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- CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED METAL
- Reviews by Dr. Metal
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Here are some of the great new CDs I have been listening to. |
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ONLINE METAL SOURCE
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- AGENT STEEL – ORDER OF THE ILLUMINATI
- 2003 Artillery Records Buy at: www.theendrecords.com
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Wow...this is a skull crushing powerhouse Metal masterpiece. Speed Metal lives!!!! Great thrashing tunes about the human condition and the future. This CD totally rules. I’m glad the band didn’t give into pressure and change their name. Same lineup as 1999’s OMEGA CONSPIRACY here, except the change in drummer from Chuck Profus to Rigo Amezcua. Rigo totally kicks in the double bass drums here. Brutal! Singer Bruce Hall turns in a blistering performance, topping even his OMEGA CONSPIRACY performance. The guitars and bass are chugging heavily and the riffs and leads are in your face. The songs are better, the production crisper and overall O.O.T.I. is a better CD than OMEGA CONSPIRACY. This is American Metal to the core, the way it was meant to be played. A true contender for album of the year! |
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- CAGE – DARKER THAN BLACK
- 2003 Fugitive Records Buy at: www.theendrecords.com
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An American band that is starting to take off due to their great ability to mix Traditional and Power Metal with some black/death Metal elements. Sometimes it sounds like vocalist Sean Peck is channelling King Diamond or Rob Halford! His ability to switch between clean and rough vocals is impressive. But don't get me wrong, this is mostly Power Metal and Cage are pushing the bounderies of Power Metal and their own sound. Truly awesome songs like “Kill The Devil” and “Wings of Destruction” will earn them many new fans. Every song on this album is good. This is a definite improvement over the last album ASTROLOGY, which was still a solid album. If you’re into Power, Melodic, Speed, or just straight-up kick ass Heavy Metal, you will like Cage. |
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- CIRCLE II CIRCLE – WAITING IN SILENCE
- 2003 AFM Records Buy at: www.theendrecords.com
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Do you miss Zak Stevens-era Savatage? Then you’ll love Circle II Circle, Zak’s new band. WATCHING sounds just like the albums Zak sang on for Savatage. In fact, maybe too close. Personally, I was hoping for something a little different from him. But these songs are so strong, that I can’t help but recommend them to any fans of Savatage, melodic or Power Metal and rock. This is good stuff, very classy and well done. Zak has a great voice and he’s just an enjoyable singer to listen to. The album was even produced by Savatage’s Jon Oliva, who did a superb job here. Maybe the difference between this band and Savatage is the exclusion of the musical interludes and intros. These songs pretty much get right to the point without much frills, which is refreshing to hear. |
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- TALISMAN – CATS AND DOGS
- 2003 Frontiers Records Buy at: www.impulsemusic.com
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This is vocalist Jeff Scott Soto’s band and man, is this CD a breath of fresh air!! This is the kind of kick ass power/commercial Rock and Metal so many older bands wish they could make. The vocals are sweeping and powerful. Great hooks and truly catchy songs! The songs have a commercial tinge to them, but you won’t hear them on the radio because they are too heavy. Just truly catchy stuff. I had this CD in my player for several days before it came out. The choruses stay in your head. The production is perfect, and Jeff probably gives the vocal performance of a lifetime. Listen to samples at the link above. |
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