Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ace Frehley's "Anomaly" Takes Off Into Space
Many times when a "classic" band or artist comes out with a new album, mass audiences do not always buy into it because they just want to hear the hits. With two singles that get regular airplay on SiriusXM's Boneyard channel, Ace Frehley's Anomaly could prove to be an exception to this unfortunate rule.
The former Kiss guitarist released his first solo album in twenty years back in September of 2009. But why am I reviewing it after nearly six months after its release date? Sometimes albums or songs catch on slowly--and in this case it may not necessarily a bad thing.
I learned about Anomaly in October or November of last year after hearing its lead single "Outer Space" on satellite radio. When the DJ introduced the title of the song, I thought to myself, "Oh Lord... good old Ace is still milking the Space Man thing after all these years." A couple of days later I talked to my friend about the song, and he apparently had the exact same thought.
Intergalactic subject matter aside, this song is pretty hard rocking and all around great. The lyrics are sexy and sleazy, carrying on a great rock and tradition. The chorus is very memorable, and I find myself singing or humming it on occasion. I love the guitar work on this song, especially the riff played during the lyrics "I wanna take you to Heaven... Take you away from this Hell."
The second single from Anomaly, "Fox on the Run", drew me a little closer to this album. Having another song I was familiar with from the radio is what really prompted me to buy the album and devote my attention to it. I thought the song was a little cheesy at first, but I kept coming back to it because I am a sucker for 1970s glam covers. (Hey, that's what made Quiet Riot so awesome!)
"Fox on the Run", which was originally recorded by the British band Sweet in 1974, is a fun song about various run-ins with those ever present groupies of the rock world. It's got a got a great hook, and it's a nicely updated to add a more modern and heavier feel to a 35 year old song.
The album's lead track "Foxy & Free" was a good choice for an opener. (See the fox pattern?) It's heavy in the bass at the beginning, and it made me want to listen to more. Lyrically and vocally, this song isn't my favorite from the album. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the reference to Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" and "Foxy Lady." (Again with those foxes!)
"Outer Space" is Anomaly's second song, followed by "Pain in the Neck." This song begins with a killer bass line and quickly transitions into a very interesting, almost grunge sounding, guitar riff. The bridge is much more melodic, and then it goes back into the heavy grunge sound. "Pain in the Neck" is bluntly about what it sounds like it is about--a woman who is a pain in Ace's neck. It's a hard rocking song, but rather different that anything else I would have expected from an Ace Frehley album.
"Fox on the Run" comes next, then there's "Genghis Khan." This track is almost purely instrumental. The only lyric that pops up every so often is "So long, Genghis Khan. Now you're gone. So long." It sounds kind of bluesy, and it really reminds me of '80s-era Bad Company.
After that comes "Too Many Faces." It's repetitive, but catchy with it's chorus of "Too many faces in the mirror, always looking back at me." The guitar parts of this song get better and more exciting toward the end, and it contains a really good solo.
Anomaly's next track "Change the World" is a slower ballad that really changes the pace of the album. It is heart felt without being sappy. God, peace, and children are recurring themes in this song.
A much heavier instrumental called "Space Bear" follows, and the only way I can describe the beginning of this song is to say it has a kick ass riff. When I saw the title on the back of the CD (Yes, I have the actual hard copy of the album. Impressive during this digital age, right?), I was kind of hesitant to take it seriously like I was with "Outer Space." However, I was quite impressed with how modern it sounded without seeming contrived.
Another ballad "A Little Below the Angels" comes next. It seems to be autobiographical, in that it refers to alcohol, crashing cars, and having nine (maybe even ten) lives. It's an introspective song about the decadent trappings that can come with being a rockstar. This ballad has a memorable chorus, but the only thing that kills it is the group of children singing it toward the end. That just made a nice ballad too sweet for me.
"Sister", which follows, is another one of the heavier, harder rocking tracks on the album. After many listens, I'm still having a hard time telling exactly what this song is about. So now I'm convinced it is about a woman who is giving away something that's pretty dang good. I just don't understand the lyric "I call her my sister, but she's really not." I guess they just have a twisted relationship. I really like the lyric "She can take you around the world." It adds a certain sleazy sexiness to the song.
The next track, "It's a Great Life", begins with a groovy bass line. The verses and the accompanying guitar part are great, but the chorus isn't as memorable as some of the rest from the album. If a listener was only looking for catchy lyrics, the song could be forgettable.
Anomaly's final song is the instrumental "Fractured Quantum." The title led to me to expect something hard and heavy, but this track is quite melodic and very pleasant. Also, it begins with children's laughter and something that sounds like birds. It was as if I was listening to Kiss's "God of Thunder" at the beach with some seagulls. As strange as that may seem, the rest of the song is very good. I really like the fact that this instrumental doesn't just sound like a six minute guitar solo. It progresses and flows very well.
When I began listening to Anomaly in its entirety, I knew there would be at least two good songs on it because I was familiar with the singles "Outer Space" and "Fox on the Run." Other than that, I didn't know what to expect.
I knew Anomaly would feature excellent guitar playing, because obviously Ace Frehley is a guitar legend. However, I did have low expectations for the vocal performance. If you've heard the Kiss song "Shock Me", you know exactly what I'm talking about. As much as I love that song, the vocals on it are so bad they are laughable. I'm glad to say Ace has improved to go above and beyond that for this album.
Overall, I think there are several great rock songs with catchy hooks on Anomaly. I would recommend it to classic rock fans who are looking for an album of new songs to add their collections. I would also recommend Anomaly to anyone who is looking for something that is lighthearted and fun. Plus, who can't resist really cool CD packaging that folds out into a pyramid?
The former Kiss guitarist released his first solo album in twenty years back in September of 2009. But why am I reviewing it after nearly six months after its release date? Sometimes albums or songs catch on slowly--and in this case it may not necessarily a bad thing.
I learned about Anomaly in October or November of last year after hearing its lead single "Outer Space" on satellite radio. When the DJ introduced the title of the song, I thought to myself, "Oh Lord... good old Ace is still milking the Space Man thing after all these years." A couple of days later I talked to my friend about the song, and he apparently had the exact same thought.
Intergalactic subject matter aside, this song is pretty hard rocking and all around great. The lyrics are sexy and sleazy, carrying on a great rock and tradition. The chorus is very memorable, and I find myself singing or humming it on occasion. I love the guitar work on this song, especially the riff played during the lyrics "I wanna take you to Heaven... Take you away from this Hell."
The second single from Anomaly, "Fox on the Run", drew me a little closer to this album. Having another song I was familiar with from the radio is what really prompted me to buy the album and devote my attention to it. I thought the song was a little cheesy at first, but I kept coming back to it because I am a sucker for 1970s glam covers. (Hey, that's what made Quiet Riot so awesome!)
"Fox on the Run", which was originally recorded by the British band Sweet in 1974, is a fun song about various run-ins with those ever present groupies of the rock world. It's got a got a great hook, and it's a nicely updated to add a more modern and heavier feel to a 35 year old song.
The album's lead track "Foxy & Free" was a good choice for an opener. (See the fox pattern?) It's heavy in the bass at the beginning, and it made me want to listen to more. Lyrically and vocally, this song isn't my favorite from the album. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the reference to Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" and "Foxy Lady." (Again with those foxes!)
"Outer Space" is Anomaly's second song, followed by "Pain in the Neck." This song begins with a killer bass line and quickly transitions into a very interesting, almost grunge sounding, guitar riff. The bridge is much more melodic, and then it goes back into the heavy grunge sound. "Pain in the Neck" is bluntly about what it sounds like it is about--a woman who is a pain in Ace's neck. It's a hard rocking song, but rather different that anything else I would have expected from an Ace Frehley album.
"Fox on the Run" comes next, then there's "Genghis Khan." This track is almost purely instrumental. The only lyric that pops up every so often is "So long, Genghis Khan. Now you're gone. So long." It sounds kind of bluesy, and it really reminds me of '80s-era Bad Company.
After that comes "Too Many Faces." It's repetitive, but catchy with it's chorus of "Too many faces in the mirror, always looking back at me." The guitar parts of this song get better and more exciting toward the end, and it contains a really good solo.
Anomaly's next track "Change the World" is a slower ballad that really changes the pace of the album. It is heart felt without being sappy. God, peace, and children are recurring themes in this song.
A much heavier instrumental called "Space Bear" follows, and the only way I can describe the beginning of this song is to say it has a kick ass riff. When I saw the title on the back of the CD (Yes, I have the actual hard copy of the album. Impressive during this digital age, right?), I was kind of hesitant to take it seriously like I was with "Outer Space." However, I was quite impressed with how modern it sounded without seeming contrived.
Another ballad "A Little Below the Angels" comes next. It seems to be autobiographical, in that it refers to alcohol, crashing cars, and having nine (maybe even ten) lives. It's an introspective song about the decadent trappings that can come with being a rockstar. This ballad has a memorable chorus, but the only thing that kills it is the group of children singing it toward the end. That just made a nice ballad too sweet for me.
"Sister", which follows, is another one of the heavier, harder rocking tracks on the album. After many listens, I'm still having a hard time telling exactly what this song is about. So now I'm convinced it is about a woman who is giving away something that's pretty dang good. I just don't understand the lyric "I call her my sister, but she's really not." I guess they just have a twisted relationship. I really like the lyric "She can take you around the world." It adds a certain sleazy sexiness to the song.
The next track, "It's a Great Life", begins with a groovy bass line. The verses and the accompanying guitar part are great, but the chorus isn't as memorable as some of the rest from the album. If a listener was only looking for catchy lyrics, the song could be forgettable.
Anomaly's final song is the instrumental "Fractured Quantum." The title led to me to expect something hard and heavy, but this track is quite melodic and very pleasant. Also, it begins with children's laughter and something that sounds like birds. It was as if I was listening to Kiss's "God of Thunder" at the beach with some seagulls. As strange as that may seem, the rest of the song is very good. I really like the fact that this instrumental doesn't just sound like a six minute guitar solo. It progresses and flows very well.
When I began listening to Anomaly in its entirety, I knew there would be at least two good songs on it because I was familiar with the singles "Outer Space" and "Fox on the Run." Other than that, I didn't know what to expect.
I knew Anomaly would feature excellent guitar playing, because obviously Ace Frehley is a guitar legend. However, I did have low expectations for the vocal performance. If you've heard the Kiss song "Shock Me", you know exactly what I'm talking about. As much as I love that song, the vocals on it are so bad they are laughable. I'm glad to say Ace has improved to go above and beyond that for this album.
Overall, I think there are several great rock songs with catchy hooks on Anomaly. I would recommend it to classic rock fans who are looking for an album of new songs to add their collections. I would also recommend Anomaly to anyone who is looking for something that is lighthearted and fun. Plus, who can't resist really cool CD packaging that folds out into a pyramid?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fozzy "Chasing the Grail" signing 2-1-2010
These photos are from Fozzy's album signing on February 1st at the Hot Topic Store in in Alpharetta, Georgia. Check out their brand new album Chasing the Grail which is available in stores now.
Fozzy Members Chris Jericho, Sean Delson, (Me!), Rich Ward, and Frank Fontsere
Me with Fozzy vocalist Chris Jericho
Me with Fozzy guitarist Rich "The Duke" Ward
Me with the AMAZING John Howarth, owner of Riot Entertainment
Fozzy Members Chris Jericho, Sean Delson, (Me!), Rich Ward, and Frank Fontsere
Me with Fozzy vocalist Chris Jericho
Me with Fozzy guitarist Rich "The Duke" Ward
Me with the AMAZING John Howarth, owner of Riot Entertainment
Friday, January 29, 2010
Metal Band Fozzy Finds the 'Grail' With New Album
Fozzy's fourth album Chasing the Grail was unleashed upon fans this week after nearly five years of anticipating new and original material from the band. It was released by the Australian label Riot Entertainment. This hard and heavy hitting record lives up to, and even surpasses, Fozzy's 2005 release (and 2008 re-release) All That Remains.
The lead single, "Martyr No More," is gaining airplay on hard rock radio, and it is also one of the official theme songs for World Wrestling Entertainment's 2010 Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View.
"Martyr No More" opens with a fierce guitar riff from the very talented Rich Ward. The song has memorable verses, and an even more memorable chorus. The vocals, performed by none other than WWE Superstar and TV Host Chris Jericho, is sure to blow any rock fan away.
The album's opening track "Under Blackened Skies" begins with machine gun fire-like intensity. The guitar, drums, and bass are all mighty powerful. The vocals, especially at the start of the verses, add a certain dark and hazy mood to the song. "Under Blackened Skies" was a great choice for an opener, and it certainly sets the tone for the rest of the album.
"Martyr No More" comes next, and it is followed by "Grail," which is one of my absolute favorite tracks from this record. Jericho wrote some great lyrics for this one. The line "You can cast the magic spell or pull the sword from the stone" evokes the memories of some classic songs by written by Ronnie James Dio. "Grail" features a powerful, but still catchy as Hell, chorus. I find myself singing this song a lot. The music and vocals do a wonderful job of painting the picture of searching and longing that the lyrics suggest.
The more laid-back side of Fozzy really shows in the song "Broken Soul." It feels deep, yet optimistic. The first time I heard it, I thought, "This is a total lighter moment!" I really sense a Beatles vibe during the bridge. This track offers a nice change of pace, breaking up the heavier songs and making it all more interesting.
"Let the Madness Begin," which was available as sort of a sneak-peek on Fozzy's website, is another one of my favorites from Chasing the Grail. It sounds very new and exciting, but I also hear a lot of Ozzy Osbourne influence in it. The title conveys the message, and lyrics are great. The liner notes say guitarist Rich Ward contributed the line "The devil feeds on my thoughts, even when I pray." This line adds so much to Jericho's already fantastic lyrics, and I can really tell that this songwriting team works so well together.
The next track, "Pray for Blood," is a very heavy song that features some outstanding guitar work and lyrics that tell an exciting and violent story. I could really bang my head all day to what Jericho calls a "song about 10th Century Vikings who would eat their enemy's hearts after killing them." The opening lines are one of my favorite parts of this song. I honestly think Jericho should really take advantage of this track and use it as new ring entrance music. This song would be AWESOME entrance music! I've been thinking that since the first time I heard it.
"A New Day's Dawn" is one of the most interesting songs from Chasing the Grail. It is fascinating in that it begins with some falsetto vocals by Rich Ward. The lyrics of this song are quite memorable, especially because of the rhyme scheme. Also, I'm flat-out impressed by the use of the phrase "jumped the shark." There are some elements of this song that remind me of the Finnish rock band H.I.M. I'm not sure if it's the overall tone of the song, or if it's just the way it flows.
My most favorite song on this album is "God Pounds His Nails." I get so unbelievably pumped each time I hear this song! It is incredibly powerful. It is so much fun, but it's profound due to the religious imagery in the lyrics. The "hey... hey... hey" and the "one... two... three" in the energetic chorus really makes me want to hear this song live. This song is meant to be heard while in a crowd of metal heads.
I'm not going to lie... The song "Watch Me Shine" gets me choked up. I find this song to be very deep. I think it accurately summarizes the ongoing ills of the world. I think the chorus is great, especially the lines "I don't want to live without her, even though at times I've lost my mind." That part is so beautifully written it gives me chills!
"Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Friday the 13th)" is a hard and heavy bone-shattering track that has Iron Maiden influence written all over it. The speed of the drums and guitar riffs in this song reminds me of the speaker vibrations at the Machinehead/Megadeth show I went to last November. I really like the superstitious and mysterious content of the lyrics... very METAL!
Chasing the Grail's second to last track "Revival" is an empowering song about seeking the truth. It is an overall great rock song, but I'm honestly not too crazy about Chris Jericho's near- screaming vocals in parts of it. I've always thought of him as a powerful, clear, and pleasant singer. (I personally believe that Chris is way too good for screaming. He can convey so many attitudes and moods without it.)
I don't even know how to begin to describe the album's grand finale, "Wormwood." I try very hard not to ever overuse the word "epic." But until I can come up with something better, I have to stick with that.
To put it simply, "Wormwood" is a 14-minute multi-part masterpiece about the Apocalypse written by guitarist Mike Martin and Chris Jericho. Listeners everywhere have been impressed by it since day one of Chasing the Grail's release, and the track has been heavily praised on Twitter.
"Wormwood" consists of six different movements, all with different titles such as "The Seven Thunders" and "The Seven Seals." It opens with some whispering (which sounds like Latin if I'm not mistaken) and the Biblical verse Revelation 8:10-11. Following that is a beautiful acoustic guitar solo. Then comes the roaring electric guitar.
The first part of Chris's vocals are creepily whispered, then they get progressively more powerful. Each piece of the song flows together perfectly, and a choir and other instrumentation magically fit. This song is Fozzy's deepest and darkest song to date, and it is extremely unique and utterly magnificent.
There is so much more to say about "Wormwood," but I will leave it at that so I don't spoil it for those who haven't heard it yet.
After listening to Chasing the Grail for four days now, I can sincerely say that I would rank it among my most favorite rock and metal albums. I really can't get enough of it. Each time I listen to it--whether it be while driving to work, exercising, or just relaxing--I discover a new reason to enjoy it.
Each song from Chasing the Grail is something amazing and different, and its final masterpiece "Wormwood" is the icing on the already outstanding cake. This is the best new album I've heard in ages, and it is truly the best one I have written about since the inception The Rock Maiden website. Go out and buy a copy right now, and if you can't wait, get it from iTunes.
The lead single, "Martyr No More," is gaining airplay on hard rock radio, and it is also one of the official theme songs for World Wrestling Entertainment's 2010 Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View.
"Martyr No More" opens with a fierce guitar riff from the very talented Rich Ward. The song has memorable verses, and an even more memorable chorus. The vocals, performed by none other than WWE Superstar and TV Host Chris Jericho, is sure to blow any rock fan away.
The album's opening track "Under Blackened Skies" begins with machine gun fire-like intensity. The guitar, drums, and bass are all mighty powerful. The vocals, especially at the start of the verses, add a certain dark and hazy mood to the song. "Under Blackened Skies" was a great choice for an opener, and it certainly sets the tone for the rest of the album.
"Martyr No More" comes next, and it is followed by "Grail," which is one of my absolute favorite tracks from this record. Jericho wrote some great lyrics for this one. The line "You can cast the magic spell or pull the sword from the stone" evokes the memories of some classic songs by written by Ronnie James Dio. "Grail" features a powerful, but still catchy as Hell, chorus. I find myself singing this song a lot. The music and vocals do a wonderful job of painting the picture of searching and longing that the lyrics suggest.
The more laid-back side of Fozzy really shows in the song "Broken Soul." It feels deep, yet optimistic. The first time I heard it, I thought, "This is a total lighter moment!" I really sense a Beatles vibe during the bridge. This track offers a nice change of pace, breaking up the heavier songs and making it all more interesting.
"Let the Madness Begin," which was available as sort of a sneak-peek on Fozzy's website, is another one of my favorites from Chasing the Grail. It sounds very new and exciting, but I also hear a lot of Ozzy Osbourne influence in it. The title conveys the message, and lyrics are great. The liner notes say guitarist Rich Ward contributed the line "The devil feeds on my thoughts, even when I pray." This line adds so much to Jericho's already fantastic lyrics, and I can really tell that this songwriting team works so well together.
The next track, "Pray for Blood," is a very heavy song that features some outstanding guitar work and lyrics that tell an exciting and violent story. I could really bang my head all day to what Jericho calls a "song about 10th Century Vikings who would eat their enemy's hearts after killing them." The opening lines are one of my favorite parts of this song. I honestly think Jericho should really take advantage of this track and use it as new ring entrance music. This song would be AWESOME entrance music! I've been thinking that since the first time I heard it.
"A New Day's Dawn" is one of the most interesting songs from Chasing the Grail. It is fascinating in that it begins with some falsetto vocals by Rich Ward. The lyrics of this song are quite memorable, especially because of the rhyme scheme. Also, I'm flat-out impressed by the use of the phrase "jumped the shark." There are some elements of this song that remind me of the Finnish rock band H.I.M. I'm not sure if it's the overall tone of the song, or if it's just the way it flows.
My most favorite song on this album is "God Pounds His Nails." I get so unbelievably pumped each time I hear this song! It is incredibly powerful. It is so much fun, but it's profound due to the religious imagery in the lyrics. The "hey... hey... hey" and the "one... two... three" in the energetic chorus really makes me want to hear this song live. This song is meant to be heard while in a crowd of metal heads.
I'm not going to lie... The song "Watch Me Shine" gets me choked up. I find this song to be very deep. I think it accurately summarizes the ongoing ills of the world. I think the chorus is great, especially the lines "I don't want to live without her, even though at times I've lost my mind." That part is so beautifully written it gives me chills!
"Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Friday the 13th)" is a hard and heavy bone-shattering track that has Iron Maiden influence written all over it. The speed of the drums and guitar riffs in this song reminds me of the speaker vibrations at the Machinehead/Megadeth show I went to last November. I really like the superstitious and mysterious content of the lyrics... very METAL!
Chasing the Grail's second to last track "Revival" is an empowering song about seeking the truth. It is an overall great rock song, but I'm honestly not too crazy about Chris Jericho's near- screaming vocals in parts of it. I've always thought of him as a powerful, clear, and pleasant singer. (I personally believe that Chris is way too good for screaming. He can convey so many attitudes and moods without it.)
I don't even know how to begin to describe the album's grand finale, "Wormwood." I try very hard not to ever overuse the word "epic." But until I can come up with something better, I have to stick with that.
To put it simply, "Wormwood" is a 14-minute multi-part masterpiece about the Apocalypse written by guitarist Mike Martin and Chris Jericho. Listeners everywhere have been impressed by it since day one of Chasing the Grail's release, and the track has been heavily praised on Twitter.
"Wormwood" consists of six different movements, all with different titles such as "The Seven Thunders" and "The Seven Seals." It opens with some whispering (which sounds like Latin if I'm not mistaken) and the Biblical verse Revelation 8:10-11. Following that is a beautiful acoustic guitar solo. Then comes the roaring electric guitar.
The first part of Chris's vocals are creepily whispered, then they get progressively more powerful. Each piece of the song flows together perfectly, and a choir and other instrumentation magically fit. This song is Fozzy's deepest and darkest song to date, and it is extremely unique and utterly magnificent.
There is so much more to say about "Wormwood," but I will leave it at that so I don't spoil it for those who haven't heard it yet.
After listening to Chasing the Grail for four days now, I can sincerely say that I would rank it among my most favorite rock and metal albums. I really can't get enough of it. Each time I listen to it--whether it be while driving to work, exercising, or just relaxing--I discover a new reason to enjoy it.
Each song from Chasing the Grail is something amazing and different, and its final masterpiece "Wormwood" is the icing on the already outstanding cake. This is the best new album I've heard in ages, and it is truly the best one I have written about since the inception The Rock Maiden website. Go out and buy a copy right now, and if you can't wait, get it from iTunes.
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