Blues Pills - Blues Pills (2014)

Retro-stoner rock bands imitating 60's and 70's psychedelic music seem to be a dime-a-dozen these days with many bands simply failing to add anything distinctive or original to the mix. Blues Pills, on the other hand, are the clear exception to the rule. Rather than simply pay homage to the greats (Led Zep, Cream, Hendrix) etc., they channel these influences into something grandiose, elegant, and positively captivating.

It's not only the singer's incredible Janis Joplin-esque voice or the infectious grooves that make this album so enjoyable. Above all, it's the band's unbridled musical enthusiasm and passion that seeps through every song. This is a band that is unafraid to push limits and challenge themselves; in fact they enjoy doing it.

Whether it's the over-the-top quality of "Devil Man" or the haunting ballad "River"the band operate very much as a tight unit, with the rhythm section perfectly complementing Elin Larsson's soulful vocals. As for guitarist Dorian Sorriaux, he absolutely excels on this album, conjuring the ghost of Hendrix letting it drive him to make stomping riffs and fiery solos.

Some songs could be a bit more differentiated, but overall there is a very good deal of diversity and at no point during my numerous listens did I feel bored with this incredibly talented band's stellar debut album. Simply put, this album is one of the finest in the blues rock/psychedelic/stoner/call-it-what-you-want genre. This band can safely be added into Sweden's vast pantheon of exceptionally talented artists.

9.5/10

Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)

For my 400th post, I decided to review another one of my all-time favorite albums. Enjoy!

All the 80’s era Maiden albums are such classics. It’s hard to choose my favorite, but I had to choose Powerslave because Aces High and the title track are my two all-time favorite Maiden tracks. Plus it has one of the best metal album covers of all time. What impresses me the most about Iron Maiden besides their rock-solid songwriting abilities and the legendary vocals of Bruce Dickinson is their lyrical topics. They write songs about such a wide array of literary, historical, military, political and even philosophical subjects which adds an extra level of power to their music. Powerslave discusses such subjects as ancient Egyptian mythology, the Doomsday Clock and fencing. Oh and let’s not forget that they have one of the best drummers of all time as well as some of the best solos. As on all their albums, Nicko McBrain and the three guitarists shine brilliantly and make some incredibly ambitious music. All these elements coalesce into a perfect package on Powerslave. With Powerslave, as well as with Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden cemented themselves as the leading NWOBHM band and one of the best and most influential heavy metal bands of all time. 
10/10

Saxon - Sacrifice (2013)

Somehow, I've been missing one of the most important traditional metal bands of all time and have only gotten into them within the past few days. I'm glad to have discovered them now because this legendary band's 20th album is everything you'd want from a band such as them: pounding, heavy riffs, nice solos, good vocals, and all around fun, rocking music. You might say that it's surprising to hear men in their 60's playing metal so well, but then again we just had killer albums released from Deep Purple and Black Sabbath so it's not all that surprising anymore. This is a band that clearly have not forgotten their roots and can still please their fanbase. If you're looking for a solid, straightforward slab of heavy metal then this album should be on your list.
9/10

Black Sabbath - 13 (2013)

Can't even believe I just typed that heading. The first Sabbath album with Ozzy since Never Say Die! in 1978 was one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Therefore, like the Steven Wilson record, I'll post a track-by track review and then try to get a sense of how everything fits together.

1. "End of the Beginning" - First thing you notice when this song comes on is the crisp, clear production thanks to (surprisingly) Rick Rubin. Next thing is the fact that this sounds a whole lot like the self-titled track from 1969. That's not a bad thing actually. I mean, most bands repeat certain elements in their music and do a good job at it. This is certainly the case here, and it's great that Sabbath are making actual doom again. As for Ozzy, he sounds pretty good even if the vocals sound a bit too forced in this part. Iommi's work is great both here and throughout the entire album. The part that starts around 5:30 really sounds like classic Sabbath as does the second solo.
9/10

2. "God is Dead" - The single we've all heard. The structure is pretty similar to "End of the Beginning" and the lyrics are quite dark as expected from Sabbath. There was mixed reaction to this song when it first came out and I think it's the weakest of the bunch. Still very good though.
8.5/10

3. "Loner" - Here's where things really pick up. It has a great driving riff with incredibly catchy vocal melodies and fabulous acoustic interludes. Structurally, it's very creative and diverse and recalls some of the most creative moments of early Sabbath. Plus, the production on the solo makes it sound very vintage. "Loner" may not quite fit with the rest of the album, but I just really love it. For me, it's already a classic.
10/10

4. "Zeitgeist" - This song not only serves tribute to the timeless "Planet Caravan," but also takes the sound in new directions and adds a lot of intricacy to it. It's an absolutely gorgeous tune which is capped off by Iommi playing a wonderful acoustic solo - something Sabbath fans aren't used to hearing. This is definitely a highlight of the album for me and one of the best ballads by a metal band that I've heard in recent times. It may not have the same nostalgic magic that "Planet Caravan" has, but it's still incredible as a modern expansion on that song.
9.5/10

5. "Age of Reason" - This one sounds like it was ripped right out of the Dio/Heaven & Hell era. It's an epic song with a big riff that morphs into an even bigger one complete with an orchestral backing track. Then it actually gets a bit proggy with some interesting time changes and complex drumming. It's definitely the most epic song on the album and probably my favorite of the longer tracks.
9.5/10

6. "Live Forever" - Extremely dark lyrics here, probably the darkest on the album. The chorus is very catchy and Iommi delivers yet another awesome solo. As one of the shorter songs, it's not quite as appealing as "Loner" in terms of creativity but it's still a great song.
9/10

7. "Damaged Soul" - This song is truly one of Iommi's finest moments in his entire career. For the first time in many years he's back to playing straight-up blues and he's doing a fantastic job at it. Ozzy's harmonica work perfectly complements the guitar as does Geezer's free-style bass playing. All in all, this is the original stoner band showing the modern stoner bands how it's done. Absolutely amazing song.
10/10

8. "Dear Father" - This is probably the heaviest song on the album. It has a really mean riff that recalls Iommi's more recent work. It's pretty cool how they repeat the intro to the self-titled song at the end of this one. It's a good track, but I think it could have been a bit more dynamic and not quite as long.
9/10

9. "Methademic" - Wait did I say "Dear Father" is the heaviest song? Nah, it's this one. Iommi lays down an absolutely monstrous riff here. This one is an upbeat, headbanging type of song that most fans probably think the band didn't have in them. Hats off to Sabbath for such a wicked track.
9.5/10

10. "Peace of Mind" - This is another Dio/Heaven & Hell era sounding song. It's decent, but nothing really special to be honest.
8/10

11. "Pariah" - This track features another awesome, heavy riff and is about as good "Methademic." Iommi really belts it out here especially in the solo. This song's lyrics deal with religion, perhaps, in the most exclusive way of any track on the album. It's another rocking tune that Sabbath should feel proud to have created.
9.5/10

So what's the final verdict on this album? Well, it certainly exceeded my expectations as far as what a group of 60+ year old men (and a 40-something year old drummer) could create. It takes some of the best elements of classic Sabbath and modernizes them. It's an amazing accomplishment for this band and if it's their very last album then they went out with a hell of a bang. 

On the other hand, I'm not prepared to give this album a perfect score as there are some faults. For one thing, I was hoping there wouldn't be as much Dio/Heaven & Hell era material here as there is since it's just not as innovative as the early 70's stuff both in terms of riffs and overall structure. However, there is still some of the latter which makes me very happy. 

Another issue, and this ties in with what the last one, is that there could be more variation. I think there are one too many long songs that could have been shortened down and packed with more varied and interesting material. For example, if you compare any of the epics on this album to "War Pigs" or "Hand of Doom" you'll see how much more inventive the band was back then. I'm not saying they should copy the exact same formula they had back then, but they could have spiced up the songs just a little bit more.

All these issues pale in comparison though to the sheer greatness of this album. It may not be pioneering an entire genre like the first six albums did nor can it match up to those records music-wise, but it's still an incredibly strong effort by a band that has beat the odds to deliver what is certain to be one of the best metal albums of the year and one of the best in Sabbath's discography. 
9.25/10      

Deep Purple - Now What?! (2013)

After 2005's good, but inconsistent, "Rapture of the Deep," the hard rock titans have returned with a knockout album that is, in my opinion, the best of the Steve Morse era and possibly the best one since "Perfect Strangers" all the way back from 1984. From the great riffs to the phenomenal guitar/keyboard solos to Gillan's vocals (which have held up surprisingly well), this is a much-awaited return to form. Besides these trademark features, there's also a good amount of experimentation especially with classical elements which adds a lot to the atmosphere and really complement the riffs well. Probably the best example of this is in the absolutely epic track "Uncommon Man" which features a rousing intro and is one of the most ambitious things the band have attempted yet. Another example of the band's experimentation is on the semi-prog track "Above and Beyond" of which the main riff could have been used on a Yes song. My highlights though would have to be "Out of Hand," "Apres Vous," and "Body Line." All those songs pretty much stand shoulder to shoulder with the band's classic work. They're really that good. In all, this album has surpassed my expectations and shown that even on this band's 19th album there's still plenty of creativity to be had.
9.5/10

 

Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell and Angels (2013)

First of all, it's astounding just how much material Hendrix left behind and how it's still in the process of being released over 40 years after his death. Second of all, this is a very accomplished album, and further demonstrates just how much of a guitar master Hendrix was (not that we needed any more proof.) People, Hell and Angels does contain a number of hard rock/psychedelic tracks, but is more oriented towards Hendrix's experimentation with blues, soul and funk. A few of the songs didn't quite pique my interest and sounded incomplete, but most of them are what you'd expect from one of the most renowned guitarists of all time. While I can't say I like this nearly as much as the original three albums, it's still a joy to hear new Hendrix tunes in 2013.
8.5/10

 

Gandalf - Gandalf (1969)

Here's an obscure psychedelic release that gives you that classic, nostalgic sound that's so highly prize amongst modern bands. It's a really beautiful, almost folkish album that's quite a relief once you've filled up on all the black metal and dark ambient I've been recommending!
9/10

 

Thin Lizzy - Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979)

This is the second TL album I've listened to, and I would have to give this one a slight edge over Jailbreak. The songwriting is very tight with Gary Moore at the helm, and the vocal lines are quite catchy. Overall this is a very enjoyable classic album comparable to Van Halen or ZZ Top.
9/10

 

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (1976)

Strangely enough, even with all the stoner albums I've posted about, I hadn't actually looked at one of the major influences for those albums until now. Like those albums, Thin Lizzy have great, bluesy riffs and interesting solos. I very much enjoyed this album, and I'll have to listen to the rest of their discography.
9/10

 

Graveyard - Lights Out (2012)

Here's another fine stoner rock release that sounds pretty different from anything else I've reviewed in the genre. They're much lighter than bands like The Sword or Witchcraft, and are more influenced by bands such as Deep Purple, Cream, and The Doors than the heavy, evil Black Sabbath. It's a very straightforward blues-rock record that, while not innovative, is a satisfying listen.
8.5/10

Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

This is Rush's, the legendary prog rock band, first concept album in a very long time. It's adapted from Voltaire's "Candide" and the music is great. Headlong Flight is probably the heaviest song they've ever written while The Garden is their most beautiful one. The album does drag in a few parts but it's still the best they've written since Moving Pictures.
9/10

 

Rival Sons - Head Down (2012)

Speaking of blues-rock, here's an awesome new band out of L.A. that could rightfully be called Led Zeppelin 2.0 (and a much less boring version of The Black Keys). I consider this to be Rival Sons' best album with the epic Manifest Destiny Pt. 1 being the cornerstone of it. If you are a Zephead like me, you can't afford not to check out this out.
8.5/10