Wintersun
S/T (2004)
224

Does the name Jari Maenpaa mean anything to you? Probably not. But if you're into metal, particularly power or folk metal, chances are you've heard some of his material. For Jari was once the frontman and guitarist of Ensiferum, one of Viking metal's most recognizable groups. Now, Ensiferum is quite obviously a very good band as proven by excellent offerings such as their s/t or Iron, yet despite this Jari still felt that his new solo project, Wintersun, was higher on his priority list. When the recording of Wintersun's s/t conflicted with the touring of Ensiferum, the guitarist/vocalist decided enough was enough and parted ways with his Viking metal friends. And he had to have felt his new solo work was stronger then that of the promising Ensiferum. And while this all boils down to personal opinion, I believe Jari made the correct decision for as good as Ensiferum might be, Wintersun is stronger.
Though he was leaving a very promising Viking metal band, in recording this album Jari Maenpaa looks to have himself and the rest of the newly formed Wintersun quite the future. With influences ranging from folk metal, to black metal, to progressive metal, to power metal, the band's sound is very likeable and easy to get into. The music itself is very melodic and emotional, be it soothing or cold; aggressive or slower; harsh or calm; and encompasses a variety of atmospheres and themes. Fans of Ensiferum or Children of Bodom should give Wintersun a shot as should anybody looking to delve deeper in that of the respective genres in which Wintersun employs. Superb album all around.

1. Beyond the Dark Sun
2. Winter Madness
3. Sleeping Stars
4. Battle Against Time
5. Death and the Healing
6. Starchild
7. Beautiful Death
8. Sadness and Hate

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THE TWO BEST THRASH ALBUMS OF 1988:


Coroner
Punishment For Decadence (1988)
192

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s CORONER!!! Prepare to be annihilated by 300 pounds of heavyweight technical thrash from Switzerland. You know that Coroner is one of those bands that never fail to amaze and especially back in 1988 when almost any thrash album could go wrong. “Punishment For Decadence” is an admirable technical thrash release with a really good production; the guitar tone is evil and harsh but not too low or put in the front of the mix. The drums aren’t too loud or crappy; in fact they are standard thrash drums for 1988 and that works really good for this phenomenal thrash band and finally, Ron Royce’s gruffy voice is excellent.
Conclusion: Get it at any cost. It’s (in my opinion) Coroner’s best album.

1. Intro
2. Absorbed
3. Masked Jackal
4. Arc-Lite
5. Skeleton On Your Shoulder
6. Sudden Fall
7. Shadow Of A Lost Dream
8. The New Breed
9. Voyage To Eternity
10. Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix cover)


Flotsam and Jetsam
No Place For Disgrace (1988)
192

Flotsam and Jetsam will be eternally remembered as the band that supplied Metallica with a bass player. They should really be remembered for their music. This is the band's magnum opus, never to be approached even distantly ever again.
Flotsam and Jetsam were magnificent songwriters. The title track is a moving account of a disgraced samurai's final moments before absolving himself through suicide. It shows an empathy with the thoughts of such a character. The riffs, from the introduction to the finale, are original and memorable. Some of the subject matter for the remaining tracks on the album is a little lame ("I Live, You Die", "Misguided Fortune"), but even some of the thrash elite at the time were dealing in cheese of the stinkiest vintage at the time (anyone want crackers with Megadeth's "502" and Slayer's "Mandatory Suicide"?). Newstead was one of the main songwriters for the band before his departure, and his creativity, long stifled by the rampant egos in Metallica, shines through here, as he co–wrote the best tracks on the album.
As a demonstration of the heights thrash could reach at its best, this album is a must own for all dedicated fans of the genre. Unfortunately, the band could never escape from the shadow of a past member.

1. No Place for Disgrace
2. Dreams of Death
3. N.E. Terror
4. Escape From Within
5. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting (Elton John cover)
6. Hard on You
7. I Live You Die
8. Misguided Fortune
9. P.A.A.B.
10. The Jones

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Out of the Silent Planet (1988)
192

In 1988 Kings X release one of the finest debut albums in rock and roll's brief history. OUt of the Silent Planet went where no 80's metal band dared to tread. Drawing upon the coolest styles rock had to offer (Hendrix, the Beatles, the Beach Boys) Kings X offered up a plethora of diverse tracks that made it hard to pigeon-hole the band into one type of genre. From the opening track "In the New Age" with its spaced out arrangements and soulful vocals to the next track "Goldilox" with its beautiful melody and tasteful guitar work the band plows through 8 more songs , each one unusual and totally original, even with its obvious roots. The album carries a totally positive vibe with lyrics easily digestable and plenty on bone crushing guitar work by Ty Tabor. A trio, Kings X still give wonderful harmonies Brian Wilson would be proud of and melodies that even Lennon/McCartney would be proud of as well. It's a wonder that this band didn't explode on the scene, but in retrospect it's a good thing because it allowed the band to produce several more enchanting efforts without the pressures of big-time stardom. Check this out, please.

1. In The New Age
2. Goldilox
3. Power Of Love
4. Wonder
5. Sometimes
6. King
7. What Is This?
8. Far, Far Away
9. Shot Of Love
10. Visions



Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989)
192

An intelligent blend of melodic and heavy rock, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska is arguably King's X's finest album. It's more exciting than the followup Faith Hope Love, with the heavy opener "Out of the Silent Planet" (C.S. Lewis fans take note), and the hard rock "Fall On Me" and "Over My Head" (a single from the album). There are ballads as well, such as the beautiful "Summerland." The inclusion of the organ, the sitar, and the dulcimer in the arsenal of instruments adds a nice touch. Heavy metal fans may grow impatient with this one, but fans of melody-oriented progressive rock will definitely want to check it out.

1. Out Of The Silent Planet
2. Over My Head
3. Summerland
4. Everybody Knows A Little Bit Of Something
5. The Difference (In The Garden Of St. Anne's-On-The-Hill)
6. I'll Never Be The Same
7. Mission
8. Fall On Me
9. Pleiades
10. Don't Believe It (It's Easier Said Than Done)
11. Send A Message
12. The Burning Down

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Apocalyptica
Plays Metallica By Four Cellos (1996)
320

Take four cellos, mix with a quartet of Finnish classical-music students who possess a note-for-note knowledge of metal giants Metallica, and beat gently. Viola! You have a truly stirring album that provides tangible evidence of the dramatic passages and intricate arrangements that classical music and heavy metal share.

1. Enter Sandman
2. Master Of Puppets
3. Harvester Of Sorrow
4. The Unforgiven
5. Sad But True
6. Creeping Death
7. Wherever I May Roam
8. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)


Die Krupps
A Tribute To Metallica (1993)
320

This is a truly original piece of work. Metallica originally is alright music, but when it is transalted and updated like this it really rocks. Jurgen Engler and Die Krupps are the masters of hard-driving synthesizer/metal music (together with KMFDM) and here they show that they master the genre. Metallica has never been so heavy and aggressive as in these versions.

1. Enter Sandman
2. Nothing Else Matters
3. Blackened
4. Battery
5. For Whom The Bell Tolls

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Mekong Delta
Lurking Fear (2007)
224 - 320

Mekong Delta were always ahead of their time. When their self-titled debut came out in 1987, the world wasn't ready for the mayhem and chaos these guys had unleashed. Now 20 years later, goddamnit all, we're still not ready, but what the hell! They're still bending it. The sickeningly underrated German Technical Thrash monsters are back! The album will be available in the stores on August 24th.

Leszek "Leo" Szpigiel - Vocals
Ralph Hubert [Björn Eklund] - Bass
Peter Sjöberg - Guitar
Uli Kusch [Patrick Duval] - Drums

1. Society In Dissolution
2. Purification
3. Immortal Hate (Accepting Prayers Of Supremacy)
4. Allegro Furioso
5. Rules Of Corruption
6. Ratters (Among The Dead)
7. Moderato
8. Defenders Of The Faith
9. Symphony Of Agony
10. Allegro

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Armored Saint
Delirious Nomad (1985)
320

So what exactly makes a great Metal album? Is it complexity and intensity of "Master of Puppets", the sheer brutality of Slayer's "Reign in Blood", or the bump and grind of Aerosmith's "Rocks"? Whatever the secret is, Armored Saint found that magic combination and then some with their masterpiece, "Delirious Nomad". From the opening riff of "Long Before I Die" to John Bush's laugh towards the end of "Released", this is one of those albums that has all of the essentials to make a classic: incredible songs, soaring guitar work by the late Dave Prichard, a rock solid rhythm section, and one of the best lead singers ever in John Bush. Without a doubt, it is one of those albums for the ages.

1. Long Before I Die
2. Nervous Man
3. Over The Edge
4. The Laugh
5. Conqueror
6. For The Sake Of Heaviness
7. Aftermath
8. In The Hole
9. You're Never Alone
10. Released

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Venom
The Singles 80-86 (1996)
320

This album is as essential as their studio-albums Welcome To Hell, Black Metal and At War With Satan. One of the many cool things about Venom was that they recorded new stuff for their singles, they did not use songs from their studio albums. In their classic period (81-86) they released 6 singles: In League With Satan, Bloodlust, Die Hard, Warhead, Manitou and Nightmare. All, and their B-sides, are represented on this collection, except Nightmare. Why they did not include Nightmare and its B-side Satanachist is beyond me. But still the collection of songs here is great, 2 of my favourite Venom songs are on this album (and not on their studio albums): Bloodlust and Acid Queen. Other essential classics include Warhead, Seven Gates Of Hell, Die Hard, Manitou and In Nomine Satanus. If you only own the studio albums you are missing out on some of Venoms greatest songs, on some of the greatest black metal songs really.

1. In League With Satan
2. Live Like an Angel
3. Bloodlust
4. In Nomine Satanas
5. Die Hard
6. Acid Queen
7. Bursting Out
8. Warhead
9. Lady Lust
10. Gates of Hell
11. Manitou
12. Dead of the Night

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Raven
The Pack Is Back (1986, 1998 remaster)
256

Probably the most commercial album of this NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) band, one of its finest too ! From the awesome Spencer Davis Group's cover, "Gimme All Your Loving", to the powerful horns fueled rocker "Hyperactive", this old band, formed in 1974 in Newcastle by the other Gallagher brothers (John on voice & bass, Mark on guitar) gives us the perfect melodic hard rock'n'rollin' album. This 1998 remaster of their 1986 album features two bonus tracks, "How Did You Get So Crazy" and "Seen It On The T.V.'' taken from same year's "Mad" EP, that complete nicely the package of an album which will probably appeal to those who like their rock mixed with just enough metal to spice it up! Recommanded!

1. The Pack is Back
2. Gimme Some Lovin'
3. Screamin' Down the House
4. Young Blood
5. Hyperactive
6. Rock Dogs
7. Don't Let it Die
8. Get Into Your Car and Drive
9. All I Need
10. Nightmare Ride
11. How Did You Get So Crazy
12. Seen It On The Tv

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TLC
CrazySexyCool (1994)
192

On their second album, the multiplatinum trio TLC have given up most of their debut's tomfoolery and have matured into a very modern deep Southern soul, watered and nurtured in hip-hop culture. The album's centerpiece is the magnificent "Waterfalls," a revival meeting of new jack swing, gospel, and Prince (whose "If I Was Your Girlfriend" they turn inside out). Their spare, surprising arrangements rely on the kind of live instrumentation they single-handedly brought back in style. Lyrically, CrazySexyCool concentrates on love at the point when it's grown deeper but also more frustrating--for every great love song there's a great cheating song--and the group's singing and rapping balances sassiness with depth and nuance.

1. Intro-lude
2. Creep
3. Kick Your Game
4. Diggin' On You
5. Case Of The Fake People
6. CrazySexyCool - Interlude
7. Red Light Special
8. Waterfalls
9. Intermission-lude
10. Let's Do It Again
11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
12. Sexy - Interlude
13. Take Our Time
14. Can I Get A Witness-Interlude
15. Switch
16. Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes

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THE BEST OF BLAXPLOITATION (compilation - 2006)
192

It’s the 1970s and all across America there’s a mood for change in the inner city. Films and music are going hand in hand to spread the message... This album presents the very best of the street smart soul and strutting funk grooves, inspired by the word on the street. And, now, Union Square are wildly enthusiastic in their output and their releases are always well thought out, offering some hard to find tracks at a reasonable price. Now they've collected the best of the cuts from their earlier Blaxploitation albums and assembled them into a three CD box. It's all very nice and neat, the artists include James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Last Poets, The Temptations, Curtis Mayfield and (how appropriate for the genre!) all the usual suspects! A very good collection.

CD1
1 James Brown - The Boss
2 Cymande - Brothers On The Slide
3 Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie
4 Marvin Gaye - 'T' Plays It Cool
5 Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
6 Syl Johnson - Different Strokes
7 Lightnin' Rod - Sport
8 The Last Poets - It's A Trip
9 The Politicians feat. McKinley Jackson - The World We Live In
10 Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Funky Mule
11 Joe Tex - I Gotcha
12 Mavis Staples - Chocolate City
13 Pee Wee Ellis - Moonwalk
14 The Meters - Tippi Toes
15 Gil Scott-Heron with Brian Jackson - Back Home

CD2
1 Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
2 Eddie Kendricks - My People...Hold On
3 The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
4 Aaron Neville - Hercules
5 Cymande - Bra
6 The Notations - Super People
7 Maceo & All The Kings Men - Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again
8 Johnny Pate - Brother On The Run
9 Syl Johnson - Concrete Reservation
10 Ohio Players - It's A Cryin' Shame
11 The Rimshots - Neighbour! Get Your Own
12 Maceo & All The Kings Men - (I Remember) Mr. Banks
13 Ripple - Get Off
14 The Meters - Funky Miracle
15 Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can Can

CD3
1 The Last Poets - When The Revolution Comes
2 Gil Scott-Heron with Brian Jackson - The Bottle
3 Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up (live)
4 Sir Joe Quaterman & Free Soul - (I've Got) So Much Trouble On My Mind
5 The Whatnauts - Why Can't People Be Colors Too?
6 Ripple - A Funky Song
7 Mickey Murray - Mama's Got The Wagon
8 Alvin Cash - Doin' The Ali Shuffle
9 Sir Joe Quaterman & Free Soul - Give Me Back My Freedom
10 Ike & Tina Turner - Livin' For The City
11 Ohio Players - Cold, Cold World
12 Pee Wee Ellis - That Thang
13 Moody Scott - (We Gotta) Bust Out Of The Ghetto
14 Backyard Heavies - Soul Junction
15 Leroy Hutson - Cool Out

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