Artist: Listeria
Title: “Full Of Fire”
Label: Lion Music
Release Date: 1/10/2006
Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 3/5
Italy’s Power Metal purveyors deliver their tasty debut “Full Of Fire” courtesy of Lion Music, the one label that always aims to please the fans of this brand of Metal. With this album, we quickly find that Listeria is a band that has not only been influenced by the classic time in the genres history, but also manages to keep it going in today’s ever-changing music scene. What I mean by this is that there is a very “legacy” feel to most of the tracks that are on this release. As a result, some listeners will find it brings them back to a special time while others might find it dated and old. I admit that I enjoyed the feeling of being tossed back into the Metal eighties with this one, as they sure can play and really make you feel like this style has not gone the way of the Progressive and Death Metal future we find a lot in the scene nowadays. Tracks like “Emily” and “Shadow” are powerful numbers and have not only the type of chorus you find yourself singing along to, but also possess those classic ripping guitar leads that were so prevalent in the eighties Metal scene. While there is a lot of catchy riffs and lyrics across the board it’s also safe to say that there is really nothing new about the album that you have not heard a million times before. Yes, the group does sure give their all in the delivery and style and are to be commended for it. The members of the group are Vittorio Scotti-Witto (Lead Vocals), Luciano Toscani-Ciano (Lead/rhythm guitars and Backing vocals), Pierluigi Boschi-Gigio (Rhythm guitars), Angelo Di Gennaro-Hanjo (Bass), and Giancarlo Noto-Gian (Drums). Talented players all around who show great levels of skill on their instruments.
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Artist: Mike Terrana
Title: “Man Of The World”
Label: Lion Music
Release Date: 3/15/2005
Genre: Progressive/Fusion
Rating: 7/10
Mike Terrana is one of the greatest drummers Metal music has to offer and if you have listened to the music of Rage, Artension, Axel Rudi Pell and Macalpine you are very aware of that. His second solo release takes into a world that you don’t often get to have from a Metal drummer. The record itself is a unique blend of heavy music and progressive elements that will impress not only drummers but all musicians. It was impressive for one usually gets too much in the way of drum exposition rather then focusing on the music while Terrana makes sure to focus on the song while at the same time delivering well-thought out syncopations for the listener. He gives drummers like Rod Morgenstein and Mike Portnoy a run for their money by raising the musical bar in the same fashion they do on their efforts. Refusing to stick to form there is a solo piano piece in “Sonata #9 Pathetique/Beethoven” and a Latin flavored flourish with “Revenge Of The Cachaca”. Clearly he did not take the tradional or expected route with Heavy Metal drumming covering the length of the album. Yet despite the variations on the theme he also does not leave his Metal roots behind by giving the listener a drop-dead solo at the albums close.
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Artist: Artension
Title: “Future World”
Label: Lion Music
Release Date: 3/15/2005
Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 8/10
Artension is a Progressive Metal fans dream for they truly move above the typical expectations of the genre. Yes there are many groups that perform Prog-Metal but instead of established formulas I found this group leaning a little more towards the Progressive heavies of old and bringing their influencial sounds into the 21st Century. As soon as the album begins you are kicked in the teeth by the driving beat of “Dark Before The Dawn” which not only possesses a throttling double bass drum run but is led by some heavy duty keyboards. The Neo-Classical Metal is delivered by members Vitalij Kuprij (keyboards), Roger Staffelbach (guitar), John West (vocals), Mike Terrana (drums) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass) and going over their individual accomplishments shows why this album sounds as good as it does. As a fan of this kind of Metal, I was amazed to see the keyboard work introduced by Kuprij for not since Derek Sherinian had I heard such a perfect use of the instrument in heavy music. “Federation” is a great example of this delivery and I think as a result this is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Singer John West also shines across the record for he is in possession of the pipes of Hard Rock greats as well as Traditional or Old-School level bands you loved back in the day. His very melodic vocal style covers the record and I think I preferred him with Artension than the music he recorded with Rock Feinstein. Whenever you have Mike Terrana on an album you can count on that area to be well addressed for Terrana is a Power Metal drummers, Power Metal drummer. He reminds me a lot of Bobby Jarzombek at times, although I feel he gets a little more technical during his playing than we see Bobby do.
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Artist: Various Artists
Title: “Blackmore’s Castle Vol. II”
Label: Lion Music
Release Date: 2005
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 7/10
The great thing about a Tribute CD to Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow is the fact that not only are these influential tunes still fresh when listened to today, but you can see a progressive growth from the original years later in the bands that participate on the release. Each band makes sure to take you on an interesting journey with their interpretation of the music. There is certainly a wide variety of this going on across the length of the CD. However, like all tributes, there is good and there is bad. This piece in particular offers far more on the good side than that of the bad. I also like the fact that one gets an interesting interpretation of the music. There is quite a wide variety of this on the CD; some are good while some are outstanding. The other aspect of this piece is that it really gives you a great sampling of The Lion Music’s artist roster. These are bands that have numerous releases in the Progressive Rock and Metal style and here in the USA you might not get the level of exposure to them that you might desire.
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Where Heavy Music & Pop Culture Collide
