Album Focus: INGLORIOUS – II (2017)

(by Velina of “My Rock Mixtapes”)

What a year! What a time to be alive!! I am immensely proud to have the chance to witness such beautiful rock music being released during my time and I just cannot wait to spread my excitement to every rock fan out there, hungry for something refreshing. I met Inglorious in 2016 after the release of their critically-acclaimed debut album Inglorious I. Their coming-out party was praised by rock&roll icons, such as Queen’s Brian May who called Inglorious “a potent young Deep Purple.” Noted producer Kevin Shirley who worked with Journey, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, Europe, Mr. Big and many more, referred to them as “the best British band since Led Zeppelin.” That should tell you enough, don’t you think?

ingl 2 coverAs far as I’m concerned, it was their sophomore album – Inglorious II, released via Frontiers Music in May 12, 2017 that took my work by storm and earned my utter admiration and respect. It all starts with one single life-changing song…The moment I heard “I Don’t Need Your Loving”, I just knew that it has the potential of becoming one of the top rock tracks of 2017 and not just in my book. The rest is history. I guarantee that listening to this sophomore album from start to finish will open doors to new and exciting rock adventures you’ve never even dreamed of. We have a couple of months left till we wrap up 2017 but I am fully certain that “Inglorious II” will dominate the yearly “top albums” charts and lists of fans and music media outlets. Let’s dive into the album and the songs…

Inglorious make straightforward, mind-blowing and 100% authentic hard rock, respectfully following the ways of ‘70s rock bands, such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. With that in mind, vocalist Nathan James, lead guitarist Andreas Eriksson, guitarist Wil Taylor, bass guitarist Colin Parkinson and drummer Phil Beaver recorded a heavenly-organic, modern-day / classic rock album that brings nothing but satisfaction to every little rock&roll heart out there. The magic of “Inglorious II” wasn’t taken out of the hat of a legendary producer. The right words and production tricks were all done by the members themselves, which makes it even more exceptional.

Arguably, the first thing that strikes you when you play this album is the out-of-this-world vocal strength of Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Nathan James. My jaw is dropping every time I hear him sing and I can’t but be amazed by his celestial talent. Not only did he reach higher personal vocal achievements with this album but he also put many current high-ranked celebrity singers in his little back pocket. Of course, a band is much more than a vocalist. The album is the product of a great teamwork, writing each song by themselves with no guest writers this time. They said, “It came together very organically after spending time touring together and felt great. We knew we were making an album this time too! We focused on getting our sounds just right so we could get into the studio and out in the least time poss.”

12 classy rockers came out of “Inglorious II”, each better than the previous. The Whitesnake-inspired opener, “I Don’t Need Your Loving” is basically what pure electricity would sound like.  The fiery riffs, along with Nathan’s high-pitched, intense vocal delivery give you a clear picture of what to expect from this release. From Whitesnake, we go to Bad Company with “Tell Me Why” which has that soulful, slow-paced favour…till it transforms into a dangerous speedy rocket, destroying everything on its way. “Change is Coming” is another song to watch out for – the bluesy, Glenn-Hughes-style track is for all the bass-guitar lovers out there, looking for that “deeper” vibe. “Making me Pay” is another bluesy charmer and the perfect bridge between the first and second part of the album. The heavy metal thunder “Hell or High Water” will please the fans, looking for a speedier, blood-stirring experience. The adventure ends with “High Class Woman” – a pleasantly intriguing catchy rock track that reminds you that you now must play the album all over again because it just can’t be over so soon.

Don’t you just love it when once in a blue moon a newly-formed band comes in and entirely conquers you? I surely do.  “Inglorious II” combines the sounds and styles of classic rock icons but all that is wrapped under divine, modern-day rock power and individuality many rock bands these days lack. Nothing more to say – grab your copy just like I did and play it as loud as possible!

 


“I Don’t Need Your Loving”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Taking The Blame”

 

 

 

 

 

“Making Me Pay”

 

 

 

“Read All About It”

 


References:
“Inglorious II” Album Page: http://www.frontiers.it/album/5377
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REVIEW: DEEP PURPLE are Back with What Might be The Best Rock Release of the Year

The British rock legends are back, ladies and gentlemen!

Not many rock acts can brag about a career that lasted for more than five magnificent decades or about releasing 20 albums! Your eyes aren’t betraying you, you read correctly! 20 albums is an accomplishment worthy of all the respect and appreciation you hold in your little die-hard rock fan heart. After all, we are talking about Deep Purple – one of the most important rockstars of all time who not only revolutionized the face of the industry with their heavy sound and never-seen-before live performances but influenced and keep on influencing every rock soul out there that dreams about the big stage.

One would easily assume that the creative strength of a band that’s been going for more than 50 years is long gone. This may be accurate for any other rock act out there, except Deep Purple. Their last release, titled “What Now?” (2013) was a strong, critically-acclaimed comeback which many attribute to famous producer Bob Ezrin’s magical touch. Four years later, the same team (Ian Paice – drums; Ian Gillan – lead vocals; Roger Glover – bass; Steve Morse – guitar, vocals; Don Airey – keyboards and Bob Ezrin – producer) is back with “InFinite” – a solid confirmation that Deep Purple still have what it takes to be relevant, 50+ years later!

deep purple infinite 1At the end of 2016, Deep Purple released “Infinite’s” first single – the progressive opening track, “Time for Bedlam”. The song’s instant success on YouTube and social media definitely lifted my spirits – there was finally something to look forward to in the upcoming year. That spectacular guitar vs. organ race, colored by Ian Gillan’s as elegant and alluring as ever voice, gave me nothing but hope that “InFinite” will be one of the best sonic experiences of 2017. The groovy “Hip Boots” is nothing but a back-to-the-roots delight on which Steve Morse’s stirring guitar shines as bright as the sun. “All I Want Is You” turned into an instant favorite and that’s not just because I’m a softie. Those stimulating keyboards and of course, the lyrics conquered me at first listen. The album picks up the pace with the bluesy “One Night in Vegas” and the classic Deep Purple-sounding “Get Me Outta Here”. “Johnny’s Band” and “On Top of the World” are just a couple of the highlights on “InFinite”, completing your vintage, yet so modern Purple adventure. The album wraps things up with an excellent homage to The Doors and their timeless classic, “Roadhouse Blues”.

Each and every tune on “InFinite” is a carefully chosen piece of a puzzle, completing one of the greatest musical pictures of 2017 so far! What a time to be alive! I wasn’t there to witness the release of Deep Purple’s timeless classics, such as the groundbreaking “Machine Head” for example; however I am here now, feeling wonderful and immensely grateful for this album! “InFinite” sounds like it was written in the 70s but produced and engineered in modern times! I cannot wait to be part of their tour this year and listen to some of the new songs performed live!

Cheers to Deep Purple!


Time for Bedlam

All I Got is You


References:
“Infinite” Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_(Deep_Purple_album)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~

BONFIRE – “Byte The Bullet” Album Review

German rockers BONFIRE are back with what can easily be referred to as one of the most electrifying, mind-blowing and hair-raising rock releases so far. Guitarist, original founder and basically Mr. Everything, Hans Zilller is back with his strong team of musicians, including bass player Ronnie Parkes, guitarist Frank Pane, drummer Tim Breideband and a brand new vocalist Alexx Stahl, replacing David Reece. Bonfire’s previous album “Glorious” (2015) was a phenomenal hard rock tornado and David was surely a great fit for the band; however things once again turned upside down for Bonfire as they were left with no lead singer. Frequent lineup changes and turbulent periods are part of any rock band’s history, so no surprises there. What’s in the past, however, stays in the past. It was time to look forward to the future and there’s no better way to do it than hire a fantastic new singer and focus on creating something as impressive as “Byte the Bullet”.

Bonfire_Byte_the_bullet

The 7-minute opening track, “Power Train” is setting up the mood with its long, quite mysterious intro. Alexx’ staggering vocals, which by the way can’t be a better match for the band’s sound, are captivating us right from the beginning. You thought the first tune was mind-blowing? Wait till you hear what comes next! “Stand Up 4 Rock” is one of the most empowering rockers I’ve heard this year so far. “Praying 4 A Miracle”, “Byte the Bullet”, “Reach for the Sky” – just a few of the other crunchy, melodic metal forces that just beg to be played live. Jethro Tull’s classic “Locomotive Breath” is a lengthy, immensely spirited rock statement, featuring an intriguing piano intro and out-of-this-world guitar work. They surely did justice to it, though nothing can beat the original, at least in my humble opinion. “Sweet Surrender” grabbed my attention right from the very first listen and quickly turned into a personal favorite. To me this tune represents the best of both worlds – it has a sensual, romantic side, perfectly incorporated in those mind-blowing heavy metal rhythms. “Lonely Nights” is the ballad of the year – it breaks my heart every time I play it but I always allow it; when a song affects your emotions that much, you understand that there’s indeed something real right here and the music is worth it.

You may guess what my final verdict might be – “Byte The Bullet” is a strong release, worthy of every second of your time you’ll spend on it! Those 14 tracks (excluding that crazy 50-second German recording “Friedensreich”) are bringing so much to the table. I still can’t get over how amazingly well-done this album is. Most importantly, if you are one of the people (like me) who is always seeking their self-empowerment in music, this album might be the best pick for you! Enjoy it!

Released: March 24, 2017
Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Melodic Metal
Label: UDR Music

Tracklist:

Power Train
Stand UP 4 Rock
Praying 4 a Miracle
Some Kinda Evil
Lonely Nights
Byte the Bullet
Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull Cover)
Reach for the Sky
Sweet Surrender
Friedensreich
InstruMetal
Too Far From Heaven
Without You
Sweet Obsession

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“Power Train”

“Praying 4 A Miracle”

“Locomotive Breath”

“Sweet Obsession”

“Lonely Nights”


References:
Bonfire Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire_(band)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~

Song of the Week: PRIDE OF LIONS – THE TELL

As a huge fan of Jim Peterik – as a matter of fact, he is in my top 5 favorite songwriters of all time, I was immensely excited to find out that Pride of Lions are releasing a new record next month. “Fearless” will be out on the 27th of January 2017, under Frontiers Records and it will be their seventh album, following “Immortal” (2012).

Just for a second there I thought that there was nothing exciting coming out next year! Not only that but, 2017 will start with a blast (at least for me). “The Tell” was released last week (29.11.2016) on YouTube and I haven’t stopped listening to this gorgeous tune ever since. It’s my choice for “song of the week” because I think it truly deserves it! I hope the rest of the album is going to be as intriguing as this tune. Haunting lyrics about a woman who is giving off signals she’s not really aware of, (I already know it by heart), A-level vocals and very pleasing instrumentation – this track was everything I’ve wished for!

Have a listen!



P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.

The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~

The Rolling Stones – “Blue & Lonesome” Album Review

rolling-stones-blue-and-lonesome

Blue & Lonesome

Released: December 2, 2016
Genre: Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Blues Rock
Producer(s): Don Was, The Glimmer Twins (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards)
Label: Polydor
Length: 42:36

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“Blue & Lonesome” In the Studio


OVERVIEW

Rolling Stones are surely wrapping 2016 up with a style! The rock&roll Gods are back with a phenomenal collection of spirited covers, bringing us back to the golden days of blues. “Blue & Lonesome” is Rolling Stones’ first album to feature exclusively cover songs. Among the twelve blues jewels, we get to listen to interpretations of forgotten but classic tracks by Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Buddy Johnson, Memphis Slim and other legendary bluesmen. Long-time friend and a fellow blues musician Eric Clapton is another intriguing highlight of “Blue & Lonesome”. Clapton’s God-like guitar skills can be heard on “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” and “I Can’t Quit You Baby”.

Recorded within just a few days, with no preparation whatsoever, “Blue & Lonesome” is the perfect example of how The Rolling Stones can effortlessly craft some serious magic out of nowhere and still sound as confident as ever. It took them a decade (their previous album -“A Bigger Bang” was released in 2005) but the Stones are back! Don’t get fooled – the all-covers track selection is certainly not a cheesy sentimental yearning for the past. It’s goes way beyond that! “Blue & Lonesome” is Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts having fun, sounding unbelievably fresh, and skilfully introducing blues to the younger generations. A fearless journey back to the roots, resulting in a rediscovery of self, this new album might be their best work since the classic years of the Stones.

The Glimmer Twins, along with producer Don Was are intentionally preserving the rawness and authenticity of the recording sessions, in perfect alignment with the spirit of the 50s and the 60s. Similarly to the attitude of Eric Clapton on his 2016 album “I Still Do”, the Rolling Stones are doing music their own way without a single care in the world. Not that the Stones were ever much bothered with things like keeping up the with trends or working days and nights on perfect multi-platinum singles BUT if their ultimate freedom had a name, it would be “Blue & Lonesome”.  (I am mentioning Eric Clapton because those two albums are the highlights of 2016 blues releases.)

“Just Your Fool” (Buddy Johnson) opens the door to the world of “Blue & Lonesome”. Mick Jagger is absolutely killing it on this tune – raw, brave and soulful, his vocal delivery is obviously reflecting his high level of satisfaction with this album. The slow-paced blues symphonies – “Little Rain” (Ewart G. Abner Jr. and Jimmy Reed), “All of Your Love” (Magic Sam) and the atmospheric title track “Blue & Lonesome” (Memphis Slim) are among the most memorable tunes of the album. Jagger’s harmonica is making a statement throughout the entire album, bringing us back to the early days of the Stones. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood’s guitars are excitably racing on the blues highway, each showcasing easeful determination and laid-back energy. The terrific drum beats of Charlie Watts are breathing new life into the old blues. “Hate to See You Go” (Little Walter) – the first song to get a MV makeover is one charming and immensely uplifting trip to the 50s. “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” is a personal favorite, mostly due to Mick Jagger’s rough, genuine vocals.

“Blue & Lonesome” offers a galvanizing experience to the roots of the Stones, yet capturing their personalities and strengths in a modern, refreshing way. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the rock&roll legends’ confidence shine so brightly on a record. They came back home!

Tracklist:

“Just Your Fool”
“Commit a Crime”
“Blue and Lonesome”
“All of Your Love”
“I Gotta Go”
“Everybody Knows About My Good Thing”
“Ride ‘Em On Down”
“Hate To See You Go”
“Hoo Doo Blues”
“Little Rain”
“Just Like I Treat You”
“I Can’t Quit You Baby”

 Hate To See You Go

Ride ‘Em On Down

Just Your Fool

Ride ‘Em On Down – Blue & Lonesome (60” clip)


References:
“Blue and Lonesome” Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_%26_Lonesome_(The_Rolling_Stones_album)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Cheers~

Glenn Hughes – “Resonate” Album Review

glenn-hughes-resonate-album-art

RESONATE

Released: November 4, 2016
Genre: Hard Rock
Producer(s): Glenn Hughes & Soren Andersen

Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l
Length: 56:16

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OVERVIEW

2016 brought to the table a couple of pretty intriguing records by our favorite classic rockers. Heart’s “Beautiful Broken”, Kansas’ “The Prelude Implicit”, Steven Tyler’s “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”, David Bowie’s “Blackstar” (RIP), Paul Simon’s “Stranger to Stranger” and Eric Clapton’s “I Still Do” are among the year’s finest works, clearly stating that devotion to music and epic talent are ageless. That’s not all, though! We will wrap 2016 up with a few more, highly anticipated hard rockers, including rock legend Glenn Hughes’ grandiose comeback album, titled “Resonate”. It has been almost a decade since his last studio effort, First Underground Nuclear Kitchen (2008), but his powerful hard rock testimony, “Resonate”, turned out to be a record worth waiting for.

“It’s my first solo album in 8 years. Everybody needs to know that this is absolutely a return to rock music as a solo artist for me. My work is very varied. Groovy, funky, soulful, although the genre has always been rock. But this album is probably THE heaviest record I’ve done in at least 25 years. It’s dense. It’s dark. There’s some aggression on this record. Every bloody track is begging to be played live.”

On his official website, Glenn stated that “Resonate” is the first kind of a complete Glenn album… it is a ROCK album for ROCK fans & it’s… HEAVY.” His words can’t even begin to describe the electrifying, breath-taking, dangerous and even quite aggressive aura of the record. “Resonate” is a rock euphoria that only solidifies Glenn’s reputation as a one-of-a-kind rock legend who still knows how to craft jaw-dropping music.

Eleven (plus one bonus) tracks provide you with the ultimate galvanizing rock experience.  Glenn makes a clear solid statement right from the very first song. “Heavy” is no joke; it’s the song with the strongest force of attraction among all the tracks. Glenn’s trademark vocals, furious guitars and dynamic sound effects are all stirred up to an ultimate hard rock extravaganza. “My Town” and “Let It Shine” are the two other seductive rockers that are immediately making a statement with their stimulating rhythms and first-class production qualities. “God of Money” quickly throws you back into the deep hard rock river with its explosive guitar-driven sound, haunting bass and conceptual lyrics. Unexpectedly, after a series of spellbinding tornadoes, we are faced with a much gentler song, titled “When I Fall”.  Well-written both lyrically and melodically, the tune somehow manages to calm things down for a second and remind you that Glenn can conquer pretty much any style. “Resonate” ends up with the mid-tempo rocker “Long Time Gone” which cannot really compete with the value and impact of the rest of the songs from the album.

“Resonate” is an album for people who want to get drunk on hard rock in its purest, most aggressive and mighty form. Glenn delivered what he promised and though it came as a huge surprise, right at the very end of 2016, the album’s loud and vigorous voice quickly reached us. Another vintage rocker showing the youngsters how to make great rock music! Cheers to Glenn!

 

Tracklist:

HEAVY
MY TOWN
FlOW
LET IT SHINE
STEADY
GOD OF MONEY
HOW LONG
WHEN I FALL
LANDMINES
STUMBLE & GO
LONG TIME GONE
NOTHING’S THE SAME (BONUS TRACK)

 

Heavy

Let It Shine

My Town

 

 


References:
Glenn Hughes Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Hughes
Glenn Hughes Official Website: http://www.glennhughes.com/ctc/bulletins/glenn-hughes-new-album-resonate-set-for-release-november-2016/

P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.

Kansas – “The Prelude Implicit” Album Review

kansas-the-prelude-implicit

The Prelude Implicit

Released: September 23, 2016
Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock
Label: Inside Out Music

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 OVERVIEW

It has been 16 years since the American rock band Kansas released their last album – “Somewhere to Elsewhere” (2000). Now, finally, after the longest wait in history, we get to enjoy their latest effort titled “The Prelude Implicit”. There’s a catch, though – Steve Walsh, a founding member, lead vocalist and keyboardist of Kansas is no longer with the band as he retired back in 2014. His absence is compensated by the elevating strong voice of new singer Ronnie Platt who absolutely kills it on this record. David Ragsdale’s heated violin playing was definitely another highly anticipated moment and he delivers quite the performance, I must say. The exciting race between the thrilling guitar riffs, the emotional violin, the distinctive drum sound, the mighty organs and keyboards create the perfect experience. The rebirth of Kansas, one of the most essential progressive rock bands that came out of the United States is definitely a must-listen!

Kansas surely came a long way since the 1970s and dealt with so many line-up changes along the way, however the important thing is that they are here and what they did with this new project is absolutely stunning. “The Prelude Implicit” is everything but monotonous. There’s an obvious variety and a little something for every die-hard Kansas or progressive rock fan (or as a matter of fact every person who understands and appreciates good music). The soft but charming opening rocker “With this Heart” sets the tone quite low but that’s also a good thing – I really appreciate it when bands choose a rather mid-tempo, calming track as an opening one, instead of rocking hard right from the beginning. The absolute finest point of the record is the progressive 8-minute bliss “The Voyage of Eight Eighteen”. “Camouflage” quickly became my personal favorite from the album. The haunting intro, the captivating vocals and the catchy tasteful chorus are what impressed me so much. The lyrics are also beautiful, needless to say. “Camouflage”, along with “Crowded Isolation”, are bringing us back to the classic Kansas years. “Rhythm in the Spirit” is the exciting hard rocker from the album – definitely hit the jackpot with that one. “Unsung Heroes” is a delicate ballad that may not leave such a lasting impression on you but it’s rather pleasing, definitely. The album wraps things up with a spectacular instrumental – “Section 60”.

It took so long for “The Prelude Implicit” to be realized but I must say that it was totally worth the wait. Fantastic production, superb arrangements and excellent choice of songs which really explore every little angle of your little rocker heart! …And of course, there’s that terrific violin which completely conquered me.

Kansas are back so enjoy it, guys!
Cheers

Tracklist

“With This Heart” – 4:13
“Visibility Zero” – 4:27
“The Unsung Heroes” – 5:02
“Rhythm in the Spirit” – 5:58
“Refugee” – 4:23
“The Voyage of Eight Eighteen” – 8:18
“Camouflage” – 6:42
“Summer” – 4:07
“Crowded Isolation” – 6:10
“Section 60” – 3:59

KANSAS Prelude Implicit Album Teaser

With This Heart


References:
“The Prelude Implicit” Official Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prelude_Implicit
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.

Heart – “Beautiful Broken” Album Review

heart - beautifulbroken

Beautiful Broken

Released: July 8, 2016
Genre: Hard Rock, Folk Rock
Duration: 40:18

Label: Concord Bicycle Music
Producer(s): Dan Rothchild and Nancy Wilson

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OVERVIEW:

 

After a four year break, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson are back with “Beautiful Broken” – their sixteenth album and their first on Concord Records. What they did on this record is definitely not something we have never seen or something other similar old-school rockers haven’t done yet – Heart are simply offering an intriguing selection of seven re-imagined and re-recorded cherry picks from their early career. Fortunately, the band left out the classics. In addition, we get the chance to hear three new exciting additions to their catalogue. Co-produced by Nancy Wilson and long-time bassist Dan Rothchild, “Beautiful Broken” is a thrilling record that deserves to be played from start to finish.  

Ann definitely falls into the category of rock vocalists who still got it! Her strong and expressive vocals are definitely the best thing in “Beautiful Broken”. The record kicks off with a heavy blast – the dynamic title track features the roaring vocals of none-other than Metallica’s James Hetfield. There’s absolutely no tension or any sort of disconnection between the voices of those two – on the contrary, their voices are working together quite well.  Exquisite string sweeps and powerful vocals – both Metallica and Heart fans will definitely be pleased with the result. “Two” is actually a cover of a new song by Ne-Yo, performed by Nancy Wilson. The piano-driven dreamy ballad leaves you with an open heart and a strong thirst for romance. Led Zeppelin’s huge influence on Heart could easily be felt, especially in the new and heavy orchestral “I Jump”. It sets a soft and rather creamy mood at the beginning till the surprising Led Zeppelin-inspired riffs captivate your ear in the refrain. “Heaven” is psychedelic masterpiece that sends us on a trip to East-India with its magical opening. Quickly, though, we are attacked by the thunderous drums, electric guitars and Ann’s deafening vocals. Unfortunately, the new versions of songs such as “Johnny Moon”, “Language of Love” and “City’s Burning”, couldn’t match or beat their old arrangements and compositions. Some tracks should definitely be left untouched otherwise they might get completely messed up. “Language of Love” (from “Passionworks”, 1983) is a clear example of unfocused and confused new format that just doesn’t work. Also, wrapping things up with this song might not have been the best idea ever.

If you are used to rocking hard with Heart and love Ann Wilson’s clear and soulful voice, this might be the record for you. Many of the fans out there, including myself, are quite sentimental and prefer the original classics, however “Beautiful Broken” definitely deserves a chance – if not for the old-new songs, than for the three gorgeous new additions to their music library. With this glorious musical journey, the sisters prove that they still have a lot more to offer. Listen, jump and rock all day and night with “Beautiful Broken”.

 

Tracklist:

  1. “Beautiful Broken” (original version on Fanatic deluxe edition)
  2. “Two”
  3. “Sweet Darlin'” (original version on Bébé le Strange)
  4. “I Jump”
  5. “Johnny Moon” (original version on Passionworks)
  6. “Heaven” (original version on Alive in Seattle)
  7. “City’s Burning” (original version on Private Audition)
  8. “Down on Me” (original version on Bébé le Strange)
  9. “One Word” (original version on Private Audition)
  10. “Language of Love” (original version on Passionworks)

 

 


 

Beautiful Broken

Two (Teaser)

I Jump (Teaser + LIVE)


 

References:
“Beautiful Broken” official Wikipedia webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Broken
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~

Def Leppard Release a Brand New Video for “Man Enough”

dl man en3

Def Leppard released a brand new music video for “Man Enough” – the 3rd single from their 2015 self-titled album.

The song impresses with its captivating beats and thrilling lyrics. Now, more than six months after the release of their latest album, the fans are finally rewarded  with a MV for the song. To me personally, “Man Enough” can easily be pointed out as the finest moment of the album. There’s just something so raw and hypnotizing about that bass…I could listen to it for days.

Overall, the band remained faithful to their futuristic and a little bizarre cyber themed style they demonstrated before. I do enjoy the darker scenes where we get to see just a glimpse of a guitar or Joe and the band singing!

Watch the MV below and let me know what you think about it!