January 27, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Concert Review: Graveyard – January 21, 2012 – Atlanta, GA

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Graveyard
w/ Radio Moscow and Stonerider
January 21, 2012
Atlanta, GA
The Masquerade (Hell)

Since the release of “Hisingen Blues” (Brainfart’s Top Album of 2011) about a year ago, I have been waiting very impatiently to see Graveyard perform live. After two US tours as an opening act a few years ago, Graveyard returned to North America as a headliner and rightfully so. Graveyard seems to finally be making some serious waves here in the States and have done so the old school way. Word of mouth, relentless touring and the fact that they have timeless, inspired and soulful music is something that connects with the people. For their first headlining tour, Graveyard has taken out California based band Radio Moscow and for this show tapped the local band Stonerider as the opening act. I just found myself entertained by the thought of seeing a band called Graveyard in dark, cavernous venue called “Hell.” Talk about setting the pace for the evening right?

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January 25, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Blowin’ Wind with Bob Pantella of Riotgod/Monster Magnet: “I can’t even imagine being in just one band. I think I’d be bored to tears.”

Categories: Interviews
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Next to Warren Haynes, Bob Pantella has to be one of the busiest guys in Rock N’ Roll. In addition to playing drums in Monster Magnet, Atomic Bitchwax and Cycle of Pain, Bob also is one of the creative forces and the drummer for New Jersey’s own Riotgod. Riotgod has just released their latest album “Invisible Empire” and has been getting some really positive reviews. I managed to catch Bob on a rare day when he wasn’t running around doing a million things and caught up with him. It was great catching up with him as we talked about everything from touring in a van to his thoughts on the Black Sabbath reunion. Hope y’all enjoy this one!

Happy New Year Bob!  It’s been a while!

You too man.  Yeah, I know.  It’s been like a year right?  How have ya been?

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I’ve been great man.  It’s great to finally catch up with you again.  So you just got done with European run with Monster Magnet.  Are you pretty much done with winters in Europe?

[laugh].  Man, I’m pretty done with Winter everywhere.  [laughs]

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January 23, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, 1 Comment

SURPRISE! Iron Maiden Gives Us ANOTHER Live Album/DVD. Thanks ‘Arry!

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In shocking news, EMI announced that Iron Maiden will be releasing a new live album and DVD.  In other shocking news, the sky is blue and birds fly south for the winter.  In all seriousness, this is pretty exciting news.  This upcoming live release is from the bands 2011 “Final Frontier” Tour. I always roll my eyes when I hear this shit but in all honesty, I jump for fucking joy over it. I mean really. Aside from the “Real Live/Dead One” attrocities, who can really bitch about LIVE IRON MAIDEN? I’m actually really pumped about this one mainly because there were no pro-shot video or audio of this tour available for bootleg trading. This tour had Iron Maiden firing on all cylinders and also touring behind their best studio album since “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.”

The album/DVD entitled “En Vivo!” will be released on Blu-Ray, 2 DVD and 2 CD soundtrack album, on Monday March 26th (March 27th in North America via UMe). “En Vivo!” was filmed on April 10th, 2011 in front of over 50,000 fans at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago during the Round The World In 66 Days leg of The Final Frontier World Tour. Steve Harris had this to say about the upcoming release: “For The Final Frontier Tour it was really important to me that we filmed in South America as we’re always so overwhelmed by the fans’ reaction when we go to that part of the world and I wanted to reflect that in the filming. After much consideration we chose the Santiago show as we felt it was one of our best performances of the entire Tour and to play at the prestigious Estadio Nacional was a landmark moment for us. For reasons known to our fans, it took a long time before we got to play our first show in Chile, and once we did get to play a show, the response was so phenomenal we just had to keep coming back and it’s got better and better each time!”

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January 23, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Album Review: UFO – Seven Deadly

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UFO – Seven Deadly
Release Date: February 27, 2012
Highlights: Fight Night, Mojo Town, Angel Station, Year of the Gun, The Last Stone Rider, Steal Yourself, Burn Your House Down, Waving Good-Bye

Aside from the song “Doctor, Doctor” and the fact that they get name dropped endlessly by Eddie Trunk (don’t get me started), I don’t know a thing about UFO. When UFO’s upcoming album “Seven Deadly” made it’s way across my desk, I was very weary. First off, the atrocious MS Paint looking album cover art did very little to draw me in but as always, I remembered that I can’t allow myself to judge a book by it’s cover. As I put the on the album, the opening track “Fight Night” had me nodding my head to an infectious classic rock groove. The first thing I thought was, “This sounds like something that Saxon would have rocked out.” It’s not too far off knowing that UFO had a huge hand in inspiring bands like Saxon and Iron Maiden.

“Seven Deadly” is not the album I was expecting to hear. A lot of times when I hear these classic bands, I expect to hear a bunch of older guys still trying to do it the way they did back in the day and it comes across as cheesy. UFO manages to encapsulate a very bluesy, roots oriented sound with songs like “Angel Station” “The Last Stone Rider” that very well could have inspired the likes of Cinderella and Tangier while “Mojo Town” has a sludgy, troddy groove reminiscent of classic Black Sabbath. Lead singer Phil Mogg has such a soulful and distinct voice which is backed by the classic rhythm section of Pete Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums). Guitar god Vinnie Moore, who has been in the band since 2004, infuses his solid shred ability but does so with restraint which accentuates as opposed to dominating the sound. Add to this the use of Hammond B3 organ and background singers and you’ve got one hell of a Southern Hard Rock… from England.

The songs on “Seven Deadly” really impressed me in the way that they all seemed to have their own personality without veering off from their almost Southern Rock inspired groove. If you wouldn’t have told me that this was UFO, I would’ve thought that it was some American based Southern Hard Rock band. The two songs that really stuck to me more than any of the others was “Year of the Gun” which almost plays out like a Stevie Ray Vaughn kind of Texas blues number and the dark, melodic and beautiful “Burn Your House Down” which was without a doubt a repeat listen for me. By the time “Waving Good-Bye” was over, I was ready for another listen and after my 2nd listen through to this album, I was hooked.

“Seven Deadly” isn’t a platter of facemelting metal and it’s not a collection of songs by a band long past their prime. “Seven Deadly” is a really inspired and beautifully produced and performed Hard Rock record. UFO just may be the best non-Southern Southern Hard Rock band around next to Cinderella. While the songs weren’t mind blowing, face melting or any of that kind of stuff, after a couple of listens I realized that they aren’t supposed to be. “Seven Deadly” is a very mood oriented album and each song is just as good if not better than the other one. I was hard pressed to find a bad song on this album and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. This isn’t an album that I would necessarily put on to rock out but the kind of record I’d put on when I just want to hear really well written, well performed and well produced songs. This is UFO as a band today and not a band trying to live off of a past sound. “Seven Deadly” proves that UFO is still very much a relevant band in 2012 and even if you never liked what they did in the past, give this one a listen.

January 20, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, 1 Comment

Power Metal Gods Astral Doors Set To Unleash “Jerusalem” To The Masses.

Categories: Music Editorial, Music News
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Swedish Traditional Metal heroes Astral Doors are back with yet another powerful platter of face melting metal.  With their classic Rainbow and Ronnie James Dio influence, Astral Doors have been winning over fans world wide and with the release of their 8th album “Jerusalem”, that trend will just continue to grow.  The Great Southern Brainfart is proud to premier the title track of the forthcoming album “Jerusalem” exclusively here before the album is released.

Listen to “Jerusalem”, the title track from the upcoming album “Jerusalem.”

“Jerusalem” will be released in North America on January 31st on SPV/Steamhammer Records.  For tour dates, news and everything else on Astral Doors, check them out on the web at http://www.astraldoors.com/

January 18, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Concert Review: Rival Sons – January 15, 2012 – Atlanta, GA

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Rival Sons
January 15, 2012
The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

When I heard that one of my favorite bands, Rival Sons, were coming to town I was pumped like you wouldn’t believe but when I heard that they were opening for goth hard rockers Evanescence, it left me scratching my head and saying, “What the fuck?” While I was really excited to the see Rival Sons, I wasn’t so excited to see them go down like a led zeppelin (pun intended) opening for such a mismatched band. “Shot Down In Flames” by AC/DC filled the hall as the band took the stage to a modest ovation from the crowd who now looked curious. Lead singer Jay Buchanan, bassist Robin Everhart, drummer Mike Miley and guitarist Scott Holiday took the stage to the sound of white noise and slammed right into “Torture” from the band’s self titled debut. The minute that first note was sung, Buchanan was in the zone and welcoming any and everyone to join him. The energy, raw power and soul of this band cannot be contained by any venue and as the band played on, they managed to look and sound way too big for even this large room.

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January 16, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

The Album By Album Challenge: Motley Crue Pt. 2

Categories: Album By Album Challenge, Album Reviews, Music Editorial
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Welcome back to the Motley Crue edition of the Brainfart’s “Album by Album Challenge.” So you obviously made it through that first part and because you’re a glutton for punishment decided to come back for more. It’s hard to believe that band can have so much fail in such an extensive catalog.  Just feel lucky that you weren’t the one having to listen to these albums IN FULL AND BACK TO BACK!  Oh well, it’s all downhill from here with the exception of one album but once again, I digress. Read on folks, read on!

Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood
Release Date: September 1, 1989
The Good: Dr. Feelgood, Kickstart My Heart
The Bad: Slice of Your Pie, Rattlesnake Shake, Without You, Same Ol’ Situation, Sticky Sweet, She Goes Down, Don’t Go Away Mad, Time For Change
The Indifferent:

This challenge is really starting to piss me off.  Once again we have Crue album that opens with one of the best songs of their career only to completely pulled down to a firey death of mediocrity.  Ok guys.  We get it.  You like sex and you like us all to think that you’re a bunch of bad mother fuckers.  Well, this album once again makes you look like a bunch of schmucks.  With the exception of the title track and “Kickstart My Heart”, this album just flat out sucks.  “Rattlesnake Shake” with such amazing lyrics, as “Shake Shake Shake, make my body ache” is just too much to handle and much like “Girls, Girls, Girls”, crappy pop like “Same Old Situation” and ballads like “Without You” add fuel to the fire.  The most ridiculous moment is Nikki Sixx’s attempt to be socially conscious with “Time For Change.”  Boy, he’s a real Nelson Mandella… NOT.

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January 13, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

The Album By Album Challenge: Motley Crue Pt. 1

Categories: Album By Album Challenge, Album Reviews, Music Editorial
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Happy New Year Fartheads and welcome to another “Album by Album Challenge.” For those that are new here, the “Album by Album Challenge” is where I take a bands entire discography and listen to every album in order of release from front to back. As I do this, I write a review of the albums and offer my thoughts on each of them. In some cases, I have learned that I really enjoyed a lot of things that I overlooked by a certain band. In other cases, I learned just how much crap one band can release to the masses. This time around I took it upon myself to face the challenge of listening to the Motley Crue catalog and I must say, it was one of the most painful challenges I have done yet. I can’t even being to describe just how much crappy music this band has put out but I’ll digress for now. This was a long one of 11 albums (two versions of “Too Fast For Love”) so I have split it into two parts. Hope you enjoy this one and hey, at least YOU didn’t have to listen to all of these yourself. You’re welcome.

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January 11, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Album Review: Riotgod – Invisible Empire

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Riotgod – Invisible Empire
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Highlights: Breed, Fool, Slow Death, Firebrand, Gas Station Roses, Tomorrow’s Today, Loosely Bound, Lost, Hollow Mirror, Rebirth

Coming off the heels of their stellar self titled debut, Riotgod returns with a sophomore effort that completely exceeded my expectations. Riotgod’s debut really appealed to me with their Captain Beyond like Classic Rock imprint. Just when I thought I had Riotgod figured out, here they come with “Invisible Empire” and boasting a collection of songs that is all over the map when it comes to influences. While this may sound like a bad thing (and for some bands it is), it totally works in Riotgod’s favor. The album opens up with “Breed” boasting the very familiar and comfortable Black Sabbath inspired riffage and groove but just when you think you’re settling in, here comes “Fool” boasting a heavy vocal and melodic influence of acts like Alice In Chains, Ronnie James Dio and Mother Love Bone. I know it’s insane to imagine those names together but Lead Singer Mark Sunshine has found a way to pull inspiration from singers like Ronnie James Dio, Layne Staley and former Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood to create a raw, passionate and organic voice. Guitarist Garrett Sweeny does the same channeling everyone from Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt to Jerry Cantrell and Jimmy Page. It’s so refreshing to hear a band not ashamed to wear multiple influences on their sleeves all at once. Some may not dig it but hey, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing and Riotgod does it really well.

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January 9, 2012, Author: thegreatsouthernbrainfart, Leave a comment

Van Halen Is Back! Let’s Hope They Stick Around.

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After a very successful and fun performance at Cafe Wha? in New York’s Greenwich Village to select press invites (I wasn’t invited! Boo!), Van Halen have announced an extensive US Tour behind their upcoming album “A Different Kind Of Truth.” The tour kicks off on February 19th in Louisville and will grind to a halt on June 26th in New Orleans. I honestly couldn’t be more pumped to see this tour and album become a reality. The band tested the waters a few years ago with a full on US tour which many people didn’t think would even happen. Once it did happen we all sat waiting for the ego machine to explode which never happened to everyone’s amazement.

Diamond Dave, Eddie and Alex have managed to make it through a full tour, a break and the recording process of a new album. I feel like we just may be seeing Van Halen the way we’ll see them for the next while. I’ll be honest and say that just like anyone else, I’d love nothing more to see the FULL family up there with Michael Anthony on bass. After seeing a few of the clips with Wolfie on bass, I have to say that the kid held his own and did an amazing job. I mean, his dad is Eddie Van Halen after all so I highly doubt he’d allow his kid to be a slouch in the band that bares their last name. Mike’s energy and presence will be sorely missed but what the hell? We still have Diamond Dave and Edward running the show so that right there more than justifies Mike’s absence.

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