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For the first time in 18 years I'm going to Wacken this year. I spent 8 summers in a row from 1999 to 2006 at the festival, so really stoked to go again. Will be looking forward to seeing Sebastian Bach, it's weird though, that the only place it's mentioned that he plays there, are on Wacken's own site, and also weird traveling to Europe to do one festival job, and then go back to America, it all seems a bit odd I think, but it must be legit, as it's on the official Wacken site. Looking forward to Beast in Black, Motionless in White, Architects, Hitten, Blind Channel, Future Palace, Blind Guardian, Avantasia, The 69 Eyes, Wolf, Dragonforce, Testament, Amon Amarth and Cradle of Filth as well.

Gotthard - #13 Gotthard - Silver Gotthard - Steve Lee:The eyes of a tiger The Treatment - Waiting for good luck

Not much has been said about this one.  Anybody checking it out? Absolutely loving this album.  I had super high expectations which often leads to a let down but they still delivered.  I'm having a hard time deciding if I like this album or Not The End of the Road more but I think as of now I might give a tiny edge to the new one.  And that's some high praise as Not The End of the Road might've been my favorite album over the past 5 years or so.  That could be because of the excitement of a new album though so we'll see what happens after more time listening.  I think the difference for me is this new one has a better pace and kind of keeps the momentum going right up until the last track when it eases in for a landing with the ballad.  Whereas Not The End of The Road had Good Life with the guest vocals and Gone for Good that both sort of broke up the momentum a bit in that album before also ending with a ballad.   Either way, both fantastic albums.  They've had quite a run with their past few albums and for me are doing catchy melodic hard rock as well as anybody right now.  

But to add to my message, Sunbomb was really disappointing. We all know Michael Sweet can be a bit of a screaming singer  but is waaaay over top here. 

"Fire In The Rain" by Simon Chase  

No website or anything yet, but here are their socials https://www.facebook.com/tendervendetta https://www.instagram.com/tendervendettaband https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN02SBFj_1nG_VQgCxCYV9Q

Velvet Crush - Kik Tracee

Loved to hear full length CD.

The singer even has the classic Appetite cross tattoo (not judging as so do I ha ha) so no surprise there is a defo early GNR vibe to their stuff. They seem like a fairly new band having released these songs over the last year, and they defo lean into the more punkier side of early Guns, but do seem to have some serious promise,

Doesn't sound bad overall, but her vocal style is a bit off putting.