It's been a while

Well, for any of you that have regularly checked out my blog before you may have noticed that I have been missing for a while. Sorry for the interruption, let's just say there were a lot of situations I needed to handle. Enough excuses let's get to the reason you all read this, The Rock.


                                                                                                                          I had the amazing opportunity to visit the famous Bathouse recording studio recently, thanks to an invitation by Kingston's own Greg Ball. His band were recording new tracks for his newest album, and I have to say that what I heard was sounding pretty damn good. Unfortunatley Greg could not nail down a date for the new release, but you can be asured that I will give you a review of it as soon as it hits the streets. What I can tell you is that he is working with other tallented Kingston artists on this new offering, and the whole project is being directed by non other than Hip guitarist Paul Langlois. Greg and his band are adding more depth of instrumentation into the new album, which allowed me to see for myself the diversity of tallent that the band has; like who knew that lead guitarist Joe Carscallen could also play the electronic organ? The Bathouse is known for being the studio where the iconic Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip recorded many of their hit songs. Inside the rooms of the house turned state of the art studio there is amazing Rock and Roll history all around.

Within the warm wooden walls of the historical building you can feel the awesomeness of the place. From the huge artpeice depicting the cover of the 1992 Hip album "Fully Completely," to the gold Tragically Hip album on the wall in the kitchen the Rock and Roll pedigree of this studio shines through. It isn't some posh sterile modern build, instead you can feel that the very spirit of Canadian Rock and Roll lives and breaths in that place. Admittedly I would have been looking forward to Greg Ball's next album even if it was not being recorded in such a historic studio, still I can't say that now knowing it is being recorded and directed by some of the best talent in Canada does make me all the more eager to hear the upcoming Greg Ball album. If you want to know more about the Bathouse studio or Greg Ball please click on the links below.







 http://www.thebathouse.com/                                     http://www.gregball.ca/                                       

                                                                              The amazingly talented Finnish guitarist Elmo Karjalainen has released a new album online called "Age of Heroes." The album has been getting its first reviews, and one reviewer said it's the best shred album since Joe Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien." Now that is some high praise. I have liked his playing ever since I first heard him a few years ago, and he has been steadily producing more and more sweet riffs.

                                                                          Elmo added the extra talents of established Metal gurus such as: Derek Sherinian .ex Dream Theater, and Yngwie Malmsteen keyboard player who also toured with Billy Idol, Kiss and Alice Cooper; IA Eklundh of Freak Kitchen; and the extremely talented Janne and Emil to this album. Elmo pulls out all of the stops for this offering, it Rocks harder than any of his previous works. As with his previous albums it includes bits of his humor and amazingly smooth guitar work. "Age of Heroes" is a must have for all of you aspiring guitarists out there. He'll open your ears to the possibilities of wielding an axe, and inspire you to follow that ecstasy that can only be felt through the summoning of the spirits of the Guitar Gods. BUY ELMO KARJALAINEN'S "AGE OF HEROES" HERE!!!

                                                       Those incredible cerebral Metalheads Stage Of Reality have definitely established themselves as one of the must hear acts for anyone who likes thinking mans Metal. Their last offering was a huge success especially when realizing the depth of the ideas brought to the table. Reviewers have even pegged Stage of Reality as being the barometer of talent which new acts in the genre should aspire to. Now you can see and hear more of this exceptional act on their brand new website.......HERE!! So don't wait until the world ends to get your fill of some high quality cerebral Metal and go check out Stage of Reality today.

                                                                          Thirteen keeps getting better. They have stayed true to their stated mission of making quality bad ass music in the spirit of the best of classic Rock and Metal. So if you like your Rock and Roll on the rocks just like your whiskey then you have to hear Thirteen's new album "Nightingale." I just wish we could hear more of this quality of new music on the radio. YOU CAN BUY "NIGHTINGALE" HERE!! OR HERE!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Well, that's it for now. I'll just leave you all with a damn cool video for the Batman Lego movie.

Guitar Gods, Phil Salazar, and some Damn Good Rock and Roll!

Guitar Gods

Our favorite Finlander Elmo Karjalainen has released his first acoustic album, Where We Belong, on the 23rd of December 2015. It is a follow up to his previous critically acclaimed releases Instrumental releases.
If you were not convinced yet that he is not just a one trick pony he played most of the other instruments on the songs as well as the guitar: Elmo Karjalainen plays the acoustic guitars, special effects guitars, sustained electric guitar, elctro-acoustic bass, and percussion on the album. Drums on "Laiturilla" (On the Pier) by Christer Karjalainen.
The CD is a much mellower offering than his previous ones, but the crisp clear acoustic tone just allows you to hear the true finesse of his playing.

The thing to remember here is that this is from the same axeman that played the Guitar Gods Festival earlier this year. It goes to show the depth and diversity of his talent; he can both swoon and Rock out with equally gorgeous results.
Elmo said he got to meet got to meet Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen, and "it was one of the best nights I've ever had." He was not the only Finn to represent that night, Janne Nieminen and Emil Pohjalainen, "kicked ass on stage."


The Guitar Gods Festival is the creation of April Malmsteen, Yngwie's lovely wife and manager. In fact, a portion of the proceeds from the Festival went to the April Malmsteen Foundation, a foundation that works to protect endangered species and their habitats around the globe.
During the online competition fans and a panel of judges chose the top few to play at the big show from videos uploaded to youtube for entry into the competition.  




 Brad Jurjens, Elmo Karjalainen, Tyler Morris, Jorge Almarales, Joey Lodes, Pareidolia, Robert Rodrigo, Janne Nieminen and Emil Pohjalainen were chosen as winners to appear on stage for the final showdown in Miami Beach.

In the end after a celebration of stellar six string riffs. Janne Nieminen and Emil Pohjalainen won the bragging rites to be known as the newest Guitar Gods. Even though I am sad that Elmo did not win I am incredibly happy that such a worthwhile Festival is giving guitarists from all over the world exposure, and the awesome opportunity to play on the same stage as  Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai.

Check out Janne and Emil's video below, as well as Elmo on stage for the awards. Oh, and I had to add a little Yngwie and Steve.

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Phil Salazar

Eden Burning is a dirty little group out of that great state of Texas. You know that don't tread on me, open carryin', ten gallon hat wearin', and no shit takin' state that gave us a kick ass little band named ZZ-Top.

Phil Salazar and the boys are making sure that Texas keeps on Rocking. They have been busy as hell playing right across the great state.

So if you like your Rock Sleazy and dirty like it is meant to be then keep an ear out for Eden Burning, and for Heaven's sake bug them to put out another album!


On Feb 27th Eden Burning opened for the legendary Ace Frehley from KISS at FITZGERALDS ROCK BAR in San Antonio Texas.
I was able to get a hold of Phil and got some of his opinions on Rock and Roll today, and his kick ass band:

Me - Do you see a lot of competition among bands out there today?

Phil - I don't see a lot of competition with bands like before , it used to be a whole you against me mentality which I have always disliked . That's a lot of the reason I never enter Eden Burning into battle of the bands or awards stuff , that's all about how many people you can pester to hit the like button on your vote page . I don't think bands need to be pitted against each other.

It should be like the old days a unified scene where everyone supports everyone.

Me - Eden burning has quite the history of opening for big acts such as:  Airbourne, Tesla, Dokken, Quiet Riot , George Lynch, and most recently Ace Frehley. What's it like working with such great acts?

Phil - It's funny people always say "man you guys have opened up for a lot of people , but let me tell ya people I've never meet half the bands I've opened for lol "

Me -  I guess that means that you didn't get to meet the Spaceman?

Phil - I was a little disappointed opening for Ace because he is my hero and charging an absurd amount of money to meet him is not cool in my book , i never understood how people can forget who put them there, he didn't put himself there, WE did, the fans .... Those who loved him and bought his records early on and stayed a fan no matter what! You should learn to be humble and not take advantage of the common man, I mean charging 500 bucks to the common man for a signature is insane. Who knows maybe he needs the cash, but to people like you and me, we have to scrap everything we got to have that privilege. Nonetheless he is Ace and I still love his music, it's what got me here today growing up loving rock n roll and being happy that people listen and support what I do. And that!!! Is priceless.

Me - How do you find Twitter as a marketing tool for your music?

Phil - Our Twitter followers have now gone past 110,000 followers . I have had lots success through Twitter , I have reached a worldwide fan base that demands us in there country , now I just gotta find the right promoter to pay the tab hahaha.

Me - What do you think of the direction of today's Rock and Roll scene?

Phil - I'm not sure what the direction of the future rock scene is right now, but I will say just have fun with it and don't lose sight of that fire that got you started. If you light it big and bright Enough people will see you and come.

Me - What made you want to get into the Rock and Roll business?

Phil - When I was a kid I dreamt of far away places like the Whisky a Go Go while flipping through rock mags and reading about Mötley Crüe. Later in life i was blessed enough to play the scene in LA a few times and actually headline the a Whiskey a Go Go. If you put your heart to it, it will happen, I don't let anyone tell me different. You can try and fail or you can sit on the sidelines and watch those that are trying.
Truthfully I'm not a couch potato type person, I need to be doing something to get my music out there all the time. It's hard for me to stay put most times . Rock n still is a bitch, that's why I gotta be superbitch, if you don't take control of your own destiny who is gonna do it for you?

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When I am deciding, out of the many bands out there, what to listen to one of the things I look for is a group with an interesting name. 

Trippy Wicked and the Cosmic Children of the Knight looked like one hell of a cool name for a band so I ended up checking out this Hard Rock outfit out of the UK.
Bass heavy and distorted as fuck they crank out some sweet ass Stoner Rock. They were not bullshitting when they described themselves on their Facebook account as "A rolling, thundering mass of infectious riffs..."

I have been listening to their 2009 Movin On and I love it.  It is was the trio's debut effort and they nailed it. The fuzz and deep bass just envelop you as the arms of a long lost lover, and never let you go throughout the whole trippy ride.

The only problem, if you can call it that, with finding groups this good is that now I am going to have to get everything they have ever put out.

I guess what I am trying to say is there is not a clunker in this bunch of tracks, it is one hell of a kick ass album. 

You can get all of their music on Bandcamp and all the groups info from their Facebook page, so go and check 'em out.

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Will Black is spending this month touring the UK and Canada. I highly recommend that you check out Will when he performs in a city near you, it is worth the price of admission. He has an amazing voice and gives a great show. I was fortunate enough to get to see him last year and thoroughly enjoyed the concert. 

If you do check him out you will get to hear one of the best rock voices you have heard and a rocking mix of great tunes.

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I would like to thank: Phil Salazar for a great interview; Elmo Karjalainen for keeping me up to date on the Guitar Gods Festival; April and Yngwie Malmsteen for holding such an amazing event; and Finland for giving us such great Metal guitarists.

Thank you all for reading this blog, and keep the Rock and Roll coming.

Kevin Sweeney 

The Guitar Issue

 Each year there is a little guitar competition that goes by the name of Guitar Gods, its catch line is "Do you have what it takes to be the next Guitar God?" The winner gets the chance to play with legendary axe slingers Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, and even Nicko McBrain the drummer from Iron Maiden.

Well, this year non other than the Finnish virtuoso Elmo Karjalainen is entering the fray, and will be playing in Miami on Feb 19th, 2016. All I can say is I hope the others are practicing day and night because Elmo is bringing the full might of Finnish Metal Thunder to the stage. Tickets are available!

I would love to see nothing more this year than to see Elmo Karjalainen on stage playing side by side with my ultimate guitar idol the majestic mad man Yngwie Malsteen.

So if you love your Metal and want to see the next Guitar God check out the video below. Godspeed Elmo and may the Metal Gods bless your talented fingers.

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AMPS

Tech 21

My favorite bass player Doug Pinnick from the epic Rock band King's X revealed at NAMM 2015  that he has collaborated with Tech 21 to produce his own signature bass amp.

King's X have been highly respected by fellow musicians for years. Take for instance that Jeff Amnet the bassist for Pearl Jam stated in an interview that King's X was the inventor of grunge, or that Mike Inez from Alice In Chains said that Doug Pinnick is the most inspirational bassist ever.





No one in the music world has a bass sound like Doug/dUg. It is deep, growling, and edgy, so you can see why I am very enthused about a bass amp that is dedicated to his sound.

The Tech 21 dUg Pinnick Signature Bass 1000 is a 2-channel, all-analog bass amp head. Essentially it is a guitar amp and bass amp put together in one head to produce Doug's iconic distorted sound.

This amp is very high on my wish list of guitar accessories that I want to get. I guess if  I'm going to invest in it than I should add in the Schecter Model-T bass that Doug plays also.

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Revv

A Canadian Amp manufacturer, Revv out of Winnipeg Manitoba demoed several of their products for the NAMM show. What caught my eye about them was the lime green Dynamis combo. It has a 1950's classic look about it, and I found out it is a great sounding amp for blues. It is a 2 channel and 740W amplifier with several effects and can be attached to a foot switch that is made for the amp, and it sounds as bright and smooth as it looks.

Revv also displayed their Generator series that is made for heavier styles of music. Their Generator 7-40 is a hand built tube amp that has a great dirty distorted sound. It has a clean and a crunch channel with 3 "aggression" levels. You can read the rest of the specs on their web site. 

Either of the amps would make excellent accessories for your studio, stage, or garage.

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AXES

Wood Guerilla

If I am going to talk about guitars, than I have to bring up Alek Darson's girls. They are Wood Guerilla axes that are as much works of art as instruments. Hand crafted and sweet sounding, they augment Alek's incredible talent on the guitar.

Puffy, his first custom guitar that Alek had Wood Guerilla make for him was based on the Halo Guitar shape. "Her 5-piece mahogany and wenge neck, with a zirikote fretboard, runs through a beautiful 4-piece body of (top to bottom) poplar, wenge, curly maple and mahogany in a wonderful neck-through-body style.

Custom made Electrosonic SBS pickups in a H-S-H configuration give her that warm Gibson Les Paul feel, with a strong personality and massive sound."





As you can see, on the right, it is wonderfully designed with a Metal edge to it. It's much a work of art as a playable instrument.

Someday I would love to get a six string version of this lovely wooden axe.

You can hear her on Alek's album Panopticon which is definitely worth picking up. Hell, I even paid for it.

Gibson Les Paul

Canadian Bluesman J.W. Jones, who I have had the pleasure of meeting last year, plays a beautiful gold Gibson Les Paul. The tones he gets out of that wonder allows him to play any style you can possibly think of; you'll know I'm not bullshitting you if you ever saw him live.

When looking for an appropriate picture to base some artwork of J.W. Jones, he said that he wanted to make sure he was shown with his gold Gibson in tow.  You can see why, it is a beautiful instrument.

From Hard Rock to Jazz and all across the popular music map talented axemen have chosen the Gibson Les Paul to be their guitar of choice: Led Zeppelin's Iconic Jimmy Page; that top hatted Rocker Slash; and non other than Eric Clapton have stated their reputation on the Les Paul.

From its beautiful hourglass shape to its incredible ability to adapt to any genre smoothly I can see how professionals like J.W. love the Les Paul.

If you ever want to see and hear the amazing range of this gorgeous beast make sure to catch J.W. Jones and his band.

I encourage you to also read a bit more on Les Paul’s Revolutionary “New Sound” in Reverb's article on the man and the legend.

Fender

I do not consider myself an accomplished guitarist at all, but I thought you may like a bit more of a personal review. Thanks alot to my wife I have a nice collection of guitars; you know, birthdays and such. As soon as I got my first one I knew I wanted more.

As you can tell from my blog my music taste can vary greatly, but my staples are Metal and Rock. That is why for quite a while I wanted a Fender.

The Fender Stratocaster is the guitar choice for my favorite guitarist of all time Yngwie Malmsteen. He was the reason I wanted to get a guitar and the reason I never did for quite a long time. I saw his effortless lightning fingers soloing through seamlessly and thought that I could never do that. 

Later in life I decided to endeavor to make my own music and hence the small collection I have now. Two years ago a Fender-less me found a used Starcaster for sale for a cheap price. Now I had not seen one before and assuming it was a starting model of the Strat I was interested.

After a good couple hours drive in the country side I returned home $150.00 poorer and with a very well maintained Fender Starcaster.

Once I tried it I found out why so many of my friends that played guitar swore by Fender. The guitar was smooth and easy to play. It was light, comfortable, and looked good. It came with a very small amp that sounds best when you put it face down on the floor and crank the volume all the way up, but I was going to plug it into my Line 6 anyway.

The sound that it produced was crisp and clear, full of pleasant memories of times long gone. I still want to get a Stratocaster but for now I am quite content with my Starcaster.

A good friend of mine  Drew Clementino Aguiar the frontman for the kick ass Rock group Return For Refund, made my Fender decisions much more difficult. He plays a Fender Telecaster, and manages to crank out some damn fine Rock and Roll out of that axe.

I realize it is not just about the guitar you play. It has a lot more to do with the skill of the player. I can not count how many times I have seen Drew sitting in some corner practicing away.

The rich variety of tones that you can get out of combining a Fender with a half decent amp is phenomenal. If you love Rock and Roll and want to play you can not go wrong with playing a Fender.

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Thanks for reading. Hopefully this at least opened your ears up to some good music, if not gave you some ideas for your next purchase.

Keep the Rock and Roll coming.

Kevin Sweeney

Best Rock and Metal of 2015

Those Who Have Past

2015 will forever be known as the year we lost Lemmy. There is little I can say that can cover the depth of this loss to the whole state of Rock and Roll. "He was the epitome of Rock and Roll," I read in one of the homages online, and I don't think there is a single person alive or dead that could ever dismiss his impact on the Hard Rock and Metal world. It felt as if a whole genre died the news of his death reached it's cold hands across the globe.

Proof of the no holds barred take no prisoners dedication to kick ass Rock can be heard in Motörhead's last album, Bad Magic. From beginning to end it is everything that a fan ever wanted from this epic trio. It hits hard and fast, ever uncompromisingly, full of tales of an ever continuing struggle to live free.

From 1975 "Lemmy" Kilmister and Motörhead have never cared if they were ever accepted by the popular music industry, yet that same industry has had to admit to Motörhead's influence and skill. Lemmy reached Metal God status through his stubborn refusal to let life dictate his destiny. 

On December 28th 2015 a God died, long live Rock and Roll.

Unfortunately in 2015 we lost many excellent rockers: frontman for Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland; Motorhead's Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor; Longtime Bolt Thrower drummer Martin Kearns; Epic Blues guitarist B.B. King; Molly Hatchet drummer Bruce Crump; and many more (some of which can be seen at Loudwire.com.) 

We almost lost The Eagles of Death Metal due to a Terrorist attack in Paris, France. It was reassuring that Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme pushed aside any and all fear and are pursuing the continuation of their European tour in 2016. For the sake of Rock and Roll and the sake of Freedom I would hope anyone who has the chance to catch the Eagles of Death Metal will attend at least one of their shows.

Let's prove to those goat fucking cowards that Rock and Roll will never die. Fuck your Allah, Rock and Roll is the only true religion!

2015 also is the year that my favorite modern Punk band sang their last anthem. On October 3rd 2015 they announced that "Rat Neck are no more." 

It is a shame they had talent and proof that the Punk art-form had not faded away into the annals of history. Rat Neck was a beacon of Rock and Roll shining out of Dublin full of piss and vinegar.

You will surely be missed. 

Now onto much less depressing stuff. Instead of giving you a numbered list of best this and that from the past year I will highlight some groups that I think were exceptional this year, and give you my opinion why you should follow them into 2016. So let's get started...

Best albums of 2015

Definitely one of the best albums put out in 2015 is .​.​.​As Long As The Money Lasted by Royale. This smooth glass of audio perfection has been a constant resident on my digital player.

I'm not completely sure why but every time I think about this group Crown Royal Deluxe Canadian Whiskey comes to mind. Much like the drink Royale's music goes down smooth, so smooth that you completely miss the line of pleasant buzz to complete devotion.

...As Long As The Money Lasted is a great album and it is one not to be missed.

Elmo Karjalainen is one hell of a guitarist. In 2015 he released two instrumental albums, The Free Guitar Album, and Where We Belong.

Both are fun and very listenable CDs that meander through genres and do nothing less than prove his mastery of the stringed axe.

I am hoping to feature him in my next blog all about the electric guitar. Until then go get his stuff; pour yourself some Koskenkorva , ease back, and enjoy one wonderfully talented Finnish guitarist.

Classic Gothic Metal pioneers, Paradise Lost, formed in the late 80's and have been a mighty presence ever since. In 2015 they released The Plague Within.

It is both a return to the dark roots of the band as well as a push forward into the dismal future of the human condition. What this results in is a beautifully cold embrace of an excellent Goth album. Embrace your pain and join our lament by listening to The Plague Within.

Now for a bit of local Kingston, Ontario, Canada flavor. I have not hid my enthusiasm for the singer songwriter talents of Greg Ball, and he has proven himself again through his 2015 release, not the same kind.  In my humble opinion it is one of the best releases of the year.

There is a connection and soul to his music that cannot be defined in record sales. A true wordsmith he is writing the bare bones story of what it is like to live here among-st the shores of the Great Lakes. 

Not the same kind  is an anthem of the struggles of the every-man, with a rocking soundtrack. It is a story worth the price of admission.  

Thirteen has to be one of the best Hardrock/ Metal groups that I have heard this past year. Their 2015 album Volume 1  delivered something for every corner of the Metal fan base. It was simultaneously heavy, progressive, and sometimes Evanescence-like.

I love how this band gives a huge importance to keeping in tough with fans, even to the extent of helping them choose tracks to release.

If you want to hear one of the best straight out Rock and Roll albums put out in 2015 than pick up Moses Nose's Burning Bush. It is an epic offering of Rock that has not been heard since The Cult put out Sonic Temple.

This fast fun and groovy group has captured the old spirit of Rock and Roll and cranked up the amps to 11. When I listen to the album I almost think I have been transported back to the 1970's when Rock and Roll was a movement.

My favorite Metal album for 2015 has to be Time and Trauma by 36 Crazyfists. It is a solid offering from beginning to end, heavy and fast like hardcore Metal fans demand. Like a knockout punch this album holds nothing back.

Full of angst, retribution, and all those themes that make you need to scream at heaven are soaked into this album. From the cover image to the tracks Time and Trauma  is a Metal monstrosity that demands reverence.

Enough of the flowery words... It's a damn good Metal release, and whether blessed or damned we cannot say, but upon this alter of Rock and Roll we will stand this day.... Aww buy the damn record!

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Bands To Watch In 2016

While I am on the subject of Metal bands another of my favorites is the Progressive Metal outfit Stage of Reality. Earlier in 2015 they released a video for "Dignity," a track off of their new up and coming release.
Their 2014 album Breathing Machines was a refreshing concept album that put them on the market. Over the past year they have been covered far and wide in Metal magazines as well as in digital media.

Their devotion to blending the power of Metal with philosophical writings and digital art is bringing the art form into the next century. Stage of Reality is not just a band to watch in 2016 it is one to be emulated.

A British Metalcore group has caught my attention in 2015. The Sun Never Set  is a hell of a good band hailing out of London, U.K. They put a lot of heart and passion into their music, and they remind me of why I started writing this blog.

They show that it is not just about sounding good, it is more about giving something meaningful to the world around you. Metal is not just about angst it is about connecting with those who feel that anger and frustration every day.

The Spins have had a busy year in 2015, yes we are still waiting on an album but the quality of material they are putting out is excellent. What is impressive is how they are managing to put out good material despite last minute changes to their lineup.

Lead by the energetic and extremely talented drummer Alessia Mattalia, this International supergroup is forging it's way toward inevitable success. They are worth keeping an eye on in 2016.

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There are many more excellent groups that have released material this year, but groups like Slipknot and Iron Maiden don't need my little blog to back them up. I want you to hear those great and usually unheard bands who should be noticed and would love to have you as a fan. I am always on the look out for artists that do more than sound or look good to promote. 

Well, that is it for my coverage of 2015, it is on to 2016. Have a Great New Year and keep that Rock and Roll coming.

Thanks for reading,

Kevin Sweeney

More Great Metal

It's been too long since I have done a blog about Metal, so here are some of the Metal groups that have been catching my attention lately.

U.S.A.

The 36 Crazyfists 2015 album Time and Trauma Is definitely worth picking up, in fact it has gained a place on my list of best Metal albums of 2015.

Beautifully heavy and dark Time and Trauma is a scorching blast of Punk inspired Metal that is more than worth a listen. It is always a great find when you find a good heavy band that is worth listening to, and 36 Crazyfists fits those criteria perfectly.

Earlier this year these Alaskan Metalheads have been banging heads in South Africa at Krank'd Up.

The Hard Rock/Metal outfit known as Thirteen put out one damn good rocking album in March of this year. It is a collection of kick ass songs that they have produced, and several of them they released different versions of the same song but with different feels and singers.

I know I wrote about this album before but the reason I mention it again is the newest offering Thirteen has released.

Save Rock and Roll contains two tracks last month: Insanity, a barn burner of a single with plenty of punch; and El Diablo, a gun slinging and hard drinking track. Both are excellent offerings from this great up and coming band.

Thirteen continues to release high quality and catchy Rocking tunes, and fans have not had to wait for long to hear their next piece. I think they have a great sound and look forward to listening to anything that they produce.  Http://www.thirteenband.com

U.K.

The Sun Never Set is a 6 piece kick ass band from the good old U.K. These Brits advertise their sound as "savagery with a post-metal spirit." What I have to say about that is first Metal still lives and I love the savagery.

Their EP is a sweet mix of; screams, machine gun drums, walls of distortion, and melodic lead riffs. It is well worth a listen and can be found on bandcamp.

This band is a fiery foursome out of London, England that is all shiny and brand new. Just formed in February of this year, and their first album is due out Feb 2016.  If the rest of the album sounds as good as their song Shut It Down the release will be one hell of a Rocker.

If good old fashioned Metal is your music of choice than you should check out Killit, and Rock out like the devil's music has finally buried pop music under it's heel. 

RUSSIA

If you need your Metal to be heavier than Hell and twice as poignant than Fitcage is for you. Formed in 2007 this Death Metal entity exploded on the underground scene with a vengeance, with the release of their album Pigumanity.  

Not content to just scream about the impending death of mankind, these doomsayers use every hellish squeal to expose the corporate and societal culling of us all. While you still have the freedom to listen to Fitcage, for if the governments have their way we all be having out fits in a cage.

CANADA

The Classic 1980's Thrash Metal pioneers Exciter have returned with a vengeance, and they are here to show those young posers just how to mosh. That is right John Ricci, Dan Beehler, and Alan Johnson, the original members of Exciter, are back together.

John Ricci promised new material to erupt from the reunification of these Thrash titans. Until then get out there and get your hands on the classic Exciter albums.

Oh, and as John Ricci said in the band messages for February 8 2015, "Hope to see you soon with Horns high and fists in the air!

This Metalcore band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada is damn heavy. From The Wolves, is a crushing force of unrestrained Metal, that is perfect to bang your head or mosh to.

I love promoting kick ass Metal bands out of Canada more than anything, and these five guys prove that it is worth it. If you want to hear what I mean check out their bandcamp site and feast upon the Metal that is From The Wolves.

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What can I say? Canada Kicks Ass!