The Struts’ new album Pretty Vicious (Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records) starts with the strutting, tongue-in-cheek tale of hedonism “Too Good at Raising Hell” – done in their signature mix of The Darkness, Queen and the Rolling Stones.
Tag Archives: Queen
ALBUM REVIEW: Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Ronnie James Dio. David Bowie. Dimebag Darrell. Lemmy. Jeff Hanneman. John Lennon. Kurt Cobain. Layne Staley. Trevor Strnad.
Countless others.
We all know where we were when we first heard they had died.
ALBUM REVIEW: Def Leppard – Drastic Symphonies
In their forty-three year (!) recording career, it isn’t unfair to say UK rock stalwarts Def Leppard are known for a pretty steady formula and approach of, in the main, pristine, polished hard rock songs, centred in an eighties sheen. Most of us could recognise a Def Leppard-style song without too much difficulty, and they aren’t (a few deviations – RetroActive, Slang, Taylor Swift, and Ghostly interactions – aside) known for their musical risk-taking or surprises.
ALBUM REVIEW: Galactic Empire – Special Edition
Formed in a seedy Pennsylvanian cantina in 2015, the rise of Star Wars obsessionists Galactic Empire has been noticeable even to those not blessed with force sensitivity. What began as a bit of fun jamming with Ortolans and Pa’lowicks has quickly led to world tours, videos with millions of views, and seen more costume changes than a shopping trip with Princess Leia and Padmé Amidala.
ALBUM REVIEW: Lovebites – Judgement Day
A country known for producing some of the most extreme, experimental or just downright bizarre acts in metal, Japan has never really tended to show much interest in its more traditional or western influenced styles. A small but dedicated power metal scene certainly exists, yet remains arguably further underground than the likes of grindcore, noise, and hardcore punk.
CONCERT REVIEW: Ann Wilson Live at Sony Hall
In a time where people tend to throw around the word “legend”, I had the great fortune to experience an incredibly intimate evening with a true legend at Sony Hall last week. Ann Wilson, the undeniable and unmistakable voice of Heart, delivered the goods on the New York City stop of her tour. She’s supporting her new release Fierce Bliss. The album, like so many others to come out this year, was a product of the abundance of time off courtesy of Covid. Ann used her time very wisely and enlisted the help of a wide variety of heavy hitters including Vince Gill, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
“Bowie At 75” Book Celebrates The Entire Career of the Iconic Artist David Bowie
Bowie At 75 is a unique and beautifully produced celebration of the iconic rock star David Bowie, examining his extraordinary life through the lens of 75 significant career achievements and life events. Covering his entire recorded output in this lovingly expressive and collectible written by the dean of Rock and Heavy Metal journalism, Author Martin Popoff. The book arrives June 14th, 2022, and pre-orders are live now at the link below.
ALBUM REVIEW: Udo Dirkschneider – My Way
When one thinks of that classic heavy metal voice, the musings often land on the great Mr. Udo Dirkschneider. His is that voice: the sandpaper over rusted metal, the two-pack-a-day unfiltered Pal Mal smoker of the 1940s, the male version of Mama in Throw Mama From the Train; to wit, Udo Dirkschneider is sultry. So it is with delicious aplomb that Mr. Dirkschneider has graced the metal community with a new album. My Way (Atomic Fire Records) is one hour and five minutes of lovingly crafted cover toons in which that voice croons and barks and puts nails on a chalkboard through classic metal, pop, and yes, even classic standards from 1968 and 1969. I would be remiss if I did not mention forthwith that I have been enamored with Udo Dirkschneider since his Accept days and many of the songs and artists he covers are among my favourite.
Guns N Roses, Survivor, and Queen Top The List of Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs of All Time in A New Poll
A new nationwide study in the United Kingdom by Muse Group, makers of Ultimate Guitar, has revealed a list of the most iconic guitar riffs of all-time. Number one one the list was Guns N Roses “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” as the 1987 37 percent of the vote.The riff of the song – which reached Number 6 on the UK chart in 1989 – actually came from Slash’s warm up exercise before a rehearsal where he started playing a “circus” tune, which he then developed into the full riff according to rock legend. Second on the list was Survivor’s 1982 earned “Eye of The Tiger” (29 percent of the vote), which featured in the classic Sylvester Stalone movie Rocky III. Queen’s legendary 1980 hit “Another One Bites The Dust” (28 percent). Written by bassist John Deacon, the song was featured on the group’s eighth studio album The Game and was a worldwide hit.
ALBUM REVIEW: Ghost – Impera
As one cycle ends, another begins. The flamboyant, dancing Cardinal Copia has been anointed Papa Emeritus IV and the plague-ridden doom of the 14th century is gone. Taking place hundreds of years after Prequelle, Tobias Forge and his band of Nameless Ghouls, otherwise known as psychedelic doom rock popsters Ghost, leave the rats behind as latest chapter Impera (Spinefarm/Loma Vista) tells of new empires built from the ashes of the old.