“E5150/After All”, Heaven & Hell Live From Radio City Music Hall

Happier than a pig in mud I was when it was announced that Ronnie James Dio would be rejoining his Black Sabbath mates (yeah, I said it) to not only release a few cuts for a greatest hits CD but also to go on tour and rekindle the majesty that once was.  “E5150/After All” was their intro cut on their first tour and quite awesome it is in all its technical doomy glory.  RJD emotes as usual, Tony Iommi solid as ever with the riff, and Butler and Appice holding down the bottom end.  Fantastic stuff.  RIP Ronnie James Dio!

“Don’t Make No Promises (Your Body Can’t Keep)”, Scorpions Animal Magnetism

In what is possible the longest title on my iPod (maybe second to some James Brown titles), the Scorps continue to get Americanified with their simpler hard rock formula with new boy Mattias Jabs replacing longstanding guitarist Uli Roth.  This is now the Rudolf Schenker show musically; less complexity and dramatics and more meat and potatoes to suit their ever growing audience in the States.  Good, straight ahead no frills hard rock.

“The Ivory Gate Of Dreams – IV. Quietus”, Fates Warning No Exit

Just part four here of their 20+ minute opus and it’s a good taster of new boy Ray Alder’s vocal range via the initial slow three minute or so build up before he hits the high yelps shortly thereafter.  Funny listening to this as that initial slow build during the first minute is pretty much the band’s bread and butter these days rather than the Maidenisms that were typical of the band’s repertoire in the early 80’s and rounds out the last minute here.  Some good progressive metal here from an excellent band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEiyHrG_6oQ

“Warning”, Queensryche The Warning

Queensryche were contemporaries of the aforementioned Fates Warning, mining the same progressive metal territory in their early days before branching out into other realms.  Early ‘Ryche is my favorite and “Warning” shows off the band’s strengths, especially the fantastic vocals of one Geoff Tate.  Yeah, you get a dash of Maiden here too (listen to that bass) but this is a bit more in the pocket and direct, kinda like a gothic militaristic march.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBlpE3ZuNZ0

“Lionheart” Saxon The Eagle Has Landed III

I tell you what, Saxon still has it.  “Lionheart” is the title cut of their sixteenth(!) CD and these NWOBHM veterans bring the heat on this version from the live album recorded on this tour.  Vocals are a tad bit rough but you’ve got to give it up to Biff Byford, who is damn near his mid 60s as of this writing.  As with Saxon classics, you get a good dose of dramatic buildup with a strong chorus chased with solid drumwork and forged in fire guitar work.  The boys are now on album 21, if you can believe that!

“Straight Outta Time”, John Hiatt Austin City Limits: Live

Talk about underrated…  John Hiatt is not much of a household name, writing many a song that have been turned into hits by other artists.  Tis a shame, but now it’s time you learn about the greatness of his catalog-  “Straight Outta Time” is a slow and bluesy groover, recorded live with a hot, noisy band of young cats (and I mean that in a good way).  The dude can paint a vivid picture lyrically via one of the most unique yet passionate voices you will hear.  Great stuff.

“Good Rockin’ Tonight”, Sweet Alice Hoskins with the Dallas Moore Band Cincinnati’s Tribute To King Records’ Legacy

Yeah baby!  Sweet Alice Hoskins’ cover of the Roy Brown classic (made famous by Elvis Presley) is a toe tapper if there ever was one.  Backed by honky tonker Dallas Moore, Hoskins settles into a fine groove and her vocal interplay with Moore is a real treat.  This song is FUN and a worthy cover.  Found on the tribute album to King Records, the Cincinnati record company famous for early recordings from artists as diverse as James Brown, Hank Ballard, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Wayne Cochran. Video below is the original Roy Brown version recorded at King.

“Better Than The Sun”, Chris Robinson New Earth Mud

Chris Robinson gets all hippy dippy on us on this psychedelic cut from his debut solo album away from his former day job with the Black Crowes.  Written with Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo, this song is all trippy cool and sunny vibes especially come chorus time and its strong Beatles/Oasis/The Verve feel.  They underlying percussion and keyboards that are mixed in throughout are an awesomely cool touch, although the last minute or so is farrrr outt maaaaaan…

“Love’s Got A Hold On Me”, The Scream Let It Scream

A rip roarin’ good time here featuring the fantastic vocals of John Corabi and great guitar from Bruce Bouillet.  This cut is a bit Aerosmith, a bit Van Halen, and a whole lotta R&B courtesy of some hot background vocals (who is that anyway?  Not in the credits).  Holy cow, think Tina Turner singing with Steven Tyler and backed with Van Halen on guitar and a hot rhythm and blues band and you’ve got it.  That crunchy intro riff is like AC/DC or Keith Richards on steroids!

“Deathamphetamine”, Exodus Shovel Headed Kill Machine

Just when you think Exodus couldn’t get any heavier after the classic Tempo Of The Damned, the Bay Area bashers unleash the beast on their next record with new vocalist Rob Dukes.  Dukes’ vocal is a bit removed from the goblinesque shriek of former throat Steve Souza, bringing more of a hardcore bark to the proceedings.  But as always with Exodus, Gary Holt is THE MAN and “Deathamphetamine” is another classic fat riffster of manic proportions.  You get  your thrash, you get a respite of doomy riff, you get thrash again, and then you end up with a bad case of whiplash.  Eight minutes of utter brutality to scare the pants off your neighbors.

Cut of the week is very tough here, but I’m gonna go for a one/two punch of “After All” from Heaven and Hell and “Deathamphetamine” from Exodus.