WWW.DANGERDOG.COM :: Music and CD Reviews of Heavy Metal, Melodic Hard Rock, AOR and More
11.05.08 Blistering Records launches their online webstore
Blistering Records is proud to announce the introduction and subsequent launch of their online webstore. The webstore can be accessed now by going to www.blisteringrecords.se ... [ more ]
Introducing Dangerdog 3.0
The revision and redesign of dangerdog.com has been in process for more than a year. My goal was to bring the site up to web standards using entirely web compliant CSS and Php scripting. After several designs, what you see is what I settled on, at least for now. Hopefully, this redesign will allow for some expansion like ... [ more ]
Robin Trower: Bridge Of Sighs
1974
From my early days I've always loved lead guitar. Back in 1974, when I was merely 16, Robin Trower's blues based, Hendrix-influenced style caught my ears and blew my mind. 'Bridge Of Sighs' introduced me to the former guitarist for the English prog rock band Procol Harum. Trower mixed blues, progressive and psychedelic styles in such a complete manner that kept me listening and buying every new album without question. This album contains so many Trower classics including 'Day Of The Eagle,' 'Lady Love,' 'Little Bit Of Sympathy,' and the incredible 'Too Rolling Stoned.' 'Bridge Of Sighs' is classic and should be in everybody's library. [ More Classic Reviews here ]
Edguy: Tinnitus Sanctus
Melodic Heavy Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0
www.edguy.net
Nuclear Blast
www.myspace.com/edguy
Nearly seven years ago, when I was looking desperately for some sign of melodic metal on this sad planet, I stumbled upon Edguy and their fantastic album 'Mandrake' on the ubiquitous worldwide web. Edguy is likely the single most influential metal band to bring me back ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
VII Gates: In Hoc Signo Vinces
Melodic Heavy/Power Metal
Rating: 4.0/5.0
www.sevengates.se
Lion Music
www.myspace.com/viigates
'In Hoc Signo Vinces' (Latin: In this sign conquer) is Swedish metal band VII Gates second full length release coming four years after their well received 'Fire, Walk With Me.' VII Gates has built their sound on upon some very fundamental elements ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
House Of Lords: Come To My Kingdom
Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 4.75/5.0
www.jameschristianmusic.com
Blistering Records USA
I must have listened to the new House Of Lords release 'Come To My Kingdom' five or six times now. I am thoroughly impressed with this work. Frontman and phenomenal vocalist James Christian has pulled out all the stops on this album ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Jorn: Lonely Are The Brave
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0
www.jornlande.com
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/realjorn
Imagine an intersection where Dio and Whitesnake converge into a collosal collosion. If you can wrap your mind around this, then you have a vision of the new Jorn Lande album ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Leverage: Blind Fire
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
Rating: 4.75/5.0
www.leverageband.com
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/leverageband
I'll cut to the conclusion immediately: Leverage's new album 'Blind Fire' is terrific! Last year's 'Tides' was one of the best album's of 2007; it simply blew me away. Often, the sophomore jinx hides in the shadows waiting ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Laaz Rockit: Left For Dead
Thrash/Heavy Metal
Rating: 3.5//5.0
www.laazrockit.com
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/thelaazrockit
Talk about a blast from the past, Bay Area thrash metal pioneers Laaz Rockit have returned to bring a new aural assault to your ears. Formed in 1982, some have called them the progenitors of thrash metal ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Starbreaker: Love's Dying Wish
Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 4.0/5.0
www.lovesdyingwish.com
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/starbreaker
Two simple reasons give me cause to grab the latest Starbreaker work 'Love's Dying Wish,' and they are outstanding vocalist Tony Harnell (ex-TNT) and guitar guru Magnus Karlsson (Allen/Lande and others). Starbreaker's 2005 debut was a nearly perfect work of melodic metal ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Revolution Renaissance: New Era
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
Rating: 3.0/5.0
www.timotolkki.com
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/revolutionrenaissance
Revolution Renaissance, who are they? Take one look at the album cover and you have a clue. Do you see that logo? It's Timo Tolkki's new band which he created after the demise of Stratovarius ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Powers Court: The Red Mist Of Endenmore
Power Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0
www.powers-court.com
Dragonheart Records
www.myspace.com/powerscourt
Even though Powers Court is from the states, they have a European sound to them and that is most likely where they’re going to find their biggest audience ... [read more by Tim Carroll]
Kiske: Past In Different Ways
Melodic Rock
Rating: 3.0/5.0
www.michael-kiske.de
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/mkiske
What is 'Past In Different Ways?' Well, it's Michael Kiske re-recording Helloween songs in a new stripped down form. The songs come from Helloween's ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Exciter: Thrash Speed Burn
Speed Metal
Rating: 3.75/5.0
listen.to/exciter
Blistering Records USA
www.myspace.com/exciterofficial
After an 8-year hiatus, Exciter returns with a new vocalist; Kenny Winter, and a new album; ‘Thrash Speed Burn,’ both capable of carrying on Exciter’s Canadian speed metal tradition. Fans of the band will be happy to hear that despite numerous lineup changes ... [read more by Tim Carroll]
Coste Apetrea: Surprisingly Heavy
Progressive Rock
Rating: 4.0/5.0
www.coste.se
Lion Music
www.myspace.com/costeapetrea
Though hardly a household name here in the States, Coste Apetrea is quite well-known in the Scandinavian region. This Swedish guitar virtuoso's career spans more than three decades of involvement in many types of music, mostly avant garde and progressive ... [read more by Craig Hartranft]
Forever Slave: Tales For Bad Girls
Symphonic/Gothic Metal
Rating: 3.25/5.0
www.foreverslave.com
SPV/Wacken
www.myspace.com/foreverslavemusic
Mock Nightwish bands seem to be all the rage these days. Although I never quite understood the whole sym-goth movement, there must be quite a demand for it as these type of groups are ... [read more by Tim Carroll]
11.09.08
► Hollow Haze: The Hanged Man
► Randy Piper's Animal: Virus
► Ravenheart: Valley Of The Damned
► The Monochrome Cherubs: Blisterene
► Theocracy: Mirror Of Souls
► Van Canto: Hero
► Heavenwood: Redemption
► Skanners: The Serial Healer
► Honeymoon Suite: Clifton Hill
Read review here.
11.16.08
► VII Gates: In Hoc Signo Vinces
► House of Lords: Come To My Kingdom
► Jorn: Lonely Are The Brave
► Leverage: Blind Fire
► Laaz Rockit: Left For Dead
► Starbreaker: Love's Dying Wish
► Revolution Renaissance: New Era
► Powers Court: The Red Mist
Of Endenmore
► Kiske: Past In Different Ways
► Exciter: Thrash Speed Burn
► Coste Apetrea: Suprisingly Heavy
► Edguy: Tinnitus Sanctus
► Forever Slave: Tales For Bad Girls
11.09.08
► Hollow Haze: The Hanged Man
► Randy Piper's Animal: Virus
► Ravenheart: Valley Of The Damned
► The Monochrome Cherubs: Blisterene
► Theocracy: Mirror Of Souls
► Van Canto: Hero
► Heavenwood: Redemption
► Skanners: The Serial Healer
► Honeymoon Suite: Clifton Hill
11.02.08
► Lordi: Deadache
► Poets Of The Fall: Revolution Roulette
► Adversary: Singularity
► Danger Avenue: Danger Avenue EP
► Cynic: Traced In Air
► Falconer: Among Beggars And Theives
Visit the Review Archives for more.
WWW.DANGERDOG.COM Reviews of Melodic Heavy Metal, Melodic Hard Rock, AOR and Much More ©2008 Craig S. Hartranft All Rights Reserved