Midnite Club: Circus Of Life

Melodic Hard Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Germany's melodic hard rockers Midnite Club is back and they are sounding better than ever. Their sound is big, full of aggressive riffs, great melodies, and catchy choruses. Frankly, it's been too long of a wait since their 2003 work 'Running Out Of Lies.' But, as always, patience can be a virtue even in the fast-paced, ever changing rock and roll biz. Of course, Midnite Club mastermind and guitar hero, Steffen 'Seegi' Seeger is back. What's even better is ... [read more]

Sacred Dawn: Gears Of The Machine

Heavy/Power/Progressive Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Sacred Dawn is an American metal band from Aurora, Illinois. 'Gears Of The Machine ... A New Beginning is their debut album, and it's a pretty good one at that. Sacred Dawn attempts to meld classic heavy and power with some progressive spice. Generally, throughout 'Gears' they accomplish ... [read more]

RPWL: The RPWL Experience

Progressive Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

German progressive rockers RPWL began as a Pink Floyd cover band; but after six studio albums and one live album, the similarities end. RPWL has come into their own since 2000's 'God Has Failed.' Their progressive rock is bright and sophisticated. Their latest release 'The RPWL Experience' ... [read more]

Seventh Seal: The Sacred Trust

Heavy Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

For every town in Italy there must by heavy or power metal band. Additionally, every one of these bands declares that they play 'epic' heavy metal of some sort. Seventh Seal is no exception ... [read more]

Stone Gods: Silver Spoons & Broken Bones

Hard Rock/Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Sometimes breakups are a good thing. In 2006, screeching vocalist Justin Hawkins bailed on the upstart phenomena The Darkness. What has risen from the ashes is something much better ... [read more]

Lauren Harris: Calm Before The Storm

Melodic Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Yes, Lauren Harris is the daughter of Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris. Ms. Harris has opened for Alice Cooper and supported Within Temptation, Korn, and Stone Sour. And yes, she opened for Iron Maiden around the world over the last several years. It's good to be daddy's little girl ... [read more]

Stonefuze: Stonefuze

Hard Rock

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Stonefuze is hardly a household new around the world, but they are well know in their native Sweden and surrounding countries. Their history dates back to 1989 as Cornerstone SWE when they played Southern Rock with an acoustic flavor. This sound morphed into ... [read more]

Reinxeed: The Light

Power Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Sweden based metal band Reinxeed play basic power metal, no more and no less. They have all the traditional characteristics of power metal (you know what they are). Unfortunately, Reinxeed offers nothing knew to this overwhelmed genre ... [read more]

To-Mera: Delusions

Progressive Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

If you've heard of To-Mera before reading my review, I give you high marks for keeping up with modern progressive metal. To-Mera was founded by Julie Kiss, after leaving Hungarian progressive metal band Without Face, and Lee Barrett (ex-Extreme Noise Terror, Disgust, Mussolini Headkick). There music is at once ... [read more]

Kiske: Past In Different Ways

Melodic Rock

Rating: 3.0/5.0

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]

Daddo: The Other Side

Instrumental Guitar

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Daddo (full name Damir Daddo Oreskovich) was born in the town of Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a child he studied classical guitar and piano. In his youth he matured as a guitarist by listening to the likes of Gary Moore, Richie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert among others. When the war broke out in Bosnia, Daddo was determined to continue his musical aspirations ... [read more]

Dogs N Bones: Lost Gone Wild

Hard Rock

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Dog N Bones means well. They wish to play hard driving melodic rock. And for the most part, they do it very well. But I found 'Lost Gone Wild' very difficult to listen to. This band and this album has some very great features ... [read more]

Dark Sky: Empty Faces

Melodic Hard Rock

Rating: 3.5/5.0

German melodic rockers Dark Sky's history dates back to a formation in the late 1980's. Predictable label problems followed the young band in their formative days. Success, in a minimal way, came their way with 2002's recording 'Edge Of Time.' 'Living And Dying' released in 2005 on AOR Heaven allowed the band to turn the corner to some mainstream recognition. Now, in 2008, 'Empty Faces' promises to bring this persevering band to ... [read more]

John 5: Requiem

Instrumental Guitar

Rating: 4.0/5.0

John 5 aka John William Lowery found his fame and fortune playing for Marilyn Manson. But don't hold that against him. John 5 is a premier guitarist, a Malmsteem for the 21st century. He shreds with the best ... [read more]

Tyr: Land

Heavy/Folk/Viking Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

I'll admit I had a difficult time getting my head and ears around Tyr and their new album 'Land.' Although Tyr plays basic heavy metal, the core of their music is founded upon traditional folk music and a very fundamental ethnic base ... [read more]

Sacred Blood: The Battle Of Thermopylae

Heavy/Power Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Hailing from Greece, Sacred Blood is on a mission, in their own words, 'to create metal influenced by heroic spirit, romantic, lyrical and epic themes that come directly from each nation's traditions.' 'The Battle Of Thermopylae - The Chronicle' is their first full length ... [read more]

Motley Crue: Saints Of Los Angeles

Sleaze/Melodic Hard Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

After a horse wins one or all of the triple crown races, it's usually put out to pasture. But in the field of rock and roll, old horses never die. They keep coming back to run again. How many bands out there, who's history dates back 20 or 30 years, are reuniting and recording again. Even Led Zeppelin is reforming and recording again. So here we are in 2008 with a new Motley Crue album, 'Saints Of Los Angeles' ... [read more]

Divinefire: Farewell

Melodic Power Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

After four albums in the last five year, Swedish power metal band Divinefire is calling it quits. Lead singer Christian Rivel, for personal reasons, has decided to leave the band. Guitarist Jani Stefanovic and bassist Andreas Olsson both agreed that they were not willing to carry on without Rivel. Divinefire's new album ... [read more]

Uriah Heep: Wake The Sleeper

Melodic Hard/Progressive Rock

Rating: 3.5/5.0

We all remember Uriah Heep. I cut my prog and melodic rock teeth on the 'Magician's Birthday' and 'Live' back in the 1970's. But when was the last time you seriously considered what they were doing lately? I must admit, I haven't ... [read more]

Judas Priest: Nostradamus

A Melodic Heavy Metal Opera

Rating: 4.75/5.0

'Now for something completely different,' so said Englander's Monty Python. Or, to coin a phrase from Judas Priest themselves,' You've gotta another thing comin.' The new Judas Priest work, the 2 CD st, 'Nostradamus' is like nothing you have ever heard before from this progenitor of classic heavy metal. 'Nostradamus' is epic in scope; its heavy metal wrapped up in ... [read more]

Jorn: Lonely Are The Brave

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

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, 'Lonely Are The Brave.' This work is an immense work of ... [read more]

Disturbed: Indestructible

Modern American Hard Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Regular readers of the reviews at dangerdog.com already know of my reluctance to review modern American rock and metal. When I heard glimpses of Disturbed's new album 'Indestructible' I was just a little bit intrigued. I heard great melody, interesting vocal harmonies, and, if you can believe it ... [read more]

Edenbridge: MyEarthDream

Symphonic/Gothic Rock/Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Edenbridge distinguishes themselves with each new album by producing symphonic/gothic rock and metal of consistency and quality. 'MyEarthDream' is no exception to the rule. Inherent in this, however, is an inevitable familiarity and predictably. As much as 'MyEarthDream' is enjoyable ... [read more]

Pyramaze: Immortal

Melodic Power/Progressive Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

If you loved 2006's 'Legend Of The Bone Carver,' you are going to love Pyramaze's latest work 'Immortal.' It's filled with great power and progressive metal music. There is power, substance and innovation on there third release. Additionally, they have brought in ... [read more]

Force Majeure: Frozen Chambers

Melodic Power Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Power metal band Force Majeure hails from Finland; their name, translated literally from the French, means 'greater force.' Certainly, this reveals mora than a little self-confidence in their music and pursuits. But can Force Majeure be 'greater force' in the already swamped field of power metal ... [read more]

Headhunter: Parasite Of Society

Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

The return of Germany's Headhunter in 2008 will test your knowledge of metal history, particularly if you live in the States. If you're an American, my guess is that you probably never heard of them. Headhunter is the creation of ... [read more]

H.E.A.T: Heat

Melodic Hard Rock

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The glory days of 80's melodic rock are alive and well in the Swedish band H.E.A.T and their wonderful first work, 'Heat.' The influences of Toto, Giant, and Journey are more than self-evident here. There's melody, harmony, groove, and sometimes funk in their songs. 'Heat' is solid melodic rock for the 21st century ... [read more]

Gemini Five: Sex Drugs Anarchy

Hard/Sleaze/Glam Rock/Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Sweden's Gemini Five is on the edge, the edge of breaking out of their Scandinavian neighborhood and becoming an international rock and roll sensation. Drawing deep from the roots of 80's rock and the manifold nuances of melodic hard rock, metal, glam and sleaze styles, Gemini five has the goods to deliver ... [read more]

Journey: Revelation

Melodic Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Since Steve Perry left Journey, the saga of the lead vocalist position could best be described as a revolving door soap opera. Steve Augeri has come and gone. The fabulous Jeff Scott Soto filled in for about a year, more or less, only to be dismissed by the Journey franchise. So the search begins ... [read more]

Battleroar: To Death And Beyond

Heavy Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

There's no doubting what you can expect from Greece's Battleroar when you listen to the opening strains of 'The Wrathforge' on their new album, 'To Death And Beyond.' The piece is musical marching orders to battle as the drums pound out a steady beat and the music rises a crescendo. The songs leaps into a galloping sound assault as Battleroar does what they do best ... [read more]

Revolution Renaissance: New Era

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

Rating: 3.0/5.0

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. So this is what Mr. Tolkki is doing now ... [read more]

Assedium: Fighting For The Flame

Heavy Metal

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Italian metal band Assedium was born in the beginning of 2004 with the purpose of playing pure epic heavy metal inspired by Cirith Ungol, Omen, Manilla Road, Virgin Steele and old Manowar. The question is, do they achieve their goal of creating 'epic heavy metal?' The short answer is ... [read more]

Human Fortress: Eternal Empire

Modern Progressive/Heavy Metal

Rating: 4.0/5.0

With 'Eternal Empire,' you will quickly discover that this not the Human Fortress that you know and love. To be sure, the progressive metal remains, but Human Fortress is evolving and developing beyond their roots. With a simple spin into their first song 'Contrast' ... [read more]

July 2008 Reviews

June 2008 Reviews