Tag: Blood of Nations
1 New Video – Accept – Pandemic
Accept’s has released a new animated video, “Pandemic” . “Pandemic” is easily my favorite track off of the awesome Accept album, Blood of Nations. Check it out!
Vodpod videos no longer available.
3 Stone’s Top Ten Albums Of 2010!
Hard Rock Hideout’s Stone – Picking the “top ten list” of anything in life is not that easy. Choosing my Top Ten Albums Of 2010 proved to be more daunting than I had initially expected, with there being multiple dozens of excellent albums released this past year, spanning across each sub-genre of Metal, not to mention Hard Rock and Rock as well. I decided this year, to pick out only those ten albums that I can honestly say moved me… as a complete album of songs. I have neverlimited my ears, mind and soul to just Metal, anyone who knows me, understands this. Therefore, finding an album in my “top ten” that is not full-throttle, pedal to the Metal, shouldn’t come across as scandalous.
An album that makes my “top ten” list will move me emotionally, sending signals to my senses that either A: psyches-me-out of my Metal mind or B: makes me feel as though I’ve found a long lost friend, a friend I’ll now have for the rest of my Metal life. Of course quality musicianship, songwriting and overall production comes into play… only those three attributes will fall into place when an album is truly special to me.
Maybe you’ll enjoy, become slightly amused and or confused by my Top Ten Albums Of 2010. Either way, my intent is to showcase and appluad these albums and the bands that created them. Hopefully I peak your interest to buy an album or two from this list. These are the albums that will stand the test of my Metal time on Earth.
#10 KATAKLYSM – HEAVEN’S VENOM
KATAKLYSM epitomizes the marriage of melodic and heavy… and succeeds so brilliantly in a Death Metal genre, a genre that has profoundly matured into mandatory importance in my Metal history book, many full moons ago. I’ll say this time and again, when Maurizio Iacono sings, I listen. Jean-Francois Dagenais on guitar is not just impressive, his playing is beyond that. If Death Metal needed “that band” to bridge the gap between the meat & potatoes and the progressive, then KATAKLYSM is that band. “Heaven’s Venom” is more than just another excellent Melodic Death Metal album, it is a collective “sound” and “vibe” that makes me realize that maybe “extreme” should be replaced with “pristine” when describing these ten songs.
On December 2, 2010, I posted a review on Heaven’s Venom, giving more Metal details as to why KATAKLYSM is sitting atop my tier of Metal legendary bands. Clicking the link above will take you there!
The “Classic” Krokus lineup returned in 2010 to bring their Hard Rockin’ brand back… to kick our asses! Metal be thy name, Krokus DID kick my ass with “Hoodoo” and all I can say is: “thank you sirs, may I have more?” A (gasp) fun album is “Hoodoo”, that gives a wink and a smile to the gloriously loud and colorful 80’s decade of Arena Rock and good times thrills. If the songs “Too Hot” and “Hoodoo Woman” doesn’t get your Hard Rock adrenaline flowing, then maybe you should consider living as a hermit in the forests of Maine.
On April 27, 2010, I reviewed Hoodoo and did not hold back my Hard Rockin’ affection for this timeless Hard Rockin’ band. Click on the link above to see it!
#8 JON OLIVA’S PAIN – FESTIVAL
Jon Oliva is a man of music. He proves this on “Festival”, by connecting the Rock ‘N’ Roll dots, Jon Oliva has his Classic Rock influences of the Beatles and The Electric Light Orchestra coexisting with the Savatage blood that flows through his ultra-talented veins. Is “Festival” a Heavy Metal album? On the surface it is… only once you really listen to this album a few dozen times, you might very well agree with me that “Festival” is a celebration of Jon Oliva’s musical career. The dark themes and nightmarish lyrics behold a realism that I find stunning, making me hope and pray that Jon Oliva and his band will create a “Festival”… part 2.
On April 15, 2010, my review for “Festival” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Click on the link above to read all about it!
#7 THE NEW CZARS – DOOMSDAY REVOLUTION
What Greg Hampton (founding member, lead guitarist & vocalist) created with his band The New Czars, is one of the finest blends of Rock Music styles my ears have heard in years. “Doomsday Revolution” takes a Modern Hard Rock lead, with Industrial and Funk experimentation weaved within it’s lustrous interior. Greg Hampton might very well be the “missing link” within a generation of Rock vocal legends such as Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan, David Coverdale and yes… Robert Plant. If that sounds too good to be true, then get yourself a copy of “Doomsday Revolution” and thank Stone for serving you right.
Back on September 8, 2010, I posted a detailed album review for Doomsday Revolution. You can click the link above if you want to read all about it!
#6 AVENGED SEVENFOLD – NIGHTMARE
“Nightmare” is the fifth studio album from A7X and very well should be anointed as their very best. Powerful, angry and raging is “God Hates Us”, while the album opener “Nightmare” speeds on with it’s relentless up-tempo that makes me feel like I belong in the pit, carrying on like a psyched-out Metalhead from 1989. Seriously, what A7X has accomplished with “Nightmare” is nothing short of a Metal miracle, with having to cope with the loss of Jimmy “The Reverend” Sullivan. I won’t hold back calling this “Nightmare” album the “Back In Black” or “Black Album” of A7X’s catalog.
On November 9, 2010, my review for “Nightmare” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out by clicking the link below!
What’s this? A Hard Rock three piece? A Modern Hard Rock three piece? Can these guys play? Who invited them to the party? Stone will tell you right now… KOPEK is a three piece, they are a Hard Rock band and they bought the copyright for the word relevance. By the way, KOPEK will be invited to the party and they are bringing with them a case of Hard Rock whoop ass that will have you begging “them” for more. Guitarist and vocalist Daniel Jordan brings that “it” factor to the Hard Rock table, “it” being his charisma that resonates from each and every song I hear on “White Collar Lies”. Drummer Shane Cooney and bassist Brad Kinsella round out this Hard Rockin’ trio from Dublin, Ireland, making them a band I recommend to every breathing human being on Earth.
On June 28, 2010, I presented to the world, an album review for White Collar Lies. If you want to know more about this KOPEK album that you should really buy, then click the link above… it will serve you right!
This new DANZIG album could have easily been titled: “How Glenn Danzig Got His Groove Back”. “Deth Red Sabaoth” is a return to dark form for Glenn, with each song carrying it’s worthy weight of thump and stump heaviness. Dare I say once again… Old School? These flashbacks to the Heavy Metal glory years never hurt any band and DANZIG churns out the songs that I want to hear on a long, lost, dark nights cruise through the remote countryside. “Black Candy”, Deth Red Moon” and “Ju Ju Bone” are the three songs that stand-out among, well, 11 stand-out songs. Each time I listen to “Deth Red Sabaoth” I realize wholly, that Glenn Danzig is back… and that makes Stone feel very Metal comfy.
On July 22, 2010, my review for “Deth Red Sabaoth” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out for yourself by clicking the link above!
#3 ACCEPT – BLOOD OF THE NATIONS
An Udo-less Accept is hard to “accept”… unless you listen to “Blood Of The Nations”. Mark Tornillo made me a believer from the first note he bellows on “Beat The Bastards”, while not being an Udo clone, Mark just accomplished what always came natural to him… that’s to sing like an Old School Metal warrior! With a near perfect version of the original Accept lineup grinding out 14 songs, at the culmination of my first listen to this album I wanted MORE! This is an Accept album that solidifies this band’s Heavy Metal importance and existence of both past and present. “Blood Of The Nations” also reminds all of us aging Metalheads, that Old School Heavy Metal dreams really do come true.
On September 14, 2010, I posted a very psyched-out review for this Blood Of The Nations album. Check it out if you like, by clicking the link above!
#2 (Tie) EXODUS – EXHIBIT B: THE HUMAN CONDITION
Why have I made it a “tie” between EXODUS – Exhibit B: The Human Condition and OVERKILL –Ironbound? The answer is simple… Thrash Metal albums, from these two ultra-legends, sounding this damn outstanding, has fortunately collided with an uncanny equality. Choosing between these two albums as which is best, is liking choosing between two iced mugs of Blue Moon Ale. Pick ’em. Founding members Gary Holt (guitar) and Tom Hunting (drums) are the Metal backbone to Exodus being not just pioneers of Thrash Metal, Exodus is one of this genre’s true leaders in 2010. This album is as brutal as any that Exodus has released… and these guys sound tighter than ever!
#2 (Tie) OVERKILL – IRONBOUND
As with Exodus, Overkill are pioneers of the Thrash Metal movement that has seen a resurgence of popularity that reminds me of the 80’s. “Ironbound” is full-blown and in-your-face Thrash Metal that glistens with Old School hunger and never relents with it’s crushing and force driven songs. Founding members Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (vocals) and D.D. Verni (bass) are living proof that they can create and play Thrash Metal for 30 years and counting, with different lineups, while never losing a touch of relevance. After three decades of albums, Overkill quite possibly made their verybest with “Ironbound.”
On March 8, 2010, I reviewed “Ironbound” on Hard Rock Hideout. Click the header link above read the complete details!
#1 SCORPIONS – STING IN THE TAIL
“Sting In The Tail” radiates every quality that I yearn for in choosing a #1 album: heaviness, hardness, melodic, memorable, emotional and Old School… all wrapped up into one celebratory goodbye after spanning nearly five decades of existence. This album dominated my Metal soul like none other in 2010, even the ballads “The Good Die Young” and “The Best Is Yet To Come” made an instant impact on me… and I never wave the flag for ballads that often. Klaus Meine sounds as incredible as ever on vocals, while this entire band plays with the fire of twenty year olds. “Sting In The Tail” was not a return to the glory days of 80’s Heavy Metal, instead, this album showcases just how electrifying the Scorpions still are after so many decades. The Scorpions go out proving to me, they never lost their edge. There will never be another band like the Scorpions.
Back on April 3, 2010, I posted a detailed album review on Sting In The Tail. Click the large header below, to read about how much I really dig this Scorpions album!
SCORPIONS – “STING IN THE TAIL” DELIVERS THE ANTIDOTE OF HEAVY METAL EUPHORIA!
LONG LIVE METAL.
THANK YOU SCORPIONS.
LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.
Stone.
5 Rob Rockitt’s 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums’s of 2010
Choosing the Top 10 Hard Rock & Metal CD’s of 2010 was the most daunting task ever. 2010 was a terrific year for music. There were so many great releases to consider this year. I can’t remember the last time I had this much trouble formulating a year end list. There were over 40 quality hard rock & metal releases that I re-listened to. With so much good music, it was very hard to choose the best twenty, but these were the best of 2010 in my opinion.
20. VAIN – All Those Strangers
Vain’s All Those Strangers was supposed to be released in 1991, but the financially strapped Island Records buried it. I am grateful that Davy Vain finally led this disc see the light of day. To my ears, this CD sounds like a natural continuation on Vain’s awesome debut, No Regrets. It may have been recorded in 1991, but it was officially released in 2010. It is a worth # 20 of 2010. If you are a fan of Vain, you need to get this disc now!
19. Sister Sin – True Sound of the Underground
I used to avoid hard rock bands with female lead singers. I just haven’t found very many that I liked. Sister Sin is one of many bands that totally changed that notion. I loved their last album, Switchblade Serenades, and their new disc True Sound of the Underground is quite good as well.
18. Wig Wam – Non Stop Rock N’ Roll
Wig Wam released their third CD, Non Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll in 2010. Much like their prior releases, their new CD is one heck of a fun listen. If you are a fan of hair metal, or even The Darkness, you need to check out Wig Wam’s latest opus. I think you will enjoy it!
17. Taking Dawn – Time to Burn
It was refreshing to see Roadrunner Records sign a band with a sound that brings 80’s hard rock to mind. Time to Burn is a pretty solid debut from the Las Vegas rockers. Check out the Hard Rock Hideout Review at the link above.
When Ozzy Osbourne’s latest effort Scream came out, I didn’t really get into it that much. I did like the title track, but found the disc a little lacking. I don’t know if I didn’t give it a fair chance, but a few months later, and Scream has really grown on me. It is much better than I originally though. I like this one enough now, that I am actually considering picking up the Tour Edition (released October 5th) with the added bonus tracks. Sure, it isn’t Diary of the Madman, or The Ultimate Sin, but Scream does rock!
I have listened to Slash’s new solo CD a ton in 2010. After listening to this disc, I must admit that Slash is either a complete genius, or a total nutjob. Never in my wildest dreams would I think a song with Slash & Fergie would work, but it does. I think far too many people didn’t give the song “Beautiful Dangerous” a fair chance due to Fergie’s involvement with the Blackeyed Peas. After hearing this tune, I wondered why she is wasting her time in a pop act. She can flat out sing. Myles Kennedy, M. Shadows, Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Lemmy Kilmeister all turn in some solid vocal performances. Sure, I would rather have another Slash’s Snakepit CD, but there are some good tunes on this disc. After hearing the tunes with Myles Kennedy, I would love to see him take the Velvet Revolver job, but I know that won’t happen.
14. Jettblack – Get Your Hands Dirty
Best new band of 2010? There are several great new bands who made their debut in 2010. UK Rockers Jettblack make a strong case as one of the best new acts with their debut effort, Get Your Hands Dirty. This is another CD that I have played a ton this year. I love it!
13. SKIN – Breaking the Silence
SKIN may not be a household name in the United States, but they should have been. They have been putting out quality releases since the mid nineties. Breaking the Silence is SKIN’s final release. It is a shame that the band is calling it a day, but at least they are going out on a high note!
Olli Herman aka H. Oliver Twisted the former lead singer of Crash Diet, returned to his band Reckless Love full time in 2008. The end result is the awesome debut from Reckless Love. Glam metal has never sounded so good in 2010. If you haven’t picked up this CD yet, look for the band’s recently released Cool Edition of the debut, with bonus tracks and an acoustic cover of Def Leppard’s Hysteria! If you haven’t check out Reckless Love yet, I highly recommend that you do. This is a great band with a big future ahead of them!
11. Broken Teeth – Viva La Rock Fantastico
You gotta love Jason McMaster ! This guy has been blasting out quality hard rock since his Watch Tower days. In 2010, he has put out the best Broken Teeth record yet with Viva La Rock Fantastico. This disc has been a staple on the Hard Rock Hideout Radio show all year.
10. Hinder – All American Nightmare
Hinder’s All American Nightmare didn’t come out until December, but quite honestly, I think they have put out their best effort yet. This CD gets better with repeated plays, and is easily worthy of the top 10 at Hard Rock Hideout. “Red Tail Lights”, “Hey Ho”, “Put That Record On”, and “Waking Up The Devil” are amongst my favorite songs on this CD.
Armored Saint’s lated disc La Raza kind of came and went without a lot of fanfare. The band didn’t tour for La Raza, and it is a crying shame. La Raza is one of the better releases from Arormed Saint.
8. Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
I consider myself one of the biggest Airbourne fans on the face of the earth ( ok maybe # 2 behind Pascal Carrière). Either way, I knew before No Guts, No Glory was released that I was going to love it, and I do. The band’s debut Running Wild blew me away, so maybe I was expecting to raise the bar with their sophomore effort.While I love this CD, I think No Guts, No Glory is more of a continuation of Running Wild. It doesn’t break any new ground, but it still kicks ass!
7. Accept – Blood of the Nations
Metal album of the year? I say yes! Who would have thought that former T.T. Quick singer Mark Tornillo would have done such a great job as the new singer of Accept. He fits in perfectly, and helped to deliver what is in my opinion one of the best Accept CD’s since the 80’s. No metalhead should be without Accept’s Blood of the Nations.
Krokus is the band that gets no respect in my opinion. The band returned to their classic lineup, and released what is one of the better CD’s in the Krokus Discography with their new CD Hoodoo. This CD has an awesome classic feel to it, and is one that I love to put in my car CD player, and crank up for a long drive. Marc Storace still sounds exactly the same after all of these years. If you are a Krokus fan, you need to get this.
5. Black Tora – Rise of the Tora
The band formerly known as Warryor, released their debut album Rise of the Tora in 2009. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear this CD until 201o. To my ears Black Tora is a band that is very worthy to crack my top five for 2010. These former Rocklahoma participants blast out classic 80’s metal as if they were born in the era. I am very glad that there are bands like Black Tora to carry on with the classic metal sound that I love. Rise of the Tora is a CD not to be missed.
Sweet Jesus, when Christine Sixx introduced me to Taddy Porter, I had no idea what to expect. What I found is a killer rock band that brings together the classic sounds of bands like Led Zeppelin, Bad Company & Grand Funk Railroad. Taddy Porter’s music has more of a 70’s classic rock feel that gives a big boost to revival rock.If you like The Answer, Black Stone Cherry, or Jaded Sun, you need to grab Taddy Porter’s debut CD! It is a great one!
The reunion of Stephen Pearcy with Ratt was a great one for sure. Having Carlos Cavaso as the band’s newest guitar player didn’t hurt either. He helped write some of the better tunes on Infestation. If you are a fan of RATT & Roll, you need to get Infestation now!
2. Scorpions – Sting in the Tail
The Scorpions narrowly missed coming in #1 in 2010. Sting in the Tail is an awesome way for the band to bid farewell to the fans.If the band would have released the Premium version of their CD first, which has the awesome “Lets Rock” tune, plus five more bonus tracks, this CD without question would have been #1. (The Premium version is only available as an import as of today).
1. Kissin’ Dynamite – Addicted To Metal
Picking a # 1 CD for the year was extremely difficult this year. There was a ton of great music, but when I look at the CD that I kept replaying, and kept going back to, it was Addicted to Metal from Germany’s Kissin’ Dynamite. I have enjoyed this CDa ton. Having a guest vocal from former Accept front man Udo Dirkschneider didn’t hurt the band one bit. This band’s revival rock/ 80’s metal sound always puts a smile on my face. If you missed Addicted to Metal, you need to find this CD now!
Honorable Mentions!
The following releases nearly cracked the Top 20, are certainly worth your hard earned cash!
KEEL – Streets of Rock & Roll
Black Label Society – Order of the Black
Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
Black Water Rising – S/T
Social Code – Rock N Roll
Treat – Coup De Grace
Crazy Lixx – My Religion
Hansel – Never Say Die
Jetboy – Off Your Rocker
Crazy Lixx – My Religion
Overkill – Ironbound
Helloween – 7 Sinners
Dirty Skirty – Long Live Rock N’ Roll
0 ACCEPT ANNOUNCE FIRST LEG OF NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
After debuting their new line up to a sold-out audience in New York this past May and then traveling to Europe to devastate the masses with shows in 16 different countries in 80 days (including two shows opening for AC/DC), Germany’s legendary metal band ACCEPT will return to tour the U.S. for the first time in 14 years on a co-headlining tour with King’s X. Their first show will kick-off the eleventh annual ProgPower USA festival in Atlanta.
Guitarist & songwriter Wolf Hoffman checks in about the band’s time in Germany & their upcoming North American trek:
“Believe me, this was boot camp, but we loved every minute of it! Twelve months ago, there was nothing on the horizon that would have made us believe we would be on the stages of the world again as ACCEPT… and here we are! [New lead vocalist] Mark Tornillo inspires us to get it all out in a way we have not been challenged before. We can’t wait to be on stage with him!!!! He is the new kid on the block and he is the reason we are back again. It is such a relief, such vitamin shot!!! And if we could, we would never stop!!!”….
When asked what has surprised the band the most about their fans, Hoffman responds enthusiastically:
“NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – the biggest surprise is the way they make us feel welcomed. Of course we hoped the fans would be happy to have us back – who would not believe that about their fans? – but, what is happening here, EVERYWHERE we go, is a TOTAL KNOCK-OUT for us. WE HAVE NOT SEEN FANS SO HAPPY IN A LONG, LONG TIME.”
Confirmed tour dates are:
Thursday – September 9, 2010
Center Stage – Atlanta, GA
(PROGPOWER FESTIVAL)
Thursday – September 23, 2010
The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY
Friday – September 24, 2010
Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Saturday – September 25, 2010
Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
Wednesday – September 27, 2010
B.B. Kings Blues Club – New York, NY
Saturday – September 29, 2010
The Showcase Live – Foxboro, MA
Friday – October 1, 2010
The Silo – Reading, PA
Saturday – October 2, 2010
The Emerald Theatre – Mt. Clemens (Detroit), MI
Saturday – October 9, 2010
The Arcada – St. Charles (Chicago), IL
Tuesday – October 12, 2010
House of Blues – Dallas, TX
Wednesday – October 13, 2010
House of Blues – Houston, TX
0 Pre-orders Available on Accept’s Blood of Nations Digi-pak.
Nuclear Blast USA’s Webshop is now taking pre-orders for the exclusive North American mail-order digi-pak edition of ACCEPT’s Blood Of The Nations album. This exclusive release features the bonus track “Time Machine.”
The pre-order bundle includes an ACCEPT “Teutonic Terror” t-shirt and can be ordered here.
Track listing for the Blood Of The Nations digi-pak is:
01. Beat the Bastards
02. Teutonic Terror
03. The Abyss
04. Blood of the Nations
05. Shades of Death
06. Locked and Loaded
07. Time Machine (North American Bonus Track)
08. Kill the Pain
09. Rollin’ Thunder
10. Pandemic
11. New World Comin’
12. No Shelter
13. Bucketful of Hate
Blood Of The Nations, ACCEPT’s twelfth full-length studio album recorded at Backstage Studio in England with famed producer Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Exodus, Opeth, Arch Enemy), will be released in North America on September 14th.
ACCEPT’s 2010 line-up (which features three on-going members) is: Wolf Hoffmann, guitar; Peter Baltes, bass; Stefan Schwarzmann, drums; Herman Frank, guitar; and Mark Tornillo on vocals.
