Black Metal, Genre, Song Reviews

Tormentor – Elisabeth Bathory (Song Review)

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“Oh how I love to feel your breath”

Due to the challenges of being an extreme metal band in Communist Hungary, Tormentor’s 1989 debut album Anno Domini didn’t see the light of day as an official release. But a tape of the record soon found its way into the global tape-trading network and it became a big influence on the burgeoning black metal scene of the 90s. A key factor in this influence was the brilliantly prescient track Elisabeth Bathory. Like a lot of black metal the track is rooted in place and history: a love-letter to the notorious Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer rumoured to have bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. It’s cold, hypnotic stuff with relentless mid-pace, eerie arpeggios and a theatrical, vampiric performance from vocalist Attila Csihar. The impressive Csihar was later recruited by the infamous Mayhem to record vocals for their genre-defining classic De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, which sent many black metal fans (like me) scurrying back to investigate his previous work with Tormentor. But it doesn’t matter whether you encounter this song in 1989 or 1999… or ten years from now. Elisabeth Bathory is quintessential, fervid, eternal black metal.

Album Reviews, Classic Rock, Genre

Bad Company – Bad Company (Album Review)

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Bad Company – Bad Company (Island/Swan Song – 1974)

When I think of the term “supergroup”, Bad Company are one of the first bands that spring to mind. With their 1974 self-titled debut album, they absolutely lived up to that billing. The British group featured two former members of Free and their unfussy, soulful rock picks up where Free left off but in a more feelgood, riff-based, rock ‘n’ roll mode courtesy of ex-Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs. And Ralphs ensured they achieved mega success by penning the ingeniously simple single Can’t Get Enough, a cruising and carefree radio staple. Not to be outdone, vocalist Paul Rodgers chipped in the album’s masterful title track, a thoroughly stirring mix of ghostly atmosphere and outlaw manliness. Other highlights include the priapic proto-Whitesnake Rock Steady and a sublimely classy remake of Mott’s Ready For Love. Bad Company were having too good a time to infuse the album’s ballads with anything near the emotional heavy load that Free conjured but tracks like The Way I Choose have proven to be growers over decades of listening and are great vehicles for Rodgers’ smooth vocals. The whole album sounds ballsy and beautiful, especially Ralphs’ creamy guitar tones. Bad Company is the cool, confident and timeless sound of talented musicians revelling in a newfound personal and creative chemistry. When I think of the term “classic rock” Bad Company is one of the first albums that springs to mind.

HMO salutes Mick Ralphs who recently passed away, aged 81.

(Bad Company 2CD deluxe edition from 2015)

You can get this album and more on this box set too!

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Song Reviews

Alice Cooper – It’s Hot Tonight (Song Review)

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“Damn Hot Tonight”

1977’s Lace And Whiskey is not one of my favourite Coop albums by any means but the album opener It’s Hot Tonight is one of my most beloved tracks of his. It’s got an extremely ballsy opening riff and a ton of swagger, coming across every bit as scorched and steamy as the title suggests. Maybe it’s just because of the album title and artwork but I always get a hot city noir vibe from it too. The first time I ever saw Cooper live was in Glasgow on an unusually hot night and I was thrilled when he launched into this. Seeing the great man strut his way through a huge-sounding version of this in a packed, sweaty Barrowlands was just brilliant, a peak concert-going moment for me.

Album Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Genre

Winter – Into Darkness (Album Review)

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Winter – Into Darkness (Future Shock – 1990)

Released in 1990, when you’d expect a mix of influences like Hellhammer and Discharge to result in something akin to Napalm Death, New York’s Winter came up with something much bleaker and much slower. Into Darkness, their debut, shares a crusty, noisy, sense of protest with Napalm Death but rather than delivering it with blasting speed, Winter grind out an apocalyptically desolate combination of guttural death and turgid doom metal. It met with complete indifference on its original release and drummer and label problems meant the band called it a day soon after. But Into Darkness’ stature as a timeless mushroom cloud of misery has rightly grown over the years. An absolutely essential, boundary-pushing record.

2020 Svart Records reissue with the Eternal Frost EP bonus disc
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.

… and classic rock too!