Reviewed: June 2017 Released: 2017, Blaze Bayley RecordingsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman Former Wolfsbane/Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley turned a lot of heads in 2016 with his independently released solo “comeback” album, INFINITE ENTANGLEMENT. It was Bayley’s first solo record since 2012 and was a tour de force of pure heavy…
The Doomsday Kingdom – The Doomsday Kingdom
Reviewed: June 2017 Released: 2017, Nuclear Blast RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman With a band name and album title like The Doomsday Kingdom, you can pretty much guess what you’re going to get. It’s a definitive statement of doom-filled intent. Add in the fact that this band is another project lead…
Iced Earth – Incorruptible
Reviewed: June 2017 Released: 2017, Century Media RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman Here we are again. Jon Schaffer and his assembled metallians called Iced Earth have returned with their 12th full-length of original material. It’s the third straight album with the irrepressible Stu Block at the mic and you can make…
Labyrinth – Architecture Of A God
Reviewed: June 2017 Released: 2017, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman It is hard to believe, but it’s been seven (!) long years since we last heard from Italian power metal pioneers Labyrinth. Back in 2010 they not only reunited with original guitarist Olaf Thorsen, they also released what many considered…
Steel Seal – The Lion’s Den
Reviewed: May 2017 Released: 2017, Underground SymphonyRating: 3.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman Despite his exit from Rhapsody of Fire in 2016, Fabio Leone has kept his powerful vocals in shape with several projects. Most notably, late last year saw the release of his new band Eternal Idol’s debut. It was an intriguing,…
Sinner – Tequila Suicide
Reviewed: May 2017 Released: 2017, AFM RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman Venerable Teutonic rocker Mat Sinner is back again, taking a slight break from Primal Fear and his many other projects to release his 18th studio album under his Sinner brand. The band’s lineage goes all the way back to the…
Eclipse – Monumentum
Reviewed: May 2017 Released: 2017, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman When a band gets in the habit of releasing almost perfect albums time after time, it becomes difficult objectively review their music. After all, if everything a band does is excellent, it quickly becomes expected and hard to get excited.…
Tokyo Motor Fist – Tokyo Motor Fist
Reviewed: April 2017 Released: 2017, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman Those crazy musical mad scientists over at Frontiers Records have come up with yet another collaboration; taking the great vocals of Ted Poley (solo, Danger Danger) and adding it to the energetic guitar work of Steve Brown (Trixter). Add in…
Jack Russell’s Great White – He Saw It Comin’
Reviewed: April 2017 Released: 2017, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman Most rock fans will be familiar with the ugly split between vocalist Jack Russell and his Great White band mates, which dominated heavy music websites five years ago. Thankfully all the hubbub has died down and both sides have moved…
Freedom Call – Master Of Light
Reviewed: March 2017 Released: 2016, SteamhammerRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman The happiest power metal band in the world, Freedom Call, returned in late 2016 with their 9th studio album, MASTER OF LIGHT. We here at Metal Rules have been big supports of the band right from the start and have reviewed…
Burning Point – The Blaze
Reviewed: March 2017 Released: 2016, AFM RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman After being away since 2012, Burning Point really kicked my ass in 2015 with their self-titled return. It served not only as a reintroduction into the band’s fiery (ha!) power metal but also powerhouse singer Nitte Valo who took over…
Stephen Pearcy – Smash
Reviewed: March 2017 Released: 2017, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman As I write this in February 2017, those hard rockin’ sleazesters in Ratt have been in the news for all of the wrong reasons of late; mostly for their battles with former drummer Bobby Blotzer over continued ownership of the…
Roth Brock Project – Roth Brock Project
Reviewed: February 2017 Released: 2016, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Waspman Roth Brock Project is a collaboration of two current members of rock band Giant; Terry Brock (Kansas, Strangeways, Steve Morse Band) and John Roth (Winger, Jimi Jamieson). As they’re both together in Giant, I’m not sure why they’re doing a…
Graham Bonnet Band – The Book
Reviewed: February 2017 Released: 2016, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman Graham Bonnet has definitely been through the rock n’ roll ringers. Whether it’s his solo work, his “rock” work (Rainbow, Blackthorne etc.), or his “metal” stuff (MSG, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri etc.), the man has done it all in his nearly 50-year…
Glenn Hughes – Resonate
Reviewed: February 2017 Released: 2016, Frontiers RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Waspman After spending much of the last decade in a band format with Black Country Communion and California Breed, Glenn Hughes is back in the solo zone with 2016’s RESONATE. It’s The Voice of Rock’s first new solo effort since 2008’s…