Author: mikeladano

Metal, hard rock, rock and roll! Record Store Tales & Reviews! Grab A Stack of Rock and more. Poking the bear since 2010.

REVIEW: Loudness – Engine (1999)

Part Three of Four – Buddha Rock 1997-1999

 

LOUDNESS – Engine (1999 Rooms, from the box set Buddha Rock 1997-1999)

The Masaki Yamada era of Loudness ended with the 1990s.Β  Masaki felt (correctly) that Loudness would be best off reuniting with its original lineup in the year 2000, and so Engine is the last album to feature Yamada, drummer Hirotsugo Homma and bassist Naoto Shibata.

As with the previous two Loudness albums (also included in Buddha Rock), Akira Takasaki’s penchant for experimentation is at the forefront.Β  “Soul Tone”, the opening instrumental, makes that much clear with its atypical exotic guitar drones in place of a song.Β  Then Akira cranks up the string harmonics on the bizarrely rocking “Bug Killer”, a 90s song if there ever was one.Β  He must have been listening to Rage Against the Machine.Β  The track descends into guitar mayhem by the end.Β  It’s incredible to think how Akira transitioned from an 80s guitar hero compared to Eddie and Yngwie, to a 90s master borrowing from Morello and the Middle East.

“Black Biohazard” chugs unremarkably just like much of the 90s did.Β  Leaning on a groove, “Twist of Chain” has certain 80s delicious metal elements hidden under the distortion.Β  It’s the kind of song that makes these lost albums really worth hunting down.Β  Similarly, “Bad Date/Nothing I Can Do” buries its hooks under vocal distortion.Β  Unfortunate that they didn’t just let it loose.Β  “Apocalypse” fails to build on this with a forgettable alterna-dirge.Β  “Ace in the Hole” has more going on, with a menacing far East vibe.Β  The guitars are like razor blades.

 

A sudden left turn on the partly acoustic “Sweet Dreams” almost sounds like a great lost Stone Temple Pilots song from some unknown era.Β  “Asylum” focuses on the bass, as a lot of the album does, choosing a heavy psychedelic feel.Β  A long guitar solo section is the track’s highlight.

Without warning, the oddly titled “Burning Eye Balls” goes to acoustic exotic Zeppelin territory.Β  This refreshing change is followed by “Junk His Head”, a pretty straightforward headbanger that does away with the distorted vocals.Β  Hirotsugo Homma lays down a killer beat on this one.Β  Β The penultimate instrumental track “2008 (Candra 月倩)” doesn’t have any particular hooks to relay which is unfortunate since previous Loudness instrumentals have at least been interesting.Β  This leaves it to the closing track “Coming Home” to make final impressions, of which it makes few.Β  It has echoes of the old Loudness track “So Lonely” but without much of the feeling or structure.

These three final Masaki-era Loudness albums all have some cool tracks; enough at least to assemble a good single-disc compilation.Β  Owning all three is for fans only.Β  It is fun to sit and listen to a band evolve, and watch them try on all kinds of different hats.Β  If that’s your obsession too, pick up Engine and check out the complete Buddha Rock box set while you’re at it.

2.5/5Β stars

REVIEW: Loudness – Dragon (1998)

Part Two of Four – Buddha Rock 1997-1999

 

LOUDNESS – Dragon (1998 Rooms, from the box set Buddha Rock 1997-1999)

Lucky 13th album for Loudness?Β  Maybe not, but it is an uptick from the prior release Ghetto Machine.Β  The band just kept on going, with only Akira Takasaki remaining from the original lineup.Β  Their third singer Masaki Yamada was on his fourth album with Loudness, and by now they had established a heavy alterna-metal 90s sound.Β  It is the strongest of the three albums of the Buddha RockΒ era.

Loudness had become fearless, blending thrash and funk together on “9 Mile High”.Β  Those who don’t enjoy Masaki’s growling style won’t be turned around here.Β  Those who like it fast enough to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs will not have a problem.Β  It skips between thrash and funk without warning.

The appetizingly titled “Dogshit” could only have come from the 1990s.Β  Harmonic drones are substituted for a main riff, and Masaki’s vocal is closer to rap metal.Β  Yet there’s something irresistible about it.Β  “Dog shit on my bike boots!” sings Masaki with a heavy guitar backing him.Β  And that’s why Loudness could get away with doing this kind of music.Β  It’s the guitar.Β  Akira Takasaki is one of the best in the world, but he’s more fearless than Yngwie and can play just about anything.Β  With a virtuoso like that, it’s unlikely you’re going to sound like dog shit.

“Wicked Witches” is heavy, detuned, and it grooves to the max while drilling into your brain.Β  There’s even a little bit of early Van Halen in the riff.Β  That leads into “Crazy Go-Go”, a single and album highlight.Β  Foregoing the nu-metal, this one is wah-wah heavy and just plain rocks!Β  Flat out, kick ass, rock and roll.Β  “Backstage go-go babe, like a circus after school, playin’ my guitar like a country horse.”Β  (Country horse?)Β  You get the picture!Β  It’s about groupies!Β  (Akira makes his guitar whinny like a horse!)

Drummer Hirotsugo Homma gets to have some rhythmic fun on “Voodoo Voices” which is one of the most bizarre tracks Loudness have ever done.Β  Voodoo voices indeed, as the vocals are buried, ethereal in the mix.Β  It’s trippy and trip-hoppy.Β  The instrumental “ε›žζƒ³” (“Kaisō”) is made up of backwards guitars playing quietly and hypnotic.Β  Then suddenly it’s a metal riff on “Babylon”.Β  Masaki eschews the growl and goes for psychedelic singing.Β  “Crawl” features a chugging Akira riff, and then some pulsing synth?Β  This album goes everywhere.

“Forbidden Love” is pretty cool, coming closer to the spirit of 80s Loudness.Β  Then go for some more 90s funk metal on “Mirror Ball”, which is as hot as Anthony Kiedis’ arm pit.Β  Another stunning instrumental emerges in “Taj Mahal”, which is not about the shredding but entirely about atmosphere.Β  A variety of unique sounding guitars are accompanied by exotic percussion and bass.Β  Unfortunately that leads into a little bit of a dud for an album closer.Β  “Nightcreepers” doesn’t make an impression.

While this Dragon is an experimental one, not afraid to mess with expectations or traditions, it is still rooted in that 90s nu-metal dungeon.Β  That is something that dates the disc to certain period in time.Β  When it rises above that, as it does on “ε›žζƒ³”, “Crazy Go Go” and “Voodoo Voices”, it transcends genre and goes somewhere unique.Β  There are just enough of those moments to make this album a keeper.

3.25/5 stars

 

REVIEW: Loudness – Ghetto Machine (1997)

Part One of Four – Buddha Rock 1997-1999

LOUDNESS – Ghetto Machine (1997 Rooms, from the box set Buddha Rock 1997-1999)

1997:Β  Masaki Yamada, the third Loudness singer, was now on his third Loudness album.Β  Besides founding guitarist Akira Takasaki, the rest of the band was new.Β  Ghetto Machine is the first with bassist Naoto Shibata, and second with drummer Hirotsugu Homma.Β  The 90s were chaotic even for Loudness, just like it was for bands in North America.Β  In Loudness’ case, they now had more original E-Z-O members (in Masaki and Homma) than original Loudness members.Β  Like most Loudness albums from the 90s onwards, Ghetto Machine was released only in Japan.

The album was self-produced by Takasaki, recently converted to Buddhism, and he fearlessly dove into the 1990s.Β  Opening with the title “Ghetto Machine”, the riff is low and grinding.Β  Masaki takes on a growly lower tone, and in place of hooks there is only groove and the drone of guitar.Β  This is far removed from the regal metal of the earliest days, but seems sincere given the freedom for Loudness to do whatever they wanted.

Track two, “Slave” features an unusual droning riff, with the thrash metal tempos of early Loudness.Β  At least 90s Loudness didn’t forego guitar solos like some bands.Β  Akira’s here is as interesting as any he’s done.Β  “Evil Ecstasy” opts for a nice groove right in the pocket.Β  Although the riffs are simpler, Akira always does something interesting, either with tone or technique.Β  Though 90s Loudness seems to be less focused on songwriting hooks, sonics are treated with care.

“San Fransisco” isn’t outstanding, though the guitars always are.Β  Nice wah-wah on the solo.Β  Zeppelin seems to be one of many influences on “Love and Hate”, but at this point of the album it is clear that Masaki Yamada will not be delivering much in terms of melody.Β  Β “Creatures” has a stinging little whiplash of a riff and biting vocals but little that you can sing along to.Β Β A cool funky groove called “Hypnotized” is preceded by “Katmandu Fly”, a short atmospheric instrumental.Β  I almost get the feeling that the chorus riff to “Hypnotized” is a twisted variation of “Smoke on the Water”, though it could be my imagination striving to find any kind of hook.

Some crooning during a slow psychedelic jammy break in “Dead Man Walking” is the only melody in that song.Β  The albums takes a turn back towards melodic at the end.Β Β Second-to-last track “Jasmine Sky” starts the change up.Β  It’s slow and sparse, and sounds like lead vocals by Akira.Β  It’s one of the only tracks with an actual vocal melody from start to finish, and sets up “Wonder Man” as a final blowout.Β  This monolithic riff is accompanied by exotic guitar soloing and a Masaki vocal you can sing along to.Β  It crawls to a vaguely Zeppelin-y ending.

Ghetto Machine brings me back to that unhappy time in the 90s, when classic bands did what they had to do to adapt, and while the new albums had merit, they were clearly missing…something.Β  The ’92 Loudness album with Masaki was awesome and represented everything good that the 90s could do to a rock band.Β  Ghetto Machine is the slide afterwards.

2.75/5 stars

Sunday Screening: TENET remade by Cracked for only $20

Tenet was my favourite movie of 2020. Slim pickin’s for certain but a movie I thoroughly enjoy for its entire 150 minutes.Β  But you don’t have 150 minutes today, the last day of Christmas holiday before we go back to the grind!Β  All you need is 3 minutes to see how Cracked remade Tenet for only $20.Β  You need not have seen the film to enjoy this — just the trailer.

Best of 2020 Part 8: The Final Pathetic Excuse to Squeeze the Last out of this Series

GETTING MORE TALE #871:Β  The Final Pathetic Excuse to Squeeze the Last out of the “Best of 2020” Series
or, Best of 2020 Part 8

I end this Christmas holiday the best way I can:Β  spinning Masters of Metal Vol. 2, the very album that started me on this metal journey 36 years ago.Β  It’s an interesting contrast.Β  The old clichΓ©, “It was a day much like this one…” doesn’t apply.Β  It was nothing like this Christmas.Β  The Christmas of 1984 and my resultant entire life happened because my best friend Bob Schipper came over on Boxing Day to play Snoopy and the Red Baron on the Atari 2600 while listening to Masters of Metal.Β  If not for that one special social interaction, would I ever have Felt the Noize?Β  Would I have Run to the Hills while warning of Another Thing Coming?Β  The kids of 2020 didn’t have the chance for that life changing experience this year.

So in solidarity with my friends and in the spirit of that holiday in 1984, my fellow creators and writers, I give you an R.

This has not been an easy season, but here we are — (here we “R!”) — we made it.Β  It’s 2021 and our creativity has fuelled us to survive 2020.Β  I would like to thank every person who has shared the screen with me in 2020 on Season One of the LeBrain Train web show:Β  Greg, Pat and Brian from Storm Force.Β  Steph Honde, Brent Jensen, Frank Loffredo, Jennifer, Deke, John, Aaron, Robert, Sarah, Kevin, Harrison, Eric, Geoff, Troy, Max, Mike Kovachik, Aaron Lebold, Mom, Dr. Kathryn, Tyler, Saige and Michael Morwood.Β  You have been a part of something positive in a year that needed you!

I don’t dare speak of goals or hopes or plans for 2021.Β  Survival is enough.Β  In order to continue surviving, I want to keep doing what I do.Β  In 2020, despite all the crap that we endured, I still managed to do 44 episodes of the LeBrain Train, plus a bonus 45th episode in memory of my Uncle Don Don via his CD collection.Β  I even finally reviewed every single Judas Priest album, completing a goal from 2012.

Some last minute interesting stats for 2020:Β  The Top Search Terms of 2020.Β  Some are oddly specific!

  1. kiss box set 2001 – 43 hits
  2. deep purple sonic zoom series – 37 hits
  3. clairvoyant cover with donington crowd – 27 hits
  4. deep purple made in japan super deluxe – 26 hits
  5. amazon – 20 hits
  6. cd black sabbath live evil digipack – 19 hits
  7. white lion mane attraction – 18 hits
  8. black sabbath born again review – 15 hits
  9. pearl jam 1992 box – 15 hits
  10. deep purple whoosh box set – 15 hits
  11. dokken up from – 14 hits

Well, that’s it for Masters of Metal Vol. 2, both sides done.Β  My vinyl today sounds better than the old cassette tape in 1984, but I like creating a setting when I write.Β  Vinyl back in its sleeve, that’s my cue to peace out!Β  Back to our regular, everyday schedule tomorrow.Β  If there is one last thing to share with you that I’ve learned, it’s that writing about music online is an interactive experience.Β  Since contact in our lives is precious, I’ve really enjoyed the collaborations that happened in 2020.Β  Adversity inspires creativity and you all rose to the occasion.Β  There was some good creative chemistry in 2020, a precious thing to find, and I hope for more in the future!

 

BEST OF 2020 SERIES

Part 1:Β  The Year in Review
Part 2:Β  Sunday Screening – Top Live Streams
Part 3:Β  Top TV & Movies
Part 4:Β  Guest Lists from Frankie & Michael
Part 5:Β  Nigel Tufnel Top Ten Albums of 2020
Part 6:Β  Iron Tom Delivers the Lists
Part 7:Β  The Stats of Doooom

Best of 2020 Part 7: The Stats of Doooom

Big thanks to 2020 for making this our most successful year at mikeladano.com yet.Β  The final tally is:

284,513 hits from 135,708 unique viewers.Β  This is a massive uptick from our previous best year, 2018, which received “only” 215,440 views.Β  Thank you pandemic, because that’s what this totally is.Β  I had no new ideas for 2020; I had given up on “growth”, only for 2020 to come to the rescue with a goddamn pandemic!

One way you can tell this uptick had nothing to do with me:Β  All the top hits are old, old posts with deep roots on Google searches.

  1. VAN HALEN – Zero – 2331 hits
  2. AMERICAN DAD – Persona Assistant – 2133 hits
  3. #551:Β  You’re Wrong on Unmasked – 1318 hits
  4. RAINBOW – Rising – 1076 hits
  5. KISS – Alive II (Re-review) – 891 hits
  6. KISS – Kissworld / Re-review directory – 831 hits
  7. TRAILER PARK BOYS – Season 11 – 761 hits
  8. KISS – Unmasked (Re-review) – 727 hits
  9. #425:Β  The Soup Nazi – 719 hits
  10. #774:Β  The Original Mustard Tiger – 718 hits

The death of Eddie Van Halen caused October to be our best month ever, and helped push Van Halen to #1 this year as well as contributing to the record hits overall.Β  The Van Halen Zero review is now the most popular thing I’ve ever written, having been read 12,294 times.

By comparison, the best-read “new” post this year was:

  1. AC/DC – “Shot in the Dark” – 574 views

I guess the message here is:Β  recycle, recycle, recycle!

Hits by country in 2020:Β  Top Five usual suspects – the same countries as last year, just in a barely different order!

I already posted the stats for Youtube views on live streams, and I’ve also already done my look ahead at 2021.

What do these stats show us?Β  The power of both Eddie Van Halen and a worldwide pandemic.Β  I’m pleased that people chose to read my stuff at those times, but I’d give just about anything to get Eddie and our normal world back.Β  Since I can’t, I can only tell you this:Β  I don’t plan on stopping in 2021!Β  And that’s about all I can say.Β  2020 taught us that life doesn’t give a shit about your plans.Β  I had plans in 2021 and they didn’t involve sitting in this little space live streaming.Β  This time there is no plan except give ‘er.Β  The universe tends to unfold as it does.

I wish you nothing but peace, happiness and harmony in 2021.Β  Let’s give ‘er together.

 

New Year’s Eve Drop-In Party Extravangza

I haven’t stayed up til midnight on a New Year’s Eve in a dog’s age, but I did it tonight…for you!

Tonight’s drop-in special ran over three hours and we still failed to squeeze in Aaron from the KMA.Β  Huge apologies to my buddy Aaron.Β  Hopefully I’ll make it up to you next week for the ZZ Top show.

Special guests tonight were invited to drop in and read their Nigel Tufnel Top Ten lists, and each guest chose their own theme for their lists!Β  Guests included:

  • Dr. Kathryn Ladano – 0:17:45
  • Deke – Special KISS report – 0:40:50
  • Scotty P – 0:45:30
  • Uncle Meat – 1:21:00
  • Mike’s Mom – 2:16:25
  • Michael, Max the Axe’s Stunt Double – 2:34:40

Once again sincere apologies to Aaron for not getting to him in time.

I also played some music tonight, five songs that make my skin vibrate (and don’t set off copyright strikes).Β  Enjoy the show

 

 

Virtual New Year’s Eve on the LeBrain Train! All aboard for the season finale!

The LeBrain Train:Β Β 2000 Words or MoreΒ with Mike Ladano

Episode 44 – Special “Season One” Finale

 

Got nothing to do tonight?Β  Join the club!Β  Better yet, join the stream!Β  This week’s special episode takes place on Thursday December 31.Β  It will be a drop-in show, meaning folks will drop in and say hello, and read their own Nigel Tufnel Top Ten lists.Β  It will be any topic, from music on down to favourite children’s breakfast cereals.Β  Several guests so far confirmed.Β  I have a list planned myself, and it’s a very special one!

Special time:

9:00 PM E.S.T.
Facebook:Β  MikeLeBrainΒ Β YouTube:Β  Mike LeBrain

 

 

 

Best of 2020 Part 6: Iron Tom Delivers the Lists

Iron Tom returns with his 2020 list of awesome, a little bit of commentary, and plenty of Youtube videos for you to check out!

  • Elder Omens

Β 

  • King Buffalo Dead Star

Β 

  • Drive-By Truckers The New OK

Β 

  • The Atomic Bitchwax Scorpio

Β 

  • King Gorm King Gorm

Β 

  • Five Alarm Funk Big Smoke

Let the β€˜Wheels on the Bus’ take you on a tight funky ride…

 

  • Jerry Joseph The Beautiful Madness

 

  • Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling

Great album for the shit-storm that was the last four years. However, I’m not sure I’ll be partying to some of it four years from now….

Β 

  • Brant Bjork Brant Bjork

The coolest dude on the planet being a one-cool-man-band….

 

  • Steve Earle Ghosts of West Virginia

Emphasizing the humanity over politics plays well….

 

  • Deep Purple Whoosh!

After the quality of the last few albums, I don’t know why I was surprised by how much I liked this one… Keep going boys….

 

  • Testament Titans of Creation

This band has been pretty consistent over the decade and have produced another great thrash album that is as catchy as it is heavy….

 

  • Neil Young Homegrown

1974-recorded and 2020-released and enjoyed…I read that Young thinks that the album is β€˜the unheard bridge between Harvest and Comes A Time’ and he’s right….

 

  • Armored Saint Punch the Sky

A pleasant surprise…no gimmicks just solid consistent heavy metal.

Β 

  • Blue Γ–yster Cult The Symbol Remains

A little uneven but the highs more than outweigh the lows… The videos may be unintentionally hilarious but the rock fire remains….

Β 

  • Wishbone Ash Coat of Arms

Fans of well crafted rock with tasty twin guitar will enjoy….

 

  • Annihilator Ballistic, Sadistic

A heavy riffy old-school thrashfest that does not let up….

 

  • Jason Isbell,Β Reunions

It doesn’t quite match the strength of his last two, but that’s only because Isbell has set the bar so damn high for himself… This is an excellent album in its own right….

 

  • Mr. Bungle The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo

Ian’s and Lombardo’s presence help Mr. Bungle deliver little on the experimentation, but some great straight-up thrash….

 

  • Brimstone Coven The Woes Of A Mortal Earth

Riffy modern occult rock with excellent vocal harmonies….

 

  • Lowrider Refractions

Who knew there were deserts in Sweden? These Kyuss-wannabies make a good case that there are….

 

  • Wytch Hazel III: Pentecost

Wishbone Ash fans will have lots here to enjoy….

 

  • King Weed – Riffs Of The Dead
  • King Weed The Seven Sins Of Doomsday

Instrumental Stoner from France… Groovy cool shit… And there are two more 2020 releases I haven’t checked out yet….

Β 

  • Diamond Head Lightning to the Nations 2020

A fresh coat of paint on some metal masterpieces and some pretty cool covers….

Β 

  • Wobbler Dwellers of the Deep

Yes, Crimson and Gentle Giant fans will find much to like here….

 

  • Freeways True Bearings

Vintage 70’s guitar rock for 2020 and they are from Brampton….

 

  • Bonehawk Iron Mountain

 

  • Shuffle Demons Crazy Time

 

 

 

Best of 2020 Part 5: Nigel Tufnel Top Ten Albums and More of 2020

2020 may have sucked, but the music didn’t.Β  This year I bought and reviewed more new releases than ever before, which I narrowed down to the Nigel Tufnel Top Ten studio albums of 2020 listed below.

I would like to dedicate this list to my good pal Uncle Meat who originated the concept of a “Nigen Tufnel Top Ten” earlier this year.Β  It has become our thing.

BEST ALBUMS OF 2020

11. Now or Never – III

10. Mr. Bungle – The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo

9. Sven Gali – 3 (EP)

8. Kim Mitchel – The Big Fantasize

7. Corey Taylor – CMFT

6. Stryper – Even the Devil Believes

5. Harem Scarem – Change the World

4. Dennis DeYoung – 26 East Vol 1

3. AC/DC – Power Up

2. Deep Purple – Whoosh!

1. Storm Force – Age of Fear

 

Storm Force’s debut album goes straight to #1 on their very first appearance!Β  No surprise here.Β  I’ve been raving about this disc since February and I owe it to Superdekes for putting these guys on my radar in the first place.Β  This is a well-deserved #1.Β  Age of Fear is an uplifting album with depth.Β  It’s a thoughtful, heart-pounding blast of classic hard rock.

Deep Purple’s Whoosh! and AC/DC’s PWRUPΒ prove two things:Β  old dogs that both learn and don’t learn new tricks can all be champions.Β  (I call this theory “SchrΓΆdinger’s Dog”.) Deep Purple’s growth continues while AC/DC managed to tap into the vein of success that always worked for them.Β  Both records deserve their spots in the Top 3.

It was a thrill for me to learn that Dennis DeYoung both read and enjoyed my review of his newest album 26 East Vol 1.Β  It’s a terrific, Styx-like conceptual work that will please the old fans.Β  As will the new albums by Harem Scarem and Stryper, who didn’t stray far from their successful classic hard rock formulas.Β  Kim Mitchell and Sven Gali on the other hand dared to be different.Β  Kim went laid back and acoustic, while Sven Gali went with their heaviest uninhibited inclinations.Β  As for Mr. Bungle, it has been 21 years since their last album California.Β  All four Bungle studio albums are completely different from one another — four different genres.Β  For The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, they teamed up with Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo to re-record their first thrash metal demo tape.Β  And it could be their best album since the self-titled debut in 1991.Β  Not bad for a bunch of songs they wrote in highschool.

Corey “Mother Fuckin'” Taylor makes his debut on any list of mine with his solo album CMFT.Β  It’s a surprising collection of commercial hard rockin’ tunes.Β  Also appearing for the first time is Now Or Never (NoN) with their third album called III, featuring singer Steph Honde.Β  It’s an excellent, dramatic metal album with light and shade.

BONUS LISTS

Most disappointing:Β  Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man

Song of the year:Β  “LeBrain Train“ by T-Bone Erickson

Single of the Year:Β  Mammoth WVH – “Distance”

Ultimately whether or not you liked the new Ozzy, its success or failure falls at the feet of producer/guitarist Andrew Watt.Β  He is already working on the next Ozzy album, so….

Huge thanks to T-Bone Erickson for the “LeBrain Train” theme song, which amazingly and unexpectedly became the song of the year in 2020!Β  Weird how that happened.Β  No bias here I assure you.

Finally, Wolfgang Van Halen finally released his first solo music under the name Mammoth WVH.Β  The non-album single “Distance” is dedicated to his late father Eddie.Β  Though musically it’s a modern power ballad, the lyrics and especially the music video evoke serious emotion.Β  Well done Wolfgang.Β  Can’t wait to check out his album in 2021.

TOP FIVE LIVE OR COMPILATION ALBUMS IN 2020

5. Metallica – S&M2

4. Thin Lizzy – Rock Legends

3. Sloan – B Sides Win Vol. 1 1992-1997

2. Def Leppard – The Early Years 78-81

1. Iron Maiden – Nights of the Dead – Legacy of the Beast

There were a lot of cool rock releases in 2020, so we need more lists!Β  Of course the brilliant new live Maiden deserved some loving attention.Β  Meanwhile, Sloan, Def Leppard and Thin Lizzy have continued to put out quality collections of rarities & unreleased material, well worth the time and money you’ll spend on them.Β  The Sloan collection is a vinyl exclusive and the first in a series of LPs re-releasing some of their B-sides and non-album and bonus tracks.Β  Finally, Metallica delivered the goods even without Michael Kamen on S&M2, a very different live set than the first S&M.Β  That’s the way to do it!

BEST LOCKDOWN SINGLE

5. Queen + Adam Lambert – “You Are the Champions”

4. Scorpions – “Sign of Hope”

3. Marillion – “Made Again 2020”

2. Marillion – “Easter 2020”

1. Alice Cooper – “Don’t Give Up”

 

A LOOK AHEAD AT 2021

It’s naive to assume that major touring and concerts will return in 2021.Β  This appears highly optimistic at present, with Covid still ravaging the landscape and vaccinations only just beginning.Β  Instead of looking ahead at things like the resuming Kiss tour, or the Motley Crue reunion, we should continue to put our faith in new music.

Accept have a new album due January 15 intriguingly titled Too Mean to Die.Β  It is their first without bassist Peter Baltes.Β  Steven Wilson has a new record out at the end of that month.Β  In February we get new Foo Fighters, The Pretty Reckless, Willie Nelson and Alice Cooper.Β  Greta Van Fleet, Weezer, Rob Zombie, Ringo Starr, and Thunder will be back soon too.Β  Many other bands are writing and recording without an announced due date.Β  Ghost, Marillion, Scorpions, Megadeth and even Ratt are hard at work to make next year suck a little less.Β  Support the bands by buying the music.