HELL CITY GLAMOURS - Hell City Glamours

This is definitely one of those albums that are recommended and promoted from mouth to mouth. Hailing from Australia, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Hell City Glamours. The band is playing from seven years now, the kind of Hard Rock that is fun to listen to, it's catchy and well performed, and top class from the first to the last minute. Bringing memories from Georgia Satellites, Black Crowes, Hanoi Rocks, Thin Lizzy, and various other bands, but really not copying anyone, the band has created an album ideal for listening with friends, while driving, or while drinking at your local bar. Of course, an album such as this, must have a couple of more slow songs talking about love and troubled affairs, and this not an exception. This album is really hard to define, and even hard to categorize. On the other hand, the music here is very good, enjoyable and well performed, and this is more important than any tag. Check them out, cause they are good at what they are doing.

8/10

BRAINSTORM - Memorial Roots

The new album of the German band is here, and for sure this is a release that won't disappoint anyone. Everything that made this band a favorite amongst Metal fans is here, but if you expect just another Power Metal album, then prepare for a surprise. This time, things are bit more serious, and are moving towards a more interesting direction. For sure, this is a Power Metal album, but the arrangements are a bit more slow this time, and closer to Heavy Metal, at times. Of course there are songs that are closer to Melodic Power Metal, but it seems that this time the band is trying to explore another dimensions with their music. Melodies are plenty and well implemented into the songs, the vocals of Andy Franck are excellent as always, and the rhythm section is as solid and as heavy as it should be. Whether it's fast and catchy, or it's slower but equally hard, the music of the album is always moving on the same high quality level, something that make this album, even more interesting and time resisting. There are no weak points here, or things that could have been done in a better way. A must have.

9/10

DARK AGE - Acedia

Now here's an album that gave me mixed impressions. The opener, which usually is a kick ass song, something that will draw the attention of the listener, is our case it didn't. But moving on, things progressed in a better way, leading to songs more interesting, and closer to what I was expecting. The German band is playing, Melodic Death Metal, and when they do, they do it very good. It's fast, aggressive, full of nice melodies, and catchy parts to bang your head and sing along. But they also have some more melodic songs, with clear vocals, which are not always working very well. I have to admit the fact that the band is trying to explore their music as far as possible, but this is not always leading to the desired, at least for me, results. The production is very good, clear and as heavy as it should be, and helps the music very much. For sure they are talented enough, but there are things that could have been done in a better way. In any case, this album definitely deserves a cautious listening, so you can judge for yourselves.

7/10

SUICIDAL ANGELS - Studio trailer part 1

They're Greeks, they Thrash and they have a Nuclear Blast contract. Maybe you should check them out. Check Vic's review too...

BLAIR GIBSON presents ORIGINS - A HEAVY METAL SALUTE TO HEAVY METAL BAND NAME ORIGINS

Heavy Metal in general is far more than just a music genre, it's a whole philosophy and a way of living. From the early "easy girls, and fast cars" way of life, to the 90's Antichrist Black Metal scene, and all in between. There are plenty of bands around, and I am sure that there are even more, not familiar to us, but many with talented enough, waiting to become famous, or the next best thing. From time to time though, there are also works on this style of music, besides recordings that is, that sound intriguing enough, and raise an eyebrow. This is definitely one of those works. So, ever wonder how your favorite band, your most hated band, or some bands you just know their work, got their names? Ever wonder how they came up with those names, and what's the story behind it? What that strange band name means? Do did Blair Gibson, from Regina - Canada, who decided to find out. So, he practically gather responses from 500 band members, and enough of them are very interesting, and fun to read. In this book, I found bands I didn't know their existence, bands that were my favorite as a kid, and others whose work I discover as a reviewer. At the end of the book, Gibson, also put all the Internet addresses of each band, or band member. To me, it's a huge work. It takes time, and determination to do such a task, and the responses he got show that he has done something good. So, if this is fascinating enough, get in touch with Blair Gibson and get a copy for yourself. You can get it as a hard copy, or an e-book for a cheaper price.

Get it at http://stores.lulu.com/heavymetalsalute

SUICIDAL ANGELS - Sanctify The Darkness

I don't know what's going on these days, but there are enough Thrash albums coming my way, and plenty of them are very close to the style we were familiar back in the 80's. Suicidal Angels is one of them, and I am pretty proud since they are from my homeland as well. This is the second album of the band, released two years after their debut "Eternal Domination". The band is playing Thrash Metal, with influences from early Slayer, but also from Kreator and Possessed but all combined into a very personal style. The first thing one notices is the guitars, and the rhythm section which is, to put it mildly, asskicking. The songs are fast, somewhat oldfashioned, with slower headbanging parts and vocals more close to modern standards at times. There are no intros here, nor songs that could have been done in a better way. The production is as heavy as it should be, clear enough, but also giving an oldfashioned feeling to the music as well. If you are a Thrash fan, and you want an album that won't let you donw, then check them out, cause they really got what it takes.

9/10