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

GALLERY:

Jade Warrior – Wind Borne -The Island Years 1974-1978 (Esoteric Recordings)

Jade Warrior were a progressive rock band from the 1970’s.  This box consists of four album the band recorded for Island Records.  The records in question are Floating World, Waves, Kites, and Way of The Sun.  Many of these albums were difficult to find, and this boxset sums it all up in one place. 

Jade Warrior were rather an experimental band with a lot of ethnic influences.  They were not a typical progressive band either.  One has to have a very specific taste in order to fully understand Jade Warrior.  Don’t expect Genesis or Yes here, but rather a band that reaches a bit more into the music, and tries to locate its deepest secrets.

The music on those four records sometimes comes across sounding very minimalistic.  This band loves a lot of space and their sounds can be scarce at times, but extremely colorful.  The use of flute makes the music feel very delicate, and mysterious.  Each album, has slightly a different twist and approach, and it is actually a plus that all four are included here. 

Jade Warrior might be considered strange or unusual, but their madness makes a lot of sense.  This band was very unconventional, they took a lot of chances, and probably risked a lot of label support.  What is left behind is an uncompromising musical trip into the unknown.  Old fans will certainly know what they are getting, but any potential new fans of progressive rock are in for a pleasant surprise.

Mark Kadzielawa

The Church – Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois 3/26/23 (images and words by Mark Kadzielawa)

The Church made history in Chicago playing songs from their new album, The Hypnogogue, and plenty of classic tracks from their 40 year-old career.  In fact, it was probably hard to narrow down a set list that would make everyone happy.  The Church provided a very nice breakdown, and a great show.

This was also the first introduction of the new line up to the Chicago audience.  The three-guitar blend provided an unbelievable sonic mix of sounds that elevated the songs to a new level.  It was absolutely amazing to see this band deliver track after track with so much attention to detail, and still having fun with little improvised parts here and there.  The new songs were absolutely brilliant live, and the old tracks got a new lease on life with this combination of players.  It was a great experience all the way through.

Vocalist/bassist, Steve Kilbey, looked happy and completely content with how things turned out for his band.  He was having fun on stage, even improvising his own version of Hey Joe in honor of the band’s tour bus driver, whose name you can only guess.  Great guitar interaction between Ian Haug and Ashely Naylor.  What a great understanding these two guitar players managed to develop in such a short amount of time.  Add, multi-instrumentalist, Jeffrey Cain, into the mix, and true magic begins to take place.  Drummer, Tim Powles was forced to sit out this tour due to visa problem.  Nicholas Meredith was handpicked and schooled by Powles.  Meredith was absolutely marvelous behind the kit.  He provided great feel for the songs, and will continue to be part of The Church family alongside Powles.  Great songs, outstanding musicianship, and blinding creativity!

Much has to be said about the new music from The Hypnogogue.  Those songs were received enthusiastically.  As good as the classic material is, it was obvious how much more the new tracks stood out from the rest.  The Church could’ve easily played the new album in its entirety, and that would’ve been fully justified.  This could be the defining moment for the group, despite its 40-year history.  The musical leap forward is evident here!

This concert, like many other shows from The Church, was once again a spiritual experience.  At one point you realize this band is playing these songs just for you, despite the number of people in the audience.  The beauty of it is that it’s a shared experience that appeals to everyone's individual senses.  There were a lot of surprises the band prepared for the fans, but what was most attractive thing was the actual delivery, and how they did it.  Notice, no songs titles were given in this review for that reason alone.  Add some creative lights, and the charm of a place like Thalia Hall, and you’re in for an evening you won’t forget anytime soon.

Mark Kadzielawa

PHOTO GALLERY

Arrows – The Complete Collection (Cherry Red)

 

Arrows were a British glam band from the mid 70s.  This trio released one album, and several singles before calling it a day.  Their big claim to fame is I Love Rock N Roll single.  Yes, it’s the same single that was heard by Joan Jett.  Jett of course played around with the tempo, applied a new level of aggression, and made a huge hit.  Arrows however were a very cool band with places to go.

First Hit was the only album Arrows released.  It’s a good record, but you can clearly see a band that is trying to find an identity.  The songs vary in styles.  There is rock, pop, glam, and even a bit of gospel.  It’s actually quite amazing how spread-out Arrows were, but at this point there really isn’t one common denominator that unites these tracks with a certain style.

The album and the singles are still a rewarding listen, and things can get very nostalgic at times.  For this writer, 1970s happened to be childhood years, and the radio played a lot of music like Arrows.  Good memories were attached to those times, and while some songs were hard to remember, the sounds quickly signal the vibe.  Having such background makes appreciating Arrows very easy.  This is fun record from a very special time in rock music that will never repeat.

The Complete Collection is a beautifully put together set.  The sounds on both discs are great, there are plenty of bonus tracks, and a great booklet with photos and memorabilia.  The booklet is very informative, and there is some surprising information, but giving it all away here wouldn’t be fair.  This set has a very special charm, and will grow with each listen.

Mark Kadzielawa

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