20 Royal Hunt- Fear (1999)
This album was a big surprise. I'd heard of them and that they were Yngwie-ish so when I chanced upon the album I gave it a go. So glad I did because it stunned me. Neo-classical in approach but the songs were the stars, and they are long songs- not DT long but there's 7 tracks clocking in at 49 minutes. The intro is creepy- a very weird religious bloke quoting a Bible and the opening track opens gently. Of particular note is the vocals of John West; a stunning, powerful performance. Big riffs, shredding guitars and keyboards and you can hear the bass too. Their best album for me but they are always solid performers. I prefer the albums with John West though.
Best tracks- Fear, Lies, Follow Me, Cold City Lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZWz-Xpb0UU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljl4_k9BCw 19 Vicious Rumors- Digital Dictator- (1988)
From a time when Power Metal was allowed to use minor keys and it just meant metal that wasn't Thrash. This was a Shrapnel label release and Vinnie Moore had played on the debut. Mark McGhee is the featured guitarist here and he rips. This is basically Warning era Queensryche style Metal with big gang backing vocals. A great vocal performance from the late Carl Albert (RIP) too, in the same ballpark as Halford and Dickinson. A couple of good albums followed but this was their best.
Best Tracks- Worlds & Machines, Condemned, Town's On Fire, Minute To Kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRCSnYTsREI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi6hHEN5jSA18 KISS Alive II (1977)
My first favourite band. General consensus is that Alive was the better of the live albums but not for me- this album covers the Destroyer-Love Gun period which is my favourite. The sound is brighter and the songs better. The cover was better too. Embarrassing admission time- me and my brother and sister used to play concerts to this album. Thank got there were no smartphones in those days to record the carnage. I love the faster version of God Of Thunder, but could have done without the (mercifully) short drum solo. The extra studio tracks are ok too. Like other bands I've mentioned, the studio albums never captured the energy of the band but this album does. Again, how much is live is open to debate but it doesn't matter. Crank the album, close your eyes and you're there. Oh, and in the chorus of Shout It Out Loud, Paul Stanley sings “turn it up Paul Lowder” (my name) so it was fate that I loved this band.
Best tracks- King Of The Night-time World, Makin' Love, Shock Me, Tomorrow & Tonite, I Stole Your Love, god Of Thunder, Rocket Ride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHiTMd-Pc3IOh, and the other thing that drew me in?