March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Kiss, Psycho Circus, Sonic Boom • 0 Comments
Kiss- “Psycho Circus”1998 LP and “Sonic Boom”2009 LP Like a pizza shared amongst friends on a weekend night, Kiss albums are truly like the song says on “Psycho Circus” – “You wanted the best, you got the best!”. Amongst other things, the sheer transparency of this rock institution is what remains so endearing to me. […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Total Head Removal, Wolfpack • 0 Comments
Wolfpack- “Total Head Removal” LP (Chain Reaction- 001) – 1987 As is evidenced by the “Fast Forward To Hell” compilation, on the brand-spanking new label, Metalworks, the English death/thrash metal invasion is upon us as you read this. There’s all kinds of new blood on the scene with actual vinyl- (The U.K. pick for success) […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Sacrilege, Within The Prophecy • 0 Comments
Sacrilege – Within The Prophecy” LP (Under One Flag- 15) – 1987 Is this the same Tam that sang that nifty, little punky/hardcore ditty , entitled “Skinned Alive”?!? Yep. My how serious we have gotten. This album is thrashing, heavy, intense, and very long. It is something like over 43 minutes long for 7 songs. […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Onslaught, Sounds Of Violence • 0 Comments
Onslaught – “Sounds Of Violence” – 2011 (Combat Recs) Here’s is the U.K. band that with their 2nd release – “The Force”, back in 1986, got the thrash world to sit up and take notice of ’em. Well, Onslaught reformed earlier in the decade and though the guitar work can be a thrill on this […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Black Sabbbath, Deep Purple, Slaves & Masters, TYR • 0 Comments
Black Sabbath – “TYR” LP (IRS Records- 1990) & Deep Purple- “Slaves & Masters” LP As the 1990s dawned what I give you is a snapshot out of time After buying four albums for the sake of buying them (!), I am fed up with “Sabbath”- (or is that still Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi? […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Deathrow, Raging Steel • 0 Comments
Deathrow – “Raging Steel” LP – (Noise International 8198)- 1987 Is it not my imagination but is it getting harder to find the German imports with all the U.S. vinyl flooding the market? Answering my own question, to not keep you all in suspense; the U.S. comes first in the U.S. Just a fact. Anyway […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Nuclear Death, Welcome To The Minds Of The Morbid • 0 Comments
Nuclear Death were featured in the last issue of Death Scream, #3, with their “Wake Me When I’m Dead” demo and “January ’87 rehearsal”- (an unofficial release). The highlight of the band was the animal lead-vocals of bassist Lori Bravo. I pointed out that she has a 100% metal, growling voice as deep and as […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Bathory, Hammerheart • 0 Comments
Bathory – “Hammerheart” LP- 1990 (Noise/BMG Records- 4827) Not even Voivod have progressed as much over 6 albums as Bathory has in five. Starting in 1982 with a cut on the compilation “Swedish Metal Attack”, with the song “The Return Of Darkness & Evil”- which appeared in a different version on “The Return” LP from […]
March 1, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: BU2B, Caravan, Clockwork Angels, Rush • 0 Comments
Rush are on their Time Machine tour and the subject with Rush has become “time” itself. Go back to 1987’s “Time Stand Still” from the “Hold Your Fire” album and “Time & Motion”(one of RUSH’s weakest tracks, musically) from 1989’s “Test For Echo” – actually reading the lyrics will give you “insight” on how mastermind […]
Cauldron – Burning Fortune
March 2, 2011 by Rich Castle • Heavy Metal Reviews Tags: Burning Fortune, Cauldron • 0 Comments
Cauldron- “Burning Fortune” LP- 2011- (Earache) Out of Eastern Canada; Toronto to be exact, comes Cauldron with their second helping / second longplayer. More Witchfinder General than Kataklysm or Cryptopsy. There really is something special and refreshing about bands from out of Canada. Keep in mind that Rush are the most original rock/metal band of […]
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