REVIEW: IMPELLITTERI, Eye Of The Hurricane / Victim Of The System E.P.

 

IMPELLITTERI, Eye Of The Hurricane / Victim Of The System E.P. (1997 / 1993)

Dream Catcher

Τον ξέρει τελικά κανένας άλλος;

Μιλάμε για τον Chris Impellitteri, έναν κιθαρίστα με χαρακτηριστικά αλάνθαστο τρόπο παιξίματος και σύνθεσης, ο οποίος, μαζί με τους συνεργάτες του, τον Rob Rock στα φωνητικά και τον Ken Mary στα ντραμς, έχει γράψει μερικά από τα πιο «άγνωστα» στο ευρύ κοινό άλμπουμ του Heavy Metal. Αν σκεφτούμε ότι στο ντεμπούτο άλμπουμ Stand in Line τα φωνητικά είχε αναλάβει ο Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, M.S.G., Alcatrazz), καταλαβαίνουμε την αξία του ως μουσικής οντότητας.

Εδώ, στο διπλό CD που περιλαμβάνει το άλμπουμ του 1997, αλλά και το μίνι άλμπουμ του 1993, το οποίο προστέθηκε στην επανέκδοση, ακούμε κλασικό U.S. Heavy Metal με όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά του ιδιώματος και, πάνω απ’ όλα, τα πληθωρικά κιθαριστικά σόλο του Chris, που ντύνουν τις συνθέσεις. Το υπόλοιπο σχήμα συμπληρώνουν ο μπασίστας James Amelio Pulli και ο πληκτράς Edward Harris Roth.

Οι νεοκλασικού τύπου συνθέσεις, που συνυπάρχουν με τις σκληρές Rock μελωδίες του δίσκου, φέρνουν στο μυαλό τον έτερο βιρτουόζο Yngwie J. Malmsteen, αλλά ευτυχώς η σύγκριση παραμένει αρκετά αμυδρή και περιορίζεται κυρίως στην τεχνική προσέγγιση της κιθάρας.

Κομμάτια όπως το ομώνυμο του δίσκου, που ανοίγει το σύνολο, τα «Shed Your Blood», «Bleed in Silence», «Master of Disguise», «Everything Is You», «Kingdom Fighter» και «Paradise» από το άλμπουμ, καθώς και τα «Warrior», «Fly Away» και το ομώνυμο κομμάτι από το Victim of the System, αποτελούν πραγματικά έναν χαμένο θησαυρό τραγουδιών μέσα στην πληθώρα των κυκλοφοριών από γνωστά και ακόμη γνωστότερα συγκροτήματα.

English:

Does Anyone Else Know This Guy?

We are talking about Chris Impellitteri, a guitarist whose playing and songwriting are remarkably precise and distinctive. Together with his collaborators, Rob Rock on vocals and Ken Mary on drums, he has delivered some of the most underrated Heavy Metal albums, at least as far as the wider audience is concerned. Considering that Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, M.S.G., Alcatrazz) handled the vocals on Impellitteri’s debut album, Stand in Line, we can appreciate the stature of this musician.

This double-CD release features the 1997 album alongside the 1993 mini-album, which was added to the reissue. What we get is classic U.S. Heavy Metal, complete with all the genre’s characteristic elements and, above all, Chris’s abundant guitar solos, which provide the compositions with their distinctive character. The lineup is rounded out by bassist James Amelio Pulli and keyboardist Edward Harris Roth.

The album’s neoclassical compositions, interwoven with its hard rock melodies, bring the other guitar virtuoso, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, to mind. Fortunately, however, the comparison remains rather limited, applying mainly to their technical approach to guitar playing.

Tracks such as the album’s opening title track, “Shed Your Blood,” “Bleed in Silence,” “Master of Disguise,” “Everything Is You,” “Kingdom Fighter,” and “Paradise” from the main album, along with “Warrior,” “Fly Away,” and the title track from Victim of the System, are genuine hidden treasures. They deserve far more recognition than they have received, having been overlooked amid the sheer volume of releases by better-known and more widely celebrated bands.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: WARRANT – Rockaholic (2011)

 

WARRANT – Rockaholic (2011)

Frontiers Records

2011 has been a particularly strong year for hard rock so far, with excellent releases from WHITESNAKE, KING KOBRA and BLACK ‘N’ BLUE, to name just a few. Fortunately, WARRANT have also managed to deliver an album that stands proudly alongside these releases. Rockaholic is a welcome return to form, combining the band's familiar hard rock sound with a fresh injection of energy. I believe that the addition of Robert Mason (vocals, LYNCH MOB) has given WARRANT exactly the push they needed to produce such a strong record. His performance is simply breathtaking, bringing power, confidence and character to the songs, while the rest of the band proves equally capable of delivering the goods.

I knew WARRANT were back on track as soon as I read the title of the opening track, “Sex Ain’t Love”. This is the kind of straightforward, no-nonsense hard rock that fans have been waiting for. Rather than go through the album track by track, I will simply say that Rockaholic maintains its momentum from start to finish, offering plenty of memorable melodies, energetic performances and the kind of hard-rocking attitude that made the band stand out in the first place. The songwriting is focused, the performances are convincing, and the overall result feels remarkably consistent. There is no need for unnecessary experimentation when the band knows exactly how to deliver a solid collection of hard rock songs.

In my opinion, Rockaholic is WARRANT's best album since 1992's Dog Eat Dog. The material has the necessary punch, but it also retains the melodic sensibility that has always been an important part of the band's identity. Just listen to “Show Must Go On”. Will you find a better hard-rocking tune in 2011? I seriously doubt it! It is precisely this combination of infectious hooks, driving guitars and an irresistible chorus that makes the album such an enjoyable listen.

Rockaholic is an excellent comeback from a band that still has plenty to offer. With Robert Mason delivering an outstanding vocal performance and the songwriting maintaining a consistently high standard, WARRANT have produced one of the year's most satisfying hard rock releases. Fans of classic American hard rock should not hesitate to pick this one up as soon as possible.

Kostas  Rigas

REVIEW: DIABOLOS DUST - The Reaper Returns

 

DIABOLOS DUST - The Reaper Returns (2018)

Massacre Records

The Reaper Returns is the third full-length release from Diabolos Dust. It came out in 2018 on the German label Massacre Records, and the band is currently on hold, which makes it something of a late-career statement. I bought it mainly because the price was very low, and I went in with modest expectations.

My only previous contact with the band was their debut, Ruins of Mankind. It was released independently in 2010 and picked up by Massacre Records the following year. That album left little impression on me, as it was a rather typical heavy metal record with some thrash elements. With that in mind, I approached the new album cautiously, and I was glad to be proven wrong.

The core formula remains the same: traditional heavy metal with thrash influences. Stylistically, the band sits somewhere between Iced Earth and Germany’s Headhunter. What differs this time is the added variety. Some songs bring in blackish growls, and a few include melodic black and melodic death metal passages. These touches add colour and contrast without changing the band’s identity. Heavy metal with a thrash edge is still what drives the album.

Diabolos Dust are not doing anything new or innovative here, and they don’t pretend to be. In my experience, originality matters less than whether the music lands with the listener. On this album, it does. Songs like “Roll Your Dice,” “Sanity,” “Fall of the Gods,” and “Hold On the Flame” show a band that has found its voice and writes with conviction.

Verdict: Not a genre-redefining record, but a confident, well-executed and enjoyable one. It is a clear step up from the debut and an easy recommendation for fans of traditional heavy metal with a thrash bite. That the band is now inactive makes this a worthwhile album to revisit.

Nick Parastatidis

REVIEW: IMMACULATE - Atheist Crusade

 

IMMACULATE - Atheist Crusade (2010)

Stormspell Records

With Atheist Crusade, Swedish metallers IMMACULATE deliver their second full-length album, following their 2007 debut, Thrash, Kill 'n' Destroy. The band had also released a demo in 2004, entitled T.K.N.D. Pre-Production Demo. Both the demo and their debut album are available for free download in their entirety on the band's official website, offering listeners the opportunity to discover the band's earlier material.

IMMACULATE play technical speed/thrash metal, combining fast, intricate guitar work with high-pitched vocals and an unmistakable affinity for the classic American school of the genre. And the results are really good! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album, but tracks like "Cross of Nero", "The Immaculate Dead", "Gutterthrash" and the title track really blew me away. There is enough speed, aggression and technical proficiency here to satisfy even the most demanding fans of this particular sound, without losing sight of the songwriting itself.

The album also includes a very good cover of "Spectre Within", originally featured on FATES WARNING's second album, The Spectre Within. It is a welcome addition to an already strong release, further reflecting the band's appreciation for the more technical and progressive side of traditional American metal.

It has been a really long time since I last listened to something this good in the speed/thrash metal subgenre! IMMACULATE seem to have spent considerable time listening to bands such as TOXIK, REALM, INTRUDER (particularly their third album), ATROPHY and HEATHEN, among others. These influences are evident in the intricate guitar arrangements, the energetic rhythm section and the vocal approach, yet the band manages to deliver a convincing performance of its own. The production is loud and powerful, the guitar work is genuinely impressive, and the vocals are excellent, complementing the music's high-speed attack.

For me, Atheist Crusade is easily one of the top releases I have listened to over the past year! Fans of US power/speed metal and technically inclined thrash will definitely appreciate what these Swedes have to offer. It is also satisfying to see that the revival of the classic metal sound continues in Sweden, with bands like IMMACULATE keeping this particular musical tradition alive.

In conclusion, Atheist Crusade is a must-have album for anyone who appreciates this style of metal. Stormspell Records has once again made an excellent choice, and I will be eagerly awaiting IMMACULATE's next step!

Ioannis Kaskamanidis

REVIEW: IMPELLITERI, Stand In Line / Impelliteri E.P.

IMPELLITERI, Stand In Line / Impelliteri E.P.  (1988/1987)    

   Century Media Records

Ο Αμερικανός Yngwie

Καλά, ο παραπάνω χαρακτηρισμός έχει να κάνει με τις νεοκλασικές νότες του Chris Impellitteri, όπως και όπου αυτές εμφανίζονται στο ντεμπούτο EP και στο πρώτο ολοκληρωμένο άλμπουμ του, με την αντίστροφη σειρά στον τίτλο του CD. Η φωνή στο άλμπουμ δεν είναι άλλη από εκείνη του Graham Bonnet, πρώην τραγουδιστή των Rainbow, M.S.G., Alcatrazz και πολλών ακόμη συγκροτημάτων. Στο EP, πίσω από το μικρόφωνο βρίσκεται ο κύριος Rob Rock, μελλοντικός συνεργάτης και πάλι του Chris.

Το πακέτο των δύο πρώτων κυκλοφοριών περιλαμβάνει στο τέλος τα τέσσερα κομμάτια του ομώνυμου μίνι άλμπουμ του ’87: Lost in the Rain, Play with Fire, Burning και I’ll Be Searching. Τα πρώτα εννέα κομμάτια προέρχονται από το άλμπουμ του ’88. Εκεί έχουμε τον Bonnet σε ένα πραγματικό ρεσιτάλ ερμηνείας, πάνω από τα πολύπλοκα σόλο και leads του Chris. Ανάμεσά τους βρίσκουμε το Stand in Line, τη διασκευή του Since You Been Gone από τις ημέρες των Rainbow, με τον Graham να επανεκτελεί το τραγούδι, το Secret Lover και το ορχηστρικό Somewhere Over the Rainbow (δεν γλιτώνουμε από τα ουράνια τόξα! Α ρε Blackmore, τι ζημιές έχεις κάνει!).

Στη συνέχεια, έχουμε το White and Perfect (έναν τίτλο που σήμερα θα προκαλούσε αμέσως χαρακτηρισμούς, αλλά τότε ήταν πιο καθαρές οι εποχές στην τέχνη), το Leviathan και το Goodnight and Goodbye, καθώς και μια διαφορετική εκτέλεση του Playing with Fire, με ελαφρώς διαφορετικό τίτλο από εκείνον που συναντάμε στο EP.

Μια προφανώς κατεξοχήν κιθαριστική κυκλοφορία, που κινείται στυλιστικά από το νεοκλασικό rock έως τα όρια του heavy metal, με τη ζυγαριά να ταλαντεύεται κάπου ανάμεσα στους Rainbow και τους Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force, χωρίς να γέρνει οριστικά προς καμία από τις δύο πλευρές.

English:

The American Yngwie

Well, the above description refers to the neoclassical touches in Chris Impellitteri’s playing, wherever they appear on his debut EP and first full-length album, presented in reverse order on this CD. The album features none other than Graham Bonnet, former vocalist of Rainbow, M.S.G., Alcatrazz and many other bands. On the EP, the man behind the microphone is Rob Rock, who would later collaborate with Chris again.

This collection of the first two releases closes with the four tracks from the self-titled 1987 mini-album: “Lost in the Rain,” “Play with Fire,” “Burning” and “I’ll Be Searching.” The first nine tracks come from the 1988 album, where Bonnet delivers a genuine vocal performance over Chris’s intricate solos and leads. Among them are “Stand in Line,” a cover of “Since You Been Gone” from Graham’s Rainbow days, “Secret Lover” and the instrumental “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (we just can’t escape rainbows! Damn you, Blackmore, look what you’ve done!).

The album also includes “White and Perfect” (a title that would immediately invite certain labels today, although artistic expression was viewed through a less restrictive lens back then), “Leviathan” and “Goodnight and Goodbye,” as well as a different version of “Playing with Fire,” bearing a slightly different title from the one found on the EP.

This is clearly a guitar-driven release, stylistically ranging from neoclassical rock to the very edges of heavy metal. The balance shifts somewhere between Rainbow and Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force, without ultimately settling firmly on either side.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: IMPELLITERI, Venom

 

IMPELLITERI, Venom (2015)

Rock Of Angels Records

Από τα καταχθόνια κατάστιχα των βιρτουόζων

Ο Chris Impellitteri βρίσκεται σε κιθαριστικό οργασμό, παραδίδοντας ένα ακόμη άλμπουμ στα όρια του υπερβολικού, αλλά δοσμένο με ιδιαίτερα όμορφο τρόπο. Σίγουρα, υπάρχουν άπειρα riffs, στην πλειονότητά τους ταχύτατα, με τα χαρακτηριστικά solo του Chris να κυριαρχούν σε κάθε σχεδόν κομμάτι. Αν και κρύβουν μια πολυμορφία, είναι πιο «στο καρφί» από εκείνα άλλων, ίσως πιο γνωστών εραστών της εξάχορδης κυρίας (Malmsteen, για παράδειγμα). Παράλληλα, τα χαρακτηριστικά ρεφρέν συμπληρώνουν το μουσικό τοπίο, με ελάχιστα έως καθόλου νεωτεριστικά στοιχεία σε συνθετικό επίπεδο. Έτσι, κινούμαστε σε κλασικές U.S. Power Metal φόρμες, από έναν άνθρωπο που ειδικεύεται στα ευχάριστα καψόνια.

Η παρουσία του Rob Rock στο μικρόφωνο ανεβάζει αναμφίβολα το επίπεδο των κομματιών, χάρη στην πολύ καλή αλλά και ιδιαίτερη φωνή του. Στιγμές όπως τα Venom, Empire Of Lies, We Own The Night, Nightmare, Jehovah, Time Machine και Domino Theory ξεχωρίζουν μέσα στο άλμπουμ.

Ακόμη και σήμερα, έντεκα χρόνια μετά, εξακολουθώ να πιστεύω ότι πρόκειται για ένα αρκετά καλό album.

English:

From the Infernal Archives of Virtuosos

Chris Impellitteri is in a state of guitar-playing ecstasy, delivering yet another album that borders on excess, yet is executed in a truly beautiful way. There are certainly riffs galore, most of them blisteringly fast, with Chris’s trademark solos dominating almost every track. Although varied in their approach, his solos are more straight-to-the-point than those of other, perhaps better-known lovers of the six-string lady (Malmsteen, for instance). The trademark choruses round out the musical picture, with little to no innovation on the compositional front. In other words, we are dealing with classic U.S. Power Metal formulas, delivered by a man who specializes in pleasantly punishing his listeners.

Rob Rock’s presence behind the microphone undoubtedly elevates the material, thanks to his excellent yet distinctive voice. Tracks such as “Venom,” “Empire Of Lies,” “We Own The Night,” “Nightmare,” “Jehovah,” “Time Machine” and “Domino Theory” stand out among the album’s highlights.

Even today, eleven years later, I still believe this is a pretty good album.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: CYPERUS - Blow It Out Your Ass

 

CYPERUS - Blow It Out Your Ass (2011)

Arkeyn Steel Records

Arkeyn Steel Records continues to dig into the underground metal archives with this re-release of CYPERUS, an American metal band from Olympia, Washington. The CD brings together the band's 1986 demo and their previously unreleased 1998 LP tape, offering a welcome opportunity to discover more of their material. CYPERUS also released the album Sanity Management in 1992. That record took a rather different musical direction and did not particularly impress me, so let's focus on the material featured here.

I first listened to the 1986 demo four or five years ago, and I remember being genuinely impressed by it. Now, remastered and accompanied by the 1998 recordings, it sounds just as good as I remembered. The LP material follows a similar musical direction, making this collection a coherent release rather than a simple gathering of unrelated recordings. Kostas Scandalis has done an excellent job with the remastering, bringing this material back to life while preserving the character of the original recordings.

Musically, CYPERUS deliver U.S. power metal with high-pitched, distinctive vocals and the kind of approach that will appeal to fans of the more traditional American underground metal scene. The songs have plenty of character, and the combination of powerful metal riffs, melodic passages and the band's unmistakable vocal style makes the material particularly enjoyable. There is a certain charm to these recordings that should appeal to listeners who appreciate discovering overlooked bands and releases from the past.

All the songs are worth listening to, but "Judgement Day", "Black as Night", "Local 517", "Blizzard Crusade" and "Ode to Omen" are probably the highlights. They capture the band's strengths and give a good idea of what makes this collection so appealing.

In conclusion, Blow It Out Your Ass is a really good release that brings together two worthwhile chapters of CYPERUS' history in a carefully remastered package. Fans of U.S. power metal and collectors of obscure underground metal releases should definitely check it out. Personally, I consider it a must-buy!

Ioannis Kaskamanidis