TOP 14 ALBUMS OF 2015

STATEMENT ABOUT STU'S REVIEWS

There have been no reviews posted since October 6th, that is due to serious health problems which have left me in constant physical pain and resulting in a fair amount of depression, this is still ongoing.

All review copies sent to me since that date have been deleted and no further promos have been downloaded, this will remain the situation until my health returns, i have already spoken with a numer of record company pr people on this subject.

So until i can sort myself out, there will be no more posts after this one.

TOP 14 ALBUMS OF 2015

So been a good year for music, quite a lot of interesting and original albums being produced, these are my personal choices from what has landed in my inbox or been sent to me.

STU

01.GALLEY BEGGAR - SILENCE & TEARS

02.PYOGENESIS - A CENTURY IN THE CURSE OF TIME

03.WITH THE DEAD - WITH THE DEAD

04.THE DAY OF LOCUSTS - FROM THE GUTTER TO THE GODS

05.THE DEEP - PREMONITION

06.NORSE - PEST

07.LUCIFER - LUCIFER 1

08.VALENTINE WOLFE - THE NIGHTINGALE: A GOTHIC FAIRYTALE

09.SOLDIER - DEFIANT

10,AGUE - POWERED BY EFFLUVIA

11.AL B DAMNED - FOR OLD TIMES STAKE

12.DESERT - NEVER REGRET

13.MEKIGAH - LITLOST

14.ALBATROSS - FEAR FROM THE SKIES

Al B Damned - For Old Times Stake (CD Review)

01.Good To Be Bad
02.Scream Come True
03.Drink The Blood
04.Home Is Where The Haunt Is
05.Look Who's Stalking
06.Exorsister
07.Modified
08.Never Sleep Again
09.Life In Space
10.End Of The Line
11.Creeping Beauty Part 2
12.You Are What We Eat
13.Mommy
14.Possessed (Acoustic)
15.Chopping Mall (Remake)

Joey Draper (Vocals/Bass/Guitars)
Pip Samson (Drums/Backing Vocals)

Guests:
James McIlroy (Guitar Solos: Good To Be Bad/Drink The Blood)
Doug Cartwright & Alexz "Face" Allen - Guitar (Look Who's Stalking)
Dan Evans (Guitar)

Having reviewed their new ep last month complete with the usual mini bio etc  (Look Whos Stalking Review) I shall get straight to the album.

A little symphonic music introduces us to 'Good To Be Bad', the haunting keyboard sound remains throughout the song, its so simple yet somehow it's understated appearence holds you in its own right.The song itself is slow, powerfull and the vocals have a raw growl to them.Then right at the end comes a killer solo to end of one helluva opener!

'Scream Come True' is a pretty straight forward rocker, reminiscent of "Raise Your Fist" era Alice Cooper.

Picking up the pace next with 'Drink The Blood', a hint of good old rock n roll lurks here, some really solid pedal work from Pip, great backing vocals and this one really drives along with its sing-a-long style.
Another instatntly recognisable solo is then perfectly executed but then the music drops out for a near tortured vocal full of emotion, finally the band join in to close.

Great bass playing kicks off 'Home Is Where The Haunt Is', this is another slower paced song, quite typical of the horror rock style, this one stalks the speakers with menace.

'Look Whos Stalking' and this one sure packs a punch, it's faster and heavier than previous songs, definatley like a jam session between the Misfits and Motorhead, add some riff loaded guitar work and a shout it out loud backing and this is one killer song.

Staying with the previous vibe comes 'Exorsister', not quite as furious, but has all the swagger and more of those infectious backing vocals.

Oh wow 'Modified' is really different, the vocal effect reminds me of Corey Taylor is his darker spoken moments, this is a dark and werid gothic monster, slow and anthemic treatment from the drums and guitar and some clever multi tracked vocal styles.

Some nice hints of Thrash Metal in 'Never Sleep Again', punchy riffs and some frantic drumming absolutley sledgehammer this one through my speakers.
Towards the end it gets weird, first with something that sounds like its from the soundtrack to clice barkers Candyman, then some strange vocal chants.

Some space related samples, awesome little synth pattern and near gothic guitar picking and 'Life In Space' presents itself as another dark, neo gothic downbeat song.
If the Peter Murphy vocal delivery wasn't enough to behold it gets the weird treatment with some f/x as well.

Relaxed and chilled as I was after that last song, my ears get blown up by 'End Of The Line' more of that upbeat horror rock delivered with real passion and understanding of the genre.

'Creeping Beauty Part 2' starts off dangerously like a ballad, fortunatley that doesn't last long and it picks up, but I have to say I do find it a tad average, it's mid paced but doesn't seem to go anywhere.What happend to Part One? Ahh just remembered it's an old TDQM song :-)

The fact that 'You Are What We Eat' includes a lyric that says "welcome to the jungle" seems to indicate a touch of Guns N Roses and you know the overall glam/metal/rock n roll feel of this song could fit in with the classic era of that band.

Bringing the mood right down next with 'Mommy', a melancolic and moody gothic tune, that candyman sound is back as well, another stand out song thats for sure.

'Possessed (Acoustic)' well not that acoustic as there is synth on it, the passionate and tortured vocal delivery is first class.

Finally 'Chopping Mall (Remake)' another old TDQM song given the ABD treatment, this one adds a little more agression with the guitar and is a nice way to end a brilliant and well executed album.

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, The Misfits, Generation Graveyard

Al B Damned - Look Who's Stalking EP (Review)

01.Look Who's Stalking
02.Hyde & Seek
03.Bats Of A Feather (Acoustic Live Studio)
04.Look Who's Stalking (Warhead Remix)


Joey Draper (Vocals/Bass/Guitars)
Pip Samson (Drums/Backing Vocals)

Guests:
Doug Cartwright & Alexz "Face" Allen - Guitar (Look Who's Stalking)
Dan Evans (Guitar)

Its been a while but the Bournemouth horror rock monsters are back, but this time it's a new set up and a new sound.
Essentially now operating as a duo of founder member and Texas Drag Queen Massacre mastermind Joey aka Al B Damned and "ABD" drummer Pip Samson, the pair have been friends for a long time and always worked and wrote together.
When the band split in 2013 it did look like the end, even though they left an ep as a farewell, so not quite the final nail in the coffin afterall.

However friends stay together and they decided to get back to what they do best and revamp the music and in February 2014 and "one off" song appeared having been based on what the fans wanted to hear.
Perhaps worth mentioning here, that when it comes to fan and band loyality and resepct you would be hard pushed to find a better example.

This inspired the ghoulish duo to create a kick starter project to fund an album that would feature many previous musicians from the various bands connected with them and perhaps be a new beginning for a darker and heavier sound.

And so it came to pass that the next step to get to the album would be let out of the pit under Al's house.

The pair were helped by former "TDQM" guitarist Alexz, "Beneath Dead Waves" guitarist Doug and Pips cohort in the "deathcorecomedymetal" noize merchants aAnd? Dan also helping with guitarwork.
Finally this online EP has a remix by Deefa D.De'Ville and also includes a little video of Joey and Pip hard at work.

This also serves as a taster for an album expected soon which also features some guitar playing from James McIlroy (Cradle Of Filth/Chaosanct), I am expecting great things.

Finally befre we get to some words on the music a quick mention that the package includes a short behind the scenes video clip for the promo video of 'Look Whos Stalking'.

So we kick off with 'Look Whos Stalking' and this one sure packs a punch, it's faster and heavier than previous songs, still unmistakably "Al" but as if fronting Motorhead circa 1979, add one screaming riff loaded guitar solo and you cant help but say that they are back with death on their mind, coz this songs kills!

Next song 'Hyde & Seek' has more of the old sound, classic horror rock guitar, but the pace is more horror punk as is part of the vocal delivery, it has a "Sneer" to it, then the chorus is sung in a more harmonic way and that dual style really adds to this.

A total change now for the recorded in the studio as a live take on an acoustic version of the old TDMQ song 'Bats Of A Feather', it's a much more downbeat version than the original with a near melancholic vocal, I like it, it gives a new perspective on the song.

Finally the 'warhead Remix' of the title track, very much one for the dance crowd, this industrial take is intresting, personally I would have used a different drum track, this one is a little too basic and robotic, would have worked well if it was more of a complex beat or at least a higher BPM count, the rest of the synth sounds and samples work okay.Not sure it fits the bands overall concept but I always like it when musicians go outside the (coffin) box.

Rating 9.5/10
For Fans Of: Generation Graveyard, Rob Zombie, Misfits, Snow Whites Poison Bite

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/albdamned

BANDCAMP: https://albdamned.bandcamp.com/album/look-whos-stalking-single-bonus-content

Promo Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wIcMlJuuSk

aAnd? - aAlbum? (CD Review)

01.Some Shit!
02.Innit!
03.This Is Why We Have No Female Shotput Champions!
04.Last Place In The Sack Race!
05.I’m A Mighty Pirate Prepare To Die
06.Dogs!
07.This Little Piggy
08.If You See Me Run!
09.What Is Wrong With Your Face?!
10.I Pity The Fowl!
11.Girls!
12.Tours, Whores and Closed Bus Doors!
13.Proclivity For The Purple Velvet!
14.Last Of The Summer Swine!
15.Makin' Bacon!

Dan (Vocals/Guitar)
Pip (Drums/Vocals)
Lewis (Bass)

Si Genaro (Guest Vocals & Harmonica on This Little Piggy)

Bournemouth band formed in 2011 the purpose of which was to write the heaviest music they could think of to impress girls, tax reasons and get free beer.
Dan and Pip had previously played together in 'HFM' in 2002 and in 2004 Pip and Lewis had been part of the band 'Animosity'.
All three of them got together just as Pip was leaving the band Al.B.Damned.

They dress in B&W body suits and masks and have a fearsome reputation for anarchic live performances.
Last july their song 'Girls!' appeared on the "Devils Rejects" covermount cd with Metal Hammer magazine.

Screaming vocals and blast beats seems to be the order of the day and 'Some Shit!' delivers a powerful punch to the head, its unrelenting speed and agressive attitude crash through the speakers like a tank in a poppy field.

'Innit!' starts with a weird sound and some laughter before smashing once again the senses into oblivian, a dual vocal of screams and death grunts blend with the relentless onslaught of instruments.

More weirdness with the intro for a serious and moving song that deals with one of the great modern issues of our time, that being - 'This Is Why We Have No Female Shotput Champions!'
Well im only kidding its another headfucker of a song that also has a donkey and a yodel thrown in!
The song flows straight into 'Last Place In The Sack Race!' the pace remaining the same.

Then we come to 'I Am A Mighty Pirate Prepare To Die', this one has a different feel to start with reminicent of Primus, sure the song soon moves to a heavy drum driven piece, but there is a strange almost hypnotic rhythm running throughout, throw in some different vocal elements and a few samples and you have a very intresting and stand out song.

After 'Dogs!' with its Meshuggah like beat, things just get weird...

'This Little Piggy' where do you start? 'Dig the fucking evil groove' are the opening words followed by harmonica and whistling over a thrash metal guitar riff and drum pedal driven drum beats, i'll keep going because there is some melodic high pitched vocal harmony thrown in as well.
This could be the start of a death/blues hybrid as yet heard of in the world of heavy metal OR some sort of mental breakdown from the band members accidentley recorded and put on the album in an attempt at a type of shock therapy, either way it just has to be heard to be believed and then played again just to confirm your original suspicions!

What follows are two homages to classic Grindcore, the first is 16 seconds with 'If You See Me Run' and then 33 seconds of 'What Is Wrong With Your Face', two excellent short blast of power.

Melodic guitar riffery? Well fortunatly Mr.T saves the day with 'Pity The Fowl' another off the wall avant-garde tune (wait did i say tune?) this is more madness with screaming and full on metal assault interrupted by the A Team legend and them some farm noises!

Next is 'Girls!' a song some of you may already have heard if you got that Metal Hammer CD last year, but for those who have not then this one starts with some samples of an orgasmic lady (probably from Pip's own personal collection of filthy dvd's!), the samples in fact run throughout this monster of a song, distorted guitarwork and furious drumming all held together by solid basswork.

As to be expected with any typical modern metal album we come to the ballad, thank fuck this is not typical and the song 'Tours, Whores and Closed Bus Doors!' is not a ballad, but hey i got you worried for a second there didn't i?

Gotta love a song that starts with chainsaws and screams, but 'Proclivity For The Purple Velvet!' does not follow the rules and turns out to be a strange cover of 'We could have been anything' from the Bugsy Malone film!!! Oh plus an added death grunt at the end!

You know by this point my brain is totally fucked, this is just some stupid shit, im trying to write a review and keep laughing and banging my head, so now im listening to the intro for last of the summer wine on harmonica for the 'Last Of The Summer Swine' song that im just waiting for to explode into another wall of sound and it does, there are a few timing changes in the mix that make this one part thrash and part hardcore.

Finally we end with a short story called 'Makin Bacon!' no music just a story about picking up girls told by Country Joe who has a pet fish, so electric music for mind and body and a clue as to the state of mind of the band?

Like a strange mix of early 'Johnny Truant', 'The Locust' and early british Grindcore this is one of those debut albums that makes you sit up and listen, then run to a nice quiet place and calm down.
A brilliant and very well concieved album drawing on numerous influences designed to entertain on all levels.

Rating 10/10
For Fans Of: Lawnmower Deth, The Locust, Meshuggah, Anal Cunt, Johnny Truant, Napalm Death

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/aandofficial

January Gig Flyers

Macmillan Cancer Support Charity Rock Gig At The Gaff January 8th

On January 8th 2011 there is to be a big charity gig at the Gaff in Holloway Road, London, hosted by Deejay Mumin (Club dj/Recharged Radio)it promises to be an outstanding nights entertainment.

For your live entertainment we have :

AL B.DAMNED
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Al-B-Damned/215282925739


LIONSEX
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LIONSEX/5632879926


WASTED SINNERS
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wasted-Sinners/26117543301


UNCLE ROTTER
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uncle-Rotter/145502885486373


For Aural delights DJ Angel and Deejay Mumin

For Visual Delights the Deadsexy Dolls.

All proceeds from this event will be going to Macmillan Cancer Support as part of Kate "Hardcore" Lane's efforts to raise £2.5k to run the London Marathon for them.

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. We are all affected by cancer. We can all help. They are Macmillan.

Charity Registration No. 261017


Event on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107415549328341


Join Kate's Facebook group for the marathon at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123146724405738


Or to donate directly please go to http://www.justgiving.com/katelane77

December Gig Flyers

UKUNSIGNED ROCK THE DOME 10/12/10

UKUNSIGNED ROCK organised by Ross Tovell present an awesome line up of bands at the downstairs part of THE DOME, TUFNELL PARK (178 Junction Road, Tufnell Park, London, N19 5QQ) located right opposite Tufnell Park tube station on the Northern Line!

A stunning line up to say the least!!!!

ACE MAFIA
Classic rock from the band featuring Richie Faulkner (Lauren Harris Band) and Bruno Agra (Zodiac Mindwarp)
http://www.myspace.com/acemafiarock
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Ace-Mafia/118224754709?v=info


AL. B. DAMNED
Bournemouth horror rock legends who outclassed the Murderdolls with their recent debut album 'The Darker Side Of Me'
http://www.myspace.com/officialalbdamned
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Al-B-Damned/215282925739
http://www.albdamned.com/


GENERATION GRAVEYARD
London death punks who have been compared to Amen, always explosive and about to release their debut EP, be afraid very afraid!!!!
http://www.myspace.com/generationgraveyard
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Generation-Graveyard/55068927130


THE DEATH TRUCKS
Want a blend of blues, stoner metal and punk ? look no further than the Death Trucks whose members together and apart have played, supported and toured with Skindred, Mad Capsule Markets, Mortiis, Panic Cell, Reuben, Johnny Truant, Milion Dead, Sikth, 80's matchbox B-line disaster and many many more
http://www.myspace.com/thedeathtrucks
http://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-DEATH-TRUCKS/241164741816?v=info

HOLLOW SIN
Like melodic well thought of thrash ? good then this group of 4 passionate individuals united by a common goal, to create music for the sole purpose of world domination and beer, will be perfect for you!
http://www.myspace.com/hollowsin
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollow-Sin/48823135405?v=app_2405167945


As this is close to that yearly festive piss up (sorry i mean yule :), tickets will be £4 advance from the bands, contact them through myspace or facebook now.

Alternatively its still a huge bargain at just £5 on the door!

THE EVENT IS AGES 16+

The only gig to be at this weekend!!!!!

October Gigs & News

So with new albums from Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir and some great upcoming gigs, there is plenty to keep you going this month.
But to jump ahead to December 17th we see a brand new club opening up in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, it promises to bring Live bands and Dj's playing Goth/Alt/Industrial/Blackend Metal, and its free entry.

ACHILLA

Heading out on a mini tour to promote the Arashi single

SOLSIKK

Support slot to Tarja and a track on a new compilation CD!!

BIG RED PARTY TIME!


OTHER GIGS NOT TO MISS :

And Finally A sneak peak behind the creativity of FROM GREAT HEIGHT :)