Detritus
Issue #346
Week of December 12, 2005
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Detritus/

To subscribe to the e-mail version do one of the following:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Detritus/
Detritus-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (send a blank e-mail here)

To unsubscribe from the e-mail version:
Detritus-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com (send a blank e-mail here)

To contact us:
Detritus-owner@yahoogroups.com

*
*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
*
Patrick Brower, Editor
patrickbrower@...

Sean P. Gahgan, Editor
lof@...

Tim Wadzinski, Owner
tsw512@...

Steve Shumake, Co-owner
vongoober@...
http://www.vongoober.com/

*
*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
*
-Howdy and Happy Wednesday. That's all I got. - Tim

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #1 ***
*
-Rockdetector: "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal"

376 pages featuring over 600 cutting edge bands of the Metalcore, Alt-
Metal, Screamo, Neo-Thrash generation. In traditional Rockdetector
style executive editor Garry Sharpe-Young, author of 14 Rock & Metal
titles to date, exhaustively documents these bands in painstaking
detail with extensive historical biographies, line-ups and full
discographies including track lists, labels, catalogue numbers and
chart positions.

The book is available NOW. Details, including front cover and page
samples, here: http://www.zondabooks.com/titles/nwoahm/

There is a special discounted price of $20 for Rockdetector artist
members plus band members and direct associates listed in the book.
Maximum order of 5 per band. To take advantage of this offer please
email info@... We need to know your name, position in
band / organisation and return email address. Upon confirmation we
will email you discount authorization code.

http://www.rockdetector.com/ - The World's Biggest Rock & Metal
Website.

Full list of included bands:

[Note: I deleted the list. Trust me, it was big. - Tim]

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #2 ***
*
-The SmashUp Has Great Plans For 2006

Tapped to Join the Taste of Chaos Tour and Receiving Rave Reviews for
Their Debut Album, Band is Expected to Have a Banner Year

The SmashUp, one of WARCON Enterprises newest acts to join its family
of bands, has planned to make 2006 one of its best years to date.
Recently releasing their debut album BEING AND BECOMING, the band has
been enjoying critical success for what many industry execs are saying
is, quite possibly, one of the year's strongest releases within the
post-hardcore scene.

The band, who hails from New York City, was formed in 2001 and has
since shared the stage with such eclectic acts as Coheed And Cambria,
18 Visions and The Used as well as label mates Bleed The Dream and My
American Heart, which The SmashUp says suits them just fine. "We have
so many different elements... We have been influenced by Black Flag
and Bad Brains, but we're by no means a hardcore band and even though
we have a punk rock work ethic, I don't think we could be classified
as a strictly punk rock band either," said vocalist Watt White.

This diverse sound should mesh well with the bands on the Taste Of
Chaos Tour. Featuring such varied acts as The Deftones, The Dillinger
Escape Plan, Thursday, Funeral For A Friend and more, this year's
"Winter Warped Tour" (as participants like to call it), is expected to
draw fans from a mix of genres, all of which seem to gravitate toward
The SmashUp.

This connection, according to White, can also be attributed to the
simple fact that kids can relate to what they are singing about. "We
consider ourselves storytellers. Everyone can relate to our
experiences, but we don't write songs about breaking up with
girlfriends," says Alfieri. The songs on BEING AND BECOMING touch on a
variety of subjects. The song "Murder To The Mattress" is about
abortion and unwanted pregnancy, while "Rachel's Day" is about a
friend of the band who lost her battle with drug addiction. "'Never
Gonna Kill Us' is our anthem. Being in a band puts you against the
odds, but once you've started, there is no choice. Quitting is never
an option."

White's last statement seems to be what propels the band forward even
in times of trouble. And it seems that things are finally going to pay
off for the band that refused to quit. With a high-profile tour ahead
of them and a debut album that just keeps getting bigger, it looks
like 2006 may just be their banner year.

For more information on The SmashUp, visit http://www.thesmashup.com/
or http://www.warconent.com/ .

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #3 ***
*
-Mad Dragzter News

Mad Dragzter is taking its fans inside the studio with them. The band
has just opened a new section called "Studio Report" in its official
site. The first edition brings photos and videos directly taken from
the recordings of the new album, KILLING THE DEVIL INSIDE, which is
said to be Dragzter's best up to date, and the bringer of a new
reality to the thrash metal scene. All the details, the evolution in
the mixing and production, and even songs being played live will be
available at the official site. Check it out at
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/ .

Photo Gallery Studio Report -
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/galeria_fotos.asp?id=27&tipo=1

Video - Pre-production KILLING THE DEVIL INSIDE -
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/video/Mad_Dragzter_-
_Studio_Report_01_Pre_Producao.wmv
Video - 1st Studio Report -
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/video/Mad_Dragzter_-
_Studio_Report_01_Gravacao.wmv

Mad Dragzter Release STRONG MIND

Brazil was caught by surprise in 2003 with the greatest revelation of
the thrash metal scene in the latest years. Mad Dragzter, consisting
then in Tiago Torres (vocals / guitars), Gabriel Spazziani (guitars),
Armando Benedetti (bass), and Evandro Junior (drums), was releasing
their debut STRONG MIND.

The incredible repercussion in Brazil and also overseas has earned the
hard work of the foursome. Tours with equal success followed the
months after the release. Even Sodom's mastermind, Tom Angelripper has
surrendered to the incredible hability of the Brazilians, highlighting
them in Roadie Crew Magazine (issue #76 -
http://www.roadiecrew.com.br/imagens/edicoes/1666.jpg ) This ravishing
album, settled in the bloody vein of Exodus, Testament, Anthrax, and
Metallica, is now re-released by Hellion Records, including a
multimedia bonus track with the video clip to the song "Break Down,"
which contains guest appearances by artists from the biggest Brazilian
TV Channel, Rede Globo.

http://www.maddragzter.com.br/
Fotolog Mad Dragzter: http://www.fotolog.net/maddragzter
Mad Dragzter on Orkut: http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=104478
Official Mad Dragzter Fórum:
http://metalnaveia.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=40

MP3 downloads:
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/mp3/unknown.mp3 - Unknown
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/mp3/Mad%20Dragzter%20-%20Mad%
20Dragzter.mp3 - Mad Dragzter
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/mp3/Mad%20Dragzter%20-%20Lost.mp3 - Lost
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/mp3/Mad%20Dragzter%20-%20Breakdown.mp3 -
Break Down
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/mp3/Mad%20Dragzter%20-%20The%20Chase.mp3
- The Chase
http://www.maddragzter.com.br/video/break_down.wmv - Break Down clip

Msn: maddragzter@...
Icq: 140179968
Email: maddragzter@...

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #4 ***
*
-New Release From Radiant Records!

Hello there,

Happy Holidays from Radiant Records! We wish you all the merriest
Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Neal Morse Inner Circle Update: January 15th's release will be
WHISPERS IN THE WIND -- ACOUSTIC IMPROVISATIONS ON PIANO AND GUITAR.
You won't want to miss this! Hear the raw origins of Neal's
masterworks! If you missed "Hitman" (Neal's Broadway Musical) this is
your last chance. You will need to be signed up by Dec. 15th to
receive it. That is our last shipment date for this rare item.

BTW, we are still running our 3 for $35.00 special 'til Christmas. So,
get your orders in so we have plenty of shipping time.

Here's a new release from the incredible IZZ:

IZZ – MY RIVER FLOWS

As the successor to I MOVE, MY RIVER FLOWS continues to raise the
musical bar. From the explosive opening title track to the 21-minute
closer, "Deafening Silence", MY RIVER FLOWS is an emotionally charged
listening experience. "We're very proud of MY RIVER FLOWS and very
excited to share our new music," said keyboardist/vocalist/producer
Tom Galgano. "We've put a lot of ourselves into this album and I think
that really shines through."

Hailing from just outside Manhattan, IZZ is a talented young band that
first made a name for themselves through heavy gigging and a diverse
and unique debut CD, 1999's SLIVER OF A SUN. Living proof that
progressive rock need not be stuck in the '70s, IZZ's take on the
style is one that marries the influences of the "classic" bands with a
fearlessly modern sound. Celtic, classical, funk, fusion, jazz and
Latin styles are interwoven with their accessible yet forward-thinking
rock, always retaining a keen sense of melody and an overall
appreciation for the song as a cohesive whole. The compositions may
take the listener in unexpected directions, but the way back is always
marked with a great hook or melody.

IZZ's musicians are talented multi-instrumentalists and adept at
multi-part vocal harmonies. Lead vocals are shared between the Galgano
brothers (Tom and John), while the percussion duties are split in a
decidedly unique way: Greg DiMiceli plays an acoustic kit while Brian
Coralian uses his various acoustic and electronic percussives to
accent and enhance the rhythmic structure of IZZ's tunes. The result
is a fascinating palette of sounds and a bold statement in a genre
where fans and musicians too often cringe at the thought of any kind
of electronic percussion. Guitarist Paul Bremner brings his own
emotional, virtuosic guitar work into the mix and along with John on
bass, Tom on keyboards round out the instrumentation. The stunning
voices of Anmarie Byrnes and Laura Meade on lead and backing vocals
complete the unique IZZ sound.

You can pick up this great new CD as well as all the IZZ catalogue
titles at http://www.radiantrecords.com/ .

Thanks,

Cherie Morse
Radiant Records

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #5 ***
*
-"Scandinavian Rock & Metal" Books From Rockdetector

Bands: please check your artist entries at
http://www.rockdetector.com/ and advise us of any updates at
info@.... Deadline: 31st December.

www.rockdetector.com is publishing a two volume book set,
"Scandinavian Rock & Metal," in Q1 2006. The books cover all styles of
Rock and Metal from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. In the now
expected Rockdetector style, executive editor Garry Sharpe-Young
covers each band's history in meticulous detail, including line-ups,
URLs and a complete discography including track listings, labels,
catalogue numbers and chart positions. The two books will each be
approx. 500 pages each, listing well over 1,200 bands covering Heavy
Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Rock, Progressive Rock &
beyond.

Fjords, Vikings, the midnight sun and a thousand lakes -- the perfect
breeding ground for the most epic of Heavy Metal! Scandinavia has
exported its Rock & Metal to all corners of the globe, ranging from
the shred exploits of Yngwie Malmsteen, the Operatic pioneers
Nightwish, the pomptastic Europe, the heavyweight HammerFall to the
extremist forms of Black and Death Metal in Emperor, Mayhem, Dimmu
Borgir, Marduk and Burzum.

"Scandinavia has really been the hotbed for emerging Rock talent for
over a decade now" says Garry Sharpe-Young. "Once Europe, TNT and
Yngwie Malmsteen had made their mark on the international scene,
Norway's floodgates opened and poured a Black Metal plague upon the
world with Burzum, Emperor, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Darkthrone and
Marduk. Since then, Sweden made a huge impact with acts such as
HammerFall, In Flames, Soilwork and Katatonia and subsequently Finland
has really raised its head and is now without question the most Metal
place on planet earth! All these bands, from all genre spectrums are
included. Some of the band histories are positively labyrinthine when
you get into the detail of who played for who under what pseudonym.
This really is a true monster of a book."

The books include artists such as: AMON AMARTH, AMORPHIS, ANCIENT,
APOCALYPTICA, ARCH ENEMY, BARATHRUM, BURZUM, CANDLEMASS, CHARON,
CHILDREN OF BODOM, CRASHDIET, D.A.D, DARKTHRONE, DARK TRANQUILLITY,
DEATHSTARS, DIMMU BORGIR, DISSECTION, EMPEROR, ENTOMBED, EVERGREY,
EUROPE, FATE, FINNTROLL, GLUECIFER, GORGOROTH, HAMMERFALL, HANOI
ROCKS, HELLACOPTERS, H.I.M., HYPOCRISY, IMPALED NAZARENE, IN FLAMES,
JORN LANDE, KATATONIA, KING DIAMOND, LION'S SHARE, LULLACRY, MARDUK,
MAYHEM, MERCYFUL FATE, MESHUGGAH, MNEMIC, NARNIA, NIGHTWISH, NOCTURNAL
RITES, PRETTY MAIDS, SATYRICON, SENTENCED, SINERGY, SOILWORK,
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, STAGE DOLLS, STRATOVARIUS, TALISMAN, TAROT, THE 69
EYES, THE KOVENANT, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, THERION, TNT, TO/DIE/FOR,
TRISTANIA, UNLEASHED, WALTARI, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ZYKLON plus many,
many more...

You can pre-register for the books here:
http://www.zondabooks.com/titles/scand.php

OUT NOW!

"New Wave Of American Heavy Metal" - Over 600 bands, 376 pages is now
available direct: http://www.zondabooks.com/titles/nwoahm/
Also available at Amazon.com.

Further Rock & Metal titles for publication throughout 2006 through
Zonda Books.

http://www.rockdetector.com/ - The World's Biggest Rock & Metal
Website

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #6 ***
*
-James Christian Update

The reunited House Of Lords, which is fronted by James Christian,
headlined Firefest 2 on November 26 in Nottingham, England.
Christian's first meeting with his bandmates after 15 years took place
in London's Heathrow Airport, from which the group traveled north to
Nottingham where they rehearsed for three days. "House Of Lords had
not played together in 15 years yet when we did our first session, it
was like we never stopped playing," Christian wrote on his website.
The band played to a capacity crowd and sold out of T-shirts within
hours. House Of Lords then went on to play one show in Greece before
returning home. Christian's second solo album, MEET THE MAN, in
available in the US via Frontiers/Locomotive Records.

http://www.jameschristianmusic.com/
http://www.frontiers.it/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #7 ***
*
-Combatmusicradio.com (KMBT) Update

Combatmusicradio.com will be expanding in the new year with new shows
and features. Because of the recent passing of Voivod guitarist Denis
"Piggy" D'Amour, the station will host a retrospective show on Voivod
at the end of December with an interview with drummer Away talking
about the band's history and place in the evolution of heavy metal. In
January, Ring Of Honor/TNA Wrestling star Samoa Joe will be the focus
of an interview. Combatmusicradio.com was founded by Neurosis' Scott
Kelly and Christopher Moeschl. The site features "The Show," a weekly
pre-recorded radio show hosted by Kelly, focusing on past and present
underground metal, punk, and noise, and news and interviews pertaining
to blood sports.

http://www.combatmusicradio.com/

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #8 ***
*
-Annihilator Set To Release Double DVD In February 2006!

SPV/Steamhammer New DVD Release: Annihilator - TEN YEARS IN HELL

Street Date Europe: February 20th, 2006
Street Date CANADA-USA: February 21st, 2006
Format: 2 DVD

Tracklisting:

DVD 1:

01. Intro
02. Alison Hell
03. Release Party
04. TV Media One
05. Stonewall
06. TV Media Two
07. TV Media Three
08. Backstage
09. Fun Palace LIVE
10. TV Media Four
11. Set The World On Fire
12. KOTK back vocals
13. King Of The Kill
14. Jeff In Japan
15. 21
16. Only Be Lonely
17. Syn. Kill 1
18. Criteria Rehearsal
19. Alison / Homicide
20. Oh Canada
21. Ultraparanoia
22. Pharr LIVE
23. Rampage Raw
24. End Credits

Format: DVD 9
Picture Format: 4:3
Region Code: None
Copy protection: None
Audio: PCM Stereo
Running Time: approx. 120 minutes

DVD 2:

01. Pre Annihilator Era
02. Demo Days
03. Alice In Hell
04. Never, Neverland
05. Set The World On Fire
06. King Of The Kill
07. Refresh & Remains
08. Criteria
09. Other Releases
10. Catch Ya Later
11. Mike Mangini
12. Neil Goldberg

Format: DVD 9
Picture Format: 4:3
Running Time: approx. 110 minutes

Overview:

Bona fide classics are something that most people produce once or at
most twice in a lifetime. It requires very special preconditions,
exceptional inspiration and an extreme artistic high to create
something truly unusual. Annihilator, the band surrounding guitarist
Jeff Waters, have already delivered several masterpieces in the course
of their career so far. Albums like NEVER, NEVERLAND or KING OF THE
KILL are considered blueprints of their genre, highlights of
contemporary thrash metal as it had developed on an international
level during the Eighties.

Now an extensive history double DVD of the trash legend will be
released in February. It contains seven classic, official Annihilator
music videos, offstage band footage and bonus underground, fan-shot,
live performances. Plus, a special interview with Annihilator founder
and guitarist Jeff Waters as he recounts his memories of the band's
first ten years in Hell. Also includes special appearances by original
co-lyricist John Bates, NEVERLAND front man Coburn Pharr, CRITERIA FOR
A BLACK WIDOW bassist Russell Bergquist, and SET THE WORLD ON FIRE's
Mike Mangini and Neil Goldberg.

A must have for all fans!

Statement:

"Singlehandedly, Annihilator guitar hero Jeff Waters has managed to
keep both hard-edged riffery and his ongoing bastard son of metal
alive for 20 years. The speed freak's unsurpassed output and
consistency is revered around the world and his molten hands are the
envy of virtually every guitar player who creates heavy metal. TEN
YEARS IN HELL is a hearty feast of hardened history as it dives head
first into the early roots of one of Canada's diamonds in the rough.
Hell yeah, this is one DVD not to be missed!"
- Tim Henderson (BW&BK)

*
*** PRESS RELEASE #9 ***
*
-HurtLocker To Storm Texas!

Just prior to leaving for Europe to tour alongside Grave, Cryptopsy,
Aborted, Dew-Scented, and fellow Napalm labelmates Vesania during
February and March, Chicago's four-man wrecking crew HurtLocker will
play their first US shows of the new year in Texas:

Saturday, January 14 2006 @ Ridglea Theater in Ft Worth, TX
-also playing:
Hypocrisy
Nile
Solient Green
With Passion
Decapitated

Sunday, January 15th 2006 @ The Sanctuary in San Antonio, TX
-also playing:
Hypocrisy
Nile
Solient Green
With Passion
Decapitated

The band's debut album for Napalm, FEAR IN A HANDFUL OF DUST, will be
released that Tuesday, January 10th, in the US. So far, the record has
been called "A modern thrash metal smack in the mouth, a devastating
blow that will leave listeners toothless and whimpering" by Metal
Maniacs, and Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles guaranteed that HurtLocker
"should get pits full of disenfranchised youths moving in violent
spasms across the globe."

*
*** NEWS/RUMORS ***
*
-"Dirty stoner-metal monsters" Allhelluja will release INFERNO MUSEUM
in the US on January 1. The band features Hatesphere vocalist Jacob
Bredahl, and the disc has gotten great reviews/coverage by European
magazines such as Metal Hammer, Rock Hard, Terrorizer, Hammer, and
others. See http://www.allhelluja.com/ for more.

-Beyond Fear's debut release is scheduled to be out in May on SPV
Records.

-A Brides Of Destruction e-card for RUNAWAY BRIDES, featuring the
first single "White Trash," is on-line now at
http://ecardresources.net/bridesofdestruction/bodproject01/bodannounce
ment01.html
.

-An MP3 of Doro's "Lonely Wolf," from her upcoming album, is on-line
now at http://www.metalmaniacs.com/content.cfm?ID=2256 .

-Eldritch is planning on releasing its new album, NEIGHBOURHELL, on
February 24 on SPV Records. This will be the band's sixth album and
follows 2004's PORTRAIT OF THE ABYSS WITHIN. Eldritch has also been
confirmed for Chicago Powerfest 2006. Check out
http://www.eldritchweb.com/ for all the latest.

-The final chapter of Genius' (masterminded by Daniele Liverani) rock
opera project is due soon with the following vocalists set to appear
so far: Mark Boals (Ring Of Fire, Yngwie Malmsteen) as Genius, Daniel
Gildenlow (Pain Of Salvation) as Twinspirit32, Jorn Lande (Masterplan)
as Apikor, Toby Hitchcock (Pride Of Lions) as Senator Jeramus, Eric
Martin (TMG, Mr. Big) as Mr. Niko, Andrea (Lunatica) as Kokeshi,
Philip Bynoe as Storyteller, and Oliver Hartmann on all choirs.

-GetReadyToRock.com has been updated with giveaways to win signed Rush
"goodies," Change Of Heart CDs, and Motley Crue tickets and DVDs;
interviews with Tony Mills (Shy), Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Roxy Music),
and Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones); live reviews of Firefest II, MRX,
Queen + Paul Rogers, Opeth, Twisted Sister, and Fish; and reviews of
albums by Bryan Adams, UFO, Legs Diamond, FM, Kate Bush, Pallas, The
Darkness, and Dead Soul Tribe.

-David Gilmour will release a new solo album titled ON AN ISLAND on
March 6.

-MusicTAP ( http://www.musictap.net/ ) reported Legacy Records will
release Judas Priest's LIVE on DVD on March 14. [This has to be the
concert from the SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE tour, which was recently
issued on DVD as part of the METALOGY box set, right??? - Tim]

-Kiss' ROCK THE NATION LIVE! two-DVD set is out this week. A clip is
available at http://www.kissonline.com/htmlblasts/RTN_DVD_popup.html .
In related news, autographed Washburn guitars played by Paul Stanley
on the Farewell Tour a few years back can be purchased for a mere
$10,000 each; contact Keith at (610) 351-3358 for more information.

-Lunatica is beginning work on the follow-up to FABLES & DREAMS, which
was recently released in the US on Frontiers/Locomotive Records. See
http://www.lunatica.ch/ and http://www.frontiers.it/ for more.

-The collectible card game Magic: The Gathering has a new set of cards
out called "Ravnica," and there's an article entitled "Holy War, The
Boros Legion" by Matt Cavotta on-line now at
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mc16 that draws
parallels between some of the cards and Manowar's tune "Holy War."
Kinda cool...

-The webzine Metalmessage, http://www.metalmessage.de/ , has released
volume II of its ongoing CD sampler series. Track list: Tyrant -
"Fallen Angel Of Plague," Unlight - "Fukked By The Devil," Weird Fate
- "Schmach" (demo), Knowhere - "April 14th, 9:15 a.m.," Wolfchant -
"Clan Of Cross," Suffering Souls - "Escape Into A World Of Dreams,"
Convergence - "Clockwork Paradise," Schattendasein - "Im Abglanz Der
Wälder," Nebelhorn - "Asgard," Odroerir - "Odroerir," Horn - "Die
Schänke Tief Im Laubwald," Klabautamann - "The River," Baltak - "World
Burning," Black Messiah - "Feld Der Ehre." METALMESSAGE Vol. III,
featuring cover art from Belgian artist Kris Verwimp, is being
assembled right now, for a late 2006 release, with these tracks set
for inclusion so far: Thiasos Dionysos - TBA, Tharaphita -
"Sorceress," Hatred Divine - TBA, Arafel - "Wrong Future," Episode 13
- TBA, Hordak - TBA, Trollech - "Stromy Jsou V Nas."

-Guitarist Dario Mollo (The Cage, Voodoo Hill) is working on a new
album with vocalist Graham Bonnet. Voodoo Hill's WILD SEED OF MOTHER
EARTH, featuring singer Glenn Hughes, is out now in the US on
Frontiers/Locomotive Records. See http://www.dariomollo.com/ and
http://www.frontiers.it/ for more.

-Nocturnal Fear's newie, FOG OF WAR, is available from Elegy Records.
Hype has it being "old school violent bullet belt thrash metal from
the gutters of Detroit!!!!!" See http://www.nocturnalfear.net/ and
http://www.elegyrecords.com/ for more.

-Supermercado's "Scary Baby," the title track from its just-released
debut, is reportedly currently being played on 130 college stations
across the country. See http://www.supermercadorock.com/ and
http://www.darkstarrecords.com/ for more.

-Upcoming TNT live dates:

12/16 - Energimölla, Kongsberg, Norway
12/17 - Fjellhallen, Gjøvik, Norway
12/21 - Rockefeller, Oslo, Norway
3/22/06 - Razzmatazz II, Barcelona, Spain
3/24/06 - Cafe Antzoki, Bilbao, Spain
3/25/06 - Divino Aqualung, Madrid, Spain

The band recently performed "Sometimes" and "A Fix," from its awesome
new album ALL THE WAY TO THE SUN, on a Norgwegian morning TV show.
Video from the performance is available for download at
http://www.megaupload.com/it/?d=13C0LO99 . See
http://www.tnttheband.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/tntonline for
more.

-Vanden Plas has finally set Febuary 24, 2006 as the release date for
its new CD CHRIST 0. The concept is based on Alexandre Dumas' novel
"The Count Of Monte Cristo."

Thanks to Debbie Sellnow, Nancy B. Sayle, Chris Bade, Liz Ciavarella,
Chris Slavehunter, Michael Mazur, Jason Ritchie, Bill "iPod" Kotowski,
and Jeff "Sign Of The Hammer" Dean for help gathering some of this
information.

*
*** FROM THE MEGA-VAULT ***
*
by Keith Abt (Keithabt@...)

-This Week: "HAPPY HOLIDAZE...."

Greetings all, and welcome to yet another installment of the
increasingly-infrequent (but hopefully still entertaining) "From The
Mega-Vault." The holiday season is upon us again (in case you haven't
noticed), so before I get down to business I'd like to wish everyone a
healthy, happy, and heavy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus (or
whatever you celebrate) to you and yours from me and mine. I also want
to remind everyone that music ALWAYS makes a great gift for your
family and friends. It makes shopping easy, and besides, you can also
pick up a few extra goodies for yourself while you're in the CD store.
:-) End of Public Service Announcement, let's move on to the random
news bits, album commentaries, and lame attempts at humor...!

...Holy MZA, Batman... The original lineup of Loudness will be
returning to the US in March of 2006 for a half-dozen live dates in
select cities! Wow, I never thought I'd see them setting foot on
American soil again. Pretty cool stuff. This news came out of nowhere
for many fans, but it was a bit of an odd coincidence for me, because
I personally have been going through a bit of a Loudness renaissance
in recent months... After seeing the "Crazy Nights" video on VH1
Classic's "Metal Mania" one Saturday night, the song was stuck in my
head for several days afterwards. My old vinyl copy of THUNDER IN THE
EAST is in rather dire shape, so I finally decided "Damn it, now I
have to find it on CD!" The problem was, I had no clue if the album
had ever been available on CD, at least in the US, and if it was,
whether or not it was still in print. I checked several stores, fully
expecting to have to pay $50 for an import from Japan (if I found it
at all), but I was pleasantly surprised to find a CD reissue of
THUNDER IN THE EAST on an American label I'd never heard of before
(Wounded Bird Records) at a bargain price. Turns out that this same
label has also reissued many other Loudness titles (some of which,
like HEAVY METAL HIPPIES and ONCE AND FOR ALL, never saw a US release
in the first place, as far as I know), so I've already picked up
1987's HURRICANE EYES and I will likely be snapping up several others!
The Wounded Bird crew appears to have excellent taste because they've
re-released many other hard to find '80s/early '90s goodies from bands
like Vicious Rumors (WELCOME TO THE BALL is already on my shelf, hell
yeah!), Overkill, Kix, Raven, Saigon Kick, and Malice, so if any of
those bands float your boat, hurry on over to
http://www.woundedbird.com/ to check out their catalog.

...Strange news bit of the week: KNAC.com reports that former Judas
Priest/current Iced Earth/Beyond Fear vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens has
signed with Niji Management, owned by Wendy Dio, wife/manager of
Ronnie (of course). A long-standing rumor has it that the character of
Janine Pettibone, the new-age girlfriend of Spinal Tap's David St.
Hubbins (who eventually winds up managing the band when Ian Faith
quits in mid-movie) in "This Is Spinal Tap" was based on Mrs. Dio, so
I wonder if we'll soon hear Wendy saying, "If I told them once, I told
them a THOUSAND times, put Tim 'Ripper' Owens ABOVE the puppet show!"
(OK, so that was a hell of a LONG way to go for a cheap joke, but I
simply couldn't resist...)

-On to the music stack that's been piling up since my last column, I
think I can safely say that I've got something for everybody on your
holiday list in this installment, so enjoy!

...First up is a disc that I think everyone can safely AVOID: I was
waiting in line to rent a movie at my local Shop-Rite the other night,
and happened to be standing next to an end cap filled with budget-
priced holiday DVDs, videos, CDs and other odds and ends. I couldn't
help flipping through the CDs while I waited, just because I find some
of these cheap releases by forgotten artists so damn hilarious
(Besides, there's always a chance that I'll finally find a copy of the
semi-legendary METAL CHRISTMAS compilation with Paul Di'Anno singing
"Santa Claus is Coming To Town" on it!), and I came across what is
perhaps the MOST unnecessary holiday release I have ever seen in my
life...HOLIDAY CLASSICS: A TRIBUTE TO TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. That's
right, TSO have been "honored" with their very own tribute album on
the "Hip Kiddy" record label (Value priced at $5.99!). I wonder if
Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva are aware of the dubious honor that they've
received here? "Mason Strauss And The Music Makers," whoever the hell
THAT may be, perform all of the tracks on this CD. Unsurprisingly,
"Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" is the leadoff track, with a special
"extended mix" of the same song closing out the CD as well. Needless
to say, I chuckled and put the disc back on the shelf for the next
sucker.

...Moving on to more metallic pastures, CAPTURE THE MAGIC by Icarus
Witch (Magick Records) has been enjoying some serious playtime in my
stereo lately. Before I comment on the CD I have to say "Thanks!" to
the fine folks at Metal Maniacs magazine, because I won a free copy of
this disc through a contest on their Web site. I've been entering
their contests for years and this is the first time I've ever won a
damn thing, so I was certainly excited when it arrived in the mail!
Anyway, these Pittsburgh rookies turned heads earlier this year with
their five-song ROSES ON WHITE LACE EP (unheard by me), and the rave
reviews it received piqued my curiosity enough to want to snag a copy
of their full-length debut. Though I don't think Icarus Witch have
quite enough ammunition to live up to all their press hype yet
("...capable of leading the New Wave of American True Metal?" Geez, no
pressure there, huh?), CAPTURE THE MAGIC is an enjoyable nostalgia
trip nonetheless that captures (sorry) the mood and feel of metal's
classic era. These boys revel in the early '80s style of metal that
hardly any Americans are playing, much less LISTENING to, anymore, and
that should be welcome news to fans of early Savatage, Iron Maiden,
Dio and Mercyful Fate. I especially liked the title track,
"Soothsayer," and "Awakening the Mountain Giants," (although such
titles show that they need to move beyond the Dungeons & Dragons
inspired lyricism of their heroes), and judging from the guest
appearances by George Lynch (who provides a guest solo on the album-
closing cover of Ozzy's "S.A.T.O.") and Fates Warning axeman Frank
Aresti on "The Ghost Of Xavior Holmes" they obviously have some
friends in high places. It might not be the most original release of
the year but CAPTURE THE MAGIC would make a welcome stocking stuffer
for the trad-metal fan on your list.

...The long-awaited new Helloween opus, KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS - THE
LEGACY (SPV Records) is causing quite a stir among the Pumpkinhead
Brigade. Some say it sucks, some say it's the best thing they've done
in years. I'm not sure yet where it sits in the Helloween pantheon,
and I still don't understand why they bothered to make a two-CD
package out of THE LEGACY when some judicious trimming could've easily
made it all fit on one disc ("The King For 1000 Years" and "Occasion
Avenue," at 13-plus minutes and 11-plus, respectively, could
definitely have lost some fat and it wouldn't have hurt either song)
but overall I enjoyed THE LEGACY. It lacks some of the balls-to-the-
wall intensity of recent discs like RABBIT DON'T COME EASY or THE DARK
RIDE but still contains its share of barn-burners like "The Invisible
Man," "My Life For One More Day," and the goofy-but-fun single "Mrs.
God." Candice Night (of Blackmore's Night) steps in for a duet with
Andi Deris on the power ballad "Light The Universe," and "Get It Up,"
despite sounding like an AC/DC song title, is a decent rocker as well.
THE LEGACY may not measure up to the large shadow cast upon it by the
first two KEEPER discs (did anybody really EXPECT it to?) but
thankfully it doesn't fall flat on its ass either. If you can get past
the fact that Michael Kiske is not Helloween's vocalist anymore (He's
NOT coming back people; get over it), KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS - THE
LEGACY is a satisfying listen. Extra points for the totally cool
packaging and artwork, which beats the hell out of the crappy RABBIT
DON'T COME EASY CD cover six ways to Sunday...

...Wow, this is turning into a helluva long column but I've got one
more... From the "It May Not Be Metal, But You Gotta Hear This" file
comes THE CRAIG MACHINE (What Are Records?) by Stephen Lynch. Some of
you may be familiar with Lynch (no relation to George, I assume) from
his Comedy Central special or his regular appearances on the college
comedy circuit. For the uninitiated, he's a singing comedian who
performs some seriously twisted little ditties while accompanying
himself on acoustic guitar. He's definitely NOT for everybody (so
don't blame me if you buy this and hate it), but if you like "South
Park" style humor you're probably sick enough to enjoy THE CRAIG
MACHINE. Lynch is actually a pretty damn good guitar player and half
of the hilarity on this CD comes from hearing his sweet-sounding voice
singing about absolutely horrible stuff (like "Halloween," an ode to
that mythical guy who sticks razor blades into candy bars and kidnaps
trick-or-treaters). You'll crack up when you hear the sad story of
"Pierre," the only French bum in New York ("Can you spare a quarter,
I'm begging you please? I must have some wine with my government
cheese!") and rock out to anthems about Jesus' party-animal brother
Craig (the "Craig Machine" of the title..."Don't walk on H20, but I
got some hydroponic sh*t that me and Judas grow...") and Beelzebub
himself ("You can call me Beelz...F**k Charlie Daniels, I don't care
if you can fiddle!"). Hey, any album that has a song about Satan on it
is DEFINITELY "From The Mega-Vault" material. :-) Lynch has been
compared to Adam Sandler in the past (Though I personally disagree
with that; I think Lynch is funnier) and now I hear that he's going to
be playing the Sandler role in a new musical stage version of "The
Wedding Singer" on Broadway in early 2006. For more info, check out
http://www.stephenlynch.com/ .

-Alllll righty then, bruthas and sistas, I think I've overstayed my
welcome for this week, so it's time for a tall cool one. Till next
time, continue to rock on with your socks on and I'll be back with
more insanity whenever the mood strikes me... BEWARE.

-THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST: Vicious Rumors - WELCOME TO THE BALL; Winters
Bane - GIRTH; Dangerous Toys - s/t; Accept - METAL HEART; Sanctuary -
REFUGE DENIED.

*
*** ROCK HARD RIDE FREE ***
*
by Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

-OK, so, wow. Last week I carped I hadn't been able to buy myself the
new Judas Priest live DVD RISING IN THE EAST, and then -- presto! --
three days later a promo copy appeared in me ol' mailbox. I turned it
on immediately to get a quick fix, and ended up watching the first
five songs or so. I'll have a full review soon but for now just know
that it rules, even if it's apparently quite the no-frills affair.
(And it was just indescribably cool to see my 11-month-old bopping
along to "Metal Gods.")

-I think this is old news but wasn't Black Sabbath just announced as
an inductee next year to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame? I swear I read
that in the paper a few weeks ago but it keeps slipping my mind to
look up more details on-line. If it's true, congrats, and I'll be
curious to see what Ozzy's said since he's asked to be left off the
ballot in the past.

-Loudness is coming to Chicago in March, on a Wednesday night
(naturally...), and the capper is it's the night before my wife's
birthday. Tell me two tickets to THAT baby isn't the perfect gift!

-Now in my current playlist: Judas Priest - RISING IN THE EAST (DVD)
(Rhino), DragonForce - INHUMAN RAMPAGE (Sanctuary/Noise), Lunatica -
FABLES & DREAMS (Frontiers/Locomotive), HurtLocker - FEAR IN A HANDFUL
OF DUST (Napalm Records).

*
*** REVIEWS ***
*
AVIAN - FROM THE DEPTHS OF TIME (B) Nightmare Records, 2005
13 tracks, RT: 55:06
[ http://www.AvianBand.com/ ]
[ http://www.intromental.com/avian/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/avianband ]
[ avian@... ]
First off, there are some big names involved with this project:
guitarist and main man Yan Leviathan recruited vocalist Lance King
(Pyramaze, ex-Balance Of Power) and keyboardist Jonah Weingarten
(Pyramaze, Lilitu) for the record, and got lead guitarist Roger Moore
(Cain's Alibi, Gemini), bassist David Ellefson (F5, Temple Of
Brutality, ex-Megadeth), and drummer David Small (F5) to appear as
guest musicians. For the technicals, King mixed and also produced with
an assist from Leviathan and Ellefson, and the renowned Tommy Hansen
(Helloween, Pretty Maids, etc.) mastered the album. The "project" is
apparently turning into a "band" now, with all the musicians except
possibly Small slated for release #2. So anyway, the music... Given
the players, the beautiful artwork, and the obvious ambition behind
the disc I really wanted to just be blown away from the first note.
The songs -- three short instrumentals and 10 proper full-band tunes
-- are good, consistent, and cohesive melodic prog/power metal nuggets
but it took me several listens to fully warm up to FROM THE DEPTHS OF
TIME. Make no mistake, there isn't a single bum song on the whole
disc, but either the production is a little thin or there's an
immediacy that just isn't quite there -- I never had a "Now THAT's the
song!" moment while listening to the album. But the consistency is
undeniable, and fans of old Queensryche, Crimson Glory, Savatage, and
King's repertoire will dig Avian. (Further on the consistency bit...
As I listen to albums for review, I make notes next to each song and
when I was done with my "formal review listen" I noticed I had rated
every non-instrumental song either 3, 3.5, or 4 stars...) The best
track is probably "Time Is All We Need," which is also the biggest
departure from the album's norm, with its bass-driven groove and more
laidback vibe that eventually kicks in during a charging solo section.
Other highlights include "Blinding Force," which has an added bit of
extra pomp flair (and an outro/coda section where King positively
*nails* a perfect Rob Halford wail), "Single Blade Of Vengeance" with
its palpable energy, and "As The World Burns," which launches out of
the gate with a bounding riff that recalls Warrior for some reason...
FROM THE DEPTHS OF TIME is a good metal album but the next one should
be even better, once the lineup gels. - Tim Wadzinski
(tsw512@...)

BRAZEN ABBOT - MY RESURRECTION (B+/B) Frontiers/Locomotive, 2005
12 tracks, RT: 62:30
[ http://home.aland.net/brazen.abbot/ ]
[ http://www.nostramusic.com/ ]
[ http://www.frontiers.it/ ]
[ http://www.locomotivemusic.com/ ]
Guitarist/mastermind Nikolo Kotzev is back with a slightly retooled
lineup -- this time vocalists include Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep
Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen), Goran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen), Tony
Harnell (TNT, Starbreaker), and Erik Martensson (Eclipse), plus
bassist Wayne Banks, keyboardist Nelko Kolarov, drummer Mattias
Knutas, and a 31-piece string orchestra -- but his flair for
comfortable, smart, classic Rainbow-inspired hard rock is intact as
always. He matches the vocalists, Turner and Harnell in particular,
with songs that nicely suit their strong points, and he definitely is
adept at writing songs rather than wankfests. Highlights include the
rocking title track, "Godforsaken" (complete with nifty piano solo),
"Dreams" (a "full band unplugged" type of song with a nice, easy
groove that surely would've been a hit single 15 years ago), "Flyin'
Blind" (with an absolutely electric chorus), and the rollicking "More
Than Money." MY RESURRECTION is perhaps a bit long at nearly 63
minutes, but the overall professionalism and quality cannot be denied.
- Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

F5 - A DRUG FOR ALL SEASONS (B+) Deadline, 2005
12 tracks, RT: 36:27, multimedia section
[ http://www.f5theband.com/ ]
[ http://www.cleorecs.com/ ]
This is a cool album. I'm not sure how or where vocalist Dale Steele,
guitarists John Davis and Steve Conley, seemingly omnipresent bassist
David Ellefson (Temple Of Brutality, ex-Megadeth), and drummer Dave
Small hooked up, but I'm glad they did. A DRUG FOR ALL SEASONS is
built on a "modern radio metal" chassis (you know, shouted vocals,
short or non-existant guitar solos, etc.) but the melodies are there
and the song writing is tight. "Dying On The Vine" jumps out as the
best song, with a driving beat and a slightly bratty vibe like heavy
Wildhearts or what cool new Guns N' Roses music *could* sound like,
and a heavied-up cover of Edie Brickell's "What I Am" definitely
emerges as the standout track; its blend of a rage-fueled heavier
chorus with a jangly verse is oddly cool. The rest of the album
settles into a crunchy, mid-tempo headspace where the riffs are punchy
and plentiful, the songs are relatively short, and a sitar (played by
Conley) is given more than just a token use. A strong album from start
to finish, and it should do well on those "all things to all metal
fans" radio stations that play Staind and Disturbed right along with
Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne. The bonus CD-ROM content
consists of a short "in the studio" Quicktime movie file called "First
Cut." - Tim Wadzinski (tsw512@...)

GAMMA RAY - MAJESTIC (A) Sanctuary/Mayan, 2005
10 tracks, RT: 54:54
[ http://www.gamma-ray.com/ ]
[ http://www.sanctuaryrecords.com/ ]
Kai Hansen and his boys -- eight years and counting with this lineup!
-- are back, and they're kicking big ass on this, the band's eighth
full-length studio album. Calling your album MAJESTIC may be a tad
bold, yes, but it's certainly appropriate here. The band hits on all
aspects of its power metal past: opener "My Temple" summarily pummels
and pounds, "Fight" has the speedy chug, intricate guitar work, and a
big beer stein-waving chorus, "Hell Is Thy Home" has the frantic
thrash guitar and drum work, "How Long" has the hooky chorus and
slightly more commercial rock vibe, and closer "Revelation" is the
designated epic (but it's not overlong at under nine minutes). But
it's not a "same old, same old" power metal album, as there is some
nifty keyboard work (guitarist Henjo Richter is very good at adding
keyboard parts that enhance "just enough" without becoming too
noticeable), a groove here and there, a short, fuzzy stoner rock intro
(gasp!) on "Majesty," and even a couple Iron Maiden moments. It's been
four years since the last disc (NO WORLD ORDER!) and it seems the
"break" has revitalized the band. Kudos. - Tim Wadzinski
(tsw512@...)

VARIOUS - BACK AGAINST THE WALL (B-/C+) Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra, 2005
Disc 1: 13 tracks, RT: 40:22
Disc 2: 13 tracks (14th hidden), RT: 42:40
[ http://www.billysherwood.com/ ]
[ http://www.cleorecs.com/ ]
In 1979 Pink Floyd released one of the great masterpieces of rock
music, a dense work of musical dynamics and subtleties comprising
depressing, introspective lyrics reflecting themes of loss,
alienation, disillusion and isolation. THE WALL has stood the test of
time over the past 25 years, as countless bands have claimed it as a
major influence while fans continue to sing its praises. Recently a
veritable who's who of progressive, classic and hard rock artists
embarked on a mission to pay tribute to this work of genius, the
result being BACK AGAINST THE WALL. Including remakes of all tracks
originally featured on THE WALL, this tribute does a commendable job
of recreating the moody atmosphere of the original while adding a few
interesting new touches, but too many participants ultimately detract
from the cohesiveness of the project. Highlights on BACK AGAINST THE
WALL include "The Thin Ice," with Ian Anderson's vocal delivery
particularly poignant; "Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 1" coming across
almost as eerie and dramatic as the original; a virtually metalized
version of "Young Lust" with Glenn Hughes offering a different vocal
interpretation of the song that actually works; "Hey You" featuring
one of the better guitar solos on the disc courtesy of Steve Lukather;
and "The Trial," with a wonderful performance by Malcolm McDowell.
Some of the material done a bit differently than the originals takes a
bit of getting used to but ends up as fascinating deviations, with
"Vera" and "Comfortably Numb" as good examples. The track listing on
disc one of my promo was mislabeled so that was a bit confusing;
hopefully they corrected this for the commercial release. (Also, disc
two lists "Isn't This Where We Came In?" as track #14 but it's really
just McDowell saying that at the very end of track #13.) It should be
acknowledged that Billy Sherwood orchestrated BACK AGAINST THE WALL
and performed on almost all the songs, as he has obvious skill in
coordinating such an undertaking. Overall a bit hit-and-miss, but if
you enjoy the tribute album concept and would like to hear some of the
best rock musicians from the past three decades paying homage to one
of the greatest albums ever made, this is a worthy addition to your
collection. - Neal Woodall (MysticX10@...)

WET ANIMAL (B-) Escapi Music, 2005
10 tracks, RT: 46:46
[ http://www.wetanimal.net/ ]
[ http://www.escapimusic.com/ ]
This is not exactly a CD that would scream "BUY ME!" if you saw it
sitting on the store shelf. The band's name is...well, "interesting"
to say the least, and the album cover is one of the worst I've seen in
a while... It's a photo of a woman who looks like Kirstie Alley (pre-
Jenny Craig) walking barefoot in wet sand against a weird purple
background. I've seen cooler cover art on those B-grade horror movie
DVDs that you find in dollar stores. So then why am I even giving this
album the time of day? Because Wet Animal features two members of
Trouble in its lineup (guitarist Rick Wartell and drummer Jeff "Oly"
Olson) and any regular reader of my "From The Mega-Vault" columns
should know that I absolutely WORSHIP Trouble and will listen to
anything related to them. (Especially since it has taken FOREVER for
Trouble to get their reunion album, SEVEN, finished, although I hear
it's finally slated for release in March of 2006!) Completed by
vocalist/guitarist Shane Pasqual and bassist Michael DiPrima, Wet
Animal deal out classy, groove-driven hard rock (hampered slightly by
a muffled production job) that wouldn't have sounded out of place on
Trouble's last few albums (the hippie-dippy MANIC FRUSTRATION and
PLASTIC GREEN HEAD albums, not the doom metal benchmarks PSALM 9 or
THE SKULL). It does sound odd at first to hear a different vocalist
singing over Wartell's distinctive guitar tone (DiPrima's voice owes
more to '90s singers like Layne Staley and Chris Cornell than
Trouble's Eric Wagner), but the tunes are solid and the guitar work is
first rate. Wet Animal officially formed in 2003, but Wartell has
apparently been kicking these songs around in one form or another
since Trouble went on hiatus in the mid-'90s, and they've aged well.
"Soul Alone" has an Alice In Chains vibe that gets things off to a
nice mid-paced start, while "Outside A Hole" and "Land Minds" should
inspire some headbanging at the live shows. The acoustic-flavored
"Left Behind" and so-Soundgarden-that-it-hurts "Fade Away" are
excellent as well (the solo in "Fade Away" is awesome!), making WET
ANIMAL a cool listen despite its low-budget presentation. This CD will
keep me sufficiently occupied until Trouble finally comes out of its
self-induced exile and lovers of honest, well played hard rock should
be pleased with it as well. Now, if only they would do something about
that cover art... - Keith Abt (keithabt@...)

XYZ - FORBIDDEN DEMOS 1985/1991 (B/B-) FYCO Records, 2005
18 tracks, RT: 73:14
[ http://www.xyzmusic.com/ ]
[ http://www.myspace.com/xyz ]
[ http://www.terryilous.com/ ]
The title is self-explanatory -- this is a collection of demos and
unreleased tracks XYZ recorded, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away, but never released on its albums. And it's a pretty good
collection at that! Finished versions of four tracks -- "Inside Out,"
"Follow The Night," "After The Rain," and "Souvenirs" -- all appeared
on the 1989 self-titled XYZ album, and "Never Too Late" resurfaced on
the band's most recent effort, LETTER TO GOD. Aside from those,
FORBIDDEN DEMOS 1985/1991's tracks should all be new to your ears, and
they show different sides of the band that went through a few lineup
changes before emerging with that '89 disc. The song titles certainly
reflect the era in which they were recorded -- "Made For Love,"
"Seventeen," "Lonely Without You," etc. -- as does the music itself,
with some of the older tunes (naturally) sounding a little dated and
featuring way more keyboards than XYZ's remembered for. "Can't Get
Over You" (from 1990), a commercial-yet-rootsy rocker, sorta reminds
me of Tesla, "High Life" (included twice, as recorded by different
lineups of the band) is a great rocker that should've been released
somewhere, "Made For Love" ('86) has thick keyboard coloring that
actually works quite well, and "You Got Me Wrong" ('88) is a token
live track that has a nice bounce/chug and a good hook. Elsewhere
there are quite a few ballads, which aren't always my cup of tea, but
overall the disc is worthy. (Killer cover art, too!) - Tim Wadzinski
(tsw512@...)

*
*** OUT ***
*