Album review---Iron Maiden "Book of Souls"

Iron Maiden, one of the most beloved and biggest bands in all of music. Not just metal music, but MUSIC.  Its always exciting when they release albums and announce tours however a sense of the end is always near nowadays and a retirement announcement always seems right around the corner. Hopefully the corner is really far off.  The previous tour was a history of maiden tour from the "7th Son of a 7th Son"era, and this album sounds influenced by that tour and album to an extant. Its proggy and incorporates synths, which is good because I love that album. Like the last release "The Final Frontier" I expect a good part of this album to show up on the set list for the tour. But lets get to the album itself. It's their first double album, and just because the sheep fans who let pop culture influence their taste in bands won't understand why there is only 11 songs instead of 30 let me say to them to keep listening to Five finger douche bags or the horrendous Butcher babies bullshit. Your not going to like this album anyway.  Starting off with "If Eternity Should Fail", it sets the tone of the album and is a solid album opener much like I thought "Satellite 15....the Final Frontier" did for that album. An eerie instrumental with Bruce singing over it that blasts into a hard charging galloping riff and never lets up, an essential maiden trait that seems to never get old.. Next up is "Speed of Light" which really is much better in the context of the whole album than just a single, I thought it flowed better from the opening track rather than by itself. Its also the shortest song clocking in at 5:01.Up next is the "Great Unknown", its not bad but nowhere the best track on the album. If your familiar with 2nd era with Bruce it falls in line with many other songs going back to "Brave New World", (songs you know but cant remember the name of). The "Red and the Black" is the second longest track on the album and is pretty damn awesome, however I think a couple minutes towards the end cut out of it wouldn't have hurt any. Some awesome riffs hidden in this gem! "When the River Runs Deep" I put in the same category as "The Great Unknown". Now the title track, "Book of Souls". Such as good song and quintessential Maiden. I think its among their best title songs from their entire career("Powerslave", "Fear of the Dark", "Brave New World", "Number of the Beast", 7th Son, etc..)  If this song isn't the set piece with Mayan Eddie emerging ill be really disappointed. My favorite song on the album followed by my close 2nd favorite "Death or Glory". This just has high energy live song all over it and I love the lyrics for this one. Bruce Dickinson has a way of singing simplest choruses that doesn't sound over repeated and this one will be sung by the audience loudly. "Shadows of the Valley " is next up and I thought it would be a cover of an earlier song of theirs "Wasted Years" as it borrows from the intro riff from that song heavily but it veers from that path pretty quick and is very much its own song. The following song "Tears of a Clown" is written about Robin Williams and deals with depression and suicide. A big departure from the rest of the album subject matter. "Man of Sorrows" is next and starts off like a ballad, doesn't stay that way long though. Pretty solid mid tempo song I could see being in the tour set. Now the finale "Empire of the Clouds is a whopping 18 minutes and  what a song. Penned by Bruce himself its such an epic song. You really should listen to this on headphones. Something about it just grabs your attention. The lyrics are amazing, painting the picture of everything he's singing about in your head, and the song has a shitload of layers to it. Just listen for yourself even if your not a Maiden fan, its incredible song writing, a talent that should be way more commended than it is current day. As always everyone in this band is top notch in their craft, just solid performances and playing all around from this band as in every album really.

4.5 out of 5 meadhorns

Album Review---Enforcer "From Beyond"

The metal that comes out of Sweden may be the best in all of metal right now as many of my favorite bands hail from there. Enforcer is now a part of this list. Thier latest album "From Beyond" is what makes thrash metal so enjoyable. The guitar tones, solos, double bass pounding from start to finish, screaming vocals, the energy, haunting clean intros, dark lord references etc etc. Like many classic metal albums this one starts off with pounding drums into the ferocious leadoff track "Destroyer". Its 3 1/2 minutes announcing that this album will have you headbanging till the end. Moving on to "Undying Evil" this track is so catchy and simple its almost sickening how good it is and if I had to pick one song to introduce this band to a stranger I would say this is the one. Its just a perfect thrash song. Specifically 80's thrash which nobody can argue is a bad thing(unless you love metalcore or worse deathcore, then theres no hope for you anyway)."From Beyond" is the title track that showcases Enforcers ability to write catchy and melodic vocals. The rythem under the solos in this track is really standout too. "One with Fire" is the next song and its basically a standard thrash tune, not bad but isnt a stand out track. Things slow down a litle bit on the song "Below the Slumber" giving a showcase to singer Olof Wikstrand talents as a singer and lyricist. Its not long before its shifting into high gear and gets the blood flowing once again ."Hungry they will come" is an instrumental that is a showcase of Enforcers riffage and making everything flow together so seemlessly. If your  fan of riff o rama definately dont skip over this song as its a perfect lead in to my favorite song on the album "The Banshee" This song hooked me in from the beginning. Awesome solos right at the beginning making way into very punk rock inspired thrash riff but he real payoff in this song is the chorus. Words cant describe it so just dont skip ahead too fast, youll miss some iconic song writing and riffage. Things take another slow down for the song "Farewell". Much in the same style as previous song "From Beyond"."Hell will Follow" reminded me alot of "Metal Militia" off "Kill em All" so that should speak for itself however I really do love the outro riff on this, and Finally "Mask of Red Death" closes out the album and i really like this song too. Its the slowest on the album but has such groove and its very much a story more than a set of lyrics which transforms into an Iron Maiden inspired riff happy middle section, and that never gets old! It really shouldnt be long before members in this band are known. All of them are masters of thier instruments, not over playing but just making the songs perfect. If you like clasic metal thrash or just god music definately listen to this album, then go in to thier back catalogue. Its worth a listen as well.  Catch them on tour next Winter in the U.S. with Warbringer and Cauldron

4.5 out of 5 meadhorns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4785h6JSqNc

Live Show Review-Steel Panther- Live in Knoxville 5-24-15

I love Steel Panther. These guys are seriously talented musicians hands down. I know alot of metal fans hate them or consider them a parody band but they write thier own music so how is that parody? Starting off with "Pussywhipped" the band played a mix of hits and deep cuts across all 3 albums. Long comedy routines were just as funny to watch as the 80's poses and cliches the band has down to a science while they play. The way they segway into songs from the comedy is also second to none. Its so smooth that the work they put into rehearsing thier cues has to be equal to the effort they put into rehearsing thier songs. The crowd interaction was also really entertaining. Some people obviously knew to heckle the band to get some really funny insults thrown back at them. And of course the band talking dirty to random girls in the crowd was some good laughs and made for hilarious hijinks while on stage for "17 girls in a row" and "Gloryhole". An acoustic set mid show was a welcome change to the "bitching" set(only way to describe it, watch thier youtube interviews). "Girl from Oklahoma" was definately the highlight of the acoustic section of the show and im not sure the poor girl they dragged up on stage while singer Michael Starr sang intimately to her really knew what she was in for. Which is part of the appeal of seeing this band live. They truly dont give a fuck what they say or do no matter how offensive.  If you have never seen Steel Panther and your a fan of them you owe it to yourself to see them headline in a small place(the venue held about 1000-to-1200 people). It is a good time and worth every penny!
5 out of 5 meadhorns

Setlist

Pussywhipped Party Like Tomorrow Is the End of the World Fat Girl (Thar She Blows) Tomorrow Night The Shocker Hair Solo 17 Girls in a Row Gloryhole If I Was the King Guitar Solo Ten Strikes You're Out [Acoustic] [Kanye] [Weenie Ride] [Stripper Girl] [Why Can't You Trust Me] [Girl From Oklahoma] Asian Hooker Eyes of a Panther Death to All but Metal Encore Community Property Party All Day (Fuck All Night)

hiatus over!!

My laptop is now fixed and im ready to start back with the reviews and interviews so stay tuned. Also I will be doing some older album reviews I really dig and missed during my hiatus.