hard rock

Film Review: Så Jälva Metal – The History of Swedish Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

I’d recommend the documentary for metal fans who are particularly interested in the origins of the genre and the roots of metal in hard rock. While I think the narrative could have been weighted more evenly, there is some fascinating archival and interview footage in Så Jälva Metal, and seeing the music from a new cultural perspective is refreshing and eye-opening.

Edguy – Age of the Joker

The fact that Edguy sound more hard rock than power metal these days shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has listened to the band over the last few years. They all have the chops to pull of the experimenting and damn Tobias has a great voice. This is head and shoulders above the last couple of Edguy albums.

The Devil’s Blood – The Time of No Time Evermore

What makes The Devil’s Blood successful is its masterful gift for restraint. The band knows how to hold back, painting a partial musical portrait consisting solely of shadows and allowing the listener to infer the details using that most horrifying of artists: the imagination.

Tate Bengston gives us a great review of the latest output from traditional metallers, The Devil’s Blood.

Ted Nugent – Setlist: The Very Best Of Ted Nugent Live

Even without any accompanying video footage too, Nugent’s Setlist translates incredibly well; culling essential tracks from the extended edition reissues of Free For All and Cat Scratch Fever as well as essential tracks from Intensities In 10 Cities and Double Live Gonzo and Live At The Hammersmith ’79, Setlist assembles a very vivid track list that does conjure the images of a wild-eyed Nugent (check out how “Just What The Doctor Ordered” leads in, and you’ll get it) relishing in the moment – the lights, the attention, the spectacle – and it is the guitarist’s element; he loves every minute.

Rush @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto ON, July 13, 2010

I’m not a huge fan of bands doing albums in their entirety, but when the album is freaking Moving Pictures, the band is Rush, and it only makes up about a third of the show, how can you say no?

Sean Palmerston recaps the July 13th hometown performance of RUSH at Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre as part of their 2010 Time Machine North American tour. Concert photos by Adam Wills.

Uriah Heep – Celebration

Despite having only one original member, the band’s brand new album Celebration delivers to all their fans a fourteen track collection with an absolutely crushing set list. This celebration of forty years of rock is an album that has it all!

KEVI METAL’S RIMSHOTS v.2 #3

The music world is filled with similar smoke and mirrors acts. We’re told over and over and over again that so-and-so’s new album is the one that’ll re-define the genre. How many times have you heard in the last couple years that this-and-that’s “stunning” comeback album is “highly anticipated” and their best yet? Better than Bonded by Blood? Not bloody likely! The lies haven’t stop piling up since the music industry released its ad campaign for Elvis’ second record and this month’s Rimshots lifts the veil, cuts through the crap and saves you some money and/or hard drive space.

Helix @ Legendary Red Rooster, Burlington ON, March 27, 2010

Helix has been known in the metal scene since the mid 80’s and has over the years made some incredible tracks. They played a good chunk of them Saturday night and it made for one hell a perfect night. Checking out this band live is a must for any metal fan into the 80’s scene. The hits kept on rolling one after another. Great set list. As I get to see so many bands in concert, the one thing which caught my attention with Helix was their level of professionalism shown on stage. No sloppy guitar solos, no scratchy feedback in the speakers. Basically a flawless gig.

Albert Mansour reviews the March 27, 2010 concert at Burlington’s Legendary Red Rooster club by Canadian hard rock/metal legends Helix.