DUNGEON-Resurrection+Under The Rising Sun (limited Live CD) (2005)
It was May, 21st when I found at the pirate market a 4 members signed copy of DUNGEON's "Resurrection" album... one of Cpt. all-of-timers bands! That was the 2005 Limb Music Production re-issue of the original (a bit "rustically" produced) version by Warhead Records. Today I found a third version to set up a trilogy: always the 2005 re-issue, but with different artwork and a second limited live CD enclosed for free (taken from the "Under the Rising Sun" tour dates). A lovely package (stickers, posters, other a-like crap inside!
This re-recorded 2005 version is a landmark of '90 power metal: the songs are fast (almost spee metal) and heavily influenced by Judas Priest & Helloween, and the singing exemplify the inaccessibility of the power metal genre for anyone with less than a 3 octave singing range. Great voice! Most of the tunes are based on powerful choruses and a good set of hooks, seasoned with immediate riffs and refrains containing harmonized backing vocal lines. While the title track is a textbook example of power metal, pieces such as “Severed Ties” and “Judgment Day” showcase the band’s ability to blend in keyboard sounds, clean/acoustic guitar tracks and background effects without loosing the edge of the metallic matrix. A must-listen for any serious headbanger!
Ah... forgot to mention... 14 tracks in this edition.
ARTILLERY-Terror Squad (1987)
Terror Squad is the second work by Danish thrasher legend Artillery. A bit overlooked at the time, when everybody prefered stuff from Europe or even USA in this genre, this little thrash metal jewel is mandatory for the thrash metal fan. Indeed, despite dating to 1987, it’s able to deliver a relentless assault of speed/thrash metal with square-balls and a very good songwriting. A due milestone on the way to By Inheritance, what's considered by many one of their - if not THE - best product. The production is clearer than their previous one, but the violence stays unchanged (a bit more refined, if you want). There is not a note missing in the intricate riffing net they buil in it, letting the guitars (the obvious focal point of the album) truly shine. Even on slower songs, the guitars maintain a good crunchy rhythm, perfect for the headbanging frenzy. Flemming Rönsdorf’s vocals are top-notch as well, especially when he belts out the high notes, as in “Terror Squad”.
WASP-Sunset & Babylon (1993 Single)
OK, this is no big-deal, but hey... how often do you find WASP singles on the market outside US and L.A.? Apparently this Sunset & Babylon was released as single to help promote the compilation disc First Blood...Last Cuts, put out that same year and acording to most WASP core fans one of the best "best-of" ever. The title track is a remix, pretty nice, while the other three ("Animal", "Sleeping in the Fire", "I wanna be somebody") are described as the original demos (does that mean they are the songs that Ace Frehley produced for the band?). Telling the truth, I prefer the official ones... they give me a kick more, but they are good as well.
