STEEL PANTHER Is Mastering New Album - BLABBERMOUTH.NET

STEEL PANTHER Is Mastering New Album

June 18, 2022

Absolute shit!

98/100? Come on Andrew!

H.E.A.T are back to prove they are the absolute gold standard when it comes to delivering instantly catchy, well-written melodic hard rock.

They’re also back with original singer Kenny Leckremo following the sad departure of mega-star vocalist Erik Gronwall who helmed the last 4 studio albums. The bad news was kept to a minimum with the announcement Kenny would return to add to his own legacy with the band, having fronted the first two records. I love it how these guys seem to manage to keep any line-up changes ‘within the family’.

So where does H.E.A.T go for their seventh studio outing? Back to the more AOR sound of the first two records or more commercial like Into The Great Unknown? Or do they keep the momentum of the cracking pace of the last album HEAT 2 and the harder hitting style of the ‘Erik years’?

While Kenny may bring a slightly different vocal style to the party, the songwriting and direction on ‘Force Majeure’ is very much a continuation of the last album and the ‘Address The Nation’/’Tearing Down The Walls’ style of the band. So this is basically H.E.A.T 3 – or H.E.A.T 2 Kenny-style. The same urgent tempo, the same big production and the same big melodies are all over this record.

It is nothing short of classic H.E.A.T through and through.

The format and structure of previous albums is also largely adhered to, with songs here reminding me of the band’s best moments on songs such as Point Of No Return, Breaking The Silence, It’s All About Tonight and Living On The Run.

Harder To Breathe dips into ‘Into The Great Unknown’ territory, but for the rest of the album I’m hearing ‘H.E.A.T 2’ meets ‘Address The Nation’.

Once again, it is killer song after killer song – this band can do (and has done) no wrong.

The three singles Back To The Rhythm, Nationwide and Hollywood all show what the band are capable of, but there’s another 8 classic rockers to look forward to.

Tainted Blood, Not For Sale, Hold Your Fire and Wings of An Aeroplane all deliver and Demon Eyes is the heaviest thing I’ve ever heard Kenny sing.

Only the dramatic and heavy ballad One Of Us slows the pace of the album at all, providing another big highlight. The big anthemic Paramount is something a little different for the guys but keeps in the spirit of the H.E.A.T sound.

With no surprise to any follower of the band, they have proved yet again, they are a magnificent outfit and haven’t let the change of vocalist slow them down in any way. Kenny sings his absolute heart out on this record – probably the best I’ve ever heard his voice.

11 new fantastic tracks to add to the band’s already magnificent career. The definition of force majeure is “irresistible compulsion or superior strength…” Yes, H.E.A.T are an indeed an irresistible compulsion with superior strength!

 

RockWombat

 

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SHIRAZ LANE – Forgotten Shades Of Life (2022)

AUGUST 11, 2022

1 hour ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

Again, why is this in the Flamefest sub-thread? Who's angry with this? 

Men who do men? Cody, Geoff, and you.

2 hours ago, auslander said:

Disagree. I hope they keep going as long as they want to for the fans who still like them.  No one forces people who don't like them to listen. 

And talkbox rocks. What's wrong with sounding like 1986? I like 1986. Man, if every band sounded boring modern-rock like Shinedown, that would suck balls. Old school and outdated is fine by me.

Trust me, I am the biggest of Tesla fans. Watched their DVD 1,000 times. They were one of the best bands out there. I even loved Bust A Nut, considered their worst disc.

But this is rubbish that I'm embarrassed to call Tesla. Same as the last few albums. Simplicity and the Def Leppard album were just so bad. They miss Tommy Skeoch I think.

14 hours ago, auslander said:

 I also love a bit of talkbox action 🤟

I don't. Hate it with a passion. Even that is so 1986. Retire Tesla please. You are an embarrassment now.

1 hour ago, lecko said:

No problem, it gets there by itself. Could it be that we are missing  Teslamusicblock  filter installed 

It's just ultra-poor. Poor musically, poor vocally, poor visually, and poor produced.

As Glen said, cliched garbage.

A lot to like on this release but also some stuff just too light for me. 

On 8/9/2022 at 12:00 PM, nyoilers said:

My opinion ??

No one wants that.....

2 hours ago, nyoilers said:

You need to know who you are before trying to figure out who other people are.

We already know you're a leftist idiot! Known all around these parts!

How are you guys letting horrible songs get into your head???

On 8/6/2022 at 12:38 AM, Glen said:

favs : in order - all A

Debut

Higher

Mood Swings

WOTW

Early Years

Overload

 

the rest are Bs & a couple of Cs

super consistent band 

 

The two Rubber discs are the only very bad discs. An "F"

Man that's horrid.

48 minutes ago, nyoilers said:

I never left

Unforunately......

3 hours ago, nyoilers said:

I hope he comes back

We wish you wouldn't! 

Much rather hear a new Pretty Maids disc then this stuff.

1 hour ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

I blame you. 

;}

I blame you. 

earMUSIC is releasing in Europe “Sunburst“, the new studio album from Japanese pioneer metallers LOUDNESS, originally only made available in Japan last December.
“Sunburst” is the first official double studio album in LOUDNESS’s impressive career, making it particularly special as it can be considered a celebration of the band’s rich musical history, celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band.
Written mostly by original member and guitarist Akira Takasaki, the 2-CD includes songs sung in English as well some in Japanese, representing their appreciation of their origin and roots. The 16 songs represent the classic LOUDNESS sound and style highly acclaimed by fans and critics alike, spanning all their eras.
One track is titled ‘The Shining ’80s’, so you know what to expect; heavy but also melodic riffs.

Opener ”Rising Sun” is some kind of an intro, relying on Eighties riffs and a drum beat that sounds like a marching band. Next is the anthem ”OEOEO”, an up-tempo, fun 80s metal song that brings back the nostalgia without feeling like a gimmick. It’s nice to hear a band that have stuck to their sound over all this time.
Like the old days, the Japanese language “Yamato Damashii” (meaning values of Japanese culture, it’s soul) shows more aggression, both in terms of structure and vocalist Minoru Niihara’s approach, feeling more comfortable in his own tongue.

There’s the latest entry in the so-called “crazy” Loudness repertoire (‘Crazy Doctor’, ‘Crazy Nights’, ‘Crazy Samurai’, etc), aka the speedy crunch of “Crazy World”, which despite the western title, does not appear to be sung in English. It temporarily descends into s slow, skanking poppy bluesy hard rock section that ultimately fades out to Takasaki burning up the fretboard.
In contrast, “Stand Or Fall” begins acoustically, augmented by music box chimes, before lumbering into a Dio-era Black Sabbath riff, although with a string accompaniment.
Meandering, bluesy ballad “The Sanzu River” gradual builds to a plodding stomp, with Niihara opting for a new/sinister tonality that sounds remarkably like the snarling shriek of Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O./ex-Accept). The initial outing closes with another fast rocking number, “Japanese Heart”.

Disc 2 begins with “Shining 80s”. Initially a drum/cymbal workout, Takasaki turns the knob on his guitar in an Eddie Van Halen style. Gang vocals, practically throughout, this is their throwback homage to the MTV era albums.
Syncopated electronic effect starts the otherwise commercial pop metal of “Door To Heaven”. Get sort of a Mr. Big vibe, which isn’t that surprising since they were, ahem, big, in Japan. Back to the subdued pacing for “All Will Be Fine With You”, with just the titular chorus departing from the native language delivery.
A staccato riffing rocker, “Fire In The Sky” is gritty, especially Niihara’s emphasis. Then there’s the fiery fingering mid-section, courtesy of Akira.

Drum happy “Hunger For More” sees the guitarist laying down sweeps and spirited runs aplenty, while “The Nakigara” moves to a lilting gallop, apart from a chaotic cacophonous middle. Ends with sustained Niihara a cappella note.
Closer ”Wonderland” opens with gloomy bell sounds before menacing, nervous and plodding musicianship enhances this atmosphere and takes the listeners on a adventurous voyage with inspired progressive and psychedelic rock passages, a flashback to mid-to-late ‘90s Loudness.

Loudness is still going strong forty years into its career on this new studio album that offers sixteen vibrant new songs and eighty-five minutes of passionate entertainment. The album doesn’t include any fillers, gets you hooked from start to finish and offers much replay value.
Fans will love “Sunburst”, while occasional listeners might as well start their discovery of these legends with this solid effort that presents the band’s different soundscapes very well.
Highly Recommended

Disc 1
01. Rising Sun
02. OEOEO
03. Yamato Damashii (Japanese Spirit)
04. Kaso Genjitsu (Virtual Reality)
05. Crazy World
06. Stand Or Fall
07. The Sanzu River
08. Nihon No Kokoro (The Heart Of Japan)

Disc 2
01 – Kagayakeru 80’s (The Shining 80’s)
02 – Emerald No Umi (Emerald Ocean)
03 – Tengoku No Tobira (Heaven’s Door)
04 – All Will Be Fine With You
05 – Fire In The Sky
06 – Hunger For More
07 – The Nakigara
08 – Wonderland

Akira Takasaki – guitars
Minoru Niihara – vocals
Masayoshi Yamashita – bass
Masayuki Suzuki – drums

BUY
www.target.com/p/loudness-sunburst-cd/-/A-86732909

Heartbreak Station was the album the totally turned me off on them. The most annoying song ever recorded Shelter with Little Richard.