The House Of Love - Babe Rainbow

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I was lucky enough to find a second-hand CD copy of this 1992 album by The House Of Love. It's currently out of print, which is a shame as it's such a strong album. Universal own the rights to this, but instead of trying to promote it they have deleted it. Now they want to acquire the EMI catalogue, but what's the point if they cannot promote what they have already? As it happens, bleeding chunks of this album are available on the double CD “The Fontana Years” which is a patchy but cheap release. Songs common to both albums are “You Don't Understand”, “Yer Eyes”, “Crush Me”, “Feel”, and “The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes”. Completists will need both releases as the compilation includes rare B-sides etc.

The album kicks off with the crazy and weak intro to "You Don't Understand", released as a single in 1992 when it scraped into the Top 50.  A strong, catchy song, it should have been bigger.  Next track is "Crush Me" where the guitars while subtle, are quite overwhelming.  The effect is quite beautiful and this is my favourite track on the album.  It was also the fourth and poorest-selling single from the album.  More shimmering and psychedelic guitars adorn "Cruel", making it a wistful, world-weary song but one which I love.  At times it reminds me of The Beatles in their Indian period.  "High In Your Face" is rockier, driven around an insistent bass line from Chris Groothuizen and incandescent guitar.  "Fade Away" is quieter, folky, dreamy and closes Side One of the original LP.
  

"Feel" opens the second side.  Sometimes referred to as "You've Got To Feel", this was the biggest of the four singles from the album.  Indeed, I used to have it on a CD single (actually an EP) but where it went to, heaven knows.  It's not the strongest track here as that accolade falls to the next song "The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes".  This is a pop classic if I ever heard one!  Guy Chadwick sings and plays this track beautifully, although as a single it fell on deaf ears, not even reaching the Top 50.  At the time, the band blamed the record company Fontana/Phonogram for poor distribution of the release.  Seems fair to me!  Next up is "Burn Down The World", a very English track despite some nagging rockist piano.  "Philly-Phile" is obviously American and a little doomy, featuring some interesting drumming and some more rockism in the shape of the closing guitar parts.  With four different guitarists featured on the album (as another line-up disintegrated) it's hard to know who's playing what here.  Closer "Yer Eyes" re-runs some of the subtle lyrical and dreamy themes of the album.  Indeed, to the casual or first-time listener some of the tracks here could seem repetitive as Guy seems to be forever singing about feeling and eyes!  

It's easy to detect some cynicism in the songs here, but really the album is something of a lost masterpiece.  This album will repay the effort you will need to make to find a copy.  It doesn't even seem to be available as one of those crappy mp3 downloads.  In fact, it's not available at all legally.  Well done, Universal!  Now That's What I Call Business Acumen...

James Whitbourn - Luminosity

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You don't have to be religious to enjoy this stunning release.  This is modern choral music, performed by Oxford based Commotio, directed by Matthew Berry.  It's a CD release on the budget-priced Naxos label, which is available widely.

You can listen to samples of this disc at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126161604 The main piece is "Luminosity" which is half an hour of celestial bliss, with an interesting accompaniment of tanpura, organ and percussion.  It's really something special and should have been placed first on the disc.  Instead it is preceded by 9 shorter pieces, all of which are of a very high standard, although they lack the epic embrace of "Luminosity" itself.  Be sure to check out the audio samples at the link given above or at Amazon, because this is a real find.

Artwork is from the Hubble, and the full text of "Luminosity" is included in the 8-page booklet.  If you fancy something different, this could be just what you're looking for.

Simple Minds - X5 (6 CDs)

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This delightful set arrived today, a couple of days before the official release date.  This really is a supreme bargain, as it is so cheap.  Early Simple Minds stuff is so underrated.  I got into them in 1979, and first saw them at the Hammersmith Palais, London supporting The Skids.  Liverpool supergroup Pink Military and Mick Hucknall's new wave band The Frantic Elevators also appeared that night!

Sadly the original line-up gradually fell apart with the departures of brilliant drummer Brian McGee and bassist Derek Forbes (the holy backbeat indeed) and later keyboardist Mick MacNeil.  Although the band still produce some great material from time to time, the original line-up will be forever unsurpassed.

Here you get 6 CDs comprising the albums "Life In A Day", "Real To Real Cacophony", "Empires And Dance", "Sons And Fascination", "Sister Feelings Call" and "New Gold Dream".  There are also 19 bonus tracks!  These include all the rare early B-sides, unavailable for decades.  I am so happy to have legitimate digital versions of masterpieces like "Special View" and "Film Theme Dub".    Don't confuse this pioneering electronica with later stadium dross like "Ghostdancing" and "Sanctify Yourself".


The albums are presented in card sleeves.  For the Sons And Sisters albums, they are twinned in a gatefold.  The original artwork has been suitably manipulated.  All the card sleeves are a little tight which makes extracting the discs a little tricky.  The box is small too, and will not accommodate the PVC sleeves I usually use when confronted with harsh cardboard sleeves which could damage discs.  Maybe paper sleeves would fit, but that will have to be a project for another day. There is no booklet, which is disappointing, but the music does speak for itself.


I could write for hours about "Real To Real Cacophony" as it has always been one of my favourite albums of all time (only just beaten by "Underwater Moonlight" by The Soft Boys).  

"Cacophony" is an album of unmatched humour, musical genius and features cutting edge production by John Leckie.  Here we get bonus tracks "Kaleidoscope" and the "Film Theme Dub" which were originally on the flexi picture disc 7" which accompanied the first pressing of the "I Travel" single. There is also the live version of classic track "Premonition" which originally graced the "Changeling" 7".


Follow up album "Empires And Dance" was much darker, very European and decadent.  The disco rhythms and Derek's bass produced a truly unique sound, transcending early influences such as Neu!  Featuring the full versions of singles "I Travel" and "Celebrate" we also get the disappointing 12" versions although not the 7" edits (indeed I'm not sure these have ever been released on CD - anyone know for sure?). In addition there is "New Warm Skin" the B-side to "I Travel", not a track that I ever, er, warmed to.

The band switched from Arista/Zoom to Virgin at this point and released the 2 LPs "Sons And Fascination" and"Sister Feelings Call" as a cheapo twofer.  This was Americana and shocking in the same way that "Aladdin Sane" was when it followed "Ziggy Stardust".  For this release the two albums have been split up again onto two discs.  This is to accommodate the bonus tracks, most of which originate from the "Sweat In Bullet" 12".  Remember though that both albums without the bonuses fit onto 1 CD for burning for in-car listening.  This material was made for automobiles!


After that came the trippier "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84" album which drips sunshine from every track.  Glorious tracks like "Big Sleep" and "Hunter And The Hunted" still sometimes feature in the band's live shows to this day.  This album marked the end of the McGee era, and introduced the heavy handed Mel Gaynor.  This was to lead onto heavier material like "Waterfront".  Bonus material on this CD is generous but not comprehensive.  For example you don't get the extended "Hunter And The Hunter" only available on the short-lived DVD-A version of the album, or the sublime BBC version of "King Is White And In The Crowd".   You do get the full 12" mix of "Someone Somewhere In Summertime" with Charlie's later guitar intro, which was missed off some copies of "Themes Vol. 2" (mine had the album version instead of the 12").


You may have noticed I skipped the band's debut "Life In A Day".  It's here along with B-sides "Garden Of Hate" and "Special View" (the latter a favourite of mine).  

I always disliked this early album apart from the singles "Chelsea Girl" and "Life In A Day".  I know some fans who do rate it highly though.   Personally I find pomp like "Pleasantly Disturbed" a rather sad affair.  I have always resented the album because I bought it instead of going to the band's second Marquee show.  Money was too tight to mention at the time!  The first show was fantastic by the way, but that's a story for another day.

Get this bargain while you can.  In the past there has been some really expensive Simple Minds CD product.  I'm thinking here of the "Themes" and "Silver Box" sets which were sloppy rip-offs.  This new set more than makes amends!

 

Look how slim this 6 CD box is compared to the earlier 3 CD box.

I'll be selling this earlier box as it has been superseded now!

Journey - Original Album Classics 3 CDs & 5 CDs (update)

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I explain in the post below about the odd decisions Sony has made in its releases of Blue Oyster Cult albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  Similarly, odd things have happened for releases by the band Journey.  I reviewed the first "Original Album Classics" 3CD box by the band here.  That box covered the albums "Departure", "Escape" and "Frontiers".  My suspicion is that this release is now going out of print.  Instead Sony has released a 5CD box featuring the albums "Infinity", "Evolution", "Escape", "Frontiers" and "Raised On Radio".  Also released is another 3CD box (also called "Original Album Classics"!) featuring earlier jazzier albums "Journey", "Look Into The Future" and "Next".  These pre-date Steve Perry joining the band as lead vocalist.  I'm very tempted to buy the latter release as these early albums are really great and have been very hard to find in the past.  At a bargain price, typically less than a full price CD, this set strikes me as being unmissable.

Earlier release - if you want it get it now in case it goes out of print!

Blue Oyster Cult - Original Album Classics 5 CDs (update)

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In a widely anticipated move, CBS/Sony have released another box of five BOC albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  This time we get live albums "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" and "Some Enchanted Evening", later studio gems "Cultosaurus Erectus" and "Fire Of Unknown Origin" and oddity "The Revolution By Night".  As a bit of a fan, I regard this as an essential purchase.

"On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" was to a large extent the album that made BOC aim for the stars.  A big seller, and a metal classic of sorts, it captured live versions of their early masterpieces.  The later live album "Some Enchanted Evening" builds on this and of course features "Don't Fear The Reaper".  The latter album is presented here in unexpanded form, which is disappointing.

Now things get weird.  The earlier 5 CD box, also called "Original Album Classics" and reviewed here by me seems to have been deleted.  If you want a copy start hunting now!  Thanks to correspondent "alientool" for alerting me to this.  That also probably explains why that review has been one of the most popular here lately, I guess people are trying to figure out what the hell Sony is playing at!  Maybe these boxes are limited editions after all?

Out of time or out of print?

Can - Landed (Hybrid SACD)

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This sleeve caused the facial recognition software in my camera to go bananas!

Continuing this month's unplanned '70s theme, I purchased a copy of this Hybrid Super Audio CD (playable on all CD players) a couple of weeks ago.  It is still listed at UK distributor Mute Records , as is a digital download.  Such is availability of early "Krautrock" bands like Neu!, Can, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Faust and Amon Düül II that you are best buying the product when you see it as this stuff tends to be in and out of print. 

Packaging is rather different to my old LP copies!

This is my third copy of this album.  A guy at school gave me his copy as he didn't much care for the album.  That LP was on Virgin, but my copy soon wore out and eventually I bought a replacement import copy on the Harvest label.  This is a fine remastering of a terrific album and is now on Can's own Spoon label.  It's far from the band's trendiest release, but I love it.  It kicks off with the warped pop of "Full Moon On The Highway" and disturbed gems "Half Past One" and "Hunters And Collectors".  You can find these on YouTube if you fancy trying something extraordinary.  Many of the instruments are treated and distorted.  The imagination used in this process means there are sounds here that you won't hear on releases by other bands.  The album descends into hypnotic jamming by the time of the final track "Unfinished".  

Remarkably after this release, the band went on to achieve a hit single with the disco parody "I Want More".  All credit to Virgin for getting that one into the Top 30!  Can finished as a band some time ago, and with the untimely death of guitarist Michael Karoli a decade or so ago, we are unlikely to see any further group activity.

The Comsat Angels - Time Considered As A Helix Of Semi-Precious Stones The BBC Sessions 1979 - 1984

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That must be the longest album title ever!  Anyway this seems to be going out of print so if you want a copy hurry up, as it won't be around forever.  This is a re-issue on the Renascent label.  The company bragged about the quality of  their cardboard gatefold sleeves.  Well, I can't say I rate them as they seem to be on the small side which makes extracting the disc perilous.  I have put my CD in a plastic sleeve to avoid the danger of it becoming scratched.  Maybe that's why this label no longer seems to be issuing CDs.  Even a digipack would have been better than this rubbish packaging.

The album itself is excellent.  It's by no means all their BBC session tracks, but it is the cream of them.  Hard to find songs and classics such as "Eye Of The Lens", "Total War", "Independence Day" and "Waiting For A Miracle" are here in versions subtly different from the original Polydor recordings.  There is a Rolling Stones cover in the shape of "Citadel" (originally on "Their Satanic Majesties Request").  There are 19 tracks on the CD, so it offers outstanding value as a mid-price release.

Musically, vocalist Steve Fellows does sound like fellow Sheffield man Phil Oakey, and the band sound a little like Korova bands Echo & The Bunnymen and (Lori &) The Chameleons.  It's a fantastic mix of dry sardonic vocals and staggeringly subtle riffs over a solid rhythm section.  The band were press darlings at the time but sadly this never translated into sales and popularity.  I have some of their stuff on vinyl (and even mid-period Jive label albums like "Land" were great), and will be exploring their final albums "The Glamour" and "My Minds Eye" if I can afford to buy them before they become unavailable!  The band played a handful of gigs a year or two back but are not really a unit at present.  What a pity, as I would love to see them.  

Don't forget the Comsats because they were and are a really special band.

Be Bop Deluxe - Futurist Manifesto (5 CDs)

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I predicted that we might get this release when I was reviewing the 5CD Barclay James Harvest set here.  And what a delight this is!  5 CDs for the price of one full-price CD!  Watch out for variable pricing as HMV were advertising it for almost twice the price of some other retailers.  Way to go HMV!  I don't have a copy yet (unlike most of the stuff I review here) but I intend to correct this soon.  

In this set you get all the Be Bop Deluxe studio albums plus bonus tracks on 4 CDs.  A fifth CD has rarities and live tracks, so this is an essential purchase for all Be Bop fans.  It's not the full story of course.  The outstanding live album "Live! In The Air Age" is not here, neither are early single "Teenage Archangel" and the previously unreleased stuff featured on earlier compilation "The Best Of And The Rest Of".  What you do get is an outstanding bargain, so buy it before EMI come to their senses...and finally, where's the Cockney Rebel set to match?

Not included here...

P.S. Bill's website is at: http://www.billnelson.com/home.php

Darts - Double Top (2 CDs)

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Back to the '70s again!  This is a fantastic compilation of the first two Darts albums  "Darts" and "Everyone Plays Darts" plus loads of bonus tracks.  As such it features the singles "It's Raining", "Don't Let It Fade Away", "The Boy From New York City", "Daddy Cool/The Girl Can't Help It", "Come Back My Love", "Get It", "Duke Of Earl", "Reet Petite", "Let's Hang On" and er, "White Christmas". 

In best Rhino tradition there are informative notes and evocative packaging.  "Don't Let It Fade Away" is listed twice but appears only once, of course.  There are 46 tracks in all.  There is one small fault on the penultimate track "Goodbye Brenda" where there appears to be a single jump in the master tape used.  But this is barely noticeable and not bad enough to dock any of the five stars I have given this fun release. Here is the full track listing:

DISC 1 - DARTS
1. DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (2.29)
2. YOUNG BLOOD (2.44)
3. TOO HOT IN THE KITCHEN (2.23)
4. SOMETIME LATELY (2.38)
5. ZING WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART (3.04)
6. SHOTGUN (2.45)
7. COME BACK MY LOVE (2.30)
8. BELLS IN MY HEART (2.09)
9. SH-BOOM (LIFE COULD BE A DREAM) (2.37)
10. STAY AWAY (FROM THEM GIRLS) (2.32)
11. I'M MAD / FANCY MAN / FRAMED / RIOT IN CELL BLOCK NO.9 / TROUBLE (4.42)

BONUS TRACKS
12. DON'T LET IT FADE AWAY (3.22)
13. GET IT (2.56)
14. DUKE OF EARL (3.42)
15. CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE (3.27)
16. REET PETITE (2.53)
17. LET'S HANG ON (3.13)
18. PEACHES & CREAM (2.47)
19. COOL JERK (3.31)
20. RUNAROUND (2.48)
21. MESSING SHOE BLUES (2.44)
22. NAFF OFF (2.49)
23. WHITE CHRISTMAS (2.27)

DISC 2 - EVERYONE PLAYS DARTS
1. THE BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY (3.03)
2. HONEY LOVE (2.19)
3. MY FRIEND'S WIFE (2.58)
4. IT'S RAINING (3.44)
5. MAKE IT (2.24)
6. HAMMY'S BOOGIE (2.35)
7. WHO'S THAT KNOCKING (2.00)
8. MY TRUE STORY (2.41)
9. LATE FOR WORK (2.35)
10. BONES (2.56)
11. LATE LAST NIGHT (2.33)
12. I GOTTA GO HOME (2.57)
13. WHY I CRY (1.55)

BONUS TRACKS
14. DON'T SAY YES (2.34)
15. CUCKOO (3.27)
16. ONE OFF THE WRISTS (2.09)
17. DON'T HANG UP (2.30)
18. HONEY BEE (1.58)
19. DON'T MESS AROUND WITH LOVE (3.47)
20. DON'T LOOK BACK (3.53)
21. THIS IS THE NIGHT (1.56)
22. GOODBYE BRENDA (2.56)
23. WHY I CRY (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSION) (3.09)

Expanded versions of the first three Darts albums have been issued recently.  But this compilation is outstanding value and should not be overlooked.  Fortunately, it is still in print.

The band still play very occasionally.  You can find out more at their website http://www.amazingdarts.com/index.html

Dr. Feelgood - Going Back Home (CD & DVD)

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When I saw this release listed, I just knew I had to get a copy.  This is Dr. Feelgood's stunning "Stupidity" live album plus bonus tracks such as the 7" that accompanied early copies of the LP.  All together, 24 live tracks on one CD!  All the early Feelgood classics are here: "Back In The Night", "Roxette", "She Does It Right" and all those prime R'nB classics they covered.  Moreover, there is a 9-song DVD filmed at the same 1975 Southend Kursaal show that most of the CD was recorded at. The DVD is PAL format, All Regions and there is an insert with photo memorabilia.

So why have I given it only 4 stars?  Well, I have to admit I find the sound of the CD a little too clean - it lacks the ambiance of a good vinyl copy of the album.  I was surprised by this, but I think the same applies to the DVD.  Here the super clean audio doesn't quite gel with the grainy '70s footage.  So by all means get a copy, it's a bargain, but perhaps feed it through a valve amp for a dirtier sound!  

Panic Room - Free Download - O Holy Night

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What better way to end the year and celebrate Christmas than with a free mp3 download from the outstanding band Panic Room!  A special Christmas recording of "O Holy Night" can be found via the band's official website at http://www.panicroom.org.uk/home.html 

You can also hear it on the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q51E2TEtSq0 

You can also download a sampler of their 2010 album "Satellite" via the band's website http://www.panicroom.org.uk/home.html although you should already have treated yourself to a copy!  I expect great things from this band in 2012.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Albums Of The Year 2011

1st Place: THE DEVIL'S BLOOD - THE THOUSANDFOLD EPICENTRE

Album of the year for me.  This one keeps getting better and better.  An epic 74 minutes of state of the art metal.  Gorgeous hooks, melodies and outstanding musicianship.  Features the single "Fire Burning".  See my full review at:http://trisectorman.blogspot.com/2011/11/devils-blood-thousandfold-epicentre.html

2nd Place: VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR - A GROUNDING IN NUMBERS

A beautiful and engrossing album from Hammill, Banton and Evans.  I still miss saxman Jackson, but this is a great album guaranteed to give many hours of listening pleasure.  Features the single "Highly Strung".  Full review at:http://trisectorman.blogspot.com/2011/05/van-der-graaf-generator-grounding-in.html

3rd Place: ESBEN AND THE WITCH - VIOLET CRIES

A real grower and a goth pleasure.  For a debut album, it's astonishing.  Features the singles "Chorea", "Warpath", "Hexagons IV" and "Marching Song".  Read my full review at: http://trisectorman.blogspot.com/2011/04/esben-and-witch-violet-cries.html

Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon

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I'm so glad I bought a copy of this.  

I've been a fan of Eno since 1972 and those early heady days of Roxy Music.  I remember my brother asking me if there was an LP I'd like for a (Christmas or birthday) present, and I replied that I'd like "No Pussyfooting" by Fripp and Eno.  I think he bought a copy for me in London record shop where it was "filed under Eno".  He was a bit freaked out by the gatefold "mirrored room" sleeve and even more so when he heard the album!  I remember too that "A Collage Of Extracts" from it appeared on the b-side of an early Eno 7" that I still have somewhere - possibly the notorious "Seven Deadly Finns"!  I remember listening to "Pyjamarama" in a record shop in Germany.  I remember the shoddy LP pressing of "Discreet Music" I used to own.  Hard to believe all this was around 40 years ago!

Anyway, back to the disc in question.  It's pretty much all keyboard and synths of course, despite the presence of Daniel Lanois.  Brother Roger Eno is also onboard.  I was recently listening to this piece on YouTube.  I knew I had to buy a copy!  This is one of Eno's gorgeous ambient pieces.  It's just over an hour long, and was released to exploit the then fairly new CD format.  I find it incredibly relaxing and yet musically rewarding at the same time.  I've bought a couple of extra copies for Christmas presents this year!

I prefer this to the more critically acclaimed "Apollo".  If you don't know this piece, I recommend giving it a listen via YouTube or wherever.  If you do know it, chances are you may have forgotten just how good it is.  Time for a refresher! Time for a purchase!

Sankara - Enigma EP CD

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Sankara is a new band featuring ex-The Reasoning keyboard/vocalist Gareth Jones and drummer Vinden Wylde.  Also onboard are two members from defunct outfit Bluehorses (about whom I know very little) - guitarist Jay MacDonald and bassist Rhayn Jooste.

To start with, I was underwhelmed by this first release, a four track EP available from Amazon and as downloads on the band's website http://www.sankara.co.uk/

But what we have here is a real grower.  Four extremely strong songs, superbly played and sung.  Why was I underwhelmed then?  Well, it's the production which is only adequate at best.  I would love to hear this material produced and/or mixed by someone like Bob Clearmountain.  For what we have here is AOR which could be absolutely huge stateside, and maybe over here in the UK too.  I am thinking Journey/Fleetwood Mac levels of popularity.  There is a pop sensibility here entirely beyond the prog roots of the band.  Gareth's voice is really distinctive and has star quality, although I do find it rather strange that his voice is used as backing vocals in addition to lead.  It creates an odd effect where perhaps female backing vocals would complement and enhance Gareth's lead.

Title track "Enigma" is piano-led and has a hypnotic hook.  It's the best song here.  Gareth's vocal is very choirboy like on this.  Rhayn's bass playing is characterful and Jay's guitars range from tasteful to commanding.  I couldn't get this tune out of my head the other day!

Second track "Exalted Star" is an altogether rockier affair.  Naturally, this stars Jay's electric playing and an  interesting solo part.  Chorus is strong and catchy.

Third song is the slower "As They Lay My Body Down".  This makes the most of Gareth's spiritual vocal style and Jay's acoustic playing.

Final track is "Full Flow" where Vinden's drums can be heard most effectively and at times the combination of Gareth's vocal and Jay's guitars reminds me of Led Zeppelin.

You can listen to the whole EP on the band's website.  Downloads are also available for purchase, but take my tip and treat yourself to the CD as the sound quality is  superior - drums, cymbals and vocals sound so much clearer.  Despite the production, I still rate this disc highly and have given it the full five stars as I think I will be playing and enjoying this for many months to come.

The band are playing Cambridge Rock Festival 2012.  A sometime haunt of The Reasoning and Panic Room, of course.  No doubt there will be other chances to catch them.  It's good to be in at the start with this band - I think they will be very popular.

Heaven And Hell - Neon Nights

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A live album from one of the last performances by Heaven And Hell.  Essentially this is Black Sabbath but with Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P.) singing instead of Ozzy.  So we have metal masters Tony Iommi on guitar and Geezer Butler on bass.  Drums are by Vinnie Appice as Bill Ward declined to take part.  Hidden in the wings is Dio's keyboard player Scott Warren.  I always thought it a bit shabby the way Sabbath hid their keyboard players from view, and it's a shame this practice continued in the later band.  Talk about being in denial!

This is a really good performance, and we are lucky to have this as an official release.  There is also a DVD of this show with extra music and interview footage.  Tracks on the CD which didn't appear on their earlier Live from Radio City double are "Time Machine", "Bible Black", "Fear" and "Follow The Tears".  In truth that earlier release was a bit better than this one, perhaps because this one is outdoors.  I have also heard better performances on various bootlegs.  Nevertheless, this is a bit of a gem and an essential purchase for Dio fans.

The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre

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At last it's here!  The long-awaited new album by The Devil's Blood had been subject to delays (but chaos is good in their world).  I bought a copy of the album at the UK launch show at Camden Underworld.  Another astonishing performance by the band. You could almost hear the sound of jaws dropping as people new to the band watched the show.

Paper ticket courtesy of Dave Pearson - many thanks

What's the album like?  Well, very long!  There's 74 minutes of music here.  Melodic metal with three guitarists and even an orchestra here and there.  Strong songs with hooks and riffs to die for, and featuring the single "Fire Burning".  The final track "Feverdance" is an astonishing 15 minute workout with incredible drumming and incandescent guitars.  I will write more about the individual songs shortly, but you can tell what's coming with titles such as "Die The Death", "Everlasting Saturnalia" and "The Madness Of Serpents"!  As mentioned in an earlier post, you can hear the title track on the band's new website  http://thedevilsblood.com/#/declarations and a FREE mp3 download of it is available at the record company's site at

http://www.van-gbr.de/samples/thedevilsblood_thethousandfoldepicentre.mp3

If I didn't know better, I'd say the free download is a different mix, so it's worth keeping as a supplement to the album, which really is an essential buy.

The CD is available in standard digipack and lavish 10" bound editions.  I bought the latter as it is such a gorgeous item.  The pictures here really don't do it justice.  The illustrations in the booklet are amazing. Vinyl is also available as a 2LP set, again available in standard and lavish versions.

You really do owe it to yourself to hear this.  I think this could be album of the year.