Death Dealer | War Master

by Derric Miller
- Managing Editor –

Just listen to the opening scream from Sean Peck (Cage) on Death Dealer’s ode to themselves “Death Dealer” from their new album War Master and explain to someone how he isn’t one of the biggest names in metal? He’s the next generation Rob Halford. Put him on the same team as Rhino and Ross the Boss, and the prolific and talented guitarist/songwriter Stu Marshall (Dungeon, Empires of Eden) along with the wanted man/bassist Mike Davis (Lizzy Borden, Halford) … exactly what the hell can you expect except bigger-than-life METAL? It’s even bigger than that, once you give it a listen.

Listening to the opening song “Death Dealer” is like drinking barbed wire covered in ghost chili extract, or it will feel like that if you try to nail those otherworldly notes Peck screams at you. Rhino’s drumming is barbaric, the riffing and leads are orchestrated cacophony, and everything is breakneck—in the first 20 seconds. Peck crescendos the lines in the chorus until he’s once again … “showing off” is too strong a word, but he’s singing in a style very few vocalists on earth can even attempt.

The title track “Warmaster” is one of the more majestic songs on the release, in parts. Death Dealer mixes Progressive/Thrash/Speed/Power Metal in a way that is complicated and yet makes perfect sense once you hear it. This is one of those songs, with pomp at some passages and then sheer Thrash Metal riffing, like Slayer, in other sections. If you listen to this song too much, you’ll never have less than a five o’clock shadow on your face — you’ll become too manly. (Yes, you too, ladies.)

By the time you land on “Children of Flames” you receive a welcome reprieve. Plus, ADD would set in if their only speed was “faster,” so letting the music breathe in the airy start to “Children of Flames” is necessary. Peck sings in a haunting style, lower, and in some places with a pitch-perfect falsetto before swelling to mammoth vocals on the chorus, only to slide back to a softer delivery. It’s something akin to Metal Church’s classic “Watch the Children Prey,” and not because they both have the word “children” in it. It’s a compelling composition and one of the most memorable on the release.

For pure fun, “Hammer Down” is the one you’ll go back to over and over. This is in a more Manowar style, at least during the chorus, memorably simple and forcing you to sing with the gents as soon as you hear the chorus. “Bring the hammer down! Bring the hammer down. Hammer down … bring the hammer down!” That’s it, and you can yell along instantly.

It all comes full circle with “Wraiths on the Wind,” and you’ll hear Davis’ bass expertise immediately, as he drives the song with his adept. As one of the “slower” (grain of salt taken) tracks, it races along at a Power Metal speed, and instead of the blazing leads you’ll hear more thick, razor riffs, except for the solo which is molten lead.

Other killer songs include “Curse of the Heretic” and “Liberty or Death.” There’s simply not a subpar song on the album.

Death Dealer owns all of the necessary components to succeed. They have name recognition, talent, songwriting ability and a collectively magnetic live stage presence. They do not consider themselves a one-off project but a band, or as Marshall puts it, “This is a long-term vision.” Next time around the guys might want to create a couple more songs like “Children of Flames,” but if their debut idea was to create audial aggression and annihilation, they succeeded twice.

Genre: Classic, Power, Manly Metal

Band:
Sean Peck – Vocals
Stu Marshall – Guitars
Ross the Boss – Guitars
Rhino – Drums
Mike Davis — Bass

Track listing:
1 Death Dealer
2 Never to Kneel
3 Warmaster
4 Children of Flames
5 Curse of the Heretic
6 Hammer Down
7 The Devil’s Mile
8 Liberty or death
9 Heads Spikes Walls
10 Wraiths on the Wind

Label: Steel Cartel Records

Online: www.deathdealer.co

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.6/10

Lillian Axe | Love + War

by John Kindred
- Publisher –

Classic Albums Revisited –

New Orleans based Lillian Axe was founded by guitarist Steve Blaze. Originally the group performed for their enjoyment but the local music scene helped to propel the interest of music labels. The band — comprised of guitarists Steve Blaze and Jon Ster, vocalist Ron Taylor, bassist Rob Stratton and drummer Danny King — released their debut self-titled studio album in ’88 on MCA Records. Their follow up Love + War arrived in ’89 and although well received by fans the album was all but ignored by their labels promotions department. Even landing a video on MTV for the song “Show a Little Love” did nothing to spur the label’s promotion of the album.

Eighteen years after the initial release of Love + War, with the resurgence in interest of ‘80s metal bands Metal Mind Productions re-released the classic album. Metal Mind Productions delivered the much sought after album in a re-mastered limited (2000 manufactured) digipack edition giving fans a second chance to hear the classic album again.

Love + War packs a wallop with 10 songs produced by Tony Pratt (AC/DC) that seethes with melodic overtones, hard and heavy rhythms, blazing solos (no pun intended Mr. Blaze) and stylish, gritty vocals. The ‘80s were known for lyrical content that tied into sexual innuendos and Lillian Axe were not shy about dabbling within the confines of sexual context; “She Likes It On Top,” “Diana,” “Down On You,” “My Number” and “Show A Little Love.” Whether or not you cared for those sexual references, Lillian Axe’s strength came through within the confines of the music.

Others songs, that didn’t play up to the often pretentious sexual escapades, helped showcase the band’s engaging musical explorations; “The World Stopped Turning,” “Ghost of Winter,” “Fool’s Paradise” and “Letters in the Rain.”

A band is nothing without a good vocalist. Lillian Axe again where ahead of their peers as Ron Taylor’s voice had matured since their debut release. His gritty, soulful voice complimented the music that was written by both Taylor and Blaze. The songwriting partnership of both men helped steer the quality of Lillian Axe’s sophomore release.

Where the debut self-titled studio showed the bands rookie explorations, Love + War delivered polished well written and well crafted songs. The first single released, “Show A Little Love,” fit in with the current trends on MTV. This alone should have sparked the interest of a mass audience as the band’s visual appeal was the same as their peers. Lillian Axe though could also deliver in the music department and should have never fallen into the hair-metal classification.

Love + War is a flashback to time when metal music delivered much more than hairspray and lipstick. The compositional ideas and flamboyant vocals highlighted exactly what was positive about ‘80s metal. Although Lillian Axe continued to release music, suffering through lineup changes and the band continues to release new music having just released The Days Before Tomorrow; Love + War was the pinnacle of the band’s creative endeavors. The album deserves a second look by naysayers. Even if they come away with negative criticism, we the fans know exactly what genius lies behind the album.

Band Members:
Ron Taylor – vocals
Stevie Blaze – guitar, keyboards and background vocals
Jon Ster – guitar, keyboards and background vocals
Rob Stratton – bass and background vocals
Danny King – drums

Additional Musicians:
Michael Dorian – keyboards

Track listing:
01. All’s Fair In Love And War
02. She Likes It On Top
03. Diana
04. Down On You
05. The World Stopped Turning
06. Ghost Of Winter
07. My Number
08. Show A Little Love
09. Fool’s Paradise
10. Letters In The Rain

Label: Metal Mind Productions

Web: http://www.lillianaxe.com/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

UFO | THE CHRYSALIS YEARS (1973-1979)

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

UFO is a blues-based hard rock band from the United Kingdom. The band was formed by the trio of Phil Mogg, Andy Parker and Pete Way in ’69. UFO released two studio albums, 1970′s UFO 1 and ’71′s UFO 2: Flying, prior to signing on with Chrysalis Records, which paved the way for their international success. During this time, the band’s featured guitarist was Mick Bolton from 1969 to ’72 and then Bernie Marsden, who later joined Whitesnake, briefly filled the slot in 1973.

In 1973, UFO asked the then 18-year-old Michael Schenker, from the Scorpions, to join the band after Schenker had filled in for Madsen at a headline gig in Germany. Schenker’s arrival denoted a period of six years in which UFO delivered some of its best-recorded works to the world, releasing five studio albums and one live double album from 1973 to ’79. The albums of that time period include: Phenomenon (1973), Force It (1975), No Heavy Petting (1976), Lights Out (1977) and Obsession (1978). The live album Strangers in the Night was released in 1979. The band’s core during this time comprised Mogg, Schenker, Way and Parker, with additional support from Danny Peyronel on No Heavy Petting and Paul Raymond on Obsession.

Paying tribute to UFO’s contributions to the hard rock and metal communities, Capitol/EMI Records have released the five-CD set THE CHRYSALIS YEARS (1973-1979). The five-CD collection features the 2007 re-mastered albums: Phenomenon, Force It and No Heavy Petting; the 2008 re-master of the albums Lights Out and Strangers In The Night; and the 1999 re-master of Obsession. Also included is a rare previously unreleased 45-minute concert recording from UFO’s first U.S. tour that was recorded in 1974 at Atlanta’s Electric Ballroom. Eighty-one tracks are culled from the original studio recordings (re-masters of course), including a live, unreleased concert from ’74, the band’s first-ever released singles from Chrysalis “Give Her The Gun” and “Sweet Little Thing,” BBC Radio Sessions, B-sides and rare remixes.

Eighty-one songs is a lot to digest for those who have never heard UFO, but as you listen, you will unearth some of rock’s most overlooked gems. The foundation is laid by Schenker, as the band moves from a predominantly blues-based hard rock unit to slightly experimental excursions and a heavier more metallic sound as they close out the 1970s. Most hard rock and metal fans know “Lights Out” or “Rock Bottom,” but here, they can experience instrumental songs, such as the elegant “Arbory Road” or “Lipstick Traces.” “Between the Walls” falls at the end of the song “This Kids” and is similar to the work Schenker performed with Scorpions on Lonesome Crow. “Try Me” from Lights Out features one of Schenker’s most melodic solos that he ever recorded. “Love to Love” from Lights Out is one of the greatest hard rock songs ever recorded and shows off the musical ability of the band. From the guitar, bass, drums and vocal, you can’t top what UFO deliver on this song.

Mogg is a singer who is really good at his craft. At times, he is great, and when he is, he truly shines. Pete Way set standards for performance that NWOBHM bands were soon to emulate at the end of the ’70s and into the ’80s. Andy Parker was the steady pulse that drove the ship. Schenker provided the aerial acrobatics that, when intermingled with Moggs vocals melodies, provided a magical spark of energy.

Strangers In The Night was the album from the tour that should have broken the band stateside. By 1978, tensions in the band led to Schenker leaving to rejoin the Scorpions and later forming the Michael Schenker Group, MSG. Schenker’s departure was the final nail in the coffin and stopped the band in its tracks from being the next big thing on America. Having almost reached the pinnacle of success that would have made the group a household name, the band slipped back a step or two.

The band release five more records on Chrysalis Records before moving to a new label. Between 1980 and 1992, the band worked with numerous guitarists who attempted to fill Schenker’s shoes as best they could. The band has had considerable turnover of musicians over the years, with Mogg being the constant band member. Schenker returned to UFO on 1995′s Walk on Water (Eagle Records), and he stayed with the band for two more albums on Shrapnel Records; ’00 Covenant and ’02 Sharks. He finally was replaced by guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore on 2004′s You Are Here (SPV Records) who has been with UFO since then.

Band:
Phil Mogg (vocals)
Michael Schenker (guitar)
Pete Way (bass)
Andy Parker (drums)
Danny Peyronel (vocals, keyboards on No Heavy Petting)
Paul Raymond (keyboards, guitar on Obsession)

Track Listing:

DISC ONE
1. Give Her The Gun (Single A-Side)
2. Sweet Little Thing (Single B-Side)
Phenomenon
3. Oh My
4. Crystal Light
5. Doctor Doctor
6. Space Child
7. Rock Bottom
8. Too Young To Know
9. Time On My Hands
10. Built For Comfort
11. Lipstick Traces
12. Queen Of The Deep
Bonus Track
13. Doctor Doctor (Single Edit)*
Bob Harris session (28th October 1974)
14. Rock Bottom
15. Time On My Hands
16. Give Her The Gun

DISC TWO
Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GA 5th November 1974**
(Previously Unreleased)
1. Oh My
2. Doctor Doctor
3. Built For Comfort
4. Give Her The Gun
5. Cold Turkey
6. Space Child
7. Rock Bottom
8. Prince Kujuku
Force It (Side One)
9. Let It Roll
10. Shoot Shoot
11. High Flyer (4:09)
12. Love Lost Love (3:22)
13. Out In The Street

DISC THREE
Force It (Side Two)
1. Mother Mary
2. Too Much Of Nothing
3. Dance Your Life Away
4. This Kid’s (Including ‘Between The Walls’)
No Heavy Petting
5. Natural Thing
6. I’m A Loser
7. Can You Roll Her
8. Belladonna
9. Reasons Love
10. Highway Lady
11. On With The Action
12. A Fool In Love
13. Martian Landscape
Lights Out (Side One)
14. Too Hot To Handle
15. Just Another Suicide
16. Try Me
17. Lights Out

DISC FOUR
Lights Out (Side Two)
1. Gettin’ Ready
2. Alone Again Or
3. Electric Phase
4. Love To Love
Lights Out Bonus Track
5. Try Me (Single Remix)*
John Peel session (27th June 1977)
6. Too Hot To Handle
7. Lights Out
8. Try Me
Obsession
9. Only You Can Rock Me
10. Pack It Up (And Go)
11. Arbory Hill
12. Ain’t No Baby
13. Lookin’ Out For No 1
14. Hot ‘N’ Ready
15. Cherry
16. You Don’t Fool Me
17. Lookin’ Out For No 1 (Reprise)
18. One More For The Rodeo
19. Born To Lose
Bonus Track
20. Only You Can Rock Me (Single Version)*

DISC FIVE
Strangers In The Night
1. Natural Thing
2. Out In The Street
3. Only You Can Rock Me
4. Doctor Doctor
5. Mother Mary
6. This Kid’s
7. Love To Love
8. Lights Out
9. Rock Bottom
10. Too Hot To Handle
11. I’m A Loser
12. Let It Roll
13. Shoot Shoot

Strangers In The Night Bonus Tracks
14. Doctor Doctor (Live Single Edit)
15. On With The Action (Live Single B-Side)*

*Available on CD for the first time
**Previously unreleased

Label: CAPITOL / EMI

Hardrock Haven rating: n/a

Rainbow | Live in Germany 1976

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow came into being in the fall of 1974, as he and then-unknown Elf vocalist Ronnie James Dio recorded solo material for his new album. Disenchanted with the direction of Deep Purple sans Ian Gillain and Roger Glover, Blakemore created Rainbow and an exit for himself from the band. Rainbow’s debut studio album, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, was released in ’75. In the studio, Blackmore and Dio worked alongside drummer Gary Driscoll (Elf), keyboardist Matthew Fisher and Hughes McDowell (ELO).

Transitioning from a studio band to a live act, Blackmore fired his studio band, except for Dio. He and Dio hit the touring circuit with drummer Cozy Powell (Jeff Beck band), bassist Jimmy Bain and American keyboard player Tony Carey. Touring heavily in the United States and Europe during 1975 and ’76, Rainbow built a reputation as a superb live act that delivered visually and sonically.

Eagle Rock’s re-release of Rainbow’s double CD of Live In Germany 1976, pulls select songs from tour dates that were recorded in Germany: Koln on 9-25-76; Düsseldorf on 9-27-76; Nuremberg on 9-28-76; and Munich on 9-29-76, to be exact. Although the two-disc set only includes eight songs, which maybe seems meager, the songs here are all extended versions of some of Rainbow’s classic rock standards. Disc 1 clocks in at 43 minutes, while disc 2 is 55 minutes in length. Honestly, you get your money’s worth.

The tracks come from their debut album Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and include “Man on the Silver Mountain,” “Catch the Rainbow,” “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves,” and “Still I’m Sad.” Tracks from their sophomore effort 1976′s Rising include “Stargazer” and “Do You Close Your Eyes.” Other tracks include “Kill the King” (from the then forthcoming of ’77′s Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll) and “Mistrearted” from Deep Purple’s 1973 studio album Burn.

Rainbow obviously was the vehicle for Blackmore to express his creative visions while keeping all control of the band in his hands. This seems to have influenced other virtuoso guitarist down the road; Michael Schenker and Yngwie Malmsteen instantly come to mind. These extended jams allow Blackmore to explore his classically inspired chops, whether playing subtle melodies or unleashing fiery blasts of electric mayhem. The ensemble of musicians, who were in Rainbow at this time, are all accomplished musicians and give Blackmore the canvas upon which for him to paint his musical picture.

Dio’s vocals are strong and vibrant, and his lyrics created fantasy worlds in which fans could lose themselves while discovering. It’s amazing that over time, up until his passing, that he maintained the same unwavering voice for hard rock and metal fans to enjoy for 40-plus years.

Honestly, bands from the 1970s embraced the freedom to explore their musical creations when performing live. They didn’t always adhere to the original compositions and often created new sonic textures from the roots of the original songs. It seemed bands such as the Scorpions, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, UFO and others allowed the stage to be a place to continue exploring and discovering the many roads of possibilities of their recorded works, as if the original works led to many, many more destinations.

Ultimately, that’s what Live In Germany 1976 is about; there are many ways to play a single note, and Blackmore and company weren’t afraid to do it.

Genre: Classic Hard Rock

Band:
Ronnie James Dio (vocals)
Ritchie Blackmore (guitar)
Tony Cary (keyboards)
Jimmy Bain (bass)
Cozey Powell (drums)

Track Listing:

CD 1
1. “Kill the King” (Dio, Blackmore, Cozy Powell) – 5:25 (Munich)
2. “Mistreated” (David Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore) – 16:00 (Munich)
3. “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves” – 7:50 (Cologne)
4. “Catch the Rainbow” – 14:50 (Dusseldorf)

CD 2
1. “Man on the Silver Mountain” – 13:37 (Nuremberg)
2. “Stargazer” – 17:10 (Cologne)
3. “Still I’m Sad” (Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty) – 15:00 (Cologne)
4. “Do You Close Your Eyes” – 9:45 (Munich)

Label: Eagle Rock

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10