Recaps and Reflections…2011 In Review...

As 2011 comes to a close, we took some time to go through all of the releases for the year and give you what made our playlists this year.  There really was a lot released this year, and quite a bit on tap for next year.  As we were going through this we realized that for the average listener, some of these bands go unheard of, or the new release goes unnoticed.  We hope that in that sense we help fill a void for those that may not have the time to get their hands on everything that’s out there, or have become casual listeners because life does get priority over everything else, and we certainly understand that. 

The formats have changed but the search continues.  We’ve gone from scouring tape bins and cutout racks for that elusive record that turned your world upside down, but didn’t sell enough copies at the time to warrant wide distribution.  Now we scour used cd shops to find something that went missing over the years, or, after years of wear and tear…finally gave out.  We certainly test the limits of the medium. 

It’s been a great year for new releases.  We’d like to thank record labels like Frontiers, Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner and Kivel records for bringing us some of the best new hard rock and metal this year.  And it’s not that the major “mainstream” labels didn’t help a bit, it’s just that these labels really cater to our crowd.  Thanks goes out to Rock Candy Records for taking the time to put those hard to find releases back in distribution so that a new generation of kids can understand what really good hard rock is…and it allows us old guys to fill the holes in our collections because we wore out the tape!...Special kudos to Michael McPherson at NEH Records, the best place to shop in the US for new and re-released melodic hard rock and metal. 

So…what a year… we’ve had the return of a lot of bands, some line-up changes, and some new artists break through as well.  Melodic hard rock and heavy metal is out there… you just have to look for it…

Without further ado… here is our top 10’s for 2011.  We don’t always agree on the order, but we’re pretty consistent on what we think was the best this year [In our not so humble opinions…].  

Starting at number 10…

Stefan: Kimball/Jamison- Self-Titled: “When two powerhouse vocalists like Jimi Jamison and Bobby Kimball team up, the results are, of course, amazing.  Kimball/Jamison is packed full of hooks, harmonies and deep lyrics.  This is definitely recommended for fans of straightforward melodic rock.”

Finster: Symphony X – Iconoclast: “Machines taking over man…Epic, technically amazing, bombastic, melodic, orchestral, and hands down one of the best releases of the year.  The interplay of guitarist Michael Romeo and keyboardist Mike Pinnella is a highlight of this record.   A progressive metal masterpiece…they sound awesome…  Russell Allen goes from melodic to aggressive and back… A definite winner…”

Number 9...

Stefan: Chickenfoot - III - "Skipping right over the angst that goes with making the follow-up album to a successful debut, Chickenfoot simply named their second album Chickenfoot III.  Clever!  These guys sure know how to write serious rock tunes and kick some ass while doing so.  Sammy Hagar's distinct voice and Satriani's guitar magic are a perfect blend on top of Michael Anthony's huge bass lines and big backing vocals.  Chad Smith's drumming is certainly nothing to sneeze at either!"

Finster: Anthrax – Worship Music: “Marking the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, and their first new release in 8 years, this album has it all… the riffs, the power, the songwriting…everything that makes Anthrax one of the Big 4.  Excellent”

Number 8...

Stefan: Megadeth – Th1rt3en:  “Th1rt3en marks the return of Dave Ellefson, and the timing couldn’t be better.  Megadeth consistenly puts out heavy, aggressive metal tunes album after album, and the writing continues to progress for this quarter of The Big 4.  This album should be the latest addition to any Megadeth fan’s collection.”

Finster: Chickenfoot – III: “I have been a fan of Hagar from Montrose, solo, HSAS, and Van Halen, so add the technical prowess of Joe Satriani, and the rhythm section of Michael Anthony and Chad Smith, and this is a no brainer for me.  They just want to play outstanding rock and roll and have a great time doing it.  They succeed on both levels here…”

Number 7...

Stefan: Anthrax – Worship Music: “Alex, what is bringing back Joey Belladonna?  The answer is: the smartest thing Anthrax has done in years.  An excellent release from another quarter of The Big 4.  In my opinion, this could be their best release to-date.”

Finster: Megadeth – Th1rt3en: “I took some time this year to devour the Megadeth catalog [courtesy of Stefan who filled the gaps…thanks!...] before this came out, and my expectations were matched and then some.  Bassist Dave Ellefson returned and he and Shawn Drover really keep the rhythm section moving, while the interplay with Dave Mustaine is as tight as ever.  There is not a bad song on the record, and Dave Mustaine has been quoted as saying this is one of his best works…I have to agree…”

Number 6...

Stefan: Whitesnake – Forevermore: “David Coverdale has brought the band to the next level … AGAIN.  Doug Aldrich’s shredding yet melodic guitar licks bring Coverdale’s lyrics to life.  Forevermore yet again delivers the classic yet current hard rock sound we expect to hear from the legend himself.”

Finster: Whitesnake – Forevermore: “Building on the last record “Good To Be Bad”, I feel they really came out stronger on this release.  This was the 2^nd full release with the writing team of Coverdale/Aldrich, and the album gels all the way through.  It doesn’t hurt when you throw Reb Beach and Brian Tichy into the mix either.  Strong songs, anthems, guitar solos, power ballads…all the things you’ve come to expect from a Whitesnake record, and done with precision.  Add to that Coverdale was 60 when he recorded it, and while his voice has aged over time, he more than makes up for it in his energy and passion…” 

Number 5...

Stefan: Mr. Big – What If: “It was really hard placing Mr. Big’s What If at #5 on my list.  It goes to show you how great of a release year it was!  LOL!  Seriously though, what a great return for these guys.  Mr. Big has always been a musician’s band, i.e. the guys are all top notch musicians.  On their 2011 tour, this was evident when the guys all switched instruments and began jamming to Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water for their first encore.  [Side note: Mr. Big Live concert review to follow one of these days … sorry for the delay in getting this written up!  Life happens …]  What If brings a 21^st century vibe to the definition of melodic hard rock.  The guys are perfectionists and that certainly comes out in the arrangements and production of What If.  However, they still know how to put on a live show with a raw feel to it … because it’s just them ripping out the tunes with no special effects.”

Finster: House Of Lords – Big Money:  “From the first scream of “Money” in the opener to this record, you know right away that if you’re looking for great melodic hard rock…you’ve found it.  James Christian really doesn’t seem to age and his voice just keeps getting stronger.  This lineup of the band has been in place for the last few albums and they continue to sound great here.  Guitarist Jimi Bell, bassist Chris McCarvill and drummer BJ Zampa shine on this record.  Pick this up….”

Number 4...

Stefan: House Of Lords- Big Money: “James Christian delivers yet another stellar vocal performance.  JC is like a fine wine … he gets better with age.  The tunes are amazing – big hooks, big guitars, big background vocals and about the best production a band could dream about.  Finster said it best … pick this one up!”

Finster: Voodoo Circle – Broken Heart Syndrome:  The complete band name is Alex Beyrodt’s Voodoo Circle… Alex is the guitarist for Sinner/Silent Force and more recently, Primal Fear.  He is joined by his Primal Fear band mate Matt Sinner and Pink Cream 69 vocalist David Readman.  I’m a huge fan of all or their individual work, particularly Readman, so when I heard this I found myself playing it over and over.  It’s an intentional throwback to Rainbow/Deep Purple/Whitesnake with Beyrodt’s incredible solos mixed in.  David Readman sounds great and the band really kicks.  Definitely worth a listen or two… This was their second release, so pick up the self titled debut as well…I’m holding out for another one…”

Number 3...

Stefan: Edguy – Age Of The Joker: “I’m sensing a theme here … Finster and I agreeing!  Edguy was definitely an undiscovered gem for me this past year or so.  Since then, I’ve picked up their entire back catalog, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.  What disappoints me is that I’ve missed seeing them live here in the United States over the last 5 years or so.  Yet I digress … Age Of The Joker was a much anticipated album in 2011 for me (and I’m sure for Finster too).  Edguy’s sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics (a la Tobias Sammet, check out track #6 called Two Out Of Seven) are present on this album too, but they are surrounded by simply incredible riffs and melodies.  Age Of The Joker feels like a natural next step in Edguy’s journey through life.  They have matured (and I don’t mean mature as the opposite of immature), just simply maturing into veterans of the power metal genre.  From beginning to end, Edguy keeps you listening intently and wanting more.”

Finster: Edguy – Age Of The Joker: It appears we agree once again!... Being huge fans of both Edguy and Avantasia [Tobias Sammet’s other project] we had high expectations for this release, and we got it in spades.  An excellent mix of power metal, hard rock, and the added touch of their humor, Edguy really came out strong after what was considered a mediocre album [Tinnitus Sanctus – which I loved].  While some have dismissed them as of late for not staying purely in the power metal vein, I credit the diversity they have created for creating a much more interesting album.  Given the amount of people leader Tobias Sammet has worked with in the Avantasia project, it would be in my opinion unusual for him to not take some influences of the artists he worked with, with him.  It’s great from start to finish…”

Number 2...

Stefan: Avantasia – The Flying Opera: Around The World In 20 Days – Live: “Tobias Sammet has yet again delivered an Avantasia release that captures the essence of operatic heavy metal.  This time, it’s live and in your face.  The 2-cd special edition comes with the entire live show on DVD as well.  From Jorn Lande to Bob Catley to Kai Hansen and Amanda Somerville, Tobias rips through tune after tune with his guest vocalists.  Sascha Paeth and Oliver Hartmann deliver scorching guitar rhythms and solos.  Although my partner in crime Finster has a separate category for Live Releases, I felt The Flying Opera was worthy of a place on my Top 10 list of 2011.  This album has gotten heavy rotation from me since the day I picked it up.”

Finster: Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn Of Events:  Given the amount of press this band got for the departure of founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy, interest in this record was at peak at the time of its release.  The band had already released an excellent video documentary on choosing Pornoy’s replacement [ex Steve Vai/Extreme drummer Mike Mangini – a monster on the kit…] and really made sure the PR void left by Portnoy was filled.  So...after all this… how is it?… It’s the Dream Theater I began to follow when I first heard When Dream And Day Unite and then Images And Words.  It’s definitely metal, but with a pronounced progressive edge to it.  After Six Degrees they got darker, and heavier, decidedly so on Train Of Thought, but they seemed to have stayed there for the next few releases, and at times seemed to follow the trend instead of setting it. Jordan Rudess’ keys are back as an excellent counterpart to John Petrucci’s amazing guitar.  It’s a much brighter album, with multiple touches of the other band member’s influences, as well as the welcome return of James LaBrie’s and John Myung’s songwriting.  This is the kind of album you may not initially warm up to [It took me a while and I’m a huge fan], but after listening to it and delving deeper into the record, I consider it one of their best.  Give it a listen, you won’t be disappointed…

[I must also make an editorial comment…when we started putting this together, I put live albums separately, as you will see… I consider Avantasia’s “The Flying Opera” hands down the best live release of the year…I just separated it out before we converged on the writing of this… so it’s in Stefan’s top 10, but not mine…thanks…]

And Our Number 1's For 2011...

Stefan: Sixx A.M. – This Is Gonna Hurt: “Nikki Sixx comes back with a vengeance, writing an album that tells the story of his life through his lyrics.  It’s raw, yet polished, edgy, yet smooth.  James Michael delivers the message of each song with amazing passion and emotion that you think he’s singing about himself.  Michael steps in front of the mike (not typical of this famed rock producer) and provides exactly the edge Nikki’s songs need.  I was hooked upon the first 10 seconds of this album, when the pounding kick drum begins thumping and the guitar starts crunching on a low D.  This Is Gonna Hurt, track #1 and the title track, hits an energy level of 100 (on a scale of 10) from the first note Michael sings.  I honestly don’t know how Nikki can top himself on the next album, assuming there will be one.  Although these songs stray from the typical Motley Crue sound, it is an absolute crime for any Crue fan (or rock fan for that matter!) to not add this album to their collection.”

Finster: Mr. Big – What If:  When I heard the line-up of Mr. Big was reforming for a new full length release [They recorded 2 tracks for their “Return To Budokan” live record…] I was really looking forward to this release.  I am a huge fan of all the material, including the records with Ritchie Kotzen, who may have steered them in a more blues direction, but the output was still excellent.  So…what we have here is one of the most solid releases of the year.  From the first track “Undertow” they come out swinging and you can tell the energy and technical precision that has marked all their albums has returned.  The production has a more modern feel to it, but the trademark sound of the band is still intact and the whole record sounds solid from start to finish.  The interplay of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan really comes out on this record, most prominently on “Around The World”.  Overall it’s an album that really hits you from start to finish. Given the animosity and acrimony when these guys finally called it quits, it’s refreshing to see they were able to pick up where they left off with class and style, and they really sound like they are enjoying themselves… “

2011 Honorable Mention:

Which ones were almost there but didn’t make either list?… here are a few of the best releases of the year, and if we did a top 20 they would sit squarely in it…  [in our not so humble opinion…]

Stefan: Sebastian Bach/Night Ranger/Stryper – – “Sebastian Bach came kicking and screaming back into 2011 with his latest release … yep, you guessed it – Kicking And Screaming!  Sebastian doesn’t disappoint with as strong a vocal performance as we’ve heard from him in years.  Add 20 year old guitar prodigy Nick Sterling to the mix and you have a solid metal album full of raw power.  Night Ranger, veterans to the rock scene, released Somewhere In California this year.  This is their 10^th studio album, and it contains some great mid-tempo rockers and some more modern-sounding tunes, but overall a pleasure to listen to.  Stryper put their own spin on some rock classics this year when they released The Covering.  From the Scorpions and Kiss to Maiden, Priest and Sabbath (yes, Sabbath!), Michael Sweet and the guys rip through these tunes like they’ve been playing them for years – and play them very well!  All three of these albums are also worth picking up.  Let’s face it, we’ve had a kick ass year for new music!  Let’s hope 2012 is just as good!

Finster: Adrenaline Mob/Beggars & Thieves/Queensryche – “An EP, a return of an underrated band, and Queensryche?...you’re thinking…what was he thinking… how about this… The Adrenaline Mob EP is just a taste of what’s to come from this new project featuring Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater and Russell Allen from Symphony X.  It’s heavy, loud and dark, and the performances are amazing.  Beggars & Thieves is a favorite of mine since the debut.  These guys kept going no matter what the odds, so it’s refreshing to see that Frontiers Records picked them up and they put together a great record.  Take a chance and give it a listen.  Now Queensryche is a bone of contention with a lot of fans.  I have to point out that while everyone wanted another Operation:Mindcrime [and Mindcrime II didn’t live up to the hype...] or Empire…this band continued to expand and update and change their sound over the years.  Right after Empire, we got Promised Land…and everyone collectively shook their heads…but it’s a great record.  Change is good.  This is more modern sounding, and less heavy…but you can’t mistake Geoff Tate’s vocals.  If you’re stuck on Queensryche circa 1989, I’m not going to change your mind…but if you’re looking to hear a different type of hard rock record, pick this up…” 

Don’t forget we also had great releases[in no particular order] by HammerFall, Eden’s Curse, Out Loud, Ten, Scheepers, Work Of Art, King Kobra, Black ‘N’ Blue, Warrant, Borealis, Within Temptation, Black Country Communion, Far Cry, Shy, Issa, Fergie Frederiksen, Trilium, Mecca, Derek Sherinian, Tony MacAlpine, Michael Schenker, and probably a few we forgot…

In The Live Album Category…

Avantasia – The Flying Opera: Around The World In 20 Days – Live: In our opinion Avantasia really captured the moment on their 2007 tour for the release of the album “The Scarecrow”.  They pulled out all the stops and really made a night worth remembering.  If you have a chance to see the dvd…it’s definitely worth the price of admission!... 1 CD/ DVD

Doro – 25 Years In Rock: A live set celebrating one of the best female voices in rock ever.  In a business dominated by guys…she made her mark with Warlock and never gave up.  An excellent document of an outstanding career… 2 DVD/1 CD

Slash live with Myles Kennedy on vocals is killer, and Slash shows why G’NR is where it is without him.  Kennedy takes on all the era’s of Slash’s career and makes them his own.  Worth finding… 2 CD/DVD…

Rush – Time Machine: Live In Cleveland 2011: Not metal per se, but there’s not a band of any technical prowess that doesn’t cite these guys as influences.  As hard core fans we felt it deserved to be on this list.  Recorded in Cleveland, the first American city to give them airplay of the first Rush album, it’s an excellent document of another outstanding tour.  While Geddy’s voice has changed over the years [and at times, admittedly are stretched to their limits], they are still playing as tight as ever.  Bonus for the complete performance of the Moving Pictures album… 2 CD or DVD

Whitesnake – Live At Donington 1990: Taken from their performance at the Monsters Of Rock Festival [now called Download] at Castle Donington on August 18, 1990, and performing with the Slip Of The Tongue line-up with both Vandenberg and Vai on guitar, Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge.  The performance is tight and the energy is tangible.  This was heavily bootlegged so it’s always good to see a “proper” release.  Coverdale takes command of the stage and holds it for the entire 1990 performance from the Donington music festival… 2 CD/DVD

Gotthard live is one of the last performances by singer Steve Lee before his tragic motorcycle accident, playing to a home crowd. You can feel the love of the home crowd as the band tears through their set… Import - 1-CD plus Region 2 DVD from a different 1999 concert…

Jorn – Live in Black is from the Spirit Black tour, and is a great performance by one of the best vocalists in rock.  The set list covers Jorn’s entire career, leaning more on the newer releases.  Recorded at the 2010 Sweden Rock Festival…Definitely worth seeking out…  1 CD/DVD

Deep Purple – Live In Montreux 2011: Deep Purple performs all the classics with an orchestra at the Montreux Festival on July 16, 2011. DP Mk. II alumni Ian Pace, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan are joined by the amazing Steve Morse, who took over in ’94 [after Blackmore left and was replaced for the tour by Joe Satriani], and the “new guy” on keys is none other than veteran Don Airey…who’s been in the band since ’01, taking over for a retiring Jon Lord. Gillan’s vocals have a lot in common with Geddy’s, in that time has certainly aged his voice, but after 40 years, the band is still as tight as ever and they sound like they are really enjoying themselves.. 2 CD or DVD

And finally Def Leppard – Mirrorball: Live And More… this is a good greatest hits live record…but it’s got a lot of “what if’s”…What if they covered the albums Slang, Euphoria, and X…what if they included “Let It Go” from High & Dry as a bonus track instead of “Bad Actress” from Sparkle Lounge..  Live hits, 3 new songs…overall good…could have been great…and we’re fans… 2 CD plus bonus DVD…

And since it’s always a good idea to have viable product in the market…we have some of the better compilations out there.  If you’re a fan of these bands…you already have them [particularly Judas Priest, who have almost as many compilations as studio albums…] but if you’re a casual fan and just want a slice of the catalog…here are some good ways to start…

Iron Maiden: From Fear To Eternity: The Best Of 1990-2010 covers from No Prayer For The Dying up through Final Frontier.  All songs originally sung by replacement singer Blaze Bayley have been replaced by live versions sung by Dickinson.  Overall this is a comprehensive piece of the latter years…

Judas Priest: The Chosen Few – This compilation is a little different in that although you get a lot of the “hits” per se, you get deeper album cuts chosen by their peers, so the set list does offer something different.  Choices come from Ozzy, Lemmy, Kerry King, and may other heavy metal luminaries. Not a bad mix of songs..and never a bad song on it…

Axel Rudi Pell – The Ballads IV – The title tells the tale… the fourth release of German guitar hero Pell’s softer instrumentals and ballads compiled.  Again if you’re a fan you have them, if you are interested in hearing some of rocks better ballads..without having to purchase the Monster Ballads compilation…this is a good start…

Poison – Double Dose: Ultimate Hits… a little double entendre on the cover, and a two disc set of everything you will ever need from Poison unless you are a die-hard fan.  Poison thanks you for contributing to their retirement once again…

And to finish up our thoughts on 2011 we have a special “What Were They Thinking” category where we would like to present our choice for the most misguided release of 2011…

Metallica/Lou Reed – Lulu… WTH guys?...really… that’s all we’ve got for this one… pick it up at your own discretion…

And we’ve got some releases on the horizon for 2012 that you might find interesting…

Coming in 2012…

Black Sabbath [Tentative 2012 release with the original line-up]

Van Halen [Alex, Eddie, Wolfie and Dave…] [Tent. Feb. release]

Mr. Big – Live From The Living Room [Feb.]

Scorpions – Comeblack [New Studio] and Get Your Sting And Blackout [Live]

Primal Fear – Unbreakable

Dokken

Sunstorm – Emotional Fire

UFO – Seven Deadly

Trixter – TBD

Nightwish – Imaginaerum [Special Edition-Jan 10]

Mollo/Martin – The Third Cage

Accept - Stalingrad

Epica – Requiem For The Indifferent

Kiss - Monster

Adrenaline Mob [Mike Portnoy, Russell Allen]

Flying Colors [Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Steve Morse, Dave LaRue and Casey McPherson]

Mecca – Undeniable

L.A. Guns – Lost In The City Of Los Angeles

Halestorm

Lacuna Coil – Dark Adrenaline

Keep your eyes open for more on the horizon, and keep an open mind that metal is no longer what we remember it to be, and there is a place for all of the genres and sub-genres that have developed over time…  Just keep listening…

That’s a wrap…We hope that you and your families had a wonderful Holiday Season.  Thank you for taking the time to be with us this year.  We’ve got a lot on tap for 2012 and we’ll be back to keep up with this crazy hard rock/heavy metal scene.  Just remember, support the artists, support the live shows and particularly support your local scene…that band you saw yesterday could be huge tomorrow…but they won’t do it without your support…

Until next time…

Stefan & Finster

Living The “Rock Star” Dream…

Welcome back to The Metal Circus…

When we first started, the very first interview that I [Finster – Stefan was doing The Electric Circus back then…] did for The Metal Edge was for the band House Of Lords, for their debut 1988 release.  I remember it well, as it was the one of the most fun experiences I have ever had doing this thing.  Stefan can attest as he was backstage with me trying to keep up with these guys.  I was thoroughly convinced that every single one of these guys was crazy.  I did the interview standing up…as I couldn’t get any of them to slow down enough to sit.  All of the band members [Gregg Giuffria, Lanny Cordola, Ken Mary, Chuck Wright and particularly singer James Christian] were gracious, funny and candid.  Lead singer James Christian hails from Milford, CT so this was a hometown show with a hometown crowd and they did not disappoint.  We played the hell out of that first record [Sahara too!...] I wish I knew where the tape went for that interview. 

Move forward 23 years…and you’ve got a brand new record from House Of Lords called “Big Money” [just out on September 27^th from Frontiers Records] and with the advent of all this technology…a brand new interview with one of the members of House Of Lords…

A Brief History…

To get you quickly caught up…it goes like this… Keyboardist Gregg Giuffria left the band Angel and started a band under his own name Giuffria.  

They released 2 records.  The first was self titled and came out in 1984, and featured Giuffria, guitarist Craig Goldy,  drummer Alan Krigger, bassist Chuck Wright, and lead singer David Glen Eisley.  They released the track “Call To The Heart” which hit #15 on the charts.  The second record “Silk And Steel” came out in ‘86.  Goldy left to join Dio and was replaced by Lanny Cordola, and Chuck Wright left to join Quiet Riot for QR III.  He was replaced by David Sikes [who would go on to join Boston].  The second album failed to chart as expected and they were dropped from their label, but not before a third record was recorded under the moniker Giuffria, and some of those tracks would become parts of the House Of Lords debut.  Giuffria then changed the name to House Of Lords and were signed as the first band to Gene Simmons’ $immons Records label.  Simmons then fired Eisley in favor of James Christian.  Giuffria guitarist Lanny Cordola was on board and bass player Chuck Wright returned to the fold.   Fifth Angel/Alice Cooper drummer Ken Mary replaced Alan Krigger for the House Of Lords debut.  So… having almost as many lineup changes as Whitesnake or Yes [particularly for the Sahara record…]…HOL kept on going and over the last 23 years produced 9 studio and 1 live record.  So there you have it… 23 years in one paragraph… but as we all know it was never that simple…

So as we move forward with them…we’ve got bassist Chris McCarvill, who  was gracious enough to take time out of his very busy schedule to talk to us, and we wanted to thank him for that.  

We talked to Chris about HOL, his own band Samurai Cab Company, as well as other projects he has been involved with over the years.  We’ll keep up with Chris throughout the HOL tour which will begin in Europe and hopefully come this way through North America. 

Diving Right In….

The Metal Circus:

Was Big Money recorded in the same fashion as Cartesian Dreams, i.e. were all the band members together for the recording sessions?  If so tell us a little about the camaraderie and how it played into the final output of Big Money.

Chris:

Well, HOL doesn’t record like say, Van Halen used to [with everyone playing together in the studio at the same time].  In fact, we’re not even in the same state most of the time.  James works with a few incredible writers, then BJ and Jimi get their paws on it.  Jimi writes a lot also, BJ arranges a lot, I have pretty hair.  They send me the bass tracks to record after it’s 90% finished.  James is also an amazing bass player, so it’s usually mapped out pretty precisely what he wants.  The camaraderie mainly happens because we all get along pretty well, and we’ve done quite a few shows together, so we may not be in the same room at the time of recording, but by the time it’s done, it comes through that we’re actually a band, not just four studio hacks.

Did you write or co-write any of the tunes on Big Money? If so, which ones?

I wrote all of them. 100% Hahaha.  Nope, this time none of my stuff made the cut.  I don’t get upset about that stuff.  It’s cool to be involved at all.

Was Jeff Cannata involved in Big Money?

Know what? Other than directing our video, I’m not sure.  Might have to ask James about that.

It’s great to see Frontiers bringing hard rock and metal back to the forefront… truly supporting the bands they believe in.  The band filmed a video for “Someday When” to support the release of Big Money… where was it filmed?  Will there be another single/video released following the European tour?

“Someday When” was filmed at the Lockwood mansion in Norwalk, CT., which is supposed to be haunted.  It seems like an old mansion to me, sort of like the ones in Newport, RI. Vanderbilt era. Very nice place.  Makes me wonder what happened there in it’s heyday.

Click Here To Watch "Someday When"...

Like I said, Jeff Cannata directed the video, and I like working with him, cause he’s flexible and doesn’t waste time.

It was about 700 degrees in there when we filmed, and we all had to do makeup, which none of us are used to.  Our directions were to show up at 10am in full makeup and costume, we would have a makeup artist touch us up.  Ok, so picture yourself and 3 buddies having to do that.  Hahaha.  BJ doesn’t wear sleeves on stage usually, and the foundation makeup he had was darker than his actual skin, so his face was Jersey Shore orange and his arms were white.  I told him he’d have to do his arms to match his face, but he ran out of makeup, so he looked like a demented tiger.  Hahaha.  Thank God the makeup artist showed up and told him to get rid of it all, it was the wrong color, etc.

I have no idea what single will be next, or what kind of video would happen.  It’d be really cool to do really quick clips of live stuff, cause the shows are usually CRAZY!

You were not on the previous record, Cartesian Dreams…did you have a prior commitment or was there some other reason?

Might want to check the inside of that CD again…

I didn’t do one HOL tour because I was out playing with Dokken.  We were on Poison’s/Brett Michaels’ Rock Of Love tour.  Yes, the TV show was filming the whole time.  30,000 people a night in all the big outdoor music sheds in the USA doesn’t suck.  [For the record…Stefan takes the hit for that one…his question…lol!...]

After the European tour, what’s next for The Samurai Cab Company?

We’re putting out a full length record, and going after a deal.  We’re halfway done right now.  We’re handing out business cards on the HOL tour that have a link to two of our new SCC songs for free.  Really, we just want everyone to hear the band.  Perhaps some of why I didn’t end up writing with HOL was because I’ve been writing like crazy for SCC.  I wrote about 30 songs over the summer.  I don’t mean 30 are great, but it really helped me to figure out what I wanted to put across and how.  I’m really excited about it.  BJ is in SCC as well, and he’s got a great ear for making sure things make sense.  It’s definitely a rock record, but not in the way HOL is.  SCC has more of a Queen/Cheap Trick vibe but with current production values.  [We can’t wait to hear it!]

We’ll also need to do another video w/ SCC.  Our first one was an hysterical experience.

To Check Out The Video For Samurai Cab Company's "I'll Be Fine" Click Here!...

Do you and Andre [Vanchot] have any plans to revive X Factor X in the future?

Who’s Andre? Hahaha…

Seriously, we try to get XFX going again every so often, but for some reason it just seems like it’s not meant to be.  We had a lot of fun with it back in the day, but speaking for myself, I’ve sort of grown out of it.  I think we all have.  Who knows? I think if there was a lot more demand for XFX, we’d want to revive it more.

When we first talked you joked about being a high school kid listening to HOL…and now you’re in the band.  Kind of like Rock Star… Does that make you Chuck Wright, Sean McNabb, or Matt McKenna for that matter?...

Sometimes, yes, I sign autographs “Chuck Wrong”.  Seriously though, Chuck was one of my idols when I was learning to play.  I had all the original HOL records in high school, and I learned the whole thing, along with a Quiet Riot album Chuck is on [QR III].  I was really into the Stand In Line record by Impelliteri in high school, which Chuck is also on.  I guess it’s pretty natural to be playing for HOL it you think about it that way.  It’s a pretty cool situation to be playing for a band you really like.  Not everyone is so lucky.

Getting back to Samurai Cab Company, fellow HOL member BJ [Zampa – drummer] is also your drummer in SCC.  How different is the vibe when playing HOL vs. SCC?

Well, SCC was built around fun, and playing the kind of songs we want.  I guess you could say it’s a release from the pressure of playing certain ways for certain gigs.  For example, HOL is a very regimented unit on stage musically.  It’s got specific parts that need to be played a certain way, and it’s all about precise execution.  I don’t mean that it’s not emotional or expressive, because James seriously is one of rock’s greatest singers.  We make a polished platform for him to shine on.  SCC is more like an old Van Halen record.  We go for fire and that means it can get risky.  Mistakes happen, tempos might fluctuate a little, we improvise, it’s a little dangerous because sometimes we’re on the edge of falling apart, but it makes for a good show, in my opinion.  I sing lead and play bass, and I play a LOT of bass, so it’s fun that way too.

Do you have any plans to tour in North America [and can you please convince the powers that be to get you out here for Rocklahoma 2012…]?

You never know…I think the HOL team is working on that.  A funny thing was having dinner at Rocklahoma in 2008 w/ HOL.  I was there playing with Dokken.  I went and saw HOL with w/ Matt on bass.  It was pouring rain for them, like full on downpouring.  I felt really bad, standing in the artist area, dry, comfortable, enjoying a drink…hahaha.  But they didn’t stop.  James went right out to the front row and let ‘em have it.  That’s dedication.  When Dokken went on it was later in the afternoon, and the sun was out.  My face got totally sunburned.  The whole message here is that you can’t win being a musician, either way…

What is your favorite HOL album, and what do you enjoy playing live?

I would have to say the first one is my favorite.  I like the newer ones, of course, but the first one is what hooked me, and it’s a little more progressive, which I personally like.  There’s lots of fun songs live.  Ones that really stand out are “I’m Free” which is on World Upside Down.  Great groove, great riff.  I really dig the solo part live, the keys are monstrous.  Off Cartesian Dreams I like the title track and a song called “Never Look Back”.  Between the bass and the backing vocals that one’s like an obstacle course.  Fun.  Of course the big hit, “Can’t Find My Way Home”, I get chills when that kicks in.

How many songs from the new record will be played on tour?

Probably a couple.  There’s an awful lot of material to choose from now.  HOL puts out…records , I mean…

Both you and BJ also worked on the Obsession album “Carnival Of Lies”.  How was working with [fellow local hero] Mike Vescera?  And are there any plans in the future?

Mike’s great.  He’s really easy in the studio.  He’s another guy that totally knows what he’s doing.  He lets us do our job, which is nice.  We record like House Of Lords, we email tracks and work on things separately.  Actually, Carnival Of Lies is basically House Of Lords w/a different singer, and different material.  BJ, Jimi, Robert Marcello and myself are all in on it though.  There’s a whole new Obsession album recorded, I just don’t know if/when it’s being released.  We’re actually playing tonight [Sept. 28^th] and then Friday in Chicago.  I’ll have to ask Mike what’s up.

You are the bass guitar instructor for our dear friend Chrissy “Snow” Rowland [who graciously coordinated our interview], is she ready for the big time yet?

If you guys know her, then you’ll already know that she’s always been big time.  Seriously though, she can play great for as long as she’s been at it.  Just don’t tell the HOL guys, I don’t wanna lose my job!...

The comeback album “The Power And The Myth” [recorded with most of the original band, and with Gregg Giuffria on one track…] got a lot of mixed reviews, because everyone expected it to sound like the debut.  What’s your take on that record, and are there any songs from that record you will play live?  [Editor’s note – We love the Power And The Myth record…and anyone who thinks that a band that broke up in the early 90’s should sound exactly like they used to in 2004 is and idiot…just sayin’…]

Power And The Myth sucks.  Even James says so.  Hahaha. No, James doesn’t really say that.  But, that was a tough decade for 80’s rockers.  No one knew what to do.  Looking back on it, I see it as a good thing.  It forced everyone to diversify.  Power And The Myth is at least an attempt to adapt to the times.  Most HOL fans don’t like it as much as the other stuff, but you sort of have to appreciate a band willing to shake itself up and try something new.  Doesn’t mean it’s always going to work.  It seems that most HOL fans like the traditional HOL sound, which is what James bases his songwriting on.  I wouldn’t expect to hear any of P&M live, but you never know.  Maybe it will become a huge seller and we’ll have no choice…

House Of Lords was my [Finster’s] very first interview on the Metal Edge way back on the debut tour at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT.  I remember the band being a lot of fun, and James was just hysterical.  It was a really great homecoming show for him.  Does the band have that same attitude back stage and do you really feel like a band, and not just “James Christian from HOL and 3 new guys”… [Even though you’ve all been working with him longer than most of the original band]

Interesting question.  HOL IS really fun on the road, and yes, it totally feels like a band.  James makes sure we don’t end up dead in a ditch somewhere.  We all have a bunch of inside jokes and silly stories from the other tours we’ve done that make the difficult times easier.  You know, like when my passport got stolen, or an opening band getting sent to pick us up from the airport at 3am in full concert gear.  Hahaha.

The scene where you are [and where both of us are originally] from in CT has benefitted greatly from the social media like Facebook and MySpace.  Do you feel that has helped the band specifically? [Both HOL and SCC]

I’d say the most important thing is that with both sites, is that you can stay in touch with a lot of great people that you might’ve never seen again.  A lot of times people go way out of their way for us on tours, and it’s nice to be able to say thank you.  Locally it’s pretty indispensable for getting the word out about our shows.  Or to make fun of Andre.

You, BJ and guitarist Jimi Bell gel very well on the records.  When you’re playing live, what’s the chemistry like?  And do you try to play it exactly as say Chuck Wright or Sean McNabb played on the records?

Hmmm.  I don’t think we play exactly like any of the records, even the ones we’re on, but it’s not a free for all either.  We sort of develop into it after a few shows.  Sometiimes things work better a certain way live, and we just try to keep our ears open for weak spots, which we’ll try to fix.  That said, we don’t rehearse for hours and days.  Might have before a tour.  Most of the bass stuff in the studio is a 5-string, and I’m not a big 5-string guy so I use an octave pedal live.  It adds an octave below everything I play, so that the sound is totally humongous.  In the mix with everything it does a good job of not stepping on the guitars, vocals, or drums.  I just have to alter my playing a little bit.  Keeps things interesting.  As far as chemistry goes, we’ve all done enough gigs together to be able to anticipate what we’ll do at any given moment.  You know, like I know BJ will stand up and laugh if the lights suddenly let go and crash down on me, hahaha.

You’ve worked with Jeff Scott Soto in Slam [and toured with him to South America], and Eddie Ojeda from Twisted Sister in Eddie’s Band Of Steel, and toured with Dokken, along with your dutes with HOL.  What’s next for you personally, after the HOL tour.  Will you be working with anyone else of note, as well as SCC, and will HOL continue to record and tour?  Have you discussed that?  [There really is a question in there somewhere…]

These days I’m not so much persuing sideman gigs as I am writing and making bass guitars.  I built a workshop and made a bass body over the winter.  It ended up coming out so good that I’m hooked.  Designing and building is sort of like a Zen thing for me.  It’s relaxing.  I don’t rush, there’s no deadlines, it’s fun.

Writing music has always been very interesting, and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to write a few songs recently that I really do like.  I mainly sing and play piano to write.  Like I said, SCC is after a deal, so I need to do a lot of work to prepare for that.  That’s my focus outside of HOL…

Last question… In the video for “Someday When” you are playing chess with guitarist Jimi Bell.  Do you really play chess? He looks like he’s kicking your ass!...lol…

My 9-year old son kicks my ass at chess.  Plus, I don’t know if anyone in HOL actually knows how to play chess for real.  Try BMX racing me, though.  That’s something I’m good at for real.  In fact, the track manager, Todd, is someone that helps out BJ on gigs with his drum setup and asked me to please not kill  myself before the HOL video and tour…

Chris…thank you so much for your time.  If you wouldn’t mind keeping up with us while you’re on tour that would be great, and send a set list when it’s all set….we’d love to post it as well.  Anything to keep the word out.

No prob guys. Thanks very much.  There will be a photo blog going up on my FB page as well as a few other places.  I intend to show everyone what it’s really like out there on the road.  Hahaha.  Got a helmet?

We'll have updates from the road as well as a review of the new House Of Lords record coming up.  We would like to once again thank Chris for his time and our friend Christine Rowland for coordinating everything for us.

See you soon...

Stefan & Finster 

Bits And Pieces…

Welcome back to the Metal Circus…

This weekend [and I’m sure many to come] we are featuring what we call “Low Exposure Weekend” on our FaceBook page “The Metal Circus”.  We both felt that the term “One Hit Wonder” really didn’t work in this arena, as some of the bands didn’t chart at all.  But if you were a fan of the genre, there are a lot of bands out there that still made an impact.  Whether it played originally on Headbanger’s Ball ® or on an MTV2 weekend in Europe or Canada, you still got to hear some great music that just didn’t get the promotion they needed to break through.  A lot of that is of course money, and given the glut of bands that were signed in the late 80’s and early 90’s before the grunge revolution, there were only so much promotional funds, and promotional space on the airwaves for all these bands.  Some of these bands may have had many records, and even many singles, but only a few really put them on the map.  We are going to give them the chance to be heard again.  And if you hear something you like, track it down.  New or not it’s new to you.  And there’s some great music out there that you may have missed, or forgotten about…

So far we’ve featured Eyes [with Jeff Scott Soto], King Of The Hill, Heavy Bones [with Joey Ellis, Frankie Banali and Gary Hoey], Baton Rouge, Silent Rage, Hericane Alice, Saints & Sinners, Blue Tears, Wildside, Banshee, and 21 Guns.  Just this morning we added Stage Dolls, Cats In Boots, and Junkyard.  They are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to bands that were right on the edge, but didn’t get that final push.  You’ll here more in the coming weeks.  We hope that you enjoy it.  If there is a band that you love that really didn’t get the airplay it deserved let us know and we’ll add it.  Email us a theelectricedge@gmail.com.  Thanks…

We mentioned last time about the effects of Hurricane Irene had on Sebastian Bach, but we didn’t know that it also affected an artist who has a new collection out this week, so we would like to correct that this week… Doro Pesch, amazing solo artist and originally lead vocalist for Warlock, had her home in Long Island destroyed by the storm.  Per her press release about the incident…

"The damage is disatrous," Doro states mournfully.  "The whole ground floor was flooded.  It stinks, electricity failed and everything's wrecked inside of the house.  From the TV to the fridge to the furniture.  Everything's grime-stained, defective, unusable.

Doro continues "The worst thing is that pieces of my stage costumes an lots of my souvenirs and presents from fans from all around the world are lost forever now."

We wish her well as she prepares for her shows here in America.  Her "25 Years In Rock" streets on Tuesday...

With their new record “A Dramatic Turn Of Events” out on Tuesday Dream Theater have revamped their website… check it out at www.dreamtheater.net.  This record will be the first recording with new drummer Mike Mangini [Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie and Steve Vai]. He was at the time of his audition for the band an instructor at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, where members John Petrucci and James Myung attended, as well as former drummer Mike Portnoy.  Roadrunner records did an amazing job chronicling Dream Theater’s search for a new drummer in their web series “The Spirit Carries On”, check it out at www.roadrunnerrecords.com. Mike was chosen after DT auditioned some of the best drummers in the genre, and the world.  Check out his work when this drops on Tuesday…

Also out on Tuesday is the follow up to the original “Welcome To My Nightmare.”  Alice Cooper went into the studio with [among the many] original Alice Cooper Band members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce, and Neal Smith, pop artist  Ke$ha!, legendary Alice Cooper Band and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, as well as original producer/writer Bob Ezrin to create the sequel.  To quote Alice himself…"This is Alice's nightmare 35 years later," explains Alice, "Bob and I created this character and we know how to write for him. I play the part but we're not writing for me, we're writing for Alice. We kept the first 'Nightmare' album very personal to us, on this one we found more humor and we were more open. This was our world and we want to present it to the fans. The original album was my first solo album after all those huge hit records with the original band and now that nightmare is exposed, this one can be a little bit more open. The music crosses all sorts of boundaries; we went where the lyrics took us."

Cooper is out on the “No More Mr. Nice Guy” tour with Hunter on guitar as well as guitarists Damon Johnson [Brother Cane, Slave To The System] and Tommy Henriksen [writer, mixer, arranger, and producer for a myriad of artists], bassist Chuck Garric [L.A. Guns, Dio, Eric Singer Project], and drummer Glen Sobel [Beautiful Creatures, Tommy Lee]

It’s been  eight years since we’ve heard original music from one of the members of the Big 4, and one of the architects of Thrash Metal – Anthrax.   Their new release “Worship Music” will be out on the 13^th, and contains all new material.  The album marks the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, whose last studio work with the band was 1990's “Persistence of Time”.  Belladonna is now firmly back in the Anthrax line up with drummer Charlie Benante, guitarists Scott Ian and Robb Caggiano, and bassist Frank Bello. The 11-track Worship Music was produced by Anthrax, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four year period at studios in NY, LA and Chicago.

And also out on the 13^th is the domestic single disc release of Edguy’s “Age Of The Joker”.  We can’t say enough about this German band.  Leader Tobias Sammet is also the architect of the Avantasia Project and has simultaneously put his energy into Edguy and Avantasia.  The All-Music Guide has described the new record as the following…“Germany's Edguy - hailed in the metal underground as the most entertaining live show on the planet - demonstrate their staggering combination of the power of Helloween and the glam behind The Darkness with the release of their newest album, The Age of the Joker. Edguy are not only leaders in the revival of modern traditional metal, but they've also refined power glam with talent, integrity and a sense of humor and a light-hearted approach that sets them apart”… Power metal with a tongue firmly planted in cheek… these guys have redefined the genre and are ready to take over in America.  The import 2-disc set includes a cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel The Noize” [made famous by Quiet Riot]… An American tour is in the works and when the dates are listed you will find them here…and us at the shows!...

THE PIPELINE: Some things we have coming up on The Metal Circus blog…

Concert Review: Stefan was lucky enough to catch Mr. Big on their “What If” tour.  He’ll have highlights and a setlist coming up.

With the new House Of Lords “Big Money” dropping on the 27^th, we’ve got an interview with bassist Chris McCarvill.  We’ll talk about his work with the House Of Lords, Obsession, his band Samurai Cab Company, and Stefan wants to ask him about X Factor X as well.  So stay with us…

AlSO OUT THIS WEEK [September 13, 2011]

Primus – Green Naugahyde [ATO Records]

Arch/Matheos – Sympathetic Resonance [Metal Blade]

UFO – Chrysalis Years 1973-1979 [5 Discs] [Capitol Records]

Coming Soon:

Opeth – Heritage [Roadrunner Records] [Sept. 20^th]

Gary Moore – Live At Montreax 2010 [Eagle Records] [Sept. 20^th]

Sebastian Bach – Kicking And Screaming [Frontiers Records] [Sept. 27^th]

House Of Lords – Big Money [Frontiers Records] [Sept. 27^th]

Chickenfoot  - Chickenfoot III [Redline Entertainment] [Sept. 27^th]

Uriah Heep – Live In Armenia [Frontiers Records] [Sept. 27^th]

See You Soon...

Stefan & Finster

[and we're still getting the hang of this...our apologies for any technical errors... S&F...]