Wow, where has the time gone? It’s been a year and a half since my last ramble; not something that can be blamed on COVID but just a looooooong break while I ended up accumulating a SERIOUS amount of blues and power/progressive metal CDs over that time (eBay, Mercari, and Etsy have been my weakness lately). Anyhoo, some of that new metal may pop up in this shuffle and I promise that I won’t be in hiding for another year and a half. We’ll see how my writing chops are after a long absence 🙂
Sea Of Possibilities, Nevermore Nevermore
Yes Virginia, Seattle DOES have more than grunge- Nevermore being one of the better staples of the metal genre that crawled outta the underground from the Northwest, featuring the demented caw of Warrel Dane and strong six string chops from Jeff Loomis. “Sea Of Possibilities” is a great piece of molten metal, Dane maybe a hair less shrieky than his Sanctuary days (another great band, check ’em out) and Loomis’ hefty, choppy riffs backed with some (I say it lovingly) slamming, trash can drumming makes for one truly volcanic piece of work. Man, finding metal in the 90s was a tough slog but Century Media did a fantastic job of finding and featuring some killer bands with Nevermore being near the very top of those lean years. Great, great stuff.
“Radioactive Toy” Porcupine Tree Coma Divine
Early PT may have been a wee bit more Pink Floyd and atmospheric in vibe and texture than their semi metal-esque leanings come In Absentia but that’s a good thing. Steven Wilson’s band has always been a bit adventurous at times as they walk that fine line from spacy, languid epics to the occasional ripper and “Radioactive Toy” gives you a taste of both; certainly more tubthumping courtesy of Chris Maitland on skins but similar in the ethereal keys from the great Richard Barbieri. Halfway through the cut and you’re definitely shinin’ with crazy diamonds on the dark side of the moon until the cut eventually builds to a stirring and mesmerizing end. Major points for the crowd being fairly chill through the laid back bits and helping sing the title.
“A Gypsy’s Kiss” Deep Purple, Perfect Strangers
Ha ha, Ian Gillan you sneaky bastard with yer cockney rhyming slang. Um, the rest of those lyrics tho… huh? I don’t get it but I it all sounds cool spilling out of your often demented head. At any rate, “Gypsy’s Kiss” is a first rate rocker off Mk II’s comeback record featuring a supremely growling keyboard bits from the late Jon Lord and some truly stellar lead licks from the master Richie Blackmore. The dual interplay between the two in fine fettle, especially the middle solo section where the two lock in tight on a serious run before Blackers goes off full flight into the stratosphere, then back together for another dual duel before Jon gives him a run for his money. Truly a fun and searing cut from arguably one of the best comeback records ever.
“Wicker Man” Iron Maiden, Rock In Rio
Did somebody say “one of the best comeback records ever?” Well, Iron Maiden certainly should be part of that discussion with the stunning Brave New World, a record in which we welcomed singer Bruce Dickinson back (and Adrian Smith too!) with open arms. “Wicker Man” was the lead cut on that album and the version from Rock In Rio is damn fine, Bruce arguably singing better than ever during this period as he whips the Brazilian crowd into a frenzy. Speaking of Adrian Smith, he and Bruce penned this modern day classic and H takes the lead spot here, cocked wah and all. And hey, can’t you just picture Steve Harris running around mouthing the “your time will come” line? Sure you can.
“Time Weaver’s Tale” Pain Of Salvation, The Perfect Element
Pain Of Salvation was one of those bands that in some circles may have been pegged as the “next great hope” of the progressive metal circuit. Like Nevermore, the Swedes first popped out of the underground circa the early 90s as a kind of next wave of metal but a bit more complex in delivery and not just relying on flat out heaviness. For example, “A Time Weaver’s Tale” definitely leans more to bands like The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra with a smidge of Queen featuring some stellar vocals and beautiful melody throughout. But hey, we’re talking metal here so you’re going to get a dramatic switch and a brief aggressive bit returning to and ending with those beautiful melodies.
Sacred Reich, “Crimes Against Humanity” The American Way
Arizona’s incredibly underrated Sacred Reich was one of those bands that, depending on which way you lean, might have fallen somewhere along that second or third tier of the great thrash bands of the mid to late 80s. I was always a big fan and thought the band was just an incredible blend of metal, punk, and often drank from the groovy, weighty well of Black Sabbath. Lyrically the band were a bit unique, shying away from dungeons, dragons, death, and destruction and leaning a bit more real world problems like the excellent “Crimes Against Humanity”, where Phil Rind cuts down on big companies, pollution, war… you name it, he’s not a happy man. Riff is nice, thick, and rumbly and tears into a breakneck pace near the end, rivaling the best of Slayer or Megadeth.
“Fifth Angel” Fifth Angel, Fifth Angel
Nothing like a band with a song and album named after the band (shades of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden!). Hey, didn’t I say that the Northwest had some killer metal bands? Yep, Fifth Angel hailed from that neck of the woods and their self titled album and cut of the same name had some really good hard rock/metal, certainly to the left of the hair farmers of the era but featuring some of the more melodic, singable elements similar to your Dokkens yet slightly more European like a darker Judas Priest or semi-gothic Scorpions. Great vocals from aspiring dentist Ted Pilot (true fact, he’s a doctor these days) and nice galloping riff from James Byrd and Ed Archer. A bit of an underrated band worthy of a listen for you fans of 80s metal.
“Pulaski Skyway” Clutch, Robot Hive/Exodus
Clutch always entertains. Come Blast Tyrant/Robot Hive/Exodus era the band seemed to settle into an unrelenting groove like no other, maybe less DC hardcore in approach and instead falling into a swampier, bluesier backwater for Neil Fallon’s tall tales and often hilarious wordplay (dig the Noo Yawk references to Jimmy Hoffa, CBGBs, and… ahem… “Chump Towers”). And speaking of Neil his vocal turn around these two records certainly appealed to me moreso then his previous bark, sounding like a cross between latter period Jim Morrison crossed and Howlin’ Wolf yet waaaay more tuneful in his bearlike roar. Oh, and the addition of the Hammond B-3 to the sound at this time… magnifico!
“Dagger” Requiem, Mask Of Damnation
Ahhh, some of that power metal I picked up courtesy of eBay. Finland’s Requiem was a new find for me but certainly fits in that power metal bill that those Scandinavian countries do very well, with “Dagger” a bit more on the pompy side with hints of the Iron Maiden gallop with a bit of overwrought yet emotional vocal from Jouni Nikula and hints of Rainbow and Stratovarious in the keyboard work and melodies. The song is a decent romp and a good taste of what the band is all about, certainly sounding a bit like the aforementioned bands but with enough uniqueness in melody and vocal approach to set it apart from. Shades of Blaze Bayley in the Nikula delivery.
Seven Witches “Ragnarok”, Call Upon The Witches
Yeah baby! Jack Frost and his band of merry men lay down a face melting, rifftastic, barn burner ode to the land of Thor in “Ragnarok”, a song not for the weak of heart but for those headbangers and fist pumping maniacs who bow down to “the riff” and supreme vocals. James Rivera is in top form, all master thespian in storytelling and delivery and has your attention from the get go as he rips through an awesomely catchy chorus that we’d all be screaming along to with the band. Frost has some serious crunch going on but dig the drop in from Mike LePond, who gets all cool and noodly like only he can. Seriously, this is fun with a capital F and will have you hitting the repeat button multiple times for non-stop headbanging action.
Whoo! It’s good to be back! Best song as of this writing goes to “Ragnarok” (too damn catchy) followed by “Crimes Against Humanity” with “Wicker Man” in third.
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