Gary Moore – Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2010
Lessons > Reviews
Gary Moore – Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2010By Luke Dennis
January 23rd, 2012
Though his passing earlier this year registered as little more than a blip in Rolling Stone, the loss of Gary Moore proved all too heavy to the rock world. Moore wielded his guitar mastery for more than four decades, lending searing solos and riffs to a dizzying line-up of projects. While he never enjoyed a tenure for more than a few albums with any one outfit, he’s rubbed shoulders with Thin Lizzy, the Traveling Wilburys, Albert King, and even Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rest assured you’ve heard his playing, if not from his own hands, then through the many guitar heroes… (Continue)
Mastodon – The HunterBy Luke Dennis
October 27th, 2011
Mastodon set the bar dizzyingly high with 2009’s Crack the Skye. Following a trio of element-themed records, their ‘air’ album married brutal riffs and brain-melting production with themes of astral projection, Rasputin’s possession of a crippled boy’s soul, and the fall of Tsarist Russia. But the announcement of their follow-up album The Hunter came with a trio of concerns. 1: How could they possibly top the iron-knuckled, vision quest that was Crack the Skye? 2: Why the hell is Dr. Dre’s bass player and Maroon 5’s producer Mike Elizondo manning the mixing board? And 3: What would the theme be… (Continue)
Opeth – HeritageBy Luke Dennis
October 3rd, 2011
Mikael Åkerfeldt doesn’t growl at all on Opeth’s new album Heritage. One could assume he left that duty to his diehard fans who still bemoan the titular sea change of 2008’s Watershed; while several songs sparked a familiar din, they were largely drowned out to faithful ears by the dabbling of female duets and piano-led balladry. But in brash assertion of that album’s bold explorations, Heritage further distances the band from their death metal roots. The album is less a recitation of their extreme Pixies-prescribed ‘loud-quiet-loud’ and more ‘piano-overdrive-flute.’ If Watershed was the sound of a revered metal band edging into… (Continue)
The Human Abstract – Digital VeilBy Zach Pino
August 4th, 2011
Technical and progressive metal quintet The Human Abstract may have fallen off the metal community’s radar over the past few years, but their third album, Digital Veil, eliminates any doubt regarding their musical ability and staying-power in the progressive metal genre. With a revamped lineup and a new label, the dense, concise, melodic, heavy, and melancholic Digital Veil is a strong comeback record for The Human Abstract; it’s the album longtime fans have been waiting for. Crank up your speakers or listen closely with headphones, and expect to enjoy 42 minutes of impressive shredding and classically influenced metal, complete with… (Continue)
Unexpect – Fables Of The Sleepless EmpireBy Evan Berry
July 6th, 2011
Up until now, purchasing an Unexpect record has felt like buying a shiny golden ticket to a nameless theater your friends and family have never heard of. Entering this decaying and dimly lit auditorium, you are greeted by a mechanical usher, who guides you to the center seat. Once the lights go down and the curtain rises, you realize you are alone, and a gruesome spectacle of chaos begins before your eyes. At times, the play becomes so disorienting and disturbing that part of you wants to leave, but something about this absurdity keeps you glued to your seat. You… (Continue)
UFO @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – New York, NYBy Luke Dennis
May 13th, 2011
One wonders if B.B. King could predict the kind of talent that would hold court in his subterranean blues club in the heart of New York’s midtown. Classic Howling Wolf honks back at the traffic beneath the marquee, and the lobby is lined with posters advertising roots rock revival shows. Even the faces mingling in the neon sunrise of Times Square at twilight seem par for the club: middle-aged and neatly groomed for a night of sit-down music. But they tell a different story from the neck down: black tee shirts emblazoned with the red, white, and blue skewed letters… (Continue)
Between the Buried and Me – The Parallax: Hypersleep DialoguesBy Jamie Anderson
April 12th, 2011
Between the Buried and Me have again managed to warp all preconceived notions of the metal genre with their new EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. The word ‘progressive’ comes to mind when first listening to this album, but categorizing the EP as progressive metal couldn’t be further from the truth. The three-song, 30-minute long EP displays BTBAM’s ability to move seamlessly through different musical genres, all the while making each of them their own. In contrast to their last release The Great Misdirect, Hypersleep Dialogues brings back the classic heavy sound BTBAM grew famous for in earlier works like their… (Continue)
Turisas – Stand Up And FightBy Evan Berry
April 11th, 2011
Compared to most bands in the folk/Viking metal world, Turisas’s understanding and control of complex harmonic structures and unique melodic writing is exceptional. This, combined with live orchestral instrumentation and a spectacular mix, makes Stand Up And Fight more developed than either of their past releases, and arguably more mature sounding than most other releases in the genre. In spite of all this, a listen through the album’s entirety begs the question: does a more professional and pristine recording make it a better one? At times, Stand Up And Fight is more reminiscent of a film score than a metal… (Continue)
Falkenbach – TiuridaBy Evan Berry
March 1st, 2011
Originality is hard to come by in the vast realm of folk metal. Although the music can certainly be catchy and undeniably fun, the essence of the word ‘folk’ is seemingly lost within much of the culture. This is why Falkenbach mastermind Vratyas Vakyas’s understanding of, and dedication to, traditional folk music sets Falkenbach at the top of the pack. The first Falkenbach demo Havamal (1989) was purely clean folk music, and although the compositions have since been infused with metal touches, Falkenbach’s latest release arguably keeps closer ties to folk music than it does heavy metal. If any band… (Continue)
Motörhead – The Wörld is YoursBy Rae Amitay
February 25th, 2011
With many bands trying too hard to reinvent their image and sound, it’s refreshing to come across such consistency. The Wörld is Yours, Motörhead’s twentieth studio album, has no surprises in store for listeners, but instead pays homage to the signature sound Lemmy and comrades have created over the past three decades: momentous rock n’ roll that is free of pretention, and full of energy and passion. The album begins with the thundering anthem ‘Born To Lose.’ Drummer Mikkey Dee opens up the song before being joined by guitarist Phil Campbell and, of course, the indestructible and utterly incomparable Lemmy Kilmister. At… (Continue)
Agalloch – Marrow Of The SpiritBy Rae Amitay
February 9th, 2011
As one of the greatest bands you’ve probably never heard of, Agalloch has been changing the landscape of the metal genre since their formation in Portland, Oregon in 1995. While their discography is limited to four full-length albums and a handful of EP’s, their work is thought-provoking, beautifully crafted, and innovative. Stemming from early roots in black metal with the self-released 1997 EP, From Which of This Oak, they have consistently evolved their sound with each subsequent album. Unlike many of their black metal contemporaries, Agalloch does not worship Satan, rather, they have a reverence for nature which conveys itself… (Continue)
Soulive @ The Paradise – Boston, MABy Luke Dennis
December 31st, 2010
New Year’s Eve: The clock ticks down to midnight like the master plan of a James Bond nemesis. The secluded lair is the Paradise, the madvillains are none other than the jazzy mutherfunkers of Soulive, and the minions are a sold out legion of loyal Bostonians. The ranks are well rounded: hippies, hipsters, preppies, hepcats, bros, hos, brokers, tokers, mothers dressed like daughters, and daughters dressed like mothers were it not for the telltale under-21 ‘X’ tattooed on the back of their hands. Few bands could summon such a heterogeneous congregation for a New Year’s bash, which is fitting –… (Continue)
Kylesa – Spiral ShadowBy Luke Dennis
December 30th, 2010
Remember the days when all that was heavy could be traced geographically? The Bay Area forged titans of thrash, the East Coast staked a claim on hardcore, the Nordic countries were painting it black so it wouldn’t get lost in the snow, and The New Wave of British Heavy Metal sailed beneath the Union Jack. While such territorialism didn’t necessarily ensure unwavering quality, it imbued the scenes with an immutable identity. Musical borders were drawn and patches were worn on leather jackets like emblems on military uniforms. The modern digital age has all but scrubbed these lines from the sand… (Continue)
Blind Guardian @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Evan Berry
November 21st, 2010
Blind Guardian’s ‘The Bard’s Song – In The Forest’ tells us that no matter what lives and dies in this world, the tales woven by songs will forever stand the test of time. Blind Guardian’s role in the metal scene is similar to that of the Bard: both weave memorable songs with incontrovertible narrative quality. Though vocalist Hansi Kürsch’s lyrical style focuses strongly on this aforementioned quality rather than prose, the melodies are so catchy that most every fan in Blind Guardian’s audience can chant along. Their show at The Palladium was a testament to this. Before Blind Guardian hit the… (Continue)
Dimmu Borgir with Enslaved @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Rae Amitay
November 5th, 2010
It was a night of legendary Norwegian metal at the Palladium, with both Enslaved and Dimmu Borgir taking the stage in support of their acclaimed new albums (Axioma Ethica Odini and Abrahadabra, respectively). Enslaved delivered a powerful set, clearly demonstrating their solidity as a band, as well as their passion for delivering the triumphantly stunning riffs that have captivated listeners for twenty years. Opening with ‘Axioma’ and ‘Ethica Odini,’ they showcased their new album beautifully and the crowd was incredibly receptive.
Despite the massive Abrahadabra banner behind them, Enslaved owned the stage during the entirety of their set. It was clear that the audience was not simply waiting for Dimmu Borgir to perform; the crowd was fully engrossed as Enslaved played seven songs. Their performance set them apart as a band truly worthy of headlining a tour, and hopefully fans will be able to see them do this in the future. Once they left the stage, the energy in the Palladium seemed to swell as the crowd prepared to see Dimmu Borgir take the stage for the debut show of their North American tour.
The Orb Featuring David Gilmour – Metallic SpheresBy Luke Dennis
November 4th, 2010
Alex Paterson is an unsung audio chemist. As the main brain of the musical collective known as The Orb, he first dosed the music scene back at the dawn of the nineties with a potent cocktail of house, dub, and electronic ambience. But while the scene he helped to define continues to branch off and redefine itself through a macrocosm of subspecies, Paterson remains the aural physician that prescribed so many of those now disparate elements as a single unified agent. By taming the aggressively infectious grooves of house music with slower tempos, the band found a new space into… (Continue)
Devin Townsend Project with TesseracT @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Rae Amitay
October 29th, 2010
Anyone who has experienced a performance by Devin Townsend can attest to his incredible charisma and stage presence. Few musicians have carved out careers comparable to that of Townsend’s, in regards to the sheer versatility he has established over two decades of performing. After recording and touring as the lead vocalist for guitar legend Steve Vai (Sex & Religion), Townsend released several solo albums under the name Strapping Young Lad. These releases, along with the subsequent formation and touring of The Devin Townsend Band, established his now trademark wall-of-sound heaviness, phenomenal vocal range, and overall diversity of composition in the… (Continue)
Black Label Society @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
October 19th, 2010
In the darkness of the House Of Blues, the anxious calm was broken by the screeching cry of an air raid siren as Black Label Society stormed the gates with ‘The Beginning… At Last.’ Standing before a microphone stand adorned with skulls, the towering Zakk Wylde ignited the room with a searing tone and an arsenal of photo shoot-worthy stage moves. Wylde’s renowned pinch harmonics and powerful vibrato were in full effect, much to his fans’ delight, while behind the scenes, his rhythm playing laid a foundation of punishing riffs and unshakable groove. Those virtues were especially clear in ‘Crazy Horse,’… (Continue)
Iron Maiden – The Final FrontierBy Luke Dennis
October 18th, 2010
The Law of Aging Metal Bands would dictate that Iron Maiden, now in its 35th year, should be long excused from the artistic role call. The paradigm dictates that a handful of their top tunes should be treading water in classic rock playlists as the members themselves retire to a pension of VH1 reality show appearances. Fortunately for us, Iron Maiden is not your average aging metal band. While their fans may be just as happy to see them tour every year with a set of greatest hits from two decades ago, the band continues to release and perform new… (Continue)
Richie Kotzen @ The Viper Room – West Hollywood, CABy Mike Kindel
October 8th, 2010
Vocalist and guitar hero Richie Kotzen has toured the world many times, both in bands such as Poison and Mr. Big, and as a solo artist. On October 8th at the Viper Room, one of the Sunset’s Strip’s most intimate and aurally pleasing venues to retain the grit of rock & roll, Richie Kotzen walked onstage in front of a crowd bursting at the seams with anticipation and excitement. The guitar virtuoso launched into a scorching new 90-minute set with ‘Losing My Mind,’ the first track off of his album Get Up. The music blared and the lights flashed as… (Continue)
Slash @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
September 15th, 2010
Slash has been busy since his departure from rock powerhouse Guns ‘N Roses – first with Slash’s Snakepit, then Velvet Revolver and now with the release of his first solo album, Slash, which features an all-star cast of vocalists ranging from Adam Levine to Lemmy. It was in support of this hard-rocking disc that he stood before the packed house at the House Of Blues in Boston one Wednesday night. Amidst the blaring, high-octane onslaught of rock, Slash’s groove was smooth and laid-back. His lead tone was as biting and juicy as ever, and his crisp rhythm work was complemented… (Continue)
The Robert Cray Band – Cookin’ In MobileBy Chris Dingman
August 23rd, 2010
Release Date: July 27, 2010 After decades of serving up smooth, soul-infused blues, singer and master guitarist Robert Cray has at last released a live DVD to give viewers at home the chance to experience one of music’s classiest acts. Fortunately for us, Cray made sure to get things done right. The camera work is excellent, with edits lingering long enough on individual shots to spotlight the playing. His creative chord voicings, which help elevate excellent songs like ‘Our Last Time,’ ‘One In The Middle’ and ‘Time Makes Two’ are well-framed by the skilled camera crew. Cray’s distinctively Stratty guitar playing is outstanding,… (Continue)
Steve Morse & Sarah Spencer – AngelfireBy Chris Dingman
August 10th, 2010
Release Date: August 10, 2010 Throughout Steve Morse’s memorable career he has written music that draws on hard rock, country, British fusion and baroque classical. Angelfire, the debut album from his latest project of the same name, finds Morse applying his gifts to yet another genre: acoustic vocal music. Morse and his partner in Angelfire, the talented Sarah Spencer, share a powerful musical chemistry. Drawing on his experience with instrumental music, Morse creates compelling progressions for songs like ‘What Made You Think?’ that bring Spencer’s strong melodies to life. For her part, Spencer’s flowing delivery drives reflective songs like the… (Continue)
Dark Tranquillity @ Harper’s Ferry – Allston, MABy Chris Dingman
May 16th, 2010
Only three months after playing a short set in Boston with Killswitch Engage, Dark Tranquillity returned to treat their loyal fans to a headlining show at the cozy Harper’s Ferry. Hometown heavies Acaro were the first to take the stage that night, and they controlled the room with ease. Frontman Chris Harrell engaged the early arrivals with a charming and energetic sense of humor, which his band backed up with terrific, raw energy and enthusiasm in their brief performance. Mutiny Within continued the same standard of crowd interaction, making frequent eye contact and shaking hands with fans while unleashing an… (Continue)
Finntroll – NifelvindBy Evan Berry
March 18th, 2010
The trolls have returned from the depths of the Finnish swamps, releasing their most wicked and whimsical offering yet. Nifelvind surely packs in more variety and pure insanity into their clearly defined and positively infecting sound. Since their debut, Finntroll has always cleared their own path in the realm of the vast folk metal scene, incorporating their native style of Humppa music into the brutality of heavy metal. Nifelvind continues this sound, but begins to expand more boundaries than any of its predecessors. On Nifelvind, we begin to hear sounds and influences rarely present on past releases. After a familiar… (Continue)
God of War III: Blood & Metal EPBy Chris Dingman
February 13th, 2010
Release Date: March 2, 2010 If any game deserves to have a soundtrack written for it featuring some of today’s leading metal bands, that game is God of War III. Five years ago, the first God of War shattered the gaming world by incorporating everything awesome about action/adventure games into a cinematic gaming experience that pushed the PS2 to its technical limits and, more importantly, allowed players to brutalize their enemies in the most visceral ways imaginable. Now, Sony is poised to release God of War III, the first entry in the series to hit the PS3, and a host of… (Continue)
Dark Tranquillity @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
February 4th, 2010
Fans of melodic death metal were treated to some of Sweden’s finest when Dark Tranquillity took the stage at the House Of Blues in Boston for the first date of their new tour. For the next month and a half, the metal legends will be trekking through North America in support of their forthcoming album We Are The Void (to be released on February 24th in Sweden and March 9th in North America), along with The Devil Wears Prada and metalcore icons Killswitch Engage. Dark Tranquillity began the evening by pumping up the crowd with the hook-laden ‘Terminus (Where Death… (Continue)
Katatonia – Night Is The New DayBy Chris Dingman
January 14th, 2010
Release Dates: November 2, 2009 (Europe)/November 10, 2009 (North America) Katatonia have been honing their brooding brand of rock for years. Originally formed as a doom metal band in 1991, the group began to shift direction after several albums as singer Jonas Renske began to employ clean vocals in place of growls. With transitional support from Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt, who performed the extreme vocals on 1996’s Brave Murder Day and 1997’s Sounds Of Decay, Katatonia started exploring the bleak, atmospheric recesses of rock – a journey that has led to 2009’s outstanding Night Is The New Day. From the foreboding… (Continue)
Richie Kotzen – Peace SignBy Chris Dingman
November 10th, 2009
Release Date: September 9, 2009 Richie Kotzen’s latest offering, Peace Sign, once again showcases the distinctive blend of styles that has won the virtuoso guitarist fans worldwide. The twelve-track album is divided into three equal sections: rock, soul/funk, and pop balladry. Because of the album’s track sequencing, it starts very strong, though the flow drags during the four ballads that close the disc. Kotzen’s choice of tones further distinguishes the styles, from the thunderous single-coil sound that opens ‘Long Way From Home’ and the angry saturation of his ‘My Messiah’ rhythms, to the buzzy riff tones on ‘We’re All Famous’… (Continue)
Jeff Beck @ House Of Blues – Boston, MABy Chris Dingman
April 13th, 2009
Visits from Jeff Beck are cause for celebration – not only because these visits are so infrequent, or even because Beck was one of three noted guitarists to emerge from Britain’s legendary Yardbirds in the 60’s. Ever since he came into the public eye, Beck has been pushing the boundaries of rock guitar playing in general, and the limitations of the Strat in particular. Beck takes harmonic and whammy bar techniques that many players use as effects, and creates full, expressive melodic lines with them. He also controls his volume knob with authority, by using smooth swells on melodies along… (Continue)
Eric Johnson – Anaheim DVDBy Chris Dingman
March 18th, 2009
Release Date : November 11, 2008 As any Eric Johnson fan knows, a new release from the legendary Texan is cause for celebration. A guitarist known for his lush array of tones as much as for his articulate, fretboard-scaling lines, Johnson also possesses one of the most discerning ears in the business, and as his own producer chooses only the best of his material to release to the public. This uncompromising standard has applied not only to Johnson’s studio albums, but to his live video releases, as well – his famous 1988 appearance on PBS’ Austin City Limits was released… (Continue)
Framus Dragon Head & CabinetBy Ivan Chopik
January 10th, 2009
The appropriately-named Framus Dragon is indeed a fire-breathing beast. It’s a versatile 3-channel boutique amp that can deliver a range of tones, from sparkly cleans, to brutal rhythms, to soaring leads. It definitely has a very organic, punchy sound to it, as well as very nice natural compression, especially when paired with the accompanying cab. I specifically acquired this half-stack for use in heavy rock and metal styles, and its sound is geared very nicely towards this. Like other amps used in these genres, it can be very brutal sounding with its tight low-end, but it’s refreshing to hear an… (Continue)
Opeth – WatershedBy Chris Dingman
July 16th, 2008
Release Date: June 3, 2008 With each album Opeth have released since their first album in 1995, they have been perfecting their combination of extreme metal’s brutality and progressive rock’s complex song structures and harmonies. Singer, guitarist, and mastermind Mikael Åkerfeldt’s band first attracted the attention of the broader metal community with 2001’s Blackwater Park, which benefited from the producing expertise of Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson – who finally gave Opeth’s rich music the sonic power it deserved. With Wilson’s help, Opeth explored and expanded the mellower side of their sound on 2003’s Damnation, after becoming heavier than ever on parts… (Continue)
Liquid Tension Experiment @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – New York, NYBy Chris Dingman
June 23rd, 2008
After 10 years, Liquid Tension Experiment fans finally get what they want: another tour. Ever since Dream Theater’s drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci recorded two largely improvised albums in 1998 and 1999 with bassist Tony Levin and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, fans have been clamoring for more LTE. The quartet made four concert appearances in 1999, including a brief performance at the Winter NAMM that was filmed by an enthusiastic audience member, and has since been shared broadly enough to whet the appetites of the Internet community. When Petrucci and Portnoy decided that they wanted Rudess in Dream Theater,… (Continue)
Progressive Nation 2008 @ Fillmore – Miami Beach, FLBy Chris Dingman
May 30th, 2008
Progressive rock luminaries Dream Theater founded the Progressive Nation tour this year in an effort to bring together some of the genre’s most exciting acts. Swedish progressive metal band Opeth was given second billing on the tour, with the newer bands 3 and Between The Buried And Me opening the shows. Progressive rock bands are famous for defying trends and focusing on musicianship, but at the Fillmore in Miami Beach on May 30th, the headlining acts of Progressive Nation proved that they could defy technical difficulties as well, with their professionalism and performances. 3 formed in the 90’s, but have… (Continue)
Richie Kotzen – Go FasterBy Chris Dingman
May 19th, 2008
Release Date: August 21, 2007 Former Poison and Mr. Big guitarist Richie Kotzen has matured gracefully in the years since he entered the scene in 1989 as a budding six-string virtuoso on Mike Varney’s Shrapnel Records. Since adopting Fender instruments in the early 90’s, Kotzen has developed two signature guitars with Fender Japan that consistently rank amongst their best-selling models. Kotzen has been pumping out quality solo material and playing to adoring crowds worldwide for years. Kotzen’s latest offering (called Go Faster here in the US, and Return Of Mother Head’s Family Reunion in the rest of the world) is a… (Continue)
Vanna @ Harper’s Ferry – Boston, MABy Mike Kindel
May 1st, 2008
A gentle breeze softly caresses the dawning of a new spring day. The birds chirp merrily in the tranquil meadow, without a hint or warning of the onslaught to come. Suddenly, the skies darken and a hurricane rips the beautiful scene apart; the perfect parallel to the live performance of the Massachusetts born, hardcore explosion of talent that is Vanna. Vanna came crashing into Harper’s Ferry, destroying every eardrum within reach, and inciting bloodthirsty fans to mangle their bodies in the inevitable pit. As they had already completed most of their tour, this band had become seasoned live performers, very… (Continue)
Eddie Jelley and Cold Shot (SRV Tribute) @ Palace Theater – Waterbury, CTBy Mike Kindel
April 12th, 2008
Every inch of the Waterbury Palace Theater is elegant enough to hold a crowd wearing tuxedoes and cocktail dresses – a far cry from the skeptical demographic of predominantly middle-aged men that attended the Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute show performed by guitarist Eddie Jelley and his band Cold Shot on April 12th. Although not completely satisfied with his performance, Jelley definitely rocked the stage and brought the blues music of Stevie Ray Vaughan back into attendee’s hearts. Jelley and his band took the stage with confidence, but also with instruments that were out of tune with each other, creating an… (Continue)
Joe Satriani – Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of RockBy Chris Dingman
April 10th, 2008
Release Date: April 1, 2008 Joe Satriani has been in the business of making memorable instrumental guitar rock for more than two decades. After helping to bring the genre into the mainstream in the late 80’s with his seminal 1987 album Surfing with the Alien, Satriani has taken detours to fuse numerous other genres with his core style. For instance, he introduced some bluesy fusion into his sound on his self-titled 1995 album, as well as elements of electronic music on the unexpected Engines Of Creation in 2000. Throughout his experimentation, he has always retained a distinctive voice both as… (Continue)
Meshuggah – obZenBy Charlie Shaughnessy
February 20th, 2008
Release Date: March 11th, 2008 The little preview I got of “Bleed” a few weeks prior to receiving my promo copy of obZen was not enough to prepare me for the musical density of Meshuggah’s latest thrill-ride. It’s quite a task to accurately describe the musical content of a group like this. To say the least, fans will be pleased to know that the band has stuck to their sound and even incorporated some of their roots in this new album. Though by this point most of us are so used to the crushing sound of eight-string guitars methodically playing… (Continue)
Hate Eternal – Fury And FlamesBy Jimmy Gately
February 19th, 2008
Release Date: February 19th, 2008 Hate Eternal have once again proven that they are the King of all Kings. After facing several dilemmas last year including the departure of drummer Derek Roddy, the possibility of canceling a tour, and the passing of fellow friend and ex-band mate Jared Anderson, guitarist/vocalist Erik Rutan has returned with a new line up, a new label and a new album, entitled Fury & Flames. This album clocks in at 40 minutes even and it never stops. Musically, the album is vicious, brutal and relentless. Rutan is a master of dissonant and twisted melodies yielding… (Continue)
Ayreon – 01011001By Charlie Shaughnessy
January 7th, 2008
Release Date; Jan. 29th, 2008 Arjen Lucassen never ceases to amaze, and nothing changes with the latest Ayreon masterpiece. Ayreon – 01011001 (or Y) is split up into two parts – Planet Y and Earth. Lyrically, the album is a bit less straightforward than his previous work, The Human Equation. While it was pretty obvious what the story behind THE was, it may be a bit hard for the listener to break through the density of Y if enjoyment was found in THE’s lyrical style, although this method gives Arjen a chance to be a bit more playful and artistic… (Continue)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ Civic Center – Hartford, CTBy Mike Kindel
November 16th, 2007
They came upon the Midnight Clear, and lit up the Hartford Civic Center on November 16th with lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, smoke, and even snow, and backed their theatrical performance with musicianship and epic arrangements of everyone’s favorite Christmas songs that put even the biggest Scrooges in the holiday spirit. The diverse demographic proved that all ages could rock out under one roof. The Civic Center in Hartford, CT is a multi-purpose coliseum that was perfect for a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. The show opened with the band, in conjunction with a local radio station, informing fans that a donation of $16,720… (Continue)
Blind Guardian @ The Palladium – Worcester, MABy Mike Kindel
December 1st, 2006
After four long years, German power metal kings Blind Guardian made their triumphant return to the United States to tour their new album A Twist in the Myth. However, the tour is not just to publicize the new album, but also to show the American metal fans that after more than 20 years of countless hits and a brand new drummer, they can still teach audiences what the word ‘epic’ really means. The show took place at the Worcester Palladium – a venue with majestic artwork, a bar, and a known reputation as being one of the most ‘metal’ venues… (Continue)
