Concert Review – Mötley Crüe & Alice Cooper (Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, 08/22/2015)

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Toronto witnessed, for the last time (or so they promised), a true masterclass on how Hard Rock from the 1980’s should be played and done in the 2000’s.

OPENING ACT: The Cringe

Motley Crue_The Final TourFirst things first: I want to apologize for the delay of this review. For those who doesn’t know me, I’m Renata, Gustavo’s friend, and I’m Brazilian. In August, I spent the month in Canada with him and his wife – my BFF for more than 15 years – and now, back to Brazil, I had the proper time to put down in words my experience in this concert. Secondly, I had no idea that there would be an opening act for that night and The Cringe turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. This band from NYC has been following Mötley Crüe on the second leg of their North American tour and it wasn’t different in Toronto, where they were responsible for warming up the fans as the Air Canada Centre was getting filled.

Although sounding very different from the main attractions of the night, The Cringe had a very good performance with their Alternative Rock and got a great response from the fans of Crüe and Mr. Cooper. In nearly 30 minutes, they showed songs from their 10-year career and had time to celebrate good old Rock N’ Roll with a medley of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, and a cover of Thin Lizzy’s classic Jailbreak to close their setlist. Formed by very talented and experienced musicians, they know how to captivate the audience, especially John Cusimano, a very charismatic frontman.

The Cringe will soon release their fifth album, Blind Spot, so if the new trends of Rock N’ Roll please you, keep your eyes on the band’s updates on their official website.

Setlist
1. Anything You Say
2. Don’t Know Where I Belong
3. On and On
4. Big Trouble
5. In God We Trust / Paranoid (Black Sabbath cover)
6. Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy cover)

Band members
John Cusimano – vocals
James Rotondi – guitar
Jonny Blaze – bass
Shawn Pelton – drums

ALICE COOPER

Alice Cooper 07When Mötley Crüe announced their final tour, in 2014, they added the legend Alice Cooper as their very special guest and this duo makes every dollar paid in the ticket worthwhile. And I can’t believe I spent all those years of my life without seeing an Alice Cooper’s concert! I can’t even describe it as just a “concert”, it’s so much more than that: it’s theatrical, it’s epic, it has feelings, it has drama, it’s a full spectacle! Mr. Cooper has been around for more than 45 years and he definitely knows how to master the stage. Every move, every outfit, every detail has a reason to be there and every song still sounds very captivating and his voice and stage performance are very unique.

It might be hard to summarize more than four decades on the road in a 13-song setlist, so Alice Cooper kept the focus on his classics, especially in songs from his releases from the 70’s, like No More Mr. Nice Guy, Billion Dollar Babies, Go to Hell and School’s Out (this one played with a very appropriate medley of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall). Feed My Frankenstein and Poison were the chosen ones to represent the 1990’s. The “newest” song of the night’s setlist was Dirty Diamonds, the title-track of his 2005 album, also dedicated to the drum, bass and guitar solos.

Alice Cooper 05The band following Mr. Cooper, by the way, is not there only to support him, they also have a very important role in the show. A fast-and-fierce drummer – Glen Sobel -, a very rhythmic bassist – Chuck Garric -, and three extremely competent guitarists – Tommy Henriksen, Ryan Roxie and Nita Strauss (replacing Orianthi since 2014) -, are there to make all Cooper’s magic happen and make his theatre even more intense. There’s also time and space for snake, bubbles, a giant Frankenstein and a very good performance by Calico Cooper, Cooper’s daughter, as the crazy nurse tying her own father in a straitjacket and decapitating him in I Love the Dead.

In summary, Alice Cooper delivered an amazing setlist, although some great songs were left out, and showed why he is still here after so many years, keeping the classics, the acting and the horror more alive than ever. Alice Cooper is more than a very special guest: he is a teacher of Rock N’ Roll and we all should appreciate the opportunity to see artists like him, who still kick ass onstage.

Setlist
1. The Black Widow
2. No More Mr. Nice Guy
3. Under My Wheels
4. I’m Eighteen
5. Billion Dollar Babies
6. Poison
7. Dirty Diamonds (bass, drum and guitar solos)
8. Go to Hell
9. Feed My Frankenstein
10. Ballad of Dwight Fry
11. Killer
12. I Love the Dead
13. School’s Out (including “Another Brick in the Wall”)

Band members
Alice Cooper – vocals
Tommy Henriksen – guitar
Nita Strauss – guitar
Ryan Roxie – guitar
Chuck Garric – bass
Glen Sobel – drums

MÖTLEY CRÜE

Motley Crue 05Mötley Crüe are the only band that made me travel abroad (twice) to see their concerts. The first time was in 2011, in Buenos Aires, Argentina (and I think every rock ‘n’ roll fan should see a concert in Argentina at least once in life – if you ever saw any Argentine soccer game, you have an idea of how passionate their local crowd can be) and now I had the chance to see them in Canada. Yes, they played in Brazil in 2011 and they are going to play at Rock in Rio on September 19, on the main stage with Metallica, Royal Blood and Gojira. But two things make me sad about this upcoming concert in Rio: 1- this is the ONLY AND EXCLUSIVE CONCERT IN SOUTH AMERICA, which means people from all over the continent have to come to Rio if they want to see Crüe live for the last time – and obviously not everybody can afford a trip to Brazil or got the tickets before they were sold out after 3 hours of sales; 2- the concert at the festival and its structure will be reduced: a shorter setlist and less pyros and stuffs on the show. I’m not even sure if they’ll have Tommy Lee’s roller coaster Crüecifly. And that being their final tour and the only concert in the continent, I think all fans deserved the fullest the band can do.

But in Toronto the fans got everything Mötley Crüe promised in a night full of classics, pyros (and I mean lots of pyros!), energy, with a nostalgic feeling of goodbye and I’m glad I could see all of this. I’m not sure if the tickets were sold out, since this wasn’t the first time they were playing in the country with this tour, but Air Canada Centre was definitely packed.

Motley Crue 09The setlist was the same as executed in the previous concerts, and a Harley Davidson’s engines announced the opening with Girls, Girls, Girls. What we saw after this start was a sequence of great hits that set Mötley Crüe in the position of one of the greatest Hard Rock bands of their era: Wild Side, Primal Scream and Same Ol’ Situation made everyone there sing, dance and feel a piece of the 1980’s with a touch of modernity with all the technology at the stage.

The performance of the band was amazing. Mick Mars is a master of the guitars, sounding so heavy and yet so clear. It is amazing to see after all these years and despite of all his health issues, he is still a great and very technical guitarist, respected by his band members and every fan. As for Vince Neil, I was pretty concerned as I saw some videos from previous concerts, especially one at Sweden Rock Festival, where he couldn’t sing well and follow Dr. Feelgood from the beginning to the end. His voice and his acting on stage is not the same as the early days, this is not a secret, but he was singing very well that night in Toronto. Also, there were two backup singers, that helped to put more energy and action in the songs. But let’s be honest: Mötley Crüe is all about Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee performances! And they didn’t disappoint the crowd at all.

There were few times of interaction with the public but the Crüe boys took time to remember that it was in Canada where they started their very first tour, back in 1982, and how happy and grateful they were to play for the Canadian crowd for the last time. There was also a very inspiring speech of Sixx. If you read one of his books – “The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star” (2007) and “This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx” (2013) – you have an idea of how he messed up in the past and how he changed his attitude to a very positive tune. He told a story about his youth, when he used to steal a pocket knife that his grandfather used to leave on the counter everyday, and one day his old man gave him a knife for his own. The lesson learned was “if you want something bad enough, you keep doing it over and over until you get it” and that was his commitment with Mötley Crüe and their fans, that they are the most important part of the band. Right after that, they played a cover of Anarchy in the U.K., from Sex Pistols.

The most awaited moment was, undoubtedly, Tommy Lee’s drums roller coaster, the Crüecifly. There was a huge steel structure hailing from the stage to the middle of the ACC floor and when the lights turned out and the O Fortuna of German composer Carl Off’s cantata Carmina Burana started to play, we all knew the time had come. Suddenly Tommy started his journey above the fans from Toronto, playing songs from other artists, such as The Beastie Boys, while he and his drum kit were spinning and moving in the trail full of lights and cool effects. Tommy does such amazing things while drumming since the first Crüe’s concerts but he put the concept to a higher level on this tour. He also took a minute to thank the fans and say how he loves them all before going back to his place at the back of the stage. Right after that, it was Mick Mars’ time to make his raw, fierce and heavy solo before the band continued to the final acts of the night with Saints of Los Angeles, Live Wire, Dr. Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart. On this last song, there were two steel structures that took Vince and Nikki for a ride through the venue making it a moment of great celebration for both band and fans.

Motley Crue 13They gathered on the stage and thanked the fans for being there, but that wasn’t the wrap up yet. At the end of the Crüecifly there was a tiny stage, the CrüeNest, and the band walked through the fans to hit it for one last song. There were also 12 lucky fans (that paid a little lot of extra money to be there, obviously) seated on chairs on the back of this stage. A white piano was waiting for Tommy Lee and as he played the first tunes of Home Sweet Home, the ACC got full of light spots of the fans’ cell phones, and that was a really beautiful thing to see. Did I mention that the CrüeNest stage also went up and down? You can’t expect a normal thing when it comes to a Mötley Crüe’s concert. On the screens of the empty main stage, pictures from the early years to the recent days showed the path of this band, considered one of the most important of the Hard Rock Era.

With the sound of My Way, by the legend Frank Sinatra, we knew that the bad things had finally come to an end. If this is really, I mean, REALLY the final tour (some bands along the history showed us that there isn’t really an end unless all involved want to – and sometimes they change their minds), that was the perfect way to say good bye. Again, it’s a shame that many of my Brazilian compatriots won’t have the chance to see a full concert, but let’s hope Mötley Crüe can bring to this part of the planet all the amazing energy they showed to the Torontonians.

Setlist
1. Girls, Girls, Girls
2. Wild Side
3. Primal Scream
4. Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)
5. Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
6. Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room (Brownsville Station cover)
7. Looks That Kill
8. Mutherfucker of the Year
9. Anarchy in the U.K. (Sex Pistols cover)
10. Shout at the Devil
11. Louder Than Hell
12. Drum Solo
13. Guitar Solo
14. Saints of Los Angeles
15. Live Wire
16. Dr. Feelgood
17. Kickstart My Heart

Encore:
18. Home Sweet Home

Band members
Vince Neil – vocals
Mick Mars – guitar
Nikki Sixx – bass
Tommy Lee – drums

The Metal Moose Show – Episode 2015-09-08

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If you want to get more information about any of the bands featured at The Metal Moose Show, simply Google the band and/or the song name to find their official website and Facebook page and, more important than that, attend their live concerts and buy their music. Here at The Headbanging Moose you can also find detailed reviews of many other excellent underground bands. Support your local bands… AND FOLLOW THE MOOSE!

On The Metal Moose Show this week:

1. Black Acid Souls – Bitter Taste Sweet
2. Voodoo Sex Cult – Black Jesus
3. Bearstorm – Glacial Relic
4. Dead Awake – Left To Drown
5. Incised – Bloody Mary
6. Kali Ma – Chasing The Tail Of Dogma
7. LAM – Devil Secrets
8. Seeking Seven – Fall In Line
9. Torrid Complex – Nothing Pretty Done
10. Whipping Princess – Birth Of Rage
11. I, The Oracle – Clockwork Tragedy
12. Divide The Empire – Habitual
13. Housebreaking – This Is Hell
14. Exhortation – For Every Goliath There Is A Stone
15. Machine In The Mountain – Silence
16. Lost Atlanta – Alive
17. Almost Human – Normosis
18. Tusk – The Peregrination Of The Nomad
19. MHX – Moon And Sea
20. Ghost Horizon – Writhing
21. Witchbound – Keep The Pyre Burning

Click HERE to listen to this week’s episode on Spreaker.

Metal Moose Radio YouTube | Spreaker | Mixcloud

Album Review – Battalion / Tyrant of Evil EP (2015)

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The battlefield of true Heavy Metal is calling our names through the tunes of war by this talented old school Brazilian squad.

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Tyrant of evilIf you’re a diehard fan of the impactful Heavy/Speed Metal from the 80’s, when bands like Running Wild, Exciter, Grave Digger and Iron Angel redefined the underworld of metal with their blend of aggressiveness and harmony, I suggest you turn your attention to the city of Itajaí, located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, around 100km from the state capital Florianópolis, because what Heavy Metal power trio Battalion are capable of doing with their musical weapons will fulfill your deepest needs for fast and furious battle chants.

Formed in the year of 2005, Battalion released as their official debut a highly-acclaimed self-titled demo in 2007, which opened many doors for the band not only in Brazil but everywhere in the world where good old school metal music still lives, followed by an EP in 2012 and a full-length album in 2013 both named Empire of Dead. Now in 2015, in order to keep kicking the asses of the unfaithful at full force, those Brazilian warriors launched a special EP entitled Tyrant of Evil, containing two new steadfast compositions as well as the five original combat songs from their 2007 demo.

As if they wanted to send their loyal metal soldiers to war, Battalion offer the listener the overpowering title-track Tyrant of Evil, with its exciting old school riffs making it feel like Grave Digger decided to play Metallica’s classic “Whiplash”.  In other words, it’s a straightforward tune tailored for connoisseurs of Speed and Thrash Metal from the 80’s, with highlights to guitarist Álvaro Santana Junior for not only knowing how to craft gripping riffs, but for also being pretty solid with his guitar solos. The second fresh song from the EP, Hell Razor, showcases a strong European influence boosted by hints of American Thrash Metal, with lead singer/bassist Marcelo Fagundes revving up the band’s engine with his awesome bass lines while the song’s riffs excoriate your skin mercilessly. In addition, based on his killer performance, it looks like drummer Fabiano Barbosa loves to play at the speed of light from the bottom of his heart.

1500After that amazing start, Battalion take us back in time to the year of 2007, starting with their “tribute” to German legends Grave Digger entitled Battalion of Metal. Raise your swords and let’s go to battle with Battalion, as I’m pretty sure their fans go crazy when they play this tune live. The next tune, Valley of the Dead, presents riffs a la Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and it’s important to mention it doesn’t sound like a demo so cohesive it is. Another interesting detail in their music is that most of the time the vocals in the old songs are a lot more inclined to Thrash Metal than to traditional Heavy Metal, which also happens in Fighting for the Glory, another battle anthem with an epic vibe. Fabiano doesn’t let the energy level go down with his rhythmic beats, letting Marcelo lead the band in their fight for glory with his warrior vocals and old school attitude.

You’ll be headbanging nonstop to the excellent Final Battle in less than five seconds so rapturous it is. This is by far my favorite from the old demo songs mainly due to its great riffs and chorus, the type the world learned to scream together with tons of bands while raising their fists in the 80’s, an era when we can say Heavy Metal became “mainstream”. And the last tune, Soldiers from the Shadows, takes you to the battlefield for one last fight. This great display of their passion for old school metal music is perfect for some air guitar and obviously for headbanging, closing the EP at the same speed it started.

You can get your copy of Tyrant of Evil (and of the band’s previous releases, as well as albums from many other amazing metal bands) at the Kill Again Records website, sign up for the band’s metallic army at their official Facebook page, and get more information on the band and their upcoming concerts at the Sangue Frio Produções website. The battlefield of true Heavy Metal is calling our names, and it’s through the tunes of war by this talented old school Brazilian squad.

Best moments of the album: Tyrant of Evil.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2015 Kill Again Records

Track listing
1. Tyrant of Evil 2:59
2. Hell Razor 3:42
3. Battalion of Metal 4:43
4. Valley of the Dead 4:06
5. Fighting for the Glory 4:29
6. Final Battle 3:48
7. Soldiers from the Shadows 3:27

Band members
Marcelo Fagundes – vocals, bass
Álvaro Santana Junior – guitars
Fabiano Barbosa – drums

Album Review – Iron Maiden / The Book Of Souls (2015)

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As you read through the pages of The Book Of Souls you’ll inevitably realize that Iron Maiden’s gonna get us all, no matter how far.

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Iron Maiden_The Book of Souls“Here is the soul of a man…”

Unless you were one of the luckiest bastards in the world who joined Mr. Bruce Dickinson on a special 737 flight from Cardiff, UK to Paris, France on August 26 to hear in its entirety the brand new album by Heavy Metal titans Iron Maiden, the 92-minute Mayan-inspired masterpiece The Book Of Souls, I’m pretty sure you have been suffering lately from several “withdrawal symptoms” such as anxiety, palpitations, restlessness and poor concentration, counting every second left until today to close that excruciating five-year gap since their 2010 album The Final Frontier. However, you can definitely relax now, because the band’s first ever double studio album is not only ass-kicking, but so dense and multi-layered we have enough Iron Maiden at their finest to soothe our souls for the next five decades or so.

Furthermore, there are so many noteworthy details surrounding The Book Of Souls it’s hard to summarize everything in just a few lines. For instance, the album was recorded at Studios Guillaume Tell in Paris, the same studio used for their 2000 release Brave New World, with several songs being written and recorded immediately after to give them a live and fresh taste. Also, the album cover features the original version of the Iron Maiden logo, not used on a studio album since their 1995 release The X Factor. And finally, although The Book Of Souls is not a concept album, many songs have references to the human soul, mortality and death, depicted in the artwork as the idiosyncratic “Eddie Sapiens” by English illustrator Mark Wilkinson, who by the way has already worked with other music icons such as Marillion, Fish and Judas Priest, as well as with Iron Maiden themselves in previous works like Best of the ‘B’ Sides and the single The Wicker Man. In addition, the band hired Mayanist scholar Simon Martin, who also translated the song titles into hieroglyphs, to validate the accuracy of the artwork. If there’s a band that pays attention to every single detail in their albums, that’s undoubtedly Iron Maiden.

Nevertheless, it’s when the music starts that we’re all reminded why we love these British veterans so much, and in the case of The Book Of Souls there’s A LOT of music for us Maidenmaniacs to relish. Starting with the first disc, the intro in the excellent If Eternity Should Fail already gave me goosebumps, and besides, it’s really comforting to see that Mr. Bruce Dickinson’s voice continues to be stunning after his battle against cancer (even knowing the album was recorded before his treatment started). After that it’s pure Iron Maiden, which means powerful riffs, galloping bass and drums, and a gripping storyline, with the creepy narration at the end (“the harvester of souls”) reminding me of what Bruce did in some of the songs from his excellent solo album The Chemical Wedding. And if you think this is a lengthy song with its imposing eight minutes, let me remind you it’s only the fourth one in terms of duration. Moving on to the next track, it’s not Iron Maiden if you cannot enjoy some extra freebies such as a behind-the-scenes exclusive footage of an official video or playing a special game inspired by a song, which is the case in the high-octane Speed of Light, where Hard Rock is taken to the next level with the help of some dashing cowbell, Bruce’s vibrant screams and a fuckin’ awesome rhythm led by Iron Maiden’s guitar triumvirate formed by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, taking us fans back in time to a Piece of Mind-ish musicality with a touch of Brave New World. Moreover, this electric tune has that type of chorus you’ll be singing nonstop in the shower, in your car, at work, school and anywhere else in the world with your fists in the air and a huge smile on your face (“Shadows in the stars / We will not return / Humanity won’t save us / At the speed of light / Shadows in the stars / We will not return / Humanity won’t save us / We’re slippin’ through the night”).

Iron MaidenThe Great Unknown, which reminds me of some of the songs from The X-Factor but with the addition of the high-end progressiveness found in their latest albums (especially The Final Frontier), showcases the always superb Nicko McBrain firing his unique beats and fills, as well as another eerie story told by Bruce, keeping The Book Of Souls at an incredible level of quality. But it’s from The Red and the Black on that the album becomes a brilliant tribute to Heavy Metal. No words can describe the verve of its intro, and it doesn’t matter if you consider it old school or more contemporary Iron Maiden, as long as you acknowledge its awesomeness. It’s obviously another masterful and epic creation by the one and only Mr. Steve Harris, with highlights to the combination of Steve’s flawless bass lines and Dave’s, Janick’s and Adrian’s riffs and solos. I can’t wait to scream its electrifying “Ooh-Oooh! Ooh-Oooh!” together with the band when I see them live next year (if they play it, of course), and while some people might complain this song is too long, I prefer complaining it has “only” 13 minutes. Too short for its greatness, don’t you agree?

With hints of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and their Punk Rock attitude from Iron Maiden and Killers, the fast-paced tune When the River Runs Deep, written by Adrian and Steve, truly makes my blood run wild, and I’m certain that if this song was part of any of their old albums it would have become an all-time classic without a shadow of a doubt. Bruce and Nicko are absolutely on fire, making me wonder if they’re really over 50 years old as they sound like they’re in their 20’s, so fiery their performances are. Then closing the first album we have the title-track, The Book of Souls, exhaling beauty from its melancholic intro to the poetry in its lyrics. Everything was meticulously put together by the whole band in this song, which has actually two distinct parts if you pay good attention, the first composed by a grandiose and marching rhythm enhanced by the keyboards in the background, while the second is a lot faster and heavier, showcasing Maiden’s traditional guitar riffs and solos until the songs fades to a somber and calm ending.

In order to properly kick off the second disc and tear the house down, Adrian and Bruce got together to craft another fighting anthem the likes of The Duellists entitled Death or Glory, the perfect soundtrack to an epic battle movie where nothing sounds out of place, with highlights to its exciting backing vocals, blazin’ guitar solos and a potent battlefield sonority. Truth be told, I can’t stop banging my head and playing air bass guitar to this straightforward tune, which is also the case in Shadows of the Valley and its “Wasted Years 2.0” intro, another strong candidate for their live performances. Despite beginning in a very similar way as one of their biggest classics of all time, it ends up following a pattern closer to songs such as “The Fallen Angel” and “Montségur”, mainly due to its characteristic galloping bass guitar and Nicko’s solid drumming. One thing I love doing while listening to Iron Maiden is closing my eyes and absorbing the story Bruce is telling me while the other band members generate a thrilling ambience, and let me tell you this song is perfect for that.

Iron Maiden’s Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet, also known as Queen of the Skies

Iron Maiden’s Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet, also known as Queen of the Skies

Tears of a Clown, a reverent Heavy Rock tribute to one of the most important actors in the world, Mr. Robin Williams (R.I.P.), is a lot more inclined to Bruce’s solo career, and albeit its instrumental parts sound very cohesive what really stands out in this song is the story told through its lyrics. And The Man of Sorrows, which also sounds closer to something Bruce would do on his own rather than with Iron Maiden (it was written by Steve and Dave, by the way), is completely different from Accident of Birth’s “Man of Sorrows” regardless of their almost identical names. It starts as a heavy ballad, evolving to a darker, more progressive and more melodic musicality than usual, increasing its complexity and impact on the listener.

And last but not least, Empire of the Clouds, featuring Bruce on piano for the first time ever and based on the historic crash of the titanic airship R101 in 1930, replaces “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” as the band’s longest song ever at 18 minutes in duration. It is perhaps the most melancholic and sorrowful song ever composed by the band, and as we all know they have the guts to play something like this live I bet it will be part of their upcoming setlist next year for our purest delectation. Bruce gives a History lesson about the R101 during the whole song, taking its epicness to the second power, with the music perfectly representing the audacity, dreams and failure involved in that important historical fact. Additionally, after nine minutes it becomes a music voyage full of changes in rhythm, progressive passages and symphonic elements, culminating in a gentle and passionate climax that closes The Book Of Souls with a flourish.

In summary, Iron Maiden triumphed once again (as if anyone is really surprised with that), delivering a bold, venturous and elaborate album that will keep them atop the highest mountains of heavy music, consequently attracting more and more fans to their extensive family and keeping Heavy Metal strong and relevant for many years to come. Now all we have to do is wait patiently for their gigantic world tour next year on board of their Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet (aka Queen of the Skies), listening to The Book Of Souls over and over again until then. And as you read through the pages of the new epic album by Heavy Metal’s greatest band of all time, you’ll inevitably realize that Iron Maiden’s gonna get you, and you, and you, and you, and all of you… no matter how far.

Best moments of the album: The Red and the Black, When the River Runs Deep, Death or Glory, Shadows of the Valley and Empire of the Clouds.

Worst moments of the album: WHAT!?

Released in 2015 Parlophone/Sanctuary Copyrights/BMG

Track listing
Disc one
1. If Eternity Should Fail 8:28
2. Speed of Light 5:01
3. The Great Unknown 6:37
4. The Red and the Black 13:33
5. When the River Runs Deep 5:52
6. The Book of Souls 10:27

Disc two
1. Death or Glory 5:13
2. Shadows of the Valley 7:32
3. Tears of a Clown 4:59
4. The Man of Sorrows 6:28
5. Empire of the Clouds 18:01

Band members
Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals, piano on “Empire of the Clouds”
Steve Harris – bass, keyboards
Dave Murray – guitar
Adrian Smith – guitar
Janick Gers – guitar
Nicko McBrain – drums

The Metal Moose Show – Episode 2015-09-01

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If you want to get more information about any of the bands featured at The Metal Moose Show, simply Google the band and/or the song name to find their official website and Facebook page and, more important than that, attend their live concerts and buy their music. Here at The Headbanging Moose you can find detailed reviews of Ukrainian Metal N’ Roll band Gasoline Guns and Czech Melodic Power Metal band Sebastien (just click on the links below to read the reviews). Support your local bands… AND FOLLOW THE MOOSE!

On The Metal Moose Show this week:

1. The Overmind – Blueprint Bioforms
2. Killset – My Whole Life
3. 3 Weeks Later – Dementia
4. Wings In Motion – Our Bleeding
5. Astral Void – BFF
6. Barbarian Fist – The Whorelord Cometh
7. Cactus Hag – In Search Of Plagues
8. Chaos Engine Research – Passions Burning Flame
9. Fallen Angels – The Hammers Blow
10. Gasoline Guns – Panzer Rock ‘N’ Roll
11. Hot Dang – Lifter
12. Sebastien – Frozen Nightingales
13. Shut In – Exit Wounds
14. Tell The Wolves I’m Home – Ghost
15. War Asylum – Alpha
16. No Light No Life – Former Self, Present Worth
17. Killing Gandi – The Cannibal Course
18. Mooncry – Angel Of Darkness
19. Korotory – Unity
20. Game Zero – The City With No Ends
21. Agakok – Dead Birds
22. Inner Sense – Safe In The Shadows
23. Broken Flesh – Unworthy

Click HERE to listen to this week’s episode on Spreaker.

Metal Moose Radio YouTube | Spreaker | Mixcloud

Metal Chick of the Month – Daísa Munhoz

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daisa01

How dare you look at me in the eye?

Time to fly back to South America, more specifically to the municipality of Bariri, São Paulo, Brazil, located about 300km from the city of São Paulo (and about 700km from the city of Rio de Janeiro), to talk about another Brazilian Heavy Metal diva, Daísa Munhoz, the beautiful and talented frontwoman of Brazilian Progressive Metal band Vandroya. If you’re simply fanatic for traditional Heavy Metal, I would say she might be the girl of your dreams.

Owner of a very powerful and melodic voice, Daísa started singing when she was only 9 years old, and at the age of fourteen she was already part of a “travelling band”. Our diva said that although she never actually took any singing lessons, she grew up surrounded by every kind of musicians, rehearsals and jam sessions every single day, as her parents are musicians too. That helped her a lot in terms of getting used to how the world of music works, and she learned a lot from every musician that was close to her, especially her mother. She also plays the piano, but “in a mediocre way” in her own words, mainly because she ends up using it more like a guide during her writing and composing process, or sometimes just as a distraction or to relax a little.  Daísa said she never really had any interest in specializing herself in the piano, nor the patience or discipline to do so.

It was when our Heavy Metal bombshell was around 18 or 19 years old that she founded Vandroya, having recorded so far with the band a 2-track demo entitled Within Shadows, in 2005, and more recently their first full-length album, One, in 2012 via Spiritual Beast Records and in 2013 via Inner Wound Recordings. And stay tuned, because the compositions for the next Vandroya album are 100% finished and the recording process will start really soon. By the way, Daísa explained the word “Vandroya” means nothing specifically: it was just a suggestion from a friend back in their early years, based on a character in Avantasia who is called Vandroy. The band just loved the way it sounded.

In addition, you can also see our diva in action in many other different bands and projects. She has been performing for years, including her one time all female band called Inlakesh, as well as a Led Zeppelin tribute band named Black Dog. Not only that, she recorded the vocals on track Song of Deliverance, from the 2013 album Exodus by Slovakian Progressive Power Metal band Signum Regis, as well as the vocals as “Judith” or “Judith, The Princess” in three different albums by Brazilian Melodic Power Metal band Soulspell (a Metal Opera project created by Brazilian drummer Heleno Vale): A Legacy of Honor (2008), The Labyrinth of Truths (2010) and Hollow’s Gathering (2012), winning the Best Female Vocalist award from Whiplash.net in 2010 for her work with Soulspell.

There are so many awesome songs with Daísa on vocals on YouTube you can spend hours and hours just listening and watching to our diva kicking ass, so in order for you to get a delicious taste of her unique voice and the mighty metal music played by Vandroya, my recommendations are the beautiful ballad Why Should We Say Goodbye, the Helloween-ish Power Metal tune The Last Free Land (which I’m pretty sure will inspire you so much you’ll buy Vandroya’s debut album after the first listen), the smooth acoustic version of No Oblivion For Eternity, a live performance of one of their first songs, Within Shadows, as well as their recent cover version for the song Heaven, by Canadian icon Bryan Adams.

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In regards to her main music influences, it’s important to say that Robert Plant is her biggest idol of all time, with the way he sings and moves having a huge impact on her onstage performance, which by the way is beyond superb. However, there are so many awesome artists and bands that it’s hard to name just a few. Sacred names such as Dio, Freddy Mercury, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Russel Allen, Robert Plant, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Doro and Ann Wilson are among her biggest idols, being also highly influenced by Iron Maiden, of course, and many German metal bands, especially Helloween, with the unique voice of Michael Kiske leading her into the world of heavy music. Vandroya playing one of my top Helloween songs of all time, the classic March Of Time, is truly outstanding and an amazing tribute from Daísa and her band to the best Teutonic metal band of all time.

In one of her interviews, Daísa stated she has so many idols it’s very hard to choose just a few for a “dream tour”, but that she would truly love to be part of a festival only formed by female-fronted metal bands. It’s about time someone from the Metal Female Voices Fest invites her and the other members of Vandroya to be part of any future editions of the festival, don’t you think?

Lastly, although Daísa grew up listening to a lot of classic rock and hard rock bands, always being completely fanatic for Led Zeppelin, when asked about the top 5 Heavy Metal albums that changed her life, she listed the following ones: Pink Bubbles Go Ape (Helloween), Cowboys from Hell (Pantera), …And Justice for All (Metallica), The Number of the Beast (Iron Maiden) and Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath), I guess not necessarily in this order. Take a good look at this list and answer me if this is not enough awesomeness to consider Daísa a true badass metalhead!

Daísa Munhoz’s Official Facebook page
Vandroya’s Official Facebook page

“…I actually started to search for more female singers and I discovered a lot of amazing and brave warriors that faced this male-dominated market and won it. You know what? I just realized I know so many female singers I could write a book about their careers!” – Daísa Munhoz

Album Review – Hateful Warfare / Scenarios Of Execution EP (2015)

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It’s time to be executed in a heartless and gruesome way through the music by this vicious Death Metal band from Brazil.

Rating5

11329653_839212942837134_1148590419_nFounded in the beginning of 2015 in the city of Joinville, located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, Death/Thrash Metal band Hateful Warfare are set to crush your souls and show you how good Brazilian extreme music is with their debut EP entitled Scenarios Of Execution. Discussing controversial themes such as religion and war through their lyrics, this talented power trio knows how to mix harmony and aggressiveness to make their message sharper and more scathing, characteristics that always add significant value to Extreme Metal.

Not only Scenarios Of Execution represents total devastation in a little less than 25 minutes of music, but the band’s cohesiveness becomes even more outstanding if we keep in mind the band members have been together in this project for less than one year. Perhaps their main influences, which range from old school Death and Thrash Metal the likes of Kreator, Exodus and Death, to the traditional Heavy Metal by Iron Maiden, to the Punk Rock/Hardcore attitude by Misfits, to the fierce sonority crafted by their fellow countrymen Sepultura, Krisiun, Korzus and Ratos de Porão, is what makes the music found in Scenarios Of Execution sound so strong, and therefore a delight for fans of the genre.

An eerie and devilish voice in the diabolical intro Ready for Disaster introduces the listener to the band’s nightmare-ish and raw musicality in Welcome to My Nightmare, which starts in an epic and imposing way before all hell breaks loose and the band begins firing their nonstop metallic aggression mercilessly. In addition, the vocals by lead singer/bassist Andrei sound truly inspired by the early days of Max Cavalera with an extra touch of despair added; and how can their riffs be so dirty, dark and melodic at the same time?

Put the words “infernal” and “war” together and you’ll obviously get a feast of blast beats, tons of shredding and violent growls, which is exactly what you’ll find in the excellent Infernal War. Drummer Denis showcases his technique by adding some interesting breaks amidst his sick beats, and kudos to guitarist Norba for another excellent job done on guitar, enhancing the song’s ferocity. Blending the acid music by icons such as Exodus, Slayer and Dark Angel, Slaves of Christ offers four minutes of brutality and blasphemy the way only good old Death Metal can: it’s simply perfect for a destructive circle pit, and you gotta love how Andrei screams the chorus with so much anger and hate. Moreover, although they’re (still) an underground band, you’ll notice how professional they sound in this song, keeping up with the music by well-established names in the global metal scene.

1500 (2)Following that blasphemous tune, prepare your neck for another headbanging massacre, this time inspired by Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel, named Addiction to Kill. Its riffs and drums will undoubtedly put you to “dance” and slam into the pit together with Hateful Warfare, but save your energies because the havoc is not over yet, as the heavy and technical tune Bloody Night will provide you some catchy riffs and a thunderous atmosphere, also flirting with raw Black Metal and Doom Metal to give it an even darker taste, keeping you electrified from start to finish. And lastly, making sure they smash everyone that crosses their path, Hateful Warfare close this visceral EP with another old school song named Fuel for Infernal Disgrace, discharging riffs that are even heavier than before, therefore guiding the musicality to a higher level of carnage. An awesome ending that leaves the listener eager for more of their hellish music, if you ask me.

Hateful Warfare are waiting to pulverize you on their Facebook page and YouTube channel, or if you prefer you can find all details about the band, their debut EP and their concerts at the official Sangue Frio Produções website. If you want to be “executed” in a heartless and gruesome way through the music by a vicious Death Metal band, these Brazilian guys definitely have what it takes to satisfy your inner desire for brutality.

Best moments of the album: Welcome to My Nightmare and Bloody Night.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2015 Independent

Track listing
1.Ready for Disaster (Intro) 1:43
2.Welcome to My Nightmare 3:34
3.Infernal War 4:23
4.Slaves of Christ 4:07
5.Addiction to Kill 3:42
6.Bloody Night 3:21
7.Fuel for Infernal Disgrace 3:55

Band members
Andrei – vocals, bass
Norba – guitars
Denis – drums

Album Review – Judas Avenger / Judas Avenger EP (2015)

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Judas Avenger is rising faster than a bullet, to kill with power and play Heavy Metal louder than hell.

Rating5

JA EP coverForged in the cold fires of Finland from the alliance of the bands Dark Avenger (tribute to Manowar) and Judas Rising (tribute to Judas Priest), Finnish Heavy/Power Metal warriors Judas Avenger do not aim at revolutionizing heavy music, but keeping the flame of true Heavy Metal burning bright through the years. In other words, don’t expect to find the next step in the evolution of music when you take a listen at their self-titled debut EP, Judas Avenger, but instead a solid and entertaining tribute to the golden years of heavy music with the addition of the band’s own talent, passion, energy and determination. As cheesy as this might sound, the band’s loyalty to the purest form of Heavy Metal is what makes their music so exciting and, consequently, worth listening.

And although the main influences of Judas Avenger are obviously the iconic Judas Priest and Manowar, this five-piece army of immortals from Finland also drinks from the metallic fountains of Savatage, Death, Iron Maiden, Megadeth and tons of other unique metal heroes, adding some extra layers of complexity to their music. Moreover, I guess I don’t need to mention the fact that, as most bands from Finland (and the whole Scandinavia), they have a titanic focus on the melody and harmony of their compositions, sounding at the same time polished and aggressive exactly as the Gods of Heavy Metal expect from any real heavy squad claiming for a place among them at the Halls of Valhalla.

If you’re not familiar with Judas Avenger yet (and I believe you’re not), you might think Manowar are back to their prime when you start listening to the opening track, the excellent Judas Avenger. However, it’s not a new Manowar tune despite Pekka Montin sounding exactly like Eric Adams during most of the song, but a mighty tribute to the Metal Warriors with its instrumental parts being slightly more inclined to what Judas Priest used to do in Defenders of the Faith and Painkiller. In addition, the band’s own touch comes in the form of the progressiveness, breaks and variations found throughout the entire song, keeping them away from being labeled as “just a cover band”.

JA_band_promoAnd what would happen if the classics Painkiller and Ride the Dragon were merged into one song? The result would definitely be similar to Hell Nation, where guitarists Ville Viertola and Joni Kuuri, together with bassist Tommi Lempää, go to war with their galloping riffs and bass lines, while drummer Tomi Lahtinen keeps the energy level high with his beats and fills. Pekka showcases a wide vocal range that would make both Eric Adams and Rob Halford proud, but in my opinion what really stands out in this kick-ass tune are the elements from other classic bands such as Iced Earth and Savatage that you can feel while listening to it. The following track, Empire of Dust, is probably the most original song by Judas Avenger, offering the listener catchy riffs and raspier vocals inspired by old school Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll. This melodic tune is indeed an exciting ode to all things metal, including even some piano passages a la Joey DeMaio, not to mention that it will surely sound amazing when played to a live crowd.

It’s good to see Judas Avenger focus on the music itself rather than on long boring speeches or on endless wind and rain noises (got it?), resulting in amazing tunes such as Dying Wish, a rock ballad with a beautiful and imposing acoustic intro that gets heavier and heavier as the music evolves, and Night of the Banshee, a journey back to the 80’s when we metalheads were sitting on top of the world. And before I forget, kudos to Pekka for an outstanding performance with his high-pitched screams and to the other band members for their powerful backing vocals, especially during the song’s awesome chorus.

Divine Darkness, the last and the longest of all tracks, is also their most progressive and obscure chant, with its harsher vocals enhanced by a violent atmosphere and displaying clear influences from Savatage, Dream Theater and even Death Metal, increasing the song’s electricity until it fades to a melancholic ending. Thus, the guitar solos by Ville and Joni make me wonder how much those guys love guitar heroes such as Chuck Schuldiner, Glenn Tipton and Alex Skolnick. If you also want to have an answer for that or simply know more about Judas Avenger, you can contact them through their Facebook page, listen to their music at their SoundCloud page, and evidently buy their EP at their BandCamp page. Because in the end we all know that the Gods made Heavy Metal, and they saw that it was good. They said to play it louder than hell, and Judas Avenger promised that they would.

Best moments of the album: Judas Avenger and Empire of Dust.

Worst moments of the album: The Mighty Thor said there are no bad moments in this EP.

Released in 2015 Independent

Track listing
1. Judas Avenger 5:35
2. Hell Nation 4:28
3. Empire of Dust 5:22
4. Dying Wish 4:15
5. Night of the Banshee 5:47
6. Divine Darkness 6:17

Band members
Pekka Montin – vocals
Ville Viertola – guitar
Joni Kuuri – guitar
Tommi Lempää – bass
Tomi Lahtinen – drums

The Metal Moose Show – Episode 2015-08-25

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If you want to get more information about any of the bands featured at The Metal Moose Show, simply Google the band and/or the song name to find their official website and Facebook page and, more important than that, attend their live concerts and buy their music. Here at The Headbanging Moose you can also find detailed reviews of many other excellent underground bands. Support your local bands… AND FOLLOW THE MOOSE!

On The Metal Moose Show this week:

1. Nevarla – Terror Throne
2. Saturate – Damage The Memory
3. Bury The Rest – Lying In Remorse
4. Heavens Dust – World Goes Grey
5. Force Of Rage – Battle
6. Donella Drive – Alone With The Devil
7. Crimson Veil – Slowly Bleed
8. Alex Cole – Burning Down In Flames
9. Skeletal Horseman – Bring You Down
10. True Strength – Micheal The Archangel
11. Orphans Of Dust – August Price
12. Embrace Of Thorns – Erect Bloodstained Totems
13. Design Of Chaos – Darkest Storm
14. Bloodwritten – We Live In Darkness
15. Less Than Human – Dethroned
16. Countless Skies – Solace
17. A Burden To Bear – Orphan
18. Hands Of Dispear – Hereafter
19. Darkitecht – Eaten Alive
20. From Ashes To New – Through It All
21. The Demon Rum – Shut Up And Drive
22. Cadacus – Safeword

Click HERE to listen to this week’s episode on Spreaker.

Metal Moose Radio YouTube | Spreaker | Mixcloud

Album Review – Sebastien / Dark Chambers Of Déjà-Vu (2015)

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Are you ready to enter the dark chambers of complexity, professionalism and passion for Heavy Metal brought forth by this fine Czech band?

Rating4

sebastien-cover-finalWhen I saw my metal heroes Iron Maiden kicking ass last year in the pleasant city of Brno, located in the always amazing Czech Republic, I knew there was something special about that place, some sort of Heavy Metal aura surrounding its antique constructions and exquisite landscapes. Almost one year later, with the release of Dark Chambers Of Déjà-Vu, the brand new album by Melodic Power Metal band Sebastien, I can definitely feel that metallic energy flowing from that historical Moravian city.

Formed in 2008, and after releasing their debut album Tears Of White Roses in 2010 and touring the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, among other European countries, together with bands such as Fates Warning, Masterplan and Circle II Circle in the next couple of years, it was time for the band to return to Grapow Studios in Slovakia to record Dark Chambers Of Déjà-Vu. And just like its predecessor, the new album includes some very special guest performances by Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Sergey Baidikov (Inner Fear), Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle, Savatage), Roland Grapow (Masterplan), Ailyn Giménez (Sirenia) and Marlin Rya Poemy. Add to that considerable dosages of progressiveness, symphonic elements and riveting storylines, and the final result couldn’t sound more entertaining.

Fans of Power Metal and Symphonic Metal will get instantly hooked to the opening track Stranger at The Door, which relies heavily on that famous “heavy riffs and vocals with an atmospheric background provided by keyboards” formula without sounding cheesy. Moreover, the excellent vocals by George Rain remind me a lot of Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica, with the growls by guest vocalist Sergey Baidikov (Inner Fear) adding a lot of electricity to the song. Highland Romance, one of the few songs with no special guests, keeps the ball rolling with its old school Sonata Arctica vibe. It’s very cohesive and rhythmic, with a “medieval” touch thanks to the excellent work done by keyboardist Pavel “Dvorkys” Dvorak, followed by the semi-ballad inspired by the gripping Hard Rock from the 80’s entitled Crucifixion Of The Heart, where not only guitars and keyboards are in perfect sync, but its traditional lyrics about love also match perfectly with what the music is proposing.

Following a similar pattern of the previous track, Lamb Of God showcases a passionate performance by George, supported by the precise guest vocals by Tony Martin (Black Sabbath) and a beautiful solo by guitarist Andy Mons, while the symphonic and progressive The Walls Of Lyman-Alpha feels like a blend of Nightwish and Dream Theater, with highlights to the heaviness of its riffs and keyboards which end up making the whole song more enjoyable. And Sphinx In Acheron gets even more symphonic, with the strong ambience crafted by the band enhancing the beautiful vocal duo by Goerge and guest female vocalist Marlin Rya Poemy.

Booklet 16 Seiten - Maße.qxdWhen Frozen Nightingales starts it feels like a heavier version of Van Halen during the Sammy Hagar-era, with its catchy chorus, high-speed rhythm and thrilling symphony turning it into one of the best songs of the album; followed by Sleep In The Glass, where we must give kudos to drummer Lucas R. for being spot on with his solid technique; and the excellent metal ballad The Ocean, with guest singer Zak Stevens delivering a powerful performance together with  George, supported by the heavy artillery of Lucas and bassist Petri Kallio. Man In The Maze, the second song to feature guest singer Sergey Baidikov, is another melodic and straightforward Power Metal tune that will please all fans of the genre, and in case you’re not that much into harsh vocals this is an awesome option to start enjoying the “dark side of singing”.

Speeding up and getting heavier than before (mainly due to drummer Lucas being more “enraged” behind his drum kit), the last part of the album begins with The House Of Medusa, a high-end traditional tune containing all the elements necessary for a great metal song, before My Deepest Winter shows what happens to a song when you have Mr. Roland Grapow on the guitar. It’s slightly darker than most of the other songs, and in my humble opinion it could have even been a little longer to enhance its epicness. Then we have the celestial voice from Spanish diva Ailyn Giménez embellishing the smooth ballad Last Dance At Rosslyn Chapel, and let me tell you that her performance will undoubtedly touch your heart. In addition, it’s amazing how George and Ailyn turn their “dialogue” into sublime poetry, but obviously the song wouldn’t have been so intense without the atmosphere provided by the rest of the band. And last but not least, as I love live songs all I can say is that the two bonus tracks (Dorian and Headless Cross) are outstanding and add so much value to the album it makes me wonder if their next release should in fact be a live album (check the official video below and you’ll see what I’m talking about).

Sebastien can be reached through their Facebook page, YouTube channel and SoundCloud, and if you want to purchase Dark Chambers Of Déjà-Vu you can find it on Amazon or iTunes, among other locations. In other words, are you ready to enter the dark chambers of complexity, professionalism and passion for Heavy Metal brought forth by this fine Czech band?

Best moments of the album: Frozen Nightingales, The House Of Medusa and Last Dance At Rosslyn Chapel.

Worst moments of the album: Highland Romance.

Released in 2015 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. Stranger at The Door (feat. Sergey Baidikov) 4:22
2. Highland Romance 4:26
3. Crucifixion Of The Heart 3:22
4. Lamb Of God (feat. Tony Martin) 4:03
5. The Walls Of Lyman-Alpha 3:16
6. Sphinx In Acheron (feat. Marlin Rya Poemy) 4:18
7. Frozen Nightingales 4:40
8. Sleep In The Glass 4:15
9. The Ocean (feat. Zak Stevens) 4:39
10. Man In The Maze (feat. Sergey Baidikov) 3:49
11. The House Of Medusa 3:30
12. My Deepest Winter (feat. Roland Grapow) 4:40
13. Last Dance At Rosslyn Chapel (feat. Aylin Giménez) 4:03

Bonus tracks
14. Dorian (Live) 5:53
15. Headless Cross (Live) 7:48

Band members
George Rain – vocals
Andy Mons – guitars, backing vocals
Petri Kallio – bass, backing vocals
Pavel “Dvorkys” Dvorak – keyboards
Lucas R. – drums

Guest musicians
Sergey Baidikov – harsh vocals on “Stranger at The Door” and “Man In The Maze”
Tony Martin – additional vocals on “Lamb Of God”
Marlin Rya Poemy – female vocals on “Sphinx In Acheron”
Zak Stevens – additional vocals on “The Ocean”
Roland Grapow – additional guitars on “My Deepest Winter”
Ailyn Giménez – female vocals on “Last Dance At Rosslyn Chapel”