REVIEW: TITAN FORCE, Winner - Loser

 

TITAN FORCE, Winner - Loser (1991)

Shark Records

Πράξη, δεύτερη.

Ο κος Harry Conclin γνωστός σαν Tyrant, ήταν πριν στα πρώτα βήματα του στους  Satan's Host και στην ένδοξη αρχή των Jag Panzer σαν η φωνή τους. Η φάση δεν πήγε καλά κι αντικαταστάθηκε για το Chain Of Command άλμπουμ, το οποίο....δεν κυκλοφορεί επίσημα ποτέ  με το συγκρότημα και την εταιρεία τους τότε, να το πρεσάρει σε CD μετά το 2000! Ο Harry δεν έμεινε εκεί όμως και συμμετέχει και στους Titan Force με πρώτο σταθμό την ομώνυμη  δισκαρα του 1989. Το επόμενο βήμα είναι αυτό. Αμερικανικό Power / Heavy Metal με στιγμές σαν τα Dreamscape, Shadow Of A Promise, Winner? Loser?, Face To  Face, Small Price To Pay, One And All κ.α. Βεβαίως λίγα χρόνια μετά η επανένωση του στους Jag Panzer τελείωσε αυτή τη προσπάθεια κι ίσως να την επισκίασε, αλλά αυτό είναι μια άλλη ιστορία.

English:

Act Two.

Mr. Harry Conklin, known as the Tyrant, was previously taking his first steps with Satan's Host and at the glorious inception of Jag Panzer as their lead vocalist. Unfortunately, things didn't go well, and he was replaced for the "Chain of Command" album, which... has never been officially released, with the band and their label at the time pressing it on CD after 2000! However, Harry didn't stop there and also participated in Titan Force, starting with their self-titled album in 1989. The next step is this: American Power/Heavy Metal with tracks like "Dreamscape," "Shadow Of A Promise," "Winner? Loser?," "Face To Face," "Small Price To Pay," "One And All," and more. Of course, a few years later, his reunion with Jag Panzer put an end to this endeavor and perhaps overshadowed it, but that is another story.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

JUDAS PRIEST – A Defenders Of The Faith Story

 

JUDAS PRIEST – Defenders Of The Faith

CBS Records

It was 1984, a year that Orwell feared. But in the ruins of a fractured world, thunder cracked as the Priests of Judas rose, wreathed in fire and steel. From the highest towers to the darkest alleys, they screamed their Freewheel Burning into the void.

They spoke with urgency, voices cutting through silence like blades: “No time to hesitate”, they warned, because “Our road is free.” Those brave or foolish enough to stand in their way met a venomous fate. The Priests were “Deadly as the viper, peering from its coil.”

They didn't sleep. They didn’t stop. Their creed was simple and relentless: “Rock Hard Ride Free All day, all night.” If you wanted to follow, you had to burn like they did—“Tough as steel” and ready to “Stop at nothin’.”

Then came the night the skies cracked open.«A storm begins to grow», slow and trembling at first, then rising fast. In the dead of night”, the heavens wept and «a cathedral bell begins Sending out its toll», echoing doom over a city that had long forgotten hope.

In those fleeting moments of comfort, “When you feel safe When you feel warm”, it crept in—“Into your room”—a shadow of desire and danger. That’s when “Love bites.” And for those caught in its fangs, there was no turning back.

“As the ecstasy begins”, cries rose from lovers and fighters alike: “Eat me alive.” But beneath the passion, fear stirred, because all knew the truth: “You will live in danger tonight”, and that “Some heads are gonna roll.”

Still, even in that chaos, hearts clung to longing, whispering into the dark: you will “…wait forever For a love that’s only good.”

This wasn’t just rebellion. It was calling. It was purpose. It was a war cry: “Heavy duty” burned into their souls. And as the last light rose, the people gathered, fists raised, voices united: “As we hit the promised land”, they roared, “Let’s all join forces”

…for they were the chosen.

They were the “Defenders of the Faith.”

Nick Parastatidis

REVIEW: BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Club Ninja

 

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Club Ninja (1985)

Columbia Records

Ό,τί καλύτερο έβγαλαν για τα 80s.

Μετά την ανανεωτική νότα του Revolution By Night, που όσο καλό κι αν ήταν, δεν εκτιμήθηκε όσο έπρεπε τότε, οι Νεοϋορκέζοι Heavy Rockers, γράφουν αυτό κι ακροβατούν μεταξύ AOR αισθητικής και μελωδικής Rock. Όσοι βλέπε σήμερα τον όρο Adult Oriented Rock με αποτροπιασμό, μάλλον ξεχνάτε τον πάταγο κάποιων που το έβαλαν σχεδόν άμεσα στη μουσική τους σαν τους Boston, Kansas, Rainbow εποχής  Turner κι ειδικά κάποιων Journey στη δεκαετία του 80. Οι B.Ö.C. των μέσων της δεκαετίας λοιπόν παίζουν τόσο βαριά όσο και μελωδικά, ναι, έχοντας σαν διακαή πόθο το ραδιόφωνο, γιατί όχι;  Αυτό το δισκάκι δεν είχα για πολλά χρόνια γιατί δεν είχε γίνει επανέκδοση σε CD μέχρι ένα μοιραίο φθινόπωρο που κατέβηκα Ομόνοια με σκοπό να γυρίσω για τη μεσημεριανή μου βάρδια στη Πλ. Βικτωρίας μετά. Ήμουν στο παλιό Metropolis που τότε έκλεινε. Εκεί το είδα και δευτερόλεπτα μετά ήμουν στο ταμείο. Έρχονταν λίγο αργότερα στο Gagarin για εμφάνιση και τους είχα ξαναθυμηθεί μετά βαϊων και κλάδων. Ήξερα απ' τη διπλή συλλογή Workshop of the Telescopes που είχε ο συμμαθητής μου ο Παναγιώτης Γ. πρώτα τα Perfect Water και Dancin' in the Ruins φυσικά αλλά με τα τα White Flags, Make Rock not War, Spy in the House of the Night, Shadow Warrior και Madness to the Method επιβεβαίωσα την υποψία ότι ήταν μεγάλος δίσκος! Πραγματικά το καλύτερο μαζί ίσως με το Fire of Unknown Origin, αλλά για άλλους βέβαια λόγους.

English:

What better could they have produced for the '80s?

After the refreshing sound of "Revolution By Night," which, despite being good, wasn’t appreciated enough at the time, the New York heavy rockers crafted this album, balancing between AOR aesthetics and melodic rock. Those who today view the term Adult Oriented Rock with disdain might forget the impact of bands like Boston, Kansas, Rainbow during the Turner era, and particularly some Journey tracks in the '80s, as they incorporated this sound almost immediately into their music. The mid-'80s B.O.C. combined heavy riffs with melodic elements, clearly aiming for radio success—why not?

I hadn’t owned this album for many years because it hadn’t been reissued on CD until one fateful autumn when I went to Omonia Square with the intention of heading to my afternoon shift at Victoria Square afterward. I was at the old Metropolis, which was closing at the time, when I spotted the album and, moments later, found myself at the register. They were shortly after performing at Gagarin, and I had remembered them with great anticipation. I was already familiar with them from the double compilation "Workshop of the Telescopes," thanks to my classmate Panagiotis G.; I initially knew tracks like "Perfect Water" and "Dancin' in the Ruins," but with songs like "White Flags," "Make Rock Not War," "Spy in the House of the Night," "Shadow Warrior," and "Madness to the Method," I confirmed my suspicion that this was a fantastic album! It truly is possibly the best along with "Fire of Unknown Origin," though for different reasons.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: DUNGEON – Resurrection

 

DUNGEON – Resurrection

Limb Music

This particular work made a significant impact among heavy/power metal fans when it was released. To be honest, back in 2005, I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. However, if something is truly good, you will eventually notice it. At least that's what happened to me with this current release.

I don’t want to bore you with technical and pointless analyses. After all, I am a fan of metal music, not a theoretical expert. So when I evaluate something, I do it based on my aesthetic preference and the feelings it evokes in me. Listening to this album, the first thing that comes to mind is that it should serve as a lesson on how to create meaningful and thrilling heavy/power metal.

Everything here is balanced—from the melodies to the dynamic riffs and the absolutely precise rhythmic sections. Lord Tim’s performance is both melodic and powerful. Of course, the high technical skill of the band members shines through as they avoid pointless excesses and place their abilities in the service of the composition.

This is an album that carries the influences of IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST and translates them into the band’s personal style. There are also some euro power metal passages that harken back to early HELLOWEEN, as well as epic elements. A track like “The Legend of Huma” isn’t written every day and requires a great deal of imagination and musical ability to blend your IRON MAIDEN influences with those of MANOWAR. While all the compositions on the album are of high quality, I do have my favorites. Besides the aforementioned track, I really enjoy “Resurrection,” “Judgement Day,” “Wake Up,” “I Am Death,” among others.

It’s a great opportunity for you to discover them or, if you already have, to give this release another listen. This is where my text concludes.

Nick Parastatidis

REVIEW: GHOST, Infestissumam

 

GHOST, Infestissumam (2013)

Loma Vista Recordings

Έχουν κι αυτοί διανύσει δρόμους.

Ποτέ δε συμφώνησα ότι ανήκουν στο Doom Metal/Stoner παρακλάδι. Δηλαδή τί κοινά έχουν με τους Pentagram, Saint Vitus ή Solitude Aeternus για να ανοίκουν στο ίδιο ράφι μουσικά; Πάντως οι πέντε Σουηδοί Unknown Ghouls με αρχηγό τον Papa Emeritus II (έτσι ονομάζεται ο σκοτεινός πάπας εδώ, δηλαδή ο κύριος Tobias Forge όπως μάθαμε χρόνια μετά) στο μικρόφωνο, πιο πολύ φέρνουν στους Misfits σαν αισθητική αλλά μουσικά έχουν "δανειστεί" από τους πάντες! Ίχνη από Black Sabbath, ενδείξεις από Blue Oyster Cult,  δισολιές από Iron Maiden, αποκρυφισμός και σκοτάδι από King Diamond, ρετρό πληκτρα που θυμίζουν Doors, όπως είπαμε  λίγο από μεικαπ και τρόμο των Misfits και πάει λέγοντας... Σε αυτό το δεύτερο άλμπουμ τους που διαδέχθηκε το επίσης καλό Opus Eponymous , συνεχίζουν την τρελή πορεία τους ακόμα τότε υπό το πέπλο της σκοτεινής ανωνυμίας των μελών του συγκροτήματος, που σύντομα θα τους οδηγήσει στο "σταριλίκι" που πλέον έχουν (χάνοντας σιγά σιγά η μαγεία τους όμως). Έχει τις χάρες του ο δίσκος αυτός, είναι απ'τους πιο καλούς που μπορεί να ακούσεις απ' αυτούς. Το B.C. κάτω απ'το λογότυπο τους εδώ όπως και πριν και μετά μπήκε μετά από παρέμβαση κάποιων άλλων Ghost που αν δε κάνω λάθος ανήκουν στη hip-hop σκηνή. Λύθηκε το θέμα πάντως του ονόματος κι οι φίλοι μας το κέρδισαν λίγα χρόνια μετά. Ας εντρυφήσουμε στα Secular Haze, Jigolo Har Megiddo, Ghouleh/Zombie Queen, Body and Blood, το κλασικό Year Zero και βεβαίως το πιο γνωστό  Monstrance Clock, για τα δύο τελευταία έχουν γυριστεί και βίντεο κλιπ.

English Text:

They have also traveled their own paths.

I never agreed that they belong to the Doom Metal/Stoner subgenre. I mean, what do they have in common with Pentagram, Saint Vitus, or Solitude Aeternus to be shelved alongside them musically? However, the five Swedish Unknown Ghouls, led by Papa Emeritus II (that's the name of the dark pope here—Mr. Tobias Forge, as we learned years later) on vocals, bear more resemblance to the Misfits in aesthetic, but musically, they've "borrowed" from everyone! You can hear traces of Black Sabbath, hints of Blue Oyster Cult, dual guitar harmonies from Iron Maiden, occult themes and darkness from King Diamond, retro keyboard sounds reminiscent of The Doors, and as we mentioned, a touch of the makeup and horror of the Misfits—you name it. In this second album, which followed the equally good Opus Eponymous, they continue their wild journey under the shroud of the members' dark anonymity, which would soon lead them to the "stardom" they now possess (though they're slowly losing their magic). This album certainly has its charms; it’s one of the best you can listen to from them. The B.C. under their logo here, just like before and after, came about after the intervention of some other Ghosts, who, if I'm not mistaken, belong to the hip-hop scene. Nonetheless, the naming issue was resolved, and our friends won it a few years later. Let's delve into tracks like "Secular Haze," "Jigolo Har Megiddo," "Ghouleh/Zombie Queen," "Body and Blood," the classic "Year Zero," and of course the most famous "Monstrance Clock," for which music videos have been made for the last two.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: SAXON, Crusader

 

SAXON, Crusader (1984)

Carrere

Αδικημένο, αλλά με αιτία;

Δίσκος που τον επιλέγεις μόνο και μόνο και για τον επικών διαστάσεων πίνακα που κοσμεί το εξώφυλλο του, αλλά και μόνο το κομμάτι - ύμνος με το  όνομα Crusader που ανοίγει το CD να είχε, θα έφτανε. Ρεαλιστικά, μετά από πέντε κλασικά στούντιο κι ένα ζωντανό άλμπουμ οι πέντε "εκ Midlands ορμώμενοι" Byford, Dawson, Quinn, Oliver και ο αντικαταστάτης του Pete Gill o κύριος Glockler στα τύμπανα, δίχασαν το λαό τους! Είναι το πρώτο άλμπουμ της 2ης περιόδου της καριέρας τους καθώς απ' εδώ και μέχρι το Destiny του 1988, η εμπορική πλευρά της μουσικής τους θα πάρει σιγά-σιγά σάρκα κι οστά. Το κατά  τα άλλα ωραίο και μελωδικό Sailing To America, σε αυτό το άλμπουμ μάλλον περιγράφει, μεταφορικά βέβαια, τι έψαχναν να κάνουν. Δεν είναι ευτυχώς το σάρκα και ψυχή ξεπούλημα άλλων της εποχής εκείνης (π.χ. Def Leppard) που κατάντησαν μουσικές πόρνες για να πουλήσουν στην αντίπερα όχθη του Ατλαντικού. Μαζί υπάρχουν εδώ τα κλασικά Just Let Me Rock, Set Me Free, A Little Bit Of What You Fancy και το  "μπαλαντοειδές" Do It All For You. Όλα αυτά είναι ένα ανάμεικτο υλικό μουσικά. Οι πιο σκληροπυρηνικοί το έθαψαν, εμείς οι πιο της δεύτερης ευκαιρίας θα του δίναμε και τρίτη άμα λάχει!

English:

Unjustly Treated, Yet for Good Reason?

This is an album that you’d choose solely for the epic artwork that adorns its cover, but even if it only featured the anthem "Crusader" as its opening track, that would be enough. Realistically, after five classic studio albums and one live album, the five musicians from the Midlands—Byford, Dawson, Quinn, Oliver, and the new drummer Pete Gill, aka Mr. Glockler—had divided their fanbase! This marks the first album of the second phase of their career, as from here until "Destiny" in 1988, the commercial side of their music would gradually take shape. The otherwise lovely and melodic track "Sailing to America" on this album metaphorically depicts what they were attempting to achieve. Thankfully, it isn’t the blatant sellout like other bands of that era (e.g., Def Leppard), who became music 'prostitutes' to sell across the Atlantic. Here, we also have the classics "Just Let Me Rock," "Set Me Free," "A Little Bit Of What You Fancy," and the "ballad-like" "Do It All For You." All of these tracks create a mixed musical experience. The hardliners buried it, but we, the more forgiving fans, would gladly give it a third chance if given the opportunity!

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

PENTESILEA ROAD presents the single “The Geometry of Nothing.”

 

Italian heavy prog band "Pentesilea Road" unveil their new single titled “The Geometry of Nothing.” The track will be featured on their upcoming second full-length album, set to be released in 2025.