Metal/Rock Reviews
Halford - Resurrection (CD)
Resurrection is the new album from ex Judas Priest screamer and it rocks. This album is bursting with heavy riffery and Rob Halfords trademark scream, a voice that could decapitate at 50 paces (probably). Once this album is in your CD player it never slows down from the start. Kicking the album off is title track Resurrection and it is has the accolade of having the most ear bursting vocals on the whole album. We are then taken on a whirlwind ride of how to make a metal album, great tunes like Made in Hell (seems to be about the history of metal) through to Silent Screams, The One You Love To Hate (helped by a certain Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden on guest vocals) and other worthy metal rockers. Is Rob Halford back on form? You better believe it. One of the best heavy metal albums of last year.
4/5
Iron Maiden - Brave New World (CD)
Well, Iron Maiden are back and with Adrian and Bruce back on board, ready to take on the world once more. This is a stunning release and a kick in the face to all 'Nu Metal' bands. The triple guitar line up of Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers is fantastic, each guitarist has his own style and sounds on top form. The album kicks of with The Wicker Man, a full blooded rocker (and a Grammy nominee!) followed by Ghost of the Navigator complete with maritime lyrics. Blood Brothers is a great Harris written track about his relationship with his father, a monstrous epic complete with orchestration. The Mercenary follows this and suffers, it is not a bad song, but anything following Blood Brothers will suffer. Then back on form with Dream of Mirrors the longest track on the album (only three songs are under five minutes). It starts slowly and builds up to a great galloping beast. Producer Kevin Shirley has given Iron Maiden a real tight, hard sound and the drumming of Nicko McBrain sounds especially good. Even if you thought Iron Maiden were overblown dinosaur rockers, go get this album and see how the real boys do it. The best comeback of 2000, welcome back boys.
5/5
Joe Satriani - Engines of Creation (CD)
Oh dear oh dear, some people are not going to like this. Joe Satriani is back with a new album and he has gone Techno, I jest ye not. I actually think this is a great album, it may have a techno beat but it is still full of his trademark playing. This record has got to have the weirdest in your face guitar sound ever and the whole album was put together by only Joe and Eric Caudieux using drum programming etc. The song Champagne? is especially weird, only Satriani could play bluesy slide licks over a dance beat. The guitar reminded me of Robbie Kriegers slide work with The Doors very weird!. I could just see songs from this album being played in nightclubs and noone knowing who the hell Satriani is. A brave move by one of the guitar worlds greatest players, and I think he has pulled it of superbly. Fans of The Extremist type playing maybe disappointed though.
4/5