Neal Morse - Testimony 2
I don't hear much buzz about fantastic bassist Randy George from my bass player friends but perhaps this album will help change that. Drummer Mike Portnoy returns to the drum chair and is as skilled as ever. You drummer types can see a photo I took of Portnoy here. This is another winner in Morse's increasingly impressive post-SB catalog.
More Cd reviews below...
The Rods - Vengeance
The Rods are an important band in heavy metal's transition from the 70's to the 80's. Vocalist/guitarist David Feinstein was a member of Elf along with his cousin Ronnie James Dio. When Ritchie Blackmore swooped in to steal the rest of his band to form Rainbow,Feinstein created The Rods. With bassist Garry Bordonaro and drummer Carl Canedy,they released metal classics like Wild Dogs and In the Raw. This metal was harder and heavier than metal had been before and along with bands like Motorhead and Exciter,they pointed the way to the thrash metal a couple of years away. Canedy was also an important producer and had his hands at the boards for groundbreaking albums like Possessed's Beyond the Gates and Anthrax's Spreading the disease. This reunion makes a serious attempt to grab some of the glory that unjustly eluded them during their first go round. Ronnie James Dio makes one of his last appearances on the song "The Code". With the current rise in popularity of classic metal,this album should turn some heads. A long overdue return of some true metal pioneers.
Phideaux - Snowtorch
Perhaps Neal Morse could take a lesson here,these guys get the epic scope of progressive rock,yet manage to do it on a single Cd. Plus,they made up the word "snowtorch". Prog rock fans won't be disappointed.
Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
This does a good job at borrowing from metals past without being too overtly derivative. A bit of Judas Priest here,some Iced Earth here and a bit of King Diamond over there. There's plenty of talent here so I hope the next album shows a less predictable take on classic metal.
Black Tusk - Passage Through Purgatory [Original recording remastered]
A reissue of 2008's now hard to find debut,Passage Through Purgatory is the album that turned some heads. Many metalheads aren't quite sure what to make of these guys yet. Their music is the kind that can grow on you,so give it a chance.
Vieux Farka Toure - The Secret
Having your dad be a super talented musician can be a blessing,a curse,or both. For the son of Ali Farka Toure,it seems the torch has been successfully passed. The intricate guitar remains but as one might suspect,Vieux lets in more modern influences,allowing some rock and reggae to sneak in.This will undoubtedly be marginalized into the "world music" category here in America but"world class guitar" would be a better fit.
Chet Atkins - Teensville
Part of a welcome new trend of import reissues that don't cost $30+! Chet sneaks in some rather sophisticated music under the guise of a "rock-n-roll" album and winds up with a hit.
Duane Eddy - Plays Songs Of Our Heritage
Following up last weeks re-release of "$1,000,000 worth of Twang Volume Two", here's another welcome Cd issue of some prime Jamie Records era Duane Eddy. As the cover hints,this is a more acoustic version of the Eddy sound.
Man,you know you've fully embraced the grandiose nature of progressive rock when you've released a two Cd concept album and that wasn't quite enough for you. Given that a crammed full Cd is really a double album in vinyl terms,2003's Testimony was a four album set. Here comes volume two to say "...and another thing" and you know what? I love it. Prog has never been about concise pop songs and it never will be. This has all the epic grandeur and intricate riffing that made Spock's Beard a leader in current prog rock circles. His old pals from Spock's Beard even pop by to play on the track "Time Changer". Some people will be put off by Morse's now openly Christian slant,but really,anyone showing up for the music won't be disappointed. (It's not like anyone who still throws on "Tales From Topographic Oceans" now and again is listening for the lyrics.)
I don't hear much buzz about fantastic bassist Randy George from my bass player friends but perhaps this album will help change that. Drummer Mike Portnoy returns to the drum chair and is as skilled as ever. You drummer types can see a photo I took of Portnoy here. This is another winner in Morse's increasingly impressive post-SB catalog.More Cd reviews below...
The Rods - Vengeance
The Rods are an important band in heavy metal's transition from the 70's to the 80's. Vocalist/guitarist David Feinstein was a member of Elf along with his cousin Ronnie James Dio. When Ritchie Blackmore swooped in to steal the rest of his band to form Rainbow,Feinstein created The Rods. With bassist Garry Bordonaro and drummer Carl Canedy,they released metal classics like Wild Dogs and In the Raw. This metal was harder and heavier than metal had been before and along with bands like Motorhead and Exciter,they pointed the way to the thrash metal a couple of years away. Canedy was also an important producer and had his hands at the boards for groundbreaking albums like Possessed's Beyond the Gates and Anthrax's Spreading the disease. This reunion makes a serious attempt to grab some of the glory that unjustly eluded them during their first go round. Ronnie James Dio makes one of his last appearances on the song "The Code". With the current rise in popularity of classic metal,this album should turn some heads. A long overdue return of some true metal pioneers.
Phideaux - Snowtorch
Perhaps Neal Morse could take a lesson here,these guys get the epic scope of progressive rock,yet manage to do it on a single Cd. Plus,they made up the word "snowtorch". Prog rock fans won't be disappointed.
Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
This does a good job at borrowing from metals past without being too overtly derivative. A bit of Judas Priest here,some Iced Earth here and a bit of King Diamond over there. There's plenty of talent here so I hope the next album shows a less predictable take on classic metal.
Black Tusk - Passage Through Purgatory [Original recording remastered]
A reissue of 2008's now hard to find debut,Passage Through Purgatory is the album that turned some heads. Many metalheads aren't quite sure what to make of these guys yet. Their music is the kind that can grow on you,so give it a chance.
Vieux Farka Toure - The Secret
Having your dad be a super talented musician can be a blessing,a curse,or both. For the son of Ali Farka Toure,it seems the torch has been successfully passed. The intricate guitar remains but as one might suspect,Vieux lets in more modern influences,allowing some rock and reggae to sneak in.This will undoubtedly be marginalized into the "world music" category here in America but"world class guitar" would be a better fit.
Chet Atkins - Teensville
Part of a welcome new trend of import reissues that don't cost $30+! Chet sneaks in some rather sophisticated music under the guise of a "rock-n-roll" album and winds up with a hit.
Duane Eddy - Plays Songs Of Our Heritage
Following up last weeks re-release of "$1,000,000 worth of Twang Volume Two", here's another welcome Cd issue of some prime Jamie Records era Duane Eddy. As the cover hints,this is a more acoustic version of the Eddy sound.
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