Heir Apparent, from Seattle, Washington, belong to the veterans of progressive metal. With a founding date in 1984, the progressive powerhouse premiered in 1986 with an album called ‘Graceful Inheritance’. With great songs and limited means, the band put the planned debut on hold in 1984 and released a 5-track demo instead. This first sign... Continue Reading →
CD review SAXON ‘Inspirations’
That Saxon can not only write brilliant heavy metal anthems, but also do good cover versions is known since 1988. The 'Destiny' album opens with 'Ride Like the Wind', a Christopher Cross classic that Saxon sets perfectly into scene. Now, it seems like Biff Byford and bandmates have been going through their own record collections... Continue Reading →
Classics: THUNDERHEAD ‘Behind the Eight-Ball’
It was the Scorpions who made Hannover famous, at least when it comes to music of a harder kind. However, other interesting metal bands of the late 80s and early 90s came from the capital of Lower Saxony. Victory was one of them and also Thunderhead came from Northern Germany. Thunderhead started in 1988 and... Continue Reading →
Classics: W.A.S.P. ‘The Headless Children’
At a time when the Internet seemed to be nothing more than a surreal science fiction vision, people had to rely on other media to keep up with the latest news. Radio was one of the channels that had at least something to offer to rock and metal fans. A pioneer was certainly the weekly... Continue Reading →
Classics: WHITESNAKE ‘Slide It In’ (UK release)
'Slide It In' is Whitesnake's sixth longplayer and depsite the fact that I like the first four albums the most, it is 'Slide It In' that features some really good songs too. Furthermore the album kind of stands for a move into a new era and at the same time is the springboard for the... Continue Reading →
Classics: STORMWITCH ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ – re-issue
Every now and then, especially during the Holiday season, Markus' Heavy Music Blog is featuring some classics, some well-known and some not so much. This time we go to Germany, more precisely, Gerstetten on the Schwaebische Alb. We go back to the year 1987 and the band we are talking about is Stormwitch. "The Masters... Continue Reading →
DVD review SONS OF APOLLO ‘Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’
(9/10) The old Roman amphitheater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria has been the scenery for various shows over the last years. Amongst others Paradise Lost and Devin Townsend performed gigs at this unique location and now it’s Sons Of Apollo that played there. Based on suggestion by their manager Andy Farrow things got shape and form over... Continue Reading →
CD review THE DEAD DAISIES ‘Locked and Loaded’
(8/10) The ones of you that had the chance to witness a The Dead Daisies live show know, that these guys are going for 100% and more. One of the things that led to a fast growing fan base is the unlimited Rock’n’roll power that comes with the band as well as the authentic approach... Continue Reading →
Classics: DREAM THEATER ‘When Dream and Day Unite’
One of the most influential albums in progressive metal has its 30th anniversary. It was in March 1989 when Dream Theater released a milestone album that certainly belongs to the classics in metal. Shortly before releasing 'When Dream and Day Unite' the quintet from NYC gave up the band name Majesty and became Dream Theater.... Continue Reading →
Classics: VICTORY ‘Don’t Get Mad – Get Even’
Victory's rise began in 1984 when former Fargo musicians united under the new moniker. One year later the debut hit the shelves and it was the sophomore release 'Don't Get Mad - Get Even' which was like a trey for the Hannover-based band. The album was recorded by a great line-up, including Peter Knorn (b),... Continue Reading →
Classics: ATROPHY ‘Socialized Hate’
And here comes another chapter of my little Classics-series and it features a band hailing from Tuscan, Arizona. It was in 1986 when a new quintet got into a work mode, a band that delivered a first demo in 1987. A second demo tape followed a bit later and last but not least it was... Continue Reading →
Classics: LIEGE LORD ‘Master Control’
If you're a regular reader of Markus' Heavy Music Blog you probably read sometimes about a band called Liege Lord being a reference when it comes to power metal. This quintet started in 1982 (as Deceiver) and belongs to the pioneers of US Metal. The powerhouse, hailing from Stamford, CT, premiered in 1985 with an... Continue Reading →
Classics: STORMWITCH ‘Stronger Than Heaven’ – re-issue
I guess the artwork would qualify for being one of the 10 most embarrassing covers in metal in the '80s. However, the witches brew that's produced by the 'three witches' seems to have metallic firepower that can be transferred to musicians. According to the album title the brew makes you 'Stronger Than Heaven' and you... Continue Reading →
Classics: RUFFIANS ‘Ruffians’
With this classic, we go back in time even further than with the latest 'Classics' posts. The Delorean brings us back to 1985. In a phase when metal gained momentum and many bands pushed into the market, it was Ruffians from San Francisco that unveiled a brilliant six-track album. Simply entitled 'Ruffians' the debut EP of... Continue Reading →
Classics: MORTAL SIN ‘Mayhemic Destruction’
Who can remember Mortal Sin? The quintet from Sydney, Australia isn't top of mind of everybody, but the ones of you that started their metallic journey in the 80's are familiar with this five-piece powerhouse from down under. Mortal Sin started in 1985 and was described as the 'Australian Metallica'. This gave already a clear idea... Continue Reading →