Legendary power metal band ANNIHILATOR to release new album

Annihilator's new album 'Metal' will be out on april 16th, 2007. I quote from the band's official site,"...In April 2007, after a full year of writing and production, Annihilator will release Metal..."

"Metal’s ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (long-time vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). Metal also features sensational performances by some of metal’s finest players and Annihilator’s good friends, like Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom), Danko Jones (Danko Jones), Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), William Adler (Lamb Of God), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Jesper Strømblad (In Flames), Steve ´Lips` Kudlow (Anvil), Anders Bjørler (The Haunted), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Extreme, Annihilator), Jacob Lynam (Lynam) and more."


(Pic source: www.annihilatormetal.com)

FAITH NO MORE really was an 'Epic'

Fellow rockers Metallica and Guns N Roses named Faith No More as one of their favorite rock groups. I heard 'The Real Thing' first, followed by 'Angel Dust'. To me 'The Real Thing' was the most outstanding album from FNM. Nothing matched its versatility, punk and soul influences mixed with some deft death metal riffs.


(Source: www.fnm.com)

FNM was 'weird' along with Temple of the Dog and Danzig and we realised that our good old metal is now charting new territories. The Real Thing line-up was Michael Patton - Vocals, Jim Martin - Guitars, Mike Bordin - Drums, Roddy Bottum - Keyboards, Bill Gould - Bass.

FNM really rocked in the early 90s and those who believe that Limp Bizkitt was the best rap-metal should bend their ears to 'Epic', the song that rocketed FNM to chart success. This band did open for GNR and Metallica and videos of later albums were ignored by MTV. But FNM continues to rock on forever. Here is what I like:

Digging The Grave was simply a great song from King for A Day...Fool for a Lifetime (1995). Line-up was Mike Patton - Vocals, Guitars by Trey Spruance, Mike Bordin - Drums, Roddy Bottum - Keyboards, Billy Gould - Bass Guitar.

In April 1998 the band officially announced its end.

Radiohead's 'Just' is whacky
Just for a change I am jumping to 90s rock. There were several good bands, but none of them was as electric as heavy metal of the 80s. Rock was drowned in the noise of Nirvana's creativity. I did not like 90s alternative rock bands as such, but there were some really good singles. Towards mid-90s, most of the Grunge bands turned sober and softer with the result that very few bands sticked on my mind.

An example is Radiohead. I like the song 'Just' from Radiohead's The Bends (1995) album. But I've not yet bought a single Radiohead CD and add it to my collection.

Keel was a good band

Just listen to this soft rock number. Keel was more wild and heavier than this.

Keel was formed when Malmsteen left Steeler. Original line-up was vocalist Ron Keel , guitarists Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay, bassist Kenny Chaisson, and drummer Dwain Miller. Ron Keel's site has rare pics of the Steeler and Keel. I've pasted one of them here.

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Also watch a catchy single 'Tears of Fire' from the 1986 'The Final Frontier' album produced by none other than Gene Simmons.

Watch Tears of Fire

Interviews

1.Jason Becker



2.Vinnie Moore. Vinnie has a My Space page also.