The Official Hard Rock / Classic Metal Music Discussion and Memorabilia Thread!

[bl5150]

Oh it's definitely decent Paul -no question.   I am half way through my second listen and it's already improving my rating.   It won't end up as highly rated as Mindcrime , Rage For Order or (most likely) Empire/Warning but over time I think it may well be next best.

[Lowdz]

Oh it's definitely decent Paul -no question.   I am half way through my second listen and it's already improving my rating.   It won't end up as highly rated as Mindcrime , Rage For Order or (most likely) Empire/Warning but over time I think it may well be next best.

Sounding good then. I know you're not a big fan of Promised Land, and neither am I really - there's half a great album there but too much filler. And it was downhill from there. I may be alone in liking some of O:M 2, though the production was crap, but since then only the S/T is listenable. I'm optimistic then.

[bl5150]

OK after two and a bit listens I'll go with a rating of 86% (compared to the s/t at 81%).    it's an album with very strong bookends and a bit of a lull in the mid section.

My ratings look something like this - Arrow of Time has grown on me now.

1.   "Arrow of Time"     3:59 

2.   "Guardian"     4:19 

3.   "Hellfire"     5:05   

4.   "Toxic Remedy"     4:09 

5.   "Selfish Lives"     4:57 

6.   "Eye9"     3:20 

7.   "Bulletproof"     4:00 

8.   "Hourglass"     5:09 

9.   "Just Us"     5:58 

10.   "All There Was"     3:44 

11.   "The Aftermath"     0:59

12.   "Condition Hüman"   

So.........very good album but they still seem to be lacking the same degree of memorable melodies that they had at their peak - whether that's due to the absence of DeGarmo or not I don't know.  I suspect it has a bit to do with it as the solos aren't quite there either in many cases.

So the tracks released so far are 3 of the best 5 IMO.   But Condition Human (title track) , and less so Hellfire and Guardian are definitely the most classic sounding tracks since Empire IMO. Condition Human may well be my favourite track since Empire, even though the soloing isn't up to scratch.

[Lowdz]

Cool. Can't wait for this to arrive - with Winery Dogs and WASP.

[bl5150]

I haven't heard the Winery Dogs but those I know who have seem to think it's clearly better than the debut.

[jjrock88]

Sounds good, looking forward to it

[wolfking]

Damn I hope I can find Ryche and WASP instore this weekend.

[jjrock88]

Damn I hope I can find Ryche and WASP instore this weekend.

I would be surprised if at least one of them isn't in store.

[TAC]

I haven't heard the Winery Dogs but those I know who have seem to think it's clearly better than the debut.

It cannot be worse.

[wolfking]

Damn I hope I can find Ryche and WASP instore this weekend.

I would be surprised if at least one of them isn't in store.

Ryche been pushed back to the 9th for me! 

[bl5150]

Got my hands on a low bitrate (192) reviewers copy of the new WASP.   Will check it out at some point today - squeezing as much in between roulette rounds as I can. 

From a Queensryche point of view the good news is that I have the urge to return to my favourite tracks on that album for more listens.  That's pretty much the first time that has happened since Empire.

[TAC]

I'm trying to get excited about the new WASP but I thought the song Scream sucked.

[bl5150]

I'm trying to get excited about the new WASP but I thought the song Scream sucked.

I agree to some extent .  I think it's a decent song taken in isolation (if you weren't a WASP fan) but if you know their stuff it's just way too familiar/safe and that's where most of the suckage is for me.   I expect the album will be like their last couple (which have been the best in ages) where there were a few really strong tracks in among a lot of cookie cutter WASP stuff.

[TAC]

I'm trying to get excited about the new WASP but I thought the song Scream sucked.

I agree to some extent .  I think it's a decent song taken in isolation (if you weren't a WASP fan) but if you know their stuff it's just way too familiar/safe and that's where most of the suckage is for me.   I expect the album will be like their last couple (which have been the best in ages) where there were a few really strong tracks in among a lot of cookie cutter WASP stuff.

I literally haven't paid attention to a new release by WASP since The Headless Children, and haven't sampled anything since save for The Crimson Idol. So with all of the WASP chatter around here lately, I figured I'd jump in on the new album with everyone, but that first song was terrible and I am likely, if not probably, skipping it altogether.

[wolfking]

I'm really looking forward to the WASP, but I'm a fanboy.  I eat up the same shit Blackie serves for breakfast every time.  Last couple were great IMO.

[bl5150]

Well I have just had my first serving of Blackie's breakfast shit and I rate it around the same as Queensryche (86%)

Main points:

- great sounding
- Blackie has regained peak form and sounds great
- the WASP formula is in overdrive so it's a bit one paced , so nothing like the variety on albums like The Headless Children
- it's on the softer side......it's hard rock / metal but not as heavy as albums like s/t , Headless etc...



Even though I have rated them around the same,  WASP's rating reflects consistency across the album whereas the Queensryche has much higher highs but a definite low or two IMO.

If I were to pick an album I wanted to play again right now (and the one I think has the most longevity) it would be the Queensryche.  I'll just skip a few tracks .

[gazinwales]

OMG all this talk of WASP is making me feel very old.
I remember being in school when the debut album came out and the Animal single.
I haven't bothered with them since THC and surprised to hear that Blackie's voice is so strong.
After seeing him lyp sync at a concert in the mid 2000's, I assumed his voice was shot.

[Lowdz]

OMG all this talk of WASP is making me feel very old.
I remember being in school when the debut album came out and the Animal single.
I haven't bothered with them since THC and surprised to hear that Blackie's voice is so strong.
After seeing him lyp sync at a concert in the mid 2000's, I assumed his voice was shot.

I remember them the same - I bought the animal single on picture disc, the codpiece one. Iloved that first album then it was a bit 50/50 for the next couple until Headles Children and the awesome Crimson Idol. After that I lost touch fro a while - the Neon God stuff didn't live up to its predecessor. Babylon was very good and  I like what I've heard so far from the new one.
Blackie sounds as good as he ever has.

[wolfking]

the Neon God stuff didn't live up to its predecessor.

No, but I don't think these albums were as bad as everyone said.  I think the thing that let it down was the production, it's pretty bad and I think the last two sound great.  If Neon God had a stronger production like Babylon and Dominator, it would have helped it a lot.

[Lowdz]

Haven't heard them in years so can't remember anything about them. Will see if they are on Spotify while I wait for the newie

[jjrock88]

the Neon God stuff didn't live up to its predecessor.

No, but I don't think these albums were as bad as everyone said.  I think the thing that let it down was the production, it's pretty bad and I think the last two sound great.  If Neon God had a stronger production like Babylon and Dominator, it would have helped it a lot.

I haven't heard anything since Unholy Terror and Dying for the World.  I thought those two were solid releases but didn't compare to the S/T- Crimson Idol for me.

[wolfking]

Am I the only one that found the self titled, THC and TCI absolutely perfect yet TLC and ITEC not up to scratch and contained filler?

[bl5150]

Am I the only one that found the self titled, THC and TCI absolutely perfect yet TLC and ITEC not up to scratch and contained filler?

No ........I agree.   But when I did my WASP rankings a while back I enjoyed those lesser albums a bit more than I remembered.

[bl5150]

I haven't heard the Winery Dogs but those I know who have seem to think it's clearly better than the debut.

It cannot be worse.

Wanna bet ?

I have had a quick chance to listen to the new one and I think I like it quite a bit less than the debut - from what little I rememeber of it   I agree with a post in the dedicated thread that it's a bit more funky if anything.    I find a lot of Kotzen related stuff is fine to listen to , but the songs sorta blur into each other.  They have that funky, bluesy vibe and very little variation in sound/tempo/vocal register. And the occasional ballads aren't all that great either.  On this album it's a track called Fire that is decent with a nice guitar solo ,but nothing I would rave about, and another decent bluesy ballad called Think It Over.

I can get through a listen okay (struggling by the end) but have very little desire to return to it , as very little stands out as fantastic.

So I will likely rate the new one around 70-ish right now but over time I am not sure.  I get the feeling it will have very little staying power.

[Bolsters]

I can get through a listen okay (struggling by the end) but have very little desire to return to it , as very little stands out as fantastic.

My feelings towards both albums.

[Kwyjibo]

Still trying (not really) to digest the first Winery Dogs. It sounds kinda nice but has a serious lack in high points, every song sounds kinda samey and the album is too long for that. And Chris Cornell was better in Soundgarden. So I'm not sure if I'm up for a second one.

[Lowdz]

Am I the only one that found the self titled, THC and TCI absolutely perfect yet TLC and ITEC not up to scratch and contained filler?

No that's exactly how I feel.

[wolfking]

Am I the only one that found the self titled, THC and TCI absolutely perfect yet TLC and ITEC not up to scratch and contained filler?

No ........I agree.   But when I did my WASP rankings a while back I enjoyed those lesser albums a bit more than I remembered.

I'll definitely have to get them out again.  I don't listen to them all that often.  There's a couple of real gems on Circus though.  Mainly, Restless Gypsy and I'm Alive.

Am I the only one that found the self titled, THC and TCI absolutely perfect yet TLC and ITEC not up to scratch and contained filler?

No that's exactly how I feel.

 

[TAC]

The title track from Circus was probably my favorite from the first three albums.

[jjrock88]

Restless Gypsy is a fantastic song

[Lowdz]

There was enough good stuff across TLC and TEC to make one great album but there was plenty of filler.

WTTEC is a cool song.

[wolfking]

The title track and Gypsy are incredible songs indeed.

[bl5150]

This thread almost went to Page 2 of GMD .........ain't gonna happen 

Just having my first listen to the Denner/Sherman album (EP) .  I like it - just not sure how much after the first listen.  The guitars are suitably  but the vocals/songs are growers I think.   

[wolfking]

This thread almost went to Page 2 of GMD .........ain't gonna happen 

Just having my first listen to the Denner/Sherman album (EP) .  I like it - just not sure how much after the first listen.  The guitars are suitably  but the vocals/songs are growers I think.   

I've only heard Peck in Death Dealer which didn't do it for me.  Never heard any Cage.  He sounds good on this though.

[bl5150]

OK after two and a bit listens I'll go with a rating of 86% (compared to the s/t at 81%).   

After playing the new Queensryche in the car for a couple of hours today I would say the 86% gets upgraded to somewhere in the low 90's.    If I was to nitpick the rhythm guitars could do with a little more prominence in the mix at times and some of the guitar solos sound wrong/incomplete.  At times it seems like Wilton is playing the low half of one of his old harmonies with DeGarmo, only DeGarmo ain't there.  There's some WTF moments with those guitar solos .

But as I said - that's nitpicking and it's a really strong album that would've slotted in nicely between Empire and Promised Land.