All posts by Heavy Metal Overload

The HMOverlord
Black Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

King Diamond – Black Horsemen (Song Review)

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“That’s the end of another lullaby”

Black Horsemen is one of my favourite metal album closers of all time and it also succeeds perfectly in bringing King Diamond’s 1987 ghost story concept album Abigail to a satisfying conclusion: lyrically, musically and emotionally. As with the rest of Abigail‘s tracks, Black Horsemen is chock full of dazzling musicianship, deadly riffs and King Diamond’s demented theatrical vocals. But the song is elevated by a serene, Randy Rhoads-esque acoustic guitar intro that evokes the sun rising as the horrific goings-on at the La’Fey mansion come to an end. And the climatic guitar solo is so joyous it feels like an ecstatically received curtain call.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Gillan – No Easy Way (Song Review)

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“You are so lovely, you are so beautiful”

There’s no easy way to shake off sorrow but listening to this classic Gillan tune, from 1980’s thumping Glory Road album, is guaranteed to blow away the blues. Gillan were a monster band and on No Easy Way they are at their boisterous, swaggering best. Guitarist Bernie Tormé runs riot all over this, unleashing a chaotic torrent of guitar to kick things off and then livening up the whole track with all sorts of howling bends and bombs. “Let it all pass by” is a bit of classic Ian Gillan life philosophy and he’s on brilliant rock ‘n’ rolling form here too. The sweet way he sings the quiet middle section is a wonderfully heartwarming bit of emotional connection.

Black Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal

Master’s Hammer – Geniové (Song Review)

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“To the land of awesome mysteries”

Ritual., the 1991 debut album by the Czech Republic’s Master’s Hammer, is one of my favourite black metal albums. And Geniové  (translated to English as “Wizards”) is one of my favourite black metal tunes. It doesn’t have the blasting extremity of a lot of later black metal but it has the crafted riffs and occult lyricism of Mercyful Fate, craggy vocals, creepy castle atmosphere and the band’s patented timpani which gives the track an idiosyncratic and enigmatic sense of drama. Essential.

Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews, Thrash Metal

Anthrax – Lone Justice (Song Review)

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“Clear the streets as he rides into the town”

Lone Justice is one of the more mid-paced traditionally heavy metal songs on Anthrax’s second album, 1985’s Spreading The Disease. It doesn’t have the pummelling intensity of thrashers like A.I.R. or Gung-Ho and it’s fairly cartoony in terms of riffs and lyrics. But it’s still one of my favourite songs on the album. It’s got some great Steve Harris style bass going on and has a thumpingly hard-edged delivery, mainly due to Scott Ian’s hugely crunchy guitar tone. The track’s slower pace also allows the band’s (then) new vocalist Joey Belladonna to shine. He pushes a lot of air on the verses before settling in to a very cool melodic mode for the chorus. It’s so exhilarating that I don’t even mind constantly mishearing his description of the hero’s “stubbled chin” as the much less cool “double chin”.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Twisted Sister – Stay Hungry (Song Review)

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“Expect no sympathy”

He’s more known for his iconic image and abilities as an imposing and phenomenally entertaining frontman but let’s hear it for Dee Snider, the singer. Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry, the opening track from their 1984 album of the same name, is an upbeat, bare-boned rocker and paean to bloody-minded perseverance (something these New Yorkers knew all about). But it would ring hollow without Dee selling it like he does. He gives it his all, especially during the pre-chorus that pushes his voice to the top of its range where it’s at its most exciting and emotive. Fired up by his impassioned delivery, Stay Hungry becomes rousing and empowering. A superb album opener that leaves you hungry for more.

Classic Rock, Doom Metal, Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Trouble – Bastards Will Pay (Song Review)

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“Fight ’em with peace and love”

Trouble’s self-titled 1984 debut (also known as Psalm 9) is one of the crucial early doom metal masterpieces, notable for its crushing guitar tones and the sincerity of its biblical imagery. But for all its timeless God-fearing doominess, what I really love about Trouble is how evil-sounding and aggressive it is. On Bastards Will Pay the Chicago band bash out charging and crunchy riffs from hell and Eric Wagner delivers anti-war lyrics with righteous intensity. It’s hippy stuff on paper but not with Wagner at the mic. When he hollers “you fuckin’ bastards are gonna pay” you just know they will. In this world or the next.

Genre, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews, Thrash Metal

Megadeth – Mary Jane (Song Review)

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“Prepare my friends to follow me”

Thrash giants Megadeth go all King Diamond on Mary Jane, weaving a witchy tale of vengeance from beyond the grave. Taken from 1988’s drug-addled So Far, So Good… So What! the track has a thick ghostly atmosphere (aided by the album’s reverb-heavy sound) and a haunting mix of clean and distorted guitars. As always with Megadeth, the guitars are state-of-the-art with numerous twists and turns but frontman Dave Mustaine excels vocally too with a tortured and hate-filled performance. Nowadays I tend to associate ‘deth with songs about politics and society but, in their earlier days, songs about magic and the occult were pretty common and Mary Jane is one of my favourite of the lot. In fact, it’s one of my favourite Megadeth songs… period!

Black Metal, Classic Rock, Death Metal, Genre, Hard Rock, HMO Diary, Progressive Rock

HMO Diary: 12th January 2025

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I had me a real good time recently, getting 2025 off to fun start by listening to lots of The Faces and Van Halen.

The Faces At The BBC is one of the best box sets I’ve bought for a while, I’ve been enjoying it immensely. The fact that The Faces were ace live isn’t exactly news because the Five Guys Walk Into A Bar… box set already did a great job of documenting that, but these BBC recordings are a soulful, rocking revelation all the same.

You don’t need me to tell you how good the first two Van Halen albums are, but I’ve been listening to them cause I’ve been enjoying Alex Van Halen’s Brothers book. Actually it’s the audiobook I’ve been enjoying because I liked the idea of hearing him reading it. It’s a thoughtful, detailed and moving memoir and Alex hasn’t been an outspoken figure for many years so it’s a treat to hear him reading the story.

All this brings me to the topic of my plan for 2025: I want to read more.
Continue reading HMO Diary: 12th January 2025 →

Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Heavy Load – Heathens From The North (Song Review)

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“Sweeping away in their ships of dragon”

Taken from 1981’s Metal Conquest EP (one of 2024″s most essential and overdue metal reissues), Heavy Load’s Heathens From The North is an epic Swedish metal wonder. It’s got brawny, snaking riffs, awesome rough-hewn vocals from Ragne Wahlquist and a glorious choral intro which doubles in magnificence when it returns in the midst of a sweeping guitar solo. It’s the kind of muscular, steady-as-she-goes Viking metal that really floats my longboat.

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HMO salutes Ragne Wahlquist who has sadly passed away aged 69.

Black Metal, Classic Rock, Death Metal, Genre, HMO Diary, Progressive Rock

HMO Diary: 24th December 2024

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I’ve not had my typical run up to Christmas this year. Usually I’d be enjoying wintery walks to and from work while listening to all my favourite Christmassy rock: 80s stuff from bands like KISS, Whitesnake, Magnum, Van Halen etc… but my knee has been knackered for a couple of weeks so I’ve been using the car. This has disrupted my Christmas listening mojo quite dramatically and I’ve ended up more in the mood to revisit my favourites of 2024. Great stuff, but not very Christmassy! Bah humbug.

So, what are my top five of 2024?

Continue reading HMO Diary: 24th December 2024 →