Queensrÿche

Genre :  Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Power Metal

Active : 1981 - Present

Current Members : 

Geoff Tate - Vocalist

Eddie Jackson - Bassist

Scott Rockenfield - Drummer

Michael Wilton - Lead Guitarist

Albums Reviewed :

Overkill

Genre :  Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Groove Metal

Active : 1980 - Present

Current Members : 

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth - Vocalist

Carlos "D.D" Verni - Bassist/Backing Vocalist

Ron Lipnicki - Drummer

Dave Linsk - Lead Guitarist

Derek "The Skull" Tailer - Rhythm Guitarist

Albums Reviewed :

Saint Vitus

Genre : Heavy Metal, Doom Metal

Active : 1979 - 1996

             2003

             2008 - Present

Current Members : 

Scott Weinrich - Vocalist

Dave Chandler  - Lead Guitarist

Mark Adams - Bassist

Henry Vasquez - Drummer

Albums Reviewed :

Pentagram

Genre : Heavy Metal, Doom Metal

Active : 1971 - 1976
             1978 - 1979
             1980 - Present

Current Members :

Bobby Leibling - Vocalist
Gary Isom - Drummer
Victor Griffin - Lead Guitarist
Greg Turley - Bassist

Albums Reviewed :

Budgie

Genre : Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Active : 1967 - Present

Current Members :

Burke Shelley - Vocalist/Bassist
Steve Williams - Drummer
Craig Goldy - Lead Guitarist

Albums Reviewed :

Budgie (1971)

Squawk (1972)

Never Turn Your Back on a Friend(1973)

In For the Kill (1974)

Bandolier (1975)

If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules(1976)

Impeckable (1978)

Power Supply (1980)

Nightflight (1981)

Deliver Us From Evil(1982)

You're All Living in Cuckooland (2006)

                    

Rainbow

Genre : Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Active :  1975 - 1984; 1993 - 1997

Last Known Lineup :

Doogie White - Vocalist
Ritchie Blackmore - Lead Guitarist
Greg Smith - Bassist
John Micelli - Drummer
Paul Morris - Keyboardist

Original Lineup :

Ronnie James Dio - Vocalist

Ritchie Blackmore - Lead Guitarist

Craig Gruber - Bassist

Gary Driscoll - Drummer

Mike Lee Soule - Keyboardist

Albums Reviewed :
                              Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
                              Rising (1976)
                              Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)
                              Down To Earth (1979)
                              Difficult To Cure (1981)  
                              Straight Between The Eyes (1982)
                              Bent Out Of Shape (1983)      
                              Stranger in Us All (1995)            
            

Iron Maiden Previews New Song (El Dorado)

YES! after 4 years maiden is finally releasing new material this august! And El Dorado(from The Final Frontier album) is available for download from the official site.(thanks sid for the link!). With a classic "Run to the Hills" style hi-hat count, the masters of heavy metal announce their arrival. The intro riff is reminiscent of stuff from "Seventh Son.." and "Caught Somewhere in Time". Bruce "tells us a story" of "a cold winter's night" and "sailing for glory" once more (a la Dance of Death). Then the riff changes into a progressive style harmonic thing. Nice, guys, nice.
         Mr.Nicko maintains his trademark drum style throughout the song. Then something strange happens, the chorus is s little pop-ish, which reminds me of some of the choruses from A Matter of Life and Death. And sadly, Bruce sounds a little nasal. BUT still phenomenal vocals for someone of his age man!\m/. I just love the post-chorus break, you can hear all 4 guitars here, which is phenomenal. Then comes the part of the song everyone waits for, the solos! I think Dave Murray and Adrian Smith play the solos, but i could be mistaken. But still, classic kick-ass maiden guitar solos.
       Right after the solos, the song goes back to the intro riff and proceeds on the same lines as before.Although nothing new is actually done here, Maiden still manage to put out an old school epic. My only disappointment is the chorus, not punchy enough.
But Fuck! Iron Maiden still have it. People might call them formulaic or whatever, but hey, if KICK-ASS quality is a formula, give me formulaic over innovative any damn day.

My Rating : 8/10

Can't wait for the new album.