Reviewed: August 2021 Released: 2004 , Polygram Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: JP Inspired by the recent Kiss documentary called Kisstory, (aired on A&E’s Biography series) I decided to go back and review a couple of old Kiss home videos; KONFIDENTIAL and X-TREME CLOSE-UP. This ties in nicely with the re-launch of…
Kiss
Kiss-Konfidential (DVD Review)
Reviewed: August 2021 Released: 2004 , Polygram Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewer :JP Inspired by the recent Kiss documentary called Kisstory, (aired on A&E’s Biography series) I decided to go back and review a couple of old Kiss home videos; KONFIDENTIAL and X-TREME CLOSE-UP. This ties in nicely with the re-launch…
Viola, D.J. (Director) Biography; Kisstory (TV Special)
Reviewed: August 2021 Released: 2021, A&E Biography. Rating: 4/5 Reviewer: JP There is an American television channel called Arts And Entertainment (or A&E for short) and for many years, dating back to 1960, they have been producing a series called Biography’. It is essentially a documentary series about anything under…
Stanley, Paul-Backstage Pass (Book Review)
Reviewed: July 2021 Released: 2019, HarperOne Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: JP When it was first published I reviewed Paul Stanley’s 2014 autobiography, FACE THE MUSIC. In that review, I made a comparison to the other three previously published autobiographies by the original members of Kiss (Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter…
Charlie Benante of Anthrax on New CD Silver Linings – I Wanted These Songs To Sound As Authentic As Possible!
Interview by Robert Cavuoto Charlie Benante of Anthrax has released a brand new album, Silver Linings, that features an all-star cast of “who’s who” in the thrash, metal, and rock worlds earlier this month on Megaforce Records. Silver Linings consists of 14 eclectic and diverse cover songs from Charlie’s acclaimed…
Butterfly – Doorways of Time
Reviewed: February 2021 Released: 2021, Petrichor Rating: 4/5 Reviewer: Kat Knite Four experienced musicians with a range of musical backgrounds and influences join forces in Melbourne, Australia, to bring the world a nostalgic dose of Traditional Heavy Metal, laced with vocal harmonies, twin guitars, and massive sounds from the rhythm…
BRUCE KULICK announces plans for 2021, working with Ace Frehley, and reflects upon the passing of his brother Bob Kulick
BRUCE KULICK INTERVIEW AND LIVE PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJALA Like all his fellow musicians, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick had to take a break from touring and many other activities in 2020 because of the ongoing pandemic. There was no Grand Funk Railroad summer tour, KISS Kruise was canceled, and…
DOUG BROD’s Latest Book, ‘They Just Seem A Little Weird’ Out Dec 1st
A VETERAN MUSIC JOURNALIST EXPLORES HOW FOUR LEGENDARY ROCK BANDS–KISS,CHEAP TRICK,AEROSMITH, AND STARZ–LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR HAIR METAL IN THE ’80S AND GRUNGE IN THE ’90S. Doug Brod’s THEY JUST SEEM A LITTLE WEIRDoffers an original, eye- and ear-opening look at a crucial moment in hard-rock history, when the music…
The Sword Release Cover of KISS Track ‘She’
Austin, TX heavy rockers, The Sword have released their rifftastic cover of the KISS classic ‘She’ today. The track is taken from Chronology 2006 – 2018 and Conquest of Kingdoms, the two career-spanning collections that will be released simultaneously, both showcasing the technically dazzling, riff-heavy and far-reaching metal that…
RICHIE SCARLET – Discuss Return of the Comet, upcoming Solo album and working with Ace Frehley, Corky Laing’s Mountain, and Alice Cooper Group members
INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ Richie Scarlet, also known as “The Emperor of Rock and Roll,” is a New York native musician, songwriter, and producer. Richie started his career as a solo artist in the early ’80s, and he was a founding member of the former Kiss guitarist Ace…
Prato, Greg -Take It Off – Kiss Truly Unmasked (Book review)
Take It Off-Kiss Truly Unmasked (Book review) Published: 2019, Jawbone Press Reviewed: October, 2019 Reviewer: JP Rating: 4.5/5 I know it’s not competition but Greg Prato seems to be intent on catching up with Martin Popoff as title-holder of most books written about Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Prato has…
UGLY KID JOE – Vocalist Whitfield Crane discusses the past, present, and the future of his career, and more
WHITFIELD CRANE INTERVIEW AND LIVE PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJALA Ugly Kid Joe is a hard rock band from California, fronted by vocalist Whitfield Crane. The group was initially formed in 1987, and to date, they have released four full-length albums, two compilation albums, and two EPs. Ugly Kid Joe’s best-selling…
Lucifer – Johanna & Nicke Andersson
INTERVIEW WITH JOHANNA AND NICKE ANDERSSON FROM LUCIFER Lucifer made a huge impact on the doom metal fans with the debut album simply named LUCIFER I. When the first line-up of Lucifer dissolved and Nicke Andersson stepped into the picture, the second album once again simply named LUCIFER II saw…
SWEDEN ROCK 2019
SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL Solvesborg, Sweden 5-8 June 2019 REPORT AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ AND ARTO LEHTINEN Once again, it is time for the annual march to Sweden Rock. This is the 18th time in a row that the Finnish Metal Rules team made an invasion to the mighty Sweden…
RUSS BALLARD – Legendary musician and songwriter discusses his career, the past, present, and future
Russ Ballard is an awarded-winning English musician, songwriter, and producer, best known for his compositions “New York Groove,” “Since You Been Gone,” “Winning,” “I Surrender,” “I Know There’s Something Going On,” “Liar,” “So You Win Again,” “You Can Do Magic,” and “God Gave Rock and Roll to You,” which were…