Tag: Youngblood
5 Rob Rockitt’s Top Hard Rock Albums of 2012
Yes, it is that time of year again. Hard Rock Hideout writers, Rob Rockitt and Ryo Vie pick our Top 10 albums of 2012. 2012 was a solid year for hard rock. There were many great releases, and quite a few above average ones as well. Trying to pick the top 10 is always a daunting task each year. After a lot of thought, discriminating, listening and re-listening, I have finally made my choices. If you haven’t added the 10 albums below to your collection, you are truly missing out on the best of 2012.
The following albums almost made the cut in the top 10, but are definitely worth mentioning.
Honorable Mentions:
RUSH – Clockwork Angels
ACCEPT – Stalingrad
Youngblood – No Retreat
Dokken – Broken Bones
L.A. Guns – Hollywood Forever
The Darkness – Hotcakes
Foxy Shazam – The Church of Rock and Roll
Papa Roach – The Connection
The Treatment – This Might Hurt
Jackyl – Best In Show
Bullet – Full Pull
Slash – Apocalyptic Love
Kill Devil Hill – S/T
SNEW – What’s It To Ya
Europe – Bag of Bones
Jack Blades – Rock N Roll Ride
Fozzy – Sin & Bones
Trixter – New Audio Machine
In This Moment – Blood
Testament – Dark Roots of Earth
And now for my top 10 of 2012!
10. Texas Hippie Coalition – Peacemaker – Texas Hippie Coalition released their third album Peacemaker in 2012, and in my opinion, in it is their best one yet. These boys are obviously still “Pissed Off and Mad About It”. Their anger has inspired a new set of killer tunes including “Hands Up”, “Damn You To Hell”, “Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll”, and “Paw Paw Hill”. Don’t miss this!! Check out the song “Hands Up” below.
9. Halestorm – The Strange Case Of – Halestorm’s latest effort The Strange Case Of isn’t without some cheesy tunes (especially if you have the version with the bonus tracks) but overall, it is a very strong release and Lzzy Hale has never sounded better. Check out the song “Freak Like Me” below.
8. Jettblack – Raining Rock – Raining Rock is no sophomore slump for the UK rockers Jettblack. It is a shame that this hasn’t had an official U.S. release. I am betting a lot of folks missed this one, and everyone who loves classic rock should check this one out. You can get it at Amazon.com.
7. Shinedown – Amaryllis – I loved Shinedown’s 2008 CD The Sound of Madness, so I was really looking forward to hearing Amaryllis. Amaryllis might be borderline when it comes to hard rock, but this is easily one of Shinedown’s best CD’s to date, and easily one of the best of 2012.
Check out the song “Unity” below.
6. Adler – Back From The Dead – One of the biggest surprises of 2012, is the debut album from former Guns N’ Roses drummer Stephen Adler. This CD has great rocking tunes, and no filler tracks. Adler outdid his former band mate Slash as far as new music in 2012 in my opinion.
5. Adrenaline Mob – Omertá – What happens when Russell Allen (Sumphony X) and Mike Portnoy (Ex-Dream Theater) join forces? They put out a damn find hard rock album that is NOT progressive metal. I think the non progressive style of Omerta surprised some folks, but give this one a few spins, and you can’t deny that this is a great album. Everyone should be talking about Mike Orlando, who is one incredible guitarist.
Check out the song “Indifferent” below.
4. The Cult – Choice of Weapon – With the Cult set on releasing time capsules instead of albums, I didn’t think we would ever have another new album from the band. Much to my surprise and utter happiness, The Cult released Choice of Weapon last May. In my opinion, this albums stands up to some of the Cult’s best work including Electric and Sonic Temple.
Check out the song “For the Animals”!
3. Charm City Devils – Sins – It took a few years for CCD to put out their second effort Sins, but I can gladly say that it was worth the wait. John Allen is a fine song writer, and pretty decent singer too. Sins leans more toward the modern side of hard rock but their isn’t a bad song on Sins. I love their remake of “Man of Constant Sorrow”, and have played the hell out of Sins in 2012.
Check out the song “Unstoppable” below.
2. Van Halen – A Different Kind of Truth – Everyone wanted to see David Lee Roth rejoin Van Halen, but it took a few years for the band to record some new tunes. I say “new” loosely with so many older demo cuts being used on A Different Kind of Truth, but as must people already know. OLD Van Halen is the best Van Halen, and A Different Kind of Truth is a great album. (And yes, I even like the song “Tattoo”.)
1. KISS – Monster – You wanted the best, you got the best!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think KISS would be able to put out another album as strong as Monster. I enjoyed their previous effort Sonic Boom, but Monster outshines that album by a mile. Easily my favorite KISS album since Revenge! This album is practically worth picking up for “Wall of Sound” all by itself. Hopefully KISS will tour for this album another year, and do more songs from it.
0 Youngblood – No Retreat (2012)
Eonian Records has been putting out some cool stuff over the last few years, but their latest release No Retreat by Youngblood is a step above anything they have put out yet. How this CD didn’t get released in the early nineties is mind-boggling! No Retreat is packed with catchy tunes that every fan of hair metal is going to love.
What does the band sound like? How about a blend of Steelheart, Poison and Extreme?! It really is that good! Singer Bobby Sisk could give Miljenko Matijevic a run for his money.
No Retreat is one of those rare releases where there is no filler songs at all. My favorites are “Pump It Up”, “Get Down To It”, “Heat of the Passion”, “Taste of Your Lovin’ “, “Back In My Life” and “Don’t Play With My Head”. It is a tall order for any band to write an album full of good songs. Youngblood has dished out sixteen of them on “No Retreat”!
With music this good, I hope Youngblood will do some reunion shows. I would love to hear the songs on No Retreat played live!
If you are a fan of hair metal, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this CD! You won’t be disappointed!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Pump It Up
02. Love Is All Around
03. Sock It To Me
04. Get Down To It
05. Shot of You
06. Heat of the Passion
07. Save Your Lies
08. Feel Thang
09. Find A Way
10. Taste Of Your Lovin’
11. Back In My Life
12. Coming Home
13. My One and Only
14. Don’t Play With My Head
15. You’ve Gotta Go
16. I Love You
Youngblood is:
Bobby Sisk – Lead Vocals
Jeff Diehl – Guitars & Vocals
Eric Saylors – Guitars & Vocals
Danny William – Keyboards & Vocals
Kyle Koker – Bass & Vocals
Kevin Kale – Drums
0 New Hard Rock & Metal Releases for October 9th!
This is a crazy new release week, with new arrival’s from KISS, Danko Jones, 69 Eyes, an amazing new hair metal CD from Youngblood,
a new live disc from Motorhead and many more. Go to your local music store and support new music!!
New Releases for October 9th!
KISS – Monster
The Wallflowers – Glad All Over
The Very Best of Dio – Vol. 2
The 17-track The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2 CD (released via Niji Entertainment) picks up exactly where the first volume left off – from 1996 onward. And in addition to featuring such latter-day Dio classics as Killing the Dragon, Push, and Fever Dreams, the compilation will also include several rarities that fans have long requested on a single disc – Electra (which previously was only a part of the ultra-rare Tournado box set), Prisoner of Paradise, and Metal Will Never Die.
Nonpoint – S/T
Wednesday 13 – Spook & Destroy
Danko Jones – Rock And Roll is Black And Blue
Youngblood – No Regrets
Coheed & Cambria – Afterman: Ascension
Motorhead – The Wörld Is Ours – Vol 2 – Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else (Live)
69 Eyes – X
Obsession – Order of Chaos (Michael Vescera, BJ Zampa, Chris McCarvill
1 YOUNGBLOOD’S “NO RETREAT” ALBUM RELEASE TODAY; EONIAN RECORDS PRESENTS YOUNGBLOOD VIDEO TEASER
Metallers Youngblood have released their debut full-length album: NO RETREAT October 9th in North America and throughout Europe on Eönian Records and distributed by Sony RED & Nightmare Records. Produced by Jeff Diehl (who has worked with such legends and luminaries as Gene Simmons, Sweet FA, Ma Kelly, Kramus, Healing Sixes, Eddie Kramer and many more.) NO RETREAT was recorded in the band’s hometown of Indianapolis and has been referred to as a hot, fiery fist of Rock n’ Roll and the band compared to as a blend of Warrant, Slaughter and Firehouse. Please see below for full track-listing.
Hailing from Indianapolis, Youngblood cut their teeth relentlessly playing 4 to 6 nights a week, 10 to 12 months a year. The band came onto the music scene when Sony/Epic Music first heard the band’s demo of NO RETREAT’S first single “Don’t Play with My Head.” The band worked tirelessly for nine months to generate forty-five tracks that were mixed and mastered by Diehl Productions. Sixteen tracks are being released on the band’s first album NO RETREAT. MelodicRock.com declares “Youngblood’s attitude and music have ‘star-power’ written all over it”, while Senda Producciones says NO RETREAT is “Insanely awesome …this music is f**king orgasmic!” Europe’s top Hard Rock & Metal publication, Fireworks Magazine sums up NO RETREAT in just one word “BRILLIANT!”
YOUNGBLOOD is Bobby Sisk (Lead Vocals), Jeff Diehl (Guitars & Vocals), Eric Saylors (Guitars & Vocals), Danny Williams (Keyboards & Vocals), Kyle Koker (Bass & Vocals), and Kevin Kale (Drums).
“NO RETREAT” Track-Listing:
1. Pump It Up
2. Love Is All Around
3. Sock It To Me
4. Get Down To It
5. Shot of You
6. Heat of the Passion
7. Save Your Lies
8. Feel Thang
9. Find A Way
10. Taste Of Your Lovin’
11. Back In My Life
12. Coming Home
13. My One and Only
14. Don’t Play With My Head
15. You’ve Gotta Go
16. I Love You
0 NEW HARD ROCK SENSATION YOUNGBLOOD IS UNEARTHED BY EONIAN RECORDS
Indianapolis natives YOUNGBLOOD finally release their amazing debut album “NO RETREAT” this October, through Eönian Records.
Featuring guitarist and producer Jeff Diehl, who has worked with such legends and luminaries as Gene Simmons, Sweet FA, Ma Kelly, Night Ranger, Kramus, Eddie Kramer and many more. YOUNGBLOOD also toured extensively as Epic Records recording artist Henry Lee Summers’ backing band.
With industry and media stalwarts likening YOUNGBLOOD’s sound to that of Slaughter, Steelheart, Firehouse, Skid Row, Motley Crue, Extreme and even Bon Jovi, this album is sure to light up the airwaves and be recognized as a bonafide modern classic of Sunset Strip influenced heavy rock.
Featuring mind-blowing musicianship, and completely re-mixed and re-mastered, these tracks – originally recorded for Sony/Epic Records in 1989 – storm out of the speakers like velvet thunder, and with the global resurgence of hard rock and hair metal are sounding as contemporary as anything recorded today.
Hard Rock archaeologists Eönian Records have partnered with YOUNGBLOOD to deliver what may be THE hair metal release of 2012 – and with ample material still in the vault, you can expect to hear more from this band very soon.
Eönian Records recently began a distribution deal with the premiere and award-winning Independent Distribution Company Sony RED throughout the US and Nightmare Records Worldwide.
YOUNGBLOOD is Bobby Sisk on Lead Vocals, Jeff Diehl on Guitars & Vocals, Eric Saylors on Guitars & Vocals, Danny Williams on Keyboards & Vocals, Kyle Koker on Bass & Vocals, and Kevin Kale on Drums.
YOUNGBLOOD “No Retreat” will be available world-wide on October 9, 2012 through CD and Digital Stores, as well as through www.EonianRecords.com.
Check out the promo clip for “No Retreat” below.
Track Listing: 1. Pump It Up 2. Love Is All Around 3. Sock It To Me 4. Get Down To It 5. Shot of You 6. Heat of the Passion 7. Save Your Lies 8. Feel Thang 9. Find A Way 10. Taste of Your Lovin' 11. Back In My Life 12. Coming Home 13. My One And Only 14. Don't Play With My Head 15. You've Gotta Go 16. I Love You
