Saxon – 'Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie' DVD review

 

 

 

 

 

Saxon – 'Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie' 

DVD review

Released through: UDR. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

Saxon is a band who for a bunch of years through the ‘80’s, I loved their sound but then they changed direction / sound a little and I kind of lost a little interest … That is until about two or three years back.

They had released ‘Lionheart’ in 2004 with statements like, “Back to the sound of classics like ‘Wheels of Steel’ and ‘Strong Arm of The Law,’" but I bought that album and even after a number of playbacks, it really didn’t grab me ..., although it actually does today. :)

 

A couple of other albums ‘The Inner Sanctum’ and ‘Into The Labyrinth’ followed and I was still not really getting it, they were to me just way too heavy ...Then ‘A Call to Arms’ dropped on my doorstep and this one, really clicked and felt like the magic in the band was well and truly back!

I gave that a nice review - http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2011/12/saxon-call-to-arms-album-review.html - likewise the gig they played in Detroit and once again I got the Saxon bug!

Then came the ‘Heavy Metal Thunder – Live Eagles Over Wacken’ CD / DVD release, also very good indeed! - Review link here:
http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/09/saxon-heavy-metal-thunder-live-eagles.html

 

Now we have another ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ release in this documentary on the band that truly tells everything, it really does!

Originally only available through the fan club it’s now available online through Amazon and the like.

 This is a mammoth two DVD set, clocking in at five hours in total! I kid you not!

 

  

Disc one is the main feature, ‘Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie,’ which is the story of Saxon, warts and all, from very humble beginnings, through the sordid details of what went on in the back of the old ‘tripe’ van which they toured up and down the UK in, from their early years as Son Of A Bitch, then as Saxon when they signed for Carrere Records.

 

 

It captures the early years revisited, their tea drinking days, then through their support slot with Motorhead, on their famous ‘Bomber’ tour in ‘79, which got the band a great many new fans, then their successful, breakthrough tour for ‘Wheels of Steel,’ in 1980 and their Donington performance that same year, at the first Monsters of Rock festival.

 

So much more too, through the very successful years ’80 – ’84 generally, releasing two albums in ’80 – ‘Wheels of Steel’ and ‘Strong Arm of the Law’ – ‘Denim and Leather’ in ’81, the live ‘Eagle Has Landed’ in ’82, ‘Power and the Glory’ in ’83 and ‘84’s ‘Crusader’ release.
All the aforementioned releases were top twenty charting albums in the UK, three of which were also top ten.

 

 It was ‘81’s ‘Denim and Leather’ though, that started to make the band pretty successful in both Sweden and Germany, then around '85 picking up where the UK were ignoring them more or less and that has really continued ever since. Even if Sweden did back off for a few years during the 90’s, but where the UK’s love for the band started waning – Based on how well the albums did. – from ’85 – ’88, this was when Sweden backed the band more and Germany pretty much guaranteed the band top fifty albums, for the most part from there on.

 

Plenty of great footage from Europe on here too, reflected the bands great popularity still today – since this was made. – where the last studio release ‘A Call To Arms,’ was a top twenty album in both countries, but in England, didn’t do so good.

 

I actually wasn’t aware that Graham Oliver was let go from Saxon, because he tried to release the 1980 Donington Monsters of Rock tapes, on the side, without the bands knowledge and permission. Guess he had that coming!

 

Steve Dawson is clearly still very, very bitter about having been let go, when he was, but I guess his criticism of producer Kevin Beamish for his work on ‘Crusader’ and of the band and the direction / sound change the band was making, meant that ‘Innocence Is No Excuse’ was his last album as a Saxon member.

 

Many interviews here too with people outside the band too like Lars Ulrich (Metallica), as well as Lemmy and Fast Eddie Clarke (Motorhead), Doro Pesch (Warlock) and many more too.

There’s plenty of dirt here, but plenty of great stuff too, throughout the documentary, well worth getting.

 

The second disc is a complete bonus, featuring Saxon concerts from back in ’81, the band special St. Georges Day London gig from 2008 and a few mini-documentaries from the recording sessions for ‘Into The Labyrinth,’ ‘Crusader’ and ‘Innocence is no Excuse’ and footage from when the band did a reunion tour with Motorhead, named ‘The Eagle and the Bomber!’

 

Yes, there’s around three hours of footage on the second disc, so what are you waiting for?!

 

This really is an excellent package from UDR, who I must say do a fine job with the product they put out, always very classy presentation and with so much great material on here, Saxon fans and rock fans alike will lap this up!

I mean, even my missus and her friend sat through it all and thought the whole thing was great!

 

Go on, treat yourself folks, this is well worth getting, no complaints at all from me.

 

Rating: 5 out of 5 - Solid entertainment, great package, good stuff!


Weblinks:
http://www.saxon747.com/
http://www.udr-music.com/

 



Michael Schenker – 'Temple of Rock - Live in Europe' DVD / CD review

 

 

 

Michael Schenker – 'Temple of Rock - Live in Europe' DVD / CD review

Released on: in-akustik label. Release date: Available everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 Yes folks, it’s my favourite guitarist once again, with yet more coverage here!

What can I say, Michael Schenker has been covering a lot of bases over the past few years, I don’t think he’s ever been so productive to be honest?!

 

It doesn’t seem that long ago (2010) that we got the Michael Schenker – Live in Tokyo 30^th Anniversary DVD / CD / Blu-ray release, then in 2011 there was the ‘Temple of Rock’ album release supported by a huge worldwide tour, including the US that took in the Detroit suburbs twice, once in March (With Robin McAuley) and then again in October (With David Van Landing) last year. Great gigs both of them.

 

Review links here:

http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/03/michael-schenker-live-review-at-harpos.html

http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/10/michael-schenker-live-at-token-lounge.html

 

 

Michael of course then toured in-between US jaunts, over in Europe where he recorded this new release – Released late last year in Europe and in February here in the US. – which in fact captures two shows, the main concert was shot in Tilburg, Germany with the lineup of Schenker, Doogie White (Vocals), Wayne Findlay (Keys/Guitars/vocals), Francis Buchholz (Bass) and Herman Rarebell (Drums), along with special guest vocalist Michael Voss on one track.

 

Then there are a handful of songs captured at 2011’s High Voltage Festival in London, where Michael Voss takes on all the lead vocals, bar two songs where Voss calls out Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Talisman, Soul SirkUS) and Doogie White out onto the stage, to sing and then they also joined by Pete Way (UFO, Waysted) as well.

 

So anyway, this is a pretty good DVD and CD set, the Blu-ray sorry I cannot speak for as sadly I currently do not own a Blu-ray player, but don’t see the point to be honest, although in this case I understand that the Blu-Ray has extra bonus footage of the band in rehearsals in Brighton (England), before they went out ‘Live in Europe.’

Both formats open the same with William Shatner, yes he of Star Trek fame, speaking on the intro tape, basically the same as what starts the ‘Temple of Rock’ album, an anti-war speech, very different from his role in Star Trek as the stubborn reckless leader of the starship Enterprise!

Enough on the intro already!

 

The band opens with the M.S.G. classic instrumental favourite, ‘Into The Arena,’ a brilliant piece in anyone’s book, although Schenker does choose to play the guitar solo differently from what most people would recognize but the band still all pull it together to come back in tight, after it plays out.

Doogie White then joins the band onstage for ‘Armed and Ready’ and it’s funny, the first one or two times of playing this I’m thinking it just doesn’t sound right …, but I’ve come to accept it, after all, over the years Michael has had many strong vocalists with different styles front his band.

What’s a little funny is – and maybe it’s just me. – but at times the way he sings / phrases everything, he often reminds me of Saxon’s Biff Byford, no bad thing really, just interesting …

He is a little cheesy though with some of his lead in quips …, like “Good evening Tilburg … I just wanted to make you aware that we’ve had to put a barrier here at the front of the stage, for your protection, because you know we have three Scorpions here on stage! I think the best to do is go on a ‘Lovedrive,’ will you join me?!”

   It’s funny that you hear Herman count the three German’s in each time, counting in their native language. Nice!

They do the same for next track ‘Another Piece of Meat,’ both tracks played really well.

    Next up Doogie White introduces Michael Voss to step in for a song that he wrote with Michael along with the bulk of the songs on ‘Temple of Rock’ and the band kicks into ‘Hanging On.’

 

Voss quickly departs for the band to then play some classic M.S.G. material in ‘Cry For The Nations’ and ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.’

 

White gets another breather while the three former Scorpions alongside Michael’s ever faithful band mate Wayne Findlay play through the Scorpions instrumental, ‘Coast to Coast’ with a fresh interpretation.

 

Back to classic M.S.G. material for a solid ‘Assault Attack,’ before a newer Schenker song from the ‘Temple …’ album, ‘Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead.’

This was the track that Doogie did with Michael on the 'Temple of Rock' album and I thought sounded quite Dio like.

 

 

The band then briefly dive into Michael’s UFO history for ‘Light’s Out,’ before the wonderful ‘On and On’ from the excellent second M.S.G. album and then back to UFO for ‘Let it Roll’ and ‘Shoot Shoot!’

 

You know what’s great is it really shows the pedigree of Herman and Francis, as their playing on the UFO and M.S.G. tracks is great, top notch stuff although some of Doogie White’s interpretations of UFO songs, well … He’s far from close to Phil Mogg and the harmony / backing vocals sound perhaps not so strong on UFO tracks.

 

‘Rock You Like a Hurricane’ sounds quite different sung by Doogie White and Herman even helps out in places on this one, especially with trying to get the audience to do their bit on the song. Sadly the German audience doesn’t want to sing much.

Back to UFO territory next with ‘Rock Bottom’ to close the set and Michael is well on his game, totally in his element, great stuff!

 

 

The band then comes back for a couple more Scorpion’s tunes, in the magical ‘Holiday’ which Doogie asks Tilburg to sing for him, as this is their song, although Doogie starts them off.

Michael’s guitar work sounds beautiful; I love this song, a real treat in a Michael Schenker set but again, with two other ex-Scorpions onboard for the show, totally justified to play.

It’s a different version though, as where on the original version the Scorpions get to the line, ‘Longing for the sun …,’ Michael takes it into a tasty guitar solo.

 

 

‘Blackout’ next rocks wonderfully!  

It’s a little funny when it comes to the chorus though as Doogie clearly expected the crowd to sing ‘Blackout, I really had a Blackout …,’ but alas no. Herman helps Doogie out from there on and it does sound a little off, but still a great song!

 

Finally the show is closed with ‘Doctor, Doctor,’ which is as fun as ever!

 

The ‘bonus concert’ is the five songs from 2011’s High Voltage festival, basically capturing ‘Armed and Ready,’ ‘Another Piece of Meat,’ ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane,’ ‘Hanging On’ and ‘Doctor, Doctor.’

The difference at this show was Elliott ‘Dean’ Rubinson takes the bass duties on, who toured the ‘Temple of Rock’ gigs in the USA, when I caught the Michael Schenker tour last year. Also Michael Voss on lead vocals for the most part and guitar from time to time, including the lead break on ‘Rock You Like a Hurricane,’ where Michael’s brother Rudolf Schenker of the Scorpions comes out to jam with the band.

 

Rudolf stays onstage for ‘Hanging On’ and the all-star cast that performs ‘Doctor, Doctor,’ including Jeff Scott Soto, Doogie White and Pete Way.

It’s a fun closure to the High Voltage set.

 

The backstage bonus footage from before the Tilburg is pretty cool for the most part, looks like fun mostly, but Doogie seems a little awkward, when he asks Michael if he can sign something for a Scottish radio station, for a charity event and it’s like Michael doesn’t talk to Doogie, except for when Doogie asks Michael to do this.

Michael then afterwards, leaves ‘the band’ dressing room, to go into his own private room next door, before the footage then shows the band heading out onstage, sans Doogie, as he gets an extra five minutes while they are playing ‘Into the Arena.’

Doogie then does a little one on one with the film crew.

 

   So there you have it, both the DVD and CD are great sets to have and as I mentioned before, apparently the Blu-ray contains the bonus feature of the band in rehearsals in Brighton, from before any live dates.

There is a deluxe bundle too, of all three formats, so if you have the cash or are a die-hard Schenker fan that’s just got to have everything Schenker related, then go and track it down; although I do understand that there is a very limited amount of those.

 The two CD set, is great in the car and no doubt the Deluxe set would be a great gift for any Schenker fan!

 

I’m a Schenker fan, so this is all enjoyable to me, all the more so when Michael is so on his game, very enjoyable!

 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

 

Michael Schenker official website:

http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

This can be ordered through MVD Entertainment here:

http://mvdb2b.com/s/MichaelSchenkerTempleOfRockLiveInEurope/INAK9116

http://mvdb2b.com/s/MichaelSchenkerTempleOfRockLiveInEurope/INAK6187

 

 

 

 

 



Snakecharmer – Debut album review

 

 

 

 

Snakecharmer – Debut album review

Released on: Frontiers. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

 This band of fine musicians that make up Snakecharmer, have very deep pedigrees indeed!

Featuring former original Whitesnake members Micky Moody (Guitars) and Neil Murray (Bass), along with well-rounded drummer Harry James (Thunder, Magnum and many more!), guitarist Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash, Home), vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland, Virginia Wolf) and keyboard whizz, Adam Wakeman (Strawbs, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath), yes – no pun intended! – son of the maestro himself, Rick Wakeman.

 

 

This is a bit of an interesting album, as I’m sure many people would have their own ideas of how it could turn out sound wise, with perhaps the general consensus that it would be quite akin to the classic Whitesnake sound of old …, well …, in places it does …

 
 

Opener ‘My Angel’ is very nicely presented melodic rock, with a nice catchy chorus and wonderful bridge in the mid-section, with some sweet slide guitar work from Micky Moody, something I remember well from early Whitesnake gigs before a tasty harmony part between both Micky and Laurie and then an absolutely ripping solo from Laurie, excellent!

 

 

Next track ‘Accident Prone’ - just with the title alone - jogs my memory back to the Status Quo track of the same name but no, it’s not the same track and no it really doesn’t sound like Quo, it really doesn’t.

There really is a Bad Company like vibe to the sound the band has captured, which is no bad thing.

Another mid-paced number in quite a similar vein to the opener, but there is middle section that’s almost classic old school Whitesnake. Nice touch and nice solo by the way!

 

Wow! Next track ‘To The Rescue’ has a very Bryan Adams like groove to it, I’m sorry but when you hear this, you tell me otherwise?

It’s not a bad thing though and it's a really hooky number indeed, of course the fact that it’s Bryan Adams' like probably tells you that!

 

An excellent bluesy, soulful power ballad next with ‘Fallen Leaves,’ with some gospel like backing vocals through the chorus, almost making it sound like ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door,’ but really only at that point.

Again, there’s a sweet guitar solo herein, very slick indeed.

 

 

 ‘A Little Rock ‘n’ Roll’ kind of conjures up a little Bad Company meets Whitesnake, with a twist with Chris Ousey’s vocal, which I can’t help but tag as a male Tina Turner like sound.

A good steady modern day blues like rocking number.

 

 

Next up ‘Turn Of The Screw’s’ intro really reminds me very much of Quo’s ‘Down Down,’ of course it’s not, but I will say that the track is very Quo like indeed as it develops.

Kind of a little like a recent Quo track, ‘Beginning of the End’ actually, but nonetheless, cloning someone else or not, it’s a pretty good number.

 

 

‘Smokin’ Gun’ is a little of a laid back chug along type rocker, hmm, almost the same groove as ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ then it hits a nice bridge section, with some sweet guitar work once more.

Catchy chorus too …

 

 

‘Stand Up’ next is another melodic rocker / AOR type number, that the chorus really reminds me of something else.

Nice hook lines, the piano driven chords in the chorus really make it sound familiar, but it’s Snakecharmer’s own handiwork, no doubt at all.

Great solo once again, but what would anyone expect from two class players like Micky Moody and Laurie Wisefield? Nothing less!

 

 

 I've said nothing of Harry James or Neil Murray so far, but as the rhythm section they're right there in the pocket, high pedigrees as I said, who've both played alongside some of the world's greatest players.

Likewise Adam Wakeman, who like his father Rick is in a class of his own.

Perhaps it's just a shame that there's no jamming keyboards solo's present here, as the guy is seriously talented.

 

 

‘Guilty As Charged’ is a nice playful almost Bad Company like rocker, very smooth and a nice soaring lead solo too, which then leads to a slide solo which just has to be Micky Moody! Remember those solo's well from back in the early Whitesnake days. 

 

OK, sorry but the Quo comparisons continue and while this next one is not a Status Quo track, it does have a very Quo like 12 bar groove. ‘Nothing To Lose’ almost also reminds me a little of Lynyrd Skynyrd too.

Nice guitar / organ driven rocker.

 

Then the last number here, ‘Cover Me In You’ seems to border on AOR, it's certainly in a more commercial hard rock style.

Good steady catchy number and nice album closer.

 

 

It’s funny you know, for some reason the first couple of spins of this album it wasn’t grabbing me too much, but it’s without doubt a grower.

 

Yes, I’ve drawn a bunch of comparisons here and there, which to be honest is hardly surprising from the backgrounds of these guys.

Is it a killer album? I have to say no, not for me.

Is it outstanding? No, not really, it's very well performed material and has a bunch of high points, it’s a very enjoyable listen that brings back some good old memories in its styling’s.

Not bad ...

 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

Weblinks:

http://www.snakecharmer.org/

http://www.frontiers.it/

 

 

 



Queen – 'Hungarian Rhapsody - Live in Budapest' DVD / CD review

 

 

 

 

Queen – 'Hungarian Rhapsody - Live in Budapest' DVD / CD review        

Released by: Eagle Entertainment. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

 

Queen were such an incredible band, something that I clearly didn’t take seriously enough when I was younger.

For whatever reason, I seemed to sit on the fence on a few occasions when I could’ve gone to see them live and consequently missed out on catching them with the flamboyant Freddie Mercury.

I have since seen them albeit without Freddie and now own, many live Queen DVD’s and time and time again kick myself for not having gone and seen them, with Freddie!

When I did see the band a few years ago though with Paul Rodgers, being a fan of both artists, I thoroughly enjoyed that evening, although I know there were many die hard Queen fans who thought it sacrilegious, to do such a thing.

My take on that is that Paul never tried to sound like Freddie, by any means, as he never could for one thing and the band in respect of Freddie played all those shows as Queen with Paul Rodgers. Enough said …

Maybe Thin Lizzy should’ve done that and it could’ve got a number of fans off their backs and they wouldn’t have had to call themselves Black Star Riders …., maybe? Cough …. I doubt it!

 

 

Anyway, this concert performance ‘Hungarian Rhapsody – Queen Live in Budapest’ is apparently the last complete footage of Queen live in concert, before Freddie passed away and was filmed in July 1986.

I must say that I’m surprised that the last Queen concert to feature Freddie at Knebworth in the UK, in August of the same year was not filmed?

Maybe it was and that footage is being saved for another day ….?

 

This package is also special as although it’s a double format special DVD and two CD disc set, there’s bonuses about each of the formats!

The DVD of course includes bonus features, but the two CD set also includes live tracks not included in the DVD concert, which kind of beats me but there you go!

The extra tracks on the CD that are not on the DVD are, ‘Another One Bites The Dust,’ ‘Looks Like It’s Gonna Be A Good Night’ – Well, partially anyway! – a version of ‘(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care’ and ‘Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)’ – Yes, really!  

I know, perhaps the only one of real interest to Queen fans, is ‘Another One …,’ but by the same token, it really reflects how far the band could stretch their repertoire when they wanted to.

 

 

So to this concert, which once again proved that Queen could control any crowd anywhere in the world and it was especially true in front of this 80,000 stadium crowd in the Népstadion in Budapest and the crowd loved the band!

 

So Freddie hits the stage first and he’s resplendent in his ringmaster like outfit and then the band launch into the monster that is ‘One Vision’ and so a massive light and sound event begins!

From the deft keyboards of Spike Edney into Brian May’s raw power chords to intro the song it’s ahem …, ‘a kind of magic!’

Sorry, ahem ..., couldn’t resist that one!

 

‘Tie Your Mother Down’ rocks out next and boy does it rock out, before closing with flash bombs! The band’s performance is killer already and they’ve only just started!

Freddie tells the crowd, ‘It’s so nice to be here tonight …,’ then into ‘The Lap of the Gods’ and has the whole of the Budapest audience backing him, as he parades around the stage and then takes his seat at the grand piano where he kicks off, ‘Seven Seas of Rhye,’ before running across the stage to work the crowd some more. Then Brian May’s guitar work is of course, spot on!

Seriously, this is only four songs in and this is a rockin’ show!!!

Must’ve been mad not to have gone to see Queen with Freddie!

Ed’s note: – Now kicking myself seriously hard!!!

 

Then there’s a brief interlude that rolls into ‘Tear it Up’ briefly, then eerie stage noises and the lights pan all over the darkened stage, before we hear Freddie utter, ‘It’s A Kind Of Magic’ cue song!

Freddie of course is / was, the ultimate, ULTIMATE poser that he was totally commands the audience and they love it!

Solid stuff of course from both Roger Taylor and John Deacon, keeping the backbone and backbeat of the band always there!

 

Then there’s a break from the concert, as the DVD switches to a photo shoot and catches the band on a sightseeing tour of the city during the day, then Freddie does a little solo performance at an evening reception, before it’s back to daytime shots of the band, then Freddie on the stage in the stadium before the concert, doing some warm up exercises that then leads back into the concert.

Freddie gets the crowd into a little singing session, back and forth, him then them and then it’s into the mega global hit ‘Under Pressure.’

Next Freddie introduces a “new song for us, this is called ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’” which was from the ‘Highlander’ movie, with Brian May on keyboards at the beginning, before punching out some power chords back on guitar and we’re off!

Really classy tune, love it!

 

‘I Want To Break Free’ up next, with Freddie sharing vocal duties with the crowd here at the beginning, before then taking the helm for the rest of it.

Brian May takes centre stage for an almost four minute - Over six minutes on the CD - guitar solo spot that then leads into more photo shoot stuff with Brian basically on walkabout, after a ride in a hot air balloon, then laid back on a speed boat then a bunch of autograph signings and receptions, then back to the air balloon before the ultimate Queen rock out song, ‘Now I’m Here.’

 

Really folks, there’s much more of the aforementioned great stuff here in this package.

If I were to go into a track by track review of the concert performance on this DVD and every little detail of the bonus material, I could write pages and pages.

As this stands, I have covered the first ten songs and Brian May’s tasty guitar solo spot moment and this so far, would typically be the length of any of my other reviews or thereabouts.

 

Some wonderful material is included in the remainder of the set Queen plays here, including a special moment for Hungarian fans, where Freddie sings part of a traditional Hungarian folks song in ‘Tavaszi Szél Vizet Áraszt’ – Translated it means, ‘The Spring Wind Blows The Waters.’ – to which even with the words on a piece of paper in his hand, he receives a wonderful response.

 

 

Of course there’s Queen classics that the band could no way leave out, such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘Love of My Life,’ ‘We Will Rock You,’ ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love,’ ‘We Are The Champions,’ and newer soon to be classics such as ‘Hammer To Fall,’ ‘Friends Will Be Friends,’  ‘Is This The World We Created’ as well as ‘Radio Ga-Ga’ to immense reaction!

 

It is a wonderful DVD / CD set, as well as the bonus twenty six minute mini documentary, ‘A Magic Year,’ that really captures the magic that was Queen with Freddie Mercury and I have other Queen live DVD’s too, including the fantastic Wembley concert in ’86 and the ‘Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl’ from a storming set at Milton Keynes bowl from back in ’82 and others and this is another performance that once more reinforces what a phenomenal live band they were and a great showman Freddie was.

Seriously well worth getting folks, don’t miss out, get it!

 

 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

 

Website:

http://www.queenonline.com/