The official Frontiers Softcock Shit thread

[bl5150]

Wow, that tracklist is as cliche and ripped off as Freedom Call's Circle of Life.  Is there like 5 covers on that album?

I checked the song and it was okay enough, but I don't really need any new bands like this.

Also, the main riff was scaringly similar to Mercyful Fate's Uninvited Guest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKHL6VhtdO8

No covers I don't think - just some very obvious/ripped off song titles.  Like I said - I won't be rushing to play it again but it's decent enough if you like this style.

One of many CD's I've had laying around unplayed for ages (for a reason in some cases it seems  )- trying to get to one of them each day at the moment .  Hopefully there's a forgotten gem in there somewhere.

[wolfking]

New Primal Fear vid - King for a Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4hKantlTAgY

WOW, this is pretty fucking great.

[BlobVanDam]

Thanks for the link. Only yesterday I was searching for more info on a release date after he announced the track list on his Twitter/FB. I'm glad they're including Heat of the Battle and Thunder in Your Heart, as those were both great single releases.

New song is pretty average to me, although it has the usual high standard of production I expect from his work (as best I can tell from a low quality Soundcloud stream), and his usual style I enjoy, so if this is a weaker track, I'm not concerned.

And listen to In This Life. It's a more solid album than Dream the Dream (although Dream the Dream has some equally excellent tracks).

[bl5150]

The John Farnham version of Thunder In Your Heart is far better - and I like Stan Bush.    One of the few examples of what that great voice could've done (and could still do) if he wasn't playing to the blue rinse brigade. 

The Farnham version was on the soundtrack to a dodgy BMX movie called RAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNVZzXgMdXs


I'm sure a few Aussies know this ....................as a beer ad.

[BlobVanDam]

The John Farnham version of Thunder In Your Heart is far better - and I like Stan Bush.    One of the few examples of what that great voice could've done (and could still do) if he wasn't playing to the blue rinse brigade. 

I think Stan Bush did a damn good job of it. Keep in mind John Farnham wasn't 60 when he sang it, so that's admirable! Musically I think the new version is a litle better, with the vocals in the original being a little better, so all in all I'll call it equal.
Did you ever see it on the beer commercial here? I got a kick out of that, even if it was something as tacky as a beer commercial.

[bl5150]

I'd just edited my post above to mention the beer ad 

[BlobVanDam]

I don't typically watch the kind of show that would include a beer commercial, I only saw it while passing my dad watching football, not something I'd voluntarily submit myself to.

It was still awesome to hear Stan Bush on regular TV though. This has been my most anticipated album for the past half a year or so, and of this year so far.

[bl5150]

Bands announced............................bloody hell 

https://www.frontiersrockfestival.com/?lang=en

[BlobVanDam]

Dayam.

[jingle.boy]

Holy hell the top 9 are killer!!!

[Lowdz]

Holy hell the top 9 are killer!!!

Only JSS and Crazy Lixx interest me out of the rest but  you're right .That top 9 is pretty flawless. And all bands who are still great live despite the years.

[jjrock88]

awesome line up!

[wolfking]

The John Farnham version of Thunder In Your Heart is far better - and I like Stan Bush.    One of the few examples of what that great voice could've done (and could still do) if he wasn't playing to the blue rinse brigade. 

The Farnham version was on the soundtrack to a dodgy BMX movie called RAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNVZzXgMdXs


I'm sure a few Aussies know this ....................as a beer ad.

I don't know what that wasn't a bigger hit for Farnham.  He should of put it on an album too.

Another killer version is Lionville, featuring Lars from Work of Art;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6EOHtbhEw

[bl5150]

I was being sensitive to Blob's  for Stan by not mentioning another better version by Lionville but seeing as you did ... 


I rate Lars very highly as a vocalist - as good as there's been in recent years - but , even though they're better than most , Work Of Art/Lionville still fall into that cookie cutter/Frontiers project sound for me.  Most of the songs/albums just blend into each other.

I wish he could sing on one of the rare projects with a nice variety of well written songs like the first Place Vendome.  I hate to say it (as I like WOA) but I reckon he's too good for them.

[BlobVanDam]

Meh, the Lionville version is very average and sterile. I've heard it before, and it's got nuthin' on Bush's version.

[bl5150]

Meh, the Lionville version is very average and sterile. I've heard it before, and it's got nuthin' on Bush's version.

I was just kidding mate       I just refreshed my memory and had a proper listen to the Lionville and yeah- I'd rate it below the Bush version and both well below Farnham.   Too sugary and sounds like everything else they do , only wimpier   I do love Lars' voice though - just in songs with a little more oomph.

The first track on the first WOA album was a ripsnorter and from there I liked them a little bit less with each song due to the whole samey thing.  Lionville is similar - quality but not much variety........liked the second better than the first though.

 

[BlobVanDam]

Ooh curse you bl5150!

I love the vocals too, the music just isn't quite my preference in the genre.

[rickhawk80]

I searched the forum before posting about this guy but I'm a little surprised to see no one has ever posted about Johnny Lima -- he's got a voice like Bon Jovi but songs that are good, unlike Bon Jovi's output lo these many recent years.     His last album, "Livin' Out Loud," was fantastic from beginning to end:

https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lima4



Great catchy melodic hard rock.  He's just now putting out his new 5th album, "My Revolution," and decided to do one of those Indie pledge drives and easily hit the funding mark.  It's the first time I've ever done one of those pledge things.  I pledged enough to get the CD rather than just a download and it included extra tracks and showed up with a personal note from Johnny on the CD cover in the mail this week.

It's a shame the guy doesn't get more support when you consider the love Bon Jovi still gets and Johnny is essentially a better Bon Jovi. 

   Check him out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flwdC5GjfLQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuzlUAzb2WI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ddZQKNHf2I

[BlobVanDam]

I got Livin' Out Loud a while back, but I've deleted it now. It was ok, but I can't remember much else. Obviously I didn't think much of it if it was culled though.

[Lowdz]

I got Livin' Out Loud a while back, but I've deleted it now. It was ok, but I can't remember much else. Obviously I didn't think much of it if it was culled though.

Decent album. He has a new one due which I'll give a go to.

[BlobVanDam]

I just checked out those songs, and they confirm what I remember. Decent enough songs, but nothing that stands out from the endless stream of melodic rock I've checked out over the years.

[rickhawk80]

I got Livin' Out Loud a while back, but I've deleted it now. It was ok, but I can't remember much else. Obviously I didn't think much of it if it was culled though.

Decent album. He has a new one due which I'll give a go to.

The new one is pretty good, Lowdz, but if I'm being honest my first take is that I'd rate it about fourth after Livin' Out Loud, Made in California and Version 1.2.  Of course, I just got it this week so I've only given it a couple spins so far.

[wolfking]

I wish he could sing on one of the rare projects with a nice variety of well written songs like the first Place Vendome.  I hate to say it (as I like WOA) but I reckon he's too good for them.

The other project he does is a metal band called Enbound.  It's pretty generic power metal, but decent enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR-2mWEG5yI

[bl5150]

I do recall that one - didn't bother buying it but I recall the  video with them in gold paint and I think Lars recorded under another name? And they covered Beat It while they were at it.   Rather weird , whatever they were trying to achieve there.

Edit - actually I do have it in digital format , so can't have been too bad.  Forgot I had it.

[wolfking]

Yeah, it's not too bad at all, just nothing new.  THe video is funny as shit though.

[Lowdz]

I wish he could sing on one of the rare projects with a nice variety of well written songs like the first Place Vendome.  I hate to say it (as I like WOA) but I reckon he's too good for them.

The other project he does is a metal band called Enbound.  It's pretty generic power metal, but decent enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR-2mWEG5yI

Now I like that!

[TAC]

I wish he could sing on one of the rare projects with a nice variety of well written songs like the first Place Vendome.  I hate to say it (as I like WOA) but I reckon he's too good for them.

The other project he does is a metal band called Enbound.  It's pretty generic power metal, but decent enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR-2mWEG5yI

Now I like that!

I love Enbound!

[jingle.boy]

Don't know 'em.  Guess I'll have to check it out later.

[TAC]

Don't know 'em.  Guess I'll have to check it out later.

I would've used them in your roulette, but you had 3 or 4 plays on your Last FM. If you had played the same song 3 or 4 times, I would've but you had played a few songs.

It's an awesome album though.

[jjrock88]

Don't know 'em.  Guess I'll have to check it out later.

Whats the official number of your bands to check out list lol.

Must be in the triple digits.

[wolfking]

I wish he could sing on one of the rare projects with a nice variety of well written songs like the first Place Vendome.  I hate to say it (as I like WOA) but I reckon he's too good for them.

The other project he does is a metal band called Enbound.  It's pretty generic power metal, but decent enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR-2mWEG5yI

Now I like that!

Thank TAC, he was the one that got me onto them.

[jingle.boy]

Don't know 'em.  Guess I'll have to check it out later.

Whats the official number of your bands to check out list lol.

Must be in the triple digits.

Maybe not bands, but definitely if you add up all the albums.  And now with a whole new crop from the Roulette, definitely.  I have multiple 'categories' too... just a general 'check-it-out', one from Top 50s, one from WPaPU, one from other Roulette's, and one from KevShmev's prog song of the day thread.

[Lowdz]

Just seen one of the albums you've played on your LAstfm and I'm worried. Very worried.

[bl5150]

First verdict from today's couple of new releases:

Within Temptation:  Hydra -  70%  - maybe 75% if I was watching Sharon sing them 

I think 70% is probably generous (on a scale where 70% is still very good) - as a comparison I rated The Unforgiven 93%.  So it's not bad , just not in the same ballpark as The Unforgiven.   To be honest if someone told me that this album was full of leftovers from the prior album I'd have no trouble believing it.   There's little magic in the songs and Zook was being kind when he said the albums "sounds like ass".  It sounds like ass through a muffler.

The only songs I would be coming back to regularly are the opener Let It Burn - mostly for Sharon's vocal performance rather than it being a wonderful song - and the closer , the ballad The Whole World is Watching.    Next best would be the guest spots from Howard Jones (who sounds a bit like Barlow in places) and Tarja ...............didn't see the need for the rapper at all and the rest I found to be very forgettable.

It seems it's not the norm these days to put out albums that have their own "personality"/sound but this really does sound like a poor version of the last album.   After I've listened to this wall of mud , chugga chugga stuff I really feel the need to listen to a disc containing  a riff with some imagination.....even something that could be called a riff.  And how bands can put out stuff that sounds like this , especially when they've released good stuff prior , is beyond me ........unless they really want this sound and then that's even more baffling.

So - solid album and not much more.  Sorry if the above doesn't read well - all typed in a rush while working.

[bl5150]

I rate Red Dragon cartel 65%  -  it's certainly worth sampling to see if you like it but IMHO it falls short in multiple areas.


Firstly the PROS:

- great to have Jake back in any capacity - he's an idol of mine
- Darren isn't as bad as has been made out
- allowing for the modern,slightly industrial sound they've gone for it's got a pretty decent production
- Robin Zander sounds good on Feeder and Darren does a good job on my favourite track - the ballady Fall From The Sky (Seagull) which is quite a nice song

CONS:

- as I had expected, based on his output since Badlands and a very long break, Jake is (if I remove my positive bias) a shadow of his former self.   He plays okay in parts and the big plus is (like all great players) he still has an easily recognised sound/vibrato etc....but it's pretty average really.

- aside from the two songs mentioned above (and parts of the single Deceived) there's not much catchy material.  Fans of Ozzy fronted Sabbath should like War Machine where Darren does a good Ozzy impression but it's a bit TOO obvious in its Sabbath worship.

- I've come to the conclusion that , rather than being Darren's voice/talent, the main issue with his performance (and the verse in the single especially) is very poorly created vocal melodies.  Darren actually does a decent job for the most part and when he doesn't it seems more to do with the writing.  Perhaps that has something to do with his relative lack of experience as a singer/writer.

Sass Jordan does a reasonable job on her song , just not a great song.  Paul DiAnno isn't much chop on an average song and same goes for Maria Brink.

So there you have it - pretty much met my (low) expectations.  Great to see Jake back and rocking harder than I expected-  hopefully this is a springboard to something better for him.