Way back in the bygone days of 2008, the folks at Metal Mind Productions began re-issuing classic Roadrunner Records releases as limited edition numbered imports. They generally released about “2,000” of them and once they were gone they were gone. There was no way that a fan was going to get another copy unless they found someone selling them on eBay or perhaps in some sort of brick and mortar close out sale. Fast forward to the “now”, the folks at Metalville are re-issuing many of these classics under a “Roadrunner Archive” banner and one such release is the sophomore album by Crimson Glory called “Transcendance”. Having reviewed this item already and only using a digital stream to compose my thoughts about it, I found my head in the same place about the album so I’m repeating that review since it completely applies for it.
If there was ever an album that I was dying to find a remaster done for then it would most certainly be Crimson Glory’s sophomore release “Transcendence”. Originally released by Roadrunner Records in 1988 this album is nothing less than a Progressive Metal masterpiece from beginning to end, and when Metal Mind Productions announced their plans on reissuing it I was very excited to say the least. The Florida band had been impressing fans of Progressive Metal for a couple of years now with an intense musical and visual presentation that began with their self titled debut album “Crimson Glory”. The band sported big hair and instruments and wore silver masks to conceal their faces but beyond the imagery we found out just how good they could play and it made the debut one of the strongest of its kind for the day. “Transcendence” takes us to the next logical step as the bands explorations into the realms that they first presented us with on their self-titled album grow ever more interesting and involved. The album, while musically along the same lines as their first (thought perhaps a little more locked in and melodic), found one major change in their visuals. As the early photos demonstrate, the band wore full face silver masks and only singer Midnight had his mouth exposed in order to sing with more ease than having it covered. By the time “Transcendence” was released the band had discovered that performing with faces covered was quite hot and difficult to do so they would move to donning half face masks that were very reminiscent of something out of the Phantom of the Opera. Each of these new masks was slightly different from each other and with it I felt that it added new levels of drama to them as opposed to taking any of it away. Thinking back on the original album I remembered that I never owned this release on vinyl and instead had only been able to find it on cassette tape back in the day and according to research it had never been on CD until around 2001. Continue reading “Transcendence” (reissue) by Crimson Glory→
Artist: Saint Blasphemer Title: “Simon Templar” Label: Independent Artist Release Date: 10/15/2016 Genre: Alternative Hard Rock/Psychedelic Punk Rating: 4.5/5
The band Saint Blasphemer caught my attention as soon as I heard their impacting name that crosses the pious with one who is anything but that. It makes you pause for a moment to rationalize it but there is no point and instead you should just dig into the music. With the EP “Simon Templar” they also piqued my curiosity because that is the name of a crime fighting series with a very popular man of mystery who goes by “The Saint”. Fans of a certain age might recall the show featuring Roger Moore but this was based on a series of novels that dated way further back but I digress. The album opens with “Nullify” and some of the groove reminded me of Warrior Soul and I guess this was from some of the vocal inflections of singer Thomas Monroe. There is a solid groove to the tune and you’ll find your head moving to the melody very quickly. Continue reading “Simon Templar” by Saint Blasphemer→
Artist: Repulsur Title: “XXX” Label: Independent Artist Release Date: 4/28/2016 Genre: Alternative Metal/Hard Rock Rating: 4/5
The other day while attending the regional appearance of Wednesday 13, I hit the merchandise table and learned that working with the band on the tour was the lead singer of a group called Repulsur; She goes by the stage name of Lerin-gitis but I’m sure that you can call her Lerin if you are given permission. She had the bands EP “XXX” with her and I was happy to get a copy of it to discuss here on the website. “XXX” is a really driving 3 song EP that begins with a raspy growl in “The Learning Curve”. Lerin doesn’t have a sweet and demure sort of vocal register and instead came off with the kind of commanding voice that one might have found in the daughter of the late great Lemmy and Wendy Williams might have given us. The chorus of this one might find you raising a fist into the air along with her if you should see a concert performance. Continue reading “XXX” by Repulsur→
Artist: Metal Allegiance Title: “Fallen Heroes” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 8/12/2016 Genre: Heavy Metal Rating: 4/5
As most music fans will recall, 2015 ended on a really bad note when Motorhead main man Lemmy Kilmister died of cancer. It was a jarring way to close a year and while 2016 was loaded with hope and promise, it quickly slapped us with a hard dose about our hero’s mortality when it took the iconic David Bowie and master songwriter Glen Frey from us one after the other. These three deceased legends are the musical inspiration for this solid EP by Metal Allegiance, that supergroup comprised of Mike Portnoy, Alex Skolnick, Mark Osegueda and many more. The idea for the EP came from the bands founding bassist Mark Menghi and fans will get a track apiece from Motorhead, Bowie and The Eagles. I’ll opine on each of them briefly below. Continue reading “Fallen Heroes” by Metal Allegiance→
Artist: Asia Title: “British Live Performance Series” Label: Rainman Records Release Date: 6/24/2016 Genre: Progressive Rock Rating: 4/5
When I think of the band Asia the first thing that comes to mind for me is the level of juggernaut success that their self-titled debut album received back in 1982 when Steve Howe, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Geoff Downes all joined forces to deliver an album that would bring a very radio friendly Progressive Rock into the homes of music fans worldwide. Granted it was a very different sound from their original groups of Yes, ELP, King Crimson and The Buggles and it might had annoyed the more purist of the Progressive Rock faithful but there was no doubt that the band was an Arena Rock staple from the signature track “Heat Of The Moment”. This classic concert from 1990 delivers a band looking back on the previous decade with a smile as they deliver tracks from the debut along with “Alpha”, “Astra” and “Then And Now” which would be the final album that the original members worked on together until their reunion in 2006 some sixteen years later. Continue reading “British Live Performance Series” by Asia→
