Soto-Inside the Vertigo ©2015 Ear Music/Edel
Been following Jeff Scott Soto for a very long time and one thing that stands out to me is his versatility. He has tackled many different sounds and done it very well. This album goes back to Soto's heavier side. Heavy guitar sounds mixed with his great vocal work. This album to me is complete. I like everything here equally well. There are great sounding rockers such as 'The Fall' and then there's more sophisticated sounding stuff like 'End of Days'. Overall, the tempo of this album leans heavy, but carries that trademark core that always seems to be there with Soto's music. Essential!
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H.E.A.T.-Live in London ©2015 Gain Music
Solid live album from one of the best current melodic hard rock bands out there. Good stage presence is shown in this recording. The crowd is active and the band's energy is obvious. The high point of this album is the track selection. Just about everything a fan would want to hear is included n the set. One thing that I would snap right up is a companion blu-ray of this show. I tend to like to watch live stuff more than just listen to it, but the band did a splendid job of keeping your attention with the album. If you are into this style and live shows in particular, this one is really good!
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Red-of Beauty and Rage ©2015 Provident Label Group
As far as modern bands go, Red is one of my favorites. This band has the ability to really convey depth, atmosphere and emotion all in a very heavy tone. The title of this album is so appropriate after listening to the sound of this record. Very visual. The band have a recent video for 'Darkest Part' which will give the listener a pretty good idea of what to expect. If you are a fan of the band already as I am, you already know what to expect. It is important to point out that the sound of the record is less like 'Release the Panic' and more like the previous albums. Very highly recommended!
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Eisbrecher-Schock ©2015 Metropolis Records
Another of the NDH band's that we follow here. 'Schock' is the latest by the band and overall is quite heavy. The band really offer up a wall of guitar mixed with their usual sound. You get the usual programming that the band has always embraced and the catchy vibe as well. For those who aren't familiar with the NDH, Rammstein would fall into this sound as does Megaherz. Eisbrecher is a definite force in this genre and write pretty consistent music and have for a long time now. Good record hitting all the high points the band usually is known for. Maybe someday they will break into our market.
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Like a Storm-Awaken the Fire ©2015 Another Century
One of the bands that is a bit new to the domestic scene that we really dig is New Zealand's Like a Storm. You know, the band that offer us Didgeridoo rock. Anyway, this is a good starter album for domestic fans. Most of it is previously released with a couple or so new tracks. I had grabbed a copy of 'Chaos Theory pt.1' through iTunes, but found it hard to find anywhere else in the domestic market. This album resolves that problem especially if you like a physical copy of this album. The band is really good and the album as a starter to new fans is an easy recommend.
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