Wishbone Ash – Des Plaines Theater, Des Plaines, IL 3/3/22 (words and images by Mark Kadzielawa)

 

Seeing Wishbone Ash is always fun.  The band always puts on a great show, and delivers a very specific feel.  This time it was the curiosity of seeing two new recently added members.  Not only that, the group played in a newly renovated and re-opened Des Plaines Theatre.  This also happens to be in the current hometown of this writer, so there was a level of expectations.  Needless to say, both passed with flying colors, and this was a great evening of rock music.

Wishbone Ash took the stage and opened with Bona Fide, then flew into Enigma, before moving Way Down South.  The band seemed extremely well rehearsed, and the music was flowing out of them.  Andy Powell and the crew were having fun.  With each song the band was getting better and so was the enthusiasm coming from the audience.  The sound was perfect, the place has amazing acoustics, and there were some great lights adding magic to already solid performance.  The group ended their first set with We Stand as One off their latest Coat of Arms album, and if you haven’t heard this record yet, make sure you do.  It’s another silent classic.

Guitarist, Mark Abrahams, is a great addition into the ranks of Wishbone Ash.  Abrahams joined the band in 2017, and so far, he only appeared on the above mention album.  He is a great fit, and his style is complementary to Andy Powell and the sound of Wishbone Ash.  At first, he appears to play in a very minimalistic way, but the more you watch him you realize that his contributions are enormous.  Abrahams is not any better than all the previous players who once occupied this place.  He is as good as all other guitar players.  He’s a different, has a style of his own, and will do great things for Wishbone Ash in years to come.  Abrahams is a great player who is fun to watch, and it’s obvious he is clearly enjoying himself on stage.

The newest addition to Wishbone Ash is drummer, Mike Truscott, who joined the band very recently.  This is his first tour with Wishbone Ash, and he’s doing a great job providing solid beat and making the rhythms flow.  Nothing over the top, just solid drumming, and making sure the team as a whole is once again a flawless unit.

The band is rounded of by bassist, Bob Skeat.  Skeat is a very inventive player with some unpredictable bass lines of his own.  The main player is of course, Andy Powell, who kept Wishbone Ash going for 53 years.  Powell has a one-of-a-kind charisma on stage, and his guitar skills is what gives Wishbone Ash that cutting edge.  Dependable frontman, and amazing writer who keeps on releasing great records.

 

After the first set, Wishbone Ash took a break, and returned with a special surprise.  The group performed their essential album, Argus, in its entirety.  Argus is celebrating 50 years, so it was very fitting for the band to revisit this gem.  The tracks from Argus often grace many of the Wishbone Ash shows, in fact the band can’t get away without playing tracks like The King Will Come, Blowin’ Free, Sometime World, or Warrior.  It was still a treat to hear all of the tracks in one set.  The delivery was superb, and it left the crowd asking for more.  Argus is the album that established Wishbone Ash on the international stage, but there are many other great albums the group recorded over the years that shouldn’t go unnoticed.  The deeper you dig the more treasure you find.  For this writer, No Smoke Without Fire is such record, and perhaps the opening window into the world of Wishbone Ash.

This was an evening of great music.  Wishbone Ash brought a lot of joy for this rock hungry Des Plaines crowd.  Especially, after the recent limitations due to the pandemic.  Wishbone Ash till has what it takes to make the ground shake.  It was another great and uncompromising evening of music with a band that wrote its own history into the rock music.  Show your support when they come to your town!

Mark Kadzielawa

Wishbone Ash performing Warrior at the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines on 3/3/22

Sarah Perrotta – Blue to Gold (Third Star Records)

 

It’s been a long time since a record this beautiful graced my ears and soul.  Sarah Perrotta is a masterful songwriter with a great sensual feel in her music.  Her songs and melodies have a very deep reach, and once they get in there, they don't leave. 

At first “Blue to Gold” gives the impression of a very minimalistic sounding record, but each listen opens up new avenues of expression coded within the music.  The melodies develop, and sometimes the pace of the record picks up or slows down.  Perrotta’s sound is based on the piano.  It’s always the lead instrument, and everything is build around it, even if it sometimes falls into the background. 

There are plenty of amazing songs on this album.  Some have very strong hit potential.  Tracks like “Echo of Joy,” “The Wilderness,” “Firestorm,” or “Circles” have all it takes to become radio staples.  All of the songs mentioned here have a great sense of emotional touch, and make the listener feel like something very big is about to happen; a magical feel indeed.

The album is full of musical surprises.  There is a lot going on here, and plenty of instruments make all of this happen.  Everything is beautifully arranged, the music flows, so hold on Speedracer, and enjoy the mood.

Sarah Perrotta created a very special record here.  “Blue To Gold” is a soul-bearing album with a sincere spirituality.  It’s perfectly delivered, and has that something special that will make it timeless.  Perrotta is a very gifted writer with a very gentle touch.

Mark Kadzielawa

Crystal Viper – The Last Axeman (Listenable Records)

Crystal Viper is one of the more exciting heavy metal bands hailing from Poland.  The group is lead by an aspiring metal queen, Marta Gabriel.  They work hard, and go from strength to strength.  Crystal Viper is very consistent, and continues to release music on regular basis. 

“The Last Axeman” is described as an EP, but time-wise it offers nearly 40 minutes of music.  If you were a Crystal Viper fan for some time, you may remember the title track.  “The Last Axeman” gets a complete make over here, and it is a vast improvement over the original.  This song is a true heavy metal anthem.  “In The Haunted Chapel” is a brand new song, “Ulitsa Roz” is a cover from Russian band Aria, and finally Diamond Head’s “It’s Electric” rounds up the EP.  The release includes four more live tracks.  All come from the recent album, “The Cult, “ and were recorded live in the studio.  There are some great guitar harmonies throughout these songs.  Very catchy and melodic.  Also, "Ulitsa Roz" is delivered here in Russian.  Diamond Head's track with female vocals sounds very powerful.  After hearing two covers, the voice inside screams, "give us more!"

“The Last Axeman” has a very fresh feel.  It shows a band coming back to life.  After two years of limitations due to pandemic, the ice is breaking, and the bands start to function again.  Crystal Viper is a great unit with an amazing drive to succeed.  They are pure metal and need to be heard.  Marta Gabriel’s relentless riffing and her piercing vocals dominate the music, but that’s what the core of Crystal Viper is all about.  Good times and glory days of traditional metal!

Mark Kadzielawa

Immolation – Acts of God (Nuclear Blast)

Immolation continues to deliver quality death metal albums!  Acts of God consists of 15 crushing songs that will please the band’s old and new fans.  No trips into prog rock, or getting soft and emotional.  Immolation does not compromise.  While other band sway, Immolation kills!

Acts of God is a state of the art death metal album.  At this point, the band perfected their formula.  They continue to add new elements into their music, but they move within clearly designed parameters.  Immolation is absolutely great at what they do, and they are very sincere about it. 

The album features the same line up as Atonement, which was released back in 2017.  In many way Acts of God continues the feel Immolation developed on Atonement.  The two albums supplement each other.  Heavy rhythms, blasting beats, nerve wrecking riffing, and guttural delivery.  In other words, an instant hell!

Immolation made another record they can be proud of.  In fact, it would be great to hear the entire album being played live as opposed to few selected tracks.  The songs are strong and should be celebrated.  Acts of God will send tremors into your spine with each listen!

Mark Kadzielawa

Voivod – Synchro Anarchy (Century Media)

Voivod managed to achieve something quite unimaginable in the last few years.  They had maintained their sound, feel, and songwriting.  The big credit for this has to go to guitarist, Daniel Mongrain, who replaced the deceased Denis D’Amour.  It seemed like an impossible task, but Voivod is breathing its own air again. 

Synchro Anarchy is a third album with Mongrain on guitar, and once again it feels like the band never lost a bit.  Not only does Mongrain have a perfect understanding of D’Amour’s playing, he is able to add things that are clearly his.  All of this, and the contribution from drummer, Michael Langevin, bassist, Dominic Laroche, and vocalist Denis Belanger, make Synchro Anarchy an amazing album.  And let’s be clear, all Voivod members are crucial in creation process.

It is safe to say that Voivod is like King Crimson of thrash metal.  The music is very innovative and adventurous.  Nothing that happens here is predictable, and even after several listens you can still find sounds you didn’t think were there before.  The combination of heavy riffing with emotional musical landscapes is what makes Voivod stand out from the crowd.  Also, let’s not forget their specific sound that drives it all forward.

Synchro Anarchy is sometimes reminiscent of Nothingface, but in no way is the band repeating any of the music from that album.  It’s just the feel.  In fact, with each spin new connections form, but that happened to be the initial one.  The album has every making of becoming a late career classic.  The songwriting is strong, and the group is still in the experimental mode.  Tracks like “Sleeves Off,” or “Quest For Nothing,” truly show how creative things can get.

While Voivod is not being mentioned as one of the big four, they are in a category of their own.  The band always strived for originality, even in their most primitive days.  There was always something there that made the listeners come back for more.  Voivod rewarded their loyalty with amazing albums; Synchro Anarchy is another milestone forward.

Mark Kadzielawa

 

Overkill – The Atlantic Years 1986-1994 (BMG)

 

This set combines six albums from Overkill during their time with Atlantic records.  If it included the debut, “Feel The Fire”, the entire formative years from the band would be in one box of records.  Atlantic Records picks up the trail from “Taking Over,” and stops with “W.F.O.”  For many, those are the key Overkill records, but the band is just as strong today and full of energy.  Namely, this set includes the following albums: “Taking Over;” “Under The Influence,” “The Years of Dcay,” “Horrorscope,” “I Hear Black,” and “W.F.O.”

The records included in this set certainly deliver solid metal, and show how Overkill developed their style, and how that style matured.  For this writer, who was there when all of those albums were released, many of these records, or even individual songs are related to certain life events.  Various concerts come back to mind where the band was seen promoting these records.  And if you weren’t there, you simply enjoy great music from one of the greatest thrash metal bands of the genre. 

One thing about Overkill is that they are a very consistent band.  Overkill did go through line up changes, down time due to personal reasons, but it never felt like they were away for too long.  There always was a new Overkill record on the horizon, and a tour that followed.  And it’s still true to this day; the band consistently delivers despite of what might be going on.  Also, their style is very unique and original.  With different personnel coming in and out over the years it’s down to Bobby Ellsworth and D.D. Verni to maintain band’s style.  As long as those two will be in the band Overkill will always be Overkill.

The six albums included here shine with metallic precision, melody, and enthusiastic delivery.  Most of the fans, including this writer, have their favorites, so there is no need to force anyone to listen one record over another.  All of them are great in their own way.  And if some of them are not as commonly available, this is the place to get them.  Also, it’s a great way to start your trip into the world of Overkill.  This set delivers the good on every level.  Don’t wait too long because another Overkill album is always around the corner.

Mark Kadzielawa

Saxon – Carpe Diem (Silver Lining)

 

Every time I see Biff I ask him, how many more albums do you have left in you, and he always says, “Two or three.”  “Carpe Diem” is a sixth album since the “Two or three” answer was given.  Needles to say Saxon albums had been spectacular over the last three decades.  Ever since finding their groove back with Solid Ball of Rock, the band delivered a handful of great records.  “Carpe Diem” is another rocking addition to a great discography.

“Carpe Diem” is a great listen from start to finish.  The album is very well balanced and full of songs that Saxon fans can and will appreciate.  With so much material at their disposal it must be a nightmare to create a well-balanced set list.  Saxon, however continues to be creative.  As they claim, they love to play, they love to write, and see no reason why they should stop.

The album has a very solid production, courtesy of Andy Sneap and Biff Byford.  Sneap also mixed the album.  The band definitely played around with the sounds they were known for over the years.  The title track echoes how they sounded back in their Crusader days.  “All For One’s” main riff brings back the “Power & the Glory” feel.  Each listen generates a new connection, or perhaps this writer overdosed on Saxon over the years; and can no longer be objective.  Whatever it is, it makes me coming back for another listen, and that’s a good thing.  When you’re drawn to an album like that you know there is something there, and the band knows it too.

Saxon is a proud band with another great record under their belt.  “Carpe Diem” offers a dose of classical heavy metal with a great touch of musicality.  The lead work on this record is beyond outstanding.  These guys live for the music, and still have fun making it.  Also, it’s great to observe a new generation of Saxon fans referencing the recent releases as classics, which of course contrasts what the older fans prefer.  In the great scheme of things “Carpe Diem” unites all Saxon fans.

Mark Kadzielawa