Detritus
Mini-Issue #442.5 - January 25, 2008
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*
*** CAST OF CHARACTERS ***
*
Patrick Brower, Editor
patrickbrower@...

Sean P. Gahgan, Editor
lof@...
http://www.lakeoffire.net/

Tim Wadzinski, Owner
tsw512@...

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

*
*** LET IT BE KNOWN ***
*
-Lo and behold, in yer hot little hands (or, in boxes?) ya got
probably the last "2007 In Review" thingy you'll ever see. Makes me
feel kind of special. :) - Tim

*
*** AT THE ALTAR ***
*
by Patrick Brower (patrickbrower@...)

-Rise from your genuflecting, oh you of the chosen flock. It is time
once again to bow your head and thank your G-d for his merciful
distribution of these unholy sounds we torturously call "metal." And
you, you devoted follower, are to be commended on your tireless
dedication and life-time service to our personal religion of noise.
Now come, take my hand as I guide you to one man's meager offerings
called the "Best of 2007."

TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2007

1. Megadeth - UNITED ABOMINATIONS

Every time I seem to write Megadeth off, they kick my teeth in. I LOVE
this disc and it may have been the one I played most this year. Way to
go, Dave!! Don't let this heathen doubt your commitment to metal.

2. Lizzy Borden - APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH

Thank the Devil that Lizzy Borden is back. LOVE it. Can't wait to hear
it live. Don't mind not getting a new STARWOOD disc if this is the
result! And way to use Dave Meniketti! Slightly over-produced and
layered vocals, but Lizzy can still scream like no one else! Yes.

3. Iced Earth - FRAMING ARMAGEDDON

I really didn't care for THE GLORIOUS BURDEN but this album really
blew me away. It is still in heavy rotation in both the car and at
work and fellow employees now request it. Maybe a little better if it
was just an album and not an epic, but it still gets very high marks.
Thanks for restoring my faith in this band! And just when I warm to
Ripper, he's gone. At least he's immortalized here.

4. Symphony X - PARADISE LOST

Winners of this year's Most Original CD Packaging award, Symphony X
comes back from a five-year absence with their fiercest release to
date. They take a step back from "progressive" and head straight to
"heavy" and I'm so glad they did.

5. Chris Caffery - PINS AND NEEDLES

Harsh and brutal, more so than his previous solo efforts, Chris
Caffery should have a long solo career if this is the caliber of all
his work.

6. Allen/Lande - THE REVENGE

This is a very solid sophomore release from what I hope is a
continuing project with these guys, but it doesn't stray too far from
the first disc. I guess I just wanted a little something more, seeing
as THE BATTLE was my favorite disc of 2005.

7. Thought Chamber - ANGULAR PERCEPTIONS

The best reason for the existence of MySpace; I may have never found
this band if not for their MySpace presence. Straight forward prog
rock, this band is Enchant with heavier guitars and is the disc I'm
most grateful for finding this year.

8. Redemption - THE ORIGINS OF RUIN

Wow -- a really solid disc that makes me not miss Fates Warning as
much. The best of their Ray Adler discs by far.

9. Serenity - WORDS UNTOLD & DREAMS UNLIVED

Bought solely on Tim Wadzinski's recommendation and I don't regret it
for a second.

10. Masterplan - MKII

A strong post-Jorn Lande effort that shows where the songwriting
talent has always laid with this band. A few very catchy riffs will
stay with you.

11. Dream Theater - SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

The more they're allowed to run free with what they record, the less
accessible they seem to get. I'm still trying to get a solid feel for
OCTAVARIUM and this disc just doesn't seem to stick with me as much as
I want albums from this band to.

12. Pink Cream 69 - IN10SITY

A more-than-decent release but too much of the same for such a long
time since their last studio release. Not really any better or worse
than past efforts.

13. Kamelot - GHOST OPERA

I miss Conception. And Ark. I always want to love this band more than
I actually do, but this is a very solid effort.

14. Dimmu Borgir - IN SORTIE DIABOLI

Usually not my kind of band (Hi, Rick!) but I just love this disc and
played "The Serpentine Offering" about one million times.

15. Helloween - GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL

The best Helloween disc in years! And it's not even a veiled p***y
reference!

16. Sebastian Bach - ANGEL DOWN

Some really good songs and some bad ones as well. Also, too much Axl
Rose. Former Detritus writer Terry Gant asked if this disc was really
called CHINESE DEMOCRACY. Sebastian still has great range but needs
someone else to always write for him.

17. Down - DOWN III: OVER THE UNDER

A welcome Christmas Gift from Detritus' own Rick Berg. My favorite of
the Down albums yet.

18. Kim Mitchell - AIN'T LIFE AMAZING

Wow. Kim Mitchell is back, bald, and still a whole bundle of pop rock
fun. Good to hear such a positive new album from a long-time rock 'n'
roll performer. From start to finish a joy to listen to.

19. Great White - BACK TO THE RHYTHM

Y'know, not really a bad disc at all. I guess I was expecting a lot
worse, but Great White manages to stay true to their roots and put out
a very "Great White" album. Won't blow you away but if you were a fan
in the past this won't embarrass you.

20. 3 Inches Of Blood - FIRE UP THE BLADES

Huh. Okay then. Actually I just gave it another listen and it's grown
on me more than I thought it would. Pretty fun for what it is.

OTHER 2007 ALBUMS OF NOTE

Winger - DEMO ANTHOLOGY

A neat time capsule that runs thru the entire Winger back catalog. You
can really hear the evolution of the songs and can thank G-d above
that Rod Morgenstein came later to record real drums. I deem this two-
disc set "totally worth it."

Queensryche - MINDCRIME AT THE MOORE

An accurate recording of the live MINDCRIME experience, I just now
have too many live MINDCRIME releases.

Tesla - REEL TO REEL Disc 1 and Disc 2

Um, I... I just don't get it. Is it that you can't sell your own music
anymore? Thanks to Dylan and the Reckless crew for tracking these down
for me, but man, not good. I listened to each disc once, apologized to
my fellow employees, and promptly gave them away.

Jorn - THE GATHERING

A pretty complete "Greatest Hits" package that follows Jorn through
most of his many (many) bands and solo efforts.

Jorn - UNLOCKING THE PAST

If you're going to pay tribute to your influences, this is the way to
do it. Also, Jorn is so prolific that this comes off as actual tribute
to bands he loves, not a cheap attempt to hopefully sell some records
this year (*cough**queensryche**cough*).

Iced Earth - OVERTURE OF THE WICKED

I'm usually against EPs and I thought I'd flip out hearing Tim
"Ripper" Owens versions of Iced Earth classics, but this got me really
excited for the full LP. And I have a much better appreciation for
Ripper as a vocalist.

Queensryche - TAKE COVER

Look, another all-covers album from a band I used to respect. Way
better than Tesla's; not as good as Jorn's.

Various Artists - MONSTER BALLADS X-MAS

Yes, I love Christmas music, so this is right up my iPod. Some neat
rockers such as Danger Danger's "Naughty Naughty Christmas," Dokken's
crunchy "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and Winger's "Happy Christmas
(War Is Over)" make this a fun Holiday treat, even if most of the
tracks have appeared elsewhere before.

Circle II Circle - BURDEN OF TRUTH

Actually came out in late 2006 but was so under the radar that I only
got it in May, so I'm counting it for 2007. A strong effort from Zak
Stevens, probably my favorite of his post-Savatage work.

TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS OF 2007

Winger
House Of Blues; Chicago

Such a good time and such a good show. Long-time Winger fans George IV
and Mike Norton were on hand to see and hear why this is still such a
good band. Watching the show thru first-time Winger concert-goer
Mike's eyes made it that much more fresh and new. Kip still has a
great voice and Reb shreds like a demon!

Isis
Metro; Chicago, IL

It was my first time seeing these equal parts brutal and melodic
apocalypseters. And yes, I think I just made up a new word there. Nice
small setting for such large sounds.

Sammy Hagar
Chicago Theater; Chicago, IL

At a mind-blowing 60 years old, Sammy never fails to put on a high
energy, several hours long rock show. Accompanied by Michael Anthony
and his own Wabos, this was his finest "greatest hits" set that I've
heard in the last five years of seeing Sammy live every year.

Bob Mould
Schuba's; Chicago, IL

Say what you want about his progressive/dance music (LoudBomb,
Blowoff) but put a guitar in his hands and Bob Mould can still knock
you on your ass. He was funny, energetic and played some vintage
Husker Du in this intimate set. His new disc, DISTRICT LINE, is one of
the CDs I'm most looking forward to in 2008.

Dweezil Zappa (Playing Frank Zappa)
Civic Opera House; Chicago, IL

I've always (strangely) been a fan of solo Dweezil Zappa but this
tribute to his late father was a three+ hour show of progressive
proportions. I just wish I knew more of the source material to truly
appreciate it. A very formal setting for the most Dead-like audience
of my concert-going year.

Non-metal shows of note included the 2007 Japan Night at the Empty
Bottle featuring 50 Kaitenz, The Emeralds, Go!Go!7188, and Pistol
Valve, and the Second Annual Aimee Mann Christmas Show featuring
Nellie McKay.

First six concerts of 2008 already planned: Dresden Dolls,
Queensryche/(Don) Dokken, Winger, Bob Mould, Magnetic Fields and Joe
Jackson (x2)!

That is it for the passage of two thousand and seven. This issue of
Detritus is the single most important issue of the year in regards to
helping me catch up on all the great music I missed without even
knowing it. Check out everybody's Best Of lists and see if there are
things recommended that you never even heard of! And then maybe take a
chance on something we like. And please, feel free to write in with
your own Best Of 2007 lists.

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

-THIS WEEK: 2007 IN REVIEW!

Zzzzzzz...huh? What? Whazzat? Another year is gone already? Holy crap-
a-moley. Was it me or did this one just fly by? Well, anyway, Happy
New Year everybody! It's January 2008, and that means it's time for me
to sift thru my CD cabinet, pull out all the stuff I've accumulated
with a 2007 copyright date on it, and separate the wheat from the
chaff, so to speak, for the annual "From The Mega Vault" year-end
round up.

2007 sure seemed like a pretty good year for metal, though to be
honest I didn't keep my ears nearly as close to the ground during most
of it as I would have liked. The birth of my second child in July '07
took my focus elsewhere, understandably, and his arrival also bit into
my CD buying budget particularly hard (those diapers, baby clothes,
and cute lil' outfits are EXPENSIVE, folks!!), so I ended up letting a
lot of stuff I really wanted to hear this year slip through the cracks
to wait for a later date. Therefore my stack of 2007 CD releases may
not be my biggest or most impressive haul ever, but there were still
more than enough metallic nuggets piled up to boil down to a top 10.
Without further ado, then, let's get on with the festivities...

The "From The Mega-Vault" Top 10 of 2007:

Scorpions, HUMANITY - HOUR I (New Door/UMG)

I was surprised as anybody back in 2004 when I heard the Scorpions'
mighty UNBREAKABLE and thought to myself "Wow, there's still life in
these old Krauts yet." I am pleased to report that HUMANITY - HOUR I
is even BETTER than that massive comeback CD. Composed with the help
of melodic rock/AOR guru Desmond Child, HUMANITY - HOUR I is a
"Terminator"-esque concept album about humanity's battle for survival
against a race of robots (!), which sounds silly as hell until you
listen to the disc itself. This is an emotional, cinematic piece of
work which shows that not only are the Scorpions still open to
experimentation and growth even after all these years, but they still
kick major amounts of ass as well! This is one of the few CDs released
this year that I can honestly say I've listened to enough times to
learn every lyric and air-guitar to every precious riff. Awesome job,
fellas.

Overkill, IMMORTALIS (Bodog Music)

Has Overkill ever disappointed me? Well, okay, there was I HEAR BLACK,
but that was 15 years ago now. Overkill may have a new label home once
again this year, but other than that it's business as usual for the
Wrecking Crew. There's nothing new or fancy going on here, just
Jersey's finest thrash machine adding yet another crushing slab to one
of the most frighteningly consistent and solid catalogs in all of
metaldom!

Megadeth, UNITED ABOMINATIONS (Roadrunner)

MegaDave returned with a vengeance in 2007, and though I truthfully
think I liked '04's THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED just a little bit more than
this one, UNITED ABOMINATIONS is the sound of a man (and band) that
many had written off, now primed and ready to continue thrashing well
into the 21st Century.

Beatallica, SGT. HETFIELD'S MOTORBREATH PUB BAND (Oglio)

On paper, the concept behind this band sounds like a mess: combine
classic Metallica and classic Beatles songs to create all original
"Mashups" that somehow manage to entertain both camps of fans, but
somehow this Prefab Four make it sound easy. These Internet faves
shook off the legal hassles that have dogged them for several years
(apparently the Beatles camp didn't find them terribly funny) and put
forth a hilariously heavy debut album that still gets spins from me
many months later.

The Cursed, ROOM FULL OF SINNERS (Screaming Ferret/Locomotive)

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth makes it onto my list twice this year, first
with Overkill and again with this side project he created with fellow
Jersey thrash legend Dan Lorenzo of Hades. Rather than take the easy
way out and merely put out a quickie thrash album, The Cursed turned
in a groovin' stoner/doom record (with melody!) that sounded like '70s
Kiss and Black Sabbath stuck in a blender set on "Liquify." I hope
there'll be another Cursed album down the road, as this stuff is too
good to remain a one shot deal.

Helloween, GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL (SPV)

I found 2005's KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS - THE LEGACY to be somewhat
blah, so Helloween had a lot to prove to me with this new CD. Turns
out I needn't have worried, as GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL is the Pumpkin
Heads' finest work since 1998's mighty BETTER THAN RAW. One listen to
the leadoff track "Kill It" should be all the convincing any banger
will need.

Primal Fear, NEW RELIGION (Frontiers)

Primal Fear's label move from Nuclear Blast to the AOR/melodic rock
oriented Frontiers stable raised a few eyebrows in the metal community
(and probably hurt their American presence a bit, since Frontiers has
little, if any, U.S. distribution) but Ralf and company christened
their new contract with one heckuva killer album that ranks up there
with their best work. In a perfect world, Ralf's duet with Simone
Simons of Epica ("Every Time It Rains") would be on the soundtrack to
an "Underworld" style action movie.

Intense, AS OUR ARMY GROWS (Napalm)

Though this is Intense's third album and they've been around for
nearly a decade, this British band was a new name to me in 2007, and
one of my most pleasant surprises. Best described as a combination of
the best qualities of Maiden and Iced Earth with a slight hint of
Nevermore, AS OUR ARMY GROWS certainly grew on me. This is what the
new Iced Earth CD should have sounded like!

Hardcore Superstar, DREAMIN' IN A CASKET (Gain)

These Swedish scumbags may dress like one'a them dang emo bands, but
they're the best thing to happen to the glam/sleaze rock scene since
Crashdiet. One part GNR, one part Ramones, Hardcore Superstar are good
old fashioned no frills, attitude-filled, ass-kickin', Jack Daniels
swiggin', stealin'-your-girlfriend kinda stuff that deserves a U.S.
release and tour!

Vainglory, VAINGLORY (Rebellion)

I think this one may have been released at the ass end of 2006, but
I'm not 100 percent sure. I didn't hear of it till January of 2007,
though, so to hell with it, it's MY list. Kate French (formerly of
Chastain) leads a new power metal squadron that sounds like a pissed
off Pat Benatar presiding over a " Battle of the Bands" between
Halford and Iced Earth. Ignore at your peril! I look forward to new
material in 2008.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Crashdiet, THE UNATTRACTIVE REVOLUTION (Universal Sweden )

When these Swedes released their debut (REST IN SLEAZE) in 2005, they
immediately became the Great White Hope for the resurrection of Hair
Metal. Sadly, lead singer Dave Lepard committed suicide in early 2006
and the dream seemed to be over until the remaining Dieters recruited
H. Olliver Twisted to take Lepard's place. THE UNATTRACTIVE REVOLUTION
may not be as monumental as REST IN SLEAZE, but it's still a damn fine
listen. Few bands are recreating the vintage Sunset Strip sound with
as much conviction as these guys. Once the new lineup has a chance to
gel, these guys stand a good chance of delivering an all time classic
for Album #3.

Type O Negative, DEAD AGAIN (SPV)

I was once a huge Type O fan but began losing interest in them around
the OCTOBER RUST album, which saw them heading in a direction that was
way too goth for my tastes and not as metal. Imagine my surprise when
a promo of DEAD AGAIN landed in my lap and I heard an album that took
me back to the glory days of SLOW, DEEP AND HARD and BLOODY KISSES,
the two best offerings from the Drab Four.

BEST COMPILATION ALBUM:

Black Sabbath, THE DIO YEARS (Rhino)

It's Black Sabbath with Ronnie. And three new songs to boot! What the
f**k else do you need to know?? I'm still kicking myself for missing
the Heaven & Hell tour when it came through my area this past Summer.
There are rumblings of an all new album from these legends in the
pipeline, however, so hopefully I'll get a second chance.

DISAPPOINTMENTS:

Iced Earth, FRAMING ARMAGEDDON (SOMETHING WICKED PART 1) (SPV)

Surprised to see this one listed under "disappointments?" Not as
surprised as I am. Iced Earth is one of my all time favorite bands, so
I really wanted to love this record. I've listened to it dozens of
times since its release and sadly, the majority of it still leaves me
cold. Maybe it's the patience-testing, epic length running time, maybe
it's the dry production job, maybe it's the fact that it sounds more
like a Blind Guardian record, but FRAMING ARMAGEDDON fell off my play
list faster than any other album this year (besides Manowar -- see
below), and it broke my heart to admit that. I don't blame Tim Owens
at all (he gives the performance of his career on this album and is
its major bright spot), but in a way I'm glad that he's vacated the
vocal position and made way for Matt Barlow's return. I'm now going to
anxously wait for Part Two and hope that the Iced Earth ship can still
be righted.

The Cult, BORN INTO THIS (Roadrunner)

Great, I waited six years for a new Cult CD and all I got was this
sleeping pill. Thanks for nothin', guys. Zzzzzzzzzzz.

W.A.S.P. - DOMINATOR (Demolition)

There was a time in my life when I would've willingly taken a bullet
for Blackie Lawless, but man, his inconsistency has REALLY been trying
my patience for the last decade or so. DOMINATOR is not a terrible
album (at least it's a step up from the god-awful NEON GOD double disc
snoozefest) but with only nine tracks (one of which is a "reprise" of
an earlier song, for cryin' out loud) and a run time of less than 40
minutes, DOMINATOR feels like it was thrown out onto the market before
it was truly finished. Couldn't Blackie have held off on releasing
this one until he could come up with a few more tracks? Maybe if and
when DOMINATOR ever gets a U.S. release, some extra songs will be
added to make it worth the purchase price.

Trouble, SIMPLE MIND CONDITION (Escapi)

Twelve years is a long time to wait for a new album from one of your
favorite bands...maybe too long. SIMPLE MIND CONDITION is not a bad
record by any means, but like the W.A.S.P. album cited above, it's not
a particularly exciting one either. Yes, on the first few spins it was
great to finally hear Eric Wagner's distinctive vocal wail over Bruce
Franklin's one of a kind guitar sound again after all this time, but
after a few plays the truth was revealed... the bulk of SIMPLE MIND
CONDITION simply sounds like a phoned-in effort from a disinterested
band that shouldn't have bothered.

THE GOLDEN TURD AWARD (Awarded to the WORST Album of 2007)

Manowar, GODS OF WAR (Magic Circle Music)

Good grief, what the hell were the Men of Metal Might thinking here?
2002's WARRIORS OF THE WORLD may have been disappointing, but GODS OF
WAR makes it sound like HAIL TO ENGLAND or SIGN OF THE HAMMER by
comparison. On GODS OF WAR, Manowar has finally gone completely around
the bend. The first in a promised "series of concept albums," each
devoted to a different mythical figure, this one should've been titled
GODS OF SNORE. The Manowar boys have apparently been hanging around
with Rhapsody Of Fire a little TOO much, because they've copped the
Italians' entire symphonic/epic/Hollywood style and blown it up to the
point of complete and utter self-parody. The band is so busy trying to
sound HUGE on this album that they forgot to include the METAL. It's
nearly 10 minutes into this CD before you even hear an electric
guitar, for Chrissake. Listening to GODS OF WAR is like sitting in a
theatre blindfolded while a "Lord Of The Rings" movie plays onscreen.
In short, GODS OF WAR is boring, pretentious crap. Ignore, delete,
destroy.

BEST/WORST CONCERT OF 2007:

Not applicable... because I didn't see any concerts in 2007. I don't
get out much anymore. (Crying)

COOLEST SOUVENIR OF 2007:

Rob Halford did an in-store autograph session to promote his new METAL
GOD ESSENTIALS VOL. 1 compilation at Vintage Vinyl Records here in New
Jersey back in November, and though ordinarily I would've been camped
outside waiting for a chance to meet the Metal God, the signing
happened to fall on the same day as my son's fifth birthday, so I
could not attend. However, my brother dropped by that fateful
afternoon, and for Christmas he surprised me with a copy of the disc,
autographed not only by Rob himself (he even addressed it "Hey Keith!"
--- OMG!!) but also by Halford associates "Metal" Mike Chlasciak and
Fight's Jay Jay and Brian Tilse, who were also present that day. I
hereby nominate my brother for sainthood. :)

BEST MUSIC DVD:

Rat Skates, BORN IN THE BASEMENT (Kundrat Productions)

BORN IN THE BASEMENT is a homemade "Behind The Music" style
documentary about the early days of Jersey thrash legends Overkill,
produced and directed by their original drummer Lee "Rat Skates"
Kundrat. Loaded with vintage photos and video and tons of great
stories from Rat and other Overkill associates, BORN IN THE BASEMENT
is a fascinating, occasionally hilarious trip down thrash metal memory
lane and a must see for anyone who was "there" in the '80s or just
wants to learn what it was like. Wow, with this DVD, the IMMORTALIS
album, and the debut from The Cursed, 2007 was an EXCELLENT year to be
an Overkill fan. :)

STUFF I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2008:

Judas Priest's hotly anticipated concept album about the life of
Nostradamus and Gamma Ray's LAND OF THE FREE II top my "MUST HEAR"
list at the moment, and it'll be sweet to see Iron Maiden's classic
LIVE AFTER DEATH home video finally receive a DVD release as well.
Aside from that, I'm wide open and will just be glad to see what else
comes down the pike.

-I guess I've blathered on long enough then. Hope you had as much fun
reading this lengthy treatise as I did writing it, and once again,
best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, and heavy 2008!!

-THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST: Scorpions - VIRGIN KILLER; Icarus Witch - SONGS
FOR THE LOST; Resistance - PATENTS OF CONTROL; Wendy O. Williams -
W.O.W.; Rockarma - BRING IT!

*
*** FLAMES FROM THE LAKE ***
*
by Sean P. Gahgan (lof@...)

-Records of the year. These are the CDs that spent the most time in my
various CD players this year (in no particular order).

DEAD RECKONING - Threshold
http://www.thresh.net/

This is a great release from an incredible band. "Pilot In The Sky Of
Dream" is one of my favorite songs this year. The Production is top
notch. Really disappointed the lead singer Mac decided to leave the
band.

ISOLATE - Circus Maximus
http://www.circusmaximussite.com/

I was very impressed with Circus Maximus' debut CD, THE 1ST CHAPTER,
although I thought some of the songs lacked direction. Well that is
exactly what ISOLATE has. Great direction as the CD flows like a
fluent roller coaster ride from start to finish. The vocals are
beautiful, lush and powerful and the solos are tactfully done and fit
well within the structure of the songs. This CD also produced my
favorite song of the year. Anyone who loves Melodic, Progressive Metal
with beautiful melodies and voices needs to pick this release up
A.S.A.P.!

APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH - Lizzy Borden
http://www.lizzyborden.com/

I have always liked Lizzy Borden. His voice, over the top harmonies,
bombastic anthems, but often overlooked is his creative writing and
intelligent lyrics. There are some great songs on this CD and from
start to finish it's very solid. All the songs deal with the subject
of death in one way or another, but the songs are tactfully written as
to not beat the common topic to death (nice pun). There are some great
contributions from some fabulous guitarists such as the awesome solo
by George Lynch in the song "The Death Of Love." Even better in my
opinion is Dave Meniketti's contribution to "The Darker Side." Dave
has a slow building melodic solo that really fits the song nicely. But
these two great solos do not diminish the fact that Ira Black rips
your head of with some over all great riffing and lead work. Any fan
of Lizzy's past work will love this CD. I know I do!

CITIES - Anberlin
http://www.anberlin.com/

This CD by far got more spins in my CD player than any other this year
(same happen with their 2005 release NEVER TAKE FRIENDSHIP PERSONAL).
Yes, it did help that this disc was released in January of this year,
but I can't think of another band that writes such phenomenal songs
with thought provoking lyrics that hit home. Anberlin's ability to
construct such a diverse selection of songs and still retain their
identity throughout is one of their strongest attributes. Stephen
Christian has a great ability to convey the emotion of the song
through his voice and speak for the listener himself. I won't fool
anyone here, these guys aren't Metal, I would consider them Rock...
very diverse Rock, but their ability to take you to an emotional place
when listening to one of their songs is what keeps the listener coming
back for more. There are about four or five songs on here that could
have made my top 10 song lists for the year, this CD is that good!

GOD'S EQUATION - Pagan's Mind
http://www.pagansmind.com/

These guys define Progressive Power Metal to me. Jorn Viggo Lofstad is
a phenomenal guitar player whose style is diverse and fresh and
continually showing growth. Nils K. Rue has a monster voice and this
is by far the best his voice has sounded on any of their four
releases. The rhythm section of Stian Kristoffersen and Steinar Krokmo
is second to none and keyboardist Ronny Tegner can tickle the ivories
with the best of them. This album is unique in that the songs sound
more to the point, not as long and as progressive as their past
efforts, but then I look at the track listing and half the songs are
still over six minutes long! Just goes to show you how well the songs
flow and how smooth their transitions are... Hell, some of the longer
songs leave you wanting more as the song is fading out! There is also
a killer cover of David Bowie's "Halo Space Boy" included that fits
right in with the rest of the CD.

Songs of the year (ranked)

3) "Pilot In The Sky Of Dream" by Threshold from DEAD RECKONING

A great long song that never seems to drag (even though it's over nine
minutes). When the bass and guitar kick in at about the two minute
mark, that right there is my favorite riff of the year. Mac's vocal
line penetrates the listener with a dreamy hope type of melody... the
kind that will stay with you for the day after one listen.

2) "Inevitable" by Anberlin from CITIES

If you get the special CD/DVD version of CITIES you can see how the
whole band played drums on this song which demonstrates a cool
camaraderie amongst the members. Puts a great feeling to an already
beautifully written song.

1) "From Childhood's Hour" by Circus Maximus from ISOLATE

The lyrics of this song bring me back to my childhood. The melody and
musical build up to the chorus is brilliant. The chorus after the solo
section with the multiple voices/melodies builds to a pick and then
just explodes with the words, "...he loved alone" -- just a phenomenal
moment. Hands down my favorite song I heard this year.

Disappointments for the year

UNITED ABOMINATIONS - Megadeth

I am a big Megadeth fan and after the solid effort that was THE SYSTEM
HAS FAILED, I expected an even better release. I just don't think the
songs are all that strong and compelling on this one.

NEW RELIGION - Primal Fear

Primal Fear is one of my favorite bands. This is a solid release, but
I hold these guys to a different standard and NEW RELIGION fell below
that standard. Half of this album is great and the other half sounds
like filler to me... but my biggest complaint is that the guitar sound
is to thin and lacking the balls out sound that I fell in love with on
their first three albums.

Concerts of the Year for 2007

1) Jon Oliva - Vinyl's, Atlanta, GA, October 3rd, 2007

Jon is one of my all time favorite songwriters. To witness him in this
intimate setting (200 people in a small venue) play various
interpretations of Savatage, Beatles, and other miscellaneous songs
was just breathtaking. There was an avalanche of emotion that came out
of The Mountain King on this particular evening that for me and the
other people in attendance a once in a lifetime performance.

2) ProgPower USA VIII - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA, October 5th & 6th,
2007

ProgPower is an extraordinary event and by far the best festival in
the U.S.A. Highlighted by an hour and half set from Pagan's Mind that
just slayed everyone and an all-star jam that will never be
duplicated. Primal Fear was awesome, Threshold Kicked Ass, Firewind
shredded... there isn't any other festival in the States than can
touch what Glenn Harveston does at ProgPower.

3) Toto - House Of Blues, Chicago, IL, July 17th, 2007

Toto is one of my favorite groups of all time... just an incredible
collection of talent that works like a finely tuned machine. They
changed up the set list from their previous visit six months earlier
and added some gems like "Isolation" and "Gypsy Train." Steve Lukather
is a monster guitar player and killer host on stage. When you
basically have four lead singers on stage you can imagine what the
vocal harmonies sound like.

Best find of the year

Pathosray

Heard these guys for the first time when they were announced in the
teaser trailer shown at the end ProgPower USA VIII at 2:30 a.m. on
Sunday morning. They sounded real good. Upon returning home a fellow
ProgPowerian let me borrow a copy of their debut CD that he had picked
up at the show, and I was immediately hooked. I went and ordered a
copy for myself and it has been in steady rotation ever since. They
are progressive, powerful, and melodic and the voice of Marco Sandron
can sound aggressive and mean or angelic and sweet. I am very
impressed with this band and look forward to seeing them at ProgPower
USA IX.

*
*** REALM OF SHRED ***
*
by Neal Woodall (MysticX9@...)

-Well it's that time again. Seems this task gets harder every year as
I hear so much stuff yet still never get to everything. Is it just me
or am I noticing a real resurgence of '80s style melodic metal as of
late? In any case, some excellent music crossed my desk in '07 and
here's how it all came out for me:

Albums:

Co-Album Of The Year:

Eden's Curse - EDEN'S CURSE

Excellent songwriting + killer guitarwork + great production = kick
ass! Melodic metal/hard rock release of the year...

Symphony X - PARADISE LOST

The masters of progressive metal return with their best since TWILIGHT
IN OLYMPUS. Awesome musicianship mixes perfectly with powerful
production.

Rounding out the Top 10:

Redemption - THE ORIGINS OF RUIN

Their performance at ProgPower USA VIII converted me from admirer to
full-fledged fan. A captivating disc full of dark themes and great
playing.

Astral Doors - NEW REVELATION

Pretty much in line with ASTRALISM, the guys add a little Accept into
their mix of Rainbow/Black Sabbath/Dio inspired traditional metal for
a disc that is easily to listen to repeatedly.

Pagan's Mind - GOD'S EQUATION

ProgPower USA veterans' solid melodic prog metal journey with some
interesting sonic explorations including a cool David Bowie meets
Queensryche moment.

Primal Fear - NEW RELIGION

Another band who slayed at ProgPower USA VIII, this delivers the
crunch and melody exquisitely. Arguably their best.

Scorpions - HUMANITY - HOUR I

Another mixed verdict from fans and critics due to the Scorpions'
refusal to re-release BLACKOUT, I found the songwriting enough reason
to come back to this one over and over.

Rush - SNAKES & ARROWS

Like the Scorpions in that this one disappointed some fans who were
expecting a glorious return to late '70s/early '80s prog bombast, the
guys succeed in delivering an artistic disc with enough guitar
firepower to keep my ears happy.

Lizzy Borden - APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH

Lizzy manages to create metal that is heavy and catchy with some cool
guest appearances.

Iron Savior - MEGATROPOLIS

This explosive power metal masterpiece has me looking forward to
seeing them live later this year!

Evidence One - THE SKY IS THE LIMIT

A heavy Dokken/XYZ vibe makes this one a winner.

In no particular order, 20 more of the year's best:

Dominici - 03 A TRILOGY, PART 2
Jaded Heart - SINISTER MIND
Angel Of Eden - THE END OF NEVER
U.D.O. - MASTERCUTOR
Grave Digger - LIBERTY OR DEATH
Helloween - GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL
Megadeth - UNITED ABOMINATIONS
Saxon - THE INNER SANCTUM
Dream Theater - SYSTEMATIC CHAOS
John Macaluso & Union Radio - THE RADIO WAVES GOODBYE
Saga - 10,000 DAYS
Cage - HELL DESTROYER
Rob Rock - GARDEN OF CHAOS
Vision Divine - THE 25TH HOUR
Threshold - DEAD RECKONING
Great White - BACK TO THE RHYTHM
Labyrinth - 6 DAYS TO NOWHERE
Arch Enemy - RISE OF THE TYRANT
Spheric Universe Experience - ANIMA
Kamelot - GHOST OPERA

Live Album:

Jorn - LIVE IN AMERICA

Instrumental:

Planet X - QUANTUM
MCM - 1900 - HARD TIMES
David Valdes - IMHOTEP
Seree Lee - VARIATION-A
Daryl Steurmer - GO!

Reissue:

Joe Satriani - SURFING WITH THE ALIEN 20th ANNIVERSARY LEGACY EDITION

Non-Metal:

Eagles - LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN

Concerts:

Rush - Hi Fi Buys Amphitheater, Atlanta
ProgPower USA VIII - Centerstage, Atlanta
G3 (Satriani/Vai/Gilbert) - The Tabernacle, Atlanta
The Police - Phillips Arena, Atlanta
Steely Dan - Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
Cheap Trick - Hard Rock, Biloxi

DVD:

Heaven & Hell - LIVE 2007: RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
Y&T - LIVE: ONE HOT NIGHT
Saxon - TO HELL AND BACK AGAIN
Megadeth - THAT ONE NIGHT...LIVE IN BUENOS AIRES
Rush - THE MAKING OF SNAKES & ARROWS

Haven't seen these yet but you know they have to be good:

Led Zeppelin - THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME (re-master)
AC/DC - PLUG ME IN
Thin Lizzy - LIVE AND DANGEROUS

Reunions:

2007 certainly was the year when the stars aligned and some virtually
impossible reunions saw the light of day. Technically I guess you have
to give it to Led Zeppelin but for actually pulling off a full tour
with the original lineup and indicating a strong possibility of new
material my vote goes to Heaven & Hell. Loved all of 'em though...

Heaven & Hell
Led Zeppelin
The Police
Van Halen
Genesis

Disappointments:

Kevin DuBrow's needless demise
The untimely passings of Brad Delp, Kelly Johnson, and Thorstein Aaby
Loss of VonGoober RADIO
TNT - THE NEW TERRITORY
Geoff Thorpe vs. James Rivera
Leatherwolf vs. Geoff Gayer
Michael Anthony left out of Van Halen reunion

Hopes/Predictions for 2008:

Judas Priest - NOSTRADAMUS (finish this thing already!) tour
Dokken - LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN (release this thing already!)
Whitesnake - GOOD TO BE BAD (Aldrich and Beach will slay)
Rush - DVD and another round of touring for SNAKES & ARROWS
Iron Maiden - DVD and POWERSLAVE themed tour
Scorpions - tour (with Priest?)
Benedictum - SEASONS OF TRAGEDY (expecting big things from this)
Yngwie Malmsteen - new album and tour
Michael Schenker - new MSG album and tour with Gary Barden
Vinnie Moore - new album (been waiting for this one awhile)
Heaven & Hell - new album
Marshall Law - RAZORHEAD (see Vinnie Moore comment)
Triumph - full reunion and tour? (time will tell...)

Well, there you have it. Hope everyone has a great 2008!!!

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

-This past year saw me, for the first time since I started attending
concerts as a teen, go a full 365 days without seeing a live show. I
never thought that would happen but what can you do? Real life gets in
the way of fun sometimes. :) I'm joking though. I fully expect that as
my kid gets older we'll start going to concerts together!

Another possibly related odd thing is the "best of" list I contributed
to Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine wasn't printed. No, it
wasn't because I picked some lame stuff, but I do think part of it was
that I didn't list any "best" concerts I'd attended. Oh well, the ego
takes a hit.

So without further ado...

Top 10 Albums Of 2007

1. Helloween - GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL (SPV/Steamhammer)

Didja see what Patrick and Keith wrote about this album? I agree 110%
with everything they said earlier. I don't think I've ever outright
disliked a Helloween album -- even CHAMELEON -- but I had been feeling
the "blah's" for a while there. I couldn't believe nearly a full
decade had passed since my last true 'weenie ass-kicking, namely
1998's BETTER THAN RAW. Here's hoping the guys do get that North
American tour with Gamma Ray organized for this year!

2. Serenity - WORDS UNTOLD & DREAMS UNLIVED (Napalm Records)

I've managed to turn a few friends onto these guys, and that's always
a good feeling. It's almost as good a feeling as popping a completely
unknown (to me, anyway) band's disc into the player and going, "WOW! I
dig this!!" That's what happened here. Prog/power fans, take note. And
yes, it's killing me these guys are scheduled to play at ProgPower USA
this year 'cuz I can't go!!! No fair.

3. Saxon - THE INNER SANCTUM (SPV/Steamhammer)

Biff and the boys are certainly riding a hot streak, as this is the
latest in a long string of excellent albums from Saxon. I brought this
with me on a road trip with a couple buddies last fall and they were
like, "Saxon? Those guys are still around? They were so goofy back in
the '80s!" Yeah, well, maybe some of the band's mid-'80s output wasn't
quite up to snuff but they've been solidly metal for, oh, 20 years or
so now.

4. Lordi - THE AROCKALYPSE (The End Records)

The domestic U.S. release was in '07 so this counts, dammit. Talk
about a purely fun, catchy pop metal album. I've heard people say the
band's gimmick wears off but so far, not for me.

5. U.D.O. - MASTERCUTOR (Candlelight USA)

Udo Dirkschneider, The German Tank, just keeps rolling along. Yes,
comparing and contrasting U.D.O. albums ultimately is kind of stupid
and pointless but you also have to admit this one -- as with the new
Helloween -- is a little more fiery and interesting than the last few.

6. Black Majesty - TOMORROWLAND (LMP/SPV)

Sophisticated Aussie power metal! This band continues to gather
momentum. Where will it lead 'em? I don't know, but we can all hope
for a U.S. tour for starters!

7. Dogpound - III (Lion Music)

I love these guys. I know I repeatedly describe them as pop metal/hard
rock with heavier-than-expected guitar, but I also happen to believe
that's a pretty fair assessment of their sound! It's good, trust me.

8. Lizzy Borden - APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH (Metal Blade Records)

I just got this, so I haven't been able to listen a whole lot yet, and
I'm pretty sure if I'd had this longer it'd be higher up my chart
here. Half the fun is figuring out how Mr. Borden got all the guest
stars to sign on. ("Ah yes, George Lynch... Oh yeah, bassist Marten
Andersson was in George's solo band! Check.") Can't believe it was
really seven years between releases for the band, but welcome back!
Please don't take that long to pound out another one.

9. Helix - THE POWER OF ROCK AND ROLL (Perris Records)

Too short, but what a great party album! You can't listen to this
without smiling. If you can then you are one grim bastard.

10. Spheric Universe Experience - ANIMA (Sensory/Laser's Edge)

Another from the "Surprise, this is cool!" pile. Truth be told I've
cooled a little on this disc but it's still strong enough to merit a
Top 10 spot.

20 Other Worthies: (in alphabetical order)

1. Sebastian Bach - ANGEL DOWN (Get Off My Bach/MRV)
2. Dream Theater - SYSTEMATIC CHAOS (Roadrunner Records)
3. Eden's Curse - s/t (AFM Records)
4. Evil Masquerade - THIRD ACT (Nightmare Records)
5. Freedom Call - DIMENSIONS (SPV/Steamhammer)
6. Great White - BACK TO THE RHYTHM (Shrapnel Records)
7. House Of Shakira - RETOXED (Lion Music)
8. Kamelot - GHOST OPERA (SPV/Steamhammer)
9. Bill Leverty - SOUTHERN EXPOSURE (Leverty Music)
10. Magnum - PRINCESS ALICE AND THE BROKEN ARROW (SPV/Steamhammer)
11. Masterplan - MK II (Candlelight USA)
12. Megadeth - UNITED ABOMINATIONS (Roadrunner Records)
13. Mystic Prophecy - SATANIC CURSES (Locomotive Records)
14. Ozzy Osbourne - BLACK RAIN (Epic)
15. Rebellion - MIKLAGARD (Locomotive Records)
16. Scelerata - DARKNESS AND LIGHT (Nightmare Records)
17. Scorpions - HUMANITY - HOUR I (NewDoor Records)
18. Slough Feg - HARDWORLDER (Cruz Del Sur)
19. Velvet Revolver - LIBERTAD (RCA Records)
20. Violent Storm - STORM WARNING (Gold Storm Records)

Notes On These Lists:

1. Annihilator - METAL
2. Gamma Ray - LAND OF THE FREE II

These both came out in '07 but didn't get their domestic U.S. releases
until this year. Check this space in '09 for more.

3. Gotthard - DOMINO EFFECT
4. Primal Fear - NEW RELIGION
5. Threshold - DEAD RECKONING

I never got to hear any of these. Would they have made my lists?
Dunno.

Disappointments Of 2007: (in alphabetical order)

1. Lillian Axe - WATERS RISING (Metro City Records/Screaming Ferret
Wreckords)

As I said in my review back in issue # 425, let's hope that since
these largely-left-over-from-the-'90s songs have finally been
released, the band will now focus on the future and deliver a follow-
up that truly rules.

2. Manowar - GODS OF WAR (Magic Circle Music)

Just read what Keith already wrote above. Amen, brother.

3. Vixen - LIVE & LEARN (Demolition Records)

Okay, honestly, I really didn't have high expectations for this but
wow was it not good.

-'Tis about it. Here's to flying the flag and throwing the horns in
'08. Oh, and yes, here's hoping the new Priest isn't a colossal flop.
:) (It's got to rule, right???)

*
*** OUT ***
*