MAZUR PUBLIC RELATIONS
www.mazurpr.com

HAVOCHATE- This Violent Earth (Root of All Evil Records; www.rootofallevil.com)
This is a very kick ass band! Old thrash sounding band. Very heavy sounding. They have been on stage with lots of old school bands, Motorhead, Anthrax, Manowar, Immortal and tons more. I'm sure they had no problem fitting in. Extremely technical guitar sound to them as well. Good sounding guitar solo's and I don't even like guitar solo's most of the time. Definitely a band to check out if you are into thrash.

PRONG- 100% Live (Locomotive Music; www.locomotivemusic.com)
I was never a huge Prong fan, for no other reason than I just never bought or had their stuff, so I never really heard them. Then I heard them on our local radio station, for their heavy metal hour, they played Snap your Fingers Snap your Neck. I loved the song, but it still didn’t desire me to go out and get a Prong CD. This CD I have here is a live one (duh), and it really isn’t bad at all. If you are a Prong fan, you’ll enjoy. Some songs Rude Awakening, Dark Signs, Close the Door, Controller and a new one called Initiation.

ADAGIO- Sanctus Ignis
The first 5,000 copies of this CD comes with a guitar pick! Too bad I'm doing this review over a year after it's been released. (Sorry about that Mazur!) Anyway, this is some progressive melodic metal and these guys are from France. It features members from Elegy, Majestic and Pink Cream 69. The guys vocals are tolerable, I can listen to him without feeling like my ears are bleeding. They aren't as extreme as a power metal band, but they are pretty close.

ANGRA- Rebirth
The press release on these guys said they have a mix of European metal with South American folk. As far as I'm concerned, these guys can go to Europe or S. American and play, because I'm not into this power metal. The guy has a really good voice. The music is alright, it's got the whole 80's feel but with double bass. I just can't get into it at all.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT- Fires at Midnight
The singer reminds me of Christina from Lacuna Coil. She has a kick ass voice. This has horns and for some reason, some of this guys guitar sound reminds me of Santana. It's rock, folk and 16th century melodies to give a sound of the renaissance style. It's a little too folksy for me, but it's a good disc.

CONVERGE- Jane Doe (Equal Vision Records; www.equalvision.com)
The first time I heard this CD, the music reminded me of Today's the Day. I don't know why, it was just the first band that popped into my head. They have the whole Eighteen Visions/Drowningman sound. It's a mix of metal, hardcore and punk all rolled into one.

GUN BARREL- Power Dive
This is described as "Up Tempo and kickin' Power Dive Rock N Roll". Wow, this is really bringing me back to the 80's. It sounds like something that would have came out 15 years ago. It's total rock, with some bluesy groove songs and there are even ballads! I haven't used that word in years. The singers voice is a little different though, I can only take a little bit of it, and then I have to shut it off.

HOPE CONSPIRACY- Endnote (Equal Vision Records; www.equalvision.com)
Fucking nice. This kicks some serious ass! I love it! Another awesome band on Equal Vision Records. A hard core/punk band based out of Boston. Production sounds great. The band sounds great. Check them out if you are into the hardcore sound.

KITTIE- Oracle
This is going to be short and (not so) sweet. These guys suck. I like a lot of shitty things, but this is not one of them. I had the opportunity to sit through these guys live and I just felt like I was watching a bad version of L7. And because of them, the only show I wanted to go to all year with Ill Nino and Chimaira was sold out. Jerks.

Nikolo Kotzev's NOSTRADAMUS
I can honestly say, I never thought in a million years I would be listening to an opera, or even a rock opera. This is a rock opera with hard rock mixed with the classical orchestral music. This has singers such as Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner, Alannah Myles, Doogie White and more. I can at least understand what they are singing. Not a bad little double disc.

LUCYFIRE- This Dollar Saved my life at Whitehorse
Wow, is this Depeche Mode with a different name? My god, I had to make sure I didn't mix this cd up with one from the 80's. The singer has a touch of Pete Steele's voice too. Sounds like goth mixed in the 80's.

SAGA- House of Cards
Well they have some funky sounds coming out right away on the first song. Sounds like some synthesizers. Progressive rock is what their press release says. They have been around since the late 70's and they still have all of their original members. I don't like the guys voice at all, I can't even describe how he is signing.

STEP KINGS-3 The Hard Way
I like these guys. I think they are a decent rock/metal band. They have some parts I can do without, but for the most part, I like them. They are really good live too. All of the times I saw them, I was impressed. They have the kind of grove beats you like to move to, or at least I do. I think they kinda have a Sevendust/Taproot sound, more so Sevendust.

THE REIGN OF TERROR- Sacred Ground
More power metal. The singer is from Loudness and Yngwie Malmsteen. I never listened to either of them, so I can't compare his voice then to now. Sorry. I have heard worse. It's not bad or anything, just not my thing. I love the double bass sound though. This album also has two bonus tracks.

TRANSATLANTIC- Bridge Across Forever
Progressive rock. Classic rock. There are some keyboards in this and I'm really not into them. This has the drummer from Dream Theatre which would explain the excellence of the drums. They have a very odd sound. They actually kind of remind me of Dream Theatre. This also features members from Spock's Beard, Flower Kinds, and Marillion. All of the songs are fairly long, from 5 minutes to 30 minutes and there are 4 songs on the disc.

UDO- Man and Machine
This isn't horrible, but I don't think it is my thing. I don't like the singer, and I don't remember Accept, so I can't say I know what he sounded like then. For some reason, I'm being reminded of Rob Halford. It's some good metal music. I can't get into the vocals though.

WIZARD- Head of the Deceiver
(Mazur PR)- As soon as you can get past that minute intro, the double bass comes flying in. This is speed metal if I ever heard it. But the catch, it's also power metal. The guys voice isn't as high as some power metal bands, it's actually kind of lower than normal. Of course, he has some high vocals, but it's tolerable. They sound really good. They are super technical. I like this a lot.

BLESSED BY THE NIGHT-The Dark Metal Compilation
Here is a comp for you. Sounds really good with lots of great band. Lacuna Coil with Halflife, The Gathering, Dimu Borgir, Mayhem, Danzig with an unreleased track and a bunch of bands that I gave horrible reviews for. But normally, when I don't like something, everyone else does, so this is a good CD for all metal lovers.

COMPANY OF SNAKES-Here They Go Again
For all you Whitesnack fans, this is for you. A double CD, with live tracks and I believe this is preformed by all the original members. The sound sounds excellent for a live CD too.

DIESEL MACHINE-Torture Test
To me, this is a mix between Pantera and Machine Head. It metal. Some growls. They aren't doing anything great, they are getting a little boring. A little repetitive.

FREEDOM CALL-Crystal Empire
This is some melodic speed metal. Some of the riffs and parts I would have heard in the 80's, no doubt. A lot of this though, is just plan cheesy. I'm not a fan of this. It sounds like there are horns in this. Not my thing.

GLENN HUGHES-Return of Crystal Karma
I'm not sure what this is, but I don't like it. The vocals are really high, like someone is grabbing his balls and holding on tight. Not my thing. The guitar work is real technical, but I'm not into this. This is the ex Deep Purple bassist. I don't care, I still don't like it.

IVORY TOWER-Beyond The Stars
Um…nope. Not my thing. Power progressive metal. If you are into that, then you would like this.

LANA LANE-Secrets of Astrology
This is some progressive and symphonic rock and metal. I wouldn't have gotten that myself, I got it from the label sheet that came with the CD. Lots of keyboards and synthesizers and stuff. She has a good voice, reminds me of the woman from Heart a little bit.

MOB RULESTemple of Two Suns
Negative. This is some melodic power metal. I can't get into it. This is their second album that they have out. These guys are pretty big overseas, they went on tour with Ivory Tower and did all the big festivals over there. The guys vocals are a little annoying. The guitar work is real technical.

SPACEBOY-The Force That Holds Us Together A Heart Torn to Pieces
Well it took me longer to write out that title than it will for me to review this. I don't like it. I don't know what this is. The production isn't that great, everything is real muffled. It's metal. It sounds fast.

VANISHING POINTTangles In Dream
This is melodic heavy metal. I don't know, the guitar solo's are long. Now if it was a drum solo, I wouldn't mind, but I'm not a fan of guitar solo's. If you are into melodic stuff, you would be into this.

VULGAR PIGEONS-Genetic Predisposition
Nice. Finally something I like from this company! This is grind-core. The production is a little low, so it makes it hard to hear everything, but that is the pure beauty of it. There are death metal growls, but for the most part, he is yelling. The drummer is blasting. Very cool! This CD has some live tracks too.

WOLFPAC-Evil Is
They have that old school hip hop sound. It actually reminds me of Slam, the song with Onyx and Biohazard. A nice mix of the two bands. These guys have 5 singers, or MC's and one DJ who mixes metal and hard core samples. It sounds wicked awesome, have to check it out!

ZERO HOUR-The Towers of Avarice
The first song has a very long intro before the vocals come in. This is metal. They are compared to having the sounds of Queensyche, Meshuggah, Fates Warning, and Dream Theatre. I just find this a little boring. They are real technical.

DEMONS AND WIZARDS -S/T-(Steamhammer Records)
For those of you who may not know, Demons and Wizards is a supergroup of sorts in the power metal genre. We have 2 main songwriters: the singer of Blind Guardian and the guitarist of Iced Earth plus a guest lead guitarist and drummer. That being said leaves us with a surprisingly solid album that easily blows away most of the metal competition out there. The music is not a far cry from Iced Earth with the fast picked guitar riffs and enough double bass drum beats to keep me convinced that it just doesn't get much more metal than this. Hansi Kursch of Blind Guardian delivers some of the most powerful vocals in this genre, and I personally think he sounds like a more polished Blackie Lawless (of W.A.S.P.). His vocals are usually done with multiple harmonies which took me a little while to get into but now I am a definite fan. One listen to "Winter of Souls" and I would hope most would agree. And for those of you who may think this is just another half-assed side project, think again. This is a great album from beginning to end and as long as you are a fan of metal, you should be able to see something of interest if not all of it. (Scott McCooe-SMcCode@aol.com)

HELL CHILD- Bare Skin (Howling Bull America)
Here is some death metal vocals. I detect a pinch of some Arch Enemy type riffs in here. The music has a thrash/metal sound with some fast parts mixed in. The drummer flies with his double bass. I don't care for when there is a backup singer. That doesn't sound too good.

METALO-A Latin Metal Compilation
I think everything is in another language, but I'm not sure. I like this, they have one of the best bands on the planet on this… Criminal or course!! Other bands featured are Pissing Razors, Puya, Brutal Thin, Lodo y Asfalto. If you are expecting to hear something like Ricky Martin or something like that, you are dead wrong! This is a collection of some awesome metal. I suggest it to anyone!

STEP KINGS -Lets Get It On
This is different, but I like it. Some of the vocals sound like hard core and then other parts, has a metal feel to them. The music is heavy and groovy, but I wouldn't cat orgy it is hard core. They have some real cool metal riffs. This is great, I dig this a lot.

UNDER THE SUN (Magna Carta)
What the hell is this? This starts off real slow and stays slow. I'm not sure what this is. They are all pretty talented musicians, I'm impressed. There are acoustic guitars, keyboards and it is real slow. I can't even describe a sound. It's not metal and I wouldn't even call it pop. This one has me stumped.

UNITED-Distorted Vision (Howling Bull America)
This has a metal sound to it. The vocals don't seem to vary too much, they seem to sound the same through out the CD except for little parts here and there. There are some real fast parts, but for the majority of it, it has a real thrashy sound to it.

VENOM- Resurrection (Steamhammer)
I'm not a Venom fan so I don't have anything by them to compare this to. If you are a Venon fan, I'm sure you will dig this.

YELLOW MACHINEGUN - Spot Remover (Howling Bull America)
I got a 7" with these ladies and SOD too. Yes, that is right, this is a female band and they are from Japan. This is a heavy thrash band. I don't care for the vocals too much. It just sounds like a lot of yelling.