Holy Moses – Invisible Queen (Fireflash Records)

 

Holy Moses is perhaps the longest operating, female fronted, heavy metal band from Germany.  Since 1981, Sabina Classen, leads Holy Moses through decades of metal frenzy.  Sure there were down times, but generally the band was releasing records, and playing shows.  Invisible Queen is said to be the final studio album from Holy Moses, and it's their 12th after all.

Invisible Queen is a very heavy record.  You don’t get the feeling this is their last album.  This band sounds powerful and hungry, and ready to take on the world.  If the plan was to finish in style, they certainly achieved that with this offering.  The new and final album from Holy Moses melts your ears, and stretches your neck bones to the max. 

Invisible Queen has an intense feel from the very beginning.  The production, while clean, has a very dirty feel to it.  It gives it that underground thrash “feel” everyone loves.  The band is firing on all cylinders, and in the middle of it all is Sabina with her harsh growls.  It is one very powerful mix of relentless riffs, and shrieking vocals.  Enough to give you a headache, and trust me, that’s the type of headache you want!

Holy Moses definitely took their time, and got ready for their swan song album.  Invisible Queen presents the band and the absolute top.  This album is strong in every aspect possible.  The performances captured leave you with a lasting effect.  Invisible Queen showcases a legendary band advancing to the finish line, still punching with a bloodthirsty force.

Mark Kadzielawa

Metallica – 72 Seasons (Blackened Recording)

 

Back in 1983, the 14-year-old me got a recorded cassette of Kill ‘Em All from Metallica, an unknown band from California at the time.  It was a revolutionary album.  While Motorhead and Venom, played fast and heavy, no one ever added such precision to metal as Metallica.  I would walk around my little hometown with that cassette and play it for everyone who would listen.  Many converted, some were freaked out, others thought there was something wrong with me.  I didn’t care, I was on a mission.  40 years later, Metallica is still in the game, and releases their brand-new album titled 72 Seasons, and the cycle continues.

72 Seasons is a very special album.  It will never repeat the ferocity of that first record, but this band traveled places since that time, and this is where they’re at now.  The group sounds heavy and focused here.  The songs have complex structures, and it is clear a lot of thought and reflection went into writing and recording this album. 

The NWOBHM influence is still present, and in many ways more visible than ever.  The songs vary in pace, it goes from fast intense speed to more controlled with a heavy approach.  72 Seasons has everything Metallica came to be known for over the years, minus the experimental phase of the mid 90s.  The band focuses on being heavy, and achieves its goals with clarity.  The album is long, but so is the time since release of the last record.  At this point, Metallica does not have to record any new music, they can still draw enormous crowds, but they chose to do that, and one has to respect that.

There are great performances on this album.  James Hetfield still has a massive sound to his guitar, and his vocals once again soar with emotion.  Hetfield by far is the best rhythm player of the genre.  Kirk Hemmett delivers plenty of catchy signature leads throughout the album.  His style is very well defined by now, but it’s cool to see him still taking chances on few of the tracks.  Bassist, Robert Trujillo is in the world class of his own, and you can actually hear his bass.  Drummer, Lars Ulrich, is a very specific player, he definitely holds it all together.  Ulrich’s role within Metallica should never be undermined.

The booklet features up close photographs of the band members without any touch ups.  You can see the years taking its toll on these guys, but you also see the strength and determination in their eyes, and that is an important aspect of this album and the band.  Metallica went through a lot, and they still stand their ground, and make a record that confirms their vitality.

It would be easy to try knock down Metallica off their pedestal, and many try with their senseless and hateful comments.  Today’s world dwells on negativity, and loyalty is scarce.  This album is way too good for any of that, and so were the last two.  40 years as a recording artist is very impressive and calls for certain amount of respect.  All Metallica is doing is asking you to celebrate with them.  By the way, I wonder what had happened to that old cassette from all those years ago?

Mark Kadzielawa

Sortilege – Apocalypso (Season of Mist)

 

Sortilege is a classic heavy metal band hailing from France.  They made some really great records back in the 1980s, released both in French and English.  Many musicians found them to be very influential.  One such follower was Chuck Schuldiner of Death, who loved their riff structures and melody lines.

Sortilege returned few years ago, and now they are back with Apocalypso, and album full of original material.  Vocalist, Christian Augustin, is the only returning original member.  Augustin put together a very impressive band that is still able to channel the Sortilege spirit.  Being a Sortilege fan back in the 1980s, this writer is quite surprised how impressive this album sounds, and how catchy these songs are.  Of course, the purists may argue about this or that, but to these ears this sounds like Sortilege. 

Apocalypso is a very traditional sounding album.  It has a very classic feel, and it’s fully delivered in French, as it should be.  The French language delivery gives it more of an exotic feel.  Great to see the band still honoring this tradition.  Instrumentally, both guitar players, Bruno Ramos and Olivier Spitzer, set the tone here.  Those two players are very inventive, and carry Sortilege with pride.  Bass player Sebastien Bonnet, and drummer, Clement Rouxel, provide a very solid and dependable bottom end.

The album consists of 10 tracks, and it’s a great listen all the way through.  There are some cool surprises like the middle eastern section in Verriere les Portes de Babylone ,  the tribal feel of Le Sacre Du Sorcier, or the epic nature of the title song.  There are many melodies that jump out of nowhere, and it’s easy to hum along to these songs for variety of reasons.  It appears the album was written by Augustin, Spitzer, and Ramos, and Spitzer is credited as the producer.  That’s definitely a tight unit of players who got this task accomplished!

Sortilege still sounds like a band with a purpose, and Apocalypso is a great way to reintroduce this unique group to a wider and younger audience.  They orchestrated certain aspects of their sound, but it’s actually to the benefit of the band and the songs.  Sortilege is still continuing on their path from the 1980s, nothing was reinvented here, but it’s exactly as it should be, and that’s the bottom line.  In many ways, that’s also the miracle of it all.

Mark Kadzielawa

Aftermath – No Time to Waste (Zoid Entertainment)

 

Aftermath strikes again with yet another intriguing album.  No Time to Waste shows another face of Aftermath.  In some ways there are connection to previous phases, but it’s really a trip into the unknown musically.  No Time to Waste is full of mathematical rhythms, and various sonically induced sounds.  In some ways this album feels like an electro-shock therapy.

No Time to Waste finds Aftermath exploring new territories, and takes heavy into new direction.  The album has a feel like it’s written around a movie script.  It is driven vocally, and supported by variety of sounds that add to its almost insane feel.  It’s actually very impressive what they were able to achieve.

What Aftermath is doing nowadays is completely outside of their comfort zone, and that's what makes it so unique.  Instrumentally, these guys are hot.  Incredible performances from Steve Sacco, Ray Schmidt, and George Nektarios Lagis.  Each of these players had truly reached an amazing level of expression instrumentally.  Also, the band includes three out of four players this writer originally met back in 1985.  The only difference being in the bass department.  They were always incredible players, but now it feels as if they found their voices within the music. 

Lyrically, there are some hard topics the band is attacking.  They are facing the negative and grim aspects of today’s world with a very positive attitude.  Some great truths can be taken away from these songs.  Vocalist, Kyriakos “Charlie” Tsiolis, is a man with a vision, and he’s bringing it to life here.  Aftermath is not taking an easy way out here.  They confront the world at a face value, and give some good advice.  After all, we can do this together! 

No Time to Waste reaffirms Aftermath as a very inventive force.  This record sounds incredible, and for 40 minutes takes the listener into another dimension.  The album concludes with reimagined version of John Lennon’s Give Peace a Change, and no song better sums up the overall build up.  This is an offering of calm and rage, with a forged plastic surgery thrown in between.

Mark Kadzielawa

Overkill – Scorched (Nuclear Blast Records)

 

Overkill is a band that you can’t keep down!  The deliver another killer album, and pretty much show everyone else where it’s at.  They could easily do away with making new albums, but this band is simply too ambitious to let go of their artistic integrity.

Scorched is very solid, and packs a very solid punch.  It’s a very well-structured album.  It seems like the down time during the pandemic allowed bands like Overkill to find a new focus in how they approach their music.  While, this sounds as powerful as any Overkill album should, it has an underlying quality that sets it off from the rest. 

Then there is Blitz, and he’s a machine of a frontman.  His voice still retains that specific color, and he twists and turns it in every direction possible.  Bobby Ellsworth is working hard here, and he’s truly pushing himself beyond the limits.  It’s great to see a singer, who is already respected and established, still searching for new ways to utilize his voice and combine it with the music.  Fever is a track where his performance is specifically impressive, and touches upon some new ways of expression.

There are some very cool orchestrations on this record that are very enriching to the overall sound.  Also, the leads have a very fresh feel to them, and they come across really thought out.  The sense of melody is memorable and evident.  The combination of drummer, Jason Bittner, and bass player, DD Verni, is very powerful.  A rhythm section like that can move mountains!

Scorched is a great listen, and has a number of instrumental and vocal surprises that await to be discovered.  While Overkill reached the level of perfection many moons ago, they continue to push, and end up with great results.  Scorched indicates that Overkill is still punching hard with a crippling speed!

Mark Kadzielawa

Aggression – From Hell with Hate (Xtreem Music)

 

Aggression is back with punches and screams, and when you think you've had enough, you get punched again!  This is a ripping album delivered at a break neck speed with no excuses, and no compromises.  Aggression created an instant hell here with flames and all.

The best aspect of this album is the musicality of it.  Despite going 200 miles per hour, it is a very audible record.  You hear every little sound directly.  Normally albums like that are blurry, and they often cover up a musicianship that is still developing.  It’s not the case here.  All members of Aggression are top notch players, and they give it to you straight.  It’s actually incredible that album this fast can be sounding so clear and vital.  Also, the use of operatic female vocals here and there add a very special mood to the songs.

Lyrically, as the title suggests, it’s all of those things your parents warned you about, but of course you didn’t listen!  Once again, Aggression takes no punches here and goes for the jugular, choking you until submission.  From Hell with Hate is truly an underground release, and it stays true to the roots Aggression is known for.

Denis Barthe and Dave Watson have an incredible guitar connection.  Their sound is heavy and not easy to penetrate.  Great tone, and very memorable leads.  Drummer, Ryan, Idris, is a very versatile player.  He can play superfast, blast, but has the ability to slow things down when needed.  Idris along with bass player, Kyle Hagen, give Aggression to ammunition it needs to blast anything in its sight.  Denis of course towers over it all with his psychotic vocals.

From Hell with Hate is an album with a serious attitude!  It’s a wild ride from song to song, and the stop varies each time you get through this album.  This music is charged, and it holds you against the wall powerless.  Aggression is brutality at its best!

Mark Kadzielawa

Century – The Conquest of Time (Electric Assault Records)

 

Century is a nee sensational heavy metal band from Sweden.  It consists of only two members, but nowadays, that’s enough to do a serious damage.  The band employs a full line up for a live presentation. 

The Conquest of Time is a debut album, and it sounds very grown up.  This band has a clear understanding of what traditional heavy metal should sound like.  There are strong NWOBHM influences, mixed with traditional Scandinavian hard rock and metal.  There are several bands that come to mind, but it’s difficult to pin point anything specific, which means Century knows how to balance things out.

The album is catchy, well written, and driven by emotions.  Century is very sensitive to melodies, and they code them really well without sounding overly happy.  This is the type of album that would come out in the early 80s, and no one would know what to make of it.  Only to fall in love with it a decade later or so.  Century won’t have deal with that decade delay, this will catch on instantly.  Having seen the band live, the size of the crowd is a proof of that.

The Conquest of Time has plenty of great tunes.  The opening, The Fighting Eagle, sounds already like a classic.  Victim in Chains has that great cool mid-tempo drive that gets you in the groove.  The title track is a perfect example of what heavy metal song should be like.  The album as a whole is a great listen, and provides the maximum punch.  This is a great start for a band that will create many surprises in years to come.

Mark Kadzielawa

Paradoxx – Brauer House, Lombard, Illinois 4/7/23 (images and words by Mark Kadzielawa)

 

Paradoxx is a legendary Chicago area heavy metal band from the 1980s.  While the band had everything going for them back in the day, the  big time success eluded them.  The group left behind the Plan of Attak EP released back in 1985 before breaking up in 1988.  They reformed in 2010, lost vocalist, Glen Dobbs, to cancer in 2016, and continued with guitarist, John Dobbs, assuming majority of vocal duties.  Currently, John Dobbs resides in Arizona, but shows up in the Chicago area to play occasional shows with Paradoxx, and his other band Cover Dogs.  During their time away from the spotlight, Paradoxx, became an international metal sensation, as many fans around the globe discovered their EP, and simply loved what they heard.

Many fans gathered at the Brauer House, in Lombard to see and hear Paradoxx again.  There was a very positive feeling in the air tonight.  Even before the show, it was great to hear many of the fans catching up, exchanging their stories about seeing the band at The Thirsty Whale, and other now historic locations.  The anticipation was great, and the band finally took the stage.

From the opening sounds of Black Siren,  to the closing notes of Forever, Paradoxx sounded great, and kept the momentum going.  John Dobbs was complaining about some voice trouble due to a cold, but he pulled it off very nicely.  He rose to the occasion, and did his best to deliver a quality show.  The band included all original members who performed on the legendary EP back in 1985.  They were having fun on stage, and you could see the enjoyment in their eyes.  The band was happy to be able to do this in 2023, and often spoke from the stage how much they appreciate their fans.  Some of the audience included the members of other local metal bands from the 1980s, who came out to support their peers.  Majority however, were the fans who remembered the feel of the scene, and wanted to re-live the experience, or simply wanted to be back in that teenage state of mind.  Whatever it was they were looking for, Paradoxx, was happy to deliver.  It felt great to be part of such cool community of rockers, and to re-live the experience as well.

Paradoxx performed tracks from their infamous EP, and included several covers.  It was a fair mix of original, and cover material.  There were covers from Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Krokus, and Riot to name a few.  Many of these songs were clearly influential in what Paradoxx later became.  Guitarist, Gary Vermette, sang few of the covers, and he sounded great.

The rhythm section, consisting of drummer, Jerry Wiener, and bassist, Frank Rotondo, was extremely effective tonight.  You could feel a great chemistry between those two players, who truly gave their best.  Such great bottom end, allowed John Dobbs, and Gary Vermette to move around in any direction they wanted.  Both guitarists had a very impressive dialog on stage.  There was a natural fit among those four players, and nothing was accidental here.  It was also a great way to honor the memory of the fallen vocalist, Glen Dobbs. 

The purists may argue about a glitch here and there, but that’s a senseless argument.  The spirit of the music was there that night, and that’s all everyone really cared about.  Paradoxx played a great show, and revived something special in the minds of everyone present.  They are already promising another such show next year, so don’t miss your chance.  Great job guys, much respect!

Mark Kadzielawa

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