Four Horsemen riding again?

Hell yeah, dudes. It seems there may be resurrection, after all!
At this point it is still difficult to anticipate details, but credible rumors are voicing about a new project for a large scale strike of Port Royal pirate brotherhood on the European coasts. Destination: Sweden...

Check it out: 4 days of pure mayhem, all the world converging there, already 22 bands scheduled (I'm talking about big asses) and other 50 to be confirmed...
It's gonna be a blow, needing a lot of preparation and resources... but be sure all hell will break loose!
J13 magic promises again divine intervention form the gods of metal!
Stay tuned!

Longinus Feast • Winter 08

While waiting for news from "Beaver and pot-head", missing in action among the snows of Canada (actually I got a short message in a bottle from them today...), we got to console ourselves with the Cpt. short note on the gig in object. " Longinus Feast • Winter 08" at Akihabara, Pagoda. Nice night, even if I've seen more people there. On the menu, as disclosed, Longinus, Ancienth Myth and Heritage. All from around here.

Wew! Absorbed by my artillery, the guys almost tricked me! I almost though - with some disappointment - that the best was already over, when, after opening for a short appearance with a new guest bassist in place of G-san, Longinus left the stage to the other bands... Mean guys: only later on they reapeared for the main show... and I've got little new to tell you about them. Great show, great tunes, great fun, as usual. Check out the pics.

Ancient Myth - previously unknown to me - delivered an enjoyable show with a good presence on stage. Yet, eventually they missed the target: they play a veeeery melodic metal for me (read "a bit too cheesy"). Far too few speed-ups and with the support of a singing that would require a couple of oiltankers of decibel more to crack the Cpt.'s hull! In few words: the boys are good, but still too young and light-years away from my old-school ass (beside, I still think I do better at karaoke)! Check out their free single, if interested.

Very intriguing, insted, I found Heritage' show. On the guitar - to my surprise - nothing else than Lucifer's Heritage, alias easy-smile axeman of Hellhound! Very cool performance: they also play melodic/speed, but with an extra gear! Let's say even close to power m. Couldn't tell you what was the quid that grabbed me, but I liked them. English singing and with a pretty decent voice (lower pitches and a less sophisticated arrangements would perhaps give more immediate enjoyment), fast rythm and blistering riffing... I got a copy of their last disc too. Recomanded, even it doesn't deliver that same feeling and kicking as the live performance does (production, I think). If you happens to get your claws on it, start from the last... "Heritage" track, which is way too cool!

Good old Times

Good old times...
Good old NWOBHM!
Elixir... I forgot about them!
A wave brought a copy their last work to the shores of the Port plunging the Cpt. into a musically nostalgic mood. Thrash is fine, tech-death is OK, MDM is a must... but good old NWOBHM has some unreplaceable vibe...! By the way, did you check out the new SAXON? That is awesome!
Anyway here you are with the triggering stuff, plus one of the all-time-favourite of the Cpt.

ELIXIR-Mindcreeper (2006)

Elixir came out of London's East End (home of Iron Maiden, Chariot, etc) during the mid-80's and is considered to be a cult, underground, NWOBHM act. This is their last album, the 2006 comeback. It's been twenty years since "The Son Of Odin", their first. And with the original line-up they do sound like they're having fun. It's 80's British Metal right down to the shoelaces. Striking is the almost complete lack of "Maiden" influenced guitar work. Guitar solos are still present and Denton/Gordon are still at the top of their game, even if not so much as "The Son Of Odin" album. The production is good and clear, but could have been better. This is British hardrock with plenty of that old attitude and lyrical cliche' running from wicked tales about the devil to Odin's land, etc. The metal anthem "Anthenian Glory" call for Manowar to suddenly appear in, while ballads as "Guiding Star" goes along the lines of Deep Purple and Whitesnake. In few words: much fun for the old farts!

SARACEN-Red Sky (2003)

Saracen was formed back in the mid 70’s and in 1981 after changing their name into Saracen they released their first album „Heroes, Saints And Fools”, which got great feedback culminating in a live session being broadcast in January 1982. The band's music is labelled as symphonic rock, but these guys have more to offer than just that: they are also progressive, very pop at times, and NWOBHM (although not entirely). The album kicks off with "We Have Arrived" with singer S. Bettney sounding like a softer Rob Halford and futuristic and a bit odd synths. The title track "Red Sky" gets tougher with feeling of good old rock’n’roll in it, something like the Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath. From here on the tunes get better and better: "Horsemen Of The Apocalypse” , "Heroes, Saints And Fools” and "Follow The Piper” sound so great and much better than the original (they are revival from the first EP). Not to forget "Menage A Trois”: melodic instrumental with saxophones and interesting variations! It’s a wonderfull (a bit cheasy for somebody!) album, believe me.

Firing up the blades!

No, dudes! No 3 Inches of Blood coming this way...
While J13 is firing up his bags to get his ass to Winnipeg grabbing Big Pipes and going having some metal fun with DISTURBED and more... I'm just gettin' ready for some Melodic Metal action, tomorrow. Two weeks ago had to skip it, but this time - hopefully - there won't be anything in the way. PAGODA Live House (in Akihabara) is going to host "Longinus Feast•Winter '08" with the following band list: Ancient Myth／Heritage ／Longinus (open 18:00start 18:15)

Needless to say I'd rather be in Winnipeg, enjoying & meeting DISTURBED with the other two of Port Royal horsemen, but be sure I'll enjoy Longinus and this small venue too (wow, calling that way may be really too much)! After all only god can be in all places... and the Cpt. is only half-divine!
First two bands are unknown to me. For an idea of what they sound like, refer to their sites (names are linked): they have a couple of trial .mp3. For Longinus, check the vid below. Ancient Myth are "nice-chick" fronted, but for what I've listened so far, at karaoke the Cpt. delivers far better! The Heritage may reserve some surprise. We'll see. I will give you some photograhic feed-back, of course.

Port Royal Screenslaves!

Port Royal Screeslaves!
I've been a bit busy lately and not much in the listening mood (indeed stuff is accumulating in the treasure chest). Here are the only two things I've been inspecting these days, both Cpt. all-time favorite bands (together with 3IOB)! Got them drifting on the waves... while waiting to see the discs at the market. Both very groovy (track 6 of GD is really a fine piece, with different vocals)!
Paragon's album went out at mid-November and apparently buddies got a party for fans with free beer, T-Shirt, signing tables and fun... Damn! Would have liked to be around!

Ah, they are Promo... so voice-overs, here and there (don't like spreading new stuff)!

GRAVE DIGGER-Ballad of the Hangman (2009)

PARAGON-Screenslaves (2008)

Bounce Circuit Show #1

Long time, no live... Just come back from Kichijouji's Crescendo, where I checked out BOUNCE CIRCUIT SHOW #1. On the menu HELLHOUND / Wheel of doom / AFTER ZERO / THE ROUTE SIXX CB / Bleed Out.

Needless to say I was there for the infernal dog, fresh from its European assault (Germany and France), but can't hide I was looking forward also to enjoy again AFTER ZERO. And I did it!
Not many people in the house and reactions a bit below the expectations, but we managed to rock the place anyway.

Telling the truth, I got almost completely absorbed by my new "artillery" and the associated shooting drills (which proved to be far thougher than I imagined). Regrettably the results were modest: of the mountains of shells I shot, only a small part hit the target... (that pigstall is very dark). I had it comming... "It's a long way to the top if you wanna get good pics!"
But I'm happy anyway: under the stage I met my idol, Mr. So-Heavy (alias Satoshi Yamaguchi)... a hell of a photographer! Check out the pics he is able to take with his tools!

Anyway, nice performance of BLEED OUT, that missed to put a rope on the Cpt.'s neck, but demonstrated to be very enjoyable live (guitar and singing, in particular).

Stay tuned!

«Get to the choppa!»

AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE-A Very Brutal Christmas (2008)

Get some healty Christmass fun with buddy Tim Lambesis new hilarious tracks! Yeah, he's back with this single. Schwarzy-imitation is freaky funny! And Judas Priest cover is cool too!
«C'mon everybody... get to the choppa! Now!»