Chisel Chin

Can he still reach the high notes like in the early days?

I hope they get included as bonus tracks on the next album.

Rock Candy are reissuing their debut CD next month. I hadn't heard it before, so had a listen on Youtube the other day and thought it was really good.

It just sounds weird, like they've deliberately tried to go for a unique sound when changing their style. I can understand him wanting to ditch the growls if he was finding it too difficult, but a continuation of their old style minus the growls could have worked. The heavy parts could have been the instrumental passages, with the clean singing in the lighter moments. Unless he was simply fed up with all of it, and needed to change direction completely...

Those songs sound great! Count me in for a CD release as well...

To those who were interested in following this thread, I'm now sorted with proper pressed CDs of both these albums. Thanks to kourosofsteel3 above for mentioning the Russian version of the Crashdiet CD, which I have managed to obtain in mint condition from a seller on Discogs. And most surprisingly, Amazon sent me a proper replacement of the Jettblack CD, so I guess they maybe had a mixture of stock on their shelves, and I'll put that one down to being lucky the second time around. Great music, both of them.

But you've probably lived with the original album for years. From my point of view, I like the sound of the newer production, and I've not got any problem if the performance isn't an exact duplicate, because I don't have that over-familiarity with the music.

I've never owned any FM albums, but have been aware of a few of their songs from back in the 80s. That said, I really like these samples... the sound is much richer than the thinner production of the original, and there's plenty of extra tracks to make a good CD running time. So for me, this will be a definite purchase. If this was new, and not a re-recording of an old album, you'd all love this!

Fabio quit Rhapsody of Fire for this?

I prefer the chick in the second one.

Seems more like harder-edged modern melodic rock to me. But I'm still stuck in the 80s and don't really know much of today's hard rock sound, so what do I know!

Probably no need for fans of their earlier stuff to bother with this one if they're expecting more of the same. Here's something I read recently which talks about their change of style. http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-answer-reveals-solas-album-details-new-song-beautiful-world-streaming/

Amazon are fine regarding returns, no problems in that respect. But labels flooding the market with indistinguishable CD-Rs makes it a bit pointless trying to obtain a proper one elsewhere, so in that respect I'm less likely to bother.

I'm not blaming Amazon for anything... It's the label making these particular CDs that is supplying unacceptable goods to Amazon, who is just the retailer.

I'm aware of Amazon USA's "on demand" service, but this isn't something that Amazon UK have adopted. But those are presumably made "on demand" each time a customer orders one, whereas this current situation looks like the label is making batches of cheaper CD-Rs to send out to the retailers to sell. I know it costs more money to make pressed CDs, and sometimes the manufacturing plants demand minimum quantities (e.g. 500 pressings at a time), but if a label doesn't think it's cost effective when there's a cheaper CD-R alternative, then I am of a similar opinion in that I don't want to spend my money unless it's a proper CD. But I think this is the way some items are being produced if they don't expect sufficient sales figures to warrant the cost for a proper CD (or they just want to maximise profits). For example, the film soundtrack market is quite small, and Sony Classical only press some of their titles onto proper CDs for the European market. If you want the same product (which has the same barcode!!) from Amazon USA, it's a CD-R. If those two albums that I just bought had been advertised as CD-Rs, then I wouldn't have ordered them in the first place. But as I didn't know until I received them, that's why I thought I'd ask on here as I presumed I could get some responses from people who bought these albums when they first came out.

They're going back to Amazon, but they're not likely to know what they're selling to the extent where they can re-supply a proper pressed CD as a replacement. I've just requested another of the same item, which no doubt will be a CD-R again, and if that's the case then it can go back as well. That's the main reason I was asking on here, as you Geoff seem to have proper originals of these CDs, presumably obtained long ago when they were the proper versions. Whereas I am unfortunately buying them now for the first time, and getting a second-rate alternative.

It was Amazon itself, as already mentioned, not one of the third-party sellers. And besides, most of the marketplace sellers are businesses, which I've never had any problems with as they only sell official products supplied to them by the manufacturers. It's the individuals selling their own personal items which you have to be more careful about, but again I've never been conned by them either. Which is why I think these are from the actual record label, where it appears they have chosen the cheaper CD-R option to make these old albums still available on CD if they are deemed unlikely to sell in sufficient quantities.

Interestingly, after checking the Amazon product pages again, the Crashdiet CD is also listed as Spinefarm, even though it doesn't mention that on the actual CD sleeve. So they potentially have Spinefarm commonality, which would make more sense for them to both be like this.

It was Amazon themselves. Even the back cover inlay wasn't cut straight on one of them. I can still send them back, maybe ask for replacements to see if I get the same again. I bought newer albums by these bands which are normal discs, and decided I'd then get those early albums. This has now made me wonder if maybe they're just too obscure to warrant pressing current stock onto proper CDs. I accepted the first one, but it was the second one in quick succession which has now aroused my suspicion.

I have just bought two new CDs from Amazon UK, and they've turned out to be CD-Rs. These weren't "manufactured on demand" like Amazon USA provide. They were normal stock supplied to Amazon by the labels. They are: - Crashdiet "Rest In Sleaze" - Jettblack "Get Your Hands Dirty" Although they are on the Stockholm Records and Spinefarm labels, both also have "Universal Music" on the back cover. I can't see any mention of them being CD-Rs on the Discogs website, so I'd like to know if I'm late to the party, and missed out on original silver pressed CDs when these albums were first released, and all that's being supplied now is these CD-Rs? Can anyone who bought these when they first came out tell me if they got proper pressed CDs? I haven't bought early albums from relatively smaller bands for years, so wasn't expecting this, and it's somewhat put me off getting any others.

"Out of the Silence" is an AOR classic, but I really don't care for their second album at all, and it doesn't help that the production/mastering on the CD isn't as good, not even on the remaster when I heard it. Anyway, regarding this new album, it's been a while since I listened to the previous Dare albums of this "soft rock" style, but I consider this new one to be more of the same, so if you like those others (which I do), then you'll like this one (which I do).

Here's a story featuring a couple of senior citizens having a discussion while sitting on a bench in the garden of their retirement home. It uses most of the song titles from Guns 'N' Roses "Appetite For Destruction", "Lies" and both "Use Your Illusion" albums. "'Pine Valley Lodge, Luxury Retirement Home' is what I remember the brochure saying", Arthur moaned. "Things used to be 'So Fine' when I moved here '14 Years' ago, but it's slowly gone downhill ever since it was taken over by new management." He turned to face Dorothy, who was sat adjacent to him on the bench. "They take our money, but hardly any of it seems to get recycled back into maintaining the standards at this place anymore. It's almost the 'Perfect Crime' what these large corporations get away with nowadays. I realise I've got a 'Bad Obsession' trying to highlight everything that needs doing around here, but 'It's So Easy' for them to just ignore me, which makes it all the more frustrating. Sometimes, I even think they're 'Out Ta Get Me', just because I still possess all my mental faculties and can be seen as a threat." "Oh, don't be so silly, you're just being paranoid", Dorothy said as she tried to reassure him. "Maybe", Arthur replied. "You sound just like my daughter. She says the same thing when she comes to visit. But I reckon it scares them that I've still got a good few years left in me before I'm 'Dust N Bones', not like some of the others living here. Most of them just spend all day in the communal lounge, asleep in their chairs like they're in a 'Coma'. I try to liven them up once in a while out of boredom, but I might as well be flogging a 'Dead Horse' for all the difference it makes. Mind you, the staff aren't much better. Even if I could start a 'Civil War' in this place, I doubt they'd care." "Don't get me wrong, they're not all 'Bad Apples'", he laughed. "Old 'Mr. Brownstone' is doing alright for his age, the randy little bugger! He's got the room next to me, and up until recently was knocking off one of the other old dears. He 'Used To Love Her' nearly every night in his room until her heart gave out, but what a way to go! Mind you, sometimes it sounded like I was living 'Right Next Door To Hell' with the way she was wailing like an old 'Rocket Queen'. He must have been going at it like a 'Locomotive' since he got that new pacemaker! I'm sure there must have been complaints about the noise, but it just seems like 'Anything Goes' around here." "I mean, I realise I shouldn't be expecting 'Paradise City' for the price we're paying to live here", he continued, "but just take a look at 'The Garden' around us, for example. They used to have a groundsman to tend to the place weekly, but now it's just once a month. It's hardly the 'Garden Of Eden' like it used to be. Now it's more like 'Welcome To The Jungle'!" "Oh stop exaggerating you old fuss-pot, everything looks fine to me. They must think 'You're Crazy'", Dorothy said. "You're just worrying yourself over nothing, and I'm surprised you haven't had a nervous 'Breakdown' by now! At least it's been a lovely sunny day, which makes a change from all the 'November Rain' we've been having recently." Dorothy shuffled along the bench so she could put her hand upon his. "Anyway, I know I've said it before, but I still can't believe I've met you again after all these years, in this of all places. Hardly a day went by where I didn't 'Think About You'. I definitely picked a wrong'un with Charlie, when all the time I was wishing 'You Could Be Mine'. Such a shame you were already married back then." "Do you still hear from him?" Arthur asked. "No, we were 'Estranged' for years before the final divorce came through. I just couldn't take any more of his 'Double Talkin' Jive'. When I found out he was having an affair, I finally lost my 'Patience' and gave him a black eye with the rolling pin! The last thing he said to me was ''Back Off Bitch', 'You Ain't The First' I've been with, and you won't be the last'. He packed his bags, caught the 'Nightrain' to his sister's place, and that was that. Last I heard he wasn't doing too well, and 'Don't Damn Me' for saying this but I wouldn't be surprised if he's 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' by now. 'Live And Let Die', that's my motto after what he did to me." "Hmmm", Arthur mumbled. "Hearing all that makes the problems in 'My World' pale in comparison to what you've been through." Suddenly, with a sparkle in his eye, he pulled a small box from his jacket pocket, placed it in her hand and opened it to reveal a shiny gold ring. "I always keep this with me", he said. "It belonged to 'My Michelle', and this and some old photos are all I've got left of her since she passed, God rest her soul. But someday soon, I'd like to see you wearing it." Dorothy put the box down between them, and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe a tear from her eye. "'Don't Cry'", he continued. "What say you and me make a go of it together, and I'll get my daughter to find somewhere that can marry us as soon as possible. She's usually 'Pretty Tied Up' with her own busy life, but that 'Sweet Child O' Mine' always manages to find the time to help, bless her. We can pool our money together, get out of this place and 'Move To The City' into one of those modern retirement complexes." "Oh, Arthur", she said as she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're 'One In A Million'! Yes, let's put all our 'Yesterdays' behind us and look forward to seeing out the rest of our days together." "Dorothy, you've made me the happiest man alive", Arthur said as he stood up and helped her to her feet. "We should go back inside now, it's getting late." "Wait..." Dorothy said as she picked up the box and handed it to him. "Don't go for-'Get In The Ring'."

Reminded me a bit of Hilary Clinton, the body language in that video looks too fake, like she's just going through the motions to tick the right boxes, but lacking any genuine inner feelings or enthusiasm behind the external cold facade.

That one took about 4 hours last night, kept me up a bit late though. At this rate, I could probably write an entire book in the time it takes for someone else to post a story in this thread! I wonder what I'll tackle next...

Sorry for the length of this one, I started just focusing on one album, but then I thought I'd try adding in loads more titles and got a bit carried away. At least it's shorter than Stephen King's short stories. Def Leppard - "Zombie Hysteria" As the last of the small group of survivors escaped into the building, the doors were bolted shut just as the monstrous horde caught up with them. The last ones in watched the sideshow for a few minutes as the lumbering corpses rubbed themselves against the glass, smearing it with their slime, blood and drool. Then, whilst transfixed watching one of the zombie's entrails slowly spill out into a gloopy mess on the floor, a sudden scream came from the depths of the store. "What's with all the 'Hysteria' back there?" Jim shouted. "Why is Jane acting all 'Excitable' as if someone's shoved a 'Rocket' up her arse? Someone tell her to keep the noise down. I told the 'Lady Strange' things were happening around here, so she should be used to anything by now!" "It's your brother", Kate said as she approached him with tears in her eyes. "Billy was bitten as we were being chased, and he's just collapsed and died, and you know what happens once the 'Blood Runs Cold'..." "Oh, God!", Jim said as he instinctively reached for his weapon. "'No No No'", warned Kate as she handed him her machete instead. "'Don't Shoot Shotgun' or you'll attract every one of those things within a mile of this place!" Jim made his way to the back of the store, while the others remained in silence. Within minutes he returned, wiping the blade on a towel. He then pulled out a 'Photograph' from his wallet. "'Goodbye' dear brother, 'Heaven Is' waiting for you now", he said, clearly trying to avoid 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak'. "It's true when they say 'Only The Good Die Young'." "Listen, we're lucky 'To Be Alive'", he said to everyone as he waved the tip of the blade in the direction of the hungry masses outside. "Next time 'It Could Be You'. Do you hear me? If you let one of those things near you, you're going to end up with more than just a few 'Love Bites'! Yours and everyone else's life in this group depends on staying alert!" Then Tom appeared, walking solemnly from where Billy's covered body lay. "I don't wanna stay in here 'Tonight', death is all around us. There's a security door at the back leading to a storeroom. It's locked 'From The Inside' but I reckon I can get it open. Hopefully there's another way out through there, and we can keep moving 'On Through The Night' and find somewhere safer 'Tomorrow'." "Whatever you're going to do, you'd better hurry, as I don't think these glass doors are going to hold for long", Jim said, as he regained his composure. "Have you got any weapons to defend yourselves?" "Not really", Tom replied. "'Billy's Got A Gun', but he emptied the last clip earlier, for all the good it did him in the end." "Ok, here, take my shotgun, just in case..." Jim said. "'Now', 'Go', we've no time to lose!" Jim and Kate remained near the front of the store, whilst the others ran towards the door at the rear. Kate put her arms around her boyfriend to console him for his loss, but he rebuffed her. "There's no time for any 'Love And Affection', not with everything that's going on." "It's our warm flesh they can smell", Jim continued. "That's how they know to attack us, and not each other." Pausing for thought, a lightbulb moment suddenly overcame him. "It's time for 'Action! Not Words'. Grab those water bottles, I'll drench myself and then you can 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' from those packets on the shelf. Hopefully, the sweet aroma will confuse them as they 'Run Riot' while I'm picking them off one by one with this trusted blade. I've got a 'Battle Of My Own' to fight avenging Billy's death, even if it takes 'All Night'." Minutes later, Jim was almost unrecognisable as the sugar covering him was dissolving into a syrupy mess. "God may have taken my brother, but I don't 'Answer To The Master' so easily. Now go and join the others, you can't 'Stay With Me' out here, it's too 'Dangerous'. Don't worry, they're not going to get another 'Gift Of Flesh'." He pushed Kate away, and she knew he was right as she reluctantly left his side. "You know I'll always love you, 'No Matter What'", she said as she turned away. She rejoined the main group just as she heard the front defences give way, and the subsequent chaos ensue. "Have you managed to get that lock open yet? We haven't got much time! 'C'mon C'mon', before they get us." "Alright, calm down, 'Armageddon It', nearly there, these things can't be rushed", Tom replied. "Jeez, what is it with 'Women', never any patience!" he continued, muttering a 'Four Letter Word' under his breath. "'Let It Go', will you Tom", said Jane, sternly. "She's just as scared as the rest of us, and you're not 'Foolin' anyone with that tough guy act." "You wanna know the 'Truth?'", Tom replied. "'All I Want Is Everything' to be back to normal, instead of worrying about being 'Torn To Shreds' by zombies. But that's not gonna happen. So 'Yeah!', I'm hardly going to feel 'Guilty' about hurting someone's feelings!" "Where's Jim?" he then asked, quickly changing the subject. "Don't worry, he hasn't left us 'High N Dry'", Kate said. "He's out front, acting like the 'Gods Of War' trying to hold them off for as long as necessary. He'll be alright though, he's got 'Nine Lives' and was always the 'Hell Raiser' in the family. But the look in his eyes, I've never seen him like that before, like he's as 'Invincible' as a hungry 'Animal' stalking its prey. Now hurry up and get that door open, otherwise his efforts to hold them off will be 'Wasted'."