Destination Destruction is SATAN’S FALL’s 2nd album. This band from Finland delivers a heavy, 2-guitar, 8 song killer album. Full of big riffs, memorable melodic rockers, and anthems, and just a powerful sound with the production & mix. The first 2 singles “Lead The Way” & “Afterglow” were cool, but favorites here gotta be “Monster’s Ball” with it’s soft guitar built up intro before the band comes in, delivering a great melodic rocker (as light as it gets here), “No Gods, No Masters” with interesting little guitar intro (reminiscent of Saxon’s “Crusader”), before the band kicks in to a faster rocker, there’s a spoken word bit which I presume tells part of the story, and the last track is perhaps the best one here – “Dark Star”, some of this (guitar solo/melody) remind me of Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane”, but dig this track. These guys even recorded a couple of covers as bonus tracks – one being a theme to a German TV show, and the other being the ‘Power Rangers’ TV show theme! Prior to 2020’s Final Day album, Satan’s Fall had released a few singles & EPs since 2016 – one of which included a decent metalized take of Kenny Loggins’ hit “Danger Zone”!
This is my favorite metal album lately, no bum tracks to skip over, a great listen all the eway through. Recommended to fans of Saxon, Helloween, Grave Digger, and and latter day Judas Priest. Looking forward to getting the actually LP.
HARD ROCKERS SVEN GALI RETURN WITH EXPLOSIVE COMEBACK ALBUM BOMBS & BATTLE SCARS RELEASED IN CANADA
SVEN GALI’s trademark blend of heavy riffs, gritty vocals, and anthemic melodies span decades. Cutting their teeth in the bar circuit of Southern Ontario, Canada in the late 80’s, SVEN GALI’s live show was a full on circus of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.
Emerging with a record deal with BMG, SVEN GALI released their debut self-titled release in 1992. From the first chord of “Under The Influence” SVEN GALI made their mark. Follow up singles “Tie Dyed Skies” and “In My Garden” paved the way for the ballad number 6 CanCon song of 1993 that also went Top 10 nationwide, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.” As the album went Gold, SVEN GALI won the MuchMusic Best Metal Video Award in 1993 for “Under The Influence” and was nominated for two Junos. With a worldwide release, SVEN GALI toured with the likes of Def Leppard, Foreigner and April Wine.
SVEN GALI’s follow-up, Inwire, was partly recorded in in Seattle with producer Kelly Gray and saw the band take on a more alternative experimental tone. The band broke up soon after the album’s release and played sporadic shows before solidifying a new lineup with original members Dave Wanless (vocals), Andy Frank (guitar) and TT (bass) bringing in guitarist Sean Williamson and drummer Dan Fila from former BMG labelmates Varga.
SVEN GALI’s new release Bombs & Battlescars through Canadian label, Music In Motion Ent, combines the best of both SVEN GALI eras. The album contains five new originals. “One Gun” is a relentless driver that sets the battlefield ablaze with its blistering guitar work and commanding vocals. The massive groove of “Coming Home” and fierce anthem “Monster” showcase Sven Gali’s unapologetic attitude while the sonic prowess of “Life Inside” stands side by side with any current alternative metal peers. Closer “Nothing New” showcases the melodic side of the band with a catchy acoustic groove.
Bombs & Battlescars also brings the band full circle with a cover of Triumph’s “Spellbound.” Recorded at Toronto’s Metalworks studio where many of SVEN GALI’s early songs were recorded and demoed, acclaimed Coney Hatch frontman Andy Curran produced the track bringing the song into the modern age. Triumph drummer Gil Moore also appears in the video. The album is filled out with three remastered unreleased tracks from the band’s 90’s recording vault.
Bombs & Battlescars is out now, for both physical and streaming. Videos for “One Gun” and “Monster” are presently available online. The band’s third single, “Coming Home,” is set to coincide with the international release of Bombs & Battlescars on Feb 02, 2024. This date will also feature the debut of “Coming Home” mixed in Dolby Atmos (courtesy of Iguana Studios in Toronto ON) along with a new video for the single.
Bombs & Battle scars on CD and limited edition army green vinyl are available through retail. Signed CDs and LPs are available through their web store. *Watch for the Record Store Day release of Sven Gali’s 1992 debut on marble purple vinyl on November 24!
*Go to Svengali.ca for social media links, videos, merchandise and shows.
This weekend CONEY HATCH will be celebrating 40 years And the release of a new live album. Postcard From Germany will be released (and available at the show) in a 2CD set, coupled with the band’s classic 1982 debut album (remastered with bonus tracks!). In a recent exchange Carl Dixon answers questions on the band’s new release, as well as their first album, and (potential) future plans. Enjoy the read, and check out the links below. Tickets for this Saturday’s show At the El Mocambo in Toronto are available here –https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/postcard-from-germany-album-release-under-the-neon-palms-at-tickets/13483218
Q: ‘Postcard From Germany‘ has been out for a while via Cleopatra, what was the reasoning for this new release (rerelease?)?
Carl: We wanted to make a Canadian territory release similar to our early days with Anthem Records, and it’s a great opportunity to pair the most recent with our remastered debut.
So….the 40th Anniversary of the first Coney Hatch album was celebrated at the end of last year, will this celebration on the 11th be different as far as the set-list goes?
Yes, we’ll feature material from 5 different albums, including the song Andy sings on Postcard, Heaven’s on the Other Side which we did not perform last time!
Will there be some new merch special for this occasion? (a debut album shirt Perhaps)
There is a plan in motion to do just that. The Double -CD package will be available at the show also.
Might we get (even down the road) a full performance of the Outa Hand album?
Ah, clever lad, you’ve anticipated our next marketing ploy
Live From Germany turned out to be an excellent live recording; has it inspired (for lack of a better word) you guys to (want to) record any future shows? (Any chance you recorded last December’s El Mo show?)
Ummm, we haven’t thought about going to the well for more live albums, now having two, but you never know what the future holds
Being your first time playing Germany, and knowing how big of rock fans/ supporters Germans are, what was your biggest memory and lasting impression of playing that HEAT Fest in 2018?
It was most memorable to feel the audience excitement and hear them singing along. We love playing Germany and all Europe.
Both of the new tracks came out very good, and gave us 2 memorable Coney tunes. Were you happy with the way they turned out, the feedback, and has this planted the seed for possible new Coney Hatch in the near future?
Very happy, yes. It’s About a Girl and Heaven’s On the Other Side have pointed the way to getting more music recorded together as a band with great new guy (ha, 10 years) Sean Kelly.
All photos courtesy of Donald Gadziola
Regarding the first album…. Looking back on writing, recording – the whole experience. What is the biggest memory for you from it? And what was the biggest thing you learned from it? (being your first album)
The biggest thing we learned from recording the first Coney Hatch album was that it’s so important to pay attention to details on every level; the lyrics, the performance, the musical parts that each musician plays, the gear you select, the setting, the scheduling, , staying healthy, even what you do at meal times!
Do you recall how you felt about the album when it was done and released and if you (guys) felt you had something really special or something you thought might be a big success at the time? (How did you perceive it at the time)
Kim Mitchell (producer) was very confident that it would be a success when it was done, so we took our cue from him. We felt that we had achieved our goals and even surpassed them. There was no feeling that we’d missed out or been pushed around by the label or producer.
There were a few tracks left off of ‘Coney Hatch’ , which are included as bonus tracks n this new release. And I know ‘Where I Draw The Line’ was bumped in favor of ‘Hey Operator’, but what do you recall of writing and/or recording that one (lyrical ideas), as well as ‘Dreamland’, and even ‘Sin After Sin’?
Where I Draw the Line started as a musical jam during one of the many rehearsal/writing sessions we did on the road in the early days. I wrote a lyric for it based on my experience of leaving Montreal after being in a band there for a couple of years. Dreamland came out of my blues-rock riffing, probably influenced by Bad Company and Humble Pie, and the lyrics were based on a mix of actual dreams and some dramatic waking experiences. Sin After Sin came from Andy’s love of Judas Priest and similar heavy rock, written about a girl who’d, umm, let him down shall we say.
Any recollections on the photo taken that ended up on the back of the debut album? (where taken, etc..)
Ha, that photo! We had a couple of photo shoots to get an album cover image, and the label guys felt we showed no “attitude” in the shots we were getting. Tom Berry (Anthem VP) decided to bring a case of beer to the next attempt, and the results were considerably loosened up this time. What they chose from that day was a picture of four semi-pickled young musicians each about four beers in…
Any Coney plans for 2024 – as far as any reissues, archived releases (thinking Cleveland 1982), major festivals, ….?
Wow, Kreskin, again with the anticipating! Yes, we are looking at Cleveland’82 as one option and some other products to release through Anthem, the record label name we are happily reunited with (even if it’s none of the same people). Some rumblings also of a new album if there is deemed to be sufficient interest from the public. Two European dates on the calendar for next October: Firefest in Manchester and Bully on Rock in France. hoping for more to come in over there!
‘Metal’ Mike has written his own story on the 80s Metal bands he grew up with and interviewed. Independently published, at 214 pages, and available on Amazon for a mere $15! Check it out. Also, check out the press info below and links at the bottom.
80’s Glam Metalcast podcaster, “Metal” Mike, takes the reader on a journey through Hair Metal’s highs and lows, from 1986 to 1991. “A Hair Metal Journey” is loaded with stories about Metal’s glory days from past and current members of bands like KISS, RATT, Winger, Dokken, Britny Fox and more! You get a peak behind the scenes of Hair Metal’s classic albums and tours. All along the way, the author looks at back at his own 80’s adolescent journey, going to EPIC concerts, and keeping up with all the head banging fandom that came along with this legendary genre!
The rockers tell similar stories that help paint the picture of what it took for them to get to the top and stay there. It seemed liked the party would stay wild forever until it all came to a clashing halt in 1991. Many reflect on the challenges they faced as Hair Metal got bloated and Grunge emerged. “It’s a breath of fresh air to see someone like Mike release a book that is based on true research and experience.This guy knows his stuff when it comes to Glam Metal. He is a true fan of the genre and proves without a doubt, that his knowledge is deep and genuine. He knows how to ask the right questions and give credit where it is due to the bands who created this genre of Rock music. Great job Mike!!!!” – Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe)
“80’s Glam Metalcast podcaster Metal Mike knows what people want to hear about when he does interviews. That’s what makes his interviews interesting and fun to read.” – Olivier (Editor-In-Chief, Sleaze Roxx)
“Mike the 80’s Metal Man will take you back 40 years. Back when the music had balls, the hair had spray, and bands knew how to party their arses off and entertain a crowd for a cheap price. Bring me back Mike!” – Doc “Killdrums” Wacholz(Savatage/Reverence)
“From one Hair Metal fanatic to another, Mike’s knowledge, passion, and commitment to Rock n Roll’s most exciting, flamboyant, and decadent era is completely unparalleled” – Rob Wylde (Midnite City/Ex Tigertailz)
“Hair Metal Mike knows his shit! He knows how to take you on a trip to way back when. He’s always tasteful in how he gets the artists and readers involved.” – Chris Laney (Pretty Maids)
“I love Metal Mike’s insights into the history, songwriting, and musicianship of my favorite bands. I’ve always been a fan of this music… but I’ve never learned so much as I have from Mike. That’s what makes this book so fantastic. It’s not only packed with more insight, knowledge, and appreciation than could ever fit in a single podcast episode, it’s chock full of Mike’s personal stories and experiences. This is a book not just for the Metalcast audience, but for anyone who loved this music when it first came out… and still loves it today.” – Chad Gervich (Co-Executive Producer, “I Wanna Rock: The 80s Metal Dream)”
Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I is the second studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1987. It marks the first appearance of vocalist Michael Kiske, and is considered the album that created the genre of European-style power metal. Now as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for Noise, this classic album gets a limited edition reissue on splatter vinyl with album cover poster.
Loudwire named the album at third in their list “Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time” and commented the album is “a tireless LP and perhaps the first genuine power metal album.” ThoughtCo also named the album in their list “Essential Power Metal Albums.”
Tracklisting:
Side A Initiation I’m Alive A Little Time Twilight Of The Gods A Tale That Wasn’t Right
Trapeze albums’s “Medusa” and “You Are The Music…We’re Just The Band” are now available for pre-order on Limited Edition Vinyl (250 copies of each) for the first time in over 40 years! Also Limited Bundles (100 copies of each) with a signed flat by Glenn Hughes.
Celebrating 50 years since he joined DEEP PURPLE, David Coverdale (& Whitesnake) have reissued their 2015 album ‘The Purple Album‘ (remastered), as a special Gold edition (That was followed by the 2017 ‘The Purple Tour‘ album…hmm, wow). Not sure that I need this album again, but this track – “You Fool No One” sounds particularly good, with a cool collage of Whitesnake clips together making up the video. The song is updated, and much heavier than the original Deep Purple classic from Burn. Rhino’s 2CD + blu-ray version of this includes a pile of extra takes, and interesting bits like Coverdale’s Deep Purple Audition tape, which is likely most worthwhile to pick up.
Check out the video below. Incidentally, Glenn Hughes has been playing one on his current tour celebrating Deep Purple classics as well. See track-listing and links below.
CD 1: 2023 REMIX 1. Burn 2. Lay Down, Stay Down 3. Love Child 4. Holy Man 5. The Gypsy 6. Lady Double Dealer 7. Might Just Take Your Life 8. Mistreated 9. Stormbringer 10. Sail Away (Interpolating “Elegy For Jon”) 11. You Keep On Moving (featuring The Hook City Strings) 12. Lady Luck 13. Coming Home 14. You Fool No One (Interpolating “Itchy Fingers” Dedicated In Loving Memory Of Jeff Beck) 15. Soldier Of Fortune
CD 2: 78:38 THE PURPLE TOUR “FIVE LIVE” 34:48 1. Burn 2. The Gypsy 3. Mistreated 4. You Fool No One 5. Soldier of Fortune
ALTERNATIVE MIXES 6. Holy Man (Unzipped) 7. Stormbringer (Punch In The Nuts Mix… Joel Hoekstra alt solo) 8. Love Child (Joel Hoekstra alt solo) 9. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings) 10. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring The Hook City Strings) 11. Soldier Of Fortune (instrumental featuring The Hook City Strings)
Demos and Audition Tapes (Previously Unreleased)
The DC Purple Audition Tape 1972 featuring The Fabulosa Brothers 12. Everybody’s Talkin’ 13. Get Ready 14. Lonely Town Lonely Street 15. Dancing In The Street 16. 1974 DC Demos/Ideas For “Stormbringer” album
DISC 3 BLU-RAY PURPLE MUSIC VIDEOS 1. Lady Double Dealer 2. Stormbringer 3. Sail Away 4. Soldier of Fortune 5. The Gypsy 6. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings) 7. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring The Hook City Strings)
PURPLESNAKE VIDEOS 8. Lay Down, Stay Down 9. Holy Man 10. You Keep On Moving 11. You Fool No One
LIVE CLIPS 12. Burn (Live “Atlantis” Video) 13. Burn/Stormbringer (Live In The Still Of The Night) 14. Soldier Of Fortune (Starkers In Tokyo)
THE PURPLE TOUR “FIVE LIVE” 15. Burn 16. The Gypsy 17. Mistreated 18. You Fool No One 19. Soldier of Fortune 20. The Purple Album: Behind The Scenes 21. The Purple Album: Song-By-Song
Fresh from the overwhelming success of their latest album ‘IV-Sacrament’, Lancaster’s heavy bards and spiritual hard rock titans Wytch Hazel have gone all in on delivering a fully-fledged, tubular-bell-ringing Christmas single.
Transposing the hymnal classical influences of Handel’s Messiah and the spirit of carols the like of ‘The First Noël’ via the earthy heraldry of Steeleye Span and Wishbone Ash, the band deliver something for which perhaps only they would have the skill, sensitivity and spiritual charge. Replete with Wytch Hazel’s trademark twin-guitar harmonies and finely honed arrangements, ‘King Of Israel’ is both a stirring devotional tribute and a heartfelt message of unity, peace and goodwill to all on Earth.
The 7” red marble vinyl edition is backed by Colin Hendra’s minor key arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne” which was misspelled on the first pressing as “Old Lang Syne” by the Bad Omen elves.
CELEBRATE 40 YEARS WITH LIVE SHOW IN TORONTO ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH
Coney Hatch, one of Canada’s iconic rock bands will release a live album titled Postcard From Germany via Anthem Records on Friday, November 10th. In celebration of this release, Coney Hatch will perform their final live performance of 2023 at the famed El Mocambo in Toronto on Saturday, November 11th.
“We’ve been halfway around the world this summer with shows at Sweden Rock and Hamburg, Germany,” says singer/bassist Andy Curran. “So returning to the El Mocambo is a special homecoming for us. We love playing in Toronto, it’s where we began this ride, and it’s a perfect time to celebrate 40 years together.”
Recorded on December 12, 2018 at HEAT Festival in Ludwigsburg, Postcard from Germany is a live recording of Coney Hatch’s 1st-ever live show in Germany. Comprised of a double CD, in addition to Postcard from Germany, 2 new songs will be included, as well as a remastered version of Coney Hatch’s classic self-titled debut – which will include 3 ‘bonus’ tracks from that period (“Dreamland”, “Where I Draw The Line”, and “Sin After Sin” (demo).
“It was our very first time in Germany and the show was electric,” recalls Curran. “It was full on combat rock!!! We flew many hours to get there and quickly settled in with German beers and Schnitzel. The final results were more raw and in your face compared to previous live recordings. We also included more songs from our ‘Friction’ record in that set list”.
Postcard from Germany features almost all of the expected Coney classics “Devil’s Deck”, “Monkey Bars” and “Stand Up” as well as two newly-recorded studio tunes ‘It’s About A Girl” and “Heaven’s on the Other Side”.
“This album has a different set list from the ‘Live at the El Mocambo’ record, plus two new studio tracks we recorded over Covid. I produced those two new songs and it marks the first time guitarist Sean Kelly has been involved with recording of new Hatch songs. Sean stepped in to the lead guitar role in 2014 and we’re proud to have him.”
In addition to Curran and Kelly, the group also includes original members lead vocalist/guitarist Carl Dixon and drummer Dave Ketchum.
Regarding the two new tracks, the band was willing to give background info about each. Curran: “‘Heaven’s On the Other Side’ was written around the time we recorded ‘Coney Hatch Four,’ and we finally got around to finishing it during the lockdown. The message is simple…keep the faith and trudge on through the bad times because the good times are always just around the corner. I also felt I was long overdue to write another song about the devil!!”
Dixon: “I had an idea driving ‘It’s About a Girl’; women are wonderful, women got the power, women gave every one of us our life. We men will do anything to get their attention. It’s Always About A Girl.”
Along with the ripping live set recording, and 2 new unreleased tracks, ‘Postcard From Germany’ album will be bundled with a remastered edition of the band’s iconic debut record CONEY HATCH, produced by Canada’s favorite vocalist/guitarist Kim Mitchell.
This special edition 2 disc CD will only be available for purchase at the band’s live show and at your favorite local record stores.
Members of Canada’s SPELL – Cam Mesmer and Jeff Black (Glyph, Gatekeeper and Encloaked) have a new single out for Halloween. The song is called “Blood Lust”, penned by Black and Mesmer. Labeled as “The greatest romantic tragedy of the 21st century! Be careful in the graveyard this Hallow’s Eve…”, this tune is an easily likeable rocker, with a killer guitar intro. It’s available on Spotify, as well as a spooky new video directed by Jeff Black, with the story (and lyrics) by Mesmer. Jeff Black comments on FB – “It was my first time filming and editing something like this and it was a very worthwhile challenge. I also fully produced and mixed the song and it’s one of my best pieces to date imo!” *Check out the video below (more details & lyrics in the video description), save the single, and check out the links!
Outsider Rock 