Storace - Crossfire (Frontiers)

“Crossfire” is a second album from Storace, and of course it’s a solo band created by vocalist Marc Storace. Marc, of course, is known for being the vocalist for Krokus and one of the most signature voices in hard rock/heavy metal. This album, however, isn’t trying to prove anything or break any new barriers within the genre. It is all about enjoyment and having a great time. 

Marc Storace wrote this album with Tommy Henriksen of Alice Cooper, who also produced the record. The results are very pleasing. It’s a cool album that puts a smile on your face and works in just about any setting. Whether you’re coming back from work or want to rock out on Saturday night, “Crossfire” has the groove that can just lift your spirit. 

It’s great to see Marc Storace still exploring his voice and seeing how it works in different settings. There are plenty of influences on “Crossfire.” There are tracks that could easily work in Krokus (“Sreaming Demon”), some that AC/DC (“Love Thing Stealer”) wouldn’t mind composing, and a few that bring that big arena Def Leppard (“Rock This City”) feel. Cohesively, it all works, and with great results too. Marc Storace is very open about touring with Def Leppard on their “Pyromania” album and acknowledging the influence of that record. His voice works quite well with those big choruses, and the songs are good too. And then there’s “Only Love Can Hurt Like This,” a beautiful ballad that is in a league of its own.  This particular track beautifully captures that John Lennon feel, and it's sincere too.

“Crossfire” is just a ballsy rock’n’roll record made by a rock veteran who is still having fun. Retirement is not something Storace is looking at anytime soon; this rocker will be there until the very end. When you still got the goods and are able to deliver, then that’s all you should and must do! “Hell Yeah” to that!

Mark Kadzielawa

Red Box – Anthology 1980 – 1990 (Cherry Red Records)

 

Red Box was a very difficult band to classify.  They came out in the early 80s, along with a plethora of new romantic/new wave bands, and they seemed somewhat attached to that movement, but in reality, Red Box was always doing their own thing.  In 1984, the single “Chenko” showed up, and instantly gained a following, it was followed by “For America,” and then the album “The Circle and the Square,” showed up in 1986.  “Chenko” once again became a single in 1987, and this time, it really made history.  That’s how Red Box did it.

This set focuses on band’s original run which ended in 1990, they since reformed in 2010 and continue to this day.  There are 4 CDs in this box, and they include the above-mentioned debut album, the follow up, “The Motive,” a disc of remixes, and a disc of demos.  All in all, this is as comprehensive as it can get when it comes to Red Box recording from the early part of their career.  In addition, there is a great booklet explaining how this band was functioning, and what was important to them when it came to their music.  There is a strong vision here that guides everything they did, and how distinctive it still sounds.

Red Box had a lot of great influences, in a way they were a world band, combining vibes from variety of places they enjoyed, or even visited.  Although the feel of the South American sound is undeniable in many of the tracks.  Red Box kept things interesting, and it’s perhaps why they are still remembered today.  Also, there is a certain mysticism to what they do.  It’s a like a code that you can break through multiple listens.  Red Box definitely presented the listener with a lot of challenges in what they initially did, and what they continue to do. 

Mark Kadzielawa

House of Lords - Full Tilt Overdrive (Frontiers)

 

Full Tilt Overdrive” is a very fresh-sounding record from House of Lords. The band clearly caught whiff of a new wind and made a great album. This one rocks hard, and you don’t want it to end. The songs are full of catchy hooks and plenty of vocal lines that you can sing along with. In other words, a winning combination of melodies with creative arrangements and excellent vocals.

The addition of Mark Mangold into the House of Lords team was certainly very beneficial for both parties. Mangold certainly brings a lot of great ideas into the songs and works well with Christian and Bell. At the end of the day, it has to be about music, and this band delivers the goods. The songs vary in feel and display a plethora of emotions. Each listen takes you into different territory, and you discover something new, or become attracted to a track you failed to notice before. This album is charming all the way through.

Any of the songs on “Full Tilt Overdrive” could become your favorite. The material is strong, and there really is no filler. House of Lords spent a significant amount of time on this album and made sure only top-notch material made the final cut. There is one epic highlight that needs to be mentioned. It’s the closing, “Castles High,” completely delivered by Mark Mangold. The song is 9 minutes long and has a great build-up. As a culminating point, James Christian is joined by his wife Robin Beck on vocals, and brings it to a dramatic conclusion!

“Full Tilt Overdrive” is a state-of-the art melodic rock album! The songs are outstanding, and so are the performances from the individual musicians. James Christian is on top of his game vocally; Jimi Bell supplies great riffs and very ingenious leads; Johan Koleberg’s solid drumming gives the album a bit of a dangerous edge; and Mark Mangold finds a way to fill any space available on his keyboards. It’s a very tight unit, and it’s quite amazing how these players supplement each other within every track on this album. As a result, this album flows and glows with beauty entangled in intensity.

Mark Kadzielawa

The Aerovons – World of You – The Complete Recordings (Grapefruit Records)

The story of Aerovons is quite fascinating, in fact it should be made into a movie.  This is a St. Louis rock band from the 1960s, made up of teenagers, strongly influenced by The Beatles, making a record at Abbey Road studios only to be shelved for few decades.  As unlikely success as one can only imagine.  What’s worse, the album was well recorded, and the songs were great.  It had the potential to create a lasting career, but in the most dramatic sense, it was not to be.

Tom Hartman was the main engine for The Aerovons, and his mom managed to band.  She did great, she got them to sign to EMI and record at Abbey Road, the same time The Beatles completing their final opus there.  The album resembles a strong fascination with The Beatles, The Beach Boys, early Bee Gees, and Everly Brothers.  It completely reflects the times in which it was written and recorded.  At the end of the recording process, the band was reduced to two members, and since there was no band to promote this album, EMI decided to shelve it.  It only came out in 2001 for the first time on vinyl.  This time, it’s the album, various singles, and some later recordings from Tom Hartman.  This set is as complete as it gets.  All of it spread into 2 CDs.  There will be many people discovering this great band for the first time, and trying to justify how such record was hidden from the general public for so many years. 

The booklet is quite impressive with photos, and stories.  There is a general narrative explain how the band came to be, and their full story to the very end.  There is another essay from Tom Hartman himself, talking about their teenage adventure in rock’n’roll, the recording process, and how they meet individual members of The Beatles.  You get a sense this was the adventure of a lifetime for those St. Louis boys.  It’s just a shame it came to an end so quickly. 

Mark Kadzielawa

Impellitteri – War Machine (Frontiers)

 

“War Machine” is just a kick-ass heavy metal record! Impellitteri might have been known in the past as a shredder band, and yes, Chris knows a thing or two about playing guitar, but this is a very well-balanced album. The addition of Paul Bostaph on drums lifts Impellitteri into another dimension! There is a lot of angles to this album, that make it one of the essential releases of 2024.

This record has an incredible flow; from song to song, it’s a new adventure. No repetition, just a well-written tracks that move in their own direction. As a whole, it all completely comes together as one very powerful album. Chris’s leads are tasty and just right for the song. He doesn’t overplay and gives other instruments a breathing space. This balance is a winning combination for Impellitteri. Even if you accuse them of struggling in this area in the past, they completely got it right this time.

What’s cool is that a lot of classic hard rock influences are showing up here all over the place, and they just fly with it. For example, the opening sequence of “Out of My Mind” has that classic Rainbow feel from the Dio days, and then the song goes somewhere else. There are moments where the music slows down, and another sequence is introduced, and then things pick up again. What a way to maintain the excitement!

There are great performances on “War Machine.” It’s safe to say that everyone involved in this album gave the performance of a lifetime! Not to say they are trying to blow each other away, but what they did was perfect for each song. Rob Rock is certainly singing at his absolute best, and James Pulli’s bass is just as impressive and powerful.  “War Machine” has every ingredient possible to be qualified as one of the best releases of 2024!

Mark Kadzielawa

Eric Bell – Remembering – Anthology 1996-2017 (HNE Recordings Ltd.)

Eric Bell is a former Thin Lizzy guitarist from the early days.  Yes, it is his guitar tone you hear on Whiskey in the Jar.  He soon left the band and committed to playing blues.  The anthology here combines five records from 1996 to 2017.  It’s a combination of studio and live recordings, well balanced and easy to follow.

As expected, the music has a very bluesy feel, but Bell manages to stretch things into variety of directions.  It keeps things interesting from album to album.  The music generally is very laid back, but with a very good feel.  Nothing is forced, and it clearly feel like Eric Bell is on the right path all along.  Listening to these albums, no one would ever suspect this man was once strumming for Thin Lizzy.

There is a very informative booklet that pretty much explains what path Eric Bell had taken.  His journey is well documented here, questioned, reflected, and explained.  Also, nothing is accidental here, Bell is not seeking fame, he just wants to play the music he loves.  And if fame came knocking here and there, he most likely wouldn't mind.

This set definitely provides a lot of answers to what Eric Bell had been up to.  His music is still very much underground even within the blues genre, and most of these albums were not widely available.  It’s great to hear them, and it’s great to connect with Eric Bell musically.  It’s a fun, and worry-free approach, in a very laid-back sense.

The combination of live and studio recordings in this set gives a great overview of what Eric Bell had become, or in fact who he always was.  Bell of course delivers on both fronts, although it has to be said that he’s a great attraction when playing live.  There is a great feel, and blues atmosphere that is just contagious.  The studio recordings are great too, but the blues comes alive on stage, it makes it more appealing.  Bell realizes that too, that’s why this set is so well balanced.  You don’t have to be a blues purist to enjoy these records either.  Their appeal is multidimensional, and variety of categories and moods can apply. 

Mark Kadzielawa

Idol Throne – A Clarion Call (Stormspell Records)

 

Idol Throne is back on the battle field with their second album.  The band continues to explore their own brand of metal, and reaches new heights.  It’s great to see that type of progress.  The concept of this group was already a winning formula, and they got even better.  There is a very fresh feel to “A Clarion Call.”

The best thing about this album is the passion coming out of the individual players.  There is a feeling of joy, and it comes across in the songs too.  The 8 tracks on the record sway back and forth with various moods, inventive riffing, and soaring vocals.  In fact, it’s the Jake Quintanilla’s vocals that dictate the direction to many of the songs.  He is using multiple voices to get the feel and convey his message. 

Instrumentally, Idol Throne was already fantastic, on their first album.  What happens here, they get even more adventurous and creative with the material.  As much as the first album rocked, you can notice a natural progression taking place here.  It is not a massive departure, but you sense a slightly more advanced thinking pattern already setting into these songs.  Idol Throne is definitely a band with a lot of ambition, and they will continue on their quest to greatness.

There is a higher level of musicality that is also present on “A Clarion Call.”  There are influences that show up, and fit perfectly with what Idol Throne is trying to achieve.  Some of the passages or transitions found here could have easily worked in a group like Porcupine Tree, yet Idol Throne sounds nothing like it.  It keeps the music fresh and more appealing.

“A Clarion Call” is definitely an achievement, and Idol Throne will not stop here.  They are completely committed to their cause, and are already working on some new material.  This is only the beginning, and now it’s your duty to answer the call.

Mark Kadzielawa

Avernus – Grievances (M-Theory Audio)

 

Avernus returns after many years of silence, but this is a very triumphant come back!  Just one look at the album cover, and it just captures you before a single note of music is played.  The cover is a painting by August Friedrich Schenk, and it’s titled “Anguish.”  It’s a breathtaking piece of art that forces you to reflect, and so is the music inside.

“Grievances” is a record reflecting life, it is gentle, harmonious, but above all brutal.  As you listen to it, you feel the experience of joy, disappointment, betrayal, and the passage of time.  The time it took for these songs to arrive in the shape they are in, was very beneficial for the band and the music.  While the wait was long, the results are outstanding.  What were once influences for Avernus are now their peers.  What Avernus does is quite unique on the local and national level. 

The ten tracks on “Grievances” guide the listener from mood to mood, and spell out variety of truths learned from life.  In a metaphorical sense, the lyrics deal with dark moods, and realities of life seen through stagnation and nothingness.  At one point the band proclaims that,” Nothing exists anymore, your faith has gone and abandoned you.”  And regardless where you are at in your spiritual life, such moments of doubt are often dictated by life itself.  The songs are very clever, and they reach quite deep beneath the surface.

Avernus delivers great performance on this album.  The players are top notch, they know the material inside out, and they make sure that every note is felt.  Rick McCoy’s growls fill the music with desperation and pain; he’s never sounded better than he does now.  Erik Kikke and James Genenz make their guitars sound like the tools of the archaic food-plant grinders.  Drummer, Rick Yifrach observes the balance before striking it down with his thunderous approach.  Genenz handled bass on the album. 

“Grievances” is a breakthrough album for Avernus!  The band delivered a great record that should be acknowledged and celebrated worldwide.  Their distinctive sound and skilled songwriting aligned in a perfect unison.  This is the time and this is the place for Avernus to fulfill their promise.

Mark Kadzielawa

Todd Michael Hall – Off the Rails (Rat Pak Records)

Todd Michael Hall is known for his involvement with Riot, but this time he is striking on his own.  Well, not completely on his own.  It’s a collaboration with guitarist, Kurdt Vanderhoof, of Metal Church, who wrote all of the music for this album.  Now that technicalities are out of the way, there is one thing you need to know.  Todd Michael Hall is a superb singer, one of the cleanest voices around.  “Off the Rails” is a different kind of record than what you would hear him do in Riot. It’s not a complete departure, but it presents a slightly different feel.

Hall and Vanderhoof had created a perfect melodic rock album.  In fact, it fits variety of categories, be it AOR, hard rock, or just rock.  The bottom line is that it is a great record with its own personality and mood.  The vocal melodies created by Hall and catchy and instantly memorable.  His delivery is outstanding, he makes it look easy, when in fact, it’s a lot of hard work.  Once again, his voice is very distinctive, and what he does with it is quite magical.  Had Todd Michael Hall came out onto the scene in the mid 1970s, he would probably end up in Rainbow or a band similar to that.  Either way, he would be played on the classic radio today, if that was the case back then.  And who knows, it may still happen.

“Off the Rails” is full of great songs, but it’s also a record with a very positive message.  Hall is definitely putting a lot of feelings into his words, and how he carries out that message.  There are songs here everyone can relate to, and find themselves somewhat included in the mix.  “Start with Love,” “Are You with Me,” or “Can’t Get Enough,’ are absolutely brilliant, but then the same can be said about the rest of the songs as well.  The one that gets very personal is “Name the Time & Place,” a song about a long-lasting friendship.  This writer can certainly relate to this topic, where a friendship stays strong through the years, despite the distance that may keep you physically apart.  There are more songs on this album that generate similar emotions.

This is a second album for Todd Michael Hall, collaborating with Kurdt Vanderhoof, and musically it is a very healthy and productive relationship.  Vanderhoof plays some great riffs and fills it with tasteful licks.  Miles away from what he normally does in Metal Church.  “Off the Rails” is a very special record that focuses on authentic feelings, positive outlook, great melodies, and impressive vocal delivery.  It’s an album that lights up the light at the end of the tunnel in 2024.

Mark Kadzielawa

Wraith - Fueled by Fear (Prosthetic Records)

 

Wraith is back with another explosive album!  “Fueled by Fear” marks a new level of maturity for the band.  Having said that, there is nothing here that would compromise band’s already established style.  It’s just bigger, bolder and better!

What makes this band great is their incredible songwriting, and the time they take to work out the riffs.  The songs are very melodic, and the riffing is absolutely superb.  In fact, it’s the creative riffing that makes or breaks this album.  In this case, it’s a success on all fronts.  It often feels like the guitar players, Matt Sokol and Jason Schultz, are having a dialog here using their instruments.  The riffing underneath a main riff, and then finding a way to connect somewhere in the middle, simply incredible.  Let’s not forget the very dependable rhythms section consisting of Chris Petkus and Mike Szymendera.  It is what those two guys create the base that sets the stage for Sokol and Schultz to shine.  All in all, it’s a very tight unit, and everyone understands their role.

The 14 tracks featured on Fueled by Fear are strong, every single song is unique and has that special something.  “The Breaking Wheel” could easily open the album, and is as much as effective as “Asylum” which is the actual opener.  Even though, Wraith is one of the newer bands, their influences dig deep into the classics of thrash.  There are riffs that are reminiscent of Sacrifice or Destruction as far as the precision goes.  It’s a great feel to have, but it’s only one of many components Wraith is comprised of. 

“Fueled by Fear” will certainly expand Wraith’s fan base, and will allow the band to reach that next level.  The group is very active as far as promoting this album, touring, and being visible.  All of this effort will eventually translate into a wider success.  This album is a winner regardless of the overall outcome.

Mark Kadzielawa

W.A.S.P. - The Arcada, St. Charles, Illinois 11/9/24 (visual review-all images by Mark Kadzielawa)