Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1969) Review

I simply had to review this, the album that gave birth to a whole genre, Black Sabbath’s debut album! Featuring classics such as “N.I.B.” and the creepy sounding “Black Sabbath”, the album showed how you can easily meld heavy music with images of darkness, evil and nightmares. The album, back to front, is a classic in everyway possible, simply flawless. The album still can grab you by the balls even 40 years later as an essential Metal album. This is one of a few albums that if you are thinking of starting a Metal band you should study before you play a note. The highlight is the opening song “Black Sabbath” which is still creepy and can still send chills down my spine years later. For a rating I will give it 10 fallen angels out of 10 just for being so amazing as the album that created something from nothing.

Gorgeous Frankenstein - Gorgeous Frankenstein (2007) Review

Well kids, Doyal Wolfgang Von Frankenstein and Danzig are reunited but not in the way you thought or wished. Danzig here is producing the album instead of singing so we get Argyle Goolsby of Blitzkid on vocals and bass, Wolfgang’s wife dancing on stage and yea. The album is what you would expect from a man who’s only musical output previously was the world famous Misfits, short sweet songs. The album sounds like a bunch of Misfit’s b-sides actually which is not all that bad, but you expect it to be placed next to something much stronger. The only down point about this album was that it was tooted as the big reunion of Danzig and Wolfgang instead of it being Frankenstein’s new band. As for a rating I give it 6 hot dancing Frankenstein chicks out of 10 just cause I wish the material was stronger instead of being some music that was created for his wife to shake her ass too (the original intention).

Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time (2008) Review

Really? Another greatest hits? I think Maiden now officially has more greatest hits than Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones combined! Although the track listing is not bad I don’t like how it only features material from the 1980s thus leaving out one of their greatest songs ever, “Fear of the Dark”. Personally, I think Best of the Beast would be a great way of introducing new fans to Iron Maiden but for the price, this has it’s benefits as well. Personally, I give this greatest hits 6 Eddies out of 10 cause yes, I do like Iron Maiden, yes I think greatest hits are a great way to introduce new people to the band and yes, the songs on here are amazing, BUT do we really need a new greatest hits album every 2 years? I would prefer a new studio album instead.

Metallica – Death Magnetic (2008) Review

This is the album that fans have been waiting for! Although personally I liked the albums post Black Album, this is what Metallica does best, hard hitting thrash! The album starts off with a kick in the ass known as “That was Just Your Life” which sets the tone for the album. The album then rolls on from there like a juggernaut with songs like “The Judas Kiss”, “My Apocalypse”, “Unforgiven III”, “Cyanide” and “The Day that Never Comes”. The true highlight of this album though is “All Nightmare Long” which picks up where “Enter Sandman” left off. Set in a nightmare, the dreamer is shown no mercy as he runs for his life from what ever it is that is hunting him down. Kirk Hammet said in an interview that Metallica could have made this album years ago which left many fans wondering why? Well, the older a band gets, the more they wish to experiment I guess. The rating? 9 scary guys out of 10 as my only complaint about the album is that the instrumental “Suicide & Redemption” runs way to long. It clocks in at around 10 minutes, if it was shorter or half the length than the album would be a perfect 10, sorry.

Alice Cooper – Along Came a Spider (2008) Review

We truly are not worthy! The master of horror/shock rock is back with his most brutal and horrifying album since 2000’s Brutal Planet. Into Alice’s mind we travel as he takes us on a journey to a serial killer known as Spider. In the story, the cops find the diary of Spider which goes into details about his victims and his obsession with building a giant spider made from female legs. He falls in love with on potential victim as he tracks and stalks his prey with a ending so twisted that only the master could have thought of. The highlight of the album is the wicked “Vengeance is Mine” featuring guitar work from the one and only Slash. The album features everything we expect from Alice; sick and twisted music! As for the rating? I give it 9 spiders out of 10 just ‘cause I can’t explain in words how twisted the music is, you just have to listen to it.

Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 (Six Disc Box Set) (2006) Review

Before there was the Murderdolls, before he went solo, Wednesday 13 fronted the Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13, North Carolina’s infamous glam, horror rock band. After Wednesday hit it big with the Murderdolls, people discovered that many of the songs recorded for Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls were actually originally FDQFP13 songs, just “re-imagined” (14 of the 21 songs the Murderdolls recorded were FDQFP13 songs). Well, here you are, the original 4 albums that have become both legendary and expensive since the band went on hiatus in 2002. Also included is a rare treats CD that features songs that were released as singles, split singles or on 7 inches all now out of print. Featuring new art work all packaged conveniently into a little box of horrors, this set is a treat for any fan of Wednesday 13. Also included in this box set is a DVD from a show filmed with a camcorder, the show is a treat from the Night of the Living Drag Queens era when the band was a 4 piece. Also included is all the original artwork, not the re-released updated art work. This box set gets a perfect 10 zombie drag queens just for being amazing!

Michale Graves - Illusions Live/Viretta Park (2008) Review

Remember Graves? Former lead vocalist for the Misfits from 1996 – 2000? Well he is a solo artist with 3 albums under his belt not to mention his 4th away from the famed Misfits (Graves – Web of Drama being his first). This recording is an acoustic live album recorded while on his Illusions Tour (not to be confused with Gnarl’s own Illusion’s tour). With the exception of a handful of songs, it is just Graves, his guitar and fans sitting around him as he indulges from songs from all eras of his career from the Misfits to Graves and his solo work. This CD would work great if it was electronic and you wanted to give it to someone who has never heard anything Graves as sung before. His voice is in top shape and sometimes his guitar is out of tune but hey, this is a punk show right? Sloppiness comes with it and the CD benefits from it. Also included with this live recording are 6 demos (5 new original songs and 1 re-recording) that were recorded in Romania during the filming of Perkins 14 (a new horror movie featuring Graves). The new songs sound pretty good and I would be interested in hearing them in their final versions when he decides to release a new album. As for a ratting? I give this album 8 fiends out of 10 just cause “Blackbird” appears twice and I would have preferred another recording of an acoustic “Dig Up Her Bones” which is, to me anyways, his greatest song he wrote.

Wednesday 13 – Fuck it! We’ll do it Live (2008) Review

Everything you could ever expect from a punk rock show. This CD/DVD package chronicles Wednesday’s skeleton’s tour stop in Pennsylvania. Here is what to expect, little props, kick ass show, voice crackling, some wrong chords, fans and band going insane and oh! NO STUDIO “MAGIC”! This is as live as it gets, as close to the actual thing and trust me, it’s worth it. Mostly playing material off of his solo albums with the excepting of “197666” & “Rambo”, he shies away from his days of the Muderdolls and FDQFP13 (although the former’s songs were mostly reimaging of FDQFP13 songs). I like how he solidifies to his fan base that he is a solo artist who does not rely on his back catalogue from his past bands unlike some solo artists who play little to no solo material and do not distance themselves from their previous projects. Both the DVD and CD are RAW hard hitting pieces of material both worth the price on their own. Get them together and they are more than worth the price. As for a ratting? Hmmmm, how about 8 skeletons out of 10 as a longer set list with more material from the first 2 albums would have been awesome.

Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Review

turns out you don't need a brain to enjoy this movie! thinking is highly overrated for this 90 minutes of fun fun fun! Seth Rogan, Steven Colbert, Keither Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon and co. are AWESOME in this fun cartoon spoof giving a nod to the old 50s/60s chessy drive-in movies as the monsters are awesome and make the movie but B.O.B. is the standout! SETH ROGAN KICKS ASS! the story is simple yet funny and nothing is over done. this is a movie that doesn't get stale so it's just pure enjoyment...as long as the jell-o doesn't give you the wrong number! (watch the movie to understand said reference). as for my ratting? 10 jell-os out of 10 as this movie is simply effective and oh whats that? FUN AND HALARIOUS!

Buckcherry - Live and Loud (2009) Review

god this takes me back! Buckcherry is one of those bands where on their albums they are awesome but live....they are breath taking! the band was born for the stage as shown on this live album! ok, there are a couple of fuck ups but it's live! almost all the songs are here as the hits are obviously the stand outs such as "Next 2 You", "Check Your Head", "Lit Up", "Talk to Me", "Rescue Me", "For the Movies", "Ridin'", "Everything", "Sorry" and the song that put them back on the map..."CRAZY BITCH"!. Todd and company are solid on this album as you can feel their energy ozing through your speakers giving the listener a hell of an adrenaline rush! i give this album 8 lines out of 10 as it's a great overview of all their albums thus far making it a great album for those just getting into the band to be introduced to! my only complaint is the omission of the songs "Too Drunk...", "Porn Star", "Don't Go Away" and the rarley if never preformed "Untitled" (the secret bonus song on their sophmore album Time Bomb) as they are great live and just great songs in general that would enhance the album imo.

Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue (2009) Review

in the 14 years since their last release, Alice in Chains preformed 3 shows with their original lead vocalist, released a box set, a best of box set, a greatest hits, a live album, another greatest hits, been on 4 tours, jerry has released 2 solo albums, inez has worked with almost everyone and we lost Layne Stayley (R.I.P.) to an overdose. ontop of all that, the musical landscape has changed very much since 1995! Nu-metal has come and gone, same for Rap-rock and grunge surviors are few (Dave Grohl, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Melvins, Chris Cornell) in terms of who is still around making music. that being said, AIC DELIVERS! this album seems like it could of been released after their self titled album (known as tripod due to the 3 legged dog on the cover) in that their distinct sound is still intact! William duVall is no Staley but fuck man, does he kick ass here! i admit i was skeptical 'till i saw them live but that night he made me a believer....and this album makes me even more of a believer now! Cantrell is still a monster on guitars, Inez is still a beast on bass while Sean beats the fuck out of his drums! the pressens of Layne is very appearnt on this album which is a good thing as he was a big part of their sound and in some sense, he was never relpaced, he is still an integreal part of Alice in Chains. stand out tracks include the tribute to Layne known as "Black Gives Way to Blue" (featuring piano from Elton John), "Check my Brain", "Last of my Kind", "A Looking in View", "When the Sun Rose Again" "Acid Bubble" and "Lesson Learned". my ratting? 10 men in the boxes out of 10...seriously check this fucker out!

The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009) Review

ok so what do you get when you star Bill Moseley, Rosario Dawson, Brian Posehn, Tom Papa, Sheri Moon, Geoffrey Lewis & Paul Giamatti, put them in a cartoon movie about a wrestler turn superhero with a spy for a sister who is assisted by a horney robot and a kitty cat....OH and it's directed by Rob Zombie...well you get The Haunted World of El Superbeasto! 4 years in the making and now that it's out here it was well worth the wait! funny as hell! horror movie shout outs! fucked up and did i mention funny as hell? well it is! my ratting is simple...9 bats with telescopes out of 10! check this out for a good laugh!...i hope there is a sequal!

Pearl Jam - Backspacer (2009) Review

after 6 long years PEARL JAM IS BACK!....with a happy album? odd i know but hey, this new direction works for me. this is some of the best 36 minutes of Pearl Jam music they have released to date. the album goes by you fast at supersonic speed (pun intended!) as the Seattle grungers play furious, slow it down and mix it all back up again. Eddie Vedder's lyrics and voice are in top shape, Mike and Stone whail away on guitar, while Jeff and Matt keep the backbeat of this amazing band pounding loud and proud! stand out tracks include "Gonna See My Friend", "The Fixer", "Johnny Guitar", "Just Breathe", "Amongst the Waves", "Supersonic", "Force of Nature" and "The End". as for my ratting? 9 avacados out of 10 cause for me 36 minutes is just not enough although it is very true when they say that quality beats quanitity...especially in a day and age when alot of artists are jamming albums with filler just so they can fill the full 80 minutes...or get close enough that is

Kiss - Sonic Boom (2009) Review

YOU WANTED THE BEST? WELL YOU GOT THE BEST! THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD...KISS!!! and everyone can kiss my ass (pun intended!) cause the masters are back with their first studio album since 1998's Psycho Circus! now some of you may want to know how Sonic Boom sounds....well i will make it quite simple....IT ROCKS! featuring vocal debutes by Tommy Thayer (the new "Space Ace" with his song "When Lighting Strikes") and Eric Singer (doaning the makeup of the "Cat" with his song "All for the Glory") as well as a healthy dose of rock by the "Demon" Gene Simmons and the "Star Child" Paul Stanley, this is a pretty sick Kiss album! promoted as being a throwback album to the 1970s, the album falls short in comparision to the classic albums such as Destroyer, Love Gun, Dressed to Kill, Hotter than Hell and their self title debut known as Kiss....HOWEVEVER! this is album is soild that sounds like it could of followed Love Gun and MUCH BETTER than most of their material from the 1980s! for fans of the band this is a must buy, even the die hard, only aknowledge the original 4 as the one true Kiss will be happy with this album as it's all killer...no filler! and this is from a life long Kiss fan who was raised on the album Destroyer! stand out tracks are the leading single "Modern Day Delilah", "Russian Roulette", "Never Enough", "Hot and Cold", "All for the Glory" and "When Lighting Strikes". as for my ratting, i give this 9 love guns out of 10 'cause although this is not their greatest album ever...this one delievers the goods from beginning to end that will satisfy any Kiss fan!

The 69 Eyes - Back in Blood (2009) Review

well, it says it all in the title! THE 69 EYES ARE BACK...in blood! this is their follow up to their 2007 album Angels where the band saw their popularity rise much higher following their commerical breakthrough of Devils in 2004. this album is what you expect if you are fans of the 69 Eyes, a great mesh up of vocals, keyboards, Misifts horror punk and some metal. the Helsinky Vampires never disappoint on their albums as this one is SOLID! if your a fan, pick this up! is it their best? nope! does it kick ass? YES! stand out tracks include the leading single "Dead Girls are Easy", "The Good, the Bad, & the Undead", "Back in Blood", "Lips of Blood", "Some Kind of Magick" and the acoustic, slowed down "Eternal". as for my ratting you ask? how about 8 angels out of 10 as this album ROCKS!

Ace Frehley - Anomaly (2009) Review

ACE IS BACK 'CAUSE HE TOLD YOU SO! THATS RIGHT FOLKS! "SPACE" ACE FREHLEY, THE ORIGINAL AND GREATEST GUITARIST FOR KISS IS BACK!....and he has something to prove!as a life long Kiss fan (ever since i was young and my father played me the classic Kiss albums) a huge part of their sound was the Les Paul of Ace Frehley...and there is a reason why! his first solo release in 20 years is jaw dropping amazing! not a bad track on the album as it's all killer...no filler! from beginning to end this album is a stand out for anyone's collection as one of the best solo albums released by a Kiss member EVER! Ace is clean, sober and ready to rock, dipping into his old bag of tricks to release an album that could of been released after his 1978 self titled solo album. stand out tracks by one of the original guitar heroes are "Foxy & Free", "Outer Space", "Pain in the Neck", "Fox on the Run", "Change the World", "Little Below the Angels" and "It's a Great Life". as for my ratting? how does 10 aces out of 10! this album rocks that much...'nuff said!