TRAGEDY – HUMBLED BY OUR GREATNESS 2012

NOW!DISCO HARD ROCK!

Yes, the idea of a taking the catalog of disco icons and re-imagining them in the world of heavy metal might seem a little weird, a little crazy. But give one listen to Tragedy: The All-Metal Tribute To The Bee Gees and you will be convinced that whoever came up with this idea is a genius.

What’s so amazing about this band is that, even though there’s a lot of humor woven into their DNA, they are absolutely phenomenal musicians. They were able to take a vaunted collection of international hits and seamlessly translate them into the world of vintage, late-’70s, early-’80s heavy metal. Power chords, blistering guitar solos, vocals that’ll shatter your ear drums and a thunderous percussion section — this is what Tragedy is all about. That, and a whole lot of glitter.

Pop-Break’s Bill Bodkin spoke with Tragedy’s lead vocalist, lead rhythm guitarist, lead back-up vocalist and lead cowbellist Robin Gibbens about their February Friday-night residency at The Brooklyn Bowl, their new record and things disco.

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The Moor – The Moor 2012

NOW!

The Moor created in Venice in the summer of 2009 by vocalist and guitarist Enrico Longhin and Davide Carraro (guitar). Both of them were members of another band, the Bleed In Vain. In 2010, with the addition of Riccardo Freguja (bass) and Max Lombardo(drums) released their first self-titled EP. The recordings were made in the summer of 2010, mixing and mastering to be done at Studio Fredman (Sweden) with Fredrik Nordstrom and Henrik Udd (In Flames, Dream Evil, Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Bring Me The Horizon) to make the production.

In 2012, Lion music will release first full THE MOOR album.

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Fiakra – Invasion 2012

NOW!

Who says classic metal is dead in America? This year we’ve had more than a few albums from American bands offering traditional metal. Here’s Invasion from New Jersey’s Fiakra, signed to Pure Underground Records, an imprint of Germany’s Pure Steel Records.

By way of clarity, Invasion is the first album under this moniker. The band was formerly known as Hexen, releasing one album, Dark Crucible, an EP, and a demo. They changed their name since there was a Hexen already established in California. ‘Fiakra,’ they say, is a variation for ‘raven’ in ancient Gaelic.

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TONY DESIMONE – AS WE GO ROUND THE SUN (EP) 2012

NOW!

On the heels of last years long-player, The Second Time Around, singer songwriter Tony Desimone offers an EP of five songs, As We Go ‘Round the Sun. I almost took a pass on the EP until I noticed he was covering one of my favorite Elvi songs, Suspicious Minds. More on this in a moment.

The other four songs are original to Desimone. The offer his traditional excellent lyricism and easy light melodic rock sound. The title track is lighter fare. The Rapture and The Line on My Horizon more electric, with great female vocal accompaniment. Of the originals here, the former is likely my favorite track. U & I has some odd vocal intonation from Desimone.

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WIZARD – Taste Of Wizard 2012

NOW!

German heavy metallers WIZARD will release their 14-track digital compilation, Taste Of Wizard, on August 3rd via Massacre Records. The compilation will be available for a special price on iTunes, Amazon, Musicload and other digital music stores.

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Metaphysics – Beyond The Nightfall 2012

NOW!

Progressive Metal aggressive, decisive and sharp sounds and melodies well delineated. And ‘the sound of Metaphysics, influenced by ’90s prog metal and prog rock of the ’70s and ’80s.The album sees Andrea De Paoli of the Labyrinth as a special guest on keyboards.

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Danny Johnson – Love Sweat and Blood 2012

NOW ONLY FOR U!

Gorgeous guitar with new material, exclusive as usual

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Vamp Le Stat – Music to Strip To!!: “Live” 1994

TODAY!

This 7 track CD is very unique because it contains 6 songs never heard before. The band intended on recording them in the studio later for a new album but broke up instead. This album documents just how ass kicking Vamp Le Stat was live. Includes a live version of “She’s Not In Love”

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Dreamcatcher – Soul Design 2012

NOW!

Power metal would not exist if it wasn’t for the beautiful touch of the keyboard and a band who definitely embraces this instrument into their line-up are the amazing Leeds based symphonic power metal band Dreamcatcher. Concentrating their sound around computer generated noises, these power metal prodigies have released one of the finest debut power metal albums, and the best bit is that they are British. Dreamcatcher are flying the flag nice and high for British heavy metal, and their astounding debut album Soul Design is a must have in any power metal fanatics collection. Let loose the high pitched vocals, release the shredding guitar lines and last but no means least…… CRANK UP THE KEYBOARDS!

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CYRIL LEPIZZERA – Servatis A Maleficum 2007

NOW!

For me, there are two types of great guitarists. Those I would classify in the category of technicians. Real pros of the six strings (or 12 …) that have a technical unstoppable. And then there are very large, you know, those who flirt with genius. And Cyril is LEPIZZERA thereof. The difference? The first play masterfully, but the compositions are often displays of pure technique. Do you remember “the man who plays faster than his shadow”? The latter have the same qualities guitaristic but they put their technology for a brilliant inspiration.
The sound is powerful, clear and always emotionally charged. Like what the guitar heroes are not just demonstrations which, apart from their pedagogical virtues quite razors, if I may … Cyril LEPIZZERA offers us an enchanting journey through the maze of his inspiration, always bright, despite a title of album that would not disgrace a CD of Death Metal … No, the metal of the Marseille artist is pure, bright and straight as a blade.

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