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.

In Memory Of The Legend, Ronnie James Dio

The world changed. The world as we know it. Where metal is a religion. Everyone who started on the lines of heavy metal and bowed to the brilliance of the pioneers of this cult, is in grief. There could be no greater loss to us, than if metal were not to have originated, but even so, there is no compensation. No consolation and no obseques that can rightfully commemorate the loss of Ronnie James Dio. As he stood tall for Sabbath, their best years with him ruling the microphone, with a masterful indifference he earned the allegiance of every listener in his infinitive fan base. Earning the same love and fame for the self titled band Dio and also Rainbow, the horns went up wherever he sounded his voice. Ronnie James Dio found peace on the 16th of May, 2010. Ascending from this realm of mortality, for it is not for immortals of his veneer. Wherever there shall be a mention on heavy metal, there shall be love and respect for Dio.

A gift of voice, that could stand apart for its own, cutting through the music, or going along with it, in a persona moulded in humility, with love for his fans and a man of character, Dio shall be missed for his brilliance always, and shall be reminded of for the legacy he started, with every metal song by every metal band. Its not going to be the same without him. Never.

"Without them, we aren't. Without us, they will always be" - Dio for his fans.

Respect.

May his sould rest in peace, for all eternity.

To Ronnie James Dio.

God of metal.

And a wonderful human being.

A\m/en


\m/ (T T) \m/

A Legend Is No Longer Among Us

I didn't believe it when i first heard it. How can Dio die? I mean it was impossible, improbable. It was like the death of a part of me. Ronnie James Dio, vocalist, frontman, songwriter, inspiration to countless metalheads, passed away on the 16th of may. I'm writing this article now because it took me this long to accept it enough to even try to make sense of it.

Dio, to me was everything a powerful heavy metal voice should be. One of the great ones, he practically pushed the heavy metal genre to where it is today. I have always wanted to see him live, but now it just isn't possible.

I have to say that although he might not be with us in person, he is always with us in spirit. In his songs, we hear him calling out to us from the dead, "Ride out - stand and shout - carry on, Sail on - Sing your song - carry on!!" from We Rock.

And we will stand and shout, with your spirit with us always.

R.I.P Ronnie James Dio