September 12th Issue
The Writ
Rises Again !
Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, plus a smattering of Prog and Classic Rock ! ….. and other stuff
It’s been years since The Writ has graced bookshelves everywhere……uh, well maybe never…….but there was that long-forgotten music store somewhere in Varnamo, Sweden for a bit. The writing bug has bitten me again and, thanks to some old pals, there’s been some a lot of work done behind the scenes in our Mining For Heavy Rock project that was unfortunately endless and overwhelming (yet exhilarating). So, the purpose of The Writ has always been, and will be moving forward, to highlight heavy rock music in the form of album and concert reviews in order to share with our massive group of readers ( I think we are up to at least 5 now !) In reality, it’s just a small way of sharing our feelings about the music that we are passionate about, so I hope there’s a bit of enjoyment out of it. With that being said, let’s dive into a few album reviews.
Featured Reviews
Amorphis - Halo
Subgenre: Progressive Death / Heavy Metal
Rating: 9
Tomi Joutsen Vocals
Esa Holopainen Lead Guitar
Tomi Koivusaari Rhythm Guitar, Harsh Vocals
Jan Rechberger Drums
Olli-Pekka Laine Bass
Santeri Kalio Keyboards
I was introduced to this band with 1999’s Tuonela, and I’ve followed them ever since with fascination. Steeped in traditional Finnish folklore, every album is a sonically cultural experience, rich with crushing heaviness, progressive instrumentation, and equal measures of brutally harsh growls and incredibly melodic clean vocals. Halo is yet another offering in the band’s tradition, actually the final album of a trilogy, beginning with 2015’s Under The Red Cloud and 2018’s Queen Of Time. I have to admit that I am not a natural fan of death growls, but when I listen to Amorphis, I am transported to the icy steppes of the band’s homeland and can’t help but feel my Viking blood rise. When the clean vocals balance out the harshness, the melodies are absolutely beautiful and incredibly catchy. Amorphis communicates the shades and dynamics of heavy music like no one else today. Highlights include the opening track, Northwards, as well as On The Dark Waters, When The Gods Came, Seven Roads Come Together, and the title track. I can’t help but hear subtle hints of the guitar/keyboard interaction from Tuonela and can fully appreciate the symphonic sounds added in tasteful measure throughout most of the tracks. It’s all simply brilliant and atmospheric in an otherworldly sense! With Halo, Amorphis proves once again that they are one of the premier heavy acts worldwide. The frost is beginning to overwhelm me…….
Tracks:
Northwards
On The Dark Waters
The Moon
Windmane
A New Land
When The Gods Came
Seven Roads Come Together
War
Halo
Wolf
My Name Is Night
Scorpions - Rock Believer
Origin: Germany
Year: 2022
Subgenre: Heavy Metal / Hard Rock
Rating: 6.5
The Players:
Klaus Meine Vocals
Matthias Jabs Lead Guitar
Rudolf Schenker Rhythm Guitar
Pawel Maciwoda Bass
Mickey Dee Drums
There’s a buzz about the latest offering from Germany’s finest. Let’s face it, Scorpions were once a legendary band in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but the group’s output since that period is, well, mediocre at best. Sporting a very cool album cover, Rock Believer is an attempt to redeem the band’s reputation and spark a resurgence. With a worldwide tour in progress, the band has invested an admirable amount of time and energy into this album. I have to admit, there are a few bootstompers that raise an eyebrow or two, but unfortunately most of the album lacks energy. Most tracks are middling-tempo 80’s style rockers that feature anthemic choruses but little else. The album lacks fire. Having said that, I do think Gas In The Tank and Roots In My Boots begin the album in fine fashion, exuding an energy and momentum that hasn’t been heard from the band in awhile. Shining Of Your Soul, Hot And Cold, and Peacemaker are also decent rockers. Don’t get me wrong, the band members sing and play great amidst a nicely produced recording, but the songwriting throughout is average. I just expected more from Scorpions. The album reminds me of the late-80s version of the band….past their prime. Rock Believer is an average album with a few sparks here and there.
Tracks:
Gas In The Tank
Roots In My Boots
Knock ‘em Dead
Rock Believer
Shining Of Your Soul
Seventh Sun
Hot And Cold
When I Lay My Bones To Rest
Peacemaker
Call Of The Wild
When You Know
Night Demon- Year Of The Demon
Origin: USA
Year: 2022
Subgenre: New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM)
Rating: 9
The Players:
Jarvis Leatherby Vocals, Bass
Dusty Squires Drums
Armand John Anthony Guitars
Ventura, California’s Night Demon are one of the leading bands of the New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal movement that has cropped up worldwide in the last 10-15 years. The NWOTHM takes its primary influences from 1980’s bands like Iron Maiden, Savatage, Angelwitch, and the like. There’s nothing “hair metal” about these bands, as they tend to be more power metal-oriented. Night Demon is probably my favorite band of this genre; fast, intricate, heavy as molten lava, outstanding musicianship, and superior production abound. Year Of The Demon is the latest offering from these guys, and it might just be the top release of 2022. Every track is outstanding, but if I had to list my favorites, I’d have to choose album opener Empires Fall, Kill The Pain, Vysteria, and The Sun Goes Down. In addition, the band somehow lured Uli Jon Roth onto stage to record Scorpions classics In Trance and Top Of The Bill. The band’s live rendition of Maiden’s Wasted Years is also outstanding. The only average track on the album is Fast Bikes, which sports a slightly annoying and cheesy chorus. Other than that minor blip, the album is truly outstanding ! The only thing that keeps my rating from a 10 is the fact that four covers are included in place of more original tracks (also covered, Cirith Ungol). These bands, of which Night Demon is one of the finest, are the best kept secret in the world of heavy music. Please support them….buy their albums ! You’ll thank me later……
Tracks:
Empires Fall
Kill The Pain
Are You Out There
Vysteria
In Trance (featuring Uli Jon Roth, live in Germany)
Fast Bikes
100 MPH (featuring Tim Baker of Cirith Ungol)
The Sun Goes Down
Wasted Years (live version)
Top Of The Bill (featuring Uli Jon Roth, live in Germany)
From The Vault
Lucifer’s Friend - Lucifer’s Friend
Origin: Germany, United Kingdom
Year: 1970
Subgenre: Early Doom, Heavy Progressive
Rating: 9
The Players:
John Lawton Vocals
Peter Hesslein Guitar
Dieter Horns Bass
Peter Hecht Keyboards
Joachim Reitenbach Drums
Rising out of the ashes of Asterix (another very good album from 1970), Lucifer’s Friend was formed in Hamburg, Germany by John Lawton (vocals), Peter Hesslein (guitar), Dieter Horns (bass), Peter Hecht (keyboards), and Joachim Reitenbach (drums). This debut album is eagerly sought by fans of early heavy metal /doom the world over. Along with Black Sabbath, Heep, and Purple, it is a critical record in the birth of heavy metal in 1970. The music is powerful, dark, and extremely heavy. Lawton’s vocals are incredible and rivals any of the top singers of the time. The guitars are mixed up front and rival Sabbath’s tone. Top tracks include the superb Ride The Sky (a metal anthem if there ever was one), Everybody’s Clown, Toxic Shadows, and Lucifer’s Friend. There isn’t a weak track on the album though, as the band churned out massive gems of lead. At your peril, do not ignore this release as one of the most important albums of heavy metal’s beginning.
The Tracks:
Ride The Sky
Baby You’re A Liar
Toxic Shadows
Free Baby
Keep Goin’
Everybody’s Clown
In The Time Of Job When Mammon Was A Yippie
The Obligatory Lists
Kevin’s Most Influential Albums (in chronological order)
Uriah Heep - Live (1973)
Black Sabbath- We Sold Our Soul For Rock And Roll (1975)
Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog (1975)
Rush - Hemispheres (1978)
Judas Priest - Unleashed In The East (1979)
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980)
Manowar - Battle Hymns (1982)
Metallica - Kill ‘Em All (1983)
Trouble - Psalm 9 (1984)
Agalloch - The Mantle (2002)
Top 20 Heavy Albums from the 1960’s
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin - II (1969)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience- Are You Experienced? (1967)
Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience- Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
Jethro Tull - Stand Up (1969)
Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (1968)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience- Electric Ladyland (1968)
Cream - Fresh Cream (1966)
The Who - Tommy (1969)
Blue Cheer- OutsideInside (1968)
Free - Tons Of Sobs (1969)
Andromeda - Andromeda (1969)
The Gods - Genesis (1968)
Jeff Beck - Truth (1968)
Cream - Wheels Of Fire (1968)
Leslie West - Mountain (1969)
Grand Funk - Grand Funk (1969)
High Tide - Sea Shanties (1969)
Deep Purple - Shades Of Deep Purple (1968)
Sean’s Top 10 Albums from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), Phase 1: 1979-1980
Diamond Head- Lightning To The Nations
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Angelwitch- Angelwitch
Saxon- Wheels Of Steel
Def Leppard- On Through The Night
Tygers Of Pan Tang- Wildcat
Quartz- Stand Up And Fight
Girl school- Demolition
Praying Mantis- Time Tells No Lies
Samson- Head On
Terry’s Top 10 Albums of 1985
1. Fates Warning- The Spectre Within
2. Armored Saint- Delirious Nomad
3. Savatage- Power Of The Night
4. Dokken- Under Lock And Key
5. Ratt- Invasion Of Your Privacy
6. Loudness- Thunder In The East
7. Iron Maiden- Live After Death
8. Trouble- The Skull
9. Mass- New Birth
10. Dio- Sacred Heart
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