Angel - Once Upon a Time (Cleopatra)

 

In 2019, Angel was officially revived by vocalist, Frank Dimino, and guitarist, Punky Meadows.  Dimino and Meadows put together a very solid group around them, and released an excellent comeback album, Risen.  The album set very high standards, and showed Angel as a band that can still deliver the goods, and surprise many fans. 

Once Upon a Time finds Angel in a great shape, and they have another great record to offer.  The album is focused, well written, and beautifully delivered.  Not only are Dimino and Meadows on top of their game, but the band truly shines here.  There is a definite feeling of harmony within the music here.  The album sounds and feels good.

The songs are melodic, with plenty of catchy hooks.  Dimino’s vocals drive each song, and he sounds fantastic from track to track.  It’s a very varied album with plethora of moods being explored.  From powerful rockers to teary ballads, and all in between, Once Upon a Time has it all.

Angel makes a powerful rock statement once again, and they make it look simple and easy.  This is an excellent release, and you will be turning this record over and over.  As Dimino sings, “Music gets me high,” in one of the songs, and he’s not kidding, this album is addictive.  Once Upon a Time is a perfect blend of rock in any shade available!

Mark Kadzielawa

The Church – The Hypnogogue (Communicating Vessels)

 

The Hypnogogue is a great achievement by a veteran band who never stopped on their quest towards perfection.  The Church still continues to evolve, and introduce new elements into their music.  This time, the band is back with a new line up, and of course plenty of new and exciting music.  The sound however is still The Church, and it’s an album that goes in deep.

The beauty of The Church is their reflective mood which they cast upon the listener.  This album is a nearly 65 minutes, and you instantly fall under the imaginary spell.  All of the sounds come at you, take hold of you, and make you travel in variety of different directions.  Each listen takes you somewhere else even though you think you know the songs, and are expecting certain emotions to be repeated. 

It feels like The Church began a new chapter in their career with Further/Deeper back in 2014.  The music became completely unrestrained and without any borders.  The songs are still reaching deep into one’s conscience and provide a spiritual oasis for the soul.  There is a dark beauty to this music, and The Hypnogogue stretches it even more.  If you’re looking for hits, you won’t find any, but you find an incredible collection of songs that work together very well.

It's quite unbelievable how this band was reassembled, and they were able to process this vision with such amazing effects.  This writer certainly misses Peter Koppes, and his signature guitar tone, but even Koppes himself would most likely agree this is an exceptional record.  The current members of The Church created a magical album.

For many years, the Church was often dismissed as a one hit wonder, when in fact they are one of the best kept secrets in music.  Their journey is fascinating, and records like The Hypnogogue are worth the wait.  It’s an album full of mirrors where you can see your face in every reflection possible.

Mark Kadzielawa

Blind Illusion – Wrath of The Gods (Hammerheart Records)

 

Blind Illusion was one of the most unique bands from the Bay Area.  They always had this cool rock element in their music, and their take on metal always stood apart from the rest.  This new album fully supports the above-mentioned claims.

Wrath of The Gods is a very heavy record, well written, with plenty of catchy hooks.  The music takes you on a journey here.  It’s a mix of heavy metal with rock mysticism, incredibly original approach.  After the repeated listens the album continues to surprise with its textures and arrangements.  Each song is crafted with a lot of thought and understanding of music in general.  If Blind Illusion appealed to you back in 1988, then that appeal should be even stronger now.

Guitarist/vocalist, Mark Biedermann, is the only returning member from the line-up that produced The Sane Asylum back in 1988.  Joining him are Doug Piercy on guitar, Andy Galeon on drums, and Tom Gears on bass.  This is a very solid line up, made of veterans of the San Francisco scene.  The performances are very strong, and Piercy’s lead work is truly impeccable.  Biedermann’s guitar and vocals still define Blind Illusion's sound, and his presence is very strong, but it’s great to feel the positive influence of the other band members.  This is a very tight unit of talented players.

The album has a great feel, at times sounds very mysterious, but with definite clarity.  The songs beam with strength and heaviness, and the record is a great listen all the way through.  Wrath of The Gods proves that Blind Illusion was always the engine that powered the great Bay Area metal scene.

Mark Kadzielawa

Munition – Visions (self-release)

 

Munition is a brand-new heavy metal band from Chicago, and Visions is their debut release.  It’s an excellent record, and feels more like 2nd or 3rd record.  There is a strong a sense of experience here, even though these players are relatively young.  Well, they are definitely on the right path.  The goods are delivered!

Visions is a well written and produced album.  It charges with electricity from beginning to the end.  The songs are catchy, and flowing.  Instrumentally, these guys are just absolutely perfect in every way possible.  Very tight rhythm section consisting of Dal Dash and Jorey Guillermo.  Those two players lay the ground for Casey Tremont and George Sizos to perform their riff and lead magic.  Vocalist, Syl Smith, is an absolutely brilliant singer, he takes Munition to another level.  It’s a great team effort here, every player on this album appears to be in the right place and essential to the overall magic.

Munition has a great traditional heavy metal sound with tasty dynamics, and bursting melody lines.  One may wonder how kids so young understand this genre so well, but they do, so let’s just enjoy the music.  The songs Visions come out at the listener with sheer force, and as soon as the record is done, you want to press play again!  The more you listen to this album the more hooks jump out at you. The lead work is also very impressive.  There is a lot of emotion and feel coming from both guitar players.

Visions concludes with Judas Priest cover of Dreamer/Deceiver, which is a very challenging song musically and vocally.  Munition delivers true gold here, and shows they are capable of great things.  Syl Smith's soaring vocal delivery in incredible.  He will shine for many years to come.

Visions is a great starting point for Munition.  The album is very solid, and displays a lot of potential for even greater things to come.  Chicago can certainly be proud!!!

Mark Kadzielawa

Bones - Vomit (Disorder Recordings)

Bones is a death metal band out of the depths of Chicago’s southside.  Vomit is their fourth album.  The band has been releasing records since 2011.  They have a very raw and uncompromising sound.  Vomit is a very sincere offering, there is nothing fake about it

Bones consists of three longtime friends who love to hang out and play music together.  They don’t want to reinvent the wheel, get famous, or break any selling records.  They just love what they do, and do it for fun.  This attitude is reflected in the music.  What’s there no to love?

Vomit is a heavy record, driven by awesome drumming from Joe Warlord, blazing riffs from Carcass Chris, and bass and gore from Jon Necromancer.  You put those three guys together and hell will break loose!  Bones takes no prisoners, it crushes them!  If you ever had a chance of meeting, or hanging out with these guys, they’re fun and crazy.  If they ever come to your town, just buy them a beer, and enjoy their company, you won’t regret it.

Bones definitely delivered a gut-wrenching record.  It’s ugly, it’s brutal, and it wrestles you down.  This is the type of metal you play in your garage, and share it with your friends, and that’s exactly what Bones are doing.  Vomit is an awesome record that needs to be enjoyed!

Mark Kadzielawa

Molder – Engrossed in Decay (Prosthetic)

Molder is a like a melting pot of death metal and thrash.  They take some classic influences, blend it, and come up with a great style of their own.  There are riffs on this album you swear you’ve heard before, but upon closer examination, you realize that you may be familiar with the feel of it, but not the actual riff.  Molder takes the best from the past, and gives it back to you camouflaged and mixed.  Combine that with brutality and great delivery, and you have a great record  Those boys are definitely going places, and we will be hearing some great things about Molder in years to come.

Engrossed in Decay is a very catchy and melodic album.  The riffs are brutal and gut punching, and the sense of melody drives this band forward.  The songs are memorable, and will certainly please even the most hardened of crowds.  There is a sense of formula and style Molder developed over the years, and now they are just strengthening every aspect of it.  Having seen the band live on several occasions, this writer can attest of their crushing stage power.

Vocalist/guitarist, Aaren Pantke, has a very distinctive sound and style.  While riffing uncontrollably he can growl, and add fire to the mayhem the band is displaying.  Bass player, Dominick Vaia is a one-of-a-kind character whose personality shows through his cryptic rhythms.  Drummer, Kyle Pooley, batters the drums and provides a solid springboard for Molder to cause hell.  Carlos Santini empowers the riffing on second guitar, and adds that sonic component taking this band into the stratosphere.

Molder made a great record that will be noticed throughout the death metal scene and community.  Engrosses in Decay will cement this band's position in general.  They are young and ambitious, and have already recognizable style and sound.  This is a solid album that will entertain you for months to come, or simply until the new one becomes available.  Brutally excellent!

Mark Kadzielawa

 

Riot Act – Closer To The Flame (Global Rock Records)

 

Riot Act is a new band formed by former Riot guitarist, Rick Ventura.  The name isn’t coincidental either.  This band was formed to pursue the vision Ventura started back in the glory days alongside Mark Reale.  After few spins it is very clear that Riot Act got everything right.  This album rules!

The songs reflect the style Riot was known for, but there are few twists and turns added along the way.  The music is great, and so it the delivery, but it’s the vocalist, Don Chaffin, that takes it to another level.  Chaffin is the most perfect vocalist for these songs.  He has a very characteristic voice and great charisma.  A frontman like that is not easy to come by.

The songs on Closer To The Flame are catchy, melodic, and full of groove.  The band feels at ease playing them.  Nothing is forced here; every aspect of the music works well naturally.  There are few tracks here that could go places if the radio got behind them, but nowadays that’s a very difficult prediction. 

Instrumentally, this is as good as it gets.  Rick Ventura is a great player, and the combo he put together is absolutely fantastic.  The rhythm section consisting of Paul Ranieri and Claudio Calinski is absolutely superb.  The more you listen to the album, the more you realize how much attention to the detail these players paid.  It's a great sounding record, but nothing is accidental here.  It's the pure professionalism at its finest.

There is a second disc available with the album.  In addition to the new tracks there is a disc of re-recordings of the classic Riot songs.  Those sound very impressive too, and once again, Chaffin puts his own stamp on those.  Both discs add up to one pleasant listen.  Whether you’re in a car, or at home, this music rocks your soul. 

Closer To The Flame is a very prophetic title.  One may interpret it as getting closer to the flame that was the original Riot.  If that was the case, the mission is certainly accomplished.  If there is another meaning behind this title, so be it.  Find your own message and enjoy the music.  Having had a chance of experiencing the band live, this writer can assure you it is just as good as on stage as it sounds here.  Riot Act delivers gold here.  Give this band a chance, and they will go straight for your heart!

Mark Kadzielawa