band is as sharp as ever.


This live album is not only proof positive that Tigertailz is still viable and relevant today, but also that yes, the Bezerk album was a dazzling release for this genre back in the day and all these songs have stood the test of time.
The recording quality is just amazing.
All the instruments and vocal harmonies are perfectly balanced, production is crisp and neat, polished and glossy, but retaining the raw 'live' feel.
All this, of course, supported by a brillant set of songs featuring huge choruses and catchy melodies.
"Bezerk; Live...Burnin´" is one of the best live rock 'n roll recordings of all time.
Trust me.
Highly Recommended


01. Sick Sex
02. Love Bomb Baby
03. I Can Fight Dirty Too
04. Noise Level Critical
05. Heaven
06. Love Overload
07. Action City
08. Twist & Shake
09. Squeeze It Dry
10. Call Of The Wild
11. Crazy Horses
12. Ace Of Spades


Kim Hooker - vocals
Jay Pepper - guitars
Sarah Firebrand - bass
Robin Guy - drums
Produced by Tim Lewis and Tigertailz


www.tigertailz.co.uk
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LEGION (Phil Vincent) - ST (2010)

This band seems to have come out of nowhere, with their debut album published at the end of October and they are already causing enough of a stir to get a five album deal with an european label.
The principal songwriters are Wolverhampton based guitarist Vince O’Regan (Bob Catley / Eden / Pulse) and American vocalist Phil Vincent (Solo / D’ercole). Joining them to fill the band are Dianno rhythm section Gavin Cooper (Lionsheart) on bass and Steve Hopgood (Jagged Edge) on drums.
Vince O’Regan can write and perform various styles from the softest AOR to the heaviest metal, a very versatile and talented guitarist. Phil Vincent is prolific a singer / guitarist with many solo albums and sIde projects.

Legion are a Melodic Hard Rock band who are at the heavier end of the scale but still hugely melodic, they put me in mind of some of the harder Hair Metal bands from back in the day like most noticeably Dokken but they will also appeal to fans of the likes of Pretty Maids and the more edged melodic bands.
Phil Vincent’s vocal style has grown and he delivers a powerhouse performance throughout the album.
Vince has created a big full guitar sound plenty of big hard rocking riffs full of energy and head banging groove. This is a real return to form for Vince and he has delivered probably his best performances since Bob Catley’s excellent 'When Empire’s Burn' album.
The pounding and hard hitting rhythm section backbone provided by Cooper & Hopgood is perfect for this genre.

“Leave Me Alone” has a killer riff from Vince which will embed itself on your eardrums; the song has lots of power and energy. It has a big chorus with great lyric’s from Phil.
“Trouble” has another monster in your face guitar riff with a real rockin' groove. A big memorable chorus which really puts me in mind of Dokken and will definitely get you head banging.
“Caught In The Madness” is a dark and brooding hard rocker with Phil’s vocal style blending effortlessly with Vince’s guitar work to form a really notable song.
“Coming For You” has a thumping rhythm section which gives the song some real bite. This probably has one of Phil’s finest vocal performances on the album and it has a killer chorus

Slow burning ballad “Someday” is very dark and some great intricate guitar playing from Vince makes the song shine.
“Never Be The Same” is instant and catchy as hell, if there was going to be a single this would be it. It has a fantastic riff and the song really grabs you with a great energy and flow which lead you to a big melodic chorus.
“Where Were You” has a big driving riff which surrounds some excellent guitar playing, most notably in the verses. That hook filled keyboard riff is unshakeable and delicious, coupled with a big shout it out loud chorus makes it a real winner.

“Too Late” has a great head banging riff, a full force rocker with another fantastic guitar performance from Vince.
“Deceiver” is a mid-tempo rocker which is very moody and atmospheric and Phil’s vocal’s fit perfectly with the vibe of the song.
“All The Way” has a strong catchy instant guitar riff. A big and melodic song which is very commercial. An absolutely fantastic song with great lyrics, hook filled guitars and killer melodic vocals.
Bonus track “Damage Done” is a mid-tempo rocker which see’s Phil’s vocals coming to the forefront again especially on the strong chorus.


"Legion" is a guitar lead melodic hard rock album with flavours of the past but with a firm ear to the future.
Strong vocals, a thunderous rhythm section, big riffs and choruses makes this album a winner with me and should impress and be enjoyed by everyone who likes good guitar driven melodic rock.
It’s an album full of power and energy, a thrill ride from beginning to end, a real hard rockin’ goodie.
I’m really looking forward to how this band progresses especially with album number two soon to be released.
Very Good.


01 - Leave Me Alone
02 - Trouble
03 - Caught In The Madness
04 - Coming For You
05 - Someday
06 - Do You Remember
07 - Where Were You
08 - Too Late
09 - Deceiver
10 - All The Way
11 - Damage Done (bonus track)


Guitars – Vince O’Regan (Bob Catley / Eden / Pulse)
Vocals, Keyboards – Phil Vincent
Bass – Gavin Cooper (Lionsheart)
Drums – Steve Hopgood (Jagged Edge)



http://tinyurl.com/LEGION-Phil-Vincent
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HALESTORM - ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP (2011)

Halstorm burst onto the hard-rock scene with their 2009 self-titled debut, featuring the smash hit 'I Get Off'. Since then, frontwoman Lzzy Hale has been featured on several magazines as one of the 'Hottest Chicks in Metal'.
Now, as a stop-gap until the band’s highly anticipated second studio album, Halestorm drop this covers EP.

With songs by Guns N’ Roses, Lady Gaga and the Beatles, ReAniMate is like a perfect mix tape, except as seen through the lenses of Hale and her bandmates.
Beginning with Skid Row’s ’80s classic “Slave to the Grind,” Lzzy’s screams and harmonies make this a breath of fresh air, a perfect balance between old and new, all the while proving that Sebastian Bach & Co. were ahead of their time.
Things then take a turn when Halestorm take on a song that’s from this century: Lady Gaga’s ubiquitous “Bad Romance”. Hard-rock loyalists, fear not, the band performs it stripped raw. The thing is, Halestorm still manage to keep the song’s original pop format, it just has more edge.

Original Guns 'N Roses “Out Ta Get Me” and now Heart's classic “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” re both excellent versions, but the real triumph here, however, is Halestorm’s rendition of the Beatles’ “I Want You/She’s So Heavy.”
If you have ever wondered what it would have sounded like if John, Paul, George, and Ringo met up with Black Sabbath and Janis Joplin for a late-night jam session, Halestorm have the answer. Lzzy’s caterwauls and sultry vocals deliver the message of raw passion and sensuality, with an absolute ' I don’t give a fuck ' attitude that many female vocalists could stand to channel more often.

Taken in full, "ReAniMate" is a treasure trove of top-notch hard rock, regardless of the performers’ genders.
Cover albums in general run the risk of being either off-putting to fans of the all the bands involved or, worse yet, boring. But Halestorm managed here to make these songs their own while giving the artists they’ve covered their due.
In fact, the release’s only failing is that it’s an EP: six songs just aren’t enough.
Great EP. Recommended.


1 - Slave To The Grind (Skid Row cover)
2 - Bad Romance (Lady Gaga cover)
3 - Hunger Strike (Temple Of The Dog cover)
4 - Out Ta Get Me (Guns 'N Roses cover)
5 - All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You (Heart cover)
6 - I Want You [She's So Heavy] (The Beatles cover)


Lzzy Hale - vocals, guitar, keyboards
Arejay Hale - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Joe Hottinger - guitar, backing vocals
Josh Smith - bass, backing vocals


www.halestormrocks.com
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WICKED JESTER - Royalty Sux (2011)

Wicked Jester born in 1987. Three guys from Illinois (Shane, D.D., and Rob) that relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi to join the native Kenny Kweens and became big fish in a little pond.
The stage performances were incredible for a band of their indie level: pyro, lightshows and big sound systems. The band sold their self-financed recordings on tape after the shows with great success.

In 1991 they headed West to Los Angeles to make a noise but it was a little too late. Even though they sold out shows and were critically acclaimed by the local rags, the band called it quits in 1993.
An independent label resurrected these tapes a couple years ago and offered the band to release their first official CD ever.
Shane and the boys have gone back in the studio and re-cut the entire record from start to finish.

The result is "Royalty Sux", a trip back to the Sunset Strip years.
I don't know how the band used to sound 20 years ago, but I can assure you that Wicked Jester 2011 really rocks!
Compact, tight and perfectly oiled musicianship, and better than that, the artistic production on this album is first rate.

Obviously, Wicked Jester is a glam 'n sleaze band, but they aren't limited to this genre.
On the kick-ass "Shot To The Head" their style is more close to Skid Row's 'Slave To The Grind' than anything else. This is a melting hard rocker with terrific guitar work and big drums.
Or in "In Need Of Love" the guys are very melodic yet powerful, reminding me L.A. Guns. Again, guitars are the stars here. Very commercial and catchy song. Twenty-five years back in time this track would be a hit.

Lynch Mob's influence is present on the ferocious "Glitter In The Gutter", a song with a great hook and a monster riff.
"Champagne In The Rain" is a radio-ready power ballad, very well arranged and performed. This song is great, seriously, one of these tunes that stuck in you forever.
Of course, Wicked Jester is sleaze too: "Ways To Be Wicked", "Screamin´" and specially the filthy "Get Back M.F." (what a great rocker!) are clear examples that this band has learned the lesson perfectly.


Maybe you are not into sleaze, a genre many times considered (wrongly) inferior.
Well, if you dismiss this album 'cos the title or the band image, you'll be committing a big mistake.
"Royalty Sux" is one of best old school American Hard Rock discs in recent years. It's fresh, raw (but polished), with lots of attitude.
There's many points that makes an album a winner; good (I mean, good) songs plenty of hooks and melodies, great vocals, killer guitars and first rate production / mix.
"Royalty Sux" has it all. A really explosive Rock 'N Roll cocktail.
Crank it to 10 and enjoy.


01 - Ways To Be Wicked
02 - Shot To The Head
03 - Screamin
04 - In Need Of Love
05 - Glitter In The Gutter
06 - Champagne In The Rain
07 - Hollywood Slide
08 - Web Of Desire
09 - Get Back M.F.


Shane Tassart: Vocals
D.D. Ehrlich: Guitars
Rob Wood: Drums
Dev Gilmore: Bass



http://demondollrecords.com/wicked_jester
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SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake (2011)

Rimini, Italy – the seaside resort known as the “Miami of Europe” and home of filmmaker Federico Fellini – is now also home to some American-style melodic progressive hard rock courtesy of the five-piece called SILVER LAKE.
Originally formed in 2003 as a cover band called Exodiain and playing tunes by Dream Theater, Deep Purple, Skid Row and others, Silver Lake grew through numerous personnel changes and decided to start writing their own material.

Having settled on a lineup, the band went to work and produced one of the stronger indie debut albums in recent memory, nicely recorded and well performed.
Davide Bertozzi fronts the band. He has a high range voice and uses it well whether singing lead or adding backing tracks. He stays within his range and is always clear and understandable despite a touch of Italian accent.
Guitarist Giovanni Matichecchia can blast out rapid-fire intense solos and classically inspired heavy riffs, but has a fine feel for the music and can deftly turn down his intensity to match the mood.
Riccardo Fabbri keyboards are a great counterpoint to Matichecchia’s guitar work and he seems equally comfortable whether playing background or taking the lead. Guest shredder Simone Mularoni (Empyrios) makes a fine teammate throughout. The one-two punch provided by Luigi Rignanese (bass) and Andrea Urbinati (drums) blend nicely into the background while anchoring the music, but both also step into the spotlight on numerous occasions – nice to hear some good bass soloing!

“Before The Storm” opens with some subtle keyboards and quickly switches to big guitars, bass and drums and features numerous tempo changes. This track shows what Silver Lake has to offer – good songwriting, solid vocals, catchy rhythms and outstanding musicianship.
“Help Me To Fight The Rain” brings much more speed and aggression to the front, along with a very kicky groove, big chorus and some impressive use of the spoken word in the introduction.
The instrumental track “Break” dials it down while opening with some awesome bass and keyboard riffs before layering in some choppy guitars. This one definitely has a Dream Theater feel to it but is not a copy-cat, and it gives all the band members a chance to show their abilities.

Big drums and a melodic rock groove dominate “Life”. This is a vocal showpiece featuring guest singer Michele Luppi (Vision Divine, Los Angeles). The best track of the album, a melodic rocker full of energy and melodies.
Reaching back to their cover band roots, Silver Lake has retooled Skid Row’s “Slave To The Grind” and given it some unique twists (double bass, keyboard solo), and it works very, very well. Somehow they’ve managed to increase the intensity of an all time classic.
“Holy Affinity” has a very european sound to it, filled with rich vocal harmonies, massive drums and many tempo changes.
Fine piano work is the high point of the mellow and poignant ballad “Meet You Again”, very calm and classy.
Great pianos again open the band’s eponymous track “Silver Lake”. This song combines the best of two worlds; vintage Rush meets Dream Theater, and the band seems to go all out. Great drums, massive guitar solos, big bass, fine vocals – progressive hard rock at it finest.


“Silver Lake” is a very good debut album, and Silver Lake is a very good band. They work together like a veteran group and obviously have put much effort and care into all aspects of the album.
The band takes production and arrangement credits and has worked closely with Michele Luppi, Simone Mularoni and Gabriele Ravaglia at Italy’s famed Fear Studio.
Solid musical talent, good songwriting and fine engineering make this one a contender for any of 2011's 'best indie' lists despite its January release (the prints were ready at the end of last year, that's why the back cover states 2010).
Interesting and Good.


01 - Before The Storm
02 - Help Me To Fight The Rain
03 - Break
04 - Life (feat. Michele Luppi)
05 - Slave To The Grind (Skid Row cover)
06 - Holy Affinity
07 - Meet You Again
08 - Silver Lake


Davide Bertozzi - Vocals
Giovanni Matichecchia - Guitars
Luigi Rignanese - Bass
Riccardo Fabbri - Keyboards
Andrea Urbinati - Drums
Guest musicians:
Michele Luppi (songwriting and Vocals on “Life”)
Simone Mularoni - Guitars


www.myspace.com/silverlake5
IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!

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