Artist: Various Artists
Title: “Black Mark – Festivals ‘95”
Label: Black Mark Productions
Release Date: 1995
Genre: Heavy Metal/Power Metal
Rating: 3/5
I found this CD in a stack of stuff that a friend once gave me in order to sample some of the Power Metal bands that he enjoyed. I remembered skimming through it and decided it was high time to compile some thoughts about its contents. Obviously the eight tracks are a mere teaser of some of the bands that appeared during some festival shows while the groups were on Germany’s Black Mark Productions label but instead of eight unique bands we find four and get two tracks from each. Many listeners might instantly be aware of Tad Morose because they eventually signed to Century Media Records and released a couple of albums that were pretty good. Of course that is not the only treat to be found and Candlemass fans would enjoy the chance to sink their teeth into the two tracks from Memento Mori which at the time of the release featured former Candlemass singer Messiah Marcolin. If you never had any exposure to the band before this is a nice sample tray which might actually lead you to dig up a full release of theirs. Of course while great tunes are on the sample and show Memento Mori as a band with a lot of potential, Messiah would eventually return to Candlemass only to leave once again in 2006. Morgana LeFay is the most accessible of the Power Metal bands on the sampler as their sound does not deviate too far from what most expect from this kind of band and Cemetary, while rather Gothic and droning in a creepy way, also offer up elements of Doom for the hungry Metal maniac.
Continue reading “Black Mark – Festivals ‘95” by Various Artists →
Artist: Ed Guy
Venue: B.B. Kings Blues Club (New York, NY)
Date: 9/15/2004
Opener: Tad Morose
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Ed Guy, probably the most energetic force in the world of power metal today made their very first visit to New York City before they were set to play the Prog Power USA show in Georgia. Their opener would be Sweden’s own Tad Morose. Each band supporting their most recent release, Ed Guy’s “Hellfire Club” and Tad Morose “Modus Vivendi”. The venue would be The B.B. King Blues Club once again (and I have noticed a large amount of metal acts coming here of late). This venue in my opinion while very stylish and well-known is not truly the setting for a good metal show. I find the bands often getting lost in the PA system or things are just missing overall. There are venues I prefer to see metal shows more than this one, but you have to go where they play when it comes right down to it. I view it as at least the bands are hitting NYC in some fashion.
Continue reading EdGuy @ B.B. King Blues Club (9/15/2004) →
Artist: Tad Morose
Title: “Modus Vivendi”
Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: 2/2004
Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 9/10
Every now and again you find a group that you miss somehow. One such group that I had never heard of was Tad Morose from Sweden. The band was making an appearance with EdGuy in NYC on their way to the ProgPowerUSA Fest. After listening to the CD “Modus Vivendi” and also catching a live set I can only say one thing about these makers of molten metal……FANTASTIC!!! From start to finish this CD is an awesome piece of work. I enjoyed track after track from this Swedish Quintet and here are some highlights about it.
Continue reading “Modus Vivendi” by Tad Morose →
Where Heavy Music & Pop Culture Collide
