Operation Mindcrime

Even if it's nice to visit mom it's still really good to get back home to Peter and the Cats after a few days up north. Ok, Peter's actually away rehearsing with Goatess this weekend so me and the cats are having a party by ourselves in the Void Mansion. I miss him of course but it's good to get some time at home and not having to be social and just to clear out the Metal Kaoz stuff so I won't build another back-log. I still have a few things to complete but the progress is good.

It's always fun to do it also, and with the batch of records I have for review right now it's all just fun. And I actually didn't think so but I must say I really enjoyed the Soulfly, King Parrot & Incite gig in the beginning of the week. Picture editing for that tonight.

Right now I have Mightiest, Salem, Savage Master, The Temple, Anthrax, Ereb Altor and Mob Rules to dig into. It's quite many but the hardest is actually to sort out which one to listen to next. All really appeal to me so it's a pleasurable problem I have... I think Salem is the one that struck the hardest though.

But, it seems like it will be a very good record year this year too. Sarasin and Sleepy Hollow struck very hard when I got them, and now Salem. Then Metal Church, Martyr...
I've pre-ordered both in some nice bundles and hopefully they'll show up the coming weeks. I didn't take the pack from Rat Pak Records where Mike Howe is calling but the second biggest with an additional T-shirt for Peter and one Mike Howe shirt for me.

I'm also checking if it will be possible to see them at one or so of the dates in May. Z7 in Switzerland is very tempting since Riot V is on the bill there as well. Not the best day though since it's a mid-week show.

Then the Martyr pack. I really wish I could have gone to the release party but I guess I need to realize I can't do everything I want. There's just not enough time for it.

I also ordered the deluxe version of the Baltimoore collection. I have far to few of the releases but I do like the ones I have and on the rare occasion I've actually seen them or Björn Solo live it's been absolutely amazing. What a voice, what a feeling.

And then of course the Saxon 9-LP box. That one will be awesome. I think it's the fattest LP box I have... Perhaps Iron Maiden "First 10 Years" with 10 2x12"'s is bigger. But it sure is cool! 

So I for sure have a lot of incoming goodies now the last two weeks of march or so. 

And there's more to come... I've already mentioned Salem and to stay in the same genre I have to say I'm looking forward to the new Cloven Hoof. 

 

 And then of course Assassins Blade (ok ok, yes I've had access to this one for some time for obvious reasons but it's still cool when it's done and it's an actual product)

So it looks like the goodies will keep coming. 
Also when we're talking about concerts it will be a good year. Upcoming is Exodus, Symphony X, one more Dirkschneider / Anvil show, Overkill, Spiritual Beggars and some more. 
I bought a ticket for the Queensryche Stockholm gig today. I'm quite sure that Klubben will be sold out so even if I don't know I can make it I would like to have the opportunity at least.

I was about to get tickets for the gig at Amager Bio in Copenhagen as well but then I got a hint from a friend another damn cool gig the same day so I really need to decide what to do... We'll see what happens. One thing's sure, it will be a good concert year. It has already started off very strong with Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, Manowar, Dirkschneider and Up The Hammers.

Another train ride to come to an end very soon!

Cheers
E

NP: Salem - Dark Days

 
 

And 2015 is over...

Yes, apparently another year passed and I don't know where time went. It feels like the two last years is a big blur and I have hard remembering what happened when. But it's been a quite cool year, a lot of different activities which of course have made others suffer a bit. Playing live with Void Moon in Ireland, Romania and Malta has of course been very good points, as well as it was to play with Cult of the Fox too. 
The hours spent working on guitars for Void Moon's second album "Deathwatch" was very hard but also very rewarding as it turned out really nice. I'm sooo looking forward to get a real copy in my hands. 
And as usual there's been traveling too, both in work and for my own pleasure. Worth mentioning is the visits to Jordan, Ethiopia and Sudan. To get to see the sun when it's dark and gloomy in Sweden is of course a plus. But to get to feel the Dead Sea, eat real Ethiopian Injera and just hang out in Khartoum has been fantastic. 
There has also been a few trips down to Germany and Holland for shows but not as many as it normally is. Sometimes things became a bit crazy as I locked one bag in the safety lockers at the airport to first go to a concert just to pick up the bag and go for a jobtrip, out through security, get the bag and check in again. I know Kastrup Airport by heart now I promise you.
Also, the addition of the cats to the Wallberg family. They make a mess of most everything but they are adorable and so very sweet. But it's just to forget that thing with having a moment alone in the bathroom, sleep long in the morning and so on... But the good is so much more than the annoying (shutting down my computer, stealing cheese from sandwiches, chewing on strings and shoelaces, digging under the couch for the Christmas nuts, waking up with a paw in your mouth...)

There has been very good music coming in 2015 also, classic bands releasing super albums, like Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Slayer to mention a few. But I've also missed a lot since I haven't had time to read as much as I used to. I realize this reading other peoples top-lists for 2015. It's impossible to keep up with everything I know but it bugs me a little bit that some releases just passed me by unnoticed. 

Anyway, here's my list for 2015;

01. SAXON

"Battering Ram"

It's always fun to get real good albums to review, SAXON was one of those. It's also very hard to write these reviews since the ambition to write as perfect as the album is tend to happen and the reviews can be rather extensive. But the album struck hard and survived from first second. Good to see SAXON in top shape these dark days.
Favorite track: Queen of Hearts

02. SATAN 

"Atom By Atom"

SATAN was another one I got for review. It really blew me away from start but then it dipped a bit after a few spins and I started to wonder if it was the excitement of a new release that was the case. But it caught up again and turned out as no 2 on my list. I love the speedy riffs and great melodies. 
Favorite track: Ahriman 

03. QUEENSRŸCHE 

"Condition Hüman"

This was actually a hard one to get into. I didn't think it was as good as the last one for a really long time, until I started thinking about how many times I listened to that before it got stuck. Giving it a rest for a few months and then picking it up again sure did the thing and hell yes, it's another masterpiece. Todd LaTorre rules.
Favorite track: Guardian

04. DARK QUARTERER 

"Ithaca"

To start with I didn't think that this one was as good as the old ones. But as always with the best albums they need 10-15-20 spins to land. I don't know how many times I listened to it before I could write the review but when I finally did it was again as it was when I first stumbled over DARK QUARTERER, I couldn't stop.
Favorite Track: Mind Torture

05. SATAN'S HOST

"Pre-dating God" (Parts 1 & 2)

 I'm cheating a bit here but as much as I struggled with the list I can't remove anything else from it. So instead if picking one of them, both records ended up under the same post. Fantastic release again from SATAN'S HOST, these albums they've done since Harry Conklin came back are absolutely awesome.
Favorite Track: Lady n' the Snake

06. MOTÖRHEAD 

"Bad Magic"

 It feels good that the last album MOTÖRHEAD ever released was a very strong one. Not that they ever have released a bad album but I'd say that this last one is my favorite since "Snake Bite Love". It's strong, powerful and catchy. But who could ever imagine it would be the last. It feels terrible to never be able to buy another MOTÖRHEAD ticket. I've lost count on how many times I've seen MOTÖRHEAD over the years but it's well over 30 at least. Always kick-ass!
Favorite Track: The Devil

 

07. IRON MAIDEN 

"The Book Of Souls"

That IRON MAIDEN would release something good was expected but I really really like this new one. It feels more inspired than in a long time. Not that they've ever done anything bad. But the vocal lines are more diverse and I really like the epic stuff.
Favorite Track: Tears of a Clown

 

08. SYMPHONY X 

"Underworld"

I've tried over the years to get into SYMPHONY X but never hard enough it seems, until now. Ok, I really dig the "Paradise Lost" album as well but that I didn't come around to the same year it was released and so it has been ever since. A little bit behind all the time. But I learn and picked this one up as soon as it was out and damn it's good.
Favorite Track: Run with the Devil 

09. MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK

"Spirit On A Mission"

The god, guitar god... Mr Schenker together with Tony Iommi has been the biggest inspirations for me playing guitar. There has been others too of course but Michael's melodic style of playing not many come close to. I was a bit disappointed with Spirit on a Mission initially. It was good of course but not as strong as "Bridge the Gap" I thought. But giving it some time, in the player as well as in the shelf it came around and it rocks as hard as its predecessor.
Favorite Track: Something of the Night

 

10. TRIBULATION 

"The Children Of The Night"

   

 
Ok, I admit, sometimes I download music before I buy it. I'm too curious and impatient to wait on occasion. I'd seen the cover of this album and loved it but I'm always a bit hesitant to Swedish Metal Bands. Many are good of course but few are unique. To my surprise this one struck like a hammer and it spun round after round. Next record order I had the fat box version of the release listed and it keeps spinning.
Favorite Track: In the Dreams of the Dead 

And the sone that ended up just outside the list either because other was better or I didn't give them enough time;
Cage - Ancient Evil
Circle II Circle - Reign of Darkness
Damien Thorne - Soul Stealer
Enforcer - From Beyond
Helloween - My God-given Right
Iron Kingdom - Ride for Glory
Jameson Raid - Uninvited Guests
Jorn Lande & Trond Holter - Dracula
Masters Of Metal
Night Viper - Night Viper
Paradise Lost - The Plague Within
Parallel Minds - Headlong Disaster
Ram - Svbversvm
Scanner - The Judgement
Slayer - Repentless
Sorcerer - In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross
Tad Morose - St. Demonius
Tank - Valley of Tears
Transsiberian Orchestra - Letters from the Labyrinth
WASP - Golgotha

But, there are always something missed, some records that came in too late or for some other reason didn't make it, even if, looking at it now they probably should have. One of them;
Helloween - My Godgiven Right. 

I reviewed it and loved it, left it to rest for a while and it didn't feel as good. And now, when preparing for the concert it's been spinning again and damn it's good... If I'd picked it up earlier it should have been on the Top 10.

And then, Iron Kingdom - Ride for Glory

 It's not Power Metal, Not Prog Metal, Not Heavy Metal but at the same time all of it. These Canadians are also fantastic musicians and have managed to release one hell of an album again. Got it in just after Christmas though, bad planning from me.

So, I've probably forgotten a lot of records but this is the conclusion for now. It will probably look different in a few weeks.

Cheers
E

NP: Sarasin - Sarasin

 

Re-load and charge

Damn I'm longing for vacation now! The inspiration level at work has been rather low lately, it's just on a few occasions I've felt the same drive as I did during the winter or spring. Of course, the lay-off's take the edge of most things but now this is over. We had tell-day last week and the last ones had today. I haven't heard much how it went in Stockholm but apparently all my connections still have their jobs still. I'm having a meeting with my new manager this Friday. That will be interesting! 

And then it's only next week to work and then I'm off for a while. Not that it will be much rest though since we have 3 big Festivals lined up and a visit to Sandviken and say hi to Mom. 

So, the plan now is Metal Magic Festival and maybe also one Anvil show in UK, we'll see about that! Then there will be a long weekend in German with 3 days of Bang Your Head plus the Warm-Up show.

What a line-up it is at Bang Your Head... There's just like 3-4 bands I don't care all that much about (nothing I don't like at all), the rest is just AWESOME so it will be a hard one... Accept is always good but then I'm looking forward to Queensryche, Y&T & Morgana Lefay the most. And then of course Anvil, Exciter, Hirax, Death Angel, Flotsam & Jetsam and, and, and... You get the point, no use listing the whole line-up! *S*

But it shows it's holiday high-season during this time. The flights was rather ok in price and could have been VERY decent if I'd remembered to book the tickets... But Hotel and perhaps most so, the rental Car. €260 something for a Ford Ka (soap-cup on wheels) for Wed-Sun. Around KIT we paid €70 for a massive Diesel Renault SUV for Thu-Sun... But it will be worth it, it always is!!!

This morning, driving to work I listened to Y&T all the way (have 3,5h drive so I have some time to listen) and that sure is a nostalgia trip. I bought Black Tiger when I was on vacation with my parents -87 or -88 and of course listened to it countless of times. Then I filled up the collection rather quickly so it sure is a band that's been with me for many years. They've also done some of the best and craziest shows I've ever experienced. Just take the Rockland, Sala event where they played over 3 hours the first day and close to 3 hours the second day. Long sets but not boring for a second even.
I was rather disappointed when I realized I was going to miss Y&T playing in Sweden later this fall. We're at the Old Grave Fest in Bucharest then, which of course also is super and will be awesome. So it was extra fun realizing they're playing BYH!

We'll... Since I got up at 5am this morning it's bedtime!

Cheers
E

NP: Y&T - Black Tiger

 
 
 

Metal on Metal

I don't get it... I really shouldn't be restless now. I have tons of things to do at work, I've been working hard to catch up with the Metal Kaoz stuff and I've kept myself (and Peter) busy trying to figure out how to take care of the Void Mansion. It was great to get out too, the weekend when we went to Stockholm and Sandviken and got to go to a few concerts. It's actually very strange for me, Blaze/Dianno and Manowar were the first concerts since Malta Doom Metal Festival. Peter also got to see British Lion with Steve Harris (and said it was good) but for me I was in Stockholm when they played in Gothenburg and in Höör when they played in Stockholm. Of course there's been a lot of other things happening but still, I normally go to 1-3 concerts/week else. But either, I've been in Stockholm when the bands playing in Gothenburg or the other way around. The Gothenburg concerts happening in the weekends, and the ones in Malmö in the weeks.. Nothing has really gone my way!
But now it looks a bit better. I'm really looking forward to see Saint Vitus @ Loppen in Copenhagen on Easter Thursday. 

And then Helloween and Gamma Ray @ Arenan in Stockholm. 

My plans actually worked for me this time and I'll be working from Stockholm so I can see this one there. 
Then Keep It True is just a few days away. That will be amazing. I realized though I haven't really told my boss or my colleagues  I'll be out of office for a few days, or really, work from home half Thursday and off Friday... But it normally isn't any problems with that! We are rather busy though. 

One more thing I really would have wanted to join this time is the Sweden Rock Cruise. Would be very cool to get to see Queensryche with Todd LaTorre since he was awesome with Crimson Glory (Still a huge shame he quit CG though) and 220 Volts. Only seen them once and that was my first real concerts at "Folkan" in Hofors at the Swedish Monsters Of Rock tour in 1988!!! But not this time so I sure hope there will be more opportunities to see both bands in the future. 

But first a calm weekend to cure this damn cold so I can start to go to the gym again. I was really good at the beginning of this year as well as the last one, but then it has been up and down. I need to get back on track. Need it for my back and also to burn off the stress from work. So I sure hope I will be well enough next week.

Cheers
E

NP: ARIA - Blood for Blood