Tyketto - Dig in Deep 2012

For die hard fans of early '90s AOR and hard rock scene, Tyketto name should be included in their memory very well. This band from New York once hit high with their hits "Forever Young". However, again their music was boxed in favour to the grunge movement. This month, after we got Trixter come back, Tyketto also join the hype and succesfully recorded a new album , Dig in Deep.

Just like Trixter, Tyketto faithfully played the music what made up them, the hard rock and AOR. But rather than leaning to blues territory, Tyketto is also got country rock feel. The album started with Faithless and its opening riff we waiting for. The other highlight is The Fight Left in Me, a shred in intro but smoothly run into the same hard rock song we already get in every track. The rest are nostalgic country ballad couple with catchy hard rock songs, the example are the last track, This is How We Say Goodbye. Singer Danny Vaughn put in the great vocal for this style and the guitarist licks and solo all magnify the songs.

This album will bring you back to the '90s AOR scene. The entire album are solid hard rock music, put in a thick wild west feel with slide guitar and country like vocal line. If you never listen to Tyketto this album are recommended for you.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Tyketto - Dig in Deep 2012 (Frontier)
buy it here

1. Faithless … 4:56

2. Love To Love … 4:24

3. Here’s Hoping It Hurts … 3:51

4. Battle Lines … 3:30

5. The Fight Left In Me … 4:56

6. Evaporate … 3:42

7. Monday … 4:02

8. Dig In Deep … 4:09

9. Sound Off … 3:06

10. Let This One Slide … 4:29

11. This Is How We Say Goodbye … 4:41

Danny Vaughn – Vocals

Brooke St. James – Guitars

Jimi Kennedy – Bass

Michael Clayton – Drums

Producer: Tyketto

Cover album artwork

Moonspell Alpha Noir / Omega White (2012)

Moonspell just put in another spell to eclipse our day with extreme music this week. Not very familiar with their works except "Eternal Night", I dig into their latest album, Alpha Noir and Omega White. I have read elsewhere that this album yet another awesome release from them. On first spin I have to agree to some, but this album is so much to tell rather than just "awesome".

This album, especially the first disc, Alpha Noir, is under the microscope made up of several styles. They are build on Gothic Metal feeling, but then the music free to switch between, mostly a metalcore or even punk rock style of drumming. Yet their patent feature are the Black Metal growling vocal. The vocal is another story here since it's can all of sudden switch to the bariton Gothic metal, even at the moment you slightest expected.

Their opening track Axis Mundi is actually a very strong teaser, with blackened death metal voice that work the best on the spot. The second song come in at the same speed but more groovy, Lickanthrope is like Pantera in his slower tempo and Gothic keyboard layering. Versus is also very mind blowing here, the vocal entry directly in a punk beat, just a second of it. Then the title song hit the nail. Alpha Noir start as clock ticking guitar riff then snorkeling deep into dark gothic and metal composition. This is also the second song that feature a breaking in bariton clean vocal. After the few spin this feature will be smoothly come in, imagine when you are on roller coaster you will need that "slow motion" ala Matrix moment.

And that's basically high note son this album, the rest of Alpha Noir serve more as a continuation. The closing instrumental track Sine Missione is rather unnecessary. For the second disc, Omega White it contained mostly the slower song with clean voice singing and closer to Gothic atmosphere. On the first half the album still interesting but then it is just fair that this addition is to served as semi B side album here.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Moonspell Alpha Noir / Omega White 2012
buy it here

Disc I [Alpha Noir]
01. Axis Mundi
02. Lickanthrope
03. Versus
04. Alpha Noir
05. Em Nome Do Medo
06. Opera Carne
07. Love Is Blasphemy
08. Grand Stand
09. Sine Missione

Disc II [Omega White]
01. White Omega
02. White Skies
03. Fireseason
04. New Tears Eve
05. Herodisiac
06. Incantatrix
07. Sacrificial
08. A Greater Darkness

Fernando Ribeiro - vocals
Pedro Paixão - keyboards, guitars
Ricardo Amorim - guitars
Mike Gaspar - drums
Aires Pereira - bass

Moonspell double album art Alpha Noir and Omega White artwork

Europe - Bag of Bones 2012

Europe album review "Bag of Bones" 2012

When Europe released their 2009 album Last Look At Eden, with their symphonic intro and first track that symphonic metal feel, there was a heavenly hope that Europe may turn their way back to their 80s melodic metal root. But we must close their "Final Countdown" era chapter closely, even as earlier as decade ago for this hope. Europe is too busy to return what they already dismissed. Today, Europe is still the big name when playing music, and a blues hard rock style is the lucky style they pick to explore.

Bag of Bones is nowhere Europe of 80s we know, but noway a bad album either. In fact, if you really love music and to be precise love traditional hard rock with strong bluesy licks, this album will licks you into wet dreaming. Bag of Bones is a fine hard rock album with veteran musician know exactly what they what in every single note. John Norum is shine every time the guitar picked the highlight. Singer Joey Tempest is what every Europe song sounds Europe. We be served a nostalgic "Seven Door Hotels" moment, when I heard track My Women My Friend. It's hard to refused to say Tempest is one of best character vocal to sing in this style, so natural bluesy.

Mic Michaeli keyboard support is now transform perfectly from shredding metal solo to Deep Purple-ish hammond and blue tuts. Rhythm section Ian the drummer and Leven bass put in the support that dictate the every song literally.

For you who believe in music, this album will tear you down. Europe put in many elements of music and serve it  with blues hard rock as main theme. There is a funk (Riches to Rags) and something like a modern alternative rock in almost 70% of the album. Cleverly composed by Europe, and let's not forget the architect behind the production, producer Kevin Shirley. Their transformation is similar to Bon Jovi, now only play a country rock music instead their 80s glam rock. One more note is the highly visual attractive cover album which to me just like ala Agatha Christie the find your clue game graphic.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Europe Bag of Bones 2012
buy it here

01. Riches to Rags
02. Not Supposed to Sing the Blues
03. Firebox
04. Bag of Bones
05. Requiem
06. My Woman My Friend
07. Demon Head
08. Drink and a Smile
09. Doghouse
10. Mercy You Mercy Me
11. Bring It All Home (Japan Bonus)

Joey Tempest (vocals)
John Norum (guitar)
John Levén (bass)
Mic Michaeli (keyboards)
Ian Haugland (drums)
Joe Bonamassa (slide guitar on title track)
Produced by Kevin Shirley

can you find hidden object in this Europe Graphic Cover Art album?

List of Guitarist Crossed Path with Megadeth

In its thirty years of acts, Dave Mustaine has put in most notable guitarist on his Megadeth line up. There are about seven guitarist that officially manage to landed as Dave's right hand. Two of them only serve as appetizer to Megadeth's earlier years:

Greg Handevidt - He stayed in the same rented apartment with Mustaine and present as founding member of Megadeth. Greg then returned to Minnesota and his story ended there. Greg then formed a band Kublai Khan but retired in late '80, now work as an attorney.


Kerry King - Mustaine then proceed to invite, or rather pursued, Kerry King to help the band. Kerry King already part of Slayer. Kerry played a few live show and then the history then finished there as Kerry return to Slayer. Kerry was reported saw Dave playing with Metallica and greatly admired that. Dave Ellefson also stated that Kerry is a natural fit to Dave because he fundamentally know the riff. Although there were feud between Mustaine, but in 2000s where Megadeth and Slayer join in Big Four concert, both guitarist become business colleague again. 


Five guitarist shred in the history of Megadeth and recorded an album.

Chris Poland - served as Megadeth guitarist in Peace Sells and Killing is My Business....from 1984 to 1987. Chris defined the earlier sound of Megadeth. Dave Mustaine praised Chris as a rich player and his jazzy influence. Chris are the only Megadeth guitarist who return to help Mustaine after his departure from Megadeth. Chris Poland helped Megadeth again in 2004 and recorded all solo on the album The System Has Failed.


Jeff Young - Chris was out and Jeff Young fill in in 1987 to 1989. Dave Mustaine impressed with Jeff Young skill who transcribed all Chris Poland's part within half hour, and dismissed the guitarist he actually hired at that time in favor to Jeff Young. Jeff later recorded So Far So Good So What? In 2009 Jeff Young for first time posted online about Megadeth. He rebute what Dave Mustaine reportedly told on how Jeff's solo was created. 


Marty Friedman - The pinnacle success of Megadeth and stayed with Mustaine for ten years 1989 to 2000. Marty Friedman was in his solo career previously and as duet guitarist with Jason Becker in Cacophony. Marty was already a rising star with his Dragon Kiss solo album. He auditioned for Dave and accepted. The only drama was Dave didn't like Marty's hair style and decided to transform Marty into more thrash looking guy.


Following Megadeth success in 1990s , Megadeth later distracted from thrash metal and went into obscure album Risk. On this point, Marty Friedman already felt in love with his new age / Japanese influence style and retreat from Megadeth. After this point, Marty was never again in thrash scene and produce more experimental solo instrumental album.


Al Pitrelli - Come in as replacement was Allan Pitrelli. Al who already technically high skill player of Savatage and Trans Atlantic Orchestra come in as rescue. Al Pitrelli help Mustaine recorded The World Needs A Hero. Al Pitrelli interpret of previous Megadeth catalog are recorded well in Rude Awakening live album and DVD. The report said Al Pitrelli was hired to play live and only got 15 minutes notice. Al perhaps the only guitarist not got "fired" because Megadeth later disbanded on his era.


Glen Drover - Glen Drover was then replace Al Pitrelli in 2004 until 2008. He was join with drummer Shawn Drover. Glen previously a King Diamond guitarist. In 2008 Glen retreated from the band to focus on family. Glen later recorded a solo album in 2011, Metalusion. He recorded United Abominations with Megadeth.


Chris Broderick - Highly skill guitarist, Chris Broderick later join Megadeth. He serve Megadeth from 2008 till today. Dave Mustaine was very happy with his "founding" and compare to Ozzy met Randy Rhoads. Chris portfolio was with Jag Panzer and Nevermore. His contribution defined Megadeth most shredding tune in Endgame and Th1rt3en album.


Then there are guitar players that crossed path with Megadeth. Imagine what will happen if history are replace by this event:


Lee Altus - from Heathen band. He was considered as replacement of Jeff Young but declined due to Megadeth high drug situation on that time. Lee is still active today, his portfolio included served as member of Exodus.


Eric Meyer - He, along Lee Altus, was once reported to auditioned for Jeff Young departure. Eric Meyer didn't join Megadeth but stay with his band Dark Angel. In the interview Eric Meyer once admitted he was not in comfortable feeling to join Megadeth. In this interview Jim Durkan and Eric Meyer also state they were once asked by Mustaine to help Megadeth in pre Chris Poland year.


Dimebag_Darrell - In this time Mustaine also talked to Dimebag Darrel. Dimebag was ready to join with only one cause, if he could bring along brother Vinnie Darrel as drummer. The history didn't went that way because Megadeth already hired Nick Menza. If Dimebag ever join Megadeth we probably never see Pantera and Rust in Peace will be different story to now. Even Mustaine exclaimed the imagination of "Dave, Junior (Ellefson), Dimebag and Vinnie doing together is Richer scale high"


Jeff Loomis - Another child prodigy came in Megadeth jamming room in Jeff Young audition era. Jeff was jamming together Mustaine "Wake Up Dead", "The Conjuring" and "In My Darkest Hour". After the jam Mustaine kindly told Jeff he was way too young to join Megadeth and praise Jeff's playing "you will be a good player in the future". Jeff Loomis later part of progressive metal act Nevermore. He was 16 in this story.


Jeff Waters - Of Annihilator fame. Jeff told a story that Mustaine once approched him to join in as Jeff Young replacement. But Jeff already leader in Annihilator and decline the offer. If ever happen Jeff Waters in  Megadeth we will not see Annihilator album Set the World in Fire and so on. Mustaine witnessed that he like Never, Neverland album. A Youtube video on Jeff Waters recalled the situation is available.

Slash - Would you imagine Slash join Megadeth in 1989 and we never got Use Your Illusion? There was actually a percentage of that happening because he was offered the job back then. Dave and Slash somehow developing a nice relationship. When Dave release "Endgame" Slash openly praise the album and Dave return the words by saying it was a honor Slash to like it.

So, that's all I can compiled here. I am sure there are plenty awesome guitarist to crossed path with Megadeth but can't have the valid online resource, if you happen to know interesting story on this topic just put in the comments.

Sunstorm Emotional Fire (2012)

Apparantly there is one more project by Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69) bassist other than Place Vendome and Unisonic. This time his hero is Joe Lynn Turner, of course the Joe from the Rainbow and Deep Purple. Sunstorm, is not a new project band, they has release two excellent album in the past. Emotional Fire is their third release, again in AOR spirit. Most of material on this album however based on Joe's back catalogue as a singer or backing singer. Which is very good all of them.

The vocal is out of discuss for its excellent vibe Joe Lynn Turner we got. Opening track title Never Give Up really lift up the mood of AOR, with its minor catchy riff intro. Joe also included arrangement of Michael Bolton Gina, which Joe sung as backing. This Gina song is my favorite track along with other girl Emily. The title track song Emotional Fire is from Cher hit.

What differed this from Unisonic is this is a more light mood AOR than Unisonic. More keyboard layering, more classic. This album will rise you a good mood for a day. It will bring us back to Journey years. Nice additional to our AOR catalog this year with Unisonic, Trixter and Jeff Scott Soto.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Sunstorm - Emotional Fire (2012)
buy it here

1. Never Give Up
2. Emotional Fire
3. Lay Down Your Arms
4. You Wouldn’t Know Love
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Torn in Half
7. Gina
8. The Higher You Rise
9. Emily
10. Follow Your Heart
11. All I Am

Joe Lynn Turner (lead vocals)
Uwe Reitenauer (guitar)
Dennis Ward (bass, guitar, backing vocals)
Chris Schmidt (drums)
Justin Dakey (keyboard)

Photo cover art by Sunstorm

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012

This is a continuing collaboration supergroup between Michael Kiske and the Pink Cream 69 crews, to be precise Dennis Ward on bass and Kosta Zafiriou on drum. They were in a side project band called Place Vendome before. What make it different now is additional of guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex Krokus) and .... Kai Hansen. The genre of the band is again AOR type quite similar to Place Vendome. Additional of Kai Hansen do little in bringing back a power metal tune, instead Kai blend nicely into this melodic rock style. This is their first full length album because previously an EP had been released.

First song, Unisonic rise me little fear because Michael Kiske is, in my image, more a melancholy singer than a wild and "happy" rocker. So the chorus "Unison-ic!" is a little weird to me with Kiske. The second song is back on track with Kiske's Souls Alive. Recommended tracks are  Never Changed Me , King For A Day and I've Tried. There is no Helloween trace except a memory on Chameleon here, so fans of Hansen and Kiske expecting this feature should be retreat here. A solid melodious AOR album here.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012
buy it here

01. Unisonic
02. Souls Alive
03. Never Too Late
04. I've Tried
05. Star Rider
06. Never Change Me
07. Renegade
08. My Sanctuary
09. King For A Day
10. We Rise
11. No One Ever Sees Me
12. Over The Rainbow [bonus] [limited edition]



Line-up
Michael Kiske - vocals, guitar
Kai Hansen - guitars
Mandy Meyer - guitars
Kosta Zafiriou - drums
Dennis Ward - bass








Unisonic graphical art design

Trixter - New Audio Machine 2012

Wow... is this our missing love, Trixter? Is this the music we sacrificed to made a room for grunge? What did we eat back then? This is my first impression hearing back to this Trixter newest 2012 album. Back in the nineties, there were many acts of glam metal, from the super millionairess GN'R or Bon Jovi to the second layered Winger, Warrant, Firehouse and.... Trixter. Yes, how could we forget this band hailed from New Jersey. The road of glam metal wasn't very clear to them twenty years ago and after producing some really nice vibe with album Hear! (1990), Trixter called it quit in the mid of nineties, one of our best regard victims of alternative rock and grunge. And my last memory with Trixter was their contribution on OST album If Looks Could Kill.

So, when the news from Frontier Records and their social network confirm a 2012 album, I was mouthwatering to get what will they offer. On this reunion and emotional release, New Audio Machine we got nothing except the "WOW". Wow, because they simply continue what they left behind back then. The first track "Drag Me Down" is a simply blown away Southern Bluesy Hard Rock tune. There are simply followed by track like Get On It, Love Machine and Dirty Love, all songs that typically what we used to heard twenty years ago. This album are best in showing how good the crunchy guitar still sounds. Not to mentioned the superb on the game singer, Peter Loran. He sound simply classic here, just listen to track Physical Attraction.

There hard to pick which song stand out because they all on good quality. Best spot on AOR, Melodic rock or glam metal whatever to call it, my recommendations is Machine because of its classic intro, and the last track (European Bonus) Find A Memory which heavy and the last sign of them showing respond to 21st century AOR scene. Out of this, almost zero percent evidence that they need to compromise the music to this time. Outstanding melodic album, best glam metal we got yet again from veteran band this year.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Trixter - New Audio Machine (2012)
buy it here

01. Drag Me Down
02. Get On It
03. Dirty Love
04. Machine
05. Live For The Day
06. Ride
07. Physical Attraction
08. Tattoos & Misery
09. The Coolest Thing
10. Save Your Soul
11. Walk With A Stranger
12. Find A Memory (European Bonus)

Peter Loran– lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Steve Brown– lead guitar, harmonica, backing vocals

P. J. Farley– bass guitar, backing vocals

Mark "Gus" Scott– drums, percussion, backing vocals 

Album graphic design

Paradise Lost Tragic Idol 2012

When hearing Paradise Lost, what actually we expected from them? Are we keep their nostalgic Gothic and Shades of God, the doom metal era as our benchmark? Or the Draconian Times and Icon era? My cup of tea is the later. Twenty years ago, Icon and Draconian Times were the album that stood very high above their era that these twin album still give me a very strong Gothic feeling right until now. So, when Paradise Lost announced their 2012 album Tragic Idol, these two memorable albums feeling are what I expected the most. Let not discuss their 'lost' era, in between Draconian Time until now.

Tragic Idol is an interesting album with mixed feeling. This album is so demanding that I feel extreme need to write a detail review here. So before we started I will concluded it first that Tragic Idol is so far their best offering that return to their respective two eras we identified before.

Solitary One, the opening song, started with interesting lick we immediately welcome to Paradise Lost music. The one sentence per vocal line is a hundred percent return and trade mark of Paradise Lost, or Nick Holmes vocal. The feeling is immediately in Icon era. What we got as compromise here is the howling backing vocals and the ping pong keyboard accentuation, we should understand this as Paradise Lost need of new sound.

 Crucify is one of interesting point here. After the doom intro, suddenly we un-expected have the 'catchy' riff with a brief of heavy metal grooving here. It's heavy and blistering guitar solos decorated all the way.

Fear of Impending Hell, the intro, the acoustic and clean vocal followed, this song quite successful bring us back to the nostalgic Icon era. Something with Honesty in Death.

Theories from Another World, is by far their most complexes, or should I say, complicated composition. It is a double pedal drum with thrash metal riff. Doom metal vocal but with a vocal line a bit utilizing death metal scale. Maybe one of most unexpected Paradise Lost song here.

In This We Dwell, is another surprise, Paradise Lost gone a bit with power metal scale riff and galloping chops. 

To The Darkness is another awesome intro and song. It return to Gothic feel, dark and heavier. This then break in Tragic Idol and Worth Fighting For, which are classic return to their sound.  The Glorious End, despite its blitz guitar lick intro, it is another doom feel song that perfectly close the album.

So, is this an album more about the past than about creating new sound? Dunno, but Paradise Lost has success in rising nostalgic in every track. All the songs are cleverly composed. The only thing made them "new" I think is the drumming part, all the rest pretty much return to their classic sound. I would say this is another surprising above performance by the veteran band in this 2012 year. Completely a must have album for Paradise Lost admirers.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol 2012

buy the album here at Amazon

01. Solitary One
02. Crucify
03. Fear Of Impending Hell
04. Honesty In Death
05. Theories From Another World
06. In This We Dwell
07. To The Darkness
08. Tragic Idol
09. Worth Fighting For
10. The Glorious End

Bonus tracks (Limited Edition)
01. Ending Through Changes
02. Never Take Me Alive (Spear Of Destiny cover version)

Line-up

Nick Holmes - vocals
Greg Mackintosh - lead guitar
Aaron Aedy - rhythm guitar
Steve Edmondson - bass guitar
Adrian Erlandsson - drums

Paradise Lost artistic cover art for Tragic Idol - graphic design by Valnoir.

DragonForce The Power Within 2012

DragonForce is one of that few (power) metal band that talked loud outside our little shell of world. Even my 10 years nephew listen to them, one day I was on a check in desk in the airport of Jakarta and the very ordinary ticketing girl played “Through the Fire and Flames” with her phone. This achievement is in a good sense. In such fortune situation , there were also exist those who constantly opposed their achievement. Most because of their extreme fast song that raise doubt on their technical ability. But by the time tells, they need no such fancy tricks as they are all authentically hand created music. With this I like the band even more as they survive the hardest doubt in the industry and keep metal on.

The Power Within is their next offering for 2012. The issue on this album is, DragonForce parted way with original singer ZP and their replacement is dude Marc Hudson. Hudson’s character is closely match the original one and this let the album experience only slight tuning for old time listener. As usual duo Herman Li Kan Ming and Sam Totman is the one of the feature here.

The first track Holding On is sort of introduction to the new singer. The music from this point is exactly what we know about Dragonforce. Not much surprises. Those who expected a shredding show along a catchy, chessy, crunchy power metal song need not to worry. The two following songs Fallen World and Cry Thunder are easily to spot as their main menu in this album. In fact, Cry Thunder had been release prior and serve as their great mouthwatering track. Surprise, this is a song where they not doing a 300bpm double bass drum, they sounds really nice in Cry Thunder. There is also a live version of Cry Thunder in the vinyl version for comparison. DragonForce understand that some other menu need to be spice in. Wings of Liberty, Last Man Stands and the acoustic version of Season are the bits need to remedy the ear. The bottom track actually calm down most of the atmosphere and telling that all previous metal is enough. The last sort of epilogue done by instrumental track Avant La Tempete. Closing in another DragonForce chapter.

Accompanied keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov and drummer Dave Mackintosh are among the most technical personil within to support the DragonForce madness. Together of course the bassist Frederic Leclercq who sometimes stealth in on his lower frequency. So there we still got the dragon slaying song with Mario Bros licks. Awesome and enjoyful album by DragonForce.

Updated: DragonForce has release a video about "The Making of The Power Within", it is a three episodes Youtube video, you can watch it from Episode One here.

Metal Harem class: ********* 9 stars out of 10

DragonForce - The Power Within 2012
buy it from Amazon HERE

1. "Holding On" 4:56
2. "Fallen World" 4:09
3. "Cry Thunder" 5:17
4. "Give Me the Night" 4:29
5. "Wings of Liberty" 7:22
6. "Seasons" 5:05
7. "Heart of the Storm" 4:44
8. "Die by the Sword" 4:26
9. "Last Man Stands" 5:12
10. "Seasons (Acoustic Version)" 4:26

 Digital and vinyl bonus tracks
1. "Cry Thunder (Live Rehearsal)" 5:13
2. "Heart of the Storm (Alternative Chorus Version)" 4:41
3. "Avant La Tempête (Instrumental)" 2:01

The Power Within Cover ARt and graphic design

Dreamscape - Everlight 2012

Dreamscape is a progressive metal band from Munich, Germany. (source: Wikipedia... lol). Ok, I know little about this band but their coming up album is a good one. Dreamscape Everlight is by comparison something like Dream Theater on their Six Degree era combine with Ayreon outer space atmosphere. What good in Dreamscape is their diligent song writing. Each of songs on this album are carefully written. This also make the album somewhat a serious work that need to carefully listen a few more spin. Their opening track Final Dawn, an instrumental is an ambient overture, seriously taking us to the first progressive metal song we got here, Restless. This followed by Led Astray are dark feeling atmosphere.

Keep holding on your breath because up until the exhausting A Matter of Time Transforming, the band keep pushing the edge of their musicability. Tons of shreds of guitar and keyboards to prove they need more world attention. Things only got more relax and a changing of atmosphere from One, where they explore more into the light side of music. The Calm Before the Storm is the ice breaking instrumental there.

This album packaged with bags of new progressive tricks. Surely a new progressive material that can stand high until the end of 2012.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Dreamscape - Everlight 2012
buy the album here at AMAZON

01. Final Dawn
02. Restless
03. Led Astray
04. Fortune and Fate
05. The Violet Flame Forever
06. A Matter of Time Transforming
07. One
08. The Calm Before the Storm
09. Refugium in Db-Major
10. A Mental Journey
11. Breathing Spaces
12. Everlight


Line-up
Francesco Marino - vocals
David Bertok - keyboards
Wolfgang Kerinnis - guitar
Danilo Batdorf - drums
Ralf Schwager - bass
Arno Menses - guest vocals
Erik "Ez" Blomkvist - guest vocals
Herbie Langhans - guest vocals
Dilenya Mar - guest vocals
Mike DiMeo - guest vocals
Nando Fernandez - guest vocals
Oliver Hartmann - guest vocals
Roland Stoll - guest vocals

Dreamscape Cover Art and Design for Everlight Album

Dream Theater Jakarta and Singapore Tour

Progressive metal mega band, Dream Theater to hit South East Asia in this month. It will start with a tour to Jakarta ,21st April 2012. Quote from many promoting website:

Dream Theater’s James LaBrie formation (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar), Mike Portnoy (drums), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards) will be a concert in Jakarta on April 21, 2012 in Eagle Eye International Stadium on the beach Carnival Ancol, North Jakarta.

This concert is a concert series entitled World Tour 2012 A Tour Of Dramatic Events as their eleventh album, and Indonesia was chosen as the only country in Southeast Asia. Before Indonesia, Dream Theater will visit Seoul, South Korea, on April 19, 2012, which is the country of origin of parents bassist John Myung, Indonesia 21 April 2012 and in Japan with four concert performances.

the link for poster :

link to event organizer here

After Jakarta, Singapore will be the next destination on May 2nd, 2012. The poster:

link to event organizer here

Jeff Loomis Plains of Oblivion 2012

For fans of shredding metal, here another piece for celebration. Plains of Oblivion (curiously if this any reference to Elder Scroll series?) is out now, a solo instrumental, a shred album by Jeff Loomis.

Jeff Loomis now is a free guitarist without his glorious band Nevermore. With this in mind, we hope for a better prepared solo album, but as my first spin of this long waited CD, the expectation is a little bit blur. Mostly because Jeff once again put more emphasized on the song's heavy-ness rather than went to my melodious comfort zone. As in his previous solo, Zero Order Phase, this album marked a very fast song, fast drum and the shredding is naturally went fast. Out of this, one can not expected a sweet or power metal-neo classical style of shredding here. This is perhaps match with Jeff's Nevermore background.

The present of multi shredding stars here is one of the highlight. Marty Friedman open with Mercurial, for what Marty is, the exotic scales master seems not went well with Jeff's fast song here. Something forced, imho. For The Ultimatum, Tony MacAlpine is an all around shredder and which is quite okay with the song. Jeff exclusively done the next Escape Velocity, but the vocalized songs, Tragedy And Harmony is, again I didn't quite grab the anything special here. The other star to highligh is Chris Poland's track Continuum Drift, which is done in somewhat Chris style in his solo Return of Metalopolis , which is one of my favorite track. There is also presence Norwegian's all round composer/guitarist Ihsahn, but again his track Surrender with death metal singing style is not very much cup of me.

Nevertheless, plenty of shredding to enjoy here. Obviously the style in this album a little bit outside my comfort zone, but fans of Nevermore and progressive instrumental will enjoy the most here.

Jeff Loomis - Plains of Oblivion 2012
buy it here at AMAZON

1. "Mercurial" (featuring Marty Friedman)
2. "The Ultimatum" (featuring Tony MacAlpine)
3. "Escape Velocity"  
4. "Tragedy And Harmony" (featuring Christine Rhoades)
5. "Requiem For The Living" (featuring Attila Vörös)
6. "Continuum Drift" (featuring Chris Poland)
7. "Surrender" (featuring Ihsahn)
8. "Chosen Time" (featuring Christine Rhoades)
9. "Rapture"  
10. "Sibylline Origin"

Jeff Loomis Plains of Oblivion

Accept Stalingrad 2012

This is yet another consecutive awesome heavy metal album coming up this week from a veteran band. To make thing sort, Accept’s newest release Stalingrad is a simply grad A heavy metal album. After gone into hiatus for most of 1990s and 2000s, in 2010 Accept did a comeback album Blood of the Nations, this album got a Metalstorm award. But for those who think they can’t be any higher, here come Stalingrad.

Hung, Drawn and Quartered is an epic opening, and then we go into marathon of metal at its best, Stalingrad, Hellfire, Flash to Bang Time all passed without problem.  Shadow Soldiers breaks in with a slow tempo anthem and its minor standard riffing make it sounds like nobody else have using this awesome riff before. Twist of Fate is the only resting point in the album. Mark Tornillo second attempt with Accept is now really accepted and begin to start their second landmark era outside Udo reigns.


Overall the sound differed little from Blood of the Nations, the improvement is mostly in song composition rather than style. It's a must have album for any heavy metal. Stalingrad set another standard for returning veteran band to show off their music to their younger generation.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Accept - Stalingrad 2012

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1. Hung, Drawn and Quartered

2. Stalingrad

3. Hellfire

4. Flash to Bang Time

5. Shadow Soldiers

6. Revolution

7. Against the World

8. Twist of Fate

9. The Quick and the Dead

10. Never Forget (bonus track)

11. The Galley

Mark Tornillo - Lead vocals

 Wolf Hoffmann - Guitar

 Herman Frank - Guitar

Peter Baltes - Bass guitar

Stefan Schwarzmann - Drums

Accept Stalingrad Album Cover Art

Medius Burns Going Down 2012

I was researching about Medius, a young metalcore / groove metal band from San Diego. Their social network campaign has reaching me and that’s how I ended up spinning their music. Their build up image are great so far and site is informative.

Having less listen to the genre, my lucky experience was with '90s Pantera, and this album sounding quickly remind me of them. The first song Abscess started with more thrashy riff, but soon the vocal dictate their metal orientation. Fans of Biohazard or Lamb of God will also welcome this menu. Big Stick is the second offering, a heavier and more death metal feel keep coming. Filicide start with rather heavy metal in a second but then switch more Pantera-ish this time. All good menu so far till In Visions ushered in the next track, Neo Surgery, a fast and even brutal piece to take. Spine is also need to mentioned for its interesting slightly complex intro and groove.

Then the whole album is basically a completed metal experience what we needed. The genre’s elements, groove, thrash and metal core, best represented on this debut album with bit of spice here and there. Colourful guitar work and mostly a great vocal introduced here. For fans of Pantera, Biohazard and Lamb of God, this is a great album to be recognize by this great newcomer.

Medius Burns Going Down 2012

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01. Abscess 03:38
02. Big Stick 04:27
03. Filicide 04:54
04. In Visions 00:58
05. Neurosurgery 03:38
06. Outthrust 03:38
07. Spine 04:25
08. War Cry 02:51
09. Wrecking Crew 04:36
10. The Way 02:51

personil

Spencer Blair - vocals

Trevor "Natty" Blair - guitars

Mike Cook - bass

Chris Dunlea - drums

Medius official banner and album cover art design