Metal Reviews

So, a thread dedicated to my favorite style of music—ROCK!—is in store. No other genre has provided more chills and emotional connections than the rock genre. So, here are some newer bands—and some older bands—I've come across that are still playing this old school style of music. So, here goes...

I just got Back In Business by a German band called Cannon. It was released in the US last year (2005 in Europe), but this band has been around since the mid-80s. This band is like U.D.O. with a vocalist that sounds like Udo Dirkschneider (Accept, U.D.O) meets Lemmy (Motorhead). More importantly, they're awesome! At least on this album. Their older albums sound excellent, too (see their website), but I don't have them. So, check out these tracks from Back In Business:

HELLFIRE
ANOTHER HERO (Clip) *
ROCK FEELINGS (Clip) *

* Zip files. To stream them, just click on the link, click Open, and then double-click the file when Winzip (or whatever you use) opens.

Website: http://www.cannon-the-band.com

Another new band I totally dig is Miss Crazy. I firmly believe frontman "Markus Allen Kristopher" is really Ronnie Borchert from Trixie, but "Markus" wears longsleeves (covering tattoos) and facepaint, so it remains a mystery; though I don't feel like it's very hard to figure out since both singers look and sound very similar. Either way, it doesn't matter, because both are excellent. "Markus" sounds like Ronnie Borchert meets Tom Keifer (Cinderella). The music is a little bit heavier and groovier than Trixie, but they're just as good. They've released one self-titled album and three digital-only tracks. This is a great band. Here are some tracks:

SO LONG
HIDE ISLAND
MY WAY (Cheesy Video) *

* Hot bassist! Though you can't really tell.

Website: http://www.misscrazymusic.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/misscrazyband

I've already mentioned Trixie in other threads on this forum, plus I reviewed their latest album, Shelter, so I won't mention them again here. But the man behind Trixie, Ronnie Borchert, just released his first solo album, titled Change. Stylistically, this is very similar to Trixie; though there are some more modern rock influences on a few tracks, like the melodic "My Malena," and especially "Something In My Head," which was co-written and features guest vocals by Chris Brown of Trapt. Still, it doesn't stray far from that late 80s Def Leppard style—hook-laden rock jams with big, bombastic choruses. I only got this CD yesterday, but so far I think I may like it more than Trixie's Shelter—which I rated a 90/100. Check out this tunes (more streaming samples under Discography on his website):

MY MALENA

Website: http://www.ronnieborchert.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trixiemusic

And that's all for now. I'll keep adding stuff as I come across it, because I predict this thread will be a big hit.

I think both Cannon and Miss Crazy seemed to have potential, but when it comes to 80's rock it all pretty much comes down to catchiness as the determing factor to whether I'll like it or not. None of these songs, while still nice, really grabbed me. To me this kind of music should have a chorus or something else that really sticks inside your head, and I couldn't find anything like that in those tracks.


Keep 'em coming though, I rarely come across new bands in this style that seems to have potential. Markus voice was actually quite cool in my opinion.

"Hellfire" wasn't catchy? That's the song that hooked me immediately. I think that is a wicked catchy tune.

Meh, maybe I worded my response in the wrong way. Sure, it's catchy, there are surely some hooks in there, but I don't find it very addicting. It's nothing I'll find myself going around humming on for an entire day, up to the point where I'll have to listen to the goddamn song over and over again just to get it out of my head. That's what I think this kind of music should do in order to be truly great. It's a good song, with some nice melodies, but I dunno. To each of his own, I guess

Well, it's no "Balls To The Wall," I'll give you that! "Balls To The Wall," now that is an awesomely catchy tune!

Hey Anonymous, if you like those, you should give these a try

Big Cock http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... D=17491095


Bullet http://www.myspace.com/bulletsweden