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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HOMICIDE BLACK – HOMICIDE BLACK 2012

NOW!

Homicide Black’s debut CD arrived with a business card slipped under the plastic shrink wrap. Nothing unusual about that, I thought. Then I looked a little closer. Underneath band name there’s a statement, ‘Salvation for an ailing metal world.’ Really? That’s a bold statement from this Pittsburgh power trio.

One clue to Homicide Black’s influences and sound comes from the one cover song on the album, Black Sabbath’s Fairies Were Boots. I always liked the song and the band does a decent job with it. This debut follows in that vein of traditional heavy metal, sometimes with touch of doom metal.

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Nigel Dupree – Up to No Good 2012

 NOW!

NIGEL DUPREE – son of JACKYL frontman Jesse James Dupree – will release his new album, Up To No Good.

In live news, catch The Nigel Dupree Band featuring Nigel on vocals and guitar, Alex Foretich on bass, David Buchanan on guitar, and Sebastian Anderson on drums at the following shows:

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Haley Bowery & the Manimals – Born Strange 2012

NOW!

Rising Glam-Punk Rock band Haley Bowery and The Manimals announced they will release their debut LP Born Strange on June 19th, 2012. Born Strange is a high-energy anthemic 10-track album, which is produced/engineered by Andrew Krivonos, who has worked with JoJo Pellegrino, Kaci Battaglia, and Wu Tang. The songs were recorded at The Brewery Recording Studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Earlier this year, the album received pledges – effectively donations- from more than 45 backers via a Kickstarter campaign to allow the band to promote and distribute the debut album.

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Filthy Angels – L.A.F.A. 2012

NOW!

Hailing from the North of Ireland Filthy Angels sound like they’ve been brought up on a heavy diet of heads down rock ‘n’ roll, drawing their influences from a plethora of ’80s rockers.  There is definitely a hint of The Wildhearts (‘Destroy’ era), some no nonsense hard rocking Almighty style here and there, as well as a smidgen of The Dogs D’amour to name but three influences heard on this here pledged album.

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Synful Ira – Between Hope & Fear 2012

NOW!

Synful Ira was born in April 2007 and features Fabio Balducci (Ancient Bards) on guitar and Marco Renzi (Absynth Aura) on drums. It all began as an Evanescence’s and Nightwish’s tribute band.

“Between Hope and Fear” was inspired by a true story. It is a mix of very different sounds: melodic parts with an extensive use of piano and acoustic guitar, symphonic parts with orchestral arrangements and heavy parts with strong guitar arrangements intertwined with very modern and attractive electronic keyboard riffs, in order to follow as a great soundtrack the unfolding of history.

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Brothers in Arms Band – What’s Life For 2012

Now!

BROTHERS in ARMS BAND ‘Whats Life For” is the third release from band . The album is Heavy hitting rock in roll with southern roots. It’s what BROTHERS in ARMS BAND fans come to love about the music. Staying true to Rock in Roll…

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thank you scientist – maps of non-existent places 2012

Now!WOOOW!

If high scores were given for album art alone, New Jersey’s Thank You Scientist would score big for their first full-length album, Maps of Non-Existent Places. I love sci-fi art from the classic period, especially when it’s packaged in a format of early stereo records. Yet, what lies within? Something I couldn’t have expected.

Here’s a band of seven fellows, adept in many genres and very talented, playing about twenty different instruments, including cello, saxophone, and trumpet, to create ambitious progressive rock. I say ambitious when other words are also required. The arrangements are thick with complexity, significant mood and time changes, and individual showcase performances. There so much going on in every song, it takes several spins to wrap the arrangements around your head.

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