Ready for boarding?

Sailors...!
One of the last posts of the year!
As a matter of fact in two days the wood-legged Cpt. will be sailing out of the Port, headed for the Mediterranean Sea to go raising some Christmas hell back home, riding the coasts for panettone, salami, cheese and sausages! Hell yeah! Some serious food, finally! But, I am leaving in your sock by the fireplace a very very fine piece of music! Perfect for your Christmas. No, don't worry: it's not another crappy Metal Xmass compilaton...

NORTHERN KINGS-Rethroned (2008)

They are back, with style! The four fattest-asses singers of Finland: Jarkko Ahola from the Manowar inspired Teräsbetoni, Tony Kakko from the masters of the progressive/power crossed domain in Sonata Arctica, Juha-Pekka Leppäluto the velvet voice of Charon and Marco Hietala who reigns over both Tarot and Nightwish. It's a lot of singers for one single album! And they have transformed here '80s best pop/rock into overwhelming metal masterpieces of astonishing proportions. This Rethroned is really remarkable: the arrangements are clever, keeping a nod to the source material but taking it beyond its boundaries, twisting it into something completely different in tone and style. Musicianship is top-notch: thundering drums, dazzling guitars and layers upon layers of synth. "Epic" is not a suggestion, it's a given for nearly every song. Soundtracks you could say! And they span from pieces such as Depeche Mode's "Strangelove" to '80s classics like "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovy. Even songs you would never imagine to fall under the sword of this genre, like Frank Sinatra's "My Way", are thrown to these howling wolves of metal. And the results are fantastic! Indeed I really love this "My Way cover"! Believe me, you'll have a great time with this disc! Grab it fast!

My Gosh!

I can not refrain from putting up this one!
I almost pissed in my pants...! Too funny!
(Actually I don't know if to feel ashamed for METAL... or to be happy... Certainly it is insanely hilarious... I mean... look at the people... At Judas Priest gig it was the same!)

Need to catch up a bit!

Yes, dudes, Cpt. really need it!
A couple of days ago I came across these two very nice products and I really wondered why and how I didn't happen to know them earlier... (you can bash me)!

SEX MACHINEGUNS-Cameron (2008)

Dudes from Kagoshima, apparently active since 1997, with about ten full-lenght and an horde of singles, DVD and EP... as the Japanese market requires. I have to admit I knew them by name, but their "visual key" attitude... (expensive clothing, make-up, etc.), much appreciated by the market here, never attracted me (traditional metal is poor). The impression was that of one of the many marketing product on the scene... But I was quite wrong!!
Men! They are talented! They play a very energetic and modern power/speed metal with many interesting variations. The singing by Mr. Anchang is mostly done in Japanese - maybe not much appealing to the many of you - but the everchanging range of his vocalic output is impressive and provide a very enjoyable listening (dude has something lovely evile in its scream). Typical Japanese overprecise technical skill is present in every bit of the record, percussions and rythmic sessions as well. Yet, majestic shredding & fast grinding never fall into already heard progressive escalations or over-cheesy melodie, but it kicks you in the face every time you need it! Groovy stuff!



Freaky guitar session:

AKIRA KAJIYAMA & TAKENORI SHIMOYAMA-Into the Deep (2008)

Out on the marked this June, I've not been able to get much info. Actually I just discovered they played it live on July, not fr from the Port... a real shame I din't know that! Well, certainly both of them are big asses around here: Takenori Shimoyama is virtuoso vocalist already singer of Saber Tiger and Double Dealer, while Akira Kajiyama is a kind of guitar legend in the Japanese hard rock/heavy scene, been working on many solo projects and co-production with many musicians (one in particular Joe Lynn Turner). Comparisons with Double Dealer sound & singing are immediate. Yet this product is more lively and energetic. Despite being 100% Japanese, it gives a feeling of internationality and labelling would prove to be difficult: none of the traditional would suits it completely. It certainly appeals to the lovers of professional (read not-freaky virtuosism) guitar performances: in fact, you get plenty of it... an ubiquitous guitar sound, in many forms... all you can imagine: shreds, arpeggios, melodic as well distorted, solos... But they are masterfully blendend into into tracks (regardless of their speed) virtually without discontinuities. Gift of the friendship with J. L. Turner...? Maybe. A very very fine and well-balanced work. Production also is top-of-the-scale. It certainly provides a very enjoyable listening experience.

Lord Tim is God

Now if anybody had ever had doubts concerning DUNGEON and Lord Tim skills, check out this live footage of a LORD performance (his new band): HELLOWEEN cover "I want out". It's even better than the original!

Good fishing today!

Look what the Cpt. got in the net today!

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!

1998 Ed.　　　　2005 Ed.
(no link to the images)

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.

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!